Into a Dangerous Mind (26 page)

She pulled her hand out of his and stalked to the far counter.
 
Turning back to Zach, she pierced him with a steely gaze.
 
“The Reaper is allowed to run free killing indiscriminately, but we aren’t allowed to put a stop to it?
 
You can’t tell me the FBI hasn’t done surgical strikes or assassinations in the name of politics.
 
This is about survival!”

He held up his hand.
 
“No, I can’t tell you anything of the sort.
 
But what I can tell you is to wield your power in that manner is far more damaging to you than to the recipient.”

in this scenario.
 
How can the price to me be worse than that?”

“I know.
 
But using powers to do damage is as addictive as any narcotic.
 
If you want a quicker, less painful death, I’d suggest becoming a heroine addict.”

“Damn it!
 
That doesn’t make any sense.”
 
She paced the small kitchen and tried to calm the swirl of anger laced with fear flowing through her.
 
Zach remained seated calmly studying her, which only frustrated her further.

“Cassidy, you’re forgetting, you’ll be using your mind to inflict this pain.
 
Using heroine turns off your mind and your emotions—which is why people use it for an escape.
 
There is no escape from what we’re talking about.
 
It will be all you can think of and all you can feel until you drive yourself insane.
 
Just like the Reaper.”

The idea of becoming like Brian percolated through her until she shuddered.
 
Hadn’t she experienced Brian’s glee at the suffering he inflicted?
 
Maybe Zach was right.
 
It was about power, domination, and pain, and she could see how easily it could become a narcotic in its own right.
 
But the thought of doing nothing while Brian tracked her and killed other women didn’t sit right, either.

“Doing nothing isn’t the idea,” Zach reminded her.
 
“You’re powerful enough to keep him at bay as well as help me find him.
 
But first we have to teach you some control as well as a knowledge of what you can and can’t do with your gifts.”
 
He stood and crossed the small kitchen to stand in front of her.
 
He placed his hands on her shoulders until she looked up into his cognac eyes.
 
“I’ll ask again, are you willing to trust me?”

She firmed her shields to keep her emotions at bay.

“Yes.
 
Show me what to do.”

Loud buzzing filtered through his mind, forcing him awake.
 
Zach opened his eyes gingerly and pushed Cassidy’s hair out of his face.
 
Light streamed through the windows and Cassidy’s nightstand clock advised a time of six-thirty in the morning.

He groaned, only in Arizona could you find cheery sunlight at six-freaking-thirty in the morning.

!” he heard again and this time recognized it as the vibrate function on his cell phone.

He slapped his hand over the offending appliance and brought it to his ear.
 
“Hatcher.”
 
He pulled his arm out from under Cassidy and sat up.

Cassidy rolled over and blinked at him sleepily.
 
“Zach, what’s going on?”

Dix’s voice sounded over the line.
 
“You two might want to take a discreet look out the front window, and for God’s sake, make sure you’re dressed.”

Cassidy must’ve heard, because she bolted out of bed and pulled on a robe.

“Wait,” Zach hissed at her while pulling on jeans from where they’d fallen last night in their usual rush to get in bed.
 
“We don’t know what’s out there.”

He zipped up his jeans, leaving the button open and retrieved his Glock from under his pillow.
 
He motioned for Cassidy to follow and they padded side by side into the living room.

“Don’t open the blinds so the movement can be seen outside,” he warned.
 
“Just open one a crack and peer through.”
 
Following his own directions, he peeked out and couldn’t believe what he saw.
 
Several news vans were parked along the street and a large group of reporters armed with microphones and cameras milled around them.

“Why the hell are all these news people here?”
 
Cassidy stood next to him peering out.

Zach had a sinking feeling in his gut and hoped he was wrong.
 
“Let me call Dix back and get the scoop.
 
Turn on the TV and see what they’re broadcasting.”

Cassidy flicked on the TV and switched to the local news channel.
 
A picture of the outside of her house filled the screen and she groaned at the image of a perky newscaster standing in the middle of her yard.
 
“Local Phoenix symphony cellist Cassidy James was called in yesterday as a psychic consultant to help the FBI find the latest victim in a string of mysterious murders committed by a man calling himself the Reaper.”

“Dix, turn on Channel five,” said Zach as soon as Dix answered.

Cassidy’s publicity photo with the symphony displayed in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
 
“The FBI refused to comment, but local law enforcement confirmed at least eight deaths to date.”

“Eight?”
 
Zach threw up his hands.
 
“If they’re going to leak it, they should at least leak the correct information!”

“Damn it!” growled Dix into the phone.

“Shhh, quiet.”
 
Cassidy chided them both.
 
“I want to hear the rest of this.”

“The FBI refused to release the names of the victims or any details about the deaths, but a local detective on the scene when the last victim was found advised that a twenty-eight-year-old woman was brutally stabbed to death.”

The camera panned in for a close-up of the perky blonde reporter.
 
“Miss James was attacked a week ago, but to date is the only one of the Reaper’s victims to escape.
 
This could explain why Special Agent Zachary Hatcher has put Miss James under twenty-four hour protection in her home in west Phoenix.
 
However, no details of why Miss James was called in to assist the FBI are available.
 
In fact, until this incident, it was unknown she possessed psychic gifts.
 
Stay tuned to news five for ongoing updates.
 
This is Sheila O’Donnell, Eye Witness News.”

Zach clenched his fists.
 
He knew exactly who the “local law enforcement” source was—Detective Watters.
 
He hadn’t trusted the man one bit and he’d been the one who had demanded to know why Cassidy was brought in.
 
“Damn!
 
Dix, did you know about this?”

“If you’d stop cussing and listen, I’ll tell you.
 
I just got off the phone with the director.
 
They called him at home for a comment.”

“Great.”
 
Zach plopped down next to Cassidy on the couch.
 
“I’m sure he loved that.”

“Not exactly.
 
He’s pissed and he wants this case wrapped up in the next few days.
 
But I did confirm the press’ story that Cassidy is under FBI protective custody.
 
As far as the psychic stuff, the Director still thinks the press is blowing smoke.”

“Great,” said Zach again.
 
“A perfect start to another day.”

Cassidy leaned over to look at her answering machine.
 
“Oh, my God! I have thirty-seven messages!”

Zach leaned past her to look at the machine.
 
“We never heard the phone ring.”

“I turn it off before I go to bed at night.
 
Anyone who needs me that badly has my cell phone number.”
 
She pushed the play button before Zach could stop her.

Cassidy sat on the couch with her shoulders slumped, looking dumbstruck as messages from local and national TV, radio, and newspapers played.
 
All of them seemed to want interviews with Cassidy.

Zach put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
 
“Try not to take it seriously.
 
It will all pass as soon as we catch the Reaper.”

“I’ve been outed to the entire state as a psychic.
 
I won’t be able to go outside to water my flowers without having my picture taken and a microphone thrust in my face, and I’m not supposed to take it seriously?
 
Won’t I also have wackos crawling out of the woodwork to solicit the services of a psychic?
 
And I don’t even know how to use my powers yet.”
 
She continued to sit slumped against him, eyes closed, resting her head on his shoulder.

Zach thought about the reception he’d been given whenever people found out about his powers.
 
“Probably, but you can’t hide what you are.
 
People would’ve found out eventually.”
 
He kissed the top of her head.

“The upside is that most people will consider your powers a scam and not pay any attention to the stories about you.
 
And it will probably even boost Symphony attendance.
 
But you may want to keep the drapes closed tightly whenever you’re practicing in the nude.”

“I don’t…”
 
Cassidy stopped as she realized she’d allowed him to bait her.
 
“You know, I really hate it when you make me smile when I’d rather be grouchy for a while.”

.”
 
He kissed her gently.

Cassidy reached out and took Zach’s hands in hers.
 
It had taken her quite a while, but she’d convinced everyone the next logical step was for them to try and contact the Reaper.
 
The fact that the FBI Director was breathing down Zach’s and Dix’s necks had helped, too.

“Can I just mention one more time that this is a really bad idea?” Dix offered.
 
“Cassidy, he fried you pretty badly the last time you brushed minds with him, remember?”

Zach spoke up.
 
“True, but Cassidy hurt him, too.
 
Enough so he hasn’t contacted her since then.
 
With the extra control she’s gained over the last few days, she can protect herself while I pinpoint the Reaper’s location.”

Cassidy looked over at Dix.
 
“Please try and understand, this is the only way to get this over quickly.
 
I’m tired of running.
 
I’m going to try this either way.
 
I’d much rather have everyone’s support behind me.”