The Mind Readers, Book 1

by Lori Brighton

  Chapter 18

  I was trembling when I made my way back to my room. An icy chill had settled deep within my bones and I couldn’t seem to get warm. Olivia was nuts, right? Surely Aaron hadn’t taken innocent children from their beds. Stolen them from their families. Olivia had made it up, just as she’d made up other things. I jerked open my top dresser drawer and pushed aside my socks and underwear.

  Where had I left my cell phone?

  Maybe I should ask Lewis about the children. No, I should demand the truth, not ask. But would he tell me? Frustrated, I grabbed my purse off the nightstand and emptied the contents onto my bed. Chapstick, wallet, gum. No phone. .

  I paused, in the middle of the room, and took a deep breath in, out, like Aaron had taught me. Thoughts of the man made me sick. I wrapped my arms around my belly and sank onto the edge of the bed. I didn’t want to be in a place where I didn’t know who was good and who was bad. I wanted to be home. So maybe I wasn’t going to buy her a mug with World’s Best Grandma anytime soon, but at least at home I’d never felt so confused, so scared.

  Grandma might have been wrong in keeping the truth from me, but I knew without a doubt she had my best interest at heart. With Aaron, even with Lewis, I had a feeling they’d give me up in an instant if it would help the mission. They were determined and no one would stop them or get in their way, certainly not me.

  I had to call Grandma and hopefully she would answer. She could pick me up at the ferry dock on the mainland. Somehow I’d leave here, whether I snuck out, which I’d prefer as the coward in me couldn’t face Lewis and Aaron, or if I had to, demand that they take me to the harbor.

  I was going home.

  I pulled open my bedroom door and made my way into the hall. It was almost dawn. Grandma would still be sleeping but hopefully she’d answer. When I moved by Lewis’s room, I made sure my mental wall was up. I forced myself not to pause, not even to think about him. I’d die if he heard my thoughts and woke up. I couldn’t face him, not now. If I saw him, I might not have the courage to leave.

  The house was still and dark and silent. No crying this morning. I couldn’t help but think of those children downstairs, locked away like animals. Did their parents miss them? Were they afraid? Some were so young. And I thought about myself, when I was five and I’d been dropped off at Grandma’s, a person I hadn’t even met until that day. How afraid I’d been. How terrified. It wasn’t right; these children were here without their families. Yet, what could I do?

  The kitchen was empty. No Olivia having her late night snack. I reached for the phone, slid down the wall, sitting on the floor, my back against the cold wall. With trembling fingers I dialed Grandma’s number.

  Nothing happened. No dialing tone, no beep, nothing.

  I hung up and tried again.

  Nothing.

  A floor board creaked. My heart slammed against my ribcage. Fear fought with panic. Gripping the phone to my chest, I fell to my knees and crawled behind the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. Crouching low, I leaned against the counter and held my breath.

  Soft footsteps thudded through the room…closer….closer.

  “Cameron?”

  Aaron’s voice jolted through me. I surged to my feet and bit back my scream. He stood against the island, his arms folded over his chest. How long had he been there? I couldn’t read his face in the darkness and didn’t know if he was angry.

  “I…I missed my Grandma and wanted to call her.” True enough.

  “Why?” He moved around the island counter, coming closer to me. I had to resist the urge to dart behind the barrier. “She’s done nothing for you.”

  The moonlight coming in through the windows hit his face. He’d changed from sweats and t-shirt and was wearing gray slacks and a button up black shirt, his hair combed neatly into place as if nothing had happened last night. As if he was up this early every morning, dressed, ready to take on the world, ready to steal more children.

  “I wouldn’t say nothing.” I certainly saw the irony in the fact that I was suddenly defending Grandma. “She’s kept me safe all this time. Besides, she’s family. My only family.”

  He rested perfectly manicured hands on the countertop. “We’re your family, Cameron.”

  More irony. How I’d pathetically dreamt of Aaron being my dad and now…now I didn’t even want him as a friend.

  I felt the slightest push inside my head. So slight that before I wouldn’t have noticed it. My insides froze. He was trying to read my mind. Testing the barrier to see if I’d put up that wall. I forced my lips to lift, my face to remain passive.

  “I know you’re my family,” I lied. “But…” I shrugged with a nonchalance I sure as heck didn’t feel. “I’ve lived with her most of my life. It’s normal to miss her, isn’t it?”

  I waited for his answer, waited to see if he’d buy my logic, prayed he would.

  He smiled and still I wasn’t sure if I should be nervous or relieved. “I understand.”

  Relieved. Definitely relieved. “But, umm, anyway, the phone doesn’t seem to be working.” I replaced the phone, hoping he didn’t notice the way my hand trembled. “And I can’t find my cell.”

  “Hmm,” he glanced briefly at the phone, then back to me. “Well, the winds must have done damage somewhere on the island. Besides, it’s late and you’ve been busy tonight.” He smiled. It seemed genuine. I didn’t buy his friendliness in the least. “I know about your visit to the dorm. Olivia told me.”

  That didn’t make sense. Why would Olivia tell him when it would make her guilty? Unless she’d twisted the facts. “Sorry,” I muttered, watching him closely. “I thought I’d seen a little girl when I’d first arrived.”

  He placed his arm around my shoulders, his golden hair silver in the moonlight. My entire body went cold. As he led me out of the kitchen, I had to resist the urge to shrug him off. “I try to help as many children as I can. It’s impossible to turn them away when they have nowhere to go.”

  I nodded, all the while wondering if he was lying. Or was Olivia the liar? Someone wasn’t telling the truth. I didn’t question him further; it would only make me look suspicious. My goal at the moment was to get as far away from him as possible.

  We strolled into the main foyer. He’d turned on the lights and it added a soft glow to the area. “I’m sure,” he continued, giving my shoulders a little squeeze, “your grandmother would appreciate you waiting until the sun rises to call her.”

  I forced myself to smile. “Yeah, sure.”

  “And of course if you don’t find your cell, we’ll get you another one.”

  Of course he would. Why didn’t I buy that in the least? We paused at the bottom of the steps. “Okay, thanks.”

  He was smiling, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good night, Cameron.”

  I could feel his gaze burning into my back as I made my way up the stairs. I didn’t dare look over my shoulder, but kept my gaze straight ahead, even as my heart hammered madly in my chest.

  In the hall, I didn’t bother to look at Lewis’ door. I was too hurt. Only ten more steps… ten more steps to relative safety. I pushed open my door and closed it tightly behind me.

  “Cameron?” a soft voice whispered through the darkness.

  I jerked my head toward the bed. A small shape was huddled on the mattress, her knees tucked to her chest, that white nightgown glowing. “Caroline?”

  She sniffed, like she’d been crying.

  My nerves lurched. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Can I… can I sleep with you?”

  My heart melted. Thank God it was dark, I didn’t want her to see the tears. “Yeah, sure.” I tried to keep my voice light, calm, but truth was I needed the comfort of another person as much as she did.

  “Move over.” I shoved her playfully and pulled back the cover. How many times had I wished for a sibling to share secrets with? But at the moment I wished she was anywhere but here. She didn’t dese
rve this. I didn’t deserve this.

  I lay down and she cuddled next to me. I threw my mental wall up. She wouldn’t know what I was really feeling. I wouldn’t frighten her even more. Biting my lower lip, I refused to let my tears fall.

  “I miss my mom,” she whispered.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, the tears I’d been trying to keep at bay raced down my cheeks. “I know.” I didn’t say anymore. I didn’t need to. She understood how I felt. I understood her.

  As I rolled onto my back I realized there were three things I knew for sure. One, I could no longer trust Aaron. Two, I wasn’t any safer here than I’d been at home. Three, I knew, without a doubt, I had to escape as soon as I could.