Chapter Six
Summer and Troy were in the kitchen drinking coffee when Troy’s cell phone rang. By now Summer was used to the harsh intro to AC/DC’s “War Machine.” She listened carefully to his side of the conversation, trying to read the expression on his face. When he hung up smiling, she relaxed a little.
“Good news?” she asked. “Did they find out who my stalker is?”
“I wish I could say yes, but we might have a new angle to try.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “Really? I thought Dan was having Andy crunch the lists and identify possibles. What else can we do?”
He took one of her hands in his, rubbing his thumb lightly over the knuckles. Just that simple touch made her breath catch and her pulse stutter. How was it possible, she wondered, that in such a short time she, who had become adept at avoiding entanglements, was wrapped so tightly with this man? Trust was a scarce commodity with her. Life had taught her not to give it easily. But Troy had breached her defenses, reaching deep into that part of her that she guarded so carefully. And somehow she couldn’t make herself regret it. Not yet, anyway. Not ever, she hoped.
“Do you remember my telling you that each of my partners’ wives had a special psychic gift?”
“Yes. I thought it unusual that each of you fell for someone who had that kind of ability.”
He grinned. “Another example of truth being stranger than fiction. Oh, and just to clarify: with Rick’s wife, Kelly, it’s the dog.”
Summer widened her eyes. “A dog?”
“Uh-huh. A Caucasian Ovcharka. Russian sheepdog. They’re known for bonding only with their owner and those family members they’re trained to protect.”
“So what makes this one so unusual?” she asked.
“When Kelly and Rick met, Xena immediately took to Rick. Almost unheard of with these dogs.” He took a swallow of his coffee. “Rick was in a pretty dangerous assignment, and the dog kept warning Kelly, even though they were separated from Rick by thousands of miles. Saved his ass more than once.”
“That’s a pretty remarkable dog. But what does all this have to do with me?”
Troy took her hand again, lacing his fingers with hers. “Dan’s wife, Mia, is a precognitive. Do you know what that means?”
She nodded. “She has visions of things in the future.”
“Yes, but with Mia it’s a little different. She doesn’t go into a trance or anything. These visions can come to her out of nowhere when she’s doing something very ordinary. Like sitting at a traffic light or making coffee. And they don’t come to her as anything clear-cut. She gets bits and pieces in flashes, and often what she sees are clues to the real thing.”
“Are they focused on a person or an event?” she wanted to know. Summer knew about precognition, but she’d never really studied it a lot. She had enough to keep up with, learning about and using her own psychic gift.
Troy leaned back in his chair. “When Dan and Mia met, she’d already had a vision about him, only that he was a warrior come to fight a battle. Which wasn’t so far off the truth. He came to San Antonio to help his friend, Chase Carpenter, whose top-secret government gizmo was in danger of being ripped off. And Mia had had fragments of visions about that, too. So in a way her visions were a portend of Dan’s arrival and their connection.”
Summer frowned. “Okay, but what does all that have to do with me?”
“When Mia gets her precognitive flashes, they either have to do with someone she knows or someone she’s about to know. She and Dan talked about it last night and thought maybe if you agreed to meet her, let her get to know you a little, her mind might pick up something that would lead to your stalker.”
“You mean, like sensitives? She can touch me or something of mine and get vibrations from it?”
Troy shook his head. “Not like that at all. Although she does say she gets vibes from people that she connects with. Anyway, I thought it was worth a shot.”
“I agree.” Summer finished the rest of her coffee. “I’ll try anything to get rid of whoever this is. When are they coming over?”
“Dan suggested later this morning. I have to call him back and let him know it’s okay.”
Summer rose, rinsed her cup in the sink, and put it in the dishwasher. Turning back to Troy, she waved her hand in the general direction of the front of the house.
“What about all those cretins camped outside my house? If they see someone new coming in here, they’ll fall on them like bloodsuckers.”
“They’ve seen Dan coming in and out. Mark, too.”
“But you know they’ll try to swarm them. Badger them for information.”
“Sweetheart.” Troy stroked his knuckles down the slope of her cheek. “Believe me when I tell you tougher people than the idiots outside have tried this with us before and failed. It’s all good. Really.”
“I hope so.” But she was none too sure. Whenever she went through one of these sieges, they could last from hours to days. It just depended on how hungry they were for news and how tenacious they decided to be.
“When I came downstairs before you this morning, I checked, and the crowd seems to have dwindled a lot.” He ran his hands up and down her arms. “I think we’re about at the end of the latest frenzy. If we could just get this stalker taken care of, you could draw a full breath.”
“Don’t I wish.” She leaned her head against his chest. “Sometimes I think maybe my folks are right and I should just give up using my gifts completely.”
“Hey.” His voice was soft and warm. He slid two fingers beneath her chin to tilt her head up. “I don’t want to hear that. You can’t let them win.”
“I know. I know. It’s just I’m so tired of this always happening. And if they go away now and you catch this stalker, what happens next time? Will I always be running from something?”
He touched his mouth to hers. “Let’s get this taken care of first. I promise you the future will handle itself.”
Summer looked hard into his eyes. Did he mean what she thought? Hope swirled inside her, something she didn’t remember feeling for a long time.
“That’s a promise,” he repeated, as if reading her thoughts. “Meanwhile, let’s shower and dress. Dan said Andy was trying to refine the lists we narrowed down, so I’m going to give him a call.”
The Cleaner opened his eyes, sat up, and rubbed his face. Exhaustion had finally claimed him, and for a few blessed hours he’d slept and been free of the headache. But now, as soon as he was able to focus, it began to creep up on him again.
It was that damned she-devil. Apparently he didn’t even have to be anywhere near her to feel the effects of her black magic. He was sure she’d sent some kind of spell his way to drive him insane with pain.
But he wouldn’t let her win. He’d get to erase her existence. That was his endgame. Then she couldn’t ever damage another family again. He just had to figure out how. He’d stopped sending the letters a while ago. Each time he was sure she was through practicing her black arts, he’d learn she’d taken another so-called patient, so he began calling her. He was sure when she heard his voice and what he had to say she’d finally stop. He could say more, let her know he saw what was directly in her black heart.
But then she’d taken this latest patient, and now he didn’t even have that tool anymore. The bastard who was in her house had stopped her from answering her phone. So the only thing left for him was to confront her in person. And that would be tricky. She had that guy in her house and another car parked down the street. Oh, they thought they’d been so slick, but he’d spotted it on one of his drive-bys.
He had to be careful with those, too. Didn’t want to show up too often and call attention to himself, even though it seemed half the world passed by, stopping to stare at the house with avid curiosity. He’d taken the time to drive around the block and scoped out the scene from all sides. Her house had a big yard in the back. But it wasn’t fenced, so he had easy access. He was sure by now she had a security system, but he’d spent a lot of time—of which he had an abundance—studying even the most sophisticated ones and learned there were ways to fool them electronically.
He obviously would have to wait for the latest media crowd to finally dwindle to nothing. Then he could make his move.
In the meantime, he just wished he could get rid of the fucking headache.
The opening notes of “War Machine” sounded on Troy’s cell, and he pulled it out of his pocket. Summer watched him as he listened, spoke briefly, then disconnected.
“Mia and Dan,” he explained. “They’re five minutes out. I’m going to turn off the front sensors just long enough to get them inside.”
A few minutes later the doorbell rang, and Dan and Mia slipped easily inside.
Summer stared with curiosity at the woman Dan Romeo had married. They seemed such a physical contrast—the tall, dark muscular man and the petite woman with her brown hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail. The woman stepped forward immediately, hand extended.
“Hi. I’m Mia Romeo. Thanks for letting us barge in.”
Her smile was as warm and genuine as her handshake. The moment their hands touched Summer felt herself relax. Nonnie had told her often enough that people with psychic abilities often had instant recognition with others. It had been that way with her and Faith. Now she sensed it with Mia.
“No barging indicated,” she told the other woman. “I’m actually grateful that you think you might help. I’d like to be able to get rid of at least one part of this nightmare. Come on into the kitchen. I made fresh coffee.”
When they were seated at the kitchen table, Mia took a sip of her coffee and leaned back in her chair.
“I imagine all this is a nightmare for you, Summer. I had a similar situation myself when I met Dan and the Carpenter Techtronics case blew up in our faces. I’m fortunate that mine didn’t become a regular occurrence, and I completely sympathize with you.”
“Usually it’s not as bad as this,” Summer told her. “And after a couple of days, the media disappears. For some reason this time the crowd is at least four times larger than usual and not about to go away.”
“I did notice they’ve dwindled down to a determined few,” Dan told them. “I’d say by tomorrow they might even be gone. A new week, new assignments.”
“Lord, I hope so.”
“But even when they’re gone,” Troy put in, “the other problem still remains. I listen to the calls every night so I can pull off the messages for Summer that she needs and get a feel for where this guy is. I’m telling you, he’s escalating. His messages are getting angrier and more vicious.”
Dan nodded. “It won’t be too long before he decides he needs to confront you, Summer. That’s why even when the media’s gone, we’re keeping the security in place.”
“Including me,” Troy told her. He took her free hand and laced his fingers through hers. “I’m here for the duration.”
Summer wished she knew exactly what “the duration” meant, and she felt her cheeks heat when she saw Mia and Dan exchange glances.
Mia cleared her throat. “In any event, I told Dan I’d like to help identify this guy if possible. I’m not promising anything, but I’ll give it a shot.”
“Troy explained a little bit of your abilities to me. And I’ve tried to learn about different psi abilities other than my own. Just to kind of get a feel for the whole environment.”
“Then you know I see things in bits and pieces and often have to interpret them. With Chase Carpenter’s gizmo, we were looking for the place where it might be hidden. I got images of a boat, blocks with numbers on them, and something that identified the marina. I wish I could control it better, but I work with what I have.”
“So what can I do to give you whatever you need in my situation?”
“Tell me all about your stalker.” Mia took another sip of coffee. “When he first started, how long this has been going on. How he contacts you. And Troy? I’ll want to hear some of those calls.”
Summer watched Troy and Dan exchange a glance.
“I know those calls aren’t pleasant,” she said. “Haven’t I heard enough of them? But if it gives Mia a sense of this guy, enough that precognitive abilities can latch onto something, we need to do it.”
“She’s right,” Mia agreed. “Dan, honey, you know I’m no shrinking violet who has to be protected. And I can listen objectively.”
“Fine.” Dan pushed his mug aside. “But I’m listening with you.”
Troy snagged Summer’s elbow. “You might want to skip this part, sugar.”
She shook her head. “I appreciate your concern, but it won’t be anything I haven’t heard before. And maybe I need to be there while Mia listens. You know, so she can make a connection. If possible.”
She could see him struggling with her answer, but then he nodded. “But I’m holding onto you.” He gave a half smile. “For myself, okay?”
“Okay.”
Even Mia’s face turned white as Troy played the recordings back for them to hear. And Dan’s eyes showed as much anger as Troy’s as the stalker spewed out his venom.
“Okay,” Troy said, turning the machine off. “I think we’ve heard enough.” He looked at Mia. “That give you what you want?”
“Not what I want, but what I need.” She let out a slow breath. “I won’t have to wonder if I’ll be thinking about this. It will be hard to erase from my brain.”
Dan reached for his wife’s hand. “I don’t want you to do this if it will stress you out, sweetheart.”
Her laugh was anything but humorous. “As if I can stop things from popping into my brain. At least this time it might be to help a friend.”
Troy peered out the window as Mia and Dan got ready to leave.
“You might not need those glamorous duds,” he commented. “There are only a couple of hardy souls still hanging around.”
”I think we’ll go as we came,” Dan told him. “Even those few might wonder why the utility repair people are leaving in street clothes. But you’re right. We may be winding down to the end of this. At least for now.”
“I’ll still be staying here,” Troy said. “There’s still the stalker to catch. Summer still needs personal protection.”
Dan grinned. “And I’m guessing you’re happy to provide it.”
“You take care,” Mia told Summer. “The guys will get this jackass. And maybe I’ll be able to help a little.”
Impulsively, Summer hugged her. “Thank you so very, very much. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.”
“Oh, actually, I do. Believe me.” But then. I’m sure you feel the same way.”
Dan touched Mia’s arm. “We’d better get going. I’ll touch base with you guys later.” He turned his gaze on Summer. “It would be stupid for me to tell you not to worry. Of course, you will. But Phoenix hasn’t failed yet. We’ll get this jackass.”
When they were gone, Troy pulled her into his arms. “Dan is right, you know. We will get him.”
She leaned into him, loving the warm, hard feel of him. “I know. I trust you.”
And hadn’t she once thought she’d never be able to say that to anyone again?
“I have to believe you can hear me.”
Gayle Hauser sat beside her husband’s bed in the same chair she’d occupied day after day and held his limp hand in hers. Machines still beeped, whirled, and whispered as they dripped medication and vital fluids into his system and monitored his vital signs. She talked to him and read to him, forcing herself to believe that she was reaching him even as hope for his recovery dwindled.
At times like this she wished they’d had children, someone she could draw strength from. Oh, they had friends who stopped by as often as they could, but it wasn’t the same thing.
The door to the room opened, and she looked up to see his doctor. The woman nodded to her and lifted Clark’s chart to read.
“There’s not much new, is there?” Gayle asked in a fatalistic voice.
The doctor gave her what she assumed was supposed to be a reassuring smile. “I’ve seen people come back from worse than this.”
“But more often they don’t,” Gayle pushed. “Right?”
The doctor hooked the clipboard back onto the foot rail of the bed. “You’re right. He’s failing more each day, and there isn’t a lot more we can do for him medically. But I always say never give up hope. I’ve seen more than one miracle in my lifetime.”
“Thank you for that.”
I wish that man would call.
“I’ll check back again before I leave the hospital. See how he’s doing.”
“Thank you.” But Gayle knew exactly how he was doing. And it wasn’t good.
She turned back to him after the doctor left.
“Clark, I love you. I hope you can feel it, even if you can’t hear me. If you can just hold on a little longer, I can persuade this woman to come here and make you well. I looked her up on the Internet, and she really has healed a lot of people.”
Again she felt that little tightening of his hand on hers that had happened the previous night.
It isn’t a spam or an unconscious reflex like they tried to tell me. I know you’re aware of me.
“Hold on, Clark. Please hold on.”
Kurt Olberman sat on the side patio, watching his dogs play on the lawn and enjoying his vodka on the rocks. It was time to check in with Reid again. This was taking too long. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the man’s judgment or have confidence in his ability to know what to do and when to do it. But the people he’d reached out to, sounded out about the possibility of Summer Cahill’s services, were getting impatient. And expectedly so. When one had a member of the family who was ill and resisted all cures, then anxiety became the primary emotion.
He speed-dialed a number on his cell phone and lifted it to his ear.
“It’s almost time for her to make the call,” was the first thing Reid said.
“Almost isn’t what I want to hear.”
“I know, but we can’t do this while the woman is still under siege,” Reid reminded him. “She’d never come out of the house. I checked. That’s her pattern.”
“Oh?” Olberman sipped his vodka. “And how did you check? You didn’t give anything away, did you?”
“You think this is my first rodeo?” Reid’s tone was edged with resentment.
“No, no, no,” Olberman assured hm. “Just tell me how you went about it.”
“The day we got here, when I drove by the house to get the lay of the land, the crowd outside was still pretty big. I let Bonner out, and he hung out with the media, pretending to be one of them. He told them he was freelance, this was his first time covering this, and did they think she’d come outside so they could get a crack at her.”
“Good thinking. We really didn’t discuss the mechanics of this much before you left.” He paused. “But you know I trust you to put a plan together and implement it.”
“Thank you.”
“So where do things stand now?”
“I’m going to check out the scene again tomorrow. There was hardly anyone left today. I’m guessing they got tired of waiting. If it’s clear tomorrow I’ll call the Hauser woman and give her the go-ahead.”
“And you think she’ll do exactly what you want her to?” Olberman persisted.
“Oh yeah. She’s desperate to help her husband. She’ll do anything.”
“And she understands if she breaks the secrecy she loses the money.”
“Absolutely.”
“All right, then. Call me tomorrow and update me.”
“Will do.”
Olberman disconnected the call and put the cell phone down on the table. He smiled, the scent of success so close he could smell it.