Peril for Your Thoughts (Mind Reader Mystery) by Kari Lee Townsend Page A

these days anyway?”
    “Never mind,” he said, sounding exhausted. “I was just trying to help. And for the record, I’m very clean. As for the handkerchief, my ma gave me this.” He pointed to the monogram of his initials on the front and shrugged. “She thinks if I keep it close to my heart, it will keep me safe. A lot of good that did me today when you tried to knock me unconscious.” He grunted, slipping the handkerchief back in his pocket. He touched the back of his head, wincing.
    “Well, if you hadn’t scared me to death, that wouldn’t have happened.” I kept rubbing my palms down the front of my skirt, knowing I wouldn’t feel completely clean until I showered at least three times.
    “I wouldn’t have scared you if you hadn’t snuck in here. Do you know how much trouble you could get into just by being in here? You’re lucky I was the one who saw you slip inside and not Detective Matheson.”
    “I work here, remember?”
    “Nice try. You’d better not be trying to solve this case on your own.” He loosened the knot of his tie and then pulled out a notepad and pen, jotting down Lord only knew what. “Don’t make me lock you up for your own good, Ballas.”
    “Don’t be silly, Detective. I came here to retrieve my book of designs.”
    “Then where is it?” he asked suspiciously.
    “Oh, I don’t let anyone see my book until I’m good and ready.” I snapped my fingers. “Silly me. I’ve been so stressed, I completely forgot I had already brought it home, which is exactly where I’m about to head.” I stepped forward, spotting a rag that only looked slightly cleaner than the doorknob, but I was desperate. I reached for it, but the detective’s words stopped me in my tracks.
    “Right. While I sympathize with your obvious discomfort, unfortunately, I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”
    “What are you talking about?” I swallowed hard, fearing what his answer would be.
    “I’m guessing the door’s locked. I’m no genius, but based on all the inventory in here, I’m sure Ms. Alvarez wouldn’t have wanted anyone messing with her stuff. Kind of like your precious book.”
    “Oh, God, you’re right,” I moaned, instantly feeling the walls closing in on me. I grabbed the rag, cringing slightly, and tried the door. Sure enough, it was locked, and I knew for a fact that Jaz had the only key.
    “Relax before you give yourself a heart attack.” Nik stood.
    “Don’t touch me.” I stumbled back a couple of steps.
    “I’m not going to touch you.” He slowly held his hands up in front of him, eyeing me like I was some bizarre creature from another planet. Sometimes that’s exactly how I felt, but I was who I was. “I’m going to try the door,” he said carefully.
    “It’s not going to budge. It’s made out of steel. Jaz wanted to make sure no one could break in and see her latest treasures. Can’t you just shoot it or something,” I said, sounding hysterical even to my own ears. “There are no windows in here. I can’t breathe.” I fanned my face, feeling my throat start to close. “What if we suffocate?”
    “I can’t shoot it. The bullets could ricochet off the steel. We’re not going to suffocate, Kalli.” He pointed up. “There are vents near the ceiling, see?” He slipped off his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. “If only they were big enough to crawl through,” he mumbled to himself.
    “Forget that. Just call for help, already. I need to get home now.”
    “I would if I could, but when a certain someone knocked me on my can, my phone went flying.”
    “Out the door?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    “Stop saying that,” I snapped.
    “It’s true,” he snapped back, his patience with me finally waning. “This whole situation is unfortunate because you couldn’t keep your nose out of places it didn’t belong. If you had just done as I’d asked, you’d be home right now, taking a long hot bath.”
    “You obviously don’t know me at all.