Read Extrasensory for Free Online

there. Just in case.”
    The Dragon was the ultra-sophisticated computer system that as Rick once said could do everything but sing and dance. Andy, who had come to them through Mark Halloran’s wife, played the machine like a violinist with a Stradivarius. If information on any subject in the world could be found Andy and the Dragon could find it.
    Rick raised an eyebrow. “Expecting trouble?”
    Dan grinned. “My friend, I’m always expecting trouble. You know that.”
    “Well, enjoy yourself. Have a margarita or two for me.”
    Rick grinned as he unfolded his long length from the chair. As he left the office, Dan was already tapping search parameters into the computer.
    * * * * *
    The telephone conversation between the two conspirators was brief and tense. The closer the deadline loomed, the more uptight they became with each other. Being unable to meet in person put an additional strain on their situation. There was only so much you could do by telephone. You couldn’t see the other person, judge their facial expressions and the nuances of their body movements.
    They weren’t exactly strangers to each other, nor was this their first project, but that made no difference. Regardless of the relationship, lack of trust was inherent in both personalities.
    “We have a very small window of opportunity here, you know. If we miss it, the chance is gone.”
    “Did you expect any less? He’d take the thing home to sleep with him if he could.” A sharp laugh echoed over the connection. “That would certainly make our job easier if he did.”
    “We knew this wouldn’t be a cakewalk.” The voice carried a note of irritation. “But with so much money riding on this, it’s worth the effort.” There was a short pause.
    “This is the big one, you know. The one that will set us up for life.”
    “I know, I know.”
    “Not getting cold feet are you?” Now the tone was one of suspicion.
    “Not on your life.” The voice was vehement, almost angry. “I don’t even know why you always ask me that.”
    “Just checking.”
    “After all this time? I’m good to go. Quit worrying.”
    “Just do your part and we’ll be fine. Like I said, we have a small window. Use it wisely. Don’t screw it up.”
    “You don’t need to worry about me.” The voice was defensive. “Worry about yourself. I’m ready.”
    They both disconnected and, in their separate locations, dismantled the throwaway cell phones they were using. They would dispose of the phones and batteries separately and at widely separated locations. They couldn’t afford to take any chances on being traced or overheard.
    * * * * *
    At two o’clock in the morning Mia finally gave up her search and shut down her laptop. Her eyes were blurring and the eyestrain was exacerbating her headache.
    Using normal search parameters and applying several search engines, she’d gotten as much as she could on Carpenter Techtronics, compiling a history of the company and a profile of its CEO. The information on robotics had been more difficult to collect because she didn’t always understand what she was reading. She finally printed out the articles she thought she’d need and slid them into a folder.
    Tomorrow she’d call someone she knew, an engineer she’d met at a book signing who, strangely enough, had an interest in parapsychology. They’d become friends, meeting for the occasional drink or dinner. She was gratified that, when she’d finally blurted out her secret to him, he didn’t see her as a freak but as an interesting human being with unusual abilities.
    Once she got to work in the morning she could also tap into the Lexis-Nexis system that the museum subscribed to—the vast, worldwide database of every piece of knowledge in the world. That always provided more than her independent searches could dig up.
    Swallowing two more aspirins, she pulled on a sleep shirt and crawled into bed.
    But before she could close her eyes she felt her psychic power grab her