T*Witches: Building a Mystery by Randi Reisfeld, H.B. Gilmour

meaningfully at her twin. And Alex realized that she'd finally broken through. She'd read Cade's thoughts.
     

Chapter 11 – The Client
     

    "It's him," Camryn said as they walked their bikes up the driveway. "Look at the way he acted when he found out Eddie was the thief—"
     
    "No way," Alex insisted. "If anything, it's Madison."
     
    "You don't want to believe it's Cade because you're crushed on him." Cam followed Alex into the garage.
     
    "Because I'm so superficial and you're so deep? I don't think so."
     
    Something moved in the back of the garage, startling Alex. Coming from sunlight into the shadows, she couldn't make out what it was. But she thought she heard a recognizable voice, distant, aged, and raspy. Goose bumps prickled the back of her neck. "Doc?" she whispered.
     
    "Wrong again." Cam's eyesight, as sharp as Alex's hearing, has become even keener now that they were both wearing their necklaces. "It's only Dylan," she gloated.
     
    He was sitting in the dark, in an old armchair Dave was supposed to be repairing. "Only Dylan?" he grumbled, standing up and unfolding the note he'd been toying with. "Thanks for the ego boost. Mom just went ballistic on me. I got another slip for her to sign from Hammond. Thanks to Mr. Shnor-rat."
     
    "Why didn't you take it to Dad?" Cam asked. "He's way easier—"
     
    " 'Cause he's having this major do-not-disturb session in the den," Dylan answered. "Some hotshot client—"
     
    "Well, thanks for warming Mom up for us," Cam said, walking into the house. "Couldn't you have waited till Sunday night? I was hoping for a decent weekend."
     
    Alex followed her twin inside. "Cade's going to call me tomorrow," she said casually. You have to admit, he is hot."
     
    "If he delivers a message," Cam said, "don't forget to share it." She started up the stairs.
     
    "Dream on," Alex called after her. "There is nothing about Cade Richman I'm going to share with you."
     
    "My goodness." Emily was on her way down. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
     
    "Hey, Mom. Gotta check my e-mail. BRB," Cam promised.
     
    Emily shook her head.
     
    "Be right back," Alex translated for her.
     
    "Oh," Emily said stiffly.
     
    "Right." Alex rolled her eyes. "I wonder if you're thinking Dylan's latest bust is my fault?"
     
    Emily was, of course. Alex heard her thoughts as distinctly as if she'd shouted them. Emily knew she was probably being unfair, but this strange girl —Alex bristled at the label—this intruder, who looked exactly like her daughter but was really so different from Cam, so rebellious and antisocial and...
     
    Emily became aware of Alex's gaze. And her inner monologue changed.
     
    Behind the scowling defiance, Alex heard the woman tell herself, there is sadness in those startling gray eyes. Ha! Alex thought. Sadness, loneliness, grief.
     
    Emily Barnes , she scolded herself, this girl, this heartbroken child, has just become an orphan. She has lost the most precious human being in the world to her. Her mother...
     
    Alex had had enough. The phone rang. She ran into the kitchen to answer it. By the time Emily came into the room, Alex was sitting on top of the kitchen counter— Why couldn't she have sat in a chair like a normal person? —curling the phone cord around her fingers.
     
    She grinned at Emily suddenly, then winked, melting away the last of Emily's reserve.
     
    "Who was that?" she asked pleasantly as Alex got off the phone.
     
    "Cade," Alex answered. "Cade Richman from school. I'm going to meet him tomorrow—"
     
    Emily sighed deeply. "I'm afraid not," she said.
     
    "I don't believe this!" Alex ranted. "This is unfair.. How can you do this to me? You can't. You have no right to. You're not my mother! You're no one's mother!"
     
    "Yo, cut it out, Alex. That really stinks." It was Dylan. He was at the kitchen door.
     
    "She's so unfair. You hate me! I bet Dave would let me go."
     
    "I doubt that," Emily said. "It was his idea to begin with. Dylan,