“Please,” Reece said. “People come here because they likeyou. You’re all the nice things people want an empath to be. No one comes here because they likeme. Even you assumed an empath would be sweet, not a grouchy jerk with a big mouth.”
The corner of Ben’s mouth turned up in a grudging smile. “At least you’re self-aware.” He glanced past Reece, his pupils dilating. “What kind of people doeshelike?”
“Nowyoumade it weird,” Reece said, as Grayson came up behind him. He glanced up at Grayson. “Is Frodo going to let that dick from Stone Solutions work on the computer?”
“Was that ever in doubt?” Grayson leaned on the bar. “Is that a Shirley Temple you’re inhaling?”
“Shut up,” Reece muttered, picking his drink up.
Grayson slid a credit card across the bar. “For the sugar rush.”
Ben glanced expectantly at Reece, like he was prepared for the argument. When Reece just took another long sip, Ben’s expression turned amused. “Oh, I see,” he said slyly, picking up Grayson’s card. “You only lethimbuy your drinks.”
“Or maybeyou’rejumping to the wrong conclusion,” Reece said testily. “Maybe I just work for him, did you think of that?”
Grayson raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were barely workingwithme.”
“It’s not—ugh.” Reece huffed. “Part-time police consulting just doesn’t pay as well as arresting empaths.”
“I only handcuffed you that one time,” said Grayson.
“That one timeso far.”
Ben swiped the credit card and handed it back to Grayson. “Judgment-free zone or not, you two are a trip.”
Grayson’s gaze had gone suddenly to his phone. “TVs on local news, please.”
Ben obligingly changed the station. A moment later, Reece was covering his mouth in horror. “Ohno.”
There he was, on TV again. Only this wasn’t the footage of him vomiting at HQ.
This was worse.
“If empaths had that kind of power we wouldn’t waste it on pumpkins. We’d be hypnotizing Congress and brainwashing the President and—”
Reece stared helplessly at the TVs as screenshots of his social media popped up around an unflattering picture of him and the voiceover read his comments onEyes on Empaths.
The picture flashed to live footage of Reece by his car near Hathaway’s government building.“Fine, yes, you caught me,”he was saying.“I was trying to get the First Amendment revoked with my crazy mind-control powers. Our forefathers were clearly high when they dreamed up freedom of press.”
Gretel Macy’s video footage.
Oh no.
“Dude.” Ben’s eyes were glued to the TV. “Can you do that?”
Reece buried his head in his hands, watching the screen through his gloved fingers.
The anchor returned, his appropriately serious expression unable to hide the gleam in his eyes.“That was empath Reece Davies, who was also filmed today vomiting on the steps of police headquarters downtown.”
The picture of Reece on hands and knees in front of HQ helpfully popped up on-screen, just in case he hadn’t seen himself puke enough times today.
“Davies consults for the Seattle Police Department, where his own half sister is a detective.”
The picture shifted again.
Ben’s eyes popped wide. “That’syour sister?”
Reece ignored Ben’s open mouth as he sat up straight, hands falling to his lap, staring hard at the image of Jamey in uniform on-screen.
