The Locksmith

Mindjack Origins #5

by Susan Kaye Quinn

Companion Novella to the Mindjack Series  
In a world filled with mindreaders, Zeph is a mindjacker who wants to stay hidden—even if it means the cute mindreader in his Latin class is forever out of his reach. He locks and unlocks minds for a ruthless mindjacker Clan in exchange for protection and the chance to have a normal life with his parents and little sister. But when a girl he doesn’t know reveals the existence of mindjackers to the world, Zeph is forced to make a choice: unlock—and ultimately destroy—the mind of a young jacker changeling… or turn his back on everyone he loves. 

The Locksmith is a SHORT NOVELLA (STANDALONE) (11000 words or 44 pages), a companion story to the Mindjack: Zeph Series.

MINDJACK: KIRA
Open Minds (Book 1)
Closed Hearts (Book 2)
Free Souls (Book 3)
Mindjack Short Story Collection (Book 4)

MINDJACK: ZEPH
Locked Tight (Book 1)
Cracked Open (Book 2)
Broken Wide (Book 3)
The Locksmith (Book 4)

The Locksmith is a standalone novella that can be read independently.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Ebooks

Unknown Binding

First published February 9, 2015

About the author

CLICK HERE for a FREE STORY

Susan Kaye Quinn has designed aircraft engines and researched global warming, but now she uses her PhD to invent cool stuff in books. Her works range from hopeful climate fiction to gritty cyberpunk. Sue believes being gentle and healing is radical and disruptive. Her short fiction can be found in Grist, Solarpunk Magazine, Reckoning, and all her novels and short stories can be found on her website. She is the host of the Bright Green Futures podcast.

SOLARPUNK
collections
Bright Green Futures: 2024 (edited by SKQ)
Halfway to Better

novels
Nothing is Promised series
When You Had Power
You Knew The Price
Of Kindness and Kilowatts
Yet You Cry When It Hurts

short stories
A Moon Goddess to Watch Over Me (Luna Station Quarterly) (hopepunk)
It's in the Blood (Reckoning 8)
Once and Future Kilowatts (Solarpunk Magazine)
Rewilding Indiana (Little Blue Marble)
Seven Sisters (Grist)
The Joy Fund (DreamForge Magazine)

SCI-FI
Singularity Novel Series
The Legacy Human
The Duality Bridge
The Illusory Prophet
The Last Mystic

Stories of Singularity
Restore
Containment
Augment
Awakening
Harvest
Defiance
Resistance

YA SF
Mindjack Series
Open Minds
Closed Hearts
Free Souls
Locked Tight
Cracked Open
Broken Wide
Mindjack Short Story Collection

WATCH the award-winning live-action Mindjack Book Trailer!

STEAMPUNK ROMANCE
Royals of Dharia
Third Daughter
Second Daughter
First Daughter

CYBERPUNK
Debt Collector
LIRIUM (Season One)
WRAITH (Season Two)

WATCH the Debt Collector Book Trailer

ANTHOLOGIES
Synchronic
Telepath Chronicles
AI Chronicles
Dark Beyond The Stars
Future Chronicles
Cyborg Chronicles
CLONES: The Anthology

MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY
Faery Swap

WATCH the Faery Swap Book Trailer

CONTACT SUSAN
Susan's Website | Sue on Bluesky | Sue on Mastodon
Susan's Email: sue@twistedspacepub.com

Reviews

[Carolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was still curious about the whole "Open Minds" world so I decided to pick up this novella. It was good! Loved the main character and loved his disturbing ability. The ending made me give one more star to my rating, because wow. Not expecting it. And I can't help but want more.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story is well down a series and I had not read the earlier ones. I'm calling it set in America from text clues, and urban fantasy because I don't see any scientific explanation of mind reading so maybe it's a paranormal ability. A youth has the ability to do more than just communicate by telepathy as others do; he can do some damage to others' minds as well. He is being used by some gangsters. For no reason he's sure about, telepaths are taught Latin in school. All does not go well and we don't get a real conclusion.

The author is obviously clear about what is happening, but not having read the earlier books put me at a disadvantage. If you have read them you will probably enjoy this more than I did. This was a free download.
This is an unbiased review.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zeph's world of mindjackers unlocks in Susan Kaye Quinn's The Locksmith. This short novella grabbed my attention from page one. Having read Open Minds set in the same universe, I loved delving into a new aspect in the world of mindreaders and mindjackers. It's easy to relate to Zeph. He's unique and different and yet he longs to be normal... just like everyone else. The tension ramps up throughout the story, and the ending brought tears to my eyes. I was as choked up as Zeph. I recommend reading Open Minds before this story because of spoilers, although this one is a standalone tale. The Locksmith by Susan Kaye Quinn is a must read and a great addition to her Mindjack universe.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would of thought it possible for things to get even better, but it has. I'm totally addicted to this series. Zeph just wants to stay out of the limelight, even though it means not connecting with Kira, but things have a way of happening.

[Fawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Locksmith

I've read Open Minds so it was interesting to see this side of things. Zeph is another strong minded yet still innocent character that this little teaser makes you want to learn more about.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary what the mind can do! There are so many things that the mind can do that we don't even know. We only use such a little part of it. Susan has given us a look into what it would be like if people could manipulate others. Yes, mindjackers could be dangerous to others, but they can be just as dangerous to themselves. I can't wait till she writes the rest of his story. Please don't wait too long!

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that not having read the other books in the series put me at a disadvantage.

[Gea · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s learned stuff from a guy that was into dark things. For the rest Zeph is winging it, learning while he’s on the job.
At 17 and with no real backup or friends it can go in any direction...

[Vlad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Locking itself

Does autistic people have a locked mind? Probably yes, maybe not. That's the story for the future Zeph to tell us.
SKQ than you for good story telling

[Veray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story!

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing wrong with the plot or the writing - but just a tad too short to worth the effort.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight

It was fun to read this after I have finished the series and know ask the characters. Love learning the insight of all their lives.

[Elena Linville-Abdo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find this review and more on my blog.


The Locksmith is a short novella is is set in the Mindjack world (I have reviewed the first book of the series Open Minds if you are interested), and I must admit that it felt good revising it.

This story had all the ingredients I loved about the original books - the complex world, engaging characters and often serious problems they face. I also love that the author doesn't pull any punches when exploring the social problems that arise when the normal mindreading society discovers the existence of mindjackers...

But I digress, so let's concentrate on this story. We are following Zeph, who is a mindjacker with a unique ability even for his kind: he can not only jack into other people's brains, but also modify them (lock or unlock as he puts it). He tried very hard to stay hidden, to pass for normal, even though he is forced to work for the local mindjacker clan. He doesn't like what he is forced to do for Clan Marshall, but he understands that the jacker would come after his family if he disobeys. Yes, his life is difficult as it is, but at least he manages to pass for more or less normal, even if he has to lie to everybody around him, even his family.

So when Kira drops the bombshell and reveals the existence of mindjackers to the world, I understood perfectly well why Zeph was mad about it. She had just destroyed all hopes for him to live a normal life. Of is she didn't annihilate them entirely, she made it so much more difficult.

It's interesting to see the repercussions of Kira's decisions and the events of the original 3 books of the Mindjacker series on other mindjackers, to see the reaction of another other jacker kid to the fact that hiding his ability had just become 100% harder.

I liked Zeph. He is a completely different character than Kira and he is very far away from the hormone-driven teenager stereotype we encounter so often in YA fiction. He is aware of his powers and slightly afraid of them, because he doesn't understand what he does or how he does it and he is scared to hurt people. He is also a very responsible young man. Unlike some other mindjackers we encountered in this world, he doesn't think mind controlling someone to like him is right. When other jackers bask in attention and jack everyone to like them, Zeph skirts the crowds, staying in the shadows and doing just enough to get barely noticed and immediately discounted as insignificant.

His attempts at a normal conversation with Tessa were really rather cute and heartbreaking because he realizes that he can't have a normal relationship with her without having to lie to her constantly.

I also loved the fact that when Zeph was presented with a very difficult choice, he had the courage to do what's right, even if it was difficult and dangerous and presented him with potentially dire consequences... And I will not say anything else about the plot of The Locksmith because I don't want to spoil the story for you!

All I will add is that this is a fast paced story that keeps you on the edge of your sit until the end. It's only five chapters long, so if you are looking for a quick, but still good and entertaining read this weekend, definitely buy this book. It's a wonderful new installment in the Mindjacker universe.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review

When Susan offered the opportunity to read and review this book I jumped on the chance, I love the Mindjack series and it's fun to be back in this world even if for a little while. And after the story there was an announcement that Susan will be writing more books about this character, yay!

It is a short story, but it tells the story it has to tell without it feeling rushed. The pace was well done, we meet Zeph and get a feel for the world he lives in. I finished it in one sitting, because after starting it, I just had to know what happened. And afterwards I can only say I want more, because this small story back into the Mindjack world isn't enough I want to know the rets of his story.

Zeph is a great character and in the short story we still get a feel for his character. Like I've come to expect from Susan she places him in a situation where he has a difficult choice to make, ruin the mind of a young changeling or leave everything he knows behind. It is scenes like these where you really get a feel for his character. There are some side characters, but they don't get as much attention. I did like Tessa and I hope he will get to know her better, although I understand why he believes it isn't possible. I felt a bit sad for Zeph, because of what he is a mindjacker, he feels like he can never have a normal live or fall in love with a mindreader.

As this is a novella there isn't too much world building, but I am still impressed how much world building Susan manages to pack into this small story. Even if you're new to this series, you quickly pick up the concept of mind readers and jackers and I like the scene where they mentioned how the teacher was teaching due to imagining things in her head. There is also some addition world building about Zeph his powers, it sounded a bit confusing at first, but after finishing it I feel like I sort of understand what he can do. It was interesting and I am looking forward to hear more about him.

The fun thing is that this novella can be read out of order with the other books, you can read it whenever you want and not miss anything. This story stands apart from the main trilogy, although there is a mention of Kira, you don't have to know her story to understand what happened. On the other hand if you have read the rest of the books that little mention of her is fun as you know first-hand what happened. And I liked seeing how her decision impacted Zeph.

To conclude: This is a fun little novella set in the Mindjack world where we get to know Zeph, what he can do and the situation he's in. I read this in one sitting and after finishing it I can only say I am looking forward to more Zeph and am excited Susan is writing more books about him. There is a mention of Kira, but this novella can be read as a standalone or anywhere in between the other novels and novella's in this world.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars—

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 9, 2015

SHORT NOVELLA (STANDALONE) in the Mindjack universe

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

In a world filled with mindreaders, Zeph is a mindjacker who wants to stay hidden—even if it means the cute mindreader in his Latin class is forever out of his reach. He locks and unlocks minds for a ruthless mindjacker Clan in exchange for protection and the chance to have a normal life with his parents and little sister. But when a girl he doesn’t know reveals the existence of mindjackers to the world, Zeph is forced to make a choice: unlock—and ultimately destroy—the mind of a young jacker changeling… or turn his back on everyone he loves.

The Locksmith is a short novella (standalone) in the Mindjack universe. It can be read independently of the other Mindjack stories, in any order. It is 11,000 words (or 44 pages) long.

REVIEW: THE LOCKSMITH is the latest novella in Susan Kaye Quinn’s young adult Mindjack urban fantasy dystopian series.

In a world where mindreading is the norm (due to decades of contaminated water) there are those with more powerful abilities than most. These are their stories of discrimination, betrayal, retribution and control. The human population developed various forms of mind-reading, mind altering and mind controlling abilities. And to complicate matters, those without any special ability declare everyone with altered minds as an enemy of the state.

The novella focuses on Zeph, a young seventeen year old mindjacker who has the ability to lock down or unlock the human mind. As a mindjacker, Zeph has become part of a Clan and has been commanded to lock down the minds of potential Clan workers. When something goes horribly wrong, and Zeph is unable to stop the carnage, he runs-he has no plans to become the next victim of society’s ills.

Susan Kaye Quinn adds another dimension to her young adult Mindjack series. THE LOCKSMITH is a fast paced, quick read that will tease a new reader into wanting more. For fans of Susan’s Mindjack series, we are hoping that Zeph survives the upcoming fallout of the impending war.

Copy supplied by the author

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series.

This is a great short story that can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. It's been awhile since I read the first two novels, but I read it aloud to my boyfriend (who is not familiar with the series) today and we were both able to follow the story (and both really enjoyed it).

Well-written and face-paced, this is a great read.

[Allison Lujan · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHORT NOVELLA (STANDALONE) in the Mindjack universe

When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep.

In a world filled with mindreaders, Zeph is a mindjacker who wants to stay hidden—even if it means the cute mindreader in his Latin class is forever out of his reach. He locks and unlocks minds for a ruthless mindjacker Clan in exchange for protection and the chance to have a normal life with his parents and little sister. But when a girl he doesn’t know reveals the existence of mindjackers to the world, Zeph is forced to make a choice: unlock—and ultimately destroy—the mind of a young jacker changeling… or turn his back on everyone he loves.

The Locksmith is a short novella (standalone) in the Mindjack universe. It can be read independently of the other Mindjack stories, in any order. It is 11,000 words (or 44 pages) long.

This is an excellent addition to the Mindjack trilogy novellas. I am so in love with this world that Susan Kaye Quinn has created and don't want it to end.

Zeph is a great character and I'd love to hear more about him. Please give us more!

I received this novella free from the great Susan Kaye Quinn, however upon finishing the story I realized that I've also purchased it as it is part of The Telepath Chronicles, which I bought back in November but hadn't read yet.

As with all of the other stories by this author that I've read, when I'm finished, sadness creeps in and I know i will need time to recover before I can pick up another book.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect teaser to learn about the world of the Mindjack universe. It's a futuristic world where people relate to one another by using their telepathic tendencies. On the surface, this seems strange but not very scary until you learn that there are others among the population, the mindjackers, that have capabilites that go beyond hearing one's thoughts. These people use those gifts in ways that can make the world a very dangerous place, potentially removing someone's free will.
Zeph's story has a small connection to the original Mindjack series, but remains a story in it's own right. Zeph is a jacker with a unique talent that can be dangerous if abused, and therefore he is likely to highly sought after for the use of his abilities. Given his young age, this makes Zeph a major player in a very grown up world.
The best part about this story is that it gives you just enough time to understand how Zeph's gift makes him somewhat of an outsider, he's both similar and dissimilar to other jackers as well as the general population of mindreaders of the world. He carries a heavy burden for someone so young and he's so complex that you are convinced that he can handle himself. Zeph is constantly treading lightly in order to avoid attention, hoping that if he remains invisible he can remain safe.
This story is a quick read and ends on a cliffhanger that indicates great potential for Zeph and the good side of the population of mindjackers to put their gift to use for the good of all in the future.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a world where the amount of chemicals in our water reached tipping point and it turned everyone into mind readers. This is set one hundred years after that event and the world is used to it now. Houses are built far enough apart for privacy. The silence of a school where everyone is telepathic is routine for high school boy Zeph. But it kind of isn’t. He isn’t just a mind reader. He has the ability to ‘jack’ into people’s heads and make them do anything, forget anything or anyone. He’s a brain locksmith as it were. He can change a brain to make it ‘locked’ so other people can’t read it. He’s in big demand with the gang-like Clans when they need a mind locked to steal information or codes.
But society is terrified of mindjackers. So Zeph has always hidden what he is but after the FBI pull in an entire clan, one of them sends out a kind of video image to the world telling what she is and what is happening to them.
She’s broken the code. She is Kira and she has changed everything.
***
I saw Susan Kaye Quinn on the Joanna Penn’s youtube interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLIGP...
She’s an actual rocket scientist who now writes books and is an indie publisher. And I raced off to check out her site and got this as a freebie. Yay!
The mindjack trilogy told Kira’s story and the first book is on perma-free (I ran off to download that, too).
This is a set-up for a second trilogy but it can be read as a short story. The world is well explained and the characters very intriguing.
4 stars I’ll be reading more of this series.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had me hooked by the first page. I downloaded it this morning, intending to read it this evening, but once I started I didn't want to stop. By squeezing it into nooks and crannies of time, I finished it by five.

The main character, Zeph, is a mindjacker, someone who can lock and unlock the minds of mindreaders, which is almost everyone in this imagined future world. Zeph is a recognizable teenager, in spite of his extraordinary gift and the distorted life he must live because of it. I wanted him to win.

Susan Kaye Quinn's descriptions of how mindjacking got my attention. Here are two examples:

"[R]eaching deep into any mind is a creepy sensation, like shoving your hand into a bowl full of raw ground beef. It gives, but there’s serious interference between the two mind fields. I have no idea why that translates into the sensation of cold meatloaf gushing between my fingers, but it does. The mind is a strange thing."

"Changing the map alters her mind field’s capabilities. I don’t know what each peak or valley is for; I’m just operating by feel. It’s like I’m a safecracker, only I’m turning the tumblers in her brain until each clicks into place and locks her mind down."

"The Locksmith" is thoughtful and absorbing in ways that made me slow down, even on this busy day when many things competed for my attention.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little taste isn't nearly enough to sate my curiosity!

I went about this all wrong. I should have started with Open Minds, the first book in the Mindjack Trilogy. Always ALWAYS start at the beginning! Having said that, The Locksmith can very easily be read as a standalone. I was able to follow along without any difficulty, but I feel like I may have taken a few peeks into the previous series, which would otherwise have been revealed slowly.

This is not my first Susan Kaye Quinn book, but I can see how this series could quickly become my favorite! It's dark and gritty, but still clean enough for a teen audience. The world building is complete, and I find myself being immersed in a world so different from my own, and yet completely believable. Susan is able to build fully developed characters in just a few pages. I feel like I know Zeph better than some of my own family members! I'm already so excited to see where his story takes him, so I had better hurry and catch up with the Mindjack Trilogy!

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Locksmith is a standalone novella in the Mindjack universe from the POV of an as-yet-unknown character.

I read Open Minds first, so I have a pretty good understanding of the Mindjack universe. It’s not absolutely necessary to read Open Minds before reading The Locksmith, but I think it helps. With that being said, The Locksmith does contain a few spoilers for Open Minds towards the end.

The Locksmith is about Zeph, a jacker with a unique talent: the ability to lock and unlock minds. I find this concept fascinating, and it makes me wonder what other unique talents may be waiting in the wings for future Mindjack stories. (Or current ones that I have not read yet…) I have really connected with Zeph in this novella, and I really hope his story will continue!

On a more personal note, I came across this series while searching for free Kindle books in the Young Adult Sci-Fi category. I was pleased to discover that Susan is a very accessible author, and I have been keeping up with her on Facebook. I would like to thank her for sending me this novella, and I look forward to reading more of the Mindjack series soon.

[Kc Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Quinn has dropped us into a story at full speed. Her ability to create the scene and vividly project the unfolding drama captures the reader instantly, even a Mindjack neophyte. I love this series and have already read the Mindjack Trilogy and novellas many times over, but this is not a prerequisite to The Locksmith.

In a world where everyone thinks they are all mind readers and cannot mask their true intentions or thoughts from anyone, there is a sub-culture of Mindjackers hiding or trying to blend into society, most of them thinking they are the only one. But, as Quinn demonstrates, it is not just mind readers and mind jackers. The mind jackers are even further categorized by their distinctive abilities and each new character brings a unique piece of the puzzle to the storyline.

The Locksmith is just a tease of the new and complex character, Zeph, who doesn't just jack someone's mind but can lock and unlock it as well. He is not even sure how he does what he does or the limits to his ability. Zeph is an intriguing character that I look forward to reading more about in the hopefully not too distant future.

[Peter DeHaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Mindjack Trilogy Box Set

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished listening to the audiobook version of Open Minds, the beginning of Susan Kaye Quinn's Mindjack series of books, which was great by the way. And then I had the opportunity to read The Locksmith, another part of this series but one that can definitely be read as a standalone story.

The Locksmith gives you, the reader, a very enjoyable but intense taste of what the whole Mindjack series is all about and after reading it, you will want to devour the rest of the stories.

Susan is a master storyteller and uses her incredible imagination to weave wonderful, exciting, and sometimes scary worlds. And I have loved every single one of those worlds of hers. I am always excited when there is another one of her worlds to explore. Take a look for yourself and see if you don't agree.

[Anna Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Locksmith follows Zeph, a mindjacker with an extraordinary talent - the ability to lock and unlock minds. Set somewhere towards the end of Open Minds, the first book in the Mindjack Trilogy, this short novella showcases the effects of the events that Kira Moore sets into motion on the general mindjacker community.

The bad part about this book is that it's really too short. It feels like you're halfway in and going somewhere, and then it ends. The good part about this book though is that it's apparently a precursor to a whole new story in the Mindjack world.

Hopefully that comes soon.

* I received a free copy of this book from the author as part of her mailing list.

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Locksmith is a novella that gives you a peek into the world and the plight of jackers. In this story we meet Zeph, a teenage jacker, who also has the ability to lock and unlock other people's minds. This is a skill which he is reluctant to use, but is sought after by the clans. I loved stepping back into this world. It's been quite a while since I finished the Mindjack series (which was AMAZING!!) and I enjoyed getting to add a little more to this world that exists in my mind thanks to SKQ. Although novellas always leave me wanting more, I did think that Quinn did a great job creating Zeph and evoking sympathetic feelings for this character's situation. I know I cared about Zeph and what was going to happen. In fact, I'm still worried about him.

In summary, I would suggest this book to those, who would like to become acquainted with the Mindjack world or to fans who miss it.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful novella of the mindjack story, that is focused on a mindjacker named Zeph. Zeph has the unique talent of being able to lock and unlock minds, which comes in handy if there are things you want or need to hide from other mindjackers, especially in a world that doesn't really know of the mindjackers existence, or that they can do special things like Zeph. For that matter Zeph doesn't even know how he does what he does, he just knows it works, until the day things go wrong.

Susan Kaye Quinn has taken us on another wonderful and exciting roller coaster ride in the mindjack world. This novella like a roller coaster ride, is also over way to soon, but hopefully it has opened up the doors for more mindjack stories and even more special characters, to come and entrance us in their world, and keep us up past our bedtimes reading far into the night.

[Lisa P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although The Locksmith is written as a stand alone novella, I would recommend starting with the Mindjack series first. Either way you're in for a great story. This is a brief background story about Zeph, who is a different kind of jacker altogether. He's a high school kid that's involved with one of the clans. Usually when he does jobs for Marshal, things go smoothly. Things change quickly when he locks Sarah.
SKQ has alluded to continuing Zeph 's story at a later date, which can not happen soon enough. The world of the Mindjackers is interesting and unpredictable. The Locksmith continues the initial concept and makes it even better. You will read this and wish you had more chapters to read. Fortunately, you can read or reread the Mindjacker series and novellas until Zeph's story continues.

[Jackie O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Susan. The story was awesome and left me wanting more. Zeph is a young man who holds a secret he wishes for others not to know. He is a mind jacker. He can read minds just like all the other people in the world can. But Zeph also has the power to alter minds as well. He has to be cautious and make sure when he is around other people that he blocks that part of himself so others do not find out. Zeph does however work for a sinister group that uses mind jackers to gain things illegally. Its not because he wants to but if he didnt his family would be punished by the group who uses Zeph for his special ability. The story ends with a cliff hanger. A girl by the name of Kira tells the FBI about mind jackers and therefore puts Zeph in jeopardy. Thank you Susan for a great book! I cant wait to read your others!