Already Missing (A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 4)
Page 23
“It’s exactly how I described it?” Laura suggested, thinking he was having a problem with admitting it. Strangely, she felt calm. Calmer than she had in a long while. Maybe because this was it – the moment of truth. He couldn’t avoid it any longer. He would have to see that she was serious about her abilities.
There was a long pause.
“Yeah,” Nate said. There was a tone in his voice like he was still trying to figure out how she’d done that.
“That’s because I saw it,” she said. “I told you, Nate.”
“Yeah.” He didn’t say anything else. He was still looking out at the scene, his hands on his hips, like he was having a hard time understanding it and needed to keep looking.
And then he looked at her at last, and Laura saw it in his eyes. He believed her. He did.
But there was something else, something she couldn’t quite fully define.
Fear?
Mistrust?
Disgust?
Whatever it was, it wasn’t positive.
He was looking at her like he was seeing her fully for the first time, and he couldn’t believe he’d tolerated her for so long.
“Nate?” she said.
He shook his head. “I’ll go finish up with the locals. Make sure Captain Blackford has everything he needs. We should be on a flight out of here within a few hours.”
“Nate?” she said again, jumping up from her crate as he started to walk away. She felt a panic bubbling up inside her. Something wasn’t right here. She couldn’t let him go like this.
“We need to get home,” he said. And he was leaving. Not looking at her.
She reached out in desperation and grabbed his arm, her bare hand connecting with his skin, even though she knew she’d feel it. The aura.
Part of her had hoped it would have gone away by now, that feeling it earlier had only been an afterglow, that he was safe now, but –
But there was a pain in her head that hadn’t been there before and –
She saw him. The vision was him, only him, black space all around except for behind him – and behind him was only sky, gray and clouded, and it was like looking at the world upside down because it didn’t make sense.
Only it did make sense. The worst kind of sense.
His mouth was open, screaming, his eyes wide in a way she had never seen them. Pure and utter terror. His arms and legs flailed in space like he was trying to grab onto something, but there was nothing, nothing at all.
He was falling.
He was falling to his death.
“I think the flights are pretty busy at this time of day,” Nate said, shaking her off without meeting her eyes as she snapped back out of the vision. “We’ll probably end up having to sit separately. It’s fine, though, right? We can get some sleep. I’ll let you know when the tickets are booked.”
Laura watched him go, her voice failing in her throat, tears springing to her eyes.
He was drifting away from her. He believed, and it made no difference. The vision of death was stronger than ever, more immediate. More precise and real. And she knew what was going to happen to him now.
And he was walking away from her, and she couldn’t stop it from happening.
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
“Mommy!”
“Hey, baby!” Laura exclaimed, throwing out her arms to catch Lacey as she ran towards her. Laura felt her knee hit the ground and was pretty sure she’d grazed it a little, but it didn’t matter.
It felt so good.
She looked up and saw Marcus watching them from inside the car. He nodded slowly, then started the engine back up and pulled away, though she saw his eyes watching them in his mirror the whole while. Until she decided to stop watching him back, because there was something far more important right in front of her.
“Are you ready for our fun weekend?” Laura asked, unhooking the backpack from her little daughter’s shoulders so she didn’t have to keep carrying it.
“Yeah!” Lacey exclaimed. “Daddy says you’re going to take me out for ice cream!”
“Does he?” Laura said. She glanced with a wry smile in the direction that Marcus had gone. He’d still had to do a little something to sabotage her, she supposed, even if it wasn’t the serious kind of sabotage. “Are you sure you want ice cream? Even though it’s winter?”
“Yeah!” Lacey yelled again, punching her tiny fist in the air. “I always want ice cream!”
Laura laughed a little, kissing her on the forehead before she stood up. “Alright. I’ll make you a deal. Let’s get inside and get you all set up and unpack your bag, and then we can go out for ice cream together. Okay?”
“Okay, Mommy!” Lacey replied happily, reaching up out of habit and grabbing Laura’s hand.
As they walked into the apartment building, Laura felt something lodging inside her chest. Something that was sharp, but also just the right shape to fit there. Like a shard of her heart coming back home to rest. The feel of Lacey’s hand inside her own, her daughter’s happy chatter, the thought of a whole weekend together.
There was so much going on in her life right now. There was Nate, and the way he had looked at her when he responded to her call and saw the basement exactly as she had described it. Like he believed her, but not like that was a good thing.
And his death, which she now knew was still coming. And she knew how.
There were her visions, and the ways that they were changing. She still didn’t understand why or how. She still hadn’t found anyone else like herself, anyone who could help her understand it. Teach her the rules. She still felt like she was probably the only person in the world who could do this, and she was so alone with it that it terrified her.
And there was the bottle, always beckoning, just out of sight.
But as determined as she was to slay all of her demons, Laura wasn’t going to think about that today. Not as they stepped into the elevator, not as she led Lacey inside her apartment for the first time, and not as she helped her get set up on the second-hand bed Laura had managed to find at a low price in time for the visit.
And definitely not as they headed to the ice cream parlor, smiling and laughing, not caring that it was entirely the wrong season for ice cream.
“What are we going to do tomorrow?” Lacey asked, when she was sitting happily with the spoon in her mouth, kicking her little legs in the air above the ground she couldn’t reach from her chair.
“Hmm,” Laura said, pretending to think. “How about making a new friend?”
“A new friend?” Lacey repeated, her eyes getting big with excitement. “Who?”
“Well,” Laura said, reaching out with a napkin to wipe a drop of ice cream that had melted from Lacey’s chin. “I know another little girl who is about your age. She’s living with her uncle right now, and we thought the two of you might like to spend some time together. What do you think? A playdate?”
Lacey thought about it, already grinning. “Does she have a pony?”
Laura laughed. “I don’t think she has a real pony. But I bet you can play with some toy ponies if you ask nicely.”
“Okay,” Lacey said, shrugging her tiny shoulders effortlessly. Laura smiled, brushing her blonde hair back over her shoulder before she managed to drip more ice cream onto it.
Tomorrow, she could kill two birds with one stone: spend time with Lacey, and also help Chris with Amy, make sure she was settling in fine. They had weekends, after all, now. Every weekend from now until forever, stretching out into the distance like beacons, showing Laura the way to keep her life on track and be happy again.
But for today, it was all about her daughter. Laura laughed at Lacey as she missed her mouth entirely with a spoonful of melted ice cream and dropped it on her dress, reaching over to clean it up.
“After this, let’s go home,” Laura said, and when Lacey nodded okay, a warmth settled into her heart that had been missing for far, far too long.
And even the thought of all the things that thre
atened to come and take it away couldn’t chill it again – not today.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
ALREADY DEAD
(A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5)
A new serial killer leaves a creepy signature at each crime scene: a burning candle. Psychic—and FBI Special Agent—Laura Frost must unearth why. But will her psychic vision lead her astray?
“A MASTERPIECE OF THRILLER AND MYSTERY. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
ALREADY DEAD (A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller) is book #5 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. The series begins with ALREADY GONE (Book #1).
FBI Special Agent and single mom Laura Frost, 35, is haunted by her talent: a psychic ability which she refuses to face and which she keeps secret from her colleagues. While Laura gets obscured glimpses of what the killer may do next, she must decide whether to trust her confusing gift—or her investigative work.
As a string of bodies turns up, abandoned in increasingly public places, the FBI notes that they all have something in common: a single, burning candle at the scene of the crime. Is he playing a sick game?
Laura must decode the riddle: what does the fire mean? What drives him? And, most importantly, who is next?
A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the LAURA FROST series is a startlingly fresh mystery, rife with suspense, twists and turns, shocking revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night.
Book #6 (ALREADY TAKEN) is also available!
ALREADY DEAD
(A Laura Frost FBI Suspense Thriller—Book 5)
Did you know that I've written multiple novels in the mystery genre? If you haven't read all my series, click the image below to download a series starter!
Blake Pierce
Blake Pierce is the USA Today bestselling author of the RILEY PAGE mystery series, which includes seventeen books. Blake Pierce is also the author of the MACKENZIE WHITE mystery series, comprising fourteen books; of the AVERY BLACK mystery series, comprising six books; of the KERI LOCKE mystery series, comprising five books; of the MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE mystery series, comprising six books; of the KATE WISE mystery series, comprising seven books; of the CHLOE FINE psychological suspense mystery, comprising six books; of the JESSIE HUNT psychological suspense thriller series, comprising nineteen books; of the AU PAIR psychological suspense thriller series, comprising three books; of the ZOE PRIME mystery series, comprising six books; of the ADELE SHARP mystery series, comprising thirteen books; of the EUROPEAN VOYAGE cozy mystery series, comprising six books (and counting); of the new LAURA FROST FBI suspense thriller, comprising four books (and counting); of the new ELLA DARK FBI suspense thriller, comprising six books (and counting); of the A YEAR IN EUROPE cozy mystery series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the AVA GOLD mystery series, comprising three books (and counting); and of the RACHEL GIFT mystery series, comprising three books (and counting).
ONCE GONE (a Riley Paige Mystery--Book #1), BEFORE HE KILLS (A Mackenzie White Mystery—Book 1), CAUSE TO KILL (An Avery Black Mystery—Book 1), A TRACE OF DEATH (A Keri Locke Mystery—Book 1), WATCHING (The Making of Riley Paige—Book 1), NEXT DOOR (A Chloe Fine Psychological Suspense Mystery—Book 1), THE PERFECT WIFE (A Jessie Hunt Psychological Suspense Thriller—Book One), IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery—Book 1), and MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (A European Voyage Cozy Mystery—Book 1) are each available as a free download on Amazon!
An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Blake loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.blakepierceauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY BLAKE PIERCE
RACHEL GIFT MYSTERY SERIES
HER LAST WISH (Book #1)
HER LAST CHANCE (Book #2)
HER LAST HOPE (Book #3)
AVA GOLD MYSTERY SERIES
CITY OF PREY (Book #1)
CITY OF FEAR (Book #2)
CITY OF BONES (Book #3)
A YEAR IN EUROPE
A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1)
DEATH IN FLORENCE (Book #2)
VENGEANCE IN VIENNA (Book #3)
A FATALITY IN SPAIN (Book #4)
SCANDAL IN LONDON (Book #5)
AN IMPOSTOR IN DUBLIN (Book #6)
SEDUCTION IN BORDEAUX (Book #7)
JEALOUSY IN SWITZERLAND (Book #8)
A DEBACLE IN PRAGUE (Book #9)
ELLA DARK FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
GIRL, ALONE (Book #1)
GIRL, TAKEN (Book #2)
GIRL, HUNTED (Book #3)
GIRL, SILENCED (Book #4)
GIRL, VANISHED (Book 5)
GIRL ERASED (Book #6)
LAURA FROST FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER
ALREADY GONE (Book #1)
ALREADY SEEN (Book #2)
ALREADY TRAPPED (Book #3)
ALREADY MISSING (Book #4)
EUROPEAN VOYAGE COZY MYSTERY SERIES
MURDER (AND BAKLAVA) (Book #1)
DEATH (AND APPLE STRUDEL) (Book #2)
CRIME (AND LAGER) (Book #3)
MISFORTUNE (AND GOUDA) (Book #4)
CALAMITY (AND A DANISH) (Book #5)
MAYHEM (AND HERRING) (Book #6)
ADELE SHARP MYSTERY SERIES
LEFT TO DIE (Book #1)
LEFT TO RUN (Book #2)
LEFT TO HIDE (Book #3)
LEFT TO KILL (Book #4)
LEFT TO MURDER (Book #5)
LEFT TO ENVY (Book #6)
LEFT TO LAPSE (Book #7)
LEFT TO VANISH (Book #8)
LEFT TO HUNT (Book #9)
LEFT TO FEAR (Book #10)
LEFT TO PREY (Book #11)
LEFT TO LURE (Book #12)
LEFT TO CRAVE (Book #13)
THE AU PAIR SERIES
ALMOST GONE (Book#1)
ALMOST LOST (Book #2)
ALMOST DEAD (Book #3)
ZOE PRIME MYSTERY SERIES
FACE OF DEATH (Book#1)
FACE OF MURDER (Book #2)
FACE OF FEAR (Book #3)
FACE OF MADNESS (Book #4)
FACE OF FURY (Book #5)
FACE OF DARKNESS (Book #6)
A JESSIE HUNT PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
THE PERFECT WIFE (Book #1)
THE PERFECT BLOCK (Book #2)
THE PERFECT HOUSE (Book #3)
THE PERFECT SMILE (Book #4)
THE PERFECT LIE (Book #5)
THE PERFECT LOOK (Book #6)
THE PERFECT AFFAIR (Book #7)
THE PERFECT ALIBI (Book #8)
THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR (Book #9)
THE PERFECT DISGUISE (Book #10)
THE PERFECT SECRET (Book #11)
THE PERFECT FAÇADE (Book #12)
THE PERFECT IMPRESSION (Book #13)
THE PERFECT DECEIT (Book #14)
THE PERFECT MISTRESS (Book #15)
THE PERFECT IMAGE (Book #16)
THE PERFECT VEIL (Book #17)
THE PERFECT INDISCRETION (Book #18)
THE PERFECT RUMOR (Book #19)
CHLOE FINE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE SERIES
NEXT DOOR (Book #1)
A NEIGHBOR’S LIE (Book #2)
CUL DE SAC (Book #3)
SILENT NEIGHBOR (Book #4)
HOMECOMING (Book #5)
TINTED WINDOWS (Book #6)
KATE WISE MYSTERY SERIES
IF SHE KNEW (Book #1)
IF SHE SAW (Book #2)
IF SHE RAN (Book #3)
IF SHE HID (Book #4)
IF SHE FLED (Book #5)
IF SHE FEARED (Book #6)
IF SHE HEARD (Book #7)
THE MAKING OF RILEY PAIGE SERIES
WATCHING (Book #1)
WAITING (Book #2)
LURING (Book #3)
TAKING (Book #4)
STALKING (Book #5)
KILLING (Book #6)
RILEY PAIGE MYSTERY SERIES
ONCE GONE (Book #1)
ONCE TAKEN (Book #2)
ONCE CRAVED (Book #3)
ONCE LURED (Book #4)
ONCE HUNTED (Book #5)
ONCE PINED (Book #6)
ONCE FORSAKEN (Book #7)
ONCE COLD (Book #8)
ONCE STALKED (Book #9)
ONCE LOST (Book #10)
ONCE BURIED (Book #11)
ONCE BOUND (Book #12)
ONCE TRAPPED (Book #13)
ONCE DORMANT (Book #14)
ONCE SHUNNED (Book #15)
ONCE MISSED (Book #16)
ONCE CHOSEN (Book #17)
MACKENZIE WHITE MYSTERY SERIES
BEFORE HE KILLS (Book #1)
BEFORE HE SEES (Book #2)
BEFORE HE COVETS (Book #3)
BEFORE HE TAKES (Book #4)
BEFORE HE NEEDS (Book #5)
BEFORE HE FEELS (Book #6)
BEFORE HE SINS (Book #7)
BEFORE HE HUNTS (Book #8)
BEFORE HE PREYS (Book #9)
BEFORE HE LONGS (Book #10)
BEFORE HE LAPSES (Book #11)
BEFORE HE ENVIES (Book #12)
BEFORE HE STALKS (Book #13)
BEFORE HE HARMS (Book #14)
AVERY BLACK MYSTERY SERIES
CAUSE TO KILL (Book #1)
CAUSE TO RUN (Book #2)
CAUSE TO HIDE (Book #3)
CAUSE TO FEAR (Book #4)
CAUSE TO SAVE (Book #5)
CAUSE TO DREAD (Book #6)
KERI LOCKE MYSTERY SERIES
A TRACE OF DEATH (Book #1)
A TRACE OF MUDER (Book #2)
A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3)