“Why don’t you try connecting a few obvious dots?”
Luke nodded. “He’s afraid that if rumors he consults a psychic get back to his boss it would not look good on his record.”
She sighed. “You know how it is. The police don’t like to admit they occasionally use psychics. Often they do it only because the family of the victim insists. And it rarely goes well when they do bring one in.”
“Because they end up hiring a fraud who tries to fake it with some vague line like ‘I see the body near water.’ ” Luke glanced down at Mack and then looked at her, eyes tightening a little. “You, however, are the real deal, and Rivington knows that, doesn’t he?”
“I think so, but he tells himself that I’m just a very keen observer and that I have excellent intuition. Cops do believe in intuition. Everyone does.”
Luke got a knowing look. “Did he keep his dates with you a secret, too?”
She elevated her chin. “We liked our privacy.”
“Thought so. He didn’t want any of his cop pals to see the two of you together, did he?”
“It wasn’t like that. Not exactly. My apartment is in San Francisco, so there was no reason for us to eat at restaurants here in Mirror Lake or Elk Cove.” She made a face. “Okay, it was a lot like that.”
“Don’t you think it’s a striking coincidence that he broke into your aunt’s shop on the very night that I arrived to hire you to read a scene linked to the disappearance of Deke and Bea? For all we know, Rivington is investigating that murder at the cabin. If so, maybe he considers your aunt a suspect. Maybe he came here to search the place.”
A jolt of panic snapped across her nerves. “I hadn’t thought of that. I just assumed he came here because he knew I was in town and wanted me to work for him again. You’re right. We need answers.”
“Which is why he will be sleeping in cuffs.”
“You are not going to question him on your own. I want to hear what he has to say. Besides, he’s more likely to talk to me than he is to you.”
“Because the two of you had a relationship?”
“We’re still friends,” she said evenly. “I think.”
The freight train rumble of thunder interrupted her. Lightning slashed the darkness outside. It was followed by a gust of wind that rattled the windows. Bruce tensed.
“Take it easy,” Luke said quietly. He rested a hand on the dog’s head. “Just a storm.”
The lights blinked.
Bruce whined. He moved out from under Luke’s hand and began to prowl the shop.
“That settles it,” Sophy said. “No one is going anywhere until this storm ends. You and Mack and Bruce are staying here tonight.”
“Thank you,” Luke said. “That’s an excellent idea.”
She folded her arms on the counter. “Why do you suddenly sound so enthusiastic about it?”
“You’ve already had one of your exes—correction, one of your failed experiments—break in tonight for unknown reasons. In addition, we have agreed that Deke and your aunt are in trouble. You should not be on your own here.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard, if that’s what you’re implying.”
“Why don’t you think of me as an old friend of the family?”
“Is that intended to be a joke?”
“I thought it sounded better than ‘a potential failed experiment.’ ”
“Don’t worry.” She unfolded her arms and straightened. “Failed experiments are an entirely different category. You and Mack and the hellhound can sleep in the living room. Follow me.”
She stalked behind the sales counter and opened the door to the private quarters.
“There’s a bathroom down that hallway,” she said.
