Double Blind Read Free

the safety of Scott and Lewis. I’d read up everything I could find on the Internet about Simon Scott. Married, no children, popular, he’d become leader of the Opposition party the previous year, when his predecessor retired due to illness. Scott had been a doctor, then a Member of Parliament. Two years ago, he’d been appointed Shadow Under-Secretary of State for Health, and he served on a clutch of Committees on global health, women’s health and veterans’ health. From what I’d read, his party was ahead in the polls. But his distinct aura meant he was going to die, probably before the election.
    Anita waved a hand in front of my face. “Hellooo? Where did you go?”
    “I’m sorry. So, what will happen, do you think, with Dr. Reid?”
    “Nothing, with any luck. I’m hoping he’s just tired and will bounce back soon. I’ll keep an eye open but I don’t feel as though there’s anything concrete I can do.”
    That’s how I felt too. Useless, as I always did when I saw an aura in a situation where I had no chance of intervening. Once, I’d approached a young woman to strike up a conversation in an attempt to identify whatever it was that threatened her. She had been friendly at first and then quickly retreated, understandably wary of a complete stranger asking her personal questions on a station platform. I often wondered what had happened to her.
    I looked around the room at the volunteers, who were all intent on their tasks. They were here because they believed in Scott and his political party. My motives were very different. I wanted to spend time with Anita. And I needed to find out more about Scott.
    “I suppose Simon Scott never comes over here, does he?” I asked. “To meet the worker bees?”
    Anita shook her head. “He’s never been here as far as I know. I was hoping I’d meet him at the hospital some time. He’s really into health issues, and he did his residency in Pediatric surgery.” She raised her eyebrows. “Why do you want to meet him? Don’t tell me you’ve suddenly got all excited about politics?”
    “Well, maybe a little.”
    “Good. Then you should plan on coming here for the next couple of weeks. We’ll have a lot to do with the run-up to the election. And you never know, maybe we’ll get to speak to him if we go to some of the campaign rallies.”
    She sipped her tea. “I’m feeling quite proud of myself. I’ve made a convert. You’re now a fully-functioning citizen, exercising your right to participate fully in the electoral process.”
    She was smiling so I knew she was teasing me. Still, I wanted to tell her the truth, that I didn’t really care about politics at all, but that I did feel an obligation to try to stop something bad from happening before the election. Now was the right time to tell Anita about the auras. She was committed to ensuring the successful appointment of Scott as Prime Minister. If I didn’t tell her now, when an aura was over someone she cared about, when would I? Besides, it felt wrong to me that I hadn’t shared this intimate detail of my life with her. Keeping something so important from her skewed our friendship, threw it off balance.
    “Anita, there’s something—”
    “Anita?” A middle-aged woman in a grey pantsuit interrupted me. “Sorry, love, but can you give us a hand with the script for the weekend phone bank?”
    Draining the last of her tea, Anita stood up. “Come on, Kate. We’re needed.”

CHAPTER THREE
    Once we’d finished the script, Anita said she needed to go back to the hospital. Her working hours were not only long, but also erratic. We walked to the tube station together, but the moment to tell her about the auras had gone. She was quiet and distracted. I couldn’t tell whether she was more upset about the fight with her father or her boss’s unusual behavior.
    “Let’s have lunch tomorrow,” I suggested.
    She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m going to be crammed with work for the next couple of