"And you never will, Gyp," he said. "You've given me the greatest breaks a guy ever got. This time I'm returning the favor."
"By executing a telepath?" I demanded. "And a woman, at that!"
He didn't ask me how I knew, but I could see it annoyed him.
"The biggest break you ever got," he insisted. "This thing is so hot it will burn you to death. Another crypto-telepath, right here in the District. I want to make summary disposition of her, and I don't want you to so much as look at the papers. Just give me instructions to use my own discretion."
Talk about a blank check. "Fred," I said, searching for words that wouldn't offend him. "I have more confidence in you than in any man I've ever worked with. But execution! Sure, three years ago, when the President declared the psychic emergency, we were killing the most fatally dangerous ones. But that's a couple years behind us. I just can't go that far without more reason than you've given me."
"It's perfectly legal," Fred said sullenly and beside the point. "Congress has given you summary—"
"Of course," I cut in. "What F.B.I. man would suggest an illegal course of action? But why should I delegate? If this is so touchy, I should handle it myself. Why delegate?"
"Simply because, I ask it," he said. "And because you trust me. Listen, Gyp," he added, almost passionately. "Don't ask me any more questions. I've said too much already. If you know why, it wouldn't be right for you to delegate. Do as I ask. Trust me. I'm saving you a world of trouble."
"Boy, oh boy!" I said. "This doesn't sound like the way to stay out of trouble. What is so dangerous about this telepath?"
"Nothing doing," Fred said. "I know I'm asking for a blank check. There's no other way for me to help you play it."