Garden of Sorrow (Book 4 of Psychic Visions, a paranormal romantic suspense) (12 page)

He slowly lowered the cup, staring deep into her eyes.
He was making her nuts
.

Then Kevin reached across and tilted her chin up until she was forced to look at him. His eyes twinkled. "Very encouraging."

Dear God.
Her heart flip-flopped before racing on again. She pulled back to a safe distance, rushing into speech to cover her reaction, hating the telltale heat washing over her cheeks. "Sorry, I only have toast for breakfast. I haven't gotten around to shopping."

"Just coffee's fine."

His intense gaze was unnerving. She glanced quickly at him and away again. "Thank you for coming to my rescue. Stefan, too," she added as a sincere afterthought.

Kevin nodded. "Stefan said we were to meet at his house this morning. Does that work for you? I didn't think you worked Saturdays."

Alexis nodded, slightly daunted at the prospect. "That's fine. We can grab something to eat on the way."

"That works. Maybe I will borrow your razor before we leave after all."

***

The late model truck was parked in the shade under the drooping willow tree, waiting.

"You're late."

The young man slid into the cab. "I came as soon as I could get away." He shifted nervously on the posh leather seat, his hand resting on the door handle, hoping, planning to make an early escape.

The automatic locks snapped down. He jerked involuntarily. Damn it.

A disgusted snort was his only answer.

"Look, I don't really know anything. I'm just a rookie. No one tells me nothing."

The older man's cold gaze cut through the excuses. "I have something to tell you. Make a bigger effort. You're only of use to me if you can supply valuable information." He paused a moment. "What can you tell me about this body from the garden?"

"That one's bizarre." Relaxing slightly, as if realizing he might have something to offer after all, the rookie answered, "The whole office is buzzing about this case. As far as they can figure, the little girl had been embalmed and may have even been buried before being brought here and reburied."

"What?" The figure behind the wheel pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. He stared out the car window for a long moment before turning his black gaze on his hapless young victim. "I need more," he snapped. "Call me tonight." He turned the key and started his truck. The sharp click of the locks being released echoed through the air.

Not having much in the way of options, the rookie officer nodded. He'd been in trouble before and had gotten out of it. But this time… There had to be an answer to this mess, and fast, or he'd lose everything he'd worked so hard for and he'd be back where he started – on the streets.

***

Stefan settled into his easy chair in the solarium. He needed a few minutes to unwind before Kevin and Alexis arrived.

She needs help.

Bold, concise and irrefutable. That the warning came from someone no longer in this world in no way mitigated its truth.

Stefan sighed. Rotating his neck and shoulders, he eased some of the tension building in his muscles
. I know.

What are you going to do about it?
The energy wafted through the room, its female voice imperious – impossible to ignore.

Stefan tilted his lips into a small smile. As much as he enjoyed his abilities, and this female ghost that refused to leave him alone since he'd started working with Alexis, he wasn't going to be dictated to.
Don't be pushy. They're on their way. We'll sort it out when they get here.
Stefan removed the lids from several of the small ceramic pots in from of him, creating just the right blend.
You might want to hang around and join in the session.

Like she's ready for that.

Stefan grinned, knowing she was right but also knowing that there was little anyone could do to make Alexis ready.

Let me help her. I know him. I know what he's like. I can warn her if it gets bad.
The energy settled in front of him.
I love her. I need to help her like she helped me.

Stefan sighed.
It's not a good idea.

Maybe not, but I have to. She needs me.

***

No expense had been spared in creating a healing, soothing space for Stefan. So talented, yet tormented with overwhelming sensitivities, Alexis could see the small touches that had been added for his comfort – extensive use of soft pastels, overstuffed cushions, stereo system piping music into every room. A soft instrumental in the background.

"Alexis, when you're ready."

Alexis grimaced, putting her tea down on the table. It was time, like it or not. No more trying to focus on anything but the matter at hand. Stefan and Kevin had waited patiently while she'd attempted to settle herself. But fifteen minutes had gone by, along with their patience. "I'll tell you what I remember."

It didn't take long to recite her short, crystalline memories of the night before. "Because the nightmare had been so vivid, powerful, it took several minutes for me to realize I was awake and safe in my room." She stopped, swallowed convulsively several times, before continuing in a low voice. "Only I wasn't safe. The same evil presence from my nightmare was in my bedroom, waiting for me."

"Could you see it?" Kevin asked, his face alive with curiosity.

"No. The room was dark, full of shadows." She paused again, closing her eyes for a moment. "But I could hear him. I don't know if he spoke in my head or aloud in the room." She clenched her trembling fingers tightly in her lap, trying to hold it altogether. "He said I was wise to be afraid and to stay away from his Daisy."

"Daisy?" Kevin bolted to his feet, quickly coming to her side and bending close to her. "He actually said her name?"

Alexis nodded. "Yes, he did, and from her voice, Lissa must have known of him, his presence on her side." She stared at Kevin and Stefan in growing horror as she realized what that meant. "Surely Lissa can't be in danger? She's dead." Her voice rose. Alexis couldn't do anything about it. Irrational fear for her sister chilled her skin to an iciness that quickly worked its way deep inside. "Oh, Dear God," she whispered.
"Is her soul in danger?"

Kevin wrapped his forearm around her shoulders, tugging her close in a protective hug. Alexis leaned gratefully into his warmth, craving security. How long had it been since she'd allowed herself to be held and comforted?

"Shh… Your sister is fine. Her soul is fine." He squeezed her gently before releasing her.

"God, I hope so." Relief washed through her. Then a slow burn of realization hit her. "You know what makes me so mad?" She glared at both men. "I was almost comfortable with these weird events happening and the psychic-ability thing goin' on. You know, almost okay with it all, and then this happened."

She hopped to her feet, and paced around Stefan's living room. How plainly the space spoke of Stefan's personality. Sparse and clean, yet soothing.

"This is all happening too fast. I can't get a handle on it." Alexis stopped in front of Stefan, her hands fisted on her jean-covered hips. "You mentioned a signature. Just what is that?"

He took a sip of tea, while he collected his thoughts. "Everyone has an individual energy pattern. Like DNA, there can be no two energy patterns the same. These are signatures of your soul. Once recognized, they can be used to track someone on both sides of existence."

Alexis stared at him, appalled. "Your mean follow?"

He gazed back at her solemnly. "Follow." He paused again, obviously considering something. "This person read your signature on the other side and returned with you."

"So now he knows who I am and how to find me?" That was too much. She slumped back down to her chair in defeat.

"Possibly, and possibly not."

"What does that mean? Why is everything so cryptic?" she cried out. Pain and confusion battled together in her mind. "There is a madman ghost out there who knows me, but I don't know him or what he intends to do."

"Yes, you do." Both Kevin and Stefan jumped in together.

Alexis looked at them in bewilderment. "I do? How? I didn't see him. I don't know how to read his signature. What can I possibly know about him?"

"Tell me, if you were ever to be in the same room with him, would you sense that same evil again?" Stefan asked.

"Definitely." The answer flew out. "But that doesn't mean I would know where it was coming from."

"With time, you will. Just as I can," Kevin reassured her.

Kevin had never mentioned his skills before. She was curious. "Is that why you showed up the first day we met?"

He nodded. "I knew someone needed help. I opened my mind and let this same 'knowing' find you." He grinned. "Of course, what I found was a little unexpected."

She grimaced, remembering the mud-spattered mess she'd been. "Does that technique always work?"

"There's the trick. These skills will work for you if you work with them. You need to be centered before you start or it's much harder to understand what you're seeing and perceiving."

Alexis winced. "It sounds like a bad sci-fi movie to me."

"Just like this 'evil' presence is your imagination?" Stefan laughed. A large cushion hit his shoulder before landing on the floor beside him. "Thanks, I appreciate a second one." Calmly, he added the pillow she'd tossed, to the one he was already using. Alexis glared at him in frustration.

The two men waited for her with understanding and compassion written on their faces.

The main question burned away deep inside. "Why would he warn me to stay away from Daisy? What is he doing to her?"

Stefan said, in a determined voice, "That's what we're going to find out."

***

"I'd like to state, for the record, I think that trying to contact Daisy about why this guy is holding her is a bad idea. Even if Lissa can help you, I still say it's a
really
bad idea." Kevin stood before Stefan and Alexis. Standing with his hands clenched on his hips, he radiated disapproval.

Alexis had come to see this stalwart stance as his policeman mode. When she recognized it, she could almost see him in action against the worst of the criminal elements – and winning. A formidable foe.

Damn, not only was she attracted to this man, but she also respected him. Not good. Up until now, she'd viewed police officers in the same way as she had hospitals. She'd feared them.

"It won't be easy, either." Kevin's frown deepened. "I might be able to help but this could go south in a really bad way."

Stefan walked the couple of steps to stand in front of Alexis, reaching out to hold her hands. "Do you want to go ahead?"

Alexis closed her eyes, abruptly shutting out their conversation. Did she want to take this step? More to the point, was there a choice?

Kevin's harsh voice broke through her musings. "You don't have to try this. It doesn't have to be this extreme."

"Have you ever tried doing it a different way?" she challenged him.

"Yes. I've been forced to search for victims of a killer on the other side," he answered shortly, his chin locked into position. "I survived, but the whole thing was a bad deal."

"Ouch," she murmured at the tortured look on his face. "What other options are there? We need to contact Daisy. Find out what hold he has on her. I also want to find a way to loosen his hold on me. I have to try."

Kevin looked at Stefan. "Are there any ways to do that?"

Stefan let out a tired sigh. "I don't know," he admitted. "You know as well as anyone, damn it. There are no certainties in this business."

Kevin slammed his fist in the heavy cedar beam at the entrance to the living room. "Oh, do what you want. It's not like you're going to listen to my warning. Unfortunately."

"Does that mean you're leaving?" Alexis struggled to keep her voice calm and steady, but inside, her stomach sank. It was important for Kevin to stay, though she couldn't explain why it was.

Kevin snorted in disgust. "No, I'm staying. This way, I can watch every stupid step."

She threw him a hurt look before turning to look wistfully at the unlit fireplace. There was a chill to the summer afternoon that even a fire couldn't warm, but she'd have loved the welcoming comfort the dancing flames could bring. She rubbed her arms unconsciously.

Kevin grasped her by the shoulders, turning her away. "Go sit down. I'll light the damn thing for you."

"And I'll get the wine. We're going to need something stronger than tea." Stefan walked into his kitchen, leaving the pair alone.

Kevin stacked kindling in the blackened fireplace. Smoke residue blanketed the brick mantel, giving it a cozy well-loved look. Alexis tried to ignore him as she lay back against the cotton cushions of the futon and closed her eyes. Her stomach flip-flopped with nerves, ignoring her command to calm down.

"I don't want you to get hurt." Kevin's brusque tone accented his words. "And this course of action is likely to do just that."

Fear wobbled through her voice. "Thanks for being concerned…and the warning. I'm aware it's dangerous. I think the spirit I met last night is out to get me – to kill me, even."

"And you think meeting him on the ethers will stop him? What lunacy is that? Besides Daisy may not know anything helpful. Spirits often don't. This could be a wasted trip." Kevin's voice rose.

Alexis shrugged. How could she explain such a feeling? "Maybe. But I want to try. I felt like his prey. And I hated that."

"That he knows about your connection to Daisy is disturbing in the first place. But this makes your evening jaunt insane. I know you're wanting to understand. To control this so you're not a victim, but last night should have shown you how hard this craziness can be?"

"Precisely why I want to go back there." She swallowed painfully. "Maybe it will be easier now that I do know."

He lit the paper with the burning match. After a second's hesitation, the flames fired up, consuming everything in their path. Kevin watched the fire, still crouched down in front of the hearth.

"You're a rank beginner compared to him," Kevin said his aggravation and fear spiking his voice up to a dull roar. "Stefan walks on both sides when he has to, but he never takes a casual stroll." He spun around to face her,