Page 56 of Boxed In

The warrior ignored her. Luke could feel the man’s concentration focusing as he stroked his fingers lightly over the keyboard, and Luke felt him connecting with the computer in a way that should have been impossible. It was like he was sending his mind into the chips that ran the processor—and from there into the World Wide Web, the vast network of electronic information accessible from computers around the world.

Luke was an expert at searching the Web. But that was when he knew what he was looking for. In this case, he was sure that putting “Moon Priests” into a search engine wouldn’t get him very far.

Olivia stood behind Luke, silently watching.

With no other option, he surrendered to the warrior, letting him use Luke’s skill in ways he hadn’t known existed, sorting through information with superhuman speed, probing and rejecting. As he worked, he felt the warrior’s awe at the new technology as well as his skill.

This is amazing. This connection to the world. It is hard to hide anything.

Luke laughed inwardly. Yeah. It’s an advantage, but it can also be a curse. Newscasters across the country may take their focus off a war and zero in on a local murder.

But from this machine, you can find out anything. You just have to choose. The warrior spoke inside Luke’s head, even as he kept searching.

Almost anything. Where did you learn to work with it?

From you, the warrior answered.

You’re doing things I can’t.

Zabastian gave an inward shrug. You could, if you had learned the mental discipline I studied. It doesn’t matter how I do it. The important thing is the doing.

Luke felt like he was in the backseat of a speeding truck, with no control over where they were going. And knowing they might crash at any minute. He was pretty sure that too much of this high speed searching might give him a stroke. But he prayed it would be over soon and hung on as best he could.

The warrior paused at a Web site on “Crystal Children.”

What’s that? Luke asked as he scanned a few paragraphs.

The site seemed to be describing special children born in the past few generations. Children who could change the world because their abilities were beyond those of ordinary men and women.

It is very interesting. Perhaps you are one of them.

Me? How?

We do not have time for it now, the warrior said, and they sped on again.

Finally another Web address leaped into Luke’s consciousness, and he typed it into the browser.

The screen blacked out as though the address were going to turn off the computer or try to send a virus.

He started to curse. Then the screen brightened again as a message came up.

“This site is password protected. Entrance is only for subscribers.”

Now what? Luke asked.

oOo

A van pulled up in front of Olivia’s apartment. The name on the side advertised a local cleaning service. A man in gray coveralls got out, carrying some cases with equipment. He checked the address, then walked around the side of the building.

But he stopped short when he saw the broken sliding glass door. Most of the small safety glass pellets had already dropped to the ground. But a few more tinkled to the cement patio as he spoke into an almost invisible microphone clipped to the lapel of his coveralls.

“There’s been a break-in here,” Brand Marshall said to Frank Decorah, who was waiting in the van.

Since talking to Beth, he and Frank had accessed the tapes of the shoot-out in the garage.

The action had been riveting. And it was clear that only Luke’s quick thinking and Olivia’s bravery had gotten them out alive. Frank had assumed that Luke wouldn’t have allowed Olivia to go home after the attack. But he’d wanted to check out her apartment for clues.

“It’s likely the same guys,” Brand said. “Do I go in?”

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