HewasmomentarilyatalosstoexplainsuchaviolentreactionfromGillings,evengrantingthevalidityofLesterWelch"sa.s.sumptionthatGillingswaslosingface,financialandpersonal,onaccountofthisaffair.

Hetrieda"push"atGillings"smindtodiscoverthecovertreasonsandfoundthemanhadatightnaturalshield,notuncommonforapersoninhighposition,privytosensitivefacts.TheburlyCommissionergaveeveryoutwardappearanceofbeingcompletelyatease,asifthiswerenomorethanaroutinevisit,andnotonehintofhissurfacethoughtsleaked.Deepseteyes,barelyvisibleunderheavybrows,abovefleshycheeksinaswarthyfacethatmissednothing,flickedfromDaffydtoLesterandback.

OpOwennoddedtoTedLewis,thetoppolice"finder"whohadaccompaniedtheofficialgroup.Hestoodalittletoonesideoftheothers.Ofallthevisitors,hismindwaswideopen.ForemostwasthethoughtthathehopedDaffydwouldreadhim,sothathecouldpa.s.sthewarningthatGillingsconsideredOrley"s.e.xhibitionanotherindicationthatTalentscouldnotcontrolordisciplinetheirownmembers.

"Goodmorning,Commissioner.Iregretsuchcirc.u.mstancesbringyouonyourfirstvisittotheCenter.Thismorning"snewscasthadmadeusallextremelyanxioustoclearourprofession."

Gillings"sperfunctorysmiledidnotacknowledgethetacitexplanationofOrley"sbehavior.



"I"llcometothepoint,then,Owen.Wehaveconclusivelyascertainedthattherewasn.o.breakinstoresecuritymeasureswhenthetheftoccurred.The"lectricwardsandspyscannerwerenottamperedwithnorwasthereanyevidenceofbreakingorentering.Thereisonlyonemethodinwhichsable,necklace,dressandshoescouldhavebeentakenfromthatwindowinthefiveminutesbetweenTVscans.

"Weregretexceedinglythattheevidencepointstoapersonwithpsychictalents.WemustinsistthatthelarcenistbesurrenderedtousimmediatelyandthemerchandisereturnedtoMr.Grey,therepresentativefromCole"s."Heindicatedtheportlymaninaconservativebutexpensivegreyfitted.

OpOwennoddedandlookedexpectantlytowardsTedLewis.

"Lewiscan"t"find"atraceanywheresoit"sobvioustheitemsarebeingshielded."AsuggestionofimpatiencecreptintoGillings"sba.s.svoice."Thesegroundsareshielded."

"Thestolengoodsarenothere,Commissioner.Iftheywere,theywouldhavebeenfoundbyamembertheinstantthebroadcastwasheard."

Gillings"seyessnappedandhislipsthinnedwithobstinancy.

"I"vetoldyouIcanreadonthesegrounds,Commissioner,"TedLewissaidwithunderstandableindignation."Thestolen..."

AwaveoftheCommissioner"shandcutofftherestofLewis"sstatement.OpOwenfoughtangerattheinsult.

"You"read.a.m.nedfool,Gillings,"saidWelch,notbotheringtocontrolhis,"ifyouthinkwe"dshelteralarcenistatthistime."

"Ahyes,thatBillpendingSenateapproval,"Gillingssaidwithanunpleasantsmile.

DaffydfoundithardtonullifyresentmentatthesmugsatisfactionandnewantagonismwhichGillingswasgenerating.

"Yes,thatBill,Commissioner,"opOwenrepeated,"whichwillprotectanyTalentregisteredwithaparapsychiccenter."OpOwendidnotmissthesparkleofGillings"sdeepseteyesatthedeliberateemphasis."Ifyou"llstepthisway,gentlemen,toourremotegraphcontrolsystem,Ibelievethatwecanprove,toyourabsolutesatisfaction,thatnoregisteredTalentisresponsible.Youhaven"tbeenherebefore,Commissioner,soyouarenotfamiliarwithourmethodofrecordingincidentsinwhichpsychicpowersareused.

"Power,bytheway,means"possessionofcontrol",personalaswellaspsychic,whichiswhatthisCenterteacheseachandeverymember.Hereweare.CharlesMoorfieldisthedutyofficerandwasinchargeatthetimeoftherobbery.Ifyouwillobservethegraphs,you"llnoticethatthatperiodbetween7:03and7:08wasthetimegivenbythe"casthasnotyetwoundoutofsightonthestoragedrums."

Gillingswasnotlookingatthegraphs.Hewa.s.staringatCharlie.

"Nexttime,aimatthechestfirst,mister."

"SorryIstoppedhimatall...mister,"repliedCharlie,withsuchdeliberatemalicethatGillingscoloredandsteppedtowardshim.

OpOwenquicklyintervened."Youdislike,distrustandhateus,Commissioner,"hesaid,keepinghisownvoiceneutralwitheffort.

"Youandyourstaffhaveprejudgedusguilty,thoughyouareatthismomentsurroundedbyincontrovertibleevidenceofourcollectiveinnocence.Youarrivedhere,emanatingdisruptiveemotionsno,I"mnotreadingyourminds,gentlemen."DaffydhadallGillings"sattentionwiththatphrase."Thatisn"tnecessary.You"retriggeringresponsesinthemostcontrolledofusnottomentionthatpoorwitlesstelempathwehadtotranquilize.And,unlessyouputalidonyourunwarrantedhatredandfears,Iwillhavenocompunctionaboutpumpingyouallfulloftranks,too!"

"That"scomingonmightystrongforamaninyourposition,Owen,"Gillingssaidinatighthardvoice,hisbodyvisiblytensenow.

"You"retheonethat"scomingonstrong,Gillings.Lookatthat.

dialbehindyou."

Gillingsdidnotwanttoturn,particularlynotatopOwen"scommand,b.u.t.thereisaqualityofrighteousangerthatcompelsobedience.

"ThatregistersasHaroldOrleydoesthepsychicintensityoftheatmosphere.Themindgivesoffelectricalimpulses,Gillings,surelyyouhavetoadmitthat.Lawenforcementagenciesusedthatpremiseforliedetection.Ourinstrumentationmakesthoseearlyregistersasarchaica.s.s.p.a.ceshipsmakeoxcarts.Wehaveultradelicateequipmentwhichcanmeasuretheminutestelectricalimpulsesofvaryingfrequenciesandduration.AndthisPAdialregistersadangeroushighrightnow.Surelyyoureyesmustacceptscientificevidence.

"ThoserowsofpanelsthererecordthepsychicactivityofeachandeverymemberregisteredwiththisCenter.See,mostofthemregisteragitationrightnow.Thesereddivisionsindicateasixty-minutetimespan.Eachofthosedrums.e.xposesthegraphasofthetimeofthattheft.Noticethedifference.Notonegraphshowsthekineticactivityrequiredofa"lifter"toachievesuchatheft.Buteveryoneshowsareactiontoyourpresence.

"ThereisnowayinwhicharegisteredTalentcanavoidthesegraphs.

Charlie,wereanykineticsoutoftouchatthetimeofthetheft?"

Charlie,hiseyeslockedonGillings,shookhisheadslowly.

"Thereneverhasbeensomuchasacivilmisdemeanorbyanyofourpeople.n.o.breachofconfidence,norintegrity.NocrimecouldbeshieldedfromfellowTalents.

"Andcanyourationallybelievethatwewouldjeopardizeyearsandyearsofstruggletobecomeacceptedasreliablecitizensofindisputableintegrityforthesakeofafurcoatandastringofbaubles?WhentherearefundsavailabletoanyTalentwhomightwanttoownsuchfripperies?"OpOwen"sscornmadetheColemanwince.

"Nowgetoutofhere,Gillings.Disciplineyouremotionsandreviseyoursnapconclusion.Thencallthroughnormalchannelsandrequestourcooperation.Because,believeme,wearefarmoredetermined...

andbetterequipped...todiscovertherealcriminalthanyoucouldeverbe,nomatterwhatyourpersonalstakeina.s.signingguiltmightconceivablybe."

OpOwenwatchedforareactiontothatremarkbutGillings,hislipsthinandwhitewithanger,didnotbetrayhimself.Hegesturedjerkilytowardstheonemaninpoliceblues.

"Donotservethatwarrantnow,Gillings!"opOwensaidinaverysoftvoice.HewatchedthefranticactivityoftheneedleonthePAdial.

"Go.Now.Call.Becauseifyoucannotcontainyourfeelings,Commissioner,youhadbettermaintainyourdistance."

ItwasthenthatGillingsbecameawareofthepalpablepresenceofthosea.s.sembledinthecorridor.Awideaislehadbeenleftfree,anaislethatledonlytotheopenelevator.Noonespokeormovedorcoughed.Theforceexertedwasnotaudiblenorphysical.Itwas,however,undeniablyunanimous.Itprevailedinfortyfourseconds.

"Myfirmwillwishtoknowwhatstepsarebeingtaken,"theCole"smansaidinasqueakyvoiceashebegantowalk,witherraticbuteverquickeningsteps,towardstheelevator.

Gillings"sthreesubordinateswerenotsoindependent,b.u.t.therewasnodoubtoftheirreliefasGillingsturnedandwalkedwithprecise,unhurriedstridestothewaitingcar.

Noonemoveduntilthethwappingrumbleofthecopterwasnolongeraudible.Thentheyturnedfora.s.signmentsfromtheirdirector.

CityManagerJulianPennstrak,withametropolisofsomefourmilliontosupervise,hadahabitofcheckinguppersonallyonanydisruptiontothesmoothoperationofhiscity.HearrivedasthelastoftheorganizedsearchpartieslefttheCenter.

"I"dgivemyleftkidneyandamillioncreditstohaveenoughTalenttojudgeamanaccurately,Dave,"hesaidashecrossedtheroom.HeknewbetterthantoshakehandsunlessaTalentedofferedbut.i.twasobvioustoDaffyd,wholikePennstrak,thatthemanwantedsomehowtoconveyhispersonaldistressoverthisincident.Hestoodforamomentbythechair,hishandsomefacewithoutatraceofhisfamousgenialsmile.

"I"d"veswornFrankGillingswasproTalent,"hesaid,combinghisfingersthroughhisthick,wavyblackhair,anotherindicationofhisanxiety."HecertainlyhasusedyourpeopletotheirfullestcapabilitiessincehebecameLEOCommissioner."

LesterWelchsnorted,lookingupfromthemaphewasannotatingwithsearchpatterns."Aman"lluseanytoolthatworks...untilitscratcheshim,thatis."

"ButyoucouldprovethatnoregisteredTalentwasresponsibleforthattheft."

""Amanconvincedagainsthiswill,isofhisownopinionstill,""Lesterchanted.

"Les!"OpOwendidn"tneedsourcynicismfromanyquarter,evenonededicatedtoTalent."NoregisteredTalentwasresponsible."

Pennstrakbrightened."YoudidpersuadeGillingsthat.i.t"stheworkofanundiscoveredTalent?"

Welchmadearudenoise."He"llbepersuadedwhenweproducebothmissingpersonandmissingmerchandise.NothingelseisgoingtosatisfyeitherGillingsorCole"s."

"True,"Pennstrakagreed,frowningthoughtfully."NorthevacillatingmembersofmyownCouncil.Oh,Iknow,it"saflashreactionb.u.t.thetimingissoG.o.dd.a.m.nedlousy,Dave.YourcampaignboredownheavyontheintegrityandgoodcitizenshipoftheTalented."

"It"sadeliberatesmearjob..."Welchbegangloomily.

"Ithoughtofthat,"Pennstrakinterruptedhim,"andhadmyownexpertgooverthescannerfilms.Youknowthehighsecurityrisksetup:rotatingexposuresonthestationaryTVeyes.Oneframethemodelwasclothed;next,exposedinallitsplasticglory.

Itwasa"lift"allright.Nopossibilityoftamperingwiththatfilm."PennstrakleanedforwardtoDave,thoughtherewa.s.scarcelyanyneedtoguardhisstatementsinthiscompany."Furthermore,Patcamealong.She"read"everyoneatthestore,andGillings"ssquad.NotGillings,though.Shesaidhehasanaturalshield.Theotherswereallclean...atleastofconspiracy."Pennstrak"ssnidegrinfadedquickly."Imadehergorest.That"swhythere"snoonewithme."

OpOwenacceptedtheinformationquietly.Hehadhalfhoped...itwasanuncharacteristicspeculationforhim.However,itdidsavetimeandTalenttohavehadbothstoreandpolicechecked.

Ithadbecomegeneralpracticetohaveastrongtelepathicreceiverintheentourageofanyprominentorcontroversialpublicfigure.ThatTalentwasrarelyidentifiedpublicly.Heorsheusuallyperformedsomeobviousservicesothattheirconstantpresencewaseasilyexplicable.PatTawfikwasovertlyPennstrak"schiefspeechwriter.

"Ihave,however,"Pennstrakcontinued,"usedmyofficialprerogativetosupervisethehunt.There"reenoughsympatheticpeopleonthepublicmediachannelstoplaydowntheTalentangleatmyrequestbutyouknowwhatthiskindofadversepublicityisgoingtodotoyou,thisCenterandtheTalentedingeneral.Onerenegadecandiscreditahundredhonestinjuns.So,whatcanIdotohelp?"

"IwishIknew.We"vegoteveryavailableperceptiveoutontheoffchancethatthisahrenegadehappenstobebroadcastingjoyandelationoverherheist."

"Her?"

"Theconsensusisthatwhileamanmightliftfursandjewelspossiblythedress,onlyawomanwouldtaketheshoes,too.TopfindersarecominginfromotherCenters..."

"A"find"isreported,Boss,"saidCharlieovertheintercom."Block("AsPennstrakandopOwenreachedthemap,Welchannouncedwithagroan."Gawd,that"samultilayerapartmentzone."

"Ahavenot,"addedopOwen.

"GilGraciemadethefind,Boss,"Charliecontinued."Andthefurisnotallhe"sfoundbuthe"sgotaproblem."

"Youjustbethehas,"Lessaidunderhisbreathashegrimaceddownatthemapcoordinates.

"Charlie,sendeveryfinderandperceptivetoBlockQIftheycancomeupwithafix..."

"Boss,wegotafix,b.u.t.there"soneh.e.l.luvalotofsimilarities."

"What"stheproblem?"askedPennstrak.

"We"llsimplyhavetotakeourtimeandeliminate,Charlie.Sendanyonewhocanhelp."ThenopOwenturnedtoPennstrak."Inreportinga"find,"theperceptiveisawareofcertainparticularspatialrelationshipsbetweentheobjectsoughtanditsimmediatesurroundings.

Itisn"tasifheha.s.seentheobjectasacameraseesit.Forexample,haveyoueverenteredaroom,turneddownastreet,orlookedupquicklyandhadthefeelingthatyouhadseenjust(andDaffydmadeabracketofhishands)thatportionofthescenebefore,withexactlythesamelighting,exactlythesamecomponents?Butonlythatportionofthescene,sothattherestwasanindistinguishableblur?"

Pennstraknodded.

""Finding"islikethat.SometimestheTalentseesitinluciddetail,sometimesit"sobscuredor,asinthiscase,thereareliterallyhundredsofpossibilities...apartmentswiththesamelightexposure,samesceneoutthewindow,thesamefloorplanandfurnishings.Quitepossibleinthisinstancesincethesearefurnished,standardsubsistencedwellings.Nothingtohelp.u.s.s.ingleout,sayApartment44E,Building18,BuhlerStreet."

"TherehappenstobeaBuilding18onBuhlerStreet,Boss,"LesWelchsaidslowly,"andthereare48levels,10unitsperfloor."

PennstrakregardedopOwenwithawe.

"Nonsense,thisofficeisthoroughlyshieldedandI"mnotaprecog!"

"Beforeyouguystooktheguessworkoutofit,thereweresuchthingsashunches,"Pennstraksuggested.

ForopOwen"speaceofmindandLester"sposeofmisogyny,itwasneitherBuilding18norBuhlerStreetnorApartment44.ItwasApartment1E,deepinthecenterofQBlock.Noonehadenterednorleft.i.tbynormalmeanssinceGilGracieandtwootherfindershadmadeaprecisefix.GilhandedopOwenthemasterkeyobtainedfromtheditheringsuper.

"MyGawd,"Pennstraksaidinavoicemutedwithshockedsurprise,astheyswungopenthedoor."Likeanorientalbazaar."

"Indiscriminatepilferingonawholesalebasis."OpOwencorrectedhim,glancingaroundattherichbrilliantvelvetdrapesframingthedingywindowtothewildlyclashingpillowsthrownontheelegantEmpireloveseat.Amarbletoppedtablewasajumbleofprettyvases,silverboxesandgoblets.Pricelesschinahelddecayingremainsoffood.Underneaththetablewerejaggedlyopened,emptycansbearingthelabelofanextremelyexpensivecaterer.Twoemptychampagnebottlespointedgreen,blindeyesintheirdirection.Aportablecolor"casterwaspiledwithdiscardedclothing;ablacklacesheerbodystockingdrapedinan.o.bscenepostureacrosstheinactivescreen."Amagpie"snestrather,"hesighed,"andI"dhazardthatMaggieisveryyoungandhasbeenpoorallherlifeuntil..."HemetPennstrak"ssympatheticgaze."UntiloureducationalprogramgaveherthehintssheneededtounlockherspecialTalent."

"Gillingsisgoingtohavetoworkwithyouonthis,Dave,"Pennstraksaidreluctantlyashereachedfortheintercomathisbelt."Butfirsthe"sgoingtohavetoapologize."

OpOwenshookhisheadvigorously."Iwanthiscooperation,Julian,grudgedorwilling.WhenhereallybelievesinTalent,thenhewillapologizevoluntarily...andobliquely."

ToopOwen"sconsternation,Gillingsarrivednoisilyinthecowlikelabcopter,sirensgoing,lightsflashing.

"Don"tbothernow,"opOwensaidtoPennstrakforhecouldseetheCityManagerformingafuriousreprimand."Shemighthavebeenwarnedbythefinders"activityanyhow."

"Well,she"scertainlybeenwarnedoffnow."Pennstrakstalkedoff,toconferwithoneofhisaidesjustasGillingsstrodeintothecorridorwithhistechnicians.

AccordingopOwenandGraciethemerestnod,Gillingsbeganissuingcrisporders.Heknewhisbusiness,opOwenthought,andheevidentlytrustedthetechniciansforhedidn"tbothertocrowdintothetinyapartmenttooverseethem.

"a.s.soonasyourmenhaveprintsandaphysicalprofile,Commissioner,we"dliketorunthedatathroughourcomputer.There"sthechancethatthegirldidtakeadvantageoftheopenTalenttesttheCenterhasbeenadvertising."

"Youmeanyoudon"tknowwhoitisyet?"

"Icould"find"thecoatonlybecauseIknewwhat.i.tlookedlike,"GilGraciesaid,bristlingatGillings"smanner.

"Thenwhereisit?"andGillingsgesturedpreemptorilytothesablelessapartment.

"Thesearetheshoes,Commissioner,"saidoneofhisteam,presentingthefragilestrapandjeweledfootwear,nowneatlysealedinclearplastic."Tracesofdirt,dust,fleckofnailenamelandfromthe"scopeimprint,I"dsaytheyweretoobigforher."

Gillingsstaredattheshoesdisinterestedly."Nosignofthedress?"

"Stilllooking."

"Oddthatyoupeoplecan"tlocateagirlwithbarefeetinasablecoatandabrightbluesilkgown?"

"Noodderthanitisforyourhundredsofpatrolmenthroughoutthecity,Commissioner,tooverlookagirlsobizarrelydressed,"saidopOwenwithfirmgoodhumor."Whenyou"saw"thecoat,Gil,wherewasit?"

"Thrownacrosstheloveseat,onearmhangingdowntothefloor.Idistinguishedtheedgeofthesillandthetreeoutside,thefirstfoldsofthecurtainandthewallheatingunit.Icalledin,yousentoverenoughfinderssothatwewereabletoeliminatethesimilarities.

Ittookusnearlyanhour..."

"Wereyoukeepingan"eye"onthecoatallthetime?"Gillingsdemandedinavoicesodevoidofexpressionthathiscontemptwasallthemoreobvious.

Gilflushed,bithislipandonlypartiallyinhibitedbyopOwen"ssubtlewarning,snappedback,"Trykeepingyourphysicaleyeonan.o.bjectforanhour!"

"Getsomerest,Gil,"opOwensaidgently.Hewaiteduntilthefinderhadturnedthecorner."Ifyouareasdeterminedtofindthiscriminalasyousayyouare,CommissionerGillings,thendonotdestroytheefficiencyofmystaffbysuchgratuitouscriticism.Inlessthanfourhours,onthebasisofphotographsofthestolen.o.bjects,welocatedthisapartment..."

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