The Lady Has a Past (Burning Cove #5) - Amanda Quick Page 0,106

faded and disappeared.

“Yes, it’s definitely indicating that you have a perceptible level of paranormal talent,” Otto said. “My theory is that all humans have a degree of extrasensory perception but we usually dismiss it as intuition.”

“So your device is merely indicating I’ve got some intuition?”

“If so, it’s a good deal more than average intuition,” Otto said. He got an expression of intense concentration. “I have a lot of work to do to enhance the detector. The problem is that, although it can sense stronger-than-average paranormal currents, it can’t give me any clue to the exact nature of the energy or what type of abilities might be associated with those particular wavelengths.”

“I trust you’re not hoping to reach the Other Side,” Lyra said.

Otto was outraged. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no such thing as talking to the spirit world. Anyone who claims to be a medium is a fraud.”

“I agree,” Lyra said. “I just wanted to be sure you weren’t pursuing that goal.”

“Absolutely not. The scientific research into the paranormal has been badly muddled by the fakery of those who claim to be able to speak to the dead. Thankfully, some reputable academic institutions are starting to take a serious interest in paranormal research.”

Lyra nodded. “I know that Duke University has a facility dedicated to parapsychology and the study of extrasensory perception. There are other institutes around that are investigating paranormal phenomena. I doubt it will be long before the government takes an interest in the field.”

Simon glanced at her, clearly impressed. “You’re aware of all that?”

She shrugged. “I told you, I have always been interested in psychic phenomena.”

“We don’t have all day,” Simon said. He looked at Otto. “Why did you track me down here in Burning Cove?”

Otto started to answer but a crisp knock on the door interrupted him.

“Room service,” a woman sang out.

“I’ll get it,” Simon said.

At least it gave him something to do.

He opened the door. A perky young woman stood in the hall. She held a large platter laden with the usual tea paraphernalia.

“I’m Willa,” she said. She gave Simon a cheerful smile. “Amalie said to bring you a tea tray. I added some freshly baked shortbread. It’s my specialty.”

“Please set the tray on the coffee table,” Simon said.

“Yes, sir.”

Willa whisked into the room. She set the tray down and arranged the cups and saucers. When she straightened she saw the detector.

“Is that your paranormal energy detector, Dr. Tinsley?” she asked.

“Yes, it is,” Otto said.

“Amalie said you found all sorts of paranormal energy here at the inn.”

“An unusual amount, yes,” Otto said.

Willa brightened. “That is very exciting and quite helpful.”

Simon eyed her warily. “How is it helpful?”

“We can use Dr. Tinsley’s findings for marketing purposes,” Willa explained. “People will love the notion of staying at an inn that has been scientifically proven to have a lot of paranormal energy in the atmosphere. It’s even better than the ghost. Excuse me. I’ve got to run. Got another batch of shortbread in the oven.”

Willa vanished out into the hall. Simon closed the door behind her and looked at Otto.

“You’ve always been right about one thing, Otto,” he said. “People are fascinated with the paranormal.”

Lyra sat down on the couch and picked up the teapot. “I think the widespread curiosity about the paranormal stems from the fact that everyone dreams and everyone has had a flash or two of inexplicable intuition. Neither can be easily explained, so we are forced to consider the notion that there is a great deal about the natural world that we do not know, let alone comprehend.”

Otto lowered himself into a chair, crossed his legs, and accepted a teacup. “I congratulate you on your sophisticated approach to the subject, Miss Brazier.”

Simon began to prowl the room. “Get to the point, Otto. What do you want from me?”

Otto contrived to look hurt. “Why must you always leap to the conclusion that I only visit when I want something from you?”

“Isn’t that the way it is?”

Otto sniffed in a pathetic manner. “If that is the case it is because I don’t feel terribly welcome when I do visit.” He looked at Lyra. “Simon is like a son to me. He was an orphan, you see. He was about to turn thirteen and they were going to toss him into an asylum. They said he was delusional.”

“She knows about my past,” Simon said evenly. “There’s no need to explain that I owe you a debt I can apparently never repay. So let’s just skip to the end game.