by Hanna Noble
He gave her his best hardened cop stare.
She sighed, and Cole knew he’d made some headway. There were very few people who could resist that glare.
“I will try to accommodate your schedule when possible,” she said, sounding exasperated.
“I don’t know if that’s acceptable.” He wanted her to be safe, needed to know she was ok.
She snorted. “It’s the best offer you’re going to get. You can either accept it like a grown-up, or I can tell you what you want to hear and do as I please when you’re not around.” She leveled a determined stare of her own.
Damn woman. She could have been a lawyer in another life. He was smart enough to know when he’d reached the limit of a compromise.
“Fine,” he growled. “But if you get hurt, I’m going to be pissed.”
She smiled at him. “I promise I’ll be extra careful.”
“Good.” He glanced back at the paper, noticing some words written underneath Lily’s address. “What’s this part here?”
She shrugged. “It’s something I got from looking at Megan’s file,” she said. “I was going to go look it up, but I got distracted.”
Cole read the phrase. “It sounds like a quote. Let’s take a look.” He got up to grab his laptop and opened up a search browser. Typing in the words, he hit enter.
“Rilke. German philosopher and poet,” he read off the screen. “It’s from one of his published works, called Letters to a Young Poet.” He frowned. “What does this mean?”
“I wish I could tell you.”
“It’s more than we currently have.” He didn’t like the thread of sadness he could hear in her voice, knew she felt responsible. “You did good.” He looked at her again, wondering how such a small frame could withstand that type of brutality her abilities showed her. “Are you sure you want to go back to Lily’s apartment?”
“Yes. I think it’s important.” She looked worried. “We don’t have to go if you’re tired. You must want a chance to unwind?”
“It’s fine.” He rushed to reassure her. “No rest for us loyal civil servants. I wouldn’t mind changing out of this suit though. I can pick up something to eat on the way. I’ll let Owen know so he can meet us there.” He paused. Would she want Owen there? “Is that ok?”
She nodded. “I might need you two to stay clear of the apartment,” she said. “I don’t like having any witnesses and your energy is distracting.”
“Ok,” he agreed. If at any point he thought she was in trouble, there wasn’t a door strong enough to keep him out.
The drive to Lily’s apartment was tense, despite the soothing music Cole had selected to put Naomi at ease. She sat in silence, staring out the window, and he didn’t intrude in case she was preparing herself for what lay ahead. He hated to admit it, but he felt out of sorts himself.
He was a protector and he was now facing a threat he couldn’t contain, a danger he couldn’t fight head-on. How could he shield Naomi from what she saw in her mind?
He was trained in self-defense and weapon handling. He carried a badge that afforded him the right to uphold the law. He was used to seeing people at their worst, understood how a decision made in a split second could forever alter a life, marking it with violence and despair. Those moments were never pleasant, but he accepted the fact that this was a part of the responsibilities of being a cop.
But Naomi? She had never volunteered to see this type of evil. She had no defense against the images that assaulted her mind. Her only weapon was a resolve that punched him in the gut every time she opened herself to these unspeakable horrors. He glanced over at her, watching as the lights of passing vehicles highlighted the straight slope of her nose, the curve of her cheekbones. She didn’t notice his perusal and remained lost in thought.
She was beautiful, but then he’d always thought so, from their first meeting when he’d had trouble keeping his eyes off her- even if he couldn’t admit it back then. Now, knowing her better, he felt a profound respect emerge, something he didn’t give easily.
His feelings were evolving, hinting at something that went beyond sexual compatibility, beyond chemistry. He knew he should wait for the case to be over before he explored the tantalizing possibilities of the passion that burned between them, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. With every passing moment, the bond between them was growing and he was helpless to turn away from it. It felt right to be with her.
He frowned, considering that thought. How would Naomi’s abilities fare with his on-the-job baggage? Having a relationship with a cop was complicated enough at the best of times, without adding someone who could read minds. Hi honey, I’m home. Pick up on any serial killers today? Dream about any dead people? He shook his head at his own thoughts.
“What is it?” Naomi’s voice cut through the quiet, and he was grateful she couldn’t see the domestic scene that had played out in his head.
“Nothing, just thinking.” He glanced over at her again. “We’ll be there in a few minutes. How are you feeling?”
“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted. “This is the first time I’ll be in a crime scene going full throttle.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t really know what to expect, but I’m convinced it’s necessary.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful.” He felt out of his element. “I have no idea what to do for you, Naomi.”
“It’s sweet of you to be concerned.” He could hear the smile in her voice, was happy to have made her feel even a little better. “I can handle it.”
He pulled into a guest parking spot at Lily’s apartment building, waiting for Owen to arrive. He switched off the ignition and turned to face her. It was intimate in the dark confines of the vehicle, making it easy to appease his insatiable curiosity about Naomi.
“When you came into the station to tell us about your vision last summer, was that the first time you’d seen something horrible?”
She nodded. “I’ve had impressions of people who were nasty before, but nothing like that vision.” She turned to look out the window again. “That was the first one that really hit me.”
“Why do you think that happened?” His scientific mind was still seeking a way to explain what she could do.
“Why did I see it?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t really know,” she replied, her tone thoughtful. “My grandfather used to tell me that my abilities would get stronger as I got older.”
Get stronger? He worried about how an increase in psychic power would impact her ability to have a normal life.
“Gramps had his own ability,” she said. Cole was mesmerized by the soft affection he heard in her voice. “He could tell the history of an object by touching it. We used to visit estate sales and antique shops because he loved learning the stories of different objects.”
“That would be a handy skill for a cop to have.” He could already imagine how tracking the history of a murder weapon could help him during investigations. “I would probably be the Commissioner by now.”
Her laugh was like a caress to his senses. “It has its downsides. My grandfather wore a thin pair of gloves most of the time so he wouldn’t be bombarded with information. Like the fact that the man who used a fork before you at a restaurant was contemplating divorce. He never complained about it though. He passed away a few years ago.”
“I’m sorry.” Cole could tell she had been very close to her grandfather. “What about your parents?” The media had mentioned her father, a cardiologist in Florida, who hadn’t given any comments during the Phantom case.
“I was born in Orlando. I’m an only child. My mother died in a car accident when I was eleven,” she said. “I got my abilities from her side of the family. She didn’t tell my father about it until after she was pregnant with me. He didn’t take the news well and when it became clear that I had the same type of gifts, he left us. After she passed away I went to live with my grandfather here in Boston. I haven’t really spoken to my father since.
”
“You were all alone.” She’d suffered an assault on her character, had lost everything and had survived. Not just survived, Cole corrected, but found the courage to come back and face it all again.
“No. I had Michelle and Gabi. Gabi’s family has always treated me like one of their own. They stuck by me through everything. Her mother still sends me care packages. I’m very lucky.”
“They sound like loyal friends.”
“They are.” Naomi grinned. “Gabi definitely had her opinions about me coming back here.”
Cole couldn’t help but reach for her, the need to touch her was a compulsion he couldn’t resist. Conscious of their surroundings, not to mention the gearshift between them, he settled for leaning in and kissing the tip of her nose.
“What was that for?” She looked bemused.
“Just because.” Because you came back. Because you’re you. He didn’t say it out loud, but in that moment, he wanted nothing more than to turn the car around and drive away from this place. They could go back to his house and pretend to watch a movie while making out like teenagers on his couch.
“Cole, this thing between us,” she began, her voice hesitant. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s complicated.”
“Very complicated,” he admitted. He was tired of denying the pull between them, decided he no longer wanted to. Leaning over, he pressed his lips against hers in the lightest of kisses, his touch gentle. “But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s there. You matter to me.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Naomi stared at Cole, not knowing how to respond. They were two strangers thrown together in a bizarre situation that included an undeniable sexual attraction, a psychic connection to a deranged killer, and two dead women who deserved answers. Not to mention the fact that he was risking his entire career by even associating with her.
There was too much at stake for either one of them to get distracted. She needed to remain focused on solving this case, not sitting in the dark sharing pieces of herself with a man she couldn’t seem to resist.
“The case has to come first.” On this point she was firm. It was nonnegotiable. “If our feelings get in the way, we’ll have to end it.” He was right, pretending wouldn’t make it go away. But she would adapt to this new situation and proceed with extreme caution; maybe this would help her get him out of her system.
“They won’t.” Cole nodded, the light from the streetlamp next to the car highlighting the shadows on his face, the sharp angle of his strong jaw, and the broad sweep of his shoulders. “I won’t let it.” His voice was husky, intimate, and she felt her own body stir. “I know we need to finish this case.” He paused, the silence between them heavy. “I also know that I can’t stop myself from touching you. It’s new territory for me, too. We’ll have to figure it out together.”
His hand reached out to cup her cheek, a now familiar gesture that made her feel cared for and safe. He always seemed to know how to support her without making her feel fragile. She leaned into his touch, feeling as though the two of them were in their own private world.
The tap on the window had her jumping back, startled. Cole cursed, and they both turned to see Owen peering into the car, his face alight with curiosity.
“Shit, we’re in for it now,” Cole muttered as he started to roll down his window. “Don’t you dare laugh,” he warned.
Naomi dutifully held back her chuckle, seeing Cole’s discomfort at being caught being affectionate with a “case witness.”
“Hey Cole, Naomi.” Owen nodded to her. “What are you guys doing?” He wriggled his eyebrows at them. His innocent expression couldn’t hide the mischief dancing in his eyes. “Making out?”
“No,” Cole growled. “You’re a grown man, for God’s sake.”
“Just checking.” Owen peered at Naomi, who was fighting to keep her expression serious. “Although you’re the one who has a beautiful woman in a dark car and you’re not making out with her?” he scoffed. “Who’s the grown man now?”
Cole looked so forbidding that she couldn’t reconcile the gentle, warm man from a few minutes earlier with the scowling, hard-eyed cop who was sitting beside her now.
“Are you finished?” His tone was gruff, but Naomi knew the truth. Cole wasn’t mad, he was mortified; his partner would never let him hear the end of this.
Owen was unrepentant. “Yes, I guess I am finished for now.” His face became serious as he glanced back at Naomi. “Duty calls. Are you ready?”
Her mirth faded away, replaced by an unwelcome knot of tension in her stomach. She took a deep breath, preparing herself, ignoring the impulse to run and hide. Her Knowing had convinced her she needed to come back to Lily’s apartment, and now she had to be brave and follow through. She had to trust herself.
They walked toward the building and Naomi couldn’t help but be hyperaware of her surroundings, worried that the killer was somewhere close, watching her. It was as if she expected a cartoon villain to jump out at them. Was it her imagination, or did she feel the faintest whispers of dread from the bench they just passed?
As they entered the elevator, she forced herself to focus. She wouldn’t be of any use in this unsettled state. Nerves, sexual awareness, romantic feelings for sexy detective walking in front of her—she had a lot going on right now, not including grappling with her newly awakened abilities. Walking toward Lily’s apartment was an exercise in courage and she tried to push everything aside except the reason why she was here: there was something she still needed to see.
The sound of Cole unlocking the front door was loud in the silence of the hallway. They donned the booties and gloves like the last time they’d been here. Naomi swallowed as both men stepped aside to let her enter. She was glad they were here. The Knowing was a lonely skill to have—she was connected to a world that others couldn’t visit. This time she wasn’t alone, and Naomi added Cole’s and Owen’s strength to her own.
“Stay out of the bedroom,” she said once they were inside.
The apartment looked exactly the same. Naomi opened herself up, already able to sense the echoes of Lily’s feelings. Her impressions were crisper, easier to interpret than before.
She eyed the door to the bedroom, her apprehension rising. She could feel the malevolence lurking inside. There was a grim satisfaction that permeated the walls, a chilling pleasure in the suffering that had taken place.
There was something here she needed to see, something that could put this monster away. Whatever she saw, no matter how horrible, could hold the key to bringing Lily the justice she deserved. Naomi took a deliberate step toward the bedroom, until she was standing in front of the door. She knew Cole and Owen were watching her, waiting to see what she would do. “I’m going in,” she said, without looking behind her. She didn’t want them to sense the depth of her vulnerability. “If you hear anything, ignore it. I’ll be fine, ok?”
“Ok.” Owen’s voice sounded reluctant, and although she waited for Cole’s agreement, all she heard was more silence.
She turned, unsurprised to see Cole standing with his arms crossed, a stony look of stubbornness on his face. Naomi realized he wouldn’t answer her because he wouldn’t agree to staying outside if he thought she was in danger.
He had promised to protect her and would uphold his word with every fiber of his being. She softened. How was she supposed to argue with him when he so clearly wanted to shield her from harm?
“I won’t be able to concentrate if I also have to worry about your energy,” she explained, trying to make him understand the reason for her request.
He considered her words, his jaw clenching. “I won’t come in unless I think you’re in real danger,” he said after a moment. “Don’t ask me for more than that.”
She sighed. “I guess it’s a reasonable compromise.” She squared her shoulders. “Ok, here I go.” She glanced at Owen, who nodded in encouragement.
It was all up to her now. She turned and reached for the doork
nob, her hand shaking. She steeled herself for what she’d find on the other side, the bombardment of images waiting to ambush her. Turning on the light she closed the door behind her and waited.
Nothing.
She looked around the room, fully opened her senses, willing the Knowing to hurry up and show her what she’d overlooked last time. Instead, she was greeted by more silence. She furrowed her brow, confused. Had she been wrong about coming back here?
She sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling lost. She’d spent so much time preparing herself for an onslaught of traumatic emotions that she’d never considered the possibility that nothing would happen.
She glanced at the door, knowing Cole and Owen were outside hoping she’d be able to help them, but all she could feel was the weight of her own failure.
No.
She wouldn’t give up. She focused on her breathing. Her grandfather used to remind her that the Knowing came in its own time and in its own way. She had to trust it. Her body relaxed as her breathing steadied. The adrenaline rush she’d experienced in anticipation of a vision was dissipating, sapping her of her energy. She would rest for a few minutes, and try to connect again.
Quiet. He had to be quiet. He stared at the sleeping form on the bed, barely able to contain the anticipation mixed with the furious anger he felt. Stupid bitch. She didn’t even know what was coming.
Step by step, he eased closer, keeping an ear out for any changes in breathing. Easing on the bed he made his move, straddling her. Her squeal of surprise was music to his ears, the sound muffled by the pillow. He pressed his knee into the woman’s back, using his heavier weight to hold her there. The power buzzed through him, like the sweetest drug, making him smile behind his mask.
“Don’t move.”
Naomi heard the unfamiliar male voice, realized she’d been pulled into a vision. She was in the killer’s body, here in Lily’s room. She struggled to keep a distance between herself and the vision, but was helpless as it pulled her under.
