The Final Omen: Second Sight Book Four

by Heather Topham Wood

  “What’s wrong?” he asked and motioned her forward.

  She joined him on the couch and set her head against his shoulder. “I had a really confusing vision about my father.”

  She felt his muscles tense beneath the fabric of his black t-shirt. “What did you see?”

  “My dad was talking about being a suspect in my case and that he didn’t want the police to find out about a trust fund.”

  His expression was surprised and she could tell it was the first time he was hearing about a trust fund. “A trust fund? Are you a millionaire and didn’t want to tell me?”

  She shook her head. “Apparently, it’s a secret fund he didn’t want me to know about. He told Carly he plans to tell me once the heat is off him. I think we should tell Detective Thompson about it.”

  “Do you want to call your dad first? Maybe he can explain things better before we get the investigators involved?”

  “I don’t know if I can trust him anymore. Why should I show him any type of courtesy if he’s been lying to me? I’d like to know what he’s been keeping from me before I confront him.”

  Jared nodded and hugged her tightly.

  She felt her lower lip tremble, but refused to let the tears come. She was furious with her father. She’d stuck up for him one too many times, and it disgusted her the way he spoke about Jared. Jared had been there for her completely and yet her father refused to give the man a chance. It made her queasy to think her father may have hidden money from her and was seemingly more concerned with protecting his own hide than finding the person responsible for her stabbing.

  The vision hadn’t convinced her of her dad’s guilt, but it did put questions into her mind that weren’t previously there. Could her dad have harmed her? Why would he keep a secret account and never mention it to her? The scary thing about the vision was it resolved one issue: It gave her father a possible motive.

  Chapter Sixteen

  While nestled in the sunroom, Kate leaned back on the patio chair and set her feet on top of the glass coffee table. The one nice perk about living away from her mom was she wasn’t around to yell about keeping all feet off of the furniture. Kate had set aside a romance novel to call Julie and catch up with her. Kate’s chaotic life had left little time for a normal relationship. Luckily, Julie learned long ago that being friends with Kate came with its own set of complications. She’d spent the last ten minutes being grilled over Julie’s upcoming bachelorette party.

  “Hotel is booked, dinner reservations are made and I’ve confirmed everything with the rest of your girlfriends,” Kate told Julie for the third time during their conversation. It had taken a little finagling on Kate’s part, but she’d set aside a day to strictly work on the bachelorette party. She had other obligations, but Julie’s wedding was a once in a lifetime occasion.

  Kate was looking forward to the night away in Atlantic City with Julie and the rest of the bridal party. Kate had been cooped up for too long, requiring an escort anytime she wanted to leave the house. Jared had turned their new home into a compound with an alarm system and heavy duty locks on all doors. He also planned to take her shooting in case she had to use his gun for protection.

  “I can’t wait! I’m especially excited now that you’ve finally had sex. I won’t feel guilty for corrupting you over the weekend,” Julie teased.

  “I won’t have time to be corrupted. My maid of honor duties will have me busy as it is. I’ll be making sure you steer clear of any behaviors that could get back to Gage and have him call off the wedding.”

  “Ha, his bachelor party is the same weekend,” Julie explained. “You do realize that after it’s over, you’ll have to use your psychic tricks on him and tell me all about it.”

  The visual alone was enough to make Kate cringe. “I like to think I use my powers for good. And spying on Gage’s bachelor party is just plain evil. Also disgusting.”

  “Fine, but I’d do the same for you when it’s time for Jared’s bachelor party,” Julie complained.

  “Some things are better left a mystery.”

  “Well, will you at least give me more details about you and Jared? Are you happy you took my advice and finally opened your shop downstairs for business?”

  Kate giggled. “Yes. I don’t have enough adjectives to explain what it was like, but a few that come to mind are mind-blowing, fantastic and euphoric.”

  “That good, huh? I was a little worried to be honest. The build-up has been so long, I thought it could backfire and I’d have to teach you the art of faking an orgasm.”

  “No need. The rest of my life may be a shit show, but Jared and I are in a good place. It freaks me out how great our relationship is going. Like the hammer of doom will come down any second and smash our happiness into a thousand little pieces.”

  “Always looking on the bright side?”

  “That’s what I want on my tombstone. Kate Edwards: the eternal optimist.”

  “Too soon, Kate. We can’t make death jokes just yet.”

  Kate heard the front door open and swung her head around to peek through the doorway. Jared was returning home from work and, from his withdrawn expression, it hadn’t been a good day. She said to Julie, “Let me call you back. Jared just walked through the door and I want to see if he found out anything about my dad.”

  “I still can’t believe that crap about your dad. I really hope it turns out to be misunderstanding. Your dad was a jerk to your mom, especially the way he left her, but I didn’t think he could be that hateful.”

  Kate’s dad being jerk was an understatement. He cheated on her mom and left her for the woman he had an affair with. Through visions Kate had to witness countless arguments leading up to their divorce. Her dad had blamed the stress of her illness and the media explosion over her role in returning Matt Spencer to his mother.

  “I hope not either. As much as he drives me crazy, he’s still my dad. But I can’t put blinders on and pretend like his behavior isn’t off. Besides my dad, everyone has been super protective of me and concerned about my safety. During my recovery, I could probably count on one hand how many times he came to visit.” As an afterthought, she added, “He refused to see my new place or come to our housewarming party.”

  “Yeah, something’s not right,” Julie agreed. “Let me know if you learn anything else.”

  “I will.”

  Jared entered the sunroom and sat down without a word. He tried to manage a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. There was a grim set to his mouth and she worried over what news he had to share regarding her father. She hurried over and perched on Jared’s lap. She gripped the back of his head and forced him to meet her eyes.

  “I think we could both use that Jack Daniels tonight,” he started.

  “I already know whatever you have to say is bad news, so just tell me,” she urged.

  “It’s not easy for me,” he said and grazed his thumb over her chin. “I hate the idea of telling you anything that will hurt you. You’ve been through enough…”

  She silenced him by pressing her palm over his mouth. “You’re not responsible for any of this. I’m strong enough to handle anything. Like you said I’m a survivor.”

  He nodded reluctantly. “I’ve had to harass Detective Thompson all day, but I finally bullied him into giving me the latest on your dad. I’m still not supposed to be involved in the case, but as long as I promised him I’d stay out of it and not try to question your dad on my own, he agreed to tell me what he knew about the fund.” She didn’t respond, prompting him to continue. “What do you know about your dad’s business?”

  “Not much. He worked for a larger accounting firm in New York and decided to branch out and open his own company. He started the business around the same time he left my mom,” she explained.

  “The money he used to start the business largely came from money willed by your grandparents. Besides the cash from his inheritance, he also took out several small business loans to help fund his company.”
<
br />   “Okay, I’m not exactly sure where the problem is…”

  “Your dad’s business is failing. He’s defaulted on the loans and he’s in serious financial trouble. The problem seems to be that when he worked in New York, he had a much more impressive client base. His current location doesn’t offer him the same luxury,” Jared elaborated.

  “So, my dad is broke. It doesn’t seem to matter since he already told me that I’ll never see a dime from him as long as I stay here with you.”

  “Kate,” he interrupted her gently, “your grandparents set up a trust fund for you.”

  “They did? Why am I only hearing about this now? They died five years ago in a house fire.” Grandma and Grandpa Edwards were absentee grandparents, but Kate was always glad to see them. They tried to make up for lost times by showering her with compliments and gifts. She’d come home after a weekend from their house with an aching tummy from candy overload and a crisp fifty-dollar bill. “They lived three hours away, so I didn’t see them often, but it was still devastating.”

  “That’s the strange thing, Kate. Your father is the executor of the trust fund, but he never told anyone about it; not even your mom.”

  “Are you sure? How much is it for?”

  “Fifty-thousand.”

  Kate blanched. “Are you serious? I have that much money just sitting around waiting for me to spend? And to think all of those days I had to use a plug-in fan in my car because of the air conditioning being broke.”

  “That’s where things get suspicious and begin to reflect poorly on your dad. You receive access to the money when you turn twenty-five.” He began to drum his fingers nervously on her thigh as he said darkly, “But in the case of your death, the money goes to your father’s estate.”

  “Oh god,” Kate moaned, “you just found my dad’s motive.”

  ***

  Kate sat at the kitchen table and picked up the phone for the tenth time. She had yet to gather the courage to dial her dad’s number. She had a million things she wanted to say to him, but she was finding it impossible to take the leap and call him.

  She’d tried to fulfill the role of peacekeeper for too long. When her parents divorced, she blamed herself for the separation. Her dad had been embarrassed by the spectacle surrounding her being ousted as the psychic who located Matt Spencer. It forced her to conceal her gift for years and try not to cause any more waves in the family. It was rare for her to stand up to her dad and tell him how she felt. Even after she found out about his affair with Carly, Kate never confronted him and told him how disappointed she was in him.

  She’d chased Jared out of the kitchen to give her privacy, and he was on the computer in the spare bedroom. He was helping her search for more leads on the woman attacked in the parking garage while she attempted to handle the situation with her father. It had been days since Kate’s vision and no police reports had been filed to report the woman missing.

  “To hell with it,” Kate grumbled and dialed her dad’s cell. He picked up on the second ring.

  “Hi, Katie, I was just thinking about you.”

  She bit down on her lip to hold back a sarcastic retort. Her mom and dad were the only ones who called her Katie and she used to love it. The nickname had come to sound false on his lips. Instead of prolonging the inevitable, she decided to get straight to the point. “Dad, why didn’t you tell me Grandma and Grandpa left me money in their will?”

  Silence was the only reply on the other end.

  “Dad, did you hear me?”

  “Yes, I heard you. How did you find out?”

  Kate guffawed. “That should be the least of your concerns right now. You should be groveling and trying to help me make sense of why I have fifty-thousand dollars and never heard once about it instead.”

  “Katie, I understand how bad it looks…”

  “Yes, it does look bad, Dad. Because, conveniently enough, the money goes to you if something happens to me. Seems incriminating when I was almost killed in December,” she retorted.

  “I swear I’d never hurt you. I had nothing to do with what happened to you and if I ever find out who attacked you, I’ll murder him myself.” His breathing was heavy over the phone line. “I’m your father and I thought not telling you would be in your best interest.”

  She gripped the phone tighter and tried to fight against the impulse to hurl it through the kitchen window. “How would be keeping that much money a secret be in my best interest?”

  “You’re going to take this the wrong way, but you’ve never been driven. This is the second time you’ve dropped out of college…”

  Kate barked out, “Because I was in a coma each time!”

  “I understand that; but you’re not very ambitious. I was worried if I told you about the money before you came of age; you’d use it as a crutch and not finish school. My plan was always to give you what was rightfully yours, down the road, when you turned twenty-five.” His harsh tone softened. “The theories the police are suggesting are dead wrong. I would never attack you because of money, I love you; and, although my methods may seem wrong, I’ve always wanted what was best for you. I’m trying to teach you to be independent and not rely on men for money.”

  Her father was acting as though she was working the streets to earn her way. Declan paid her, but she didn’t sit on her laurels and collect a paycheck. She was constantly tapping into her gift to find out if she could uncover the location of a missing person or who was responsible for the disappearance. “I don’t understand you, Dad, and maybe I never will. I’ve tried my hardest to do something meaningful with my life. I may not end up making a gazillion dollars using my abilities, but I’m helping people.” She sighed. “You’ve never given me the benefit of the doubt, but I’ll do it for you. I’m going to believe you’re telling me the truth and had nothing to do with my attack.”

  “Katie, I’m so grateful to hear you say that—”

  She interrupted him. “I wasn’t finished.” With steel in her voice, she said, “I do need my space though. I’ll call you again when I’m ready to talk.” It may be a while before the urge fled to give her dad a high five in the face. She could hear an argument on the tip of his tongue, but disconnected before he could utter another word.

  She wandered into the office and set her elbows on Jared’s shoulders as he browsed online for information about the missing woman. Leaning down, Kate nestled against the soft recesses of his hair. He was wearing her favorite cologne and she inhaled deeply.

  Jared cleared his throat. “How did it go with your dad?”

  “He didn’t confess to planning an elaborate murder plot, but he wasn’t contrite about keeping the money a secret from me either.”

  “What were his reasons for not telling you?”

  “His normal M.O. Basically, he feels like I lack ambition, and if I’d known about the money, I’d never leave the couch,” she complained.

  “That’s not true,” Jared replied with mock indignation. “I saw you get up at least twice for bathroom breaks during the True Blood marathon you and Julie had the other day.”

  She lifted her head and playfully patted the side of his head. “Hey, I thought you were on my side.”

  His tone turned serious. “Of course I think your dad is full of it, Kate. You dedicate your life to finding people. How many times have you sacrificed something for yourself because you’re concerned about someone who’s been abducted?” Spinning around in the office chair, he faced her. “He’s your dad and I don’t get where he’s coming from. But maybe in his own warped way, he’s trying to be the best dad he knows how. I’m sure he has a lot of guilt over what happened with your mom and he’s trying to make up for it.”

  She made a noncommittal noise. “We’ll see. Despite him being an ass, I can’t wrap my head around the idea he’d kill me for the inheritance money. He never even spanked me as a child; and with my mouth, I probably deserved it.”

  “He’s going to be considered a suspect, so we’ll just h
ave to wait it out and see if anything else can tie him to the night of your attack.”

  She pointed to the computer screen. “Any luck on my mystery woman?”

  He shook his head. “If a woman is abducted from a parking garage, it would be newsworthy. I can’t figure out why we can’t get a lead on her.”

  She gazed heavenward and questioned, “Where are you? And who are you?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  The woman awoke on the damp basement floor. Her pale pink heels were on the floor next to her, but she wore the same outfit she had on at the time of her abduction. Her skirt and blouse were stained with whatever filthy residue could be found on the cement floor. She blinked several times, seemingly to dispel what she’d hoped weren’t her actual surroundings. A single light bulb was the only illumination provided in the shadowy basement. As she lifted up onto her elbow, she gasped aloud.

  She was locked in a cage; trapped like an animal. The basement was split in two with a heavy-duty wire partition separating the room. Walking over to the gate, she ran her hand down the bars. The gate appeared to be manufactured from woven wire and melded to a steel frame. She sidestepped to the door of the partition and attempted to open it. When it didn’t budge, she began to shake it violently. The lock wouldn’t give.

  Beyond the bars, she could see her freedom. A staircase across the room led up to a closed wooden door with light from the upper floor illuminating the frame. Her unruliness must have alerted her captor because, seconds later, the door opened and a pair of boots appeared in her sightline.

  A cry escaped from the woman’s rosebud lips and she backed away from the gate to the farthest wall. The figure said nothing as he descended the stairs. He stopped at the bottom of the steps and stood motionless, watching her for a long moment. His outline could be seen, but his body was hidden by the shadows.

  “Please…please don’t hurt me,” she cried. Her instinct to scream was evidently pushed aside—she placed her fist in her mouth and stifled a sob. His feet shuffled closer and she could see him completely once he came fully into the light.