Austin cleared his throat as if hoping to clear the tension in the room.
"Go ahead, Kylie," Holiday said, then everyone looked back at Kylie.
She sat up a little straighter and tried not to wince. "I was told ... by Holiday, that my shrink is the one who got me signed up. I think she convinced my mom that this was a camp for troubled teens."
"And are you?" Burnett tossed out the question.
"Am I what?" Kylie asked.
"A troubled teen?" His tone rang with accusations.
"Of course she's not," Holiday insisted.
Burnett shot a frown back at the camp leader. "As a courtesy, I al owed you to be present, but if you keep interrupting-"
"Bite my ass, Mr. James," Holiday snapped, obviously mad enough not to care about Kylie hearing the PG-13 language.
"Don't tempt me," Burnett retorted.
"Tempting you hasn't crossed my mind," Holiday shot back. "You've been a class-A jerk since you came to see me."
Kylie bit her cheek to keep from smiling. The tension between these two could be cut and served up with hot fudge. It was the kind of tension one saw in a romantic flick.
"Maybe it's the icy reception you've given me for no damn good reason. If I didn't know better I'd think you have a prejudice against vampires."
So he was a vampire. Kylie actual y felt proud of herself for figuring it out.
"Don't fool yourself." Holiday squared her shoulders. "It's not vampires I have a problem with. It's men who think something as inconsequential as a badge gives them the right to intimidate others. From the moment you walked into my camp you've acted as if we should bow down to you. And if that's not bad enough, you're now accusing my kids of-"
Austin cleared his throat again, louder than before. "I think we should get back to Miss Galen here."
Or not. Kylie would like to know what it was the FRU was accusing the campers of doing, exactly. However, her curiosity faded rather quickly when everyone's gaze shot back to her and she recal ed Burnett's question.
"No, I do not consider myself a troubled teen."
Burnett's right brow arched. "Have you ever belonged to a gang?"
"No," she answered, and wondered if he was referring to the Blood Brothers. "I've never real y gotten into any trouble."
"Real y. Weren't you just hauled down to the police station during a drug raid?"
Kylie suddenly understood Holiday's dislike for Mr. Tal Dark and Handsome. He did have a way of making people feel smal . Maybe it was Holiday's nerve of standing up to the vampire that gave Kylie courage. Or perhaps it was just that with al the other crap slung at her today, Kylie's ability to play nice had played out. Then again, maybe she had a brain tumor provoking her to do things she normal y wouldn't do. Tilting her chin up, she let the words rol off her tongue without remorse. "You'd think if you were able to get your hands on that report, that you'd have at least read it. Because I'm sure it stated that I was not doing drugs or drinking."
Burnett's eyes tightened in the corners. But Kylie preferred to focus on Holiday's pleased smile.
"Are you finished now?" the camp leader asked.
"Just a few more questions." Burnett's piercing gaze never shifted from Kylie. "How do you feel about our camp, Miss Galen?"
"It's great." Kylie's heart sputtered when she remembered she couldn't lie. "At least everyone else I've met here seems to like it."
"And you don't?"
Don't lie. "I'd rather be at home."
"And why is that?" Burnett's eyes darkened to black.
"Everything is so ... new to me."
"What's new?"
"The fact that people like you even exist." It was the truth. However, she didn't mean it to sound so ... derogatory.
"Like me? As in vampires?" he asked, clearly offended.
"Supernaturals," Kylie corrected.
"And what do you think you are?" he asked smugly.
"I'm not sure," she answered truthful y. "But I'm hoping I'm nothing. Just me." With a brain tumor. She pushed that thought aside to chew on later. He stared harder and Kylie's courage winced. He shook his head and his brows tightened. "Why are you being so close-minded?"
"I'm not. Believing in al this..." It occurred to her that he wasn't talking about her ability to accept al this, but rather, his inability to read her mind.
"She can't help it." Holiday stepped forward. "It's a condition of one of her gifts. She's a ghost whisperer."
Kylie nodded as if to say ditto. Both men's eyes widened.
"Ghost whisperer?" Austin said, and turned to Holiday, but before he shifted, Kylie spotted something that looked like fear cross his expression.
"Like you?" Burnett glanced at the camp leader.
"You've read my file?" Holiday asked.
"It's my job to know who I'm working with."
"Funny, you didn't offer your file to me," she responded. "And you expect me to work-"
"I'l have it sent over. If it real y interests you," he countered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"On second thought, don't bother," she clipped out. "But to respond to your earlier comment, yes, Kylie's a ghost whisperer just like me." While Holiday's tone lacked the earlier attitude, the brief smile that flashed on her lips contained attitude plus.
"You, too?" Austin shuddered. "I hate ghosts."
"Is she fairy?" Burnett asked, staring and twitching again at Kylie as if attempting to read her once more.
"We're stil trying to decipher that," Holiday answered.
"So her parents are not registered as supernaturals?" Burnett questioned.
"No," Holiday replied.
"They could be rogues."
"Be what?" Kylie asked.
"They would have never sent her here if they were," Holiday answered Burnett, leaving Kylie's question hanging. Kylie's phone buzzed, but she ignored it, not wanting to miss out on any conversation that centered on her.
"Or maybe that's why she's here." Burnett's harsh glare focused on Kylie again. "Were you sent here with a purpose, Miss Galen?"
"No, and my parents didn't do anything wrong," Kylie insisted.
Holiday took a step closer. "If your hearing isn't off, you should be able to tel she spoke the truth."
Burnett nodded. He stood and then focused on Holiday. "You're right. She doesn't seem involved. But I want to be updated on her condition."