Chapter Two
The screams slowly penetrated the terror that gripped Victoria Banks’ mind. The only way to break the spell was to move. Unfortunately, she was still paralyzed with the horror of what she just witnessed and the fear of what their conversation implied. Deep inside, a small part of her knew it was all in her head but that didn’t stop her from struggling. As the spine-chilling screams grew steadily louder, she became aware of her increasing ability to move.
Finally breaking free, Tori jolted upright. Her last scream stuck in her throat, choking off her air supply. What seemed like an eternity later, Tori gasped, dragging in a ragged breath. Fighting against the overwhelming panic, she pulled herself into a tight ball and wrapped her arms around her bent knees as firmly as possible. Without realizing it, Tori began to sway, rocking back and forth as an inhuman keening escaped from her throat.
Tori forced her body to function. If she didn’t get up and move around, the encroaching darkness would close back over her mind and she’d see that poor woman sliced in half again. And again.
“Oh God,” Tori sobbed. “Oh God, oh God, oh God.” She prowled through the cottage, switching on every light she had. After rechecking everywhere to ensure she was truly alone, she backed into a corner in the living room and slid to the floor behind her wooden rocking chair. “Oh God,” she muttered one last time before she gave in to the emotions that were trying to boil over.
By the time Tori had regained some control, the sun was fully up. It was brilliant, reflecting off the pristine snow, making the world outside look all sparkly and pure. If only that was true. Deep down in her heart, Tori sensed that somewhere out there was a woman named Mindy who had only wanted a little adventure but wound up dead instead.
“Okay, Banks, get a grip,” Tori muttered, shaking herself into motion. “It was a bad dream just like all the others. It wasn’t real. There isn’t a woman in pieces in a bar somewhere about to be found by some poor kid who comes in mornings to mop the floor. You weren’t really there, watching those guys get blowjobs and no one is passing up sex because they’re saving themselves for you,” she snorted and stepped into the shower. “If I believe this stuff then Diana is right and I do need professional help. Christ, I’ll be stopping strangers soon to ask if their names are Russ and Stan if I don’t watch it.”
Tori continued her pep talk all the way to the library. She knew she looked even worse than the day before but, now that someone was killed, she should have a few dream-free nights and might be able to catch up on her rest. Tori knew Diana Peters, her boss, would let her hide in the stacks once she heard how the nightmare ended. She’d tell Diana right away and disappear to the basement before the library officially opened.
“Tori.” Diana wrapped her in a fierce hug as soon as she walked in the door. “Oh, little girl.”
Tori fought down the rising panic as Diana rushed her into her office, closing the door behind them. Something must be terribly wrong for Diana to be holding on like she was. From experience, Tori knew to wait until Diana released her to ask what had happened. It didn’t matter if the cause was good or bad, Diana never spoke until she was finished hugging.
“My sweet little Tori,” Diana murmured as she dabbed her eyes.
“Diana, please. Tell me what’s wrong. You know I’m here for you, whatever it is.” Tori rested a hand on the older woman’s shoulder.
“Me?” Diana looked stricken. “Oh no, dear, I’m fine.”
Tori felt the color drain from her face. She began to tremble. “Th-then w-what is it?”
Diana wrung her hands and hesitated. Meeting Tori’s eyes, she caught her for another firm embrace.
“Diana?” Tori’s voice shook.
While she collected her thoughts, Diana motioned for Tori to sit and crouched in front of her. For a second, Tori had the impression that Diana’s position was as much to trap her in the chair as it was to maintain contact.
Diana took a deep breath and began. “Since we opened late today, I indulged myself by working this morning’s crossword instead of doing a few chores as I probably should have. I was in the kitchen so I switched on the radio to see if I could pick up that talk station in Hartford.”
“And?” Tori prompted when Diana hesitated.
“I’m so sorry.” Diana clasped her hands. “There was a report of a woman’s body which was found this morning in a bar on the outskirts of Springfield. They didn’t give out any details other than she appears to have died because something went wrong with a magic trick.”
Tori fought Diana’s grip unsuccessfully, struggling to break free. “No-o,” she moaned repeatedly, shaking her head in denial. “Oh God, Diana, no!”
Tori slumped in defeat and would have fallen from the chair if Diana hadn’t been there to catch her. All the terror she’d reined in earlier broke free. Tori was too stunned to try to temper it.
The pair ended up on the floor. Diana did her best to comfort Tori as she cried hysterically. It seemed forever before she dried her face and could meet Diana’s concerned gaze.
“Tell me everything they said. All of it.”
Diana did as she asked although she had already told Tori all that had been in the report.
“Mindy,” Tori whispered, barely audible. “Her name is Mindy. Oh God, Diana, what am I going to do?”
Tori let herself be drawn back into Diana’s comforting arms and tried to believe her when she said, “First, we’re going to stop jumping to conclusions. Just because there are similarities to your nightmare doesn’t necessarily mean they’re one and the same.”
“Diana.”
“No, listen to me. I was wrong to overact like that,” Diana sounded determined. “I’m sorry I even said anything. I should have waited until they reported more details. Think about it, baby girl. You’ve been having these dreams for years. One of them was bound to resemble an actual crime eventually.”
Tori nodded even though neither believed it was a simple coincidence. Russ had said they were getting closer to her. It was more likely that she just hadn’t heard of the others.
“That’s right,” Diana continued. “So for now, we’re going to fix our faces and get to work. We’re going to forget my melodramatic performance and concentrate on the reality of dealing with the group that’ll be barging in here shortly. Or I should say I’m going to handle our bunch of stir-crazies who always forget that there are many days they don’t go out while you go pretend that your greatest desire is to repair every loose dust jacket we have.”
Tori opened and closed her mouth several times to protest but gave up, accepting she wasn’t in any shape to chat with the regulars. “Do you mind?”
“Not a bit.” Diana smiled softly. “I even understand but I do want to remind you that I am not fooled, nor have I ever been and that nothing is quite as bad once you’ve talked it over with someone who cares very deeply.”
They were both surprised when Tori gave Diana as fierce a hug as she’d received earlier. “I love you too, Diana. Thanks for putting up with me.” There was so much more she wanted to say but knew she couldn’t without falling apart again. Sensing she’d understand, Tori released her friend and practically ran from the office.
Chapter Three
Tori took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders as she pulled open the door. She forced herself to enter the lounge where she was to meet the wrong detective.
At lunch, when she let Diana convince her to speak with her niece’s husband, the idea didn’t feel so wrong. After all, Barry wasn’t a complete stranger. He and Diana’s niece, Carla, had included her on a variety of occasions so she already knew he was a decent man who would treat her with respect. The fact that he was a detective in the city twenty miles away would help determine if the rest of Tori’s nightmare matched the crime that had been reported on the news. He’d have access to the details that hadn’t been announced and then she’d know once and for all if what she saw was real or not.
Now, six hours later
, she wished she’d never let Diana extract the promise from her. Even though everything had changed and Tori was positive this would be disastrous, she couldn’t break her word to Diana.
Tori scanned the lounge and told herself how wrong it was to curse Diana’s sister, Debbie, for her current circumstances. Debbie certainly didn’t hit that patch of ice and flip her car deliberately just to make Diana and Barry unavailable to her now. She didn’t wreck her car and land in the hospital just so Tori would end up meeting with Barry’s partner in this noisy, dimly lit pick-up joint instead of talking with people she knew in Diana’s safe, comfortable kitchen.
Giving her mind a shake, Tori repeated Diana’s words to think positive. Telling someone official about this mess was the right thing to do. If, for whatever freakish reason, she really did witness the murder in her dreams she had to do anything she could to help the police catch the men. They had to be stopped before they killed someone else.
“Tell me you’re not serious. Tell me this is a sad ploy to make me jealous,” the woman said as her face twisted into an ugly scowl.
“Now, Lana.” Guy tried to take her hand. “You know I’d never interrupt our evening unless it was unavoidable. But how could I refuse? Barry wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t think it was too important to put off. His mother-in-law was in an accident. He couldn’t just drop his wife off at the hospital without knowing her condition.”
“I don’t like it.” Lana pouted.
“Neither do I but that isn’t the point.” Guy ran a finger along her forearm. “Look, she’s here. I won’t be long.”
“You better not be.” She frowned. “And you better believe you’ll be making this up to me.”
Guy sighed as he made his way across the room. Not only had this little farce pissed off Lana enough to guarantee he wouldn’t be having sex any time soon but it was apparently going to be an expensive waste of time. If Barry had asked him to fill in for any other reason, Guy would have refused as soon as he managed to stop laughing at the explanation behind the meeting. Unfortunately, family was equally important to Guy and he’d never turn his back on his partner when the man’s family needed him.
“Ms. Banks.” Guy forced a thin smile.
“Yes.” She took a step backward.
“I’m Detective Breauchard, Barry’s partner.” He extended his hand and noted both her hesitation and the slight tremble when she finally accepted. “Shall we?” He indicated a nearby table.
“Oh. All right.” Tori looked disturbed by his choice.
Guy let the silence stretch beyond the comfort zone. “I understand you believe you have knowledge of a homicide?”
“I think I might.”
“You might? As in you’re not sure?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
Fighting for patience, Guy made the mistake of glancing at Lana. When he refocused on the woman next to him, he knew she’d seen his date’s annoyed gesture. “Perhaps you could begin by telling me how you got this information that you may or may not have.”
Tori flinched. “I had a nightmare.”
“Pardon me. I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
“I said I had a nightmare. Of that poor woman getting killed.”
Guy snorted. “I see.”
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“Of course I do, Ms. Banks,” he sneered. “We employ a full staff of sleeping witnesses. How else would we ever catch the bad guys?”
“This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.” Tori’s shoulders slumped.
“No, Ms. Banks, what you shouldn’t have done was take advantage of the good woman who befriended you and her family.”
“What?” His words startled her into looking at him.
“What’s wrong? Are you so bored with our little community that you decided to play the psychic and stir things up?”
“I never—”
“Cut the bullshit, princess. This is New Hampshire, not California. Your Beverly Hills drama queen act may do it for you there but here, we have values. We respect honesty, not hyped-up hysterics.”
“Beverly Hills drama queen,” Tori sputtered. “Since that’s where I’m from, that’s what I must be?”
“Hey, if the shoe fits.” Guy watched her features sharpen with anger and saw something in her eyes that made him question his opinion.
“Then that would make you an asshole, Detective Breauchard,” Tori emphasized the French pronunciation of his name. “Since everyone knows the French are all assholes.”
“My distant family is from Quebec, Ms. Banks, but I assure you, I am as American as you are.”
“That may be.” Tori stood and leaned over the table toward him. “But roots count tremendously and Quebec is the next best thing to France. Forgive me for interfering with your evening. I’ll go now and let you get back to your date.”
Guy watched as she mustered her dignity and swept out the door. Anyone watching would see only her grand exit. If Guy hadn’t seen how her hands were shaking and the hurt and sadness in her eyes when she leaned closer to him, he would have believed it too. But he had seen and that made him wonder if her regal behavior as she left wasn’t the true act. If it was then that meant his assumption that she was an attention-seeking lunatic was wrong too.
“Guy,” Lana interrupted his musings. “Why are you still sitting here?”
“I’m sorry, Lana. I was just about to join you.”
“Thanks but don’t bother.” She batted her eyelashes. “Since you couldn’t seem to remember you were here with me, I found someone who can. Bye-bye.” With that, she sashayed over to a foppish-looking man in an expensive suit and twined herself around him.
Guy watched as Lana bestowed an open-mouthed kiss, with plenty of tongue on her rescuer and wondered why he wasn’t at all bothered by the sight. In fact, he felt nothing but relief at her desertion. Raising his glass in salute at the couple, he admitted he had been ready to end it with her. Sure, they’d had some fun times between the sheets but honestly they had little in common other than that.
Checking the time, Guy decided to abandon the rest of his drink and head to the hospital. It was still early so Barry would be there. He could find him and check on Carla’s mom instead of spending the night worrying about her.
* * * * *
Guy was so relieved that Barry’s mother-in-law was essentially fine that he didn’t censure his words when his partner asked about the meeting.
“I tell you, my friend, the lady is a flake, pure and simple.”
“You really think so?” Barry questioned. “She always seemed so steady to me. A little reserved, shy even but not at all flighty.”
“Loony tunes, Bar, a total nut job. Claims she might have information because she dreamed it. I know you told me but what a wacko.”
When Barry suddenly stood, Guy did the same, turning to see the cause. Diana was right behind him with a shocked expression. Without warning, her hand flew to his cheek with a resounding slap.
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” she fumed. “Do you have any idea how hard it was for that little girl to find the courage to speak with you about this? She trusted me when I assured her that she could be as open with you as she would have been with Barry. She believed me when I repeated that Barry insisted you would listen without being judgmental.
“How could you betray her like that? My God, that poor child must be devastated. She’s been suffering for years, only confiding in me when I gave her no choice. Imagine what it was like to realize that her nightmares may be more than just bad dreams. She’s struggling with the possibility that all of them may have actually occurred and finally agreed to tell someone because the thought of them killing again was more horrifying than opening herself to ridicule was.”
Diana gave him a look of pure disgust. “Your mother would be appalled,” she paused. “You’ll forgive me if I’ve misjudged you but frankly, I don’t think you’re half the man Barry said you we
re.”
After Diana stormed from the waiting room, Guy realized that Carla had joined them at some point.
“Guy Breauchard, I don’t know what you did but I have never seen Aunt Diana that furious in my life.”
“Carla,” Barry tried to interrupt.
“Let her say it,” Guy urged. “No matter what it is, it’ll be something I deserve.”
“Something you deserve?” Carla was even more stunned. “Well, if that’s the case then you won’t have a problem fixing it, will you? And until you do, you are not welcome in my home.”
“Carla,” Barry gasped.
“I mean it, Barry. I know he’s your friend on top of being your partner and I’m sorry if you think I’m being too harsh but that doesn’t change things. I’ll bet anything that Aunt Diana has never struck anyone before. Whatever you did pushed her to do that so it must be awful. Out of respect for the woman who is in some ways closer than my own mother, I will not tolerate your presence until you gain her forgiveness and reestablish her trust in you as a decent human being. When that happens, you’ll be free to drop by anytime as you always have. But until then, you’ll just have to find somewhere else to watch your Sunday afternoon football games.”
Guy saw the turmoil in Barry’s face and knew he was torn between comforting his wife and defending him so he took the choice out of his hands. “You and your aunt are both correct, Carla. My behavior with Ms. Banks was reprehensible.”
“Tori? Aunt Diana was talking about Tori? You’re damn lucky she didn’t kill you. She’s even more protective of Tori than she is of me. My God, if you hurt Tori…”
Guy raised his hands in surrender. “I did and I have no excuse for it. I don’t know how but I promise you, I will find a way to make it up to her. Your aunt will probably never forgive me but, if Ms. Banks does, will you give me a chance to beg that you will?”
Carla stared for a long moment before glancing at her husband. Guy could see the pleading in Barry’s eyes and knew Carla could too.
“Fine.” She nodded curtly. “You bring Tori with you and show me that she’s not a bit uncomfortable with you and we’ll be square again, with or without Aunt Diana’s forgiveness.”
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