Legacy (7 page)

In most cases, telling the parents of a teenage boy that they were about to become grandparents would be a bad thing. It might still be. But perhaps Sean’s folks would see it the way Rachel did—like a piece of their son was still alive.

If I didn’t have a plane to catch, I’d go with you.

Her laugh didn’t cover her anxiety. “Thanks, but I’m not sure I really want to know what they think of me.”

It doesn’t matter what they think of you. Sean loved you.

Tears came to her eyes. “Thanks, Maddie.”

One more thing. If they give you any trouble, tell them I said there was a good chance Gran McFee would’ve dreamed you two together.

“Gran McFee?”

Their family matchmaker.

She smiled. “I guess you’d know about things like that.”
Since you put the ideas into Sean’s head that got him to ask me out.

Sean told you what I did?
I felt my face get hot.

She smiled, but her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Thanks. He once told me that he needed the push you gave him.”

So, if the parents get mad, be sure to deflect a bunch of that blame onto me, okay?

“Of course. That was the plan all along,” she deadpanned.

I snorted with laughter.

Trevor and I took one of the vans down to the airport in Manchester. We’d need the larger vehicle when we returned with his family. I tried to keep my focus on the road. The only other time I’d ever driven one of the big vans, I’d gashed the hell out of one side on the front gate. The combination of controlling the large vehicle and scanning passing minds for intent-to-kill had my heart racing. I gripped the steering wheel with white hands.

The mountains interfered with my cell phone reception for the first part of the trip, but once we got to the interstate, Trevor swatted down his abdominal butterflies and called his grandparents.

“
Laurence residence.”

“Archer, it’s—it’s me.”

“
Who?”

He swallowed hard. “Trevor.”

“
Trevor’s not here. He’s at school out east.”

“Archer, it’s me, Trevor. I’m—I’m coming to Michigan to see you.”

“
You’re coming back?”
The voice didn’t seem enthusiastic and I felt something sink within Trevor.

“Just for today. Would you mind calling Laurie to see if she and the girls could come to Barton Hills? Maybe for dinner?”

“
You want them to drive all the way over here tonight?”

“Yes, sir. I’m bringing someone to meet all of you.” I felt his gaze warm me. “We have some important things to discuss.”

As soon as he finished the call, Trevor had me pull over and change places with him. Driving gave him something else to think about.

I bought a travel alarm clock and a car cell phone charger from one of the overpriced airport stores. I kept running nervous fingers against the little phone in my pocket. It felt like my personal talisman—a magical object that would keep us from harm. Its silence meant safety; Rachel would call if Isaiah came too near.

The flight packed me into a too-small space with annoyed and anxious strangers for hours. Life had been simpler before telepathy, but at least Trevor’s presence helped me deal with the new complexities. And hey, if terrorists tried to hijack the plane or something, I could always blast them.

The mental rumble of Chicago increased as we descended to land, pushing a never-ending babble into my head.
Ugh.
I used to like cities. I really did.
Here we go again. I’m going to try to shield to keep from sharing it with you, okay? One of us needs to be able to focus.

I want to help you.

I stroked my thumb across his knuckles.
Just get me to the car and drive us out to the suburbs quickly. That’ll help.

Williamson said that a charm named Bill would meet us by the rental car desks.

I nodded and laced my fingers through his. No one was going to charm Trevor on my watch.

Pale yellow anxiety jittered off the man waiting in front of the information kiosk.
“Maddie Dunn.” Williamson just said to keep thinking the name “Maddie Dunn.”

I pointed him out to Trevor as I tightened my grip on his hand. The guy looked to be about thirty and his casual clothes still somehow broadcast how expensive they were.

“
Maddie Dunn.” But what if they weren’t on that plane? “Maddie Dunn.” Should I stick around to meet them or can I—

Great. We can get this thing over with and I can get the hell out of here.
“Bill Davis. Dr. Williamson said you needed some help with a car.”

Trevor startled at the last name. “Davis? Any relation to Jared Davis?”

Bill’s fear and grief splashed within him.
They know about Jared. That must be why they’re here. The girl must be really shy; she hasn’t said a word.
“He was my older brother.”
And Isaiah killed them—even the kids. Is he still close-by?

Trevor’s eyebrows shot up and he inhaled sharply.
I have an uncle?
“You’re…are you going to Ganzfield now?”
He can tell me about my father. Wow. I have an uncle. And he’s also a G-positive. He’s…he’s family. I have family I never even knew existed.

“As soon as I get you squared away with the car, I’m on a flight east.”
Ganzfield’s probably the only safe place right now. What’re these kids going to do if Isaiah comes after them? They shouldn’t be here.

The rental car agent eyed me suspiciously as I handed her my license and credit card. “We can’t rent a car to anyone under twenty-five.”

I rolled my eyes.
Blatant age discrimination
. After all, I could put down enough collateral to cover whatever damage they feared I’d do.

Bill leaned in and laid on the charm. “Her age isn’t a problem.”

The clerk’s overly-tweezed eyebrows rose and her lips pursed into a knot.

I don’t have time to deal with her attitude.
Bill’s voice lowered. “You’re
delighted
to be able to help her today.”

The agent gave me a warm smile as she slid the papers to me. “Just sign here and you’ll be all set.”

I folded my copy into my purse and grabbed the keys.

Bill frowned.
It doesn’t feel right to leave these kids here in danger.
“You two…don’t get into any trouble, all right? Get back to Ganzfield quickly. Stay safe.”

My lips quirked at the resonance in his voice. It was the first time anyone had tried to charm me for my own good. How sweet. Manipulative, but sweet.

Something caught in Trevor’s throat and he nodded.

Bill narrowed his eyes for a moment—
something’s off here. Did the charm take?
—but then he turned and moved up the escalator to the Departures section.

Trevor watched until Bill was out of sight and then frowned and shook his head.
Wait. Did he just try to charm us?

I met his eyes and nodded.

And he’s my…my uncle?

Couldn’t this conversation wait until I no longer needed to shield my thoughts from him? Right now, all I could do was nod, so I did.

I handed Trevor the cell phone and he called to check in with Rachel.

“
You’re okay, for the moment.”
She sounded tired.

We took a shuttle to the lot where the little rental hatchback waited for us, and then followed Williamson’s printed directions out Route 290 to the town of Medinah. The mental pressure of the city increased as we approached the city center, and then eased as we left the densest urban areas. My brain felt trampled.

We passed the golf course and pulled up in front of the house. It was nice looking, in a generic suburban sort of way. I took a moment to steel myself—I now had to face the emotional anguish of a grieving mother and widow. The too-warm air of the sunny summer afternoon hit me as I opened the car door.

Trevor hesitated.

I looked at him for a moment, and then pulled the door closed again.
Do you need some time?

It’s okay. I just…

Unwanted. Rejected. Childhood insecurities welled up in his mind, making him feel small and powerless.

I took his face in my hands, bringing his eyes to meet mine.
Trevor, you are an amazing person. A—MAZ—ING. If they never knew that, it is their problem and their mistake. And I know what I’m talking about. I know you better than they do.

He smiled at his own words coming back at him, and then drew a deep, steadying breath. “Let’s do this.”

A square-jawed woman answered the door. Her eyes shone too-liquid with unshed tears. “Can I help you?”
What do these kids want? How do I get them to go away and leave Faith alone?

“I’m…Trevor Laurence.” Inside the house, I felt a flash of surprise as someone recognized the name.

So? My sister’s been through an unholy hell over the past few days and she doesn’t need—

“Let him in, please, Hope.”

The voice came from the living room, tired and full of pain. Faith Davis looked like she’d recently been pulled from a river. Buttons misaligned on the shirt that hung off her frame. Her strong features seemed washed out with grief. Faith examined Trevor closely, searching his face for some traits of her husband.
He’s about the same height as Jared. His hair has the same texture, although the color is darker.
She wasn’t sure if she was disappointed that the resemblance wasn’t stronger.

Trevor and I took the two empty chairs. Faith sat on the couch, looking hollowed out and fragile with her hands folded in her lap. She never noticed that I didn’t speak.

Finally, Trevor asked, “Can you tell me what happened?”

Her face crumpled and she leaned her head in her hands. I saw her memory—the family at the dinner table together as they finished the meal. Faith had gone into the kitchen to scoop some ice cream for dessert. She’d heard the kids giggling at something their father was doing and a warm splash of devotion had welled within her.

Then her daughter’s worried voice had called out, “Daddy?” There’d been a soft thud and Faith’s world had gone into slow-motion. The ice cream scoop had dropped onto the floor. Her husband and son had lain unmoving and lifeless. Her daughter had convulsed for a few seconds before she, too, had gone limp.

The tears started down my face and I swallowed hard against the rising tide of nausea. Faith still hadn’t answered aloud, but she didn’t have to. I’d seen the effects of a mental attack before—hell, I’d
caused
them. But this evil,
evil
man had murdered
children
. Something turned hard within my gut. Isaiah could
not
be allowed to get away with this. He had to be stopped.

I bit my lip. I didn’t want to cause this woman further pain, but we needed to know more. I floated the thoughts gently into her mind.
Did I see anything unusual? Any strange people around?

Faith concentrated, trying to answer what she believed were her own questions, but came up blank. She wiped her face and tried to focus what was left of her shattered soul.

My hands shook so I wrapped my arms around myself to stop them.
We’re set,
I thought to Trevor. I just needed to see the mind of the witness. It made my heart ache that we’d upset her and hadn’t learned anything new.

Trevor hesitated. “What was he like?”

Faith sniffed and her tear-filled eyes unfocused into her memory. “Charismatic.” A sad smile softened her face. “People loved to be around Jared. He was so smart, so funny. He could make the most outrageous plan seem like a good idea.”

A wave of overpowering loss filled her and her grief grabbed me by the throat. Her husband, her children—the people who’d given her life meaning—were gone. A tear drew a wet line down my cheek.

Trevor murmured our sympathies again as we stood. At that moment, I felt so
useless
. I wished I had Hannah’s ability to soothe with a touch, or even Cecelia’s way of comforting with charmed words.

Back in the car, Trevor sat with closed eyes for several minutes, trying to make sense of this new little cul-de-sac on the road of his life. I held his hand, gently stroking my thumb across the back of his fingers. Intense emotions rolled across his mind, leaving it flat. Finally, he took a deep breath and looked up.

You okay?
I asked.

Yeah.
Trevor paused.
Maddie?

Yeah?

It was Isaiah, wasn’t it?

I gave a solemn nod.
Pretty sure. That was a telepathic attack.

Yeah
. He got lost in his thoughts for a while but I followed behind him, ready to show him the way out.

It’s not your fault, Trevor
.

If I’d killed him in Peapack, they’d still be alive.

My throat closed.
If I’d just stopped moving when he charmed everyone there to freeze, I could’ve killed him when he came close enough. Hell, if I’d just had a gun I probably could’ve shielded long enough to shoot him.

Maddie?

Yeah?

We’ve got to stop him.

I know.

Even if…even if it kills us.

I thought of Rachel’s growing excitement over the baby. She’d be destroyed if Isaiah ripped that child’s life from her. I felt protective of her, of the baby, of my mom, of all of Ganzfield.
Our people.
What would I do to protect them? How far would I go to stop Isaiah? I remembered going over the wall in Peapack—knowing I was outmatched—and I knew I’d do it again for another chance to take down this monster.