Page 5 of Rarely Pure and Never Simple
"Because Blaze is a tracker in the normal human sense and has other talents that will assist Damien in his search."
"Blaze?" Damien's twitch evolved into a full-fledged jerk backward. "Blaze Emerson? I'm not working with an unstable bounty hunter."
"Unstable?" Blaze lifted a hand, calling the flame to his fingertips, where the little points of blue white heat danced for him on command. "I'm as stable as they come, buddy boy. The sanest variant you'll ever meet. But maybe I don't want to work with some twitchy neurotic."
Rather than protest or sulk, Damien turned away from him as if he had never spoken. "Dr. Parma, I prefer working alone."
She reached a hand out, then hastily pulled it back when Damien edged away. "We know. But there may be hazards you never encountered in your previous cases. If the situation becomes dangerous, if there are well-armed kidnappers involved, you should have backup. As a licensed tracker, Blaze comes with the experience of a private investigator and the benefit of a legal arsenal on his person."
"But—"
"You're already on a ragged edge, Damien. You need an extra set of eyes, someone to help put the pieces together. Even if it's only so you can sleep." Dr. Parma closed her eyes on a little sigh. "You'll have to fly to the west coast. There's no time to spare for an overland trip."
Blaze kept silent and still throughout this exchange, one eyebrow cocked in speculation. So, yes, there would be some babysitting involved but with the promise of detective work as well. He could live with that. There were also things Dr. Parma wasn't saying, but it wouldn't be the first time. He could live with that, too.
"Any one of us could do that better, Dr. Parma." Sledge started in on his protests again, his hand already on his palm phone to start issuing orders, apparently. "More reliably. Send Shepherd with him or even Fox, if that's all you need."
Dr. Parma glared at Sledge until he put the phone down. That idiot might have carried the title of Guild President, but he sure as hell didn't run the show. "It's not all Damien needs. For instance, if he's to work successfully with someone, it needs to be someone who won't be judgmental."
Sledge pointed down the table. "But that cretin already called Hazelwood a neurotic! That's not judgmental?"
"Damien has certainly heard the word before. But he doesn't need people distracting him with their disapproval of his choices. His non-Guild status."
You're awful protective of him, Doc. What's going on there?
"Blaze? Will you take the contract?"
He stood and shrugged to settle his shoulder holster more comfortably. "I will if he'll agree to it. Hazelwood, I'm not some reward-crazy greedo like the press wants to paint me. I'm a professional. If I promise to keep you safe, you'll damn well be safe."
Dark eyes met Blaze's for the first time. They bored into him, making him fight to stand still as he felt himself weighed, measured, and sifted. "All right. We'll try it. If I find I can't work with you nearby, I can always go on alone."
"That's all we ask," Dr. Parma said gently. "Thank you, gentlemen. Damien, you'll find all the information we have in the wafer drive in your folder. Please see the bursar on your way out. Blaze, the usual arrangements have been made."
With that, she dismissed them but held a hand up to keep Blaze behind. They both waited for Sledge to storm out before Dr. Parma met Blaze at the windows.
"That's a lot of kids, Doc," Blaze murmured at the city below. "What the fuck is going on?"
"I wish I knew." She shook her head, her reflection half in shadow. "Children go missing from time to time. It happens in any population. One child, two, even three at once we could dismiss as runaways or misfortune. But forty? And no one knows anything? Something is very wrong, Blaze. Very wrong."
He turned toward her with a frown. "That's why you called in outsiders, is it? That Hazelwood guy. Me. 'Cause you don't know who the hell you can trust?"
It took her a few breaths to answer, probably sifting through what and how much to tell him. "Partly, yes. But Damienisthe best person for this job. His talents are unique and proven. As are yours. Damien's instincts are excellent, but he doesn't have the training of a licensed tracker or your experience. Also, there are few people Damien can tolerate in close proximity."
"Yeah, kinda got that much. But picking me doesn't make much sense.Mostpeople don't tolerate me."
She laughed softly and patted his arm. "Well, I like you. And I've known Damien a long time. I have a good feel for who would work best with him."
Oh, Doc. I know you're not saying things. That little twitch in the corner of your eye's a huge tell. But fuck me if I know what things. "Uh-huh."
"Mostly a feeling, but psychoactive variants like Damien tend to be better grounded by certain elemental variants like you. Trust me on this." Dr. Parma lifted her head to meet his gaze. "I need you to remember that this is Damien's case. He'll share details as he sees fit, and his primary focus has to stay on tracking. Your primary focus is to guard against everything else while he does and pick up on those human cues he might miss. I don't need to tell you to be careful of everyone. Your natural distrust of people already does that."
He cocked his head at her. "Conspiracies."
"Possibly. Be careful."
Blaze gave her a sketchy salute as a goodbye and caught up to Hazelwood at the elevator. File clutched to his chest, the locator wedged himself into the back corner, gaze fixed on the number display as if the flashing digits held some dark secret.
"They have you at the usual place?" Blaze asked.
