Mind Games

“Five people. Two like my parents, and one a girl. He was thinking about them. He was in a big cage, and he was thinking about them. One was … something, some place like Brinmaw, and she—the woman, the wife—was thinking about the alarm code. He got into the big house because she had to think about it, so he knew the code. He used a knife, he killed them with a knife. Oh God, oh God, so much blood.

“I can’t breathe.”

“Thea, I want you to sit down. Sit down and put your head between your knees.”

“Okay.” It felt like trying to breathe through a collapsed straw. But the weird gray at the edges of her vision faded.

“Where’s your grandmother?”

She sucked in the next breath, and felt some of the weight lift from her chest. “Upstairs. He got the gun there, at the Brinmaw place, the one he used to kill the people in Maryland, then my parents. But before, I think before … Albany.”

“New York?”

“Yes—no. New Albany. He was older, the man. Terrance. No, no, a terrace. Summer, night air. I don’t know. I can’t think right now. My head hurts.”

“All right, Thea. This is enough. I want you to sit until you feel steady, then go get your grandmother.”

“He wants to try to kill this other prisoner this way because … he’s bored. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Okay, Thea. We’re going to look into this, all of it.”

“You will?”

“Yes, and I want you to do me a favor. I want you to stay as far away from Riggs, in every way, as you can.”

“I’m trying.” A tear spilled out. “I didn’t mean to go there. I saw the big mesh cages. And all the blue doors, but I didn’t mean to.”

This time, she thought. The first time, she had. At least a little.

“It’s all right. You leave this to me now. I want you to tell your grandmother what happened.”

“I will. Thank you.”

After hanging up, she straightened, and saw Lucy.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“Shh.” Lucy hugged her in, hugged her tight. “It’s all right.”

“I was upset, thinking about Mom and Dad. And it just happened. Grammie, there were more people. He killed more people, and I saw … He has the gift, too. He used it, he used it to kill people. He’s still using his gift to try to.”

“And he’ll pay a price for it. Did he see you?”

“No. He was too busy looking for people to hurt, and thinking about the ones he had.”

“And you did what you could to try to help.” Brushing Thea’s hair back, she waited until Thea’s eyes met hers. “Because that’s what the gift is meant for. Helping. So you put this away now, darling.”

“Grammie. I could see how awful it is, how awful he feels. I was glad to see it.”

“Do you think I’d blame you for it?” Lucy eased back, brushed tears off Thea’s cheeks. “Blame you for it when I’m glad to know it? Why didn’t you come get me?”

“I was going to tell you after, but I … I wanted to do this part myself.”

“Growing up on me already?” Lucy pressed a kiss to Thea’s forehead. “Try not to do it too fast. I’m proud of you. This took courage, and it shows what you’re made of. It honors what you’ve been given.”

“I don’t want to go back there. I’ll try not to.”

“Good, and I’ll try to help you. But if you do, Thea, remember you’re in control. You’re free. He’s not, and never will be again. You’re stronger, and you always will be.”