Page 29 of Absent Feeling

“Yes?Who are you?”

“We’rewith the FBI,” Simon said. “We’re working on the murders over the last fewdays.”

“Theones with the Rorschach tests?”

Ofcourse, that detail was all over the news by now.

“Wehoped that you might be able to tell us about them,” Simon said.

“Ican tell you about them all right.” There was a hostile look in Seaver’s eyesthen. “They’re pseudo-science. Everything’s down to the interpretation of aso-called expert. At best, they’re like some fake psychic cold reading you to makeit sound like they know what they’re talking about. At worst, it’s a coin flipwith your freedom on the line!”

Thereseemed to be genuine anger in his voice at that.

“Maybeyou could tell us more about them,” Simon suggested. “And help us to understandwhy someone might want to leave them at a series of crime scenes.”

Instantly,Amber saw the suspicion and hostility on Ashley’s face increase. He took half astep back, as if he might slam the door, shutting them out.

“Youwant to pin this on me, don’t you? It’s going to be just like last time.”

Lasttime?Thosewords caught in Amber’s mind. So did the vehemence with which Seaver had said them.

“Whathappened ‘last time’ Ashley?” Simon asked.

“Igot in a fight.”

“And?”

“Andsome shrink used the Rorschach test on me. He decided that it meant I had apersonality disorder, and I needed to be locked away. Do you know what happensthen, Mr. FBI agent?”

“Youtell me, Ashley.”

AshleySeaver’s tone only grew harsher. “They keep you in there until they think youaren’t dangerous anymore. Years. They kept me thereyearsbecause of astupid, fake test!”

Helooked angry then, angry enough that Amber was almost convinced he was about tolash out. She found herself looking for a way to defuse the situation.

“Wearen’t interested in pseudo-science, Ashley,” she said. “We’re interested infacts, in evidence. That’s what matters, right?”

“Right,”Ashley said, automatically. He looked away with a hurt expression. “Notsomeone’s opinion, facts.”

“So,do you have any facts that might help us, Ashley?” Amber asked.

“Suchas?”

“Howabout where you were last night?” Amber asked.

“Iwas flying back from California,” Ashley said. “There’s been a convention overthe last couple of days, dedicated to debunking the pseudo-science at the heartof our legal system and business world. Did you know that there are stillcompanies using graphology to screen some of their job applicants? Graphology! Butthe Rorschach test is worse than all of it! Locking people away with pureguesswork!”

Heseemed to be getting worked up again, but at least Amber and Simon hadsomething they could latch onto, something they could check.

“Doyou have any evidence that you were at the convention?” Simon asked.

Ashleyreached towards his pocket. Amber saw Simon tense, but his hand came outholding a phone.

“It’sall here. Pictures of me there. My digital ticket for the flight. All of it.”

Meaningthat he had an alibi for the murders.

“Ashley,”Amber said. “Is it possible that someone else hates the Rorschach test evenmore than you do? Is it possible that someone might be killing because of it?”

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