Page 93 of Shattering Dawn
Irene stared at him. “What are you talking about?”
Cutler turned to face her. “Isn’t it obvious? The Aurora Islands lab people think they no longer need me to continue the drug trials. They know they can’t get close enough to take me out personally. Anyone they sent to do the job would be dead before they got anywhere near me. So they decided to poison the version of the drug they provided to me and my men. They thought they could get rid of all of us without taking any risks.”
“Why would they do that?” Irene said. “They need the trials. They can’t continue to develop the serum unless they have a reliable way of testing it.”
“They found someone else they think they can use,” Cutler raged. “A cartel boss or one of my competitors. Hell, the leaders of most countries would jump at the opportunity to get their hands on the drug.”
“We don’t know for certain that you’re being slowly poisoned,” Irene said. “Amelia told you she’s new at aura reading.”
“That’s right,” Amelia said. “There’s a real possibility that I don’t know what I’m doing here.”
Cutler rounded on her. “I knew something was wrong. They said I needed the boosters to keep going. But it didn’t make sense because you and the others were alive and apparently stable. At first I assumed the drug simply hadn’t worked on you but now I know the reverse is true.”
Amelia looked at Irene. “You figured this out months ago, didn’t you? That’s why you rented an apartment in the building where I live. That’s why you made sure we got to know each other. You wanted to observe me.”
“I know you won’t believe me but I really did enjoy your company,” Irene said.
“Bullshit.”
“Shut up, both of you,” Cutler said. He focused on Amelia. “How long have I got?”
She caught her breath. “I can’t answer that question. I have no idea. The drug is weakening you but I don’t know if it will kill you outright. You may just lose whatever new talent it gave you.”
“No, it’s doing something to me. I can feel it.” Cutler’s voice rose. “I need answers.”
“So do I,” Amelia said. “What are you going to do now? Kill me?”
Irene spoke up quickly. “Of course not, Amelia. It would be stupid to do that. You’re too valuable. You and your friends are proof that the serum not only works, it can be successfully tolerated by individuals who meet a certain profile.”
Irene was looking at her but Amelia got the sense that she was speaking to Cutler, trying to convince him of her logic.
“I have to track down that lab,” Cutler said. “Get my hands on the formula and take control of the manufacturing and distribution. I need time.”
“Don’t we all,” Amelia said. “I’ll make you a deal, Mr. Steen.”
“You are in no position to make any kind of bargain,” he said.
“Well, actually, that’s not true. You see, I diagnosed what’s wrong with you but I didn’t tell you that I might be able to fix the unstable currents in your aura, or at least keep them from weakening even more.”
Cutler went still. “You’re lying.” But there was frantic hope in his eyes.
“Where are you going with this, Amelia?” Irene asked quietly.
“I’m not lying,” Amelia said. “I admit I can’t guarantee success. I’ve only been able to run one experiment, and the circumstances were quite different. But my intuition tells me that I can not only perceive auras, I can manipulate them to some extent, provided I have the right tool.”
“What tool?” Cutler demanded.
“An old-fashioned film camera would work, I think, one with a prism and a mirror.”
Cutler grunted. “Where the hell do you suggest I get one of those at this hour of the night?”
“I can also work with a crystal,” Amelia said.
Irene frowned. “We don’t have any crystals in this house unless you count the glassware. Will that work?”
“I think it would depend on the quality of the glassware,” Amelia said. “But I’ve got a better idea. Your father has a very good crystal.”
Cutler shook his head, bewildered. “What are you talking about?”