Page 86 of Bitten By Desire
“This,” Bennett said. I turned to see him holding a pocket watch in his hand. The back of it looked like some kind of coin. But it was curved, perfectly molded to the watch front.
“What does it do?”
“If you’re holding it, you can lightly influence people. But if you get them to look at it as you swing it back and forth, it’s more powerful.”
“So it controls people’s minds?” Zoey asked.
“Pretty much. It’s how Theo used to get unsuspecting victims. And how he was able to stay in one place for a while without being caught. He bent cops’ minds. Or anyone else who caught him in the act.”
I would have been worried that Theo had used it on me ten years ago. That maybe that’s why I’d stripped for him and let him take photos. But that was the night Bennett and his friends stole the pocket watch back. Theo seduced me all by himself. And he did it again last night during my interview. I pressed my lips together. I didn’t want to say any of that out loud.
I stared at some of the other pieces. Artifacts were expensive. How had they afforded so many pieces? “Are the other vaults filled with stuff like this too?”
“No, the rest are safety deposit boxes.”
I knew he kept saying that. But every time he did, I believed him a little less. This was one vault. Maybe one other vault was filled with safety deposit boxes. And the rest were filled with…what? But it didn’t seem like he was willing to tell me the truth. Or show me anything else.“You said you don’t date liars.”Theo’s voice wouldn’t get out of my head.
I took a deep breath. I had an idea. “So where is the pen?”
“In Titan’s office.”
“Okay. Can you go get it for me?”
“Yeah, let’s go grab it.”
Let’s.That was the whole problem. I didn’t want to just touch Theo with it. I wanted to touch Bennett.Titan hadn’t put a finger on the pen. He’d made me pick it up and put it back. And I was worried there was a reason.
I took one last look at all the artifacts and then reluctantly followed Bennett and Zoey out of the vault. Bennett sealed it shut. I couldn’t believe he didn’t show me anything but the pocket watch. And didn’t let me take a single picture. I wished I’d asked about more of the artifacts. But I’d missed out on my chance. We walked over to Titan’s office.
“There it is,” Bennett said. But he didn’t reach for it.
I stayed still too. I just stared at him.
Zoey didn’t know what I was trying to do, so she grabbed the pen.
Damn it, Zoey.But actually I was a little relieved that she was able to hold it. This town was crazy. And I was glad that she hadn’t been swept up into it.
I took the pen from her and stared at Bennett.
“So here’s the plan,” he said. “When you go to work tomorrow, text me where you’re meeting Theo right away. And I’ll make sure I’m nearby so I can help you if you need it.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.”
I just kept staring at him.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m going to need you to touch it.”
“Touch what?”
I held out the pen.
He laughed.
But I kept a straight face.
