by Dale Mayer
Nobody’s ever 100 percent, Stefan said. And getting the authorities to understand that we’re serious can also be a problem.
You’re not kidding. There was a puppy missing, and I was bound and determined to save its life, but I couldn’t see anything more than its immediate surroundings, so I didn’t know where it was. I kept calling them, telling them they had to help the puppy. I think I was about thirteen at the time.
Did you save the puppy? he asked, a note of amusement in his voice.
Oh, I did. They didn’t appreciate all the phone calls to get there, but we did rescue the puppy that’d fallen down a well.
He chuckled. What are you doing for defense now?
The usual stuff I read on the internet, she said calmly. White circle of protection. I do a cleansing before and a cleansing afterward.
Prayer? he asked curiously.
No, I can’t say I have believed in anything worth praying to in a long time. When you see what man does to man, it’s a little hard to believe somebody’s above, smiling benevolently down on us.
I believe that takes us back to free will, he said. Anything else?
No, she said, frowning. She bounced off her chair and paced her small tent. She knew her grace window of no customers coming would end soon. That’s why I’m asking for help.
But you’re not telling me the whole truth, are you?
She froze. What are you talking about?
He sighed. I can see a lot. Maybe more than you would like me to see. But the thing is, I can’t work with you if you won’t tell me the full truth. And he disappeared.
Shaking, she went back to her chair and sat down again. Outside she could hear voices coming closer, which meant she was about to get more clients. But it was the last thing she wanted.
It had felt so weird to have him inside her mind earlier, searching for information on this guy tracking her. What she really wanted was a way to stop the Watcher from gaining access—or finding her in any way. She wasn’t sure if she was looking for a defense system, per se. She was definitely looking to keep him out or to just hide from him so she could function, knowing he was around but unable to see her.
Just then Stefan’s mind spoke to hers. And once you do find a way to create a shield to hide yourself from him, you also can’t move out of the shield unless you drop it. It poses its own barriers and its own dangers. And he disappeared again.
A cough at the doorway of her tent brought her back to her surroundings as a young man walked inside nervously. He looked at her and gave her a boyish grin. “I understand you’re really good at what you do,” he said.
She smiled up at him, loving that innocence and hope in his eyes. “And where did you hear that?” she teased.
He flushed. “A girl I know came in to see you.”
Queenie settled back and smiled. She held out her hand and said, “Place your hand on mine and ask me your questions.”
He did so and talked about engineering, a big program he wanted to get into, and he didn’t know how to make it happen.
She could certainly see him as an engineer. What she couldn’t see was if he was getting into that particular program. “You’re certainly doing engineering work,” she said, frowning. “Are you studying right now in that field?”
He shook his head. “But I have been accepted into the engineering school here locally.”
“But that’s not what you’re asking about, right? Because you will be doing engineering.”
He nodded. “That’s what I would expect to do. But there’s a specialty program afterward I want to go into.”
She smiled. “You know the future is always open and available to you, right? And that you shouldn’t be looking too far down the road. Do the best you can do today.”
He nodded. “I was hoping you could tell me if it was worth doing.”
Well, that was easy enough. She could certainly put him at ease there. “It’s absolutely worth doing,” she said gently. “I see you doing engineering work at a very high level for a long time.”
His face lit up. He tossed ten dollars on the table and raced from the tent. She chuckled. It was always nice when she had something good to say in her message. She put the money away and sat back.
There was a weird sound in the tent, almost like a cackle, almost like a laugh. She looked around. “Stefan?”
Oh, no, not Stefan, although I’d be interested in knowing who that is, the Watcher said. Why didn’t you tell the young man about the rest of the message?
She frowned, icicles sliding up and down her back. Who are you? she demanded. She got up and raced out of the tent, looking around all its sides, but nobody was there. She stepped back inside. Who are you? she repeated.
Doesn’t matter who I am. That’s not important. You’re important because I can see into your world. I never knew I could do that, he said thoughtfully. I’ll count this as a success.
What’s nice about it? she cried out. You’re a Peeping Tom into somebody else’s mind.
Not likely, he snorted. But you see? We’re connected. I’ve never been connected to anybody before like this. It’s fun.
Her world was just full of wonderful human beings. Not. What do you mean about the rest of the message? she asked curiously. I told him what I saw.
There was a snort in the air around her. Then you didn’t look deep enough, he said. The kid ends up dying from an engineering accident. A crane explodes on a site, and he gets taken out.
She stared into the blankness. I didn’t see that, she cried out. I often don’t see that far down the road.
You could. You’re too scared though. You only want to give people the pretty messages. I’m not interested in pretty messages. I like the ugly ones. And he disappeared.
Immediately she called to Stefan, Did you hear that?
No, I didn’t hear that came the exasperated voice. And could you at least knock? I have a life too, you know.
She winced. Look. I’m sorry, but that asshole was just here. I gave a message to a young boy, and the Watcher came afterward, asking why I didn’t give the boy the full message. She relayed the other bit of conversation. I didn’t recognize him.
You’re obviously linked if he could see what you were seeing when you touched that young man, Stefan said. Hmm.
“Hmm? What does hmm mean?” she yelled out loud, ready to shriek in frustration. This has never happened before.
Once you head down this path, it doesn’t matter if it’s happened before or not, Stefan said. Every day is something new in my world.
She walked around to the table and laid her hands on top, trembling like a leaf. I can’t keep doing this, she said brokenly. I already feel like I’m coming apart at the seams.
Well, buck up, Stefan said in a snappy voice. There’re things you need to learn.
You think? she grumbled. Remember? I’m the one who came to you for help.
And I said I wouldn’t deal with you unless you were honest with me.
“What the hell are you talking about?” she hollered out loud. “I’ve told you everything I know.”
Not really. You didn’t tell me about the case that blew up in your face, did you?
Instantly her mind shut down. That was a terrible time. I can’t go there again. She shook her head. That hurts too much.
If you can’t tell me, I can’t work with you came Stefan’s steadfast response. And then he disappeared.
She stared out of the tent, wondering how her world had gotten so stupidly crazy and what the hell she would do about it.
*
Maddy, you there?
For you, Stefan, always came Maddy’s laughing voice. I do have another patient in a few minutes. What’s up?
I just need to check in with reality, Stefan said. I’ve another young psychic who is incredibly powerful that’s hooked into a killer—or at least we think he’s a killer. I’m not sure I can even work with her.
For you to say you can’t work with her says a lot, Maddy said. But
it would be very sad if we lost one. We can’t help them all, I know. If they come to us, you know we’re bound and determined to do the best we can.
I know. I know. Stefan groaned. He didn’t know how he felt about Queenie. There was something desperate about her energy. He couldn’t see beyond the layers of it because, although he’d gone searching through her mind, looking for information on this killer, she had so many steel trap doors that she kept locked that he didn’t understand what was going on. She had defense mechanisms she had no idea she had put into place. Yet she was asking him to help her build more, as if she didn’t know about the ones she did have. But that a killer was getting through to her was something very strange. She obviously was open on some level. And this killer had stepped in and was using her.
He explained what he understood. I know it sounds bizarre, and I wish there was something I could do to help her.
Send her some healing energy, Maddy said. Obviously she’s stressed out to the max. Something’s bothering her tremendously. Her energy is fractured, and a lot of stuff is going on in her world, so of course she’s struggling.
I’m trying to give her energy. It gets rebuffed.
What? Maddy said. In what way?
Like an umbrella is around her all the way to the ground, and she’s locked inside this sealed egg. And yet she’s the one asking me for help setting up a defense system, something to keep this asshole away from her.
She doesn’t have a clue what she’s doing?
No, I don’t think she does. She’s in protective mode, hanging on by a thread. I’ve done a lot of research into her since she first contacted me. Apparently she’s very gifted, and the police had no problem using her until she broke apart at the seams. There was one case, the Handkerchief Killer, involving several women. Some of her information was wrong, and the last woman they tried to save … died. Queenie had a breakdown shortly afterward.
That’s not all that unusual unfortunately, Maddy said sadly. We’re not perfect.
I know. I know that, Stefan said. There’s just something about her …
What do you want from me? Maddy asked.
I don’t know, Stefan said, shaking his head. I really don’t know. She also mentioned something about a spider.
Well, that’s a new one, Maddy said. Maybe you should be talking to Tabitha and her animal connection then.
Stefan groaned. I think Tabitha is more than ready for me to stay away for a bit after we had that owl case she was heavily involved with. She needs time to just be Tabitha.
Tabitha’s like the rest of us. She steps up to serve when called, Maddy said gently. I can send this Queenie some healing energy, but, if she has bounced back your energy, then I doubt she would accept any of mine.
I wonder, Stefan said thoughtfully. We might have to get a little tricky.
Maddy chuckled. That’s always a dangerous thing with you. I could do some spirit work with her. But again, if I have an unwilling person, it’s takes a lot of my energy to deal with them.
I don’t know if she’d be unwilling if she knew what was happening, Stefan said. This guy got to her somewhere. She was hospitalized with a major illness at some point. I wonder what it would take to get her in to see you.
On her side or my side? Maddy said drily. I’m booked up for weeks and weeks.
Right. I’m sorry, Stefan said. Things are getting so much more involved these days. We have more and more people working with us and for us, but we’re also finding more and more people we need to work with.
I had a patient in this morning, Maddy said. His wife said she was at the amusement park, and they spoke to Queenie, and that’s how they got to me. Drew had mentioned it the night before. Anyway I had a cancellation, and, for whatever reason, one of my girls let them come in.
We know that often happens for the right reason.
Yes, but it was definitely the name Queenie, Maddy said thoughtfully. I’ll call the patient’s wife back and ask her to clarify.
Or you could take a spirit walk and check the energy to see if it came from that source, Stefan said. It’s not like you’re in your body all the time these days.
I’m out so much these days, Drew is afraid I’m not coming back, Maddy said with a bright laugh. But you’re right. I can check it out.
What did the patient present?
It’s an interesting case, Dr. Maddy said. The little girl, Kirsten, got to me. She said she spoke to the fortune-teller who said I could help. The thing is, I do believe I can help. It’s just I don’t have any beds. Dr. Maddy sighed heavily. I’m overwhelmed with patients between Maddy’s Floor, the children’s hospital, and then I’ve got two more hospitals going up across England.
And all that traveling takes its toll too.
It’s gotten better now, Dr. Maddy said, because I can do most of my work from here.
Can you work on this man from there?
That’s possible. I told him I’d have to run some tests, and they’ve gone home for the moment. I needed to think about what I could do. She gave a light laugh. I’ll do the same with Queenie.
Stefan disconnected the call, which was mentally anyway, and turned to see his beloved sitting beside him with a tea service waiting.
She smiled and said, “You can’t save everyone. Remember that. Tell me about this Queenie.”
“The trouble is, she’s too much like I used to be,” Stefan said with a sad smile. “I can’t ignore her. Otherwise I’m ignoring who and what I was.”
“Tell me more,” she said, leaning forward. She reached out a hand instinctively.
He reached back. As soon as their fingers connected, his own energy became centered and grounded, like it always did. He lifted his gaze and smiled deep into her eyes. “Have I told you lately I love you?”
She kissed his fingers and whispered, “Just this morning.”
But her gaze was twinkling, and then he remembered just how he had said he loved her. He chuckled and said, “Well, I still mean it.”
*
Dr. Maddy sat in her chair, a folder in front of her, wondering at the turn of events. Brian Callahan was the patient who had come in to see her. She had his medical records. They hadn’t been able to pinpoint the bleeding, and he was getting more and more fatigued. The doctors would stop it, and it would start again. They’d run X-rays; they’d done MRIs, and they hadn’t found anything. But she had a better idea of things that could go on at an energy level.
He’d gone home, and she had the address. On a spirit-walker system, she could certainly hop over to his house and take a look at him, but she’d rather have him in a more controlled environment.
She placed his file off to the side, but her fingers thrummed atop it, and she kept looking back at it. Finally she snatched up the folder and called Brian himself. “Mr. Callahan, I have a bed in one of my day-patient rooms here. Can you come in tomorrow so I can run some tests?”
Brian was tired. But there was excitement in his voice as he agreed.
Smiling, she closed the folder and stuck it off to the side. At the same time, Queenie just wouldn’t leave Maddy alone. She would talk to the couple when they got here in the morning. Maybe that would help clarify her thoughts.
She looked up as Gemma walked in.
“Dr. McIntosh from the children’s hospital has a problem with a young boy. He wants to know if you have a bed available.”
“How serious is it?”
“The doctor says seven out of ten.”
Maddy’s eyebrows rose. “In that case, we have the bed. Call Sherry down at the children’s hospital, have her take a look at the beds and see if we have room available now or if we need to make room for this little boy and get him transferred immediately.” She looked at her watch. “I’m due to be there in about an hour. Is he already at the main hospital?”
“The doctor did mention that, if you had a bed, he could get him there within the next hour.”
Maddy sighed, stood and grabbed her purse. “Make it happe
n.” And she turned and walked out.
She had just enough time to pick up a coffee, something to eat—a little more than a salad, according to her beloved Drew who was constantly on the lookout for her, saying she wasn’t eating enough. As she took the elevator down, she assessed her form; it was long and lean. She was in fighting form still but maybe a little on the skinny side. That was a little disconcerting. She had bouts where she overworked herself but managed to keep on a little bit more weight than she currently had.
With that thought in mind, she picked up several muffins at the coffee shop and a lovely sandwich that looked to be full of vegetables. With those packed up, she caught a cab to the children’s hospital. That was much faster and easier than trying to drive.
Once there, she walked inside to her office and sat down. She brought up her computer records to see what was happening with the kids on the ward while she ate. Not ten minutes later Dr. McIntosh walked in, a big smile on his face.
“I really appreciate you doing this,” he said. “I’ve brought Timmy. He’s the little boy whose case we can’t figure out. We thought he’d been bitten by a snake or something, but there’s no sign of any venom. Yet he’s comatose, and we can’t get him back up again.”
She stared at him, her mouth full of food. She chewed and swallowed before asking him, “What did all the test results show?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Nothing in the blood. Nothing in the urine. We’ve run MRIs, and we did every test imaginable. We can’t come up with anything. He’s like the walking dead.”
Interested in spite of herself, she polished off her sandwich, unwrapped the muffin, snagged her coffee and said, “Show me.”
*
“How interesting. I can connect to Queenie, but she can’t connect to me.” The Watcher chuckled to himself. “This stuff is fascinating. Who knew I could be so strong and so good at something nobody else does?”