Nobody’s following, Tesla said.

Just get the Hill surrounded. And seal the Grove. We’re not going to get a second chance.

I’m only going to ask one more time- the leader began, but she cut him off short, slipping out of sight before he could finish his demands.

Just get the Hill surrounded. And seal the Grove. We’re not going to get a second chance.

Damn right

I’m in charge, he said.

Are you getting back-up? she said again.You’re going to need more than a few patrol cars, believe me. There’s going to be a major invasion starting from this house.

What are you talking about?

Nobody’s following, Tesla said.

He put his foot down. Two of the quartet ahead went for their guns; the other two threw themselves aside. Grillo rammed the barricade at speed. The wood splintered and broke, a piece shattering the windshield. He thought he heard a shot in the confusion but as he was still driving, assumed it hadn’t killed him. The car struck one of the patrol vehicles a glancing blow, its back end slewing around and striking another, before Grillo regained control and headed it for the open gates of Buddy Vance’s house. Engine revved, they roared up the driveway.

I doubt it, she said.I think they’ll be keeping their distance.

A man in a well-cut suit stepped into view from behind one of the vehicles. He was not, she guessed, a policeman. More likely FBI.

He put his foot down. Two of the quartet ahead went for their guns; the other two threw themselves aside. Grillo rammed the barricade at speed. The wood splintered and broke, a piece shattering the windshield. He thought he heard a shot in the confusion but as he was still driving, assumed it hadn’t killed him. The car struck one of the patrol vehicles a glancing blow, its back end slewing around and striking another, before Grillo regained control and headed it for the open gates of Buddy Vance’s house. Engine revved, they roared up the driveway.

He put his foot down. Two of the quartet ahead went for their guns; the other two threw themselves aside. Grillo rammed the barricade at speed. The wood splintered and broke, a piece shattering the windshield. He thought he heard a shot in the confusion but as he was still driving, assumed it hadn’t killed him. The car struck one of the patrol vehicles a glancing blow, its back end slewing around and striking another, before Grillo regained control and headed it for the open gates of Buddy Vance’s house. Engine revved, they roared up the driveway.

The facade of the house resembled a cake that had been left out all night in a heavy rain, the whole thing softened and thrown out of whack. There were no straight lines in the door frames, no right angles in the windows-even those at the very top of the house. The power Jaffe had unleashed here had sucked everything towards its maw, distorting the bricks, the tiles, the panes of glass; the whole house tending towards the schism. When Tesla and Grillo had staggered out through the doorway the place had been a maelstrom, but the hole, once opened, seemed to be pacified. There was no sign of further violence. There was no doubting the proximity of the schism, however. When they stepped from the car they felt its energies in the air. It made the hair on the back of their necks stand up straight, and their guts shudder. It was as quiet as the eye of a hurricane. A tremulous calm just begging to be broken.

I’m only going to ask one more time- the leader began, but she cut him off short, slipping out of sight before he could finish his demands.

Are you getting back-up? she said again.You’re going to need more than a few patrol cars, believe me. There’s going to be a major invasion starting from this house.

A man in a well-cut suit stepped into view from behind one of the vehicles. He was not, she guessed, a policeman. More likely FBI.

You’re good at that, Grillo said.

Do you want to come see? she said.

You’re good at that, Grillo said.

The facade of the house resembled a cake that had been left out all night in a heavy rain, the whole thing softened and thrown out of whack. There were no straight lines in the door frames, no right angles in the windows-even those at the very top of the house. The power Jaffe had unleashed here had sucked everything towards its maw, distorting the bricks, the tiles, the panes of glass; the whole house tending towards the schism. When Tesla and Grillo had staggered out through the doorway the place had been a maelstrom, but the hole, once opened, seemed to be pacified. There was no sign of further violence. There was no doubting the proximity of the schism, however. When they stepped from the car they felt its energies in the air. It made the hair on the back of their necks stand up straight, and their guts shudder. It was as quiet as the eye of a hurricane. A tremulous calm just begging to be broken.

Just get the Hill surrounded. And seal the Grove. We’re not going to get a second chance.

I’m only going to ask one more time- the leader began, but she cut him off short, slipping out of sight before he could finish his demands.

I’m afraid I can’t do that, Tesla replied.Just keep it off-limits, will you? We’ve got business here. Who’s in charge? she asked, feeling like a visitor from space, asking to be taken to their leader.