Vibrations Read Online Free PDF Page A

only heard her voice,
he’d have thought she was in the mood for a cheery meal. Instead he could see
the pain in her eyes and the way her hands shook.
    “There’s an IHOP down the road,
and a little café just down from that. They serve breakfast all day and it’s
quiet in there.”
    “Then the café it is. I’ll grab
my stuff and meet you in the car.”
    Nick realized she
needed a minute to freshen up so he headed outside. His body felt like it was
in shock from the events of the morning. He felt in his pocket for a cigarette.
“Damn! Great time to quit.” He had quit four months ago but he still felt the
old habits kick in when he was under stress.
    “Man, this sure qualifies for a
stressful moment,” he thought to himself. “What I wouldn’t give for a Marlboro
Light right now. Didn’t see her smoking. Nope, probably not her.”
    He slid into the car and ran
his hand through his hair. Maybe a good meal would calm him down. “But alone
with her? That can’t be the best thing for my nerves.”
    Soon they were settled in the
booth in the back of the café. The whole place was done in a western desert
theme, just like so many businesses and homes in Arizona. Nick had grown tired
of the western décor but at least it was bright and comfortable and almost
deserted. After finishing her breakfast of three eggs, home fries, toast,
juice, and a couple cups of coffee, Whitney started to look a little better.
    Nick had picked at his omelet
and was working on his third cup of coffee. He finally broke the silence.
    “Do you mind if I smoke?”
    “I didn’t think you smoked,”
she said, eyebrows rising and nose wrinkling. “You don’t smell like a smoker.”
    “Well, I just quit. A few
months ago. But I really need one right now.”
    “Oh Nick, I’m sorry. Please
don’t let my stupidity get you started again.”
    “It’s not your fault.” At least
he didn’t think so. “And you are not stupid. I think you are probably very
brave, and maybe a little stubborn, but not stupid. I just need something to
calm my nerves right now. I still have this feeling that this is all a dream
and I’ll wake up any minute. In that case, I won’t actually be smoking and I
won’t have to worry about it.”
    “Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.”
Whitney shrugged and tried to smile. She had too much on her mind to deal with
his habits right now.
    “Thanks”.
    Nick went up to the register
and bought a pack and a lighter. He went outside and sat on the bench. The
first drag tasted like ashtray, and after the second drag his head spun. It was
the dizzy rush of the first cigarette after a long abstinence.
    “Better?” Whitney stepped
through the door and walked toward him.
    “A little. So, what’s the deal
with Sarah? Haven’t you worked with her before?”
    “Well, she tries really hard.
I’ve worked with her a little, but not on such a stressful case. She’s been
around the department for a while, and really wants to be a part of it. She
thinks she has some psychic ability, but nothing that really works in the
field. I guess she might have some ability, because she was able to block me
enough so that I had no idea what she was planning.”
    “Block you? You mean some
people can keep you from sensing their…thoughts?”
    “Yup.” Whitney sat on the bench
as far from Nick as possible. “Some people put up barriers. Those with psychic
abilities have different levels of awareness and some can block others. Even
some without any gifts are able to keep up barriers. Many times it’s the same
person who puts up barriers to relationships and other normal human contact.”
    “So, when people can’t do this,
like most of the population, you can read their thoughts?”
    Whitney could see Nick
fidgeting in his seat and couldn’t help laughing. How many times had she been
through this? She could either get irritated and angry, knowing that he would
probably try to keep his distance from now on, or she could see the humor in
the