Free Conduit by Angie Martin

I made you uncomfortable. I didn’t realize—”
    “That I’m like you?”
    “There aren’t too many of us, you know.”
    “Why were you doing that to me? You were in my mind, which I
didn’t even know was possible. You shouldn’t force your way into someone’s head
like that. It’s...unethical.”
    The man’s eyebrows shot up. “Unethical? Are you with the
psychic police?”
    Emily scoured the nearest bystanders, but it did not appear
any of the other guests heard the man’s words. “Will you keep your voice down?”
    “Oh, I get it. You’re one of those silent types.” He leaned into
her and lowered his voice. “Don’t worry, I won’t let your secret out.”
    “I have my career to think about.” Emily shook her head and
wondered why she bothered trying to justify anything to a stranger. “Never mind.
I don’t need to explain my actions to you.”
    “But I need to explain myself to you. I’m sensing a slight
contradiction.”
    “I don’t use my abilities unethically.”
    “There’s that word again. You must be a lawyer.”
    “I’m a private investigator.”
    “Then I might need your services one day. What investigating
firm are you with?”
    “I own Monroe & Reid Investigators.” As soon as the
words trickled out, Emily questioned why she would reveal personal information
to the man standing before her.
    “I’m a jury consultant,” he said. “I could use a good private
investigator on some cases, especially someone with your talents.”
    “I’m sure you’re very successful on your own with the way
you push yourself on others.”
    The man shrugged. “I guess you could categorize me as
successful. I signed on to work with Nathan Wolk a few months ago, and that’s a
tough guy to work for. I might need help from time to time.”
    “Nathan Wolk,” Emily muttered. “Should’ve guessed.”
    “What?”
    Emily shook her head in response.
    “Can you honestly tell me you’ve never used your abilities
on the unsuspecting?”
    Emily thought about her handshake with Stephen. “Sometimes
information leaks out to me. I don’t typically push myself into someone’s mind.”
    “Don’t typically? That means you have done it before.”
    “I have never done what you just did to me, and I’ve
certainly never done it at a party to some poor soul across the room who...” Emily
paused mid-sentence. “What were you
doing in my head?”
    The man looked away from her.
    Emily glared at him. “You’ve got to be kidding. You were
using your gift to get in my head so you could pick me up?”
    “I don’t think so. I’m not sure what happened exactly or why
it happened. I just saw you standing at the bar with your friend and the next
thing I knew—”
    “Have you ever been married?”
    “No, but—”
    “I can see your master plan to manipulate women by using
your gift against them has worked perfectly.”
    “Maybe I simply haven’t met the right girl yet. I know what
you think, but I’m really not a bad guy. I didn’t even realize what I—”
    “So you’re not a bad guy, but you use your powers for evil,”
Emily interrupted without listening to his words.
    “I’m not...look, can we start over? You’ve completely got
the wrong impression of me.”
    “And I prefer to keep it like that. Have a good night—”
    “Jake.” He thrust out his hand. “Jake Hanley.”
    Emily ignored his attempt at being friendly and crossed her
arms without shaking his hand. “Have a good night, Mr. Hanley. Try to leave the
other guests alone with their thoughts, if you can manage.” She turned and
walked back into the party.

Chapter Six
    The connection between them growing
stronger, David Noakes sensed Emily a few seconds before she emerged from the Wolk,
Trotter & Wolk office building. Through his binoculars, Emily’s expression
of hesitation and realization confirmed she also sensed him. Her expression
pleased David, and he closed his eyes to reach out to her. For a moment, he
connected with