by Wood, Lorena
As Whitney listened she could tell from the thoughts buzzing around that this was the original founders group. These were the men and women who had the insight years ago to invest time and effort into their children. Some of them had children who had made to pro-teams. Others had college scholarships. Some were just happy their children were confident and strong young adults.
A handsome man in his late forties turned and held out his hand. “Hello, I don’t think I’ve seen you at the games before. My name is Eric Turner. My son is the one that just made the Diamondbacks. All thanks to that woman over there, Ann Marie Kensington.” He paused, but when Nick and Whitney just nodded he continued talking. “She’s pretty proud today too. Her little one just made the cut for the STAR team next year. He’s only six, but he is an amazing ball player. Ann Marie was one of the first parents to get involved in the SVWC. Her other son was one of the first ones to make a college football team from this group. She teaches over at Kyrene del Norte and brings in more kids every year.”
Whitney smiled and nodded as he continued talking. She glanced over at Ann Marie. She looked to be in her early forties, very tall, and very energetic. She must have been an athlete in her day. Then she saw an older boy sitting behind her. He was one of the few faces that didn’t look thrilled to be here. He actually looked quite miserable. Whitney walked over to say hello and try to relieve some of his boredom.
“Hi, my name is Whitney Bentley. This is my first time here and I’m quite impressed.” He glared up at her and she immediately felt his anger. He didn’t say a word, but she could see he wasn’t happy. His anger was so overpowering it’s all Whitney could feel. She backed up and tried to block some of his energy. He was glaring at Ann Marie Kensington. She realized how much he looked like her and thought it might be her son. Why would she bring him if he hated it so much? Then she felt his anger grow and realized he was staring down at his legs. He was in a wheel chair.
Whitney tried not to let the shock show on her face. Why would his mother drag him to these events when he couldn’t participate? She tried to open up to the mom’s vibrations, but all she could sense was a genuine happiness to be here that day. She was thinking about her little six year old and how great he was doing.
Before Whitney could spend any more time trying to think of what to say to the boy, Nick took her arm and started heading toward the other side of the field.
“I hear some parents arguing over there. Let’s go check it out and see what we can find out.” She looked to where he was pointing and could see the two dads yelling back and forth pointing at two young players. One was sitting down holding his knee in pain.
“Your son intentionally slammed into mine! That’s grounds for suspension. Look at him. His knee could be sprained, or worse!”
The other boy stood cowering behind his dad. “My boy was just sliding in like he was taught to do. He’s safe, and that’s how the game is played. It’s all about winning! Your boy just didn’t know how to get out of the way. Better teach him not to stick his foot out like that when someone’s sliding into third.”
The only feelings Whitney could receive were anger over the event and past jealousies from the families. The little one on the ground was sure his dad would ground him until his leg healed. His Dad believed there was no excuse for failure. He practiced with him every day, and now he would be off his leg for a while.
The other boy was afraid his dad would see the tears starting to form, and he walked away. He played on the team to make his parents proud, but he didn’t really like all the pressure. He tried hard to keep everyone happy, but the kids on his team got mad if he didn’t play his hardest.
“This is nothing like the T-ball games we have down in Baseline Elementary.” Nick whispered to Whitney. “Most of the parents don’t show up, and when they do they are usually amazed that their kid can even hit the ball.”
Just then two men in referee suits slipped in between the dads and pulled them aside. One helped the injured boy off the field with his dad while the other tried to calm everyone down.
Nick and Whitney moved away from the argument and walked past a group of older boys. They looked like high school students or even college kids. Nick stopped and introduced himself to a boy with an earring in his nose.
“Hi, I’m Nick Naylor. You boys play on one of these teams?”
“No way man. We just come to watch the little kids get yelled at. Gives us something to do.”
Another boy spoke up, “I feel sorry for them.”
“Why’s that?” Nick turned to talk with the young man.
“Their parents push them to play all the time. They never get to do anything else. If they don’t win, they get in trouble. Look at their faces, do they look happy?”
Whitney and Nick both turned to watch the field. They could see the boys were serious about the game, but a few of them looked like they were enjoying it too.
The boy with the pierced nose was watching with a look of disgust. “I used to play for one of these teams. They said I wasn’t good enough. Now I have time to do the things I like to do. Those little kids have no choice. They may look happy right now, but that’s part of the act too. Once they’re older they can make their own decisions. Right now they have to look like they love it or their parents won’t be happy. Gotta keep mom and pop happy, you know.
“So what sport did you play…um…I didn’t catch your name.”
“I didn’t give it.” Nick just gave him his stern glare and the boy smiled nervously.
The smallest boy in the group reached out to shake Nick’s hand. “I’m Jeremy. Jeremy Nash. They almost talked my little brother into joining, but I talked him out of it. I hate to see kids I know get sucked up into all this bullshit.”
Whitney’s look of surprise made the boy smile.
“Hey, I’m eighteen. I can say that kind of stuff. This is Joe and the one with the nose ring is Aaron. We just stop by every now and then to see what new kids got talked into signing up.”
“What happens when you see a new kid?”
“If we know him, we try to talk him out of it. We even talk to the parents if they’re interested. If we don’t know them, then we just sit and watch the fun. It’s kind of funny watching the parents get all upset ‘cause their little kids can’t hit the ball. They all think their kids are special.”
“Do they get into arguments like the one back at third base just now?”
“All the time. That’s what keeps us coming back. We feel sorry for the little kids, but the parents look like idiots sometimes. When that guy over there gets mad,” he said pointing, “his face turns red and he has a vein over his eye that pops out. Some of the little kids think it’s funny too. They call him volcano man. They’re waiting for his head to explode some day.”
The other boys started laughing and telling more stories about the parents. Nick thanked them for the chat and headed toward the volcano man. He was busy talking with the skinny boy at his side.
“I told you to keep your eyes open when you’re out there. I saw you looking over here. If Ted had popped a fly ball you’d have missed it.”
“But I was watching. I just had an itch is all.”
Nick was getting ready to introduce himself to the father when he saw Teddy striding toward them. He motioned at Whitney to follow and walked over to his partner.
“See anything Teddy?”
“Nope, how ‘bout you?”
“Yeah, a bunch of people living vicariously through their kids. Nothing that helps with the case. Did you get anything from this Whitney?”
“Sorry. Nothing to do with kidnapping or murder. Seems like a pretty dedicated group.”
Nick noticed she looked a little flushed from the heat and worried he was wearing her out. “How ya feeling? Need to go sit in the car and rest a little?”
“Yeah. I was just thinking that. You didn’t tell me you could read minds.” They all laughed and Nick threw her the keys. “We’ll be there in about twenty m
inutes. Just want to look around a little more.”
Whitney got into the car and turned the air-conditioning on full blast. She had to step outside for a couple minutes to let the car cool down. The inside of a car on a hot Arizona day could reach very dangerous temperatures. Once inside, she aimed all vents toward her face and body. Holding her blouse up and out a little, she tried to get some air to blow through the bottom of it. Man, she was hot. It wouldn’t have been so bad except that she was exhausted. She was basically assimilated to the heat in Arizona. She lived in Sedona, just a few hours away, but it didn’t get quite this hot. Her body was on edge from absorbing so much energy from so many different people. She took in some deep breaths and tried to slow everything down.
By the time Nick and Teddy climbed into the car she was feeling much better. The men looked drained.
“Whew! I’m hot,” Teddy said sounding more energetic than he looked. “This car feels pretty damn good. I think I’m in the mood for some ice cream.”
“Teddy, you’re always in the mood to eat,” Nick said with a grin. “What about you Whitney, ice cream sound okay?”
She smiled and nodded. Ice cream sounded good to her. Her body was just getting back to normal and she had used up lots of energy in the past hour. She was ready to eat.
“Should’ve known.” Nick said. “You and Teddy get along just great. He has to maintain his cushion, and you have to refuel every two hours.”
“Only when you keep me busy like this. I can actually go three or four hours between meals on a normal day.” Nick laughed and headed for the house. There’s a great place on the way home. We could probably buy a couple gallons and bring it home and it wouldn’t even melt in this icebox. You cooled down enough yet?
“Oops, sorry. I turned it up full blast. Want me to turn it down?”
“No!” yelled Teddy and Nick at the same time.
“Not until my body temp drops to freezing,” laughed Teddy. “I am so tired of being hot.”
They sat and ate the ice cream in the car with the AC on full blast. Whitney let Teddy sit up front so he could get the full effect.
Agent Hollerman was waiting at the house when they pulled up. After Hollerman filled them in on the latest from headquarters, they briefed him on their day. The agent drove Whitney back to the motel and told her he’d pick her up first thing in the morning. Whitney spent the evening typing out her report and updating her files. She knew she wouldn’t sleep well tonight, so she got out one of the romance novels in her suitcase and tried to forget.
If only life could be like a romance novel. Guy meets girl, he wants her beyond belief, and they overcome obstacles to live happily ever after. No mutilated children, no sad endings.
Chapter 4
Nick didn’t see Whitney for another five days. He saw her from a distance, working in the command center, but they never seemed to be in the same place at the same time. Teddy and Nick had spent the week interviewing anyone that was connected to the SVWC.
Nick couldn’t stop thinking about Whitney. He didn’t know if it was the crazy stuff she could do, or they way she made him feel. When he was out in the field, he wondered what she was doing. That could be plain curiosity. The thoughts he had at night had nothing to do with her gifts. When he wasn’t picturing her naked, he was wondering if her heart was still beating. It was driving him crazy. When he did see her, it looked like she was doing just fine. He wondered who they had found to be the new assistant.
On Friday he got a call from Agent Hollerman. They had found the Dolan boy. He was out in the desert just North of where he lived. A family had been riding ATVs in the area and the dad had found him. Agent Hollerman and Whitney were on their way, but Nick and Teddy were closer. No one was to go near the body until the SAC arrived.
Nick was waiting with the officers on the scene when Whitney arrived. She barely acknowledged him as she walked down toward the body. Nick started to follow and the agent stopped him.
“Sorry Nick. We have to let Whitney have a chance before everyone else comes in and throws all that extra energy around. She’ll be done in a few minutes and then you can start examining the crime scene. She knows how to be careful. She’s done this before. The coroner is on his way.”
“Where is the new assistant?” Nick knew Hollerman was too busy to handle that job.
“She says she’d rather go solo,” Hollerman said shrugging his shoulders.
“And that’s fine with you?” Nick was beginning to doubt the agents concern for his talented profiler.
“I told her we could play it by ear for now,” he said turning back to watch Whitney.
Whitney was on her knees facing the body, not moving. Nick watched her kneeling alone, staring at a dead boy, and wondered what she was experiencing. Someone next to him started laughing. “I can do that – watch. Oohhhhmmmmm. I’m communing with the dead.”
Nick turned and gave the officer a look that stopped him cold. Whitney screamed and all eyes turned to her. She was laying on her side now. The agent still wasn’t getting any closer. “Not again,” he moaned to himself.
Nick ignored the agent’s orders and started climbing down. Hollerman followed and stopped him a few feet from the two prone figures. Nick whispered, “Are you sure she’s okay?”
“She usually doesn’t pass out at the scene, but I think she’s fine. I don’t want to step in until I’m sure she’s done.”
“Maybe it’s been too much for her this time. Has she ever been involved in a violent case with crimes committed so closely together?
“She’ll be fine,” the agent snapped.
Nick watched Whitney. She appeared to be breathing but he saw no other movement. After five more minutes he couldn’t stand it and rushed over to her. Hollerman tried to hold him back but he shoved him away.
“Whitney, Whitney can you hear me?” He spoke softly and didn’t touch her. The agent tried to pull him away again.
“I think we’ve waited long enough!” Nick growled. They turned as she moaned. Nick crouched down and spoke again.
“Whitney, do you need help?
“Ummm.”
Not sure if that was a yes, Nick asked her to try to say the word help if she needed it. When she mouthed the word, Nick scooped her up in his arms and headed to his car.
“Where are you taking her?”
“To the hospital.”
“No Nick. They could do more harm. Trust me. Take her back to her place and I’ll catch up with you as soon as I finish securing the scene.”
Nick spoke to Whitney the whole time as he drove to his house. He kept his eyes half on the road and half on her chest to be sure she kept breathing. Once he got her in the house he started to panic.
“Don’t stop breathing. Don’t stop breathing. Please heart, don’t stop.”
She lay quietly for about twenty minutes and then her chest suddenly went still. He checked the window hoping to see the agent’s car. When Hollerman had called, Nick told him to meet at his house. He stared at his watch as the seconds ticked by. How many minutes could he wait. Suddenly he noticed her chest rising and falling. He fell into the chair. “I am not doing this again. This can’t be good for her. It’s sure as hell not good for me.”
Once he was confident she was sleeping, he went outside to wait. He reached for another cigarette even though he hadn’t had one for the past three days. He put the cigarette to his lips, but threw it down in disgust. He could barely control his anger by the time Agent Hollerman arrived. His first urge was to punch the man calmly getting out of his car.
“Do you enjoy putting me through this? Why didn’t you come with us?” Nick’s voice held a dangerous edge but the agent seemed oblivious.
“I had to finish there. You did fine. See, she’s sleeping now. Besides, I can’t do anything different from you. I haven’t worked with her that much, I just know what’s in her file. This is normal. She just needs someone that can be trusted to stay with her during all this. Just in case she needs somet
hing. And to be sure she doesn’t hurt herself later when she’s still weak.”
“Look, you guys might think this is all perfect operating procedure, but I don’t. She shouldn’t have to go through this. There must be another way.”
“She uses her gift the best she can to help us. It’s her choice. It’s not an exact science. She could help us solve this and then it would be worth it, wouldn’t it?”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Can she stay here for the night? She doesn’t look like she’ll be up to taking care of herself, and I’d like to get back to the scene. Our CSI team is on it now and they may have something. By the way, no shoes again. Must be what our unsub takes to remember his victims.”
Nick spun away and stepped back inside slamming the door in the agent’s face. He quickly glanced at Whitney realizing he could have startled her awake. Thankfully she was still sleeping. His heart was beating so wildly he was afraid he was the one that would have the heart attack. Were the FBI agents that much more hardened than the Phoenix police? No one seemed to care what was happening to the psychic as long as she had a chance to solve the case.
When Whitney woke up, Nick gave her sips of water, but she didn’t seem able to take much else. She fell asleep again and didn’t move for hours. Finally, just as the sun was going down, Whitney started to wake up.
“Hey.” She said shakily as she tried to sit up on the couch.
“Hey.” Nick walked over and sat beside her. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I think so. How’d I end up here?”
“You passed out and I drove you back here. Agent Hollerman put me in charge of keeping you safe again. Hope you’re not getting sick of me yet.”
“I’m sorry you got stuck with ‘babysitting’ again.”
Nick grinned sheepishly. She knew what he had been thinking the last time this happened.
“Are you hungry yet? Did you eat today?”
“I’m starving. We got word about the boy this morning, so I haven’t had anything yet. What time is it?”