Fierce Lessons (Ghosts & Demons Series Book 3) by Robert Chazz Chute, Holly Pop

is lying is much more complex than TV would have us believe. I think that’s because so many people think they’re telling the truth when they’re just lying to themselves.”
    “But anyone could learn it?”
    “Most people already have it and just have to pay more attention. Surely you’ve walked into an office or a classroom and felt the tension in the room after an argument?”
    I thought of Kelly Keegan, Mama’s store manager at the pharmacy. Kelly was a tyrant. I only remember her being nice to her dog, Mr. Whiskerton Buttersworth. The Airedale terrier slept under her desk at the back of the store and Kelly spoke to him in weird baby talk. “Would him like a treat? Yes! Yes! Him would! Mr. Whiskerton Q. Buttersworth is so hungry!”
    Kelly loved her dog but had nothing left over for people. The cashiers hated her mean ways. I once called in sick with a bad cold and Kelly asked for a doctor’s note.
    She gave a long sigh followed by a pregnant pause. Finally, Kelly asked, “Have you got a fever?”
    “No, I just feel awful.”
    “Then come on in. I don’t care if your Mama owns the store,” Kelly had said. “I’ll ride you harder because your Mama owns the store. You have to set an example for the others.”
    “But — ”
    “Be here or I’ll dock your pay and give you more shitty shifts. Don’t be a spoiled brat about this, Tammy.”
    I thought back to that phone call and how I spiked a fever and got walking pneumonia the day after I came to work. I thought of how Mama made Kelly apologize when I finally recovered.
    I’d looked Kelly in the eye and said, “Forgiven, of course, Mrs. Keegan. There is nothing more touching than your forced apology issued through gritted teeth.”
    Kelly Keegan was dead now. The demons killed her during the invasion of Medicament. They ate her while she was still alive until she wasn’t anymore. Mama saw the security footage before the town was evacuated. Kelly’s dog took care of the leftovers.  
    Would him like a treat? Yes! Yes! Him would! Mr. Whiskerton Q. Buttersworth is so hungry!
    I smiled. “Yeah,” I told Psymon, “once or twice I guess I’ve experienced that tension you can cut with a buzz saw.”
    “Maybe it’s pheromones or micro-expressions, but many people pick up on that sort of thing quite easily. Watch out for those who can’t do it at all.”
    “Why?”
    “People who lack mirror neurons are dangerous. They see others as furniture and have no empathy.”
    “You’re talking serial killers.”
    “Nah, not necessarily. Psychopaths aren’t all killers. A bunch of them are successful CEOs with little or no fear response and unlimited confidence. I wouldn’t do business with them because they really don’t care about you. We’re talking about one percent of the population.”
    I wondered if my demon half was responsible for my smile at Kelly Keegan’s nasty end. One hundred percent of the staff who endured Kelly’s rule might have smiled at her vivisection, too. Maybe. I’m still not sure. I pushed that thought away. “Tell me about reading people, Psymon.”
    “Ninety percent of cold reading is pattern recognition. Some of it is manipulating people to where you want them to go. The rest is educated guesses based on age, clothing, language cues — ”
    “Language cues?”
    “Yeah, like distinguishing regional accents. It’s easy to amaze people if you just listen to them and watch carefully. They give up so much, you can pick up a lot in a glance.”
    “Give me an example, without the magic.”
    “Magic is just the gap between what we understand and what’s next, but I get you. First, you don’t want me to read you. I promised I wouldn’t and I won’t.” Psymon straightened and craned his neck to look behind us.  
    “Okay, your best friend is Manhattan, obviously.”
    “Okay, but specifics. How do you know?”
    “I saw it at Command and Control last night. When questions come up, you answer, but you often glance at your