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"Maybe."
"If we're going to be nosy, then tell me how you can be blind as a bat, and yet can walk around as well as any sighted person?"
She went still, and for a moment I thought I'd blown it.
"How do you know I'm blind?" The warmth that had been in her tones until now was replaced by cold steel, and a chill went down my spine.
It was a timely reminder that this woman - however nice she seemed - was one of the five clones and in league with the man I was trying to bring down.
"Easy. Though your gaze appears to look directly at people, there's no true life in your eyes, no response to the smaller movements people make, and no real response to facial expressions. It's like you can see, but only from a distance, so that up close things aren't clear."
Amusement warmed her expression. "You are very observant."
"You have to be when you live on the streets."
"True." She paused, considering me. "Are you after work now?"
I shrugged. "Depends what it is."
"You will earn more in two weeks than you could in a year of regular work."
"Lady, that sounds a little good to be true. What's the catch?"
"You're being paid to have sex with strangers."
I raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"No 'and.' The resort is owned by my... employer."
Employer? Starr was more than just that. "So you're not just a scamming psychic? You're a pimp, as well?"
She stiffened ever so slightly. "I am not pimping you. I am simply offering you an opportunity to make a lot of money."
"Yeah. By having sex. It's called pimping, whether you like it or not."
I studied her for a moment, wondering how fine a line I should walk between reluctance and acceptance. But given Poppy's supposed history, she wasn't likely to be trusting anyone too quickly.
"This is one of those sex-slave scams they've been talking about in the papers lately, isn't it? You know, lure innocents with the enticement of money, then ship them off to parts unknown, to be held captive and abused. Well, I ain't interested, lady." I banged on the glass partition between us and the driver, wincing as the sound echoed through my head. "Hey, you, stop this crate and let me out."
"I promise, this is no scam."
"Yeah, right."
She reached into her pocket, and drew out a business card. Only it wasn't from the employment agency Jack had mentioned, but one of her own cards. And it was her personal address, as well. "If you are interested in hearing more about the job, come and see me tomorrow."
I looked at her, then the card, and finally reached out to take it. "You never did answer my question, you know. About being blind."
She smiled again. "No. But perhaps I will later, if you accept the job."
"If that's supposed to be an enticement, it ain't working."
"If you want an enticement, then perhaps I can teach you to use your telepathy without dropping all your shields."
The car slid to a stop. I wrapped my fingers around the door handle but didn't open it. "And why would you be offering to do that?"
"Because you need it."
"And do you often run around offering psychic training to those who need it?"
