Page 42 of It takes a Psychic

“I know, but a Vortex machine may have been what was used to irradiate our birth mothers,” Leona said. “Now do you understand why I have to follow up on the Lost Creek lead? I’m well aware that Rancourt is using me, but I’m using him. We both want answers. We need to work together, at least in the immediate future.”

There was another poignant silence on the other end of the connection.

Eugenie sighed. “Well, at least we’re pretty sure Rancourt is not a serial killer.”

“There’s that,” Charlotte agreed.

“Right,” Leona said. “Look on the positive side.Opportunity is a flower that blossoms in the shadows.”

“What in green hell does that mean?” Charlotte asked.

“I have no idea,” Leona said. “I’m only halfway through chapter six. I had to go back and reread chapter four. Goodbye. Love you both.”

“Love you,” Charlotte said.

“Love you,” Eugenie said. “Be careful.”

“I will.”

Leona ended the call before Charlotte and Eugenie could come up with any more arguments, and headed for the door of the bedroom with her suitcase and the messenger bag.

She stopped on the threshold and looked back at the copy ofAchieving Inner Resonance: A Guide to Finding Your Focus and Channeling Your True Potential. Charlotte was right—her life was a train wreck. She needed to regain her focus.

She went to the bedside table, picked up the book, and dropped it inside the messenger bag.

Outside in the hall, she rezzed the lock and went downstairs. When she opened the lobby door and stepped out onto the narrow sidewalk, Oliver unfolded his arms, straightened, and came forward to take the suitcase. He held out a hand for the messenger bag. She tightened her grip on it.

“I’ll hang on to this,” she said.

He raised his brows. “The pyramid is still inside, I presume?”

“Yep.”

He gave her a quick once-over, frowning a little, and then turned away to open the trunk.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

She thought about the mystery of his annulment, his obsession with the machine he called Vortex, his connection to a museum she had never heard of, and the fact that he had been able to steal an extremely valuable artifact from an organization that hired armed goons for security. Then she recalled Eugenie’s warning about illusion talents:They make very good criminals because you never see them coming.

Yes, her agenda was aligned with Oliver’s—for now. But that could change at any moment. If he decided she was no longer useful…

Okay, he probably wasn’t a serial killer, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.

Think positive.

“Everything’s great,” she said. “I spent some time on the phone talking to my moms. The good news is that you evidently passed the serial killer test. They’re pretty sure you’re not one.”

“Good to know. A man likes to make a good impression on the parents.” He opened the trunk. “What else are they worried about?”

She scooped up Roxy and slipped into the front seat. “They’re afraid you are using me for unknown and possibly nefarious reasons.”

“I see.” He stashed the suitcase in the trunk, closed the lid, and walked back to the passenger door. He looked down at her through theopen window, sunlight glinting on his dark glasses. “Were you able to reassure them?”

“Of course. I told them I was using you and that we had an understanding.”

“So what we have here is a use-use relationship?”

She thought of the advice in chapter one ofAchieving Inner Resonance:Negative words generate negative outcomes. Build a positive vocabulary if you want to ensure a positive outcome.

---