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“Five in the last week in New Orleans alone.”

“Whoa. What is going on in your city, Jace?”

“My soldiers just discovered a magic waste leak nearby,” he replied. “We suspect that is the cause of the memory loss. I’ve sent in a science team to deal with the cleanup.”

“So these five people,” I said, “theyalllost their memory?”

“Yes.”

“Just like the museum curator in Magic Grove.”

Jace frowned. “You think what happened in Magic Grove is related to what’s happening here?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “But I’m highly suspicious of coincidences. This sounds like something much bigger than a magic waste spill.” I turned toward Vertigo. “Did you make that man lose his memory?”

She followed my gaze to the man dangling between the soldiers. The gates to the restricted section of the building opened, and they dragged him through.

“No,” Vertigo said.

“What about the museum curator?” Jace asked her. “She was also missing her memories.”

Vertigo shook her head. “I didn’t do that. I can’t even do that.”

Jace’s eyebrows furrowed. “You were seen talking to the curator earlier today, shortly before the Pilgrim found her wandering around without her memories.”

“All I did was ask her about the map,” Vertigo insisted. “I tracked her to some coffee shop to ask her about it. And then…” She scratched her head.

“And then?” I prompted her.

“Can’t remember,” she said breezily, like that kind of thing happened to her all the time.

Well, she wasn’t entirely in possession of all her marbles, after all.

“And just so we’re clear,” I said, “you wanted that map because…”

“I knew you’d think I was trying to escape and come after me,” she replied. “And then I could make my appeal for protection directly to you.”

I had to hand it to Vertigo. Her strategic-planning skills were sound, especially for a halfway insane person.

“So there’s someone out there, erasing people’s memories,” I said to Jace.

His chest rose and fell, but no sigh came out. “Fantastic.” His gaze cut across the room. “Lieutenant Ravenfall,” he said crisply.

She was at his side in an instant. “Sir?”

“Lead a team back to Magic Grove,” he instructed her. “Locate a woman named Gemma Henley. She is a curator at the Skyline City Museum. Bring her in for the same tests as the other amnesia victims.”

“Yes, Colonel.”

Lieutenant Ravenfall waved at the two soldiers standing guard on either side of the door. They followed her toward the stairs. Two new soldiers immediately took their places.

“You run a tight ship here, Colonel,” I commented.

His father would be proud…if Colonel Fireswift could remember to stop being an asshole long enough to be proud of his son.

“How long has Mira Ravenfall been working for you?” I asked casually.

“Two months.” Jace’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”