“Guess I lost my last chance with you now that the baby is gone.”
He snorted. “You lost your chance when you lied to me.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Now isn’t the time to go through this. You need to get better.”
“I’m checking myself out of the hospital, today. I’ve hired a private nurse to take care of me.”
“How can you afford that? You went through all of your parents’ money when you were on drugs.”
“Not all. I saved some for a rainy day.”
She couldn’t look him in the eye. He couldn’t know what she’d done.
“Have you blackmailed anyone?”
His bluntness struck her and she scrunched down in the bed, suddenly exhausted. “Don’t sugarcoat it Zach.”
“Dolores, I think you’re in danger.”
“Oh, Grace has convinced you of that?”
“Why do you think it’s Grace?”
“Because she’s been practically stalking me. I want her to stay away from me.”
“Lors, she saved your life the other night. She’s concerned that you’ve put yourself in danger.”
“Is it love, Zach? You’ve never taken anyone’s side over mine,” she said.
“Do you really want to know that answer or are you just changing the subject.”
“Can’t I know why I’ve been replaced? We’ve been a team for so long, Zach.”
“Don’t. We were never a team. You directed and I danced.”
A chuckled escaped Dolores. “You think I could control what you did?”
“Not all of my actions, but you knew what buttons to push when it was important to you.”
“I’m hurt, Zach.”
“You aren’t, Dolores. You have much thicker skin.”
“But you’re still concerned enough to feel I’m in danger.”
“It’s my job,” he said.
He saw her flinch. “Well, maybe I don’t want to be a case.”
“Just tell me who you’re blackmailing.”
She crossed her arms, the argument at a stalemate.
***
The end of the day couldn’t have come soon enough for Grace. After several bad calls, no one dying thankfully, a reporter left a message with her boss to contact her.
She’d dealt with this woman before in her last town and Grace wondered how the reporter had found her.
Looking forward to seeing Zach her step was lighter walking to her car. The dread took over when she saw how grim he looked.
At least he’d made it.
She stopped half a foot from him. He hadn’t gotten to know her enough for her to kiss him or go into his arms. Her heart ached for him to get to that point.
“What’s wrong?”
He jammed a hand through his hair. “I talked to Dolores. She’s home now.”
“So soon?”
“Checked herself out of the hospital. She hired a nurse.”
“Oh.”
This was significant, but she didn’t know why.
“She didn’t answer me when I asked her who she was blackmailing.”
Not “if,” but who. He believed her. Her heart leapt into her chest and she forced away a smile. “That’s how she can afford a nurse?”
“I’m guessing.”
She frowned. “Where does that leave us?”
“I don’t know. I can talk to the nurse and have her keep on eye out for anything strange.”
“Guess that’s the best we can do.”
“So, let’s get dinner.”
Grace glanced down at her cut off sweat pants and short t-shirt. “I’m not dressed for going out.”
His gaze raked over her as if seeing her for the first time. “Guess not. I can follow you to your hotel.”
“Sounds good.”
Right then her pager made a noise. “I forgot to leave this.”
Something in the dispatcher’s tone had her paralyzed.”
“Centre County to Glen Hills First Aid Squad and CCMC Unit 682 responding to a gunshot wound at . . . “
The address sent chills through Grace.
“That’s Dolores’ address,” Zach said.
“The killer has already struck.”
“We’ll take my car.”
Chapter Twenty Seven
The usual pandemonium ensued in the emergency department of Centre Community Hospital as all hands fought to save Dolores Holten.
Grace wanted them to stop. She was going to die and Grace needed to rewind again.
Despite being unsure why she kept going back, she wanted to get the trip over with. She wanted to get the mystery solved and save Dolores.
Zach paced back in forth in front of Grace’s chair. “Can’t you find out anything?”
Before she could answer someone sat down next to her. She’d seen her before, but couldn’t place her.
Grace’s spine stiffened as if frozen by the chill that raced through her. This person meant her no good.
“I’m Celia Johnson,” the red haired woman said as if Grace would know who that was.
The woman crossed her legs her colorful caftan swishing with the movement. Her fiery hair bounced as she spoke. The brown on her lips reminded Grace of a corpse.
“No comment,” Grace said, then stood. This woman must be a reporter.
“I’m not a reporter.” The woman seemed to find that funny.
Grace whirled, longing to smack off that smirk. “What are you here for?”
“You need to come out. To tell the world about your talent.”
Grace’s jaw dropped to the floor. “You’re the woman on the phone. Leave me alone.”
Zach stepped between them. “Miss Harmony doesn’t want you here. I’m not sure I do either. Go, Celia.”
“It’s a free country.”
“But you are harassing her and I can call security.” Through gritted teeth he said, “Don’t make me do that Celia. Don’t make a scene.”
Zach knew this woman. She wondered if this was the psychic who ruined his career.
He tugged on the woman’s arm. He was more than familiar with her. Then something struck Grace. The two looked like brother and sister. There was something to ponder.
He wouldn’t believe her when his own sister had powers, too.
Celia’s gaze bounced from Zach to Grace then she sighed. “Fine, but you’ll hear from me again, Miss Harmony.”
Her hair swished down her back as she passed Grace. Through her teeth, she said, “This isn’t the last of this.”
Grace’s shoulders slumped. This put an even worse spin on Zach’s reluctance to believe her. He was a skeptic even with a family member. She had no shot to convince him.
This was the last thing she needed now.
***
Zach studied Grace as she settled back into her chair. He was drawn to her, but he didn’t know why.
She’d told him about her gift. Rewinding in time didn’t make sense. But it did. It would explain why he felt as if he’d met her before. Why he’d trusted her so easily.
The whole idea boggled his mind as, at the same time, it answered many questions.
Right then the nurse came in and told them that Dolores didn’t make it.
Grace’s face went white, but he didn’t think from surprise. Celia had rattled her. He made a mental note to tell her to back off. Not everyone was so proud of their gift.
He sighed. As much as Dolores made him mad, he hadn’t wanted her dead. A part of his soul ached for her. She’d been a part of his life for so long.
Grace rose and crossed to him. Needing the warmth of another body, he pulled her to him. As if he’d pulled his car into his own driveway, his heart settled into a rhythm that matched hers.
Her touch soothed him and he knew all would be okay.
“I need to go see her.”
“Grace, maybe it’s for the best. If you don’t go she can’t ask you to help her.”
Grace leaned back to look at him, her brow knit. “I can’t j
ust walk away. I was given this gift to use. It would be denying who I am.”
“You could come back tomorrow. Just wait a day.”
“Why don’t you want me to do this?”
She left his arms and took a piece of him with her.
“Can you survive another rewind?”
“It’s difficult, but doable. Zach, I have no choice.”
He sighed. “Okay.”
She nodded and left him, his heart going with her.
***
A voice stopped Grace at the door to where Dolores lay dead.
“Miss Harmony?”
Grace’s eyes closed. “What?”
“Will you listen to me?”
“Miss Johnson I asked you to leave me alone.”
“I can’t. You’re wasting your talent. You could do so much more good with it.”
Grace turned to face her. “No, I’m doing all that I can. Someone has died tragically and they deserve to do that in peace and privacy.”
“I’m not interested in saving Dolores Holten.”
“What did she ever do to you?”
“Marry and hurt my brother.”
Exhaustion weighed on Grace. She just wanted this rewind over and done. Then what the woman said hit her. “You’re Zach’s sister?”
“He’s not proud of me. That’s why he didn’t tell you.”
“But if his sister has powers why is he such a skeptic?”
“Because I steered him wrong once. He lost his career because of it.”
Grace leaned against the wall. “So my power is a threat to him.”
It all made sense. He would never really believe and even if he did he wouldn’t trust her. The realization went through her like a knife.
“Then maybe it’s good I’m rewinding.”
“Oh?”
A man in a white uniform wheeled a gurney past her into Dolores’ room. She knew he was from the morgue. This may be her only chance to see Dolores. They would question he down there.
“Look, if you’ll excuse me, Miss Johnson I need to go. I need to rewind.”
“Will you talk to me when you come out?”
“Of course.”
The woman let her go. Now she had to convince the orderly to let her alone with Dolores body.
***
Grace had no desire to honor her promise to talk to Celia who now sat with Zach in the waiting room. She’d only assented because she thought she’d have rewound by now. The orderly had stood by the fact that he had orders to get the body to the morgue for autopsy.
This was a murder case, he kept saying.
Zach eyed her, his face a closed book. Celia looked past him a worried look on her face. “Now will you talk to me? I may have some insight into this case.”
Grace ignored Celia Johnson. “Zach, can you get me into see the body?”
He frowned then raked a hand through his hair indecision written on his face. “Not my investigation, Grace.”
She stepped closer to her. “You’ll try?”
He reached out a hand to her and his touch warmed her very soul. His touch was of a friend or a stranger comforting a stranger. Not a lover or someone who believes in you all the way. But he must have some faith in her or he wouldn’t still be here.
Her heart slowed its beat, having been here before this and not liking the situation now either. “Thanks.” She turned to the Celia. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“You promised.”
“I can’t.”
Right then two detectives joined the party.
***
Zach’s world spun out of control when he saw his colleagues. They stared at Grace as if she were the spawn of the devil.
Had he misjudged, totally misread her? He didn’t think her story of rewinding had been hiding a murder. “What’s up, guys?”
“We need to talk to Miss Harmony. At HQ.”
This was serious. They really thought they had something on her. A chill started in his heart. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll go, Zach. It’s okay.”
Defeat lowered her shoulders while it etched lines in her brow. He longed to hug her and take away from all of this. But he couldn’t and his impotent rage threatened to choke him. “I’ll get you a lawyer.”
She handed him a card as she crossed the room. “Call Mark. His uncle’s a lawyer.”
Mark again. That guy ended up everywhere. Why did she trust him so much? He looked at the number. Why was that so familiar? He shook it off knowing he’d think of it when something else was on his mind.
His sister appeared in his personal space. “See. Even the cops here think she did it. Strange, huh?”
Zach’s temper spiked. “She’s innocent until proven guilty.”
“Yeah, you cops always believe that.”
“And normal people never try someone in the public domain?”
She shrugged, obviously undaunted by his accusation. “Talk to Jeff Becker.”
“Who is he?”
“The last person Grace convinced she could help. His mother’s dead and Grace was brought in for questioning on that one, too. She predicted it.” Celia looked smug. “I can do investigating, too.”
“If they had a case, why isn’t she in jail?”
“She made bail then ran.”
He shook his head. She wouldn’t have been stupid enough to get involved with him if that were true. “I don’t believe it.”
Celia pulled out a notebook and tore off a piece. “Here’s Jeff’s number. Call him. I think you’ll be enlightened.”
“The newspaper reports said nothing about her being on the run.”
A smirk lifted a corner of her mouth. “So you have checked up on her.”
He had and now he wished he hadn’t. He needed to believe her, but the cop part of him knew he would talk to this Jeff guy. He took the number, then stuffed it into his shirt. “None of your business.”
“My cell number is on there, too. Call me if you want to know the real story.”
Chapter Twenty Eight
“How come all interrogations rooms look the same?” Grace said to the two-way mirror at one end of the drab room.
No pictures hung on the gray-green walls. The table was functional and the chair she sat in uncomfortable. Her stomach rumbled from hunger and her bladder screamed to be emptied. Three cups of coffee had settled there the moment she entered this room.
No one had come to talk to her, letting her stew. She knew the tactic. The cops in the last town had done the same.
The door opposite the mirror opened and two detectives entered the room. She braced herself even though she was innocent. Would they ferret out her secret?
She wasn’t a murderer, but a freak. And time was getting short. Tomorrow was her birthday. She had to touch Dolores soon.
The taller man sat across from her, his dark brown eyes boring a hole through her. Detective Malek he said his name was. His large head sported more hair than she’d ever seen on one human being. Kept short, she still couldn’t see his scalp or his forehead.
“We’re recording this.”
“Fine.”
She hoped Zach had called Mark. A lawyer should be on the way.
“Do you want a lawyer present?”
“Not yet.”
“What brought you to Dolores Holten’s house last night?”
“I was out for run and happened to go by her house when I heard a scream.”
“You happened by her house.” He looked over his shoulder at the other detective. “Is that your usual route?”
“I don’t have a usual route.”
“How many miles do you run?” He leaned towards her as if they were just two people talking in a coffee shop.
“Between three and six.”
“And how far is Miss Holten’s house from your apartment?”
“I don’t know. Besides I wasn’t at my apartment. It burned down.”
“Ah, yes, you’ve had a string of bad luck this wee
k. So where did you run from?”
“The Hilton Garden Hotel.”
“Nice place. I would think that would be tough to afford on a paramedics salary.”
Grace shrugged. “No comment.”
“No comment? I’m not a reporter, Miss Harmony and this isn’t a game.”
His voice rose an octave, but she refused to get riled. They had no evidence. “Can I go now?”
“You in a hurry?”
“You haven’t booked me. Do it or let me go.”
“Have you been here before? Oh, that’s right. I talked to the Johnsonville PD this morning. You have been brought in for questioning there. They’d like to talk to you, too.”
A chill snaked up her spine. She’d hoped she had put that incident behind her. She’d moved because they couldn’t keep her in town. She’d run away, but not illegally.
She rose. “Unless you’re booking me, I’m leaving.”
“Sit down Miss Harmony.”
“No, I’m going.”
The detective by the door didn’t move, just stared at her as if there was no way she could get past him. She couldn’t, but her pride wouldn’t let her back down in this situation.
She whirled towards the detective at the table saying the one thing that would end the interrogation. “I want a lawyer.”
***
Zach called the number and had a lawyer on the way for Grace. Jeff Becker’s number stared at him accusingly from his desk blotter. His natural curiosity got the better of him and he punched the numbers into the telephone.
A young man answered on the second ring.
“This is Detective Zach Holten of the Centre County Prosecutor’s Office. I’d like to talk to you about Grace Harmony.”
“That bitch?”
“I’m sensing some hostility.”
“She killed my mother and got away with it. The stupid cops wouldn’t keep her in jail and now she’s free.”
“Why do you think she killed your mother?”
“Because she kept telling me that someone was going to kill her and then someone did. How else could she know if she didn’t kill her?”
“Your mother was bludgeoned?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice cracking.
“You think Grace, er Miss Harmony, is capable of that?”
“I can’t find any other explanation.”
Zach took a stab in the dark. “Were you lovers?”
“Yes.”
Corpse Whisperer Page 18
