Free The Compendium by Christine Hart Page A

how much they know, but I have to assume the worst. Tomorrow, we go back to the Island, and then, up to the test site.”
    The vision went black. In a blink, I snapped back to the Pike Place Magic Shop.
    Jonah had his hand on my shoulder. He stood shielding me from view of other shoppers. “What happened? What did you see?”
    “Ivan and Waynesburg. They were meeting in San Francisco and talking about a test and a site. Ivan freaked out about the group of us poking into The Compendium . He pressured the other man for a tour of the site. I know the other man was Waynesburg because Ivan used his name,” I said, in a rush.
    “Waynesburg was the guy working on controlled seismic activity. He must be getting ready to test a piece of equipment.”
    “You mean he’s going to start an earthquake?” Disbelief came through in my shrill tone.
    “In terms of accessibility, the San Andreas fault line is a good place to trigger a seismic event. The urban development in the area would be devastated though.”
    “No! We can’t let this happen! In the vision, Ivan was cut up, spot on how I’d seen him at UBC! It could have been the present, right now! Waynesburg said the test would happen in a few weeks. We have to go now!” I turned and marched back into the stairwell.
    “Calm down, we’ve got time. It’ll only take a few days to drive to San Francisco even if we go at a leisurely pace.” Jonah followed me back the way we came.
    “Let’s go find the others now and go straight to this Josh guy. I’ll tell him why we’re early. We’ll buy an early dinner and we’ll be paying customers so he doesn’t get into trouble.”
    When I explained my unexpected vision to my friends, they readily abandoned Pike Place. The streets were even more crowded as we made our way back into the heart of Seattle. We went on foot, not expecting to find parking again near Josh’s diner. By the time we found the hole-in-the-wall where Josh worked, he was already sitting on the step outside, phone in one hand, smoking a cigarette with the other.
    Ilya approached Josh and the latter butted his cigarette on the ground. Josh wore his dark hair in messy short spikes. He had chiseled features that would have been handsome if not for the hint of menace in his dark eyes. Josh stood and the full impact of his frame hit me. He must have been at least six and a half feet tall. Ilya had to crane his neck up to look Josh in the eye. A flash of fear surged in me as the two moved to embrace. A clapped handshake transitioned to a hug and I wondered how the two had come to be such good friends. Cole stepped up next and when his fist bumped into Josh’s, I could have sworn I heard a deep metallic thud. Cole had unparalleled strength, but he wasn’t made of steel. And then I realized what Josh had been. Security.

Chapter 9
    Josh’s apartment was a disordered collection of fast food bags and boxes, dirty laundry and empty beer bottles. His few decorations consisted of war and action movie posters.
    “So, can I get you guys some beers?” said Josh as we each found seats by clearing trash off his couch and several folding chairs.
    “We’re good. We don’t want to overstay our welcome.” Jonah looked around the apartment with a look of repressed disgust and shifted in his seat.
    “Like I said in my text, we’re heading down to San Francisco. We’re tracking some dodgy stuff Innoviro set in motion. I assume you’ve heard the company went under?” Ilya happily picked through an open chip bag on Josh’s kitchen table.
    “Not in so many words, but I did get a message from the old receptionist -Melissa something-or-other - not to talk to you guys.” Josh took a sip from his beer and his days-old beard bristled.
    “Stupid bitch. Wouldn’t know right from wrong if it punched her in the face,” said Faith.
    “What my sister means, is that Melissa may or may not be in on what’s going on. If she is in the loop, then she’s condoning some pretty scary