“How do you know?”

“I've studied his profile and I believe I can forecast the way his character would change given the circumstances.”

“What circumstances? And why would any government agencies be involved?”

“James Trask was the head of a scientific project funded by the Defense Department. About a year ago the project was scratched and Trask and the other scientists were given their walking papers. He was furious. He packed his bags, slipped away from his CIA tail, and disappeared from view.”

“Why would the CIA be tailing him?”

“Because he had information that might be useful to a foreign power. Just because we decided not to pursue the Firestorm project was no sign it wouldn't be attractive to any number of other countries.”

“Firestorm?”

“Trask was trying to develop a radio-transmitted method of spontaneous combustion. The method also transformed the molecules, which produced intense heat. He claimed he would be able to target small isolated areas or, with a larger transmitter, an entire city.” He added grimly, “Talk about scorched earth.”

“He did it, didn't he?” She was remembering the strange way the fire in Jason's house had spread. “He'd completed the project before they stopped it.”

He nodded. “He'd done it. He was working on it on his own as well as at the lab. He gave the other scientists just bits and pieces so that he was in sole control. That was why he was considered a security risk. He didn't want his work buried in a locked file cabinet somewhere. He wanted it used and credit given where it was due. After he skipped out, the lab was blown up along with all the data collected from the other team members. The orders from the White House were that the project never see the light of day.”

“It was that dangerous?”

“About as dangerous as a mutated form of smallpox set loose in a city. Only quicker. It could destroy a city the size of Atlanta in two hours. The burn would be so intense that it would be impossible to put it out.”

“Jesus.”

He nodded. “Andreas didn't want to set that kind of firepower loose in the world. It has enough weapons of mass destruction already.”

“He should have thought of that before he allowed it to be funded.”

“He can't monitor every project. It was the pet project of a group of senators who thought more is always better. They buried the funding in other bills. When Andreas learned about the project, he closed it down. But Trask already had his disks and was out of there. He was enraged, a little crazy, and bent on revenge.”

“He's been trying to sell information to a foreign country?”

“There have been leaks from sources overseas to that effect. We have info that he's been dealing with Ki Yong, one of the North Korean government's power figures. But he's not focusing his main attention in that direction at the moment.” He paused. “So far he's been targeting fellow coworkers in the project and people in government he feels have victimized him.”

“What?”

“Six project scientists have been murdered in the past year. All burned to death.”

“Why would he do that?”

“The supposition is that he thought they might be capable of duplicating Firestorm and he wanted it for himself.”

“And the government targets?”

“Revenge. Three senators and one member of the House of Representatives brought Firestorm to the attention of Andreas and convinced him it should be scrapped.” His lips tightened grimly. “So far two senators and one representative have been murdered.”

“Burned to death?”

He nodded. “And he's not been careful about isolating them when he does it. Cameron Devers was with his wife when his car went up in flames. Representative Edwards was on his way to a ball game with his little boy. Both were killed.”

“It doesn't surprise me. He didn't care about Jason or Laura.” She shivered. “He didn't care about that little baby.”

“That's right. It's just as well you get the picture straight. I told you he was a monster.”

She nodded. “You have no idea. Ugly . . . So ugly . . .” With an effort she pulled herself away from that memory. “But I don't understand how he could remain free to do that kind of damage with everyone looking for him. He'd have to have a way of stalking or setting up those kills.”

He nodded. “I agree. Unless he had help.”

“What kind of help?”

“That's one of the things we have to find out. It could be a weak link.”

“Why me? He wasn't even sure that I was going to help you. And, even if he thought I was, did he know why you wanted me in particular?”

He shook his head. “The number-one reason is that I wanted to hire you. The second reason is that he must have found out who you are and your success at your profession. That would be a threat enough for him. You put out the fires, and that makes you the enemy.”

“Yes, that would make sense. The fire is his child. . . .”

“He really thinks that way?”

She nodded. “I can see now why he might. How long has he been working with spontaneous combustion?”

“Fifteen years.”

She shook her head. “It goes back further than that. Maybe . . . twenty-five years?”

“He's only around forty.”

“It's been a long time.” She finished her coffee and stood up. “So where do we go from here?”

“Washington. He hasn't finished his death list there. Our chance of snagging him is much better.”

“I may not be able to help you, you know. I've never known how this thing works. I can't control or instigate anything.”

“You already know more than I do about him. With experience you may learn how to search him out.” He paused. “Or maybe I can help you.”

“No.”

He shrugged. “Whatever you say. I just want you to try.”

“And I don't want Jason or Laura endangered. They've been through enough.”

“I'll keep them safe.”

“I'm supposed to trust you? You have a lousy track record.”

“Okay. I'm not perfect. But I've already called Washington, and they'll have round-the-clock guards. I promise they won't be at risk. I don't want them hurt any more than you do.”

She couldn't doubt his sincerity. “Thank you.”

He shrugged. “I'm damn sorry that Trask was responsible for that baby's death. I had no idea he'd followed me to Atlanta.”

“You should have known. He regards you as a threat. He has to destroy threats that might interfere with Firestorm.” She turned away. “Now I'm calling the hospital and checking on Laura. You make reservations to Washington out of Atlanta for this evening.”

“We could arrange a private plane from here.”

She shook her head. “I have a couple things I have to do in Atlanta. And I want to pick up Sam. It's just as well if Trask thinks that I'm only an arson investigator with a very smart dog. I may seem less of a threat.”

“Good thinking.”

“Does he know about . . . what you are?”

“I doubt it. Besides, I told you that I can't get inside his head.”

“Then why does he consider you such a threat?”

“Cameron Devers was my brother.” His smile was bitter. “And Trask definitely respects the power of revenge.”

She took a deep breath as the door closed behind Silver. What insanity was she getting herself into? But it wasn't insanity. The insanity would have been to let Trask be free to wander the world and inflict that hurt and ugliness on anyone else.

So stop questioning the decision she had already made. The only thing to do was to protect herself as much as possible by finding out as much information as she could. She picked up the phone and dialed Michael Travis.

“I can't tell you how sorry I am about what happened to your brother and his wife,” Travis said when he picked up the call. “It was a terrible thing.”

“Yes, it was. I suppose Silver called you and told you what happened. Or maybe I shouldn't suppose any such thing. Maybe you had one of your psychic friends in that weird group of yours focusing on me.”