by Mayer, Dale
"So," she said, nonchalantly, "who is she?"
The clouded confusion disappeared instantly. "Oh no, you don't. I'm not going to tell you." He turned away from her and looked around, as if just returning to his senses. "I need to think on this."
He strode over to his truck and drove off.
Alexis sat up, staring at his dust in shock. "Hey, what about our beer?" But he was long gone. Alexis got to her feet and brushed herself off, looking down the road at the dusty cloud from his truck.
Damn. She'd have enjoyed going for a pint tonight. It was past time to go home. Late and gloomy, the rain that had been threatening for several days now started with light droplets. She still needed a good ten minutes to finish up. Would the skies be kind enough to wait before dumping on her? She noticed several other workers heading home after shutting down the heavy equipment for the day.
"See you tomorrow, Alex," one of the operators yelled from his pickup as he pulled away.
She tossed him a good-bye wave. By the time she was ready to leave, the black clouds rumbled menacingly, making her look around nervously. For the first time, she realized she was alone. Odd.
Normally that never bothered her, but today the strange electric feel to the air sharpened her uneasiness.
A brilliant flash lit the sky, followed quickly by a resounding clap of thunder. The skies opened, sending sheets of rain down as she raced to collect her tools.
"Shit." Alexis raced to her truck and threw her tools into the box. The black sheet of rain washed out her vision as she tried to stab her key into the door lock. Guiding the key with her other hand, she finally made it inside and pulled the door shut.
"I don't believe it." A river covered her windshield. She grabbed her sweater from the passenger seat and rubbed her sopping hair vigorously. There were a couple of tissues left in the glove box – enough to wipe down her face. "Where did that come from?" she muttered to herself. She turned on the engine. Thankfully, it purred to life. Now if she could only see, she might be able to get home.
The headlights shone eerie silver on the wall of rain. Her red truck picked its way carefully through the parking lot to the exit. "Damn it, I could've been home by now," Alexis muttered in disgust, hunching over her steering wheel to peer closer. What was on the road ahead? Alexis slowed her truck to a crawl.
Quicker than she'd thought possible, the object loomed directly in front of her. A huge rock? A person? She couldn't tell. She squinted and leaned closer, her nose almost touching the glass when it happened.
The object smashed into her windshield.
Alexis cried out, slammed on the brakes, throwing her arms up protectively against the impending collision.
Only it never came.
Alexis peeked out apprehensively, her ragged breathing almost covering up the heavy pounding of her heart.
And it had waited for just that lull and immediately smashed through the windshield.
Alexis screamed.
Only the glass never broke.
There was nothing. Except for the horrible sounds that slipped out of the back of her throat. She choked her whimper back until the silence was deafening.
Alexis opened one tightly squeezed eye. Whatever it was had sealed itself against the glass. Shocked, Alexis reared back as a doorway appeared in her windshield. She swallowed several times as her mind tried to wrap itself around this new development. Shivers rippled through her.
Alexis's breath caught as the strange doorway morphed into an old black and white movie in front of her. She didn't think she wanted to see what was to come, but she couldn't close her eyes, paralyzed to do anything but watch the movie roll on.
Her windshield opened into a hallway. There was another dingy carpet and gray walls, but the paint chips and cracks on these walls were bigger. The sounds started up suddenly, startling Alexis as she was assaulted with yells and cries of fear. She clapped her hands over her ears, but she couldn't look away.
Her training with Stefan was allowing her, in a small way, to detach. Not enough, though. A horrible inner knowing told her something ugly was about to occur…
Focus, damn it. Remember your breathing. If there ever was a time to practice her lesson in detachment, this was it. The cries of fear turned to a child's screams of pain, and the yells became angry bellows. Someone was beating a child. Could this be Daisy? Or a vision of another child?
Uncertainty helped her distance herself even more. She pulled back mentally and changed to a wide screen view. Instantly, she stood in a ratty bedroom as someone left the room. All she saw was a scuffed black shoe as the person walked out. The child lay sobbing uncontrollably on the bed.
A little boy.
Alexis's heart wept. Crumpled into the mussed blankets, the child lay with his arms tightly wrapped around a pillow. Sobs wracked his slight frame.
Alexis's eyes shut as sorrow and pain overwhelmed her. This vision was the oldest yet. But for Alexis – the pain was fresh. When she could finally bring herself to open them again, hot tears clung to the corner of her eyelashes.
The vision was gone.
CHAPTER 11
"What happened?"
Alexis wasn't surprised to hear Kevin's voice at the end of the phone. In truth, she'd half-expected it. She tucked her slipper-covered feet up on the couch beside her. She'd barely made it home before the numbing cold and tiredness had hit.
"I had another vision." Quietly and as emotionlessly as she could, she told him what she'd seen. "I think this has to be related, but I don't know in what way. All I can tell you is this one seemed to have happened a long time ago."
Kevin listened intently, seeming to hear and understand all she hadn't expressed. "You're receiving more visions so there could be more victims involved. Are you okay now?"
"Yes," she whispered, needing and appreciating his understanding and the explanation. "Why are the visions so painful? Why can't they show me happy times?"
"That's the whole point of these visits. These people are in pain, and need help to finish business here so they can truly pass on." Kevin's soothing voice went on to explain some of the research that had been done in this area.
Alexis listened with only half an ear. She could only imagine what a lifetime of feeling other people's pain would do to her.
"They will either destroy you, or you will learn to deal with them."
It took her a minute to realize she hadn't voiced the question, but he'd answered it anyway. She closed her eyes. "That might become irritating one day," she said.
"By then, you'll set boundaries telling me what I can or can't do. Not to worry. For the moment, this transparency is a good thing."
"By the way, when I had the vision, did you know?"
"I knew you were experiencing something emotionally painful. My sense told me it was happening. But it also told me the vision wasn't dangerous, so I didn't come and look."
"Right." She shook her head at his words. "You make it seem so simple."
She shifted on the uncomfortable couch. Dressed in her nightclothes, and bundled under her heavy robe, she was almost warm. Almost. It might be time to invest in thermal underwear if this continued. At least until she learned to cope better.
***
"Well," asked the man impatiently. "I haven't got all day. What did you find out?"
"Sutherland's got nothing." The younger man almost bubbled over with his news. Finally, he had something to offer. Maybe it would make this guy happy enough to leave him alone. He straightened his shirt collar.
"And…?"
The young man leaned forward conspiratorially. "He's searching the databases for unsolved cases involving murdered children."
"All children?" the man asked, his searing gaze making the other man nervous.
"No, he's focusing on little girls called or nicknamed Daisy." He snickered. "What kind of a name is that?"
"Daisy!" An odd look transformed the slick features as the man silently contemplated the news. A heavy pent-up breat
h gusted out, and he whispered, "At last."
He said nothing more, but there was a curious light in his eyes.
***
Stefan pulled into a small spot so far off to one side it was almost on the grass. He gave her a sidelong glance. "Ready?"
She stared at the massive estate's grounds jammed with vehicles and people. As she stared at the mess, she started to understand just how much she hated crowds. "Why are we here again?"
"Because Kevin called, asking for our help. It's the mayor's son's birthday and the family is throwing him this massive party. I told him I didn't want to attend, but he's looking for something that could be wrong on this psychic plane. So…"
"For the mayor's son's birthday party?" She took a deep breath. "I guess, if Kevin asked us to check out something, then we need to help out if we can."
"Look at it as practical experience."
"Right." With a sigh, she opened the door to Stefan's jet-black BMW and stepped out.
There were people in all directions. She wouldn't have minded joining the group of young boys playing basketball in the monster-sized parking lot.
Stefan's lethal male grin perked up her spirits. She couldn't help but smile back.
"Much better. It doesn't do my ego any good to have an unhappy woman on my arm."
She tossed him a disbelieving look. "You're too damn gorgeous to have that."
"True," he answered smugly, startling a laugh out of her.
He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the crowd. "At least this conversation distracted you enough to get you in here."
Alexis looked around in disbelief. She was already in the middle of the damn crowd. This man was dangerous.
Stefan moved slightly in front of her, magically clearing a path for them. She couldn't see what he was doing but the warmth of energy flowing outward from his body said he'd done something. Damn. She so needed to learn that trick.
"Alex," boomed a thick Irish voice from across the room. "I didn't think you'd be here." Her barrel-chested friend rolled toward her, parting the crowd before planting himself directly in front of her, arms open wide.
Alexis laughed and walked in for her hug. "Hello, Scott. How are you?"
"Bloody fine, lass. How are you? I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you." Scott studied the man at her side. "What's this? Did you bring a date?" he drawled, his eyes wide as he assessed Stefan. "Well, now. I wouldn't have thought you were into models."
Alexis snorted. "Not likely. Scott, this is my friend and mentor Stefan. Stefan, this is my boss and friend, Scott."
At the word mentor, Scott narrowed his eyes and reassessed her companion. Slowly, the huge shaggy head nodded as he recognized what he was looking for. "Good. It's nice to meet you. For helping out my Alex…" Scott held out his hand to shake Stefan's. "I thank you."
The two men seemed to come to a silent, but instant understanding. Alexis could only shake her head at that whole male protectiveness thing.
"Come on. The food is over here. Let's get you some lunch." Scott's burr rumbled through her ears, his words blending and merging with the crowd around her.
God, she hated social scenes like this.
***
Kevin watched Alexis and Stefan meander through the crowds, an apparent twosome. He frowned. Damn it. They looked entirely too comfortable together.
Jealousy didn't sit well with him. He didn't have much experience with heavy emotions. All his relationships, to date, had been light and easy. Like the one he'd had years ago with Mandy. He glanced over at the petite redhead who had turned to speak with someone else. There was no spark between them anymore, but it was nice to see her again. He often ran into her and her son, Kyle, around town, but he hadn't spent any real time with them in years. He'd intended to stop by more often, but…
Sandra, his hostess stepped forward. "Kevin, how are you? We so rarely get to see you these days." Sandra smiled her little girl's smile, making her appear years younger than her mayor husband. She tugged Kevin to the back of the house and into the full library, where many political friends surrounded John. Some would have said attending this function was politically correct. Others would have said it was simple networking. Regardless, there were far too many in attendance to try to sniff out dirt.
Kevin accepted the offered beer. "So John, where's the birthday boy?"
Several other heads nodded at the question, looking around for Charles. Though, at thirty, one couldn't really call him a boy any longer.
"He's here, probably surrounded by women. You know how it is when you're young and single." John smiled with fatherly pride.
The men grinned. At that point, someone tossed out the topic of single child syndrome, starting up a whole new discussion.
"They are usually more assertive, taking what they want in the world."
"You mean more spoiled, expecting everything from the world to be handed to them."
"Here, here. And on a silver spoon, no less." The good-natured wrangling went on around him.
Kevin tuned most of it out. His eyes and senses searched the group, trying to find signs of unease. When his gaze landed on John again, he felt the wave of pain even before it reflected itself on his friend's face. John looked distinctly uncomfortable with the conversation and was hedging away. Who could blame him? It was obviously too close to home.
"John, it's too bad about your daughter," said one older man. "It does my heart good to see you and your family getting on in the world so well. The wife and I are awaiting our first grandchild." The speaker beamed as his news caused a flurry of well wishes and other personal stories.
John winced at the mention of his daughter, a ghost of a reaction that slipped past fast.
Kevin kept his eye on John while filing away the news that John had had a daughter. Had, because John had told him his son was an only child. John's expression was quickly masked after one baleful look at the beaming man who basked in those compliments.
Surviving another ten minutes with the discussion, Kevin then escaped to the other side of the house to the buffet luncheon and coffee service. He bet Alexis was more than ready for a cup.
"Did you get yourself something to eat, Kevin?" Sandra popped up at his side again, ever the good hostess, making sure that everyone was taken care of.
At his smile and nod, she murmured, "Good, good," and moved on. Some older ladies were gossiping on the far side of the buffet, and Kevin watched as Sandra headed for them. He could hear snippets of their conversation.
"Daughter would be an adult now, wouldn't she?
"Yes, I think so. Wasn't there something suspicious about her death?"
"Ruled accidental, if I remember correctly," chimed in another of the main society leaders.
Eager murmurs of condolences contradicted themselves as everyone waited with baited breath for more gossip.
"Shh. She's coming." The frantic whisper silenced them all.
Amazed, Kevin noted how the whole group simultaneously donned cheerful smiles before facing their hostess. Sandra appeared to not have heard, although how that was possible, he didn't know. Maybe she just didn't want to hear.
The ladies on the other side surrounded Sandra, bubbling away with compliments over the social gathering. Right, as if they cared. While he didn't have much use for gossips, he knew enough to pay attention. You never knew where the next lead would come from.
He struggled with the bits that he'd learned. He himself had only been in town for seven years. He wouldn't have heard about the child's death if it had happened decades ago. It had to have been incredibly painful. Not to mention Glen's accident happening in there somewhere. A lot of hurt for one family.
Still something bugged him about both issues. He made a mental note to take a closer look.
***
Thank heavens there were beautiful gardens there. Alexis desperately needed out of the packed house, and into the world she understood and loved. Any events with crowds were stifling, bu
t this one more than most. An air of covetousness by many of the guests made her want to gag. It wasn't about the structure of the estate, but more about the living energy of the place. Stefan could explain the feeling much better, but for her, the place had the smell of hidden secrets.
Not her style at all.
When Charles introduced himself to her, she'd felt like a fool. She hadn't even known who the birthday boy was. And from the snippets she'd heard, she had thought Charles to be a child, not a tall, slim, fully grown man a couple of years older than her. With the mad crush of people inside the house, she'd jumped at Charles's offer to show her the grounds.
Yet the further they moved from the house, the more she realized she'd made a mistake. Charles was…too smarmy…too intimate…and way too pushy. Every time she put distance between them, he quickly regained his lost ground.
It was ludicrous. He was so opposite from her taste…and his persistence almost made her cringe.
And if he didn't get his frickin fingers off her she would cause some serious damage. She'd never been one to tolerate being mauled.
Several times, she looked around the garden for someone she knew, but the two of them were slowly drifting away from everyone. Great. If this jerk tried to kiss her, she was liable to belt him one, birthday boy or not.
"Let's head back," she said nicely, but firmly. "I never did get my coffee and a piece of your delicious birthday cake." She swiveled back the way they'd come, only to find he'd slipped around to stand in front of her, and he was much too close.
The hot sun poured down on them. Alexis hated it today, feeling overheated and a tad angry. His next comment made her even more so.
"I never got my birthday kiss." His words oozed, his smile made her skin crawl.
Masculine charm aside, he was as attractive as a wet bullfrog in slime. Not that she had anything against actual frogs.
"Sorry," she snapped. "I don't do birthday kisses."
"Oh, I think you will. Do you like our new home? This estate is basically all mine. There's no other family member that counts." He wafted a leisurely wave across the impressive grounds. "Most women would be delighted to spend an afternoon with me."
