Page 112 of The Lady Has a Past

Lyra picked up one of the cables and examined it. “How does the detector work?”

Before Otto could respond, one of the bulbs began to glow with a green light. The needle on the dial moved.

“Huh.” Otto hurried forward to check the gauges and dials. “This is very interesting.”

“What?” Lyra said.

Otto frowned. “It’s indicating that it senses some paranormal energy.”

“Wow, what an amazing surprise,” Simon said.

Lyra and Otto ignored him.

“Is it emanating from Simon?” Lyra asked.

“No, he’s not the one holding the cable.” Otto looked up, excitement heating his eyes. “I believe it’s coming from you, Miss Brazier.”

“Another astonishing surprise,” Simon remarked.

Again he was ignored.

“Really?” Lyra said, her eyes sparkling.

“Let go of the sensor and we’ll see what happens,” Otto said.

Lyra set the cable on the table. The green light faded and disappeared.

“Yes, it’s definitely indicating that you have a perceptible level of paranormal talent,” Otto said. “My theory is that all humans have a degree of extrasensory perception but we usually dismiss it as intuition.”

“So your device is merely indicating I’ve got some intuition?”

“If so, it’s a good deal more than average intuition,” Otto said. He got an expression of intense concentration. “I have a lot of work to do to enhance the detector. The problem is that, although it can sense stronger-than-average paranormal currents, it can’t give me any clue to the exact nature of the energy or what type of abilities might be associated with those particular wavelengths.”

“I trust you’re not hoping to reach the Other Side,” Lyra said.

Otto was outraged. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no such thing as talking to the spirit world. Anyone who claims to be a medium is a fraud.”

“I agree,” Lyra said. “I just wanted to be sure you weren’t pursuing that goal.”

“Absolutely not. The scientific research into the paranormal has been badly muddled by the fakery of those who claim to be able to speak to the dead. Thankfully, some reputable academic institutions are starting to take a serious interest in paranormal research.”

Lyra nodded. “I know that Duke University has a facility dedicated to parapsychology and the study of extrasensory perception. There are other institutes around that are investigating paranormal phenomena. I doubt it will be long before the government takes an interest in the field.”

Simon glanced at her, clearly impressed. “You’re aware of all that?”

She shrugged. “I told you, I have always been interested in psychic phenomena.”

“We don’t have all day,” Simon said. He looked at Otto. “Why did you track me down here in Burning Cove?”

Otto started to answer but a crisp knock on the door interrupted him.

“Room service,” a woman sang out.

“I’ll get it,” Simon said.

At least it gave him something to do.

He opened the door. A perky young woman stood in the hall. She held a large platter laden with the usual tea paraphernalia.

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