“I’m going into my sauna for a while.” He tightened his grip on the doorknob, eager to escape. “Please make sure that I am not disturbed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Yes, sir.”
He closed and locked the door and turned to make his way down a hall to his private spa. The white-tiled room gleamed. Hestripped off his clothes, grabbed a fluffy towel, and entered the chamber.
With its wooden walls, low, soothing light, and heated rocks, the interior of the small space looked like a traditional sauna. It could function as one, as well. But as with everything else in the art colony, there was a secret under the surface.
He sat down on a wooden bench and tapped in a code on the control panel. When he was finished he slipped on a pair of heavily tinted goggles and sat back.
The energy level in the room rose slowly but steadily. Through the darkened lenses of the goggles he watched the light come up and shift from the visible end of the spectrum to the nameless colors at the far end. It was light that only some insects, birds, and humans with a certain psychic sensitivity could perceive.
The little sparks of electricity across his senses told him the treatment was working, stimulating his body at the cellular level, repairing the damage done by the aging process.
He had begun the treatments as soon as the radiation chamber had been completed two months earlier, but he was certain he was already experiencing the effects of the light therapy. He felt more vigorous. He was sure his psychic senses were becoming sharper.
The Alchemist had come up with the answer to the old questionWhat do youoffer the man who has everything?
The answer, Trent thought, was a uniquely equipped lab, one that allowed him to tap into energy generated by the beating heart of nature. The Alchemist had made it possible for him to test his theories concerning the possibility of harnessing paranormal light to cure disease and lengthen the lifespan.
He was the first test subject.
Twenty-Four
“The useful thing about havinga dog as a partner in an investigation is that it gives you an excuse to take extended strolls at odd times of the day or night,” Luke said.
Sophy looked down at Bruce, who was ambling along the footpath next to Luke. The dog had been happy to greet them when they returned to the room and eager to go for a walk, even if it meant having to tolerate a leash. The three of them were now exploring the glowing paths that wound through the colony. There was a definite shiver of energy in the atmosphere—paranormal radiation was always strongest at night.
They were not the only guests strolling through the brightly lit garden. Most of the others were sipping cocktails or glasses of wine. The alcohol was being served free of charge at an outdoor bar set up in front of the inn.
She couldn’t stand the suspense any longer. “You haven’t told me if you were able to connect any dots after I showed you those succubus images on my phone.”
“Aside from the fact that Grant is a lousy artist, I can tell you he’s escalating. But after seeing his installation tonight we knew that. He’s obsessed with you, Sophy, and the obsession is getting worse.”
She took a breath. “Obviously. But how could Vincent be involved with what is going on here at the art colony?”
“Just another dot waiting to be connected. Tonight we’re doing recon. Getting a feel for the layout of the compound.”
“What, exactly, are we looking for?” she asked.
“I don’t know.”
“But you’ll know it when you see it?”
“That’s the plan.”
She studied the brightly lit casitas. There were eight of them, but only six showed signs of being inhabited. “I wonder if any of the artists are involved in whatever is going on here.”
“According to the brochure in the suite, the resident artists stay for only a month. When they leave, other artists take their place. The people we’re looking for are those who are here on a permanent basis.”
“That includes Trent Hatch and his security team and the employees.”
“I had a chat with the clerk at the front desk. He said that most of the employees live off-site in that little town we passed on the way here.”
“Fool’s Gold.”
“Right. He told me that the workers always go home after their shifts. He also said that employee turnover was fairly stable until a few months ago but lately several people have quit and many of the positions are vacant.”
