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  "Madam Secretary," Jeremy began.

  "Please, doctor, as you intimated, let's be honest with each other," replied Napolitano. "We have done a background check on you. And in most respects you came up clean. And we also know you are one of the types of people we are looking for. Someone with a special ability, or special talent, as General Porter puts it. And because of your training and experience, you're the perfect choice to find and recruit the people we need for this special team."

  "Without admitting anything," said Jeremy, "let's assume you're right. That I do have one of these special talents. How could you possibly know that? I've all ready told you that such people would be very reticent to divulge that type of information. How can you possibly have that type of information when those types of individuals would probably do everything they could to conceal it?"

  "By having someone break a promise they made years ago."

  Jeremy turned toward the door of the office to see who had spoken. Standing in the door was a man about his age with brown hair that has streaks of gray in it. His eyes were blue; nearly the same shade of blue as the suit he was currently wearing. Hanging from the breast pocket of the suit was a badge that identified him as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

  "Richard?" Jeremy questioned. "Richard Scarborough? I haven't seen you since college."

  "That's right," said Scarborough, shaking hands with his old friend. "And that time we sort of got drunk together and you let it slip about your ability. How you can tell when someone is lying. I made a promise to you that night. A promise to never reveal what you had told me. And I've kept that promise. Until now. I'm sorry, Jeremy. Normally I wouldn't have broken my word to you. But when the Director told me about the search for people with special abilities to combat terrorism I felt it was important that we at least explore the option. In order to do that I had to tell them about you."

  "So you can see, doctor," said Napolitano, "we know about your special ability. Or at least partially about it. When Assistant Director Scarborough came to me with what he knew I decided I at least had to talk to you."

  "Assistant Director, huh?" questioned Jeremy. "You've come a long way from that kid I knew in college who came from a family of local cops."

  "Yeah, my dad was real proud when I made it into the F.B.I.," said Scarborough. "And he was even prouder when I made Assistant Director."

  "Okay," said Jeremy. "But we were drunk that night. What makes you think what I told you was true and not just the alcohol talking?"

  "You proved it to me, remember? I told you a bunch of things about myself. Some true, some not true. And you were able to tell me exactly which things I had been honest about and which I hadn't. Then there was Jenny Cartigan. That little blond from your poly-sci class? Somehow you knew she was sick even when her own doctor didn't know. And that was even before you had gone to medical school."

  "I also remember telling you I didn't want that information getting out," said Jeremy. "Because of how people might react if they found out. And you gave me your word you would never tell anyone."

  "I know," said Scarborough. "I'm sorry. But I felt this was more important. People are dying every day, Jeremy. Innocent people. And we might have the means to stop all that. I couldn't, in good conscience, ignore that possibility. I wouldn't blame you for being pissed at me. But please understand that I had the best of intentions at the time."

  "The road to hell," said Jeremy, not bothering to finish the quote. "But I suppose I can understand why you did it. You always were a very dedicated man." He turned back to Napolitano. "What if I say no? What if I refuse to help you? What happens then?"

  "You'll be free to go," said Napolitano. "And as I said, what's said in this room stays in this room. Doctor, we're looking for any tools or weapons we can use in our fight against terrorism. But I won't force you. People who join us in our fight against terrorism have to do so willingly. And I won't threaten you to get what I want either. It has to be voluntary."

  "Okay," said Jeremy. "So tell me exactly what it is you want me to do for you."

  "We want you to help identify people with these so-called 'special talents'. Help us explain to them exactly what it is we're doing. And if at all possible, get them to agree to help us."

  "What happens then? These people aren't trained agents. Many of them will have been living on the fringes of society their entire lives. I'm not sure many of them would even be suitable to be agents for you."

  "That will be our problem," interjected Porter. "Once you've identified them: and convinced them to help us: we'll send them to a special training center. One designed specifically for people like them. Your involvement with them will be ended."

  "It won't work," Jeremy said matter-of-factly. "You're asking me to get these people to trust me and persuade them to join the fight against terrorism. Many, if not most, of them will have to be persuaded. It won't be their first choice or they'd all ready be involved in it somehow. Then you want me to just turn them over to you and walk away.

  "That's the worst thing that could happen. They'd see it as a betrayal and to be quite honest, they'd be right. If I walk away they'll be very inclined to do the same. And you'd be right back where you started from."

  "So you're saying you need to be involved in the entire process," said Napolitano. "Including their training once they've been convinced to join us."

  "Exactly. And I don't know what training you have in mind but I can assure you it can't be the normal type of training your agents get. These people are going to be used to being on their own. Doing things their own way. And I have no doubt many of them will feel the way I do. That a lot of the protocols and procedures used by government agencies don't make a whole lot of sense and are a waste a lot of time. They'll need special handling."

  "We hadn't considered that," Porter said to Napolitano. "And he's right. I've been in the military for 32 years. And volunteers are always easier to handle than people who have been drafted. Even then, some of them just don't measure up."

  "So you want to be involved in their training?" Napolitano asked Jeremy.

  "I didn't say that exactly. I haven't even agreed to join you myself. If I do, I have to be convinced it's the best course of action. If I don't believe it myself, there's no way I can convince someone else to do it."

  "What do you need doctor? What can I do that will convince you to help us?"

  "Twenty-four hours," said Jeremy. "This is a major change. I have a lot of things to consider. If I'm involved in this I won't be able to continue with my teaching position at the university. And though my practice is small, I probably wouldn't have the time to devote to my patients that they need. I'll need to find another therapist for them. So I'll need to think it over and make sure I'm making the right decision."

  "Fair enough, doctor. I can appreciate a cautious man. I'll tell you what. I have a meeting tomorrow that I can't miss. How about you come back at 10:00 a.m. the day after tomorrow to give me your answer? I'll have my secretary pencil you in and if you find you need more time to make your decision you can always call and reschedule."

  "I appreciate that, Madam Secretary. I should have an answer for you very soon." He turned to Scarborough. "Richard, let's get together soon. Regardless of what I decide I'd like to catch up with things."

  "I'd like that, Jeremy. And again, I'm sorry for breaking my promise to you. You know I would never have done it if I didn't feel it was vitally important."

  "I have no doubt. All things considered, I don't suppose it's a major problem. And you did keep the promise for more than 20 years. I guess that counts for something." He turned back to Napolitano. "Madam Secretary, I'll see you in two days. General."

  Jeremy turned and left the office. As he did, the three people watched him go.

  "What do you think?" Secretary Napolitano asked. "You think he'll agree to join us?"

  "I don't know," replied Porter. "He didn't seem very convinced to me. I think we have to plan that he'll re
fuse."

  "He might surprise you," said Scarborough. "He always told me he wanted to become a psychiatrist because he wanted to help people. He has to realize that by accepting your proposal he can help a lot of people. I think he might just go for it."

  "I hope so," said Napolitano. "If he doesn't I'm not sure what we're going to do. Moser is becoming more of a problem every day. If we don't do something very soon, we might miss our opportunity."

  "Well," said Scarborough, "we should have our answer in two days."

  "I'll start on a plan in case he refuses," said Porter. "We should be ready with a contingency plan in that event. If you'll excuse me, Madam Secretary, I think I have a lot of work to do."

  "Certainly, General," said Napolitano.

  As the General and Scarborough left the office, Secretary Napolitano found herself silently hoping that Dr. Sloan would accept her offer. At the moment, he seemed their best option for what was coming in the very near future.

  CHAPTER THREE

  "So, I guess the question is, do you trust these people? You think they were being straight with you?"

  Janet Liu was a first generation Chinese-American whose parents had immigrated to the United States before she was born. She had been born in San Francisco and was an only child. A one-time patient of Jeremy's, they had formed a bond that had lasted long after their doctor-patient relationship had ended. She was usually the one Jeremy would talk to when he had an important decision to make.

  "Well, they weren't lying to me, I can tell you that much."

  "And you would know," said Janet, smiling at him. "But that doesn't answer the question. Do you trust them?"

  "Well, as I said," said Jeremy, "I can't really give you a lot of specifics. But, yeah, I guess I do. What they have in mind is a very worthwhile endeavor. But it's also going to mean leaving my teaching position and ending my practice. And I think I've helped a lot of people in my practice."

  "What about if you take this offer you mentioned? Would it help people, too?"

  "Oh, absolutely. In fact, it might help a lot more people than I can one-on-one. But it will help in a different way. I wish I could tell you more than I've received a very tempting offer from a specific group of individuals. But I promised them I wouldn't say anything about it. I'm sure if you knew the whole story you'd understand."

  "Jeremy," said Janet, "when I first came to you, it took me a long time to open up to you. I felt like a freak because of what I could do. You helped me understand that I wasn't a freak. And not only because you told me of your gift. You showed me that just because I'm different doesn't mean I'm freakish. You've been a good friend and you've helped a lot of people.

  "But you also told me that people like us: people who are different: were different for a reason. You taught me that if someone has a special ability they should use it to help better mankind. It sounds to me that this is exactly what you've been telling me about. A way to help better mankind and use the gifts we were born with."

  "Well, it would definitely help better mankind, I can't deny that. And I've always believed there were others out there like us. Others with gifts, as you call them. And I know you're more than a little interested in finding out why we're different. After all, you became a biologist to see if you could discover what makes us different."

  "All true. You said they wanted you to find others like us. People with unique abilities. Have they told you what they plan to do with these people once you've found them?"

  "Yes, they have," said Jeremy hesitantly. "And it is a very worthwhile endeavor. But you know as well as I do that even the best intentions can often be twisted and subverted. It scares me to think what someone could do with a group of people with gifts like ours. A group like that could be a formidable weapon in the wrong hands."

  "Or a great benefit to mankind in the right hands. Like the atomic bomb. It was developed to help put an end to World War II. It's a terrible weapon that can do unimaginable destruction. But it's also proved to be a great source of nearly unlimited power. As long as all proper safety protocols are observed, the benefits it gives to mankind are limitless.

  "It will be the same thing with these people, if you find them. As long as someone is in charge that is trying to harness their abilities for good, that person can help minimize the damage an unscrupulous person might try to do with them. And I can think of no one better suited or qualified to be that person than you."

  "Well, I wouldn't exactly be in charge. I'd be sort of a team leader, you might say. I'd have superiors I'd have to answer to. And I can't speak to how those superiors might try to use the group."

  "No one can speak for another. You taught me that. We are each responsible for ourselves and no one else. All you can do is the best you can and hope that others will do the same. You also have to consider that if you say no they'll probably just find someone else. And that person may not have the ethical or moral code you have to guide them."

  "I have thought of that. And to be honest, that's one of the strongest arguments for me accepting their offer. But like I said, it will mean leaving my teaching position and ending my practice."

  "So you have to ask yourself which is more important. The hour or so you spend each week with each of your patients or this offer that you've all ready told me would help a great many people at one time."

  Jeremy thought for a moment. Most of his patients didn't have any real problems. He wasn't treating any schizophrenics or sociopaths. They were simply ordinary people who needed someone to talk with to help sort out their problems. Compare to helping to fight terrorism, those problems seemed almost inconsequential.

  "What about you?" he finally asked Janet.

  "What about me?"

  "Well, I said these people are looking for others with special abilities. Special talents, as they put it. You're one of those people. You could help me make sure that this group is used for the right purposes."

  "I have my work here," Janet responded. "And it keeps me very busy."

  "Work which can only go so far without test subjects. You've told me so yourself. There's only so much you can learn from yourself and me. You've often told me how beneficial it would be if you could have some more test subjects. Imagine a whole group of people with special abilities. I imagine there's no end to what you might learn from that."

  "Which means I'd probably have to leave the research center, just as you have to leave your teaching position. Some of the equipment I use in my research is very sophisticated. A lot of research centers can't afford it. I've been lucky enough to be at one that can. I'm not sure these people who have offered you this position could afford that equipment. And without the equipment, it doesn't matter how many test subjects I have. I wouldn't be able to run the tests I need to find the answers I'm looking for."

  "Oh, I think I can guarantee you that you'll have access to whatever equipment you might need."

  "Really? These people have that kind of money? We're talking about equipment that could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for one piece of equipment."

  "I don't think that's going to be much of a hindrance."

  "Well," said Janet considering the offer, "I'd have to know more than what you've all ready told me. You taught me never to go into anything blind. I'd have to know what group this is and what their goals are. And I'd want to see a financial statement to be sure they could deliver on any promises they might make."

  "I understand that. All I'm asking is would you be interested?"

  "If it will help further my research, of course I'd be interested. To be honest, the going here is pretty slow. Like you said, without test subjects I'm limited to what I can learn. But if I had access to more people, it could advance my research considerably. Except you've promised them not to say anything to anyone else."

  "Well, if I decide to accept their offer, I'll mention you. It may involve telling them some things you've told me in confidence. They're going to want to know what kind of help you're going to be."
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br />   "I trust your judgment, Jeremy. After all, I guess technically I'm still a patient of yours. Kind of like an attorney-client relationship. Once you've done business together you're kind of stuck with each other."

  "I'm not sure I'd phrase it quite that way, but you're right. And I promise not to tell them anymore than I absolutely have to. I'm meeting with them again in the morning. I'll let you know how it goes."

  "Good or bad," said Janet. "And let's have dinner again soon. I've been so busy with my research I haven't had a chance to get out of the lab much lately. I could use a night away from my test tubes and Bunsen burners."

  "I'd like that. Well, I'd better get going. I have a lot of thinking to do. I'll see you in a day or two."

  At 10:00 a.m. the next morning Jeremy was sitting in Secretary Napolitano's office again. She was there, of course. As were General Porter and Scarborough. There was also another young woman in the office. She appeared to be about 30 years old, and unlike the others was dressed in what appeared to be a work uniform. Over one pocket on the shirt was a patch that read "Maintenance". Over the other pocket was a patch that read "Kamalene".