Special Talents (2 page)

"The suicide bomber that walked into the Pakistani police station. He was a known terrorist. A wanted poster of him was hanging in the police station. Yet, he was able to simply walk in to the police station with a bomb strapped to his chest and detonate it. And no one lifted a finger to stop him. It is believed he had some type of ability that masked his true identity until it was too late.

"The terrorist that gained access to the top secret security facility and was subsequently electrocuted was able to gather the information from computers that weren't even turned on at the time. Somehow he was able to reach inside the computers and pull the information from them. All without even touching the computers."

"The assassination attempt on the English Prime Minister is especially disturbing," continued Napolitano. "The would-be assassin was able to unlock doors and bypass every state-of-the-art security system at Number 10 Downing Street. Something that our experts say should have been impossible for a single individual. But this assassin was able to do it and did so without the aid of any type of device. As if he could do it simply with the power of his mind."

"This all sounds a bit incredible," said Jeremy.

"I know how it sounds, doctor," said Napolitano. "But I can assure you it's all been verified and corroborated. And the assassination of Mr. Taseer? Our information is that his assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, was actually being controlled by the terrorist that the C.I.A. operatives killed. Somehow the terrorist was able to actually take control of his body and make him do whatever he wanted."

"Kind of like possession," said Jeremy.

"That's exactly how one of the C.I.A. operatives put it," said Porter.

"As I said, we've been getting reports of terrorist with these special abilities from all over the world," said Napolitano. "And they're increasing in frequency. We believe some of the terrorist leaders are actively recruiting individuals with special abilities to use in their Jihad. And to put it bluntly doctor, we're at a very distinct disadvantage in this area."

"We've had several operations designed specifically to capture or kill many of the leaders we believe are recruiting these individuals," said Porter. "Unfortunately our conventional and normal methods of fighting terrorist are woefully inadequate when faced with these individuals who have what we are calling special talents. Our men just aren't equipped to deal with people who can do the things some of these people can do."

"I still don't see how this has anything to do with me," said Jeremy.

"The President, the directors of the F.B.I. and C.I.A., the head of the National Security Agency, and myself recently had a meeting to discuss our options in this matter. It was decided that a team of people with special talents should be formed to combat terrorists with special talents. People better equipped to deal with these terrorists because they would possess abilities similar to the terrorists."

"Unfortunately," said Porter, "our attempts to date have failed. The few individuals we've identified as having special talents have absolutely refused to help."

"Let me guess," said Jeremy. "You walked in, announced you're from Homeland Security, and gave them some speech about their country needing them. At which point the people probably told you to take a long walk off a short pier."

"Something to that effect, yes," said Porter.

"I'm not surprised," said Jeremy. "If there were anyone with these special talents, they'd probably be very disinclined to make it known. People fear what they don't know. Or don't understand. And so-called 'normal' people certainly wouldn't understand people with special abilities. And when you mention Homeland Security the first thing that probably popped into their heads was the Patriot Act. And all the reports of people being locked up – without due process, I might add. They probably thought if they even admitted to you that they had these special abilities they'd simply disappear."

"That's what we eventually decided," said Napolitano. "So we decided on a different approach. The President authorized me to contact you and see if you would be willing to help us form this new team. As a psychiatrist you're used to dealing with people. Especially people who have something they'd rather keep hidden. And you have experience getting those people to come clean, as it were. You would be able to succeed where others have failed."

"Sometimes only after weeks or even months of intense therapy," replied Jeremy. "It takes trust to get people to open up. And trust is something that has to be earned and cultivated. It doesn't happen overnight."

"But you know how people react," said General Porter. "What their motivations are. And how to handle people. As a psychiatrist you do it almost on a daily basis. You have insight that, quite frankly, most of our field operatives don't. I'm a military man. I prefer to meet the enemy head on; on the battlefield, so to speak. I have little experience or patience with subterfuge except where it translates into a military victory. Most of our people don't have the insight into people that you do."

"Secretary Napolitano, you've all ready said that you have psychologists and psychiatrists working for Homeland Security. I'm sure any one of them would be as effective at this as I would be. I really don't see how bringing in an outsider such as myself could be more beneficial than using one of your own people."

"There is one other attribute that you possess that none of our staff psychologist or psychiatrists possess. Something that makes you uniquely qualified to head up this project."

"I'm not sure I know what you're referring to," said Jeremy.

"Your special talent, doctor," Napolitano said matter-of-factly. "You're one of 'them', so to speak. Which means they'll be more inclined to listen to you than to one of 'us'."

Jeremy just looked at Napolitano. How could she know? In his entire life he had only told two people of his "special ability". And he was sure neither of them had told anyone else. So how could they be aware of the "special talent" he himself possessed?

"Madam Secretary," Jeremy began.

"Please, doctor, as you intimated, let's be honest with each other," replied Napolitano. "We have done a background check on you. And in most respects you came up clean. And we also know you are one of the types of people we are looking for. Someone with a special ability, or special talent, as General Porter puts it. And because of your training and experience, you're the perfect choice to find and recruit the people we need for this special team."

"Without admitting anything," said Jeremy, "let's assume you're right. That I do have one of these special talents. How could you possibly know that? I've all ready told you that such people would be very reticent to divulge that type of information. How can you possibly have that type of information when those types of individuals would probably do everything they could to conceal it?"

"By having someone break a promise they made years ago."

Jeremy turned toward the door of the office to see who had spoken. Standing in the door was a man about his age with brown hair that has streaks of gray in it. His eyes were blue; nearly the same shade of blue as the suit he was currently wearing. Hanging from the breast pocket of the suit was a badge that identified him as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"Richard?" Jeremy questioned. "Richard Scarborough? I haven't seen you since college."

"That's right," said Scarborough, shaking hands with his old friend. "And that time we sort of got drunk together and you let it slip about your ability. How you can tell when someone is lying. I made a promise to you that night. A promise to never reveal what you had told me. And I've kept that promise. Until now. I'm sorry, Jeremy. Normally I wouldn't have broken my word to you. But when the Director told me about the search for people with special abilities to combat terrorism I felt it was important that we at least explore the option. In order to do that I had to tell them about you."

"So you can see, doctor," said Napolitano, "we know about your special ability. Or at least partially about it. When Assistant Director Scarborough came to me with what he knew I decided I at least had to talk to you."

"Assistant Director, huh?" questioned Jeremy. "You've come a long way from that kid I knew in college who came from a family of local cops."

"Yeah, my dad was real proud when I made it into the F.B.I.," said Scarborough. "And he was even prouder when I made Assistant Director."

"Okay," said Jeremy. "But we were drunk that night. What makes you think what I told you was true and not just the alcohol talking?"

"You proved it to me, remember? I told you a bunch of things about myself. Some true, some not true. And you were able to tell me exactly which things I had been honest about and which I hadn't. Then there was Jenny Cartigan. That little blond from your poly-sci class? Somehow you knew she was sick even when her own doctor didn't know. And that was even before you had gone to medical school."

"I also remember telling you I didn't want that information getting out," said Jeremy. "Because of how people might react if they found out. And you gave me your word you would never tell anyone."

"I know," said Scarborough. "I'm sorry. But I felt this was more important. People are dying every day, Jeremy. Innocent people. And we might have the means to stop all that. I couldn't, in good conscience, ignore that possibility. I wouldn't blame you for being pissed at me. But please understand that I had the best of intentions at the time."

"The road to hell," said Jeremy, not bothering to finish the quote. "But I suppose I can understand why you did it. You always were a very dedicated man." He turned back to Napolitano. "What if I say no? What if I refuse to help you? What happens then?"

"You'll be free to go," said Napolitano. "And as I said, what's said in this room stays in this room. Doctor, we're looking for any tools or weapons we can use in our fight against terrorism. But I won't force you. People who join us in our fight against terrorism have to do so willingly. And I won't threaten you to get what I want either. It has to be voluntary."

"Okay," said Jeremy. "So tell me exactly what it is you want me to do for you."

"We want you to help identify people with these so-called 'special talents'. Help us explain to them exactly what it is we're doing. And if at all possible, get them to agree to help us."

"What happens then? These people aren't trained agents. Many of them will have been living on the fringes of society their entire lives. I'm not sure many of them would even be suitable to be agents for you."

"That will be our problem," interjected Porter. "Once you've identified them: and convinced them to help us: we'll send them to a special training center. One designed specifically for people like them. Your involvement with them will be ended."

"It won't work," Jeremy said matter-of-factly. "You're asking me to get these people to trust me and persuade them to join the fight against terrorism. Many, if not most, of them will have to be persuaded. It won't be their first choice or they'd all ready be involved in it somehow. Then you want me to just turn them over to you and walk away.

"That's the worst thing that could happen. They'd see it as a betrayal and to be quite honest, they'd be right. If I walk away they'll be very inclined to do the same. And you'd be right back where you started from."

"So you're saying you need to be involved in the entire process," said Napolitano. "Including their training once they've been convinced to join us."

"Exactly. And I don't know what training you have in mind but I can assure you it can't be the normal type of training your agents get. These people are going to be used to being on their own. Doing things their own way. And I have no doubt many of them will feel the way I do. That a lot of the protocols and procedures used by government agencies don't make a whole lot of sense and are a waste a lot of time. They'll need special handling."

"We hadn't considered that," Porter said to Napolitano. "And he's right. I've been in the military for 32 years. And volunteers are always easier to handle than people who have been drafted. Even then, some of them just don't measure up."

"So you want to be involved in their training?" Napolitano asked Jeremy.

"I didn't say that exactly. I haven't even agreed to join you myself. If I do, I have to be convinced it's the best course of action. If I don't believe it myself, there's no way I can convince someone else to do it."

"What do you need doctor? What can I do that will convince you to help us?"

"Twenty-four hours," said Jeremy. "This is a major change. I have a lot of things to consider. If I'm involved in this I won't be able to continue with my teaching position at the university. And though my practice is small, I probably wouldn't have the time to devote to my patients that they need. I'll need to find another therapist for them. So I'll need to think it over and make sure I'm making the right decision."

"Fair enough, doctor. I can appreciate a cautious man. I'll tell you what. I have a meeting tomorrow that I can't miss. How about you come back at 10:00 a.m. the day after tomorrow to give me your answer? I'll have my secretary pencil you in and if you find you need more time to make your decision you can always call and reschedule."