I didnt give anyone my name. There was no mention of her in the body text, at least. I guess Mr. Walters told them.
Or the senator, Carmen suggested.
That was also possiblea jab at Mr. Family Values, consorting with a new woman right there at his ex-wifes funeral. What would voters think?
Worse, what would Lieutenant McBride think when he got a look at her name and face plastered across the front page?
She half expected to find him waiting on her doorstep when she arrived home that afternoon, storm clouds gathering in his eyes, so she was almost disappointed to find no one waiting. But when she entered her house to find her phone ringing, she wasnt surprised. She was listed in the directory; any reporter with a taste for a trumped-up scandal could look her up.
Lily grabbed the phone and took a deep breath, steeling herself for unpleasantness. Hello?
Lily Browning?
She knew that voice. The kidnappers harsh drawl was unmistakable. Lilys heart slammed into her ribs. You have Abby Walters.
There was a long pause over the phone. When the man spoke, he sounded wary. Howd you know that?
Is she okay? Lilys mind raced, wondering what to do next. Nobody was expecting the kidnappers to call here; all the recording equipment was no doubt set up at Andrew Walterss hotel, waiting for a ransom demand. As she scrabbled for something to write with, her gaze fell on the answering machine attached to her phone.
The kind that allowed her to record incoming conversations.
She jabbed the record button with a shaking finger.
Shes fine, for now, the kidnapper said.
You hit her, you son of a bitch!
There was a brief silence on the other end before the man spoke in a hushed tone. What the hell are you?
Lily ignored the question. Let me talk to her.
Dont be stupid.
Shivers raced up her spine, followed by the first hint of gray mist clouding the edges of her vision. Gripping the phone harder, she fought off the sensation. Why are you calling me instead of Mr. Walters?
You think we dont know the cops have his phone tapped? Weve been looking for a way to contact him away from his hotel. The caller laughed. Then we seen your picture in the paper. Lucky break, aint it?
Lily sank down on the floor, tucking her knees close to her body. You want me to pass along your demands to Mr. Walters?
Tell him its time to pay up. Well be in touch.
She heard a soft clicking noise. Wait!
But the man had already disconnected.
She slammed down the phone and covered her face with shaking hands. The door in her mind bulged, trying to force its way open, but she continued to fight the vision.
She had to call McBride.
With pain lancing behind her eyes, she checked the tape in the answering machine, terrified shed pushed a wrong button and failed to record the kidnappers message. But the harsh drawl was there. Tell him its time to pay up.
She shut off the recorder and dialed McBrides cell phone number. He answered on the second ring. McBride.
She released a pent-up breath. Its Lily Browning. The kidnappers just phoned me.
What? He sounded wary.
She told him about the call. I managed to record most of it on my answering machine. Do you want me to play it for you?
No, Im on my way. He hung up without saying goodbye.
By the time he arrived ten minutes later, her head was pounding with pain, the vision clawing at her brain. She didnt bother with a greeting, just flung the door open and groped her way back to the sofa, concentrating on surviving the onslaught of pain in her head. She wished she could escape to her room and let the vision come, but she had to stay focused.
McBride went straight to the answering machine. What time did the call come in?
She altered her expression, trying to hide the pain. The phone was ringing when I got homemaybe three-forty?
He listened to the tape twice before he pulled it from the machine. Ill get this to the feds on the task force, see if they can clean it up a little, pick up some background noises. Maybe we can pinpoint where he was calling from. And Ill take a copy to Mr. Walters, see if he recognizes the voice.
I recognized it, she said, keeping her voice low out of self-defense as the pounding in her skull grew excruciating. She tried to say something more, but the merciless grip of the impending vision tightened. Helpless against it, she sank into a whirlwind of dark, cold mist.
Chapter Five
The mist parted to reveal a small, blue-clad figure. Lilys heart quickened at the sight of dirty red curls. Abby?
The child didnt respond.
The mist dissipated, revealing a tiny room with mottled faux oak paneling and faded yellow curtains splotched with sunflowers. A tiny bed occupied the entire wall under the metal-frame window. A prefab house, or maybe a mobile home.
Abby? she whispered again.
The child sat on the cot, huddling in a ball against the wall, tears sparkling on her grimy cheeks. With horror, Lily realized one of the smudges there was a bruise.
Abby stirred, her blue eyes darting around the room.
Abby, its me. Lily. I talked to you the other day. Remember? In the car?
The little girls eyes widened. Her pink rosebud mouth opened, making words without sound. But Lily heard her thoughts, as clearly as if the child had spoken. Are you a ghost?
No, Im not. Im not scary at all. Lily touched her. Can you feel that?
Yes. Abby whispered back in her mind.
Good. See, Im not hurting you, am I?
Abby shook her head.
My name is Lily. I teach at your school. Maybe you remember me from there?
I cant see you, Abby replied.
Lily wondered if she could make herself visible to Abby. Was it even possible? She concentrated on seeing herself in the vision. She looked down at Abbys arm and visualized her own hand gently squeezing the soft flesh. But nothing happened.
Abbys eyes welled up. I cant see you! she whimpered.
Aloud.
Shh, baby, dont say it out loud. Lily held her breath, fearing the arrival of Abbys captors. After a few seconds passed and no one came, she exhaled. Remember, Abby, you have to think everything. We dont want the mean men to hear you.
Why cant I see you? Abbys thoughts were a frantic whisper. Where are you?
Im at my house, but Im thinking real hard about you, and my mind is touching your mind. Lily didnt know how to make Abby understand. She didnt really understand it herself.
Like a psychic? Abby asked. Like on TV?
Close enough, Lily thought. Yes.
Can you tell my future?
I know youre going to be okay. Im going to help you.
I want to go home. Abby started to cry. Lily put her arms around her, surprised by the strength of the mental connection. She felt the childs body shaking against hers, heard the soft snuffling sound. Warm, wet tears trickled down Lilys neck where the little girls face lay.
Soon, baby Lily stopped short.
Something began to form at the edge of her vision.
Her eyes shifted to the emerging image, her grip on Abby loosening. She drew her attention back to Abby, but not before she saw a shape begin to take form in the mists.
Something began to form at the edge of her vision.
Her eyes shifted to the emerging image, her grip on Abby loosening. She drew her attention back to Abby, but not before she saw a shape begin to take form in the mists.
Another little girl.
Lily? Where are you? Abby jerked away, her body going rigid. Theyre coming!
Suddenly she was gone, and Lily was alone in the fog.
But not completely alone.
In the distance, she still saw the hazy shape of the unknown little girl. But as she approached the child, the image shimmered and faded into gray.
The mists began to clear, and Lily found herself in her living room, slumped on the sofa. The afternoon sunlight had begun to wane, shadows swallowing most of the room. Maybe ten minutes had passed since the vision started.
Real time. I was really there.
But who was the other little girl?
Ms. Browning? The sound of Lieutenant McBrides voice made her jump.
He sat on her coffee table, his expression shuttered. Hed shed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt to his forearms. Back among the living? he asked dryly.
Her head pounded from the fight shed put up to hold off the vision until she could tell McBride about the call. Staggering to her feet, she headed to the kitchen for her pills.
The detective followed. Another headache?
She swallowed a pill and washed it down with water from the tap. If youre just going to mock me for the rest of the afternoon, go away. Dont you have a tape to analyze?
The feds are on the way to pick it up. Theyll give Sergeant Baker in my office a copy to take over to Mr. Walters.
At least Mr. Walters would know why she didnt make their meeting tonight, she thought.
McBride sat down at her kitchen table and waved toward the chair next to him. Im all yours for the evening. So why dont you tell me what the hell just happened in there?
I need to lie down.
His eyes narrowed. Fine. Im not going anywhere.
She ignored the threat and staggered to her room, wincing as sunlight sliced through the parted curtains, shooting agony through her skull. Too ill to draw the blinds, she groped her way to her bed and lay down, covering her eyes with her forearm.
She heard quiet footsteps approaching on the hardwood floor. She could feel McBrides gaze on her. You okay?
I just need to sleep.
Do the headaches usually come when you have visions?
Only when I fight them, she murmured through gritted teeth.
Why would you fight them?