by K. L. Wallen
“Thanks, I’m Carlie,” she said as she held out her hand.
“I’m Sally.” The woman gently grasped Carlie’s hand.
Carlie’s visions were not always without spectacle. She did try to control her outbursts, but sometimes the vision was such that she couldn’t help but scream out. Carlie knew this was going to be a rough story to watch and prayed that she would hold herself together.
Asking her younger brother to do this was not an option for her, for she felt it her responsibility to shield him from having to experience such ugliness. As his big sister, this type of task was up to her. Had their father still lived, he would have taken this on and spared her, but he was gone.
She motioned for the woman to take a seat. “I won’t ask you to lie, but would appreciate it if you don’t bring up my brother’s name, or mine, to the police. We had an incident a few years back when we helped someone and we became suspects.” She waited for Sally to agree.
Carlie wanted to ask her how much she was willing to pay but couldn’t bring herself to ask. She never had been comfortable asking people for money. It felt too much like selling her gift for all the wrong reasons. Knowing that about herself was one of the reasons she never pushed to find backers for a business venture. Carlie would be at odds with a partner who wanted to use her and Justin’s gift purely for financial gain.
Carlie gently accepted the necklace and immediately cast her head down and to the side. Her eyes focused on the dirty tile floor, which swirled and transformed. Carlie was now looking at the inside of a home. She started softly speaking, unaware that the woman who handed her the necklace had moved her chair closer in order to hear.
“I’m in a living room. There’s a beige sofa with throw pillows that have birds on them. They’re colored in shades of orange and teal. The inside lights are out, but there’s light coming in from the street.” Carlie paused and pulled her lips in, oblivious to her current surroundings.
“Is my sister there?” Sally prompted. She didn’t receive a response.
In the vision, Carlie walked over to the curtain and pulled it back just a little bit. “Who’s that?” she questioned as a shadow passed in front of the window. Carlie didn’t hear her client respond, she only heard the soft ticking of a clock hanging on the wall. She let the curtain fall back into place and moved into the foyer. The figure outside inserted a key into the lock. The sound of the deadbolt turning was loud.
“Who?” whispered Sally. She was now sitting on the edge of her chair. Sally decided to remain quiet when she saw the far-off look on Carlie’s face.
“My sister’s having a vision. Let it play out,” Justin advised the woman who was on the edge of her seat, looking as if she were about to climb onto Carlie’s lap. He had spotted his sister from across the room and decided that the cute girl, Brittany, would regrettably have to wait a few minutes. Justin was well aware of how difficult visions could be for Carlie. Their father trained him to help Carlie pull out of visions before it became too late. Justin knew by the distant look on Carlie’s face, that she was close to crossing that line. Now, it was his job to be there to get her out if it became too rough.
Carlie watched as the man stealthily made his way into the foyer of the single story house. He had a penlight flashlight, which he clicked on and angled at the floor. Slowly, he aimed it at the Bombay table that was near the door and read the address labels on the mail.
“Joelle Lambert,” Carlie read the label right along with him. Joelle was the only name printed on the front of all the envelopes.
“That’s my sister,” Sally softly spoke. She was quickly shushed by Justin.
The beefy man put the envelopes down. He took a couple of minutes to listen to the silence in the house before slowly moving forward. He paused when he stumbled a little bit after the toe of his boot caught the corner of a runner. He slowly moved his foot back and let the rug fall back into place.
“Oh, no, no,” Carlie whispered as the man approached the open master bedroom door. She had a horrible gut feeling she knew what was about to happen and prayed she was wrong. Carlie raced ahead of the man and entered the master bedroom.
“Get up. Shit, get up!” Carlie began hyperventilating. She shook the woman to no avail. The man’s hand reached through her and tugged the blanket down. “No!” Carlie shouted.
Justin took hold of his sister and pulled her out of the chair. “Carlie, Carlie” he urgently repeated her name as he pressed her head against his shoulder. He began rocking her in a slow, soothing motion. “Carlie, come back,” he pleaded gently, yet forcefully, this time. He ignored the few people who stopped to stare.
Sally stopped chewing on her nail, sucked in her breath, and sat there patiently waiting. Please Lord, she mentally chanted. Somehow, Sally knew that this young woman was about to help her solve her sister’s murder. The police listed it as a cold case some six months back, but Sally wasn’t ready to give up. She would never give up.
Carlie steadied her breathing. “I’m okay,” she told her brother. She stepped back and let Justin help her to her seat. “Don’t you have a cute girl waiting for you?” she joked before she turned to the waiting woman.
“Yeah, I do. You okay?” Justin didn’t look at the woman, he kept his focus on his older sister.
“Uh huh. Ah, yes, go ahead. I’m good.” Carlie gave him a pained smile and gestured for him to go. “Go on. Have some fun. I’ll be just a few minutes.”
Justin knew Carlie wouldn’t give the details so long as he was present. He hated that she felt like she needed to shield him, but wouldn’t say as much. Not right now, anyway. Tonight or tomorrow he would remind her that whatever she sees couldn’t be as bad as some of the movies he watches. She, in turn, would tell him that it’s much worse than the movies because you can’t change the channel.
Carlie let out an extended breath as soon as Justin left, and focused on Sally. “You and your sister don’t look much alike,” she commented.
“No. My sister took after our mom. I took after our grandmother on our father’s side.” She accepted the necklace back from Carlie. “Do you know who killed my sister?”
“Yes.” Carlie gave her a half-smile. “I don’t know his name, but can describe him. Did your sister take her car in for repairs? The man I saw was wearing a short-sleeve shirt that looked like the kind you see someone at a mechanic’s shop or from a drive-through oil place wear. It was dark green, had stains, and there was a name sewn on his shirt next to a red and blue embroidered sports car. White lightning bolts were coming out of the twin tailpipes. Whether it was his shirt or not, I don’t know. He might have snatched it from someone else. He stands less than six feet tall. I’m basing this on how tall he was next to me. I’m 5’6” tall. He has a husky build, but not from working out. More like one too many pizzas. Not fat, but he was carrying a good 20 extra pounds. Shaggy brown hair. Brown eyes. He had a tattoo on his left arm. It was a naked woman. Only, her face was that of a skull. It’s very distinctive.”
“My sister had the brakes on her car redone a few days before she was killed. What was the name on the shirt?”
“Scott.” Carlie took the woman’s hand. “He had a key. He might have made an impression of her key when she dropped off her car, unless she was dating him. I don’t think she was though, because she was very confused when he woke her. He didn’t hide his face.” Carlie didn’t want to say attacked. “He did pocket her key after he entered her house. He might still have it.”
*.*
“So, did she pay you?” Justin was hoping that Carlie got some money for the trauma she went through.
Carlie opened the door to their 1993 Honda Civic. “Yes.” She smiled and informed him, “She gave us $500 and said she would give us another $9,500 if what I told her was enough to bring him in. That was how much she offered as a reward. Her name is Sally and we exchanged phone numbers and addresses. She’ll call after she talks with the detective assigned to her sister’s case. She’s going home to cal
l him now.”
“Will she pay out?”
“Yes, she will. If the detective can find the key. Maybe even if he doesn’t. She’s an honest one,” Carlie responded. “And discrete. She won’t tell the cops about us. She gave me her word and I believe her.” That was one good thing about having the gift of touch, the both of them always knew when a person was telling the truth and when they were lying. “Let’s hope the cops find the key before we go to court.”
“I could have done it, you know.”
Carlie took hold of Justin’s arm. “I know. Maybe next time.” She knew how badly he wanted the more intense cases, but she wasn’t ready to subject him to those just yet.
“That’s what you always say. When are you going to let me find more than a lost coin or cat?”
Her reply to him was the same one as always, “Soon. Now let’s go home.” Carlie needed some alone time in her room to meditate and try to shake off the horrifying vision. She often wondered how it was that their father had managed to keep from going insane.
Carlie was determined to learn her father’s secret, or win the lottery and just stop putting herself in situations like this. Unfortunately, lottery numbers never popped up in her mind when she touched a lottery kiosk.
Chapter 4
Blaize followed Commander Dorn Gharm into the conference room and took a seat to his right side. “Since I’m head of your security team, may I take the lead on investigating Finis’ death, on your behalf?” He, like the other warriors, was shocked by the young female’s declaration.
“I may need your assistance but not just yet,” Dorn responded. “I spoke with the Fleet Commander and he is retrieving all of the salvageable parts from my brother’s ship. He will quietly investigate and forward me the results. Fleet Commander Scorpak has granted me Right of Justice, should the findings prove unjust. I would have trusted my brother to provide me an accurate accounting, in the flesh; however, in a spectral form? I’m just not sure his mind was intact.”
“I have to admit what Dakota and her mother can do left me speechless. The others in our party too, I noticed. Truthfully, I believe none of us expected this,” he waved his hand in front of himself, “to be factual. Do you suppose they have mind readers as well?” Blaize rolled his shoulders in an attempt to hide his discomfort. “Commander, you don’t suppose the humans will bring any of those malevolent spirits we’ve heard about aboard, if you decide to invite them and they decide to accept?” Blaize shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
Dorn looked intently at his security officer. “What? Ghosts aren’t something you’re prepared to police? They didn’t teach you Ghost Wrestling at the academy?” he lightheartedly remarked.
Blaize let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “Yes, that skill would certainly benefit someone in my profession right now. Dealing with ghosts, is not something that was covered at the academy or that I’ve ever come across during my travels.” He let out a prickly laugh and added, “I’ll have the techs investigate how to wrestle a ghost.” Blaize looked at his commander and remarked, “I do wonder if some humans are able to read minds.”
“Mind readers? Ah. Now that would be a helpful skill to have. Think of the possibilities.”
“Such a person would make an excellent interrogator, but I certainly wouldn’t want to live with one,” Blaize declared in all seriousness.
Dorn was the one to laugh next. “I’d like to see Varun explain supernatural to Mrirux and Bylt. I think it’s time we inform those two warriors, and Adal, of our goals. Set up the meeting.”
“I will, and I would be honored to second you,” Blaize stated. He handed Dorn a glass of jirfpt. “Shall I gather the others?”
“Yes, and I’ll let you know about second. Our father is alive and he would want second, if not Finis’ mother. Our father still remains one tough bagallard.” Dorn narrowed his eyes and added, “I expect I’ll have to restrain him if Scorpak discovers that Finis was murdered.” He took a sip of his drink. “Fleet Commander Scorpak feels Leader Thalmar will be most interested in Dakota and her mother. He’s on his way to meet with him now. Call the others in.”
*.*
“Report,” Dorn commanded those direct reports he summoned to the meeting.
Tyce was the first to provide an update. “We haven’t begun searching for my potential honored guests yet, as this matter with Dakota and her mother is urgent. I reviewed Dakota’s school records, the academic equivalency to our academies, and can tell you that she scores high in her studies. At her prior two schools, one in Georgia and the next one in Texas, Dakota had problems with peers. At each location, she was assaulted during school hours by three or more classmates.
At the Georgia school, the psychologist recommended Dakota be given a psychiatric evaluation. Her mother immediately moved them and then registered her in Texas. After the incident there, she didn’t register Dakota for regular school again. On Earth, the parents have the option of home schooling their child, and that is what she chose to do, in Oregon.”
“What of Dakota’s father?”
Tyce replied to this, “Her father is not an active participant in her life. He is listed on Dakota’s birth certificate, but Dakota was not given his surname. His choice I suppose.”
Dorn swirled the jirfpt around in his glass. “Does he support Dakota?”
Tyce shook his head. “No financial records of support have been uncovered. It appears he is unwilling to claim Dakota. Christine Shasta has a significant trust fund, left to her from her mother and grandparents. Their daily living expenses does not appear to be of import. Varun ran an economic analysis and they have enough to live on for the rest of their lives, unless her investments go sour.”
Dorn studied the report Tyce sent to his data pad. “Are these investments high-risk?”
“Not according to their financial institutions. Just the opposite. Christine Shasta uses caution when investing. She doesn’t earn much money off her investments, but it’s enough, given her base, to provide daily living necessities plus a little extra.”
“Ivanoff,” Dorn called on. “Is abandoning a youngling normal behavior for Earth males?”
“According to my research and discussions with Fleet Commander Scorpak’s honored guests and the MacKenna clan, I wouldn’t say it’s normal behavior, but can tell you it’s not uncommon. I would suspect that Dakota’s father had difficulty dealing with her gift. Although, that might just be generosity on my part. The male might just be a bagallard who cares nothing for the child he helped create. Only Dakota’s mother would know the truth. I have discovered records showing that he married, life-mated, another female before Dakota turned five.”
“He did not life-mate Dakota’s mother? I understand that human’s often leave their life-mates for another.” Dorn brought up pictures of Christine and Dakota Shasta. “Christine is very attractive. Dakota looks like her mother.”
“No, he never life-mated Christine Shasta. Human’s call it marriage or getting married, and they leave themselves a get-out clause,” Ivanoff responded.
Dorn took a moment to let the findings settle. “Perhaps he couldn’t deal with her mother’s gift either. Varun, I want you to forward the findings to Leader Thalmar, Co-Leader Scorpak, and to Fleet Commander Scorpak immediately. Make sure to code it. Report.”
Varun squared his shoulders. “Commander, I have a satellite positioned over their residence. So far, the activity has been limited. Dakota’s mother has carried several large bags out to their car, ah, transport. We believe she is preparing to run again.”
“Blaize?”
“I transported down and placed a tracker on her vehicle. Also, I will place monitoring equipment in Tyce’s perspective honored guest’s residence, transport, and place of employment within 24 hours. It shouldn’t take Varun and Ivanoff long to locate them.” Blaize sat quiet and waited for instructions.
“Until I hear back from the Fleet Commander, we monitor Christine and her daughter only. Keep me posted on their mov
ements.” Dorn lifted the glass of jirfpt as if he might take a sip, only to set it back down. “Tyce, I want you to work with Varun, Ivanoff, and Blaize. Research the female who had your transporter. I expect a report in the morning. Blaize should have most of the monitors set up in their residence by then.” He looked at the photographs of Christine and Dakota again. “They’re so delicate,” he rhetorically commented.
Dorn sat quiet for a few long seconds before adding, “Blaize, has all of the monitoring equipment you placed at the psychic fair been retrieved?”
“Yes, and it’s in the database available for all warriors to review.”
“Kodiak is on his way here.” Dorn stood and announced he’d be in the training room on his way out of the conference room.
Tyce was pleased that the Commander wants him to seek out the female from the psychic event, at the county fairgrounds in Vancouver, Oregon. He brought up the monitoring feed and zeroed in on Carlie and her brother. “This is later in the day, when they returned,” he uttered.
The remaining warriors quieted and watched as Carlie sat with an older human woman.
“She appears to be in some sort of a trance,” Favian observed.
“Tyce, your honored guest is reliving a murder,” Blaize announced. “This is remarkable. Varun, can you pull up records to verify this?”
“With Ivanoff’s help, we should be able to,” Varun replied. He wasn’t sure what databases to search for the required information.
Tyce had thought of little else since he laid eyes on Carlie. He found her interaction with the stricken female intriguing; however, more so, Tyce hoped that Carlie would still want to see him strip, only in private. The smile that was threatening to break free was difficult to restrain and so he opted to follow his commander out the door.
Tyce planned to go back over the required reading material Honored Guest Laurel MacKenna left behind. He was certain that there was a passage or two on how to perform a strip tease in one of the manuals.