Peril for Your Thoughts (Mind Reader Mystery) (14 page)

“Sure thing.” I smiled stiffly, feeling my ears burn as my face flushed fire red.

He stepped inside and shoved his hands in his pockets, looking a little nervous. Was he reliving our kiss from yesterday afternoon as well? I’d made the excuse I felt sick last night, took off early from the party, and hadn’t spoken to him since.

“I hope you’re feeling better today. You took off so early this morning, I didn’t have a chance to check on you. I had some time on my lunch break, so, well, here I am.”

“To answer your question, Detective,” Jaz looked right at me as she finished with, “I’m working on a new recipe for a cure. A homeopathic cure. It involves oysters, among other things.”

His brow puckered, and he scratched his head. “For what?”

“Oh, just a little something that’s ailing Kalli these days. She has a fever.”

I gasped, and my eyes shot to Jaz. She wouldn’t dare, would she?

“I thought she looked a little flushed,” Nik said, his gaze running over me with worry. “I hope it’s not anything serious.”

“I’m fine,” I quickly interjected, feeling my cheeks grow even warmer, which wasn’t helping my case one bit. “Jaz is just—”

“Concerned,” she cut me off. “But it’s nothing a little TLC—you know, tender lovin’ care—won’t cure.”

I covered my eyes and groaned.

“You sound like my ma,” he said to Jaz, and I could hear the humor in his voice. I opened my eyes to see his lips twist into a lopsided grin, and he suddenly looked much more relaxed as he studied me with blazing curiosity and definite interest in his eyes. Good Lord, was he catching on to what she was talking about? If so, then I truly was in danger of dying of mortification.

“So does this ailment have a name?” he asked as his eyes settled on me.

I fanned my cheeks. “It’s not an ailment, really, it’s—”

“A little known thing called
spring fever
,” Jaz finished with relish, then added, “No worries, Detective. I know just what to do.”

Kill … me … now!

The rest of Monday passed with Nik checking in with me constantly. He might have been curious after Jaz’s ramblings, but I wasn’t sure if he had clued into what spring fever really meant. We’d had the whole teasing conversation about our mothers and spring fever, but he wasn’t giving anything away. And he didn’t trust Jaz to have the “cure,” so he’d told his mother, who promptly told my mother, who then told half the town, which consisted of most of my family. Thanks to Jaz I’d spent the rest of the day in bed, being fussed over and fed more chicken soup than anyone should ever have to eat. And Ma was over the moon that Detective Dreamy was so concerned about me.

Twenty-four hours was all I could take.

“For the last time, Ma, I said I’m fine. I don’t know what came over me, but I’m sure it won’t happen again. I need to get out of this house. I’m going someplace quiet to work on my book of designs.”

“Come to the restaurant. We’ll find a nice quiet spot for you to work. You gotta eat, right?”

I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me through the phone. “I ate enough for a week yesterday. No offense, but I’m not setting foot near that restaurant or any of the family.”

“Okay okay, but bring a sweater and make sure you keep an eye on your temperature. Your Uncle Phelix had the fever once. Remember what happened to him?”

“Ma, I keep telling you the fever didn’t give Uncle Phelix rabies, the raccoon out back in his shed did. The fever was just a side effect.”

“Fine, don’t listen to your mother, but when you get the rabies, don’t come crawling back to me.”

“No worries there, Ma.”

“What, now you don’t want to be near me? What has the world come to when my only child doesn’t want to be near her mother? Wait until your father hears this one. It’s that Jaz, I tell you. She’s turning you against your own family.”

“There’s my doorbell. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.” I hung up to her yelling for me to look through the peephole and not open the door to strangers.

There wasn’t really anyone at the door; I just couldn’t take any more of that conversation. It was early, and Jaz was still in bed. She was another person I didn’t want to face after what she’d put me through. Besides, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to do anything about my spring fever anymore. I’d given up on the idea of love and romance long ago, but then Nik had come along, and my gift had made everything possible. He was the only one who had ever physically affected me this strongly, and my gift made me stop thinking altogether as his thoughts seduced me. But I wasn’t sure what to do or even how to be intimate, and that embarrassed me greatly.

The only thing I knew for sure that I wanted to do at this point was follow up on Ana and Sully and their motel rendezvous on the outskirts of town, so that’s exactly what I did.

I slipped outside and drove across Clearview’s town line straight into Lakeshore. Lakeshore Heights was a quaint little hotel that sat on the shores of a small lake, tucked into the woods. Most people wouldn’t know about the place, as it pretty much catered to the overflow of outsiders who came to the lake in the summer when the cottages and campgrounds were full.

It was the perfect little getaway for someone who didn’t want the locals to find them.

Someone like Anastasia Stewart. She would never stay at a dive like the Clearview Motel. Lakeshore Heights might be small, but it was picturesque and modern, right up Ana’s alley. She just hadn’t counted on this local finding her note to Sully.

I headed inside and took in the charming rustic interior as I approached the desk. The animal heads on the wall kind of creeped me out, but the wooden accents and scenic paintings throughout the lobby added a warm and cozy feel.

“Good morning, ma’am. Welcome to Lakeshore Heights. Our cabins down at the Oasis don’t open until after Memorial Day, but we have several rooms here at the Heights open during this time of year if you’re interested,” said a pretty young blonde girl.

“Actually, I was looking for a friend of mine. I was supposed to meet her here yesterday for her birthday, but I got held up out of town. I was hoping to catch her this morning.”

“What’s the name, and I’ll see if I can find her for you.”

“Stacy Walsh.”

The girl didn’t even have to look through the registry book. Her face got all flushed, her eyes going dreamy. “I remember her. She came in late last night just before the end of my shift.”

“Wow, she must have really stood out.”

“Not her, but the guy who was with her sure did.”

“You mean she had a man with her?” I asked, feigning surprise. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. I wouldn’t forget a guy like him. Guess she found someone else to celebrate with.”

“Good for her,” I said. “I don’t want to disturb them, but if you don’t mind, I’d like to wait around until they check out.”

“That’s not possible.”

“I promise I won’t loiter or disturb your other guests. I’d really just like to wish her a happy birthday myself.”

“It’s not that. I mean, you can’t wait for them because they’ve already checked out.”

I blinked. “This early?”

She shrugged, and then leaned in close, looking left and right to make sure we were alone. “Can I tell you a secret?”

I met her half way with an encouraging expression on my face as I whispered, “I love secrets.”

“They checked out separately and left alone and … he winked at me on his way out. If you ask me, her birthday wasn’t that happy. Poor thing. He was hot, but I’m thinking he wasn’t that good. What a shame. She looked like she could use a little excitement in her life.”

“No worries. I know exactly what to do to put a whole lot of excitement back into her life. And there’s no time like the present,” I said, heading out the door on a mission.

“Where’s the fire?” Detective Stevens asked as he leaned against his car in the parking lot of Lakeshore Heights.

“Excuse me?” I stopped short, and my cheeks flooded with heat at the mere sight of him.

“I see your fever’s back,” he said, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Yup, that’s right. In fact, that’s why I’m here. I didn’t want to contaminate anyone. But I’m feeling a little better now, so I decided to go home. See ya.” I walked around him and headed to my car.

“Not so fast,” he said, falling into step beside me. “I talked to Jaz, who woke up and had no clue where you were. Then I talked to your mother who thinks you’re working on your book. So I checked out all the possible
quiet
places you might be with no success. Finally, I went back to Jaz. When she told me about the latest you had found out, we put two and two together. I took a chance and came here. Imagine my surprise to see you investigating alone when we had specifically agreed to share information and work together.” He grabbed my arm to stop me until I faced him. “Why are you avoiding me, Kalli?”
Especially after what we shared. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel anything.

“That’s why,” I said on a shaky breath, pulling away from his hand.

“What’s why?” He arched a brow. “I don’t understand.”

Ugh, it was so frustrating not being able to tell him that I could hear his thoughts, but the last thing I needed was for him to think I was even more of a freak. “I know you don’t. I just …”

“Is it because we kissed?” he asked quietly.

I met his gaze. “No. Yes.” My shoulders slumped, and I looked down. “I don’t know.”

“Hey,” he waited until I looked at him, “I’m not sorry for kissing you.”

I took a minute to trace his features with my gaze before admitting, “I’m not either.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” The men I’d dated in the past never did.

“Try me.”

“It’s just hard for me.”

He paused for a minute and then said, “Because of your quirks?”

“Bingo,” I laughed harshly. “Scared yet? Ready to run for the hills?” I folded my arms in front of me.

“Not at all,” he said without hesitation. “It was just a kiss, Kalli. It doesn’t have to be anything more. We both agreed we didn’t want a relationship, but sometimes the most unexpected surprises happen. Let’s just take this one day at a time and see what happens, okay?”

It felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. “Okay.”

Until he added, “As long as we’re honest with each other, it will all work out.”

“Right.” I sighed, knowing total honesty at this point was out of the question, unless I wanted him to think I was crazy. Jaz was counting on me. I didn’t know a lot about the law, but I was pretty sure crazy people weren’t allowed to help out with an ongoing murder investigation.

“In the meantime, we have a case to solve, and you seem to have a head for this,” he said, solidifying my point. “Since you appear to be on to something, how about you fill me in on what you just found out while I drive.” We started walking back to his car, which reminded me of mine.

“But what about my car?”

“I’ll send someone to pick it up and drive it back to your place.”

“Okay. In that case, let’s go find Sully Anderson.”

While Nik drove all over Clearview looking for Sully’s UPS truck, I filled him in on what I had found out so far.

“Wait, back up a step. You climbed into a filthy dumpster yet you have a problem kissing me?” He arched his eyebrows and gave me a disbelieving look.

“Neither snow nor rain nor a stinky dumpster will keep me from seeking justice.” I fluttered my lashes at him.

“Cute,” he smirked, “but you aren’t helping the post office, you’re helping a police officer, and you didn’t answer my question.”

“Speaking of the post office, did you know the U.S. Post Office doesn’t actually have a motto? ‘Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds’ is really just an inscription the architects put on the General Post Office in New York City. Most people think it’s their creed.”

“This isn’t a game of Trivial Pursuit, Kalli, this is real life. And you, my dear, are avoiding giving me a straight answer. Classic evasion. Why is that?”

“A woman can’t tell all her secrets, Detective. Then there would be no mystery, and what would be the fun in that?” I gave him a Mona Lisa smile, trying to act like Jaz, but then my stupid cheeks heated again.” I studied the road as if it were the most fascinating thing I’d ever seen—anything to avoid direct eye contact—as I added, “Besides, I thought we had a case to solve. Don’t you think we should focus on that?”

“You’re a mystery, all right,” he said with a sigh.

“That’s me, a regular enigma,” I muttered, and then I noticed Sully’s truck parked in front of the construction company that Johnny Hogan worked for, Banks Construction. “Look, there’s Sully’s truck.” I pointed.

Nik pulled into the parking lot. “Remember, you’re not a cop, but I am, so let me take the lead. Okay?” I nodded, and we went inside the main office. Sully was chatting away with Ronald Banks, the owner of Banks Construction. Ron was a short, stocky man with a bald head and glasses. He looked much older than a man in his fifties, like all the years spent working in the sun had finally caught up to him, which reminded me to reapply the sunscreen I always carried in my purse and used year round.

They had just finished talking, and Sully headed in our direction. Sully was tanned and toned, with brown curly hair with model good looks. Jaz had just never been into him. He wasn’t big enough for her tastes, but he wasn’t a blonde. Boomer had been the only exception, which I still believe made him special, no matter how many times she denied it.

Sully stopped short when he saw us. “Hey, Detective Stevens.” He nodded at him and Nik nodded back. Then Sully looked at me. “Ms. Ballas. How y’all doing? How’s Ms. Alvarez these days?”

“Hi yourself, Mr Anderson.” I smiled pleasantly, trying to keep him at ease.

He held up his hand to stop me. “Please, call me Sully.”

“Only if you call me Kalli.”

“Done,” he said while wearing a charming smile. It was easy to see why he had the entire town under his spell.

Nik frowned and cleared his throat.

“Jaz is hanging in there,” I continued. “Not an easy task after being accused of murder and missing out on her spring launch.”

“I heard about that. It must be hard for a woman like her. I know she takes her work very seriously.”

“Yes she does,” I said. “That’s why it’s killing her that there is still a murderer on the loose while she is innocent.”

“Speaking of suspects,” Detective Stevens interjected with a serious tone as he took the lead. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you since you got back from your convenient vacation.”

“What do you mean convenient?” Sully’s charming smile faded, and he eyed us both carefully. “My sister and I surprised my parents with a cruise for their fiftieth wedding anniversary.”

“That just happened to take place right after the first murder Clearview has seen in decades,” the detective added.

“I couldn’t have predicted that guy would die in Jaz’s shop right before my trip. What does any of that have to do with me?”

“You could have planned the murder,” I jumped in, trying to help, even though the detective gave me a warning look, which I promptly ignored. “It’s no secret you had a thing for Jaz. Maybe since she kept turning you down, you turned to her competition out of spite. You delivered Jaz’s new secret spring line, so you could have easily found out where she ordered it from. Then you gave it to her competition, killed Jaz’s date to frame her for murder and have her shop closed down just before the launch so Ana could beat her to it, then you conveniently took off out of town.”