Two of a Mind (21 page)

“Dale? Can it be?”

“Asil? What happened? Who's this girl? Where are Geraldine and the children?”

Both men were staring at me. Dale with curiosity and bewilderment, Asil with a mixture of joy and horror:
How did you do that?

“I … I don't know,” I answered aloud. I had a tingling sensation all through my body and my hands felt hot. “I'm going to let go now,” I said and pulled away from both men. The buzz of their shared communication died away in my head but not completely. I looked at Asil for confirmation and he nodded, smiling so broadly that I could see almost all his teeth. I sank into one of the dining chairs and Seth quickly came to sit by me, taking my hand in a duplication of Asil's earlier reassurance of Mrs Johnson.

Yeah, Asil.
How did I do that?

I'm gonna be sick!

“Over there.” A hoarse voice answered my plea. I looked up into Dale's eyes. Although there was a trace of the horror he'd been living, they were full of life, sparkling with happiness and gratitude. His hand was on my arm and he was jerking his head towards a door across the room. I covered my mouth, biting my lips to keep them tightly closed and made a run for it. I just made it in time, throwing up everything I'd had that morning until my stomach ached from the retching. Drained, I lay on the bathroom floor, my knees tucked up into my chest and shaking from the aftershocks of the head pain and sickness.

“Can I come in?” Seth's muffled question followed his tentative knock at the door.

I straightened my legs and sat up with my back against the wall.

“Yeah, s'open,” I croaked through my raw throat.

He looked like he was about to be sick too. His face was tinged green-grey and his eyes were screwed up with worry.

“Jeez, Dez. Could you try to stop scaring me every five minutes?” He wrapped me in his arms and kissed the top of my head. “What just happened?” he asked.

“Dunno for sure. It was like an electric shock going through me. My head felt like it was gonna explode then I heard both Dale and Asil, and they were talking to each other.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing! It came out of nowhere. I wasn't even thinking about anything in particular at the time. Wait … It was when Asil held my shoulder and I was touching Dale's arm at the same time.” I looked at my hands. They were still pink from the heat of that reaction.

“You must've channelled their connection.” Seth seemed awed by my apparently supernatural powers. His reverent tones made me giggle with embarrassment. I half-heartedly punched him and staggered to my feet. I splashed cold water onto my face, ran my damp hands through my hair and took a steadying breath.

“Come on,” I said. “Let's go find out what havoc I've caused now.”

Mrs Johnson and the girls were taking turns hugging Dale and each other. Asil stood by the kitchen counter looking on. He turned to smile at me.

“Come,” he said. “Say hello properly.”

We joined the happy group at the table and were greeted by our own hugs and kisses from Mrs Johnson and each of the ecstatic daughters. Even Asil gave me a brisk Arabic triple peck on the cheeks. Every time someone touched me there was a slight fizz of energy at the point of contact but I seemed to be the only one who noticed it. Maybe the excitement gave everyone else their own buzz.

“Dale Johnson. So very nice to meet you,” he said, reaching forward to shake my hand.

“Dez, and this is Seth,” I replied.

“Hello Seth. You've got a remarkable girl there. I'd keep hold of her if I were you.”

“Don't worry sir. I intend to.”

Mrs Johnson had tactfully withdrawn to the kitchen and taken the girls with her. We could hear their excited chattering as they made plans for the summer now that Daddy was back. Dale shuddered, looking at the wheelchair he still occupied. Recognising the unspoken request, Asil helped his PT while Seth pulled the wheelchair away, replacing it with a dining chair.

“Thank you, Seth,” Asil and Dale said simultaneously. That was all it took to send us all into fits of hysterical laughter. It was a while before we got ourselves under control again.

“You want to ask about what happened,” Dale said, serious once more. “But I'm afraid I can't remember anything from that time. There are a lot of blanks that I'll need to fill in. If anything comes back to me I'll let you know.”

“Thank you,” I said, trying to sound grateful despite the disappointment. I'd thought we were so close to solving everything now that Dale could communicate again. He seemed to sense my feelings and reached forward to take my hand.

“You're a very special individual, Dez. I can't thank you enough for finding me and bringing me home. I'll try my best to remember, I promise. Anything we can do to help otherwise – just ask and it's yours.” I realised he wasn't speaking aloud and I looked at Asil, worried that their telepathy held been lost again but he was nodding in agreement with Dale's words.

Seth looked curiously at the three of us.

“Sorry, Seth,” said Dale. “I've spent so long trapped in here,” he pointed at his head, “that it'll take some time to remember to talk out loud.”

Seth's nonchalant shrug didn't convince me and I made a silent promise to try and help him establish his own PT connection.

“We'd better leave you in peace,” I said. “As you say, you've a lot of catching up to do.”

“You stay for lunch?” Asil asked then looked at Dale as if remembering that it was no longer his place to extend the family hospitality.

“Yes, do stay,” Dale said, smiling and nodding at Asil – reassuring his friend that he hadn't overstepped the mark.

“No, thank you. It's very kind but I think we all need time to take everything in,” I answered.

They accepted the reasoning even though I sensed they wanted us to join their celebration. Asil went to fetch Mrs Johnson and the girls to say goodbye to us and we left after many more hugs, kisses and promises to keep in touch.

As we stepped into the bright midday sunshine I felt a sudden shiver. A spectral shadow brushed through my mind. I turned back to see the automatic doors closing and through the diminishing gap I glimpsed a man striding confidently towards the reception desk. Something held me there, watching through the tinted glass. The man shrugged at something the receptionist said. As he began to turn back towards the door, I felt Seth tugging at my hand.

“Come on slowcoach.”

I was still uneasy but I put it down to the aftershock of what had happened with Dale and Asil. I squeezed Seth's hand as we walked towards the City.

***

By the time we got back onto more familiar streets of London I was exhausted! We didn't manage that tour of the Tower. I felt like an extra from ‘The Night of the Living Dead' so we walked slowly, looking for a quiet street-side café to sit and watch the world go by.

“You all right?” Seth asked when I'd been quiet for a record length of time – for me anyway!

“Yeah. Fine. Just knackered. Can't believe how tired I feel when I haven't done anything!”

“You haven't done anything? You've only gone and reconnected a couple of PTs when one of 'em's been almost comatose for nearly five years – that's all!”

“Shh! Someone'll hear you.” I looked around hoping that Seth's loud response hadn't attracted eavesdroppers. Luckily most people were listening to music or news through their earpieces, or were too busy gossiping to their colleagues to take any notice. I leaned closer towards him.

“Seth, you know I was wondering how to isolate telepathic connections? I think it helps if I'm touching the person – I could hear Dale clear as anything when he was holding my arm. I know it won't help find the murderer, but it's one more thing I've discovered about my own capabilities.”

“Mm.” Seth shrugged. I didn't need any telepathy to know that he was still struggling with his own lack of an PT compared to my constantly evolving talents. I squeezed his arm.

“Don't be mad at me,” I pleaded. “Tell you what – let me see if I can connect to you.”

I closed my eyes to concentrate but he pulled his arm out of my grasp. I tried not to let my disappointment show. Why did he want to keep his distance from me? We were supposed to be a couple.

“Not just now, Dez,” he said. “You've had enough excitement for one day.”

He tried to make light of it but I knew there was something more going on in his mind – his eyes gave him away even if I couldn't hear his thoughts.

We still had plenty of time before we had to be at the station so we spent the afternoon window shopping in Oxford Street and Regent Street. When we finally got onto the train home my feet and legs were aching. Dad, ever the diplomat, resisted the temptation to ask me how things had gone – he knew I'd tell him when I was ready. The rhythm of the train made me drowsy and I struggled to keep my eyes open. Just on the edge of sleep I heard it.

“Can you hear me Miss Hanson? So, you knew Elizabeth. What a lucky coincidence!”
I leapt up, grabbing Seth's hand tightly and looking around the carriage to check whether the man was in there with us.

“Dez, are you all right?” Dad asked, leaning forward from his seat opposite and putting his hand on my knee. I felt a jolt of energy from the contact and Dad's eye widened slightly. He pulled his hand away and rubbed his finger tips together.
“Bit of static.”
I heard him thinking.

“Yeah … yes, I'm fine Dad. A bad dream, that's all.” He accepted the reassurance and we continued our journey without further incident.

Once we were home, however, the 'rents insisted on hearing all about our visit to the Johnson Foundation and Dad's frown of concern deepened as we finished our report.

“Dez. I really think we should get you checked over at the clinic. You keep having such violent reactions to these phenomena and nobody seems to understand what is going on. We're worried for you, sweetheart.”

A vision of that awful, drug-wielding nurse came to mind.

“No, Dad, please. I can't stand that place. It gives me the creeps. Anyway, Alvin is researching my condition and I'm sure he can take care of my mental health if needs be.”

“We'll see. But at the very least, I want you to take a rest from all this diary business. I am sorry Seth, I understand how important this is to you but Dez's wellbeing has to come first.”

“I agree, sir, I've asked her to drop it but she just won't ease up.”

They were ganging up on me! I looked at Mum hoping to find some female support but her expression made it clear that she was on their side too. I held up my hands in surrender.

“Okay, okay. I'll try to back off but I can't leave the job half-done. You said yourself, Dad – if Elizabeth's
Handi
can give us information to put away a murderer we can't ignore it.”

“Yes, young lady. And you will recall that I said it should be in the hands of the authorities who are better equipped to deal with it!” Dad's voice had taken on an edge of irritation, I shouldn't push my luck but I continued to heckle him.

“Please let us do as much as we can before handing it over. I feel like we're so close to solving the puzzle. If the authorities had anything to go on they'd've caught him by now.”

“I'll keep an eye on her, Mr Hanson.” Seth finally came to my rescue and tipped the balance in my favour. Dad wavered then finally crumbled under our joint pleas.

“One more episode of sickness, fainting or even a bad dream and I'll take the bloody thing to the police myself,” he grumbled. He never used bad language – this was a big deal for him. Despite my ability to hear the numerous communications in my head I was still a long way off being empathetic to the emotions they carried. I didn't understand my dad's feelings of uselessness and hurt – I merely felt relieved that I'd got my own way. I gave him a big hug of gratitude and felt him stiffen at my touch.

“How are you doing that?” he asked, hoarsely.

I stood back and looked at him, puzzled at his reaction. His face was pale, his lips blue as though all his blood had drained away. Suddenly I realised what it felt like to watch someone you love suffer and not know what to do to make it better.

“What is it, Daddy?”

“Jonathan?” Mum's voice sounded brittle with worry.

“I sensed you. When you hugged me. I felt I could telepath with you. How?” My normally erudite father seemed at a loss for words but I gathered his meaning. When I'd touched him he must've heard my thanks telepathically.
Oops
– that was something I'd forgotten to mention when we'd been talking about the events of the day.

On the plus side – it proves my theory about how to isolate my links!

“I know I said it yesterday but I'm so glad you're here, Jonny.” Matt grasped his godson's hand tightly, seemingly desperate to find an anchor in this sea of misery.

“I only wish it wasn't for such a dreadful occasion.” Jonathan imagined how he would cope if he'd lost Dez in such a tragedy, but realised he couldn't truly comprehend the family's despair – particularly that of Bethany's mother. He glanced towards Jade, sitting with Laura and Eddie – all three straight-backed and stoic. Yet, beneath the calm exterior he knew their hearts were breaking. When he and Celeste had arrived the previous day he'd seen the raw agony in their eyes. They'd spent the evening together, recalling the vibrant young woman who'd had such a lot to give, such a lot of living still to do. It helped that they'd had time to shed their private tears so that, today, they could face the world with a degree of calm.

The funeral director approached and touched Matt's arm, “Sir?”

“Mm? Oh, yes. Yes, we'd better make a start.” Matt joined his family. Laura smiled and nodded to Jonathan as her husband reached for her hand. Jonathan's chest tightened and he struggled to keep his emotions in check – a struggle made harder as he felt his own wife's hand slip into his.

“They said it was a freak accident, Jonny. Some ancient fault in the gas line that had been undetectable during the normal inspections. Pah!” His scornful reaction drew attention from some of the mourners. He led Jonathan to a secluded corner of the room where his granddaughter's funeral tea was being held. “I don't believe it. I can't. But I mustn't drag Laura and Jade through this. Even Eddie seems to accept the lies. I'd've thought he'd want to find out what really happened to his niece.” His agitation grew and Jonathan tried calming him before the lurking media started to take an interest in Lord Simpson's erratic behaviour.

“I'm sure he's just as keen as you are, Uncle Matt, but why are you so sure it was anything other than accidental?”

Matt's shoulders slumped. “It's just a feeling.” He sounded defeated. “My memory's not what it was but I can't shake the feeling I ought to know what's behind all this. Will you help me, Jonny? I know you have your own family to look out for but I don't have anyone else I can trust.”

Jonathan looked towards Celeste, who was deep in conversation with Laura and Jade. He could sense her empathy towards the family as if it was something solid. She seemed to know his thoughts – she turned her gaze towards him and smiled. It felt like she was giving him her blessing. He readily offered his help in whatever way Matt deemed necessary.

Jonathan looked at the crate that had been delivered to his London office. He'd expected a few files not realising that this research had begun with Matt's grandmother almost a century ago. Could this simply be a family feud between the Simpsons and Trevalyns? Something built from nothing all those years ago during the Nuke War and the ‘flu pandemic? But Matt had been adamant.

“My grandmother was convinced Benjamin Trevalyn was a villain. She believed it to her dying day, Jonny. I've let her down by not getting to the bottom of what she was trying to prove. It bothers me that Bethany had been looking at it again and now she's …” He couldn't finish but Jonathan got the gist.

The trouble was that all the Trevalyns, past and present, were notoriously private, vastly wealthy and extremely powerful in both business and politics. They'd had governments worldwide begging for their services and advanced technologies. Hell, even he and Celeste had relied on Trevalyn gadgetry during their field operations. He was going to have to keep this work well under-the-radar. It would mean a long hard slog, working virtually alone and the old-fashioned way without relying on the Department I.T. He couldn't tap into the resources he'd normally use – they were too entrenched in Trevalyn's systems and he needed to avoid drawing any attention to his investigations.

He hoped he'd quickly discover it was a wild goose chase but he couldn't erase the image of the sweet little bridesmaid in the peach dress. He wouldn't shy from the truth if he found anything to prove Bethany's death was not an accident.