Page 67 of It takes a Psychic

Leona read the letter aloud, concentrating a little to decipher the hundred-year-old script.

To My Loyal Guardians:

I regret that I must leave you for a time, but know that the Great Cause is not lost. The Federation of City-states and the Guilds may claim victory for the present, but their triumph will be temporary.

I will return, and when I do, my powers will be enhanced a thousandfold. I will take my place as the leader of Harmony, and those who remain loyal will receive the gift that only I can bestow—paranormal talents beyond their wildest dreams.

Until the time is right for me to return to you, I will sleep in the Enhancement Machine. Do not fear. I shall be in a state of stasis. I will not grow old or weak. Instead, my powers will continue to develop.

You will know to expect my imminent return by these two signs:

First: The insignias of the Great Cause will be delivered to those who have been chosen to become the new generation of Guardians. I will communicate with the faithful telepathically from inside the Enhancement Machine. Only those who hear my voice and obey will be rewarded.

Second: When all is in readiness, my chosen bride will appear among you. She will find the Enhancement Machine and unlock it with the key. Thereupon I will awaken and lead you to our great victory.

Until that glorious day, I bid you farewell.

Leona looked up. “It’s signed by Vance.”

Oliver put his glasses back on. “It certainly is an interesting document.”

“It’s not interesting.” Leona shivered. “It’s downright creepy.” She glared at Thacker. “What makes you so sure I’m the bride?”

“Well, I can’t be positive, of course.” Thacker sighed. “But Ms. Harp informed me that the rumors are circulating in town. Last night several people in Lost Creek evidently received telepathic messages from Vance confirming that you were the bride and that you had the key in your possession.”

Leona shook her head in disbelief. “That’s ridiculous. Absolute nonsense. I’m starting to wonder if this entire town is delusional.”

Thacker frowned. “You’re saying you’re not the bride?”

“Yes, Mr. Thacker, that’s what I’m saying.”

Oliver clamped both hands very firmly on her shoulders, sending a silent message—stop talking. She reminded herself that he had a plan. Plans were all well and good until they fell apart. It wasn’t her fault that things had taken a very strange twist.

Oliver looked at Thacker. “Perhaps you could show me the Bluestone file?”

“Of course, of course.” Thacker appeared relieved by the change of subject. He picked up a large envelope and held it out along with a pairof gloves. “A fascinating document. The Bluestone Project was evidently one of the earliest attempts to investigate and harness the power of paranormal energy back on the Old World. It was a government program. Highly classified. Things went very much awry. They tried to shut it down and erase all record of it, but you can never make that sort of research disappear entirely.”

“No,” Oliver said. “You can’t.”

He started to pull on the gloves but gave up when it became obvious they were too small. Instead, he opened the envelope and carefully removed a document secured in a blue cover decorated with what looked like an official government seal.

He opened the document, gave it a cursory look, and inserted it back into the envelope.

“This will be a wonderful acquisition for the Rancourt,” he said.

“Excellent.” Thacker was clearly pleased. “You can pay Ms. Harp on the way out. She handles the finances.”

“There’s some paperwork to sign,” Oliver said.

“Yes, yes, no problem.”

Oliver opened the messenger bag and handed a document to him. “You’ll want to read it before you sign.”

Thacker chuckled and scrawled his name and the date. “Not necessary. If I can’t trust a professional colleague, who can I trust?”

“Good question,” Leona said.

“Precisely.” Thacker peered more closely at her. “The name Griffin is familiar. I don’t pay much attention to the news. The papers are always a few days late. But by any chance are you the para-archaeologist who was kidnapped several weeks ago?”

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