Sookie Stackhouse: Telepath Extraordinaire for Hire

Thanks for reading. I'm a very busy college student so it will take me a little longer to post chapters. I'm glad that it's a liked story. I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading and reviewing.

The characters are not mine.

I pulled my car into the parking lot of the shopping center where I'd set up my consulting agency, Sookie Stackhouse: Telepath Extraordinaire. When I told Jason that I was going to start my own business he laughed at me; especially when I told him what I was going to be doing. He didn't think that it was going to be a good idea. I didn't really care what he thought and I told him as much.

"I'm not the same little girl from Bon Temps. I'm not going to hide in the shadows anymore, Jason. I am a telepath and I'm not going to be embarrassed by it. It's a part of who I am and I'm going to use it to my advantage. If you don't like it then you don't have to come around me. It's that simple."

He stared at me and shook his head. "I can't believe you're doing this. Gran would roll over in her grave. You're shaming us, Sook. Everyone already thinks you're crazy. Why are going to give them anonymity?"

"It's called ammunition, idiot and that's not what I'm doing. If you don't like it then you don't have to be around me. I'm not going to live my life for you. Don't you get it? I'm a telepath and I'm not ashamed of it." Standing tall and with my head held high, I said, "If you don't like it and you can't deal with it then you don't have to come around me. This is my life, Jason. This is my decision. Not yours. Deal with it or leave me be."

I haven't seen my brother in three years. I miss him but not enough to stop doing what I'm doing. I'm happy with my life and I love what I'm doing. I have so much more now than I did when I was working at Merlotte's. I have health, dental, and vision insurance. I have a hefty bank account. All of my bills are getting paid and they are getting paid on time. I have brand new car that I am paying for on my own and it's almost paid off. Dang it, I should kick my own ass for not doing this long ago.

As I pulled into the parking lot of my building, the sun was setting and it was as hot as it was earlier today. Daylight savings time is getting close but it's hotter than two shades of hell. For the first time in a long time, I'm anxious for the winter to start. Before I jumped out of my Range Rover, I checked my surroundings. In my line of work, I can never be too safe. I've been approached a couple of times but good old Remington has saved my sweet ass more than once. With my gun in my waistband and my purse on my shoulder, I headed inside my building.

Yep, it's my building. I bought it at an auction for $1.00; a whole dollar. I read somewhere that when cities have these old buildings that are taking up space, you can get them at a cheap price. I sure as hell didn't expect to get it for a buck. It needed a little work but in the end, it was worth it. It has two other offices inside and I use one of them as a bedroom for when I stay overnight and the other as storage. I'm always surprised at how well I'm doing. Who would've guessed that Crazy Sookie from Bon Temps would be doing so well? And guess what? I've decided that I can do better if I just expand my horizons.

I've decided to hire out my talents to the vampires. I haven't met any just yet but it's my goal to get my foot into the supe world. I don't mind helping the cops and the FBI but I want something more. Something inside of me is begging for it.

When I walked into my office, the phone was ringing. I dropped everything on the chair in front of my desk and grabbed the phone before my voice mail picked it up. Another thing I need is a secretary.

"Sookie Stackhouse, Telepath Extraordinaire, what can I do for you?"

"Hi, Sookie."

I frowned and looked at the phone. "Hi. Now if I may ask, who is this?"

There was a sniffling woman on the other end of the line. "This is Danielle, from Merlotte's. I used to be one of your co-workers."

One of my taunters is now hiring me. How sweet is that? "Okay," I said. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you had time to meet with me tonight. I need you to follow someone for me. I think my husband is cheating on me."

I sighed. I hated cheating spouses cases but what could I do. Whenever I find out that the spouse is cheating, the spouse that hires me gets made at me for finding what they were looking for and the spouse that was caught cheating wants to sue me. It's a job, right? As long as the client can pay, I never turn down a job. "You know that my fee is $500.00 up front and you are responsible for any expenses that I incur while following your husband."

"I have the money," she answered. "I'm outside now. Can I come in?"

I stood up from my chair and peeked through the blinds and there she was. She was parked beside me and looking at the window waving at me. "Sure, come on in."

She's been in my office for over an hour and she'd cried the entire time. Danielle had found motel receipts in her husband's pants pockets. She's found jewelry receipts and he hasn't bought jewelry for her in years. They haven't had sex in a very, very, very long time (her words, not mine). "He keeps telling me that he has to go out of town for his job but he doesn't have the type of job that you have to go out of town for. He's a forklift operator at Hanes Brand. I ain't never known for no forklift operator to have to travel for his job. He lifts pallets off of warehouse floors."

I promised her that I would do everything that I could to find out what's going on and I'll get started tomorrow. "Since tomorrow is Friday and you said that he's usually out all day and night on Friday, I'll get started then. Can you meet me back here at around 6:00 tomorrow evening?"

"I can," she nodded and she dabbed at her eyes and nose. She opened her purse and slid the envelope of money across my desk. "Do I have to do anything else?"

I shook my head no. "Just be here tomorrow at 6:00. I'll have everything you need."

With the tear-filled and snotty wadded up tissue still in her hand, Danielle shook my hand before leaving my office. Once she was gone, I went to the bathroom and washed my hands in the hottest water I could stand. After I was done, I went to look out my office window and stared across the street. The business was jumping and the music was loud. The people appeared to be having a good time.

"Fangtasia," I said.

I pulled up the blind and rested my hands on the windowsill as I stared at the obscene bar across the street. The costumes were too much and the human patrons were beyond ridiculous. Who would want to dress up like a vampire?

I stood up straight and blinked. I almost laughed at my own stupidity. A vampire bar is right across street and I'm sitting in here waiting for a vampire to hire out my services. I grabbed my purse and keys. I looked my office door and began walking across the parking lot. I'm not going to wait for them to come to me. I'm going to go to them. My motto is that you can't wait for things to happen. You have to make them happen and that's exactly what I'm about to do.

"I'm the master of my own destiny."