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..."