Free The Last Story by Christopher Pike

breaks in it. Come what may, you will always keep your head."

    I smiled nervously. "Even if my heart breaks?"

    "That appears to be the case." He frowned.

    "This is strange."

    "What?"

    "Your life line. It breaks around this time in your life. In fact, there are large gaps in the line. And then, a little later, it just runs out."

    "What does that mean?"

    He glanced up. "It means you're going to die."

    I took back my palm. "I hardly think so," I replied sharply.

    He sat back and chuckled. "It's only pretend, Shari. Don't get upset."

    "I'm not upset."

    "You're acting upset. Anyway, the first break in your life line occurred three years ago. If there was anything to it, you would be dead already."

    Three years ago. That was when I was born.

    CHAPTER

    VIII

    JL HAT SAME AFTERNOON I visited Private Detective John Garrett, who earlier had been Lieutenant John Garrett. Four years ago Garrett's brilliant detective work had been largely responsible for acquitting me of suicide and balcony diving. After I returned to Earth in Jean Rodrigues's body, and subsequently became rich and famous, I sent Garrett a cashiers' check for fifty thousand dollars.

    I made the gift anonymously. Garrett promptly quit the force and set up shop as a private eye. I had kept loose track of his career, but never gathered the courage to visit him. Until today I'd had no burning need for a private detective. Now I thought I did.

    "I have my secrets. You have your secrets. There's nothing wrong with that."

    Had Roger's line been innocent? Or was he trying to tell me that he knew I was a Wanderer? I would have immediately dismissed the possibility except he had gone out of his way to point out the

    discrepancy between Jo's story and mine. The guy was the star of my movie, I thought. I was making out with him. I had to know more about him.

    The resume on the back of his picture, or headshot, was vague. He had done some Chicago theater, taken a few acting classes. Everything he listed had been done in the past twelve months. His permanent address was a P.O. box, his home phone number—a message service.
    Briefly I considered trying to research his past myself, but decided I didn't have the time.
    Besides, I didn't know the ins and outs of detecting. Garrett it would have to be.

    I could have gone to any private detective, but I chose Garrett because I wanted to see him, with human eyes. See how he was doing. Thank him again, somehow, for what he had done for me.

    When I walked into his office in Century City's twin towers and saw who his secretary was, I almost fainted.

    "A leg! Give me her legs! They taste so good with sausage and eggs!"

    His cute dark-haired daughter, the one Peter and I had gotten off drugs—by scaring the crap out of her—sat behind the desk. She seemed healthier and more stable than I was. She glanced up as I entered.

    "Hello. May I help you?"

    "I cannot stop him without your help, child. If you die on drugs, he will come for you."

    I took a moment to collect my wits. "Is your father here?" I asked.

    The young woman appeared surprised. "How

    did you know Detective Garrett and I were related?"

    I hesitated. "The person who referred me to your father told me."

    "Oh. Who was that?"

    "I can't remember his name." I nodded to her appointment book. "I called an hour ago. I was supposed to be here at three sharp. I'm sorry I'm twenty minutes late. I got caught in traffic."

    I was late because I had gone back to ask Henry what he knew about Roger. Garrett would need something to start his investigation, that is, if he took the case. The office was nice, the rent high.

    Garrett was obviously doing well.

    "Have a seat please," the daughter said. "I'll tell my father you're here. Ms—?"

    "Jean Rodrigues." I couldn't meet him as Shari Cooper. That was one name he would remember, I was sure.

    She stood. "I'll be just a minute."

    I was left waiting ten minutes, but finally I was ushered into Garrett's office, which had