Special Talents (14 page)

"Well, not exactly."

"What do you mean 'not exactly'?" Jeremy asked.

"I, uh, don't exactly look like myself in the bank. I kind of look like whoever's name is on the slip."

"Like today in the diner," said Jeremy.

"Yeah. I had just come from the bank where I made a withdrawal from Landow's account. I was hungry so I stopped in there to get something to eat. That's when you came in and we talked."

"But you looked so different then," said Jeremy. "You did look like Landow. How is that possible?"

"I told you that you wouldn't believe me," said Barnes.

"Well, no sense stopping now," said Scarborough. "You're on a roll."

"And if I tell you then you'll lock me up for bank robbery or something," said Barnes.

"Look. I work for Homeland Security. I'm interested in terrorists. As long as you're not using that money to fund terrorist activities or you're not getting it from terrorists I couldn't care less. Just tells us what's going on and we'll leave you alone."

"Do I have your word?" Barnes asked.

"Yes. As long as it's not connected to any terrorist activities."

"Okay. Well, the reason they give me the money is because I sort of look like those people. I can kind of change how I look. I don't know how but all I have to do is concentrate a bit and I can look like anyone I want."

"No makeup or anything?" Jeremy asked.

"Nope. No makeup or prosthetics or hair dye or anything. I just concentrate and it happens."

"So what about the money?" Scarborough asked.

"Well, I figure most of those guys got their money through means that may not be exactly honest. Besides, they can afford it. Their worth millions or even billions. They aren't going to miss a couple of thousand here and there. So I get some withdrawal slips from the bank, fill them out, and then just go make a withdrawal. Everyone at the bank knows them so they never ask for any identification."

"And this is how you've been supporting yourself," said Jeremy.

"Yeah. Like I said, they won't miss it. A couple of thousand to them is like five or ten bucks to us. So I take a little bit and use it to live on."

"And the withdrawal slips?" Scarborough asked. "You said even our experts would tell us those signatures are genuine."

"Well I've gotten pretty good a copying other people's signatures. It's not hard. You just need to practice some."

"So you forge the signatures on the withdrawal slips, give the slip to the teller, and she gives you the money," said Jeremy. "Is that it?"

"I prefer to look at it as artistic creativity. But that's pretty much how it works. Like I said, it's not even really stealing. I just ask for the money and they give it to me. That's all there is to it."

"It's still stealing," said Janet. "You're taking money that doesn't belong to you."

"And technically it's called bank robbery," said Scarborough. "That's a felony under federal law. Not to mention forgery and identity theft."

"But it's got nothing to do with terrorists," said Barnes. "After 9-11 I tried to join the military but I couldn't pass the physical. There wasn't anything else I could do. I got fired from my job one day and was out of money. Then I got the idea of 'borrowing' some money from my former boss's account. I was going to pay it back. Once I got another job and got back on my feet. But I couldn't find another job. That's when I decided on doing it this way. And until today I was doing pretty good."

"You can look like anybody you want?" Jeremy asked Barnes.

"Yeah, pretty much. I could even look like her if I wanted. Only I'd still be a male, physically. If I got dressed up like a girl I could probably even pass for her. But that would mean I'd need some special clothes and padding and stuff. So I usually stick to rich guys who won't miss the money."

"I have no idea how many laws you've broken," said Scarborough.

"Hey, you said if it wasn't connected to terrorists you'd let me go."

"First you have to prove to me what you're saying is the truth. Let's see you change. Let's see you look like Landow again."

Barnes looked at his watch. "I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?" Jeremy asked.

"Well, I've been a little busy today. Kind of need to recharge, you know what I mean? If I change too much or too often it gets harder to do and it doesn't last as long. If I'm right, I still have a couple of hours before I can do it again."

"How long does the change last?"

"Up to an hour. Usually that's plenty of time for me to complete my business and be away before anyone is the wiser. But after an hour I'll change back automatically. And like I said, I have to wait a while to change again. I guess that's a sort of recharge time or something."

"How long do you have to wait?" Jeremy asked.

"That depends. On how many changes I've made, how long I stay changed, how many times I've done it, a variety of things."

"Well then," said Scarborough, "I guess we wait. What time will you be able to 'change' again?"

"About 7:15 I figure," replied Barnes. "I don't know exactly. I don't usually time myself. But it's been a while since I changed last. So it shouldn't be long."

"Okay I'll give you until 7:30. That should be enough time. But if you don't change by then I'm taking you in. And I'm confiscating the money, your house, everything you own as proceeds from terrorist activities. You still want to maintain your story?"

"It's the truth, I swear it. So, if I change and prove to you I'm telling the truth, you'll go away and leave me alone? And you won't report me to the local police?"

"I never said that," said Scarborough. "I said I wasn't interested in you if it wasn't terrorist related. I'm still a member of the law enforcement community. I can just walk away from so many felonies like they never happened."

"You bastard," said Barnes anger in his voice. "You said you'd leave me alone."

"Maybe we can strike a bargain," said Jeremy, realizing exactly what Scarborough was up to. "You said after 9-11 you tried to join the military but were rejected."

"That's right. They said I had a heart murmur. That it made me unfit for military service."

"A heart murmur could be any number of things," said Jeremy. "A heart murmur is simply an irregular heartbeat and isn't necessarily indicative of any serious problem."

"That's right, you're a doctor, aren't you? A plastic surgeon?"

"Psychiatrist, actually. That's why I became suspicious of you. The real Dr. Landow knows I'm a psychiatrist."

"Well, you can't know everything about another person. And I wasn't expecting to meet you. Usually I just get the money and go home and there's no problems. Guess I kind of messed up today."

"Nothing that can't be fixed. It was no accident that Janet and I were downtown today. We were actually checking out some other people who reportedly had special abilities like you have."

"You mean there are others who can change their appearance like I can?"

"Not exactly. But there are others who can do special things. We call them special talents. And we're actually looking for some of these people. People who might be able to help us on occasion."

"Help you how?"

"I'm afraid I can't much more than that right now," said Jeremy. "First we need to make sure you can do what you claim. And we won't know that for sure until 7:15."

"Well you just wait. When it's time I'll show you. I'll prove to you I can do what I claim. But what about this bargain you mentioned? What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Well," said Jeremy, glancing at Scarborough. Scarborough only nodded once, slightly, indicating he knew what Jeremy was up to and that he approved. "Assuming you can do what you claim, you agree to join us. Help us when we need it. Someone with an ability like yours can be very useful to us."

"And what do I get in exchange for helping you?"

Jeremy just looked at Scarborough. He could make any deals he wanted but unless Scarborough went along with it the deal could end up being useless. He felt it was best if Scarborough set the limits of the deal.

"Okay," said Scarborough finally. "You agree to help up; assuming you can actually do what you claim; and I'll forget about your little trips to the banks. And I won't worry about where you got the rest of your stuff or how you paid for it. But impersonating other people to rip them off stops right now. No more withdrawals from other people's bank accounts."

"What do I do for a living? This is how I've been supporting myself. And with the economy the way it is there's no guarantee I'll be able to get a job anytime soon."

"I don't think you'll have a problem in that respect," said Jeremy.

"And he has to agree to help me with my research," said Janet. "It won't be anything involved. Just answering some questions, providing samples like blood, tissue, that sort of thing. And maybe some routine-type tests."

"Well, what do you say?" asked Jeremy. "You referred to the terrorists as bastards. And you tried to join the military after 9-11. Both indications that you want to do something about them. Are you willing to join us and help us when we need it?"

"Do I have a choice?" Barnes asked, looking at Scarborough. "Seems to me you've thought this little blackmail scheme through pretty well."

"Even in blackmail the person always has a choice," said Jeremy. "You just have to decide which is the best option for you. You're free to refuse if you wish. It's up to you."

"Yeah, sure. I refuse and I disappear into a hole for the rest of my life. Some choice. So tell me. How long do I have to help you? Am I tied to you for the rest of my life or is there some kind of minimum requirement that will allow me to walk away if I want after a certain amount of time?"

"That's a good question," said Jeremy looking at Scarborough. "His involvement does have to be voluntary. You know that. And we certainly can't expect him to work for us forever."

"Well," said Scarborough thoughtfully, "how about one mission? You help us with one mission – and give it your best – and then you can walk away no strings attached."

"I help you with one mission and after that I can walk away, no questions asked? I get to keep everything and you don't say anything to any law enforcement agencies about my little talent or what I do with it?"

"That's the deal. But while you're working for us you stay straight. No little side trips to the bank or anywhere else. And I have the right to decide if you're giving your best or not. If I decide you aren't holding up your end of the deal I get to extend your time with us. Take it or leave it."

"Okay," said Barnes, suddenly relaxing. "You have yourself a deal." He looked at his watch. "It's nearly 7:00. Mind if I put on some coffee while we're waiting?"

"Just don't try to sneak out the back door or anything," said Scarborough.

"Now why would I do that? All of my stuff is here."

Barnes got up and went into the kitchen.

"Do you believe him?" Scarborough asked.

"Well, he was telling the truth," said Jeremy. "Of course, the truth can be a bit subjective. A person can tell a lie and I won't detect it if they honestly believe it's the truth. I can only detect when a person is deliberately being misleading and knows they're being misleading. But as far as he's concerned, everything he told us was the truth as he knows it."

"What about this claim he can look like anyone? I know some people have these unusual talents. But that seems just a bit out there to me."

"As out there as being able to control a mechanical device simply by touching it?" Janet asked. "Or being able to be as strong as I need to be no matter how strong that is simply by thinking about it?"

"Point taken," said Scarborough. "If he can do what he claims imagine the possibilities. He can actually infiltrate terrorist cells and no one would be the wiser. He could learn things the intelligence community could take months or years to learn. Or things we might not ever be able to learn. The possibilities could be endless."

"Well, just remember, he only has to stay with us for the first mission," said Jeremy. "We gave him our word. I expect you to abide by it."

"Don't worry about that. I'll stick to the agreement. As long as he does. If he keeps his end the bargain I'll let him walk away after the first mission if he wants to."

"Cream or sugar in your coffee?" Barnes called from the kitchen.

"Sugar no cream for me," said Jeremy.

"Thanks, but I don't drink coffee," said Janet.

"Black," said Scarborough. "Very light cream for me."

"Okay," said Barnes coming back into the dining room. He walked into the room holding a tray with a coffee pot, three cups, and a container of sugar and non-dairy creamer. "I figured I'd let you put in what you want. No one knows better how you like your coffee than you do."