Amaryllis Read Online Free PDF Page B

locating valuable ore and mineral deposits or something.”
    “Apparently he did his prospecting the old-fashioned way,” Amaryllis said. “Detailed research and a lot of grueling fieldwork. He has a degree in Synergistic Crystal Mineralogy.”
    Amaryllis did not know much about the complex process involved in the search for jelly-ice, but she knew it was difficult, sometimes dangerous work. It was also vital, high-paying work.
    Jelly-ice was slang for the substance known in technical circles as semiliquid full-spectrum crystal quartz. Jelly-ice had a multitude of strange properties including a weird, jellylike consistency when it was in its natural state. But the most important fact about the stuff was that it could be made to produce energy. Clean, efficient, inexpensive energy.
    Lucas Trent had made his fortune by locating several extremely rich deposits of jelly-ice in the Western Islands. The company he had founded, Lodestar Exploration, was one of the most successful in the business.
    “I don’t give a damn how he goes about finding jelly-ice,” Clementine said. “All I care about is that it’s made him a very important person here in the city.” She leveled a finger laden with several steel rings at Amaryllis. “I’m counting on you to convince him that even if there’s no psychic vampire hypno-talent involved in this case, he got exactly what he paid for from Psynergy, Inc.”
    “Right, boss.”
    Clementine stood and planted her hands on her hips. “Trent is contracting for a professional, highly skilled prism, and that’s just what we’ll give him. Whatever answers he gets when he links with you are his problem.”
    “I trust you’ll remember that when it’s time to hand out the yearly bonuses,” Amaryllis said politely.
    Clementine gave a crack of laughter. “Don’t worry, you’ve already earned your bonus. Hell, I couldn’t lure a class-nine talent through the door until you came to work for me. Nines are snobs to the bone. They insist that any prism they work with must have a string of diplomas and degrees. Even eights are awful damn fussy.”
    Byron made a face. “Too bad Trent’s talent is such a boring one, huh, Amaryllis? The job might have been kind of exciting under other circumstances. I mean, this is real security work. We don’t get a lot of that.”
    “Mr. Trent’s particular talent may not sound thrilling, especially since we’re highly unlikely to uncover a real, live hypno-talent at work,” Amaryllis admitted. “But I think the job will be quite interesting in its own way. At least it will be a change of pace for me. This will be the first time I’ve gone undercover.”
    Byron brightened at that news. “Where will you be working?”
    “I’m going to hold a focus for Trent on Thursday night at the reception that the New Seattle Museum is hosting to celebrate the opening of the relics wing.”
    “What’s this about working undercover?” Clementine frowned. “I thought this was just a straight security check gig. No one said anything about undercover work.”
    “It’s no big deal,” Amaryllis assured her.
    Byron refused to be discouraged. “I’ll bet Trent has arranged for Amaryllis to masquerade as a member of the catering staff at the reception. That way she’ll have an excuse for being nearby when he wants to link.”
    Clementine’s brows rose. “I can see her now in a snazzy little black and white server’s outfit carrying a tray of hors d’oeuvres. Let’s be sure to get a photo before she leaves for the assignment. We can frame it and hang it in the reception lobby. Put a little slogan under it. You know, something along the lines of We Go All Out to Serve Our Clients.”
    Amaryllis drew herself up very straight in her chair. “For your information, I won’t be serving canapés or champagne on Thursday night.”
    “No?” Clementine eyed her with grave interest. “Is Trent going to get you into the reception as a journalist or as a member of the