Chasing Power (Hidden Talents) Read Online Free Page A

went after any Doberman dumb enough to wander into its territory.
    What could the Corp want with a girl like this?  He knew exactly who her attacker was, a man by the name of Garret Stone.  Stone was high up in the Corporation, acting as something they called an “expediter”, a jack-of-all-trades whose sole purpose was to do those special, dirty, odd jobs requiring care and precision.  The Corp tended to send him after bigger prey; he didn’t typically mess around with rookies.
    And she was a rookie, no doubt about that.  The library books—laughable, honestly.  Talk about grasping at straws.  Even clearer, she had no idea how in hell to use her power.  The Corp didn’t normally mess with rank beginners.  They left the rookies alone to muddle through transition, coming in later for the pitch or the elimination.  What was so special about this girl that they were willing to break their own rules and move in before her abilities had settled?  
    Reaching the faded blue sedan he’d called his own for the past four years, Lane opened the door and carefully laid her down on the back seat.  He slid into the driver’s seat and fired up the engine.  Turning the radio off, he took a few deep breaths, waiting for the adrenaline to wear off.  Lane had dealt with his share of hairy situations, but this was only the third time he’d ever been dragged into a physical fight, and the first he’d done it by himself.  And he rarely used his powers so aggressively.  With so many rash decisions made already, he’d have to start thinking things through more carefully.
    Technically, all he had to do was keep an eye on this Samantha girl until Jacobs finished his vacation and got his rear back into town.  That was the deal— N.T.U. paid for his schooling, and in return Lane acted as an assistant for Jacobs, who kept tabs on all Southern California talents and initiated the rookies.  Lane personally wasn’t qualified to introduce a new talent to their world.  He lacked the training, and his real interests lay in researching talents, not babysitting them.  It was Jacobs who was trained in this, Jacobs with the expertise—and the powers—to manage rooks like this one.  So far, Lane reflected, he was doing a pretty poor job of filling in for his superior. 
    Releasing her, though, would be a death sentence in the best case.  There were stories about what the Corp did to unwilling converts.  “Brain monkey” was one popular phrase that came to mind.
    Prioritize , Lane thought.  Figure out the priorities.   In this case, keeping her alive.  In order to do that, I have to, one, keep her away from the Corp and, two, keep her from accidentally killing herself.  Right, piece of cake.  Lane sighed and looked in the rear-view mirror.  Samantha had uncurled a little in the back seat, snoring softly. 
    He couldn’t do this.  He didn’t have the power necessary to stop Stone or the rest of the Corp.  Her best chance was with Jacobs, whose abilities were stronger than Lane’s.  But Jacobs wasn’t here.  After two years worth of solid work, the man had been on the verge of a nervous breakdown.  So N.T.U. had given him a sabbatical, sent him to Las Vegas.  And now he wasn’t answering his phone.
    So Lane would just have to track him down.  Vegas wasn’t that big, not if you were a Talent. 
    He put the sedan into drive and pulled onto the street.  Flying was out.  Definitely out, since he knew the Corp had downed more than one talent in a fiery ball of wreckage.  That left only one choice: driving.
    Lane glanced in the rear-view mirror and thought of the fight the girl had just put up.  He tried to avoid interfering with others’ emotions as much as possible, but when he did, it normally stuck.  If those shake-offs were any indication, it was going to be a long trip.  Not to mention the all too probable fact that the bad guys were going to lay chase.  And that she wasn’t going to be too inclined to