Lifting the Veil (21 page)

“It’s okay.” She glanced up at her sister-in-law, refusing to shed a tear. “I’m okay. Honest.”

They didn’t buy it, and neither did she. From that point forward, they all avoided the subject.

Sophie was released from the hospital a day later and started rehab the following week. Things

were returning to normal. She was man-less and jobless, and both things she could do without. So much for the psychic saying she’d have her choice of jobs.

Two weeks after she’d left the hospital, Sophie was back to life as she knew it. Looking for a job and trying to figure out what to do next. She’d been through several of the books that Amber had brought her, trying to get a handle on her abilities. She wasn’t giving them up, no matter who asked. Not that she had the option. Sophie dropped her keys on the foyer table and was rummaging through her mail

when she noticed an envelope from the accounting firm where she’d applied. She tore into the

envelope and pulled out the letter. They wanted her. Not only did they want her to fill the position, but they were going to pay her a decent salary on top of that. With tax season around the corner, she wasn’t surprised. She’d known she’d find employment soon, even if it was just doing personal taxes.

She tossed the letter on her kitchen table and pulled out a bottle of water. The shower was calling her name. The rehab guy had worked her arm hard but she could feel that it was slowly getting better.

Another two weeks and she’d be as good as new, if you didn’t count the scar forming on her arm.

She had hit the brew button on the coffee maker, planning on having just one cup before her

shower, when her doorbell rang. She hurried to the door, thinking it was Amber and wondering when

she’d learned how to use the doorbell. Sophie pulled the door open and paused.

It wasn’t Amber at her door, or any other relative making it a point to check on her daily. Marshall stood on her doorstep, dressed in a suit and tie - just like the first day she’d met him.

“Well, are you going to invite me in?”

Sophie shook the confusion from her head and stepped back, gesturing him in. “Sure. I was just

about to have some coffee. Would you like a cup?”

“That would be great.”

He followed her into the kitchen and sat at her little table. He watched as she made both cups.

“How’s the arm? Have they released you yet?”

“Another two weeks,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “Apparently, I’m a fast healer. Speaking of which…” She grabbed the Flower Essence from her counter and used the dropper, taking her daily

dose. She wouldn’t go a day without it anymore. However the miracle stuff inside worked, it helped to clear her head and opened communications.

“That’s good news about the arm.”

She set a mug of coffee down in front of him and noticed the envelope on her table.

“How are you?” he asked in earnest.

“I’m good, really.” She smiled. “I’ve been learning more about my abilities and accepting them. I’m real good,” she said, trying to convince herself more than him.

“Well, this will just be icing on the cake then.” He slid the envelope over to her.

“What is it?”

“Open it and find out.” He leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee. She could feel his gaze on her as she opened the envelope and slid out the papers.

She read through the paperwork, glancing up every few seconds to make sure he was really there.

“You can’t be serious? You’re offering me a job?”

Marshall nodded. “Extremely.” He gestured to the papers. “It’s a new division I’ve started for gifted people such as yourself. As you can imagine, there are certain situations that could benefit from

someone with your abilities.”

“Marshall…I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes, Sophie. I’ll make sure you’re properly trained and have the equipment you need.”

She looked down again and noticed the salary. It was four times the amount of the accountant job

she’d just been offered in the mail.

“This isn’t psychic readings. This is going to be hard work. You’ll be helping a lot of people and a lot of police departments that could use the assistance you could provide.”

He leaned forward and crossed his arms on the table. “Are you interested?”

Helping people and being the voice for those that couldn’t be heard was exactly how she wanted to

spend her life. She couldn’t think of a better job for someone like her.

“Marshall…”

He held up his hand and stood. “If it’s the salary, we can adjust that.”

Was he kidding! The salary was astronomical.

“Since you’re the only one currently in that division, I’ll give you a cut of the cases we solve, a company car, and all of the other perks along with your salary, on the condition that you run that department.”

“Are you trying to buy me, Marshall?” she asked with one brow raised.

“No, I’m trying to give you the opportunity of a lifetime to do something you love. The right way, with the right training, Sophie. I only want the best for you; so if this isn’t it, then tell me what is.”

Sophie could no longer hold back her smile. If she was dreaming, she didn’t want to wake up. “Yes.”

“Perfect.” Marshall rubbed his hands together. “I’ll see you in the office when your therapy is over so I can give you an idea of what it is we do and show you around.”

She nodded, unable to say more.

He walked by her and paused to bend down and whisper in her ear. “You still owe me a favor. I

haven’t forgotten.”

He left before she could clear the fog from her brain. She had a job. She had two offers. The psychic had been right. Sophie grinned and wondered if Amber would be willing to go back next Halloween to see if the psychics would give up the winning lottery numbers.

You don’t need the numbers
.

“It couldn’t hurt to have a cushion to fall back on when I retire,” she answered Will out loud, a habit she was getting used to. His constant companionship had been what kept her from falling apart. His outbursts as they walked through the grocery store, telling her about the deceased loved ones who

were waiting for her to give messages, tickled her. She hadn’t been brave enough or bold enough to go up and ask a stranger if they wanted a reading. Well, not yet, anyway.

The doorbell rang again, and she left the employment package sitting on her table. She pulled the

door open and froze again. It still wasn’t Amber. No, it was the man who’d broken her heart. He hadn’t lied to her but it still hurt when he’d walked away.

“Jack.”

Jack pointed behind him. “Was that Marshall leaving?”

Sophie folded her arms over her chest. “Yes.”

“What did he want?”

Her brow rose. “He offered me a job.”

“Sophie, you can’t be serious.”

Sophie turned her back on Jack and walked back into her house. This reunion was calling for more

than coffee; she needed something stronger to take the edge off. The liquor would cloud her ability to talk to Will, but it might give her the liquid courage she needed to deal with Jack.

She pulled two beers out of the fridge and handed him one while she tried to twist off the top on

hers. Not such an easy thing when she wasn’t at full capacity.

Jack took it from her, removed the cap, and handed it back to her.

“You don’t need to take care of me.”

“Soph, listen.”

She took a swig to fight back the tears that were forming. She wouldn’t let him see her cry. “You

don’t need to explain, Jack. You told me from the beginning that it was just sex and the case. We had sex and solved the case. It’s done. I get it.”

He stepped up to her and took the beer out of her hands. He placed his palms on her cheeks.

“What if I want more? What if I want you?”

She looked up into his eyes as a tear escaped. “You left me when I was in the hospital.”

“I’m sorry, Sophie. I was confused.”

She stepped back out of his hold, putting more space between them and shook her head. “This is

me, Jack. I help dead people and the living. This is who I am. Who’s to say you won’t get confused again and walk out?”

He pulled her into his embrace, planted his lips on hers, giving her a kiss filled with so much passion and love that she was consumed, unable to pull away. When he stopped, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I know who you are, Sophie, and I love you. I love every part of you.”

Another tear slipped free. He swiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

“Just give me one more chance to prove it to you.”

“I accepted Marshall’s job offer,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.

He hesitated briefly before he kissed her again, and then whispered against her lips. “I don’t care where you work. I only care that you’re with me. That you feel about me the way I feel about you.” He kissed her again, slowly, savoring her. Her body melted into his before he pulled away. “Please forgive me, baby.”

She shook her head, unable to get the words out of her mouth.

He smiled, pulled a wrapped rectangular box out of his back pocket, and handed it to her.

“For me?”

“Belated birthday gift.”

She carefully opened the box, not sure what to expect. Her eyes widened at what she found. It was

a necklace with a stone she’d come to know well. She lifted the necklace with the turquoise pendent and closed it in her palm.

“It’s beautiful.”

He took it from her and clasped it around her neck. “Yes, but do you know what it does?”

She gave him a lopsided grin and glanced over her shoulder. “I do, do you?”

He chuckled. “Spiritual attunement and protection.” He wiggled his brows. “With a little extra

protection, thanks to the coven working their magic.”

She let her hair drop down and turned back around. “How did you know?”

He shrugged. “Let’s just say I’m learning. I figured if we’re going to be together, I should know how to protect you in every way possible.”

Her heart was full for the first time since she could remember. She threw her good arm around his

neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“What about the pentagram killer?” she asked. “If he strikes again, is it going to scare you off

because I have to tell you….He’s the first asshole I’m going after.”

She watched a flicker of worry cross his face. “I’ll protect you, baby.”

“I’ll protect you.” She kissed him again, using every ounce of stored passion she had in her. Her life would never be ordinary, never be totally sane, but she wouldn’t change it for the world. Not when she was capable of helping so many.

****

healed. They watched movies, made love, and she took time to learn meditation. Convincing Jack to sit still that long had been a chore without his hands roaming, but he eventually learned she needed it to free her mind. She was happy; he was happy; and their time together was well spent. Each new day

created challenges they were learning to handle together. Sophie grew stronger as a person, as a

girlfriend, and spiritually. Talking to Will had become second nature; and now, when she saw a flyer for a missing person, she’d start getting flashes, even if it wasn’t the full information on what happened. It was a start. Trying to figure out names and finding the killers tended to create problems, but she was working with her gift every day.

She could still feel the tension that surrounded Jack about the pentagram killer. A little bit of relief filled his eyes when they’d re-examined what had originally happened to Jack all of those years ago.

When they’d raided Kingston’s home, he’d kept records of all of his killings and attempts. It made sense really. It wasn’t just luck that had kept Jack alive, he wasn’t a part of the coven and he was a cop.

Her intuition told her that the pentagram killer would become her problem in the years to come. It was just a matter of time before she would be responsible for stopping him, and she would. Training was forthcoming, and a new life, a stronger life, would help to provide closure to those in need.

That was her destiny, and she would not fail.

Thanks for reading book 1 of my new series.

Here’s a sneak peek of the next book to follow.

Please keep in mind that everything in this section is subject to change as the story unfolds.

Sophie walked the hallowed halls of Dixon Security. She’d been introduced around and promised

everything she needed to do her job. She clenched the new car keys in her hand and grinned.

Sophie raised her hand to her stomach and drew in a deep breath. Was she really going to do this?

Accountant turned psychic detective had seemed implausible only months ago but was her new reality now.

Rounding the last corner to Marshall’s office, she could see his door standing open wide. She

paused in her tracks when she heard the familiar voices inside.

“Fire her,” she heard her boyfriend, Jack Love, demand of his best friend.

Surely he couldn’t have been talking about Sophie, surely he wouldn’t dare. She could feel the

blood rushing up to her cheeks as she took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

“Why would I do that?” Marshall protested in a calm, steady voice. “I just hired her.”

“You and I both know she isn’t cut out for this kind of life.”

“She handled herself against Kingston, and that wasn’t even with the proper training. Imagine what she can do when she’s taught.”

“Damn it, Marsh, I’m not playing.” She heard the aggravation in Jack’s voice.

Sophie was about to walk in and demand to know what Jack was talking about when she heard his

next words.

“I’ll give you my sword. Just fire her.”

Her heart fell into her stomach. She moved into the doorway, crossed her arms over her chest, and

leaned against the frame. Fire flamed through her as she balled her fists. She couldn’t believe that he was doing this, and not only that, but offering his prized possession to do it.