by M A Comley
“I know. It’s not for everyone.”
“I can’t promise that Brendon will believe you. He’s kind of funny about things like this. He tends to work with solid evidence most days.”
“Oh, I’ve run across that before, believe me. I can generally work in the background, just helping with gentle pushes and suggestions. But do your best to get us close to the crime scene. I’m serious. It will really help.”
“I will. While you’re here, is there anything you’d like to do?”
“I am dying for one of Sal’s blueberry muffins.”
Lucy cringed. “I’m sorry, but she’s temporarily closed. Jenny and I went by there yesterday and we found a ‘Closed for Vacation’ sign on the door. No one had heard anything about it, so it came as such a surprise.”
“Do you suppose something happened?”
Lucy shrugged. “You know it occurred to me last night that I’ve known Sal for years, decades even, and yet I know very little about her private life. Kind of sad when you think about it.”
Lucy took advantage of Jenny having a nap to take a shower so her hair would dry in time to go to dinner. Right on cue, Jenny emerged from her room, her face puffy and hair askew. “That’s a great bed you have there, Lucy. I sleep so well in it.”
“Good! In case you’re headed to the bathroom, all right if I duck into the bedroom and get ready for dinner? I thought we’d go out early, if that’s okay? I’m tired from all the talking and laughing.”
“Sure, go on ahead. I’ll have a quick catch-up with Sophia.”
Lucy could hear the two women talking in the living room. She put on her makeup and then laughed at herself for going to so much trouble for such a wretched little café.
Straining an ear, she heard a male voice join in the conversation. When Lucy emerged from the bathroom, Brendon was waiting there, his arms open wide, waiting for a hug.
“I guess you know everyone,” Lucy said.
“Sure do. I met Sophia earlier at the station. How are you doing, Jenny?”
“A little skittish, to tell you the truth. I don’t mind a bit staying with Lucy, but I don’t know much about it all and that makes me nervous.”
“Understandable. I can’t reveal any more at present, I’m afraid. It could compromise our case. But I really appreciate you keeping Lucy company. I don’t think there’s any real danger or I wouldn’t leave you two alone. I just prefer her not to be completely on her own.”
“Understandable,” murmured Sophia.
Brendon’s eyebrows rose.
“Uh, yeah, Brendon, I need to talk to you about something.” Lucy wished the conversation could have taken place when it was just the two of them, but she couldn’t put it off any longer. “Sophia is a psychic.” She saw his face fall. “I know, I know. She’s not silly, she knows what law enforcement thinks about her special powers. But she’s known me for years, although we haven’t seen one another since high school. Anyway, she’s come here specifically to warn me.”
“Oh, go on, don’t stop there.” Brendon leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms.
“Sophia has been having dreams about me, and in those dreams, she picked up that I was in trouble—danger, even—and she drove all the way up here from South Carolina to try and help. The least we can do is respect the amount of effort she’s gone to.”
Brendon straightened and placed his arms by his side. “True. Look, I have nothing against psychics personally, please understand that, Sophia,” he said. “It’s just that any possible testimony you might offer would never stand up in a court of law. We need hard, watertight evidence. Opinions don’t count. Except, of course, from someone like a doctor or…” his words drifted off when he saw Lucy roll her eyes.
“It’s okay, Brendon. You’re not telling me anything new. I understand about the law. I have worked with some police departments in the past, although I generally get called in when they’ve run out of clues and they see me as the last-ditch attempt to come up with an idea. Sometimes it works; more often than not, it doesn’t. I just know the dreams I’ve been having about Lucy were out of the ordinary and I couldn’t ignore them. That said, I have a favor to ask.” Sophia looked to Lucy for approval to bring up the topic. Lucy nodded.
“I know there’s a victim involved in this,” Sophia began. Brendon gave Lucy a quick scowl, but she shrugged. “Let me finish, Lucy didn’t tell me, I swear. It was part of the visions I’ve been getting. Don’t blame her. Anyway, it would be immensely helpful if I could visit the scene of the crime. I like to get close to where the event happened. Sometimes, I can still pick up residual energy from where the spirit left the body.”
Brendon seemed taken aback by the suggestion.
When he didn’t speak, Lucy pleaded, “Please, Brendon. For me? It’s worth trying every avenue, don’t you think?”
“Sure, but Lucy, I have a reputation to uphold. The guys will laugh me out of the station. You know how they are.”
“Please, Brendon?” Sophia begged. “It will only take a couple of minutes and no one need ever know I was there, except the four of us.”
“Not sure if I can, even if I wanted to. The victim’s husband hired a lawyer who asked the judge to restore his access to his home. Since we haven’t uncovered anything solid enough to accuse the husband, we’re in an impossible position.”
“You see!” Sophia exclaimed. “All the more reason to get me in there quickly. I might pick up something that will give you a new path to follow. Isn’t it worth a shot?”
Brendon heaved a sigh and said, “Okay, I’ll see what I can do. It will have to be tomorrow, though, because the doctor is moving back in on Friday.”
“That’s just fine. Tomorrow morning, five minutes and nothing more. Just let me help Lucy if I can.”
“I’ll call her with the details. Now can we change the subject?” He moved to lean against the kitchen counter, his legs in a wide stance.
“We’re going over to the Roadside Café for dinner. Want to join us?”
“Hah! Not on your life. I’ve gotten sick from their food more times than I care to remember. You sure you wouldn’t rather drive down the coast to find a cleaner place to eat?”
“No, we’ll be fine,” Sophia said. “I passed by the place on the way here and felt drawn to it.”
Brendon rolled his eyes, but said nothing more.
Lucy sensed his reluctance to argue with three determined women. He gave Lucy a kiss on the cheek and headed to the door. “You three have fun and be careful. That place can get mighty rough at times.”
“We will. Talk to you later this evening,” Lucy called after him. “Oh, wait, I’ll walk you out,” she added, remembering something important to tell him.
Brendon looked surprised. He watched as Lucy put on her saddle shoes and then looped her arm through his and walked him out of the house. “I wanted to tell you something when we were alone. Yesterday, Jenny and I drove over to Sal’s Sweets for some coffee, but found the strangest thing.”
“What’s that?”
“It was closed.”
“Closed? What time was it?”
“No, not that kind of closed. The kind where they hang a big sign on the door saying they were closed and had gone on vacation. Other people were trying to get in, and it seems none of them had heard anything about it in advance. No date when it would be open again either. I think they’ve left town or maybe, just maybe, they’ve gone into hiding.”
“Or maybe, just maybe, they got tired of the gossip,” he mimicked her.
“Okay, make fun of me if you must, but will you check it out?”
“Yes, yes, I’ll check it out.” He kissed her on the cheek again and got into his squad car.
Lucy waved and turned to go back into the house.
18
The girls had just arrived in the parking lot of the Roadside Café when Lucy’s cell buzzed. It was Brendon.
“Hi, we just got to the Café.”
“Don’t
let me stop your search for haute cuisine, but I thought I’d let you know that Dr. Stiltson is getting unlimited rights back to his house in the morning. Now, unofficially, I should go by the house tonight and make sure all the police paraphernalia has been removed, and if you girls want to ride along, it wouldn’t bother me. If you get my drift?”
Lucy broke into a grin. She pointed at her phone and gave a thumbs-up to Sophia and Jenny. “I sure do. We’re going to grab a quick burger and then we’ll meet you back at the house about seven o’clock. Would that work for you? Unless, of course, you’d like to join us for dinner?”
“No, I’ll pass on that. You must have a cast iron stomach to survive what you eat there. Lecture over. Seven will be fine. See you then.” He disconnected.
Lucy tossed her phone back into her purse. “Brendon told me he’s willing to take us to the house this evening. We’ll eat and meet him back at the house at seven. The doctor is being allowed to go home tomorrow, so it’s tonight or never.”
“Awesome!” said Sophia, high-fiving Jenny.
Jenny seemed confused and out of the loop, but she seemed eager to tag along for the excitement.
“Let’s get in there and order, I could eat a horse. I’m so excited,” Lucy exclaimed. Once inside, she pointed to the same booth where she and Jenny had eaten the previous night. “It gives us a full view of the dining room and newcomers et cetera.”
“Perfect,” said Sophia. She and Jenny nodded their agreement.
The girls settled at the table just as the saloon doors parted and the same waitress, Connie, walked out of the kitchen, her hands balancing a variety of plates and drinks. She acknowledged Jenny, who was probably more memorable due to her wheelchair. “Be right with you, ladies,” she said. She wound her way through the other tables to her destination.
Soon she was back, passing around the menus and obligatory scratched plastic glasses of water. “Whew! It’s been busy in here tonight. I’ll be right back to take your orders.”
Lucy took her menu, even though she already knew what she wanted. She turned to hand one to Sophia and then saw the look on her friend’s face. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Not yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Normally, I don’t verbalize it when I see things like this, but in this case… that girl has a dark aura. I could feel her energy dwindling. She has no protection. She won’t survive until the weekend.”
“What? Are you serious?” The words burst unexpectedly from Jenny—a horrified look on her face. “Shouldn’t we warn her? Tell her?”
Sophia slowly shook her head. “Nothing we can do. I’ve tried before—oh, believe me, I’ve tried. It almost cost me my own life. When they come for her, they will get her, and woe betide anyone who gets in the way.”
“Now, wait a minute,” Lucy began. “Surely, it can’t hurt to at least mention to her that you have a little psychic power and see danger for her over the next few days? Maybe warn her to be extra cautious?”
Sophia turned and looked at her. “What would you say if a perfect stranger came up to you, unsolicited, and said that?”
“I don’t know. I guess I might believe her…” Lucy finished lamely.
“Uh-huh. Sure, you would. You’d want to shake her loose as quickly as you could and then tell her to stay away. You’d go home and forget all about it, consider her nuts.”
“Well… maybe?” Lucy admitted, reluctantly.
“You see? No, I’m telling you. There’s nothing to be done about it. She wouldn’t believe me, and they’d only get her anyway.”
“Now wait just a minute. When you’re talking spirits, are you suggesting that some sort of ghostlike creatures are going to swoop down and just carry her away?” Jenny asked, her gaze anxiously flitting between Lucy and Sophia.
“Oh, it won’t be that simple. Or painless. No, someone will kill her—a slow, painful death. When it’s over, the spirits will suck her soul clean of her corpse and just fade away.”
“Okay, that’s it,” Jenny said, slapping her hand on the table. “You’re scaring me, and I don’t appreciate it. Sophia, I may not know you as well as Lucy does, but I think you’re full of it. I’ve had my share of psychic experiences, but I think you’re exaggerating for some reason. Mine have always been quite subtle.”
Lucy cringed and was quick to intervene. “Oh, Jenny, Sophia means well…”
Sophia’s hand clamped Lucy’s arm. “No, it’s okay. Let her speak her mind. I’m used to it. Believe me, it gives me no pleasure to see these things. Like I said, normally, I just let them go. People react just like Jenny does—and no offense taken, Jenny.” She turned to Lucy and added, “In this case, though, it’s you, Lucy. You’ve been one of my best friends for more years than I care to remember, and I can’t stand back and ignore it this time. Not this time. Just order and let’s eat and get out of here. That girl, Connie,” Sophia glanced at the waitress, “Her energy is dwindling, and it makes me feel physically ill. I need to get away from her as soon as we can. C’mon, let’s order.”
Lucy reached out and covered Jenny’s shaking hand with her own. “Hey, you okay? Would you rather be left out of this?”
Jenny looked up, her expression hard to fathom. “Heck no. This is the most fun I’ve had in years. Just not used to it, that’s all.”
“You sure?” Lucy asked.
Jenny grinned. “Positive.”
“Okay, well, if you change your mind, let me know. We can always take you home, but I will say that having you along is a great source of comfort to me.”
Jenny’s eyes sparkled with pride at that remark. She nodded and squeezed Lucy’s hand back.
The girls ordered and then ate quickly. When the waitress, Connie, approached, Sophia averted her gaze. It looked almost like she was trying to ward off the negativity she was picking up from Connie. Curious, Lucy asked her about it.
“I’m insulating myself, I suppose you’d call it. Anyone who has psychic ability learns to do it in the way that works best for them. I sort of mentally pull down a white light, a clear crisp energy, and cloak myself in it. I’ve had to do it quite a few times in the past. You’d be surprised what you pick up on just walking down the sidewalk.”
Lucy nodded, and although Jenny’s eyes grew large, she kept a steady hand on her fork and continued eating.
The girls left money for their meals, along with a tip, on the table and headed to the door. Connie was following them, balancing a tray on her shoulder as she walked to the other side of the dining room. The café door opened just as Lucy was reaching for the handle. A man walked straight into her. It was none other than Dr. Stiltson.
“Oh!” Lucy exclaimed in surprise, taking three steps back. Stiltson strode past her, pushing his way into the café.
The girls watched, transfixed, as he approached Connie and shook an angry finger in her face.
“It stops now! Do you hear me? Now!”
Connie dissolved into tears, dropping the tray she was holding, and ran into the ladies’ room.
The café fell silent as everyone looked at each other for some form of explanation for what had just taken place. Stiltson pushed past the girls again on his way out, without issuing an apology.
Lucy opened the door and watched his car churn up the gravel as it left the parking lot. She ran forward and caught sight of a woman in the passenger seat, but from where she stood, Lucy was unable to identify her.
“What was that all about?” Jenny uttered, alarmed.
“Looked like a lover’s spat if ever I saw one,” Sophia said, offering her opinion.
Lucy said nothing, but that didn’t stop her mind from spinning with possible scenarios.
Brendon was waiting for them as they pulled into the drive. He walked up to the van as Jenny lowered the window. “How do you want to do this. Shall I ride with you or would you rather take two cars?”
Jenny yawned. “You know, I’m feeling very tired. I th
ink I’ll take you up on your offer, Lucy, and sit this part out. I’ll find a movie to watch on TV and you can tell me all about it when you get back.”
“If you’re sure?” Lucy replied.
“I am.”
They ensured Jenny got safely into the house and then climbed in the car with Brendon. He drove out onto the highway toward Leestown where the doctor’s house was located.
“So, Sophia,” Brendon began, “can you tell me about any cases I might have heard about in which you played a significant role?”
“Brendon!” Lucy chided. “You’re being rude. Sophia came all this way to help us, me. Don’t be so suspicious.”
“I’m not,” he said defensively, but Lucy knew he was lying. It was in his nature to grill people who he didn’t feel comfortable around.
“It’s okay, Lucy,” Sophia said, laying a hand on her forearm. “It’s his job to be suspicious of anything out of the ordinary. Even when I do get proof of something, it’s rarely taken seriously by disbelievers. I understand where Brendon is coming from. It would be impossible for him to convince a judge that their proof is nothing more than a weird stranger’s hunch—and a woman, at that. Oh, yes, Brendon. You don’t need to blush. That said, I know you’re a good man and someone special in Lucy’s life; she trusts you implicitly, that’s good enough for me.”
Lucy said nothing but smiled to herself. Whether Sophia had truly seen something or not, she was great at combatting a man’s wounded ego, especially one whose reputation meant everything.
“Oh, I didn’t really mean it in a rude way, Sophia. Sorry if it came across that way,” Brendon said, concentrating on the dark road ahead of them.
Oh, yes, thought Lucy. She knows how to handle men. “Brendon, you did say the house would be empty tonight, yes?”
“I did. Dr. Stiltson takes back possession in the morning. Why? You worried about being seen?”
Lucy shrugged. “It is a bit of a concern, considering.”