She rubbed her forehead. "Then why was I told at fifteen that I would never develop? Surely they would have picked up the shifter/changer coding as easily as you did."
"My tests are a little more intense than your average physician's, and I have spent a good part of my life focusing on the health and welfare of nonhuman races." A hint of pride crept through the doctor's warm voice. "I'm sure the physicians who examined you were good, but I'm a damn sight better."
And modest besides. "So you're saying they wouldn't have been able to pick up the genetic abnormalities?"
"Why would they look is more the question. You're listed as human on your birth certificate. They'd have no reason to search beyond that, really."
Especially not for an orphan at a time when medical expenditure of any kind was being closely watched by the government. "What about these other sensations I seem to be getting? Being able to sense the presence of other races, being able to pick up my partner's emotions and, sometimes, even thoughts."
O'Hearn interlaced her fingers. "Most psychic abilities don't start to fully develop until the onset of puberty."
She sighed. "I was tested for psychic ability when I entered the State Police. I came up with a big fat zero."
"And yet you told me that in recent tests done at the SIU, you came in neutral."
"Yeah. So?"
"Those tests were designed by Gabriel. Designed specifically to indicate whether or not a person has psychic ability. You either have, or have not. You don't come in neutral."
"But I did."
"Yes. And that would indicate a talent strong enough to evade both the psi nullified environment of the SIU, and the tests themselves."
"This is too weird." In the space of a few days, she'd gone from being an orphaned nobody to a multi-raced fertile woman with growing psychic talents and maybe even a brother.
"It certainly is a puzzle," O'Hearn agreed. "But one I think we can eventually solve."
She took another deep breath. No doubt the solving would involve more damn tests. "What do you want to do?"
"First, I want your permission to request the test results from the SIU. I think they would complement my research. Who's the physician in charge there?"
"A man called Finley."
"Finley?" The doc raised a gray eyebrow. "He's one of the best in his field. Didn't realize he was working for the SIU now."
"He's been wanting to do more tests himself. So far, I've refused."
"Why?"
She shrugged. "Obstinacy, perhaps. Or maybe even fear of discovering the truth."
"Both of which are understandable. Sometimes it is better not to know."
She smiled grimly. "There are things happening to me that I need to understand. I can't sit on my hands any more. Do what it takes to find out what the hell is going on in my body."
"Good girl." She leaned forward and picked up the second folder. "I'll book some more tests and let you know the times. I'll also contact Gabriel and request the SIU test results." She hesitated, frowning slightly. "It might also be worthwhile if I work with Finley on some of these tests. He's more familiar with gene manipulation than I am."
"The SIU will probably have to approve it, but it's okay by me. Though Finley's not due back from leave until the eighteenth."
"We'll get around that." She shuffled the two folders together. "I'll get onto this straight away."
She stood. "I'll wait for your phone call, then."
O'Hearn nodded. "Don't worry, dear. You'll have your answers within a week or two."
A minute from now was not soon enough. Still, she'd waited nearly thirty years for some answers. Two weeks more wasn't going to kill her.
A chill ran over her skin. She couldn't escape the sudden notion that she was wrong.