Spelled Innocents
By Shrike
This story is a sequel to Spelled Racist, it is advisable to read that
story first.
It is posted on:
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/15591/spelled-racist
http://www.fictionmania.tv/stories/readhtmlstory.html?storyID
=339016719940907990
http://storiesonline.net/s/55474
As I stood in front of the building where I was going to have my interview
at the law firm of Bascomb, Hanner & Trevelyn, I thought back at how I had
gotten here. After having been changed from a white racist boy into a
beautiful Chinese girl, I managed to find a new life and family and finish
my college with a law degree. I smiled, thinking back to my graduation
day. My good friend Cassie, with her fianc?e Brett had been there as well
as Helen, another friend that helped me out of a jam then. I remembered
everything clearly, it helps if you have a Eidetic memory. I could recall
everything perfectly.
**|**
I threw my cap in the air just like all the others before I walked over to
where my friends Cassie and Helen were waiting. I told Cassie. "I don't
have the money yet, but I'll pay you back as soon as I can."
Cassie responded. "No need for that Xia. It is my graduation gift to you.
If you hadn't done so well I would have asked for it back, but you
performed even better than I expected."
"But Cassie, I can't accept this. It is too much. Please let me pay you
back."
Cassie smiled. "I don't have to worry about my financial situation. You
need the money, so just indulge me in helping a good friend."
I hugged her. "Thank you so much Cassie, I'll never forget this."
**|**
A horn blaring on the street took me out of my reverie. I looked at my
watch, it was nearly time for me to go in. I hadn't taken any Catataxin,
the anti magic drug, today as I felt fine, and wasn't bothered too much
with my power. Catataxin was invented to help people being bothered with
magic use to get relief, but it was also to keep criminals that used magic
in line and it even protected people mostly Federal Bureau of Magic
officers safeguarded against magic users.
I was very confident about this job interview. Of course my precognitive
power had something to do with that as well. It showed me two outcomes,
but the one in which I got the job was much clearer.
I waited for several minutes on a plush seat before being admitted to Mr.
Hanner himself. I hadn't expected to be interviewed by one of the partners
in person. I did know that the firm wasn't that big. But it was highly
praised and prestigious. He shook my hand and pointed to a plush seat,
while he didn't sit down himself, but went to a table behind another seat.
I couldn't see what was on it, but I thought I clearly heard. "Maybe you
would like something to drink?"
I answered him, "Yes, may I have a tea please."
He turned around and looked at me strangely, before preparing the tea
behind the seat's back. Then he put two cups on the table between us. He
sat down and asked, "So, Miss Wu. I see that you just graduated from
Tulane. Tell me why I should hire you?"
In my clear voice I answered, "Well, I finished top in my class and can
offer a lot to the firm. I'm a hard worker and have already done an
internship with a small law firm in New Orleans."
"Yes of course, but all the law graduates that apply here have that. What
sets you apart from them?"
I started talking about my accomplishments during my internship, and soon
we got into a discussion. Then I thought I heard him say, "I don't know
why I should hire you. You're a good looking girl, but the practice needs
more than just a pretty face."
I answered, "You're right of course, you don't only need a pretty face.
And I'm not just that. I have an eidetic memory and can think quickly on
my feet."
Mr. Hanner looked strangely at me, and before he opened his mouth I
thought I heard him say, "Maybe there is more to you than meets the eye."
I nodded. "Yes Mr. Hanner. There is more to me than meets the eye. I have
already proven that I'm good at what I do. It would be bad for your
business if I were hired by a competitor."
Now I knew that he did speak. "Damn it, you don't even give me a chance to
ask my question. You already know what I'm going to ask. Are you psychic
or something? Are you reading my mind?"
Only now I realized what had happened. I was unconsciously using my
precognitive power and knew what he was going to say before he said it. I
sagged into my chair feeling so down. I even started to cry a little. Mr.
Hanner got up and sat down next to me. "I'm sorry Miss Wu. I didn't mean
to upset you."
I quickly dried my tears. "I'm so sorry Mr. Hanner. I'm not reading your
mind. It's just that I have a magic power. I'm a precognitive. And I also
have a weak whisper power, though it is just enough to make people feel at
ease and get them to talk to me." I smiled meekly. "It comes in handy at
times."
Mr. Hanner smiled at me. "Why didn't you tell me before? I also don't see
it mentioned in your resume."
"I don't feel proud of it, and I even try to suppress it. My precog power
is more like a curse mostly."
Mr. Hanner stood up and started pacing. "Miss Wu, I am going to be frank
with you. I do like your resume and how you handle yourself. But I would
have appreciated more honesty. You should have told me of your magic
powers."
I looked down to the floor. 'There went my chance of working with this
firm, but my precog power still showed me a bright path that I would work
here. How is that possible?'
Mr. Hanner sat down again. "But I feel that your talents and power might
be an asset in the company, so I'm going to offer you the job."
My face lit up in joy. I almost couldn't believe what I had just heard.
Then again, my power had showed me that, hadn't it? I shouldn't doubt it.
He continued. "But I do have some issues that I want to make perfectly
clear. First of all, unless you announce it before court, you can't use
your powers in an official capacity. You may use it to help you in your
cases, though I don't want to know about it. Do you have medicine against
your power just in case there are objections for you having that ability?"
I nodded. "Yes, I have a prescription for Catataxin. Sometimes my power
gives me headaches or causes too much burden in showing so many outcomes
of all decisions that I can't stand it. I always have some pills with me."
With that, I showed him my medicine.
He examined it for a moment, and then gave it back to me. "Another point
is punctuality. We like our people to be on time at all times. Now a third
point is that we have a dress code here. You do look great and what you're
wearing now is perfect." I looked at my business attire, which consisted
of a dark gray skirt, a cream-white blouse and dark gray jacket matching
the skirt.
Meanwhile he continued, "But you are expected to wear something like this
all the time. Maybe a little more heel would be better." Now I looked down
at my shoes. Mine only had a 1 inch heel, but I had several shoes with
higher heels.
"You can wear tasteful pants when the weather or the situation, like going
to a client outdoors for instance, demands it. In all other times you are
expected to dress like you're going appear before the Supreme Court."
I nodded. 'Well that won't be a problem.' Ever since I changed and lived
with my adoptive family Hsu, I wore almost exclusively skirts and dresses.
It sometimes drove my adoptive sister Kathy nuts. She wanted me to wear
more pants, but some part of the programming of the spell was still
intact, making me dislike pants.
Mr. Hanner sort of ticked things of on a virtual list in his head I think,
as he cocked his head and said, "I want to talk about something else. I
hope you don't find it too intimate or too inquisitive but I need to know
what I'm getting. I need to know your personal status. You don't have to
answer if you don't want to, but of course it will make things harder for
you to get accepted in the firm."
I nodded to him again, I had a feeling what he wanted to know. He asked,
"So, what can you tell me about your personal status?"
I thought back to what had happened a few years back.
**|**
After my change into a girl, I had been forced to like men. Papa Bob had
lifted the more devious curses, but it still left me with a high sexual
attraction to men. Unfortunately, I didn't want any sexual relations due
to my experiences. But as I became more frustrated, I had decided to try a
relationship.
I had met a nice good looking boy named Jed Bointon on campus. On the
second date we started kissing and one thing led to another. Soon we were
at his place and we started to undress ourselves as we continued kissing.
I had to admit that he was skilled at seducing women. He kissed my body
all over and made me ready for him as I ever was. But then as he started
climbing on top of me, I had a vision. 'I saw Jed getting worked up very
quickly and ejaculate inside me without satisfying me. I would yell that I
hadn't come, and he would just shrug and lay next to me.' So just as Jed
was about to put his dick inside me, I stopped him.
"Jed, this isn't going to work. You're going to fuck me and you won't care
if I am satisfied or not." I saw he wanted to protest. "No, don't try to
say otherwise. I have seen it with my precognitive power." I pushed him
away and put my clothes back on. I was really disappointed, I had wanted
to get laid, but my precog power was now making it impossible. 'Damn! I
hate my power sometimes, especially when it is so powerful.' Jed was
really flustered and put off. I said my goodbye, and knew that he would
never bother to ask me out again.
Later I talked to Kathy about what had happened. She tried to console me,
but I sulked for a several days. I did try a few more dates, but I never
let them get that far again. I already saw that I would be disappointed.
And I was to blame for most of them. I just didn't want to go through such
an experience again.
I took some Catataxin to deaden my power and had a nice evening out with a
young man, but when we started to make out I didn't feel the attraction or
the need for having sex. It appeared that the Catataxin deadened my
feelings and senses as well. We did have sex on a date later, but it
wasn't that enjoyable for me.
After that I resigned myself to limit myself to a vibrator and never to
have someone special in my life. Kathy felt sorry for me and tried to hide
her dating from me. She only started dating again after several years in
therapy. She had gotten over the rape she had endured, and now had a
steady boyfriend.
**|**
I snapped out of my reverie to answer Mr. Hanner's question. I sighed. "I
found that my power is interfering with having relationships. I guess I'll
never have someone close to me. I'll probably always stay alone."
Mr. Hanner smiled. "Never say never. There might be someone special for
you out there. But for the moment that is good news for me."
There was a knock on the door to his office and the secretary, whom I had
seen outside, entered. She gave an envelope to Mr. Hanner with, "You were
expecting this Mr. Hanner."
He said to me, "I'm sorry Miss Wu. Do you mind if I ..."
I smiled. "No, go right ahead."
He opened the envelope forcefully and pulled out a file folder. I couldn't
see what was inside but Mr. Hanner started reading and flipping through
some pages. Then I got another vision. In a flash I saw myself looking
distraught at something Mr. Hanner asked me. I found it most disturbing so
I asked, "Does that folder have something to do with me, Mr. Hanner?"
He looked up from the folder. "Very perceptive Miss Wu, or is this another
vision that you had."
I looked guiltily at him. "Yes it is. I saw that I will be very distraught
by something you are going to ask me."
He thought for a moment. "Right then, I'll ask you straight. I had a
background check done on you. Don't be alarmed, we do it for all our new
perspective employees and clients. But it appears that you didn't exist
until 3 years ago. Care to tell me where you were before then, are you
maybe illegally in the country?"
I looked distraught, just like in my vision. The truth had caught up with
me. I pursed my lips. "Mr. Hanner, since you have been so frank to me I'll
tell you. But only if you promise that it will stay between us." I could
see him frown, but he kept quiet. "I'm telling you this in confidence,
since I was asked by the FBM not to divulge information on what happened.
I used to be a young man going to college on a football scholarship. But I
got set up for rape on a college girl. I was acquitted from the charges,
but the father of the victim, in a rage of anger, hired someone to put a
spell on me as revenge. In short, I got changed into the young woman that
I am today. Since then I found out who the real rapist was and have been
adopted by that girl's family as compensation for what had been done to
me."
Mr. Hanner looked at me without saying anything. It lasted several minutes
before he finally moved and said, "I see, that does explain a lot. You are
right to keep this information secret. I do know about a few cases
involving magic gender change, fortunately. I can't go into that now, but
I understand your situation. Including that you were living with the
family Hsu, who paid most of your expenses. Only the tuition of your
college degree was paid by someone else."
I smiled. "Yes, during my days of hardship I met a good friend. She's been
very helpful and offered to pay me the tuition. I wanted to refuse, but
she insisted."
"That must be some good friend you have there."
I smiled thinking of Cassandra. "The best, she's a lawyer too, but she
lives in New Orleans."
Mr. Hanner got up from his seat. "Well, I have seen and heard enough." He
extended his hand and I shook it. He continued. "Welcome to the company.
You start on Monday morning early. We always have a meeting on Monday
morning 8.00. I'll introduce you and another new employee starting here on
Monday."
I was outside the building before I knew it and was exhilarated. I had a
job! Then I remembered that I still had to look for a place to live. I had
marked several choices from a newspaper and made my choice with my precog
power, sensing what would be the best and most affordable for me.
About an hour later I inspected the spacious room in my new boarding
house. It was good and the landlady was nice. I signed the lease and since
it was already furnished, I plopped down on the sofa. I called my adopted
sister Kathy first with the news. "Kathy? Hi, it's me Xia. I just wanted
to let you know that I got the job and found a room."
Kathy squealed in excitement. "I'm so happy for you. So when are you going
to invite me? I'd love to see your new place."
"Well, it is furnished, but I think it is better after next week. This way
I can get some work done first."
Kathy agreed and we chatted for a few moments more before I ended the
conversation. I wanted something to eat. Of course I didn't have any food
yet, though I did have a small kitchen with a fridge. A close inspection
showed that it was totally empty. But shopping would have to wait. First I
wanted to call Cassie with the good news.
Cassie was thrilled as well, but said that she was too busy to come up to
Baltimore in the immediate future. I teased her a little, saying. "Yeah
right, busy with a certain specimen of the male species I think." She was
quiet for a moment, and I think she was glad that I couldn't see her
blush. Now being African American she doesn't blush very visibly as well.
Then she changed the subject and asked about my amorous adventures. Darn
it, she knows I don't like relationships due to my power. We chatted for
several minutes but said our goodbyes quite quickly.
As it was only Friday I went out for some shopping and ate at a Chinese
restaurant. The waitress didn't seem surprised when I ordered in Chinese
but when I was specific about some choices she looked at me with surprise.
Later I began to acquaint myself with my surroundings. I had never been in
this city before. On Saturday I slept in, then went out shopping again. I
bought a few more business suits for myself, and anxiously awaited the
arrival of my moving truck. They were on time, fortunately. The rest of
the day, as well as Sunday I was busy hanging all my clothes, which
consisted mostly of dresses and skirts with nice blouses and some coats
into my closets.
I only had two pairs of pants in my collection. I knew it was another
result of the spells that changed me. I liked wearing dresses and skirts.
Sunday evening I made a light dinner and read in the newspaper that I had
bought. The paper had several stories about some strange mishaps that were
contributed to illegal magic use. The authorities didn't know what to
think of it and since the consequences hadn't been that severe, the FBM
were only now getting involved. They didn't give any comment yet, but the
author of the article speculated that someone or a small group of people
were testing out newly gained powers.
Monday morning started not so good. I woke up with a headache from my
precognitive power and took some Catataxin to relieve my pain and
discomfort. Then I had to use an umbrella. Normally the weather is
magically regulated. It was supposed to rain only at night, but somehow a
big rain cloud had managed to intrude on the Baltimore sky. The morning
news on the radio suggested that it was yet another use of illegal magic.
The streets were quite wet and there were puddles everywhere. I was just
across the street of my new work when I had to juggle my briefcase, the
umbrella and press the button to cross the street. As I was trying to do
all of that, a car raced by on the street, hitting a puddle and soaking me
from top to toe. I was, all at the same time, embarrassed, furious,
disappointed and down. If I'd had a real power then and there, the driver
would've been very sorry.
Out of habit I looked the way the car had been going and to my dismay the
car had stopped and the driver got out. 'Good, now I can vent my anger on
him.' The man quickly ran over to me, already saying. "I'm so sorry, I
didn't notice you until the last moment. Are you all right?"
I couldn't utter a single word from shock. I was flabbergasted, shocked to
the core of my being and happy all at once. I recognized him immediately.
He was my younger brother, Gordon. He looked me over. "I'm so sorry to get
you all wet. Please say something Miss eh..."
Automatically I answered, "Wu. Wu Xia is my name."
He quickly said, "Miss Wu, I'm really sorry, I would like to help you, but
I'm pressed for time. I have to be somewhere. Here is my card, please have
everything cleaned at my expenses. It's the least I can do."
I still couldn't utter anything intelligent. Here I was in my body, that
of an attractive Chinese girl standing before my own brother who didn't
and couldn't possibly recognize me. I had missed him so much and now that
I had found him again I couldn't even find anything to say to him. I
couldn't even come up with some cuss words or something stupid. 'I can't
just blurt out "Hi little brother," now can I?'
Before I knew it, I was standing there with his card in my dainty hand as
he got back into his car and sped away at a breakneck speed. Only now did
I come to my senses. 'I just missed my chance to say hello to my brother.
Well I do have his card, maybe I can call him. And say what? Hi I'm your
older brother, I've changed a bit since you last saw me? I can't do
something like that. It was nice to see him again though.'
I got roused from my thoughts by two older ladies approaching me. One
said, "Oh my dear, we watched the whole thing, why don't you come with us
to see if we can get you dry. You should've yelled and cursed that man for
doing something like that to you, you know?"
I smiled at the ladies. "I was just too surprised, sorry."
The other woman said, "No need to be sorry, I'm Abigail and this is Susan.
Come with us to the shop please and get those wet clothes off."
I saw that I had little choice, so I followed the two ladies to a small
clothes shop. They told me to strip out of my wet clothes. They offered to
clean and dry them. As I stripped out of my clothes I asked them. "How
long will that take?"
Susan answered, "About an hour or an hour and a half."
I cried, "That's too long. I've got to be on time at my new job." I looked
at my watch and exclaimed. "Shoot I'm already going to be too late."
Abigail looked at me. "I think I have something that you can wear in the
meantime. We made a dress for a customer who didn't want it anymore. She
was about your size, so you could wear it till you get back here. Your
clothes will be dry and waiting for you then."
I contemplated the offer for a second. It was the best solution at the
moment. "Okay then. I think I need some dry underwear too. But I'll buy
it, if I still have a job that is."
Susan hushed me. "I'm sure that you will. Now here is some underwear.
Abby, get the dress will you?"
I went into a dressing room with the packaged underwear. I quickly
stripped my panties and bra and ripped the packages open. I was stunned to
see the delicate French cut underwear. They were way too nice to wear for
work. However I didn't have any choice but to put them on, so I did. As I
stepped out of the dressing room the women were already waiting for me
with a long blue dress. Draped on Abigail's arm it already looked nice.
When I put it on it fit me like it had been made for me. I did think that
it was a bit long as the hem almost touched the floor. But I wasn't
wearing shoes or anything yet. Susan said, "I know it's a bit long, but
it's supposed to be worn with a petticoat. However I don't think that
would be practical at work, so we didn't include it now."
I admired myself in the mirror and I looked fantastic in the dress. I
could imagine how I would look with a petticoat under the skirt. I would
love to wear something like this on a party. I turned back to the women.
"I can't accept to wear this beautiful dress to work. Don't you have
something else?"
Susan smiled at me. "Sorry but this is all we have at the moment in your
size. We don't make clothing that much anymore. We can't compete against
the new shops that use magic to make clothing. We still do it the old
fashion way. And we would love to have you wear it. It looks so good on
you, like it was made for you."
I couldn't argue with that. I did look stunning in it. I capitulated.
"Okay, but only today. I'll be back as soon as I can to pick up my dry
clothes."
Abigail nodded. "Of course dear, now fix your makeup and get going. You
said you were going to be late right?"
I looked at my watch again. "Yes, you're right." I quickly fixed my
makeup, and with matching blue pumps and a borrowed coat I scooted out the
door towards the office. The guard at the door held me up even longer and
I was sweating bullets looking at the time. Finally I reached the floor
and hung up my coat. Caleigh, the secretary, looked at me with a pained
expression, then looked at the clock. I whispered. "I know, I know. Where
is everyone?"
Caleigh pointed to the meeting room. "The meeting already started, maybe
you can slip in."
I opened the door very slowly and carefully. As I did I heard. "And we
have two new people. I would like to introduce Benton Nevins." Some people
started clapping while I slipped through the door and saw everyone sitting
at the table except for a young man who was standing looking around. 'I
guess that is Benton Nevins then.' Then I looked at Mr. Hanner, who
scowled, looking directly at me.
I got frightened. 'He did mention that we were expected to be punctual.' I
swallowed and just tried to go to an empty seat as inconspicuously as I
could.
However Mr. Hanner put a stop to that. "The other new employee is Miss Xia
Wu, who just managed to join us here in the meeting." Now all the eyes
were focused on me and I felt my cheeks blush fiery red. The people
started clapping again, while I just stood there like a deer caught in
headlights. As quickly as I could, I sat down on an empty chair and
listened as the meeting went on. They quickly discussed ongoing projects
and went on with new ones. Then they assigned new projects to the various
people and Mr. Hanner said, "I will assign Mr. Decker to take Mr. Nevins
under his wing. I will personally guide Miss Wu in her work here."
After that the meeting was adjourned and everyone started leaving the
room. Mr. Hanner said, "Miss Wu, please stay seated." When everyone else
had left, he closed the door and sat next to me. "Miss Wu, I did tell you
that I expect people to be on time. And we talked about the dress code as
well. Not only were you late for the meeting, you show up in a party dress
that is hardly the attire I expect from any of my staff at work."
I really was depressed now. I already thought that I would lose my job
before it even had begun. I started crying softly. Mr. Hanner gave me a
hanky and asked, "Why don't you tell me why you were late?"
I started with a wavering voice. "I was on time below on the street, when
a car sped past me and hit a puddle. I was soaked after that. Some women
from a nearby clothes shop loaned me this dress, so I could still get to
work dressed in something dry. I'm sorry that I'm not dressed in the right
attire, but my suit is soaked and won't be dry for at least another hour."
Mr. Hanner lifted my chin, so I had to look at him. "So that was you down
there? I saw that scene and felt sorry for the woman who was so
unfortunate to get splashed. From up here I didn't recognize you." He
smiled. "I'm not going to fire you anyway. I just was a bit disappointed
in your tardiness. But I can understand how you must feel. It has been a
difficult morning for you, right?"
I nodded. "I really wanted to show you that I can be the best new junior
associate. And then I got splashed. It really felt like everything fell
apart."
Mr. Hanner interrupted me. "Don't worry about it anymore. Besides, you
look lovely in that dress. Maybe I should change the dress code."
I looked startled at him. "Are you serious?"
He laughed. "No, of course not. But you do look lovely in that dress. Now
dry your tears and let's get to work."
I followed him to his chamber and soon was reading up on several cases and
writing some briefs for him. After my first full working day I hurried
back to the clothes shop and was greeted by both Abigail and Susan. They
had laid out my own clothes which were clean and dry now. For a moment I
was tempted to just put on my familiar suit and return to my apartment,
but instead I said, "You said that the customer who ordered this dress
canceled the order?"
Susan confirmed. "Yes, she did. She was a spoiled brat who just teased us
into making a beautiful dress. Then she just canceled it without reason.
She did pay the down payment, though it barely covered the costs that we
made for making the dress."
On a whim I asked, "How much does it cost?"
Abigail looked up for a moment and said, "Normally about $500, but I'll
let you have it for $100"
Susan looked at her sister, startled. "You can't mean that."
"Sure I can. It's just sitting in our shop. I'd rather sell it cheap and
have it worn than just hanging here. I just hope that Xia will tell people
where it was made."
I smiled. She had good ideas. "Of course I'll praise your shop. You did
make a fantastic dress."
Then Abigail said, "But you've got to try it with the petticoat. Here,
I'll help you." She pulled out the petticoat and hiked up my skirt so I
could step into it. Before long I was admiring myself in the beautiful
dress that came even more to its right with the petticoat underneath it. I
really looked like going to a party or a ball.
"Gee, it really looks good like that. I'll definitely buy it. Maybe you
have some more clothes for me?"
Susan now piped in as well. "Not at the moment, but of course we can make
lots of clothes for you. But we'll have to measure you exactly for that."
It meant taking off my dress, and standing before them in my new undies.
It didn't take long, fortunately, and soon I dressed myself in my business
suit that was clean and dry again. Before long they promised to show me
some designs soon, and I had to promise to stop by lots of times.
I returned to my apartment loaded with a big box containing the dress, my
briefcase and some other bags. Fortunately a neighbor helped me get
everything up to my place. I thanked him profusely, but I think he wanted
to ask me for a date. I didn't need my powers to see that. He didn't ask
me however, I think he was too shy. Maybe I should encourage him, he
seemed a nice guy, but I wasn't interested after my previous experiences.
After a light meal I relaxed on my bed and took out the card that my
brother had given me. It read,
'Gordon Wood
special investigator
Baltimore Police Department'
with the telephone numbers below it and an address which was probably the
police station. I kept looking at it, pondering if I should call him or
not. I really wanted to, but I felt afraid as well. I could just talk to
him, as if I didn't know him before today. But I might slip up and reveal
who I had been before. I decided to postpone the decision till later and
tried to get to sleep early. But hours later I was still awake, lost in
thoughts about meeting my former brother.
A week went past and I was getting well underway with my work. The next
Sunday I was waiting on the sofa when the bell rang and I opened the door.
Immediately Kathy stepped in saying. "M?i m?i!" {younger sister}
I smiled at her. "Xie xie, Ji? ji?. F? qin, M? qin." {Thanks, older
sister. Father, mother}
Kathy hugged me. "I'm so happy to see you. So this is your new apartment,
nice!"
My adoptive father just grunted to me, but my adoptive mother looked all
around the apartment. She checked the refrigerator to see if it was
stocked, and all the cupboards for dust. 'Whew, am I glad that I cleaned
it all yesterday.' I didn't say anything though and soon she smiled thinly
back at me. She approved of my housekeeping.
I had a great day, though it was tiring to be on guard for my adoptive
parents. Being with Kathy made more than up for it though. 'Next time I'll
just invite only her.' It's not that I don't like my family, but they can
be bothersome sometimes. I was glad to see them go, but sad that Kathy was
going too. We hugged saying goodbye and I added softly. "I want you to
come again soon, but alone next time."
Kathy replied just as softly. "Sure Sis, I would love that."
The weeks after that everything fell into a kind of routine, with only a
visit of Cassandra & Brett as an interruption. I tried to do my work as
well as I could, but every time Mr. Hanner had something to comment. I
even tried to use my power to anticipate what he would comment on and do
it to his specifications. But still he always made some comment on what
could be done better and more efficiently. Then one day he asked me in his
office and had me sit down. I tried to guess what was on his mind now, but
unfortunately my power only shows potential outcomes and which one is the
most likely. I can't read minds with it. I was a bit puzzled though, that
my power showed me being exhilarated and happy.
Mr. Hanner started. "I've been on your case a lot Xia. But I always do
that with a new charge. I want them to do their best work and learn the
most in as short a time as possible. Now I guess you used your power a few
times to make me stop commenting, because I had to look very hard to see
something with your work that could be improved."
I perked up hearing that. 'So he thought that I was doing a good job?'
That was good news. I had heard from other new associates that Mr. Hanner
was always hard on his charges. Then Mr. Hanner continued. "I even have
some good news for you. You already assisted me with a few cases. So
tomorrow I will assign you a case of your own with me assisting you."
Now I was really ecstatic. 'I'm getting my own case already?' "Oh wow, Mr.
Hanner. I don't know what to say."
He smiled. "How about thank you?"
"Of course thank you. I really appreciate this. I won't let you down Mr.
Hanner."
I prepared my very first own case with even more care. It was about an
abused girl that had stabbed her own father. She claimed it was self
defense, which I believed to be true. Still, the prosecutor wanted her to
do time. The girl's mother wasn't that wealthy, but the office takes on
several Pro Bono cases every year. They took even more cases than is
mandatory for a law firm anyway. I was puzzled however that Mr. Hanner
would be assisting me in such a minor case. Meticulously I went over the
whole case, looking up the details of the policemen and professional
helpers that worked the case. I failed to investigate a few of them
however, one in particular. He was just a minor entry in the case, as a
consultant, a policeman with the initials G.W. was asked to do some
assessments.
Finally my first own case was going to trial. We already had a preliminary
hearing, which revealed nothing new. Now I was waiting for the judge to
come in. I was sitting next to the girl, Chiselle Bellows, and her mother,
Lainie. On my other side was an inconspicuous Mr. Hanner reading a little
in the case file and observing me. I was amazed at how he could blend into
the background. If I didn't look straight at him, I would forget that he
was even there. It got me thinking that he might have a magic power
himself, perhaps he was a Nil. I had heard of them, they are supposed to
be very rare, then again so am I, being a precognitive. I didn't have any
more time as the judge arrived and the bailiff called. "All rise! Judge
Croner presiding."
The trial started quite well, my opponent was a rookie like myself, but he
hadn't prepared his case as well as I did. After about an hour I was ahead
on points, but got a headache from my precog power. I thought I could do
without it, so I took some Catataxin. Mr. Hanner looked at me with a
questioning look. I pointed at my temple indicating that I was getting a
headache. He nodded and whispered. "If you don't feel up to it, I can take
it over."
I smiled. "I'll be all right." I had barely said that, when the prosecutor
announced his next witness. "I call Detective Gordon Wood to the stand."
With a jerk I turned around and saw my former brother walk down the aisle
to take his place at the stand. I felt flustered, scared and elated at the
same time. 'What is he doing here? Why didn't I see his name on the list?'
Then I remembered seeing a detective with the initials G.W. on the list.
'An eidetic memory comes in handy, though it's a curse as well.' I knew
that the prosecutor was grasping at straws, and hadn't thought things
through well enough. I had learned quite early that you never ask a
question in court when you don't know the answer beforehand.
My opponent asked, "Mr. Wood, would you tell me who stabbed the victim,
with what and how?"
Gordon calmly looked at the prosecutor. "The girl sitting with the defense
attorney's stabbed the man with the letter opener. But..."
The prosecutor hastily interrupted. "Yes, thank you, detective that is
enough. Let the records reflect that he identified the defendant as the
one who stabbed the victim. I have no more questions for this witness,
your honor."
The judge looked at me. "Your witness Miss Wu."
I just looked at Gordon. I couldn't move nor say anything. The judge
repeated his words, still I just looked. Then I came a bit to my senses
and started gathering my papers, though I knew everything from memory. I
was confused at what I should do or say. But Mr. Hanner came to my rescue.
Fluently he got to his feet and said clearly. "Excuse me your honor, my
colleague isn't feeling well, so if you don't mind I'll take over."
The judge waved to Mr. Hanner to proceed and he asked, "Mr. Wood, can you
tell please the circumstances about the stabbing?"
Gordon explained that the father had been abusive before and had been
drinking. Chiselle had been fearful, and after receiving a blow from her
father she fell down near the letter opener that lay on the floor. She had
clutched it in her hands as he came to her again. That's when she blindly
raised it to fend off her abusive father off. Mr. Hanner asked, "And how
do you know all this?"
Gordon smiled. "I'm a post cognitive and have seen the whole scene played
out like I just said."
I didn't even hear that last sentence clearly as I was still flabbergasted
by my confrontation again with my former brother. After his testimony, Mr.
Hanner killed the prosecutor's case effectively and won the case. I just
sat at the table keeping quiet. As he congratulated the girl and her
mother, I did the same on autopilot. I just didn't think too much about
what I was doing.
As we were filing out of the courtroom, Mr. Hanner pulled me into a small
conference room. There he sat me down before sitting down himself in front
of me. "Okay spill it Xia. I've never seen you react like that. This isn't
like you. You'd better get it out of your system, I don't have use for a
lawyer that is lost every time she sees a good looking young man. What is
it about that detective that got you so spooked that you couldn't function
anymore?"
I looked at Mr. Hanner. "He was the one that splashed me totally wet that
first Monday."
Mr. Hanner's face relaxed a bit. "Is that all? Well, I don't see why that
should affect you so much. Unless you're..."
I interrupted him with. "And he's my former brother, though he doesn't
know it."
Now Mr. Hanner was a loss for words. I continued. "I can't very well tell
him that I used to be his brother. But I'm afraid that if I talk to him, I
might say something that will alert him to who I used to be. I'm scared,
Mr. Hanner."
Mr. Hanner hesitated, but then said, "Well, I don't have a ready-made
solution for that. I understand your dilemma. And you were doing great
with the case till the incident. Maybe it also had to do something with
you taking your Catataxin. I can only say that you'll probably meet him
again, so it would be best if you just had a talk with him."
I bit my lower lip. "I'll try, thanks Mr. Hanner."
As we exited the room Mr. Hanner quickly disappeared, I mean one moment he
was near me, the next I couldn't even see him. I really think that he
might be a nil. I walked towards the exit of the court building myself
when I noticed someone waiting at the exit. He was probably waiting for
me, as it was my former brother Gordon. I hesitated only for a moment,
before deciding that I wasn't going to avoid him. As he saw me coming, he
came right at me. "Hi again Miss Wu, I would like to apologize again for
splashing you all wet that day. Though I'm curious why you never called me
or sent me the bill for cleaning your clothes."
I didn't know what to say to him and walked on,. He hastily walked beside
me. "Did I do something wrong Miss Wu? I didn't mean to splash you.
Honestly. I saw you too late."
I stopped walking and turned to him. With trembling voice I said, "It's
not you, or the incident. You just remind me of someone and I don't know
how to deal with it yet."
Gordon smiled at me. "Well, I don't really know what to say about that.
But let me buy you a cup of coffee and you can tell me about it."
"I don't drink coffee, only tea," I said back with a wry smile.
He wasn't fazed. "Tea it is then, I know just the place to get something
to drink."
A little while later we were ordering tea in a small Chinese teahouse. I
was surprised at my former brother. I thought he was racist like father
was, and like I had been. He started talking a bit about his work with the
police and how he had developed his power. Even I hadn't known that he had
a post cognitive power. Though now that I thought about it, there had been
some signs in the past. We just never saw them as that.
As I was enjoying my tea, he just wrapped up his talk about work and
asked, "So, Miss Wu. You said I remind you of someone. Was it a good thing
or a bad thing?"
Startled I looked at him. "Well, actually it was good and bad. I mean,
it's complicated and a long story."
He gave me a smile again. "Well, I have time. I have the rest of the day
off today. I would like to hear it."
Seeing a way out I replied. "Sorry, but I don't have the rest of the day
off. I need to get back to the office."
Disappointment crept over his face, but then he smiled again. "Let me
invite you to dinner then. Tonight or any other day whenever it is
convenient for you."
"Uhm, I don't know. I'm busy a lot." I tried to get out of it.
"Oh, come on. You have to eat, and you can even pick the restaurant. I
just want to have a talk. There is something about you. I can't lay my
finger on it, but I feel something." With that he put his hand on my
dainty hand and closed his eyes.
At first I didn't suspect anything, especially since my power was deadened
by the Catataxin. Then I remembered his post cognitive powers. 'Is he
reading my past? What if he finds out who I really am, what should I do?
Wait, the Catataxin should make it impossible for him to use magic powers
on me.'
Then he opened his eyes and looked strangely at me. "For some reason my
powers don't work. I mean, I can trigger it to get a reading off almost
everything. Like this table for instance, I can see who made it and where.
But with you I can't read anything. This hasn't happened before. Are you a
magic user? Do you have powers?"
Before I could catch myself, I automatically answered, "Yes, I am a pre-
cognitive and have a very weak whisper power."
Gordon smiled at me. "Cool. You know, my late brother had that same power.
Maybe that's what is attracting me to you. Say, where are you from?"
Now I had to get away from him. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to be late.
Please excuse me. I have to get back to the office."
Gordon had a sad expression on his face. "Well, at least give me your
phone number so we can make an appointment for dinner." As I hesitated, he
added. "Please Wu Xia, give me a chance to make up for causing all the
trouble with your clothes and in the courtroom."
I caved. "Okay, but one dinner. Here is my card. I really have to get
going now."
I rushed out the door of the teahouse and quickly got back into the
office. Mr. Hanner was going over something with a junior partner and saw
me enter. He motioned to me to go into his office. With trepidation I went
in and soon he joined me. "So, Xia. Did you have a talk with the
detective? I saw you leave with him."
"He offered me tea and we went to a Chinese teahouse. We did have a talk,
but I haven't said anything about who I am and such."
Mr. Hanner looked at me with an amused look. "And why is that? Wasn't it
nice to see your lost family again?"
I sighed. "Yes, it was nice to see my brother again. But I have changed so
much. He doesn't even suspect who I am. I'm thinking I shouldn't accept
his next invitation."
Mr. Hanner looked kind of amused and interested at me. "Next invitation?
He wants to take you out to dinner?"
I looked up startled at him. "How do you know? Did you set him up to
this?"
"Of course not Xia. But it would be something I would do for a beautiful
young lady as yourself. Now why would you not accept it?" Mr. Hanner asked
softly.
"Because he's already so close to the truth. He even tried to read my past
with his powers. Fortunately it didn't work on me for him. Maybe it was
the Catataxin." I was close to an emotional outbreak now.
"Would it be such a bad thing if he did find out who you had been? I mean,
you're his family. I'm sure he is hurting inside for his lost brother. You
could give some kind of joy back into him. Maybe even your whole family."
Now my emotional dam broke. "No, My dad was a racist asshole. And it
rubbed off on me. As a boy I was a bit of a racist. The change was also
meant as a punishment against that. It did show me what a fool I had been,
but my family would never accept me." Then I fell back into the seat I had
risen from during my outburst.
Mr. Hanner fell silent for a moment before saying. "I see, I still think
you should give it a chance. Maybe things are not as they have been.
You'll never know till you try. What is the worst thing that can happen?
You lose your family that you already lost before. Best scenario is that
you regain your family."
I interrupted. "I can't lose my family again. I already lost them once, I
don't know if I can handle losing them again."
"I agree that you may lose them again. However, you don't have to be alone
when that happens. You have a family, and we here will support you as
well. We are like a family here, you do know that. Don't you?"
I nodded, the people I worked with were fabulous and mostly it felt like a
family here. "Okay, I'll give it a shot. But I'm reserving the right to
pull out."
Mr. Hanner patted me on the back while escorting me out. "Quite right Miss
Wu. Now get back to work on the Hansen file. I need it ASAP."
"Yes, Mr. Hanner. I'll get right on it."
Two nights later I was waiting outside my apartment for Gordon to pick me
up. He was going to take me to a fancy restaurant. I was dressed in a
beautiful dress that I just bought from Abigail and Susan. They had made a
couple of dresses for me. I didn't have to wait long, he pulled up quite
soon. It was a short drive to the restaurant and we kept quiet in the car.
I didn't feel like talking and Gordon was pre-occupied with driving. At
the restaurant he helped me with my chair, very gentleman like. Then as
the appetizers started coming he started talking. First about work and
slowly it went to him and his powers. He said, "I always had my power, but
didn't think of it. I dismissed my visions as d?j? vu, because I already
had seen it before. But about a year ago my power spiked and I did a W&K
test. Then I started to accept and even train my power of post cognition.
I can call up a vision from an object at will now."
I listened, interested. So my brother had a post cognitive power as to my
pre-cognitive power. I urged him to tell me more. He kept on telling about
what he could do with it. He found evidence that would otherwise never had
been found, and even rescued some victims of crimes with it. Suddenly he
changed the subject. "Here I am doing all the talking. You must be getting
deaf hearing my ramblings. How about you? You said you have a pre-
cognitive power?"
I dreaded talking about it. I was so afraid I would give my secrets away.
Still, he charmed me into talking. "I don't have any control over my
power. It just happens to me. Sometimes it's nice to have a warning of
something or in helping me to decide, but mostly it is a burden. I even
have a prescription of Catataxin. It deadens my power. I usually take it
when my power threatens to give me a bad headache."
Gordon smiled. "My brother was like that as well. He didn't have any
control, the visions just seem to happen whether he liked it or not.
Fortunately his power was pretty weak. It was just enough for him to get a
football scholarship."
I had to ask. "What happened to your brother? I mean did he have an
accident or something? You talk like he's dead or something."
"Or something is correct." Gordon said with a sad look and a tremor in his
voice. "He was accused of raping a girl. He was acquitted, but his
reputation was destroyed. He started drinking heavily and slid down into
the gutter. I wish I could help him, but he didn't accept it from any of
us. We were going to move to another city again, and while we were looking
at houses, he just disappeared."
"He disappeared? How, why? Couldn't you or someone track him with post
cognitive powers?" I asked hopeful that it couldn't be done.
Gordon grimaced. "A post cognitive is very rare. There aren't any in New
Orleans. I might get a reading on what happened, but it's already more
than 3 years ago. I doubt I can find anything. Besides I don't see myself
getting back to Louisiana. Now how about you? Where did you say you came
from?"
"I didn't, and I don't want to talk about it now." I got up a little and
kissed Gordon on the mouth. I did it to shut him up and get him to think
about something else. Instead I found myself enjoying it, till I realized
I was kissing my own brother. I broke it off, but with a smile, that I
hoped would disguise my feelings.
"What was that for?" asked a surprised Gordon. "I know it's not because
you drank too much alcohol. In fact, you didn't drink any alcohol."
I sighed. "Yes well, I can't drink alcohol, I get sick when I drink it.
Even the smallest amounts make me feel nauseous. It also means that
usually I'm the designated driver." I laughed at the small joke and Gordon
laughed with me. My ploy had worked. He didn't ask anything about me
again. Instead I realized something, I hadn't gotten any visions while
kissing Gordon. But I hadn't taken any Catataxin for a while. So his
powers didn't work on me, and mine didn't work on him? Was this related?
My thoughts were interrupted as a waiter came up and asked us if we wanted
a dessert. I didn't want to spoil my figure, so I declined. Gordon asked
for the check, so he didn't want anything either. Strange, I never knew
him to turn down a dessert before.
A short drive later he walked me to the door of my boarding house. I
turned to him. "I'd invite you in for a nightcap, but the landlady isn't
keen on us having male visitors at this hour."
Gordon gave me a hug. "That's okay, I'll say goodbye here then." With that
he kissed me and I kissed him back just as fiercely and passionate.
As the kiss ended I realized that I was getting carried away with my
emotions. And the weird thing was that my pre-cog power was eerily silent.
Shyly I turned away from Gordon and opened the door for myself. He watched
me go in before leaving. I quickly went to my place and after I closed the
door and took my coat off I realized what I had done. I had been flirting
and kissing with my own brother. Well, technically he wasn't my brother
anymore, but still. 'Aaarg, this situation is making me crazy. Then again,
I did have a good time during the dinner with him. And I had never enjoyed
a kiss so much ...'
A while later I tried to get to sleep, but couldn't get it out of my mind.
'Why do I have such conflicting feelings about Gordon? He's my brother, or
at least used to be. But he makes me feel ...' I kept fretting over it for a
very long time.
It took me most of the week to get him and my feelings about him out of my
system. Work was a good help in doing that though. It was a busy time at
the office and I worked long hours to get all the things done. So it
happened that I was still working late on Friday evening. Mr. Hanner had
already left and told me not to make it too late. I replied. "Sure Mr.
Hanner, I'll just wrap this up and go home myself." I didn't mention that
the wrapping up would take me hours to do.
I was totally immersed in my work and didn't notice someone approaching my
desk till he stood in front of me. I looked up annoyed of being disturbed.
Then I was shocked to see Gordon in front of my desk. "You? How did you
get in here? What are you doing here?"
He smiled at me. "Yes, it's me. Through the door, and I want to ask you
out to dinner again."
I looked at him with a big question mark in my eyes, before I realized
that he answered all my questions. "How did you get in here, we have
security."
"It helps when you have a police badge. Now, would you like to have some
dinner with me?"
I didn't know what to answer him. On one hand I'd love to go out with him
again, but on the other? I still felt scared being with him. I might slip
up or go too far in my emotions. He leaned over to me and gave me a kiss,
which won me over. I sighed. "Okay, let's go to dinner before I change my
mind."
This time he took me to a small Italian restaurant with a secluded booth
for the two of us. After some small talk I asked him. "Tell me something
about your family, Gordon."
His face showed a cloud of sadness before his usual smile returned. "My
parents divorced right after we moved away from New Orleans."
I couldn't stop myself from responding. "Oh, I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "No need to feel sorry. My father was a racist. He
wouldn't approve of us sitting here together. Finally my mom had enough of
it and divorced him. She remarried last year."
I was totally caught by surprise. I hadn't expected something like that. I
don't think Gordon noticed though, as he tried to change the focus. "How
about you, where did you grow up?"
"Well, I don't know where my parents are." Which was true, since I didn't
know where they were living now. "I have been in a foster family. But
enough about that. Back to your family."
He laughed. "Okay, well I already told you that my brother disappeared. He
was my only sibling, so there isn't much else to tell."
I smiled at him, and let the matter drop. We continued to talk about
loftier things and soon the dinner ended. As he dropped me off at my place
again, he walked me to the door just like last time. He gave me a quick
peck on the cheek and said, "Well, this is goodnight then, don't want to
upset your landlady, right?"
I kissed him back on his mouth with gusto, feeling so horny and enthralled
by his presence. My emotions ran rampant and I just couldn't help myself.
So I said, "To hell with her, come in for a night cap."
He didn't need any persuasion and quickly we went into my apartment. We
never got to the night cap though. We kept kissing and fondling all the
time, only stopped to take off our clothes. Maybe it was the fact that I
hadn't had any luck with my lovers, or maybe he was very skilled. Fact is,
that I never had such a good time making love as that night. Gordon made
sure that I was satisfied.
After quite a long time I was laying in bed feeling lazy and happy. I was
thinking, 'Maybe I should not have made love to him. It's almost like
incest. Then again, I've changed so much, I don't really have much
relation to my old family anymore. I have the thoughts, but my genetic
makeup is quite different now. The spells made my chromosomes a lot
different. Isn't Magic wonderful like that?' Gordon went to the kitchen
section to make some tea and commented from there. "Nice apartment you
have here."
"You think so? It's big enough for me, but quite small, in fact."
He came back into the bedroom and gave me a cup of hot tea. "I've seen
worse places. It's cozy and well cared for." Then he got up again and went
back to the living/kitchen. I enjoyed my tea, till he briskly walked back
in.
"According to your diploma, you studied at Tulane?" he asked with barely
contained anger in his voice.
I paled, 'how could I have forgotten that he would know Tulane.' Before I
could explain, he continued. "According to the date on that paper you were
studying there at the same time as my brother, and since he was a law
major, you would have known him. Especially since he was a racist like my
father. Why did you pretend not to know him?"
I was totally flabbergasted. "I... I...You see..."
"No, I don't see, tell me Xia? Did you know my brother, yes or no?"
I looked down and answered softly. "Yes, I know your brother. But he's not
a racist, not anymore."
Gordon looked at me with a stunned look. "What do you mean with 'know' and
'anymore'? Do you know what happened to him? I asked the police and they
said that they couldn't find any trace of him. But I also know that the
FBM requested a halt on inquiries. Please, Xia, what do you know? Is my
brother alive and well?"
I was almost crying, with a few tears already escaping my eyes I said,
"Yes, he is alive and well. He has found something to live for again. But
please don't ask me more."
"Why not Xia? What are you hiding? How can I come into contact with him?
Please tell me, my mom really wants to know and talk to him."
Now I was crying, but Gordon didn't soften up. Through my tears I replied.
"Please, don't ask me more. I can't..."
He interrupted. "You can't what? Tell me? You know what? I really liked
you, even loved you. But now? Now you can go to hell for all I care. I
never want to see you again."
He hurriedly put on his clothes and got ready to get out of my apartment.
I tried one last comment to change his mind which proved to be my biggest
mistake. "Please, Flash. Don't go yet."
Gordon turned around like bitten by a snake. "What did you just say? There
is only one person who ever called me that. I seriously doubt that he
would tell anyone else but a very close friend about his nickname for me.
So either you are or you were his girlfriend, and you just cheated on him
with his brother, of all persons."
Just then his cell phone started ringing, he looked at the display.
"Fuck!" Then answered the phone. "Yes, chief?" He listened to it for a
moment, then said, "I'll be right over." Then he said to me. "I've got to
go. There is kidnapping case where they need my specific help. But I need
to talk to you about this. I'll be back." Then he left quickly, leaving me
in complete distress and misery.
I called my adoptive sister Kathy for advice, who told me to come clean
and tell him the truth, but after I told her what we had done during the
night, she said that she didn't have any answer. She would stand by me
whatever I did, but that I had to make the decision on my own.
I felt very distraught and thought about calling Cassie about it, but
decided not to bother her with my problems. I know she would love to
helping me, but I didn't want her to worry about me. Instead I did some
shopping to take my mind of things. Later I came home with to find a
message waiting on my machine. I listened to it, already knowing with my
pre-cog power that it was my brother who had called. And indeed, when I
pressed the play button. "Xia, this is Gordon, I want to stop by ASAP and
talk to you. You owe me an explanation. Please, call me soon."
I sighed. I didn't want to talk to him right now. I had almost betrayed
who I had been, he might find out any second now. And why didn't my precog
power show anything while he was with me?
Monday morning provided a welcome distraction as I was asked to join Mr.
Hanner for a visit to an important client. Franklin Donner. The son of the
client had been questioned about the disappearance of a friend of his.
Thomas Beardsley hadn't been heard from in a couple of days. This was also
the second time something like this happened. About a half year earlier,
another friend, Michael Schinder, had disappeared completely. Police had
found no trace of him, and weren't even been able to determine if a crime
had been committed, or if he simply vanished for some other reason.
Mr. Hanner filled me in during the drive over, so I was up to speed with
what had happened and everything I needed to know about the client. We
arrived at a big office building and were admitted directly into the
President's office. An older man, a bit overweight, greeted us and
introduced us to his son.
"I'm Charles Donner, and this is my son Frank. He has some trouble with
the police, but he says he's completely innocent of the charges."
Frank came towards us and shook hands with Mr. Hanner, before kissing my
hand saying. "Hello, I'm Frank Donner. What is your name?"
"I'm Miss Wu, assistant to Mr. Hanner," I answered politely.
As he was about to say something again, my pre-cognitive power screamed a
warning for the whisper. I braced myself, but it really wasn't necessary.
Frank said, with the weak whisper power at his disposal. "Why don't we sit
down here on the couch?" He pointed behind him at the comfortable sofa in
the office.
I smiled and used my own weak whisper power as I said, "Why don't you go
sit down there and I'll sit over here," pointing at a chair on the
opposite side.
He was already starting to sit down as I requested, when he came to his
senses and agitated. "Hey, did you just whisper me into sitting down?"
Charles Donner looked at me, as did Mr. Hanner. I replied softly. "Yes, I
did. Serves you right for trying to whisper me into sitting with you."
Charles smacked his son on the back of his head. "What did I tell you
about whispering women into situations? Now let this be a lesson to you
and sit down there." He pointed at the couch where Frank had started to
sit down earlier. Then he apologized to me. "I'm sorry Miss Wu, I've told
him time and time again not to do that."
I smiled at the older man. "It's okay, with my precog power I was able to
get ample warning what he was going to do. And I do have a weak whisper
power myself. I apologize for using it on him."
Charles interrupted. "No, no. You had every right. If he gives you any
more problems, just whisper him into doing something stupid."
"I wish I could. I'm not strong enough and now that he knows I'm a
whisperer, I can't do anything anymore."
Charles gave me a wry smile. "Too bad. Well enough of that, let's get down
to business."
We all sat down and Charles was about to start speaking when the door to
the room opened. A secretary appeared in the opening with two cans and
some cups on a tray. "Excuse me, Sir. You wanted these refreshments?"
"Yes, Janine. Thank you. If you would just put them there, and hold all my
calls please."
Janine put the tray down on a small table and left quickly and quietly.
After she was gone, Charles started to talk about the interrogation that
his son had to endure. Mr. Hanner asked that Frank do the talking about
the incident. I got up in the middle of the conversation and went over to
the small table with the refreshments.
I knew that Mr. Hanner liked his coffee black, so I poured him a cup.
Charles Donner motioned to have the same. Frank said, "Tea please, I don't
drink coffee."
As I poured the tea into a cup, my precog was buzzing me, like some kind
of warning. I looked around for something harmful to me, but couldn't see
anything. I poured another cup of tea for myself and my warning buzz
increased. Like I used to do at the restaurant of my foster parents, I
waited on the men sitting down. They were so caught up in their
conversation that they didn't start drinking yet. I sat down myself and
brought the cup to my lips. As I did my precog power went into overdrive
and I saw myself convulsing on the floor with Frank doing the same.
I dropped the cup on the ground and caught everyone's attention doing it.
Frank was about to start drinking from his tea and I yelled. "NO! Don't
drink."
Frank was shocked at my outcry and dropped his cup to the floor. Charles
Donner asked in a low voice. "What the hell are you doing?"
Mr. Hanner replied before I could utter anything. "If Miss Wu says
something like that, I advise you to listen to her. With her precog power,
she is mostly right in everything."
Shaken I said, "I think the tea is poisoned or spelled or something like
it. My precog was already warning me earlier, but when I was about to
drink, I got a real strong premonition. We should get a sensor or detector
in here to ascertain what is wrong with the tea."
Mr. Hanner asked me. "How about the coffee?"
I took his cup from him, put it to my lips and didn't notice anything from
my power. "The coffee is okay. It's only the tea that is laced with
something."
Mr. Hanner nodded to me and took out his phone. He spoke curtly to someone
and motioned to me to move to the side of the room. Both Frank and Charles
Donner joined me there, clearly shaken up from the new turn of events.
It didn't take long for some police officials to arrive. First there was a
woman in a very smart looking business suit. She introduced herself as
detective Plummer and asked, "This is the contaminated drink in question?"
As Mr. Hanner acknowledged, a second person entered, and to my dismay, it
was my brother Gordon. He was surprised to see me as well, and for a
moment I expected him to come charging at me. He behaved himself very
professionally though, and went to the side of the female investigator.
"Babs? What have you got?
The woman, Babs, turned to Gordon. "I detect several spells on the tea.
First and foremost, there is a gen