"Butnotthecriminal,whoisstillinpossessionofasablecoatwhichyoufoundoncebuthavenowunaccountablylost."
"That"senough,Gillings,"saidPennstrakwhohadrejoinedthem.
"Thankstoyourarrival,thegirlmustknowshe"sbeingsoughtandisshielding."
Pennstrakgesturedtowardthedingywindowsoftheflat,throughwhichthevanesofthebigcopterwerevisible.Agroupofchildren,abandoningtheknown.o.bjectsofthedevelopmentplay-yard,hadgatheredatarespectful,butcuriositysatisfyingdistance.
"Consideringthevarietyofheraccomplishments,"opOwensaid,notaboveusingPennstrak"sirritationwithhisCommissionertoadvantage,"I"msuresheknewofthesearchbeforetheCommissioner"sarrival,Julian.Haveanyoftheseitemsbeenreported,Commissioner?"
"Thatconsolewas.Twodaysago.Itwason"find,"too."
"Shehasbeengrowingsteadilybolder,then,"opOwenwenton,depressedbyGillings"satt.i.tude.AnddepressedthatsuchaTalenthademergedtwisted,perverted,selfish.Why?Why?"Ifyourdepartmentevergetsthechronologyofthevariousthefts,we"dappreciatethecopy."
"Why?"GillingsturnedtostareatopOwen,surprisedandirritated.
"Talenttakestimetodevelopinordinarypersons.Itdoesnot,liketheancientG.o.ddessAthena,springfullgrownfromtheforehead.Thisgirlcouldnot,forinstance,haveliftedthatportablesetthefirsttimesheusedherTalent.Themoredatawehaveon...thelectureisilltimed."
Gillings"sunspoken"yousaidit"didreachopOwenwhoseturnitwastostareinsurprise.
"Well,your"finders"arenotnovices,"theCommissionersaidaloud.
"Iftheytracedthecoatonce,whynotagain?"
"Everyperceptivewehaveissearching,"opOwensaid."But,ifshewasabletoleavethisapartmentafterGilfoundthecoat,takingitwithher,becauseitobviouslyisnothere,shealsoiscapableofshieldingherselfandthatcoat.And,untilsheslipsthatguard,Idoubtwe"llfinditorher."
Thereportonthelaboratoryfindingswas.e.xhaustive.Therewasafullsetofprints,footandfinger.Nonematchedthoseonfileinthecityrecords,orFederalorImmigration.ShehadnotbeentestedattheCenter.Longcoa.r.s.eblackhairhadbeenfound.
a.n.a.lysisofskinflakessuggestedanolivecomplexion.
Thermophotographyplacedherlastappearanceintheroomatapproximatelythetimethefour"finders"fixedonherapartment,thussubstantiatingopOwen"sguess.Thethermalprintsalsorevealedthatshewasofslenderbuild,approximately5"4",weighing105pounds.
StainsonaparingknifeprovedhertopossessbloodtypeO.Nooneelsehadoccupiedtheapartmentwithintheeightdayrangeofthethermographyused.
Fromsuchrecords,thepoliceextrapolatormadearoughsketchof"MaggieO"whichshewascalledforwantofabettername.Thesketchwastakenaroundtheneighborhoodwithnosuccess.PeoplelivinginBlockQ_didn"tbotherpeoplewhodidn"tbotherthem.
ItwasDaffydopOwenwh.o.r.ememberedthechildrencrowdingthepolicecopter.Fromthemheelicitedtheinformationthatshewasnewinthebuilding.(Therecordsindicatedthattheapartmentshouldbevacant.)Shewasalwayssinging,dancingtothewall"caster,andchangingherclothes.Occasionallyshe"dplaywiththemandbringoutrichfoodtoeat,promisingtheycouldhavesuchgoodthingsifthey"dthinkhardaboutthem.Whilethechildrentalked,Daffyd"saw"Maggie"sfacereflectedintheirminds.
Thepoliceextrapolatorhadbeenfarshortofthereality.Shewasnotmucholderthanthechildrenshehadplayedwith.Shehadnotbeenprettybyordinarystandardsbutshehadbeenso"different"thatherimagehadregisteredsharply.Thenarrowface,thebrillianteyes,slightlyslantedabovesharpcheekbones,thethin,smallmouthandthepointedchinwereunusualeveninanareaofethnicvariety.
Thislikenessandaphysicaldescriptionwerecirculatedquicklytobeusedatallexitstothecityandalltransportationfacilities.Itwaslikelyshe"dtrytoslipoutduringthedayendexodus.
Thesouthandwestairstripshadbeenunderaperceptivesurveillancesincethesearchhadbeeninaugurated.Noweveryfacilitywasguarded.
GilGracie"found"thecoatagain.
"Shemusthaveitinasuitcase,"hereportedonthepoliceprovidedhandunitfromhispositioninthemainrailroadconcourse."It"sfoldedandsurroundedbydark.It"smovingupanddown.b.u.t.there"resomanypeople.Somanysuitcases.I"llcirculate.Maybethefind"llfixitself."
GillingsgaveorderstohisteamsonthemasterunitwhichhadbeensetupintheCenter"scontrolroomtocoordinatetheoperations.
"YoubettertestGilforprecog,"CharliemutteredtoopOwenafterthey"dcontactedallthesensitivities."Heaskedforthestation."
"Youshould"vetoldmesooner,Charlie.I"d"veteamedhimwithasensitive."
"Lookatthat,"Charlieexclaimed,pointingtoawildlymovingneedleononeoftheremotes.
LeswasbesideitevenastheaudiofortheIncidentwenton.
"Notthattrack!Oh!Watchout!Baggage.Onthehandcart!Watchout.Move,man.Move!Totheright.Theright!Ahhhh."Thewoman"svoicechokedoffinanagonizedcry.
DaffydpushedCharlieoutoftheway,togettothespeaker.
"Gil,thisisopOwen.Donotpursue.Donotpursuethatgirl!She"sawareofyou.Gil,comein.Answerme,Gil....Charlie,keeptryingtoraisehim.Gillings,contactyourmeninthestation.MakethemstopGilGracie."
"Stophim?Why?"
"Theprecog.Thebaggageonthehandcart,"shoutedDaffyd,signalingfranticallytoLestertoexplainindetail.Heracedfortheemergencystairs,upthetwoflights,andslammedoutontotheroof.Gaspingphysicallyforbreath,heclungtothehighretainingwallandprojectedhismindtoGil"s.
Heknewthemansowell,hadtrainedGilwhenanemployeebroughtinthekidwhohadaknackforlocatingthings.OpOwencouldseehimduckinganddodgingthroughthetrainwardcrowds,touchingsuitcases,ignoringirateorastonishedcarriers;everynerve,everyounceofhimreceptivetothe"feel"ofadense,darksablefur.Andsosingle-mindedthatDaffydcouldnot"reach"him.
ButopOwenknewtheinstanttheloadedbaggagecartswervedandcrushedtheblindlyintentTalentagainstanIbeam.Hebowedhishead,toofullycognizantthatadoubletragedyhadoccurred.Gilwaslost...andsonowwasthegirl.
Therewasnopeacefromhisthoughtsevenwhenhereturnedtotheshieldedcontrolroom.LesterandCharliepretendedtobeverybusy.
Gillingswas.Hedirectedthesearchoftherailwaystationarguingwiththestationmasterthatthetrainsweretobeheldandthatwasthat.ThedroneofhisvoicebegantopenetrateopOwen"sremorse.
"Allright,then,iftheTalentshavecleareditandthere"snofemaleofthesameheightandweight,releasethattrain.Someonetriedthejohns,didn"tthey?No,Sam,youcandetainanyoneremotelysuspicious.Thatgirlisclever,strong,anddangerous.
There"snotellingwhatelseshecoulddo.Butshed.a.m.nwellcan"tchangeherheight,weightandbloodtype!"
"Daffyd.Daffyd."Lesterhadtotouchhimtogethisattention.HemotionopOwentowardsCharliewhowasholdingoutthehandunit.
"It"sCole"s,sir."
Daffydlistenedtotheeffusivelygratefulstoremanager.Hemadetheproperresponsesbut.i.twasn"tuntilhehadrelinquishedthehandunittoCharliethattheman"s.e.xcitedmonologuemadesense.
"Thecoat,thedressandthenecklacehavereappearedonthestoredummy,"opOwensaid.Heclearedhisthroatandrepeateditloudenoughtobeheard.
"Returned?"Gillingsechoed."Justlikethat?Why,thelittleb.i.t.c.h!
Sam,checktheladiesroomsinthatstation.Wait,isn"tthereadiscountdressstoreinthatstation?Havethemcheckformissingapparel.Iwantanitemizedlistofwhat"sgone,andanexactduplicatefromtheirstockshowntothesensitives.We"vegotherscaredandrunningnow."
"Scaredandrunningnow."Gillings"ssmuga.s.sessmentrangominouslyinDaffyd"smind.Hehadasuddenflash.SuperimposedoveraprojectionofMaggie"sthinfacewastheimageofthelifelessstoredummy,elegantlyrecladinthepurloinedbluegownanddarkfur."Here,takethemback.Idon"twantthemanymore.Ididn"tmeantokillhim.Ididn"tmeanto.See,Igavebackwhatyouwanted.Nowleavemealone!"
Daffydshookhishead.Wishfulthinking.Justasfutileasthegirl"sbelatedgestureofpenance.Toomuchtoosoon.Toolittletoolate.
"Wedon"twantherscared,"hesaidoutloud."Shewa.s.scaredwhenshetoppledthatbaggagecart."
"Shekilledamanwhenshetoppledthatbaggagecart,opOwen!"
Gillingswasallbutshouting.
"Andifwe"renotverycareful,she"llkillothers."
"IfyouthinkI"mgoingtovelvetgloveahomicidalmaniac..."
AshrilltoneissuingfromtheremoteunitforcedGillingstoanswer.
Hewasabouttoreprimandthecallerb.u.t.themessagegotstunnedattention.
"Wecanforgetthepaternalbit,Owen.SheknockeddowneveryoneofyourpeopleandmineattheOrioleStreetentrance.Yourmenareunconscious.Mineandabouttwentyormoreinnocentcommutersareafflictedwithblindingheadaches.Gotanypracticalideas,Owen,oncatchingthismonsteryoucreated?"
"Oriole?Wa.s.sheheadingeastorwest?"Hehadtostopthatlineoftalk.
"Doesitmatter?"
"Ifwe"retocatchheritdoes.Andwemustcatchher.She"soperatingatapsychichigh.There"snotellingwhatshe"scapableofnow.SuchTalenthasonlybeenatheoreticpossibility..."
Gillingslostallcontrolofhimself.ThefearandhatredburstoutinsuchawavethatCharlieMoorfield,caughtunawares,eruptedoutofhischairtowardsGillingsinaninstinctivedefensereaction.
"Gillings!"
"Charlie!"LesandDaffydshoutedtogether,eachgrabbingthewildcombatants.ButCharlie,hisfacewhitewithshockathisownreaction,hadhimselfinhand.Sinkingweaklybackintohischair,hegaspedoutanapology.
"Youmean,youwanttohavemoremonsterslikeherandhim?"Gillingsdemanded.BetweenhisvoiceandtheviolentemotionsDaffyd"sheadrangwithpainandconfusion.
"Don"tbeafool,"Lestersaid,grabbingtheCommissionerbythearm.
"Youcan"tspewemotionslikethataroundatelepathandnotgetareaction.LookatDaffyd!LookatCharlie!Christman,you"reasbadasthescared,mixedupkid..."andthenLesdroppedGillings"sarmandstaredathiminamazement."Christ,you"reatelepathyourself!"
"Quiet,everybody,"Daffydsaidwithsuchurgencyhehadtheirinstantattention."I"vethesolution.Andthere"snotimetowaste.
Charlie,IwantHaroldOrleyairboundintheClinic"scopterheadingsouthtotheCentralStationinnothingflat.We"llcorrectcourseenroute.Gillings,Iwanttwoofthestrongest,moststablepatrolmenonyourroster.Iwantthemarmedwithfastacting,doublestrengthtrankgunsandairbornetorendezvousnearCentralStation."
"Harold?"Lesechoedinblankastonishment.ThenreliefcoloredhisfaceasheunderstoodDaffyd"sintentions."Ofcourse.NothingcanstopHarold.Andnoonecanreadhimcoming."
"Nothing.Andnoone,"opOwenagreed,bleakly.
Gillingsturnedfromissuinghisorderstoseeanambulancecopterheadingwestacrossthesky.
"We"refollowing?"
DaffydnoddedandgesturedforGillingstoprecedehimtotheroof.Hedidn"tlookbackbutheknewwhatLesandCharliedidnotsay.
ShehadbeenseenrunningeastonOriole.Andshewaseasytofollow.
Sheleftpeopledoubledupwithnauseaandcryingwithheadpains.
Thatis,untilshecrossedBoulevard.
"We"llheadsouth,southeastonanintercept,"Gillingstoldhispilotandhadhimrelaythecorrectiontotheambulance."She"sheadingtothesea?"heaskedrhetoricallyasherummagedforthecorrectairmapofthecity."Here.WecansetdownatSeaman"sPark.Shecan"thavemadeitthatfar...unlessshecanflysuddenly."GillingslookedupatopOwen.
"Sheprobablycouldteleportherself,"Daffydanswered,watchingtheCommissioner"seyesnarrowinadversereactiontotheadmission."Butshehasn"tthoughtofityet.Aslonga.s.shecanbekeptrunning,tooscaredtothink..."ThatnecessityplaguedDaffydopOwen.Theyweregoingtohavetorunheroutofhermind.
Gillingsorderedallpolicehovercrafttocloseinontheareawhereshewaslastseen,blocksofresidencesandsmallbusinessesofalltypes.
BythetimethethreecoptershadmadetheirrendezvousatthesmallPark,therewerenomorevisiblesignsofMaggieO"sretreat.
AsGillingsmadetoleavethecopter,DaffydopOwenstoppedhim.
"Ifyou"renotcompletelyundercontrol,Gillings,Haroldwillbeafteryou."
Gillingslookedatthedirectorforalongmoment,hisjawsetstubbornly.Then,slowly,hesettledintotheseatandhandedopOwenaremotecomunit.
"Thanks,Gillings,"hesaid,andleftthecopter.HesignaledtotheambulancetoreleaseHaroldOrleyandthenstrodeacrossthegra.s.stothewaitingofficers.
Thetwobiggestmenwereasburlyashecouldwish.Beingtrainedlawenforcers,theyoughttobeabletohandleOrley.OpOwen"pushed"gentlyagainsttheirmindsandwa.s.satisfiedwithhisfindings.Theypossessedthenaturalshieldingoftheuntemperamentalwhichmadethemlesssusceptibletoemotionalstorms.NeitherWebsternorHeiswerestupid,however,andhadbeenbriefedondevelopments.
"Orleyhasnousefulintelligence.Heisahumanbarometer,measuringtheintensityandtypeofemotionswhichsurroundhimandreactinginstinctively.Hedoes...o...b..oadcast.Heonlyreceives.Thereforehecannotbeharmedoridentifiedby...byMaggieO.
HeistheonlyTalentshecannot"hear"approaching."
"But,ifhereach.e.s.h.er,he"d..."Websterbegan,measuringHaroldwiththediscerningeyeofaboxingenthusiast.ThenheshruggedandturnedpolitelytoopOwen.
"You"vethedoublestrengthtranks?Good.Ihopeyou"llbeabletousethemintime.But.i.tisimperativethatshebeapprehendedbeforeshedoesmoreharm.Shehasalreadykilledoneman...."
"Weunderstand,sir,"HeissaidwhenopOwendidnotcontinue.
"Ifyoucan,shoother.Onceshestopsbroadcasting,he"llsoonreturntoamanageablestate."But,Daffydamendedtohimself,rememberingHaroldsprawledonthegroundinfrontofthebuilding,notsoonenough."ShewaslastseenontheeastsideoftheBoulevard,abouteightblocksfromhere.She"dbetired,lookingforsomeplacetohideandrest.ButsheisalsoprobablyradiatingsufficientemotionforHaroldtopickup.He"llreactbyheadinginastraightlineforthesource.Keephimfromtryingtoplowthroughsolidwalls.Keepyourvoicescalmwhenyouspeaktohim.Usesimplecommands.Iseeyou"vegothandunits.I"llbeairborne;thecopter"sshieldedbutI"llhelpwhenIcan."
FlankingHarold,WebsterandHeismovedwestalongOrioleatabrisk,evenwalk:thetwoofficersinstep,Harold"sheadbobbingabovetheirs,outofstepacruelirony.
DaffydopOwenturnedbacktothecopter.HenoddedtoGillingsasheseatedhimself.Hetriednottothinkatall.
AsthecoptersliftedfromtheParkanddriftedslowlywestamidotherairtraffic,opOwenlookedsadlydownatthepeopleonthestreets.
Atkidsplayingonthesidewalks.Ataflowofmenandwomenwithbriefcasesorshoppingbags,hurryinghome.Atsnubnosedcitycarsandsquattytrucksanglingintoparkingslots.Atthebloatedcrosscityhelibusesjerkingandsettlingtodisgorgetheirpa.s.sengersatthestreetislands.
"He"stwitching,"reportedHeisinadispa.s.sionatevoice.
Daffydflickedonthehandset."That"snormal.He"sbeginningtoregister."
"He"smovingfasternow.Keepswantingtogostraightthroughthebuildings."ReadingHeis"sundertone,opOwenknewthatthemenhadn"tbelievedhiscautionaboutOrleyplowingthroughsolids."He"slettingusguidehim,buthekeepspushingustotheright.Youtakehisotherarm,Web.Yeah,that"sbetter."
Gillingshadmovedtothevisualequipmentalongonesideofthecopter.Hefocuseddeftlyinonthetrio,magnifieditandthrewtheimageonthepilot"sscreen,too.Thecopteradjusteddirection.
"Easy,Orley.No,don"ttrytostophim,Web.Stopthetraffic!"
Orley"slineofmarchcrossedthebusierwidenorthsouthstreet.