Ghostwalker 02 - Mind Game

Careful to make no noise, he drew the weapon from the sheath strapped to his calf. Using psychic pressure was always a dicey proposition. He willed the man to look the other way, careful to keep the suggestion a light one. If he met with heavy resistance, he would have to stop instantly. Some people had very light resistance and agreed readily with every suggestion, no matter how subtle. Others had stronger barriers and often resisted and even became suspicious, or uncomfortable, looking around, shaking their heads, obviously fighting the “push” to act out of character.

    The sound of a scream burst from the house. Instantly the night insects went silent. The guard on the porch tossed his cigarette aside and leaned down to call to the one circling the house. “He’s not going to tell Gregson anything. Why doesn’t Gregson just kill him and be done with it?”

    “Shut up, Murphy and get back to your watch.”

    Murphy cursed and spun away from the railing. “With all the screaming going on, Paulie, don’t you think the neighbors are going to call the police soon?”

    “By the time anyone hears him way out here, Gregson will kill him, and we’ll be long gone.” Paulie stopped walking and backed up until he could clearly see all of Murphy.
    His boots were no more than five feet from Nicolas’s head. “And you’d better stop yelling, the woman might show up.”

    Murphy turned back to the railing, a snarl on his face. He glared down at Paulie. “I think all the screams coming from the house are going to tip her off that we’re here.”

    Paulie shifted his rifle. It was the smallest of gestures, but a clear signal. “You’ve always been too squeamish, Murphy. Just do your job.”

    Murphy spit over the railing and walked away, his boots making an angry sound on the wood.

    Paulie stood for a moment staring up at the house before turning away to once more make his way around the parameter, just inside of the thin wire. He passed within inches of Nicolas. The guard wasn’t looking down at the ground, but out into the darkness.

    Nicolas remained still until Paulie had turned the corner of the house. He eased himself up and over the wire. Almost immediately Murphy, up on the porch, returned. Nicolas froze, “pushing” him to look the other way. The cries in the house had died down, but Murphy was clearly uncomfortable with what was going on. He lit another cigarette, staring out over the river blindly. Only when he began to pace restlessly away from the railing did Nicolas gain the path to the house.

    The windows along the side were locked. It didn’t present much of a problem. He could work uncomplicated locks. These were classic sliders. With all the practice Lily had made the GhostWalkers do, such a minor thing didn’t even cause headaches anymore.

    Get the hell out of here, Dahlia. It’s a damned trap . The male voice was weak and edged with pain, but carried the unmistakable command of a man used to obedience.

    Jesse Calhoun must have felt the surge of power when Nicolas manipulated the locks. I’m not Dahlia. Are any of the guards telepathic ?

    Nicolas felt Calhoun’s shock and instant withdrawal. Come on, man. I don’t have a lot of time before the guard comes around to this side of the house. Dahlia’s waiting close by .

    You’re the shooter. In the sanitarium. Their plan went all to hell because of you.

    How many inside?

    Four. I don’t know how many outside, but they’ve got the house covered. And they have sensors in the rooms. I’m dying anyway. You can’t save my life, I’ve lost too much blood and my legs are hamburger. Just get Dahlia out of here.

    I’m coming in now.

    Calhoun cried out in pain, a long scream that tore at Nicolas’s gut. He had no idea if Gregson was still in the room torturing Jesse, or if the scream was meant to cover any sound. Regardless, Nicolas took the opportunity to slide the window open and slip into the house. Using his enhanced abilities, Nicolas tripped the sensors throughout the house as he went up the wall to the ceiling, knowing they would come for him. They wouldn’t know which room he was in, and they would have to search each one. To do that would divide their numbers.

    He clung to the walls like a spider, pressing with his hands and digging with his toes, moving up in the corner until he loomed over the door. He didn’t have long to wait. The door burst open, and the shadowy figure in the hall let loose with his weapon.