Whose estimates? Michael asked.
Sloane smiled like a Cheshire cat. Mine.
Michael put his hands behind his head and leaned back. Forget studying killers. Lets arrest fourteen percent of all reality television stars and call it a day.
Sloane slouched in her chair and toyed with the end of her ponytail. Being a psychopath isnt a crime, she said.
Are you defending psychopaths? Michael asked, arching one eyebrow to ridiculous heights. This is why we dont give you coffee.
Hey, Sloane said defensively, Im just saying that statistically, a psychopath is more likely to end up as a CEO than a serial killer.
Ahem. Lia was the only person I knew who would actually say the word ahem to announce her presence. Once she had our attention, she looked at each one of us in turn. Judd just left for a night on the town with an old friend. We have the house to ourselves. She clasped her hands together in front of her body. Living room. Fifteen minutes. Come prepared.
Prepared for what? I asked, but before the question had fully exited my mouth, she was gone.
That probably does not bode well. Michaels words didnt sound much like a complaint. He stood. Ill see you ladies in fifteen.
As I watched him walk out the door, I couldnt help thinking that Id spent most of my life as an observer, and Lia was the type to pull people off the sidelines.
Any guesses what were getting ourselves into? I asked Sloane.
Based on previous experience, Sloane replied, my guess would be trouble.
CHAPTER 16
Sofa, chairs, pillows, rug , I thought. And he chooses to sit on stone .
I flashed back to the first time Id seen him, lifting weights and pushing his body to the brink. My very first impression had been that he was punishing himself.
Glad to see you all made it. Lia didnt just walk into a room; she made an entrance. All eyes on her, she sank to the floor and stretched her legs out, crossing her feet at the ankles and spreading my dress out around her. For your entertainment this evening: Truth or Dare. She paused, raking her eyes over the rest of us. Any objections?
Dean opened his mouth.
No, Lia told him.
You asked for objections, Dean said.
Lia shook her head. You dont get to object.
Do I? Michael asked.
Lia considered the question. Do you want to?
Michael glanced at me, then back at Lia. Not particularly.
Then, yes, Lia replied. You do.
Beside me, Sloane raised her hand.
Yes, Sloane? Lia said pleasantly. Apparently, she wasnt concerned that our resident numbers girl might object.
Im familiar with the gist of the game, but Im unclear on one thing. Sloanes eyes gleamed. How do you win?
Michael grinned. You have
to love a girl with a competitive streak.
You dont win Truth or Dare, I said. In fact, I deeply suspected this was the kind of game that everybody lost.
Is that an objection? Lia asked.
From across the room, Dean was telegraphing the words SAY YES to me, as clearly as if hed hired a plane to write them in the sky. And if Id been in a room with any other teenagers on the planet, I would have. But I was in a room with Michael, who I couldnt quite profile, and Dean, whod said the other day that Naturals didnt work on active cases anymore . I had questions, and this was the only way I was going to get to ask them.
No, I told Lia. That wasnt an objection. Lets play.
A slow smile spread across Lias face. Dean banged his head back against the fireplace.
Can I go first? Sloane asked.
Sure, Lia replied smoothly. Truth or dare, Sloane?
Sloane gave her a look. Thats not what I meant.
Lia shrugged. Truth. Or. Dare.
Truth.
In a normal game of Truth or Dare, that would have been the safer optionbecause if the question was too embarrassing, you could always lie. With Lia in the room, that was impossible.
Do you know who your father is?
Lias question took me completely off guard. Id spent most of my life not knowing who my own father was, but couldnt imagine being forced to admit that in front of a crowd. Lia seemed fond of Sloane, more or less, but clearly, in Truth or Dare, the kid gloves came off.
Sloane met Lias eyes, unfazed. Yes, she said. I do.
A swing and a miss, Michael murmured. Lia gave him a dirty look.
Your turn, she told Sloane, and from the look on her face, I guessed she was bracing herself for paybackbut Sloane turned to me.
Cassie. Truth or dare?
I tried to imagine what kind of dare Sloane might come up with, but drew a blank.
Statistically, the most common dares involve eating unpleasant food, making prank phone calls, kissing another player, licking something unsanitary, and nudity, Sloane said helpfully.
Truth.
Sloane was silent for several seconds. How many people do you love?
The question seemed harmless enough until I started thinking about my answer. Sloanes blue eyes searched mine, and I got the distinct feeling that she wasnt asking because she thought it would be amusing to hear my answer.
She was asking because she needed data points to compare to her own.
How many people do I love? I repeated. Like love how?