So far, she hadn’t shared with anyone that Thea’s friend was a psychic, and explaining that to Vince now didn’t feel right. She didn’t trust him. A little, maybe…the brothers and sisters in blue and all that. Trust at the heart and soul level was something altogether different, and well, it wasn’t in her heart or her soul yet. Not even close.
After mulling over her options, she decided to go at it a bit sideways. A little truth, a little omission—not exactly a lie. “I have a witness who saw a dark-colored crew-cab pickup leave the area around the time we believe Alida was taken.”
He stiffened. “Taken? When did we nail that down? Have you ruled out that Ms. Canwell didn’t just walk away?”
She wanted to snap at him and caught herself. Whether she agreed with it or not, his question wasn’t actually out of line. Hard evidence didn’t exist. “No, I have nothing definitive saying she didn’t take off. On the other hand, we haven’t exactly ruled out abduction either, and given this witness, I’m leaning hard toward that.”
“Leaning toward what?”
Great, just flipping great. It was bad enough she was forced to explain her every move to Vince. Now Chad was jumping in too. She flicked her gaze up to where he stood in the doorway. The guy was like a goddamn ghost. She never heard him coming. Usually it didn’t bother her. Lately everything the guys did—Vince, Chad, Brandon—rubbed her the wrong way.
Vince answered for her. “Carlisle here doesn’t want to consider the possibility Alida Canwell just ran out on her life.”
“Could have happened,” Chad said and raised an eyebrow. “Wouldn’t be the first time an unhappy wife hit the road.”
“Of course it could have happened,” she snapped. For God’s sake, how stupid did they think she was? Was it so hard for them to believe she could actually think through the various possible scenarios all by herself? Apparently, if she was to judge by this conversation.
Chad tapped his fingers on the doorframe, his eyes narrow as they studied her face. Her vocalized irritation seemed to flow right past him without ever touching down. “You don’t think so.”
“No, I don’t.” She gave Vince a pointed look. At least Chad was considering her theory.
Vince nodded slowly, his eyes on her face. “Okay, Carlisle, so if you don’t really believe that’s a possibility, what’s your gut telling you?” He was finally waving the white flag.
She looked first at Chad and then turned to meet Vince’s eyes. “She was taken…against her will.”
*
Lorna lagged behind Thea once they returned to the house. Thea pulled into the garage and was out the side door heading toward the house before she even got her car door open. Earlier she was filled with vigor and momentum. Now, she was wiped out. The interlude at the truck had just plain kicked her ass. Beyond zapping her energy, it also weighed heavily on her heart. What she saw in those minutes of clarity didn’t leave her feeling good at all. It was hard to gather the energy to stand up and head inside.
Thea’s scream got her moving and she was out and running in a flash. Racing out the door and toward the back deck of the house, she was up the first of five steps before she halted as if she’d just literally run into a brick wall. What the…
Sitting around the patio table were Renee, Jeremy, and Merry. Thea was standing at the top of the steps, a big smile spread across her face. “Sorry,” she said as Lorna finished climbing the steps at a slow and easy pace. “They scared me. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone sitting out on the deck, let alone this particular crew.”
Renee pushed up from her seat and came to Lorna. She wrapped her arms tightly around her and kissed her quickly on the lips. She tasted like sunshine and honey. “Missed you, gorgeous.” Apparently, so did Clancy, who appeared from around the corner of the house to hit her side with a spirited leap. Her first thought was “that’s gonna leave a mark,” and her second was simple joy at the touch of the big dog.
Of their own accord, Lorna’s arms went around Renee and her heart all but sang. The idea was so corny it almost made her laugh. Singing hearts were in the movies; they weren’t for tough-as-nails women like her. Still…“I missed you too,” she whispered into her ear. Then she reached down to rub Clancy’s ears. “Missed you too, handsome.”
Renee stepped out of the embrace and took her hand. “Come on, you two. Sit down and have a glass of wine. We all need to catch up.”
It was only then that Lorna noticed the bottle of wine. She cocked her head and studied the bottle, the glasses, and the people around the table. “How did you get in the house?”
“We didn’t,” Jeremy said, holding up a plastic glass. “Dollar store, sister.”
That made her laugh, and some of the dread that had nagged at her since the truck experience eased away. He was indeed holding a cheap plastic wineglass that would break in an instant if it was held too tight. She should have guessed as much. Her brother was creative and inventive. With a grimace she said, “I hope the wine didn’t come from the dollar store, too.”
Jeremy gave her his patented grin and squared his shoulders. “No chance. We stole that from your wine cellar and brought it with us.”
She should have guessed that as well. If there were a wine cellar in his house, she’d steal his wine too. It’s simply what one does to one’s little brother and vice versa. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
“Didn’t you see Jeremy’s car out by the curb?” Merry asked.
The question about the car bounced right off her as she looked at the glass Merry held in her hand. This wasn’t good and she didn’t intend to be quiet about it. “Merry?” The snap in her voice was like a schoolteacher chastising a bad student.
Merry’s gaze followed hers to the glass and she laughed with cheerful gusto. “Oh, Lorna, you’re sweet to be concerned about me…or us, I should say. It’s apple juice and I do appreciate the worry. You’ve always got my back, and since I don’t have a sister, it’s awesome to have you.”
Relief was sweet. Apple juice, not wine. Considering Merry was pregnant with Lorna’s first niece or nephew the idea she was drinking a glass of wine made her stomach roll. In all fairness to Merry, Lorna never should have doubted her. Her sister-in-law-to-be was smart, capable and full of common sense. She would never put her unborn child at risk.
“I’ll take the wine,” she said then and sank into the chair next to Renee. Clancy plopped down at her feet, his head on her knees. Dark, soulful eyes looked up at her as if to say, “Pet me.” So, of course, she did. She rubbed his head, loving the silky feel of his fur against her fingertips. The simple touch sent tension flowing out of her body like a tidal wave.
“Make it two,” Thea said as she also took a seat. Unlike Lorna, though, her body continued to radiate fatigue.
A plastic glass of wine in one hand, holding Renee’s hand with the other, she asked what was sure to be an obvious question. “What the hell are you three doing here?”
Jeremy raised an eyebrow and looked at Thea. “She doesn’t sound pleased to see us. You’re pleased to see us, aren’t you?”
Thea pointed her glass of wine at Jeremy. “I’m delighted to see you. I’d be happy to see you any day of the week, but even more right now. At this point I can use all the positive energy I can get.”
“See.” Jeremy looked pointedly at Lorna, a bit of a smile on his lips. “Somebody appreciates us.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You didn’t answer my question.”
Renee squeezed her hand. Softly she said to both Lorna and Thea, “We’re here to help.”
“Help how?” She didn’t mean to sound so churlish; it just came out that way. In her defense, it wasn’t like any of them were psychic, and given what she saw earlier, she wondered if anybody could help. Besides the medical examiner, that is.
Renee didn’t sound as though she took offense at Lorna’s snarky question, another one of the things she loved about her. “Think about what transpired with Tiana and Catheri
ne. True, you were able to see them and Tiana was able to bodily connect with you, but we were together when it all came to a resolution. You said you felt as though you were treading water. So, we figured for it to work here, perhaps you need us. Needed our life force to fully open the veil between this world and wherever it is you go.”
She intended to say no but then gave herself a moment to think about it. Maybe it wasn’t a bad idea. Back at the house when it all started to happen, she’d been alone at first. Yet when it all opened up and the truth was finally revealed, it was when they were all at the house together. Besides, what could it hurt? Having Renee next to her, sleeping with her, and touching her could only give her more strength, and before this was all said and done she’d probably be able to use every last ounce of power she could get.
Her gaze traveled to Jeremy as he leaned back comfortably in the deck chair, his wineglass in one hand and his other resting on Merry’s shoulder. The love flowing between the two was impossible to miss. It made her happy to see him so content. His professional life might be in flux at the moment but his heart was not, and the heart was by far more important than anything else. The rest were just details.
As she studied him now, she thought back on how it went down not so long ago. He’d played an important part in revealing the secrets hidden in the estate on the ocean shores—a scary but critical one. Having an evil spirit come for him was harrowing but also incredibly important in bringing Tiana and Catherine together. Whatever Jeremy possessed might help them here too. Why she hadn’t thought of it earlier made her wonder, except that true to form she figured she could do it all by herself. Some day she might actually grow up enough to admit she needed others like Jeremy and Merry…like Renee. Knowing her, it wouldn’t be anytime soon.
In this instance, it was way past time to find Alida and bring her home, so if the three most important people in her life wanted to help, she’d take it. She looked at each of them before nodding. “Okay.” Then she turned to Thea. “We can stay at a hotel.” She refused to inflict a cast of four and a dog on a woman already under more stress than one person should have to endure.
Thea protested. “There’s plenty of room here.”
She was right, but this was taking a toll on Thea, who’d always needed space to recharge. Quiet space, which meant she didn’t need the lot of them invading her home.
“I know, and I think I speak for all of us when I say we appreciate your offer. Just the same, there’s a lovely Marriott just down the road, and I’m pretty sure a couple rooms there have our names on them.”
“Just one room,” Jeremy told them with a small grin. “Merry and I plan to crash at her brother’s house. Merry and his wife want to talk weddings and babies and all kinds of cool shit. I can hardly wait.”
Merry smacked him in the arm. “You mean really important things.”
“Yeah, right, that’s what I meant.”
“Okay then, it’s settled. Renee, Clancy, and I are headed to the Marriott, Jeremy and Merry to her brother’s. You,” Lorna pointed to Thea, “are going to get some uninterrupted rest.”
“Ah, Renee,” Merry said with a hint of hesitation in her voice. “Would it be okay if Clancy came with us?”
Renee looked at Merry in surprise. “You want to take Clancy?”
Merry’s grin was wide and bright. “I do. I’ve told my brother all about him, and he adores German shepherds. If Clancy could come for the night the whole family would be pleased.”
Renee looked at Lorna and shrugged. “Okay with you?”
She wanted to say no because since she’d left home she was missing Clancy more than she would have believed possible. On the other hand, it also meant the entire night would be theirs, uninterrupted by the need to take Clancy out for a stroll through the pet area. “Sure. Even a dog needs a sleepover now and again.”
Merry was still grinning. “That’s awesome. My brother’s family is going to be so excited, and don’t be surprised if they try to keep him.”
“Well.” Renee hedged. “In that case…”
“No worries. I’ll bring him home.”
“All right then.” Renee rubbed him between the ears and stared into his big dark eyes. “You be a good boy.” Clancy wagged his tail and bounded after Jeremy and Merry as they headed toward the car. She looked over at Lorna and raised an eyebrow. “I guess we don’t have to worry about whether he’s going to miss us.”
Her thoughts exactly. Lorna and Renee helped tidy up the now-empty glasses by throwing the dollar-store chic into the trash and putting the empty wine bottle in the recycle bin. Lorna might have felt bad about leaving Thea alone except for the deep lines of exhaustion that shadowed her face. She wished for a good night’s sleep for her friend but had a feeling that wasn’t likely to happen. Not after what she’d told her back at Katie’s office.
Chapter Nineteen
After Lorna and Renee were on their way to the hotel and she was all alone, Thea found the stillness in her house both disquieting and comforting. Having Lorna here was good for her soul. Having her house to herself again was also good for her soul.
When she’d made her call she so hoped Lorna would come here and use her newly developed power to lead them directly to Alida. She envisioned finding her sister tired and hungry but alive and well, with a wild story to tell them all. Slowly, her hopes for a happy reunion were beginning to fade. She was a bright woman who did well for herself. The agency she’d started from the ground up had grown into something magical and far more successful than she’d ever imagined. So much so she had employees capable of handling the business while she stepped out to attend to this emergency. In many ways it was humbling.
She might not be as outgoing as her sister, yet she’d managed to put together a thriving business in an industry that liked to crush all but the strongest. From inside herself she’d discovered courage and it took her to new heights. Tonight, however, she felt anything but strong. Reality had always been her strong point and her comfort zone. Alida loved to see the bright side of everything. Thea always accused her of wearing the proverbial rose-colored glasses.
But then Alida went missing, and on that day Thea grabbed those rose-colored glasses and held on to them as tight as she could. If she just believed in something hard enough it was bound to come true. Now, though, her grip was beginning to fail and her true nature was rolling in like the tide. God, how she hated reality. It might have helped her become a success in her field, but it was horrible when it came to the kind of tragedy spread out in front of her now. She wanted to slam those glasses on her face and see roses. Lots and lots of roses.
In the kitchen she seriously considered opening another bottle of wine. After all, she’d only indulged in one small glass of the nice pinot Jeremy brought from Lorna’s wine cellar. What was in her kitchen was nowhere near as nice, but it boasted a high alcohol content, and at the moment that counted for a lot. In fact, it was the only thing that counted. She grabbed the nifty corkscrew that made opening wine bottles a breeze and popped the cork.
She’d just taken the newly poured glass of wine into the living room when the doorbell rang. So much for a nice, quiet night of getting drunk and passing out—even that plan was a bust. She set the glass and bottle on the low table in front of the sofa and went to the door. On the way there she glanced out the window, surprised to see Katie’s car in the driveway.
One part of her was happy to see who it was. She couldn’t help it. She liked her, which became clearer each time they were together. Another part of her dreaded why Katie was here. The fear she would bring more bad news was a truth she couldn’t avoid.
She swung the door open and leaned against it. “Hey,” she said. “What brings you out so late?”
Katie’s hands were in her pockets and her face was serious. “On my way home and thought I’d bring you up to date.”
Every part of her screamed no, shut the door, don’t listen. She stepped back and waved her in. If she hid behind the door
, bad news would still be waiting for her on the other side no matter how long she tried to hide from it. At least this way, she would have some time with Katie, and that was worth something. “You on duty or off?”
“Officially, I’m off.”
Thea held the door open wide. “Good. Then you can help me polish off the bottle of wine I just opened.” Passing out might not be out of the question after all.
Katie grinned. “All right. Anything I can do to help.”
Thea patted her on the shoulder as she walked through the open door. “That’s the spirit.” Not so long ago she would have said time alone was worth its weight in gold. Now, company—Katie’s company—was just as golden.
Five minutes after the ring of the doorbell had interrupted her plan of solitary drinking they were sitting on opposite ends of the sofa, each holding a glass of wine. “So, catch me up,” Thea said. She was under no illusion that Katie’s appearance here was just because Thea was such wonderful company.
Katie took a sip of the wine and grimaced. Thea wasn’t sure if it was because her question made her uncomfortable or she didn’t care for the wine. She was hoping for the latter. “I’d like to tell you it’s good news, but it’s not.”
Thea’s heart ached, yet she wasn’t surprised. She nodded. “Go on. Tell me. Might as well get it over with. Today appears to be the day of bad news and worse news.”
Katie didn’t contradict her. “You recall I told you we found some cases of missing women in other counties?”
When Thea nodded again, Katie continued. “Well, we widened our search parameters even more to see if we might come across any other cases of missing women that match the MO in Alida’s.”
“You found more?” That possibility made her sick to her stomach.
This time Katie nodded, her eyes on the wineglass. “We found a disturbing pattern that for some reason slipped by all of us. More than likely we missed it because it was spread over not just different counties but four states as well.”
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