Into a Dangerous Mind (19 page)

“But now that we are prepared, he won’t be able to fool you the same way twice,” Cassidy reminded him.

“True.”
 
Zach nodded grudgingly.
 
And I also found a note in the report from the officer who processed the parent’s murder scene.
 
He said the room felt very oppressive when he arrived and several of his men—police veterans—were very skittish on the scene and left as soon as possible.
 
A few even got sick—that’s very uncharacteristic.”

“I don’t understand, what does that tell us?”

distinct aura.
 
It takes energy to use the gift and that energy leaves a residue where the actions can be traced.
 
And most of the time, that type of aura will cause people who are sensitive—even a little—to react negatively.
 
You know, hair on the back of the neck standing up, uneasiness, and the gut feeling that tells you to get the hell out of there.

“And since they were both stabbed at close range, an hour apart—I’ll bet it was by someone they thought they could trust.”

“Like their only son?”

“Exactly my thoughts.”
 
Zach picked up his soda and drank deep.
 
“We are dealing with one sick son of a bitch.”

“You just now figured that out?
 
Way to go, Secret Agent Man,” Cassidy teased.

Zach captured her hand and lifted it to his lips.
 
“You know, you’re the only woman I’ve ever let get away with calling me some stupid pet name.”

“You love it—even though I didn’t start out meaning it as an endearment.”
 
Cassidy downed the last of her Diet Pepsi.
 
“Hey, remember when you told me about my gifts and you said there are different types of powers?
 
Well, what kind of powers did Brian’s parents have?”

Zach pulled a file across the table and opened it.
 
“From what I can tell, the mother had strong empathic and remote viewing powers as well as some psychometry.”
 
At her raised eyebrow, he elaborated.
 
“She could touch something the missing person owned and see what happened to them or pick up emotional energy.
 
The father’s specialty fell in psychic communication—mind to mind—as well as thought implantation, which is why he was good at rehabilitation therapy.”

“Wait, you mean he could put thoughts in people’s minds?”
 
Cassidy tried to grasp the concept, but her mind wouldn’t wrap around it.

Zach nodded.
 
“It’s not very difficult.
 
If I met you a week ago, I could have said something softly inside your head and you might have mistaken it for your own thought.
 
Some people are more susceptible than others, but criminal minds are usually paranoid enough to take every thought that floats across their radar seriously.
 
Of course, that is a rather large generalization.”

“So, what flavor of powers do you and your mother have?”

Zach leaned back in his chair.
 
“I’m very strong with mind to mind communication and have some empathic talents.
 
I also have gifts in the thought implantation arena, but since I struggle with the ethics of those actions, I don’t use them.
 
I can also physically affect someone else.”

Cassidy smirked.
 
She still remembered quite well how he had physically affected her—several times—last night.

an example of how I can physically affect people.
 
As for last night, psychic powers only enhanced that.”

Fascinated with this new information about his abilities, Cassidy pushed on.
 
“What about your mom?”

“Mom is a terrific general psychic.
 
She has a little power in all areas, but large amounts in healing and empathy, which makes her a great mentor.
 
She also has the patience of a saint.”

Cassidy decided to probe him more about his mother later.
 
“So, what kind of gifts do I have?”

Zach considered her, leaning back in his chair.
 
“Well, you are obviously adept at mind to mind communication.
 
Only one person really needs to be to make it work minimally, but since both of us are strong in that area as well as empathy, it does make physical relations rather intense.”

Cassidy’s blush burned hot against her cheeks.
 
“What else?”
 
She ignored his knowing chuckle.

“You also have some remote viewing talent.
 
You haven’t seen anything in the future yet, but you get vivid pictures of the present, so it’s very possible you could get past and future as well.
 
Then there is the talent for phantom touch.”
 
The last comment he added quickly.

“Phantom touch, what’s that?”

Zach propped his feet on the chair next to him and leaned back lacing his fingers behind his head.
 
“The morning I cooked you breakfast you were having some very vivid sexual dreams about me.”

“How did you know that?”
 
Her mind whirled as she sifted through possibilities.
 
“Did you tap into my dreams?”

Zach laughed.
 
“Not exactly.
 
I was baking biscuits when a very persistent and busy mouth gave me a pretty competent blow job.”

The knowledge of what happened shot through her like a laser.
 
“Oh, my God, I gave you a phantom blow job?”
 
She giggled, half horrified, half amused.

“Hey, not so loud.
 
These guys live for gossip.”
 
Zach dropped his feet and arms and looked around to make sure no one heard her.

Cassidy laughed at herself.
 
“I thought I was having a torrid fantasy about my dream man and I psychically acted some of it out.
 
I’ll definitely need to do some more practice with phantom touch.”

think it was your best power.
 
You never cease to amaze me, Cassidy James.”

Cassidy sighed and propped her feet on her coffee table.
 
She’d stared at files, computer screens, dossiers, and God knows what else until she thought her eyeballs would dry up, fall out, and roll around on the floor.
 
Amazing how much paper and record space the FBI devoted to infinite details about so many lives.
 
She rubbed her eyes and yawned.

“None of that.”
 
Zach came through the front door with Kathy and Dix.
 
“I found these two out front and invited them in for dinner.”

.

She stood exchanging pleasantries, and gave Kathy a hug and kissed Dix on the cheek.
 
“Come on in, guys, it’s going to be ten finger gourmet, but you’re welcome.”
 
She gestured everyone into chairs and then sat back down heavily and plopped her feet on the coffee table again.

A crease formed between Dix’s red brows.
 
“Ten finger gourmet?
 
I’m going to be sorry I asked, but what the hell is that?”

is my best friend’s favorite cooking style.
 
You pick up the phone, punch in the numbers with a single finger and someone magically brings prepared delicacies to your door.”

Dix studied her for a moment as if deciding if she was serious and then burst out laughing.
 
“Marry me, Cassidy, you’re a woman after my own heart.”
 
Dix slid off the couch, dropped to one knee and dramatically kissed Cassidy’s hand.

“So many men, so little time.”
 
She fanned herself with her hand.

“She’s already taken, Dix, go find your own.”
 
Zach took Cassidy’s hand from Dix and shooed him away to sit on the couch.

Cassidy smothered another yawn.
 
“The menu drawer is in the end table by you, Dix, choose your poison.”

Suddenly a sharp pain sliced its way down Cassidy’s arm.
 
She slapped a hand to the wound and yelped.
 
As nausea gripped her she closed her eyes and took a deep breath to fight the sensation off.
 
Hot blood dripped down her arm, and she continued taking deep breaths to keep from passing out from the pain.

“Cassidy?” she heard from three concerned voices.

“Talk to me, Cass.”
 
Zach touched her cheek.

She opened her eyes gingerly and looked down at her arm.
 
Whole and healthy, but pain still radiated through her, as the phantom blood ran hot along her arm.

She met Zach’s eyes.
 
“I felt a sharp pain, like someone cutting my arm with a knife, and I can still feel the blood running down my arm.”

Kathy ran her hand over Cassidy’s hair.
 
“Are you all right?”
 
Waves of concern flowed off her hitting Cassidy’s new heightened perceptions in a comforting rush.

Cassidy nodded and then screamed as another sharp pain sliced down her thigh and cut deep.

“Cassidy!” Kathy yelped.

“Dix, get Kathy a drink and start explaining things to her.
 
All her concern and worry are beating against Cassidy, and she needs to concentrate right now.”
 
Zach held Cassidy’s hand in his.

She kept her eyes tightly closed.
 
“He’s cutting someone.
 
I’m not in a vision this time, but I think I’m going to be sick.”