"You're sure?"
"I'm sure. Furthermore, in the hands of a good hypno- talent, the subject either goes under completely or he doesn't go under at all. When it's successfully handled, the subject doesn't recall anything about the experience. You and I, on the other hand, were fully aware of everything that was happening."
"Probably because we were prepared for it."
"That was part of the reason, but it doesn't change the fact that Sheffield's power is different from ordinary psychic hypnosis. His talent is more in the nature of a blunt weapon. It's scary when you think about it."
"We fought back," Lucas reminded her.
"Only because you're such a strong talent and because we understood what was going on. I suspect that most people who get a full dose of the Sheffield charm are oblivious to the fact that they're being manipulated."
"They start out liking the guy, and by the time he's finished with them, they think he's terrific."
"Something like that."
From out of nowhere an uneasy thought crept into Lucas's awareness. It squatted insectlike in the corner of his mind. "I wonder why he pushed me so hard tonight."
"Good question. He must have realized very quickly that you were a talent and that you knew what he was doing because you deliberately erected a barrier to his focus." Amaryllis drummed her fingers on Lucas's chest. "One would think that under the circumstances he would have backed off fast. He's not stupid. Instead he turned the whole thing into a battle."
"Maybe he was just curious."
"About your power?"
"He's probably never encountered anyone as strong as he is."
"If Professor Landreth knew that Gifford was supplying prisms for a man of Sheffield's nature and strong talent, he would have been horrified."
Lucas groaned. "We're back to Osterley again. I was afraid of that. Amaryllis, I don't like this any better than you do, but I think it's time you got out of the prism detective business."
"I have to do something."
"No, you don't. What would you tell the cops? That Sheffield tried to overwhelm you with charm? They'd laugh themselves silly. Tonight we witnessed something that a court of law would consider impossible but not illegal"
"But if Sheffield is focusing with intent to defraud--"
"You'd have to prove it. Hell, Sheffield didn't even get around to asking me for a campaign donation. All he did was try to convince me that he would make a heck of a governor."
Amaryllis straightened her elegant spine in a gracefully resolute movement. "I still think there's a possibility that Professor Landreth's death may be connected to all this."
"It's not your job to clean up city-state politics. How many times do I have to tell you that, technically speaking, there is no crime involved here?"
"The missing file."
Lucas did not like the new note in her voice. "What about it?"
"If only I could figure out how to go about locating that missing file that Irene Dunley mentioned. There must be a clue in it."
Lucas sat up fast. "Oh, no, you don't." He closed his hands around her upper arms. "This has gone far enough. Listen to me, Amaryllis, you are not to pursue this investigation any further."
She regarded him with wide, troubled eyes. "I have to do what I feel is right."
"Even if it's stupid?"
"There is nothing stupid about trying to determine the truth," she said with frosty hauteur. "I'll understand, naturally, if you'd rather not be involved. After all, you've got your position as one of the foremost business leaders in this city-state to consider. You wouldn't want to jeopardize your reputation and standing in the community."
"That's enough," Lucas said through his teeth. "If you're going to insult me, do it fair and square. Don't try to manipulate me with your self-righteous founders' values blather."
"Then stop calling me stupid just because I feel I have to find out what happened to Professor Landreth," she said fiercely. "I'll bet you would do the same if you were in my shoes."
"You just don't know when to back off, do you? Use some common sense. There is no crime here, just a little dirty city-state politics. Business as usual. Stay out of it."
"I can't do that," she said with passionate intensity. "I feel a responsibility to get to the bottom of this situation. There are questions that must be answered."
"Responsibility, hell. You're just being stubborn."
"It's no different than the way you felt when you rescued Dillon Rye from the clutches of that dreadful casino owner. We both know that you don't owe the Ryes anything, but you had to help Dillon anyway, didn't you?"
"That was different."
"No, it was not. Professor Landreth was my friend and my mentor. He taught me everything I know about my craft. I owe it to his memory to find out if his death was an accident."
"It was an accident." Lucas forced himself to release his grip on her shoulders. "Can't you get that through your head? The only person who had even half a reason to want him removed from the scene is Gifford Osterley and you told me yourself that Osterley isn't the kind to commit murder."
"He isn't. At least, I don't think he is. But what about Sheffield?"
"Any politico who wants the governor's chair as badly as Sheffield does might be willing to kill for it, I'll grant you that much. But there was no need to murder anyone in this case. Landreth was not a threat to Sheffield."
"He could have exposed Sheffield's connection to Unique Prisms."
"How many times do I have to tell you that there is nothing illegal going on between Sheffield and Unique Prisms."
"There is a question of ethics," Amaryllis insisted.
"I can't see Sheffield risking a murder charge simply to avoid an investigation into his use of some very discreet prisms. Any such inquiry would be bound to find him innocent."
"Some of the prisms might be willing to testify against him."
"Then he would be far more likely to murder a few of them, wouldn't he? Come on, Amaryllis, think about it. Sheffield isn't killing prisms for the same reason that he didn't kill Landreth. He's got no reason to commit murder. You saw him in action tonight. He's headed straight for the governor's office."
"This whole situation feels wrong, Lucas."
"Damn. I can't believe I'm arguing with you about something so obvious." Lucas flexed his hands. "I suppose this is one of the reasons why the conventional wisdom holds that full-spectrum prisms and strong talents don't make good marriage partners. They'd likely spend all their time quarreling with each other."
The second the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to recall them, but it was too late.
There was a very long silence before Amaryllis answered.
"Yes," she said. "It would be a pretty miserable existence, wouldn't it? Thank heavens for the marriage agencies and all of their tests and interviews."
Lucas felt as if he had just fallen into a bottomless well of jelly-ice. The cold was endless. "Yeah. Right. Lucky us."
"Mr. Trent, you have a visitor."
Lucas glared morosely at the intercom. "Who is it, Maddie?"
"Mr. Calvin Rye."
Just what he needed, Lucas thought. As if things weren't bad enough today. He was still feeling bruised and battered from the midnight quarrel with Amaryllis. Now Dillon's father wanted to see him. "Send him in, please."
Maddie ushered Calvin into the inner office and then quietly closed the door behind him.
Lucas rose. The old habits of politeness died hard. "Have a seat. Rye. What brings you here today?"
"I think you can guess the answer to that." Calvin settled into a chair with statesmanlike composure. The outward assurance was belied by the expression in his eyes. "Dillon told me everything."
"Everything?"