Page 8 of Dead Heat

Three heads shook.

“They’re better when you freeze them,” Scott said.

“By all means, stick yours in the freezer, and I’ll enjoy it later.”

Caeden unwrapped a peanut butter cup and shoved the whole thing in his mouth. “What can you do?”

I thought I misheard him due to the peanut butter cup wedged between his cheeks. “Excuse me?”

He chewed and swallowed. “What can you do? Alicia says you have magic powers, like Harry Potter.”

I glared at Alicia. “Um, not exactly.”

Ray gave me an apologetic look. “Sorry, Lorelei. She should know better.”

The boys exchanged knowing glances. “Told you she was lying,” Scott said. “Ten bucks.” He held out his hand to Alicia, palm up.

“Okay, look. She wasn’t lying.”

Scott’s hand dropped to his side. “You mean you do have magic powers?”

“It isn’t magic. Have you ever been to a psychic?”

They shook their heads.

“I’m sort of like a psychic. I can tell you what your worst nightmares are.”

Scott’s eyebrows bent with skepticism. “That’s just guessing.”

“Not the way I do it.” I moved closer to him. “Can I touch your head?”

“Okay.”

I rested my hand on top of his head. An image rose up to greet me. A snarling Doberman stood at the end of a yard, blocking the only exit. Scott stood about ten feet away with a soccer ball tucked under his arm. Beads of sweat lined his forehead.

I withdrew my hand. “You’re terrified of your neighbor’s dog. You think it’s going to maul you to death.”

Caeden’s mouth formed a small ‘o.’ He looked at his friend. “Dude, she knows!”

Scott turned to Alicia. “Did you tell her ahead of time?”

“Tell her how? I didn’t know you were afraid of Rufus. He seems sweet.”

“He barks at me whenever I’m in my yard. I hate that. It makes me not want to be outside at my own house.”

“Do me again!” Scott insisted.

Caeden elbowed him. “No, my turn.”

Scott snorted at his friend. “I bet your worst nightmare involves the Muppets.”

Alicia smirked. “Please tell us if it’s the Muppets. I want to log this information away for future reference.”

I eyed her closely. “You’re not planning to extort money from anyone, are you?”

She shrugged. “A girl’s got to boost her college fund somehow.”

“Your parents are financially successful.”

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