LITMIR.BIZ

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“You’ve probably heard that a person can’t be hypnotized without their consent, right? And that you can’t make them do anything under hypnosis that goes against their grain? Well, DT3 changes all that.”

      He pulled a chair over and sat directly in front of Sabrina. “It’s what they call a hypnotropic drug. It gives the hypnotist tremendous power. With it, he can put the subject into such a deep trance, even without their consent, that they’re virtually his slave. He can extract information from their memory or he can conceal it there. He can password-protect it so that he’s the only one who can ever retrieve it. He can plant powerful post-trance suggestions, like the one Derringer gave you.” Leaning closer, he muttered, “It’s a goddamned menace.”

      “I can’t believe I’ve never heard of it.”

      “Perimeter developed it. But after a few tests, your father and Theo were so alarmed by its potential, they abandoned the project.”

      “But Derringer has it?”

      Zack nodded. “We were both trained to use it. But the formula stayed with Sully. I guess John took a supply with him when he left. We’re probably lucky he hasn’t sold it to some foreign agency by now.”

      Sabrina looked over toward Theo. “You think he’s planting ugly suggestions in her mind? Making her do creepy things?”

      “That’s unlikely,” Zack protested. “My guess is he wants information. Something he thinks you girls learned during all those years with Sully. Maybe even some secret information Sully hid in your minds—”

      “My father would never hide things in our minds!”

      Zack flushed. “Take it easy. I’m just brainstorming here. If you can’t take it, you should go lie down or something.” He stood and turned to Theo, as though dismissing Sabrina. “Can you get Marietta to make copies of all Connor’s faxes for me? And all the reports from his crew for the last three months. Derringer probably surveilled the girls for weeks before he made his move. Maybe there’s something in the early reports we can use.”

      “Wait!” Sabrina jumped up and confronted him. “Let me help.”

      “You can help by staying out of the way. We do this for a living, you know. Go upstairs and rest for a while. If there’s anything to report, you’ll be the first to know.”

      Sabrina wanted to reach down his arrogant throat and pull out his tonsils, but counseled herself to stay calm. He saw her as a civilian. Fine. She could use that to her advantage. Wasn’t that what her father would want her to do?

      “I am a little beat,” she said with an apologetic smile. “Give me a few minutes to splash some water on my face, okay? But after that, I really want to help.” Heading for the double doors, she added over her shoulder, “I’ll be back in five minutes. Don’t make any decisions until I get back, okay?”

      “Right,” Zack drawled.

      Theo corrected him with a warm, loving, “Take your time. We’re just going to look at the files. And, Sabrina?”

      “Yes?”

      “You made the right decision, coming here. We’re going to get little Shellie back. I promise you that.”

      Sabrina beamed, then turned and strolled into the hall as though completely reassured. But as soon as she was out of their field of vision, she sprinted toward the grand staircase, then took the steps two at a time, anxious to get to the music room that was located directly above Theo’s study.

      She only hoped things hadn’t changed since the day, almost twenty years earlier, when two little girls—who were tired of being sent out of “Uncle Theo’s” study every time he and their father had something important to discuss—had transformed the music room into their own personal, clandestine listening post.

      Chapter 2

      Hurrying past the baby grand piano that dominated the music room, Sabrina opened a set of louvered closet doors on the far wall. A brass chest filled with sheet music was sitting right in front of her, just as it had been during her childhood. Inching the chest aside, she knelt and ran her fingertip along the rim of a large black knot in the oak flooring. Years of wax had sealed the knot firmly into place, but she was able to loosen it with the blade from her pocketknife.

      Prying the lump of wood free, she pressed her ear against the floor and heard voices, courtesy of the tiny tunnels she and her sister had poked through the various layers of insulation and Sheetrock that separated the music room floor from the ceiling of the study.

      Zack’s tone was predictably strident. “I get the point, boss. I was rude. I’ll apologize to her as soon as I get the chance. But in the meantime, I need to start looking for the other one. Assuming the lecture is officially over.”

      “As long as we’re clear,” Theo replied. “I want you to treat her with kid gloves from now on.”

      “Done. But spare me the concerned-uncle act. You aren’t worried about Sully’s kid. You’re just worried she’ll share secrets with Derringer that might hurt the company—”

      “That’s not true! I love those girls. Their father was my best friend. And they—all three of them—were the only family I ever really had.”

      “Sully was family to me, too,” Zack reminded him.

      “Like a father,” Theo agreed. “And Derringer was like a brother, right up till the time he betrayed your trust. If anyone’s motives here are suspect, I’d say yours are.”

      There was a moment of silence, then Theo spoke again, this time in a conciliatory tone. “I have complete confidence in your ability to find Michelle, Zack. How do you plan to go about it?”

      “My crew can check the airports, et cetera. See if there are any reservations in her name or activity on her passport. I’ll head up to Sac tonight to check out her place. Maybe I can find something to show where they headed.”

      “Sounds good.”

      “Before I go, I want to hypnotize Sabrina—”

      “That’s out of the question.”

      “Huh? Why? It’s our best source of information. If she can remember what John was trying to dig out of her memory—”

      “That girl is already miserable. I’m not going to let you go on a fishing expedition in her brain. That’s final.”

      “If she agrees—”

      “I said it’s final,” Theo retorted. “Find Michelle some other way. Not at the expense of Breezie’s sanity. Period.”

      Sabrina could easily imagine the angry expression on Zack’s face at that moment. And while she was grateful to her uncle for trying to protect her, she agreed that her memory was the best clue available to them. Zack had to use it.

      But Zack was obviously a zealot—and a hothead—so she was also glad Theo would be there during the hypnosis to protect her from his employee’s excesses.

      When the zealot finally spoke, his words were clipped and measured. “When this is over, you and I are gonna have a long talk. Either I’m running Perimeter or I’m not.”

      “You’re running it. But it’s my company. And I want Sabrina treated with kid gloves. Marietta can feed her and pamper her and I’ll reminisce with her about Sully.”

      “You should show her the funeral video,” Zack murmured. “I always thought it was a shame his kids missed that eulogy you gave him.” Clearing his throat, he added more briskly, “We can postpone the London job for a few weeks, right? I need my full crew here if I’m going to find Michelle before Derringer’s done with her.”

      “Of course. I’ll make sure the client understands,” Theo promised. “That leaves the birthday party in Dallas on Friday night, which can not be postponed. You know as well as I

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