A sense of glowing pride unfurled within Amaryllis. At last she had found a high-class talent who appreciated her. It would be so immensely satisfying, both professionally and personally, to work with such a powerful, influential man. How deeply rewarding it would be to focus for a man who sought her guidance and direction. Madison Sheffield offered the culmination of her dreams.
It would be a perfect psychic match.
"I don't know what to say." Amaryllis shot another glance at Gifford, who was still staring out the window. "You've taken me by surprise, Senator."
"I realize that." Madison smiled wryly. "And after what happened last night, you have every right to be suspicious of my intentions."
Amaryllis shook off a seductive urge to brush the matter aside. "That brings up a very important issue. What you did last night was wrong, Senator. Using your talent to try to coerce people into supporting you is very unethical. I'm sure the founders would never have approved."
"You're quite right, of course." Madison looked into her eyes. "But in my own defense, I must tell you that I was not really interested in acquiring Trent's support last night. It was all something of a smoke screen."
"Smoke screen?"
"In my own clumsy fashion, I was trying to test your psychic capabilities." Madison shook his head with admiration. "Gifford had told me that you were a very powerful prism and that you were currently focusing for Trent. Frankly, I doubted the extent of your abilities. When I saw you at the reception, I decided to conduct a quick test."
"I see."
"Forgive me. But allow me to tell you that I was extremely impressed. I envy Trent. I have never had the pleasure of working with a prism as strong as yourself."
Amaryllis considered her sudden wish to let bygones be bygones. It was very strong. Too strong.
She glared at Gifford's averted face.
"Stop it," she said.
Gifford glanced at her. "Stop what?"
"You're focusing for him. Stop it right now. We both know you aren't strong enough to handle much more of his talent, anyway. You're close to your limits. You may as well quit."
Gifford sighed, glanced at Madison, and then shrugged in resignation.
Madison's compelling sincerity faded back into the normal range. It was still palpable, but now it had a practiced, superficial quality. It was the sort of sincerity one associated with politicians. Easy to discount.
"Think about my offer, Ms. Lark." Madison's smile had not altered, but it no longer held the warmth it once had. "Both of us know that it is unsatisfying not to be able to use one's psychic gifts to the fullest extent. Rather like wearing blinders to prevent oneself from seeing properly. One chafes under the restriction. Surely nature never intended for people like you and me to allow our powers to languish from lack of use."
"I'm not sure what nature's intentions are, but I won't help you use your talent in an unethical manner," Amaryllis vowed.
"I would not dream of asking you to do so. If you come to work for me, I guarantee that you will have every opportunity to use your ability to focus in ways that are completely acceptable to you. Think of it, Ms. Lark. You can devote yourself to serving your city-state. You will act as my guide and my mentor."
Amaryllis looked at him very steadily. "I don't have a great interest in politics. Please take me home. Senator."
Madison's fine mouth tightened. But he inclined his head politely. "As you wish, Ms. Lark. I trust you will consider my offer. We would make a great team. Together we can make a difference."
"You should be ashamed of yourself. Senator. You say you hold to the traditions of the founders, but a true founder would be appalled at how low you're willing to stoop in order to get to the governor's office."
Sheffield's gaze hardened. "My dear, you are painfully naive. The truth is that the founders believed in doing whatever was necessary to protect the city-state. I am proud to follow in their footsteps."
Amaryllis did not respond. She sat silently in her seat until the limousine glided to a halt in front of her home. Her cozy little house had never appeared so warm and safe and welcoming.
When the door of the limo opened, she saw that Lucas's leer was parked at the curb. He was leaning against the fender, arms folded across his chest.
"Ms. Lark?" Sheffield put his hand on her arm. "Remember what I said. I offer you a future of selfless public service. The governor's chair is only a stop along the way. One day I shall be president of the United City-states. You can be at my side when that day comes. Not only as my prism but as my wife."
"Your wife."Amaryllis stopped half in and half out of the car.
"Why not?" Sheffield smiled coolly. "Think about it. You were born a bastard, Ms. Lark. I can make you the wife of the president. I offer you the opportunity to rise above all the shame and humiliation your family suffered because of your birth."
Amaryllis flew out of the limo. She ran to Lucas, who opened his arms and folded her close.
She buried her face against his shoulder as the long, pale limousine snaked off into the distance.
"That does it. Sheffield has gone too far." Lucas stood in front of the jelly-ice fire and gazed into the flames. He had to work hard to conceal the depths of his anger from Amaryllis. He was afraid it would alarm her to know just how furious he was.
Sheffield had tried his own perverted brand of seduction on Amaryllis, and he had been unforgivably shrewd about it. He had been clever enough to appeal to the core of indomitable virtue that was so much a part of her.
"It's all right, Lucas." Amaryllis was curled in the corner of the sofa, her feet tucked under her. "I told him that I had no intention of going to work for him."
"I should have guessed that sooner or later Sheffield would come after you. There aren't that many prisms who can handle a class-nine or ten talent, let alone one who is off the scale."
"Gifford told him about me."
"Osterley has probably run through every full-spectrum prism on his own staff trying to satisfy Sheffield."
"Yes. Lucas, this is growing more difficult at every turn. Sheffield is obviously bound and determined to use his talent to get to the governor's chair and eventually to the presidency. He gave me a pious speech about wanting to employ his gifts with the ethical guidance of a trained prism. But if he actually had any ethics of his own, he would never have used his talent the way we've seen him use it."
"I don't give a damn about his ethics," Lucas said. "He's a politician. But he sure as hell had better not scoop you up in the back of that white limousine again."
"He won't. Forget his designs on me. I can deal with him. The real question is, do you think he might have murdered Professor Landreth?"
"What?" Lucas swung swiftly around to face her.
"When you think about it, Sheffield had as strong a motive for killing the professor as Gifford did. Stronger, in a way. If Landreth had discovered what Sheffield was doing with his talent, he might have threatened to expose him. Sheffield might have feared the damage to his campaign."
"Stop obsessing on Landreth's death. We've got other problems."
"I told you, Sheffield is not a problem." Amaryllis looked past him into the flames. "Unless he killed Professor Landreth. Lucas, we need to find that missing file."
"You haven't got the foggiest idea of how to go about finding a missing file," Lucas exploded. "And I don't want you trying to dream one up. Every time you try to play prism detective, you get yourself into trouble."
"I can't quit now. Lucas, I have to know what's going on. Try to understand. I need answers."
He studied her face in the firelight and knew that there was nothing he could do to change her mind. Her stubborn nature was as much a part of her as her fierce integrity. He knew when he was beaten.
"You want to find a missing file?" he said. "Hire a real private investigator."