Alek and Devlin rode in silence as they made their way to Theresa Scott’s house, toward the southern part of Pleasanton near the Cherokee Nation. While Devlin read through the information on his phone that Rachel had sent, Alek kept replaying what happened between him and Nicole this morning.
He could not keep the smile off his face no matter how hard he tried. When she pulled him down into a kiss, wrapping those gorgeous legs around him, he almost lost his mind. Every imagined scenario of them together in no way compared to the actual feel of her underneath him. If they hadn’t been interrupted, Alek knew it would have ended in them both satisfied and exhausted. She was right; they would have to pick up somewhere else.
“What’s on your mind?” Devlin asked, interrupting his thoughts.
Alek shook his head. And thankfully, Devlin didn’t press.
As painful as it was, he redirected his thoughts to Theresa.
Rachel had managed to locate a phone number for the woman despite it being unlisted. When they’d called, Theresa had been apprehensive about speaking with them. Probably believed they were acting on behalf of the Stewart family. Eventually, she relented. Rachel had asked about Emilia’s family. Turns out, money had bought their silence leaving Theresa to seek justice for her friend on her own.
Before her death, Emilia had entrusted Theresa with damning information about the Stewart family. Devlin said they would help her in exchange for the information. Thankfully, she hadn’t turned over her findings to the police. Chances were, it would have been buried or destroyed if she had.
Alek pulled up to a cream-colored house and parked. As they climbed out of the car, he surveyed the neighborhood. Most of the driveways were empty. Scattered toys lay on a few lawns and an ice cream truck sat at the end of the block, music off.
The sun cast a bright haze over the area, making it seem unreal; a painting had come to life. Stretching his magick out, Alek searched the homes, touching the minds of the people inside. He watched the orange tendrils of his power crawl across the pavement. Unlike the other mind mages, his magick had morphed into something dark, allowing him to expand his mind. Almost as if his brain grew receptors—looking for a connection. The impressions he got off people temporarily became a part of him. Almost like he was being immersed inside of them. Feeling every one of their emotions.
A couple intwined with each other, making love, while guilt rode them. The feel of their connection made him flush—once again remembering Nicole. He pulled back, so the only impression he got was of their combined guilt riding them. If he wanted to, he could plant a suggestion in their mind. Telling them someone was home, and they were about to get caught. It was on their mind anyway, and a mere push from him would make it a reality for them.
He moved on, finding a young mind focused on his mother. He wanted her to pay attention to him. Alek felt a pang of familiarity with the boy. He, too, spent his childhood seeking his mother’s attention while she doted on his twin brother.
Four boys hid in a basement, having skipped school. Their minds raced with possibilities and mischief. He smiled and continued his search.
Devlin cleared his throat, and Alek turned to him. Worry briefly crossed Devlin’s face. He knew the power that Alek held, and Devlin understood the cravings Alek kept at bay—the ones he had developed when he was a young boy and searching for love, only to latch onto the destruction he could cause instead.
Alek nodded, reassuring Devlin he was okay and joined his boss on the walkway leading to Theresa’s house.
The house reminded Alek of a home he’d seen on a post card in a gift shop his family had stopped at when he was seven years old. It was small and compact with a well-manicured lawn and rose bushes surrounding the porch. He couldn’t remember the exact place, only that it was between the last place and the next. Traveling, to him, always felt that way. The postcard had caught his attention. He’d studied the five-by-four glossy print, running his fingers over the smooth surface. The small house pictured on the front puzzled him. He remembered wondering what it would be like to live in a home like that. Stationary. Never having to worry about anything.
Devlin knocked on the door and pulled off his shades. Alek left his on and sent his power out, seeking the mind of the woman inside, and found chaos.
“Something’s wrong,” he told Devlin.
Devlin stared at him for a moment longer than Alek liked. He was probably trying to see if he needed to rein Alek in. He pulled off his shades so Devlin could see his eyes and know that he was okay.
“Dead?” Devlin asked.
“Broken.”
Her mind was a chaotic symphony of memories and nightmares, all circling one another, trying to push their way to the forefront of her mind. He’d seen this before with the rental agent at Andrew Snow’s apartment. Someone had used mind magick to try and create a scenario that Theresa was not familiar with, effectively breaking her mind in two. Old memories—every single worry she’d ever had was circling through her mind at once. Bills, the death of her friend, getting stood up for the prom, the promotion she didn’t get at work, et cetera. All of them, on one continuous loop, warred with ones she’d never experienced. It was cruel and unnecessary. And it would take more than one mind mage to help her. In the milieu was the image of the man Alek had seen in the security tapes from the motel.
Logan Magellan.
Devlin tried the door. The knob turned easily, and after pulling his gun from his holster, he pushed his way inside. Alek glanced over his shoulder to confirm no one had come outside, then stepped inside.
The house opened to a living room that ran smoothly into the kitchen. He could see the back door from where he stood in the front room. A woman with dark hair, wearing an over-sized shirt, sat in a chair in the kitchen, her face blank. Theresa Scott. She looked a little older, but he recognized her from her driver’s license photo. The lines around her mouth suggested she’d spent most of her life laughing. Sadly, her friend had chosen to work for the Stewart family, and their darkness had now touched her life, snuffing out the joy she once had.
Papers were scattered in front of her on the small table as if she had been searching for something. Or maybe Logan had been. Alek wondered if he had found what he was looking for.
Moving quickly, Devlin made his way toward her and checked her pulse. “Her breath is a little thready,” he announced. He frowned as he studied the woman. He picked up one of the scattered papers and looked over it. “Insurance bills,” he said, his tone confused. He searched through the rest of them. “All of them are insurance bills. But for different people.”
That was odd. Alek walked over and picked up one of the bills. “Why would Logan break Theresa’s mind and leave the evidence Emilia accumulated from Tribec Insurance behind?” Alek asked, not really expecting an answer.
“Can you help her?” Devlin asked, gathering the bills together.
“I’ll ask my aunt. She sent me on this chase.”
Alek looked around the rest of the house. The living room had an array of clothes, handbags, and shoes strewn about, in a way that suggested Theresa had deposited them there each time she came home. No dust on the surfaces. So, she was messy but not dirty.
Alek went down the short hallway. His magick reached out ahead of him, making sure no one else was here. No one. Yet, something stirred when he searched. He stopped his advance and stretched his magick out again. A faint pulse ran through his mind. It felt as if someone were probing him. Rushing out of the hall, he snatched open the front door and stood on the porch, once again scanning the street.
The ice cream truck was gone.
He stepped back into the house and stared at the scene. The hairs on the back of his neck rose, and he rubbed at the sensation. “Something’s off.”
Devlin gave him a questioning look.
“Someone tried to probe my mind. When we got here, there was an ice cream truck at the end of the street. Now it’s gone.”
“We can call the police when we leave. Check the other rooms.”
Before Alek could start toward them, they heard the sirens.