A movie in the head

Yesterday, Rome's eyes were opened (figuratively) regarding the difference between asking a direct question and simply getting her subject to think about something when trying to get to the truth. Asking a question allows the person to formulate an answer and respond with a lie. Simply getting a person to ponder something doesn't have the same effect yet Rome can "hear" the person's thoughts surreptitiously. This is a quantum leap forward as Rome becomes a human lie detector:

     Rei pulled his hands out from Rome’s and touched his temple. MINIMCOM’s livetar appeared with Bonnie standing right next to him.
     Bonnie looked around to get her bearings. “What’s the plan?” she asked. “Did it work?”
     “Here,” Rei said, pulling out a chair. “Sit down for a moment.”
     “Sure,” Bonnie said.
     “Do you want a cup of coffee?” Rei asked.
     “I’d love one,” Bonnie said. Rei got up and left the table. He returned a moment later with another cup. After Bonnie prepared her coffee and took a sip, she set the cup down.
     Rome reached forward and held her hands out, palms up. “Will you put your hands in mine?” she asked. “I have found this works best if I am in physical contact with my subject.”
     “Sure,” Bonnie said and she did so.
     Rome looked at her face and said one word, “Edgar.” Bonnie frowned but said nothing. However, what had transpired was vividly clear to Rome, like a movie of the mind. The depth of Edgar’s depravity shocked Rome. It took a moment for her to recover.
     “The first time you went to see him in prison, he raped you,” Rome said sympathetically. “Even after all you had been through. I’m so sorry,” she said.
     “How did you know?” Bonnie said, pulling back. “I never told anyone.”
     “I am practicing my new skills,” Rome answered matter-of-factly. Then, with more sympathy in her voice, she said, “that is why you never went back to see him again.”
     Bonnie sighed. “He was a pig. I hope he rots in that cell.”
     Rome nodded. The images she saw in Bonnie’s mind matched her words exactly.
     Rome squeezed her hands in support. “Now, another name,” Rome said. “Sussen.”
     Immediately, the image of the Vuduri woman with the mismatched eyes became clear. Bonnie thought back to the day Sussen supposedly came to ‘inspect’ the Onsira ranch. Rome felt Bonnie’s overwhelming sadness upon discovering the children were gone the next day. Bonnie knew in her heart that Sussen was responsible for stealing them away. She just could never prove it. Gemen was gone that day. There was no evidence that Sussen was ever there. Virga and the rest of the Vuduri gave Bonnie the benefit of the doubt but nothing was ever done.

Rome is making rapid strides towards getting the information she wants from her subject without them realizing it. These social skills are just as important as the physical skills. You can hand someone a basketball and they might be reasonably good at shooting hoops but there is no doubt they would improve with practice. This is true about all endeavors, including writing!