The Wings Of Pegasus Part 13

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

Hetrieda"push"atGillings'smindtodiscoverthecovertreasonsandfoundthemanhadatightnaturals.h.i.+eld,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'sobvioustheitemsarebeings.h.i.+elded."AsuggestionofimpatiencecreptintoGillings'sba.s.svoice."Thesegroundsares.h.i.+elded."

"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,withsuchdeliberatemalicethatGillingscoloredandsteppedtowards.h.i.+m.

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.ces.h.i.+psmakeoxcarts.Wehaveultradelicateequipmentwhichcanmeasuretheminutestelectricalimpulsesofvaryingfrequenciesandduration.AndthisPAdialregistersadangerous.h.i.+ghrightnow.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.Nocrimecouldbes.h.i.+eldedfromfellowTalents.

"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...untilitscratches.h.i.+m,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.Yourcampaignboredownheavyontheintegrityandgoodcitizens.h.i.+poftheTalented."

"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.Shesaidhehasanaturals.h.i.+eld.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?"

"Iwis.h.i.+knew.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,'theperceptiveisawareofcertainparticularspatialrelations.h.i.+psbetweentheobjectsoughtanditsimmediatesurroundings.

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

Pennstraknodded.

"'Finding'islikethat.SometimestheTalentseesitinluciddetail,sometimesit'sobscuredor,asinthiscase,thereareliterallyhundredsofpossibilities...apartmentswiththesamelightexposure,samesceneoutthewindow,thesamefloorplanandfurnis.h.i.+ngs.Quitepossibleinthisinstancesincethesearefurnished,standardsubsistencedwellings.Nothingtohelp.u.s.s.ingleout,sayApartment44E,Building18,BuhlerStreet."

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

PennstrakregardedopOwenwithawe.

"Nonsense,thisofficeisthoroughlys.h.i.+eldedandI'mnotaprecog!"

"Beforeyouguystooktheguessworkoutofit,thereweresuchthingsashunches,"Pennstraksuggested.

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

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

"Indiscriminatepilferingonawholesalebasis."OpOwencorrectedhim,glancingaroundattherichbrilliantvelvetdrapesframingthedingywindowtothewildlyclas.h.i.+ngpillowsthrownontheelegantEmpireloveseat.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,lightsflas.h.i.+ng.

"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..."