The blue van was parked just west of the Price house, looking old and neglected from the outside.Inside, the computer screens in the back cast an eerie green glow over the darkness.But in the front, morning sunlight poured through the privacy-tinted windows and gave both men a clear view of the house.
The woman shuffled out the front door, a steaming mug in her hand.She was slim, slightly less than average height, and lost in a bulky plaid bathrobe, with fussy, fuzzy pink slippers on her feet.A long fall of slightly curling ash-blonde hair glowed in the clear winter sunlight, and even from here Delgado could tell she was pretty.When he focused the ’nocs, he found himself looking at clear pale skin, an aristocratic nose, great cheekbones, and a flawless mouth.Dark circles under her eyes only served to underscore how green they were.The robe showed a fascinating slice of white décolletage, and Delgado dropped the ’nocs.
“Damn,” he said.
Her voice was slightly husky, he remembered.A contralto, when it wasn’t squeaky with fear.He’d been almost close enough to touch her last night.
“You gotthatright.”Zeke shook his bullet head.“She’s a live wire, Del.Look at this.”He held up a scanner.
The handheld Matheson unit was going crazy, colored spikes shifting on the screen, the dial at the bottom twisted all the way into the red.Zeke’s dark eyes were wide and worried.He scratched at his chest through the black T-shirt with blunt fingers.His many-times-broken nose wrinkled a little.
Delgado sighed.“Christ.”He dug in his breast pocket for the cell phone.He dialed, his gaze still nailed to the woman, who had straightened and was shuffling back to the house.“Looksandtalent.”
It was a bad joke, but Zeke laughed anyway, whistling through his mashed nose.Humor helped.
The phone crackled in Delgado’s ear.“Henderson,” the old man barked.
“General, we’ve got a live wire.”No preamble.“She’s picking up her morning paper and nearly blowing all the circuits in Zeke’s unit.Looks like she’s got a helluva lot of raw Talent, but she’s virtually untrained.”
“Where’s the dial?”Henderson asked.He sounded a lot less cranky and a lot more awake.
“Over in the red.”Delgado watched her, his mouth suddenly dry for no good reason.“You should see this, General.The goddamn thing looks like smoke should be coming off it.”
The woman paused at her porch steps, glanced down the street.She seemed to be listening for something.
The van’s shielded,but I’ll bet you ten thousand she can feel us anyway.Goddamn.“I think she might know we’re watching, too,” he added.
The General was silent for a moment.“Let’s just hope Sigma isn’t on our tails,” he said finally.“I’ll have Yoshi step up his monitoring.Make contact as soon as possible, Del.Don’t let Zeke approach her.He’ll freak her out if she’s that sensitive.”
“Wait a minute—why me?”It took him by surprise, so much so that the question came out stunned instead of calm.He would spook her too.His own particular Talent made him unpopular around other psis.It was as if they could smell the danger he carried.
Delgado took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the woman, who seemed to be staring right at them.Then she shook her head, dislodging a thought, and went back into the house, shuffling in the ridiculous slippers.God, she’s beautiful.Why does she wear that shit?Then again, if she came out in silk and high heels it might cause traffic accidents.
“Because Cath’ll talk right over her, Brewster’s busy scanning,” Henderson answered, “and I need Yoshi to work on those rigs.We’vegotto get them up and running.Use those interrogation techniques you’re so proud of.Besides, if Sigma gets there, you’re the best bet to extract her from them.Bring her in, Del, and work fast.Got it?”
“Yeah, I got it.”He suppressed the urge to swear.Those were all valid points, but if she was half as sensitive as the scanner said, he was the one most likely to spook her.Goddammit, what’s wrong with me?“How long do I have?”
“Forty-eight hours max.We’ll get you a dossier in two.I’ll get those rigs working and we can blow this town.Be careful, okay?”
“Absolutely.”Delgado, staring intently at the house, hung up.
“What’s the word?”Zeke asked.
“You’re supposed to stay out of the picture.I’m supposed to recruit her in forty-eight hours.And keep a weather eye out for Sigma, because the telems still aren’t finished and might be leaking.”
“Yeah?And when do you walk on water?”Zeke sniggered.“You get all the great jobs.Bet those legs go all the way up to her chin.”He picked up the ‘nocs and scanned the house again.
“She’s probably a nice girl,” Delgado said, absently.“Watch your mouth, okay?”There was a long silence.Zeke was pale when Del glanced over at him.“What?”
“Nothin’,” the big guy said.“I didn’t know, Del.Okay?”
Is he sweating?Jesus.Does he think I’m going to turn on him?“It’s not a big deal, Zeke.Chill.”
“Yeah.I’m gonna go monitor, okay?”
“Sounds good.Tell me as soon as we get the doss on her.”
“You got it.”
