Part 4 (1/2)

”Well,” Lindstrom said. ”This is going to be difficult to prove, Miss Hall. Merely by withholding your HC ability, you can act Normal--but what would that prove?”

She turned to me. ”I thought you said you had a way to get me off the hook,” she protested. ”How are we--?”

”Quiet,” I told her. ”I didn't come up here for a lecture in logic.

Especially from a dumb blonde.” She started to bristle, but thought better of it.

”It goes like this, Prof,” I said. ”This innocent looking piece of fluff was caught slipping a five-dollar bill to a teller at a bank down town, and asking for change for a hundred dollar bill. She says it was nothing more than sleight of hand. You are an experienced observer. I want you to watch her work her little trick. If she can fool us, and not use Psi, the legal position is that she didn't need Psi to fool the teller.” I turned to her. ”And the logical principle, Miss Aristotle,” I told her, ”is equally simple: Occam's Razor. Prefer the simpler explanation. Can you show us how you palmed the hundred and slipped the teller a five?”

”You'll be watching for it,” Mary protested, letting those ripe lips pout.

”I suppose the teller wasn't? It's his business to watch the bills when he's making change.” I took out my wallet and handed her a one and a five. ”Hand me the one and make me think it's the five,” I said.

Lindstrom leaned his elbows on the black composition top of the lab bench, watching her narrowly. Mary got down off her stool and came over closer to me, smoothing the two bills in her fingers. The five was on top.

”I'd like change for a five,” she said, handing it to me. She worked it three times while we watched.

”Utterly smooth,” Lindstrom said. ”I didn't see her make the switch.”

”Me, too,” I agreed. I could see the tension drain from Mary's face.

She was prettier when she wasn't worried. She was pretty all the time, when you got right down to it. No wonder she could fool a teller. He probably hadn't taken his eyes off that dazzling smile.

”Is that all?” Lindstrom asked.

”Would you certify that you saw her make these switches, and that Psi was not involved?” I asked him.

”Of course. I don't want to, but, if you call me as a witness, I'll testify to what I saw,” he said glumly.

”It may not be necessary,” I said. ”I really ought to call you, just to teach you some manners, Prof. But then, we all have a right to be a little yellow.”

Mary would have preferred to remain in silence as we rode a cab back to the Moldy Fig, and huddled over in her corner of the bubble. There wasn't enough light, that high over the city, to read her expression.

”Here's the strategy,” I said, about midtown. ”If we can get the Bank to agree to rest.i.tution, and to sign an admission that you did not use HC or any other Psi powers to work your theft, I think you'll be off the hook. I doubt the Federal Jury will listen to an information.”

”I hope you're right.”

”This is my business,” I growled. ”Do you want me to represent you?”

She didn't answer that until the 'copter had grounded in front of the Fig. ”All right,” she said. ”I don't know what you're so mad at all the time, but it doesn't seem to be me. I'd like you to represent me.”

I watched her scoot across the sidewalk and run up the stairs to Elmer's place. For some screwy reason I hoped she had another place to hole up for the night. I was getting as bad as Renner--looking lecherously at the raffish display of shapely leg as the blond bombsh.e.l.l beat it.

I directed my hacker to my apartment, and grabbed the phone in the bubble. The Mobile Operator got me Vito Pa.s.sarelli at his home. He sounded as if he had already retired.

”This is you know who,” I said. ”It's late, I know, but we'd better talk before morning. My apartment is the safest spot I can think of.

I'm in the Directory.”

”Now?”

”Now.”