Free Chasing Power (Hidden Talents) by Genevieve Pearson

though, that’s going to be the hard part, isn’t it?”  The last part of her statement hung in the air, a question unasked: Did he think he had it in him?
    “It may be hard,” Lane replied, “but I can handle it. We all can.”

 
     
    Chapter 7
     
    “Where are we going to get the cash for the car?”  Samantha asked, “I’m not exactly flush right now.”
    “We are in Vegas.”
    Samantha glanced towards the casino floor.  Al and Harry had given up on trying to sleep, and all four now stood in line for coffee.  The casinos in town had realized the best way to make money was to keep people from leaving.  To that end, the newer casinos on the Strip were their own microcosms, and no microcosm was complete without a gourmet coffee shop.
    She glanced back towards Lane and arched an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes: “Blackjack?”
“I was thinking roulette.”
    “Blackjack has better odds.”
    “I have a feeling that with Al’s help, luck will be on our side.”
    Her second eyebrow climbed up to meet the first as she apprised Al, “Maybe this whole Talent thing has it perks.  Is that what you all do when you need money, hit up the casinos?”
    “No.  Actually, there are rules against this sort of thing.  I’m hoping they won’t mind us bending them for emergency purposes.”  They probably wouldn’t, Lane reckoned.  Though there would be an inquiry.  Sam didn’t have to know that right now, though.  Government was government, and the division of N.T.U. they called “ethical applications” could come down on Talents as hard as the IRS came down on taxpayers.
    “So why would Jacobs come here?”  Sam asked.
    “To catch the shows I guess.  He was always one for the performing arts.”
    “A noble pursuit,” Sam said, “art on the Strip.”
    The pun took Lane by surprise, and he couldn’t help but laugh. 
    “Why are you laughing?”  Al asked, coffee in hand, “I don’t get it.”  
    #
    “Ooh, ooh, ooh, this is going to be fun.”  Al bounced up and down on the booth with glee.
    “Can you settle down?”  Harry whispered, “Security is tight here, Al.  We can’t draw any attention.”
    They stood on the outskirts of the casino floor, sipping their coffees.  At this time in the morning, the casino was sparsely populated mostly by hungover tourists and senior citizens, but that didn’t matter to Al.  To him, they were in the middle of Casino Royale.  Lane sighed.  Sometimes he wondered what it would be like to live in Al’s world, where reality was just another video game.
    “Can we come up with a signal?  We need signals.”
    The three fell into a discussion of plans.  Samantha hovered on the outskirts, pretending not to be watching.  But her attention was locked on them, Lane could read.  She was just acting like she didn’t care.
    “Why can’t I make the bet?” Al asked.  They were discussing who would get to hold the money.
    “Because you’ll attract attention,” Harry replied, “It’s better if Lane does it.”
    “It’d be best if he was farther away,” Sam suggested, “Out of sight of the pit boss.”
    “No,” Lane dismissed this idea out of hand.  “Al has to be at the table.”
    “Why?” she asked, “He’s like Armani, right?”
    “No...” Al hesitated, “Not exactly.”
    Sam looked to Lane and arched her eyebrow, which Lane took as his cue to fill in her blanks:  “Talents tend to fall,” Lane explained, “into one of three categories: Kinetic—that’s moving physical objects; elemental, which you saw with Harry, and pathic—those who can sense or control mental things, thoughts, feelings, etc.  Then, within those categories there are various specialties.  And of course, skill and power levels vary.”
    “I’m a kinetic who specializes in mechanical things,”  Al elaborated, “So, I’m better at, say, manipulating gears and levers than Armani is, but the catch is, whatever I want to manipulate, I have to touch,