Amaryllis Read Online Free

respected such talent, even admired it or were in awe of it, but a ten was rare enough to make them uneasy. Class tens often got treated with the same sort of cautious reserve as people who possessed great beauty or extremely high intelligence. That kind of attitude was not particularly good for business.
    Amaryllis closed the folder and tapped the tip of her pen against it. “You’re a detector-talent. You have the ability to sense other talents when they focus their psychic energies. That’s unusual.”
    â€œAnd damn useless for the most part.” Only a lie of omission this time, Lucas thought. He loosened his tie. “There aren’t a lot of applications for that sort of psychic power.”
    â€œI realize that,” she murmured sympathetically. “Most of the available job openings are in casino security.”
    â€œYeah, I know. Personally, I’ve never been attracted to that line of work.” Lucas was well aware that detector-talentswere often employed to ensure that talents who had a gift for analyzing the laws of chance did not cheat at cards or dice. “My interest in gambling is limited to business decisions.”
    â€œI suppose you plan to utilize your ability to detect a working talent to determine whether or not Miss Locking has been hypnotized?”
    â€œRight.” Lucas leaned forward, braced his elbows on his thighs, and clasped his hands loosely between his knees. “When I realized that someone was selling Lodestar information, I conducted a preliminary internal investigation. I kept Miranda under surveillance for a few weeks. Fed her false data to see where it went.”
    â€œWhat did you learn?”
    â€œThat she makes regular contact with a man named Merrick Beech. I think he’s the broker. I want to confirm it, and I also want to find out if he’s been working with a prism to hypnotize Miranda.”
    â€œIn order to do that, you’d need to catch Beech in the act of actually focusing with an intent to hypnotize. Do you have any idea of how difficult that would be?”
    Lucas narrowed his eyes. “I think I’ll have a chance to do just that on Thursday evening.”
    â€œThursday?”
    â€œMiranda and Beech are both scheduled to attend the reception that will follow the dedication ceremony at the New Seattle Museum.”
    Amaryllis’s eyes lit with sudden enthusiasm. “They’re opening the new wing of the museum on Thursday night, aren’t they? The gallery where the Western Island relics will be on display.”
    â€œYeah.” Lucas frowned. “Even a strong hypno-talent would be forced to regularly renew whatever hypnotic suggestion he’s giving his victim, right?”
    â€œYes. Especially if it’s a suggestion intended to make her act against her basic inclinations.”
    â€œAnd he’ll have to use a prism to focus that suggestion.”
    â€œYes, but as I’ve already told you, it’s almost impossible—”
    â€œMy guess is that Beech will use the opportunity Thursday night to work on Miranda. I want to catch him in the act.”
    Amaryllis bit her lip. “You want to employ me to help you focus your detector-talent the night of the reception?”
    â€œThat’s it.” Lucas smiled grimly. “Simple, straightforward, and perfectly legal. Not to mention entirely ethical.”
    Amaryllis drummed her short, neat nails on the desk. “The reception will be an exclusive affair. I’m sure that only VIPs and major contributors will get invitations. I’m afraid I don’t move in those circles.”
    â€œI think I can pretty much guarantee that getting an invitation for you will not be a problem,” Lucas said dryly.
    Amaryllis blushed again. “Yes, of course. You’re the person who found the relics, aren’t you? I expect that the Museum Guild authorities would give you anything you wanted.”
    â€œLet’s