Page 100 of Diagnosis Attraction

Water gushed from her mouth, and he screamed in his mind as he worked,Elizabeth. For God’s sake, Elizabeth.

For horrible moments, she failed to respond. Then, he caught a glimmer of consciousness.

He kept calling her, saying her name, telling her how much he loved her.

Matt?

Right here.

What happened?

They blew up the other boat, and you went down.

He turned her over, clasping her to him, ignoring the crowd around them. But finally, their voices penetrated his own consciousness.

“Thank God.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know that would happen.” That was the woman who had directed the energy beam at the other boat.

“It’s all right. You kept them from shooting us.” That last comment came from Elizabeth, who took in the men and women around them.

You’re like us.

Yes. And we must get out of here before someone comes to investigate the explosion.

Was it safe to go with them, Matt wondered?

Yes,Elizabeth answered, and he let her faith guide him.

The men and women helped them to the van. Like the night at The Mansion. Cold and wet in a van.

Matt pulled Elizabeth into the vehicle and tried to pay attention to where they were going, but it was still hard to focus. The men and women in the van introduced themselves. In addition to Rachel Harper, they were her husband, Jake Harper, Stephanie Branson, Craig Branson, Gabriella Boudreaux, andLuke Buckley. But he wasn’t in good enough shape to focus on all the names.

He knew that they hadstopped at a shopping center. Some of the newcomers stayed in the van. Others went in and bought dry clothing. First, the men cleared out, and Elizabeth changed in the van. Then it was Matt and Luke Buckley’s turn.

The dry clothing did wonders for Matt, and he looked around at the people who had rescued them.

“How did you find us?” he asked.

“Rachel found you,” one of the men answered. “We’re all children who were born as a result of Douglas Solomon’s experiments—using fertilized human eggs he acquired from his fertility clinic.”

“We found out from Maven Bolton that he was trying to make super-intelligent children,” Matt said. “And instead, he got us.”

There were murmurs of agreement.

“And we are—what, exactly?” he asked.

“You probably figured that out, too. Telepaths who couldn’t connect with anyone on a deep level until we met someone else from the clinic,” one of the women said.

“Tell us your names again,” Elizabeth asked. “I was having trouble focusing before.”

“Understandable. I’m Rachel Harper.”

In turn, they all gave their names again.

“You were probing my mind,” Elizabeth said to Rachel. “When we were driving down here.”

“Sorry. I’m sorry if I alarmed you.”

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