Stranger Danger (Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective 4)

“Let’s assume for now that Pike just told Archie that the real J.W. is here in town, but he never told him your real name because he doesn’t know it. That would mean that Archie would have no idea who you were or how to find you.”

“You know what they say about assumptions, Lucy.”

“There’s an easy way to figure it out.”

“How?”

“If Archie Clements knows that Will Cunningham is the real J.W. Quicksilver and he’s told the cops that you’re a murderer, then I expect that someone from the Whispering Bay Police Department will be paying you a visit soon.”

We arrive at the ER, where Will is diagnosed with a mild concussion. Four hours later, he’s discharged with instructions to be monitored closely. I volunteer to spend what’s left of the night at his place to make sure that he’s okay.

We pull up to an empty house. “Well, at least the cops aren’t waiting on my doorstep to arrest me.”

“Or they just got tired and left and they’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

“How about I beat them to the punch and go down to talk to them before they come to talk to me?”

“It’s the responsible thing to do,” I agree.

He turns in his seat to face me. “I know this is asking a lot, but will you come with me to the station? For moral support?”

“I’m your best friend. Of course, I’ll come with you.”

“Thanks, Lucy. You’re the best.”

I hesitate, because this is probably the worst possible time to drop this on him, but I have to know. “Why didn’t you trust me? Why didn’t you tell me that you were J.W. Quicksilver? You told Sebastian, but you didn’t tell me.”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you, but it had nothing to do with trust, because I do trust you.” He looks at me oddly. “Honestly? I thought it was weird that you didn’t figure it out on your own. Lucy, do you know how many times I’ve lied to you about it?”

Bunches, I bet. Time for my own confession. “I’ve never caught you in a lie. Not until that night we kissed and I asked you outright if you were J.W. Quicksilver.”

“Never?” he asks incredulously.

“Never. I think it was because … you know, my feelings for you got in the way or something.”

“About those feelings—”

“Can we talk about this later? When we don’t have to worry about running from the law?”

“We’re going to run from the law?”

“If we have to.”

He grins.

“Let’s get in the hou

se and get some sleep. I’ll set my alarm to wake you up in an hour.”

He moans. “Do we really have to do that?”

“Doctor’s orders,” I say in a fake cheery voice.

I hunker down in Will’s guest room, exhausted but too wound up to sleep right away. Like I told Will, going to the police is the right thing to do. But despite the fact that he hasn’t done anything illegal, I can’t help but feel that J.W. Quicksilver is in a whole heap of trouble.

Chapter Twelve

I wake up feeling like something is wrong. A shaft of light streams through the window hitting me in the—light? I jump up from the bed and pull back the blinds. The sun is shining like it’s daytime. Getting up at four every morning to make the muffins means it’s always dark outside. I grab my cell phone. It’s seven in the morning!