The Enlightened (Mind Dimensions #3)(51)

“What I do puts Xanax to shame,” Liz says with confidence. “And I’ve been testing it on live human subjects for many years. They always come back for more.”

“In that case, please,” I say. “And in the long term, do you think you can help with Lucy’s baby situation? It’ll probably be a painful shock to just remember she gave up her child like that...”

Liz nods. “I’ll make sure the doctor advises her to see me after she checks out. And I’ll also make sure she’s receptive to the idea of getting therapy.”

“You can make her believe it’s for her OCD,” I suggest. “Thank you for this. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it.” Liz walks over to Sara and starts doing her Xanax thing.

“And one more thing,” I say, realizing I can no longer tell Lucy everything. “Can you make her forget to ask me for the explanation I promised her earlier on the phone?”

“What explanation?” Liz asks.

“Do you need to know?” I ask. “To make her forget safely and all?”

“I can do it without knowing, but curiosity is a weakness of mine. You know that.”

“Then I’d rather not explain,” I say. I’m glad Liz didn’t lie by saying she needed to know, but I still don’t want to admit that I was about to bring my mom completely up to speed, not when I don’t know Liz’s feelings on the matter.

Liz gives me an analytical look, but doesn’t push the issue. She knows not to bother.

“So are you going to tell us who did this to her?” Thomas asks.

If he was trying to defuse the tension in the air, he couldn’t have asked a worse question.

“Depends,” I say. “What will happen to this person? What’s the plan?”

“I honestly don’t know,” Thomas says. “Liz?”

She shrugs. “I’m not sure either. But given that he attacked one of us, I’d say it’s a matter for the Elders to deal with.”

“What about my mom? What’s the punishment for what he did to her?”

“If you’re talking about her”—Thomas points at Lucy—“they might not see it the same way as you and I do. She isn’t one of us, so our laws don’t extend to her. If you’re talking about your biological mother, then absolutely, he will have to answer for that murder.”

“What. Will. Happen?” I ask through clenched teeth, too angry to confront him on the fact that his Elders wouldn’t see what Kyle did to my mom—the rape and the other f*cking atrocities he did to her mind—as a violation of their laws.

“The Elders’ justice is shrouded in mystery,” Liz says. “So we honestly don’t know.”

“That’s not good enough.”

“What does it have to do with telling us who the Pusher is?” Thomas asks. “Surely you can tell us that?”

“I plan to kill him,” I say evenly. “And don’t you try to shrink-talk me out of it.”

Liz gives me a thorough look. “Actually, I think this is a very rare case where I believe action will help you achieve catharsis. So I won’t stop you. ”

“Whatever you’re planning, I won’t rat you out,” Thomas adds.

“In that case, his name is Kyle,” I say bitterly. “Liz, you might’ve heard me refer to him as Uncle Kyle.”





Chapter 19





“You have an uncle who’s one of us?” Liz asks, her eyes round with surprise. “I didn’t know this.”

“Neither did I,” I say.

“There’s only one Guide named Kyle in the city,” Liz says thoughtfully. “Grant.”

“That’s him. Kyle f*cking Grant,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Wait,” Thomas says. “He’s in law enforcement.”

“You know him?” I ask.

“Somewhat. Though he never hangs out at the club.”

“I know him a little better,” Liz says. “And I could easily see him as a Traditionalist. I always knew he had issues, but I never suspected such deep-seated—”

“He’s a dead man,” I interrupt. “So you don’t need to analyze him.”

Liz sighs. “I’m sorry,” she says, “but I’m going to have to go back on one thing I said. I don’t think killing him is a good idea.”

“Why the f*ck not?” I snap. Great, now I’m yelling at my shrink.

“He’s been around you your whole life. He’s been like a father figure to you. Do I need to draw you a diagram?”

“He stuck around so he could wipe Lucy’s mind at regular intervals,” I explain, my voice tight with anger.

“That may be true,” Liz says quietly, “but it doesn’t change what you feel about him.”

“What I feel is that he and I can’t breathe the same air,” I say sharply. “If you want to help, tell me something useful about him.”

“We didn’t hang with the same crowd,” she says. “I only knew of him because he was a Guide.”

“Oh shit,” I say as something dawns on me. “That explains it.”