by Diane Capri
José nodded to them, carrying Nikki out to his car. Sarah felt the tears behind her eyelids as Gavin’s arms slipped around her. He whispered, “Go with her. This isn’t your fight.”
Sarah shook her head, enjoying the comfort of his arms before she pulled away. “It is my fight, Gavin. I should have faced him six years ago. I should have killed him then.”
#
Joshua pulled into the driveway of the old Sampson place, cutting the engine. There were no lights on, and only one car sat in the driveway. Maybe the bastard had left. His hands were white from gripping the steering wheel. He’d promised Sarah he wouldn’t do this. He was here. The least he could do was check on Ella Mae. The radio squawked as his hand touched the door handle.
“Deputy Cross,” he answered, never taking his eyes off the silent house.
“Joshua, I need you to meet me at the office right away.”
“What’s up, Sarah?”
“Not on the radio. Just get here as fast as you can.” Sarah clicked off.
“Shit.” Replacing the mike, Joshua sat for a second, hand poised over the door handle. He started the Jeep, spun around, and headed toward town. “I’ll be back,” he whispered to the silent house.
#
Ella Mae whimpered, shying away from the icy metal pressed against her back.
“You fucking that deputy?” he spat out, hand raised to hit her again.
“No. He’s just a friend.”
“Friend!” He raised the bottle of whiskey to his lips, the word leaving a sour taste in his mouth. “Get out,” he snarled.
Ella Mae whimpered again, raising her hands in front of her. “Please… “
He jumped at her, laughing as she scurried up the basement stairs. “Fix my breakfast. I got things to do today.”
#
Gavin hung up the phone, shaking his head at Sarah’s questioning look. “Still no word from them. Rest of the department is out on some terrorist threat.”
Joshua paced the floor. “So, we’re on our own?”
Gavin nodded. “Looks like it.”
“How much time do you think we have?” Sarah asked.
Gavin shook his head again. “I don’t know. The dreams have never been like that before. It’s always been during or afterwards, not before.”
“Dreams don’t always mean something, though. Maybe it was just a fluke.” Sarah touched his hand, wishing she could ease the pain she knew he was feeling.
Joshua glanced back and forth between them. “You two sure need an education.”
Sarah frowned at him.
“Dreams have forecast the future since the beginning of time.” Joshua sat down, warming up to his subject, surveying his audience. “Ever read Cayce?”
They both shook their heads.
Joshua shifted in the chair. “Edgar Cayce, born March 18, 1877, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. From the age of 24 he gave over 14,000 readings.”
“What’s a reading?” Gavin took a seat on the edge of Sarah’s desk.
“Sort of a prediction. Something like your dreams.”
“But that’s different than the dreams we’re having,” Sarah stated flatly. “Cayce was physic, we’re not.”
Joshua shrugged. “Everybody’s psychic, Sarah. Some know it, some don’t. Comes in all forms, too. You got your dreamers, your meditators, people like Cayce that go into trances, and empaths that feel what other people feel. Then you’ve got those with the voices in their heads. Most people are scared to death of it.”
Joshua knew he had their attention, but they were still skeptical. “Pharaoh’s dream, remember? The seven cows that were fat and the seven cows that were lean. The lean cows ate up the fat cows. Then he dreamed about seven ears of corn on one stalk. Good corn. Then seven thin ears which devoured the good ears. Joseph interpreted the dream for him. Seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine.”
Sarah laughed. “Coincidence, Joshua.”
Joshua shook his head. “No such thing. What about President Lincoln? He dreamed his own assassination. And surely you’ve heard of Jeanne Dixon?”
Gavin picked up the story, familiar with Dixon. “She dreamed about the White House with the numerals 1-9-6-0 formed above the roof. A dark cloud appeared covering the numbers and rippled onto the White House. She saw a young man, tall, blue-eyed, crowned with a shock of thick brown hair, quietly standing in front of the main door. She heard a voice that told her the young man was a Democrat to be seated as President in 1960. He would be assassinated while in office.”
Sarah drew in a shaky breath. “John F. Kennedy.”
Joshua nodded and grinned. Thank God. Slow but not impossible. He grabbed a notebook from Sarah’s desk and sat down. “Doctor Cross, open for business. Tell me about your dreams.”
Sarah couldn’t believe her ears, and yet it made perfect sense. She’d suspected for some time that Joshua had a gift similar to her. His instincts were good. A little too good. Sarah glanced at Gavin, her eyes alight with excitement as she realized what Joshua was trying to do.
“It’s dark. I can see the two men sitting in a car. Someone’s approaching.” She glanced at Gavin, who nodded and picked up from there.
“It’s dark, but I think it may be early morning. There seems to be a grayness in the air. Just before dusk or just before dawn.”
Joshua nodded, writing down early morning. “Okay, someone’s approaching. Male or female?”
Sarah shook her head, glancing at Gavin for confirmation. “I don’t know. It’s too fuzzy.”
“Okay. What happens next?”
“There’s a streak of light or a blaze of some kind. And I can see blood. Lots of blood.” Sarah stopped talking, her eyes on Gavin’s pale face, closed eyes.
Joshua glanced at Gavin, but continued. “What happens then?”
Sarah frowned, closing her own eyes as she tried to remember what she’d seen next. She knew it was important.
“I’m in Sarah’s living room. Holding my brother. Trying to stop the blood gushing from his chest.”
“I’m on the porch, checking his partner. He’s dead.”
Joshua stood up. “Okay. Now we know who, and we know where. All we have to do is be ready for it, sit back and wait.”
Sarah took a deep breath and squeezed Gavin’s hand. Maybe this time they could stop it. She glanced at Joshua. “You believe in psychics?”
He nodded, sitting down and sticking the toothpick between his teeth. Grinning, he placed his feet on her desk.
“Why haven’t you ever said anything?”
“Remember Joan of Arc?”
Sarah nodded.
“Joan heard voices in her head. Those voices prompted her to lead the French army against the English at Orleans. They burnt her at the stake as a heretic.” Joshua stood up and reached for the door. “Some things are better left unknown.”
#
Ella Mae looked up from the files she’d been sorting as Joshua came down the hall whistling. She hadn’t mentioned seeing him outside the house that morning. “I just made some fresh coffee,” she said, smiling hesitantly.
Joshua stopped whistling, noticing the way she favored one side, the look of pain that occasionally crossed her face.
“Ella Mae, does your husband hit you?”
Ella Mae lowered her eyes, placing the files into the drawer. “It was an accident. He likes to play games. Sometimes they get a little rough.”
Making his way to the coffee pot, Joshua poured a cup to go and headed for the front door. Anger seethed inside him. “He gets rough again, he’s going to have to deal with me,” Joshua stated, slamming the door behind him.
Ella Mae trembled, wringing her hands.
He’ll kill him.
“No,” she whispered. She wouldn’t let him kill Joshua. She’d kill him first.
#
Rob closed the door and glanced at the empty bed. He could hear the sound of the shower running and breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t gone of
f without him again. Hearing the water cut off, he sat down on the bed and waited.
“Boo!” Rob yelled as Carl came out of the bathroom.
Dropping the towel draped loosely around him, Carl lunged at the sound of the voice. Rob quickly rolled to the other side of the bed, laughing as he watched Carl bounce off the bed, landing hard on the floor, buck naked.
“You fucking son-of-a-bitch!” Carl yelled, holding his head. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Rob tried to answer, but laughter overcame him. The sight of Carl sitting naked on the floor, holding his head from last night’s hangover was too priceless.
“Payback’s hell,” he finally managed.
Carl’s look was thunderous. “First I get cold-cocked by some old codger old enough to be my grandfather, and then pushed around by an old woman, and now you.”
Rob tried to stifle the laugh, but failed miserably.
“That’s pretty old, partner.”
“You gonna help me up or not?”
Rob reached over, offering a hand, pulling it away as he noted the gleam in Carl’s charcoal eyes. “Almost had me there.” He picked up the towel, tossed it to Carl, and grinned.
“Just remember, payback’s hell,” Carl snarled as he stood up wrapping the towel around him.
Rob held out the cup of coffee he’d brought back from the restaurant. “Truce?”
Carl uttered a curse, but took the coffee.
Rob’s tone turned serious. “What happened last night?”
Carl sat down on the bed, fingering the small lump on the side of his head. “Chief sent me to get a witness out of Glade Springs before we got started. Afraid the media might pick up on her. Damned old fool got herself a boyfriend.” He fingered the lump tenderly.
Rob couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his lips, bringing another murderous look from Carl.
“Ain’t funny. Old witch got the chief out of bed.” He chuckled. “Called him Junior.”
“You’re kidding?” Rob stated. “She called Walsh ‘Junior’?”
Carl started to nod, but stopped as the movement hurt his head. He chuckled again. “I’d give a month’s pay to have seen his face when she said that.”
Rob chuckled, shaking his head. She must be something else.
“Millie was the best,” Clarence continued, voice serious. “She had my back for almost twenty years. I can’t let nothing happen to her, Rob. We gotta get in and find this bastard quick.”
Rob nodded. The stakes were growing daily. “We’ll get started as soon as it gets dark.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
“What do you think?” Rob glanced over at Carl from his position in the tree.
“Hell if I know. Deputies strung out all over the place. They must be expecting somebody.” Carl held up the field glasses. “Gavin and Sarah are still in the kitchen talking. Ain’t seen the kid.”
Rob couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom. They were in the wrong place. “I think it’s the kid he’s after. Let’s get back to the car.”
#
Gavin paced the kitchen, his nerves on edge. He wanted to be out there in the darkness stalking whoever was stalking them.
“Call Nikki, Sarah. Make sure she’s okay.”
Sarah glanced out the window. The shadows seemed deeper, darker, more menacing. She knew Joshua and Thomas were out there, along with her reserve deputies, Jed Burdock and Matt Carter. Still she could feel the evil coming closer. Smell the distinct odor of death. Death was stalking them. Where the hell were Rob and Carl?
Gavin placed a hand on her shoulder. “Call her, Sarah. You need to get some sleep.”
Sarah nodded, picked up the phone, and dialed José’s number.
“Hello.”
“Hey, José it’s me. I was just checking on Nikki.” She listened for a second. “No, don’t wake her up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Turning to Gavin she hung up the phone. “She’s asleep. A little angel, according to José.”
Taking her in his arms, Gavin rested his head on hers. “Why don’t you go upstairs and get some sleep? I’ll keep watch down here.”
Sarah smiled shyly, turning off the lamp and taking his hand. “Sleep isn’t what I need right now.”
Gavin knew at that moment what Rob had felt for Cory. He couldn’t imagine living the rest of his life without Sarah. He wanted her. She wanted him. Tonight might be their last night. Pulling her into his arms, he whispered her name. He wanted her, but not like this. Not with the fear of death surrounding them. Not with thoughts of Rob and Carl out there somewhere bleeding, maybe already dead. When they came together, it would be out of love, not fear.
Sarah pulled away, sensing his feelings, gazing into the deep brown eyes. “Lie down with me then. Let’s see if we can get some rest.”
Gavin checked the windows and doors again, making sure everything was locked up tight before following her up the stairs.
Moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating her still form lying on the bed. Gavin stretched out beside her, taking her hand in his. He didn’t want to sleep, but exhaustion had taken its toll, and within minutes he found himself drifting off in darkness.
Sarah lay awake, listening to the sounds of his even breathing. Tears coursed down her face. She loved this man, and when he left, a part of her would die.
Turning, she snuggled against him as emotional exhaustion overcame her, and she drifted into sleep.
Sarah woke with a start, lying with Gavin’s arms tightly wound around her. She glanced at the bedside clock. 5:30 a.m. She snuggled deeper into his embrace. They’d made it through the night and nothing had happened.
Closing her eyes, Sarah waited for sleep to come. Something was wrong. Tension filled the air around them. She’d missed something. She thought back over the dream, seeing it, reliving it. When they’d opened the door, Rob had fallen into Gavin’s arms. She’d rushed out to check Carl. Squirming out of Gavin’s arms, Sarah sat up, concentrating hard on the fleeting images. She saw herself re-enter the room, glance at Gavin, and shake her head. Carl was dead. Gavin had looked at her then, his eyes reflecting the horror he felt, as blood flowed through the fingers he’d pressed against Rob’s chest. Terror hit her in the pit of her stomach as she heard the words echo, Sarah, check on Nikki.
Oh, God. Nikki had been here. They’d changed it. Changed the course of the dream.
“Gavin, wake up. We have to hurry.” Sarah dashed from the bed, feeling for her shoes.
“Sarah?” Gavin opened his eyes, sleepy, reaching out to draw her back to bed.
She strapped on her revolver and tossed him his shoes. “We changed the dream, Gavin. Nikki was here when Rob and Carl were shot.”
Understanding wiped the last remnants of sleep from his eyes as he pulled on his shoes and followed her down the stairs.
He stopped mid-stride as laughter flowed around him, Too late, McAllister. You’re too late.
#
Millie crawled out of bed, groaning as she headed for the kitchen. Damned old bones hurt, keeping her awake all hours of the night. After filling a pot with water, she sat down at the table. She should be out there. Helping Carl. Damned old fool would probably get himself killed without her.
A smile tugged at her lips. It sure had been good to see him again. She thought about Clarence. A gentle flush crept up her neck spreading across her wrinkled face. Wanted to get married, sell flowers and books. He knew what he was asking for.
Reaching under the counter, she pulled out a bottle of Kentucky bourbon, pouring a healthy dose into the mug before filling it with steaming hot coffee. Placing it on the table to cool, she paced around the kitchen, pondering what she should do. Couldn’t just sit here. Things were happening. Bad things. She sat down, allowing her thoughts to drift back over the past few months. New people moving into Glade Springs. She thought about the young girl who’d stopped by the bookstore looking for work. What was her name? Ella something another. Mousy little t
hing. Always looking at the ground. Millie chastised herself and took another sip of coffee. Should have checked on her. Poor thing probably didn’t have a friend in the world. Besides, Millie wanted to see her husband anyway. See what kind of man made a woman look like that.
Humming softly, Millie set down the coffee and pulled out her mixing bowl. Chocolate cake. Why, the girl could be quite pretty if she’d put on a little weight. And a good neighbor would take a chocolate cake, wouldn’t she? Everybody loved chocolate cake.
#
Grabbing her cell phone, Sarah rushed from the house, Gavin right on her heels. She dialed José’s number as she swung open the door of the Explorer, ignoring Joshua’s frantic yells.
Climbing in quickly, Gavin called out “Follow us!” just as Sarah put the car into gear and spun out of the driveway.
“There’s no answer,” Sarah whispered, closing the phone and handing it to Gavin as she pressed down harder on the gas pedal.
“Maybe they’re asleep, Sarah.” Gavin placed his hand gently on her knee, offering comfort, as his own chest tightened in fear.
The drive to José’s took only minutes, but to Sarah it felt like an eternity. She should never have let Nikki out of her sight. She shouldn’t have left. Her hand tightened on the wheel. No, she should have killed Todd Williams six years ago. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. She’d find him, and this time she’d kill him.
The small frame house was dark as they pulled into the driveway and parked. Sarah could hear the sound of other vehicles approaching quickly. A shadow moved near the rear of the house. Pulling her revolver, she opened the door quietly, motioning for Gavin to stay in the truck. Sarah moved silently toward the house.
Her gut instinct told her something was wrong. The sound of approaching vehicles should have caused the intruder to flee. She waited for Joshua to join her as the others fanned out, surrounding the house. After climbing the steps, Sarah peered cautiously through the living room window. Her face paled at the sight of José lying motionless on the floor.
Motioning to Joshua, Sarah slipped around the side of the house, headed for the spot where she’d seen the shadow move.
