Stolen Dreams

by Stacey Kennedy

  Zach turned around from his own examination of the area. “All right Brody, let’s do this.”

  “Let’s go, boy,” Brody said to Duke, before he began to walk to the center of the clearing.

  “So, what’s going to happen here?” I asked, my flashlight settled against Zach’s chest to see his face better. The full moon actually provided a lot of light. Once my eyes had adjusted, seeing wasn’t so hard now, but it didn’t mean I was about to put the flashlight away. It felt like an extra set of eyes and that was a warm comfort.

  Zach’s mouth opened to answer, but Brody got to it first. “Just stand there with the others and I’ll send Duke out on the search.” He stopped in the middle of the open space, leaned down and unclipped Duke’s leash. Then he snapped his fingers and Duke’s attention came straight to his eyes. He waved out. “Revier.”

  Slowly, I leaned over to Eddie, not wanting to disturb the dog, I whispered, “What did he tell him?”

  “Blind search,” he responded just as soft.

  The answer didn’t completely make sense, but within minutes, Duke showed me it was just the term to find something unknown. An incredible display, really. Duke started at one side of the clearing and kept his nose to the ground as he ran in a grid formation.

  “How does he see anything?” I whispered, awed by the puppy. “All those wrinkles are blinding the poor thing.”

  “He doesn’t need to see.” Zach replied, but kept his eyes on Duke. “It’s how they track. The loose skin hinders their eyesight which makes their scent stronger.”

  “Cool,” was all I could say. By this time, Duke had run the outside of the clearing and now worked in vertical lines from the top of the clearing, right to where we stood at the entrance of the forest. “How long does something like this normally take?”

  “Not long,” Eddie answered.

  Kipp took pity on me, explained in further detail. “If the body was recently dumped the dog would probably have caught it the second we entered the grounds. Considering Hannah was buried five years ago it will take him a little longer.”

  Ten minutes later, I began to feel bad for bringing the poor dog. Duke kept at it, going as strong as he had when he first put his nose to the ground, but nothing happened. He hadn’t barked, stopped or whatever he was supposed to do when he found a body. “I think maybe the lead was wrong.”

  Before Zach could answer, Brody called out, “Don’t be so sure about that. Duke has alerted.”

  When I glanced out, Duke was lying on the ground, his head between his paws and looked as relaxed as any lazy dog on a Sunday afternoon. “That’s how he alerts there is a body there?”

  Zach snorted a laugh. “What were you expecting? Barking, tall wagging, jumping up and down?”

  Duh? “Ah yeah, that’s exactly what I expected.”

  Brody glanced back to Duke, his tone reserved. “There is a possible body beneath the ground. No one is happy when we make a discovery like this.”

  “Oh, right.” Instantly, I chastised myself for even thinking such a thing. After a few seconds of feeling like crap, I let myself off the hook. I hadn’t meant to imply this was a happy time. “What’s the plan now?” I asked Zach, then looked at Eddie.

  “It’s time to dig," Eddie replied, handing me a shovel.

  I took it, then realized what he meant. My look of horror matched his. “You don’t expect me to help dig her up?”

  Zach stepped in, took the shovel from my hand. “You and...” he hesitated, glanced at Brody then back to me. “You don’t need to see this.” He nodded back toward the entrance to the forest. “Just wait for us by the creek. Brody can help. Come back in a little while.”

  I smiled the biggest thank you I could. Zach returned the smile and headed off to fall into step behind Eddie. When they reached where Duke was, I spun around to face Kipp. “It’s time to go.”

  He smiled and nodded. “Let’s take a stroll.”

  I followed behind him, but kept glancing over my shoulder. Again, I was at the back, not at all pleased about it. I quickened my steps and ran right through Kipp. My teeth chattered as coldness ran through my blood, but I ignored it and didn’t stop until I was in front of him.

  Kipp’s chuckle was loud, now behind me. “What can I do to protect you if something sneaks up on you?”

  “Doesn’t matter,” I retorted, not ashamed at all I was being a silly girl. “It just feels better.”

  As we walked back to the creek, I hadn’t realized just how beautiful the night was. The full moon created a pretty glow, the air warm without any humidity. “It’s so nice tonight,” I said with a deep sigh.

  “Wouldn’t know,” Kipp responded, sharply.

  That wasn’t the response I expected. I stopped and looked back at him. “You can’t feel that?”

  He shook his head. “I have no senses, remember? The air around me just feels cold.”

  My heart sank a little at the melancholy in his tone. Instead of reacting to it, I returned my gaze forward and walked on. “Well, it’s one of those nights where the air is warm but fresh.”

  Kipp said nothing and I never looked back. I kept my eyes on the forest floor lit by my flashlight and knew if I saw what lay in his eyes now, I would crumble into pieces.

  As the leaves and dirt passed beneath my ruined boots, I had a daunting feeling in the pit of my stomach, the conversation ahead of us made that inevitable.

  ***

  Chapter Twenty

  At the creek, I bent down and ran my hands through the water. It was cold but I welcomed it. The walk in the forest had been enough for sweat to gather on my forehead and a couple of beads dripped down my spine.

  Just as I scooped the water to splash on my face, Kipp said in a quietly, “I’m not as damned as I thought.”

  The water hit my skin, an instant rush of rejuvenation flaring through me. I lowered my hands and glanced at him over my shoulder. “Why would you think you were damned?”

  “Never going to church, committing sins, those types of things.”

  Slowly, I got to my feet, wiped my damp hands on my jeans and approached him where he sat on a tree trunk. “I’ve never met a single ghost who seemed perfect, so I think the rules of being accepted into Heaven might not be what everyone thinks.”

  Kipp laughed. “Apparently, if I fall into that category.”

  I took a seat on the tree trunk, which had long passed its life, and sat next to him. The main structure of the tree survived, the inside had hallowed out, yet still held together strong.

  His remark was so surprising, he honestly believed he didn’t feel worthy of dancing with the angels. “What have you done that is so bad you think you deserve Hell?”

  His expression showed a thousand times of guilt. “Broken hearts.”

  “You’re a heartbreaker?” I grinned with sass in an attempt to lighten his mood. “I don’t believe it.”

  Kipp snorted, shaking his head. “I’m not lying that my interest in you is a first.”

  The admission surprised me, but made me smile. I liked being the first. “So, you’ve never had a long term girlfriend before?”

  His eyebrow arched. “What’s your definition of long?”

  “Anything longer a month?”

  “Then, no.”

  My brows rose, it just seemed so unlikely. “Never―ever?”

  “Being a cop, relationships are hard. We work long, strange hours. Most women get bored of it real fast.”

  Okay, that all made sense. No women would want a man who she only saw on days off, but it still didn’t add up. “Yeah, but you said you broke hearts, not they broke yours.”

  He let out a long sigh and glanced back to the creek before he answered, “When it came to the job or them, my job was first―always.”

  Ah ha! So, that’s what this was all about. Now it was coming together. “That’s what broke their heart then, it was your choice?”

  He nodded.

  This didn’t appear bad to me. It wasn’t as
if he made promises he hadn’t kept. “Well I don’t think you should feel bad about it. Your job was important to you.”

  He gave a knowing look. “That is what I wonder...”

  His words trailed off, but I didn’t need him to finish. It was obvious where he was going with this. “Was it the right choice you mean?”

  “Something like that.” He sighed deeply again and looked at the ground. “I just wonder what my life would have been like if I never made those choices. What if, I switched from homicide to a different sector of the department and worked day shifts? What if, I chose to commit?”

  “Those are a lot of ifs.” Kipp glanced up to meet my gaze. “Besides, think of how many lives you’ve saved. That’s gotta be a guaranteed ticket to Heaven. And anyway, if this didn’t happen we wouldn’t have met.”

  His expression said I just confirmed what he was thinking. “I wonder if the reason I met you is to show me what life could have been like and what I missed.”

  “I think you’re being too hard on yourself,” I told him honestly. “I think this is all just a coincidence.”

  “You really believe that?”

  “I do. I don’t think there is some underlying magical power here which has brought us together. I really think it was just by chance.” My voice was strong even though every word I’d just spoken was a lie. There were too many twists of fate here that I couldn’t deny. The truth was I hadn’t figured it all out yet. Was I here for him or was he here for me? Until I had the answer, I wouldn’t say a word about it.

  He didn’t look convinced, though he did say, “Whatever the reason, the lesson learned was necessary. I’m glad it happened.”

  “Glad you died?” I nearly laughed.

  Kipp wasn’t laughing, though, he was very serious. “If it meant it brought me you, then yes, I’m glad I died.”

  I gave my head a shake as I tried to process. “You can’t possibly mean that?”

  “Why...why shouldn’t I?”

  There were so many answers, it was impossible to choose one to prove my point. Instead of listing them all, I settled on just one. “Because, I’m not that special, trust me.”

  His look remained unchanged, but his eyes demanded I see the truth. “I beg to differ.”

  I snorted a laugh, a little uncomfortable at the turn of the conversation. “You are being way too kind. You’ve seen only bits and pieces of who I am, trust me.” I raised my eyebrows, inclined my head. “Really, all the good stuff.”

  “I doubt there is anything about you I wouldn’t like.”

  Oh, he hadn’t been around through a certain time of the month where I turned into the devil himself. “Experience me through PMS and you’d see what I’m talking about.”

  Slowly, his hand came up and traced along my jawline, the cold air was welcoming in the warm night. I leaned my head to the side to embrace it as he said, “I wish I had that long to experience you.”

  How true were those words? Here came the inevitable sadness I’d been anticipating. I wished we had more time too. A lifetime of time. Wishing for something and getting it wasn’t real life. “Yeah, it sucks.”

  “Sucks.” Kipp laughed, touching my nose with the tip of his finger to leave an icy spot. “That’s one way to put it.”

  I’d seen ghosts filter through their regrets when they realized they were dead. Of course, now it was personal. Feeling his pain wasn’t in any way enjoyable. But I also knew if I continued to hold onto him like this, when he crossed over it’d be met with not only longing but regret. Not a good way for ghosts to go. It was time to settle him, no matter that my heart told me to do otherwise.

  “Your time is up, Kipp.” I said a bit firmer and colder than I felt inside. “You can’t dwell on what ifs and what could have been. It’s over. There’s no going back and doing things differently.”

  His eyes flashed with amusement lingering on a tinge of annoyance. “Are you trying to make me feel better? If you are, you’re doing a piss poor job of it.”

  I smiled as his irritation grew. It was nice to see him stirred up. Usually, it was reversed. I liked being the one to get a little flame burning in him. “From what I’ve learned of you, you’re kind and loyal. You have saved lives and brought home loved ones to people who have waited a long time. All of these things are who you were. Your life was that and always will be, but think of what you left behind. All the lives you’ve changed, touched...including mine.”

  The side of his mouth arched up slightly. “How many ghosts have you said that exact line to?”

  “I’ve never said...” From his expression, I could tell he didn’t believe me, so I added, “Okay, well maybe a couple times but with you its more personal. I didn’t know them, so when I said it, I actually didn’t really mean it.”

  Kipp chuckled. “You’re a special woman, Tess.”

  I rolled my eyes, not taking the compliment. “Yep, special―that’s me.”

  “No, this is something you need to hear. I listened to you, it’s only right you do the same.” I nodded for him to get on with it. He laughed quietly before he continued. “This thing you can do, whatever it is, is not anything that would be given to someone unworthy.”

  I guffawed at the implication of what he was suggesting. “It was a fluke from the accident.”

  He shook his head, firm and steady. “I highly doubt that.”

  “Let me guess this wasn’t a coincidence either?” He grinned and nodded. “You know for a person who thought he’d be damned, you sure believe in the magical nonsense.”

  “Not magical necessarily, just something...” Kipp drifted off, examining me.

  I swatted at his face, the cold icy air caused goose-bumps to rise along my skin. “Stop looking at me like that.”

  His laugh was loud and didn’t move away from my hand. “Like what?”

  “Like I’m some guardian angel on a mission.”

  He didn’t deny my accusation. “I don’t know what it is you are, but it’s something far from normal.”

  This wasn’t an eye-opening experience, definitely not something new. “I could have told you that much.”

  “I guess all I’m saying is all these little hesitations in yourself, the self-doubt and confusion, it’s all without merit. When this is over and I’m gone, just remember what I said. Do you promise me to do that?”

  That was it, the hold on my tears evaporated and my chin trembled. The words he said, the sweetness in his tone―it made my heart go pitter-patter. “Why do you have to be so damn perfect?”

  He grinned, haughtily. “Because I am perfect.”

  I laughed and a few tears spilled onto my cheeks. “Don’t push it.”

  His arrogant grin remained, a deep chuckle escaping his mouth. “Just remember to use these gifts to help others, don’t make it as difficult as you did for me.”

  “Oh,” I sputtered, a revelation formed. “You think I met you to learn how to help people, don’t you?”

  His eyes lit with acknowledgment and praise that I was starting to understand. “I’d suspect that is what you are getting from this, yes.”

  The more he talked, the more it began to make sense. Just by meeting him, my life had changed dramatically in ways that could never return. My heart had been opened, I used my ability for good and I suspected Zach was probably right. I’d be entering a whole new career. If I hadn’t felt the initial feelings for Kipp like I had, I never would have willingly helped him, and for this long. So, I had my answer―this was for both of us.

  “And that’s why it’s impossible to regret. Too many good came out of this.” Kipp said before I had a chance to voice my thoughts.

  I blinked away the remaining tears, feeling myself settle with the recent self-discovery. “Are you one of those annoying people who are always right?”

  “Yes,” he said, simply. He stood. “Come on, let’s get back and join the others. I’d imagine they’ve probably dug deep enough. Anymore time here and you’re likely to make me cry.” He s
mirked. “And I never do that.”

  I pushed off the tree trunk, stood and winked. “Too manly to shed a few tears?”

  His eyebrow arched and waved out toward the path we came. “Yes.”

  As we headed back down the rough terrain, we stayed lost in our own thoughts. Just as we reached the entrance to the clearing, a thought surfaced. “Am I going to barf when I see this?”

  “I would imagine it will just be bones now.”

  The best news I’d heard since I began this little adventure of mine. “Well, hallelujah for that.”

  He laughed loudly behind me. “I find it amusing real life scares you, but ghosts don’t.”

  “Real life is far more disturbing let me tell you,” I answered, not looking back at him, as I kept my gaze focused on my feet. “Ghosts can’t hurt you―people are just cruel, and dead people are just gross.”

  “Well the thing about real things, if you don’t like it―close your eyes.”

  When we stepped into the clearing, everything in me wanted to do just that. Dirt was piled to the left side of the four-foot hole. Zach and Eddie were kneeling down and peering into it.

  Stepping closer to them, I groaned. “I’m guessing that’s not a dinosaur?”

  Zach glanced up, dirt smudged across his cheek. “I’d suspect this is Hannah.” He reached in with a stick and lifted out what looked like a rag. The teal color was still visible, yet faded. “Her shirt.”

  “Where’s Brody?” Kipp asked suddenly, interrupting my remark about the shirt.

  I used my flashlight to look around, but didn’t see him or Duke. “What happened to Brody?” I asked, looking back at the guys.

  Eddie stood and wiped the dirt on his pants off with his hands. “He took Duke back to the car and is notifying Max.” He swiped his hands together to remove the excess dirt, it dusted off into the air. “He’ll be back.”

  Suddenly, a cold breeze swept across me and I shuddered. Surprised, I glanced to the right to see Hannah. “Hannah.”

  “Yes, Hannah,” Eddie said, giving me an odd look. “Who else would it be?”

  I rolled my eyes. Sometimes being the only one who could see ghosts was just annoying. “No.” I pointed to where Hannah stood. “She’s here.”