Unusual Items
“Here, let me help you with that.” Ryker Vaughn picked up the papers nearest his feet and handed them to the man in front of him. As the paper was exchanged, the man’s eyes rounded, the vivid gold only noticed because of the accompanying expression of shock, or horror, maybe both. “Are you okay, man?”
“Zero. Seven. Two. The man in blue has a… Watch out for the horses.”
“Has a what?” Ryker waited, but no response.
After blinking in rapid succession, the expression was gone. As if just realizing Ryker was there, the guy gulped and took a step back. “I’m sorry. Did I space out on you?”
Ryker thought that was an understatement until the man asked, “What. Um, what did I say? I did say something, right?”
Nodding, Ryker repeated the information and the guy seemed a little relieved which prompted the question, “You don’t remember any of that?”
“No. I never can. I was on medication for a long time and it all stopped, but my current neurologist believes there is nothing wrong with my brain, so I’m off the meds and the…episodes are slowly returning.” He looked around Ryker and added. “I’m going to miss my flight if I don’t leave now. Good luck with that information. I hope it’s useful.”
Ryker was heading to an assignment for the Phoenix Agency. He didn’t want to miss his own flight to Vegas, but he couldn’t resist the question. “You don’t know if it’s useful?”
The guy chuckled and held up the hand holding his papers as he added, “I really don’t know what to make of any of it. I’m on my way to find out.”
Ryker nodded and then headed to his own gate. Once settled, he took out his notebook and wrote the information down. It might be nothing. He didn’t really believe in all this woo-woo business, but his new bosses did, and in a major way since they had an entire section of their agency dedicated to it and more than one person around with a…gift.
Dan Romero was a recon Marine and now a partner at the ever growing agency known as Phoenix. Ryker was also a recon Marine and recently recruited after spending some time on his own as a low-key detective specializing in missing persons. The cause was near to his heart since his cousin, Dee, had been kidnapped at the age of twelve. He felt so helpless back then, so useless in the efforts to find her.
He looked at the photo of Dee he kept in his detective notebook. She was only a year older than he was at the time. The day they solved that case was the first time he experienced a crushing heartbreak. Dee was his best friend, and although she was his cousin, he treated her like a big sister. He was a late bloomer; the exact opposite of her lot in life. She wouldn’t let other kids pick on him. Without her, and knowing what happened to her, he knew he had to know how to defend himself and others.
He looked at the words scribbled on that page one more time. Something in his gut told him this wasn’t about gambling at a roulette table. None of this stuff made any sense to him. He knew he could rely on hard won evidence and solid leads. He was glad this assignment was a solo mission. He worked better alone.
***
Luna May caught the sparkle in her peripheral vision. She wanted to ignore it, but she got that feeling, that little tickle at the base of her neck, so she stopped her power walk mid-stride to investigate. She looked at the delicate silver chain and the charm attached to it.
A quick scan of her surroundings confirmed that she was alone. She took a deep breath before reaching for the necklace. These days, she never knew what picking up a personal item like this could do to her. Letting the air out of her lungs in a slow and controlled exhale, she touched the tip of her finger to the metal.
Since her accident two years ago, Luna’s intuition had become something of a phenomenon. Shortly after her gut feelings became more like an accurate life compass, the clairsentience abilities began. Sometimes the visions were good, and sometimes, like now, she sensed a dark vibe. A blurry, hazy, weighted feeling.
Pulling her hand back, she cocked her brow at the item. “You’re trouble.”
She took another look around before pulling a glove and sandwich bag from her walking belt. It had once just provided her with a place to keep her keys and a snack, but now it was part of her personal survival kit.
After slipping on the suede glove, she picked up the necklace and dropped it carefully into the sandwich bag. She then placed them both back into her belt and jogged home.