by Yvonne Heidt
She needed to be safe.
There was nothing safe about Kat. She made Tiffany feel things that were better left buried, or better yet, dealt with in the middle of the night when she was alone. Even if she left the sexual attraction she felt out of the equation, thinking about Kat also made Tiffany feel sad, and that didn’t make any sense at all.
She was drained from the cold case session and didn’t have enough energy left in reserve to analyze her emotions right now.
Tiffany looked at the clock, deciding she had plenty of time for a long bath and a nap before she had to work that night. It had been a while since she had the luxury of bathing without interruption. As in love with her daughter as she was, occasionally, she needed some solitude and a rare moment for herself.
Tiffany grabbed her robe on the way into her bathroom. She let the tub fill while sprinkling sea salt under the hot stream. Because she was low on energy, she added a few drops of real carnation oil. Aura had gifted her with a bottle, telling her it was known to aid in healing and restore energy imbalances after performing a reading. She thought about adding some cinnamon to help her focus on her confusion about Kat and the way she felt when she kissed her, but decided not to when she remembered that it was a female aphrodisiac. Tiffany didn’t need help with her libido right now. Instead, she added some hyacinth for peace of mind and relaxation.
The scent filled the bathroom. Tiffany closed her eyes and inhaled, drawing the aroma into her nose and lungs. When Kat appeared in her mind, beckoning her forward, Tiffany nearly fell into the water. She opened her eyes. Of course she was remembering Kat; she’d just been with her. And kissed her.
Great, now she was on edge again. She quickly dropped her clothes before sliding into the welcoming water. The very best thing she’d ever bought for herself was the giant soaking tub when she’d done a modest remodel in her master bathroom a few years ago. In her line of work, which could be draining and downright dangerous sometimes, it was almost a necessity to own one. It gave her some peace of mind anyway.
Tiffany let her back slide down the porcelain until she was completely submerged, cradled by the healing waters. She went limp and floated, letting her mind empty, seeking that place between thoughts, the spot where peace and love reigned. That space where her soul could just be, with no judgments, no reproach, and no expectations to crowd her consciousness.
There was a small part of her, in the back of her mind, that remained lucid, and watched while she began meditating.
She saw herself in the outer edge of a pool at the base of a waterfall, lazily floating in calm water, and looking into the blue sky. She was aware of the birds chirping, the warmth of the sun on her face. She felt happy and relaxed.
From her peripheral vision, she saw an intruder perched on the rocks, and she turned to look closer. No, there shouldn’t be anyone here; this was her sanctuary, her place. The stranger took a dive, and the large splash filled her with anxiety. She began to backstroke, to retreat. But in her fear, she headed toward the waterfall instead of the safety of the bank. The pressure of the stream beat her under, rolling her, until she lost her sense of direction, and she began to panic.
A strong hand grabbed her ankle. As Tiffany screamed, water poured into her mouth, burning her airway and filling her lungs. The hand moved from her ankle, and an arm came around her neck.
She tried to scream again, and the effort snapped her back to the present. She inhaled deeply, but the feeling of drowning stayed with her. Had she slipped under the water while she was in her meditative state? She could still feel the iron grip of a hand on her ankle, so she lifted it out of the water to inspect it. Fingerprints.
As a paranormal investigator, she’d seen a lot of unusual things, but never this. She had never experienced this before. Tiffany dried off while she headed to her room. Murder by drowning. She didn’t want to consider the implications, or attempt to guess what the dream might mean. She still had the Wilson investigation to do tonight and she could talk with Sunny about it during that time.
Sleep. She needed a nap. Everything looked better after some rest. It was an indulgence she usually didn’t have time for, either financially, or when Angel was home. She was still on the fence about how she felt about her new salary. She was extremely grateful for the increase in her finances, but somehow, it still felt like a handout. Tiffany had worked hard to make sure she never needed to depend on anyone else again.
She knew better than most how someone you loved and trusted could turn on you. Even as the thought came, she knew it to be ridiculous. This was Sunny; betrayal would never come from her direction.
But there was still that belittling voice in her head, playing old tapes from her past, telling her she was a burden, and not worthy of anything good. Tiffany put the pillow over her head.
Shut up!
What was up with the emotional backsliding? These were things she hadn’t told herself in a very long time. She had, in fact, worked with a therapist before Angel was born to banish these kinds of thoughts. Tiffany turned over in the bed and doubled her effort to enter a meditative state again, but it took a long while for her to fall asleep.
*
Jordan was waiting for Kat outside Haven’s front door. She hopped into the passenger side. “Thanks, I walked over this morning. Go straight down until you hit the light and then turn left.”
Kat pulled into the traffic smoothly. “I saw your fancy gym downstairs today. Do you even use it?”
“Sometimes, but I still prefer walking to work. It’s not that far.” Jordan looked at Kat and grinned. “So you met our Mazie.”
“Pretty much. I still can’t believe you hang out with ghosts now.”
“Right?” Jordan jabbed Kat’s shoulder. “That’s what I’m saying. It’s pretty much impossible not to when you live with a psychic medium.”
Kat noted Jordan’s laid-back attitude and warmed. It was so nice to see her happy. Jordan had lived on the dark side for so long, Kat hadn’t held out much hope she’d ever see her relaxed. “How did the interviews go?”
“Pretty well. I have several applications to go through. I’ll pick out the promising ones and then make calls to check references.” Jordan laughed. “I had to remind myself to pull back on the first interview. It started out as an interrogation. I think I scared the poor woman.”
Kat was amused. “Once a cop, always a cop. It’s the same thing with me. I’m on vacation but can’t turn off the reporter in me.”
The applicant I felt best about was pretty young and not very experienced. Still, there was something about her that I felt would fit into our little circle.”
“Do you think you’re becoming psychic by osmosis?”
Jordan laughed. “Maybe. Turn right at the next corner. The restaurant is halfway down the block.”
After Kat parked and they went in, the hostess led them to a table by the window.
“We missed the lunch crowd,” Jordan said. “Or we’d have never been able to sit here.” She motioned to the waitress. “Just bring us two specials.”
“You’re ordering for me? I didn’t even read the menu yet.”
“Trust me,” Jordan said. “I eat here a lot. You’ll love it.”
“What is it?”
“Patty melt, potato salad, and fat fries.”
“Isn’t Sunny a vegetarian? I thought she would turn you into one.”
Jordan grinned at her. “That’s why I eat here several times a week. And don’t let her fool you. That woman can put away a steak faster than I can when she has a craving for one.”
“I’m fine with the special,” Kat said.
“Okay. Now tell me why Tiffany left early.”
“She said she was tired; the session wore her out.” Kat wasn’t lying exactly. She was omitting. As much as she trusted Jordan, she felt her first conversation about her dreams should be with Tiffany. She was the one who had the starring role in them.
“That sounds about right. The readings seem to a
ffect her most out of the three of them.”
That peaked Kat’s curiosity. “Do you know why that is?”
“You know, I’ve never really asked. It’s been that way since I’ve known them. Shade and Sunny pretty much close ranks around her. They’re very protective. I kind of just fell into doing it as well.”
“Is she that fragile?”
Jordan shook her head. “I don’t think so. From what I know of her past, she’s had a rough time of it.”
“Care to elaborate?” Kat hoped her tone was conversational.
Jordan stared at Kat. “You’re fishing for details. Ooh, and your face is turning red.”
Damn it. Kat should have known Jordan would pick up on her curiosity and get to the point. There was a time when they were younger that Kat could have had Jordan singing like a bird for crackers. Apparently, their roles had reversed.
“I’m going to take your silence for assent,” Jordan said. “You’re walking on shifty ground there, my friend. As I told you, Sunny and Shade would just as soon bury you than have you mess with Tiffany.” Jordan’s expression tightened. “And as much as I love you, I’d have to help them.”
The remark stung a little, but why wouldn’t it? Tiffany was Sunny’s best friend. Not only did Kat not have a great track record, she didn’t have any record at all. Since she’d met Jordan several years ago, Kat had never had any kind of permanent relationship. The last thing she wanted to do right now was try to convince Jordan that Tiffany was a reincarnated version of her past life lover. She hadn’t sorted it all out for herself yet. “We’re working together, that’s all.” Kat was saved from having to elaborate when their food arrived. Before they began eating, she pulled out the file from her briefcase, effectively changing the subject to something safer.
For her.
Chapter Five
“Tell me exactly what happened,” Sunny said.
Tiffany relayed the details of the dream while she raised the leg of her jeans to show the red marks. “It doesn’t hurt anymore, but it was scary at the time.”
Sunny’s touch warmed her skin and Tiffany felt her uneasiness settle as the bruise faded.
“After you got out of the bath, did you sense anything in the house?”
Tiffany shook her head. “Not spirit, but the house felt off somehow. It’s hard to explain. It’s like there was an empty space, an echo of something that used to be there, but isn’t now. I’ve never felt anything like it before, even with the kind of readings I do.”
Sunny looked thoughtful. “Missing energy maybe?”
“Kind of, but more somehow.”
“Oh, that explains it. Not.”
Tiffany laughed. “Should I be worried?”
“I don’t know the answer to that question. I’m not getting any indication of malicious intent, and I don’t sense the presence of other around you. The only thing that I can tell you is that it doesn’t feel like an attack to me. What was going on before all of this happened?”
“She kissed me.”
Sunny blinked slowly. “Come again?”
“Kat. She kissed me, in your backyard, after the reading.”
“And how did you feel about that?” Sunny asked.
“I was frozen, then I ran.
Sunny’s expression tightened. “No wonder she and Jordan weren’t here when I got home. She took advantage of you.” She stood up. “I’m going to call her right now.”
“No. Stop it. She didn’t force herself on me. It’s all your fault anyway.”
“My fault?” Sunny looked stunned when she turned to look back at her. “How am I responsible?”
“Because this morning, you were all, ‘isn’t she a fine sexy drink of water’ or something like that. Which got me thinking, yes, yes she is. So when she got here, I couldn’t help but think about it. Kat smelled so good, I couldn’t notice anything else but how gorgeous she was. Next, she dropped her keys.”
“Your thought process astounds me.” Sunny shook her head.
“I’m not finished. When she bent over to get them from under the table, I wanted to bite her ass. Where the hell did that come from?”
Sunny’s eyes widened. “You weren’t peeking again, were you?”
Tiffany laughed nervously. “No, and I should have never told you that. Forget I said anything.”
“So did you?” Sunny asked.
“Did I what?”
“Bite her ass?”
Tiffany rolled her eyes. “No. Kiss, run. Keep up with me here.”
“I’m trying, Tiff, truly I am. Let me get this straight. You’re attracted to Kat, you wanted to bite her, she kissed you, but you ran?”
Tiffany was about to tell her about the strange mist, but Shade walked into the room. “What’s up?”
Sunny motioned her to a chair. “Our Tiffany was just about to tell me she bit Kat’s ass.”
“What?” Shade asked. “What the hell did you just say?”
“I did not―repeat, not―bite her ass. I said I wanted to.” Tiffany jumped to her feet. She should have kept quiet. Once again her mouth had moved faster than what was left of her remaining good sense.
“Okay, I’m completely lost,” Shade said. “Let me buy a fucking vowel.”
Sunny raised her eyebrow. “It won’t help you, not one little bit.”
“Geez, you guys. Can we just drop it now?” Tiffany said. “Oh, look at the time; we have to go, or we’ll be late.”
As she left the room, she heard Shade ask Sunny, “What’s she on?”
Tiffany had just climbed into the passenger seat of Shade’s van when her phone rang. The screen showed an unknown caller but she answered it.
“Hello?”
The sound of heavy breathing created a ball of nausea in her stomach. “Who is this?”
She disconnected the call when a high-pitched whistle nearly deafened her. She hated that her instant reaction had been one of fear. It took effort to convince herself it had only been a stupid crank caller, but she managed to. If she had to over think something as simple as a supposed prank, she needed to go back to counseling. Tiffany had thought the days of jumping at shadows and perceived threats were over.
Shade jumped into the driver’s seat. “Port Orchard, here we come.”
They hadn’t gone a block yet when Shade looked at her. “You want to tell me what I was late for back there?
“I said I’m not talking about it.”
Shade shrugged. “Okay, fine. But if you ever want to bite my ass, you better warn me.”
“Seriously? Shut up.” Tiffany looked out the window. “Turn on the radio, please.”
Shade pushed a button and Katy Perry’s song came out of the dashboard.
Tiffany gasped. “Are you flipping kidding me?” She reached over to shut it off, but Shade loudly sang the chorus while blocking Tiffany’s slaps with her right hand.
“I’m trying to drive here.” Shade laughed and finally turned it off.
“Oh, come on,” Shade said, “That was funny, right?”
It really was, Tiffany thought. But she wasn’t going to let her know it.
“Seriously, what happened with Kat today?”
Tiffany was careful to keep her shields in place because she could feel Shade’s probing. “I wish you wouldn’t try that,” she said. “You’re intruding in my private thoughts.”
“Wow, that’s calling the kettle black. I could say the same to you, Tiff.”
“You knew?” Tiffany was both shocked and ashamed.
“I had an inkling.”
“I’m sorry. If it means anything, it was mostly accidental. I was so connected with both you and Sunny, I couldn’t help it. Please don’t be mad at me.”
“We set the world on fire back then, didn’t we?” Shade looked sad, as if she were briefly lost in the past.
Tiffany was so damn sorry she’d upset her. Shade’s tough exterior slipped for a moment, and Tiffany could see the heartbreak that still lived and breathed in her spirit.
Shade closed her eyes. When she opened them, she put on her trademark smirk, the one that had scores of women falling to their knees in supplication. “Well then, we’re going to have to set you up with an entirely new skill set.”
Tiffany blew out a breath, relieved she appeared to be forgiven. “Deal. Learn from the best?”
“Fucking right. Let’s go to work.”
“Okay,” Tiffany said. “But I really am sorry.”
“We’re not done with this conversation about Kat.”
Tiffany got out of the van and looked at the restored historical house. It seemed innocent enough with its white wood exterior and blue shutters. But she knew better than most how deceptive outside appearances could be. Beauty could hide dark and twisted things. Sleek renovations could put lipstick on something hideous.
“Hey!” Shade said. “A little help here?”
“What? Oh, yes. Of course.” Tiffany walked to the back of the van to help unload the equipment.
Sunny and Jordan arrived in time to grab the rest of the cases. It wasn’t until Tiffany walked up onto the porch that her stomach began to churn.
There were secrets in the walls.
*
Tiffany finished setting up the night vision cameras around the interior of the house, making sure they had a good view of each room before she returned to the living room. “I’m finished. What do we have on paper?”
Jordan plugged in the last monitor and then handed the clipboard to Sunny, who began reading her notes. “Here we go,” she said. “Mr. and Mrs. Wilson bought the house less than six months ago. He said the activity started the night they moved in. They began experiencing general uneasiness and a heaviness in the air. Then they began hearing a woman cry a few times a week. Mrs. Wilson started documenting when they heard it, and it was always within the eleven to twelve o’clock hour.
“Those are all classic signs of a residual haunting,” Tiffany said. “The Wilsons didn’t need an investigation for that. There isn’t any surefire way to stop those. I mean, we can put quartz crystals around to purify and lower the frequency, but it either fades away over time, or it doesn’t.”