dream made no sense to me, but the first thing I did was ask Abby whether sheâd seen you. It could just be a coincidence, though, couldnât it?â
âAbsolutely. Thatâs why we conduct studies rather than relying on anecdotal evidence. But if youâve had a lot of hunches play out in a similar way, Iâd call that psi. Would you say you have?â
She lifted the wine bottle from the coffee table and refilled their glasses. Ross let out a sigh.
âYeah, I would.â
âBut you donât always trust them. You didnât forbid me from going into the lab.â
His jaw dropped as he turned to stare at her. âI absolutely did. You just told me why I was wrong and did it anyway. Iâm pretty sure your special ability is always getting your way.â
She laughed so hard she had to set down her glass. He handed her his napkin so she could wipe wine from her chin.
âIâve second-guessed myself a lot here,â he continued in a more sober tone. âItâs part of the reason I thought I should leave.â
âCalmer, nonemotional states are more conducive to success with psi. Weâve been under a lot of strain.â
She studied his profile. He was clearly uneasy about all this.
âListen,â she said, âit doesnât matter what you call itâprecognition, good instincts, intuitionâitâs part of you, and itâs a good thing. Youâre lucky to have it. We can definitely help you enhance it. If you learn to use it more consistently, more confidently, it will help you in your job.â
âWell, it sounds like Iâm not going to have any choice about that. Weâll see what the director says when he comes.â He set his glass down and angled toward her. âYou told Jake this morning that your mother had psi ability.â
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
It didnât occur to him that he was more buzzed than he should be off two glasses of wine until he watched Tessâs face fall and remembered this was something she didnât like to discuss.
âYes,â she said quietly, shifting her gaze to the coffee table. âNot as strong as yours I donât think.â
âYou were close to her?â
She gave a slow nod.
âJake told meâ¦â Bad idea, McGinnis .
âJake told you what?â
Ross believed this discussion needed to happen. But he was keenly aware of the risk of mangling it.
âWe had a strange conversation right before you came down the last time,â he began carefully. âHe told me heâd learned some things about youâabout both of us, actuallyâduring the energy transfer. He was worried about something that had happened in your past. He was worried the risks you were taking had to do with whatever it was.â
She sank back against the couch, crossing her arms over her chest. âAre you sure this is your business, Ross?â
âIâm sure itâs not . But as the person assigned to keep you alive, it would help me to know whetherâ¦â He trailed off, feeling less and less sure of himself. âI know you carry a lot of pain, and not because I have psychic abilities. I doubt it will come as a shock to you that the Bureau has a file on you, and that Iâve read it. I know about your motherâs death. I know about the meds. I know you were hospitalized for depression when you were a teenager.â
Her voice trembled as she replied, âYou may have been in my file, but that doesnât make it okay for you to go fishing around in my head.â
Mission mangled . He rose from the sofa and took a step away, trying to compose his thoughts over the effects of both the wine and the energy transfers.
âYouâre right,â he said. âItâs not my business, and Iâm sorry. Really all I need to say is this: If you push me to a choice between you and Jake again, Jakeâs going to lose. What happened with him
authors_sort
S Mazhar
Karin Slaughter
Christine Brae
Carlotte Ashwood
Elizabeth Haydon
Mariah Dietz
Laura Landon
Margaret S. Haycraft
Patti Shenberger