Free Dead Is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez Page B

later."
    After I hung up the phone, I grabbed Mom's old copy of The Big Book of Fortune-Telling and curled up on the couch. The kitten jumped up and purred approvingly before settling in next to me.
    I became engrossed in my reading and lost track of the time. I raised my head only when I heard a car pulling into the driveway.
    Poppy rushed in with a huge smile on her face. "Daisy? Where are you?" She was carrying a huge bag of cat litter, so I knew she'd gotten my message.
    "Thanks for stopping at the store," I said. I gestured toward the kitten. "Look who I found tonight. Think Mom will let us keep her?"
    "Oh, she's adorable, how could Mom refuse?" Poppy said. "There's another bag of stuff in the car."
    "I'll get it."
    I left Poppy and the kitten playing happily.
    I was half in and half out of the car, rummaging around in the back seat for the bag Poppy had mentioned, when I got the feeling someone was watching me.
    "Is someone there?"
    There wasn't an answer, but I could hear someone breathing.
    I grabbed the bag, slammed the car door, and headed for my front porch. A figure stepped out of the shadows.
    "I didn't mean to scare you. It's me."
    I recognized the voice and stopped in my tracks. "Ryan, you scared me half to death. What are you doing here?"
    "I'm sorry," he said. "I just wanted to talk to you. Here, let me carry that." I handed him the litter box.
    He stared at it, puzzled. "I didn't know you had a cat."
    "Well, a lot can happen in a few days." My voice was arctic in its chilliness. I stomped up the steps.
    He trailed after me uncertainly. I opened the door and he hesitated.
    "You may as well come in." I didn't look behind me to see if he was coming.
    "Hi, Ryan," Poppy said.
    He put down the cat box and sat on the couch. The kitten, traitor that she was, immediately jumped into his lap and began to purr.
    I didn't meet his eyes, but instead spent a few minutes checking out everything Poppy had bought. Cat food, litter, a couple of toys, even an adorable cat bed. She'd thought of everything.
    "Where'd you get her?" Ryan said. At least, that's what he said out loud. But I heard his thoughts, which were jumbled and chaotic. I can't tell her the truth.
    My powers seemed to always tune in at the worst possible time. I glared at him.
    Poppy yawned widely and unconvincingly. "Time for me and the kitten to head for bed." She stood, and the kitten jumped down from Ryan's lap.
    I didn't say anything after she left the room. I was still trying to process what I'd heard.
    I tried to focus on his thoughts again, but all I got was a jumbled mess.
    "The cat? Where'd you get her?" Ryan repeated.
    "I found her in the park tonight," I said, watching him closely to see if he squirmed.
    He did. Deeply.

Chapter Thirteen
    We sat staring at each other for a moment. I cleared my throat. "Where were you tonight?" I tried to sound casual, but it came out like an accusation.
    "Why do you want to know?" Ryan asked. He stared at his hands.
    I was sick of the games. "Where were you last weekend? And why have you been avoiding me?"
    He didn't know what to say, what lies to tell me.
    "Ryan, just tell me the truth. I can take it."
    His thought jumped into my mind. No, you can't.
    It was as bad as I had anticipated. He was going to dump me for that girl. I braced myself for the breakup, but it never came.
    "I can't tell you right now, Daisy. It's ... complicated." His hands were shaking.
    "Then tell me what's going on between you and Elise Wilder," I said.
    "I can't tell you that, either," he replied. "Daisy, you have to trust me, I—"
    "I don't have to do anything," I snapped. "It's late. I think it's time you went home."
    Ryan didn't argue, which, although it was completely illogical, upset me even more.
    I walked him to the door. He didn't try to kiss me.
    After he left, I leaned back against the door and tried to still my whirling thoughts. What was going on in Nightshade? Why would anyone want to hurt Mr. Davis? And most importantly, what