Sweet Fortune

the whole truth.”
    “I agree,” Alex said.
    “You're liable to scare her off completely if you do,” Hatch warned.
    Jessie shook her head, staring intently at the screen. Her intuition was guiding her now. “No. She's already scared. And not because of us. Let's find out what's really going on here. Alex, ask her if she feels safe working for DEL.”
    “Just like that?”
    “Yes. Hurry.” Jessie was feeling a sense of urgency. She leaned forward to peer over Alex's shoulder.
    “All right, go ahead,” Hatch said slowly, after giving Jessie a speculative glance. “Start the question with her first name.”
    Susan, are you safe where you are ?
    Jessie held her breath and realized that Alex was doing the same thing as they waited for a response. Only Hatch still looked calm.
    I'm not sure. I'm getting scared, Green. Please tell me who you are .
    “Tell her,” Jessie said, “that we've been looking for her and if she wants to leave DEL, we'll help her. Tell her that her mother is very worried.”
    “Tell her that her mother is also scared,” Hatch put in thoughtfully. “That should do it.”
    Jessie nodded. “Good idea. Susan may not know that Mrs. Attwood has been threatened.”
    “Has she?” Alex asked, surprised.
    Jessie nodded grimly. “Yes, I'm sure of it.”
    The response from Susan came immediately. Is my mother all right? Have been told I may not contact her until after my training period is finished .
    “Tell her that Mrs. Attwood will not talk to me about the problem. Tell her I'm very worried about her,” Jessie said.
    Alex started to type in the words, but before he could get halfway through the sentence, Susan started typing something of her own.
    Clear screen. Someone coming .
    In a stroke Alex wiped everything off his own screen and sat back in his chair with a low groan of frustration. “She's in trouble.”
    “Looks like it,” Hatch agreed quietly. “But we don't have any idea of how much trouble. She might just be getting nervous. Wants to come home. Afraid to admit she's made a mistake.”
    “I think,” Jessie said slowly, “that it's more serious than that. I think she's in real danger.”
    Hatch and Alex looked at her.
    “How do you know that?” Hatch finally asked.
    Jessie shook her head, helpless to explain the sense of urgency that was growing stronger by the minute. “Just a feeling I've got.” She jumped to her feet. “I'm going to go see Mrs. Valentine. With any luck, she'll have recovered some of her ability. Maybe she can tell me if I'm right in thinking Susan's in trouble.”
    “Jessie, it's midnight,” Hatch pointed out.
    “Mrs. V will understand. Do you want to come with me, Hatch?”
    “I don't think I've got much choice,” he muttered, standing up reluctantly.
    “I'll keep an eye on things here,” Alex said. “I won't attempt to contact Susan. I'll just monitor the screen in case she decides to try to find me again. If she puts out a query, I'll respond.”
    Jessie glanced back once from the door. Alex was sitting in front of his screen, gazing into the green glow with worried eyes.

    There was another screen glowing in the living room of Mrs. Valentine's sister. A television screen.
    Mrs. Valentine, wearing an old robe and slippers, answered the doorbell on the first chime. “Oh, there you are, Jessie, dear. Come in. I've been expecting you. Hello, Mr. Hatchard. So nice to see you again.”
    “Hello, Mrs. Valentine,” Hatch said. “Sorry about the late-night visit.”
    “Don't worry about it. As I said, I was expecting you.”
    Jessie threw her arms around her boss and hugged her tightly. “You were expecting us? Mrs. V, does that mean you've recovered your psychic abilities?”
    “What little ability I had seems to have begun returning,” Mrs. Valentine said modestly. “Won't you sit down? My sister has already gone to bed. I was just watching TV until you arrived.”
    “This is wonderful, Mrs. V.” Jessie sat down on the old sofa. “Isn't it, Hatch?”
    “It's interesting,” Hatch said coolly.
    “Don't mind him, Mrs. V. He's a born skeptic. Now, let me tell you why I'm here at this hour.”
    “Something to do with Susan Attwood, I imagine.” Mrs. Valentine looked resigned.
    “Mrs. V, you are getting back your powers. This is wonderful.”
    “Simple deduction, I'm afraid.” Mrs. Valentine smiled. “I couldn't imagine anything else that would have you so agitated. Better tell me everything.”
    “Right.”
    Jessie plunged