ChasingShadows (19 page)

Stark terror seized the green eyes while they probed his
mind, searched through his eyes, left footprints on his brain. They watched
him, his moves, his actions.

Soon he would know the identity of the evasive psychic.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Jasmine stroked him, back and forth.
Her magic fingers quelled his quick flash of anger.

He wrenched his gaze from the mirror, but the consuming
sense of intrusion remained. He treated his gaze to Jasmine and returned to his
original course. The green eyes that had haunted him for days continued their
excursion deeper into his mind.

“You want to see something? Well, see this.” Desire
muffled his voice. Roughly, he raked up Jasmine’s long skirt.

The elusive eyes blinked out of his mind.

* * * * *

Alex assigned another round-the-clock tail on Shelby. But he
wasn’t ready to tip his hand. Not without more than the circumstantial evidence
provided by the shoes. The footprint could belong to any number of people—including
Bremley.

The idea that Jasmine was in collusion with Shelby grazed
Alex’s mind. If Shelby were responsible, he would convict himself under Alex’s
watch. He was an idiot waiting to get caught.

He dialed the phone number scrawled on the scrap of paper in
his hands and settled into his chair.

After the third ring, the pleasant voice of an older woman
greeted him.

“Dr. Brian Miller, please.”

“Just your luck, he’s home early.” She called for Brian in
the background. He heard rustling and muffled voices.

Dr. Miller came on the line, out of breath, and they made
their introductions.

Alex asked, “Are you the Dr. Miller who treated Juliana
Westwood in New York?”

“Is she okay?” Dr. Miller’s worried voice transmitted to
Alex’s ears, and he didn’t like the sound of it. “She tried to contact me last
night—”

“She’s not hurt,” Alex cut in. “She’s assisting me on an
abduction case.”

“We heard about the case up here. We’re praying for the
girl’s safe return.”

Alex crumpled several old messages and tossed them in the
trash. “She’s my niece—”

A heavy sigh came through the line. “I’m sorry for your
troubles, son.”

“Thanks.” Alex hesitated a beat. “Dr. Miller, I have a few
questions.”

“I suppose you want to know if Juliana’s ESP abilities are
legitimate.”

He winced. “We’re beyond that.”

“Great. I assume she’s helping out, stubborn and tenacious
as usual?”

“You could say that.” Alex laughed, somber and wooden. “You
said she tried to call you last night?”

“We never connected. I was on a fishing trip, but lost a
tussle with a poison ivy bush and came home early.” He sighed and chuckled.

“Ouch.” Alex scratched a sympathy itch on his forearm.

“Son, tell me what’s bothering you, and I’ll tell you if I
can help. You understand doctor-patient privilege?”

“I’m aware.” Alex had hoped the doctor might forget the
privilege for a few minutes.

“Here’s the scenario.” Alex told Dr. Miller what he knew
about Juliana’s ESP.

“You’re on the right track,” said Dr. Miller. “Every brain
emits electrical currents. Some currents are stronger than others and transmit
farther. Certain people, like Juliana, are more adept at drawing in those
currents, acting as a conduit. Picture in your mind various magnet strengths,
and then picture the biggest and strongest magnet of the bunch. That would be
Juliana. She is the strongest receptor I’ve ever encountered.” Dr. Miller
paused. “Are you following me?”

“Yes.” Alex shoved back from his desk, the phone cord
stretched taut. A knock sounded at his door. Before he could answer, the door
opened and a clerk waved another stack of messages at him. He shot her a look
of disgust he didn’t feel. She shrugged, stuck them on his dartboard and
retreated.

Dr. Miller continued, “She can receive thoughts and
emotions, depending on the strength and abilities of the transmitter. Usually
happens when the person’s in a heightened emotional state. That’s why she’s
good at connecting with criminals.”

“Right. She’s connected to this bastard through whatever
channel he’s transmitting his bullshit on.” Animosity exploded through Alex’s
voice.

Dr. Miller clucked like a mother hen. “Juliana’s done this
many times. She knows what she’s doing. Why don’t you tell me what’s really
going on? Better yet, tell me why you’re so worried.”

Dr. Miller was an astute receptor himself. “Juliana and I go
way back,” Alex replied. “She’s a close friend.”

Silence hit the other end of the phone. Alex rose and stared
at the Scottish castle poster on his wall. He could swear the line went dead. “Dr.
Miller?”

“I remember you now. You’re the young man Juliana left
behind in California all those years ago.”

“She mentioned me?” Was that good or bad?

“Let’s just say your name came up.” Dr. Miller chuckled. “The
case has thrown you two together?”

“Yes.” Alex dug his hand in his pocket, pulled out a roll of
antacids and rolled it between his fingers. “Anyway, Juliana’s having visions
after she touches something the perp’s touched.”

“Whoa there, son.” A stony trace entered Dr. Miller’s voice.
“She never experienced touch telepathy in any of her previous cases. Tell me
everything you saw.”

He described both episodes he witnessed, including her
rendition of the vision in her office. Dr. Miller’s clucking on the phone
disturbed Alex as much as the retelling.

Alex succumbed to massaging his twitching scar, making it
itch even worse. “Doc, here’s the clincher, and this bothers me the most. Juliana
thinks the perp can see her.” He paused. “She’s seen his eyes, feels him
watching while she’s in his head. He knows her eyes are green; he’s seen them
in his mind.”

Another long hush met the words. Alex waited for Dr. Miller
to speak.

“Lieutenant, I’ll say this straight out. She’s moving into
dangerous territory. This perp obviously has a deep connection with his own
psychic ability. In time, he will identify her, as she will eventually identify
him.”

Alex didn’t want to hear that. It depicted the worst
possible scenario. His gut clenched, unabated. “First one to the finish line
wins the race?”

“In so many words.”

“How can I stop him?”

“Short of locking her in a cage or denying access to the
deviant’s mind, you can’t.”

Trepidation spread through Alex like a slow cancer. He was
caught in a catch-22. On one hand, he was desperate to find Lisette, and Juliana
was the key to unlocking the mystery. On the other, if he let Juliana help him,
she lived in danger from exposing herself to the kidnapper.

Let her? Who was he kidding? He couldn’t stop her. Her
escapade that morning proved it.

“Alex?” Dr. Miller’s voice hauled him back to the present. “You
can’t stop her or the perp. But there’s a way you can protect her, to keep her
from being pulled into his mind too deeply.”

“Anything,” Alex replied.

“Don’t let her be alone in situations where she invokes the
visions. Since she passes into a dream state, she needs someone to wake her, to
back her out of his mind. Someone she trusts, who she cares enough about to
bring her back. Can you do that?”

Despite the amazing night they’d spent together, Juliana’s
feelings about their relationship were a mystery. He knew she wasn’t ready. Regardless,
no other choice existed.

Unequivocally certain, he answered, “I can do it.”

“Good. Here’s what I want you to do.” Dr. Miller explained
the tasks, then added a final admonition. “Whatever you do, don’t leave her
alone.”

Alex jotted notes on his desk pad. A feeling of impending
doom seeped into his soul. What if he couldn’t do what the doctor mandated? What
if he lost her in the process?

“Alex, you can do it.” Dr. Miller interjected.

Alex drew in a deep fortifying breath and voiced his final
thoughts. “I’m confused. I think Juliana explained it to me.” Deep in thought,
he stroked his chin. “Why doesn’t she need someone to pull her out of her
nighttime dreams?”

“While asleep, her mind searches for others, so to speak. This
perp’s own psychic waves are strong. When she experiences a touch telepathy
episode, he uses the equivalent of a crowbar to pry open her mind. He sucks her
into his mind—forcefully. It may or may not be deliberate on his part.”

“Shit.” Alex groaned and slammed his fist on the desk. “Why
the hell does she pass out?”

“It’s a protective mechanism her body takes. The kidnapper’s
thoughts and emotions overwhelm her. She’s better off asleep. Does she still
suffer from the headaches?”

“And nausea.” Alex glanced absently at the clock over the
door. His race against Father Time crashed into him, pounding his heart into
seaweed. He said hurriedly, “Tell me about the Westwood family curse. She has a
half-assed idea that she’s going crazy.”

Dr. Miller laughed. “It will never happen to Juliana. She’s
too smart, too strong. Ask her about it later. As for the telepathy, she
controls herself well, but it could cause problems—”

“I don’t have issues there.” Alex grinned. “She’ll be pissed
we talked, Doc.”

“We have to do what we must to protect the ones we love.”

Love? Was he so transparent?

Dr. Miller laughed as if he’d read Alex’s mind. “I always
knew you two belonged together.” A hint of conspiracy laced his words. “But any
man Juliana lets close will need a thick skin.”

“Like a homicide cop?” The words tumbled out.

“Son, you stole the words right out of my mouth.”

The grin faded as one final thought occurred to Alex. Fear
clutched his heart and squashed it. “What happens if she goes in too deep and I
can’t reach her?”

He listened to Dr. Miller’s grim answer before they said
their goodbyes. He dialed Juliana’s cell phone, office and home and reached her
voicemail at all three. He left messages for her to call and slammed down his
phone.

Swiveling his chair around, he stared out the window. The
morning’s overcast had dissipated, leaving a molten gold sun in its wake. But
the beautiful August morning did little to assuage the alarm bells ringing
inside him.

“Sweetheart, where the hell are you?” No sooner did the
words escape than cold reality hit him.

Chapter Eleven

A shimmer of light penetrated the fog in Juliana’s mind,
warming her insides. Alex’s face floated into sight. She clung to the vision,
trying to see him through the haze. His bright blue eyes beckoned, lighting the
path.

She reached out, clutching at the air between them. The draw
of love conquered the murk tugging her in the opposite direction. Her fingers
found solid form and connected with the familiar scar ridge.

From a narrow distance, his voice called her name. “Come
back to me, sweetheart,” were the words that brought her fully into her own
mind. Alex anchored her to his chest. Warmth flowed into her, melting the
frigid evil.

She struggled to open her eyelids, but they felt like cement.
Ultimately, her efforts prevailed and she stared into Alex’s beautiful face.

The crinkles at the corner of his eyes didn’t mask the
anxiety paling his face. “Going to get sick on me?”

She shook her head. “How did—?”

His mouth fell on hers, silencing her. His kiss was
demanding, yet ardent, seeking to chase the shadows out of her mind.

He wrenched his mouth off hers as quickly as it had
descended. Uncertainty camouflaged his face as he peered fixedly at her. “You
forgot your ginger ale.”

Gently, he laid her back on the bed and positioned a plump
pillow beneath her head. He grabbed the soda off the night table—the soda she’d
left in the living room.

A few sips diminished the pinprick of nausea. Her heartbeat
steadied as she examined Alex.

His face was a rock garden of worry.

“How did you know I was here?”

Silently, he scooped her up and carried her outside into the
tree-shrouded yard. His arms were safe, secure, revitalizing.

Juliana breathed in deeply of the fresh air. Alex set her
gently on the lounge chair and regarded her with equal parts distress and
annoyance.

“After the stunt you pulled with the keychain, I had a
feeling this was your next stop.” His face transformed into the hard,
unreadable cop face.

“Glad to hear our police force has such intelligence in its
upper ranks,” she teased wanly, savoring the warm breeze fluttering over her
bare skin.

A scowl crossed his face. “Tell me what you saw before you
forget.”

“I don’t forget!”

He towered over her, blocking the sun. “Then, tell me while
it’s fresh.” He cocked an eyebrow.

Alex really was upset with her for working on her own
initiative.
He should thank me!
Sighing, she let the matter drop—for now.
The dream was too important to waste another second.

“A courier showed up with the ransom note after I arrived.” Juliana
absently twisted the ring on her finger. “Jasmine facilitated the handoff to
the courier, then followed him to ensure the drop was completed. I didn’t see
any of that, just her telling the kidnapper about it.”

Alex’s stony façade crumbled. Excitement and expectation
rebuilt it.

“Finally!” He hunkered down on his heels before her. “How
long have you been here?”

She wanted to caress his face, but resisted. She glanced at
her watch. “About an hour.”

“Did you get a better look at him?”

Shaking her head, she said, “I saw his eyes again. He was in
his usual state of anger, excitement, arousal.” The last word trailed away.

“What else?”

Juliana refused to dwell on how the dream made her feel. “He
drives a black convertible Jaguar. I couldn’t distinguish the model. It looked
sporty, new.”

Alex forced her to relate every detail, regardless of how
trivial it appeared. She assured him Lisette was okay—withdrawn and sullen, but
alive, unharmed.

When she attempted to stand, he laid a light hand on her
shoulder and pressed her down.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he commanded harshly.

Her eyebrows arched up. “Excuse me?”

“You’ll wait here while I go up to the house. Then we’ll
have a little chat while I drive you home.”

“I’m going with you to the house. And I have my own car,
thank you very much.” She pulled her braid in front of her shoulders and
fingered the loose strands at the end.

“I don’t have time for this now, Juliana,” he said with
exasperation. He met her defiant stare with his own.

An awkward silence embraced them. Ending the heavy
stillness, he said tenderly, “Please do as I ask. If I need you, I’ll send your
pal Bremley to fetch you. Agreed?”

Various emotions barraged her stomach. Alex was on the
offensive, and she didn’t know what to make of it. At the moment, she needed to
relax, regain her composure. “Yes sir, Lieutenant.”
For now.

He patted her head as if she were a dog and rushed off.

“Good girl, Spot. Have a biscuit,” she muttered as his
long-legged stride carried him away from the cottage.

* * * * *

Bremley ushered Alex into the family room. The butler
appeared agitated, but tried to hide it in his hasty retreat to find Samantha.

They had a ransom note and Grantham Chamber wasn’t home to
intercept it. Lady Luck dallied on his side, and her name was Juliana.

He was still annoyed with her. If she’d informed him of her
plans, he could have helped her. Or stopped her.
Stopped her? Then what? You’d
be sitting on your ass, waiting for a shred of evidence to filter its way into
the PD.

He couldn’t stop her from invoking the visions any more than
he could stop the nighttime dreams. Would he have prevented her from invoking a
vision a second time when so much depended on them? It devastated him to watch
that bastard attack her. He couldn’t protect her from the evil within her mind.
But he wouldn’t let her fall into the trap alone. Not now, not ever.

“Alex.” Samantha Chamber rushed into the room, no more and
no less distressed than during his previous visits. “Any news?” Her vigilant
gaze darted to Bremley guarding the doorway.

“You tell me.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Her fingers twined in her pearl
necklace.

“I think you know.”

“Grant’s on his way home.” Her voice shook. “If you’d like
to wait—”

“Where. Is. It?” Alex advanced toward her. “Withholding
evidence is a criminal offense.”

“MacKenzie! I’ll have your badge if you continue to harass
my family.” Grantham Chamber’s arrogant, booming voice preceded him into the
room.

Alex turned to face Grantham. “The ransom note was delivered
a half-hour ago. Fork it over, or I’ll obtain a search warrant and slap an
obstruction of justice charge on you.” Alex knew the threats were thinly veiled.
Grantham’s clout and money could buy his way out of almost any trouble.

To Alex’s surprise, Grantham crumbled like a landslide. His
eyes sunk and worry lines wrinkled his brow. He looked closer to eighty years
old than sixty. Dazed, he draped his arm around Samantha’s waist as if seeking
a brace.

“Where is the message?” Grantham asked her in defeat.

She inclined her head at the butler. Bremley twisted around
and fished the courier envelope from the roll-top desk beside him. He handed
the slim package to Alex, his eyes dark as he gave Alex a withering glare.

“How did you know?” Grantham asked. “Who’s watching us?” He
guided Samantha to the couch where they both sagged down. “Need I be concerned
about evidence you’ve obtained?”

Grantham’s voice no longer held any rancor. Something had
finally pierced the thick veneer. Alex vaguely wondered if a heart existed
inside Grantham’s solid body.

“You don’t need a lawyer. Yet.”

Alex pulled a pair of latex gloves out of his pocket and
tugged them on. He slipped the ransom note out of the cardboard envelope. His
pulse quickened. The cloying scent of Samantha’s flowery perfume almost uprooted
his stomach. Swallowing the bile in his throat, he unfolded the sheet of white
printer paper.

In a generic computer font, the message read:

“If you want to see your granddaughter again, gather
three million dollars in unmarked and non-sequential bills. You have
forty-eight hours from the time of delivery of this letter to have the cash
ready.

“Twenty-four hours after receipt of this letter, you’ll
receive further instructions for a drop-off location to occur twenty-four hours
later. Grantham Chamber, driven by Bremley, will be instructed to appear alone
at the drop-off site.”

It was no less and no more than Alex expected.

He showed the note to Grantham, not releasing it from his
gloved hands. Grantham rose from the couch and shuffled to the floor-to-ceiling
windows overlooking the back gardens. He slowly turned around to face Alex. Tears
trickled down Samantha’s face. From relief, remorse or fear, Alex didn’t know—didn’t
care.

Alex’s fiery gaze landed on Grantham. “Who has it out for
you so much that they’d kidnap your granddaughter and demand such an outrageous
sum?”

“MacKenzie, I don’t appreciate your implication.” Grantham’s
attempt at a scowl fell short. “Would you like to know about every business
deal I’ve ever been involved in?”

“Not unless you think one of the parties has a vendetta
against you or your family. You should have already given us that information.”
Alex crossed the room, stopping in front of Grantham. “Can you raise the
money?”

He cocked his head to the side. “You’re not seriously thinking
I’m to abide by this extortion? Or play delivery boy?” Wrath flickered across
Grantham’s pallid face.

“To save my niece, damn straight I am.” Alex stared him down.
He folded the courier envelope with deliberate care. “Can you raise the money?”

“I’m not certain.” Grantham spun away. “He doesn’t give me
much time. What if he takes the money and doesn’t release Lisette?”

“Get the money and let me catch the bastard.” Why was the
man being so stubborn? Wasn’t Lisette’s life worth it? Alex wanted to shake some
common sense into him.

Grantham nodded slowly.

Alex’s blood boiled, although he didn’t show it. He called
the PD and ordered a wiretap on the Chambers’ phone, and alerted James to
prepare for a long night of strategizing.

Securing the ransom note in his pocket, he strode off to
collect his wayward psychic.

* * * * *

Juliana waited in the garden, not so much to obey Alex, but
to hear about the ransom developments. Faint tinkling sounds from the water
fountain drifted over. She desperately wished she could laze forever in the peaceful
garden.

Not much later, Alex’s footsteps drew near.

“You were right,” he announced. “Let’s go.”

“How much? How long?” Juliana jumped off the lounge.
Lengthening her steps to match his stride on the flagstone path, they rushed toward
their cars.

“Three mil, forty-eight hours.”

“Can they raise the money?”

Alex stopped in front of his SUV parked beside her car. “He’s
working on it. We’ll come back for your car.”

“Afraid not. I need my car.” The fire in his eyes didn’t
bode well for her.

“Why, Juliana?” Alex stepped closer, dominating the space
around her. “So you can pull another stunt like this? I don’t have time to talk
to you later. Get in so we can talk now.”

“Alex, what’s wrong?” She clasped his arm, giving a tender
squeeze.

“Please, Juliana, I want you safe.” His face softened. “I
don’t want you running off half-cocked and getting into trouble.”

“I’m not getting myself in trouble,” she said with an
annoyed frown.

Alex studied the ground, then lifted his head. His mouth
quivered slightly. “I spoke to Dr. Miller this morning.”

Juliana rolled her eyes and released his arm. “Doc Brian’s
on a fishing trip.”

“He came home early.”

Alex spoke to Brian? How dare he?

“Where are we going?” She arched an angry eyebrow, wondering
how much of what she read last night Alex now knew. From the look and sound of
it, he knew a heck of a lot.

“I’ll drop you off at home. Then I’m going to the station.”
He lowered his head and added menacingly, “No half-assed ideas about pulling
another fainting spell in Lisette’s bedroom.”

Her tongue snuck out before she could stop the childish
action. Her foolish gesture caused him to laugh, vanquishing the sourpuss look
from his face.

“Don’t do that unless you intend to use it.” He smoothed a
loose tendril of hair from her face.

“You’re a funny guy.” She jerked away. “Let’s go.”

They were zooming off the estate grounds by the time Juliana
gathered the nerve to ask, “So what did Dr. Miller say?”

“That you’re treading in deep water and could drown without
a lifejacket.” Alex’s biceps coiled, knuckles whitened as he gripped the
steering wheel.

“I’m doing this for Lisette.” Juliana snagged the kitten
beanbag toy off the dash and stroked it. The toy assuaged the assorted emotions
fighting for a hold inside her.

“We’ll deal with that.” His voice thickened. “I lost you
once. It won’t happen again.”

Alex’s admission sent remorse cresting over her. “Alex,
we’ve discussed that.”

“Don’t remind me.” He sighed heavily. “No promises. I get it.”
Alex swung the vehicle onto the highway and punched the gas pedal.

Firmly, she shoved her thoughts of last night out of her
mind. “Tell me what Brian said.”
I can’t believe Alex went behind my back
and called Brian!

“He said if you didn’t have me with you to pull you back,
you could, number one, reveal yourself completely to the bastard. Number two,
lose yourself in his mind and never regain consciousness.” His face whitened as
he added, “You could even end up dead.”

“Alex—”

“
Please. Not without me.” Worry wrinkled his
forehead.

The please undid her. With a loud exhale, she agreed, “Okay.
I won’t.” Juliana stretched across the console and stroked his cheek. He caught
her wrist and pressed a sizzling kiss in the center of her palm. An intense
flicker of heat jolted through her.