Special Talents (7 page)

Rowe had gone through several bags without finding what he was looking for. He turned and was about to begin examining more bags when he looked up and saw Scarborough standing in the middle of the aisle facing him. Scarborough had his hands on his hips, his suit coat held open. His sidearm was still in its holster on his belt but was clearly visible to Rowe.

Rowe suddenly turned as if to move away from Scarborough. As he did he saw Janet at the opposite end of the aisle only a few scant feet from him. He was clearly startled by the presence of the two. As he backed against one of the metal shelves behind him, Scarborough walked over and picked up one of the bags on a nearby shelf.

"Out for a little stroll?" Scarborough asked. "I think this is probably what you're looking for."

Jeremy had to act fast. He could see Rowe's aura beginning to change all ready. It was easy to figure out what he was going to do. Being able to pass through solid object Rowe simply had to step back and pass through the same wall he had entered through. If he did that he might disappear and they might never find him again.

"That's a handy talent you have," Jeremy said, stepping out where Rowe could see him. He cautiously moved slowly toward Rowe. "Passing through solid objects. No wonder the evidence always disappears from the evidence room. All you have to do is come in and get it. No evidence, no charges. Very ingenious."

"Doc?" Rowe questioned, his aura returning to normal. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you. Simon, don't leave. We want to talk to you. It's very important."

"Why should I?" Rowe questioned. "All you're going to do is lock me up."

"From the looks of it, that might be hard to do," said Jeremy. "But to be honest, we aren't looking to lock you up. We'd like to talk to you about this ability you have. To pass through solid objects. We might be able to help you put it to good use. A much better use than some simple burglaries."

"Like what, robbing banks? You don't strike me as being the criminal type doc." He glanced momentarily at Janet and Scarborough as if he expected then to jump him at any moment. "Besides, I have to get back to my cell. If the guard comes in and finds me gone they'll add escaping to my charges."

"I can make this go away," said Scarborough, holding up the bag of evidence. "As if it never happened. And you obviously haven't escaped. You're still here. Just hear the doctor out, that's all we ask."

"So I just listen to your shpeel and I'm free to go, is that it?"

"If that's what you want, yes," said Jeremy. "All I ask is five minutes of your time to hear what I have to say. After that if you want to go about your business no one will stop you."

"And all the charges go away?"

"That's the deal," said Scarborough. "I'll talk to the captain myself. But if you try to run I'll have every law enforcement agency in the country looking for you. There won't be any place you'll be able to hide."

"How do I know you'll keep your word?" Rowe asked.

"What do you have to lose?" Jeremy asked. "Besides, if we try anything all you have to do is do that little trick of yours and disappear through some wall. To be honest, I'm not sure how we'd be able to stop you anyway."

"Phasing," said Rowe. "I call it phasing. So I give you five minutes, you say your say, and I walk. That's the deal?"

"That's the deal," said Jeremy. "Richard makes this little business of the burglary go away and if you want to leave you'll be free to do so."

"Well," said Rowe thoughtfully, "I suppose it couldn't hurt to listen to you. It's only five minutes."

"Okay," said Jeremy. "Now, you need to go back to your cell. We'll talk to the captain and have him release you to us. Then we'll have our chat."

"Just don't try anything funny. You try anything and I'll phase out and you'll never see me again."

"No tricks, I promise," said Jeremy. "It will take a few minutes to make the arrangements. We'll come get you as soon as we're finished."

"Okay, I'll listen to you," Rowe said. "But after that, I'm gone."

Rowe looked at the three one last time, and then simply turned and passed through the wall as if it wasn't there.

"You think that was a good idea?" Janet asked. "Letting him go like that? What makes you think he'll go back to his cell and wait for us? For all we know he's on his way to Timbuktu right now."

"He said he'd listen to us," said Jeremy. "And he was being honest. Come on. He probably won't wait very long before he decides we weren't honest with him. We need to get him out of that cell as quickly as possible."

"I hope you know what you're doing," said Scarborough. "Secretary Napolitano is going to have a cow when she finds out I interfered with a local police matter and then let the suspect just walk out scot free."

"We'll just have to do our best to make sure that doesn't happen," said Jeremy as the three headed out of the property room.

At first the captain was hesitant to release Rowe. But Scarborough had been right. The phrase "Homeland Security" did carry a lot of weight. In the end the police captain agreed to let Rowe go, albeit reluctantly. Once he had been freed from custody, Rowe insisted they talk somewhere other than the police station. He said if he was free to go then it shouldn't be a problem. They all gathered in a coffee shop that wasn't far from the station.

"Well, it seems you're as good as your word," Rowe said. "I never heard of a cop just letting someone go like that. I guess that Homeland Security thing really does have a lot of pull."

"And you should know," said Scarborough. "You've been arrested more times than I can count."

"All misunderstandings, I can assure you," replied Rowe, a half smile on his face.

"That's quite an interesting talent you have," said Jeremy, trying to diffuse the situation between Scarborough and Rowe. "How long have you been able to do it?"

"You said you wanted to talk to me for five minutes," said Rowe, looking at his watch. "The clock is ticking. I never said I'd answer any questions."

"You're not very trusting," said Jeremy.

"Trust is highly overrated," replied Rowe. "People aren't real dependable."

"That's certainly true of some people. But it doesn't describe everyone. Besides, we all have to trust someone at some time. You trusted me and here you are out of jail. That has to count for something."

"That's because you want something. I'll tell you what, doc. Why don't you just come right out with it? Just tell me what you want so I can turn you down and be on my way. No sense wasting either of our time with long drawn out conversation. You want something which is why you sprung me. So let's just get it out in the open. What do you want?"

Rowe was not a very trusting individual. He had probably lived on the streets his entire life and come to believe that you couldn't count on anyone but yourself. Which meant that most of the people he dealt with, other than the police, were criminals. Not exactly the most trustworthy bunch.

"Okay," Jeremy said finally. "First, you're a thief. You stole those jewels and we all know it. Despite your claims you have no friend who's going to 'clear it all up'. There is no trust fund from your father. In fact, neither your father nor your mother are deceased. And you don't believe you'll ever settle down and get a job as you claimed. Most likely you'll continue to steal as long as you're alive.

"You were being honest about your childhood. At least partially. It was 'okay', as you put it. But you father didn't work all the time and your mother didn't have any charities or groups or anything. You also weren't home along as you claim. Someone was usually there with you. But you were being honest about them not mistreating you. And that was an interesting little anecdote about your aunt with the cats. The one that doesn't exist. What, did you know someone who did have an aunt like that and just decided to throw it in for good measure?"

Rowe just stared at Jeremy with a strange expression on his face. Jeremy had seen it before. It was a look of confusion. As if he was trying to figure out how Jeremy could know so much.

"What, no flippant answer for that?" Jeremy asked. "You barely graduated high school and have never attended any trade school or any other school to give you any kind of marketable skill. So you use your ability to support yourself. What did you call it? Phasing? You steal what you need and then move on.

"You've never held a job or paid any taxes. When you get caught, you simply use your phasing ability to steal back the evidence so you can't be charged. If that doesn't work you just phase out of your jail cell and leave town. How am I doing there, hot shot?"

"How could you possibly know all that?" Rowe asked a look of confusion on his face. "No one could know all of that."

"Because you aren't alone," said Jeremy. "There are others out there with special abilities just like you. I can tell when someone is lying. And not like a lie detector either. Mine is always accurate."

"Okay, but that doesn't tell me what you want."

"Quite frankly," said Jeremy, "we want you. We're looking for others with unique abilities. People who might be able to help make a difference."

"A difference in what?" Rowe asked.

"Well, now, that's a bit complicated," said Jeremy. "And to be quite honest, it's not something I would want to discuss in this diner. But let's just say if you're willing to join us, you could be doing some very important work. Perhaps the most important work you've ever done in your life."

"And all of it completely legal," interjected Scarborough. "You wouldn't have to worry about running from the cops anymore."

"So I just join you and all of my troubles disappear, is that it?"

"Probably not," said Scarborough. "But you saw what I did back at the police station. I can do the same for the rest of your criminal record. They'd be a thing of the past. No one would be looking for you for anything. Of course, I can't speak to what you may do in the future. But you do have some outstanding warrants in a few jurisdictions. I can make them disappear."

"And if I say no, what then?"

"Like I said, you walk out of here. Still a wanted man and still looking over your shoulder for any cop that may be looking to take you in."

"Or we could just lock you up until you come to your senses," said Scarborough. "As I said, you still have a number of outstanding warrants on you."

"Well, like the doc said, you might find that a bit hard to do," said Rowe, a cocky smile on his face.

As if to demonstrate, he passed his hand through the napkin dispenser on the table. It passed through the metal dispenser and paper napkins as if they weren't even there. As he did his hand bumped into an empty glass sitting next to the dispenser. When it did his hand didn't pass through it. He knocked the glass over on its side on the table.

"Good thing that was empty," Janet commented.

"So, you can't phase through glass," Jeremy commented.

"Okay, now you know my secret," said Rowe. "I don't seem to have a problem with most things. But glass, Plexiglas, and dirt don't seem to be affected by my ability. But it's still pretty handy. I can get into almost anywhere I want without setting off any alarms. It's like I don't exist when I'm phased. Heat sensors, motions detectors, none of it will detect me."

"Which, as I said, can be used to make a difference," said Jeremy. "You've been using your ability to commit petty burglaries. To grab a few bucks here and there. You have no idea what you can accomplish with an ability like that. I can show you. And as I said, you'll be making a difference at the same time."

"Well that sounds nice and all but a fella' has gotta eat. And I'm not much for a 9 to 5 job. Sitting behind a desk for 8 hours a day wearing some monkey suit. I wouldn't do well in that type of a situation. I gotta' have some space. Be able to move around, so to speak."

"I wouldn't worry about that," said Scarborough. "What the doctor is talking about is a job. No 9 to 5 and no suits if you don't want to wear one. And you'll have plenty of freedom to 'move around' provided you follow the rules. One of which is no more burglaries."

"You can really do what you claim?" Rowe asked. "Make those warrants disappear?"

"A couple of phone calls from me and there won't be any record of you past criminal deeds," said Scarborough. "You could walk into any police station in the country and you'll be just another private citizen."

"What about you, sweet thing?" Rowe asked, looking at Janet. "You part of the package deal?"

"Let's get one thing real clear from the onset," said Janet. "We'd be working together. Nothing more. And if you should get any bright ideas . . . ."

As if to demonstrate her point, Janet picked up the napkin dispenser Rowe had passed his hand through only a moment before. With little effort she crushed the dispenser into a mangled mass of metal. She then just dropped the mangled dispenser back on the counter.