“There’s no guarantee you’ll make it past the cops,” David said.
“Then we’ll text you to pick us back up. Otherwise, go a few blocks away and wait until we call.”
The three of them had barely hopped out of the car and made their way to the sidewalk when a uniformed police officer made her way over to them. The cop called out, “Sidewalk’s closed this way, folks. You’ll have to go another way.”
“Actually, we’re here to see Renee Valless,” Celia replied. She pulled two cards from her pocket and handed them to the officer. “See, I’m withSpooky True Tales, and this is—”
“A psychic detective.” The cop snorted. “I think you’ve watched one too many shows. Turn around and arrange for another Uber.”
“Miss Valless will want to see me,” Alex said. Thankfully, he didn’t revert to the awful accent.
“You’re not the first scammers to have come past here, and they didn’t get in either,” the cop replied.
“This isn’t a scam,” Celia said. “He really is a psychic detective.”
The cop gave them a flat glare. “Right.”
“Maybe a demonstration of your powers is in order, Mr. Romanov,” Bryce said cautiously. “A small demonstration.”
Alex nodded. “Of course.” With a flourish, he spread his hands and raised them to about chest level. Then he closed his eyes.
Bryce took a moment to even out his breathing as well. Alex was an emotional sponge, and Bryce needed to ensure his own walls were well in place before his mood leaked all over the place. But instead of picturing the green forests of the Appalachian Mountains, his mind played back his time with Jesse. God, he wished he was having sex with Jesse instead of trying to find out what new nightmare plagued his city.
Not helpful. Bryce rolled his shoulders, painfully aware of the tension working its way into them, and pushed away thoughts about Jesse. Only he couldn’t help remembering the way Jesse murmured to him. How good it felt to be held.
Alex cleared his throat dramatically and opened his eyes. “I’m sorry for your recent loss, officer.”
The cop blinked at him, and then scowled. “Lots of people have loss. That’s a guess.”
“They do. Yours was… a week ago. Your cat? No, dog. Not unexpected, but you still miss them more than you thought you would.” Alex spoke in a distant voice, a sign he was delving deep with his psychic powers. “They were with you for a long time. I’m sorry.”
The cop scrutinized Alex, then Celia and Bryce. After a long pause, she said, “I’ll see if she wants you near the house. And I have to check with the detectives.”
Alex nodded sagely.
As the cop took a few steps away to discuss things over her walkie-talkie, Alex spun toward Bryce. His eyes were more alert as he whispered, “Holy shit, you got laid!”
Bryce settled his hands on his belt. “Stay out of my feelings.”
“I would but…” Alex held one hand out toward Bryce, making a show of feeling the air between them. When Bryce tried to knock his hand away, Alex dodged and kept going anyway. “You’re actually emoting. I didn’t think you could do that. I was pretty sure you were a robot from outer space and my mom reprogrammed you to save humankind.”
“Was it the hot guy from this morning?” Celia asked.
“Had to be unless he went cruising,” Alex replied. “Wait, did you go cruising? Because if so, I want the number of that guy becausewow.”
“You can still feel his orgasm?” Celia said.
“Naw, but man is he sated and horny. It had to be good sex for that kind of effect.”
Bryce glared at both of them. “Invasion. Of. Privacy.”
“You know once this gets going it’s hard to stop.” Alex tapped his temple. He dropped his hand, but judging from his wide eyes, Bryce figured his abilities were still tuned up rather than blanketed. That could spell trouble. They didn’t know what had happened inside the house. Alex was too vulnerable to walk in there as he was.
The cop came back to them. “Miss Valless wants you inside.”
“Maybe we should reconsider,” Bryce said. “This morning you didn’t feel well.”
“I’ll be fine,” Alex replied. He headed for the front door of the house, Celia at his side.
