Page 104 of Shattering Dawn
Shelton chuckled. “We are.”
“I had a feeling that might be the case after a couple of sessions with Amelia,” Pike continued. “But I didn’t want to alarm her. I knew she was already afraid she might be delusional. And at that point I couldn’t be certain she wasn’t. I intended to ease her into the possibility that she had developed some genuine psychic ability. The next thing I know she disappears into the desert for a couple of days with a man she never mentioned in therapy. Given her phobia, that just didn’t make sense. I was convinced she was in terrible danger but I knew the police wouldn’t pay any attention to me.”
“Excuse me.” Tired of being discussed as if she wasn’t in the room, Amelia clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. She looked at Shelton and Pike. “It’s a lovely day. Why don’t you two take some chips and wine out onto the balcony and chat? Sounds like you have a lot to talk about.”
Ten minutes later Shelton and Pike had been banished to the balcony with their snacks and wine and were engaged in animated conversation.
Phoebe looked up from her phone. “Another wave of subscribers is rolling in.Payingsubscribers. We’ve hit critical mass, people.”
Talia took charge, as she was inclined to do. “Pallas, Amelia,The Lost Night Filesis our creation. We need to make the decision. Do we move forward or do we shut down the project?”
“Wait, wait, wait.” Phoebe bounced to her feet and waved the phone. “Before you decide, you need to know that we just got our first sponsor. An outfit called the Foundation. What’s more, the operation is offering to give us some actual grant money.”
“What’s the Foundation?” Gideon asked.
“Some kind of private research firm, apparently,” Phoebe said, reading off her phone. “The director is a guy named Victor Arganbright.”
Luke grimaced. “It’s legit. Headquarters are in Las Vegas. They’ve got ties back to the old Bluestone Project. But I should warn you there may be a few catches. The Foundation has cash but it also has links to a small government entity, the Agency for the Investigation of Atypical Phenomena.”
It was Gideon’s turn to wince. “Government connections can get…complicated.”
“Just ask someone who writes thrillers,” Ambrose said. “Someone like me, for example. Do you have any idea how many clandestine intelligence and investigation agencies and businesses are funded by government money? And none of them know what the others are doing.”
The balcony door opened. Shelton and Pike walked back into the room. Both men were flushed with enthusiasm.
Shelton held up an empty chip bowl. “Can we get another round?”
“Yes, of course.” Amelia went back behind the island. “We’re celebrating because we just got our first sponsor and it’s offering grant money.”
“Congratulations,” Pike said.
Shelton squinted a little. “Who or what is the sponsor?”
“It’s called the Foundation,” Phoebe said. “Ever heard of it?”
Shelton stared at her, astonished. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he said in reverent tones. “I thought that operation was just a legend.”
Pike whistled softly. “So did I.”
“It’s real,” Luke said. “For better or worse.”
“That settles it as far as I’m concerned,” Amelia said. “With that kind of backing, we can make the podcast work. I vote we keep it going.”
“So do I,” Talia said.
Pallas nodded. “I vote yes, too.”
Amelia raised her wineglass. “We’re in this together.”
“Until we get answers,” Talia said.
“Until we get answers,” Pallas concluded.
“The Lost Night Fileswill ride again,” Phoebe said.
Luke looked at Gideon and Ambrose. “Why do I have the feeling that life is going to remain interesting?”
Ambrose grunted. “You must be psychic.”