Knock, knock...

by Dale Mayer

  Knock, knock...

  There’s no best-by date for revenge.

  Wealthy and beautiful Shay Lassiter runs a prestigious foundation, but her connections and resources were worthless when her fiancé tried to murder her. Now, she’s guarding her heart and using her knack for reading people’s intentions – both good and evil – to guide her. But when the foundation’s clients start dying, she must turn to the new man in her life…one who’s giving her mixed signals.

  Computer specialist and ex-cop Roman Chandler has a secret. It involves Shay and could ruin the fragile relationship he’s building with her. Though he can’t tell her the truth, he needs to convince her to trust him. He fears that whoever is behind this is about to turn his vengeance on Shay…

  And vengeance can be deadly.

  Knock, Knock

  (Psychic Visions, Book 5 )

  Dale Mayer

  Valley Publishing

  Copyright © 2013

  ISBN 13:978-1-927461-73-0

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidences either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Preview

  About Dale Mayer

  Chapter 1

  There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.

  ...Josh Billings

  Ice hit her first. Inside and out.

  Shay Lassiter woke to find goosebumps marching across her cold skin in the early morning. She tugged up the chocolate brown duvet she'd thrown off sometime in the night but even that didn't account for the cold filtering slowly through her waking consciousness. The rest of her brain screamed at her to wake up all the way. Something was off.

  Morris, the ever-present ghost of her beloved childhood pet, snuggled up close. She didn't understand the miracle of his existence, but she rejoiced in it every day. The deep purr rumbled at her shoulder making her smile. She was thankful his gentle blue ball of energy sat on her bed most days. She rarely saw him in physical form, but he was always there in spirit – offering immeasurable comfort. Most times, the sound of his engine powered through the small room. That oversized orange tabby had been the size of a small car, but had a diesel truck motor for an engine.

  The purr shut off.

  Shit.

  Her internal alarm finally kicked in as the bedding pressed down on her, confining, where moments before it had been comforting. She threw the duvet back, springing from bed, her heart pounding. A clammy film coated her skin. What the hell was wrong?

  She spun around, searching her darkened bedroom for the cause of the unease settling deep in her soul.

  There was no one there with her.

  Last night, she'd gone to sleep without a problem. That was surprising because she'd had an argument with her fiancé, Darren, before going to sleep. And it had been a bad one, making her doubt their relationship…again. But still, she knew that discord hadn’t created this type of response. Her psyche often chose the wee hours of the morning to wake her up and chew away at her, but she'd never woken up quite like this. Shivering, she looked down at her cami and boy shorts to see the hairs rising on her smooth skin. Her teeth chattered as she ran to check the thermostat in her room. It was normal.

  Of course it was. It should be warm; it was summertime.

  She ran back to bed and huddled against her headboard with her duvet high up on her chest.

  Shay?

  Stefan Kronos spoke, his familiar voice swept through her mind, calming her. He must have heard her silent distress in the night. Stefan? Something's wrong. Only I can't see what it is.

  I'll check it out.

  The emptiness in her mind told her Stefan had left. God, she didn't know what she'd do without him. He didn't always respond this quickly, but her psychic friend always knew when something was wrong.

  Then she heard it…

  The click of her front door opening...then closing. Something moved across her living room floor.

  She had an intruder.

  Alarm swept through her. Oh no. The door had been locked. She'd double-checked it before going to bed. There's no way anyone could get in.

  Unless they had a key.

  Shay? Get out of the apartment. Stefan's sharp voice sliced through her frozen state. There's a rogue energy heading toward you.

  Too late, she whispered in her mind. It's too late. He's inside already. Call for help, Stefan. Hurry!

  Hide. I'm getting help.

  "Shay? Oh, hi, honey. I hadn't expected you to be awake." Her fiancé stood at her bedroom doorway, a crooked smile on his face. Darren held up a key in his hand. It gleamed in the slice of moonlight creeping through her drapes. Dressed all in black, he cut an elegant figure. His handsome good looks and confidence had been part of what attracted her to him in the first place.

  Relief swamped her. "Oh thank God," she murmured and closed her eyes. Her rigid spine relaxed. There was nothing to worry about after all. Feeling much better and slightly foolish, she opened her eyes and smiled warmly at him. So happy to see him after their fight and her initial panic.

  It's just Darren, Stefan.

  Silence in her mind.

  Darren? he asked in a flat voice. Your fiancé?

  Yes. She gave a small deprecating laugh.

  Shay? Then…why the fear?

  Her eyes widened. Good question. "Darren, why are you here at this hour?" She glanced at the clock. "It's two in the morning." She stared at him, confused, as something else registered – finally. "And where did you get the key?"

  He shifted away from the door, his smile widening. But there was something off about that twist to his lips. A little too tight, and an odd glow added to the toothy shine. "When you wouldn't give me a key, I decided to have one made up on my own."

  She blinked. That didn't make any sense. Did it? No. It was wrong. She tossed back her long brown hair, trying to clear her head. And wished her roiling stomach would calm. She couldn't seem to think straight.

  "Why? I don't understand."

  His lips quirked. He tossed the key on the bed. "I know. But I figured that I had to do something. After all, we're fighting more lately. Not making up the same. It's as if we're on the verge of a break up."

  "Oh, I don't think-"

  "Stop." He held up his hands. "You know you don't look at our relationship quite the same anymore. Neither do I." His hands dropped and he shook his head. "You also know you've been spending more time on that damn Children's Hospital project
than ever. Even when I said I didn't like it."

  Oh shit. He was breaking up with her. But then why get a key made? And of course she spent a lot of time on that project. It was special. The kids were special. He knew that.

  Didn't he?

  Why was nothing making any sense right now?

  Stefan whispered through her mind. Shay, something’s wrong. What's happening?

  She stared at Darren. I don't know.

  To her fiancé, she said, "I don't understand."

  "I know you don't. That's okay. I can explain." He walked over and sat down at the edge of her bed. "It's too bad, though. You're a beautiful lady. Inside and out."

  "Thank you, I think?" Shay might be confused, but some truths were making their way inside. He'd had a key to her home made without her permission and he had let himself into her apartment in the middle of the night. Like Stefan had said, something was wrong.

  And now she was starting to feel more than a little nauseous. And, she felt…slower. Her mind sluggish. As if she were in shock. Or hurt… But she wasn't. She gazed down at her arms and the rest of her body. She felt weak, faint even, but not like she was injured in any way.

  "You don't get it, do you, Shay?"

  She stared up at him, puzzled. "No. And I'd appreciate it if you'd explain. This isn't very funny."

  "No, it isn't. You ruined all my plans."

  She tilted her head and tried to focus. "Plans?"

  "Yes, plans." Looking relaxed and at ease, he crossed one leg over the other and then clasped his hands over his knees. "See. I need money. Lots of money."

  Feeling foolish and spaced out, she asked, "Why?"

  He smiled, a knowing smile. "For lots of things." He tilted his head and looked at her steadily. "Are you feeling okay?"

  She tried to swallow, her tongue thick, unwieldy. "I don't know. I feel a bit...weird, actually."

  "That's all quite normal. I'm making it easy on you."

  Normal. What was normal about any of this? "I…I don't understand."

  He gave an exaggerated sigh. "No, I don't suppose you do. So let me make this simple." He stood and walked over to the window. "I need money. You have money. And, if we were together, that wouldn't be a problem. On top of your personal fortune, you control an amount that's unbelievably large. See, that's really attractive. Plus, taking you to bed isn't exactly a hardship." He leered at her. "In fact, that part has been sheer fun. I figured I was in clover. We were engaged––"

  "Still are, I thought."

  His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "So you say. See, I understand the female mind. I know that you aren't as happy as you were. And once that thread of discontent starts, it only gets worse. Our fight tonight was about moving up the wedding day. But you didn't want that. You're hesitating. And that means you have doubts. And doubts are dangerous because they could mean the end of my plans – and make me very unhappy." He moved the blinds slightly. "I can't have that."

  He sighed. "I thought I could save you... I have to admit that even now I'm having doubts..." He cocked his head and stared at her. She could barely see a softening in his features. A pondering. A weighing of options.

  Then he straightened, stuck out his chin and shook his head. "No. It has to be this way." The moonlight shone in through the crack between the blinds. "Too bad though; you showed such promise."

  Shay closed her eyes as his words and tones filtered through the growing fog in her brain.

  Stefan, Dear God, I need help.

  It's coming. Stay with me.

  I don't know if I can. I don't know what's happening.

  Nothing good! Damn it, I told you there was someone better out there for you.

  She'd have laughed if she could. Instead a strange lassitude had filled her veins, mixed into her bloodstream. I can't think.

  The buzz of Stefan's thoughts disturbed the clouds fogging her mind.

  Shay, read his energy. Shay? Shay! Damn it, stay with me. You need to read his energy.

  She didn't want to. It was difficult. She could barely understand Stefan's instructions. Something about Darren's energy. Her head lolled to the side. "What did you do to me?"

  "Well, I'm punishing you, of course. Actually it's not that much of a punishment. If I thought I could control you, I'd keep you around, but I can't. The decision has been made." He paused and tilted his head. "You're strong, you know. Not as strong as me, of course, but still strong."

  He hesitated; his gaze turned inward as if listening to an inner voice. Then sighed and shook his head. "No. I can't change my plans. If you ever found out what you could do with all that strength... If you could be trained to use it properly… But no. You aren't trainable. I've seen that already." He walked around the bed, studying her. "It's almost over. See? This is a nice way to go. Just fall asleep and you'll be gone. But of course, everyone resists it. Too bad. So sad. Everyone keeps clinging to their pathetic little lives even when that point is long gone."

  Then she got it. Oh God.

  "You're going to kill me?" The fog deepened. She struggled to push it back. To find clarity. To find answers. To find a way out of this hell.

  Stefan had said, ‘Read his energy.’ Not an easy task. The fog thinned slightly, a small victory, and she tried to shift her vision to see Darren's energy.

  As she'd done when things became serious between them. It was almost instinctive self-preservation to do so. She’d discovered he had a few anger issues, a few regrets, some energy heading into his past. A few walls saying he had a few secrets, but nothing to make her feel like she should delve deeper into the core of the man.

  And now she realized her mistake. When it was too late to do anything about it.

  She'd believed what she'd seen. The façade he'd presented. And had missed seeing him for who he really was. On the inside.

  He was talking again, preening. "You live out your days worrying about what to do with all that lovely money. Oh poor you. You were so focused you never even saw who came knocking on your door. Didn’t really see me. Not as I am inside. Only as I wanted you to see me."

  She closed her eyes and opened her senses. With her fading strength, it was easier to function entirely on a soul energy level. The physical form was so much harder to sustain and control as it failed around her.

  Clouds of dark black, sickly green energy surrounded him. Like a hard shell, it protected him on the inside, while he… While he what?

  She couldn't see clearly enough. Fog rolled in. She blinked several times, trying hard to understand. There was a long cord from his root chakra to…the bed. And then to her. He'd connected a cord to her.

  That connection, in itself wasn't the issue. Most people had hooks or cords into others, but not like this one.

  Stefan's voice murmured deep in her psyche. Stay with me, Shay. The cops will be there within minutes.

  Too late, she whispered. His energy… It's sick. Deep, dark, diseased. Dying. Stefan, see it for yourself. I can see him. The real him. He's been hiding all this time. Somehow masking who he really was.

  And that betrayal hurt. So much. She'd loved Darren. Had planned to marry him and bear his children. She had planned to link her life with this man, who now stood so separate from her, watching her die by his own intent. Dear God. How had this happened? How had she not seen the man for who he was?

  Because he could hide himself. And his personality is what's sick. He's not dying. You are!

  Her thoughts drifted, scattered. How is he doing this? I feel so weak. It's as if he's draining my very soul. She couldn't hold a focus. She understood in theory what Stefan had said…but reality felt distant. Like this was happening to someone else.

  He's opened your heart chakra. Draining your energy in a torrential wash. He's going to syphon you dry.

  She pondered that bit of information. She should be upset about it. Should probably care. But it was hard to connect the information to its logical outcome – to use it.