A Dark Mind by T. R. Ragan Read Free Book Online Page B

interesting characters.”
    Lizzy wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
    “Have you seen my mom?”
    Lizzy nodded. She figured Hayley would have preferred to move in with her mom so that she could protect her, but the judicial order stated that Lizzy was her guardian, and therefore Hayley had no choice but to live with her and Jared—at least for now. “I’ve been watching your mom, just as I promised I would,” Lizzy said. “A few days ago, I followed her downtown. She went to the grocery store and then dropped an envelope in a drop box outside the post office. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looked good.”
    “Any sign of Brian?”
    “No. According to county records, he sold his house a few months ago. I have yet to find out where he moved to.” Lizzy knew Hayley had reason to worry about Brian’s whereabouts. Because of him, Hayley had spent the past nine months in the juvenile detention center. After Hayley had cut off his penis and burned “child rapist” across his chest, Brian had promised her he would kill her mother, which was why Hayley had asked Lizzy to keep an eye on her. Brian’s penis was reattached, and the day after he left the hospital, he was brought in for questioning. Unfortunately,Hayley’s mom was strung out and unwilling to speak out against the man she believed loved her and cared about her. Despite the years of abuse she and her daughter had been subjected to, Brian was released within twenty-four hours, and there was nothing Lizzy could do about it.
    Hayley picked up her right leg and settled it on her left knee so she could examine the monitor covering her ankle.
    “Is it too tight?”
    “It’s OK. I just need to get used to it.”
    Lizzy noticed that Hayley couldn’t fit a finger beneath the plastic. “I think we should turn around and make them loosen it.”
    “No. It’s fine.” She let her foot drop to the floor and kept her gaze straight ahead.
    Hayley was still the same stubborn girl she’d always been, so Lizzy let it go. “To keep you from going stir crazy, I was hoping you would be willing to work for me from home.”
    “You know how I love paperwork.”
    Lizzy smiled at her sarcasm, glad to know Hayley still sounded like Hayley.
    “What’s my radius on this thing?” Hayley asked, gesturing toward her foot.
    “You can go anywhere within a mile of the house. Any farther than that, and the receiver transmits your new location to authorities and you could end up right back in jail.”
    Hayley exhaled. “I bet Jared’s excited about having a new roommate.”
    “He’s fine with it,” Lizzy said, which was the truth. Jared was easygoing and flexible. “He’s been traveling a lot. He’s gone right now, but he’ll be home for a few days before he has to take off again.”
    “What’s he working on?”
    “He’s meeting with the NCAVC coordinator to determine whether he can get some assistance from the Behavioral Analysis Unit on a case he’s working on here in Sacramento.”
    “A lot of psychos in the world to keep him busy, I guess.”
    “Sad, but true,” Lizzy said before changing the subject. “I’m going to take you home and then run to the grocery store. What can I get for you?”
    “I’m fine. I’ll eat whatever you have at the house.”
    “Come on,” Lizzy pressed, “there must be something you crave after all these months.”
    “I’ll never eat bologna or beans again. Other than that, I’ve got nothing.”
    “I was thinking you might want to call Tommy in a few days, since he keeps asking about you.”
    “Tommy who?”
    “The boy you met at the high school where we talked—”
    “Are you talking about the Karate Kid?”
    Lizzy chuckled. “Sure, yeah, I guess I am.”
    “Lizzy.”
    “Yes?”
    “I know you mean well, but can you just not worry about me? I mean, if we’re going to live together for a while, I’d rather you not mother-hen me. No cooking me meals,