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“And he knows of your special, ah, talents?”

“That I’m a witch, psychic, and distant viewer?”

“And cutie pie.”

“Aww, thanks Sam. And yes, he’s seen enough evidence to know.”

“Is that okay with you?” I ask. “I could always make him forget.”

“Well, if I’m going to be in a committed relationship, I have to be me, right? How could I ever hide any of this, especially the cutie pie part?”

“Push for more,” I suggest.

“Well, I tend to let the man lead,” says Allison. “If he wants to see me more or wants more, we can talk. Otherwise...”

“Otherwise you’re fine hanging out with me and my brood.” I pick up that last part from her own thoughts.

“Exactly, Sam. I may not have a family of my own, but I’d like to think I’m part of yours.”

I reach out and take her hand. “A big part of mine, sweetie.”

“Why are you being so nice to me, Sam?”

I stare down into my glass. It’s evening and we are out of the direct glare of the sun, which always makes me feel a little more comfortable. “I think I wasn’t always the nicest to you in the past. I didn’t appreciate what a great friend you were. I guess, now I do. You’ve been such a tremendous help to me on my cases. I mean, think about how many different baddies we’ve taken on. And you never complain. You only seem to want the best for me. It took a while, but I’ve finally come around.”

“So, you don’t think I’m needy anymore?”

“I think you acted needy because I kept rejecting our friendship, which, I think, caused you to push harder.”

“A sick circle,” she says, nodding. “But I knew a good friend was in there. I wouldn’t give up on you.”

“And if you had, we wouldn’t have this,” I say, motioning to the deck, the wine, and our view.

“Well, we wouldn’t have it together,” she adds.

I decide it’s time to change the subject. “The more I think of it, the more I’m beginning to believe Norm might be a dark master in disguise.”

“Because of the possessing thing?”

“And the controlling thing. Back in San Diego, I got a glimpse of Norman trying to fight his way through the control. It was terrible. I felt sorry for him.”

“Be careful what you wish for and all that?” she says.

“Right. He wanted to be able to access information.”

“But he got a whole lot more than that.”

“Reminds me a bit of Fang,” I say. “He wanted to be a vampire, but now that he is one, he’s at the mercy of his dark master.”

“But he’s got a good dark master,” says Allie.

“Not sure there are any good dark masters. What he has is an agreement with his. He lets the guy out, gives him control of his body, and in exchange, his dark master doesn’t take him over completely.”

Allison snaps her fingers. “Maybe that’s the answer for Norman the man. Maybe he and the AI just need an agreement of sorts.”

I nod, sipping my wine. “Yeah, maybe.”

“But we have to find him first,” she adds. “And lord knows I’m trying.”