San Francisco Legacy House, Control Room
"Rachel... Alex... it's good to see you," said William Sloan, whose image on the
video screen was more than thrice normal size. "What can I do for you?" he asked,
knowing from their tense expressions, even from halfway around the world, that all
was not well at the San Francisco Legacy House.
Alex, seated behind the console, looked down at his smaller image on her
computer's flat-panel screen, as if trying to reach out to touch his mood with her
special talent. Rachel, who was leaning against the front of the console with her long,
bare legs casually crossed, licked her lips with nervousness. Distracted for a moment,
the Ruling Precept wondered why a psychiatrist of Dr. Corrigan's caliber chose to
wear such short skirts and pondered the affect on possibly disturbed male patients.
Finally, Rachel broke the silence. "It's Derek."
"Yes? What else could it be?" he asked with a twinge of sarcasm. He had long
considered Derek Rayne to be the Legacy's prodigy, problem child, and prodigal son
all rolled into one maddening bundle. "What mess has your esteemed precept gotten
himself into now?"
"He's not well," Rachel replied. "He's being stubborn.... We need your help."
"He's being Derek," Sloan said. "Have you talked to his mother or sister?"
"Not yet," said Alex. "We're afraid if they try to convince him to have some
tests run he'd know we were the culprits who called them... then it might make
matters worse."
"Well...," Sloan reasoned slowly, "I could speak with him, but then matters
might really get worse.... Do you want me to order him to bed, or to the hospital?" he
asked.
Alex looked at her hands, then raised her head and looked straight into the
piercing eyes that were a continent and an ocean away. "Sir... I think you'd better
come over."
William Sloan frowned... he hadn't expected that. "Rachel, it's that serious?
What do you suspect?" he asked with concern.
"I don't know," the psychiatrist responded. "He's admitted to having caught a
chill when he was in New Mexico a few weeks ago. He's run down... not eating...
therefore, losing weight... not sleeping well... bad dreams and bad temper... won't
discuss it.... He's in his 'Just tired. I don't want to talk about it' mode."
"He has been under a lot of stress," injected Alex, "...several investigations at
once."
"Typical Rayne tactics," the precept knowingly remarked. "When haven't stress
and bad dreams been the case with Derek? Could he just be burned out? Should I insist
that he take a sabbatical? I could arrange a teaching position somewhere that the
Ruling Council would order him to take."
"I don't know.... He's been running a fever and having dizzy spells," the doctor
said as she tapped her pen against her finger.
"It does sound like the flu, Rachel... or, could it be migraines?" the precept
suggested.
"He has been having extremely severe headaches lately," Alex replied. "I can
feel them, but he closes down. I think he suspects that I'm sensing him."
"Has he had migraines in the past?" asked Rachel, interrupting Alex's
explanation. The thought that Derek might be having migraine headaches seemed to
worry Sloan. "When?... It's not in his medical records."
"A long time ago," replied the Ruling Precept.
"William," Rachel continued to question, "are his records complete? There are
a couple of years back in the eighties that have very scant information."
Sloan cleared his throat, then, looking unwaveringly into the camera, replied
firmly, "Complete as far as I know, Dr. Corrigan."
"There's something more to this," said Alex, "and I don't like the feel of it.
Neither does Nick.... He's the one who suggested that we call you... and yesterday he
told us to try to get a hold of Philip."
Now Sloan really was concerned. For Nick Boyle to advise that they contact
former Legacy member, Philip Callahan, once Nick's best friend, was a major
concession to Derek's affection for the priest. However, for him to decide to involve London
House in his precept's personal affairs was something totally out of character.
"Nick said this?" he asked.
Rachel stood and stepped directly before the screen to look the Ruling Precept
in the eyes. "William... he passed out yesterday during a vision... and he nearly fainted
the night before at my house."
His decision immediately made, Sloan said, "Fog's got us socked in here, but
I'll be there tomorrow one way or another."
"Can you meet us in LA?"asked Alex. "He and Nick are down there. Derek's
guest lecturing at a graduate seminar at UCLA today. Afterwards, they're planning to
consult with Amanda Drake on a haunting. Rachel and I are using some extra
equipment as an excuse to fly down this afternoon."
"Oh, yes... I recall now that Amanda sent me a memo about that," said the
precept. "Sure, I'll fly into LA.... Don't let Derek do anything irresponsible until I get
there."
"Right," Alex sighed as Sloan's image faded.
< < + > >
UCLA
"You gona' be OK, boss?" Nick asked as Derek reached back into the van for
his briefcase and lecture notes.
"I'm fine," the precept replied. "Go explore.... Have fun." He glanced at his
watch. "I'll meet you back here at three."
Nick waited and watched as Derek began his long climb to the top of Janiss
Steps. His gut told him something was very wrong... the dynamic vigor that was Derek
Rayne simply wasn't there. His friend had closed himself in. Why did he feel that he
had to shoulder everyone else's problems, but never allow anyone to share his own?
"Damn him," Nick mumbled to himself as he turned the ignition key.
When he saw Derek reach the top and head toward the stone and brick
Romanesque structures of the main quadrangle, he pulled away from the curb to set
off on his recon.
< < + > >
Bel Air, California
As Bethany Lopez paced back and forth across narrow Crestview Place, her
black ponytail swished from side to side. She glanced at her watch. The green digital
numbers still read 3:30 p.m.
"Miss Lopez," called Sylvia Avramian from the top of the steep driveway. "I
really must be going. I have a closing at four in Beverly Hills." The realtor checked her
Cartier watch and took a nervous puff of her cigarette.
"You go on... I'll stay and wait for Dr. Rayne," said Bethany.
"After what happened yesterday to Dr. Drake, I really don't think I could leave
you alone here. Can you call them from my cell phone?"
"I tried from my own.... They're probably on their way since the call didn't go
through.... Can you wait just a few more minutes?"
Bethany wiped her palms on her jeans. She hated to admit it to herself, but she
was nervous. She had prepared herself to greet Derek Rayne with absolute aplomb, but
that was when she had anticipated a meeting in Hollywood at the Legacy House. Now
things were all upside down. She was greeting him here, when he was expecting to
find Amanda, to tell him that his prot�g�e was in intensive care. Her stomach churned.
She thought she'd rid herself of this kind of anxiety in grade school.
< < + > >
"Is this thing going to make it?" asked Derek as the van snaked its way up the
narrow, traffic clogged canyon toward Mulholland and the crest of the Santa Monica
Mountains.
"I hope so," Nick replied. The van groaned... he felt like he was stripping its
gears. "She's running a little hot," he added as he checked the temperature gauge.
"Can you take a look at the map book?... Things get to be a maze up here... E-3 on
map 537."
Before picking Derek up, he had done a quick tour of the area. The SEAL in
Nick liked to know his terrain, but he hadn't had time to find the house itself. He'd
wasted too much of the afternoon stuck in traffic on his recon of the westside. He felt
like he'd been in the rental van for hours, which he had... now he was getting
claustrophobic.
Derek shook his head as he perused the pages. "Damn city needs a map book
over two hundred pages long... just to get around."
"Yeah," chuckled Nick. "Car rental guy said you can tell the natives from the
tourists that way.... The tourists don't have a worn out Thomas Guide laying in the
passenger seat."
A smile tugged at the corner of the precept's mouth, but he said nothing.
Finally, Nick turned onto Mulholland, narrow and dangerous with curves. He
slowed as Derek searched. "Quite a view," he commented. To their right, far below,
stretched the San Fernando Valley, with its vast grid of streets and structures. Off in
the distance, clouds rose above the shadowy San Gabriel Mountains.
"Hmmm," the precept mumbled without raising his head. "Make a left at the
second road on the left... after that... keep making lefts."
* * *
"Dammit... why don't they put numbers on these houses where you can see
them?" Nick complained as they crept along the narrow, winding street.
"That's the idea. Is that them?" said Derek, leaning forward. "I don't see
Amanda."
Two women, one middle-aged and sturdy with bleached blond hair and an
abundance of gold jewelry, the other a petite Latina in jeans and a leather jacket, were
standing at the base of a steep driveway. Upon seeing the white van slowly approach,
the smaller, younger of the two, stepped out into the street to wave. Nick pulled even
with her and stopped.
"Hi," she said. "Are you Nick Boyle?"
"Yeah," he replied.
Derek braced his hand on the dash and leaned over to speak through Nick's
window. "Where's Amanda Drake?" he asked, feeling a slight twinge of misgiving.
The young woman hesitated. Through the windshield, she could see his heavy
gold ring with its blue stone and golden L. "Why don't you pull up the driveway. We
need to talk," she said nervously.
"Are they getting younger, Nick?" Derek asked, "... or is it that I'm just getting
older?"
"You and me both, boss," Nick replied, stopping the van beside a maroon
Mercedes sedan. "She doesn't look like she should be out of high school."
< < + > >
Bethany wiped her palms again as she climbed up the ivy lined driveway. She
had a lump in her throat. Why am I afraid of this man, she wondered.
Though opinion
of him amongst Legacy members was divided, Amanda always spoke highly of Derek
Rayne... glowingly, in fact. Still, all agreed, that whether they liked him or not, Dr.
Rayne was a formidable precept. Many, however, Bethany knew, were uneasy about
the aura of mystery that surrounded him, his family, his House, and that island in San
Francisco Bay. Bethany tended to chalk some of it up to a resentment of his wealth and
social standing. She knew that the fact that many Legacy Houses owed their homes to
the Luna Foundation irked some, who accounted that as the reason that the Ruling
Council frequently treated him with kid gloves... she wondered if that was the only
reason.
Bethany hurried when she saw Derek step from the car and straighten his tie.
He seemed much taller
and thinner than his image on the monitors... and tired. Still, he had a presence every
bit as commanding and intimidating as Mr. Sloan, whom she found to be the most
daunting man she had ever met. Having those two in the same room must be like
sharing it with a couple of grizzly bears. Bethany glanced at Nick Boyle. She was
surprised... she had expected Luna's security chief to be a large, sturdy man... like
Mark... but he was small... nearly a head shorter than his precept.
"You must be Dr. Rayne," she said, extending her hand. "I'm Bethany Lopez...
I work with Dr. Drake... and this is Sylvia Avramian, the realtor who has the listing."
When Derek shook her hand, Bethany saw in his hazel eyes that he knew
something had happened. So it's all true, she thought.
"Thank you for coming," the Latina continued. "I've heard so much about you.
Dr. Drake wanted to be here," she plunged ahead, "to give you the tour and bring you
up to date on the investigation, but I'm afraid she was taken ill." Now, withering under
those enigmatic eyes, she understood what Amanda had meant about the precept's
intolerance of the nonessential.
"I'm afraid I have some very bad news. Amanda is in intensive care at UCLA.
She came here yesterday afternoon... we found her in the living room a few hours
later." Her voice trembling, Bethany paused. "She was hemorrhaging... her uterus had
ruptured."
Derek's anger surged. "Yesterday? Why didn't you inform me?"
"There was nothing you could do, sir. Mark and I wanted to wait until we knew
something...."
"Nevertheless... have you informed London?" he asked, knowing that they had
not.
Bethany shook her head no.
"Then when you get back to the House, I suggest you do so," Derek said, more
harshly than he'd intended. "I warn you... Mr. Sloan will not be pleased."
Bethany caught Nick's sideways glance at his precept and read it immediately....
So that's true too... that you have your own secrets. The pot calling the kettle black?
"I have the case files for you," she said, reaching into the Mercedes to retrieve
the folders, "and Mrs. Avramian will give you the keys. Since you prefer to stay in the
guest house, we've fully stocked the kitchen... and there's fresh linen, of course."
Bethany felt that she somehow had to redeem the situation. "Mark arranged for an
outside power source for your sensors, and left a generator, as well. Telephone service
was also reconnected. I've left all the pertinent numbers on the pad beside the kitchen
phone."
"Miss Lopez," interrupted the realtor, "we really must be going or I shall not
have time to drop you at your car. It was a pleasure, Dr. Rayne," she added, handing
Derek her business card and a set of keys. "If I can be ever be of service to you
personally, or to the Luna Foundation, please, don't hesitate to call."
Nick watched Derek's eyebrow rise as he politely looked at the overly elaborate
card, then deposited it in his jacket pocket, where it would probably remain for the
next two years. He had to smile to himself at his precept's wily reply.
Derek took the woman's hand and said, "I shall, of course, think of you the next
time we consider a property transaction in the area." He then turned toward Bethany
to escort her around to the Mercedes' passenger door, which he opened for her. "Miss
Lopez," he said, "Bethany... I apologize for my harsh tone. I was taken by surprise, but
you really should inform London immediately.... It is your place to do so, not mine."
"I understand," the young woman said. "I will."
Derek continued, "Please, keep us informed of Amanda's progress. I need to
speak with her as soon as she's able. Thank you for all of your help," he added as Mrs.
Avramian started the sedan's engine and began to back down the drive.
* * *
As the maroon Mercedes reached the bottom of the hill and backed into the
narrow street, a Yellow Cab stopped, then reversed to pull up the drive. Derek stood
waiting.
"Here we go," said Rachel as she handed the driver the fare and a tip. Noting
that the precept had not, as was his custom, stepped forward to open the car's door,
she added in a whisper, "He's pissed."
"We'd better make this good," said Alex.
Once their luggage had been deposited in the drive and the cab had departed,
Derek asked firmly, "What are you doing here?"
"We brought some extra equipment Nick wanted,"Alex replied. She glanced
over at her friend, mentally screaming for help.
"Such as?" said Derek as his left eyebrow rose over a penetrating stare. He
turned toward the young man. "Nick?"
"The spectrograph," injected Rachel, picking up the aluminum case, which
contained the instrument, and handing it to Nick.
"And it took the two of you?"
"Curiosity," said Alex.
Derek stood silently for a moment, studying all three of his house members.
"Curiosity?" he said at last. "You I believe.... Rachel... what about Kat?"
"On a sleep over... planned weeks ago," the blond doctor quickly responded.
The precept handed the manila folders to Alex, then turned to walk toward the
house. He jangled the keys as he went. Behind him Nick shrugged and the two women
smiled at each other... success!
When he reached the front door, Derek turned. "You are not going in until I see
what's going on. Nick can fill you in on Amanda... whatever it is in there doesn't seem
to like women," he added. "I'll walk through while you unload and get settled in the
guest house."
Both women started to protest, but Derek said harshly, "No discussion."
Alex's temper flared at his tone. "I am not a child to be bullied," she said,
blocking his way as he turned. "You're the one who shouldn't be going into that
house.... In case you've forgotten, you fainted yesterday."
"I'll come with you, boss," Nick said firmly.
Releasing an annoyed sigh, the precept responded, "I don't have the energy to
spare for a debate. I am your precept... and as long as you are a member of my house,
I am responsible for your actions and your safety. Neither of you will enter that house.
Do you understand? Nick... I need to be alone.... I'll be fine."
"Don't use the 'Sight'," the younger man cautioned.
