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soldiers will be just outside your door. Otherwise, take a load off and relax. Watch some TV.”
    Ellie tried not to look at her shadow again, but glanced anyway, and found the dark eyes trained right back on her.
    “He’s not telling you something,” the shadow said.
    “And we’re renovating,” he added, ignoring the commentary. “A wraith tore the place up over a year ago, so you’ll see some unfinished mess here and there. Stuff is being hauled around as people move back in. Do you know about wraiths?”
    “Yes,” Ellie said. Was that what he was hiding? The existence of wraiths? Or was it something else? If her dark half had sensed an intent to harm, she wouldn’t be so attached to him.
    “Monsters of the modern age,” he continued. “Their physiology is actually very interesting. If you’ve been following the news, you’ll have seen some reports, though you’ll get better information online.”
    They pulled up to the back of the big white building. The passenger side soldier jumped out before the jeep came to a full stop.
    “Here we are,” Dr. Kalamos said. “Let’s get you in and settled.”
    The soldier used a keycard to open an outer door that led to a small atrium where they halted. Her shadow walked through the next door, while they waited for security to clear them. When the second lock released, Ellie found herself in a hallway lined with more soldiers. In the doorways were Segue staff members, getting a load of her shadow, who was grinning back and loving the attention. Pleased as punch, Ellie thought the expression went. None of the spectators seemed scared of her shadow.
    People, people everywhere. Men and women, different ages. Ellie felt exposed and naked, which she was in every sense. A freak for their inspection.
    An older man bent his head to a fellow staff member. “Observe: The light should highlight planes on the body and darken others, but it is movement and interest on the shadow’s part that affects her appearance.”
    Ellie needed to get out of here.
    “Ms. Russo,” Dr. Kalamos said, gesturing to the speaker. “This is my team leader, Dr. Leonard Shelstad.”
    Dr. Shelstad was older, tall and thin, with a long chin. Ellie guessed she was supposed to shake hands—normal people did that—so she wiped her damp palms on her slacks and held out her right. Leonard Shelstad only gave her a dry squeeze, so maybe she had the greeting wrong. She’d only shaken hands once before, and that was a long time ago.
    Her shadow hissed. “I don’t like him.”
    Ellie didn’t either.
    A couple of the other staff members in the corridor murmured, but Ellie couldn’t tell where the sound was coming from. The atmosphere was tense, but with keen interest and a healthy wariness. The fear was all hers.
    “It’s nice to meet you,” Ellie said to make up for her dark half’s rudeness.
    Shelstad stretched his mouth into a maybe, maybe-not smile.
    “This way,” Dr. Kalamos said, taking Ellie’s upper arm to coax her down the hallway. His hand was warm and strong, so her shadow let out a wheezy sigh and trailed close on their heels. Two soldiers followed her shadow.
    Ellie was glad to be on her way. She’d take the wraith cell now, and happily. She wanted to be alone. Too many people. Too many eyes and voices.
    Dr. Kalamos was right about the renovation. The first rooms they passed through had wires poking out of the ceiling and smelled of paint. In the greater spaces beyond, large boxes and crates waited to be opened. The floor was covered with protective plastic. A couple industrial dollies rested against a wall. The place was obviously in flux.
    But the elevator was working, and took them up two floors to a comfortable one bedroom apartment. Everything—the red sofa, coordinating chair, deep chocolate table, even the fireplace—looked new and modern. Nothing like the well-worn dump of her farmhouse. Gran had made it homey when Ellie was growing up, but Ellie hadn’t done anything