A Psi-cop encounter

Norman wasn't picking up anything. He was having to use good old fashioned detective work. It was kind of nice to have to resort to everyday clues. Well, not completely. He did not like having to push his fellow officers in a different direction, but it was for their own good. As a Psi-cop, he had to keep them out of the way.

Officer Donna mentioned a black Saturn in her statement. Norman checked the employee records from the hospital staff against registered vehicles.

Timothy Brady's address came up with a description of the car and license plate. He had a BarLok security system installed, but never activated it. BarLok's were always on, but unless you activated their services, they didn't monitor the vehicle.

He had used this method of finding stolen cars before. He dialed the number to BarLok Systems. It rang once and someone picked up, “BarLok Systems, this is Jerry. How may I assist you?”

Norman switched to his focused self, his psychic self. That part of him that could reach beyond. Calmly he spoke into the phone, “Jerry, turn on 14382 and tell me where the vehicle is located.” With the words Norman's mind delivered a powerful suggestion.

A long pause on the phone, and Jerry came back on, his voice barely a mumble. “A mile and a half off 81 in Heslet.”

Norman's nose filled with cold air and a twinge of a sneeze was coming upon him. “Jerry, turn off 14382.” He released the BarLok agent and hung up the phone. Whenever he controlled people over the phone, he would get connected to them in ways that got uncomfortable. This time the guy on the other end had had to sneeze. It took all of Norman's concentration to keep that from happening.

Not wanting to attract attention to himself, he sent a broadcast, a simple a mental command to not pay any attention to Norman. Norman went to help someone was all.

He started his car and headed to 81. He'd just turned onto it when a truck swerved back into its lane in order to keep from hitting the median, nearly hitting the sign post.

Norman instinctively attempted to link with the driver, but this time the driver wasn't a drunk finding their way home.

The car broke hard, screeching to a halt. A mans voice spoke to him. The voice was so clear, he could have sworn the man was sitting right next to him.

“Well, hello there.”

He felt a cold chill run up his spine and over his skin. It started slow, and there was an insect quality to it. His paralyzed limbs did not respond. “An esper?” He knew it was the guy he from the hospital.

“Yes,” Kard said. “And what can you tell me?”

Norman felt the chill dig deeper into his spine. His mind flashed with memories from long ago. Pain rippled through his frozen body. A memory he thought he had forgotten had surfaced and in a flash was gone with a new pain. The pain came to life with each instant a new memory would take its place, followed by a new memory.

Norman's last few thoughts were of his time spent at the hospital, talking to his superiors, and the tricks he had used to find the criminal. After that, the world got cold, and Norman couldn't think anymore.