Trust Me

by Melinda Metz

Overview

From the author of the Roswell High series, a teen with telepathic powers alienates her closest ally, even as her mysterious enemies draw closer.
 
Having a special power isn’t easy for Rae. For starters, everyone thinks she’s crazy.
 
Anthony is the only person in her life who makes her feel sane and safe. It was Anthony who helped her understand—and embrace—her ability to read people’s thoughts with a touch of her hand. Now Rae has a chance to help Anthony by finding his missing father. But what she discovers instead is a dark truth that sends her friend on a downward spiral. As Rae struggles to make things right with Anthony, she collides with her past, and her family’s secrets. Only this time, Rae doesn’t have Anthony to turn to, a fact she feels more keenly when the stranger stalking her makes her realize just how vulnerable she is . . .
 
Praise for Gifted Touch
 
“[A] fast pace and original premise.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“This engaging mystery conveys themes of self-discovery and self-acceptance within a classic whodunit framework.” —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781504088633
Publisher:	Open Road Media
Publication date:	09/26/2023
Series:	Fingerprints
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	186
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Melinda Metz is the author of more than sixty books for teens and middle-grade readers, including the YA series Roswell High and Fingerprints. She has worked on TV shows such as Roswell, which was based on her series and Missing. Metz lives in Concord, North Carolina, with her dog, Scully.

Read an Excerpt

Fingerprints #3: Trust Me

Chapter One

Rae Voight hurried down the long hallway leading to Oakvale Institute's group therapy room on Wednesday afternoon. She tried to breathe mostly through her mouth because the smell of the industrial cleaner they used on the linoleum floor brought back memories of being in the mental hospital. Not even memories, exactly. It was more like the harsh smell transported her right back into the hospital, back into her room with her silent roommate, back to taking pills from little white accordion-pleated cups, back to feeling like she was free falling into insanity.

But now you know you're not insane, she told herself. She was a fingerprint reader'she touched a print, she got a thought from the person who left it.

Weird. Spooky. Freakish. But not insane. She pulled in another mouth breath, the chemicals sour on her tongue. Next time I'm bringing gum, she thought.

Footsteps pounded down the hall behind her, coming right at her. Rae whirled around, her heart rate already doubling. At any time the person who'd tried to kill her in this very building could decide to try again. She was stupid to let her guard down for even a second. She stiffened, ready to run'or just scream really loudly'but then she saw Anthony Fascinelli, and her pulse immediately slowed back down.

"Charging after a girl who's already had one assassination attempt on her isn't the smartest..."

Rae's words trailed off as she took in Anthony's expression. His mouth was tight, and his dark eyes were practically crazed with fear. Anthony wasn't a guy who looked scared very often.

"What?" Rae demanded, wrapping her arms tightly aroundher waist.

"I just got a call from Anna, my little sister," Anthony said. His voice came out husky, and he cleared his throat. Then cleared it again.

Rae wanted to grab him and shake him'shake the words out of him. Instead she pulled in a deep breath and waited.

"She said that Zack ran away," Anthony finally continued. "He left a note. But what if he'""What if he got snatched, the way Jesse did?" Rae finished for him. Oh God, no. No. This couldn't be happening again. She and Anthony had managed to rescue Jesse Beven'a kid in their group who was pretty much Anthony's honorary little brother. But he'd been in bad shape. If it had taken them a few more days to find out where he was being held . . . even thinking about it made Rae feel like her stomach was filled with worms. Live ones.

"Yeah. What if he did," Anthony answered. "I need you." He shoved his hands through his sandy brown hair. "I need you to do your fingerprint thing," he added quickly.

"I'm there." Rae was already heading back out of the institute, Anthony right behind her. She wanted to run, just tear down the hall, but that was the best way to get stopped and asked a bunch of questions. She forced herself to keep her pace to a fast walk. Maybe Zack did just run away, she thought frantically. She tried to remember how old Anthony's brother was. About fifteen. Kids that age ran away all the time. And if he ran, we'll have him back today, she promised herself.

But if he was snatched . . .

"Why doesn't whoever the hell is doing this just take me?" Rae exploded as she climbed into Anthony's mom's Hyundai and slammed the door. "Whoever took Jesse did it just to test me. If they still want to know more, why won't they just take me? Why go after Zack or anybody else?" She swallowed, feeling the mixture of fear and guilt rise up inside her. "It's not like they don't know where to find me," she added, tugging her jacket tighter around her. "I mean, they bugged your car, they're taking photos of me wherever I go'"

Rae shot a glance at Anthony as he pulled out of the parking lot, noticing his lethal grip on the steering wheel. Even through his T-shirt she could see how bunched the muscles in his shoulders were. She was just making things worse. She was being antihelp.

"But we don't know anyone took him. We should just wait and see," she added lamely. Anthony gave a grunt in response. It was clear he had no interest in talking, so Rae clamped her teeth together to prevent any nervous chattering and stared out the window as he drove.

Her teeth squeaked against each other as she tightened her jaw until the muscles ached. This is my fault. This is all my fault, she thought. Anytime anyone gets close to me, something bad happens to them. Not even that close. She'd never even met Anthony's brother, and now because of her--

You don't know that, she told herself. But in her gut she didn't believe it. She knew she was dangerous. She should go live in a cave somewhere, survive on berries and nuts. Except then her new little friends, the bunnies and the bluebirds and the cute baby deer, they'd start disappearing. Pipe bombs would show up in the trees and--

Give it up, Rae ordered herself. You can have a pity party'with balloons, cake, and a clown'later. After Zack is safe.

"This is my street," Anthony announced as he made a left turn onto a block filled with small houses crammed together. It wasn't hard to figure out which of the houses was Anthony's. A girl and two boys stood on the small front lawn. They ran to the curb when they saw Anthony driving toward them...

Fingerprints #3: Trust Me. Copyright © by Melinda Metz. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.