a Touch of TNT (An Everly Gray Adventure) Read Free

didn’t authorize any solo events.”
    “Since we didn’t discuss details, I’m free to explore.” I slipped my keys into the side pocket of my handbag and slung it over my shoulder.
    “Okay. What’s your plan?” she asked.
    “Plan?”
    “Yeah. You can’t just go barging in without a plan.”
    I shrugged. “I’ll be lost. Ask for directions. Hayes and Adam will never know I did this, and it’ll give me a chance to play catch up. Adam’s been working this case for a few days. Knows all the players. I don’t. Puts me at a disadvantage. And with the finger malfunction…”
    Her eyes narrowed. “You’re really nervous—make that scared to death?”
    “Well, yeah. What if my fingers are messed up and I can’t do this? It’s the first time I’ve been asked to use my gift—officially. And what’ll it do to my coaching business? I depend on the ESP link to do the right thing for my clients.” Panic zipped along my nerves. I hadn’t thought about the impact on my business until the words slipped out of my mouth.
    She pulled her cell out of her back pocket. “You’re a natural at coaching, could do it with your hands tied behind your back, so stop with the panicked look. How about you check in with Adam?”
    “No. I don’t want anyone to know. I need to do this alone, because the aura surrounding people, all people—it could throw me off even more.”
    She looked suspiciously like she would call Adam no matter how much I protested, so I kept talking. “How about I promise not to do anything but drive by the offices, maybe park, see if anything interesting happens?” Both hands were behind my back, fingers crossed.
    “Do not get out of your car,” she said as she stood and tucked her cell away. “You can test those magic fingers someplace safer.”
    “I’ll be careful. And I can call you if anything looks, or feels dangerous.”
    Annie tried to tuck a curl behind her left ear. It sprang free. “I really don’t like you out by yourself, even for surveillance. You have this way of getting into trouble. But if you have your cell and we’re in touch—”
    I tried not to look relieved. “Great.”
    Annie’s nose wrinkled up. “You know, your experience with surveillance work is limited. I’m not sure—”
    “I am sure. My new phone takes good pictures, so I can document anything exciting that happens.”
    “I’d be a little more comfortable if you weren’t excited.” Her lips clamped together. “It’s not a thrilling task, and I know you. You’ll get bored, add your own excitement, and all hell will break loose.”
    I shrugged, pulled a clip out of my pocket and clamped my hair in an untidy tail. “You’ll be right there on the other end of your cell phone watching over me. What could possibly go wrong?”

 
    TWO
     
    Calvin Jacobson’s office was located closer to my house than North Construction, so it won the coin toss. I drove around the industrial complex looking for C.J. Builders, finally found a sign informing me it was located on the second floor of a three-story building. No way to stroll by and look in a window.
    I parked in a shady spot, rolled the window down and waited, because hey, I’d promised Annie I’d stay out of trouble. Birds chirped and a light breeze whispered along my neck ruffling my hair. Dust motes danced in the early afternoon sunshine. Peaceful. Idyllic, even.
    And wrong.
    An itchy twitch crept along my ankles. Not good. My curiosity kicked into overdrive, obliterated common sense, and rendered null and void any promises I’d made about staying out of trouble.
    I stepped onto the concrete and scanned the parking lot. Everything seemed unusually clear and sharp, a direct contrast to the foggy images I’d picked up at the construction site. ’Course I was using my eyes, not fingertips, but still stuff didn’t usually look so…stark. Made me regret not touching Annie for comparison, but it’s a personal rule I have not to trespass in my friends’