Elaine Viets & Victoria Laurie, Nancy Martin, Denise Swanson - Drop-Dead Blonde (v5.0) (pdf) by Unknown (best classic books .TXT) 📗

``Yes!'' Stan said.

``Okay, this employee has a connection to a motorcycle, and I think it's red. He either has a model of it on his desk or he owns a red motorcycle. . . .''

``Oh, my God!'' Stan sputtered as his wife gasped and 278 Victoria Laurie clutched her chest. ``Our comptroller has this model of a red motorcycle on the shelf in his office. He's always going around telling everyone how he's saving up to buy a real one!''

``I see. Well, there's something up between your accounts and this man, and you need to investigate the matter-- pronto. Your business will survive, and that's important for you to know, but no way should you and your wife be spending money frivolously on vacations to Hawaii. Am I clear?''

Stan nodded his head vigorously and leaned over to shake my hand as the room erupted in applause. Just then another hand gripped my upper arm like a vise, and I turned to see Tweed Jacket clutching me tightly as he turned to the crowd and declared, ``Thank you so much for that demonstration, miss! One of Deirdre's proteges, � � everyone! Isn't she wonderful?''

The room again erupted in applause, and before I knew it, I was being escorted through the dining hall in the direc- tion of the entrance. ``Hey!'' I hissed as we neared the door. ``Let go of me!''

``Your money will be refunded to you, as your invitation to the rest of the lecture has been revoked,'' the man hissed in my ear, and before I could say ``boo,'' we were outside the hall doors and I was pitched roughly forward with a shove as the man brusquely disappeared back into the hall, slamming the double doors behind him and leaving me to look blankly about.

For a minute I thought about pounding on the doors and making a ruckus, but after counting to ten--twice--I de- cided to walk away with my head held high. I turned on my heel and harrumphed my way down the narrow corridor, thumbing my nose at most of the vendors waiting hungrily for intermission and the chance to sell their crystals, charms, and snake oil to any gullible attendee.

When I got to the end of the corridor, I stopped and waited for Cat to come barreling out of the hall after me. I pictured her giving Deirdre and her people a little what- for at my less than courteous removal and stomping out of the hall to join me in support, but as I stood at the end of the hall, tapping my foot impatiently, she failed to appear.

I thought about just heading up to our room, but the BLIND SIGHTED 279 card key was in my purse, which was still back in the dining hall, so I had no choice but to wait for my sister. The longer I waited, the angrier I became, so, to distract myself, I looked around for something to do. It was then that I no- ticed a display just off to my right that seemed to be slightly removed from the rest of the vendors. Curiously, I read the sign tagging the display that read: TEST YOUR PSYCHIC IQ!

Behind a table sat a woman with carrot-red hair and freckled skin who ogled me with interest behind enormous horn-rimmed glasses as I surveyed her exhibit, which was mostly comprised of three computer monitors hooked up to a central P.C. and accompanying chairs. What can I say? Curiosity got the best of me, so I moseyed over. Nodding to Carrot Top as I sat down in front of one of the terminals, I put my hand on the mouse, and clicked the button that read ``start.''

The screen flashed from black to blue, and across the monitor five cards aligned themselves up in a neat little row at the top of the screen. The caption at the bottom read, Find the picture behind the card! After pausing with the cursor for a moment I clicked on the fourth card over from the left. I was instantly rewarded with a picture of a chocolate fudge sundae loaded with sprinkles and a big fat cherry accompanied by the words, A perfect hit! Great job! Please try again!

``Okay,'' I said aloud, as I smiled and waited for the cards to line up once more. I played this little game for a few minutes and made it through two trials of twenty-five, missing twice the first trial and only once the second. Mid- way through the second trial the redhead came up behind me and watched curiously as I clicked my way to the end.

When I was finished with the second trial I looked back at her and was taken aback by the woman's expression. Her mouth was hanging open, and her eyes had grown even bigger behind the glasses.

``You're amazing!'' she whispered breathlessly.

I flushed slightly, a little embarrassed by the way she was looking at me, and smiled sheepishly in return. ``This? Aww, this is nothing. Just luck, really.''

``No,'' she said shaking her head vigorously. ``It's nearly impossible for it to be luck. That's why I've designed this test this way. According to your results,'' she said, taking 280 Victoria Laurie the mouse from me and clicking at the bottom where the button for ``results'' was, ``it's nearly mathematically impos- sible for you to have done so well based solely on chance.''

I looked to where she had clicked and saw that the odds against my performing so well were right around four bazil- lion to one. ``Well, it's not that hard once you get the hang of it,'' I offered.

``Try this one,'' Carrot Top said, and made a few clicks with the mouse to another test. This one displayed a small blue square, and the instructions indicated that I was sup- posed to click on