Destiny and Deception Read Free Page B

centipede he’d held dropped, writhing, into the cup and the image burst into a thousand glittering drops that evaporated and left me panting at the street corner.
    I shuddered as the tickling sensation scuttled from my head and slithered in slow circles before settling into the base of my skull. Finally regaining control, I sucked down a sharp breath and stood straight again.
    Derek . Dead, but not so gone.
    Breathing deeply, I freed my cell phone. Alexi knew Derek had shot something into our heads during his death throes and he’d said we should tell him immediately if anything strange happened.
    That little episode totally qualified as strange.
    I pulled up his cell’s number. And drew down another breath. Steady, my finger hovered over the call button. But I didn’t press it.
    Instead, I searched my brain for lingering weirdness—any other strange sensation. And I reminded myself that Alexi’s mother—well, his adoptive mother—had just died even though he’d done his damnedest to concoct a cure and save her.
    How would he feel knowing I needed his help now? Besides, it was the first time it’d happened. It could be a fluke—maybe the only time. With that hope in mind, I hurried the rest of the way to the Grabbit Mart.
    *   *   *
    The Grabbit Mart on the corner—a little place that existed because of convenience, not competitive prices—was nearly empty. A man worked behind the counter handling the occasional gas customer and glancing at the domed security mirrors out of habit probably more than interest. He nodded at me as I pulled the door closed and adjusted my hat and scarf. Then he returned to swapping glances between the mirrors and the pumps.
    I’d only been in once before, so it took me a minute to find their sparse stock of bread. Studying my choices, I was startled by the sudden appearance of someone else in the aisle. Slender, with close-cropped red hair, the guy approaching me had pinched features and a nose that pointed in a way that made me think he was as much fox as anything. I froze, and he looked in my direction as if he’d overheard my thoughts. He cocked his head. “Hey.”
    I nodded and snagged an anonymous loaf, my eyes stuck on him.
    He locked gazes with me and reached over to the opposite shelf. He grabbed three candy bars.
    And shoved them into his coat pocket with a sly smile and a look that clearly dared me.
    My eyes must’ve widened because as soon as my mouth opened, his smile slid to one side of his face and he whispered, “You wouldn’t rat me out, would you?” He tilted his head in the opposite direction and studied me, eyes bright. Taunting. “We all have our little secrets.” With a wink he spun on his heel and walked back down the aisle and out the door.
    “Dammit.” Why’d I hesitate? I took three candy bars myself and headed to the refrigerator section.
    Milk, bread, and candy bars in hand, I set everything on the counter in front of the cashier and paid.
    “Want a bag?”
    “Yeah,” I said, my eyes lingering on the door. I wondered where he’d disappeared to. “Oh, wait.” I pulled the candy bars out. “Put those back on the shelf for me?”
    “Uh—okay.… You wanna return them?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Hold on, lemme do a return.” He groaned at the effort even the thought of doing a return evidently took.
    “No. You don’t have to do that. Just put them back—and leave the money in the till.”
    He squinted at me, confused.
    “Please?”
    “Yeah, whatever.” He placed the candy bars behind the counter, and I headed for the door. “You meet all sorts of weirdos in this place,” he muttered even before the door began to shut behind me. “Shoulda stayed in Farthington. Nice and normal there.”
    Alexi
    Dealing with death, every family faces unique problems. Some war over possessions the dead left behind. Some squabble about unanswered questions and fight out their inner turmoil, wondering if there was something they still should have done,