“Okay. I’m getting out today.”
“Good.”
He clicked off his phone his attention riveted on Grace. He hung up on his past while walking towards his future. Some primitive part of him knew that Grace was what lay ahead for him. Liking the idea, he quickened his pace.
The detectives waved then left. They’d talk to him later.
Her shoulders slumped so she looked bent in half.
Without thinking, purely on instinct, he pulled her into his arms. She shuddered. But didn’t pull away.
Instead her arms wrapped around him like a vise. Any part of her body that could, was touching his. His body reacted.
“Grace.”
That one word held for him a hope for the future. More than Dolores ever had. But what could he do? His job took up so much of his time and her talk about time travel and having been here before didn’t sit well in his rational brain.
“Let’s get you home.”
She shook her head against his chest, then stepped back. Her face became a study in composure as if she hadn’t been shot at. “I’ll be fine.”
“It’s okay. I’m here.”
Her head cocked. “I’m fine.”
Her voice came from deep inside of her, sounding hollow and far away.
“Someone tried to kill you tonight. You can’t be okay.”
“Someone tried to kill Dolores.”
He took her ice cold hands in his. “You don’t know that.”
“Why would they expect me to be there? No one knew I was sleeping there.”
“They went for the guest bedroom, not where Dolores sleeps.”
She nodded. “Good point. None of this makes sense.”
“Let’s have this conversation in your apartment.”
“Where’d Mark go?”
“I don’t know. He disappeared when the cops got here.”
She frowned. “That’s not like him.”
Zach figured it was completely in his character, but maybe he had a biased opinion of the weasel. Not in his best interests to criticize Mark, he didn’t comment. “Coffee?”
“No, I don’t need the caffeine.”
Grace sat on her open sofa bed, looking out the window into the dark night. The bags under her eyes had grown to steamer trunks. He searched for a glass then filled it with water.
She took it without looking at him. Not only didn’t she acknowledge it, she didn’t drink any either.
“Grace.”
“Yeah?”
Her gaze trudged over to him. “You want to stay at my place tonight? I don’t think you should be here. The killer could come back.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve said that several times and you haven’t convinced me yet.”
A sigh parted her lips. “Maybe I’m not fine. I’m a little spooked. I’ve never been shot at.”
“Can you remember anything about the person?”
She put up her hand. “I don’t need another interrogation right now.”
He sat, pressing his lips together. Once a cop, always a cop. What she needed was a friend since her best one wasn’t anywhere to be found. “The detectives will need to talk to Mark.”
“Mark? Why?”
“He was here. He may have seen something or heard something.”
Her head shook. “Mark sleeps like the dead.”
An uneasy feeling swept over him. She knew some intimate details for such a platonic relationship. “Well, they need to hear that from him. Do you know where he would have gone? Does he have any friends in town?”
“None other than me that I know of.”
Her exhaustion was written on her face, but he couldn’t let it go. They had to find Mark. “Think, Grace. Would he go to a hotel? Did he have a frequent flyer card or one of those ones from a hotel chain?”
Her gaze slid away from him. “I don’t know, really. Can I just go to sleep?”
He bit his tongue. He wasn’t helping her this way. Besides it wasn’t his case despite the fact that he was taking it personally. “Pack a bag. We’re going to my place.”
She blinked at him as if not understanding. “I have a bed here.”
He jammed a hand through his hair, yanking out a lock from the band that held it back. “And you aren’t safe, here. The cops have a guy posted on the street, but he may not be able to stay here all night.”
He stood signaling that the conversation was done. At least in his mind. Opening a closet door, he discovered an empty backpack. He dropped it onto the bed next to her.
“I don’t like running.”
“Oh? I think now might be the best time to run.”
Grasping her hand, he pulled her to her feet. She gasped and tugged at her hand. “Why would the killer come back?”
“He knows he didn’t get you,” Zach said.
“If he knew I wasn’t there he wouldn’t have shot at the bed.”
Good point, but he wasn’t leaving her here. “Maybe in the dark, the covers looked like a person.”
She didn’t believe him. “No, he was making a point.”
“Which would be?”
“That he was going to get me.”
He gritted his teeth, then worked to relax his jaw muscles. He hoped his voice didn’t come out strained. She was trying his patience. “Then you should come with me.”
Her frown told him she hadn’t realized her argument was circular. She hadn’t wanted to come back and prove his point correct.
Her shoulders slumped further. “Okay,” she said, defeat tinting her words.
She stood and as if on autopilot, then threw clothes into a backpack. When she finished, she looked at him her eyes lidded. “Let’s go.”
***
Grace just wanted to sleep. She didn’t care if she did it leaning against a wall. Or in the front seat of Zach’s car. He’d refused to let her drive and promised to drop her back home later in the day.
Thankfully, she had the day off, but she knew she had to be back for when Dolores would come home.
Zach led her into his apartment. “Sit. I need to put some clean sheets on the bed.”
“I’ll take the couch.”
She had to catch some shut eye before the afternoon.
“No. You’ll take the bed. I don’t have any appointments this morning, but I need to get stuff done here.”
Grace nodded, the fight out of her for the moment.
She must have dozed off because Zach shook her. “Grace.”
“Huh?”
“Go get undressed. You want a bath or something?”
“No.”
He took her hand. His warmth infused into her as the usual colors dance. Today they were yellow and green, leaving her wondering what that meant. She didn’t understand anything anymore.
Right now, she couldn’t wrap her brain around any explanation, but the colors were inviting. She didn’t feel dizzy, but she couldn’t see so she let Zach lead her.
He left her to her undressing which she did quickly, leaving on her underwear. Sliding into the sheets, her body sighed as if this were her own bed returned to after a long absence.
Something wasn’t right. She tossed and turned. She couldn’t get comfortable.
“Grace?”
Zach stood in the doorway. His shape was silhouetted by the beam cast by the hall light.
“What?”
“Are you okay?”
He came into the room and settled on the edge of the bed.
“I guess I can’t sleep. My birthday is today. I was born in the afternoon so I’m not officially thirty until it’s seven in the evening.”
“And why is that significant?”
“I’ll lose my powers when I’m thirty. Not just the day, but the exact time I was born. I have to solve this murder.”
“You have the weight of the world, on you.”
He ran a finger down her jaw line. She turned into his hand.
“It feels that way some days.”
�
��Will you be sorry you don’t have the power anymore?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “If I save Dolores, I’ll be glad to be rid of it. But if she dies and I can’t help her then I’ll regret the loss of it.”
“Mm.”
His hand went through her hair. The colors appeared on the fringes of her vision. They didn’t obscure her view of Zach in his pajama bottom and no top.
She reached out and touched the muscles on his chest. He didn’t flinch. The colors didn’t deepen.
“Hold me.”
“I’m not sure I can just hold you, Grace.”
“Then don’t just hold me. Make me forget about all this.”
“You won’t be sorry in the morning?”
“No.” Because I’m falling in love with you. She couldn’t utter those words. She couldn’t reveal that much of herself.
“If you say to stop, I will,” he said as he took her into his arms.
“Go.”
It was better than her dreams.
***
Grace snuggled closer to Zach. His breathing steadied and she knew he was asleep.
What seemed like a minute later, she entered the dream world. Someone was chasing her. She knew the person, but couldn’t see him. Her dream self wanted to stop and look, but couldn’t risk being caught.
Her breath, ragged now, caught in her throat. She ran, stumbling in the darkness. She couldn’t figure out where she was.
Then someone called her name, shaking her, but she couldn’t see anyone.
“Grace.”
Zach’s voice invaded her unconscious brain, waking her up.
She buried her head into his chest as his arms enveloped her. They became a haven from her dream. Maybe even a haven from her world. No one could hurt her as long as Zach stayed close. She’d felt this before, but it hadn’t worked. Why would it work this time? Some part of her wanted to stay here warm and secure.
“You screamed.”
“Someone was chasing me. Someone I knew.”
“Who?”
“I couldn’t see them,” she said.
Her heart went back to a normal beat, but sped up as she realized that the colors weren’t dancing in front of her eyes. Dizziness didn’t threaten her. Instead his warmth covered her and she felt safe.
“It’s over now.”
He didn’t let go and her heart leapt at the idea. But she ended up pushing him away. She couldn’t risk getting involved. Not after last time. No good could come of it.
She had a job to do. Her last soul to save before her birthday.
“What?”
His eyes searched her.
“I’m okay. Thanks.”
The covers had slipped down and she pulled them over her. He was freshly showered and fully-dressed.
“Grace, let me help.”
“You are helping.”
“I mean, let me be here for you.”
His eyes pleaded with. It wouldn’t take much to just lean on him. Let him deal with the weight on her shoulders. But part of her couldn’t.
“No.” She spat out the word too fast. He flinched. She didn’t mean to reject him, but she couldn’t get close. She’d just lose him and that would hurt more then keeping him at arm’s length. “Sorry,” she said in a softer tone.
He stood, his gaze now wary, but intent. He was trying to reach into her soul. “They haven’t found Mark.”
“Oh?”
Where would he be? And why had he bailed on her?
“No. Think, Grace. Where would he be?”
“I truly don’t know.”
“He’s supposed to be your best friend.”
He certainly wasn’t acting like one. “I know. He’s been through a tough time.”
“And getting shot at is easy?” He sat back down as if his legs couldn’t hold him anymore. “Grace, let him go. Let this whole thing go.”
“No, I have to save Dolores.”
“She’s going to her mother’s house tonight. They live in a gated community. She’ll be fine.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Go on with your life. Dolores isn’t going to die.”
“I can’t be so sure. The killer could wait until we least expect him.”
And after tomorrow, If Dolores died again, she’d stay dead. A clock ticked in Grace’s mind. Less than twenty four hours. Barely even eight and she’d never go back in time again.
“Maybe, but Dolores isn’t your problem.”
“You don’t understand. She asked me to save her.”
He ran a hand over his face then put it on hers. The colors came back and her heart beat double time. The vision didn’t obscure him this time and she saw his face come closer to hers. “Give it up, Grace.”
His scent filled her nostrils, soap and aftershave. Her mouth went dry. What would she see if he kissed her?
His lips brushed her forehead. The colors exploded into a cacophony of blues and greens. Her pulse thrummed through her and she knew if he did put his lips on hers, she wouldn’t be able to resist. She might even go up in flames.
She’d had lovers before this, but none had touched her this way. No one caused her vision to blur or her heart to race.
“Grace,” he said, his voice a butterfly in her ear. “I need to go.”
She pulled him to her. “Just a few more minutes.” She’d draw from his strength and warmth. She’d get through this day.
His hands gripped her shoulders. “I can’t.” He pushed her away, then stood. “I need to go to work.” His voice cracked on the last word.
She slumped back into the pillows both relieved and disappointed. “Drop me home.”
“No. I want you to stay here.”
“And what should I do while you’re gone?”
He’d changed from jeans to slacks and a button down shirt. The color wasn’t opened revealing a solid neck. His pulsed bounced through a vein at his throat. So he’d been aroused too.
He hadn’t rejected her outright.
“Surf the net. I don’t really care. Just don’t go out or open the door for anyone.”
She sighed, not thrilled, but resigned. “Okay.”
Zach left, then Grace pulled on her clothes.
Chapter Nineteen
Zach ran into his ex-boss outside his store front office. Cars whizzed past on Main Street as he stopped to talk to Kent Winger. The man squirmed and Zach wondered what the man had to hide.
“Wanted to see your new digs and how you were getting along,” Kent explained.
Zach hadn’t been close to his old boss so the visit was a complete surprise. He must have some other motive.
“Come on in then.”
The man’s gazed darted to his watch then ran up and down the street. “No time.” He cleared his throat. “How’s Dolores doing?”
“She’s getting released today.”
“That’s great.”
His boss looked around the street and not at him during the exchange.
“You okay?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“No reason,” Zach said, but he tucked this behavior into his brain in case it continued.
“See you around.”
Zach stared at his boss’ back before he entered his office. The encounter left him with too many questions. Where did Kent figure into this puzzle? He shook off the nagging feeling that the answers were in front of him. “is HHeOdd.”
Mark, Grace’s friend, sat at his desk. Not phased by his appearance, Zach slid into his chair, then eyed this weasel of a man. He didn’t expect to believe anything he said.
“Shall we add breaking and entering to your list of sins?” Mark gave him a shrug and a sheepish grin. That probably worked on women, but Zach was inured to lame excuses. He’d heard them all. “So what’s your story? The detectives from last night are looking for you.”
Mark licked his lips. His clothes were rumpled, but the man himself was freshly showered. Wherever he spent last night
had running water.
Zach’s sympathy level didn’t budge. This man had run out on his alleged best friend and on a criminal investigation. The latter was awful, but the former was unforgivable. Zach only understood loyalty. Probably why Dolores was still in his life.
“Uh.”
Zach held up his hand. “Don’t lie. You’re in some trouble already. You’re the best suspect.”
Mark straightened in his chair, his eyes wider than the prairie. “Me? Why would I try to kill Dolores?”
“Dolores?”
“Wasn’t that who the killer was going for?”
Guess Grace had told him about someone being after Dolores. He’d play along. “You’ve met her?”
“No.”
Mark’s gaze darted away. Why would he not want them to know he met Dolores? Zach leaned back in his chair wishing he’d stopped for coffee on his way over here. This shaggy dog story could have waited another minute.
This rodent might go whining to Grace that he didn’t treat him well. “Coffee?”
“No. Never drink the stuff.”
Not drink coffee? Next he’ll find out he’s a vegetarian or a Mormon. His caffeine craving would have to wait. He eyed the cold, empty pot of his maker then turned his attention back to Mark. “So spill it. Where have you been?”
“I got scared.”
“That you’d be suspected of attempted murder? Got that right. You running didn’t help.”
Mark stared at his shoes. “Probably not.”
“And you running out on your best friend, doesn’t sit well for me. She was scared last night.”
“I came back, after everyone was gone. She wasn’t home.”
“She was with me. I couldn’t let her stay there by herself.”
Mark’s head bobbed. “It’s all clear to me now.”
“What is?”
“You’re after Grace.”
“Whatever my feelings are for Grace don’t concern you.”
“I’m her best friend. I don’t want to see her hurt.”
“The fact that you left to save your own skin when she’d been shot, that damages your credibility with me. I’m not telling you anything.”
Corpse Whisperer Page 13
