mutually beneficial relationship. I
get companionship, and you get to learn about your mother and your
gift.”
“Bullshit. I don’t believe that for one second. That
seems very one-sided. I spend a little time with you in exchange
for so much? You’re a wealthy and powerful man. In fact, I’ve heard
you can be ruthless and cutthroat. I don’t believe you would do
anything just out of loneliness.”
“Fine. I’ll be honest with you.” He hesitated a
moment and then began speaking again. “I’ve never studied a female
clairvoyant. Let Josef and me study you. My dream in life was
always to learn why Josef and I are psychic. At one time, I worked
with the United States Government in some secret studies on
paranormal warfare. I always felt I missed something, but I never
had any test subjects because it was only Josef and I. Let us study
you.”
“Wait? What? Study me? Like how?”
“Nothing major. Let us draw some blood, run some
scans, play—”
“What?” Jill yelled. “Are you being sarcastic?
That’s not major?”
“Please, don’t be scared. It sounds worse than it
is. We’ll just draw blood one time. It’ll be as if you were having
your yearly physical and an MRI. It’s nothing to get all worked up
about. It will make an old man so happy. I may finally get an
insight into why we are what we are. I’m getting old. Flatter me.
There are so many things I will teach you in exchange. Plus, I am
very wealthy, and you are my only child. Who will I leave my wealth
to? My knowledge?
“I don’t need your money, Rocco.”
“I know you don’t. You received a handsome
settlement from the plane crash, but I have more, a lot more. And I
have knowledge. How long can you live in seclusion? I know you want
to control your visions. How can you not want that? All I am asking
for is a few hours one day, and you get so much in return.”
“It would be nice to be able to control my visions,
but I don’t live in seclusion!”
“You have three friends, one of whom you just met a
few months ago. You avoid relationships and outings because you are
scared people will find out about you.”
He was right. Jill fumbled around with her fork. Her
food was untouched. Getting to know her father was something she
had only dreamed about, but learning how to control her ability,
well, that was something she hadn’t even bothered dreaming about
because she never thought it would be possible. She didn’t trust
him just yet, but she didn’t fear him either. In fact, she felt
rather comfortable with him. Jill looked at her watch and noticed
it was time to go. She pushed her chair back and stood; Rocco
immediately followed suit.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Rocco asked.
“Yes. Okay. I’ll agree to get to know you better,
and I’ll agree to your medical thing, but nothing more than a
little blood and a scan. I want to know more about my mother, about
you, and about this psychic connection we have. All of it.”
“Wonderful.” Rocco had a smile on his face. “I can
arrange for you to stay here. It is much more comfortable than that
small apartment you live in.”
“No. No. You’re moving too fast. How about lunch on
Wednesday? I have an early class. We can meet afterwards. I’m not
ready for those tests just yet, though. Just lunch for now.”
“Okay. Splendid. I’ll have a car pick you up at your
apartment at—”
“Noon. I’ll be ready at noon.” She walked around the
table and stood closer to her father. “May I ask you something?”
Rocco nodded and Jill continued. “Why do you care why we’re
psychic?”
“Imagine the possibilities of recreating the gene.
What a wonderful world it would be if wars were fought in rooms
with psychics instead of with guns and soldiers. The possibilities
are infinite. It is such a powerful thing.”
Interesting. She’d never thought about it like that,
never got beyond it being an annoyance. His reason, however, scared
her. It wasn’t just for curiosity; he wanted to
get companionship, and you get to learn about your mother and your
gift.”
“Bullshit. I don’t believe that for one second. That
seems very one-sided. I spend a little time with you in exchange
for so much? You’re a wealthy and powerful man. In fact, I’ve heard
you can be ruthless and cutthroat. I don’t believe you would do
anything just out of loneliness.”
“Fine. I’ll be honest with you.” He hesitated a
moment and then began speaking again. “I’ve never studied a female
clairvoyant. Let Josef and me study you. My dream in life was
always to learn why Josef and I are psychic. At one time, I worked
with the United States Government in some secret studies on
paranormal warfare. I always felt I missed something, but I never
had any test subjects because it was only Josef and I. Let us study
you.”
“Wait? What? Study me? Like how?”
“Nothing major. Let us draw some blood, run some
scans, play—”
“What?” Jill yelled. “Are you being sarcastic?
That’s not major?”
“Please, don’t be scared. It sounds worse than it
is. We’ll just draw blood one time. It’ll be as if you were having
your yearly physical and an MRI. It’s nothing to get all worked up
about. It will make an old man so happy. I may finally get an
insight into why we are what we are. I’m getting old. Flatter me.
There are so many things I will teach you in exchange. Plus, I am
very wealthy, and you are my only child. Who will I leave my wealth
to? My knowledge?
“I don’t need your money, Rocco.”
“I know you don’t. You received a handsome
settlement from the plane crash, but I have more, a lot more. And I
have knowledge. How long can you live in seclusion? I know you want
to control your visions. How can you not want that? All I am asking
for is a few hours one day, and you get so much in return.”
“It would be nice to be able to control my visions,
but I don’t live in seclusion!”
“You have three friends, one of whom you just met a
few months ago. You avoid relationships and outings because you are
scared people will find out about you.”
He was right. Jill fumbled around with her fork. Her
food was untouched. Getting to know her father was something she
had only dreamed about, but learning how to control her ability,
well, that was something she hadn’t even bothered dreaming about
because she never thought it would be possible. She didn’t trust
him just yet, but she didn’t fear him either. In fact, she felt
rather comfortable with him. Jill looked at her watch and noticed
it was time to go. She pushed her chair back and stood; Rocco
immediately followed suit.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Rocco asked.
“Yes. Okay. I’ll agree to get to know you better,
and I’ll agree to your medical thing, but nothing more than a
little blood and a scan. I want to know more about my mother, about
you, and about this psychic connection we have. All of it.”
“Wonderful.” Rocco had a smile on his face. “I can
arrange for you to stay here. It is much more comfortable than that
small apartment you live in.”
“No. No. You’re moving too fast. How about lunch on
Wednesday? I have an early class. We can meet afterwards. I’m not
ready for those tests just yet, though. Just lunch for now.”
“Okay. Splendid. I’ll have a car pick you up at your
apartment at—”
“Noon. I’ll be ready at noon.” She walked around the
table and stood closer to her father. “May I ask you something?”
Rocco nodded and Jill continued. “Why do you care why we’re
psychic?”
“Imagine the possibilities of recreating the gene.
What a wonderful world it would be if wars were fought in rooms
with psychics instead of with guns and soldiers. The possibilities
are infinite. It is such a powerful thing.”
Interesting. She’d never thought about it like that,
never got beyond it being an annoyance. His reason, however, scared
her. It wasn’t just for curiosity; he wanted to
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