Niki nced at Wyatt, opening his mouth, but noforting words came. Even Mirabe was stumped, so he feltpletely helpless too. The room was quiet, the silence only broken by the ring of a phone. It was Mirabe''s cell. Seeing it was a call from Zane at the school, she got up and stepped into the next room to take it.


    Niki''s eyes followed Mirabe until she was out of sight before turning back to James, guilt etched on his face. "Sorry, I''m not much help either."


    James, looking pale, replied softly, "Don''t me yourself. Some things are just beyond our control."


    "Any leads at all?" Niki asked, concern heavy in his voice.


    As they''d discussed earlier, illnesses don''t just appear out of nowhere, especially not something as unique as James''s condition.


    "None," James said, shaking his head. He picked up his coffee and gestured for Niki to do the same. "Thanks for making the trip here."


    Niki waved it off with a wry smile.


    "By the way, Niki, how''d you hear about James''s condition ring up?" Wyatt asked, ncing at James before posing the question.


    Niki was straightforward. "Dane mentioned it. He picked it up at the medical association."


    "The medical association?" Wyatt''s eyes narrowed in suspicion.


    James''s condition had roots in a mission years ago that nearly killed him, and the person responsible was never found. ording to Mirabe''s hunch, the sudden return of his symptoms suggested that someone was stirring things up again.


    Niki nodded, but due to Dane''s warnings on the way, he didn''t reveal exactly who passed along the info. Wyatt probed a bit more but didn''t push it.


    He didn''t want to doubt Niki''s


    want


    1.n


    character, but you can never be too careful. As they chatted, Mirabe returned from her call. With her back, they resumed discussing James''s condition, but after half an hour, Niki decided to head out.


    "I''ll walk you out," Wyatt said, standing to apany him.


    After sending a message off to As, Mirabe pocketed her phone. "I''ve got to run too."


    James looked at her sideways. "Just like that, leaving a sick guy behind? Doesn''t that prick your conscience?"


    Mirabe shot him a look, stood up, and said coolly, "Sorry, I don''t have one."


    James: "..."


    "I''m off." Without sparing him another nce, Mirabe, hands tucked in her coat pockets, strolled out at a rxed pace. As had just messaged her about finding some leads on Morgan''s recent activities and would be dropping off the files and surveince footage soon.


    With her mind on those matters, Mirabe took her time heading back to her apartment. Just as she was about to punch in her door code, As pulled up, parking his car at the curb and quickly heading over.


    "Miss Mira," As greeted with respect.


    "As," Mirabe nodded, "Thanks foring out."


    As shook his head with a grin, handing her a clear document bag with a USB inside. "I could only track Paul''s movements up until a week ago. After that, it''s like he vanished."


    His sudden disappearance was odd enough that As had dug a little deeper.