SAGE: AN ADAM STONE MYSTERY (THE ADAM STONE MYSTERIES Book 1)

by D. L. EVANS

  “.... heightened state of mind happens when you’re threatened?” Mack was asking as I pulled myself back to reality.

  Annie shook her head. “Not always, and there are different ... levels or intensities. When I’m working, I can sense the artist. Not clearly, I have to work at all the mixed feelings, like tuning in on a TV channel, but I usually get there.”

  “Are you aware of reality when this happens?” I asked.

  “Oh yes, Adam. It’s like watching a movie that taps into your emotions, but you can always look around and see the audience. The movie is an illusion. I’m sorry to speak allegorically but there simply are not words to describe these experiences, and believe me, I’ve tried.”

  “Was there anything, any painting that you were working on that he might have known about and planned to steal?

  “No, I had just finished one but it was delivered two days before. There was nothing of value in my studio, but the warehouse was packed. He wasn’t interested.”

  Mack mused, “God, that‘s weird. He was hardly rich. When Hennessy pushed you up against the wall, this dream state, it happened more... deeply, more intensely?”

  “Yes, and faster. Adrenaline speeds up the process,” she replied.

  I remembered our date. Those memorable moments on the street when the earth tilted and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I interrupted, “But it happened when you saw the fire... Morgan’s house. That wasn’t a threat to you?”

  “I know,” she replied. “There are times, though rarely, when I can’t explain a vision.”

  Mack was lost in thought. I know he wanted to write things down in his notebook but didn’t dare take it out. “Are you still being watched?” he asked, “I mean now.”

  She considered his question. I wondered if he was humouring her. Her eyes were neutral, distanced from any feeling. “No, not right now. There isn’t any focussed energy on me that I can sense. The feeling is intermittent. I must tell you that sometimes I think my feelings can be attributed to all the cameras that I pass through in a normal day. Just the Gallery security alone..."

  “Yah, I know,” Mack interrupted. “Big brother. A blessing and a curse.” You’d better add one to show that corner of the foyer where Hennessey cornered you. He stood and started a slow walk around the living area. “Have you ever been in a dream state that was unusual, that you can’t explain, other than the fire?”

  “You mean lately?”

  “Well... ever, for that matter?” he asked.

  She must have given his serious attitude the benefit of the doubt. “Once.” Their eyes locked. “It was a month after my eighteenth birthday.” She stood and walked across to a bookshelf full of silver framed photos and picked up one. A younger Annie and a shiny, apple red Porsche, preserved forever, locked in the happiness of the moment. “Uncle Richard bought me my first car. He arranged for my license plate to read ‘Sage’. Alice’s plate says ‘Tycoon’. It’s the closest Uncle Rick ever came to expressing a sense of humour.” Her voice seemed to catch on the memory. She fought for control. “Anyway,” she continued, “ I was on my way home from a weekend with my cousins in King City and found myself taking a short cut at night in the middle of a thunder storm.” She returned the picture to the shelf in an absent gesture, her mind back in the past. “That in itself was unusual. I wouldn’t normally take a short cut that I was unfamiliar with, especially in a storm. I sensed an impending accident. It was the strongest sensation that I’ve ever had and it didn’t involve me… at least, not directly.”

  “The accident didn’t happen?” Mack asked.

  “No... I mean yes... it did happen but not to me. I felt someone else. God, I know how this sounds but I’m trying to explain something unexplainable.” No one commented so she continued. “While I was in the dream state, I felt it happen, the accident I mean, and drove directly to the site... in the rain on an unfamiliar road. I called an ambulance before I even got there because I knew what was waiting. When the smoke and rain cleared... it was horrible. Burned bodies, wrecked cars, blood, fire... and the smell. I can still see it like a photograph in my mind. I found a man, still alive and pulled him from a truck just before it caught fire and exploded. He was hurt and had lost a lot of blood. They took him away in the ambulance and I never saw him again. The police questioned me for hours. When I called to inquire about him the next day at the hospital in Uxbridge, they told me that he’d checked himself out, left with a friend who came to pick him up. That’s all I remember. It was odd that I had the feelings so strong, for someone else, that’s all.”

  “That’s amazing... but I don’t think it’s relevant. ” Mack said. “OK. Was there anything more recent?”

  “No. Just the fire,” she answered. “I felt ill at Morgan’s wake but that wasn’t a dream state. But I did get the feeling that one was about to happen, now that I think about it. There was so much um... danger, anger... something violent in the crowd. I couldn’t centre on the source. It was everywhere. I felt sick... Not much help am I?”

  “As far as we know, Jack Hennessy wasn’t there, so it couldn’t have been him. Could you just have been anticipating his violence even if he wasn’t present?” Mack asked.

  “I don’t know, really. It’s never happened before but then, I’ve never had someone plan to rape me before. What possible threat was I to him? We never would have met under normal circumstances.” Fatigue was setting in. She rubbed the back of her neck and flashed a quick smile at me when she caught me staring.

  Mack caught the eye action between us but a locomotive couldn’t knock him off his train of thought. “Yes but Hennesey worked for Roger Smythe,” he said as she faced him, “and according to his record, wasn’t above a little free-lance action if the price was right. He could have planned to take a few masterpiece samples from your workshop and found that he couldn’t get in. Not one to be disappointed, he just waited for you to show up. A woman, on her own, it would be just his style. It’s no secret that you work above the warehouse. He could easily have staked out the place before he chose his time. A nasty piece of work. You were lucky.”

  But Hennessy wasn’t lucky, I thought to myself. An extremely dangerous someone saw to it that he wasn’t. Did Annie know who it was? She seemed as confused as the rest of us. Was it an act?

  Mack finally made our polite excuses and as she walked us to the elevator I whispered that I would be calling her tomorrow. She kissed me on the cheek, and we left.

  Mack had parked illegally in front of a hydrant in front of the building; a perk I had to give up with my badge. Since I knew he wanted to talk he decided to walk with me to the next block where I had left my car.

  “In the old country,” he began, “me old grandmother would have called her fey. I have faint memories of her telling stories when I was a nipper about women like Annie, people with the gift. Gran was a tough old bird but she believed. So to anticipate your question Adam, yes, I believe too. But I don’t think what’s goin’ on is as simple as that. I think you could be in danger. Don’t ask why. This gift or curse maybe, is something dangerous. Not just to her Adam, she’s found a way to deal with it, but I’m thinkin’ that everyone around her is standing in some sort of energy field. There’s more going on in this world than can be explained Adam. You’re just lucky I’m of Irish descent and know about these things.” He touched the side of his nose and winked trying to make light of the situation, but then added, “Just watch your back, Adam, I’m telling’ ya.”

  I stopped in front of a huge bin piled to the top with chunks of cement and construction debris.

  “So,” Mack stated. “Where’s yer car?” He looked around.

  I swallowed hard. “You’re looking at it.”

  “What? Where?” he asked looking around.

  “I left it right here.” I managed as the shock of the situation started to sink in. “It’s under this bin.”

  Mack looked at me as if I had two heads. Then he looked back at the huge rubble container. He
crouched down and looked under the bottom edge that was mysteriously raised a few inches off the pavement. He stood up and I followed him in a trance as he walked around the huge steel container to the section that backed against the building. The Healy’s rear bumper and licence plate were folded neatly in two like a strip of cardboard on the ground; all that was identifiable of my cherished beauty.

  “Holy Jesus and Mary,” Mack hissed. “Squashed like a bug.” He seemed to notice what he had said and looked at me for a reaction. I was incapable of any. After a few deep breaths he managed to say. “Who would have done this Adam?” I didn’t answer. I had stopped breathing. “Who, Adam?” Mack repeated. “Is this a warning?” I just stared at the bumper. I’d been worried about cement dust affecting the shine just a few hours ago.

  Mack called the station on his cell phone as I gazed up at the stars. My last connection to Savannah was reduced to scrap under tons of rubble. The street was empty, not a soul in sight. My heart had been wrenched from my chest. I was completely numb.

  Chapter Fifty

  ADAM STONE:

  The next morning, finding my car crushed to scrap metal seemed as though it was a dream. There had been a full moon. I remembered how beautiful it was. Mack handled everything. I left in a taxi before they arranged a crane to raise the container and take it away. I couldn’t bear to see my most prized possession reduced to mangled metal. No one had seen or heard anything of course. I didn’t expect miracles. In retrospect, I would have preferred not finding the car at all. Why not just steal it? Somehow, knowing someone had gone to the trouble of dropping the container load of concrete rubble on her was a cowardly thing to do. Annie called as I arrived home and told me how Mack had called her and explained the situation. She was also mortified. I ended up calming her down. It was just a car. I was not in it. I was safe. I thought about the heartless bastard that had committed autocide.

  I was in mourning and had to take control. The manuscript was taking shape but I found that my mind was working on something that would not come into focus. Something Annie had said last night in that very strange conversation with Mack but I couldn’t remember. My car was fucking murdered and I had to get past it. I gave up at the computer, unable to concentrate, and went over to the chalkboard to re-examine my fascinating theories. Nothing happened. The car, her car… What was it Annie said about coming across a car crash on her birthday? She saw an accident that involved someone else! If that other guy was psychic like Annie... and he owed her his life....That was it... I dialled her number.

  “Annie? It’s me, Adam. Can I ask you for a favour”?

  “Sure, Adam, I was about to leave for the funeral home. I’m surprised you’re up. I’m so sorry about your car. Is there any word on who did it or why? “

  “No,” I sighed. “It’s early days but I’m not holding my breath. I think it’s a warning of some sort, otherwise they would have stolen her, but enough about that. What’s going on at your end?”

  “The house is a zoo at the moment. Relatives everywhere. Alison is in her glory making notes for the family tree. I’m just glad she’s too busy to fuss over me. I was just thinking about you. What’s up?”

  If he was watching her then the ‘phones she used would be bugged too, I thought. “Would you call me from the funeral home? I’ll only keep you a few minutes, OK?”

  “Sure. You sound so mysterious. I’ll be there in half an hour and I’ll call you right away, bye.”

  I waited a very long forty minutes, wondering if I should take a cab over and discuss my thoughts. I could upset her if I’m right but then, if I’m wrong... I’ll have shaken her up for nothing. The ‘phone rang. It was Annie. “Thanks for calling,” I told her, “I won’t keep you long. When you got the car for your birthday and saw that horrible accident, you were... what... eighteen?”

  “Yes. The Porsche was a present. I showed you the picture. What about it?”

  “I think it’s important, that whole incident, maybe very important.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Well, I’ve been thinking about it. As I recall, you took a route home you didn’t know. You sensed an accident before it happened, then you physically experienced it as it actually happened. What time frame are we talking about, from the time you experienced the dream-state to the time you arrived at the accident sight? Do you remember?”

  “Ummm, Yes,” she answered. “I do remember because the police grilled me that night like they thought I might have caused the accident. I was late getting away from my Aunt Cheryl’s and I checked my watch when I took the side road to Uxbridge. From that turnoff on Highway Four Hundred it took about ten minutes because the police had a record of the exact time that I called for the ambulance. I saw the accident seconds after I made the call. I remember that it seemed like hours because the road twisted every-which-way and I was constantly changing gears... Funny, normally I can’t tell how much time passes when I’m in a dream state because things slow down. Is it important?”

  “Maybe, I have a theory about proximity. Let’s see if we can work this out logically. You were probably travelling pretty fast in that car, in a light rain, on a paved twisting two-lane road, about sixty, would you say?” Annie agreed. “In ten minutes or so you probably would have gone about twelve miles... safely between twelve and fifteen miles.”

  “What is this about Adam?”

  “Don’t you see?” I know I sounded unreasonably excited. “You said that this guy was also psychic, so why didn’t he know that the accident was about to happen? He could have pulled over on the road and prevented the whole thing. He didn’t because he didn’t know, like you, that it was about to happen. But you did! The only other alternative is that he planed or caused the accident for some reason and just got caught in it somehow. You were a wild card. An observer not in the original scheme. Seems to me that you are the stronger one between you. He must know that now or then I mean.”

  “I’m a little confused here Adam,” she stated. “This happened almost ten years ago. You think that man was psychic too? Who cares if my abilities are the stronger and what does proximity have to do with it?”

  “Humour me,” I answered. “What else do you remember about him?”

  “OK.” she replied, obviously giving me the benefit of the doubt. “I remember strength. Not just muscle strength but a kind of... fearlessness about him. He was not afraid of dying. In fact, I don’t think he’s capable of fear at all. But, now that I think of it, I did feel an aura of death around him. I probably just thought it had to do with the bodies that were still in the wrecked cars.”

  “What else?” I asked.

  “He was... righteous. Death held no metaphysical implications to him. He was, oh I don’t know, it was so long ago... he was almost in a trance of some sort.”

  “Could you sense who he was?” I asked.

  “No. His past was... guarded. He was ready to die. I was a complete shock to him. I think he may have even wanted to die. I know it’s an awful thing to say but it’s possible that he actually caused the accident but there was definitely no remorse or guilt. That’s why I’m sure he didn’t send for me, at least consciously.”

  “Exactly! He didn’t even know you but as he was dying he must have sent some kind of unconscious signal that you picked up on - except - I think you received him before the fact. When you arrived and rescued him in a trance of some sort, he must have thought you were an angel.”

  “What?”

  “Sure. An angel. It’s even your true name. You said it was raining right? An angel came out of the storm to save him and now he’s watching you as some sort of protector.”

  “Watching me! You think he’s watching me? Right now? For ten years? From where? Why?... Adam, you don’t understand. What you’re saying is impossible, I would know!”

  “No, I don’t think so, not if he’s a surveillance expert. He would have to pick his times carefully... and he would have to stay a safe distance from you, physically. Now we k
now how far away he is. He would know when he could risk watching too, like when you’re totally absorbed in your work or listening to music. It would be safe during those times, wouldn’t it?”

  “Do you know what you’re saying Adam ? My studio is... bugged! I... I can’t think... It can’t be true. I had the cameras disconnected.” She was quiet for a few seconds, digesting the information. “They didn’t unhook them, did they? That’s what you think. That’s why the feeling was so vague. I couldn’t seem to focus on him... But sometimes... That’s why you didn’t talk to me on the phone at home. He might be listening. Do you think he’s involved with Omni Security, one of their installers? It definitely wasn’t anyone who was installing equipment while I was there.”

  “Listen, Annie, we need to take this one step at a time. I think he’s dangerous. Don’t go back to the studio. I’ll get Mack to check things out. Can you come over here?”