experience, not on vague intuitions.â
âAh, but youâre revealing a prejudice. Why isnât precognition as valid a factor as logic, experience, intellect, or common sense in making a decision? Havenât you ever had a âgut feelingâ?â
âOf course. But againâbased on experience and observation. Itâs not the same.â
âAre you sure about that?â Her color rose as she grew more animated. âItâs a paradox, Ross.â
âWhat is?â
âThe idea psi abilities cause a loss of controlâitâs actually the opposite. If you sense youâre about to trip down the stairs and break your ankle, you can take the elevator instead, right?â
She had a point. But he replied, âMaybe Iâd just trip on my shoelace and break my ankle anyway.â
Tess laughedâa long, genuine laugh. He couldnât help feeling pleased that heâd caused it. âOkay,â she said, âyouâre gonna have to buy me a drink if you want to talk about determinism.â
Ross thought heâd like nothing better than to go out for a drink, like two normal people. This is how it should have gone between them from the beginning. This is the conversation they should have had at the summit. He could admit now that heâd felt threatened by what she represented. He suspected that sentiment ran both ways.
âActually I think itâs me who owes you a drink at this point,â she continued. âWhat do you say we take care of Jake, microwave the leftover pizza, and open that bottle?â
Why not? He had to somehow work up the nerve to tell her Director Garcia was coming from Washington with an agenda of his own.
âYouâre on. But Iâll take care of Jake. You take care of the rest.â
Her expression registered surprise. âAre you sure?â
He wasnât. But he knew if he didnât do it, she would. âYes.â
âWith the glass between you,â she cautioned.
He nodded, rising from the chair. âI think heâll be more in control if you arenât there. Iâll be back. Text me if you need me.â
âI do,â she said, then laughed and turned red as her shoes as she corrected, âI mean I will.â
Â
T RUTH AND C ONSEQUENCE
----
TO: Echo Task Force
CC: Abigail Carmichael
FROM: Tess Caufield
SUBJECT: Urgent Update
CLASSIFICATION: Classified
Seattle Psi has succeeded in conducting a series of nonlethal transfers with Echo 8 (Jake Parker). Details are provided in the attached document. Be advised that transfers for depleted Echoes are still *extremely high risk.*
Iâm working on a detailed report for the administration, which I will submit for your feedback and recommendations. Please contact me with any questions.
Tess Caufield
Precognitive Specialist
Seattle Psi Training Institute
----
Â
W HEN R OSS left, Tess composed and sent her update to the task force. What she needed now was time to organize her thoughts for her report, but she didnât know when she was going to get it. Jake was turning into a full-time job. More than full-time. What would she do when it came time for bedâset an alarm to wake her every few hours?
But the truth was she never slept more than a few hours at a stretch anyway. Last night with Ross was the first time sheâd slept a whole night through in as long as she could rememberâthough it hadnât exactly been a natural sleep.
By the time Ross returned she had reheated the pizza and poured the wine. He helped her carry the plates and glasses to the sofa.
âHowâd it go?â she asked.
âFine. Heâs stopped being such a prick. I think the last encounter wore him out.â
She nodded. âHonestly I suspect heâs bipolar. I wish I could do more to help him.â
âYouâre doing a lot. Heâs alive because of you.â
âIâm not sure heâs grateful for
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