Something to Curse About Read Online Free Page A

wrong.”
    “Tell me where you were over the weekend.”
    Nick shifted his weight, lifting his chin while pulling me closer to his side. “I stayed the weekend with her. We were at her apartment, except for a trip to the park and grocery store.”
    “He left late last night, after we had dinner and watched a movie.” I shook my head. “We were at the fair when that woman jumped. I’m the one who stopped her. Why would I—if I could make someone commit suicide—turn around and stop them from doing it?”
    The two men traded a glance, before Stannett asked, “You were there? Were there any witnesses?”
    “Yeah, some of my friends and people standing in line at the Ferris wheel.”
    Wells leaned forward. “How did you know?”
    “I felt her fear first then heard her thoughts. She didn’t want to jump. I don’t know why she did.”
    He frowned. “You make a habit of listening to people’s thoughts?”
    If Nick hadn’t been holding onto me, I might’ve crossed the room to punch the mayor right in the mouth. “No, I make a habit of not listening so that I don’t lose my damn mind. But sometimes, people’s emotions are so strong, their thoughts are like screams, and they break right through my mental shields. She was scared. She screamed.”
    Stannett cleared his throat, and I turned my glare toward him. “What?”
    “Were her thoughts coherent?”
    “Yeah. Give me a minute.” I scowled, trying to recall the exact thoughts that had passed from her mind to mine. “She thought ‘I don’t want to die’, ‘Why is this happening? Someone help me’ and ‘Oh God. Please help me’. I’m not God, but I could hear her, so I helped her.”
    The police chief frowned while sitting back. “Yet later, she did it anyway.” He stared at the thick carpeting for a few seconds, his brow furrowed. When he looked up, he was still frowning. “You’re certain she didn’t want to commit suicide?”
    “As certain as I can be, between the thoughts I caught, and feeling how afraid she was.”
    Stannett nodded. “Nothing we’ve uncovered so far indicates any of them were suicidal. That means someone made them do it.”
    “Which means my name popped to the head of the potential suspect list?” I pushed away from Nick, but didn’t walk past the front edge of the boss’s desk. Any closer, and the urge to smack both men around would become too strong. “Why? Because I’m a psychic?”
    “You’re on several lists, because you’re the only known psychic in North America with so many abilities.” Wells crossed his arms, calmly meeting my gaze. “You’re unusual, Miss Jones. Unusual and powerful. By all accounts, you’re dangerous.”
    I smirked, hooking a thumb over my shoulder to indicate Whitehaven and Nick. “Yeah? Try telling them that.”
    “Discordia does have more abilities than other psychics, and thus is more powerful; however, her abilities do not always work. Using them is a physical drain.” Mr. Whitehaven’s chair creaked. “I can assure you that controlling another’s mind requires constant surveillance and a certain finesse. Not only is Discordia young, but she’s had very few years of practice with her abilities. No human psychic in the world could currently control another person to the required degree. None of them have enough experience or practice to be able to overcome another’s primitive survival instincts.”
    Both men turned their full attention on him. I leaned a hip against the side of his desk, crossing my arms as he continued. “Gentlemen, you aren’t looking for a psychic. There are only two potential suspects: Either a master vampire, or an exceptionally strong magic practitioner who specializes in curses.”
     

FIVE
     
    Before they left, Stannett asked if I’d be available to help. I agreed, on the condition that I was paid my regular rate by the city, not the police department. Mr. Whitehaven approved, mentioning my current “heavy workload” and our commitments to