Terry. Xeke’s fists tightened. Terry!

  What? Terry’s mind voice sounded so much like Teri’s it was disconcerting.

  We need to talk, he said.

  Later. You can imagine how busy I am.

  No, we need to talk now, Xeke said.

  “Fine.” A doll-sized image of Terry appeared on the dashboard. She let out an exaggerated sigh of frustration. “If you really need to talk right now, I guess that’s more important than Teri’s mental health.”

  It’ll go faster if you stop being a smart ass, Xeke said.

  “You can talk out loud, you know,” Terry said. She pointed at Corey. “He won’t hear us.”

  I’d rather not, Xeke said. I don’t trust you.

  “If I wanted to screw you over, I could do it pretty easy,” Terry said. “I can make Corey see and hear anything I want him to, any time I want him to. You have no choice but to trust me.”

  Bullshit, Xeke said. You may be in Teri’s head, but you’re not her. You don’t have that kind of juice.

  They glared at each other.

  Everyone calm down, Ruddy said. I think we can trust Terry after everything we’ve been through.

  Xeke rolled his eyes. You’re so naive.

  What the hell is that supposed to mean?

  You know she’s the reason Teri’s falling apart. She has to be.

  Terry’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my God. How can you say that?”

  Xeke leaned forward. You aren’t telling us everything. Now spill it. What are you doing to Teri?

  How do you know it’s her? Ruddy said.

  I can tell when people are hiding things, and she’s hiding something.

  “You have no proof of that,” Terry said. “You’re being paranoid.”

  OK, tell me this. What is it you’re doing in Teri’s head that makes you so busy you can’t talk to us?

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  “What do you think I’m doing? I’m trying to keep Teri from falling apart.”

  But what specifically are you doing?

  “It’s complicated.” Her voice was higher. “I can’t explain it. It’s not like fixing a car.”

  What are you getting at, Xeke? Ruddy said.

  I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out what the hell is going on with Teri. Yes, it’s been a shitty couple of days, but the Teri I met a few weeks ago could have handled it. She’s changed—and I think you’re responsible.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Terry said.

  Then answer the question. What are you doing?

  “I … there are … things she doesn’t need to remember, that’s all.”

  So you’re tampering with her memory?

  “I … of course not,” Terry said.

  But you just said you were, Ruddy said.

  “Look, I said it was complicated. I’m … softening things is all. And I don’t have time to stop and hold your hand right now. You’re going to have to trust me. You saw what nearly happened.”

  Trust you? Xeke said. You’ve given us no reason at all to trust you. For all we know, you’re the one who made Ruddy try to kill Teri.

  “Why would I hurt Teri?” she said.

  Maybe you were trying to make us kill Ruddy. He’d be dead right now if I hadn’t stopped Corey.

  Ruddy’s mouth fell open.

  “Are you insane?” Terry said. “You can’t … what kind of person do you think I am? If I wanted you or Ruddy out of the way, you’d have been gone a long time ago.”

  Is that a threat? Xeke said.

  “No. It’s a reality,” Terry said. “You of all people should understand what I mean. Afflicted are dangerous.”

  Xeke sneered at her. You’re not afflicted. You’re not even real.

  Terry flinched.

  “You’re avoiding Xeke’s question,” Ruddy said. “What are you doing to Teri?”

  Terry crossed her arms. “You know what? I’m tired of justifying everything I do to you two. I protected Teri for years before you came along. What right do you have to interrogate me like this?”

  “What right do you have to keep all this from Teri?” Ruddy’s face was red. “Maybe we should tell her everything and let her figure this out.”

  Xeke nodded. “I agree. Whatever you’re doing, she should have a say in it.”

  Her eyes narrowed. She shook her head. “All right. Fine. Tell her. Do what you have to do, but don’t blame me when she takes out half the country. I’m too busy for this shit. You can both go fuck yourselves.” She vanished.

  Xeke slammed his hand against the dashboard. “Goddammit, get back here!”

  Corey looked at him. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” Ruddy said. “Xeke and I were having a little discussion.”

  Teri moaned and twitched in her sleep. “Well, keep it down,” Corey said. “You’re going to wake her up.”

  “You said you were sure she wouldn’t wake up,” Xeke said. “Looks like you were wrong again.”

  Corey raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  Xeke! Ruddy said. Don’t take it out on Corey. He didn’t do anything wrong.

  I’m sick of him acting like he’s in charge. He treats us like we’re a couple of clueless kids. He’s not the only one who knows how to deal with mentalists.

  You might be right, Ruddy said. But yelling at him won’t help. And you’re starting to scare me.

  I’m. Fine.

  No, you aren’t. Look at the windshield.

  There were three cracks spidering out across the view. Xeke went cold. He had lost his temper. If that kept happening, Terry would be the least of their problems.

  He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. You’re right.

  Sooo ... Ruddy said. Do we tell them about Terry?

  Xeke shook his head. Not yet. We need to be careful about this. Once we tell them, there’s no going back. If we’re wrong …

  I hate this, Ruddy said. We can’t even talk about it without her listening in.

  I know. But right now I need to calm down. Last time I lost my temper, I broke a lot more than a windshield.