your doors locked. And you may not know this, but she had a registered demon.” She checked her watch. “I’ve got to get going. I wrote the mage’s phone number on the envelope.”
“Would you come with me? I know its short notice, but couldn’t you take the afternoon off?”
“Sorry, Adam has a doctor’s appointment at two. Just tell Agent Porter the truth. You’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I guess I’m still getting used to the idea. I don’t know what’s worse: the fact that I’m psychic or that you were right.” We both laughed.
“Don’t worry, Mattie. Everything is going to work out, your luck is about to change.”
“I hope so,” I said. “I want my life back.”
“Let me know what the mage says.”
I followed her out of the parking lot, and turned my car up the street toward the Thruway. I had a date with Agent Porter.
CHAPTER 10
After the pep talk from Karen, my mood was on the upswing, and by the time I took the downtown exit to Rochester, I was almost back to my sunny old self again. The spirit guide information Karen provided finally convinced me. So what if I’m psychic? I shrugged. As long as I can get rid of the stink, I can live with the rest. Not something to brag about, but nothing to worry about, either. No one at work need ever know. The tension eased from my shoulders.
Government scientists had been studying extrasensory perception for years. My test results would speak for themselves. The FBI were the experts; of course they would have the resources to solve my problem. The test would be the final confirmation I needed. Afterwards, I would let Agent Porter tell me how to get rid of my spirit messengers.
I skipped up the stairs of the FBI district office feeling pretty chipper, and gave my name to the receptionist. Forty-five minutes later, I sat in the soundproofed test room staring open-mouthed at Agent Porter. He wasn’t smiling.
“What do you mean I don’t have any psychic abilities? Of course I do.” I hung onto my chair for dear life, every muscle tensed in rigid denial of Agent Porter and his stupid test results.
“That is not what your test results indicate, Ms. Blackman. Your scores fall clearly outside the parameters of what the United States government defines as psychic ability. In fact, you registered significantly less intuitive ability than average. I cannot recall any other applicants who scored this low on the evaluations.”
“This is a mistake,” I said. “I told you, I’ve got five spirit messengers following me.”
The agent shook his head. “The tests don’t lie.” He began to put his equipment away, dismissing me.
“Give me another chance. I was probably just nervous.”
“I think we’re done here.”
I felt like a dying goldfish circling the bowl for the last time, as the vortex of flush sucked me down into nothingness and sewage. At this point, I had nothing left to lose.
“Wait. You said you had to investigate all reports of demons. Well I have demons. They’re sitting right here in this room with us. They smell so bad, I can hardly stand it. How can you just let this go?”
He froze, and for a second at least, I had his attention again.
“Are you now telling me you are in communication with evil spirits? Think very carefully before you answer, Ms. Blackman. Demons are more dangerous than loaded weapons. They are unsafe in anyone’s hands, and cannot ever be made safe. The temptation to use a summoned demon is irresistible. I am required by law to enforce a standing order of execution against anyone who is identified as a demon master. Are saying you summoned five demons, and they are awaiting your command?” His blue eyes drilled into me.
The blood drained from my face and I choked on my protest. I bit my lips shut.
“I thought not.” His jaw relaxed. He finished packing away the laptop and
“Would you come with me? I know its short notice, but couldn’t you take the afternoon off?”
“Sorry, Adam has a doctor’s appointment at two. Just tell Agent Porter the truth. You’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I guess I’m still getting used to the idea. I don’t know what’s worse: the fact that I’m psychic or that you were right.” We both laughed.
“Don’t worry, Mattie. Everything is going to work out, your luck is about to change.”
“I hope so,” I said. “I want my life back.”
“Let me know what the mage says.”
I followed her out of the parking lot, and turned my car up the street toward the Thruway. I had a date with Agent Porter.
CHAPTER 10
After the pep talk from Karen, my mood was on the upswing, and by the time I took the downtown exit to Rochester, I was almost back to my sunny old self again. The spirit guide information Karen provided finally convinced me. So what if I’m psychic? I shrugged. As long as I can get rid of the stink, I can live with the rest. Not something to brag about, but nothing to worry about, either. No one at work need ever know. The tension eased from my shoulders.
Government scientists had been studying extrasensory perception for years. My test results would speak for themselves. The FBI were the experts; of course they would have the resources to solve my problem. The test would be the final confirmation I needed. Afterwards, I would let Agent Porter tell me how to get rid of my spirit messengers.
I skipped up the stairs of the FBI district office feeling pretty chipper, and gave my name to the receptionist. Forty-five minutes later, I sat in the soundproofed test room staring open-mouthed at Agent Porter. He wasn’t smiling.
“What do you mean I don’t have any psychic abilities? Of course I do.” I hung onto my chair for dear life, every muscle tensed in rigid denial of Agent Porter and his stupid test results.
“That is not what your test results indicate, Ms. Blackman. Your scores fall clearly outside the parameters of what the United States government defines as psychic ability. In fact, you registered significantly less intuitive ability than average. I cannot recall any other applicants who scored this low on the evaluations.”
“This is a mistake,” I said. “I told you, I’ve got five spirit messengers following me.”
The agent shook his head. “The tests don’t lie.” He began to put his equipment away, dismissing me.
“Give me another chance. I was probably just nervous.”
“I think we’re done here.”
I felt like a dying goldfish circling the bowl for the last time, as the vortex of flush sucked me down into nothingness and sewage. At this point, I had nothing left to lose.
“Wait. You said you had to investigate all reports of demons. Well I have demons. They’re sitting right here in this room with us. They smell so bad, I can hardly stand it. How can you just let this go?”
He froze, and for a second at least, I had his attention again.
“Are you now telling me you are in communication with evil spirits? Think very carefully before you answer, Ms. Blackman. Demons are more dangerous than loaded weapons. They are unsafe in anyone’s hands, and cannot ever be made safe. The temptation to use a summoned demon is irresistible. I am required by law to enforce a standing order of execution against anyone who is identified as a demon master. Are saying you summoned five demons, and they are awaiting your command?” His blue eyes drilled into me.
The blood drained from my face and I choked on my protest. I bit my lips shut.
“I thought not.” His jaw relaxed. He finished packing away the laptop and
Similar Books
