by Treva Harte
"Emmanuel? I don't understand."
"Of course not. You've never heard of Emmanuel Rauss."
"I've barely heard of Arthur Hornsby!"
"Not many people know Rauss. I do. Emmanuel's philosophy is that he is above all rules because he's the smartest man in the world. No, wait. He's probably God by now. After all, when we first met Emmanuel wasn't his name. Anyhow, he has a small, hand-picked group of those he's decided are intelligent and superior people. All of them do exactly what he asks them to. If Lida's willing to use him, then she's willing to be ruthless to get what she wants. And if he's willing to help Lida, then he'll do anything to get what they both want."
"Oh boy. And she could be a heartbeat away from the presidency. If everything works the way she and Emmanuel have planned. That's what you're thinking."
Cassie didn't even have to use telepathy for this one.
There was another pause.
"Wynn?"
"Yes?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why bother? Why you? Why me? It sounds to me like Art is a two-timing politician who got fooled by the wrong person. Why do we have to fix it?"
"Because—" Wynn tried to think.
He couldn't come up with a simple answer to that. He hadn't even asked the question before. All he'd known was that he had to stop it.
"Because I don't want Emmanuel or Lida anywhere near power and I don't want them to win. And—and because I think Art is more than what you say. He trusts me as much as he trusts anyone. I don't usually get trusted much. I don't want to let him down."
Cassie let out a long sigh.
"Well, if you feel loyalty to Art, then I guess there's a reason for that loyalty," she said.
Did he feel loyal to Art? Wynn wasn't sure. Maybe that was what the sense of responsibility he felt was called. He just knew he couldn't let Art be destroyed without trying to stop it.
"Well, of course the bad guys are chasing me with guns." Somehow Wynn felt more comfortable with that reason. That sounded less—less altruistic. More real. He wished he hadn't thought of it last. "If Art or I don't get rid of them, I suspect they'll keep doing it."
"That one works for me." Cassie nodded. "What do we do next?"
* * * * *
"Darling, I'm so glad you could make it here tonight!" Lida ran to the man at the doorway and threw her arms around him. "I know how busy you are with the campaign."
Art Hornsby smiled. That was one of the many things he liked about Lida. She was reserved and professional in public and completely different for him in private. He wished his wife had learned that trick years ago.
"How could I stay away with the two of us in the same town?" he answered.
"I hoped you would think that way. That's why I made sure you knew I was in this hotel." Lida smiled at him. "I ordered something from room service. Would steak and champagne work for you?"
"You know it always does, dear."
Art settled into a chair while she adjusted the light near him. That was another thing he liked. She saw to his comfort. Not many young women knew how to do that properly. Perhaps it came from her late marriage.
She was young to be widowed, but she'd married an older man. When he'd died from a heart attack a few years ago, she'd been chosen to fill his term in office. That wasn't unusual. What was unusual was that she had been re-elected on her own.
She'd even made a much stronger showing in the presidential primaries than anyone had expected until the realities of campaign funding and name recognition hit her. Yes, Lida was young and deferential and, to top it off, a smart politician.
Too bad he was married. She would make the perfect first lady.
She kissed him, very lingeringly. Perhaps politicians and first ladies didn't need that particular qualification, but he liked that about her, too. In fact, he might even rank that higher on the list of things he enjoyed about her.
The phone rang and they both frowned.
"I'll only be a minute. I hope it isn't room service saying they're delayed—" Lida moved to the telephone.
"Hello, Sis."
Lida smiled. She didn't have a sister. Only one person called her that. Her sorority sister. They were as close—closer—than most sisters.
"What's up? I have a visitor with me."
"Ho. I understand. I just thought I'd pass on something amusing. No. Perhaps it wasn't something amusing. It could be a problem. At any rate, I'll make it quick."
"Yes?"
"I had a potential new patient come in. You're becoming popular. This one was obsessed with talking to someone about a Lida. I thought of you right away since it's a fairly unusual name and she said this Lida was important. She ran away before I could find out much more, but I thought you'd be pleased to know you are gaining your own group of special fans."
"She wasn't dangerous, I hope. I'd hate to have to alert some security."
"I doubt it, though I guarantee nothing. Being able to forecast which patient is a threat is an impossible business and not one I want to engage in. But she seemed almost normal. I just thought I'd let you know in case of any problem. Stay alert, but probably nothing will come of it."
"Aren't you violating some sort of patient-client code?" Lida almost smiled.
"Oh, please. This involves you, Lida. Besides, she isn't my patient. Anyhow, I'm sorry I interrupted. I didn't know you were busy tonight."
"Thanks. Believe me, I don't want to keep my visitor waiting."
Lida hung up and turned to Art.
"Anything important, dear?" Art asked as she came toward him.
"Oh no. That was just a friend with a mildly interesting story to tell me. Now, where were we?" Lida rested her head against his chest, close to his heart.
* * * * *
"Hey, Cassie!" Another, very familiar voice, interrupted before Cassie could say anything more. Maybe that was just as well. Cassie wasn't sure what to say. Ned ambled into the kitchen. "What's happening?"
"Oh. Ned." Cassie knew she was staring as if she hadn't ever seen Ned before. That wasn't too far off. She had actually forgotten about Ned's existence. "Ned, this is Wynn. Wynn, Ned."
She saw the two men eyeing each other. Ned, usually the most amiable guy in the world, looked like he was considering a scowl. Wynn had gone well past considering having one. His frown was a masterpiece in threat faces.
Oh. She hadn't even thought about this when she told Wynn he could stay. Well, she hadn't told him exactly, but he knew he was staying.
Ned was used to staying, too. He knew he could drop in whenever he wanted and be there as long as he wanted. At least he could up until now. Why not?
Cassie had long since realized that his casual coming and going meant nothing and she enjoyed his uncomplicated company. She was alone too much and having Ned around was better than nothing. She was no longer sure if Ned had ever really meant anything more to her.
Cassie couldn't help contrasting the two men in front of her. Ned was still red-haired, tall and good-looking. None of that had changed. She'd always liked that. What had always amused and infuriated her about Ned though, was the lazy acceptance that whatever came along in his life would be fine since he had no control over what happened. That acceptance was in the way he moved and thought and spoke.
His current annoyance was unusual. Cassie knew that if she had thought at all about Ned's reaction to seeing Wynn she would have thought Ned would have no problems with having another male in her house. Ned never cared about anything in particular.
Now Wynn was different. Some people might think he looked a little too exotic with his dark hair and direct dark stare all combined with pale skin and a tall, thin frame. She thought he was breath-taking.
Now, even more than his looks, it was the alertness, almost wariness, coiled up inside him that made Cassie want to go and cuddle him, just the way she did Pandora, until he calmed down enough to relax and trust her.
She had a feeling he might lash out first, just the wa
y her cat did sometimes. You could tell Wynn was used to fighting for what he wanted. Cassie respected that even though she wished he didn't think he had to fight her.
She looked at him again. He seemed aloof but watchful as he contemplated the other man. Something about his stance and attitude struck her as overwhelmingly male, territorial and sort of sexy. She fought a smile.
Maybe she didn't want to pet him exactly the way she would Pandora.
"Wynn is going to be a houseguest for a while, Ned." After admitting that fact out loud, Cassie turned to Wynn. "Ned and I are long-term...um..." What were they anyhow? "We've known each other for a long time."
Wynn grunted. He shot her one guarded look.
*I don't need anyone else knowing where I am.*
*Ned is harmless.*
*No one is entirely harmless. Remember I trust you because I must. But I intend to trust only you.*
"Got any beer, Cass?" Ned opted to ignore the other man and wandered to the fringe.
"If you left some from last time, Ned." He didn't usually.
Ned pulled out a carton of ice cream instead and began to scoop some out into his favorite bowl.
"Cassie, are you going to help?" Wynn apparently had also decided to ignore the other man. "We can't fool around much longer."
Cassie knew she ought to say no. That would be the logical response. Whatever it was Wynn had in mind, she shouldn't get involved. She'd spent a good portion of the last five years making sure she didn't get involved in any way with anything.
Wynn might be tempting, but she wasn't an idiot. Cassie swallowed and got ready to say no.
Right then was an unfortunate time to remember some of the last advice her mother gave her.
"Cassie, I raised you to care. Logic will kill you. Don't smirk at me. You're going to die inside, child, unless you realize what you're doing and follow your heart instead."
Her mother had thrown herself into all kinds of causes. Cassie'd disliked that whole thing intensely and vowed she was never going to be that stupid.
She'd decided to follow logic and self-interest despite what her mother had told her. But Mom may've had a point. Logic had gotten her—well, what had logic gotten her? Cassie was living alone in a condo, cleaning houses for a living, and realizing that Ned was about the closest thing to a friend she had in the world.
Cassie stared at Ned, happily pouring chocolate syrup on top of the ice cream. Ned was doing what he always did. She was getting irritated like she always did. That was familiar. She let Ned hang around even after they had called it quits because—because she knew him. He was predictable and safe and someone to talk to besides Pandora. And he'd never presume to judge her. Not like her family always did. Judging Cassie was one thing her mother had in common with the rest of the family.
But Ned and all the rest of her life was boring. As boring as she had thought Wynn's life was not too long ago.
Wynn was pushing her into something she knew nothing about, something scary, something unfamiliar. She hated being pushed. She knew this was going to be more work than she had taken on in years—maybe ever. And there was no logical reason to do it.
*Cassie.*
*Wynn, don't. I'll make up my own mind. *
"Cassie, you got any motor oil? My car's been having problems." Ned grabbed a spoon without asking. Like he grabbed anything of hers he needed.
"Check the garage."
Wonder of wonders, Pandora ignored Ned's food and chose to go rub herself against Wynn's legs. Wynn picked her up.
"I've never been around pets much. They certainly can attach themselves to you," Wynn said aloud. "I could get used to this."
*Please, Cassie.*
She could tell Wynn hated asking that. He wanted her to do something for him, all right, just like Ned did. But he was asking first and he was sorry he had to ask. At least that was different. And all of a sudden she wanted something different. She was desperate for something different.
"Believe me, my cat doesn't do that for everyone. For anyone. She was wandering around near my trash can when I took her in. I think she holds a grudge against most humans because one abandoned her."
*All right. To hell with making up my mind. I don't have one. Logic never was my strong point, I guess. I'm already a pushover for every stray who comes in the door. Who am I to refuse to help save the world and life as we know it?*
Mom would have been proud. Of course, her father and stepmother would be appalled if they ever found out. Well, she never could please all of her family anyhow. And they never would find out.
"I already did check the garage. Damn, Cassie, you mean you're out of motor oil? That means I'll have to go get some at the store. Are you sure? Can you run me over there? I kind have been putting off taking care of things and now my car is pretty bad. I better not use it."
Cassie had heard that excuse and that plea many, many times before. He'd at least learned not to ask to actually drive her BMW. She'd chauffeur Ned sometimes but she'd only give him her car if it was a life or death emergency.
Unfortunately for Ned, though, the life or death emergency she was dealing with had nothing to do with him.
"Sorry, Ned. Can't help you this time. I'm going to be sort of busy."
Ned's protests became a distant whine in the background when Wynn turned toward her and began to speak.
"I appreciate your help, Cassie." Wynn's voice was soft. "I know you have your own life and I'm pushing things here. I understand. You have no reason to help me or even believe what I say. The worst of it is that I know I shouldn't ask this of you even though I am asking for your help anyhow."
"I know." Cassie kept the scowl on her face but could feel a little softening inside.
He sounded so sincere. Then she reminded herself that he wasn't just asking her for a ride to the local store. Wynn had already told her that this was dangerous.
*But there is one other thing, Cassie. Something important. Something you need to know first.*
"Now what?" Cassie asked, none too pleasantly.
Wynn leaned toward her. Cassie had to actually fight the pull he exerted. She wasn't sure if he was looking at her that way deliberately, but she knew she wanted to agree to anything if he would keep staring at her so intently. She'd almost prefer to think he was using some sort of hypnosis on her rather than know, deep down, one reason she was ready to agree to whatever he said was because she was attracted to him.
*Emmanuel knows me-or he used to years ago. We both had different names then. I just figured out that he was involved and who he must be a few days ago. That's when I realized I needed to get out of sight before he figured out who I was. If he finds out I'm still around he'll know I'm not just a threat because I'm Senator Hornsby's employee. He'll go after me and he'll go after you, too, if he finds out about you.*
*Why?*
*Because Emmanuel is like us. He has our gift, too.*
"Fine. Wonderful. Guess he can join the crowd," Cassie said with disgust.
There was a second of silence while Wynn looked blankly at her.
"Bloody hell, woman, you need to take this more seriously!" Wynn sputtered into a laugh.
When he stopped laughing but stayed smiling, Cassie smiled back.
"Oh, I am. Much too seriously to do anything but laugh about it." She held out her hand. "So we're in this together now, partner?"
Thanks a lot, Mom. Look where all your integrity and values have gotten me.
Wynn took her hand and, instead of shaking it, just held it for a moment. She could feel the warmth of his hand, the thumb he nestled in her palm. Cassie liked the feeling.
If this guy could make her enjoy just hand-holding, what else could he make enjoyable for her?
"I guess so," he agreed with her reluctantly, almost as if he hadn't been the one pushing the idea a few moments ago.
Ned was looking at them.
"You two are weird," he announced. "And you're not making any sense."
"No kidding," Wynn
muttered. "I'm afraid we may've even gone beyond that."
But his smile was still there.
Chapter Seven
"You're quite insane, woman. I've never heard of this Harmon person, if he even exists, and I've never heard of you."
Art Hornsby's face looked sterner and more menacing by the moment. His politician's mask was completely gone. She'd done the unforgivable by disparaging the woman he loved. And Wynn wasn't around to help her out.
"Cassie? Wake up. You must've fallen asleep on the couch."
Cassie woke up and almost wished she hadn't. Wynn loomed over her. She didn't feel much better awake than during her nightmare.
"Isn't it bad enough you march in and out of my house and my mind constantly? Do you have to regulate my sleep, too?"
"Hey!" Wynn scowled. "We just need to get ready. This is the big day. If this goes well I can be out of your life in less than twelve hours."
"Listen I'm sorry if I snapped. I have a headache. A bad one." Cassie thought about that minute and then said, "No, I'm not sorry I snapped. You caused the headache."
"Huh?"
"I told you to not mind-talk me so much all the time. It hurts, OK?" Cassie shut her eyes a minute. "It's a little like trying to talk nothing but a foreign language all day."
"Oh." It had been so long since Wynn had learned to use his gift that if he ever had known that, he'd forgotten.
"And when you enter my mind it hurts, too."
Wynn blinked. He'd never thought of that. He'd taken for granted his gift and his right to use it. Da had encouraged him to do that—but then he'd learned long before this to be careful of what Da approved of. He hadn't meant to hurt her. "I try to be careful. No one else even knows I do it."
"Well, I know. And it hurts. Not as much as when you started but...it's not always pleasant." Cassie thought about what she said and shrugged. "I guess it's like sex. While it can be fun, the first few times aren't always great."
How had she known about his first...Then he realized what she meant.
"I'm sorry."
He was more than sorry. If what he'd been doing all these years to others was even close to what he'd felt back when he'd first been with a woman or, worse yet, how he'd felt at the Institute—The idea had never even occurred to him until now. "Cassie, I can stop. Everything. If you want me to. I really am sorry."