Page 19 of Secret Spark

The weightlifters moved toward them, cautious but intent. Joan moved into a fighting stance, ready to throw a couple of punches if need be.

Melvin narrowed his eyes at the men, and they stopped. Then he held out a hand, moving it across where the women scampered about. “Let’s have no more of that,” he told them. “Settle down.”

They quieted, going slack.

“Everyone was having a good time until you showed up,” Melvin said.

“Can’t you get your jollies doing something else?” Joan said, relaxing her stance. “They’re not your playthings, Mel?—”

She halted before saying his name. There were some things that just weren’t done. No exposing true identities, (mostly) not using powers against each other. Honor among thieves.

Melvin sneered at her. “I would’ve liked to get in on that shipment of gold bars you hauled in last week.”

Figures that he’d found out about that. “We don’t share everything,” Joan said.

“Gold bars,” he emphasized. “That’s something you share.”

“Maybe if you showed up to one of Breeze’s weekly meetings once in a while…”

“They’re boring.”

“That’s fair,” she had to agree.

“I’ll come if we can discuss my plan. You three are an integral part. It only works with all of us.”

“Then think of a new plan.”

“I’ll bring donuts,” he said, like that would make everything right.

The women inched closer, drawn to him, and gently pawed at his shoulders and arms. A camera flashed through one of the windows. Shit, there were non-mind-controlled people gathering outside.

“Can we get out of here?” Joan said. “We’re drawing a crowd.”

Narrowing his eyes at the front windows, Melvin said, “Way to ruin my fun.”

He started to raise a hand to direct his thoughts, only the door flew open to Catch demanding, “Stop your wrongdoing this instant, Trick and Spark.”

Great. Darlene was the literal worst.

She stalked toward them. Joan fisted her hands while Melvin pushed the women in front of him and ran for the back exit.

“Really?” Joan yelled at him. Then she said to Catch, “Go after him. He’s the one?—”

Catch weaved between the women, intent on Joan.

“I’m not doing anything. Trick’s the one messing with people.”

“What do you want from these honest citizens?” Catch said.

“To get away from them,” Joan said. The women were coming out of their stupor and would start screaming again. She took a step back to prepare for Darlene’s onslaught and?—

Shit!Her foot caught on the base of a tall exercise machine and she tumbled into it, slamming her shoulder on the way down. Pain shot through her, making her swear.

She tried to straighten and barked at Catch, “Go get Trick. He ran out the back.”

“Your diversion doesn’t fool me.” Catch held her palms out ’cause she’d take any flames thrown at her and give them right back. Totally unfair.

“What diversion? Look at these people. They’ve obviously had their minds messed with.”

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