Veronica shook her head, “So why did you stay there for so long? No wait…that was where most of your commercial real estate work was,” she nodded. “So you can’t always tell when you’re seeing someone who’s already dead?”
Alex pressed his head against the cool glass of the window and said quietly, “No. I’ve met some who I talked to for a while, before I finally realized they were dead. It’s not like in the movies where they’re all bloody and broken.” In his mind he silently added, ‘Not always anyway.’
He heard Ronnie come over to him, and then felt her place a hand on his arm. “Is it always bad?”
Shaking his head, he turned to her and smiled, “My strongest talent is being able to experience or sense what someone else is feeling.”
“You’re empathic,” Ronnie beamed, “I thought so.”
He gave her surprised look.
“I figured that out on my way home after I found that book,” she continued, “I always wondered how you knew when I needed my own space, or a shoulder to cry on.”
“Does it bother you?” he asked uneasily.
“Are you kidding?” she cried, “I have someone in my life that I don’t have to explain every little thing that’s bothering me. A cop’s life isn’t easy. Not just on the officer but those closest to them. It wasn’t just because I couldn’t have a baby that I never married. There were plenty of guys before you came along, trust me. But they couldn’t handle my work and how it affected me sometimes. You, you’re a Godsend.”
Alex didn’t need his abilities to know that she was telling the truth. A look of relief swept over his face. “And you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he sighed, pulling her close.
After a moment she murmured, “Can I ask another question?”
“Shoot.”
“What are your talents exactly? I know you can sense emotions and… see people. What else?”
He thought for a moment before answering. “I can get impressions from objects that had strong emotions attached to them. Even just being in a place where something terrible happened can be difficult.”
Ronnie nodded, “Like that time we went to that historic railway site we visited two years ago? You suddenly became ill and had to go back to the visitor center while I continued with the tour. After you left the tour guide told us about the steam engine that exploded during the Civil War and started a fire that engulfed the entire town killing hundreds. Most of the victims were women and children. You were picking up on the impressions from that area, weren’t you?”
“Exactly!” he sighed and continued, “I can send my thoughts to another and even share my feelings with them, but only if they’re open to me.”
“How do you mean?” she asked curiously.
Taking her hand, he opened himself to her.
Veronica’s eyes went wide as she let out a gasp, it was amazing. To know exactly how much you meant to someone like this was pure magic. But it also had fired up her feelings and desires. Without saying a word, she closed the blinds and took him there on the spot.
cassandra
Cassandra had spent the morning exploring New Swindon and was now wandering the downtown area. She’d stopped at a couple of the local churches to introduce herself and discuss her plans for hiring locally. In particular she was interested in finding out about those who were in serious need of work.
In her mind this was a safe bet because she had already decided that the Graham estate was going to be hers. If there was a bidding war she wasn’t worried. Her office buildings and hotels were doing quite well thanks to careful management on her part. And of course there were her holdings in the family import/export business back in England, so money was not going to be a problem. She could easily afford to bid as high as it took to secure the property. In fact it might be nice if things went that way, Alex would wind up with a really good commission for all his troubles.
Alex.
Her shoulders fell slightly. She’d never thought about how her behavior might be affecting him. It had been inexcusable. Deep down she knew damn well he’d never give up Veronica, but a part of her kept clinging to some small sliver of hope. That she might still secure him somehow and they could be… what? Become the perfect couple in the eyes of the world? Eventually marry and be comfortable together?
Shaking her head, Cassandra started heading down Main Street, barely taking any notice of her surroundings. Sleep had not come easy last night. Veronica’s insinuations had kept haunting her. Even though she’d managed to get off the bus without looking back at the waitress, it hadn’t stopped her from thinking about the girl or dreaming about her when sleep finally came.
Pausing at the crosswalk, Cassie took a deep breath. Her heart was pounding and she was feeling edgy. The blonde hadn’t been the first to affect her this way, she was just the latest. If she tried, Cassie knew she could trace these feelings all the way back to high school and an incident in the girl’s shower.
The crosswalk signal changed and a loud beeping sound reminded her of where she was. Quickly she made her way across the street and continued her wanderings both physically and mentally.
There had been men in her life and some had been very good lovers, but something was never quite right. ‘I can’t afford to be that way,’ she told herself silently. The thought of her family’s reaction would be bad enough. But the media’s response would be ten times worse. She could just see the tabloid’s screaming, “Billionaire Debutante Has Her Coming Out Party…From the Closet!” They would have a field day with her. And what about all the charities and churches she’d been working with? How would they react? Would they turn their backs and denounce her?
It wasn’t fair! She just wanted to be happy. And…
Suddenly her mind snapped back to where she was. Something was wrong. She was sensing a presence nearby, one that was both familiar and frightening.
Slowly she scanned the area with her eyes until she spotted HIM.
He was standing right across the street from her. Long white hair cascaded down the sides of his head, spilling over the shoulders of a two hundred years out-of-date Frock coat. Eyes, that were as cold as they were gray, stared down a sharp nose pointed in her direction. A knowing smile pulled at one side of a cruel mouth.
Cassandra felt her body tremble in spite of her efforts to appear calm. She wanted to run but couldn’t. It was as if cement had just been poured around her feet and was already beginning to harden.
This was not the first time she’d encountered this figure. He had appeared to her before, starting with her last birthday which had been a costume party. At the time she had assumed he was just another guest invited by one of her parents. But then she noticed he did not mingle with the others.
Then his eyes had fixed on her from cross the room, and for the first time she’d felt the ‘disturbance’ of his presence. It wasn’t malevolent or desire, it was more like he’d finally found something he’d been seeking for a very long time. A sense of triumph mixed with a twisted sense of glee. Then he nodded to her knowingly, and then vanished among the crowd. When she’d asked her family and friends about him, none could recall seeing such a figure at the party at all.
After that, he kept appearing to her. On the street, in a crowd, on the other side of a window she was passing. And every time, she felt that disturbing glee before actually spotting him. On each occasion, he was always at a distance with those gray eyes totally focused on her. And as usual, the crowds around him seemed to take no notice and he’d eventually disappear from sight.
Then a few weeks ago, while she was in a friend’s office on the 20th floor of a high rise over in New York City, she’d felt him again. Her friend had just left the room, leaving her alone when the feeling came. Immediately she’d started looking around expecting to find him standing in a corner, but there was nothing. Then something told her to look out the window so she did, and nearly fainted.
Directly cross the street was an older building with a
ledge running around the entire structure at 15th floor. And he was on it, walking along as if taking an afternoon stroll. His gaze totally fixed on the window she was watching from, never paying attention to his footing or the pigeons that took off in flurry of wings and feathers as he approached. A part of her could almost swear the birds were as frightened as she was. He walked the length of the building and turned the corner without once looking down, and even gave her a little wave as he disappeared.
That experience had been the final straw. Ever since she was a child, she had known about her ability to see ghosts, mostly ancestors and relatives who’d passed on. And since no one else ever seemed to take notice of him, she was now certain this man was no longer among the living either. But there was something different about him; something ‘wrong’ and that scared her.
She had not seen him again since that day. Yet here was again and for some reason, she was more frightened of him than ever before. Why?
A moment later she got her answer. He stepped off the curb and began walking towards her.
The fear that had rooted her to the spot was now replaced by abject terror, allowing her legs to finally move. She ran into the nearest building, while looking back over her shoulder.
A moment later she ploughed into a tall figure whose strong arms enveloped her. Cassie’s first thought was to struggle free, but one of the hands reached up and began stroking her head, while a soft voice said reassuringly, “Take it easy Sweetie. I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
Cassandra relaxed. She did feel safe in those arms. They were muscular and strong, yet the touch of those hands was gentle and tender. Looking up she saw her rescuer was a woman. For a moment Cassie forgot to breathe. The girl was tall, with long black hair and a pair of striking blue eyes. Full sensuous lips smiled at her and said, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Then the eyes turned to the doorway and hardened. “It’s that guy coming across the street with the white hair and the black coat, isn’t it?”
Cassandra was stunned. This woman could see him! Automatically she nodded.
“Stay here,” the tall girl ordered and stormed out the door and onto the sidewalk. Once there she folded her muscular arms and glared defiantly at the approaching figure.
Cassandra watched in amazement as the man spotted his challenger and actually stopped in the middle of the street. For several seconds they just stood there staring, as if sizing each other up. Then a large semi passed between them and he was gone.
Her rescuer waited a moment, looked around and then came back inside shaking her head. “He disappeared, don’t ask me how, but he did.” The girl paused to look at her. “You look like you’re still shaken up. Let me get you a table and something to drink, I know I could use one. Maybe you’d like something to eat as well?”
For the first time since entering the building, Cassandra noticed the aroma of fine Italian cooking. Having spent some time in Italy she knew the difference between the American idea of Italian cooking and the real thing, and this was it. She automatically nodded.
After being given a private table away from the crowd, and a glass of red wine, she began to feel more at ease. Especially after her rescuer sat down at the table with her and asked to hear everything that had happened.
For a moment Cassandra hesitated then her mouth started running without pausing to inform her brain of what it was going to say. For the next few minutes she told the girl all that had happened since her last birthday, including the business with the ledge.
She had just finished her tale when an older woman stopped at the table with a plate of food and placed it in front of her. The newcomer glanced at the brunette and murmured something in Italian. The black-haired girl nodded and excused herself.
Left alone with her meal Cassandra took a tentative bite and found herself in taste bud heaven. For the next fifteen minutes she was able to forget her troubles, as she savored every mouthful.
She had just finished eating when the brunette came back and sat down with her again. “Sorry about that,” the girl apologized. “That was my aunt. She owns this place and runs the kitchen. I come in to help once in a while when she’s a little short-handed like today. I had to get a few people their bills and ring them up. So now we’re empty, except for you, and I put up the sign saying we’re for the next hour. So we can talk some more if you’d like.”
“I would,” Cassandra nodded eagerly, “I want to say thank you again for coming to my rescue. And for telling me you actually saw him. I was beginning to think I’d lost my mind or something.”
The girl reached across the table, took her hand and smiled, “Well, now you know that you’re not.”
Cassandra almost had to catch her breath. The girl’s touch was warm and tender. It was also sending a thrill through her unlike anything she’d ever known before.
Meanwhile, the girl was saying, “I was watching you through the window and saw you freeze up. I was wondering what was going on at first, then I spotted that guy across the street and began to wonder if something was up. Then when I saw you start to tremble I started heading outside to see if you needed help, but by then you were already running in here.”
“And I’m so glad you did,” Cassandra replied gratefully, wondering why her heart was beating fast again. Then she noticed the girl’s thumb was stroking her hand affectionately. It was nice, really nice.
“Are you okay?” the waitress asked curiously, “You look like you’re turning red or something.”
Cassandra nodded quickly and said, “I’m fine, it’s just. I have to go. I’m here on business and I’ve lost all track of time. I’m supposed to be meeting with the Chamber of Commerce in a few minutes. What do I owe you?”
“Nothing,” the girl said squeezing her hand and finally letting go. “You had a bad scare, so this one’s on the house.”
“But you’ve already done so much for me,” Cassie insisted.
“We’re big believers in civic pride and hospitality in this town,” the girl assured her. “Now are you sure there’s nothing else I can do for you? Do you want me to call the police or anything?”
“No,” stammered Cassandra standing up hurriedly, “I’ll talk to them after my meeting. Thanks again for everything.”
“You’re welcome,” the girl smiled.
Cassie quickly made her way to the door only to find it was locked.
Before she could turn around a hand reached past her and unlocked it for her. “Sorry, forgot about that myself,” the waitress laughed, “By the way here’s my phone number.”
Cassandra stared at the piece of paper for a moment wondering what this gesture meant.
“This way you can call me if you need to talk some more,” the brunette continued, “Or if the police want a witness who can verify that there is someone stalking you.”
Relaxing slightly Cassie took the paper and thanked her rescuer once more and left. She was halfway down the street before realizing she’d never asked the girl her name. Looking at the paper in her hand she saw her rescuer had thought of that as well and had signed it just above the phone number. Julie.
For a moment she stared at it, heart hammering in her chest. Then she crumpled the paper and tossed it into the nearest trashcan. Then she walked away as quickly as possible, while trying not to cry.
open house
Three days later, the magnificent gates and doors of Graham Manor were thrown wide open. Every light inside and outside was on, bathing the palatial building with new life and majesty.
Inside, a string quartet was playing in one of the rear ballrooms, while a small jazz trio had some of the guests swinging in the other. The front ballrooms had been set up with tables and chairs so people could sit and chat. But, the main ballroom was closed off and would remain that way until the clock struck nine. By then everyone who had been invited should have arrived.
Prospective buyers, town officials, and many of the locals were already on hand for the festivities. Alex
had purposely invited them so whoever wanted to bid on the place would have the chance to get a feel for the community and its leaders.
Making his way through the sea of guests, he shook hands and answered questions with his winning sales style. He went out of his way to make everyone felt welcome and important, including the locals who were just there to see the inside of the famous manor. Many of them had a family member who had worked there, at one time or another, and had heard stories about the manor. To actually get to see its grandeur in person was a real treat.
At one point he heard the elderly Ms. Gwendolyn Miller speaking to her grandson and his wife. “Cyrus always liked them young. Even though he was in his sixties, he still cut a handsome figure. This was back in 1980 of course, but he could never keep his eyes off some of the girls who came here. Even though he was approaching seventy, he still wanted an heir and wasn’t too particular about how he got one…”
“Randy ole bugger,” Alex murmured, as he moved on. “Then again Ronnie’s in her forties and she’s pretty rambunctious. Maybe there is something in the water around here…”
“Tsk, tsk… muttering to yourself is never a good sign, Youngster,” observed Roy, who was standing nearby with his wife Alice who added, “You’ve done a wonderful job setting this up. But I don’t see Veronica anywhere.”
“You’re husband left her in charge of the station tonight, so he could play hooky and come here,” Alex explained and then turned to Roy, “By the by, how are things in the Bobbies and Burglary business? Learn anything new regarding this neck of the woods?”
“No comment,” Peterson growled with a smile, “And you if ask any more questions like that, I’ve got your girlfriend’s number on my cellphone.”
“Actually, he’s got it on speed dial, so you better behave,” Alice added playfully. Then she spotted Tracy Higgins and wandered over to speak with her, leaving the two men to talk alone.
The Bridge (Para-Earth Series) Page 13
