BURNING INTUITION (Intuition Series Book 2)

by Makenzi Fisk

  Inside, my heart flutters in my chest. This time it will be perfect. This time I have a new minion. “I’ll help you kill him.”

  Her eyes widen but she doesn’t speak. Her pupils are tiny pinpricks. She doesn’t say no.

  “First, let’s find beer.”

  I drop her off at her house before the sun rises. She drank more tonight than ever before and she’s having trouble balancing on the bent trash pail. I hold her by the waist so she can get through the window. She teeters and falls off, taking me down with her. I’m flat on my back and she reaches over to wipe the hair from my face.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  She’s had way too much to drink. I swore to myself I wouldn’t let that happen again. She gets weird. Before I can react, she grabs me by the shoulders and kisses me halfway between my mouth and nose.

  “I love you.” Her cheeks are red, her lips quiver, but her gaze doesn’t waver when she says it.

  What the hell was that? I’ve got no words for her so I keep my mouth shut. She intruded on my personal space, but it was so quick I barely noticed. All that’s left is the wet ooze on my upper lip, like the trail a slug leaves in the garden. As fast as she violated me, she jumps back onto the pail and heads through the window on her own.

  My ass is still on the ground when she crashes to the other side. I’m in a daze. The only other person stupid enough to try to kiss me ended up with a black eye, face down in a mud puddle. Grade three was a tough year for Ronnie Andrews. He should have known better when I told him to get lost.

  I scrub the wet spot on my face with my torn knuckles. They burn. Nina’s head hasn’t come back up so I climb onto the pail to see what’s going on. Someone whimpers and Nina pulls her little sister out from under the bed.

  “What’s up, Beth buttercup?” Is she upset that we didn’t bring her candy? Did she lose her teddy bear?

  The brat crouches on the floor and Nina winds her arms around her. Beth stares up at me with round watery eyes. Both of them cry but neither one makes a sound.

  “Daddy.” Beth hiccups. “Daddy was mean. He came in my room and he hurt me.”

  Nina holds her hand over her sister’s mouth and Beth’s eyes bulge. “Shhh.” She rocks her and hums a tune I don’t recognize. Nina’s face goes blank. Her cheeks sag and she squeezes Beth until she squirms. Nina’s whole body goes stiff like she wants to kill her dad with her bare hands.

  Let’s kill him. Kill him. Kill him!

  Nina’s face is hard as gravestone. “Let’s do it.”

  My heart pounds like a wild animal in my chest. It might tear right through. I give a single nod. Message received. Before I leave, I prop the bent window screen back into place as best I can. This is no time to raise suspicion.

  I’m dancing inside when I run back to the car. It’ll be so easy. He has to give me the money tonight. After he pays the million dollars, he can pay with his life.

  There’s just one other thing I want to take care of before then. I’ll need to be fully awake for it, though. I let the car idle while I catch a quick nap. I wind myself in a cocoon with the blanket in the back. Sleep comes fast and there are no dreams.

  An anaconda is squeezing me and, when I jolt awake, my mouth tastes like rotten eggs. I kick my legs out from the blanket. My knuckles feel raw. A new scrape crisscrosses the old ones. That is a mystery. It must have been a helluva night.

  There is liquid in a vodka bottle on the seat. I don’t even remember where we got that. There’s a fuzzy memory of passing it back and forth with Nina. Her giggling. Me telling funny jokes. I strain it between my teeth and gargle before I spit onto the floor. It’s an improvement. The sun is above the horizon so it must be almost nine o’clock.

  Scheisse! It’s later than I thought. I scramble into the driver’s seat. They’ll be up and moving around by now. I don’t want to miss an opportunity.

  On the road by the river, I park a half block from the bitch’s house and slouch in my seat. The truck sits in the same spot in the driveway but a fresh tire replaces the one I slashed. Bitch cop didn’t waste any time.

  It doesn’t take long, less than half an hour before Punk Barbie comes out. Today she’s dressed like a goth princess and her pink skirt matches her bicycle. I can’t wait until she’s on the road. I’ll run her down like a white-tailed deer. I’ll follow her and—

  It’s the bitch, Officer Erin Ericsson. The screen door slams as she sprints to the driveway. She’s trying to get Barbie in the truck but Barbie won’t go. She’s feisty, that one. Let her go, bitch. I’ll take care of her.

  CHAPTER 26

  “Hop in.” Erin opened the passenger door for Ciara. Halfway down the block she noted a blue car that wasn’t there when she’d mentally cataloged the neighborhood last night. Had someone new moved in? Was someone having an overnight guest? She’d check that out later.

  “Gallant, but unnecessary.” Already astride her bicycle, Ciara tried to squeeze past.

  “We’ll drop you off on our way to Windy City Alarms.” Erin blocked her path.

  “I’m going to feel like I’m living in Fort Knox.” She flicked the handlebar bell with her thumb.

  “The new alarm will be temporary. Just basic surveillance equipment. Allie’s business insurance requires it.” That part wasn’t exactly true. There was no insurance. Not yet anyway.

  “It’s only a twenty minute ride to the university and I promise not to go anywhere near Beverly Hills.” Ciara backed up and steered to the other side of the driveway.

  “You forget that Lily knows where you live.” Erin swooped her hand toward the passenger seat. “Come on. It’s safer. I promise to pick you up at noon. You won’t have to wait.”

  * * *

  Someone else is coming out of the house. She’s tall. When she leans over the step, I see her long brown hair. Holy shit. I didn’t know she was here. It’s the bitch cop’s zombie girlfriend. She was there on the river when my dad was caught. She saw me. Not like other people see me. She looked right inside me. She was the first one who ever did. This can’t be a coincidence. Are they all here for me?

  Shit. Barbie is putting her bike away. What’s my next move? Follow them?

  No. This is the perfect chance to get inside that house. I slide my hand into my pocket and caress my knife. All I need is a lighter and a tinder-dry old house.

  * * *

  Erin held the door wider. Ciara scowled and her shoulders slumped. “All right. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.” She rolled her bike to the shed. “This is a one off, and I’m only doing it because I trust Allie.”

  “Thank you,” Allie breathed. She pulled the seat forward and slid into the front after Ciara squeezed herself into the back. “I think it’s best that you’re not on your own right now.” She rubbed her temple with taut fingers.

  “Headache?” Erin kept one eye on Allie while she backed out the driveway. Allie’s attention lingered on the same blue car she’d noticed. She would definitely check that out later. “What’s going on?”

  “I’m not sure. Something feels wrong. I’ve been thinking about Lily, a lot, but I’m also worried about the other girl. And there’s a man. Just when I try to focus on one, the others intrude.”

  “And you still talk about a baby boy in your dreams.” Erin shrugged when Allie shot her a look. She’d hoped that their romantic interlude might help Allie sleep, but it didn’t happen. Erin had awoken to her crying out more than once. She’d curled herself around Allie and gone back to sleep.

  “I’m confused.” Allie tilted her head back and exhaled. “The only thing I was really sure about this morning was that Ciara shouldn’t ride her bike.”

  “This is what your headaches are about?” Ciara piped up from the back. “You’re psychic. I often wondered.”

  “Well, I’m not sure I’d use that word. I don’t see dead people or anything.” Allie turned to face her friend. “It’s just intuition. That’s all.”

  “Uh huh. I was your roommate long enou
gh to know it’s more than intuition but I got the impression you didn’t want to talk about it.”

  “You were right. It’s hard for me to understand what it all means.” Allie flipped her hair over her shoulders and wrapped it into a ponytail. “And it’s even harder to explain to someone else.”

  “She wouldn’t even talk to me about it for the longest time.” Erin pulled up in front of the university and let Ciara out.

  “Don’t worry about picking me up. I can catch a ride with Raphael.” Ciara slung her army surplus messenger bag over her shoulder. “I’ll take care of the office this afternoon.”

  “Raphael? Isn’t that Mr. Vargas’ first name?” Allie’s eyes widened. “Are you dating my client?”

  “We’ll talk later.” Ciara winked.

  Allie opened her mouth to speak and closed it. She shook her head as her friend strode away in her pink taffeta skirt and combat boots.

  “She’s growing on me.” Erin grinned. “Anyone with the nerve to dress like that deserves my respect. Or the attention of the men with the really long-sleeved white coats.” Erin mimicked a struggle with a straitjacket.

  Allie pinched her arm. “You like Ciara, admit it.”

  “She’s a bit radical,” Erin began, and Allie pinched her again. “But yeah, I like her. Mostly because she’s nice to you. You would have figured out what was going on between those two if you hadn’t been so distracted by Lily. Now let’s go get that surveillance equipment you said we needed.”

  “I don’t think I worded it quite like that. I think I said that Ciara’s home was vulnerable.”

  Erin tallied up the items they’d need to buy. Allie wouldn’t want her to overdo it, but they needed cameras, indoor and outdoor sensors, a wireless control panel, and a better lock for the door. Maybe even security lighting. She could monitor and control it all from her smartphone. If Ciara didn’t want to keep it, they could take it back to Morley Falls with them. It was long past time to replace their decrepit home alarm.

  “Huh?” Erin was vaguely aware that Allie had said something.

  “Are you planning all the equipment you’ll buy, that we don’t really need?” Allie’s mouth twisted sideways in a wry grin.

  “Maybe.” And maybe she could keep it under five hundred dollars. “Let’s make it quick. The critters were cuddled up on my pillow when we left but I don’t want to leave them alone too long. I’m not confident that the dog’s house-trained.”

  “He still needs a name.” Allie’s brow puckered. “The dog. The cat. There’s something happening.”

  “Are you having a vision of the dog peeing on my sandals?” Erin snorted. What could the two rascals possibly do that would top the great fish caper?

  “I don’t know.” Allie massaged the back of her neck. “Every time I try to divert my attention, it all snaps back to Lily. I don’t understand what she’s up to but I sure feel a lot of strong energy surrounding her.”

  “Let’s stop at the alarm store and then take a drive over to Beverly Hills. If she’s around, you’re bound to pick up some vibes or something.”

  “Vibes.” Allie blinked hard. “You make it sound like feel-good hippie vibes. Believe me, it does not feel good.”

  “I’m sorry Baby.” Erin reached out for her hand.

  She gripped it and took a deep breath.

  * * *

  Allie hurried to the passenger side. “I’m proud of you, Honey. You didn’t break your five hundred dollar limit.” Pressure made her head throb. Some people’s knees ached before a rainstorm. She got an aching head before an energy storm. Something was brewing. It was big, and Lily was at the center.

  Erin loaded the boxes of electronic equipment behind the seat of her truck. “Five hundred Canadian dollars. That’s what, sixteen bucks U.S.?” She smirked and got behind the wheel.

  “Very funny. The value of our currency is not really that different.” Allie gave a half-hearted grin. It was hard to make jokes while your skull imploded.

  “You look really stressed. Is your headache getting worse?”

  Erin’s blue eyes reflected the sky, the opposite color of the cloud in Allie’s brain. The disjoint was disconcerting. Here they were, together on a beautiful summer day. Birds sang, kids played in the streets, but a dark tempest threatened. “Every day it seems worse. I can’t shake it. I can’t concentrate on anything. Everything is about Lily. She’s up to something right now, and I get the feeling that she’s watching us.”

  Erin’s head swiveled to the side window. “I’ll set up the alarm system today. If you help me program the electronics, it’ll be done in a fraction of the time.” She turned the truck onto the perimeter highway and headed toward the airport. “Let’s check out this infamous Beverly Hills.”

  “That’s where Lily’s friend lives,” Allie blurted. The name wavered on the edge of her mind and came to her like individual letters reconstituting one by one.

  Erin peeked at her out of the corner of her eye. “You know, I saw this documentary on TV once where a psychic just drove around until he eventually ended up at the location where a lost child could be found.”

  “I’m not psychic.” Allie leaned back in her seat. Why was Erin trying to make her gift into more than it was? “I just feel things sometimes. It’s totally random. I’m not a tracking dog that can find missing people by sniffing their underwear.”

  “So you say.” Erin arched an eyebrow. The corner of her mouth lifted in amusement.

  “Fine. You drive and I’ll tell you if I smell anything.” This was never going to work. “Oh, there it is. It’s not Beverly Hills. The sign says North-something Estates. You can’t tell from all the spray paint.”

  “It’s Northview. Barb said that Albert dropped Lily off here once. She didn’t say which house.”

  “Oh my gosh. Look at that park.” Allie pointed to a grassy area with couple of deformed bushes and a bench. Multi-colored graffiti covered every square inch of it. “She’s been there. A lot.” Plastic bags trapped in the chain link fence fluttered in the breeze. Ahead, the entire building complex consumed a couple of blocks of high-density, low-rent, housing.

  “Wow, I’d hate to take all the vandalism complaints in this neighborhood. Every second car has some sort of body damage or a taped-up window.” Erin pointed to a car on blocks in a driveway. All four tires were missing.

  “There is so much negative energy here. How will I ever be able to tell?” It was like the time she went scuba diving in Mexico, trapped inside a foggy mask, ninety feet down. The pressure of nearly three atmospheres compressed her lungs. She was acutely aware of the effort it took for every single breath.

  “Did you forget? You’ve done this before. You weren’t even trying. Remember the boy you saved from the van? You led the way. Don’t try to think. Just feel.”

  The boy in the submerged van. He’d nearly died. Her dream from the previous night surfaced. Death loomed. Was she simply remembering that event, or was there another child?

  Allie inhaled enough air to fill her lungs. Something changed her vision, or did Erin slow down? Concentrating on one side of the road, she focused on the energy radiating from each house as they passed.

  Sadness, boredom, grief, fear. Dark whirlwinds in various shades of gray assailed her. A cat slunk along a fence line and disappeared into the yard. This was not a happy neighborhood.

  A block from the park, a half-dozen boys took turns practicing bicycle tricks. They stopped and stared when the truck passed. One of the smaller boys grabbed his crotch and shouted something.

  “Nice neighborhood.” Erin hit the brakes when he tried to hang onto the bumper for a free ride.

  “Chicken!” He let go and slapped the tailgate with his hand.

  “Future inmate.” Erin hit the gas for space between them before she slowed again. She drove down the block and doubled back on a parallel street. “So… talk to me.”

  “One of those boys is hanging out on the street because he’s afraid to go home.” Allie
had seen the fear, bright jagged colors surrounding the boy who’d grabbed the bumper. A cloud of utter despondency shrouded a home with aluminum foil covering the windows.

  “Depressing neighborhood.”

  Allie pointed to a house with an upside down number. “There’s something bad going on there.” The huddled image of a child flashed on her retina, then faded.

  Erin stomped on the brake.

  “It’s not the one we’re looking for, and no we can’t help.”

  Erin eased her foot back onto the gas pedal. “Is it like this in your head all the time? How do you function?”

  “As you know, I’ve gotten very good at blocking things out. Strong emotions leak through, but this is different. I’m trying to focus but I’ve spent so much time blocking things that it’s hard to let them in. I feel like I’m on a horrible amusement park ride, underwater. And it hurts. How many more streets are there?”

  “This is the last one. I’d hate to have your gift.”

  A corner unit with a dented red van in the driveway emanated gloom. Despondence. Fear. Anger. Like a living organism, it throbbed with pure hatred. “Stop!” Allie closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her chest. “The darkness here is more familiar than the rest.”

  “Is she here?”

  “She was. But not now.”

  Erin grabbed a pen from the console and rifled through the glove box. She finally scribbled down the address and license plate number on the inside of her wrist.

  “Your notebook is at home on the dresser.”

  “I’ll bet you’ve never lost anything in your life.”

  “Aside from my mother and my dog? No, I haven’t lost a thing.” Why had she said that? She wasn’t prone to hurtful sarcasm. Was the horrible atmosphere getting to her? She’d had enough. She needed to shut it down. Block it out.

  “I didn’t mean…” Erin’s eyes puckered at the corners.

  “I’m sorry.” Allie said. “I think this place is getting to me. I’m not used to so much negativity coming from so many directions. It’s worse than sitting in the parking lot of the prison waiting for you to talk to Derek Peterson.”