Page 108 of It takes a Psychic

“That’s a lie.” Melody’s face was a blotchy red. “I had things under control. Then I heard someone coming down the hall.”

“Me.”

“I hid in the restroom. The next thing I knew, Rancourt was with you in the pantry. I was trapped and the raid was in full swing. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the Feds were swarming down that hallway. And then you actually came into the restroom to wash your hands. I thought you would never leave. When you did, I left the restroom, grabbed Todd’s pendant, and escaped through the kitchen door. There was an agentwatching that exit, but I used my hypnosis talent to make him forget he had seen me. In the darkness, no one noticed the blood on my clothes.”

“When things settled down you realized that, in spite of everything, your plan had worked to some extent.”

“Yes. Exactly.” Melody looked visibly cheered. “I knew the box had been stolen and opened, and that someone had been able to resonate with the pyramid because I put a tracker code on it. When I got the ping from your address, I realized you were the thief. Stealing the artifact was a very impressive move, by the way.”

“It wasn’t quite like that, but never mind. Details. Before you stole Pandora’s box from the museum, you knew that, sooner or later, Oliver Rancourt would become a problem because he would investigate the loss of the box. You wanted him out of the picture, so you set up a plan to lure him to Lost Creek.”

“The Foundation has been chasing Vortex clues much longer than I have,” Melody said. “Generations. I knew that once Pandora’s box disappeared, Rancourt would contact his connections in the gray market. He can afford to pay for information, so sooner or later, he would become a nuisance.”

“What you didn’t expect—didn’t allow for in your strategy—was that Oliver and I might join forces and work as partners.”

“When Richey and I saw him in your room that night at the inn, I figured he had seduced you so that he could manipulate you.”

“See, that’s your problem, Melody. You’re good at keeping a lot of spinning plates in the air, but you have a habit of miscalculating when it comes to people and their emotions and motivations. That makes you a failure, just like Vance.”

“I am not a failure. I found Vance’s Vortex machine and I found you, the one person who could open it.”

“That machine is now a useless lump of metal. The yellow crystals, including the key, have been destroyed. But the worst part is that you stilldon’t know if I’m a multi-talent—if I’m your competition. That’s why you haven’t killed me or dumped me into the tunnels without nav amber. You really, really need to know if I’m a successful multi-talent.”

“I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion that you’re just a double, like your sister. You’re an impressive locksmith, and judging by the way you were able to flatline that little bowl I used to take down Rancourt, you apparently have a talent for working some Alien artifacts. But I’ve seen no evidence of a third talent.”

“You want a demonstration? No problem. I’ll give you proof if you agree to hire me.”

Melody looked dumbfounded. “Why would I do that?”

“Because we both know you’re not going to quit until you’ve fulfilled your destiny. A woman in your position needs a reliable fixer, someone she can count on to handle the pesky little problems that are bound to crop up along the way. You’ve been trying to go it alone and it’s not working.”

“You’re serious.”

“Absolutely. You need me. Let me demonstrate my third talent and then we can talk.”

Melody snorted in disbelief but there was intense curiosity in her eyes. “All right, show me what you can do.”

“I’ll need a volunteer from the audience.”

“You’re expecting me to volunteer?” Melody laughed. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“Baxter, there, will be perfect. I’ll need physical contact, however. You’ll have to send him over here.”

Richey did not react. He continued to gaze at nothing.

Melody frowned. “What are you going to do to him?”

“I can flatline him for you. You’re planning to get rid of him anyway, right? He knows too much and eventually the trance will wear off. He’ll start talking—assuming he’s still alive.”

“Are you telling me you can kill someone with your talent?” Melody asked, her eyes widening.

Leona smiled. “You can see why I haven’t wanted to publicize that particular aspect of my para-psych profile. It’s not a great thing to put down on a résumé or a matchmaking agency questionnaire.”

“You’re lying.”

“Allow me to demonstrate.”

Melody hesitated and then shrugged. “All right.” She went into her hypnotic command voice. “Baxter, walk toward the woman. I will tell you when to stop.”

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