Chapter 2

Topher leaned back in his seat after the remote wipe took effect. "That's taken care of," he said. "Now all we gotta do is hope they don't discover the mike."

"Why not?" asked Adelle.

"Because that's the only way we'll be able to track Echo down," he said. "I did try to get you to invest in implantable microchips but for whatever reason you decided it wasn't a good idea."

Adelle rolled her eyes. "Just keep tracking her as long as you can, Topher. Please."

"If you say so," Topher said, watching the progress of Echo's tracker as she was driven up the 5 through the mountains.

While Jane drove back to Sacramento, Lisbon searched Echo and discovered nothing more incriminating than a tiny microphone wired to the neckline of her red dress. "Hmm," she said. "Who's listening in on us, huh?"

Echo blinked rapidly in fear. "No...why is that on me?"

Fang growled low in his throat. "This bitch isn't gonna tell us anything," he said. "Not until we take her back to her owners."

"Her owners?" Jane asked.

"Rossum Corporation, or whoever it is Roland told you guys about," Fang said. "We need to take her home now."

Lisbon poked at the tiny mike until she noticed a small chip on its underside. "Who says we need to take her home?" she asked. "We could just leave this chip somewhere and lure them into a trap when they come and collect her."

Fang considered. "I dunno," he said. "It sounds like a bad idea. You guys could get killed in crossfire or something. Come to think of it, so could I." He thought about it a bit longer. "Hang on a second...what if I took the mike with me and went separate from you guys? I'd demand to be taken to their leader or whatever."

Lisbon frowned. "Fang, you're only a child. I don't know if I could allow you to just give up your life like that."

"Who says I'd just give up my life?" he pointed out. "I'm much stronger than most children, if you hadn't noticed." Without another word, he took the chip, opened the window, and slid outside, spreading his wings and flying in the opposite direction.

"Tenacious," said Jane, briefly watching Fang fly away in his mirror.

"For the last time," said Rigsby, "if you're not Caroline Farrell, who are you?"

"I only know one name," she said miserably. "I'm Echo. Where's my handler? Am I gonna get a treatment soon?"

Rigsby stared, confused. "Treatment? So you know you're insane?"

"Insane?" asked Echo. "No. I'm perfectly healthy. Dr. Saunders makes sure of that."

"And where can I find this Dr. Saunders?" asked Rigsby.

"I don't know," said Echo. "Some big city, I can't remember what it's called. Lows Angles, I think?"

Rigsby left the room and made his way over to Lisbon. "I dunno, boss," he said. "This woman seems to be in some kind of childlike state. Maybe split personality? Fugue? Either way, I'd declare her non compos mentis, any judge would do the same."

Lisbon sighed. "Well, hopefully Fang will be able to get us some answers on that little mission of his."

"Mission? What mission?"

"Don't ask," said Lisbon. "The less people who know, the better."

Down in Los Angeles, a tall young man with black hair and dark brown eyes woke up in a dentist-office-type reclining chair with a weird raised headrest that actually surrounded the skull rather than cushioned it. He looked up at an eerily pale-skinned brunette woman. "Did I fall asleep?" he asked.

"For a little while," the woman said in a British accent.

"Shall I go now?" asked the man.

"If you like," the woman answered. She watched the man leave the room and turned to Topher. "Well done, this," she said. "Now could you possibly take the memories and actually read them?"

"Of course, Adelle, boss-woman, chief-tastic pooh-bah," Topher rattled off. "Just need another Active to implant the memories into and we'll be good to go."

Adelle turned to the door. "Got one already. Victor?" she called out, and the door swung open to admit another young man, this one considerably stockier and shorter than the one who had just left.

"Who was that?" Victor asked. "Never saw that guy before."

Topher smiled. "His name is X-Ray," he said. "You guys are gonna become very friendly soon. But first, your treatment." Victor sat in the chair and it reclined backwards before the lights on the headrest activated, and the memories of X-Ray - the boy formerly known as Fang - flooded into Victor's head.