“The sad thing is that they could find you if they cared. Phoebe could trace your feelings. Parker could get in there just like I have so many times and figure it out. But I must say, I don’t think they’ll put too much effort into it.”

Right now I could care less about them, but I knew to keep him talking. That’s what they did in the movies. Maybe I’d get lucky and he’d launch into an evil villain speech, and then… what? I’d freeze to death. That sounded like a better alternative to whatever he planned. I twisted my wrists. Blood, water, and cold sweat coated the cuffs. There was a chance I could slip out of them. Maybe, but not likely.

He rocked back on his heels and reached into his pocket. Withdrawing a tiny silver coinmy coinTheo held it up. “Ah, I see you recognize this. It’s the same coin I gave you. After all, how else could I get into that little head of yours? I either needed something of yours or you had to have something of mine.”

It all started to click into place. The times I’d started to feel dizzy in his class or sick to my stomach when I talked to him. He’d been in my head, messing around. And when Parker was reading my thoughts, he’d held a sweater of minea connection to me.

“You’re a telepath.”

Mr. Theo reached out and patted the top of my head with one gloved hand. I winced. “Good girl. I also can put thoughts into other people’s heads. Make people believe whatever I want them to.”

“Andand the papers I found? You made me think I saw the articles and the menubecause I had that coin?” I would’ve smacked myself if I could get my hands free. “Why did you make me see those things?”

“Because I knew that was your worst fearand what you already expected. I figured you’d run away at that point, giving me my chance to swoop in.” He leaned over, plucked up another rat and threw it. The soft thud and shrill shriek made me shudder. “When I saw you leaving school, I followed you. I should’ve expected Cromwell’s little prodigy boy would follow you. I’ve seen how you’ve spent your Thanksgiving break, you naughty, naughty girl.”

I felt sick knowing he’d been peeping in on my immensely private thoughts.

“But it’s all okay now.”

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this.” I hated the way my voice broke, the way my whole body shook.