Brain Storm by Cat Gilbert (ebook reader computer .txt) 📕

“WHAT ARE YOU doing here?” Jonas demanded as I ushered him into the living room. His words were directed at Trinity, who responded as any attorney would.

“I’m her laww-yyer.” She dragged out the lawyer part, implying Jonas might be having trouble keeping up.

“I wasn’t aware she needed a lawyer,” he snapped back, not missing a beat. Turning around, he fixed me with a glare. “Do you need a lawyer?”

“Hey!” I could be as assertive as the next person. “Leave me out of this. If you two want to go a round, don’t let me stop you. Just tell me when you’re finished and we can get down to business.”

Trinity sat back down in the chair she had leapt up from when Jonas had entered and started in on her.

“He started it,” she mumbled under her breath.

I heard it, and so did Jonas, who snorted loudly and took a seat as far from Trinity as he could get. The tension was so thick in the room you could cut it with a knife. They were both perched on the edge of their seats, looking like they were ready to spring up and do battle should the occasion arise. Whatever was going on here, was more than professional dislike. Either they hated each other for some reason unknown to me, or … hell had indeed frozen over and Jonas, the dedicated cop with no time or desire for a social life and Trinity, man-hating she-devil, were attracted to each other. Heaven help me. Like I didn’t have enough on my plate already.

“Okay, kids. Settle down.” I felt the need to set some ground rules before things went any further. The last thing I needed was a war between the two of them while trying to deal with everything else.

“Jonas, Trinity is here as my friend, not as my lawyer, and Trinity, I invited Jonas here, so let’s all try to be civilized.” I gave them both the eye until Trinity leaned back and Jonas pulled out his notepad and pen and indicated he was ready to do business. “Jonas, I would prefer you wait to take notes until I tell you why I called. I believe it may have something to do with what’s been happening, but I would prefer to keep it as private as possible. Just hear me out and then we can all decide on what to do next.”

“Fine.” Jonas tossed the pad and pen onto the table in front of him. “Tell me. I’m all ears.”

Not exactly friendly, but not overtly hostile either. I glanced over at Trinity as she nodded encouragement and began to tell my story.

An hour later, I was finished. I’d told him everything and now sat braced, waiting to see what happened next.

“I knew it,” Jonas exclaimed, slapping his thighs in excitement. “I knew it!” Jumping up, he began to pace the room. “I knew you two were keeping something from me and that thing in the hospital? You nearly took my coffee! Just like you did with Marcus.”

“Wait a minute. You believe her?” Trinity was watching him tour the room, as was I. I had expected a reaction, but certainly not this one.

“Lady, I’m from the swamps of Louisiana. There’s not much I haven’t seen, and most of it can’t be explained. My own Grandmother had the sight. So yes, in answer to your question, I do believe her.” His pacing came to stop right in front of me, and I looked up to see him towering over my head.

“However, this does put an interesting spin on things,” he said, looking down at me like I was some sort of specimen on display. Not a good feeling and one that I was sure I was going to experience more and more in the future. The feeling of claustrophobia was nearly overwhelming. I could actually feel my heartbeat pulsing in my veins as an unbearable heat began to climb up my neck. Almost instantly a fine sheet of sweat cloaked my skin, and the instinct to flee was overwhelming.

“I need a coffee.” I abruptly announced and managed to wiggle around Jonas, who didn’t bother to move, and hightailed it into the kitchen. I only had a minute to catch my breath before Jonas and Trinity came through the door behind me.

“Guys, I need some space here for a minute,” I said waving them off. “Just give me a couple of seconds.”

Surprisingly, they did an about face and headed back into the living room without saying a word. The kitchen instantly felt larger, and I felt my pulse rate slow down along with my breathing. Was that a panic attack? I’d never had one before, so I didn’t know for sure, but whatever it was, I knew I didn’t want it to happen again. My hands were a little shaky, and it felt like my hair was standing on end, but as I ran my hand over my head, everything felt normal. I picked up the coffee to pour a cup, and the thought crossed my mind that perhaps now might be a good time to switch to decaf. Then again, nothing like that had happened before, and I always hit the caffeine heavy. Shaking my head, I made my way back into the living room, only to find Jonas and Trinity sitting on the sofa, side by side, watching me.

“What?” I looked behind me but didn’t see anything. “What?” I asked again, a little more firmly.

“You didn’t feel that?” Trinity asked, incredulous.

“Feel what?” I had no idea what she was talking about.

Jonas mumbled something under his breath.

“Watch your language,” Trinity snapped, jabbing him a good one with her elbow.

I hadn’t heard what he’d said, but Trinity obviously had and she didn’t approve. Mama D had strict rules on cursing and after being smacked for breaking them on numerous occasions, they had been engrained bone deep on Trinity for all eternity. Even so, I had never heard her call anyone else down on it.

He glared at her and promptly vacated his seat. He passed by the chairs and went instead to lean against the window sill, putting himself well outside her range. Trinity was glaring right back at him, and he turned his back on her, focusing his attention out the window, ignoring her as she blew out a heavy sigh and looked to me for support. I wasn’t sure what to do. Jonas was obviously rattled and Trinity, normally the epitome of professionalism, had just nearly broken his ribs. One minute they had at least been civil to each other and now they were at each other’s throats, the truce over practically before it had even begun. Something had obviously happened to set them off. I may have missed it, but whatever it was they had definitely picked up on it, and it had shaken them both.

At a loss, I glanced from Trinity to Jonas and saw him suddenly stiffen, setting off my inner alarm. Something was wrong. In an instant, he was moving, drawing his gun as he whirled around, but he was too late. The lights went out, just as the front door was kicked open.

They were on us before we knew what was happening. Backlit from the emergency lights in the outside hallway, I could make out four of them, rushing toward us. I had an instant of indecision, then hurled