Special Talents

by J. B. Tilton

  "We really don't know much about it. My grandfather used to say it seemed to be pretty old. He had always planned to get it appraised but just never seemed to get around to it. My father also never had the chance to get it appraised. When I heard you were going to be in town doing a show I decided it was the perfect time to have it appraised."

  "Well, that's very flattering," said Doherty. His brow was furrowed as if he was trying to figure out a puzzle. "The watch is very old. The style and craftsmanship is indicative of a time between about 1500 and 1700. Each watch was painstakingly handmade in those days. And they were quite expensive. The general population wouldn't have been able to afford one.

  "You see this etching on the back?" He turned the watch over and showed Scarborough what looked like some kind of leaf pattern etched into the case of the watch. "This is indicative of a watchmaker named Pierre Cordavanna. Cordavanna was the official time keeper for the Catholic Church from about the late 1600s until his death sometime in the mid 1700s. Records are very scarce from that time and no one can say with certainty exactly when he died.

  "But I can tell you this is definitely one of Cordavanna's watches. Each watch he made was specially ordered for a particular person. On some occasions he would make a watch as a gift for a friend or family member. I'd say you have a very valuable piece here. It is conservatively worth somewhere between $10,000.00 and $15,000.00. And to a private collector it could be worth even more than that."

  "Really?" Scarborough said, feigning surprise. "I had no idea it was worth so much."

  "I'm always very pleased to let people know they have a genuine piece of history," said Doherty. He still had a strange look on his face.

  "Thank you," said Scarborough. "Thank you very much."

  As Scarborough left the table another man walked up holding a small sculpture. He walked over to Jeremy who stood up to meet him.

  "He's definitely using an ability," said Jeremy. "He does it every time he appraises something."

  "Well my experts tell me that etching on the back was very common back then," said Scarborough. "There's no way to identify a watch simply by it. But he got the name of the watchmaker right. And my experts have also told me there's no way to conclusively prove it was made by Cordavanna. So how can Mr. Doherty know so much about this watch without ever having seen it before?"

  "That's a very good question. One I'd like to know the answer to. Come on. Let's hang around for a bit. Once they're finished taping the show we can ask Mr. Doherty some questions."

  It was more than an hour before the show stopped taping for the day. Jeremy and Scarborough hung around watching the show like so many other spectators. When they finally broke for the day, Doherty headed back to his dressing room. Jeremy and Scarborough followed. As they entered the dressing room Doherty was removing the makeup he had to wear for the show.

  "Mr. Doherty," said Scarborough. "I'm Richard Scarborough. This is my friend, Jeremy Sloan. We'd like a few minutes of your time, if you don't mind."

  "Ah, the man with the watch," said Doherty, glancing at Jeremy. "I'm afraid I don't have much time. I have an appointment I really can't miss."

  "This won't take long," said Jeremy. "We were very impressed with your appraisal of the watch. It was quite accurate."

  "Thank you. It is my profession. I've always had a fascination for antiques. You'd be surprised how many things people think are antiques and then turn out to be just ordinary items. It was a real pleasure to see something that was actually worth something."

  "About that," said Scarborough. "I'm afraid I wasn't exactly candid with you. I said I had never had it appraised. Which is true. But Jeremy does know about the watch. It actually belongs to him. And he tells me you were exactly right what you said about it."

  "Well, this is a bit unusual," said Doherty. "Most people bring in their own items. I suppose you're a bit camera shy."

  "No, not really," said Jeremy. "I was more interested in watching your reaction when you appraised the watch. It was quite informative."

  "Really? How so?"

  "Well, for one thing, you identified the watchmaker. Pierre Cordavanna. And you were right. He was a master craftsman. He made the watch as a gift to one of my ancestors. It's been in my family ever since."

  "So it has more than monetary value," said Doherty. "I'm sure there's a lot of sentimental value attached to it as well."

  "Of course," said Scarborough. "Only, there's no way to identify who the watchmaker was. That etching you pointed out to me? My experts tell me it was pretty much standard fair at that time. And there are no markings on it to identify the watchmaker."

  "Well, there are a number of factors that can identify a watch of that type. I may have been a bit hasty in my evaluation of the etchings."

  "But you identified the real watchmaker," said Jeremy. "That's very interesting. Considering you could have picked any of a dozen watchmakers of the time that could have made it. But you got it right on the first try."

  "And my experts also tell me there isn't any distinctive about the craftsmanship of the watch. Nothing that would identify it as having been made by a particular watchmaker. So tell us, Mr. Doherty. How is it you can now so much about the watch that can't be independently verified?"

  "Who are you?" Doherty demanded. "I resent being interrogated in this way. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave before I call security."

  "Go ahead," said Scarborough, pulling out his Homeland Security ID. "I'm pretty sure this trumps any rent-a-cops the studio uses for security. Now, care to answer our questions?"

  "Homeland Security?" questioned Doherty, reading the ID card. "What's this about? I haven't done anything wrong. I make my living appraising and authenticating artifacts and antiques. I can assure you I have had nothing to do with any criminal activity."

  "No one is accusing you of that," said Jeremy. "In fact, we're very interested in how you're able to appraise and authenticate those items. Everything you said about the watch is true. I know it because it's been in my family for generations. But there's no way you could have known most of it. There aren't any records. So we'd just like to know how you're able to know things that you shouldn't be able to know."

  "I really have nothing to say," replied Doherty. "As I said, I've done nothing illegal. I'm a legitimate business man providing a legitimate service."

  "Well, you do seem to make several trips out of the country each year," said Scarborough. "It would be quite simple for you to import items that don't necessarily show up on a manifest. Or your income tax returns. I wonder what I'll find if I should check into those areas?"

  "Nothing illegal I can assure you. As I said, I run a legitimate business. I don't break the law. Now if you'll please leave, I do have an appointment I really must get to. I'm through answering your questions."

  "Mr. Doherty," said Jeremy, taking a card out of his pocket, "I know you have some kind of ability that you use when you appraise items. I would very much like to know what that ability is. I'm sorry if we put you on the defensive. This is my card. I would really appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about this ability. Think it over and give me a call. I can assure you whatever we discuss will remain completely confidential."

  "You're a psychiatrist?" questioned Doherty, reading the card.

  "That's right. And as I said, I would really appreciate the chance to talk to you about this ability you seem to have. Please, just consider my offer. I can be reached at that number any time of the day or night."

  "Well, that was productive," said Scarborough sarcastically as they left the dressing room. "We didn't get anywhere with him."

  "Threatening him didn't help," said Jeremy. "If he's got nothing to hide your threats wouldn't mean anything. I realized he was getting defensive. That would just have put him off even more. Let's give him time to consider my offer. He might just call. I think with Mr. Doherty we'll get further by being nice to him and not issuing any threats."

  "At least we know he has som
e kind of special talent. Even if we don't know exactly what it is. I can keep an eye on him now. What I said about his trips abroad was true. It's very possible he's importing items that don't appear on any loading manifest. They might not be terrorist related but as I told Barnes, I'm still in law enforcement. I can't just look the other way when I know a crime is being committed."

  "Well, I'm not sure Doherty is involved in anything illegal. Let's just give him some time. He might come around."

  Scarborough had his doubts about that. As they got into the car to drive away he was sure Doherty would never call.

  When they got back to the house, Janet, Kamalene, and Conrad were sitting in the living room talking. Conrad seemed like a completely different person. He was laughing and joking and resembled pretty much a normal human being. Nothing like he had been when they had first found him.

  "Well, you three seem to be having a good time," said Jeremy.

  "Yeah," said Janet. "We were just sitting here talking. Conrad seems to have a pretty good handle on his ability. He says the headaches are completely gone and he's even learning to use it to tap into other people's thought. Not that that's necessarily a good thing."

  "Hey, is it my fault you were thinking of that guy?" Conrad asked.

  "I didn't ask you to eavesdrop on my thoughts," said Janet.

  "I can't read your thoughts," said Conrad. "Only the information in your mind. I can't tell you what you're thinking. But I can learn whatever you know."

  "You've learned to do that all ready?" Scarborough asked. "I thought Jeremy said it would be days or weeks before you learned to do that."

  "I would imagine," said Jeremy, "that subconsciously he all ready knew how to do it. It just took a little practice to be able to do it consciously. Although you need to go slow, Conrad. Going too fast can have some serious repercussions."

  "I'll go slow, Dr. Sloan. But sometimes things just jump out at me. I can't control that. Like this guy Kamalene used to know."

  "Hey, you promised not to say anything about that," said Kamalene.

  Although she appeared to be angry it was obvious she really wasn't. Jeremy was glad to see the interaction between the three. Conrad had lived apart from society for so long he was worried how Conrad would adjust. Apparently his fears were unfounded. Conrad seemed to be adjusting quite nicely.

  "You know it occurs to me that we're assembling a pretty dangerous team here," said Scarborough. "One man can tell if you're lying just by looking at you. One of the ladies can control any mechanical device simply by touching it. And this young man can apparently learn whatever's in your mind simply by thinking about it. I shudder to think what would happen if any of you should join the other side."

  "Other side of what?" Conrad asked. He looked at Scarborough for a moment. Then he turned to Jeremy. "Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? The favor you wanted. You want me to help hunt terrorists for you?"

  "How could you possibly know that?" Scarborough asked.

  "It's in your mind," said Conrad. "You're concerned about the security risk some of us might pose. And what will happen if some of us don't agree to join you."

  "Okay, stay out of my head," said Scarborough.

  Conrad just looked at Janet and Kamalene and smiled.

  "Isn't that my line?" he asked, a broad smile on his face.

  Jeremy had trouble stifling a laugh. It really wasn't funny. With Conrad's ability none of them was safe. He could learn things and they'd never know he knew them.

  "Conrad," said Jeremy, "you shouldn't read another person's mind without their permission. It's about the worst type of privacy invasion I can think of. We all have things we want to keep to ourselves. You need to respect that privacy. Simply because you can do something doesn't necessarily mean you should do it."

  "I understand, Dr. Sloan. But like I said, sometimes things just jump out at me. That was one of them. Something about me joining your 'team'."

  "Yes, that's what I wanted to talk to you about," said Jeremy. "I think the next thing we need to work on is blocking these random thoughts you have. I know Richard and I both know things that could be disastrous to others if they should get out. We really can't have you picking out brains and then inadvertently letting something slip that could be harmful to someone else."

  "Yeah. Well, I know the difference between my own thoughts and the ones I get from other people. I promise not to say anything about the ones I pick up from others."

  Just then Jeremy's cell phone rang.

  "That's a start," he said to Conrad. He then answered the phone and paused for a moment. "Mr. Doherty. Frankly I'm a little surprised to hear from you and so soon. I figured you had pretty much written us off. . . .Yes, I can meet you. . . .Yes, I know the place. I can be there in half an hour." He looked up at Scarborough for a moment. "I understand, Mr. Doherty. I'll come alone. I'll see you in about thirty minutes."

  Jeremy closed the phone and stuck it back in his pocket.

  "Well, it seems Doherty wants to talk to me. Alone. He specifically said he'd talk but only if I didn't bring anyone with me."

  "Meaning me," said Scarborough.

  "Your name did come up. I would imagine he's afraid you might threaten him again. Can't say I really blame him, Richard. Most people don't respond well to threats."

  "That depends on the person and the threat," said Scarborough. "Did he say what he wanted to talk about?"

  "Not specifically. I guess I'll find out in a little while. I shouldn't be gone long. I'll fill you in when I get back."

  Jeremy turned and headed out of the house for his appointment with Doherty.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  "Thanks for meeting me, Dr. Sloan."

  Doherty was dressed in the same suit he had been wearing when Jeremy had seen him at the taping. The only difference was that he was now wearing a pair of gloves. Something Jeremy found decidedly odd since it wasn't cold enough to warrant gloves. They were sitting in a small coffee shop on the outskirts of D.C. and at the moment there were few customers in it. The two men sat in a booth in the back of the shop.

  "Not a problem, Mr. Doherty. I did say I wanted to talk to you."

  "Please, call me Frank. How did you know? About my ability I mean. I've never told anyone about it. At least not for many years. When I was growing up people used to think I was some kind of freak."

  "Well, as I said, you knew things about my watch that you couldn't possibly have known. It stands to reason you had some kind of ability that allows you to know things about the items you appraise. I'll be honest. I don't know what kind of an ability it is. But I do think it gives you information you couldn't get otherwise."

  "You have no idea how right you are. For as long as I can remember I can tell things about an object. Any object I can touch or hold. Things that I shouldn't be able to know."

  He looked at the napkin dispenser sitting on the table. The dispenser had a minor dent in one side but otherwise was relatively in good shape. Frank removed one of his gloves and picked the dispenser up. He didn't speak for a moment.

  "This dispenser was made by a company called Food Service Direct located in Hampton, Virginia," he said finally. "It was manufactured in 1993 and purchased by a major restaurant chain. That particular store went bankrupt in 2001 and the owner of this restaurant purchased it at auction. The dent in the dispenser was made when one customer picked it up and hit another customer with it, presumably when they were having an argument."

  He put the dispenser back on the table and put his glove back on.

  "You see what I mean? I never heard of this Food Service Direct. And how many people can tell you what company makes napkin dispenser? Not to mention the part about one customer hitting another with it. There's no way I should be able to know these things."

  "That's why you wear the gloves," said Jeremy. "To keep from touching objects and learning about them."

  "Do you have any idea what it's like to know everything about an object simply by touching it?
Without the gloves my head would be filled with all sorts of information from even the most mundane objects. So, yes, I wear the gloves to keep from touching objects direction. As long as I wear the gloves I can only 'read' objects I chose to 'read'."

  "Like the items at the taping of Hidden Treasures."

  "Exactly. I make my living appraising and authenticating artifacts. And it provides me with a very good living. But you seemed to know what I was doing when you came to the show. You came to check me out. I'd like to know how you knew it?"

  "Yes, Richard and I came to check you out. As you know Richard works for Homeland Security. So do I in a manner of speaking. I can't tell you very much right now but I can tell you that Homeland Security is interested in people with special abilities. Abilities like the one you have."