Page 72 of It takes a Psychic

Allies. The word came as a shock. It shouldn’t have, Leona thought. She wanted to tell him that they were not just allies, they were lovers. But now she had to reckon with the possibility that last night might have been a convenient interlude for him. This morning when she had awakened, she had hoped for more.

This was what came of breaking rule number two:No sleepovers.

She squared her shoulders. “Right. Allies.”

Oliver shot her a quick, questioning look, as if he wasn’t sure what to make of her cool, firm confirmation of the nature of their relationship. Then he turned his attention back to the road.

“Whoever is running this show must be here in Lost Creek by now,” he said. “Things will start moving quickly.”

“What makes you think that?”

“All of the elements of this very complicated project have been assembled in one place, and access to the outside world has been cut off. Our juggler knows they can’t keep all the plates spinning indefinitely. It’s time to bring the show to a close.”

Leona considered for a moment. “I get that a bunch of delusional cultists are convinced that I’ve got the key to the enhancement machine where Vance has been hanging out all these years. But why lure you here?”

“I’ve been wondering that myself. Maybe I’ll get an answer tonight.”

“When you take a look at the local broadcasting studio?”

“Right.”

“Roxy and I are coming with you.”

“I’ve been thinking about that and I’ve decided—”

“You need me. I’m good with locks, remember?”

“I am, too. But I was about to say that I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone at the inn, so you and Roxy are coming with me. I’m in charge tonight. Understood?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you may have control issues?”

“Often.”

“What a coincidence. I get that a lot myself. It’s annoying, isn’t it?”

Chapter Thirty-Two

The community of Lost Creekshut down early but Oliver waited until midnight before leading Leona and Roxy out into the fog. They used the fire escape stairs at the rear of the inn. Roxy rode on his shoulder. Evidently she preferred the view from the higher vantage point.

There were no streetlamps, but the glow of the drifting mist was sufficient to illuminate the narrow sidewalks of the main street.

He did not like bringing Leona along for the foray to the broadcasting studio, but he had told her the truth earlier today—leaving her alone at the inn would have made him even more uneasy. It was clear now that she was at the center of this thing.

“It’s a fine night for ghosts,” Leona said softly. “The real kind.”

He glanced at her. She was bundled up in an anorak, the messenger bag with the pyramid stone inside slung across her body. He could feel her tension but he was also acutely aware of her determination. He pictured her as a little girl, bravely defying the orphanage director to call aprivate investigation agency when her sister went missing. Then he remembered the wild escape through the tunnels the night of the Antiquarian Society reception. He would never forget the bloody evening gown exploding in flames. He wasn’t going to forget the sight of her in her underwear and his evening jacket, either. And he would remember last night for the rest of his life.

They had spent so little time together and yet they had been through so much. He felt more intimately acquainted with her after knowing her for two days than he had with lovers he had known far longer. Closer than he had felt to Anna, even though they had been matched by an agency.

He yanked his thoughts away from that colossal mistake. He had only himself to blame for the fiasco of the non-marriage. Yes, Anna had been certain she was comfortable with his talent, but she’d had no real understanding of what he could do with it—neither had he, although he’d had his suspicions—not until the night when they had both discovered that he was one of the monsters.

“No such thing as ghosts, remember?” he said.

“I know, but I’m getting that vibe you get when someone is watching you.”

“So am I.”

She glanced at him. “Are we going to do anything about it?”

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