The Karma Beat

by Juli Alexander

  He went over to the dining room wall and removed a picture. “This is my dad.”

  In the photo, Leo stood next to a slightly shorter man who didn’t look anywhere near old enough to be his father. Like Leo, the man was tough-looking, dark haired, and lean. At odds with their intimidating physique, both were standing on the front porch of the cottage smiling at the person with the camera. Probably Katie.

  “You aren’t falling in love with him, are you?” he asked. “The genie mojo doesn’t usually work through pictures, but…”

  I playfully smacked at his arm. “No, I’m not falling for your father. That’s ridiculous.”

  “I should have known. After all,” he said, lowering his voice, “you certainly seem to be immune to me.”

  I met his gaze and gulped as I realized how close he was.

  The glow in his eyes flashed brighter and I licked my lips.

  “Just how immune are you, Jen,” Leo whispered huskily. He put one hand on my hip and the other behind my head and pulled me gently to him.

  I hugged the framed picture to my chest and wrapped my other arm around his waist.

  Fire rushed through me as his lips touched mine.

  The heat intensified as he gently nudged my lips open. His velvet tongue caressed mine sending fever racing through my veins.

  Until a screeching sound shocked me back from the passion.

  Beep. Beep. The shrill sound hurt my ears.

  Leo cursed and grabbed a notebook to wave under the detector. I set down the picture before I could drop it.

  Had the heat been real?

  Leo finally got the detector to quiet. He set down the notebook. “I guess when two genies kiss, weird things happen.”

  I touched my lips as I looked up at the detector. “Do you think we really could start a fire?”

  “Probably not,” he said. “But I’m up for trying if you are.”

  I was about to say, “Maybe one more time,” when my cell rang.

  My mother’s ring.

  Chapter Twelve

  “It’s my mother calling,” I said. “Don’t say a word.”

  He nodded, but the mischief in his eyes made me worry.

  “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”

  “Hi, Jen. Ian said you’re still out. Would you mind to run by the store and get a gallon of milk? Tell Alex I appreciate her stopping.”

  Oh, right. Mom assumed I was with Alex. Because I always was with Alex.

  “Uh, sure. I’m on my way.”

  “Thanks, hon.”

  I pushed end and turned to Leo. “Is there a way to get a gallon of milk home on your motorcycle?”

  His shoulders slumped as he exhaled. “Yeah.”

  “Sorry.”

  He stepped over and kissed me on the cheek. “No problem.”

  After locking up and climbing back on the bike, we headed north. We stopped at a convenient store, and I hopped off. “Want anything?” I asked. “A soft drink?”

  He shook his head. “Can’t drink and drive.”

  “Oh.” I could never ride a motorcycle regularly. I needed a cup holder and some ice cold liquid refreshment. Who knew my love for soft drinks so limited my lifestyle choices?

  I went in and grabbed the milk. I was almost to the counter when I saw the girly mags in their brown paper wrappers. Perfect. Just what Sean needed to shut Ian up.

  I grabbed two of the familiar names, hoping they were on the milder side. Then I went up to the register where an overweight woman in her twenties rang me up.

  “You know you don’t have to buy these, right?”

  Huh. What are those things free?

  I just blinked at her.

  “If you want to Photoshop your face onto one of these bodies, you can get photos online just as easily.” She smiled. “I do it all the time.”

  The images running through my head almost made me hurl.

  “Um,” I finally managed to say. “Thanks, I’ll try that. But I’ll take these too.”

  She shrugged and finished ringing me up.

  I handed her the money, grabbed the mags and the milk, and rushed out the door.

  “You have the weirdest look on your face,” Leo said as I ran up to him.

  “Don’t ask.” I lifted the milk. “How do we work this?”

  “We’ll put it between us. What else did you buy?”

  “Nothing,” I said like an idiot and hid the magazines behind my back.

  Leo just looked at me.

  “Okay, fine,” I said, showing him. “Ian’s been really hard on Sean, so I got Sean some evidence to support his, um, allegations that he has started puberty.”

  “Wow,” Leo said with wide eyes. “You’re a cool sister.”

  Fighting a blush, I said, “Don’t tell Ian.”

  Leo gave me an affronted look. “I would never.”

  “So how do we manage all this?”

  “Tuck the magazines in the back waistband of your jeans. Then climb on and wedge the milk between us.”

  The ride home wasn’t nearly as fun, with the cold milk chilling my nether regions.

  Leo pulled up to the curb one street over so I could cut through the back yard to my house.

  “Thanks, Leo. And thanks for showing me your house and your father.”

  “See you in the morning.”

  “You’ll be at school?”

  He grinned. “Definitely.”

  My heart thumped thinking about our kisses. I walked through the yard and around the front with the milk.

  Everyone was already in the kitchen, so I was able to rush upstairs and stash the mags under Sean’s mattress before making my milk delivery.

  “There you are,” Mom said as I came into the kitchen. “Thanks, hon.”

  “No problem,” I said, smiling a little at the lengths we’d gone to carry it home.

  “I’m afraid you’re back on duty again tomorrow, Jen,” Mom said putting the milk in the fridge. “We’ve had a lot of Code Ones this week.”

  Code Ones were deathbed wishes. Not only were they sad, because you knew the person wouldn’t get to enjoy the wishes, but they were also dangerous. People were way less selfish and more charitable on their deathbeds. Which meant more forbidden wishes. “How many genies are down?”

  “Ten,” Mom said. “Ten Karmic colds.”

  I shuddered. I hated catching those things.

  “Maybe you’ll get lucky,” Mom said.

  Ian chuckled like a moron.

  “Ian,” Dad hissed.

  Sean made a face at our brother.

  After dinner, Mom sent Ian out for cereal. Apparently my brothers had finished it off without milk. Not the first time.

  “I’ve got homework,” I said.

  “I finished mine,” Sean said. “So I guess it’s TV time for me.” He started to dash out of the kitchen.

  “Not quite,” Mom said reaching out and snagging him by his shirt tail. “It’s been three days since I’ve seen a book report.”

  “Awww, Mom.”

  “Upstairs,” Mom said. “You can have a day off after I see the next report.”

  Sean trailed me up the stairs and his glare cut into my back.

  I just smiled at him and motioned for him to go ahead of me.

  “What?” he said with irritation.

  “You’ll see,” I said. “Go look in your room.”

  Sean’s face turned uncertain. “What is it? Did you bring me contraband chocolate?”

  “Not this time.”

  He frowned.

  “Trust me. It’s better.”

  With one last disbelieving look, he marched into his room. Turning to me, he said, “There’s nothing in here.”

  “Look under your mattress.”

  He looked at me like I was nuts, but he was too curious to refuse. He lifted the mattress and pulled out the two magazines.

  “What the—” Sean blushed beet red.

  “Ammunition for your next fight with Ian.”

  Sean stared d
own at the magazines. “Thanks, Jen!”

  “Remember to let him find out, but pretend you’re hiding them from him. Don’t brag or anything. It will be more realistic.”

  “You didn’t look at them, did you?”

  “Barf, no.”

  Sean gazed up at me. “For a sister, you’re not so bad.”

  I grinned. “Right back at ya’. Well, compared to Ian at least.”

  When I got to my room and set up at my desk, I realized there was no way I could concentrate on my homework. Not a prayer.

  All I could think about was kissing Leo. His lips on mine. And riding on the bike pressed up against him with my arms on his chest.

  His warm, muscular chest.

  His soft, full lips.

  Ooh, baby.

  I finally closed the book I was trying to read for English class. I was falling further and further behind in school, and I hadn’t even touched the drums today.

  I grabbed a shower and crawled into bed.

  After playing through the kiss and smoke alarm hundreds of times in my mind, I realized I was never going to get any sleep.

  The clock read 2:00. I’d see Leo in less than six hours. I rolled back over and imagined the feel of his back against me. Motorcycles rocked.

  When my alarm went off, I jumped out of bed so fast the room was spinning a little.

  I hadn’t had much sleep, but I didn’t care. I’d see Leo at school.

  Maybe we could get some time alone.

  To what?

  Set off the sprinklers?

  I shook my head. The first guy I really like and he’s forbidden. And possibly truly dangerous. Not just the banishment either. What if we spontaneously combusted while making out?

  With a grin, I grabbed my school clothes.

  What a way to go.

  I jingled the keys in my hand. “Move it, Sean. I’ve got to get to school.”

  Ian slowly raised the spoonful of cereal to his mouth, pausing to torture me before finally sticking it in his mouth.

  God, I hated him.

  “What’s the matter with you, Jen?” Ian asked as I roared into the school parking lot. “It’s just school, you freak.”

  I wrinkled my nose and ignored him.

  As I pulled into a space, I unbuckled my seatbelt. I’d had enough delays this morning.

  I was just grabbing my backpack when my phone started buzzing.

  Oh crap!

  Ian smiled maliciously and slammed his door. “So much for your hurry, Sis.”

  I stuck out my tongue.

  Then I climbed back into the car. Stupid genie visit. I picked up the cell and pushed the button. Maybe it wouldn’t take long.

  When I opened my eyes to see the John Lennon poster on the wall, my stomach plunged. The orange shag carpet under my feet made me wince.

  The elderly woman in the recliner sported two long gray braids and, I kid you not, a tie-dyed nightgown. The décor in the room consisted almost exclusively of peace symbols and candles. A framed needlepoint read “Give peace a chance.”

  I was doomed.

  One cat hissed at me from her lap while the other studied me from the couch.

  Maybe she’s just a total poseur.

  A framed photo of a younger version of her carrying a “No Nukes” sign at a rally caught my eye. Yeah, I didn’t think so.

  “Lily,” I said in a soft voice, suspecting she’d hate me calling her Mrs. Barrett. “Can you wake up?”

  She opened her eyes.

  Deathbed wishes were often the hardest to get. Making sure the person was lucid could be a real problem.

  “Down with Social Security,” I said in a firm voice. “No medical benefits for the poor.”

  Lily’s head snapped as if I’d slapped her. “Bite your tongue, child,” she said.

  “Three wishes, Lily. What will they be?”

  She smiled a toothless smile. “World peace.”

  I sneezed immediately.

  “An end to world hunger.”

  A headache split through my temple.

  “And somebody to take care of my cats.”

  I nodded. “Your cats will be fine.” At least she hadn’t wasted all of her wishes. The U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E. would hire someone to pamper them. They’d dine on silver platters of fresh fish.

  “Thank you, Lily,” I said, before I sneezed once more.

  I grabbed the Karmic cold supply kit from the pantry. The first two days were usually pretty awful, but with two forbidden wishes, who knew how long I’d feel like crap.

  After snatching a bottle of OJ from the fridge and a box of Kleenexes from the kitchen counter, I headed upstairs.

  My cell rang as I hit my bedroom.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “I’m so sorry honey. You really got hit hard. I’ll call the school. You go on to bed.”

  “Already there,” I said as I plopped down on my comforter.

  “I hope you don’t miss the whole week,” Mom said.

  “I better not,” I said. I was dying to see Leo.

  A hacking cough gripped me and I almost coughed up a lung. I was dying all right.

  “Call me if you can’t sleep,” Mom said. “Maybe I should come home.”

  “No, Mom.” She’d just wake me every five minutes to see if I was okay. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Rub some mentholatum on your chest,” she said.

  “Okay. Bye.”

  “Bye, hon.”

  I clicked end and tossed the phone onto the floor. The OJ and Kleenexes fit nicely on my bedside table. I swallowed two Tylenol and opened the tub of mentholatum.

  I blew my nose. Gross.

  So much for seeing Leo today.

  I couldn’t exactly kiss him again with my nose full of nastiness.

  Poor me. My bones ached as I waited for sleep to come.

  After a few hours of restless sleep, I stumbled to the bathroom. I blew my nose for about five minutes. Then I grabbed the Leo cell, just in case, and gulped some Nyquil and crawled back into bed. I jammed the cell under my pillow and went back to sleep.

  Next thing I knew, Alex and Bree were standing in my room.

  “You look horrible,” Alex said.

  “Thanks.”

  “We let ourselves in,” Alex said. “Hope you don’t mind.”

  Bree, wearing one of her vintage lace dresses, held up a stack of books. “We brought your homework. For today and tomorrow.”

  “Your mother called the school.”

  “Big surprise,” I said. She always did.

  “Since she does it every time you’re sick, I called to tell her we’d pick them up.” Alex smiled. “We knew you wouldn’t want Ian in your locker.”

  “Thanks, guys.” I didn’t want Ian anywhere near my stuff.

  “You look like hell,” Bree said. “Maybe you should see a doctor.”

  With the mention of a doctor, the memory of Bree’s latest misadventure flashed into my mind. Oh no. I had to keep a straight face. My eyes met Alex’s, and I almost lost it.

  “I’m sure her mother will take care of getting her to a doctor,” Alex said in an obvious attempt to cut me off. “Well, we should go and let you sleep.”

  She turned to Bree. “Just dump the books on her desk. She probably won’t look at them until tomorrow anyway.”

  My coughing fit kept me from agreeing.

  Bree set the books down. “Hope you feel better, Jen.”

  “Call when you’re better,” Alex said. Then she gave me a private glare.

  I giggled softly which triggered more coughing. Poor Bree. I’d take a cold anytime over a mistaken STD diagnosis.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mom’s hand on my forehead woke me sometime later. “I think you’ve got a fever.”

  “Mmm,” I moaned.

  “I’ll be right back with the thermometer, Sweetie.”

  I heard her leave the room and then the strange sound of someone else coming in.

  “Jen,” Sean said tentatively. “Are
you awake?”

  Sean?

  I rolled over to see my brother. He usually yelled something about germs and ran the other way when I was sick.

  “Mom said you were sick, so, um, I got you an icee.” He held out the cup.

  “I love you, Sean,” I said as I reached for the cool drink that would ease my sore throat.

  “Hold it!” Mom yelled coming back in. “I have to take your temperature first.”

  “Just one sip,” I begged.

  “Not yet.” She took the icee from me and set it down. “Thanks, Sean. I know Jen appreciates your newfound feelings of filial compassion.”

  “Huh?” Sean said.

  “Out,” Mom ordered.

  “Uh, he’s probably just glad my immunity to illness helps everybody in the house.” He should be. Genies didn’t get sick except from Karmic colds, and we kept our families from getting sick very often too.

  She ignored my explanation and handed me the electronic thermometer. I stuck it under my tongue.

  When it beeped, Mom snatched it and read, “103.”

  Wow. That was high.

  “You are really sick, Jen.” She handed me the icee and some Tylenol. “Drink up. I’ll be back in an hour with some soup.”

  Mom shut the door and I heard the muffled ring of a cell phone.

  Leo.

  I reached under the pillow.

  “Hey,” I said struggling to sound healthy and normal.

  “Jen. You okay?”

  “Fine. Just a little Karmic cold.” I got that out pretty well.

  “You sound horrible.”

  Maybe not. “I feel like crap,” I admitted.

  “I missed you at school today.”

  I couldn’t help smiling. “Sorry.”

  “Will you make it tomorrow?”

  I tried to lift my head and it pounded in anger. “I don’t think so. What’s going on? Did you find out anything?”

  He sighed. “We keep coming up with dead ends. I did check into Richard Williams, but from what I can tell, he works for the cell phone company and not the U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E.”

  Uggh. “Nothing ties him to the U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E.?” I didn’t think my mother would get that intense about a cell phone employee, and I thought I remembered that my mother’s coworker, Bob, was not on the cell phone side.