Garden of Sorrow (Book 4 of Psychic Visions, a paranormal romantic suspense) (28 page)

That sent shivers down her spine. A stalker. That added a whole new dimension of creepy to this mess. "But why? Why me?"

He's scared of you, of what you can do to hurt him.

Alexis was stunned. "I can hardly do anything compared to you. Even Kevin's abilities exceed mine."

"I'm not so sure about that," Kevin said quietly. "You don't realize how far you've come and just how many areas you've just barely touched on…so far."

It had never occurred to her that her abilities might worry a predator. It wasn't something she even wanted to think about. Stefan overrode her worries with a completely different observation.

It's your ability to communicate with his victims that disturbs him. He's afraid of what they could tell you
. Stefan's voice became even fainter
. Information that will give him away.

"Why? It's not like they've told me anything useful. Why would he start worrying now?"

"Actually, you've helped quite a lot," Kevin said. "You're the one who pinpointed the license plate that allowed us to rescue the child. And it was you who recognized that Stefan was in trouble."

He knows he was careless in the beginning, before he learned to hide his tracks. He's scared you might find something from back then that could give him away.

Alexis didn't know what to think.

For whatever reason, those that passed at his hand are contacting you.
Stefan's voice weakened, became thin and reedy. His ability to converse was almost gone.

Kevin stepped in to take control of the conversation.
Stefan, is this why you asked to see Alexis, or is there something else?

She…she needs to meet the rookies.
With that, Stefan's voice faded into the distance, leaving a blank emptiness in the room.

"R
ookies?" Alexis was puzzled. She looked to Kevin for understanding. "What did he mean?"

"Come on, let's go. I'll explain on the way." He gently untangled Stefan's hands from hers, tugging her toward the hallway. Outside, they headed for the parking lot, almost running.

Kevin slid into the driver's side and started up the engine. Without saying anything, he pulled out of the lot and drove through the main part of town. The sun shone heavy in the late afternoon sky, giving everything a wavy, surreal look as glimpses of it flashed by. Suspicious, Alexis studied Kevin's sassy grin. He was up to something.

While she contemplated just what that could be, Kevin pulled up to a Chinese restaurant. Alexis started to get out, but he stopped her.

"I'll go in and pick it up."

Surprised at that, she watched him exit the truck then come back a few minutes later with the food. Takeout worked. They needed to talk, and he'd said it was easier to do that at home. This probably meant his home, given the circumstances. But he continued to surprise her as he drove through town and headed on out again. With rising delight, Alexis realized where they were headed.

Relief, greater than she could have imagined, settled inside her as Kevin turned onto the well-worn dirt road leading to his lakefront property. She needed this, had craved it even. The natural surroundings filled her with peace, and not only because of the memories of their passionate interlude. Simply said, the beauty of the place suited her soul.

Once there, they parked and got out. The layers of tension dropped off as they made their way to the water's edge. Alexis sighed happily as she dropped down onto a flat rock and divested herself of shoes and socks.

"Brrr."
The water chilled her hot, sore feet. She couldn't ignore the impulse to roll up her jeans and let her toes dangle in the water. Dropping her jacket on the rock behind her, she proceeded to use it as a pillow.

"Oh, this feels so good." Alexis moaned in delight. She even went so far as to pull her tank top up to her ribs and loosen the button on her jeans.

"Don't let me stop you from stripping down to the skin. Have a swim if you want."

"Nope, don't want to, but neither do I feel like moving again for a while. Do you mind bringing dinner over here?" Alexis never even opened her eyes as she spoke, but seconds later she heard him approach with the rustle of the paper bags. The rich aroma of Chinese food caused her stomach to growl, loudly announcing its neglected state to a very amused Kevin.

"Dinner is served, m'lady."

"Uhmmm," she murmured sleepily, refusing to move.

"Eat first, nap later." Kevin opened the various tubs and boxes.

She rolled over and reached for the plate he held out. It was the perfect picnic.

Working through her dinner, she realized that Stefan's continued improvement had given her peace of mind. She couldn't imagine moving forward with this psychic stuff without him. Besides he'd claimed a spot in her heart, too.

How quickly she'd adjusted to this new reality. She munched on her dinner thoughtfully. She hadn't given much thought to her future since Lissa's passing. At the time, she felt her continuous existence was a punishment, not a gift.

For the first time in a year, she understood just how many gifts she'd been given. It was sobering to realize how long she'd walked around in a fog of grief. Lissa's death may have been the reason, but it was no excuse to continue.

"Heavy thoughts again, huh? You're the darnedest one for those."

She eyed him wryly. "It's that time of life for me."

"You're too young to have a mid-life crisis. So what's the issue here?" Kevin's voice took on a coaxing tone. "Come on, spill the beans."

"I've already lived a lifetime in many ways. If I want to have a mid-mid-life crisis, I will," she said in a light voice. "Actually, I've decided it's time to move."

Kevin straightened at her unexpected announcement. "You mentioned something like that before. But where?" he asked cautiously.

"I don't know yet, but I know I need a change," she mused. "Being here makes me realize how a space can improve or dampen a state of mind. My apartment's doing nothing for me. I need a welcoming space again. Maybe I'll start my business back up, or start a different one. I need to think on it a bit more. Do I keep my job, go to part time or find something different altogether?" She watched him fill his plate for the second time. "Suggestions?"

"Don't make a major change until this mess is cleared up," he advised. "Everything is out of whack for you right now."

"This isn't a new idea." She gazed over the sparkling pools of water, glistening in front of them. The cooler evening, combined with the slight breeze off the water, dampened any desire she might have had to swim. Even so, the amazing view soothed her aching soul. It was such a spectacular view that healing energy literally surged through her, leaving peace and contentment in its wake.

"I need something like this. There's been so much pain and sorrow in my life to date. This..." She motioned with her arms. "Or something like this would help me heal when I come home." She could tell from his face that he understood what she was trying to say. "My heart needs a place to rest and rejuvenate."

"That's partly why I'm building here. Some days, because of my job, I feel like I have nothing more to give." He stared down at his half-eaten food. "The things I've seen..." He shook his head. "Many evenings, I've driven out here to just sit and forget." He smiled with deep understanding. "It makes the rest of what I do, easier to deal with."

Alexis stood up suddenly and brushed her pants off. "I thought about contacting a real estate agent to see if there is something comparable out there. Preferably with a house already standing on it." She surveyed the area. "Are there any trails to walk here?" She slid a teasing sidelong glance at him. "You never did show me around the last time we were here."

He got up, grinning at her lighthearted reminder. "There were more pressing issues then. Let's go this way and I'll show you my world."

***

The hospital visiting hours were winding down. Slowly, groups of people made their way to exits all over the vast building. It had been an ordinary evening for most people. It was a welcome chance to say 'hi' to loved ones, and bring them something to brighten their stay.

Dressed casually, the tall, slim man walked through the hallways. He knew how the system worked here. The nurses tended to ignore the comings and goings at this hour, for they knew that visitors could be the bright spot in the day for the people forced to stay behind. If there were one or two laggards coming in during the evenings, anyone with half a heart turned a blind eye for a little bit longer. Their rounds would start soon enough and then they could chase the last stragglers out the door. So, finding someone walking around the halls past visiting hour, wasn't exactly a suspicious event.

Which was unfortunate.

He strode down the halls with purpose. As he passed the nurses' station, he didn't even receive a questioning glance. Perfect.

There was a large set of metal shelves at the far end of the hall. Both clean laundry and dirty laundry sat heaped in their respective places. As he approached, he saw a white lab coat tossed over the edge of the 'dirty bin.' Without a thought, he snagged it up, and quickly put it on.

Look at that, it wasn't even a bad fit. If not knowing who'd worn it, or where, made his skin crawl, he ignored that. It was necessary and he'd be damned if he'd turn down the unexpected gift.

When he reached the correct door, he glanced about surreptitiously, and saw the hallway was empty. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The room was empty but for the single occupant. It appeared to be the right man. Tonight's visit was all about removing what could be a potential problem. It didn't matter so much if he killed the wrong man, but if he left the right man alive because of uncertainty, that would be a serious error in judgment.

But from where he stood, he recognized the man's energy. It seemed frail, almost non-existent. Maybe he'd die anyway. No, that wasn't likely. This asshole was too tenacious to die.

On his own.

He shoved his hand into his pocket. Now, should it be the needle or the pillow?

***

Alexis loved the scent of pine trees. The rich aroma wafted up with every step.

"We used to come here every day in the summertime," Kevin reminisced. "My brothers and I ran around out here for hours…" He turned toward her, his face lighting up as if to say something, when suddenly the color drained from his face and he fell to his knees, gasping in shock.

"Kevin!" Alexis reached for him, dropping to her knees to support his weight. "What's the matter? Kevin? Talk to me, damn it." She'd never seen him like this, and she didn't like it. He'd always seemed so strong.

"Stefan," he whispered, digging his fingers into her arms.

She leaned closer to hear. "What about Stefan? Is he okay? Kevin, talk to me." She helped him to lie on the ground as the shadows deepened around them. "Is Stefan in trouble?"

Kevin nodded, now gasping for breath. "I have to help him." His eyes rolled up in his head and he was gone.

"Kevin!" There was no answer. "Oh God! Now what the hell do I do?"

Call the hospital!

Alexis barely deciphered Kevin's faint telepathic message. She was galvanized into action. Her fingers grappled for her cell phone. She punched in the numbers still permanently emblazed in her mind.

She couldn't believe her luck. "Hello, Moira is that you? This is an emergency. Please run and check on Stefan. If there's…Moira? Moira, are you there?"

Alexis looked down at the cell phone. There'd been a clunk followed by faint hospital sounds, leaving her to assume that Moira had literally dropped the receiver and run.

Odd, you'd think she'd have questioned Alexis. But then, as Alexis's mind worked through the oddity, she realized Scott had probably told Moira about Alexis's odd abilities.

Abilities? Could she use them now? She closed her eyes and thought of Stefan. She tried to reach out but all she could see was a maelstrom of energy contained in a way she didn't know how to penetrate. He'd said she could reach out to him anytime. She just needed more self-confidence.

She tried again to reach Stefan. Nothing. She could see movement. Action of some kind but she wasn't a part of it. She had to trust in Kevin. And Stefan.

With the shadows deepening and darkening by the minute, Alexis didn't know what else to do. Hang up the phone and call back, or wait. There was no decision to make regarding Kevin. She couldn't possibly move him on her own. She disconnected the hospital call. She eyed the phone in her hand, and then dismissed it. Kevin wouldn't thank her for letting others know. As he'd watched over her, she could stand guard for him.

She sat down on the cooling ground to wait. Damn she hated that corpselike look on his face.

After a few minutes, she redialed.

"Hello, is Moira there? No. Do you know where she's gone? Okay. I just phoned in an emergency in Room 207 but was cut off. Could you please check on them?" She tried hard to keep her voice cool and controlled. Inside, panic ruled. What could have happened to Moira? "Fine. Yes, I'll ring back in a minute."

Now she had to wait again.

Gloom no longer gently enveloped them. Chilly darkness had settled in instead. There was no change in Kevin. She didn't dare join him; there'd be no one to protect the two of them. She had to trust that the two men could handle whatever hell they were in.

The wait seemed interminable.

Several times, she called the hospital. Then someone picked up, "Bradford General Hospital. How can I help you?"

At least someone had answered. "I need to speak with Moira, please."

"I'm sorry. She is unavailable at this time."

"What? I just spoke to her less than ten minutes ago. She went to check on a patient for me."

"I'm sorry. I only know that she is unavailable."

"Has she been hurt? You don't understand. I sent her to check on a patient that might have been in danger."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Maybe you need to contact the police."

Alexis snorted. "The police are already on it, you idiot," she snarled into the night as she snapped her phone closed. She glared at the man still prone beside her. "Well, Kevin, isn't it time to come back?"