Gareth slid a piece of paper off the top of the stack. “Michael Merrick?”

“Earth Elemental. Twenty-three. Runs a landscaping business out of his garage. The legal guardian of his younger brothers. He’s known in the community, but there are reports of his involvement with a young girl’s death years ago.” He paused. “He’s romantically involved with the daughter of the county fire marshal. A Hannah Faulkner. No Elemental connection that I could discern.”

Gareth nodded and slid the paper to the side. A connection to law enforcement could be troublesome. “Christopher Merrick?”

“Water Elemental. Sixteen. A bit of a loner at school, from what I could see. I thought perhaps he was our weak link, but then I discovered he was romantically linked to a Becca Chandler.”

Gareth looked up. “Chandler. As in Bill Chandler?”

“The very same. You should see her. She’s a dead ringer for Bill. I think he’s her father.” Silver leaned forward. “I also think she’s a rogue Fifth.”

A rogue Fifth would be an Elemental who could control all the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—but who had never been trained to fulfill his or her duty. Silver and Gareth had been trained to destroy pure Elementals who only controlled one element. A rogue Fifth would not only be dangerous because of her ability to focus and intensify the powers of a pure Elemental, but because her connection to the human spirit would make her more willing to side with them.

Gareth tapped his pen again. “Bill never claimed to have any children. Have you spoken with him?”

“Bill Chandler hasn’t checked in with anyone since August.”

Gareth raised his eyebrows and made a note on the paper. “Interesting.”

“What’s more interesting is that this Becca Chandler is not the only rogue Fifth in town. I also identified a Hunter Garrity.”

Gareth’s eyebrows went way up. He wrote the name on the cover of his folder. “As in John Garrity? The Guide who died in the car wreck?”

“Indeed. And to complicate matters, young Master Garrity is living with the Merricks.”

Gareth let out a low whistle. No wonder Silver had ended up in over his head. He went back to the original papers. “So I also have Gabriel and Nicholas Merrick.”

“Identical twins. Seventeen years old. Fire and Air Elementals, respectively.”

“So you’re telling me that with Hunter Garrity living in the home, there’s a perfect circle of Elemental power just outside of Annapolis.”

“And there are more, younger children who may or may not develop into their full Elemental power.”

For the first time, Gareth allowed an edge to enter his voice. “I’m more concerned with the immediate threat of a house full of pure Elementals.”

Silver wasn’t easily intimidated. He held Gareth’s gaze. “I will not underestimate them again.”