Death of an Adept

"No, but most psychiatrists confine their professional activities to the nice, safe environs of the consultation room," she retorted. "You don't talk about it much - and I haven't pushed - but I know you donate no small portion of your time to helping out the police whenever they have a case that smacks of the bizarre. I gather that you regard this kind of work in the light of a special vocation - but I also know that it can be potentially very dangerous. When we both nearly got blown up on our very first date, that became abundantly clear.

"I'm not going to ask you to explain about that," she added, holding up a hand to silence any interruption. "I respect the fact that you can't talk about a lot of what you do. That being the case, I'd like to propose a bargain."

"What kind of bargain?" Adam asked cautiously.

"A sort of exchange of courtesies. It works like this. I won't make any attempt to interfere with your enforcement work, if you'll promise to keep me informed about what you're doing."

"Within limits, I'm certainly willing to do my best," Adam agreed.

"I'm not asking that you tell me everything," she reiterated. "I expect that, in its way, the issue of confidentiality is just as sacrosanct for law-enforcement people as it is for physicians - or priests, even. What I do ask is that you tell me as much as you can. That car bomb at Melrose was planted by someone you were chasing on behalf of the police. I don't even want to know the details, at this remove," she added, shaking her head and holding up her hand again. "But if this is a regular feature of your lifestyle, I'd at least like to be given fair warning."

Adam stared at her for a long moment.

"My life usually isn't that physically dramatic," he said at last. "But there is a lot more to the truth than you realize."

"How much more?"

Adam chose his words carefully, well aware that this conversation could make or break their future relationship.

"The crimes that demand my talents as an investigator aren't simply those involving some degree of psychological abnormality on the part of the perpetrators," he said tentalively. "Every now and then a case comes to light which can only be explained in terms of - let's call it the paranormal."

When she only cocked her head in question, Adam went on.

"When that happens, a solution can only be found by utilizing extraordinary methods of investigation. And that means calling in a special investigator - someone equipped with more than the usual range of investigative talents."

Ximena's eyes widened slightly. "You mean someone gifted with extrasensory perception?" She paused a beat. "Are we talking about Noel McLeod - or you?"

Adam gave a noncommital shrug, declining to answer the question directly.

"I know it has a sensationalist ring to it, but let me assure you that such faculties do exist. And wherever they manifest themselves, they provide us with valid information concerning the nature of experience."

Ximena was studying him closely. "What exactly are you trying to tell me? That you're some kind of psychic?"

"I suppose that's as accurate a term as any," Adam conceded, "though we both know what that could mean in professional terms, if it were ever to become public knowledge. The fact is, I owe a great deal of my success in treating the mental illnesses of my patients to these special talents.

"But that's only part of the story," he went on. "You've already noted how often I work with the police on a consultancy basis. What you don't know is that I have certain… obligations as an enforcer in my own right."

A furrow appeared between Ximena's winged eyebrows. "I'm not sure I follow you."

"Bear with me, darling. This isn't easy for me either," Adam said quietly. "Let's just say that the possession of special perceptive abilities automatically carries with it a certain burden of responsibility."

"And?" she said, when he did not immediately go on.

He drew a breath, steeling himself for further disclosures.

"I'm by no means the only one to wield unusual talents of this sort. Unfortunately, not all those who possess such talents are also possessed of a sense of ethics. On the contrary, there are more than a few exceptional individuals out there who are prepared to use their gifts for wholly selfish purposes, often to the extreme detriment of others. And that cannot be permitted, if the balance of enlightenment in the universe is to be maintained."

"Balance of enlightenment?"

Adam groped for the words to explain, heartened by her reaction thus far.

"There is such a thing as a Higher Law in the universe - a code of spiritual morality which is, itself, a reflection of the Divine Will which instituted it. This Higher Law is the foundation upon which all other moral and ethical codes of human conduct are based, whether consciously or unconsciously. When human laws are broken, it's up to human authority to seek out the perpetrator and render justice. Police and judicial agencies carry out that function.