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little balder, but the same guy. He showed up here, at the ashram—not long after Fluke dropped me off.”
    “Shit. I mean, crap. He’s spotted you. He must have been at the scene this morning and followed you.”
    “It’s okay. I think he tried to get to me but it failed—incompatible talents.”
    “We can’t be sure.” The concern in David’s voice carried over the channel.
    “Yes, we can.” Fluke jumped in. “A puppet master would have made her forget seeing him—or forbidden her mentioning it. At least this one would have. How’s Johnson been living all these years? Where has he stayed? How has he gotten food, clothes, and transportation? He must have been getting people to fill his needs, but nobody’s ever reported the things stolen or bills unpaid—he’s making them forget. He wants to be invisible.”
    “That’s reassuring.” Rachel sounded relieved. Funny how he could almost feel it, even halfway across town from her. The thought of her in that monster’s power had been intolerable—for the brief instant he’d entertained it.
    “Looks like we dodged a bullet,” David returned to business. The man must have ice in his veins. His own sister might’ve been turned into a living puppet if things had gone differently.
    “We can’t count on being that lucky next time—unless you’re Fluke,” David shot him a tight-lipped grin from the neighboring chair. “Rachel, I want you to talk to the police sketch artist so we can get an updated picture of Johnson circulating out there.
    “Trina.” He addressed the team’s secretary—a normal—over the  link. “We need to dig up more data on the ‘puppet master’ talent. Especially on its limitations. I need to know how we can get to him.
    “Everyone, I need your input. Ideas? Suggestions?”
    “He tried to get to Rachel.” Fluke started thinking out loud. “Why? He might think he can use her. He might try again. I suggest that I stick close to her—increase the odds of catching him at it if he does try again.”
    “He’s not going to try for me again.” Rachel sounded annoyed. Fluke grinned to himself over that. Kind of fun, getting to the Serene Queen . She continued, “He already knows I’m no good to him as a puppet. He’ll look for someone more useful.”
    “We can’t take that risk.” Fluke cut in before David could comment—and what was he saying? Since when had he been unwilling to take any risk that came along?
    “We’re his link to the team. He obviously spotted us—Rachel and me—together at the hostage scene. He knows the team is onto him. He has to follow up, at least try to track us to a more vulnerable team member if he wants to keep the Guardians from messing up his plans.”
    A moment of silence greeted this assessment.
    “Good point,” David said at last. “We’ve got to keep someone on Rachel and Johnson’s already made Fluke. We won’t be exposing anyone new. Only problem is, he might get to you.” David shot him a piercing look, eye to eye.
    “Odds are against that,” Fluke met the look unfazed. “I doubt my talent would allow it.”
    “Don’t I get a say in this?” Rachel cut in.
    “No.” Fluke and David spoke in unison.
    ~ * ~
    Her overnight bag sat in the trunk of Fluke’s Porsche. She’d strapped herself securely into the passenger seat and closed her eyes against the rush of passing buildings as they merged onto the Interstate, heading south. “I don’t like this.” Rachel drew a long, deep breath, envisioning a golden light of pure peace surrounding her.
    “Would you rather have your friends at the ashram in the middle of this, expose them to any potential danger?”
    “No” Rachel’s breath expelled in a sigh. “No, of course not. But I hate running. I hate leaving my home, my kitchen, my familiar stuff.”
    “Aren’t yogis supposed to be detached from all that material stuff?”
    She could hear the grin in his voice, even with her eyes closed.
    “Non-attachment isn’t