When Adam touched Michael's wrist, the connection was instantaneous, effortless. As soon as the images from Adam started, Michael grabbed Bill's arm, and the images from Bill replaced the ones from Adam.
Okay, we're looking for Bill's mother here, Michael thought. The images from Bill sped by faster and faster until they were a blur of color. Michael couldn't make out anything at all. Then-bam!-one image exploded in front of him, filling his entire field of vision. Hello, Mom.
Information about her started pouring into him. Dr. Doyle broke the connection before he could absorb even a fraction of it.
"She smelled like lemons," Adam announced.
Dr. Doyle shot a look at Bill. "Yeah. She liked this lemon shampoo," Bill confirmed.
Michael felt energized and alert. He had connected with Max and Isabel many times and even used his power at the same time they'd used theirs. But he'd never connected with one of them and then used their combined power. Who knew what they'd be able to do?
"Let's try it again. This time I want you to see if you can get the code to open the door to this lab. Of course, if you do, we'll have to change it." Dr. Doyle gave a little laugh.
You should have your own HBO special, Michael thought. You're a regular laugh riot.
Just as Adam reached for his wrist, the lab door swung open. Sheriff Valenti entered, followed by the girl from the cell across from Michael's. "This is Cameron Winger, the one I told you about," Valenti informed the doctor. "I'm interested in how her parapsychological powers can be used in conjunction with their abilities." He jerked his chin toward Michael and Adam. "I assume you've devised the appropriate tests."
Parapsychological powers. Was that like ESP or what? Michael thought.
"Of course," Doyle answered quickly. "Come over here and sit between Michael and Adam."
"What's their deal?" she asked, glancing at them.
"There's no need for you to speak unless you're asked a direct question," Valenti answered.
"Fine. I'll just squeak once for yes and twice for no. How's that?" Cameron sauntered over and slid into the chair next to Michael. She glanced over at him. "What was your name again? Mickey?"
"Uh-huh. And you're Minnie, right?" he asked.
"No. The Brain. World domination meeting at midnight. My cell," she whispered, leaning a little closer.
He caught the scent of something familiar. What was it? He knew he'd smelled it before. The beach, he realized. She smells exactly like the beach. Michael had only been to the beach once in his life. The Evanses took him there on vacation once. The best week of his life. He pulled in a deep breath, trying not to be too obvious about it. Oh, yeah.
"I need to ask you not to talk to each other," Dr. Doyle told them, with an anxious look at Valenti. "I'm going to have you do some telepathy drills, and it will taint the results if you know anything about each other."
"I'll expect a full report on my desk by the end of the day," Valenti told the doctor. He turned and started toward the door.
"Dad!" Adam called out to Valenti excitedly. "Michael and I made a link, then linked to Bill. It only took us two seconds to see his mother."
"That's very good," Valenti answered in his Mr. Rogers voice.
"Yes, very good, Igor," Michael mocked.
"Watch yourself, Michael. We do have punishments for attitude problems, you know," Valenti snapped back. He stared at Michael for a moment, then walked away, pulling the doctor with him.
As he whispered orders to the doctor, Michael's anger took hold of him. The "dad" stuff was just too much. Watching Adam's boyish face as he looked admiringly at that evil man. Michael couldn't deal with it anymore; Adam had to know the truth about Daddy Valenti. What if, he thought, Adam connected to… ah, yes.
"Adam," he said impishly. "Go play the game with Daddy Valenti. I know it's not really for daddies, but I bet he'll think it's really cool."
A wide smile broke across Adam's face. He leaped up and hurled himself at Valenti. Before Valenti could react, Adam grabbed his hand.
Michael knew the second Adam made the connection. He let out a high, keening wail that Michael could feel in the center of his bones.
"If Michael had told Valenti the truth about you and Isabel, neither of you would be sitting here right now," Alex said. He glanced around the Evanses' living room. Liz, Maria, Max, and Isabel all seemed to agree.
His gaze lingered on Isabel. Why was she sitting in the armchair? The minute they'd walked in the room, she practically ran toward it. It's not like he had to be within touching distance of her every moment of the day, though he wouldn't complain. But she didn't have to avoid him.
Oh, man. What did I tell you about hanging out with Liz and Maria so much? he asked himself. You're suffering from an attack of girl brain. Guys don't analyze garbage like this. If you don't watch yourself, you're going to start actually wanting to see movies with Meg Ryan in them, and then-
"I don't know why we're even talking about this," Isabel said, pulling Alex out of his thoughts. "Michael would never give Valenti information about any of us."
"That's a little, uh, naive, don't you think?" Alex asked. "Valenti has ways of making people talk. I'm sure he could make me squeal like a pig and tell him everything he wanted to know."
"Yeah, but you're not Michael, are you?" Isabel asked.
Ooohhhh. That was harsh, even to a guy brain. Like Michael was just way more tough, or strong, or action-hero-like than Alex could ever dream of being.
Which maybe was true. But Isabel was supposed to be his girlfriend. Wasn't that supposed to mean that-
"So when are we going in after Michael?" Maria asked. Alex forced his attention back to the conversation. "It's been three days already."
"I don't think three days is long enough," Liz said gently.
"After the stone incident, they're going to be well prepared for escape attempts," Max added.
"Yeah, I think it's too soon," Alex agreed.
"You think," Isabel said. "That's all we've been hearing is what you think. What about what the rest of us think?"
It's temporary insanity, Alex told himself. Michael's practically like her brother. Cut her some slack. "Max, Liz, and Maria just said what they thought," Alex answered, trying to keep his tone neutral. "What about you? What do you think we should do?"
Isabel hesitated. "I think we should wait," she finally mumbled.
Silence filled the room. Alex could hear the clock in the kitchen ticking.
"So we'll wait," Max said at last. "We should all just be thinking of ways to get into the compound so that we'll be ready when we can do it."
Maria stood up. "I've got to get home. Mom's still in her post-divorce dating frenzy, and I want to make sure she doesn't raid my closet again."
"You want to do the bio homework together?" Liz asked Max.
"Sure," he answered, and they headed off down the hall toward his room.
Alex and Isabel were alone. Alex wished they'd all stayed in the living room awhile. Which was the opposite of the way he usually felt.
Isabel didn't make any move to come over to the couch or even look in his direction. She has to be terrified, Alex thought. Not just of what's happening to Michael, but of what could happen to her.