Garden of Sorrow (Book 4 of Psychic Visions, a paranormal romantic suspense)

by Mayer, Dale

  ***

  Sitting in the chair across from Kevin's desk, Alexis sipped her coffee. She couldn't stay focused. Her mind was exhausted and slow thinking…coasting. It made her process information slower. Along with that her emotions were running high.

  Kevin appeared to be struggling. Given the mess with Stefan, the murder of his friend and this asshole killer, that came as no surprise. If he'd been a woman, she'd have suggested a good cry. This new insight into his crazy life was both a gift and a responsibility that Alexis recognized and now honored.

  Compassion swelled her tender heart that felt more open and touched than she could remember being in a long time. She knew it was because of the recent changes in her life…and because of Kevin. He had yet to grieve for Mandy, and therefore the pain had built up inside. No tears were allowed to escape, so she wept for him.

  Alexis tugged Kevin's grief inside her heart, to ease his grief, then released the energy to the universe. Fat tears welled up at the corners of her eyes before slowly starting their descent down her cheeks.

  "Alex?" he asked in confusion.

  She couldn't answer. The emotional edge cut too deep. All she could do was let the tears roll, and hope it helped to heal them both. Slowly, she rose, walked around the edge of the desk, and waited. He moved as if to stand, worry creasing his face.

  She shook her head, and crawled into his lap. Tenderly, she covered his heart with the palm of her hand, tucking her head into the crook of his neck. Kevin wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her close.

  They stayed motionless for long minutes.

  Alexis didn't know why she did this. She only knew she couldn't ignore her instincts. Stefan had been right. She was driven to help. She just didn't know what skills she could offer otherwise. She didn't know the difference in energy terms between receiving, transmitting and healing. Maybe they were all different methods to achieve the same thing.

  Sinking deeper into his psyche, she sent the energy to circulate along his meridian pathways, allowing the soothing energy to enter his system. To stroke and calm as it traveled throughout. Stefan had showed her maps of these energy lines on the body. She didn't have all of them memorized yet, but she'd learned the main ones. On the return path, Alexis drained away the depression and pain, absorbing and then releasing them, as Stefan had taught her.

  Many long minutes later, Kevin sighed, a heavy, heartfelt release of pain and tension. He squeezed her tight once, then released her. Only then did Alexis allow herself to smile. Now she knew he felt better. She had made a difference, and any words to the contrary she'd dismiss as male ego talking. This is what she needed to do with her life. She wasn't sure how or in what way, but it had to include making people feel better.

  And you can.

  Alexis tilted her head back to smile up at the tough, capable features above her. "Really?"

  A knock on the door interrupted their privacy. Alexis shifted over to the chair by the window and watched as Detective Kevin Sutherland collected himself and went into action.

  And what action it was.

  Alexis could have been a ghost for all the attention he paid her over the next hour. Rookie after rookie came through the door. They were asked a few terse questions, their answers catalogued and either further questioned or dismissed.

  What the officers couldn't see, and what totally amazed Alexis, was the efficiency of the energy search he did of each man within the first minute after entering the office. Not one of the men noticed when their energy fields were searched – a quick dip in and out, then on to read their energy patterns. Within seconds, Kevin had a rounded view of each individual's world, and insight as to whether he needed to do a much closer interview.

  "Where's Arnie?" Kevin asked the young officer sitting in the hot seat in front of him.

  "I don't know, sir." The officer wiped his brow nervously.

  Alexis felt sorry for the uneasy young man. She'd already determined that Kevin had found nothing to be suspicious of with him. She waited for Kevin to speak.

  "He's here somewhere. I need you to find him and send him in." Kevin looked up from the papers in front of him and pierced the hapless young officer with his questioning gaze. "Understood?"

  "Ah, yes, sir." The young man exited in a rush, banging into the chair in his effort to escape.

  "Ouch," Alexis murmured, trying to be quiet.

  Kevin still heard her. "What?"

  "You're the very devil to them, aren't you?" Alexis made the comment casually, never expecting the response she got.

  "What are you talking about? They aren't afraid of me."

  She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Like hell, they're not. Every one of these guys was incredibly edgy in here."

  "Oh, that." Kevin casually dismissed the base reactions from the men. "It's the situation, not me."

  "I see." But she didn't. "If I were one of them, I'd be terrified."

  He glanced over at her in surprise. "Why?"

  "I don't know. But they sensed something. They all ran out, as if Satan himself were after them."

  Kevin stared off into space, considering her words. "Maybe it is the scan. It's not something I would normally do, but the circumstances are anything but normal." Soberly, he looked back at Alexis's understanding face. "There's a murderer out there. I have to stop him before he kills anyone else."

  Alexis stood up and stretched. "Don't you think you're being a little hard on yourself? You've already stopped two attacks."

  "It's still definitely a concern." Kevin picked up the phone and used an outside line. "Good evening, John. Yes, I know it's late. I need to go over some information that I have. No, not tonight. In the morning, say nine? Good. Thanks, and have a good night."

  When Kevin hung up, the phone almost dropped from his grasp.

  Alexis watched curiously, but couldn't understand all the undercurrents. She'd just decided to ask him when the door opened to admit yet another young police officer.

  She couldn't say why, but her spine stiffened and every sense went on alert. Alexis slipped back to her place by the window, watching the man intently.

  He appeared to be a bit older than the others.

  Rough justice and street wisdom were written all over him. This young rookie had survived a difficult childhood. But he hadn't come out unscathed. He'd built one hell of a no-holds-barred shell to hide his scars.

  But could he be hiding something else?

  ***

  Damn it to hell anyway.

  That stupid bitch of a nurse! He hoped she had a hell of a headache. Had she seen him? He didn't think so, but it could be a huge mistake if he were wrong. He'd have taken care of her later, but that bloody Irishman had sat on guard until she'd been ready to leave.

  He didn't know what to do now.

  Turmoil circulated through his mind in a never-ending spin cycle, bringing on a hell of a throbbing pain at his temple. This was piss poor timing. He hadn't wanted to move up his timetable just yet. His damn rookie hadn't provided enough information. And then the asshole hadn't answered his phone all evening.

  The longer he sat and thought on the problem, the madder he got. If they wanted to force his timetable forward, fine. And if that damn ghost whisperer wanted to be next, then that worked for him, too.

  ***

  Kevin motioned the young man further into the room. "Hi, Arnie. Thanks for coming in. Take a seat." He waited for the rookie to comply, before adding, "This is Alexis Gordon. Alexis, this is Arnie Morrissey." Kevin watched the two nod politely at each other. If Alexis was on the stiff side, he let it pass.

  Within seconds, Kevin's energy reached out, only to be instantly rebuffed. Kevin sat back and perused the tight-lipped face in front of him. "Arnie, is there something bothering you?"

  "No, sir."

  His whole persona came across as too cold and hard for one so young. Kevin found it incredibly painful to watch.

  "You've been a good cop here for the last…" Kevin picked up th
e file in front of him. "It's been almost nine months now, hasn't it?" He eyed Arnie over the top of the folder.

  Arnie only nodded. Kevin wondered what it would take to break such intense self-control. Though brittle and edgy, he suspected it would shatter under a gentle pressure.

  Kevin looked over at Alexis. She looked ready to burst. He nodded.

  Alexis blurted out, "Arnie, does the word blackmail mean anything to you?"

  Arnie paled to an ashen gray. Fear made his eyes look like black marbles. His clenched fingers turned white at the knuckles.

  Kevin barely hid his surprise. He'd have to remember to ask where that word had popped out from…and why. But first, he turned his stern gaze on the young man. "Arnie, tell me about it."

  The poor man swallowed several times, tried to speak, but gave up before the words could make their way out. His downcast gaze dropped to the floor.

  "You can take a few minutes to collect your thoughts, but realize no one is leaving until we understand just what is going on here." Once again, Stefan had been right.

  Arnie visibly swallowed hard several more times before giving up the ghost. He slumped back against his chair in defeat.

  "I didn't know how to tell you," he whispered painfully.

  Both Alexis and Kevin leaned forward to catch his barely discernable words.

  "Tell me what?" Kevin let his voice soften. Experience guided him. It would be so easy to have everything go wrong right now. He could only hope Alexis would stay quiet.

  "Arnie? Tell us what?" he coaxed. "Are you in trouble?"

  Arnie looked at him, a world of despair in his eyes. "I tried so hard. Honest, I did."

  "I believe you," Kevin said.

  ***

  Alexis believed him, too, although she couldn't explain why. Sincerity and dismal realization permeated the air. He meant what he'd said, and somehow, he'd still failed to avoid what was happening. Her heart went out to him.

  "I thought if I could fix it, I wouldn't have to lose my job. I love being on the police force. It feels so good to be doing something positive after all those years of being on the wrong side of the law. But someone found out." The troubled young man paused. Frustration and anger boiled over. His fist slammed against the arm of the chair. "Damn it, it's just not fair. Everything was going so well."

  "What's not fair?" asked Alexis quietly. "Just as important, what did someone find out?"

  He looked at her briefly before turning away. "I have a record. Someone found out." He shrugged, as if the rest of the story was obvious.

  It took a minute to sink in.

  Kevin sat back. "You're being blackmailed?"

  Arnie nodded, refusing to meet his gaze.

  "You're right," Kevin said. "You should have found a way to tell the captain or me. Someone who could help."

  He leaned across the desk. "Arnie, despite whatever mistakes you have made, you have to tell me the whole truth now." He stared at the face across from him. "Do you understand?"

  "I understand." Arnie straightened up in the chair. He leaned forward earnestly. "That's part of the problem. I don't know his name."

  "Can you identify him in any way?" Alexis wouldn't believe otherwise. She knew his answer would tell her a lot about this rookie's character. To deny would mark him a liar, and would give them a completely different set of problems to deal with.

  "Yes." He looked up at his superior in resignation. "I know what he looks like, where we've met and…" He hesitated.

  "And?" snapped Kevin.

  "I've tried following him, but haven't had much luck."

  Alexis could appreciate that he'd tried to do that. She might even have done the same.

  "What information did you give him?" Kevin asked, curt and to the point.

  "Originally, he just wanted little stuff like how many staff worked here, how many senior officers, that kind of stuff. I thought it all quite odd, but none of it was high-level security stuff, so I didn't worry about it." The young man shifted uncomfortably on the hot seat.

  "And then?" prodded Kevin.

  "He started asking questions about different cases. When the little girl's remains were found, he really started bugging for information. I had to report in almost daily about anything connected to that case. For a while, I thought he might have been a reporter. But he isn't. I checked the local rags." Arnie stopped again, then continued. "He seemed eager, almost anticipating the news. If I didn't have anything, he'd be furious. Once, he found something new out on the evening news. I'd been so busy that it never occurred to me to call him. He was furious about that and wanted to know about the autopsy report of the child."

  "Did he offer anything about himself?" Kevin asked.

  Alexis sifted through the odd bits of information. Was this blackmailer just a busybody or someone much more evil?

  Arnie started to shake his head, only to stop and consider. Then he spoke, as if thinking aloud. "There was one funny thing. He lit up when I mentioned the name Daisy. But I didn't know what that meant." Resignedly, the young man looked over at Kevin. "Does this mean I've lost my job?"

  "I can't say yet. It's not up to me." Kevin's expression closed down, giving no indication of his thoughts.

  "Something very positive could come out of this," Alexis interjected. She knew it might not be her place, but Arnie was young. Maybe they could turn this around.

  "In what way?" Kevin asked.

  Arnie's hopeful gaze locked on hers.

  "Can't we use Arnie's connection to this person to set a trap?"

  Both men considered her point with a dawning realization.

  "Sir?" interrupted Arnie, hesitantly. "I think he's involved in much more than blackmailing me."

  "Like?" Kevin spun back to face the hapless young man.

  Alexis watched Kevin zoom in on Arnie, putting the poor man back on the spot. Arnie shifted uncomfortably. He wiped his damp palms on his pants.

  "The night the little girl was kidnapped, I went looking for him. I had a gut feeling he might be involved."

  "What!" Kevin's lethal voice split the air. "Why didn't you say something then?"

  "I didn't have any proof," Arnie explained. "I still don't. But his reaction to the name was over the edge. I put two and two together…" Arnie, seeing Kevin's stance wasn't softening any, tried again. "He seemed to know so much about it already. Later, it occurred to me that the news report wasn't that detailed."

  "Right." Kevin stood up. "You are to meet the police artist now. I want a composite sketch within two hours." Kevin walked to his door before turning back. "Are you sure there's nothing else you can tell us?"

  Arnie hesitated. "Once I saw his car parked outside the mayor's house."

  Kevin slammed the door shut again and stormed back to his desk. "Is this man young or old?"

  "Early thirties maybe. Five foot eleven, slim, well dressed."

  "You do know what the mayor looks like?" At Arnie's immediate nod, Kevin eased back a bit, but not much.

  "It wasn't him. I'm sure of that."

  The description Arnie gave twigged something else. He cocked his head as he studied the young policeman. "What about his son? Would you recognize him?"

  Arnie shook his head.

  "That's the first photo we need to show you. Where else have you seen this guy? What's the license plate, and what kind of vehicle does he drive?" The next words burst out in a half bellow. "And why the hell did you not come to me with this information before?"

  The rookie sank deeper into his unforgiving chair. "I thought if I could solve it, then I wouldn't be kicked off the force."

  "Did you ever suspect that the man you gave information to was involved in the recent murder of the young mother?" A muscle twitched in Kevin's cheek as he pinned the younger man to the spot.

  "No, never!" Arnie appeared sincerely horrified at that idea.

  Alexis believed him. And in her mind, it changed his culpability. Arnie continued with his protestations. "I wouldn't do something like th
at, honest. You have to believe me. I just didn't know what to do."

  "Idiot!"

  Alexis winced at the one word guaranteed to get her back up. "It makes sense, Kevin. Not for you, and maybe not for me, but for someone who feels they've done something wrong. They want to fix it before anyone finds out."

  "Who asked you?" Kevin snapped.

  "I did," she said cheerfully, fully aware of the shocked fascination coming from Arnie as he watched their exchange. "Maybe Arnie was right to be afraid. And right about the other… As long as he didn't give out something major, maybe this can be fixed." She smiled reassuringly at Arnie, presenting a confidence and authority she didn't feel. There would be repercussions from Arnie's actions, but she had no idea how severe they'd be. From the look on his face, Arnie'd already assumed the worse.

  "This is in your hands right now, Kevin." Alexis smiled gently. "What you do from here on in affects everything."

  Kevin glared at her, his eyes laser hard. "Damn it, Alexis. You can't fix everything."

  She smiled. "But you can fix some things."

  Arnie gawked at her as she continued.

  "I know I can't fix everything. But you have authority to minimize the damage, Kevin. Talk to the captain about Arnie first, before anything else." She nodded at the still figure in the chair. "This young man's future doesn't have to be destroyed." At the look of hope on Arnie's face, she held up her hand. "But reparation does have to be made. Otherwise, this can never be left in the past."

  Alexis looked over at the still-pissed Kevin. "Did the department know about Arnie's past when he was picked, trained and then put on the job with this force?"

  At the grudging nod, Alexis turned to face Arnie. "Did you hide something else from the department when you made this career step?"

  "No, nothing. I was shocked they accepted my application. Thought maybe my file hadn't been looked at closely enough or something. I had worked hard to clean up my act, but figured my past would go against me. I thought that maybe they didn't know all of it, when they let me into the training." He shrugged at Kevin.

  "Drugs, alcohol abuse, grand theft auto, prostitution all before twelve. You did three years in juvenile hall, then lived in a halfway house for a year, with rehabilitation and retraining for another year after that." Kevin's cold recital made them both stare in stunned amazement. Kevin shuffled some papers on his desk. "We decided that you'd had enough time and had chosen another way. Our way. We put our faith in you. A small department like ours has the ability to make these kinds of choices, ones that a big city police department can't."