“You came here for a reason,” I repeat. “What is it?”

He takes a slow, shuddering breath. “How do you know about my parents?”

Questions I can work with. People who stay here always have questions.

“There are three kinds of people who stay here.” I hold up a hand, counting down each finger. “Tourists who wouldn’t see a trap if it bit them in the rear, people who stay too late at our parties, and people like you. The ones who are looking for answers.”

“Are you going to give me some?” he asks.

I raise a single eyebrow, a habit I picked up from my aunt Elaine. I prefer to think I don’t look as silly as she does when I do it. “I can try, but you have to tell me exactly what happened.”

Colin’s entire body tenses like a coiled spring. I don’t blame him. He’s lost his parents, and he’s here alone. He looks one wrong word away from running again.

I need to be careful. If he leaves, I’ll never figure out what happened. My only chance to put my powers to use will be gone, a killer will go free, and Colin might never know the truth.

“If we’re going to find the answers you’re looking for, you’ll have to learn to accept weird things.” I try for a reassuring smile. “It’s the only way this works.”

“The way what works?” His voice cracks. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand why my brother sent me here or how you know about my parents or any of it!”

I cringe. I’ve never been good at this serious stuff. Kara always says my mouth moves faster than my brain. It’s the same reason my parents moved me out of school, the same reason even in Wick, a place known for weird, I’m too strange to hang out with anyone other than a cat and a house.

It doesn’t help that I can’t ever seem to say the right thing.

I fumble for the words. Surely I can at least explain this without making him hate me?

“My power is called psychometry,” I say. “When I touch someone who’s seen death, I see and feel it as they did. Last night, we had a party, and I bumped into someone and saw the exact same thing I just saw when I touched you, which means they were there that night. I didn’t actually see their face, but I can help you figure out who it was.”

“How is that possible?” he whispers.

I approach him as I would a flighty wisp. “I don’t know. Magic has always been a part of my life. Sometimes I forget how it can seem to other people.”