Double Blind by Brandilyn Collins Page A

say? Where did I go from here? “First some ground rules.”
    My mother’s head drew back. “Ground rules?”
    At her raised eyebrows, I almost caved. Then steeled myself. “You know fifty percent of what’s happened.” I pointed at Sherry, then turned to Mom. “And you know hardly anything. I have to fill you both in. And I don’t want interruptions. I’m too tired for that. And I really don’t want judgments.”
    Sherry gave my mother a hard look.
    Mom raised her chin. “I didn’t drop my own life and work responsibilities to come here and judge you.”
    I locked eyes with her, firming my lips. Couldn’t she see her mere showing up unannounced was a judgment that I couldn’t take care of myself? “Are we clear?”
    Mom leaned back with a huff and plopped her arms on the sides of the chair.
    â€œIs that a yes?”
    She paused a long beat. “Yes.”
    I tilted my head. “Sherry?”
    â€œOf course.”
    Well, just look at me. Handling this situation, even while my insides felt like a limp rag. “Okay.” I leaned back against the couch and laced my hands in my lap. “Mom, three days ago I had a chip implanted in my brain. I’d—”
    â€œWhat?”
    My hand shot up. Mom froze. I calmed myself, then continued in a rush before she could stop me again. I told her the who, what, where, when, and why. She didn’t interrupt again. But she did shoot a glance at Sherry as if to say, You let her do this? Sherry ignored her.
    â€œThe chip is working.” I told Mom how much better I felt. “But in the hospital I started having these strange visions.”
    I leaned against the couch and took a breath. Tiredness rushed through me, but I beat it back. I told them everything about the murder, my return to Cognoscenti—was that just this morning?—and Jerry and Clair’s response. When I told them Cognoscenti said my chip was a placebo, Sherry gasped.
    â€œYeah. I know. But I don’t believe it.” I went on to the phone call Mom received, and the call I shot back to Jerry. My conversation with Ice Queen. My searches on the Internet. And my final stunning realization that the gory memories were mine forever.
    By the time I finished, my mouth ran dry and my shoulders sagged. And I knew my mother would say I’d gone completely nuts.
    Pent-up words clearly beat against her tongue.
    â€œCognoscenti.” The name burst out of her. “That’s the company that called, all right. How dare they threaten you like that. And through me!”
    I gaped at her. Of all the responses she could have shown, anger on my behalf was the last I’d expected.
    Mom’s lips thinned. “I’ll just have to do something about this. Your threat to them wasn’t so crazy, Lisa. Maybe we do need the media involved.”
    â€œUh-uh,” Sherry said. Mom ignored her.
    My mother was publicity director for a large tech firm in Denver. She knew all about using the media. But I couldn’t focus on that. I could only think—She believes me? I didn’t want to move for fear I’d break the spell.
    Mom’s gaze darted around the room—a clear sign she was thinking hard. Her eyes grazed mine, flitted away, then back. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    My shoulders rose. “I just . . . I wasn’t sure you’d believe me.”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t I believe you? My daughter doesn’t lie. Besides, it’s written all over your face—you’re terrified.”
    This was almost too much to take in. “Maybe I am going crazy. Having panic attacks, like Jerry said.”
    Sherry grunted. “Mighty big coincidence, sudden panic attacks right after the surgery.”
    Mom pressed her hand against the top of my knee. “I knew before I got here you were in trouble. That’s why I came. That phone call was clearly threatening.