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these invisible walls. It feels like I’m bruising myself at some core level. So I told him to stop. Now I just stay. There’s a white table in the middle of the room. On it is an envelope.” She stopped and blinked hard.
    Charlie could hear the breath passing through her clenched teeth. “What happens then?”
    â€œSomebody else is in the room. It’s me. At least, she looks like me. She’s standing on the other side of the room. She’s smiling at me. She says, ‘Take it.’ That’s all. Just two words. When I don’t, I feel as though I’m crammed back inside my body.”
    â€œHow many times has this happened?”
    â€œSeven times. Well, six like I described.”
    Charlie realized what she wasn’t saying. “You opened the packet.”
    â€œEnvelope. Yeah. I did.”
    â€œYou should have checked with us first. Especially with Brett like he is.”
    â€œGabriella would have said not to do anything.”
    â€œYou don’t know that.”
    â€œI did what needed doing, Charlie. And the only way it was ever going to get done. By myself. What other option is there? You have some way to climb in the white room with me?” She looked away. “So today I went in and I opened it.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œThere was this flash of images. Each time I felt like I was hooked into a power station. Each image detonated like a bomb. I have no idea how long each lasted, and it doesn’t matter. They are tattooed on my brain. When it was over, the room was gone. And so was the woman. Like I had been kept in that room for a purpose. And now I was free.”
    â€œDo you want to tell me what you found?”
    â€œWhy do you think I’m standing here?” She described what she needed.
    When she was done, Charlie summarized just to make sure he understood. “You want Jorge to reprogram an iPod so that it contains both the vibratory patterns and the instructions for an ascent.”
    â€œDoes that sound crazy?”
    â€œI think it sounds brilliant. Did you ask Jorge?”
    â€œHe’ll do it if you give the okay.”
    â€œTell him I said it’s fine.” He waited. “What else?”
    â€œI have to take a trip. Los Angeles. And then Santa Barbara. I need to leave tomorrow.”
    Charlie could see Elizabeth was very scared. This was totally new. Elizabeth was their in-house warrior lady. All armor and cocked weapons. He asked, “Do you want some company?”
    Only when Elizabeth released the tension she’d been carrying did Charlie realize how frightened she’d been that he would let her make the trip alone.

13
    S hane was still seated in the sports complex café with Trent two hours later when the call came through from Murray Feinne. Shane lifted her cell phone from her battered shoulder bag, checked the readout, and asked Trent, “It’s the lawyer. So how does this conversation turn out?”
    â€œI already told you.” If Trent was weary from Shane’s repetitive questions, he did not show it. “I saw what I was shown. Nothing else.”
    She hit the button, said, “This is Shane.”
    She watched as across the table Trent turned toward the rear door and said her name to the sun-splashed glass. Shane.
    â€œThis is Murray Feinne.”
    â€œHold on just one second, please.” She lowered the phone. “Look at me, Trent.”
    Trent turned back. “What?”
    â€œYou didn’t know my name?”
    â€œNot until you just said it.”
    â€œYou didn’t think it might be good to know who I am before you offer me a partnership?”
    â€œYou said you weren’t comfortable with my questions.”
    Shane stared at him a moment, lifted the phone, and said, “I’m here, Murray.”
    The lawyer said, “I think it would be good if you and your partner came to my offices in LA.”
    â€œWhy not meet here in Santa