Looking behind her, Vivian noticed that she left no footprints, despite the soft ground. The dirt held no trace of her existence, as she moved through the tall trees. It was a symbol to her conscious mind that the trail was hidden.
The path moved uphill slightly, until it appeared to be opening at the crest. Vivian knew where she needed to go, and she was well aware of what would be waiting for her when she got there.
There was death nearby.
The red leaves and off colored ground were her clues. The only other time she noticed the change in color in her dreams was when her father had died.
That dream had been tinted red for the spilled blood.
As she continued walking, the leaves moved around her, like they had a life of their own. As she approached the top of the hill, she could hear the light sound of flowing water. It was some sort of stream or a creek.
Standing between the two trees, Vivian braced herself as she stared down into the water. It too had been stained red like blood.
As she prepared to navigate down the incline, there was a sound behind her. Two hands pushed her roughly forward, and she tumbled over the edge. Her body fell and rolled down the hill. Right before she hit the water, she gulped in some air.
The icy bite shocked her, and as she sunk into the depths, Vivian fought to swim.
It was useless. Something was dragging her down.
From the top of the hill, the water looked shallow, but now, she was sinking deeper and deeper.
When her feet touched the bottom, Vivian opened her eyes. The scream that ripped from her mouth was muffled by the water that she inhaled.
It took seconds of staring face to face with terror, before something was yanking her up through its depths and pulling her back from the cold grasp of fear.
Opening her eyes, Vivian was wrapped in Justin’s arms, with his lips pressed firmly to hers. Immediately, she stopped struggling.
Vivian was safe.
Unlike the latest victim.
There was nothing more terrifying than watching her locked in a battle with the nightmare. Her fists clenched and at one point, she seemed to open her eyes and stare sightlessly straight ahead. Then suddenly, the lids closed and the tremors began.
It looked to be more of a seizure than a bad dream.
Justin was about to have his brother call for an ambulance, when she began to scream.
When Vivian wouldn’t wake up, he only knew he had to find a way to reach her. Pressing his mouth to hers, he prayed that a kiss would lead her back from whatever hell that she was trapped deep within.
Tori grabbed her arm, and placed her fingers over the pulse. Slowly, it began to calm. “She’s okay,” she stated.
Julian had never seen anything quite like that. Yes, he was accustomed to Tori’s nightmares, but she never screamed like that. She’d mutter or call for help, but never was it a blood curdling screech that could turn your soul to ice.
Whatever Vivian had seen, it wasn’t going to be a picnic.
Justin slowly moved his lips from hers. As he stared down into her lavender eyes, he found the clarity returning. “Are you okay, baby?”
She nodded and turned her head towards Julian. “She’s definitely dead.”
He needed to hear all about it. “What did you see?”
Vivian struggled to sit up, and when she did, Justin wouldn’t let her go. Somehow, she knew that her dream scared him just as much. “The ground was a vivid red. I think that’s my subconscious telling me that there’s spilled blood.”
Tori began to take notes.
“There was a path. It looked like I was in the woods. I’m going to say that it’s somewhere behind her house. I remember from the first dream that she was walking up her driveway. If he killed her there, then he’s not going to take her far.”
Julian agreed and pushed on. “What else?”
“There was a small hill between the trees, and at the top of the embankment, it dropped off. I was pushed off the edge and fell into water.”
“What kind of water?” Tori asked. “Was it a pond, lake, or stream?”
She thought about it. “I heard running water, so I think it was a stream or river. It didn't look deep, but I sunk to the bottom.”
Justin left a kiss on her cheek.
“Something was pulling me down. That makes me believe that it’s symbolism for her trapped. I couldn’t get away. I felt like something had me around the ankles.”
“Was that why you were screaming?” Julian asked.
“No, when I opened my eyes, she was staring at me. I can tell you what she looks like.”
Tori waited for the description.
“She was about my size, blonde hair and blue eyes. I couldn’t see her clothes, but she had a mole on her face, right below her eye.”
Julian leaned back on the couch. “Now, we just need to figure out how to work this. We can’t discover a body. Then, I’ll have to explain how I knew. I’m good at tracking when asked to search, not just randomly coming across someone.”
She understood.
Tori thought about it. “Okay, someone’s going to miss her. She most likely had a job or someone who loved her. There’s going to be a call and a report.”
Vivian agreed. “I’ll get to work before my partner, and see if we got any calls. If anyone reported it in, I’ll get you the information before hand, so you can start investigating.”
Julian had to be honest with her. “You realize that keeping this quiet is going to be damn hard. Are you sure you want us to start digging?”
She knew that it had the potential to explode all around them. “We have to find a way to discover her body and set her free. She’s trapped, and I have to believe that she won’t rest until we find who did this. If the truth comes out, I’ll handle the consequences.”
Justin locked her hand in his. “We’ll figure it out and handle the outcome together.”
Vivian didn't want to read too much into his words. So, she glanced at her watch and changed the subject. “I better get home. It’s three in the morning. I need to sleep a little bit, or I’m going to look like the dead myself.”
Justin stood to drive her home. Before he could move, his brother’s hand was on his arm. “Use the guest room. We all have to be up early.”
Vivian appreciated his offer. “I don’t have work clothes for tomorrow, and I can’t be seen walking out of your office in my pajamas.”
Tori spoke up, “We’re the same size and I have a closet full of dress attire. You can use whatever you need.”
“Why?” she asked, knowing that they certainly didn't have to be so welcoming. She was dropping a ton of shit in their laps for them to clean up.
Julian stared over at the man who he called best friend. “Because family sticks together.”
Thursday Morning
When the alarm went off, they both laid there for a little while until they were fully awake. Tori could sense her husband’s stress beside her. Rolling to her side, she waited for him to say something.
Although her husband was the one more likely to be the introvert, when it came to her, he pretty much always spoke his mind. If he was silently lying there, something big had to be stirring him up.
“Morning, honey,” he stated.
“Want to talk about it, Jules?”
Where to even begin with this? “I have this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach over the whole thing. There’s some wacko grabbing women to put in cages, and he had a hair trigger.”
She let him get it off his chest.
“What if it’s just random women?”
Now, Tori understood where this was all heading. “Julian, I’m going to be just fine. I spend all day with you. How can anyone even get close to me?”
Yeah, he had already tried rationalizing that angle. It was the only thing that was keeping him from losing his mind at that point. “Promise me that you’ll stick like glue?”
She placed her body over his and stared down into his e
yes. “That, Mr. Littlemoon, sounds like something I might enjoy very much.”
He finally grinned. “I do aim to please.”
Tori laughed when he gave her ass an affectionate squeeze. “How about we get this day started, and then we can come back here tonight, and you can have your way with your wife.”
“Repeatedly?”
“Yes, until you’re borderline exhausted.”
That brightened his mood considerably. “That works for me.”
Justin could sense her watching him, and it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling at all. Vivian’s body was pressed fairly close to his, and her hand was lying on his stomach. Every once in a while, she would move her fingers in a lazy circular pattern and it sent shivers through him. Whether she was aware of it or not, it was deeply affecting him to his core.
“Morning,” he said, as he turned his head to stare into her eyes.
“Hi there,” she said, softly. When Vivian had woken up, she couldn’t believe that she was still beside him. It felt like a dream. Everything was moving so fast, and she was holding on for dear life.
“You look perplexed.”
She grinned. “I’m just thinking about how I’m in over my head when it comes to you.” Why lie? He already knew the dirtiest little secret that she had in her life.
This was nothing.
What he wouldn’t give to share the secret that he was hiding. If she was over her head, he was actually drowning. For some reason, she had him all twisted up into one big knot.
“I won’t let you sink,” he answered. “I promise.”
“Thank you for everything that you’re doing for me, Justin. I appreciate it.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Vivian. I’m glad you came to me.” Yeah, because he was crazy about her and might just be in love with a woman he met a couple of days ago. Apparently, he was the insane one in the bed.
She ran her fingers across his face and traced the chiseled cheek bone. “You’re incredibly sexy, Justin.”
His heart began to pound at her words. Few women ever took the time to see him in the morning light. Again, that was probably his fault, since he hauled ass at day break. “So are you, Vivian.”
Slowly, she lowered her mouth to his in a kiss. It was warm and gentle, like a soft rain on a spring day. It soothed and offered peace and comfort. Somehow, Justin always believed that she’d be the calm one in the relationship. It just flowed from her in wave after wave.
She’d bring him peace when the torment was almost too much to bear.
Breaking the kiss, she stared down at him, the cathartic lavender offering him the truth of what was growing in her.
“God, I wish I had more time before work, and we weren’t at my brother’s place.”
That made her giggle. “Oh is that so, Justin?”
“Absolutely,” he answered, softly.
“So, after all that you learned last night, you still want to share this journey with me? Most men would be running for their lives at this point.”
He took her face in the palms of his hands and forced her to stare into her eyes. “I didn't learn anything that makes you less appealing, intriguing, or amazing. You’re perfect, Vivian. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I told you that I was in this for the long haul, and I wasn’t kidding.”
Right then and there, she wanted to tell him something so ridiculous and outlandish, that she was sure he would laugh. Vivian was pretty sure that she was madly in love with him. It had everything to do with him, his calm gentle nature, and his willingness to be open-minded when she told him the truth.
“We should get ready for work,” he said, sensing her trepidation. “Do you want me to drop you off at the precinct?”
Vivian began laughing at that notion. “Yeah, no one will notice a sexy Native man in a big black truck dropping me off at the front door.”
“I can drop you off a block away and stalk you down the street until you get there,” he teased.
Vivian giggled at the visual in her head. “I think maybe I should just walk to work. I have my gun and badge in my purse and with Tori’s borrowed clothes, I’m good to go.”
He watched her climb out of the bed. “Will you have dinner with me tonight?” Justin asked, hopefully.
She glanced over her shoulder as she got dressed. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
When they arrived downstairs in the office, the rest of the staff was already there.
Lena sat at her desk and answered the ringing phone. When she saw her bosses walk in, she winked teasingly at Tori. She knew that it riled Julian up when someone flirted with her, especially when it was her. Some days, you just had to live on the edge.
Placing her hand over the mouthpiece of the phone, she pointed to the office. “Kane and Christina are in the office already working. Coffee is on, and Justin is late for work again.”
At that moment, the elevator opened and Mr. Late, the man in question entered, holding a woman’s hand.
Lena stared incredulously. “Or not,” she corrected.
Tori just laughed at the look on their receptionists face, as Justin kissed Vivian and wistfully watched her walk away. Lena was getting ready to pounce. It was evident that it was going to cross some line, since it always did.
“Wow, is Justin shacking up with a babe in your apartment?” Lena asked grinning.
Julian was about to say something, but then he decided against it. Maybe this would deflect the attention off his wife.
“She’s hot.”
Justin wandered over just in time to hear that comment. “Hey! Stop checking out Vivian. You can go back to ogling Tori.”
His brother gave him a look.
“I would, but Tori is madly in love and married, I didn't see a wedding ring on that woman’s finger. That means she’s fair game.”
Julian began laughing at the sputtering noise his brother began to make. “This serves you right,” he stated. “All the comments you’ve made, and all the times you flirted with my wife, now, you have to deal with Lena’s libido.”
She winked at her boss. When they would joke around it made her day. Lena really loved working for the Littlemoons.
“She’s not available,” he reiterated, pointing at Lena. “Keep your hands off!”
Lena snickered as they walked into the meeting room. Oh, this was going to be fun.
Once inside, the Littlemoons took their customary seats, and Tori was placed between them at the table. It was time to get Kane and Christina up to speed on what had happened in the last eight hours.
Breaking it down, Julian watched the looks on their faces. It wasn’t like he could blame them. They mimicked the feelings he had at first too. Then he went deeper into detail, and even had Justin explain why he believed that Vivian actually had a gift.
When it was all said and done, no one spoke for a few minutes.
Kane was the first to break the silence. “That’s a lot to swallow all at once,” he finally said. “But, being Native, I can see the validity behind it. The shaman often has dreams that he relays to his tribe.”
Christina was having the hardest time with all of this. “I’m sorry, but the scientist in me thinks this is all preposterous. There’s no scientific proof that shows that precognition exists.”
Julian could see the look on his brother’s face and opted to jump in and defend the situation. “Yeah, but is there any that says it doesn’t exist?”
Christina thought about it. “You have a very valid point.”
The tension abated slightly.
“What do we have on the schedule then today?” inquired Kane. “We just can’t go door to door asking if anyone’s missing. The cops will hone in on that one immediately, and we’re all going to be in jail.”
Tori agreed. “We’re going to start working with what we have and doing it under the radar. Kane, you and Christina are going to head to city hall to check out records.”
“For?” he asked, waiting for their assignment.
/> “We know from Vivian’s dream that she saw the numbers on the house. She said it was two hundred and twenty two. There can’t be that many houses with that number in Delta Falls. It wasn’t an apartment, so use that to narrow down a search.”
“And if the clerk asks us why the hell we’re looking?”
Tori could tell that he was less than enthused to be assigned this task. “Tell him a client is looking for something from their childhood and all they remember is a house number.”
“Good one,” Justin stated.
“Yeah, I’m good at little white lies.”
Julian glanced over. “That’s not something to say in front of your husband,” he stated. “It sets off alarm bells.”
Everyone laughed.
“Justin, you’re going to handle the bar that Melissa was leaving the night she went missing. They don’t open until lunch time, so you’ll have some down time here at the office.”
He didn't mind. “My friend Lenny sent me the list of people that were working and off from the ER. I can start going over that while I’m not out in the field.”
That worked for all of them.
“We’re going to head over to Mayor Lagerfeld’s house to get him to spill more information. If the cops have access to Melissa’s phone records, Vivian didn't pass them along. We want to see how often Brock Edwards was harassing his ex,” Julian stated.
“So, you think it could be him?”
Tori shrugged. “No idea, but if we can get his cell number, once the new victim’s identity is out, we can have Vivian look for that specific number in her cell records. That would tie them together and we might have a stronger direction.”
They all got it.
“Okay, divide up and be safe,” Julian stated as he stood and pushed in his chair.
“Ready, babe?” asked Tori.
It amazed him how this case was going from a simple missing person assignment to something so much more dangerous by the minute.
Blood Red Rage (LIttlemoon Investigations Book 1) Page 14
