by Casi McLean
“I hear you. If they were my kids, I’d never stop searching.”
Fastening the seatbelt, she turned to Wyatt. “I put Rhodes on the case when we left for Savannah. Just before we took off this evening I checked in and she already had a few hits on Mikey, connecting Amber Alerts to the FCC intel on missing children. I’ll call her as soon as we get to the car.”
“How about Hanna? What that bastard made her do…she may have the street smarts of an adult. But she’s still a kid. We need to get her home sooner rather than later.” Wyatt raked his fingers through his hair. “I expect they both slept through half the day after what they went through…which is easy to do with no sunlight streaming into the bunker. I hope she didn’t freak when she discovered we left her behind.”
“I doubt either of them will ever sleep well again.” She sighed. “Ugh. We were in such a rush, I didn’t think to ask Kara about the children’s reactions to our hasty departure, but I’m sure she would have mentioned any problems. We’ll be at the compound shortly. No sense in speculating now.”
§
The full moon cast an eerie silver glow over Roosevelt Island. Typically, Harper enjoyed the walk from the parking lot to the compound, especially when strolling alongside of Wyatt, but not tonight. Perhaps the evening chill caused the tiny hairs on her arms to prickle. She rubbed her hands briskly over her biceps to ward off the sensation then gazed through the woods beyond. Could the odd shimmer come from the river reflecting the moon’s radiance or was this strange aura generated from lack of sleep and the stress of the last forty-eight hours?
Whatever the cause, Harper felt as if her senses burned with what she could only describe as an icy flame. Her pulse raced…her stomach tightened…the mist surrounded her…pressing against her throat until she couldn’t breathe. No longer could she stroll as if nothing was happening. She snatched Wyatt’s arm and held him in a death grip.
“Harper.” He stared, forehead wrinkling. “Harper, what’s wrong? What’s happening?”
“Don’t you feel this?” She clung to him, no longer able to support her own weight.
“Dear God, Harper. What’s going on?” He scooped her up and carried her to a park bench along the pathway then helped her sit. “Breathe.” He drew in two long breaths.
She followed his lead, sucking in one…then a second breath. Her gaze looked past him to the odd bluish mist swirling then hovering only a few feet from the bench.
“Harper. For God’s sake, talk to me.”
She heard Wyatt’s pleas, but like faded echoes they murmured into the distance. Instead, all her senses froze at the icy aura shimmering only an arm’s reach away. Her stare froze on the flickering…glittering mist. Never had she seen such an inexplicable anomaly…and yet as the form cleared, a sense of calm wrapped around and soothed Harper as if the image was in some way familiar. Her fear released…her muscles relaxed as she understood what her mind didn’t want to accept. Reaching toward the anomaly, she finally spoke. “Alyssa?”
Chapter Twelve
“You are Alyssa, right?”
The specter nodded but said nothing.
Jaw dropping, Harper stood. The full moon cast beams sparkling through the mist now enveloping her. Inching backward, she spun and gazed at the forest, as the dense blue haze consumed the pathway and woods in both directions.
A wave of panic sent an icy chill prickling down her back, raising the tiny hairs on her neck. On instinct, she splayed her hands and reached for her face. Running fingers over her cheeks, she dug her nails into her skin and immediately felt a stab of pain, confirming whatever transpired around her was real.
Her mind tossed about possibilities that would explain the situation. Locking on the first thought that made sense, she squinted then whispered, “Am I…am I dead?”
Alyssa shook her head. “No. I assure you, you’re quite alive.”
Drawing in a long breath, she whooshed it out in relief. “Then what…how ––”
“I’m so sorry, Harper. I never considered my energy could stimulate your psyche…or that you even had the slightest bit of extra sensory perception to awaken.”
Tentatively reaching toward the apparition, Harper grazed her fingers over the nebulous, translucent image. Feeling a sense of icy cold, she snatched back her hand.
“Please, don’t be afraid. Surely, you know I won’t hurt you.” Alyssa’s forehead wrinkled.
“Dear God…you look so much like Emily.” Still shivering, Harper tensed her muscles to ease the sensation. “At first glimpse, my thoughts flashed to your sister…was she hurt or in danger? For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, until I realized the image had to be you.”
“I swear, I never meant to scare you.” Alyssa gazed beyond Harper toward Wyatt. “I’ve been trying to break through my brother’s walls for months. Each time with increasing energy. But his last tour in Afghanistan damaged him so profoundly, he locked his emotion deep inside––”
“Oh my gosh, Wyatt.” Whirling, Harper stared through the dense blue mist. Was he somehow frozen in time? He sat still on the bench, an arm draped over the backboards and his head tilted toward his lap, while he gazed into emptiness.
“What’s wrong with him?” Harper returned her gaze to Alyssa. “He hasn’t moved, and he’s staring at or into nothing.”
“In a sense, he is frozen.” She waved a hand and the mist encircling him cleared. “Even before my death, I knew Wyatt suffered far more than he let on. I’d hoped Duke would help him break through the pain.”
“He really loves that dog, initially because the pup came from you. But lately I think Duke provides him with the only friendship and love he allows in his life.”
Smiling, Alyssa glanced at Wyatt then back to Harper. “I’m glad. I’d hoped Duke could help him heal, but now I understand that healing Wyatt’s heart will take much more than a dog. As much as I’ve tried to break through his consciousness, Wyatt’s awareness lives only in the present. He can’t accept the past…his loss, which paralyzes his future. Until he destroys the demons haunting him, he simply can’t move forward.”
Harper shook her head. “I certainly don’t claim to understand how the spirit world works. Hell, until I met Emily, I held no stock in the premise at all. But why me? Why can I suddenly see you…talk to you, while Wyatt––your own flesh and blood––sits trapped on another plane?”
Alyssa smiled. “I’m only learning how this phantom realm interacts with the living. So far, I’ve discovered the ability to communicate with spirits runs within bloodlines. Clearly, Emily’s gift developed more fully than mine or Wyatt’s, but the ability exists within his heart.” She shifted her gaze from her brother to Harper. “And apparently so does yours.”
Running her fingers through her hair, Harper shrugged. “Who knew?” She twisted her lips to one side. “I remember my father calling my maternal grandma a gypsy. Perhaps my ability came from my mother’s bloodline. But the gift is not as strong as it is in yours.”
“The energy either exists or doesn’t. Strength comes from developing the skill…which has been a lost art over the last few centuries. In America, the Salem witch trials suppressed any desire to openly cultivate the talent.”
Gooseflesh prickled over her skin. “Are you saying people with extra sensory perception are witches?” She gaped.
“Quite the contrary. When presented with the inexplicable, people create conclusions to ease their fears.”
“Interesting…so, the witches might not have been witches at all.”
“Exactly. I’m not contesting the existence of witches, but many people simply sense what others can’t.”
“That makes sense.” Harper nodded. “Anyway, it’s nice to finally meet you, Alyssa. Although I wish we’d met under better circumstances.” She glanced toward Wyatt. “I also wish I could help your brother, but he shuts me out more times than not. He denies our past and refuses to acknowledge we have anything more than a working relationship.”
“Emily t
old me.” Alyssa frowned. “Again, I’m sorry, Harper. I know he cares so much about you. I’ve heard him talk––only to Duke, of course, but he still loves you. I’m sure of it and Emily agrees. I just wish we could do something to help him get over the war.”
Harper pushed her hair from her shoulders to her back. “War does tend to change a person’s perspective, but terror, death, and destruction didn’t steal Wyatt’s passion…his positive attitude inspired everyone around him. So, how in the world did he slip into this obscure version of himself?”
Alyssa squeezed her fists and eyes tightly. A moment later, her image solidified, and she stood next to the bench as if she was alive.
Reaching forward, Harper slipped her hand over Alyssa’s. “Okay…I didn’t expect to actually touch you. I mean you feel as alive as anyone… and I can see you clearly.”
She beamed. “Pretty cool, right?” Again, she gazed toward Wyatt then back to Harper. “I’ve been working non-stop on my presence…for Wyatt, mostly. I really believe if he could see me, he might let down his guard and open his heart. I’m sure I could help him heal if only he’d let me in.”
“I know that feeling all too well.” She squeezed Alyssa’s hand. “You might be right. Perhaps you could get through to him.” Again, her thoughts swirled. “Hmm, as some wise person once said, ‘fools rush in where angels fear to tread.’”
Alyssa chortled. “I’m definitely no angel.” She strolled toward Wyatt, brushed her hand over his cheek then kissed his forehead.
For a brief instant, Wyatt awakened, turning his head in search as if touched by a sudden breeze…but before Harper could even react, he froze again.
“You see? His barriers are too strong for me to pierce. I’d do anything within the realm to reach him if I thought it could help.”
She nodded then rubbed her chin. “Actually, I didn’t intend the idiom to be taken literally. The phrase means foolish people are often reckless, attempting feats the wise avoid. After talking with you, though…I think I might have hindered more than helped.”
“He deserves to have a wonderful life.” She turned toward Harper. “A life with you. I’m sure in his heart that’s what he wants.”
Harper bit at her bottom lip. “Emily and I–and now you––have all tried to save Wyatt…what if all he needs is to save us?”
The features on Alyssa’s face softened and she gazed to the side, a smile brightened her image. “You’re brilliant. That’s exactly what he needs.”
Satisfaction cascaded over Harper. “Why couldn’t I see this before?”
Alyssa’s gaze shifted to her brother. “When that IED exploded in Afghanistan, Wyatt lost more than his legs…he lost his sense of self, and of his own worth. He needs to rediscover who he is now––not that he’s different to us, of course, but he has to again understand, believe, and value himself as a man again.” She turned to face Harper. “What better way to discover self-worth than to save others?”
“Exactly, and if we’re correct, I certainly haven’t helped the cause by insisting on being independent, adamantly maintaining my superiority as Director and head of the New Patriots. Truth be told, I’m a good NCIS Director, but Wyatt has been the glue holding our team together at the compound, especially since Hanna arrived.”
“Hanna. Oh my gosh. I almost forgot about why I tried so hard to get through to him tonight. Hanna panicked when she woke up this morning and found out Wyatt left with you. Steel kept the mission quiet, but she’s so smart. She knew you both were in danger…as was her sister. She plans to leave tonight to find Sarah.”
Harper gasped. She’d only known Hanna for twenty-four hours, but the girl stole her heart. She’d seen so much pain on her tours, Afghan and Iranian children, stripped of their childhood, parents, sisters, and brothers ripped from their lives, and to what end? Harper couldn’t help those kids, but she could help Hanna. “No. We’ve got to stop her.” She stared into the mist, shifted her gaze to Wyatt then back to Alyssa. “Can you distract her…at least until we can get back to the compound?”
“Not without scaring her to death. She saw me at the boathouse, but she has no idea I’m a ghost. I can’t just pop in on her. She’s been through so much. No need to add an apparition to her trauma.”
Harper bit the tip of her nail. “Right. So now what? We have no time to waste.”
Alyssa snatched her hand. “Take a breath…and don’t worry. No time has passed since you and Wyatt sat on that bench.”
“Does that mean you can halt time, too?” She wrinkled her forehead.
“Noooo…but as you might expect, time is a bit useless in the spirit world. When you’re with me, your time is kind of on hold. So, breathe…and I’ll fill you in.”
“Whew.” Harper threw back her head then ran her fingers through her hair. “Thank God. But we have no idea where Sarah was taken, unless Kara and Logan discovered a lead after we spoke earlier this evening.”
“Actually, they have. Kara manipulated the satellite and found some cameras that picked up the black van. She has the general area. But I’m pretty sure Hanna has a good idea where Damien took his stable.”
Harper huffed-out a long breath. “Damn, I’d hoped she trusted us enough to––.”
“After what that girl went through, you can’t expect she’d blindly trust the first people who marched into her life, can you? She knew you both all of a few hours before you took off without so much as a goodbye.”
“Pish. Doing so never crossed my mind.” Harper tilted her head toward Wyatt. “But it crossed his.”
She nodded. “Yes, Wyatt was torn between helping Em and saving sister Sarah. Fortunately, Hanna hasn’t left the bunker, yet. She’s waiting for Mikey to fall asleep.”
“Which means she’s protecting him…like we protected her.”
“Right. Tell her that. As much as my brother thinks Hanna can relate to you more than him, he’s wrong. Aside from the stable inmates, she’s been forced to deal with men for two years now. Wyatt can reach her and, based on our revelation, he needs to save her as much as she needs him.” Alyssa’s image flickered then faded. “I need to go now but I’m so glad we connected.”
Reaching for her hand, Harper grasped only air. “I am too, Alyssa. Unfortunately, I don’t think Wyatt will take our contact as a positive.”
“Let’s just keep this our secret for now. I promise next time I won’t bound in with so much energy.” She chuckled. “Perhaps a whisper in your ear would work better.”
“Yes. Much better. Thank you for helping me brainstorm. I hope Wyatt can interact with you soon. He misses you so much.”
“I’m glad he has you. Please don’t give up on him.”
Knowing Alyssa depended on her sent a flood of warmth streaming over Harper. Smiling, she nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll never give up on him.”
Alyssa’s image was almost transparent now and her voice a mere whisper floating on the soft breeze. “Go sit next to him––where you were just before you saw me––and remember, I’ll always be here watching over you all.” Another flicker and Alyssa’s ghost faded into the blue mist and dissolved into the clear night sky.
Chapter Thirteen
With a crooked finger, Wyatt brushed a strand of hair from Harper’s cheek and tucked it behind her ear. Throughout the two years he spent with her, he’d never seen her stagger like that before. In fact, he couldn’t think of one instance he’d seen her even the least bit vulnerable. When her knees buckled, she would have completely collapsed had he not scooped her into his arms. “Harper, please say something.”
Her eyes fluttered open. She peered through her lashes and squirmed until she sat up straight beside him.
“Thank God. What just happened?”
Dropping her head into her hands, she sighed. After a few long breaths, she raised her gaze to meet his. “Sorry. I guess the stress of the last forty-eight hours just caught up with me. I’m fine, now. Thanks for helping me to the bench.” Standing, she held out a hand. �
��Come on. We need to get back to the bunker.”
He turned with a glare. Stress, my ass. He knew her, had seen her push forward for days with little to no sleep––in a war zone under far more intense pressure. In all the time they’d spent together, he’d never seen Harper Drake succumb to stress. Then again, he didn’t corner the market on PTSD. Perhaps she suffered in silence as he did. For whatever reason, she chose to dismiss this incident and Wyatt was in no position to press her. He kept secrets of his own and interrogating her would open the door to conversations he didn’t want to broach. He’d keep an eye on her to make sure she wasn’t sick but beyond that he would give her space. “You’re right. We need to get back to Hanna. I’m sure she didn’t take lightly our spur-of-the-moment trip.”
As they approached the bunker, the door slammed open and Hanna, with Mikey in tow, burst through the dense foliage to greet them. Chin jutting forward, she lowered Mikey to the ground and took his hand. “You promised you’d save Sarah but the moment I fell asleep, you just left. Why did you lie?” In a fluid motion, she dropped the boy’s hand and drew her fists to her waist.
Harper ran her fingers through his tousled hair then turned toward Hanna. “We didn’t lie, sweetie. We just––”
She stomped her foot. “Everyone lies.” Shifting her gaze to Wyatt, she pouted.
“I’m sorry, Hanna. My sister really needed our help and you needed to rest.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “But I never stopped searching for Sarah. Sergeants Steel and Rhodes have been working nonstop tracking Damien and they have a few solid leads. I told you we would find your sister, and we will.”
The tension drained from Hanna’s face. “Damien might not have killed Sarah like he said, but he hurt her. He hurts anyone who defies him and when anyone crosses him…” she glanced toward Mikey and her voice drifted off. She shook her head.