by Sandra Ross
“I’m just saying that I haven’t made up my mind about her yet. That’s all,” Hunter said with a grin on his face.
“Whatever,” Eve retorted.
“Hey, is that Chad pulling up now?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Eve replied.
They waited until he got out of the car in order to make sure it was Chad before they exited their car.
“Hunter!” Chad extended his hand and Hunter took it. “Glad to see you join us this morning!”
“You seem so surprised, Chad,” Hunter said.
“No, not at all,” Chad tried to backpedal a little. “I knew you would be here. Hey, Evie.”
Giving her a hug, he whispered in her ear, “I told you.”
She smiled and rubbed her hand across his back.
“So, did Eve catch you up on everything?”
“Yeah, she told me about the dreams.”
“Dreams? As in more than one?” Chad asked.
“I haven’t had a chance to tell you about the one from last night,” Eve said.
For the next few minutes, Eve told Chad about her latest dream of Sara coming to her and talking about a secret admirer and another victim having been chosen. They talked about the part where Sara said the next victim had already received her first gift and that Eve should look into her past. Chad wanted to keep talking about the dreams, but Eve had to get inside of Sara’s house.
“Look, Chad, I’ll be happy to talk about this later but, right now, I really need to go into the house. I feel that something important is going to turn up once we get in there.”
“Oh, okay, sure, Evie,” Chad said. “We’ll go in and see what you can pick up. I’ve got the key.”
Chad went ahead of them and unlocked the door. He held the door back so they could enter.
The first thing Eve noticed was that the house was very neatly kept and clean. Sara had always been kind of a clean freak. In fact, she would probably be horrified if she could see the mess left by her unexpected death dance. Apparently, the police had left things just as they found them except for evidence that the forensics team had left behind. Eve walked through the open concept family room and kitchen slowly. Then she pointed.
“That’s where she was found,” she said.
“That’s right,” Chad concurred.
She put her hand down on the bar and was instantly transported to the past. Looking down, she knew immediately that she was seeing through Sara’s eyes. A pair of hands was setting a package wrapped in black paper and a silver ribbon. Sara didn’t like this package. Her feeling of unease was very clear to Eve in the vision. The package was left on the bar while Sara went to the refrigerator and poured a glass of wine.
Returning to the bar, Sara sipped her wine while she anxiously studied the package. Finally, she set the glass down and slowly unwrapped the package, being careful to untie the ribbon so that it didn’t rip. Eve felt herself being drawn into Sara’s actions. It was if she was part Sara and part Eve.
The box was finally free of the wrapping paper and still Sara studied it. As if suddenly making up her mind, she slipped a fingernail under the tape that held the lid down on the box. Then she lifted the lid.
There was black tissue paper inside the box; quite a lot of it. Eve wanted to keep Sara from putting her hand into that tissue paper, but she understood that it wasn’t going to happen. All she could do was try to distance herself from the rest of this.
Even though she knew what was going to happen next, Eve couldn’t stop herself from reacting violently when the pain hit. Trying to keep from losing herself in the vision, Eve attempted to look at it as if it were a movie. Reminding herself that it was Sara experiencing this horrific event, Eve was able to apply a sort of mental Novocain to what she was feeling from Sara. Already, she noticed that her head wasn’t hurting the way it normally did during these visions.
Sadly, she watched as Sara fought to get the spider off of her. The venom took hold rather quickly, and Eve felt the gripping pain and nausea that Sara had experienced. Yet, once more, she was able to control the effect it was having on her. Eve wished so much that she could extend some aid to Sara, but all she could do was watch as Sara started to realize that no one could help in time.
Then, as Sara half sat, half lay propped against the wall, her head lolled in the direction of the sliding glass doors. She seemed to be watching something and, suddenly, her eyes grew wide in shock.
She’s seeing her killer, Eve thought in astonishment. Why can’t I see the killer, too?
She watched Sara’s mouth form the word “why.” Then, Sara’s face froze in a permanent death gaze.
The vision faded along with Sara’s consciousness.
Eve came back to the present to find Hunter’s arms wrapped firmly around her, apparently ready to catch her if she fell. She couldn’t blame him. After all, the visions that he had been on hand for always ended in her passing out cold. This time, however, was different. She reached over and squeezed one of his hands that was securely placed on her arm and managed a weak smile.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Believe it or not, I don’t think I’m going to pass out this time. And my head only hurts a little.”
“Are you sure?” Hunter asked.
“Pretty sure, yeah,” she replied.
“What did you see, Evie?” Chad asked her.
“It was pretty awful and it was more of a repeat of what I saw the last time. But I do know something for sure. Sara knew her killer.”
“What do you mean?” both men asked her almost simultaneously.
“She knew the killer. And not only that, but the killer was here, at least during the last few minutes of Sara’s life. Before you ask, no, I wasn’t able to see who it was. I’m not sure why that happened, but it was kind of like watching a movie this time, even though I could still feel all of Sara’s fear and pain. It’s kind of like I had more control of things this time around.”
“I hope you’re right about that,” Hunter said eagerly.
“Yeah, me too,” Eve answered. “But that’s beside the point. I’m pretty sure that her killer took the spider away. That’s probably why you haven’t been able to find it or the black wrapped package. That’s what the spider arrived in. So the killer obviously watched Sara through the sliding glass doors over there and saw the whole thing. Then, when Sara was on the floor, that’s when the killer came in and took the spider, along with the box.”
“Yeah,” Chad agreed. “From what we’ve found so far, that fits. So someone sent her this box, wrapped like a gift, and the spider was inside of it. Good God, that couldn’t be much sicker! Was there anything else that leaped out at you?”
In the hopes of helping to clarify what she had witnessed in her vision, she took both men through all that she had seen, step by step. Then they combined the information from her vision with what Sara had said to Eve in the dreams.
“It seems pretty clear that someone was making her nervous. Possibly, this person was sending her gifts and signing their name as the Secret Admirer. This is definitely something that we need to ask when we interview her friends. Which reminds me, Evie: do you still want to ride along with me on some of these interviews?”
“You bet,” she replied. “I’m looking forward to it. Oh, yeah, Hunter, I’m sorry I forgot to tell you this earlier, but I’m going on some interviews with Chad this morning. Would you mind going into the office and checking on things?”
“I thought Skylar was coming in this morning,” he said.
“She is, but there might be some client stuff you need to handle personally. I should be in later this afternoon and I promise to call you before then,” she said, as she gave him a special look with her magnificent eyes.
“Yeah, yeah,” he grinned. “I’ll go in and check on things.”
Eve smiled brilliantly at him as she reached over and gave him a quick kiss.
“You’re so wonderful,” she exclaimed. “Have I told you that lately?”
&
nbsp; “I can’t remember if you have or not, but I never get tired of hearing it.”
“Aw, geez,” Chad moaned. “I don’t need to hear this! Do you have everything you need, Eve?”
Eve and Hunter laughed as she turned back to Chad.
“Yeah, I think I’ve gotten all I can for today. Is it okay to kind of leave the door open for a few more days? Just in case something else comes up?”
“I think so, but not for long after that because the landlord wants the house released back to him so he can get it ready to rent out again.”
“I can’t imagine that he’s going to have an easy time of renting it any time soon,” Hunter said. “Most people usually have issues with living in a house where a death has taken place.”
“True story,” Chad commented. “It makes it even harder because the landlord is required to tell prospective renters the truth about things, too. Okay, let’s get out of here and lock up.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
BACK OUTSIDE, Eve and Hunter enjoyed one more lingering kiss goodbye before he got into his car to head to The Agency and she joined Chad in his sedan. He gave her a teasing grin as he started the car.
“So, I’m going out on a limb here and assume that you and Hunter got things all straightened out.”
“Yes, we did,” Eve said primly. “And you can go back to minding your own business. Now who are we going to be talking with first?”
Chad burst out into full blown laughter, shaking his head as he pulled away from the curb. Then he sobered.
“Well, we’ve already spoken to the ex-boyfriend, who has an ironclad alibi. He really was shocked to hear about Sara’s death and was actually pretty broken up about it. Her sister, Melanie, didn’t seem to know a whole lot about Sara’s life lately. I guess they had been estranged for a while and hadn’t had a lot of contact until recently. They had been talking again and were on the way to fixing things. Now there’s a woman who is really upset. She was just starting to get her sister back in her life and now this happens.”
“Sara had a boyfriend?” Eve asked.
“Had being the operative word, but yeah. His name is Bryan Keaton. But they broke up several months ago. Seems he was cheating on her and got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. She threw him out and they hadn’t spoken since. I guess he feels guilty now over what happened between them.”
“As he well should,” Eve commented. “Are you sure he wasn’t just acting?”
“Yeah, we checked his alibi and it’s solid,” Chad gave an abrupt laugh. “He’s not even with the woman Sara caught him with anymore. I almost felt sorry for him. He kept saying over and over again that Sara was the best thing that had ever happened to him.”
“I guess he should have thought about that before he unzipped his pants, huh?” Eve said sarcastically.
“Anyway, our first stop is to talk to her best friend. Name’s Danette Landers. Melanie and Bryan both said that if Sara had told anyone about any issues in her life, it would have been Danette.”
“You know, I think I remember her,” Eve said slowly. “She was around when Sara and I hung out back in college. Kind of quiet, but really sweet. I guess she and Sara got close after I left school. I’m glad Sara had someone to turn to after I had my meltdown and unceremoniously ran away to my parents.”
“Yeah, that was pretty sad for all of us, I think. We couldn’t believe that you were just suddenly not there with us anymore. You should know that our parties were never quite the same without you.”
Eve laughed when he said that and playfully punched him on the arm.
“Hey, I could arrest you for assaulting a police officer!” Chad cried as he grinned back at her.
“Oh, you’d never make it stick and you know it!”
Chad got serious again as he looked for the address of Danette Landers. Slowing down, he read the numbers on the mailboxes at the street until he finally came to a stop. They were in front of a small sky blue cottage, trimmed in white with a neat lawn. You could see that flowers would be blooming in the spring along both sides of the driveway and in front of the porch. Chad pulled into the driveway behind a red car.
“This is it,” Chad said. “Now, remember to let me do the talking unless I direct something to you, okay? We’re going to pass you off as a consultant.”
“Sure, Chad. I got it,” Eve said. “Don’t worry. I promise not to make you look bad.”
“You know what I mean, Evie,” he replied. “This is an official interview and it needs to be professionally conducted.”
“Okay, Chad, I’ll be good.”
Shaking his head at her, he got out of the car and she followed suit. As they walked to the door, Eve opened her senses so that she would be aware of anything that might be trying to make its way through to her. So far all she felt was gentleness and kindness.
She followed Chad up onto the porch and stood back as he knocked on the door. They didn’t have to wait long before an attractive young woman opened the door. From her swollen red eyes, it was obvious that she had been crying.
“May I help you?” she asked as she looked at them bleakly.
“We’re here to see Danette Landers,” Chad said as he held up his badge. “I’m Detective Chad Morrison and this is special consultant Eve Snow.”
“Oh yes, Detective Morrison,” the young woman said. “I’ve been expecting you. I’m Danette. Please come in.”
She stood back and opened the door wider so that they could enter. The inside of the house was just as neat as the outside. They found themselves in a small foyer with a table that held a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. The floor was polished to a high shine and the air smelled of lemons. Danette led them into a small living room and that was where it was obvious just how upset the woman was.
She quickly went over to the sofa and gathered up a blanket and a couple of pillows. Folding them, she set them aside and invited Eve and Chad to sit down. They took the matching chairs across from the sofa.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked more from force of habit than sincerity.
“No, we’re fine,” Chad answered. “We just wanted to ask you a few questions about Sara Cranston.”
“Okay, sure,” she replied as tears welled up in her eyes. “Anything that I can do to help.”
“First of all,” Chad said. “I want to tell you how sorry we are for your loss. This can’t have been easy for you. I understand that you were Sara’s best friend.”
“Yes, Sara and I have been close for years,” she said, her voice breaking.
Suddenly, she looked at Eve as if seeing her for the first time.
“Wait a minute,” she said. “Eve Snow? You’re Evie!”
“Yes, Danette,” Eve said smiling sadly at her. “I’m the same Eve Snow you remember from college. I’m running a private investigation agency now and, as you can imagine, this is a very special case to me. I offered my help to the police investigating Sara’s death. I’m so sorry that this has happened.”
“You know, Sara really missed you when you took off. I mean, she understood. We all did. But it still made her sad that you were so far away after what happened. She thought so highly of you.”
“As I did her,” Eve said. “I didn’t want to leave you all but, at the time, I didn’t feel there was anything else I could do.”
“Yeah, that’s what she said,” Danette said.
Turning to Chad, she said, “Detective Morrison, please find whoever did this to Sara. She was such a good person and she certainly didn’t deserve this! Tell me how I can help. I’ll do anything you ask!”
“I appreciate that, Ms. Landers,” Chad said. “Now to begin with, had Sara said anything to you lately about being worried or scared of something? Did she mention anything odd happening in her life recently?”
“Did you find the gifts?” Danette asked.
“Gifts? What gifts would those be?” Chad asked.
“Oh, my God! I can’t believe you don’t know about that yet! A
bout a month ago, Sara started getting these gifts. They started out innocent enough, with things like bouquets of flowers and the moved on to books by her favorite author, jewelry, and finally they started getting really weird.”
“Weird in what way?”
“Well, the last thing she got was this slutty nighty thing. It was black, see through and had various… um… ‘openings’ that had no semblance of material. That one totally freaked her out.”
“Who were these gifts from, Ms. Landers?”
“That was the worst thing, I guess. She didn’t know who was sending them. Notes came with them, but these were always typed with the same words. They all came from someone called Secret Admirer.”
Chad and Eve exchanged a look. Then Chad faced Danette once more.
“Did you say Secret Admirer?”
“Yes,” Danette replied. “That’s right. Only that last one, the one with the slutty nighty, was a little different.”
“Different how?”
“This one said ‘See you soon. Your Secret Admirer’ or something like that.”
“How long ago did that last gift arrive, Ms. Landers?”
“Oh, let me think,” Danette said. “Um, I think it was a little over a week ago, maybe less. I can’t remember the exact date, but it was around that time.”
“Do you know what Sara did with these gifts?”
“Well, at first, she kept them because the flowers were nice and she’s never been someone who can just throw away a book or jewelry. Of course, the flowers died, so she would have thrown those away eventually, but I’m not sure what she did with the nighty. We never talked about it after that. At first, she thought Bryan had sent it, but then she changed her mind because she said no way was that his style. Besides, they had been broken up for months and she was pretty sure he knew she would never take him back. She caught him cheating on her, you know.”
At that last part, Danette lowered her eyes as if she were embarrassed over the topic.
“Danette,” Eve said quietly. “Was there anything else that happened to upset Sara recently?”