The Mind Readers, Book 1

by Lori Brighton

  Chapter 5

  “Keep calm,” Lewis whispered near my ear, his warm breath offering little comfort.

  Keep calm? How could I keep calm? My entire body was trembling and I knew I’d lost any color from my face. I felt cold, sick. The entire room faded, my world becoming a tiny fraction of what it had been…merely Lewis’ warm body next to mine, keeping me grounded in reality. Anne looked worriedly at me and then George…George lurking there in the background like some nightmare ready to pounce.

  “Cam? You okay?” Anne’s voice sounded hollow.

  Oh God, Anne. Anne was dating a murderer.

  Reality rushed back on a roar of protest that only I could hear. My stomach roiled. Lewis’ hand rested on my lower back, as if he knew I was close to losing it. The room began to waver and I leaned back against his solid body, needing his support.

  “We’ll follow you,” I was vaguely aware of Lewis’ voice, but could only seem to focus on keeping my knees locked.

  “Oh, okay.” Anne looked worried, but thinking I was in Lewis’ capable hands, she made her way toward the door with George. I was relieved, until rationality invaded. Oh God, George.

  “No,” I muttered, pushing Lewis away and going after them. I had to save Anne.

  “Cam, stop.” Lewis grabbed my hand and jerked me into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close, so close that to anyone else it would look like we were hugging. And in another time, another moment, I might have enjoyed his arms around me. But, he was trying to keep me from saving Annabeth.

  “Let me go!” I seethed, my hands fisting against his chest. “I have to stop her, you don’t understand!”

  “I do,” he snapped, the hardness in his voice giving me pause. “Let her go, for now.”

  Warm tears slid from my eyes, tears of fear and frustration. “He’ll kill her!”

  “Shhh.” He took my hand and pulled me toward the front door where Anne and George had disappeared. A few people were watching us curiously, noticing our odd behavior. They were wondering how I’d managed to steal the hot new guy away from Emily. Stupid, insignificant thoughts.

  “He won’t kill her. Not now. He’s using her.” Lewis pushed the front door wide and pulled me into the cool night air. The music and noise faded and the rustle of autumn leaves was the only sound as the night insects were long dead. He led me toward a small silver car and because I was numb, I let him.

  “He’s using her as his alibi. He wants to charm her, pretend he’s a normal, law abiding citizen.” He opened the passenger door for me.

  But I didn’t get in. Instead I spun around to face him. “And how would you know?”

  “Get in,” he demanded.

  I slammed my fists against his chest. He didn’t even flinch. “No! Not until you tell me the truth.”

  He merely stared at me with those knowing eyes. “Get in.” He wasn’t intimidated by Emily’s social power, he wasn’t intimidated by George. He sure as heck wasn’t intimidated by me. What did scare him?

  I realized I wasn’t going to win, and I didn’t have time to argue. With a frustrated groan, I pushed him away and sank onto the passenger seat. He moved around the front of the car, pulling open the driver’s door. I tapped my foot impatiently, studying the road ahead for those taillights.

  “Lewis! Cam!” Emily called out, waving to us from the front stoop.

  He didn’t even pause, merely settled behind the wheel and started the car. We took off, driving out of Emily’s subdivision. Emily would make my life miserable for ignoring her and taking off with the very guy she’d laid claim to. Our relationship would be completely over, but I didn’t care.

  I curled my hands, my fingernails digging into my sensitive palms. “Can’t you go faster?”

  He slid me an annoyed glance. “I told you, she’s fine.”

  “For now.”

  He didn’t respond and the atmosphere remained tense as I struggled to keep from cursing.

  We left the subdivision, the large mini mansions giving way to a stretch of coastal road. “Have you thought about what you’ll say to her when you get there?”

  I gazed out onto that inky ocean. Not even the moonlight highlighted the waves tonight. Unforgiving waves, how many lives had they taken? “Yeah, how about your boyfriend’s a murderer.”

  He nodded slowly. “That might work, but how will you explain the fact that you know?”

  He turned a corner and I slipped further down into my seat. Slumped over, I felt defeated, unsure. He was right. Anne wasn’t three. I couldn’t just tell her to stop dating George, and she’d trust me without argument. Besides, George would just move onto another victim. Could I let him go knowing what he’d do? I’d let people get away with crimes before.

  How many people? How many times? I pressed my hands to my stomach and groaned, the guilt overwhelming and unbearable. I’d never dwelled on my shame, pushing it to the far corners of my mind. But I’d also never heard the thoughts of a serial killer. I felt dirty, gross, my skin tight and itchy, as if my body didn’t belong to me.

  “You don’t have to feel this way.” Lewis pulled into the parking lot. Lakeside was empty but for a few cars. The yellow police tape and Savannah’s body were gone; no indication that she’d ever been there.

  How could George do it? What kind of sick monster was he? I could see Anne through the window, laughing at something George had said. I felt sick. It didn’t even bother him that he was sitting only feet from where his victim had washed ashore. To him it was a game he played.

  How could I go in there and pretend like nothing was wrong? How could I make Annabeth understand without telling her the truth about what I could do?

  “I have to say something,” I insisted.

  Lewis nodded. “I understand. But she won’t believe you. They never do.”

  Was he right? I was silent, letting the intimacy of the moment comfort me. Even though he was a complete mystery, here with Lewis, I felt safe. “Tell me you understand,” I whispered, afraid, even though we were alone, that someone would overhear me. I was about to admit something that I’d never admitted…something completely taboo.

  He looked at me, his eyes shining softly under the glow of the parking lot light. “It’s okay to talk about it, Cameron. As long as you talk to the right people.”

  “And how do I know who the right people are?” How do I know if you’re the right person?

  He leaned closer and cupped the side of my face with a warm, comforting hand. “I know you’re scared. I know you’re tired but you can trust me.”

  “How can I? I don’t even know you.”

  “I know you, Cam. You don’t have to be alone anymore.”

  His words were so tempting. I wanted to believe him, but he still hadn’t said what I needed to hear. “Tell me the truth. Tell me exactly what I want to hear.” Tell me you can read my thoughts. Tell me you understand. Tell me…tell me you’re not going to leave me here to deal with this alone.

  But he didn’t respond. “Come on,” he said, pulling back. “I know you want to tell her, so let’s get it over with.”

  He pushed open his door and stepped outside, my thoughts left unanswered. If he could read my mind, why hadn’t he responded?

  Confused, I pushed open the car door and followed him. Lewis was already on the porch waiting for me. I paused next to him and looked through the window once more. Anne was leaning over the table, kissing George.

  I looked away, bile rising in my throat. “How am I going to do this?”

  Lewis opened the door, the hinges screeching.

  I stepped inside the warm diner, but still felt chilled. I didn’t pause, I couldn’t or I’d let nerves overtake me. But as I started to move forward, Lewis latched onto my arm, stopping me in midstep. Confused I glanced back. He pulled me close, my back hitting his chest.

  “Lewis, what—”

  He leaned down, his lips on the shell of my ear. A shiver raised the
fine hairs on my body.

  “I understand, Cameron. I understand,” he whispered. “And I’m not going anywhere.”