Vacant by Alex Hughes

it was way down or off so I could do my job.
    But instead I was focused on damage control right now. I had a hell of a lot more to worry about.
    â€œThis is important,” I said.
    He did something that made it
whine
in a perhaps-Mindspace-perhaps-reality frequency I wasn’t sure anyone else could hear. It bothered me like nails on a chalkboard.
    Stop,
I said into his mind.
That hurts.
    He looked up with an annoyed burst, and hit a switch that turned off that sound. “What is it, Ward?”
    â€œWe have a problem,” I said. If working with Paulsen had taught me anything at all, it was that bad news got worse with time. Even worse if someone other than yourself delivered it to your supervisor.
    He set down the handset and turned all the way around. “Exactly what kind of problem?” His voice was low, and cold.
    I filled him in, hitting the vision only lightly, focused on the fact that I’d probably scared the living daylights out of a kid who was already scared. “A completely amateur mistake, and I’m not excusing it,” I said. “But there’s no way I could have predicted his telepathy, or this connection. Hismind did not react in a way it should have, and the information traveled without me being able to control it. As far as the vision goes—this is the guy we talked about on the phone. Sibley. At least I think it is.”
    He frowned. “Blair Sibley?”
    â€œYou know him?”
    A burst of frustration, quickly brought into check. “Yes, Ward. I know Sibley. I was the one who gave you the damn file in the first place.”
    â€œIsn’t he supposed to be in jail?” I asked. “A lot of us worked very hard to put him there.” Cherabino would be furious, I thought, if he got out in time for the vision. Then I worried about her and her hearing. I’d have to call her soon.
    Jarrod didn’t stop for my worry. “That’s the first phone call I’m going to make after I talk to you. If we have an ex–British Special Forces on the loose mucking up my case, I want to know why. There’s been a loose connection between Fiske and Pappadakis established, like I said, but this turns it to a completely different level. We’ve been investigating old cases and this changes priorities. Assuming your visions are accurate.” He regarded me.
    At least that I had an answer for. “My precognition doesn’t work as often as the standard, but when it does, the Guild has clocked me at a 78P. I’m accurate over three-quarters of the time, and I’m sure of this one. If we don’t do something, that’s where we’re going to end up.”
    He nodded, thoughts moving in a slow dance, like freshly caught fireflies in a jar.
    After a moment, I asked, “How have Fiske and your guy been connected?”
    Jarrod glanced around, saw that no one was within eavesdropping distance. Then he looked back at me. “Unofficially we’re pretty sure that he’s been supplying Fiske withparts for the illegal Tech trade. It’s across state lines, so the Tech Control Organization has brought us in for our transportation expertise. Thus far no one has been able to prove anything. I’m here to monitor the murder investigation. The case is largely circumstantial, but if they can get a conviction, it’s the first one we’ll get on this guy. The rest of the team is here to monitor the judge and make sure everyone is protected and the guys behind it are found, but my focus is on the trial. Pappadakis has been under federal surveillance for over a year, and this is our first real chance to take him down.”
    â€œOh,” I said. People weren’t usually this open with me. Even homicide detectives in the DeKalb Police Department weren’t this open with me after they’d known me for a while.
    â€œSibley is dangerous. If he’s involved at all . . .” I trailed off.
    I thought