Page 81 of Power of the Mind
“Not in Hilty’s office.”
“Lobby? Waiting area?”
“Yes.”
“So I need to go in a window?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
“His office.”
“But… it’s on the second floor.”
“Yep.”
I stared at Diem. “How…”
“There’s a drainpipe. It held my weight, so it will hold yours no problem.”
“A drainpipe?”
“Yep.”
“I have to climb a drainpipe to reach his window, jimmy it open, and squeeze inside all without falling and maiming myself?”
“Yep. Good luck.”
I stared at the dark building across the street for a long time, then down at the new, beige, designer dress shirt I’d worn twice, the cotton trousers I’d spent over a hundred dollars on, and the only nice pair of loafers I owned. The ones with threadbare soles.
In a huff, I tore off the gloves and threw them at Diem. “Fine. You go have all the fun, and I’ll wait here and be thelookout.” The word tasted bitter and sarcastic on my tongue.
Diem hesitated, turning the gloves over in his hands a few times, but in the end, he donned them and left me alone in the Jeep. At the corner of the strip mall, Diem vanished.
I scanned the stupid street, feeling useless. All was quiet. Pape Avenue had regular evening traffic, but nothing noteworthy. No cops waited in the shadows. No pedestrians nosed around, observing us breaking the law. There wasn’t even a dog to bark at something suspicious.
I grew bored in an instant, and boredom punctuated my extreme fatigue. When I couldn’t take it anymore and fought every second to keep my eyes open, I took out my phone, figuring I’d goof around to keep myself awake.
No texts awaited. No emails. Not even a message from my mother checking in—she did that often.
Memphis was pissed about his canceled appointment with the psychic, so he’d not talked to me in over twenty-four hours. Considering we usually text-chatted several times a day, it was a big deal. I decided to break the ice for lack of anything else to do.
Tallus: You still mad?
It took almost five minutes for him to respond. Five minutes where, with heavy eyelids, I rested my head against the side window. Five minutes where I browsed my socials and randomlychecked the street in both directions so when Diem returned, I could say I’d done my duty.
Five minutes fighting to stay awake.
I startled and jolted upright when my phone buzzed. Good grief. I was never going to make it at this rate. Diem needed to hurry the fuck up.
Memphis: Yes, I’m mad. You’re cramping my style, and you know I don’t like anyone telling me what to do. Bitch, she’s a psychic, not a serial killer.
Tallus: We don’t know that. I’m looking out for you.
Memphis: Bullshit. You’re looking out for YOU. You think I’m an idiot?
Tallus: One more day. Please.