Into the Abyss: A Psychic Visions Novel (Psychic Visions Series Book 10), Page 2

  And he had. Jericho knew it. So did Stefan. Tavika too, regardless of what she’d let anyone else believe.

  And there was no way he was going to disappear again. Drew was just as adamant. He had eleven cold cases with the Ghost’s name attached. Files that even with Dr. Maddy and Stefan’s help, they hadn’t been able to get far on.

  Jericho shook his head, wondering what it would be like to have Dr. Maddy in his life. But he was too ornery and apparently he contrary as well in his taste because all he could think about now was having one very irritating detective under him. He didn’t think she’d go down easy. Surrender was foreign to her. But when they got there he knew they’d burn the house down.

  He couldn’t wait.

  *

  He stood and stared out the front window of the police station. Coming here today hadn’t been part of his plan, but life was like that. And sometimes there was a damn good reason for it. Like maybe right now.

  His mind was consumed with what he’d just heard. Surely the gossip had been wrong. But the station buzzed with overheard tidbits of Tavika’s visitor. Something about the psychic calling Tavika the same. Hell, everyone for miles had heard by now. And that was wrong. There was no way she was. And gossip like that was a career killer. She’d never do anything to jeopardize that.

  But…if she was – well that was bad news. He’d saved her once. There was no way he’d be able to do that again.

  Love made one do stupid things, and he was no more immune than anyone else. Still, if she was one of those, well he wasn’t sure anything could save her this time – and why should he?

  If she was one of those, she needed to die – just like the rest of her family.

  Chapter 2

  Tavika looked at her watch. Had she left it long enough? Would Jericho be long gone or would he be haunting the front door of the station still? It wasn’t like her to ditch the office. But mistakes at this stage would be fatal. She packed up her desk, locked her drawers, and shut down the computer. Paranoid much? Yeah, but she had reasons. She strode out of the station without saying a word to anyone.

  And met Henry in the hallway. She touched her old friend and mentor on the shoulder. Currently in a police liaison position, he’d been a hell of detective in his time. She knew he wasn’t solely responsible for her rescue, but she was only able to see him when she thought of that time.

  And he’d stuck around all these years to help her find normalcy in a world gone crazy.

  He narrowed his gaze. “What’s going on?” he quietly asked. He slipped his hand into his jacket and pulled out a small envelope.

  “Nothing. It’s all good.” She gave him a smile. “It’s just nice to see you.”

  He studied her for a long moment then nodded as he stepped to one side, holding the card out with a self-conscious smile. “We finally set a date. You’re invited.”

  He turned and walked away and she grinned as she watched him disappear down the hallway, figuring she knew what the invitation was all about. At least she hoped so. She stuffed it into her pocket unopened. He’d been with his partner for as long as she could remember. Originally he’d been a friend of her mother’s and as such knew Tavika better than most. Yet still, he didn’t know her – no one did. She kept herself locked down inside. Always wary and detached. There was life before the Event and life after it. She’d changed afterwards. Had disconnected from the world, her surroundings, even herself. It was easier. Then she’d been to hell and back. So who could blame her for holding herself apart from the rest of the world? And if they did, tough shit.

  Heading around back, she hopped onto her Harley. She kick started the engine and pulled the bike out into traffic. She had no idea where she was going, just knew she had to get the hell away. She pulled onto the highway and hit the gas.

  Maybe she’d known she’d need this today. She usually brought her truck and left the bike for weekends. Today, this suited her mood. Only she had no jacket and the icy wind was slashing at the bare stomach under her damaged shirt.

  Going faster than she should, taking more risks, she headed down the coast trying to blow the stress and fear out of her soul.

  When she finally pulled off onto the side of the road and stared at the water pounding down on the surf below she realized she’d gone far enough. She sat back on the bike to study her trembling hands. Her sister would have a heyday if she knew. And so would Travis. Her mother… She’d be scornful and derisive. Tavika had let Jericho get to her.

  Her phone rang. Of course it would be Travis. He always knew, but then twins were like that.

  She pulled the phone out her pocket and waited for the communication she knew was coming.

  “Still running away?” Travis asked her. “You knew he was coming. Even after all this time you’re surprised when you’re right.”

  She ignored him. One couldn’t argue with the truth.

  “You could try,” he said comfortably, easily reading her mind. “But it would be a waste of your energy – something you can’t afford.”

  Speaking under her breath, a quick glance around to make sure she was alone, she said, “What difference does it make? You’d torment me either way.”

  He snorted. “Only because I love you.”

  She didn’t bother to answer that. She wrapped her arms around her chest, her fingers shocked at the icy chill to her skin. “You’re right though, I did run.”

  His voice softened as he added, “That’s okay. You can’t be strong all the time.”

  Like hell. She had to be strong all the time. There was no other option. She cultivated the abrasive hard outside to stop people from getting too close. That was the last thing she wanted. Everyone who got close died. The only ones left in her personal world were Henry and his partner, Charles. And she let them only so close. She owed Henry. He’d been instrumental in getting her on the force and helped her make detective. Maybe it was out of guilt that they hadn’t been able to solve her family’s case. It didn’t matter why. She was grateful.

  “He’s right too, you know.” Travis’s voice deepened. “He’s hunting you again.”

  She ignored that. “I’m no one to him. And Jericho isn’t right,” she snapped. “He knows nothing. I’m no one to the Ghost.”

  “You’re important, I don’t know why,” Travis argued. “Something about you makes him uncomfortable now. Jericho is looking further down the road. To when the Ghost comes after you.”

  “I know,” she said softly. She’d asked her mom and sister many times about the identity of their killer but they went blank and disappeared when she tried to bring it up. Maybe not an unnatural response to a devastating event, but frustrating as hell for her.

  She had no intention of being found. Once had been more than enough. She’d come out the winner that time, if anyone could win a deadly game like that. Only the killer had escaped and gone underground after most of her family had been exterminated. Hell, he’d slept erratically for years. Coming out to cause mayhem then disappear again after he got his fix. Who knew how many people he’d killed in total?

  Why the hell would she want to revisit that? Still, she’d never been able to leave it alone. She was always on the lookout for him. No one could ever forget.

  “Hide the truth from yourself, that’s one thing. But if you think you can hide it from me, not happening. You knew Jericho was coming. And you know the killer is too.” On that note Travis’s voice disappeared.

  Great. Now she’d pissed him off too. She was batting a thousand today. Still, edginess shimmered inside her system, stopping her from finding a level of comfort with her day. Is that what Jericho had intended? To throw her off balance and keep her there by bringing up painful memories?

  There was no way he could know she was psychic. That was not how it worked. She’d heard of a couple of specialists in the field that were capable of assessing other individuals for psychic abilities and of course, there were the media hound psychics looking to drum up business who often told de
sperate tales about dead loved ones.

  Still, there were a few good ones out there. According to everything she’d heard, Stefan was one. Dr. Maddy another, although she was better known for her healing abilities. She’d heard cops for miles around sing Stefan’s praises. They used to sing her mother’s. Her mother’s reputation was always there in the background, making her terrified of being found out. Of knowing people looked at her sideways, wondering if she had abilities of her own.

  Her phone rang again. She glared at it. And saw dispatch on the caller ID.

  “Reports of a deceased male. On 984 Hollard Street. Two blocks back from Kinsman Park.”

  “Kinsman Park?” Her heart stalled then it picked up and raced forward.

  “Yes. Two units on the way.”

  She was miles away. Shit. Why had she gone so far out of town when she was on duty? Murder didn’t stop just because she needed to clear her head. She turned her bike in the direction of home and gunned it.

  Kinsman Park area. Interesting location. Every time she heard that name it brought ugly memories back. Two blocks from that very same park was where she’d been held prisoner for a week.

  She slammed the memory back down into the black hole where it belonged to focus on the business of getting home again. When she pulled up outside the correct address, she found the place already taped off and multiple black and white cars everywhere. She pulled her keys from the bike, pocketed them and strode up to the front door. No one said a word. Then again they already knew her.

  And she knew them – in ways they wouldn’t understand.

  *

  Jericho waited in Kinsman Park for her to show. He’d seen her take off, flying down the highway as if the devil was after her. And he was. She just didn’t seem to care. Of course she’d met him once already and survived. Did she really think she’d do it again?

  Details on her abilities were sketchy. Stefan had told him a little, but no one knew anything for sure.

  Every time he tried to read her, the dominant impression he picked up was confusion. He knew she had an energy barrier up. Was that showing up as confusion? Or were her thoughts behind it confused?

  Her barrier was so slick and almost electrified, it was damn near impossible to read the truth behind it. That she could even keep up such a wall said much about her power and inherent abilities.

  If she ever learned to direct that power the world could be in trouble.

  There was nothing in her file that said she was unstable or dangerous to the public. As he’d been collecting it he knew a lot about her already. He was a pre-cog so he could see things before they happened. And when the visions came in as strongly as they had been lately – they were scarily right. No matter what he did he couldn’t seem to change the outcome of what he saw. But that didn’t mean he always understood it. And if he was right, Tavika would not survive her argument with the devil a second time. The energy of the neighborhood swelled around him. He closed his eyes and let the music dance.

  He was one of the few psychics with more than a single ability. And when energy spoke to him, it was in many forms.

  Sometimes in color – sometimes through music. There was really no way to know how a message was going to be manifested. If they couldn’t get it to him one way, then they would through another.

  Now if only he understood what they were trying to tell him.

  In his mind’s eye, he could see energy approaching the house, going around to the back before sneaking into the open patio doors. He’d seen the original vision yesterday – and had recognized it for what it was. The Ghost’s latest victim.

  The old man had fallen asleep in front of the television. His death quick and easy. Not this killer’s normal MO. The cops would never consider the Ghost for the job. It wasn’t his style. A knife slice across the throat wouldn’t have given him anywhere near enough fun. But it was fast, efficient, and in this case, expedited a problem.

  At least that was Jericho’s impression of the scene.

  Jericho didn’t understand what the Ghost was up to, he just knew the asshole had to be stopped. He waited in the park for several hours. And then he sent a message. He opened a spirit corridor, walked the short distance and knocked on the door to Tavika’s mind. When it opened he delivered his message.

  Come talk to me, he said. You know you want to.

  He almost laughed at the shocked response followed by the epithet. The door slammed in his face. He could send as many messages as he wanted, but she was no longer receiving.

  And that was not what he wanted. If he couldn’t tell when she was in trouble, how was he supposed to help when she really needed it?

  I told you to watch it with her, Stefan warned in his head. I don’t know how much she believes in all of this or whether she’s just a loner who needs to keep her own counsel.

  “That will get her killed,” Jericho said out loud, looking around to make sure he was alone and no one could hear him talking to himself. “I’m trying to keep her alive.”

  Then I suggest you use a little of that finesse you’re well known for, not a battering ram.

  This time Jericho did laugh – the sound ringing out across the park. “I figured she needed the battering ram. That’s the only way anyone is going to get through those defenses.”

  As he stood to leave the park he froze.

  Tavika stood ten feet from him, a frown on her face and accusation in her voice as she said, “Did you kill him?”

  *

  That didn’t take them long. He frowned, it was too fast actually. He hadn’t been watching from his window in the last few hours to see if anyone had traipsed in there, but surely the old man should have gone unnoticed for a day or two. He’d counted on it.

  Every time something happened out of schedule it bugged him. He liked things to be perfectly lined up.

  And when they weren’t he wanted to know why.

  It was his fault he hadn’t watched and that bugged him. He didn’t make many mistakes, but he’d assumed the old man was alone. And no one would know for days.

  But someone had.

  Another black and white unit pulled up to the house. He shrugged. Oh well, time to make the best of it.

  He walked back to the kitchen hoping there was still a pack of popcorn. He’d planned to shop for more but thought he had time.

  There was one. Chortling, he popped it in the microwave. Who needed television, he had his own real life crime drama show to watch.

  Chapter 3

  Tavika rested her hands on her hips and glared at the cocky ass in front of her.

  Until he comprehended her question, then cockiness fled to be replaced by an anger like she rarely saw. He bolted to his feet. She narrowed her gaze at him and braced herself.

  He took a step toward her. “You really think I killed that old man?”

  She studied the look in his eyes but could see the truth in his energy regardless of his words.

  “No, I don’t.” She took one step closer and widened her stance as her anger grew. Then again, anybody who’d seen what she had would be angry too. “It was just an old man watching TV.”

  “And he’s connected.”

  Her eyebrow shot up. That wasn’t what she expected to hear. “Connected?”

  Was he telling the truth? What did Jericho know? Psychics were invariably unsure of the black and white answers when pressed. “Connected to who?”

  It was his turn to look at her in surprise. “You can’t tell?” He took several steps on the path away from her. “Have you really distanced yourself so far from what happened before that you can’t recognize the same energy of the man who preyed on you and your family as being the same one who preyed on that old man?”

  She shook her head. “That makes no sense.” Hell, it had better not make any. She looked at the ground uncertainly. She wasn’t sure she could recognize the Ghost’s energy. She could tell when someone was lying, but hadn’t considered energy recognition. Were they all unique? Like D
NA or signatures? She didn’t remember hearing anything like that, but what if such a thing were possible?

  He waved a hand around. “Sometimes you have to step outside the rules.”

  “It’s a different MO,” she said abruptly. She didn’t mention the killer had been known to change his methodology when it suited him.

  “Sure, and that’s not his regular target. But for whatever reason something in his world has changed. It’s up to you to find out why.” And he turned and walked away. When he was about ten feet from her he called back, “Thanks for answering my request.”

  She didn’t want to ask, but her curiosity got the better of her. “What request?”

  His laughter resounded throughout the park, bouncing off the trees and rippling through the leaves, and then he was gone.

  “Hell, that was no request, that was a fucking order,” she muttered. She spun around to stare toward the house. Could Jericho be right? She studied the pattern of leaves on the grass, her mind assessing what she’d seen versus what she knew.

  What possible motive could the Ghost have for killing an old man watching TV? The cops hadn’t as yet ascertained whether anything was missing. The place hadn’t been disturbed in any other way except what was required to take a few steps into the room, slice a man’s throat then step back out.

  The killer hadn’t even stepped in the blood. And there was a lot of it.

  The cops would work the crime scene, but they already knew they’d find little. She snorted. That was actually the best reason to consider the Ghost yet.

  The Ghost never left evidence behind. And yet, he was thought to have committed eleven murders by her count. It could be much more. She’d often wondered if he’d traveled to other states.

  The air was starting to produce a cold bite by the time she walked back to the crime scene.

  Two of her colleagues, Mark and Lawrence, looked at her, eyebrows raised. “Sorry I’m late.” She didn’t add to that. She made a point to give very little in the way of explanation.