Visions Of The Past

by Elizabeth Mahood

  “It’s broasted chicken, hands are required.” He said with a smile. She watched him move into the kitchen to wash his hands and panic set in.

  “No…don’t.” She yelled just as he turned the knob. Water sprayed out all over his shirt, face and on the floor. He quickly turned off the facet and turned a dripping wet face her way. She tried to keep a smile from playing across her lips but she couldn’t help it. He was sexy all wet and dripping and the look on his face was adorable. He had changed out of his hot cop uniform into a black button-down shirt and dark blue jeans which were both now soaked.

  “Problem with your water?” He stated looking around for a towel. She ran quickly into the bathroom and grabbed a towel. She handed it to him and he started wiping the water from his face and then moved to the floor.

  “Cade, stop. I can clean it up.” She said reaching down to take the towel from him. He pulled the towel back.,

  “I’m perfectly capable of cleaning up water Ellie. You need to eat.” He said pointing at the bag.

  “I’m fine.” She said as her stomach rumbled again. He looked at her and then to the frozen TV dinner still sitting on the counter. She grabbed it and threw it in the freezer and tried to close the door quickly but not before he opened it wide.

  “Ellie, you don’t have any food.” Cade said looking at her with a deep scowl on his face. She grabbed the freezer door from him and slammed it shut.

  “I just didn’t get to the store.” She lied. The truth was her oven wasn’t working and she didn’t want to tell him that because it would give him one more reason to try and make her go the bed and breakfast. Cade raised an eyebrow at her but she turned back to the brown bag and opened it. She pulled out a box full of fried chicken, a container of mashed potatoes and a container of Cole slaw and laid it all out at the kitchen table. He handed her a spork and he took one for himself and they dug in. A few minutes later she had eaten 3 pieces of chicken and had eaten most of the Cole slaw.

  “I knew you were hungry.” Cade stated tossing down his napkin and taking a sip of his coffee. She sighed.

  “I was about to make a meal before you came knocking at my door, but I do appreciate you bringing me sustenance.” She said giggling. He was watching her and it made her nervous. Then she remembered that his shirt was soaking wet. “Oh my god, Cade your shirt. It’s got to be freezing.” She said reaching forward and touching his chest. That had been a mistake. His hard muscles flexed against her hand and she pulled back quickly like she had been bit.

  “I’m good. Really.” He said, quickly standing and picking up their garbage. She watched him move into the kitchen and dispose of their plates. She had to tell him about the FBI before he found out about it when she walked through the doors of the sheriff’s department tomorrow.

  “Cade, I. I need to tell you something.” She said. He leaned his hands against the counter and his biceps bulged. She stood and walked away so she didn’t have to look at him.

  “What is it Ellie?” He asked. She twisted her hands together and bit her lip. She watched his eyes dart to her mouth and then back to her eyes.

  “I…so I got a call from my regional Deputy Director. I am being asked to assist on your case.” Ellie said. She waited to see his reaction but she couldn’t read his emotions. She thought she saw a flash of irritation before he masked it.

  “That’s great. I would have appreciated you at least telling me you knew about it this morning.” He stated. He was hurt because he thought she had known and was hiding it from him.

  “Cade, I didn’t know anything this morning. I swear he just called me before you showed up. There are two other agents meeting me at the station tomorrow. I…I just wanted you to know before I just show up there tomorrow.” Ellie stated. He continued to stare at her and it was making her nervous. “Say something.” She said. Cade stood and walked towards her.

  “What do you want me to say? I knew the FBI would get called in and honestly this case is going to require all the help we can get. Actually, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have you go out to the crime scene before the FBI get there tomorrow.” He stated. She felt herself relax knowing that Cade wasn’t upset with her.

  “I agree, do you want to meet early in the morning?” Ellie asked him. He moved into the living room and sat down near the fire in the lopsided arm chair. She followed him with her coffee and sat on the couch across from him with her legs tucked up underneath her. Only then did she remember that she was in her pajamas. “Oh god, you must think I’m a mess here in my pajamas.” She said starting to jump up. He held out a hand.

  “Whoa, stop. I don’t care Ellie. You look great. Fine I mean. You look fine. And yeah, meeting early to look at the crime scene would be great.” He stated looking her up and down and then took a quick sip of his coffee. She sat back down and folder her feet under herself again.

  “What have you been doing Cade? Tell me about your life.” She said hoping that he would share with her. She wanted to know what had kept him in Badger Falls. She didn’t think he was going to answer her but then he finally sighed.

  “After you left, school was…boring, I guess. I wanted to leave and disappear like you so as soon as I graduated, I joined the army. I was a military police officer and on a routine security mission when we got ambushed. I got hit in the shoulder and that was it. I got a medical discharge and that was the end of that.” He said without any disdain. She couldn’t believe he had been shot.

  “I bet your mom was terrified.” Ellie said. Cade smiled. God he was sexy. She wanted to run her hands through his thick brown hair.

  “She was and wasn’t too happy when I decided to join law enforcement. But dad was proud as hell and still is.” He stated. She smiled at him.

  “I’m sorry I left the way I did. I owed you a lot more than that. You saved my life that night and I didn’t even say thank you.” Ellie said as she watched Cade’s face turn serious.

  “I would have helped you Ellie.” Cade stated. She huffed.

  “How? You were a kid just like me and no one went against Pastor Ridely. I know how things went down after I left and it was better for you that I was gone.” Ellie said feeling tears sting her eyes. She had stayed with her grandmother for a few months until she had sent her to live with an Aunt in Seattle. Aunt Helen had been great and she had finished school with honors. Aunt Helen had also had visions and was able to help Ellie understand and control them. She told Cade about it all except the visions and he shook his head.

  “So, you became a doctor in psychology. Doctor Elinora Ridley.” He teased. She wrinkled her nose.

  “God, don’t call me that. I go by Nora out there. No one ever calls me Ellie except my grandmother, and you.” She said. They stared at each other for a moment and when the feelings she was having started to make her blush she turned away. She wanted to tell him about Terrance but the less people that knew about that situation, the better. There wasn’t anything he could do about it so there was no point.

  “So, do you like it out there?” He asked. She smiled fondly.

  “I love it. I have this apartment that overlooks the Puget sound and I can walk to Pikes Place Market anytime I want. People complain that it rains all the time but you learn to just get out and do things in spite of the weather.” She knew she was rambling but the energy and heat radiating off of Cade was intense.

  “I would love to see it sometime. Unless there is someone else that…well you know.” Cade said and then looked away quickly. She smiled at him.

  “No, there isn’t anyone.” Ellie said quietly. The silence stood between them as did the heated looks. Cade looked at his watch and then suddenly jumped up.

  “It’s late and we have an early morning. I didn’t realize I was keeping you up.” He said grabbing his black leather jacket off the back of a chair.

  “You aren’t keeping me up, I was just going to read a little. Thank you for the food, it was amazing. Sorry about the water.” She reached out to touch his shirt and felt that it
was still slightly damp. He grabbed her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. “Cade, you are still wet. You will freeze.” She cried reaching for the hem of his shirt. He stopped her and moved back.

  “No, I’m fine. If you pull my shirt off, I’m not leaving.” He stated and gave her a pointed look. She caught his meaning and heat pooled between her legs. She didn’t want him to leave, but she knew it was a big mistake to get involved. She swallowed and then nodded.

  “Ok, well I’ll see you tomorrow.” She said on shaky breath. He watched her with intensity and then finally nodded back.

  “7 am, I’ll come by and pick you up.” Cade stated and then headed for the door. He turned around as she came up behind him. He looked at her lips and then back to her face. “Sweet dreams Ellie. Stay warm.” He said. She smiled at him.

  “You too, Good night.” She said. She watched him walk to his truck and drive away. It was going to be a very long frustrating night.

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 6

  My Journal

  November 2010

  My granddaughter Ellie is doing well in school. She has really started learning to control her visions but nothing will prepare her for the future that awaits her. She will either finally accept her destiny or she will deny it. Denying it could get her killed. I don’t want to tell her that my sister and her care taker Helen is dying. It will cause Ellie to quit school and not follow the path that awaits her. On a side note, something odd is happening in town. Girls continue to come up missing and several leaders in town have popped into my head. I can’t see them clearly and nothing is ever for sure with the visions. I feel people whispering and doing dark deeds in the middle of the night. I can’t tell anyone what I know because really, I know nothing. Until next time.

  Greta

  ✽✽✽

  7am came very early and Ellie had not wanted to get out of bed. A few of the plastic pieces that she had put over the windows had come down during the night and the fire had gone out in the fireplace. The house was freezing and she had slept with 3 blankets, double socks and a sweatshirt the rest of the night. Cade looked at her occasionally as they drove to the crime scene and she had been thankful as hell that he had brought coffee for their commute.

  “Thanks for the coffee.” She said taking a sip of the wonderful brew. He looked at her quickly and then back at the road.

  “You’re welcome. What’s wrong?” He asked with concern. She looked at him curiously.

  “What do you mean?” She said avoiding eye contact. She felt him grab her chin and turn her head to face him.

  “Your nose is red and your teeth are chattering.” He stated with a raised eyebrow. She pulled her face away and took another sip of coffee.

  “It was a long night that’s all.” Ellie lied. He sighed.

  “Don’t lie to me Ellie.” He said sternly. She whipped her head his way.

  “Why do you care?” She asked more sharply than she meant to. He didn’t budge. “Fine, if you need to know. The plastic on my windows fell off and the fire went out and it was cold in the house.” She said on a shiver. She felt a sneeze coming on and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t keep it in. Achoo!!! She sniffled and pulled a Kleenex out of her pocket.

  “Bless you.” Cade said with a scowl She sighed.

  “I know what you are going to say but I really would rather not be in town where people can see me. If you could just help me get some proper window coverings, everything else I can do myself.” She stated. He looked at her and then back at the road.

  “After work today, we will go to the hardware store and pick up some windows. You can stay at my place until we can get the windows fixed.” He said. She shook her head.

  “No way. I Am NOT staying at your house.” She stated with conviction.

  “You can’t stay at yours the way it is and you refuse to go the hotel so I don’t see any other choice.” He said, like that was the answer to all of their problems.

  “Cade, I can’t…I.” She couldn’t finish the statement. She looked out the passenger window at the passing trees that had all but lost their leaves and large lakes still littered with loon’s that hadn’t gotten the hint that winter was on the way.

  “Ellie, look at me.” Cade said. She turned to look at him. “You can’t stay in that house.” She knew he was right but she couldn’t budge on this. She wasn’t going to put herself or Cade through the heart ache that she knew would await them.

  “I just need a few things fixed and everything will be fine.” She stated. She watched a muscle tick in his cheek and she knew he was upset with her but time for talking about her living situation was over because they had arrived at the scene. A sense of dread entered her thoughts and anything they had been talking about before disappeared. She felt herself open the car door and knew she was moving forward but she felt like she was in a dream. It was happening, she couldn’t stop it and she didn’t really want to. She felt herself fading out and suddenly, she was in the forest. She could hear people talking but couldn’t understand what anyone was saying. She was standing at the bottom of a large hole looking up and several women stood around staring down at her. “Help us please, help us.” Another woman emerged, taller with dark red hair, tears streaking down her face. “Help us please.” Ellie started to panic because suddenly, the women were gone, and dirt started pouring down on top of her head. It was getting in her mouth and she couldn’t breathe. “NO…No please stop.” Ellie screamed. People were talking and laughing as the dirt filled in around her and covered her head. She was suffocating. “Help me!!” She cried. She felt herself fading until she heard another voice. “Ellie, Ellie what’s wrong? Come back to me sweetheart.” She felt air whoosh back into her lungs and her eyes flew open. She was on the ground and Cade was holding her to him with fear written all over his face. “That’s it, come back to me honey.” Cade said softly. She coughed and took in a deep breath and then closed her eyes. The visions. She had never had them in front of Cade before. Now he would know her big secret and think she was a freak. She tried to move out of his arms but he held her tight.

  “I’m ok. You can let me go.” She said wiggling.

  “I’m not letting you up until you stop shaking. What the hell happened? One minute you were standing next to me and the next you were on the ground gasping for air.” Cade said looking into her eyes.

  “I…I can explain.” She said on shaky breath. He waited expectantly. “Ok, so since I was a kid I…I get these visions, they aren’t exact and I never really know what they mean. When I moved in with my Aunt, she helped me learn how to channel them and control them. I helped the FBI with a case several years ago and they hired me on as a consultant. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don’t but it’s not just the visons, I help them profile the suspect. I get a sense of what the killer is thinking.” She waited for him to shun her, she waited for the skeptical looks but she got none of that. He helped her stand and brushed off the leaves and dirt from her back. “Say something Cade.” She stated. He had his hands on his hips and was looking like he had tons of questions but just didn’t know what to ask.

  “I…well first of all I kind of knew about the visions. People talked about it at school and that night with your father he mentioned something about it. I mean, do you see the killer or just get a sense of things?” He asked. He was sincere and curious. He wasn’t turning her away or looking at her like she was a freak.

  “I don’t usually see the killer. I have been able to know what they are going to do next or sometimes I can see a place that leads the police to where they are but mostly it’s just images and feelings. It’s hard to explain.” She said looking around the woods. “Is this the hole that they were buried in?” She asked. Cade nodded.

  “Yeah, the whole perimeter was corded off to make sure we didn’t miss any evidence. What was your vision about this time? You were screaming Ellie.” Ellie closed her eyes and took a breath.

  “Women, all standing outside the hole,
while I was down inside. They were asking for help. One woman stepped forward. The one from the grave that night Cade, the one in the forest and the one I had a vision about with my father.” Cade looked at her curiously.

  “Your father?” Cade asked. Ellie nodded.

  “Then people were pouring dirt on me and I couldn’t get out. I was suffocating.” Ellie said feeling herself shake. She didn’t like being held down or covered with anything so the idea of being buried alive terrified her.

  “Hold up, what does your father have to do with this?” Cade asked putting his hands on his hips. Ellie shook her head.

  “I’m not sure, maybe everything, maybe nothing.” She stated. Cade watched her.

  “Then we need to go talk to your father.” He said. Ellie laughed sarcastically.

  “No, I am not doing that. I don’t do the investigation part. I have the visions, I do the profiling, the agents go out and do the questioning. That’s how I work.” Ellie stated. She could feel herself shaking. Cade moved forward and pulled her into his arms.

  “Ok, ok relax. I won’t make you go; I get it.” He said rubbing her back making her feel calm. He always did that. Every time they were in the same room or anywhere near each other she felt a sense of calm she never felt with anyone else. She pulled back.

  “Thank you.” Ellie said. She moved out of his arms and started moving around the scene. She felt evil, fear, terror and something else. She couldn’t decide what it was and it unnerved her. “I feel a plot, more than one person. There is leader but there is something else bigger at play here.” She stated looking up at him. He was watching her and smiling. “What?” She asked.

  “You, you are hot when you are doing that. I’ve never seen you profile before.” He said. She blushed and continued to look around.

  “I don’t think there is anything else to be learned here. The bodies weren’t meant to be found but whoever did this probably had orders to dispose of the bodies and didn’t follow directions very well. Maybe they were in a hurry. This was probably a body dump for a while.” Ellie said standing next to the edge of the hole that still gaped wide open in the earth.