Free Extra Sensory Deception by Allison Kingsley Page A

sighed. It was beginning to look as if she wouldn’t get anything out of Anita, either. She could tell the woman was hiding something. The Sense voice was buzzing loud and clear in her ear.
    There had been a time or two when she’d been able to read someone’s mind, but it was rare. Most of the time, if someone really didn’t want anyone to know what he was thinking, it wasn’t that hard to block his thoughts. All she could tell was that Anita knew something important and wasn’t willing to share it.
    “That’s great,” Stephanie said, “but the police are very good at making mountains out of molehills. Wes could be in a lot of trouble while he’s trying to prove his innocence, and all the bad publicity could ruin his career. You might never see him again after all this is over.”
    Anita’s eyebrows shot up. “You really think so?
    Stephanie solemnly nodded. “I do.”
    Anita stared down at her bright blue cowboy boots for several seconds, then reluctantly lifted her head. “All right, I’ll tell you what I know. Only if you swear on God’s green earth that you won’t tell a soul that I told you.”
    “You have our sacred promise,” Clara assured her.
    “All right. The last time I saw Lisa, it was right around eight fifteen that night. I know that because we’d just gotten through with our event. Melosa and I were walking away from the arena to get ice cream and we saw Lisa heading toward the concert stage. I could tell by the way she was hurrying and looking around that she was afraid of being seen. I think she was going to meet someone and wanted to keep it a secret.”
    “And could that have been Wes?”
    Anger flared in Anita’s eyes. “No, it couldn’t. I know he had a major crush on her, but she didn’t want anything to do with him. In fact, she was mean to him. She told him once that he had no manners and he smelled bad. There’s no way she’d sneak out to meet him anywhere. If she was meeting someone, it wasn’t Wes Carlton.”
    The woman’s thought came through loud and clear in Clara’s head. “But you think you know who it might have been.”
    Again Anita hesitated, then slowly nodded her head. “You might want to talk to Paul Eastcott. He’s the production manager at the Hill Top Resort, and he’s in charge of the rodeo. Lisa was his assistant. She told me they were in love and that she was going to marry Paul. She said he was going to ask his wife for a divorce.” Anita uttered a scornful laugh. “Like that was going to happen. Diane has it all—looks, money—her family owns the Hill Top chain. She was responsible for the new resort being built here. She likes living here and she’s hoping Paul won’t travel so much now there’s a Hill Top in Finn’s Harbor. Paul’s living the good life right now, and he’d never have given up all that for Lisa. If he really was having an affair with her, he was just playing with her.”
    Clara exchanged a meaningful look with her cousin. “Do you know where we can find him?”
    Anita glanced at her watch. “He’s either at home or in his office at the resort. I did hear he was interviewing for another assistant, so I’d try the office first.”
    “Thank you, Anita. You’ve been really helpful.”
    “You’re welcome.” Anita grabbed her arm. “You swear you won’t tell him or anyone else what I told you? If word gets around that I bad-mouthed Paul, he might find a way to get back at me.”
    “I swear.”
    “Me, too,” Stephanie promised.
    Anita’s fingers tightened on Clara’s arm. “You really think you can help Wes?”
    “I hope so.” Clara smiled as the woman let go of her arm. “We’ll certainly do our best to clear his name.” She started to leave, then turned back. “Oh, by the way, do you happen to own a red shirt?”
    Anita’s laugh sounded forced. “No way. Can you imagine how that would clash with my hair?”
    “Oh, right.” Clara turned away again, while the voice in her head said over and over