Chris Redding

Corpse Whisperer

Chapter One

The corpse grabbed her arm with cool fingers.

Grace Harmony took a deep breath, the antiseptic hospital smell filling her nostrils. “What?”

The lifeless woman’s eyes flipped open. “Help.” Her voice came out as hollow and raspy, a lone word uttered in a subway underpass. Grace cringed as the chill moved along her skeleton, settling in the marrow.

She glanced at the door. No one would come to save her.

“Let me guess. You’ve been murdered.”

“Yes,” the corpse said, the last part sounding like a snake.

The noise sent a shudder through Grace’s body, but only briefly. Talking to dead bodies had ceased to scare her.

Dragging in a ragged breath, Grace braced herself for the time slip, the trek down the dark tunnel. “What’s your name?”

“Dolores Holten.”

Colors danced and flashed before Grace’s eyes as if they were a precursor to a migraine. Numbness deadened her limbs. She catapulted down a black shaft; only the passing of lights indicated movement. Her breath caught in her throat as her nose filled with a burning electrical scent. A sneeze that would have relieved her didn’t come.

Something squeezed her body, but not for long. Then she slammed into a wall and she was back in time.

Grace’s skin warmed, her eyes tearing from the bright sun, the tunnel gone. Blinded for a moment she looked around for any clues to her location, the day and date.

Sunny day. Driveway of some house. Maybe a week or so before Dolores died she estimated. That had been the last time the rain hadn’t fallen.

She’d been down this street, twice. The first time looking for an address in her pursuit of a new apartment. Something had distracted her and she’d never made contact with the landlady. Was that where she was now?

She’d been here during the fire that supposedly killed Dolores.

“Miss?”

Grace turned to the voice and found the dead woman, very much alive. There was no evidence of the fatal fire that had charred her skin and taken the breath from her lungs. Grace schooled her face not to show surprise. Usually she didn’t come face to face with the victim as soon as she rewound.

Coughing, Grace wiped her eyes. “Sorry, got something in my eye and I missed what you just said.”

“You pay rent and utilities. My ex-husband can fix most things so I’ll give you his number, if anything goes wrong. Shouldn’t, I just put new appliances in there.”

“Can I call you Dolores?”

The woman cocked her head and a lock of auburn hair fell into her face. Her brown eyes narrowed, and one hand found her hip. “That’s my name, but I don’t remember telling you.”

Grace smiled, which put most people at ease. “You introduced yourself right off.”

Dolores nodded. “I guess I did.” She patted her flat stomach. “I’m pregnant so I think I’m losing my memory already.”

She’d said ex-husband, but mentioned nothing about her current husband. No one at the fire scene had told Grace about Dolores’ pregnancy. Maybe the neighbors hadn’t realized.

“Rent and utilities. I can handle that.”

“You got a job?” Dolores asked.

“Yes, I do. I’m a paramedic for Centre Community Hospital.”

“You new in town?”

Tension stabbed her muscles.

She stole a glance at her watch which sported the date and time in five countries. Grace only needed to know about this moment, standing in Glen Hills, New Jersey. “I’ve been here a month. When can I move in?”

“I’d like to get some references first, but.” Dolores eyed her then swept her gaze up and down the short length of Grace. “You look like a trustworthy sort. I need two months’ rent for security. You can move in when you get me that check.”

“I can write it now.”

“Yeah? No hitting up the parents for money?” Dolores cackled, but the sound didn’t annoy Grace.

She laughed with her. “No, I’ve been on my own for quite some time, now.”

Dolores stopped laughing. “Yeah? You older than I think?”

“Yes, I look younger than I really am. Still get carded.”

“No parties.”

“I don’t party. I do work odd hours so I will be in and out at strange times.”

Dolores looked at a bird lazily circling in the sky. “I was married to a cop. Might as well still be married to him, so your car in and out of the driveway will not disturb me.”

She rubbed her hands down her worn jean shorts then held one out for Grace. “Sorry about the mess, I’ve been gardening.”

Her green T-shirt sported many dirt spots and flower pots littered the sidewalk.

Grace looked over at the colorful plants. The warmth of the sun sneaked into her bones. She could do this, one more time. Her shoulders shifted back. “Yes, I see that. Your flowers look lovely.”

“Thank you. So you’re Grace Harmony. That’s quite a moniker to go through life with.”

Grace chuckled. “My parents had a sense of humor,” she said over her shoulder. “Let me get you that check.”

Zach Holten pulled into the driveway of his ex-wife as a red two-door sports car pulled away. He glanced at the license plate out of habit, having it memorized before the car drove out of sight.

Not that he could track down the owner as easily as he once did. The bitterness of his forced career change swirled bile into his mouth.

Dolores, clothed in messy shorts and a T-shirt, knelt over a box of flowers. She didn’t look up when he disembarked. Good, he didn’t want her thinking this was a social call. She’d thought of excuses daily for him to be here. This time she sounded serious so he used his lunch break to pay her a visit.

Lunch break. He stifled a chuckle. Now that he ran his own private investigating business he could lunch whenever he wanted. He possessed no radio. His phone had an answering machine so he could leave his office anytime.

He took a deep breath as he walked across the lawn that needed a mow. “Hey,” he said.

She smiled up at him, but didn’t touch him, to his surprise. “Hey yourself. Beautiful day.”

“You seem to be taking full advantage of it.”

“Like the flowers?” she asked pointing to some red and blue things.

He didn’t know anything about flowers except that women loved them. He could only pick out roses; the rest were a mystery to him. “Nice.”

Dolores continued digging and humming.

He knelt down, careful not to get his work pants dirty. “Lors, I’d offer to help, but. .” He indicated his outfit.

“No problem. I never liked how you planted flowers.”

He smiled. “That was honest.”

She eyed him. “Yes, it’s my new policy. Especially where you’re concerned. I’m going to tell you what I think.”

“That’s good. Then I don’t have to guess.”

She laughed, putting her gloved hand on his. “You can read suspects, but not me.”

His gaze took in her hand. She’d left a smudge of dirt that he wiped off. “Guess it’s tough when the printing is too close to your face.”

“You want some lunch?” she asked.

“If you have some. If not I can pick some up on the way back to the office.”

She pulled off her flowered gloves then stood. “I’m hungry, too. Starved in fact.”

“You have a tape worm?”

He followed her into her house. His house since he still made the mortgage payments. His residence until he’d walked out three years ago.

Her hips swayed as she walked in front of him. Once her movements made him hot; now her attempts at seduction annoyed him. There’d been that one night, but he’d made the situation clear to Dolores.

“Sit,” she commanded before she crossed to the refrigerator.

“I’m sure I can find stuff.”

She shook her head. “It’ll give me something to do while I think of how I tell you my news.”

Her being nice meant she wanted something. His defenses slammed closed, his teeth clenched. She wasn’t getting anything from him.

He sat at the scarred Formica table on a chair with ripped upholstery. She hadn’t replaced it yet and he had some hot memories from this piece of furniture. “What news?” Would she get to it already?

Shrugging out of his suit jacket, he slid it onto the isHback of what had been his chair. The same cat clock’s tail twitched the seconds. The place even smelled the same, a mixture of grease and cologne.

She stopped in the middle of making a sandwich. Her tired gaze came to him. “I’m pregnant.”

Chapter Two

Zach blinked. Holy shit. One night. “A baby?”

Dolores eyed him as if he would tell her the answer to a philosophical question.

When she didn’t deny it he said, “Oh?” His tongue couldn’t move properly.

She had always wanted children. He hadn’t and Dolores didn’t tell him her desire until after they married. Another example of how she manipulated him. He hoped she wasn’t doing it again.

“Thanks.” She whirled back to her lunch-making. “It’s yours.”

He glanced out the window then back to Dolores’ back. “Okay.”

A small child could have decked him at that moment.

“I know you didn’t want children, but I’m keeping this baby.”

Zach stood and bridged the distance between them. She didn’t shy away. He didn’t touch her, but she put her arms around him.

“Do you think it’s a good idea? Bringing this baby into an already broken home? Not even a home anymore.”

She shoved him away from her. “This is regardless of what contribution you planned to make.”

He swallowed hard. “Are you really prepared to take care of a baby? Financially and emotionally?”

Her gaze went through him. “Yes.”

He knew how to take responsibility. “I need to time to wrap my brain around this.”

He walked away from her, back to the chair. He paused, then sat down.

“Fine. I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” she said.

She dropped a plate with a sandwich in front of him.

He shook his head, but the idea of a baby lingered on in the outskirts of his consciousness. He could go with a subject change if she could. “So tell me about the car that pulled away,” Zach said.

Her butt landed in the chair across from him. “I’m renting out the apartment above the garage.”

He paused with the sandwich halfway to his mouth. The apartment was livable, but not luxurious. They’d planned on using it as a guest suite, but the marriage had fallen apart. “Why?”

“I need the money.”

“I’ll give you more if that’s what you need.”

She smiled. “That’s generous, but I know how much you make. And now you have a new business.”

“I could find something else to do.” Not.

The next best thing to being a cop was being a private investigator in his mind. That’s what he told himself each morning when he didn’t want to get out of bed.

She laughed. “Oh, Zach, you wouldn’t want to do anything else. It’s as if dead people call to you.”

Knowing she was correct, he blew out a breath. “Well, then at least let me have her checked out.”

Dolores ran a hand through her auburn hair. Passive aggressive alert. “Maybe. If you really want to, but I think she’s okay.”

“Let me find out for sure.”

She picked at her sandwich. “Her name’s Grace Harmony. She’s new in town.”

He reached across and took her hand. As always he said, “I’ll take care of everything.”

***

A background check of Grace Harmony topped Zach’s To-Do list.

But instead of coming back to an empty store front office on Main Street of Glen Hills, someone paced on the sidewalk in front. Why was she out front? She lived upstairs.

Dressed in a caftan in more colors than he could name, Celia Johnson looked worried and determined. He didn’t know why she felt the need to dress the part of a kook. When she’d come to the police station, out of deference to him, she’d looked respectable in a navy suit and sensible pumps. Now she looked like a circus clown on acid.

Zach groaned, then unlocked his front door as if the cause of his downfall with the Centre County Prosecutor’s office didn’t exist.

“Zach.”

Her shrill voice rattled his bones and sent a chill down his spine on such a warm day. His hand paused on the doorknob. “Yes, Celia.”

She stood with her tangled, from-a-bottle red hair rioting around her face while her bearing remained straight and true. “We need to speak.”

“I don’t think so. You’ve done plenty of damage and I’d hoped I’d seen the last of you.”

Trudging into his office, he tried to pull the door closed behind him. Celia held a multi-ringed hand on it. “This is serious. There’s going to be another fire.”

Frustration gnashed his teeth. He’d been down this road and he didn’t like the scenery. “That serial arsonist has been tried and convicted. He’s serving his sentence as we speak.”

“It isn’t the same one. A copycat.”

Zach landed in his chair then rubbed a hand down his face. Maybe if he “yessed” her to death she’d go away. “How do you know this?”

“May I sit?”

He indicated the second-hand chair he’d bought for real clients when he hung out his private eye shingle. Tugging a notepad closer, he reached for a pen. “Go ahead.”

She pressed her lips together as if something undesirable would escape them. He didn’t roll his eyes at her theatrics, but that took all of his restraint.

“I dreamt it last night,” she said when her gyrations were done.

“You said that last time and we arrested the wrong guy.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t listen to all that I said.”

“Whatever, Celia. Say what you have to say then leave. You probably have to be at work.”

She settled on the chair with her butt barely touched in the seat. “Listen carefully. An apartment building is going to burn. It will be arson for hire and the person is close to you or knows someone close to you. I’m not sure if it is firsthand or secondhand contact.”

His head spun. “Could you be more specific?” With his pen poised over the yellow pad he waited for her to elaborate.

“The apartment building is old.”

“We have at least three old buildings in Glen Hills alone. More in the rest of the county. What exactly do you expect me to do with this information?”

She stood, turning away from him. She waved her hands in the air. “Use it how you like. You will anyway.”

Her colorful robe

swirled as she exited his office. Multiple necklaces clanked together reminding him of a prison door closing.

Zach expected her to hop onto a broom, but instead she drove off in an expensive, foreign sedan. “Guess voodoo pays off.”

***

Grace fell into bed after her shift. Exhaustion slowed her body, while her mind moved at light speed. She needed to pack to move the next day, her only day off for a week. The details begged to be dealt with, but she had no energy.

Then the phone rang. Phone calls in the middle of the night were never good. She would have traded her ability for the ability to predict who was calling. Maybe she should get caller I.D.

“Hello,” she mumbled, hoping it wasn’t an insomniac telemarketer.

“Gracie,” a voice danced out of the receiver.

Her eyes flipped open and she sat up in her bed. Her heart warmed to hear his voice. “Mark. Where are you?” Her best friend Mark Handon.

“In California.”

“Oh? An acting gig?”

“Nah, I’m directing.” His laughed soothed her through the phone. She hadn’t talked to him in ages. She blinked. He hadn’t called last time she rewound.

“Are you sure you should be in that hotbed of excess and drugs?”

An exasperated sigh came out of him. “It’s been three months, Gracie. I truly want to stay clean. Trust me.”

“I’ll try.”

“Best I can hope for. Did I wake you?”

She shifted on her pillows then propped them behind her. “No, what’s up? How’d you find me?”

“I have my ways. Besides I figured I sold you on Glen Hills. It was a neat town to grow up in.”

As if he were psychic, he did always find her. “If I didn’t trust you I’d think you were a stalker. Are you really in California?”

She checked her Mickey Mouse clock.

“It’s two in the morning, here. I’m waiting for the sun to come up. Too bad I’m on the beach facing west.”

She had to laugh. He didn’t sound stoned, but then he was a little off-center, even sober. “You can’t do anything the way the rest of us do it, can you?

“So how’s your new place? Shame about Ken.”

For a moment her recent breakup and relocation sent a pain through her heart. Part of her knew she had unfinished business with her ex. “It was time to move on.”

“Yeah, you’d been in that town for a whole two years. I was sure you were putting down roots,” Mark said.

“You make that sound like a bad thing.”

She shifted the sheet over her. Despite the continent separating them, she didn’t like speaking on the phone to Mark if she were naked.

“Well, you know me. I’m never gonna own a house.”

He’d be fifty wandering from acting job to acting job. She didn’t envy his wanderlust. Just once she’d like to stay in one place more than a few years. “No white picket fences in your future.”

“So, have you time slipped again?”

She sighed. Only Mark knew about her gift. He was her safe haven when the talent became too much for her to handle. “Yeah, I have. For three weeks I’ve avoided dead people.”

“So what happened?”

“I had no choice but to enter a hospital room. I even steered clear of her, but she managed to touch me. Hey, you didn’t call me the first time around.”

“You know I can’t explain this any better than you can. So was she murdered?”

Grace tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She liked talking to Mark. He understood her in so many ways. “Always. The victims of natural causes don’t bother to get in touch with me,” she said.

“This getting you down?”

“Just the last time. I never solved it and she still died.”

“You’re whining. You’re not a superhero.”

“But wasn’t I given this odd gift to help people? If I don’t, then what’s the use?”

A deep, feminine voice purred in the background. Then Mark said, “Gracie, I have to go.”

“I’ll bet. Ever the Casanova.”

“You know me.”

The dial tone hummed, their connection severed.

Zach typed Grace’s name and license plate number into his computer. Hopefully nothing would come back. He didn’t want to see his ex taken in by anyone.

Shaking his head he turned his mind back to his task. But his thoughts stilled on the idea of his baby growing inside Dolores.

He didn’t feel anything for her. Was he monster?

He’d love the baby because he couldn’t do anything else.

The computer sat on a scarred wooden desk he’d found at an estate sale. Something about it called to him. He even left the initials “D.W.” in it. He did put on a clear finish and bought a glass blotter it to protect the character it possessed.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up when Grace’s name appeared in the national database. The one he shouldn’t still have access to, but his teen neighbor hacked into for him.

She’d been accused of murder. “That can’t be good.”

He yanked the phone off the hook and dialed Dolores’ house. The house where his child would grow up.

Calling up the archives for a newspaper local to where Grace lived when she under suspicion, he listened to Dolores’ phone ring.

The answering machine picked up and Zach contemplated not leaving a message. “Lors, call me at work or on my cell. It’s important.”

He dropped the receiver back in its cradle, frustration seeping into his bones. He’d offered to buy her a cell phone, but she saw no reason for it. Right now he’d give anything to get in touch with her. Grace Harmony had to be bad news.

Shame since he found her attractive, but women like that were akin to Black Widow spiders. She’d probably eat her young, too.

Then he smacked his own forehead, Dolores’ whereabouts came clear to him. “What day is it?”

Tuesday, his discarded newspaper told him.

She’s at work. He tried her there.

“Hi, Zach. Is something wrong?” she said. Her voice sounded faraway, distracted.

Too many years of him calling that he’d be home late for dinner. She always assumed there was a problem. “Not wrong. What do you know about this Grace Harmony?”

“Why, she a murderer?”

His eyes dropped closed. Little did she know. “I’m serious, Lors. What do you know about her?”

“She’s a medic at Community Hospital.”

“Did she tell you where she lived before coming to Glen Hills?”

“No, I didn’t ask. Why the interrogation?”

His other line rang, but he ignored it. They’d call back. “She’s in the computer. She’s been charged with a crime.”

“Was she convicted?”

“No, but-”

“Well, then she’s fine.”

The clock ticked on the wall. His cheap, metal blinds clanged in the breeze.

“Cops don’t charge people with crimes for no reason,” he argued.

“But sometimes innocent people get charged. You know that.”

You’d think she’d be more jaded having been married to him for so long. He rubbed a hand down his face. Maybe his cynicism blocked him from seeing the good in everyone. “They may be innocent of that crime, but not of others.”

“We’ve had this argument before. Let’s not go there,” she said.

“You’re right, but when is she moving in?”

“Later this morning. I’m taking an early lunch and giving her the key.”

“What time?”

He had to be somewhere in an hour, but he’d fit it in no matter what the consequences. He needed to confront this woman before she moved in and couldn’t be moved out.

“Eleven. She’s eager to get in.”

“Can you stall until I get there?”

“Why?”

“I need to see her for myself.”

She sighed. “You don’t trust me.”

“That’s not true. I just trust my own instincts more.”

And his were better, unless they involved love. For sex, he could pick them, differentiate the losers from the winners, but when any emotion entered into the bargain, what a mess.

“Jerk,” she said, but no venom colored her words.

He’d always been honest with her. “Yes, but you like me anyway.”

“You have a charm about you. A very, raw, rugged one at that.”

Just like his desk.

He chuckled. Her flirting on another day would have put him at ease. Today he had a bad feeling. “Will you stall?”

“Okay, but not too long. You know I’m not good at that.”

“Thanks, dear,” he said.

He hung up before he realized what he called her.

For a woman on her lunch hour, Dolores was chatty to Grace. They stood on the driveway in front of Grace’s car, loaded to beyond full.

The day had dawned overcast with a forecast for possible showers. Grace wished it held off until she finished. Listening to Dolores, she shifted from foot to foot.

“I cleaned the furniture last week, right after I put the ad in the paper.”

Dolores looked around as she spoke as if waiting for someone. The next moment a battered compact came into view. The driver parked the vehicle on the street behind Dolores’ car.

Maybe an inspector, but Grace’s cop radar pinged when he stepped out of his vehicle. He reeked of the self-assurance borne of fighting bad guys.

Not a bad sight to look at either. Too bad. Relationships didn’t last when you time slipped. You didn’t forget, but your lovers did.

Damn.

He surveyed the area before walking to the women. Confidence colored his steps. Shoulders a mile wide sat atop a fit body. His slicked back, black hair crowded at the base of his neck in a mob of curls.

His movements reminded her of a cat, despite his bulk. Was he just as predatory? She swallowed hard and clenched her fists behind her back. Something about him awakened her as if she were a female panther reunited with her mate.

The man in the gray suit with a perfectly pressed, white shirt leaned down to kiss Dolores on the cheek. Not a friendly kiss, but a rather intimate one without being on the lips.

The father of Dolores’ child? Suspect number one even if he was a cop.

“Grace, this is my. .” She stopped as if unsure how to introduce him. “This is Zach. He’s my overprotective ex-husband.”

Graced nodded and held out her hand. “You wanted to check me out before I moved in.”

“Yes.”

His firm grip didn’t hurt or intimidate her. But the fleeting touch sent a ripple of sensation down her spine. Had she ever met this man? A sense of deja vu swept through her, different than when a corpse touched her.

Her gaze never left him, never letting on about her emotions. “So you’ve met me. Am I an axe murderer?”

He tilted his head and his gray eyes bore into her over his sunglasses. “I’ve never met one of those.”

She cocked her head. “Use your imagination. What would an axe murderer look like?”

His tongue came out and did a slow trail across his lips. “Probably not like you. You’re much too petite to wield such a bulky weapon.”

As he spoke his gaze swept over her and she might as well have been naked. Or a steak dinner with all the trimmings for the intensity of his look. His eyes went back to her face, a sly smile tilting his lips.

“Good. May I move in?”

“He doesn’t have a say in that,” Dolores said.

Grace slid her gaze to her new landlord.

“I have a few questions for Grace,” Zach said.

Bet he ran a background check. “Oh? Is your name on the lease?”

His jaw tightened around his already chiseled face. “No, but I have a vested interest in you being the right tenant.”

Grace looked at Dolores who said, “Just humor him. I have to get back to work. You need anything else? All the utilities are turned on. I took the liberty of putting them in your name, you just have to call the companies with the rest of the information.” She backed away toward her Toyota parked on the street. “The numbers are on the table by the door.”

“Thanks, Dolores.”

She waved a hand at Grace and slid into her car. Zach watched her drive away as Grace watched him. When he turned his gaze back to her, she handed him a box.

“I’m not a moving company,” he said.

“You want to interrogate me, you have to work. I only have today to move in and get settled. I work the next four days.”

He looked at the box in his hands as if it were an alien, then shrugged. “Fine.”

Grace didn’t look back to see if he followed her. She assumed he intended to extract information about her last residence and that last case. With a deep breath and a heavy suitcase, she braced herself for the onslaught.

“Tell me about Ridge Oaks,” he said when they reached the apartment above the garage.

“What specifically?”

So he had done his homework. Her name appeared in the database since she’d initially been charged with murder. A shiver moved her spine when she thought about those days.

“Tell me about the murder of your boyfriend’s mother.”

Chapter Three

Zach dropped the box on the floor and leaned on the wall, his arms crossed. He waited as she collected herself. This could be a Pulitzer Prize winner. Or an Oscar-worthy performance. Either way he braced himself for a lie.

They all lied.

Grace placed one box on top of another then wiped her hands on her jeans. “I don’t really know anything about the murder.” Her voice came out scratchy and smooth all at once, like whiskey pouring over sandpaper.

His ears tingled with the vibrations of it.

She glanced at him then back down at her sneakered feet. Her pink tongue came out to lick her lips.

“I talked to the lead detective. He said you knew too much, but had an alibi. Sounds suspicious to me.”

Her gaze met his. She didn’t flinch when he hardened his. Her stress-tinged eyes didn’t blink. She had something to hide, every fiber of his being knew it. He disliked liars. They deserved their own circle of Hell in his book.

“I guess it would.”

“You’re not going to elaborate?”

She ran a hand through her white blond hair. His gaze traveled with it. He’d felt some weird static electricity when he’d shaken that hand. She’d even flirted with him. He couldn’t trust her.

It took balls to do that in front of his ex-wife.

Blowing out a breath, she sat on the couch, her one leg curled underneath her. “No, I don’t see that I have to. Dolores is satisfied with me.”

“Well, Dolores is not always a good judge of character.”

A chuckle erupted from Grace. “Guess that’s why you’re an ex and not a current husband.”

Her jab bounced off of him. “That’s not any of your business.”

“True.”

She stood, shook herself, and then strode towards him. “I have work to do and don’t have time for macho posturing. You know, ‘cave man protect woman’ kind of thing.”

He stopped her with his hand on her shoulder. She recoiled, her face scrunching at him, but her eyes met his. Her gaze steadier than her body. She tried to move out of reach.

“I’m watching you. Carefully. If you bring trouble to Dolores, you’ll have to answer to me.”

He let go and flexed his fingers which hummed as if he had touched a live wire.

She didn’t answer, but brushed past him and down the outside steps.

Grace’s anger hadn’t dissipated with all the physical labor of moving boxes into her apartment. Five trips up and down the steps.

Her leg muscles screamed at her, but she didn’t notice them.

She only remembered Zach’s touch. Her arm still burned from his fingertips. When she looked, she expected to see an impression of his hand.

“I’m just horny.”

She had gone longer than this without sex, but her thirtieth birthday hovered on the horizon. That age brought on greater sexual needs, didn’t it? She also knew her powers would change. Or she’d lose them, which appealed to her. “That must be it. My brain isn’t right.”

Shaking her head, she attempted to brush off whatever he’d left behind on her. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Dolores stood on the landing outside, with a plant and some takeout. She’d changed out of her work clothes and now sported stretchy pants and an oversized T-shirt, both the color of her blue eyes.

“You are a vision,” Grace said, her stomach rumbling.

Dolores cackled. “And I didn’t even freshen up my make up.”

“Come in,” Grace said taking the plant from her hands. “Is that food for me?”

“Us. I figured you’d be too busy to cook.”

“Thanks. I’m too busy to cook most days. I make reservations better than anyone. That, and microwave popcorn.”

Her landlady set the bag of food on the kitchen counter. Grace watched her for a moment. Like most people she did look better in life than in death. A vision of Dolores’ lifeless body flashed into Grace’s mind.

She couldn’t forget why she was here.

“Did Zach interrogate you?”

Grace shook off the macabre hallucination and smiled. “He tried. No light shining in my face, though.”

“That’ll be next time. I apologize for him. He’s a little overzealous.”

Dolores removed items from a bag while Grace searched for plates. “He’s a cop. He’s just that way, I’m sure.”

Her landlady stilled. “He isn’t a cop anymore.”

She said it as if there were more to the story, but her own sense of decorum held her back.

“No?”

“A PI, now. Still I wish he’d trust me more.”

“Is that why he’s the ex?”

Dolores laughed. “Guess you’re pretty straightforward about what you want. There’s more than one reason we aren’t married anymore.”

Grace bit her lip. “That was forward of me.” Why did she want to know? Not usually a gossip, her own question struck Grace as odd. She mulled over the idea that Zach had something to hide. That’s why he thought Grace also had a secret.

Well, she did, but not nearly as menacing a one as he thought.

Dolores waved her off, then set about putting Chinese food on the plates Grace had found. “That’s okay. I’m pretty much an open book. Unlike Zach who plays things close to the vest.”

“That can get tough.”

“True.”

Grace sat at her kitchen table and let herself be served. Dolores opened the bottle of diet soda and poured them each some.

“I probably should have made you something. Maybe on the weekend.”

“Dolores, I appreciate you thinking of me. I’d lost track of time.”

“I keep doing that, too. My girlfriends tell me it’s a symptom of the pregnancy.”

“I wouldn’t know first hand, but it sounds about right. And since I’m not pregnant, I have no excuse.”

“You’ve just moved into a new town. It is understandable. Takes time to get your bearings.”

Grace shrugged and chewed on her General chicken. “I can usually hit the ground running.”

“You move around a lot?”

“My dad was in the army. I guess I held onto the wanderlust.”

“I’ve lived in this town all my life. Can’t imagine living anywhere else. Zach was even my high school sweetheart. How’s that for cliched?”

Grace laughed with Dolores. She found the woman easy to talk to. Even more reason she didn’t want her to die. She needed to live and raise this child growing inside of her.

Grace sighed and decided to ask more about Zach. He remained her only suspect at this point.

Zach pulled into Dolores’ driveway wondering why there were no lights on in the house. “Well, I can have another go at Miss Harmony.” Strangely, he looked forward to seeing her again.

As he ascended the steps, the ring of women’s laughter caught him by surprise. Grace’s door stood wide open to the warm, spring air. When he reached the top of the steps, Dolores and Grace were sitting on the couch.

He paused, eavesdropping on their conversation. About him. Dolores recounted how they met.

“I’m sure Miss Harmony has no interest in our personal life,” he said before she could go further.

The two women looked at him as if he were an alien. Grace sported a ponytail. Wisps of her light hair framed her face, bringing out her emerald green eyes.

Zach moved into the one room apartment, navigating around boxes. “I was looking for you.”

He sounded possessive and wanted to kick himself. The last thing he needed was to give Dolores the impression she had a shot with him.

“Oh? I was giving Grace, here, a hometown welcome. We

had dinner together. If you want something, I can heat up some stew.”

“Just heat up the Chinese,” Grace suggested.

Her gaze hadn’t stayed on him long as if it pained her to see him. She hid something, some huge secret, and he hoped to God it wouldn’t blow up in his face.

“No, Grace, that’s for you.” Dolores stood. “I’ll get something for Zach. Won’t take a moment.”

“Lors, don’t get up. I didn’t come by for you to feed me. I’m not hungry anyway.” He raked a hand through his hair. This was not working out. “I just wanted to talk to Miss Harmony.”

Dolores looked at him then back to Grace. “I think you’ve interrogated her enough.”

“I didn’t interrogate her.”

“I know you Zachary Holten. You have no soft touch when it comes to your job. Let her be. In fact, I’m going to leave her to her unpacking now that I’ve fed her.”

Dolores brushed past him. Grace stood and opened a box as if he weren’t there. “We’re not done, you know.”

“I wasn’t charged with anything,” Grace said, still not looking at him.

“That doesn’t mean you didn’t do something wrong.”

Her eyes flashed at him. “I haven’t. And if you harass me I will file a complaint.”

He nodded. She doth protest way too much.

“I don’t trust her.”

Dolores chuckled. She spooned stew onto a plate then put it into her microwave to heat. “You don’t get a say. Not anymore.”

She leaned against the cracked counter that desperately need replacing. Now that he knew a child would grow up in this place, he looked at it with new eyes. The house remained shabby. He’d have to do some renovation before the baby came.

“Right. Not since I walked out. I’ve heard this before. And I’m supposed to argue that you forced me out by sleeping with my partner. Yada, yada. I’m not being baited into an argument. Dolores.”

He folded his frame to sit on the old chair in her old kitchen. Some of the appliances were still in Harvest Gold. Once they were flush with cash and could have bought new ones, but his pride hadn’t let her spend her money.

Now she didn’t have it anymore. It had gone up her nose.

“So what shall we talk about?” Dolores asked, pulling a beer out of the refrigerator.

His favorite brand, he noticed. After opening the slim green bottle, he took a swig before answering. “She’s hiding something.”

“Aren’t we all.”

He let that remark go. Dolores’ secrets weren’t his concern anymore. “Something big.”

“Stop. I’m not kicking her out.”

“I should have some say since you’re carrying my child.”

She stiffened for a moment. “Yes, I am, but you don’t get a say. Not on this issue. She’s all alone and I’m not getting rid of her.”

“She isn’t a stray kitten.”

“I think she is.”

Frustration ate at the edges of his sanity. Something about Grace Harmony exuded danger. She held herself as if she had no idea the depth of her beauty. That alone could make him wary, but his ex-cop instincts told him he’d have to look deeper.

“Just be careful.”

The microwave dinged. “For once, Zach, trust me.”

He laughed. He would never trust any woman again and Dolores knew that. She’d been the one to break his trust.

“Trust is a funny word coming from you.”

She shrugged. “One can hope.”

Grace lay in her new bed in her new apartment and couldn’t sleep. Her curt conversation with Zach still had her blood boiling. Dolores had turned her queries about him into a trip down memory lane.

She hadn’t found out their relationship. He was key somehow. She didn’t feel it in her bones, but, as a suspect, he made the most sense.

Shrugging off the sheet, she climbed out of bed. The moon shone in making the room seem to be lit by some surreal daytime. One of her windows looked down on the neighbor’s property. No one stirred.

She crossed to the window facing her landlord’s house. No lights. A movement caught her eye. A man stood at the end of the driveway. She stepped back since she didn’t have on a stitch of clothing.

When she looked again, he’d moved down the driveway as if he owned the place. He didn’t look like Zach, but she didn’t really know him well enough to say.

With a speed she didn’t know she possessed, Grace jumped into her discarded clothing. She flew out the door before she could change her mind. Halfway down the steps, she realized she had no weapon. Instead of turning around, her anger at Zach moved her faster.

The man disappeared before she reached the driveway. Tiptoeing, she circled the house. A dog three doors down barked. Then she heard a car start then drive away.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she caught her breath. “I left my door open,” she said to the nighttime.

No place to hide in her apartment, so she went back in confident that the intruder disappeared. At least adrenaline had exhausted her enough to sleep.

She fell into slumber, fully clothed.

Too early in the morning for his tastes, Zach walked around, coffee cup in hand, and surveyed the remains of an apartment. The appliances were black. The acrid smell of smoke wrinkled his nose. He should be used to it by now, but the scent meant death to him. Not in this case.

“Madame Zola was right.”

The firefighters ignored him. He usually talked to himself during an arson investigation. Despite not being here in an official capacity, the detectives from the Centre County Prosecutor’s office let him on scene. Most knew that he’d been the best.

Detective Ed Bauer, his best friend, had called him in.

“The same,” Ed said.

Zach nodded. This fire looked the same as the last case he’d had before being asked to resign from the Prosecutor’s Office. The one that had been his downfall.

“Luckily the tenant moved out. The place was empty. I don’t have her name, yet.

Zach nodded. He’d talk to that person when the time came, but he doubted she would know anything. “I saw her.”

“Who?”

“Celia Johnson. She came to my office and predicted that an apartment building would burn. She insisted it was a copycat.”

“Either we have a copycat on our hands or we arrested the wrong man a year ago,” Ed said. His grin appeared more as a grimace than a look of pleasure.

“Thanks for calling. What exactly do you want?”

“A PI can do things a cop can’t. Keep you ear to the ground.”

“And what will I get in return?” Zach sipped his coffee, the liquid now lukewarm.

“I’ll feed you as much info as I can, unofficially.”

“Right.”

A mere bone. No one would ever let him back in the door at the prosecutor’s office. No PD would have him. Besides, he’d lived in Jersey his whole life. Why would he move now?

Lors’ baby tied him here for good.

Ed slapped him on the back. “You know how it is. Ted Hodgins keeps things close. He’d have my balls if he knew you were here.”

Zach jerked his head toward the other detectives. “Will they rat you out?”

“Nah. They’re good kids.”

Zach sighed. As much as he hated leaving the department, he couldn’t see himself going back. He had more freedom and no boss breathing down his neck. Even if he tracked down cheating husbands, he still had the occasional arson case to keep his skills sharp.

He held out his hand to his friend. “I’ll do it. Just don’t risk your job.”

“Thanks, buddy. And I won’t do anything stupid.”

“Yes, you will, but I’m not concerned with that. Just don’t lose your job.”

Ed walked him back to his car.

“Dolores is pregnant.”

His friend faltered in his steps. “Yours?” Not unless my old partner slept with her again.

“She says so.”

Ed nodded. “You believe her?”

“I have no reason not to.”

“How about that she slept with your partner.”

Ed had never forgiven Dolores for that. Zach had, maybe. He shrugged. “Don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“Don’t get hooked into her web again.”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

A visitor in uniform appeared at Zach’s desk as soon as he took a bite of his protein bar. He hated the taste of it, but they got him through the day. His gaze traveled from the dark blue pants to the belt holding trauma shears, latex gloves and a stethoscope.

Grace looked ready to spit nails at him. How did she find him?

He dropped the bar on his desk, wiping his fingers on his pants. “You ready to talk?” He motioned for her to sit. e He

She shook her head. “No, and I don’t appreciate prowlers spying on me in the middle of the night. At least have the balls to identify yourself.”

What was she talking about? “Miss Harmony, trust me. If I were spying on you, I’d have walked through the front door or you wouldn’t have known I was there.”

“Don’t snow me. I’ve dealt with you law enforcement types before. You were on the driveway last night.”

“I was not. I was deep in sleep after I left Lors’ house.”

“And what time did you leave? Abruptly at midnight?”

“Did you see someone in your driveway at midnight?” he asked, shifting a pad of paper to the center of his desk. “Was that the exact time?”

eWhat

She looked at him as if he’d just walked out of a space ship. “You know what time you were there.”

“Please sit and listen carefully to what I have to say. I was not on Dolores’ driveway at midnight. I was having a very lewd dream, probably right around that time if you must know. So I’ll take notes and you should file a police report.”

She plopped herself down in the chair, her radio hitting the side of his desk. “It wasn’t you?”

He liked that she didn’t blush at his comments. Since working mostly with men she probably heard sexual comments all of the time. “No. What time exactly?”

She ran a hand over her face, the momentum out of her anger. Her radio squawked and she turned down the volume. “My clock said 12:15.”

“What did you see?”

He scribbled the time at the top of his page. Who would be scoping out Dolores’ house so late at night? He’d check with the local PD to see if there were any burglaries in the area.

“A man was standing on the driveway,” Grace said. Her gaze looked over his shoulder as if she were reliving the incident. “I assumed it was you.”

“Where?”

“First at the end then he moved down the driveway. He seemed to be looking up at my apartment. I backed away.”

“Did you feel threatened?”

“I was naked. I put on a robe and went outside.”

He resisted the urge to throttle her. “You went outside when you thought you saw a strange man?”

“I thought it was you. As strange as you may be, I don’t see you as a threat.”

He glanced up at her. The thought of her naked clouded his mind for a moment. Dolores is carrying my baby, he said to himself. “You don’t see me as a threat?”

She swallowed visibly, her hands holding onto each other. One booted foot tapped on the floor. “No.”

Her gaze didn’t waiver, but he didn’t believe her. Her body language said the opposite of her words. She sat with both feet on the ground, ready to take flight. He could smell her fear. Why did he make her afraid?

“Really.”

“At least not a physical one.”

He put down his pen. “Am I a threat in some other way?”

This could be good.

“No,” she said, too quickly.

He wasn’t going to crack this tough nut. How did she get that haunted look in those beautiful eyes? “What’d the guy look like?”

“You, I guess. Couldn’t see well. The moon was out, but the house cast a shadow and he stayed in it.”

“How close did you get?”

“Not very since he was gone by the time I went out. I heard a car start down the block.”

“You didn’t think to call the police?”

“I thought it was you. If I called the police, who would have believed me?”

“I see you have some trust issues with cops.”

She snorted. “You could say that.” With a deep sigh, she stood. “I have to get back to work.”

“You’re a medic?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t elaborate, but stared at him for a moment as if deciding to say something.

“I think Dolores is in danger.”

His radar went up. “Why? Did this guy do anything last night?”

“No, I just think she is.”

Great. He needed another psychic like a fish needed swimming lessons. “A feeling?”

She shrugged. “If you want to call it that.”

“Does your feeling have a name?” he asked, arms crossed over his chest.

“Nope.”

“Any ideas?”

She stood, her hand on her radio. “You.”

Chapter Four

Grace’s idea that Dolores was in danger propelled Zach to her house. He had to talk to Grace. If he had to shake the details out of her he would.

She answered the door in running shorts and a tank top. His gaze went down like an elevator then back to the top floor. Her breasts didn’t spill over the front of her shirt like Dolores’. Instead they remained discreetly behind her baggy top, daring him to imagine them.

And he spent a moment doing just that. How would they feel in his hands, on his chest, in his mouth?

Grace frowned at him. He shook himself from his daydreaming.

“We need to talk,” he said, brushing past her into her apartment. This was business. No ogling suspects.

The smell of pizza permeated the small room and Zach’s stomach rumbled. The protein bar had only held him part of the day.

“Come in, please. Don’t be bashful.”

She slammed the door. When she turned around her eyes held fire. “Who the hell are you to come barging in here?” The words escaped from between clenched teeth.

He pulled himself to his full height. He had no ulterior motives here. “I’m an ex-cop and you’ve informed me of a threat. One to someone close to me. I’m following up.”

A frown creased her forehead. She shook her head. “Forget I said anything.”

“Why? You changed your mind about hurting Lors?”

Her mouth dropped open. “I’m no threat to anyone.”

He leaned closer to her. She didn’t flinch.

She was a threat. To him. With her sea-green eyes and innocent face. Despite her hard attitude she could easily be a damsel in distress. The worst kind. The kind that didn’t know they needed to be saved until too late.

And he’d be just the chump to jump in be a knight. He gritted his teeth. Not this time.

“Why do you think there’s a threat to Dolores?”

Her shoulders rose as she drew in a deep breath. “I spoke out of turn.”

The words came out as a whisper that threatened to go away on the wind as if they’d never existed.

Why did she back down? “So there isn’t a threat? Then the guy on the driveway is after you?”

“Why would you think that?”

Her peachy scent permeated his nose, clouding his thoughts. He shook his head clear, then turned away from her. “Well he was either looking for you or Lors.”

“Maybe he had the wrong house.”

He whirled to look at her. One finger twirled her pony tail. Her usually pouty mouth formed a thin line.

“You don’t believe that. What aren’t you telling me?” he asked.

“Something you’d never believe in a million years. Who’s the father of Dolores baby?”

He squinted at her. “What? Why do you need to know that?”

Sighing she crossed to her couch and flopped down on it. “Have a seat.”

He did in an overstuffed chair across from her. “Talk.”

“What if I knew about something, but I can’t tell you how?”

“Oh, yeah. Some divine intervention.”

Her words pinned his bullshit meter.

She bit her lip. “Maybe.”

He leaned his elbows on his thighs. What kind of game was this lady playing? “Tell me the threat.”

“You won’t believe me.”

“Probably not, but at least I can show you that there is no threat.”

“Someone is going to kill Dolores, then set a fire to cover it up.”

Zach jumped from the chair, towering over her. His anger spiked. “Tell me who?”

“I don’t know,” she shouted.

She stood now, too. Her lips close enough to kiss.

Her scent intoxicated him so he couldn’t trust his instincts. Stepping back would have meant conceding in a battle that he didn’t know if it was love or war.

“Then how do you know she’s in danger?”

“I just do.”

He grabbed her arm. Her eyes went cloudy as she struggled to pull away. “Don’t touch me,” she hissed out.

Letting go he realize how hard he’d held her. Thankfully his fingertips hadn’t bruised her. “Sorry.”

The relief softened her face as she rubbed her arm. “It’s okay. You didn’t hurt me.”

He lowered his voice. “How do you know Dolores is going to be killed?”

“She told me.”

Grace waited for the laughter.

Instead, Zach’s mouth opened and closed like a fish. He sat down again. Or maybe his legs gave out. “Dolores told you.”

Her mother used to say, “In for a penny, In for a pound.”

She sat, then hugged a throw pillow to her chest. “Dead people talk to me.”

The statement hung in the air, passed gas no one wanted to notice, but everyone smelled.

“Oh, lovely. You psychic or something?” He scowled while his words dripped with disdain. For some reason, she wanted him to believe her story. Somehow he was a key to the whole situation.

“Or something.”

Zach stood and paced the short length of her apartment. Ripping off his suit jacket, he laid it gently on the back of his chair. His tie came off next. “You still have some of that pizza?”

She blinked. He wanted food? “Yeah. I can heat it up.”

“Do it.”

Her eyes blinked, but she stood to do his bidding.

She put two pieces in the oven and returned to her seat. He didn’t stop pacing. His firm jaw sat in place as if glued there. His eyes gained an intense, but faraway look.

“We had a psychic in last year to solve a case. She didn’t. She was a fraud. We wasted a lot of time and effort on her.”

He stopped abruptly. So there was more to his story.

“So you’re more than a garden variety skeptic?”

“You bet. You can’t imagine the hoops you’ll have to jump through to get me to believe you.” He sat on her coffee table, his knee scraping hers.

The room wobbled and she saw him in a different light. Naked and sweaty. And so was she.

“Grace?”

His voice brought her back. His knee had lost contact with hers. She jammed herself further into the couch so as not to risk his touch again.

“I’m here,” she said.

“Tell me what you think you know. We’ll start from there.”

“Someone is going to kill Grace in a week. Next Wednesday.”

“You know this how?”

She took a bracing breath. “I worked on her after she was shot. She died and I had to go back into her hospital room. I didn’t want to.”

The tears started down her face. She wiped them away with an angry swipe. He would think the tears were planned.

“Then what happened?”

His voice had softened. “She grabbed my arm.”

“She wasn’t dead?”

“She was. She just grabbed my arm and asked me to help her.”

“Has this happened to you before?”

“Yes,” she answered.

He stood again and moved into her kitchen. With a dish towel, he removed the pizza slices. As if it weren’t hot he dug into the first one, chewing and staring out the window. He stayed that way so long she thought he’d forgotten about her.

His strong jaw made short work of the food. Wiping his hands on a napkin, he wandered back to her. Looking down, he said, “So why are you here now?”

“I was catapulted back in time to prevent the murder.”

Zach could tell from her lack of nervousness that Grace truly believed what she said. He couldn’t wrap his brain around it. “You’ve come back in time.”

She nodded. He wandered back to her kitchen for the second piece of pizza. The first one had scalded his mouth so he ate the next one gingerly. As he chewed he mulled over her words.

Sitting on the couch she hugged the pillow to her as if for warmth. What was he to make of her? Her hair still called to him to touch it.

“How? Some machine?”

“This isn’t science fiction.”

“It’s some kind of fiction.”

Her jaw set. “Look you can believe me or not. I actually don’t care. I’m tired from my shift and I have an early one tomorrow. I need my sleep.”

She stood and without ceremony tossed the sofa cushions aside. Then she pulled open her bed. Zach watched her not sure what she expected of him.

“Leave,” she said as if reading his mind. Maybe she could do that too.

“We aren’t finished.”

“We are for now. I’m going to bed.”

A car pulled up to one of the garage bays. “Dolores is here. I’m sure she’ll wonder why you’re up here,” Grace said.

“She might.”

“That might be more explaining than you want to do. She might get jealous.”

“She has no reason to be.”

“We both know that, but she may not and pregnant women are emotional. Go.”

He dropped the crust into her sink and turned to leave. “We are not done.”

“Fine. Find me tomorrow.”

“Come to my office.”

“No.”

She didn’t even look at him. He’d already been dismissed. When had he lost control of this interrogation? “I could have someone bring you in.”

“For what?”

“Questioning. Making threats.”

“Yeah, I look real dangerous.”

Zach didn’t reply. He just left thinking that she could be dangerous, but not in the way she thought.

***

Zach sat alone outside the River Vue Motel the next morning, his camera pointed at room 14. Another slimy place with another cheating spouse. This time the wife cheated out on her husband.

Her FBI agent husband had already done the initial surveillance, but wanted an outside source for when he sued for custody. Two little kids would have a new home soon.

The injustice of it all made Zach cringe, but fair was fair. If you didn’t keep your vows, you had to lose something.

The door opened and the women stepped out, dressed in a different suit than last night when Zach had followed them. The day had dawned bright and he could see her clearly in his telephoto lens.

Click. She looked around, but there was no way she could hear him from across the parking lot.

Click. She unlocked her car, surveying the lot again. She shrugged and slid into her vehicle. Zach took a picture of the license plate, then packed away his camera.

His phone rang just after he started his car. He stretched before answering.

“Holten.”

“Zach.”

“Hey, Ed.”

“Got news. I’m on my way to talk to a Grace Harmony.”

“Why?”

“Because the fire in that apartment was set and she was the last one there.”

Chapter Five

Zach sat on the edge of Grace’s bed. He reached out a hand to brush away some hair. His molten gaze saw through to her core.

A rakish grin creased his face. “It’s just me.”

As if she’d been scared. She wasn’t. Her heart fluttered as desire streaked through her.

“Grace.”

Her name tripped off his tongue as if he’d said it a thousand times.

“Zach.”

Her breath hitched as his hand traveled from her face to the top of her t-shirt. A finger dipped below the neckline, but couldn’t reach anything.

She flipped off the shirt, eager for his hands to touch every part of her.

“Ah.”

His gaze poured over her, his grin broadening. He stood and in one practiced motion he dropped his pants and underwear.

She reached out to him and he came into her embrace. Home was the word she thought of.

He must have felt it, too. “Oh, God, Grace.”

He rained kissed down her neck then a small bite. She arched into him. Nothing had ever felt so right to her. Nothing had ever been so right. Nothing.

The room spun. She clung to the sheets as his mouth worked its magic down he stomach then back to her mouth Her breath left as his lips took possession of hers.

Their murmurings and moans mingled as their bodies did the same. Skin to skin she couldn’t touch enough of him.

His hands traveled all over her, igniting fires as they went.

Her breath came in pants and she bit her lip stifling her urge to stop him.

What was she doing?

What was he doing?

Here?

Just when she thought she would shatter the alarm clock shouted with the traffic report. Her body ached as if from ecstasy.

“Damn.”

Grace had never reacted to anyone this way. Certainly not after having known him a short time.

She rose and washed away the dreams with a shower. A sense of anticipation lingered after she turned off the faucet.

Her shift didn’t start for four hours and she planned to use that time getting to know Dolores’ ex-boyfriend. Her most recent one at least.

Kent Winger worked in the Centre County Prosecutor’s Office, but today was his day off.

Masculine legs protruded out of a vintage pony car that looked halfway restored. Grace parked her car on the street, then walked up the short driveway.

With kids in school, the neighborhood resembled a ghost town, with only the drone a distant lawn mower to indicate humans lived here.

The neighborhood had identical ranch houses up and down the street, each painted a different color. Some had flowers planted. This one had the Spartan look of a man’s space. Two shrubs adorned the pathway and nothing more.

“Nice car,” Grace said.

Kent wheeled himself out from under the vehicle. “Thanks.”

He stood, raising himself to be only a handful of inches taller than her. His build was stocky, but solid, like a fireplug. His buzzed hair made her think of the military and he looked older that she expected. “You an admirer?”

His steel blue eyes twinkled as if his words meant more than their superficial meaning. A grin surfaced accentuating more lines on his face.

She waved a hand towards her car. “I like them.”

His face scrunched into a grimace. “That’s too new.”

“Sorry. Can’t afford the vintage ones.”

“Do I know you?”

“No. We have a mutual acquaintance.”

“Oh?”

“Dolores Holten.”

His spine stiffened. His gaze raced to the house as if he didn’t want someone there to hear their conversation. “Did she send you?”

“She has no idea I’m here.”

“Tell her that I don’t believe the baby’s mine. It’s that snake charmer of an ex-husband. She ain’t getting a dime from me.”

Grace blinked. Dolores’ baby could be this guy’s? “Like I said she doesn’t know I’m here.”

“Why’d you come? I’ve got a new life and I don’t wanna screw it up.”

“I think she’s in danger, but I don’t know who from.”

Kent laughed. “I was only the last in the long line of cop lovers she had. Badge bunny through and through that lady. Glad to be rid of her.”

He wasn’t describing the Dolores she knew. “Can you name any others?”

“I can hand you the employee list of every PD around here. Okay, she didn’t date the dispatchers.”

“How long did you date?”

“A month. One hellish thirty days. Who are you anyway?”

“Grace Harmony.”

“You friends with her?” He shook his head. “No she’d consider you competition. Whatever you are to her, stay away.”

“Why?”

He leaned closer to her, his coffee breath wafting across her face. “Because she’s a vampire.”

Grace didn’t know how to take his advice. “Can you at least tell me some of her recent boyfriends? Any she had trouble with?”

“Trouble getting rid of?”

“Yeah.”

Stalkers ended up killing their target. This was the only place Grace could figure to begin. If Dolores had a lot of ex-lovers, she must have pissed off at least one.

Kent wiped his hands on an already filthy, red rag. “Lance Antonio.”

“You have an address?”

“Nope, but he hangs out at the Robber Baron. I’m sure he’ll be there tonight. She had to get a restraining order on him.”

Grace left her faith in police officers not any stronger.

Dolores dialed the number she knew in her sleep. She’d been calling it a lot lately. She had hoped he would be her rock. That he’d be happy about her baby. Their baby.

“What now?” he said.

“Hello to you to. I’m fine, thanks.”

“Dolores, stop.”

“Stop what?”

She sighed. “Stop this. You need to come take your responsibility.”

“I think my responsibility ended with your blackmail.”

“Look, I’m desperate. I don’t have as much money as I’d like to raise this kid. Either come here and marry me or keep those checks coming.”

“I will find a way out of this,” he said.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder and snorted. “What? Burn me down.”

“Shit. Don’t say it out loud.”

“And blow your cover? You don’t think someone will figure you out. How about that best friend of yours? She might want to know. Bet she already does.”

“Leave her out of this,” he hissed.

She’d touched a nerve. Good. Maybe his checks would be on time. “Fine. Just remember. I have an envelope with her name on it. Anything happens to me.”

“Dolores, you are not that clever.”

“You want to find out for sure? Try me.”

“Okay, I get it. I’ll write another check. Make sure it doesn’t go up your nose.”

“I’m clean. Can’t be anything else with a kid inside of me.”

“Whose fault is that?”

“Yours and you’ll keep paying for it.”

“No, I won’t Dolores. I’ll find a way out.”

She cackled as she hung up the phone. No he wouldn’t.

“It was set and we think for hire,” Ed Bauer told Zach.

He sat on the only other chair in the office besides Zach’s.

“For hire?”

“Owner had financial trouble. Gambling debts. He won’t tell us who he hired. Said the guy is long gone.”

“You believe him?”

Zach sipped his coffee. Part of him missed being on the front line of these things. Arson had been his specialty.

“We’ll keep looking, but the usual arson guys have all been accounted for. We’re going through the owner’s phone records and e-mail to see if we can track down anyone. He must have contacted him some way. Not telepathy.”

Zach laughed. “Cell phone?”

“Got that, too, though he insisted it belonged to his business.”

“You can get around that.”

Ed nodded. He stood. “I have to say I really miss not having you on this case.”

Zach shook his friend’s hand. “Part of me misses, it too. On the other hand, I make my own hours.”

“Something to be said for that. Gotta go.”

Zach watched him leave, but didn’t feel the regret he expected.

Grace’s shift started with a potential suicide victim who moved the gun at the last second and only managed to shoot off his ear.

Cleanly.

While her partner stemmed the bleeding, she and a cop searched for the missing body part.

“What are the chances that this guy’s ear would blow out the window?” Officer Henry said.

“If he’d had screens we wouldn’t be doing this.”

“Dumpster diving on a Spring day.”

Grace didn’t chuckle, her mind ruminating on Jared’s attitude “You know a Lance Antonio?”

“Yeah. Used to be my partner. Why? He giving you trouble?”

“Why would you think that?”

“He does that. Latches onto a woman and doesn’t let go. He has at least one restraining order out against him.”

“So I’d heard. You know Zach Holten?”

The officer moved around some rotting garbage. To Grace’s relief her nose stopped working. She couldn’t smell anymore.

“By reputation.”

“Which is?” she asked.

“He’s a cop at all times and would ticket his grandmother for jaywalking. Even if he isn’t a cop anymore.”

“Why’d he quit?”

Officer Henry stopped and looked over his mirrored sunglasses at her. “He believed a psychic and she was wrong. They arrested the wrong guy.”

Grace digested that information. Her abilities would not be welcome in Zach’s eyes. “No temper?”

The officer stopped and studied her. “Why do you want to know about all of these people?”

“I think a friend of mine is in trouble and I’m just trying to get to know the cast of characters in her life.”

“Anyone I know?”

“Dolores Holten?”

He snorted. “She brings trouble on herself.”

“You know her?”

“We dated several years ago before I met my wife. She lives life on the wild side.”

His picture of her didn’t fit with the Dolores Holten Grace knew. Maybe the pregnancy slowed her down. Who knew? Grace’s job wasn’t to judge, but to save her from being killed.

Just because the victim made it hard to narrow down subjects didn’t mean it couldn’t be done. “You think you could show me around the Robber Baron tonight?”

“Hey, I’m a married man.”

She punched his arm lightly. “This isn’t a date. I just need you to introduce me to Lance Antonio. Then you can leave. It’ll take five minutes.”

“Sure. Wait I found something.”

Officer Henry’s grin creased his face as he held up an ear.

“There’s been another one,” Ed Bauer said while sitting in Zach’s office.

“Beer? It’s quitting time.”

“I’m off. Please don’t tell me it’s an import.”

Zach reaching into a small refrigerator behind his desk. “I stocked some beer for you.”

“Good.” His friend looked around his new office and Zach realized just how shabby it appeared. He hadn’t had time or even the inclination to decorate. Maybe some part of him had hoped this was temporary.

Opening the bottle he said, “I know I haven’t done much with the place.”

“Martha Stewart, you are not.”

The clinked bottles. Zach took a sip, savoring the amber brew. Nothing like a cold beer at the end of the day. “So tell me about this new case.”

“Set. Arson for hire. I’d bet my balls it is the same person as last time.”

“That sure?”

“The worst is that is looks like the guy we sent away.”

“Mm.”

That case would haunt Zach forever. On a psychic’s tip and some circumstantial evidence he arrested someone. The wrong person and that ended Zach’s career because the person had good lawyers.

“But that guy is in jail. Or twelve jurors thought he was the right guy.”

The Prosecutor’s office had nabbed someone else and he’d been convicted. “I’m cringing as I say this. Celia said the first fire was a copycat. Could the same person have done it again? A second time?”

“But who could this be? They’d have to know about the first one or be the true person who set those other fires.”

Zach frowned. “Are you suggesting the wrong man was convicted?”

Ed took a healthy swig of his beer. “Happens at times.”

“I don’t have any other ideas,” Zach said.

He loathed the idea that some innocent man had been convicted. The Prosecutor had been pretty sure of his case.

“Enough about this. Just mull it over for me and if you have anything you can add, let me know.”

“Sure, buddy.”

“Now how is that love life?”

Ed laughed as Zach’s mind went to Grace.

The Robber Baron, a cop hangout in the small burg of Mill Hall, blasted Conway Twitty when Grace arrived. She spotted Officer Henry or Hank as he wanted her to call him. Hank Henry, quite a name she’d told him. He just smiled and reminded her that she had no room to talk.

“He walked in five minutes ago. He’s at the end of the bar.”

Grace slid onto the stool that Hank gave up for her. Glancing down the smoke-free bar, she saw a talk, lanky man with a cowboy hat. He was talking to the man next to him and glancing at one of the waitresses. Not glancing, undressing her with his eyes.

She expected the conversation was lewd and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was on his territory. “Is he really a cowboy?”

“A legend in his own mind.”

“Why are you ratting him out? What about the cop brotherhood?”

Hank shook his head. “He doesn’t feel that way about any other cops so why should I feel that way about him?”

“I see.”

“What’ll you have?” Hank asked.

Grace surveyed the beer bottles in front of the many bar patrons. “I’ll take the favorite of the blue collar set to blend in.”

“We’d have to throw you out if you ordered white wine, though they do serve it. And a great meatloaf.”

“I’ll remember that. They do takeout?”

“Yep. I ate here a lot when I was a bachelor. I don’t miss those days.”

“You ever see Dolores in here?”

“Oh, Dolores loves this place though I haven’t seen her in a month or so. Rumor is that she was back with Zach.”

Grace shrugged. She didn’t know the answer to that one. And maybe she didn’t want to. Her mind turned briefly to her dream about Zach. A shudder went through her.

Dolores was turning out to be a harder person to pin down with her many amours. Who wouldn’t have a motive?

Her beer landed in front of her and she took a swig trying not to look dainty. Not that she was, but sometimes being small didn’t help.

Lance looked her way, but she figured her chest was too tiny for him. Maybe she’d sidle up to him anyway. She tipped her beer at him and flashed a million dollar smile. Well her mother only paid three thousand dollars to the orthodontist for it.

“I may try this by myself,” she said.

“What?”

“Use my feminine wiles on him. That way you don’t have to be involved.”

“You going to confront him with something?”

“Maybe. Thanks for your help, Hank. Kiss your wife for me and thank her for letting me borrow you.”

“Good luck, Grace.”

Grace ambled past a collection of the county’s law enforcement officers. Even out of uniform, she would have spotted that they were cops. Each looked her over as she passed them in her flowered shirt and blue jeans. Maybe they were too snug to be legal, but she figured she could use all of her assets.

Pun intended, she thought with a smile.

Some of the cops gave her a cursory look while others openly gaped. Please, I’m not that good-looking.

She shifted her startling blond hair over her shoulder and smiled at Lance when she reached him. “Hey.”

His gaze ricocheted from her face to her toes then back to her face. “Yeah? You’re a little lacking in the chest area for me.”

Her gaze went south. “You’re a little lacking elsewhere for me, but I’ll buy you a beer if you’ll answer some questions for me.”

“Oh? What about?”

“Dolores Holten.”

He spat on the floor. “I don’t want to hear nothing about that slut. Heard she got knocked up.”

Grace wouldn’t deny or confirm that to this jerk. “Yeah? You cause that?”

He laughed his little paunch, the only fat on his body, wiggling ever so slightly. “Honey can’t get someone pregnant from 200 yards and I haven’t been that close for three months.”

“Does that make you mad?”

He tipped up his bottle of beer, never taking his eyes off of her. The bar had quieted for a moment then another mournful song about mom and trucks came on the jukebox. Guess it was a favorite since three people near her joined in an off-key accompaniment.

“You some investigator?”

“Nope. I think she’s in danger and I wondered if it was from you.”

“Nope. I’ve moved on as they say and this lady has more class. And more tits.”

If she had that much class why would she be with him? Grace cleared her throat. “Okay. Just checking.”

“I’d look into that ex-husband of hers. He was pretty jealous of me when I dated her. Has quite a temper.”

Grace paid for his beer then left him with his buddies. Amazingly her feet didn’t stick to the floor, but she felt Lance’s gaze all the way out the door. She’d have to shower again to get it off.

A new picture of Zach was emerging, too and she needed to reconcile this with what he’d been like with her. She also needed to find out for sure who the father of Dolores’ baby was. She couldn’t ask her unless she wanted to seem rude.

Zach might know and she’d found out where he lived.

Chapter Six

Grace walked down the well-lit Main Street of Mill Hall to where she parked her car. Footsteps echoed across the deserted town.

Not just hers.

She whirled to face the guy she’d talked to this afternoon. Was Ed stalking her?

He put up his hands as if in surrender. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I didn’t realize when we spoke earlier that coincidentally I was looking for you.”

She pulled her purse closer to her even though the guy held himself like a cop. “Why?”

His manner was deferential. “Miss, I just want to talk to you about a fire.”

Grace’s blood went cold. It had all ended with a fire in her last town.

“You moved out of the Grey Arms, correct?”

She stopped and looked at him, her curiosity getting the best of her. “Why?”

There’s been a fire. And it was set in your apartment.”

“Old apartment.”

“Right. Could we go somewhere to talk? Other than the middle of Main Street Mill Hall?”

“I’m tired. Just ask what you want so I can go.”

“Okay. When exactly did you move out?”

She thought back to when she’d rewound this time. Had it been Thursday or Friday. “Uh, Monday. The day after I signed the lease with the new place.”

“And did you go back?”

“No reason to. The place was a dump. No fond memories.”

The cop grimaced as if he knew what she was talking about. “So you were nowhere near the Gray Arms two nights ago?”

“No. Are you finished?”

“Can anyone corroborate your story?”

“I went to bed alone.”

She turned away from him ready to be done with the conversation. His next words stopped her. “You were investigated in a murder by arson in Pennsylvania.”

“And they decided I wasn’t the person they wanted.” Would that haunt her forever?

“The detectives haven’t arrested anyone, yet.”

“And I moved here, proof that they didn’t need me to stay in town. Goodnight Detective.”

She left her blood on its way to boiling.

Zach Holten’s apartment was in a high rise at one end of Main Street Glen Hills. Most of the town Grace had settled in was rural, with the hospital being the biggest employer, so the high rise stood out. Literally.

As she trudged up the stairs to the third floor, the weight of her task slowed her steps. She only had two more days to solve this thing. At least she’d be close to Dolores. She’d taken the day off already and planned to invite her landlord out for lunch and shopping.

New age music filtered through the red apartment door which sported a three seventeen. Grace stood with her hand poised to knock. What if he was in the shower? What if he had a woman over?

She’d be mortified to interrupt a date or a rendezvous.

She’d be jealous, too. Oh, God. She’d never felt this way about anyone. Why now?

She swallowed her hesitance and rapped on the door. Zach opened it a bit then when recognition dawned on his face he opened it fully. “What are you doing here?”

“I have some questions for you. I didn’t think you’d mind being invaded on your home turf to be interrogated.”

He leaned on the door dressed in loose pants and no shirt. A sheen of sweat covered his hairy chest. “Turnabout is fair play, I guess. You’ll have to wait until I’m done. Or better yet, join me.”

She walked through the doorway into a true bachelor’s pad. Except for the art on the walls. No race car posters, here. Instead he had pictures of religious icons and prints by contemporary artists.

“What are you doing?”

“Yoga. I don’t have another mat, but if you take off your socks you won’t slide on the carpeting,” he said as he closed the door behind him.

She looked at him making sure he didn’t have two heads. “Yoga? I thought only women vegetarians did that.”

He laughed, the muscles on his chest rippling with the effort. “Nope. Homicide detectives that have seen too much do it to keep their sanity.”

That had been the most he said to her about himself ever. She eyed his mat then her jeans. “I’m not sure I’m dressed for it.”

“I can lend you some loose shorts.”

“I doubt they’d fit me.”

“They come from someone your size.”

Clothes from an ex-girlfriend. Just what she wanted to wear when she was talking to him. “I don’t think so. I can come back when you’re done.”

“No, I only have a few more minutes. Make yourself at home. There’s beer in the fridge.”

He turned away from her as if dismissing her. She stood not sure what to do, then went to the kitchen for a beer. The amber liquid slid down her throat like a log on a flume ride. She expected to splash herself.

Zach appeared in the doorway when she was halfway through the green bottle of imported beer. “So what brings you here?” His permanent scowl had returned.

She hesitated. “I want to know if you’re the father of Dolores’ baby.”

His laugh spurt out of him as if he had lost control of it. “Why would I tell you that?”

“Are you?”

He turned away from her and filled a glass with water. She watched his Adam’s apple bob as he downed the whole lot of it. “I could be.” His ego said that.

Did feelings for Dolores still occupy his body? Grace took note and squelched her hormones screaming for her to touch him. He smelled like a man, an enticing one at that. She read somewhere that if you liked how a man’s sweat smelled he was your soul mate.

Her mind streaked back to her dreams. All moisture left her mouth. She dragged herself back to the present. “Oh? And who else?”

“No one else.”

She bit her lip. A debate raged inside of her. Did he not realize what other people thought of her Dolores? If only one person had told her of Dolores’ hijinks she might not have believed him, but Hank had no reason to lie to her.

“You think so?”

His stare tried to bore a hole through her as if daring her to refute him. “I hear Dolores has been with a lot of people.”

She regretted the words when the pain pierced across his steel eyes, making them closer to flint than anything that could hold up a building.

His jaw clenched and a muscle worked in his cheek. “Those are lies.”

“Zach,” Grace said in her “calm the patient” voice.

His shoulders slumped. “Okay, I know about Dolores. That’s why we’re divorced. She ran around on me.”

He turned away from her. She obeyed her instincts and moved to him, touching his back. The pain must be raw and still near the surface for him. “I’m sorry.”

“Not your fault and I should be done with it by now.” He turned back to her, shifting her close to him. “For some reason I want to trust you, but I can’t.”

His head tipped and moved closer to her. His hand warmed the side of her face. Colors danced on the border of her vision as desire shot through her.

If of their own accord, her head leaned into him, her lips parting. Her brain screamed that she couldn’t do this. The last time she gave into an attraction she’d wound up arrested for a murder she didn’t commit. “No.”

Her self-control did not reach her feet so she was unable to move.

He stopped, his eyes on fire, his breath ragged across her cheek. “No?”

“We can’t. I have a job to do.”

He brushed past her. “And what is that? Protecting Dolores?”

“Yes in a way. She asked me to help her.”

“Yeah, you said that. Her corpse talked to her. You got those cops in Pennsy so stymied they speak highly of you.”

Her back stiffened this time. “I haven’t done anything wrong. I helped them.”

“That Detective wouldn’t get specific about how you helped. Something about an arson. Why don’t you tell me the details.”

Every fiber of her being wanted to spill the whole story. She took a deep breath, but knew she couldn’t tell him the truth. The one thing he wanted, she didn’t feel he could handle.

Shaking her head she backed away out of the kitchen. “Trust me. You don’t really want to know the truth.”

He followed her grabbing her arm. Electricity seared its way through her.

“Try me.”

“No. You wouldn’t believe me.”

“Are you attracted to me?”

She swallowed hard and crossed fingers behind her back. “No.”

“Then why were you as eager to kiss me as I was to kiss you?”

“You misread my body language.” She tugged herself loose. “I have to go. I still want the answer to my question.”

“So do I Grace. So do I.”

Chapter Seven

Zach’s phone rang as soon as Grace left. His caller I.D. said it was Celia.

He debated not answering it, but she’d keep calling him. Maybe she knows when he’s home. The idea spooked him a bit.

“Celia.”

“Listen to her.”

“Who?”

He settled onto his couch, the cordless phone cradled against his shoulder. This woman was the bane of his existence some days. Why didn’t she just leave him alone?

He knew why, but that didn’t give her license to disrupt his life. Okay, maybe it did, but he didn’t have to like it.

“That woman who just left.”

“Celia, don’t spy on my apartment.”

“I’m not.”

A chill went down his spine. She was right. The number on is caller I.D indicated she was home and he knew that was across town.

“Celia, stay out of this. And stay out of my life.”

He pressed the disconnect button with more fury than he should have felt for her.

Grace sat in her car trying to calm her runaway heart. The colors she’d seen when he touched her scared her. And the visions spoke volumes, spoke of a future with Zach. How could this be if she saved Dolores? She’d seen more than any corpse had let her see.

Her ringing phone interrupted her pity party.

Mark’s voice boomed out at her. “Hey, Gracie.”

“Mark. You seemed to know when I need to hear your voice.”

“A guy or a dead body?”

“I have other things in my life.”

He chuckled. “Which is it this time?”

She sighed. “A guy.” Which had only ever been once before this. And that hadn’t worked out either.

“Tell me more.”

“He’s the ex-husband of the corpse, er Dolores. My landlord.”

“The guy’s your landlord?”

She rubbed a hand over her face. “No Dolores is. The murder victim.”

“So, he’s an ex right?”

“It isn’t that simple.” She bit her lip not really wanting to tell Mark that this guy was different. That she felt things she hadn’t felt with any other human being. “He may be the father of Dolores’ baby. This is all wrong Mark.”

“What is?”

“These things that are happening didn’t happen before. Too many of them. I’m getting scared that I can’t prevent this.”

Her fear threatened to choke her. At the very least, her helplessness might immobilize her and then where would Dolores be?

“You’ll be fine, Grace. You always are.”

“What about the last time?”

“A fluke.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Well what else has changed? Nothing, right? You moved your location and that hasn’t affected things in the past. You worry too much.”

“You’d worry, too if you had dead people talking to you.”

“Why all of a sudden are you afraid?”

“Because it’s different this time.”

“What is? Give me specifics or I can’t help.”

Some part of her didn’t want to divulge that she had visions when she touched Zach. If she said it out loud to Mark, it might mean something. She didn’t want her new reaction to mean anything. She wanted to leave Mill Hall, but couldn’t because of Dolores. “I can’t. Never mind. Where are you again?”

“California. I’m doing a traveling play.”

“What play?”

He launched into a colorful description of his new job as Grace’s mind wandered. A rap on her window brought her out of her reverie. Dolores stood there in the light of a streetlamp a casserole in her hand. With her head cocked and face scrunched she had a question on her mind.

Grace begged off Mark’s conversation and then rolled down her window. “Dolores.”

“What are you doing here?”

Should she lie? She gulped. She hadn’t done anything wrong. “I had a question for Zach.”

“You couldn’t call him?”

“I didn’t think he’d answer me honestly.”

“Did he in person?”

“No, he didn’t.”

“What was the question?”

Who fathered your baby? “Nothing important.”

“Must have been for you to drive here.” Dolores said, her eyes narrowing.

“You’re right, but it doesn’t seem important now. I’ve got to go get some sleep.”

She rolled up the window cutting off anything else Dolores had to say.

Zach was surfing the net when someone knocked on his door. Maybe Grace had come back to finish what they’d started.

Instead Dolores stood on his doorstep, with food. She smiled the smile of seduction. She’d put on a skirt he was sure to show off her legs. He wouldn’t bite. He couldn’t go down that road again.

“Come in. That for me?”

She nodded and handed him the dish. Knowing a bribe when he saw one he cocked his head at her. “What do you need?”

“Who says I need anything?”

“You haven’t brought me a casserole since we were dating.”

“So, maybe it’s time I started again.”

“Mm.”

He didn’t want that, especially with the taste of another woman still on his lips.

She followed him into his kitchen. Putting the dish in the refrigerator, he braced himself. Dolores could manipulate with the best.

“I have an ultrasound tomorrow. Would you like to come with me?”

He straightened. “I don’t see why I should.”

“Well, the baby and all.”

The baby that could be anyone’s. Grace’s visit threw doubts in his mind. “What if the baby isn’t mine?”

Her mouth dropped open. “So you don’t plan on investing anything emotionally into it until there’s paternity test. Why the change?” Then a light when on in her eyes. “Grace. It’s Grace.”

When she put it that way, he sounded cold. Maybe he needed to be cold to protect himself from her. “It isn’t Grace. Lors, don’t. Don’t use emotional black mail to get me back. Do you really want me that way?”

She rubbed her hands up and down her arms as if she were cold. He had the air conditioning on, but not that high. “You eat?”

“Yes, I did. I saw Grace in the parking lot.”

Here goes.

“What was she doing here?”

“Not as if it is any of your business, but she had a question for me. One I couldn’t answer,” said Zach.

“What was it?”

“Who the father of your baby is?”

Dolores dialed the familiar number. She had to turn the screws more. She wasn’t going to be homeless. And he was going to pay for this baby.

“Hello.”

Lazy. It was only early evening where he was. “Wake up. It’s me.”

“What do you want? I don’t have anything else to say to you.”

“The baby is yours. You need to pay for it,” she said.

She rubbed a hand down her tummy. It fluttered, but she thought it was too early to feel the baby move.

“You can’t prove that.”

“When the baby comes I can.”

“You have to get DNA from me. Besides, you know I don’t have the money.”

“Yeah, you do. You got that trust fund.”

“I’ve been cut off. I didn’t do exactly what ‘Daddy’ wanted.”

“Then start doing it. You need the money and so do I,” she said. She shifted on the chair, not able to find a comfortable spot. How bad would it get if she already couldn’t sit easily?

“I can live like a pauper.”

“Well I don’t intend to. And I don’t intend to raise this baby on welfare.”

“How about that ex-husband?”

“He’ll do the math and figure out he couldn’t be the father.”

A pain raced down her abdomen. She shouldn’t have had such a spicy lunch.

“Oh well. Guess this baby will be without a father.”

“Where are you?” she asked.

“Where I’ve been since you told me.”

“Coward. Besides, I don’t believe you.” Her breath seized as the pain came back. “Ouch.”

“Dolores?”

“Just gas, I’m sure.”

“Then get some antacids and stop calling me. Our fun is over and I’m not coming back.”

“I’m sure I’ll find a way to get you back.”

The pain again.

“Nope.”

“Ouch,” she said.

“You okay? Maybe you should call your doctor. I’ll let you go.”

She dropped the phone as a harder pain seized her abdomen.

“Dolores? Dolores?” His voice came from the received on the floor, but she couldn’t reach it to answer.

This time Zach was already naked. “Let me in, Grace.”

For a moment relief swept through her. Then a longing for release took hold of her. His expert hands had her body thrumming.

Then he began a slow and easy rhythm. “Is this good?” His voice came out in deep breaths as if he couldn’t control himself. “Tell me what you like.”

“Oh, God. This and more.”

He smiled down at her his eyes dark with desire. “Slow down, Grace.”

“No, speed up.”

“The journey.”

“No, the climax.”

His chuckle rumbled from deep inside of him. She was going to disintegrate. Soon. She wanted to be there.

His breaths grew short as his eyes went dark. She knew he couldn’t hold out much longer. She only had to reach the top of the hill.

Her fingernails scraped across his back. He groaned.

And when she thought she would let go, she was catapulted out of the dream.

Her body ached from the effort. Her spirits crashed as she knew she’d never find satisfaction with anyone else.

She sat up, but exhaustion pushed her back into the pillows.

Zach had been in her thoughts more than she liked, and with her dreams she had less control.

Pacing the apartment she tried to decipher what it all meant. She had no one to talk to in this instance. Her gut told her not to let Mark know all that was going on. She wished she knew why.

A movement outside on the driveway had her looking out. She parted her curtains, but stepped aside. Once again a man stood on her driveway. She thought he was looking up at her window.

Without turning on the light, she fished in her purse for Zach’s card. Dolores wasn’t supposed to die for another day, but she wanted to be sure.

He answered on the second ring. “Holten.”

“Zach, it’s Grace Harmony.”

“Is something wrong?”

He must have heard it in her voice. “Yes that guy’s back. He’s standing on the driveway.”

“Did you call the cops?”

“I called you.”

“Well get off the phone and dial 9-1-1. I’m on my way.”

Grace did as he instructed. The man had moved closer to her apartment. She slipped a robe over her shoulders as she relayed the information to the dispatcher.

Hanging up she sat on her sofa bed for a moment, chewing on her thumbnail. She checked outside again, but that man just stood there. Not liking cowering in her room, she belted the robe and strode out her front door.

A siren wailed at the end of the street and the man turned and ran away from her. She sprinted to where he had just stood, but he’d disappeared into some bushes.

“Damn.”

The patrol car pulled into the driveway. She pointed in the direction the man had run. “He went that way.”

“You okay, Miss?”

“Yes, just get him.”

The patrolmen set off on foot, but came back a moment later. “I didn’t see him. You get a good look?”

“I’ll tell you what I can.”

She described the man the best she could. As the officer finished taking her report, Zach pulled in behind the cop’s patrol car.

“Someone you know?” the cop asked.

“Yes.”

The cop acknowledged the newcomer. “I didn’t see anyone when I arrived.”

Grace eyed Dolores’ house. She thought she’d seen her come in earlier and she wondered why the woman hadn’t been awakened. Several of the neighbors had turned outside lights on to see the action.

As if reading her mind, Zach said, “She sleeps pretty soundly.”

“Maybe you should check on her.”

Zach cocked his head. “Something you want to tell me?”

Her anger spiked. “No.”

Zach moved his car for the cop then pulled back into the driveway. Grace stood in her robe suddenly feeling vulnerable.

“If you don’t knock on her door, I will,” she said.

“I’ll do it. Let me call her first.”

He dialed a cell phone he had retrieved from off his belt. Shaking his head he hung up. “Odd that she didn’t answer. You sure she’s here?”

“I thought I saw her come in.” Grace looked over her shoulder. “Her car’s in the garage. I heard the door.”

“Did you actually see her?”

“Well, no, but I did hear the door.”

Zach frowned at her in the moonlight. “Okay, I’ll check.”

He had Dolores’ key on his chain. Guess they were close. “She gave me a key because she sometimes locks herself out.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“Your posture said it all.”

She uncrossed her arms. “I only have this robe on.”

Zach stopped on his trek to his ex-wife’s back door. She couldn’t see his expression, but she could imagine.

“Only a robe. What do I say first?” He ran a hand through his hair. “What the hell were you thinking coming out of your apartment? Let alone half-naked. You’d be a prime target for rape.”

She pulled her robe closer around her. “I’m not half-naked.”

“Did you see the way that cop looked at you. He’s got a great story for the guys back at the station.”

Her face flushed. She hadn’t thought about that. “I wasn’t thinking.”

His voice came out in a stern whisper. “No, you weren’t.”

Turning away from her he put the key in the lock. It clicked. “Lors?”

No answer. A chill went up Grace’s spine. Was she too late? Had she gotten the date wrong?

“Stay here,” Zach commanded.

“No.”

The whole neighborhood heard his sigh. “Stay behind me, then.”

She did all the way upstairs to Dolores’s bathroom. That’s when they found her in a pool of blood.

Dolores looked up at them, pale as she could be. “The baby.”

Chapter Eight

Zach paced in the waiting room in the emergency room. No one was telling him anything and he thought he’d jump out of his skin. People hurried by, but not one of them stopped.

Grace had come in the ambulance with Dolores and now returned to him with two cups of coffee. He wasn’t sure the brew would help him, but he took it to have something in his hands. “What have you heard?”

Her long face told him everything.

“She’s alive and doing okay. She lost the baby. I’m sorry Zach.”

He sipped the black liquid his senses numbed except for the coffee searing down his throat. This changed a lot of things between him and Dolores. Guilt traipsed through him as he thought for the better. “What was it?”

“A girl. She was three months along,” Grace said settling into an orange plastic chair.

“Three months? Are you serious?”

She nodded. “Why is that significant?”

Zach shook his head. This was between him and Dolores. She’d lied once again. The baby wasn’t his. Couldn’t have been. They’d been together only a month ago. A month he’d been rethinking his life. All in vain because his suppositions were based on a lie.

The last lie she would ever tell him.

With his coffee drained, he threw his empty cup across the room. Grace stood then approached him with wide eyes. “Zach, she’ll be okay. She can still have more children.”

“Yeah?”

None of them would be his. His streak of bringing no children into the world would be intact.

He shrugged off her hand. “I’m going home. Call me with any updates.”

“You’re leaving?”

Turning he looked into her horrified face. “No reason to stay.”

He left Grace blinking at him.

Grace watched Zach stride out of the waiting room. Her disbelief paralyzed her. Just because Dolores had lost her baby was no reason to abandon her at this point. Anger catapulted her in his direction.

“Zach.”

He turned, his face flushed with rage. A muscle worked in his jaw.

“It isn’t her fault.”

“I didn’t say it was.” He put a hand on her arm. “Look, Grace you’re in the middle of something you don’t understand. Just let me go.”

She touched him back even though she knew it would cost her. “Explain it to me, then. Maybe it will help Dolores.”

Colors swirled and Grace’s hormones went on overdrive. She dropped her hand. The feeling died away.

“You mean that she’ll be out of danger as you seem to think she is in?” he asked.

His frown communicated his doubt.

“She is in trouble. She’s going to be killed.”

His face remained impassive and Grace wasn’t sure if her gamble would pay off. She wanted to shake him and though he’d given her a hard time, she didn’t really think he was this cold. He must care about Dolores some or he wouldn’t have slept with her.

“Killed? By whom? I’ll have him arrested.”

“Zach, I don’t know. Maybe you’re the guy. You seemed pretty pissed at her.” Most of her didn’t believe this.

He stiffened and rose to his full height. She was not going to be intimidated. “I wouldn’t lay a hand on Dolores or any other woman for that matter.”

He stalked away towards his car.

“I heard you have a temper.”

His footsteps paused, then kept going. He unlocked his vehicle.

“Yes, I do. That’s a known fact around here. So what?”

“Maybe she’s pushed you too far this time?” Grace said.

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Humor me.”

He rolled his eyes. “I have somewhere to be. In bed. Alone and asleep.”

She grabbed the car door not wanting to touch him anymore. Her casual hand on his arm had drained her. “Just listen. Besides, you need to drive me home.”

He waved his hand at his passenger’s seat. “Get in. But I’ll only listen until we get to your apartment.”

“Fine.”

She scrambled around the car then, when she had her seatbelt hooked, she looked at him. “What if Dolores were killed tomorrow? Bullet through the head. Who would you suspect?”

Zach’s gaze traveled over her as he turned the key. “You probably.”

“But why?”

“Murder seems to follow you.”

She bit her lip. He wasn’t wrong, but he didn’t know about the murders she’d prevented. “What else?”

“That’s it I guess.”

“That wouldn’t hold up in court. I could have a lawyer spring me in an hour. Especially if I had an alibi. What’s my motive?”

“The usual. Money.”

“Does Dolores have some? I don’t even know.”

Stopped at a light he turned a surprised gaze at her. “You don’t know who she is?”

“No, I’m from Pennsy remember?”

“She’s a trust fund lady. Rolling in the dough. Or was.” The last part he said quietly.

The car started moving again. “Okay, scratch that since I didn’t know that.”

“But I didn’t know that you didn’t know,” he said.

“Say you find that out. What else would be my motive?”

“Don’t know after that. Depending on what happened could be a crime of passion.”

She turned in her seat to gaze at him. She could only see a bit of his face from the dash lights. His expression was unreadable. “I don’t have a temper. Or not much of one.”

“Then tell me, what is your motive?”

“I don’t have one so you can eliminate me as a suspect.”

“Then how do you know she’s going to get killed?”

Grace ran a hand over her pony tail. “Will you play this my way for a bit more, please?”

He waved his hand. “Go ahead. Who’s my next suspect?”

“You.”

“Me? And what’s my motive?”

“Dolores lied to you about something important. Maybe the father of this baby.”

She’d struck home. A pained expression crossed his face. She could see it in the dashboard lights. “Wouldn’t I be relieved?”

“This could be the last straw. She’s lied to you many times before this.”

“Yes, she has, but I’m not as mad as I could be. She’s made me madder and I haven’t killed her. I walked in on her and her lover. My partner at the time.”

“Ouch.”

“Yep.”

“And you didn’t kill her then? Okay scratch you off the list. Then the father of her baby.”

“If the baby is gone, he has no motive. If he wanted to get rid of her and the baby he could have done that.”

“Does she have any enemies?”

“Besides all of her ex-lovers.”

“Can you get me a list of them?” she asked.

“You are not snooping into innocent people’s lives because of some murder that didn’t happen.”

He pulled in the driveway then pulled his emergency brake.

“What about that guy who was here? Maybe it’s one of her ex-lovers stalking her.”

“Long shot. She hasn’t mentioned anything.”

“Would she to you?”

“Yes. Look. Lock your doors and don’t come out in a robe anymore. And stop thinking that Dolores is going to get killed.”

Grace remained silent as she closed his car door. He backed out and gave her one last glance before he drove away.

“But we only have two days to stop the murder.”

Zach tossed around in bed. When the clock read three he pulled himself out of it. Turning on his computer, he decided to surf a little for information on Grace Harmony.

He found clippings that said her father died under suspicious circumstances. “Hmm.”

But Grace was only seven when it happened.

She didn’t have any parking tickets or moving violations that he’d found when he’d done this earlier. What could be written in the newspaper could be more telling.

He found the stories about her last residence and what happened there. The mother of her alleged boyfriend was killed. Grace had been initially a suspect, but had an airtight alibi.

“So why does death follow her?”

Despite looking Zach found no other murders in her past. But he did find several articles about how she stopped a potential murder.

In four articles she was at the right place at the right time.

Sipping coffee Zach leaned back in his chair and stared at the screen. “Now, how could that happen?”

He shook his head remembering that she said she knew Dolores was in danger. That Dolores’ corpse had told her.

“No, you’re going loony from lack of sleep.”

He shut down the computer and headed to the shower. And of course he thought of the odd blonde that was now dominating his thoughts. His hard on was thinking of her, too.

She’d looked particularly delicious in the robe. The sweatpants and t-shirt she’d thrown on to take Dolores to the hospital didn’t exactly hide her figure.

“Stop. She’s a murder suspect.”

He leaned against the cold tile, letting the warm water rush over him. Being attracted to a suspect, even a minor one, had never happened to him before this.

“Why now?”

Maybe it was time for retirement, but what would he do? Take up golf. “Don’t have the temperament.”

His phone rang yanking him out of his reverie.

He took his tools from the trunk of the rental car. He’d thought about an SUV, but with a car he could hide things.

The abandoned building stood before him a sentinel from another age and time. No one would miss it. No one would care and he could watch the flames for a little while.

Located on the outskirts of Mill Hall, no one would notice the fire for a few hours. Maybe the whole building would go before anyone noticed.

He smiled at that thought.

He smiled at the check in his pocket.

He smiled again at the idea he could watch the flames this time.

With his tools in hand he set about doing the only job he’d ever loved.

Zach stood looking at the remains of an old warehouse outside of town. “Wow.”

“Yeah. Same as the apartment. A faulty stove. Started in the break room,” Ed Bauer said.

“Too much of a coincidence.”

“You’re telling me. That’s why you’re here. I’ve asked to bring you in officially. Got the okay.”

“Good. I hate slinking around,” said Zach.

But he wasn’t sure what he could do. He hadn’t heard about any new firebugs.

“At least on the surface, the buildings weren’t owned by the same person. Once we dig deeper we may find out differently.”

“I can do that.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Grace dialed Mark’s number with trepidation. She usually reached out to him, but some part of this situation made her feel odd. She didn’t like it and wished to shake it so she just called him.

A recording of his voice assaulted her ears.

“Mark, call me when you get in. Anytime.”

She dropped the phone on her rumpled sheets then plopped herself down on the bed. “Ugh.”

Now she understood why Dolores wasn’t pregnant when she’d worked on her. She expected her landlord would be in the hospital a day or two. “Which means, she gets killed the day she gets out of the hospital.”

The sense of urgency rushed through Grace. Her phone rang and she jumped out of her skin.

“Mark?”

“It’s me.”

“I know why Dolores wasn’t pregnant. She lost the baby tonight.”

“You weren’t on that call the first time?”

She leaned back onto her pillow. “No, I’ve been working days. Not swing shift.”

“Well, problem solved. How about that guy?”

“I don’t think he was the father of her baby.”

“So that means?”

“That this weird attraction I have for him is okay. Though I may piss off my landlord.”

“Not good, Gracie. Tread lightly. Don’t you still have to solve this murder to be?”

“Yes. And it’s only two days away. I’m not sure where to go next.”

“Right to the source. Ask this lady who the father of her baby was.”

“It’s not something you can bring up in polite conversation. ‘Nice weather, By the way, who knocked you up?’”

Mark laughed. “Lady you are not subtle.”

“That’s why you love me.”

Silence. A heavy one.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Mark? That sounded serious.”

“Gracie, I do love you.”

A cold hand squeezed her spine. “Like a friend?”

“No, Gracie. I really love you.”

“Oh, Mark. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

He snorted. “Guess you don’t feel that way about me.”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. It isn’t like you. Look I gotta go.”

The dial tone danced in her ear.

Mark had given her something she didn’t want to think about.

Chapter Nine

Zach met Grace in the hallway outside Dolores’ hospital room. Her hair was pulled back and a purple stethoscope hung around her neck. She’d dressed in her dark blue paramedic uniform with patches proclaiming she worked for Centre Community Hospital. With only one button unbuttoned the blouse didn’t show much, but Zach could imagine.

There was something about a woman in uniform.

He shook himself. He should be worried about Dolores.

Grace looked like a woman on a mission. “Where are you headed?”

“To see the father of Dolores’ baby.”

He grabbed her arm. She was getting in over her head. She had no idea. Neither did he for that matter. “Don’t do anything foolish.”

Her eyes clouded over and her face went pale. “Grace?”

“Let go,” she rasped out.

“You’ll fall.” He dragged her to a chair in the hallway. “Sit.”

She did and he relinquished his hold on her. The color rushed back to her face. She blinked. “Thanks.”

“You not eat or something?”

She put up her hands. “I ate. Just don’t touch me.”

He cocked his head at her. “Whatever.” He wasn’t sure he could keep that promise as her peach perfume tap danced into his nostrils. What was it about this woman? His attraction to her was irrational. At the very least, odd. “Now, where are you headed?”

“After work, I’m going to see the father of Dolores’ baby.”

“Who is?”

She shook her head. “That’s for her to tell you.”

Zach rammed a hand through his hair. He wanted to shake her. She could be so stubborn. Didn’t she realize she was tilting at windHills? There would be no murder. “Grace, don’t be obtuse. Where are you going?”

She stood, avoiding his touch, her body angling away from him. “Back to the ER. Back to work.”

Her smile couldn’t have been more forced. He swiped at her, but she jumped out of his reach.

“Grace. Is this about that supposed murder you’re predicting?”

Her gaze raced up and down the hallway. “Shh. I don’t know what you are talking about.”

By now she was at the elevators and as if she’d asked for it, the doors opened. She disappeared into the car.

Dolores was sitting up, but not smiling when Zach entered the room. Her face looked drawn and pale. No one occupied the other bed in the room. Despite this a curtain separated Dolores from the empty bed.

“Hey,” he said, putting a vase of flowers on the window sill. “You feel better?”

“Yes, I do. I owe you and Grace a lot for finding me.”

He stood with his hands in his pockets. “Uh, I’m sorry about the baby.”

She nodded. “I am a little, too. I thought it would be a new beginning for me.”

“Maybe it still can be.”

“How about for us?” she asked.

Zach shook his head. He hadn’t been this sure in a long time. “No. There is no future for us.” He couldn’t take the lying anymore. There had to be more to love than heartache, but he wasn’t ready to find it. Nor was Dolores the woman with whom he’d discover the possibilities.

She frowned. “You run into Grace?”

“Yes.”

“She tell you the news?”

Zach settled into the chair by the bed. Extending his long legs, he crossed his ankles. He wanted some answers. “She wouldn’t tell me who the father was. I already knew the baby wasn’t mine. You were too far along. Did you seduce me on purpose?”

She sucked her lip into her mouth. “Yes and no. I didn’t plan it, but when the opportunity arose I grabbed it.”

How flippant she could be with others lives. Why hadn’t he noticed? “It’s the end of the line, Lors. I’m done.” He shook his head. “Too many lies.”

He wasn’t angry anymore. He was at peace with his decision.

“I know.” Her gaze went out the window. “Will you still be my friend?”

“I’ll have to think about that. We do have a lot of history together to throw by the wayside.”

She looked back at him, a plea in her eyes. “Think hard Zach.”

She sighed.

He frowned.

The silence materialized like fog between them. The mist obscured the woman he’d once loved. One he wouldn’t love again. She’d fractured his heart. Laid waste to it as if he’d been a fly. He deserved better than that. Honesty was too important to him.

“What did you and Grace talk about?”

Dolores waved a hand. “She thinks I’m in danger.”

A nod moved his head. “So she did tell you.”

Her brow knit. “You believe her?”

He chuckled. His gaze traveled out the window. Grace had him off-kilter. “I’m not sure what to be believe with her. I don’t see any reason why someone would want you dead.”

“Dead? She didn’t say that.”

Zach could have smacked his own forehead. He figured Grace had spilled all her beans. Well as much as Grace lets out. “I assumed.”

“She thinks I’m going to be killed? That’s crazy.”

“That’s what I think, too.”

As if in the depths of deja vu, Grace knew what her calls were for that next day. She even got to do a better job the second time and save them all.

“You’re on a roll today,” her partner of the day said as they left the hospital.

“Just a good day all around.” A shrug moved her shoulders.

Grace strolled towards the parking lot when she noticed a tall man leaning on her car. She groaned. Despite her positive day, she was exhausted. She didn’t want to tangle with Zach.

“What, ex-boyfriend?”

“No, you have a good couple of days. I’m not working the next two.”

“Lucky stiff.”

Her partner waved at her and went in another direction. She braced for the storm that was brewing on Zach’s face. Didn’t he get that she had no choice. Her gift had been given to her for a reason. She was compelled to help murder victims.

When her powers were gone she’d gladly not help people anymore. Except in her job as a paramedic.

“You’re scratching my paint,” she said.

Zach pushed away from her car, but didn’t uncross his arms. Nor did he seem phased by her accusations. “You’re not going to see him.”

“Why not? He’s the prime suspect.”

“Yours? Grace there hasn’t been a murder. There probably won’t be. Dolores will be safe at her house all day tomorrow.”

Grace narrowed her eyes. “You know something I don’t?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know she’ll be safe? Better yet. I’ll tell you how she’ll be safe. I’m spending the day with her. She needs someone to be there anyway. She’s still a little weak.”

Zach’s eyes rolled so fast she thought they’d pop out of his head and zoom across the parking lot. “And you’re going to defend her against a murderer?”

Her fists clenched and her jaw tightened. “I don’t see you doing it.”

“That’s because I don’t believe you.”

“At least you’re honest. What if I can prove that I’ve lived this day and the next before?”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

Since she read the newspaper cover to cover she’d figure out something that would happen today. “How about the baseball game. The Phillies are playing the Mets. The Phillies are going to win. The score will be 10 to 6.”

“What if I’m not a baseball fan?” he asked.

“You will be tonight.”

After much cajoling and some lying, Grace managed to get past Zach to her car. Despite what she said to him, she headed for his boss’s office.

Kent Winger sat behind a pin neat desk talking on the phone. He’d scrubbed the dirt from underneath his fingernails since the last time she’d seen him.

She’d charmed her way into his office and now he made her wait. His uniform had creases in it even after a full day of work.

His office smelled like an air freshener and Grace wondered just how in touch with his feminine side he was.

The call finished, the man replaced the receiver with such deliberation the phone could have been made with glass. He then turned his chocolate brown eyes at her, his moustache twitching once. “You again?”

“Me, again. I need to speak with you about Dolores Holten.”

His spine stiffened, but his face didn’t change from his impassive expression.eee wa “What about her?”

He didn’t use any pejorative, but the venom was clear from his tone. Boy, Dolores had made lots of friends throughout law enforcement. Too bad this one was Zach’s old boss. Probably why he didn’t want her here.

“I don’t have much time. Dolores lost her baby.”

His mustache moved again, but nothing else on his face did, like a Botox overdose. “So?”

“She says the baby was yours.”

He bolted to his feet. “Miss Harmony we’ve been through this. I don’t appreciate strangers coming in here making false accusations against me. Now leave or I’ll have someone escort you. And if I hear any of these accusations outside this office I’ll have you arrested for harassment.”

During his speech he strode around his desk and yanked her to her feet. With her toes barely touching the ground he dragged her to his door.

“Let go of me.”

He did. “Go. And don’t ever come back.”

“I have a good reason for talking to you. Dolores is in trouble.”

“Yeah, well she asks for trouble.”

He’d already pushed her out of his office and he slammed the door before she could say anything more.

She whirled to find five plain clothes detectives staring at her in disbelief. Readjusting her clothes, she strode across the room with a crimson face and a locked jaw. She released her breath when she reached the parking lot outside the Centre County Administration Building.

Zach’s voice startled her. “I told you to stay away from him.”

“But Dolores said. .”

Grace scooted around him towards her car knowing full well he intended to grab her. She didn’t think she’d survive his touch again. Despite how attractive he’d become she couldn’t risk it. Despite how much his touch soothed and excited her.

His face was a study in anger, his jaw locked. A muscle twitched on the side of his face. “You can’t believe everything Lors says.”

She stayed just out of his reach, but he caught up with her.

The colors danced in front of her eyes, but a warm feeling engulfed her as if she shouldn’t be afraid of those colors. Like a kaleidoscope things circled around and then came back. She blinked, but couldn’t rid herself of the vision that was coming.

She saw herself naked under Zach. Her desire for him was so palpable she could feel it from the vision.

“Grace?”

Her name sounded like stardust in his mouth. As her climax hit in the vision she felt herself being shaken.

Then the colors left her with just a black screen. And she was falling.

Chapter Ten

Before Grace hit the ground, Zach had her scooped in his arms. Ignoring the sense of belonging he felt with her there, he strode to a bench outside the building, then put her down. “Grace?”

Why the hell did she almost faint anytime he touched her? His heart sped up double time. Her scent wafted into his nostrils and charged up his libido. He could see her helpless and spent underneath him and the idea held appeal to him.

He shook his head. What was wrong with him? More importantly, what was wrong with Grace?

She sat up without his help and her color returned to her cheeks. He didn’t think she went completely unconscious, though she’d been limp in his arms. Relief washed over him.

“Grace?”

For such a busy parking lot, no one bothered to stop.

Until one of the secretaries walked by. “Is she okay?”

She fainted. “Get a glass of water. She’s coming to.”

The woman scurried into the building and was back with a drink before Grace fully recovered. Grace’s eyes were wide open when he handed her the drink.

They snapped even further open when she looked up at him. As if she had a secret.

Not the same one she’d been hiding from him all along, but this one was embarrassing by the look of the extra color on her cheeks.

“I’m okay,” she stammered out.

With slow sips, she finished the water in the mug. But didn’t hand it back. Was he that repulsive that she couldn’t risk brushing his hand?

She flinched when he reached for it, but he managed to extricate it from her without her passing out.

After thanking the secretary, he sent her on her way. He sat next to Grace on the bench. “What happened?”

“I just passed out.”

“You seem to do that a lot. Have you seen a doctor?”

She giggled. Was she delirious? “Why’s that funny?” he said.

Rubbing a hand down her face she said, “No doctor can help me. Look, I need to get to Dolores. I promised her dinner.”

She rose and Zach held out his arms in case she toppled.

Her glare knifed through him. “I’m fine as long as you don’t touch me.”

“Why can’t I touch you?”

He feinted a hand in her direction. She moved out of his reach, her hands up in a defensive posture. “Just don’t.”

“We aren’t done.”

She visibly sighed. “Yes, somehow I know that.”

He blinked. “What?”

“Never mind.”

She walked away, but over her shoulder she said, “Watch that game tonight.”

***

“What did he say?” Dolores asked, when Grace brought her dinner of soup and a sandwich.

Despite her face being flush with color, Dolores’ eyes still looked tired as she devoured the food.

“He threw me out of his office.”

“Was Zach there?”

“In the parking lot.”

She bit her lip as her cheeks went warm. The vision had been so clear to her as if she was suddenly clairvoyant. But she’d never been before.

But, then, her attraction to Zach was out of the ordinary, too.

Dolores cocked her head. “You have feelings for Zach?”

Grace looked out the bedroom window. “Uh, no.”

The bedridden woman laughed. “Please. It’s so obvious. Look, he wants nothing to do with me. Go for it.”

How could someone toss another human being away so easily? As if she were lending out a hat or a book. “It’s not that simple. I have a job to do because you’re in danger. I can’t be distracted by. .” She waved her hands. “Men.”

“Oh, honey. Life is too short not to be distracted by men. I think he feels something for you. The last time the three of us were together, before this miscarriage, he didn’t even see me.”

Grace’s heart leapt in her chest, but her rational side tamped down the enthusiasm. She still hadn’t prevented Dolores’s death.

And until she did, her feeling for Zach, or lust for him, had to wait.

No matter what her wacky visions were telling her.

Zach came to her in a dream that night. He said all the right things. He touched all the right places, but as soon as she was ready to climax she awoke.

“I’ll be disappointed if he’s really that way in bed.” She blew hair out of her face. “Not that I plan on finding out.”

This time she put on clothes before she looked outside.

As she expected, that man stood there. Without turning on any lights she dialed 9-1-1, then Zach. With as much stealth as she could muster she opened her front door, then slipped down the steps to the driveway.

He heart pounded double time, hurting her chest.

The man looked in her direction, then ran into the neighbor’s bushes. The patrol car pulled into the driveway at that moment. The cop had seen the man and took off on foot after him.

Zach raced down the driveway almost running into Grace when a cloud obscured the moon. He grabbed her so she didn’t topple. The kaleidoscope of colors began, while his warmth soothed her. She might pass out. She struggled to get away from his touch.

“You okay?” he asked.

As soon as he let go relief warred with disappointment. She had never wanted anyone to touch her, but been so confused by that same touch. “Yeah, the cop went that way.”

Through the bushes the cop dragged a disgruntled man that Grace recognized.

“Mark?”

“You know this guy?” Zach asked. He stepped closer to her as if marking her as his. Me, Tarzan. This my Jane. It had a distinct appeal to belong to someone, but Grace knew it was only an instinct on Zach’s part. She didn’t think there were any personal feelings behind it. Too bad, in some ways, she thought.

She looked from Mark to Zach. “He’s a friend.”

“Huh? That lurks outside of your apartment?”

Grace shrugged. She had no idea why Mark was there. “What are you doing here?”

“Tell them who I am, Gracie,” Mark said.

“If you tell me why you aren’t in California and why you’re on my driveway.”

“Uh, Long story.”

“I’ll put on some coffee. You can tell us all,” she said.

Zach eyed the rumpled man with coiffed blond hair. No one should spend that much time on their looks. Especially not a guy. Mark sat on Grace’s couch as if he owned it.

Grace gave out coffee all around then sat looking at Mark expectantly.

Zach had convinced the patrolman he could leave. He’d take all responsibility for the prowler.

Grace owed him for this one. She avoided filing police reports as if she were allergic.

Zach stared into his coffee hoping that Mark and Grace weren’t that close. Mark looked at her the way a lover would look at another. His own frown at the idea they were a couple hurt his face.

“So what were you doing lurking outside my apartment?” Grace asked.

“I think I should handle this,” Zach said.

Her glare bounced off of his stone facade. He promised himself he wouldn’t let her bother him tonight. She wouldn’t get past his defenses again. No kissing. “I’m taking responsibility for him. I get to interrogate him.”

“Interrogate?” Mark licked his lips and sat straighter, the belligerence out of his posture.

Zach concealed his delight that he had the young man off balance. “Then talk.” He smiled, knowing he looked like a shark when he did. “Why were you outside Grace’s apartment the last three nights?”

“Three nights? I just got in town,” Mark said. He shifted in his chair, then sipped his coffee. His eyes darted around the room.

“Can you prove that?”

“No, I drove.”

“From California?” Grace’s face registered disbelief. “That takes a few days. I just talked to you.”

“I was on my way here,” he explained.

Something about his story didn’t ring true to Zach, but he resisted the urge to call this guy a liar. Maybe if he could get him alone.

Grace set down her coffee and leaned towards her friend. “Why? And why didn’t you tell me?”

At least she was dressed tonight and Zach couldn’t be distracted by imagining her without her robe. The bulky sweatpants didn’t do anything for her petite figure. The opposite could be said for the midriff-baring white t-shirt. And she hadn’t bothered with a bra.

This was worse than Grace in a robe.

He took a sip of his coffee to cool himself down, or at least distract himself.

“I wanted to surprise you.” Mark’s gaze flicked to Zach then back to Grace. “I wanted to talk about our last conversation. Say it was all okay.”

“But you were on your way before we had the conversation. This doesn’t make sense Mark. You know I’m in the middle of something.”

What was she in the middle of? This thing with Lors? Murder? Zach didn’t want to believe that.

“Why didn’t you knock on the door?” Zach asked.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to wake her.”

Reasonable on the surface. The hairs on Zach’s neck still stood in response to this guy. Something was not kosher with him.

After two full days of work and two nights of interrupted sleep, Zach’s fatigue took over. “You going to be okay with this guy, here? I can drive him to a hotel.”

Say, “No.”

Grace nodded. “We’ll be fine.”

Zach rose, put the cup in her sink and left them to whatever they planned to get up to tonight.

Zach’s distrust for Mark propelled him to do some research on him. He sat in his office, his computer screen the only light.

Footsteps clomped down from the apartment above. He braced himself.

Celia wore a bright red sweat suit. Her hair told him she’d been asleep.

“Did I wake you?”

“Not really. I had a dream. Were you in some trouble?”

Zach shook his head and went back to his search. He found out who Mark’s parents were and where they lived. He hoped Celia would just go away.

“I don’t mean any harm,” she said.

He didn’t look at her. “But you always cause it.”

“You’ve always been embarrassed by me.”

He couldn’t deny her accusation. “You wear your ‘gift’ on your sleeve.”

She sat in his chair reserved for clients. “You’d think I wore a turban and told fortunes.”

“That’s about how much people respect what you do.” The pained expression on her face had him wishing he could take back his last statement. “I’m sorry.”

She rose. “You’re not, but I’ll forgive you anyway. That’s what I do.” She walked towards the stairs. “Beware of someone named Mark.”

She disappeared. He only half heard her as he realized where Mark had gone to high school. Even worse, where he’d been a year ago and who had been there, too.

Chapter Eleven

“I came to surprise you for your birthday, Gracie. Is that so odd?”

He sat hunched over a beer at her kitchen table.

“Yes, because you aren’t that sentimental.”

She sat on her couch, grasping a pillow to her chest. Bad vibes robbed her of her strength. Mark being here wasn’t a good sign, but she didn’t know why it was a problem. Did it fit into the Dolores’ situation? Too many question rolled around in her brain.

The past few days had her more off-balance than usual. If she didn’t get back on track she wouldn’t save Dolores. The idea sent a shudder through her.

“This is a pivotal birthday. You could lose this power.”

“And you know I won’t miss it,” she said with honesty. The “gift” was more like a too small sweater some distant aunt knitted for you. You didn’t want it, but you still had to write a “Thank You” note.

“You will if you don’t solve this murder.”

She couldn’t argue with that. She shrugged and yawned. “I’m in no mood to argue. You got a place to stay?”

Mark finished his beer then stood. “I’ll find one.”

Zach perused the paper at this desk the next morning while consuming a fast food egg sandwich. Not a usual reader of the sports page, he almost put it in the recycling bin when he remembered Grace’s prediction.

He dropped his breakfast on his napkin when he saw the score of the Phillies’ game.

“Damn.”

Zach wasn’t sure what to think so he went back to his sandwich. But he wasn’t hungry anymore so he wrapped it up and dumped it into his trash.

Within a minute he was out the door and into his car. He pulled into Dolores’s driveway ten minutes later.

Grace answered the door to his ex-wife’s house with a satisfied smile on her face. Did actor boy inspire that?

“You read the paper,” she said.

His scowl hurt his face. “Yes. Lucky guess. We need to talk.”

“Dolores is asleep so let’s talk outside.”

The day had dawned warm with a light breeze. Wisps of Grace’s hair had escaped from her pony tail and were blowing around her face. He longed to brush them away.

“Speak. Do you believe me or not?”

“You know something. I’m not sure how or what. Spill it. How does she die?”

The absurdity of his words were not lost on him, but if he could prevent a death then this foolishness would be worth it.

“She’s shot, then her house is set on fire. I don’t know by whom. She couldn’t tell me.”

“When?”

“Tonight. Someone she knows. I heard the cops saying there was no forced entry.”

“That’s why you think it could be me. I have a key. But it could be anyone she knows. You, for example.”

Grace waved a hand to her apartment. “Search my place. I don’t have a gun. I’m not sure where I’d get one illegally.”

“You could have it on you. And I know you love when I touch you.”

Her face went white and she took a step away from him. “I’m not carrying.”

He could have fun with this. “But how do I know?”

Her gaze went over her outfit. “Where?”

With a short t-shirt and skin tight denim shorts on she wouldn’t hide a gun anywhere. “True.”

He let his gaze linger on her, taking in the pleasure of her miles of revealed skin. “You responded as a medic to the scene?”

“Yes. She had lost too much blood by the time we got here. That along with the miscarriage did her in. We didn’t know about that when we worked on her.”

Grace looked away as if she considered Dolores’ death to be a tragic mistake.

He reached out to her and for once she didn’t flinch. His fingers grazed her arm, but he pulled away before her eyes glazed over. “Would you have done anything differently?”

He was talking as if the incident really happened, which, in his mind, didn’t. This woman was getting under his skin.

“No. We did the best we could.”

“Then don’t worry about it. How much time do we have?”

“Do you believe me?”

He raked a hand over his hair. “I believe you believe this happened.”

She snorted out her disgust. “Don’t patronize me.”

“Look, I don’t think anything will happen, but on the off chance it does, I want to be here. What time?”

“The call came in at 4:30. Near the end of my shift.”

“But you aren’t working today.”

She shook her head. “I took the day off. Since I couldn’t figure out the murderer then I have to head them off when.”

His head spun, but he couldn’t see her logic. Here they were, on a normal Spring day, talking about an incident that never happened. “Where’s your friend?”

“He left.”

Zach bit his tongue. He wouldn’t ask what he wanted to know. Were they lovers? When this all came down and was done, would he have a chance with Grace?

“What?”

He’d been staring at her. Shaking off his thoughts he smiled.

“You don’t do that very often. And sometimes you look like a shark when you do.”

“There isn’t too much to smile about in my line of work.”

She nodded and as if she understood. “I at least get to save people.”

“I get to see them afterwards.”

“Mm. What do you do to blow off steam?”

“Yoga. And you?”

“Run.”

“Do you run from everything?”

“I haven’t run from this town or Dolores. No matter how much I want to put this ‘gift’ I have behind me. I want to forget about it most days.”

“How’d you meet Mark?”

There, he’d asked it. It was out on the table.

She laughed. “Mark seems like he’s always been here.”

“You been together long?”

She smiled. “Are you asking if we’re lovers?”

“Yep.”

“We aren’t. But you don’t like me very much.”

“I never said that. I just don’t trust you.”

“That isn’t conducive to starting a relationship.”

He shrugged, moving closer to her. “But you’ve grown on me.”

Her head tilted back to look up at him. “Like a fungus?”

With trepidation, he reached out and brushed a hair from her face. She didn’t flinch. In fact, for a moment, she turned towards his hand. “That didn’t hurt? Or make you faint.”

“I see colors when you touch me.”

“What kind of colors?”

He tried again, letting his fingertips brush her cheek.

“Like I’m inside a kaleidoscope.”

“Is it bad?”

“Not completely.”

Her eyes fell closed as his fingers went to her lush lips. “How about now?”

“Purples and reds with an underlying warm feeling.”

“Do you like it?”

Her “Yes” came out as a whisper.

Then she pulled back. “We can’t do this.”

Chapter Twelve

All of Grace’s effort finally moved her away from his touch. Her self-control was about to snap. She might even have thrown herself into his arms.

Then Dolores would be doomed. Grace would lose focus and then the murderer would succeed.

Instead, Grace walked away, catching her breath. “Because of Dolores?” He shook his head. “She knows we’re over. Jeez she was gonna have someone else’s baby.”

His voice held a note of desperation. “I have a job to do. Whatever I may think about my talent, I’ve been given it. And I have to follow it.” She whirled and bit her lip. “I have no choice.”

He looked down then back at her, his shoulders slumped with fatigue. “Grace. This murder isn’t going to happen. I just can’t believe that you time traveled back here. Besides. Why should you put your life on hold?”

Her heart hurt in her chest. Just when she thought she was getting through to him. Her eyes fell closed and she drank in the warmth from the sun. A shiver passed through her despite the heat.

He took a step towards her. She opened her eyes and moved away from him. If he put his arms around her she’d surrender. Her head would rest on his chest and she’d be content to let someone else prevent murders.

“Then you should go, Zach.”

“I don’t think you’re crazy.”

“Some part of you does.” She turned away from him. “Go.”

“No.”

His strong statement had her looking over his shoulder. “I’m seeing this through with you. I have a few cases to type up reports on and then I’ll be back after lunch. I’ll take a half day. We’ll see this through.”

She shook her head. “How do I know it isn’t you that’s going to kill her?”

“You don’t. You have to trust me. And deep in your heart, I think you know I shouldn’t be on your suspect list.”

“They way you trust me?”

The irony had her chuckling.

A frown creased his face. “Touche’.”

“Go, Zach and don’t worry about us.”

“Oh, cut the melodrama.”

“Look, I’ll be out of here when this is all done, anyway.”

She knew that for sure. She couldn’t stay in a town that thought her a freak. Would she ever settle somewhere? Unfortunately dead people were everywhere.

“Look, I’ll be back.” He turned towards his car. “You can count on that.”

She didn’t watch him drive off, but went in to check on Dolores.

Zach raced through his morning and was heading out the door when a call came in he had to take. A spouse he’d been hired to tail was going on a business trip, or so they said. He hoped she went to the airport then he could get to Dolores and Grace. His blood rushed with the urgency of the situation.

So, he went, but kept an eye on the clock. The woman met her lover at a hotel on the edge of town. Zach snapped the shots the husband wanted, but before he knew it Dolores was on her way to the hospital with a gunshot wound, her house on fire.

And when he arrived at the hospital, Grace was in the next room. She’d been in the fire, too. He dashed through the curtain separating her hospital bed from the hall.

“Zach,” she croaked out. His gaze raced up and down her. Grace was alive, though smudged and battered. His heart leapt with relief.

He took her hand, but looked for signs of distress from the action. She didn’t pull away.

Grace’s gaze took him in. “I’m sorry. I didn’t save her.”

He blinked. Didn’t save who? “Dolores is dead?”

She nodded, her face pale, her neck bruised.

His hands found her other then squeezed both of them. He sat on the edge of the bed. “What happened?”

“He came up behind me. I never heard him.”

“So she got shot anyway,” he said.

Her crestfallen face made him wish he hadn’t been so blunt. He took a deep breath and pushed what grief he had over Dolores to the back of his mind. He needed to concentrate on the living for once.

“I guess you couldn’t change what was supposed to happen. Maybe you weren’t supposed to change it.”

His words sounded odd to his ears, but he knew Grace believed in what she said. She had a gift in her own mind. Even if he didn’t understand, he wanted to.

“You don’t understand. She wasn’t supposed to die. That’s why she talked to me. I’ll go see her again.”

Coughs rocked her and Zach poured water into a glass. He handed the liquid to her. She drank, then handed it back to him.

“What are you doing?” he asked when she swung her legs to the side of the bed. She looked too pale to stand.

“Going to see Dolores before they take her away.”

“This is nuts, Grace. I don’t know how you know she was going to be killed, but seeing her isn’t going to change anything.”

“Zach, go home. You didn’t believe me then. Why would you believe me now?”

“Because this time I want to.”

She paused, her gaze searching and probing him. She stood, looking wobbly. “Go. She won’t talk to me when you’re there.”

“If you go back in time,” he started, not believing his question. “Will I remember you?”

“No.”

Desperation fueled his next move. For the first time since Dolores, he wanted to trust someone. So he strode around the bed to Grace, took a gentle hold of her head, and kissed her hard so she would understand that he felt something for her.

Then he left before she could say anything.

Zach’s kiss, and her body’s subsequent reaction to it, had Grace sitting back down on the bed.

If his touch had caused a kaleidoscope of colors, his kiss created a storm. Both inside and outside. Her body thrummed with the anticipation of love the kiss showed her and the future she’d have. She’d be thirty tomorrow and her gift would probably be gone. She just had to climb back in bed.

She’d have Zach and no dead people talking to her.

“Damn.”

“What are you doing out of bed?” A brisk efficient nurse whisked into her room. “You need to rest.”

Her resolve strengthened, she said, “I want to see her.”

The nurse cocked her head and her face took on a pinched expression. “Okay. Let me get a wheelchair, then.”

So Grace waited, thankful that she hadn’t had to convince anyone that she should see her landlord. Everyone understood.

The nurse came back then wheeled Grace to Dolores’ bedside, leaving her alone with the dead woman.

“Dolores?”

Her dead landlord opened her eyes. “Help me.”

Having rewound back in time again, Grace wondered what it meant that she met Zach earlier this time. He’d been at Dolores’ place when she went to rent the place. She sighed. At least she didn’t still have the effects of the fire on her. That part was normal.

She couldn’t spend the next few days scrutinizing every difference.

Unless the changes were the key to the puzzle.

“There shouldn’t be any differences,” she said as she pulled her red pony car into her soon to be old apartment complex.

To see her apartment complex on fire. “Oh, no.”

Fire trucks blocked her access. Where there weren’t trucks there were hoses to the various hydrants. Parking a block away, she then hiked back and searched out her work partner, Glen Gery. He was also a volunteer firefighter.

“Grace,” he said then embraced her in a Nomex hug. “You’re place is wrecked.”

“Nothing to save?”

She hadn’t brought much with her to Glen Hills, but she did have some photos that had meant something to her.

“No, sorry.”

“The cause?”

“Don’t know. I was inside and it looked set.”

She didn’t think her landlord would do it, but who knew what lurked in men’s hearts. With nowhere to go and no desire to watch the firefighters battle the fire that left her homeless, she returned to Dolores’ place.

Zach was just leaving. He paused before getting into his car as if memorizing her license plate. With no moving violations she didn’t care what he searched for. On the other hand if he read about the last place she’d lived and the murder he’d become suspicious again.

She frowned while pulling into her new home. Dolores agreed to let her move in early. Tonight.

So Grace went shopping for new clothes thankful that her uniform stayed at work. Fatigued from an activity she didn’t enjoy she stopped mid-afternoon for cup of coffee.

Settling into a plush seat by the window she realized someone was staring at her. Zach rose and moved to sit at her table.

“Hi,” she said trying to sound like she never met him.

“You’re Grace.”

She motioned for him to sit. Maybe this time she’d get to know him better. “Find anything out from my license plate.”

“You haven’t applied for your New Jersey license, yet,” he said, dropping into the seat and placing his coffee in front of him.

She smelled vanilla and cinnamon from his cup. Hers was a straight, unadulterated cup of coffee with a little artificial sweetener. Interesting that he was a former cop and went for the fancy stuff. “I have some time. I haven’t decided I’m staying.”

“Oh, will you go back where you came from?”

She shrugged. She had no idea what her latest “job” would bring her or even if she’d be successful. “Doubt it.”

“Problems back there?”

Did he know already? “Why would you think that?”

He was in full cop mode, even if he wasn’t a cop anymore. Or had that changed? She didn’t see a badge on his belt so maybe not.

“Usually that’s the reason people move.”

She leaned back in her chair, her finger tracing a line around the top of her oversized coffee cup. “People move around for lots of reasons. Wanderlust. Better jobs.”

He leaned his elbows on the table his gray gaze taking in all of her. She wouldn’t have been any more vulnerable if she’d been naked.

“Do you have wanderlust?”

His voice came out low and gravelly. The sound touched a primeval part of her, saying, “This is your mate.” This was as if she’d met her other half. Oh. My. God. Should she do things differently with Zach this time?

She smiled, pushing away her scary feelings. “Yes, I think I do.”

With his head cocked, he flashed her some teeth. The gesture wasn’t actually a smile, but something more predatory. “What would make you settle?”

“Hm. Good question.”

“You don’t have the dream of the picket fence and kids in the yard?”

She did, but never expected it to happen. “Not sure that’s in the cards for me.”

His smile this time was softer as if what she’d said appealed to him. “So what do you do, Miss Harmony?”

“Grace, please. I have a feeling we’ll be getting to know each other.” She wished she could predict what the next person ordered so she could set him on the path to believing her. This time was different, even more different than the last time she came back in time. This made her job more difficult. “I’m a medic at Centre Community Hospital.”

“Shift work. That’s why you look a little ragged.”

Was her hair sticking up? Had she forgotten to brush it this morning? A self-conscious hand nudged a lock out of her face. “My apartment is presently on fire.”

“Jeez, then you look pretty calm. You have a place to stay?”

“Dolores is letting me move in tonight. Not that I have anything to move in this time.”

“This time?”

She bit her lip. “The move to this place as opposed to my move to Mill Hall.”

“Oh,” he said.

The pager on his belt made a noise. He stood and switched it off. “Well it’s been nice chatting with you, Miss, er, Grace. I hope to see you again.”

The way his gaze lingered on her she figured he’d be making the effort for that to happen.

Chapter Thirteen

Zach whistled his way to his car, feeling better than he had in awhile. A chat with a gorgeous blond could do that for him.

Now onto the grim business of a fire at an apartment complex. “This must be the fire Grace was talking about.”

He appreciated his old partner asking for his advice. Knowing Ed, he really needed it and wasn’t trying to cheer up Zach.

The scene had been declared safe by the fire company so Zach, his ex-partner, Ed, and some crime scene techs from the Prosecutor’s Office traversed to the first floor apartment. At least where it had been before fire consumed it.

“Whose apartment is this?” Zach studied the techs as they went to work. Not much evidence to gather. Most had gone up in flames. Still, the team had to search.

“A Grace Harmony,” Ed said. He’d been on the scene prior to Zach’s arrival

His face didn’t reveal that he’d just been with her. “You have a number?”

“Yeah, but you’re just our consultant. We’ll interview her.”

He’d put Zach in his place, reminding him he wasn’t on the team anymore. The jagged pill of reality threatened to choke him. “Fine. Who called in the fire?”

“The landlord. He was coming by to fix something. We can’t locate him right now.”

“That’s odd,” Zach said, the stench of charcoal invading his nostrils. He’d never get over that smell. “You think he started it?”

Ed shrugged. “We’ll have to see.”

“Right. Guess you’ll start with the wife.

Grace’s cell phone rang. “Hello Mark.”

“Hey, Gracie. How’d you know it was me? Are you doing that back in time thing again?”

She sat in her new apartment, lounging in sweatpants and a t-shirt. She didn’t have the energy to unpack. Time travel took a piece out of her. Having done it twice in less than a week, exhaustion attacked her bones. “Yes, I am, but things are odd. The days are not repeating themselves. I don’t know what it means.”

“How so?”

“Well I’m meeting people before I’m supposed to and my apartment burned down early this time. It didn’t the first two times.”

“Back up this truck. You’ve been through this twice? Has that ever happened before?”

“No, never. The first time the person was murdered anyway.”

“But that happened last time, too. That murder victim died also. Gracie, I see a trend.”

She shuddered, thinking about her last town and her last murder victim. Shaking her head she cleared it of the bad reminders of a failed job. “Yes, but the murder victim didn’t talk to me the next time. This one did. I’m scared.”

“I wish could be there, but I’m in California. Got a gig on a commercial. We start shooting tomorrow. Won’t be done for a week.”

Ever the struggling actor, Grace didn’t know how Mark even paid his own rent. Should she ask him if he was on his way here? That could be different, too.

“This will all be over in two days.”

“Two days? Is that when she’d killed? On your birthday?”

“My birthday’s in three days.”

“Check the date, Gracie.”

She grabbed for a newspaper and sure enough, Mark was right. Her eyes drifted closed as her heart thumped in her chest. How could she possibly do this in this short a time?

“Do you usually get that little time?” Mark asked.

“That’s another strange thing. I usually have three weeks. I have some ideas about where to start and who to check off my list, but that’s it.”

“Doesn’t sound like fun.”

“No it isn’t. Gotta go Mark, someone’s knocking on my door.”

Dolores had brought Chinese food and she and Grace had devoured it when the inevitable knock came on the door. For a moment, Grace wanted to tell Dolores everything. How else could she save her?

Zach stood on her doorstep scowling. He was going to be even grumpier than last time. Why did she find this man attractive?

“We meet again. Come in,” Grace said.

Zach strode into the apartment as if he owned it. Technically when he was married to Dolores he had.

“Hey, Zach, what brings you here?” Dolores asked.

“I have a few questions for Miss Harmony.”

“Is this official business?”

“Yes, you’ll have to go Dolores.”

This wasn’t how it had been before. Grace felt the undertow had taken a hold of her foot and she was going to drown. Dolores left and Grace settled on her couch that opened to a bed. Zach stood.

“Sit.”

“No.”

“I’m not answering questions with you towering over me. Do I need a lawyer?”

He sat. “Not unless you did something wrong.”

“I haven’t. What is this about?”

“The fire at your apartment complex. Your landlord is missing and the fire started in your apartment.”

Grace put a hand over her open mouth. “I asked him to look at my stove. I thought it was leaking. Could that have started the fire?”

“We don’t know exactly how the fire started, but it wasn’t an accident. How well did you know your landlord?”

“Not well. I’d only lived there three weeks.”

Zach flipped open a pad. “You didn’t see him socially?”

“Socially? He’s married.”

His stare went through her. Then she understood him.

“Lovers. You think I was his lover? Have you seen his wife?”

“No.”

“She’s a beautiful woman. Why would he have an affair with me when he could go home to that?”

His gaze remained unflinching, but she refused to fill in the silence. So the lack of noise stretched on for a moment, Grace staring into his gray eyes. Faint lines on his granite face hinted at the character they’d show when he was older.

His olive skin was already beginning to sport a tan, which didn’t make sense if he spent the day in an office. “So he was in your apartment to fix the stove?”

“I guess. I was on my way to meet him.”

She relaxed. If this was about the fire then she had nothing to worry about. “Have you eaten?”

His gaze bounced from his notepad then to her. His eyes narrowed. “No.”

“There’s some leftover Chinese I could heat up.”

“Miss this is an official investigation.”

“So you don’t eat when you’re on duty?”

“This isn’t a social call.”

“I didn’t expect it was, but you need to eat.”

His eyes looked tired in that instant as if he’d fought too many battles that day to win this one. “Fine, but where were you earlier today?”

“You mean when the fire would have been set?”

“Yes if it turns out it was set.”

“You’re leaning that way.”

He shrugged. “Instincts.”

“Okay.”

She put the food in a microwave bowl and set it on its course to reheating. Then she wiped her hands on a towel before settling back on the couch. “I got off work about 6 a.m.”

“Did you go home?”

“No, we’d had a tough last call and I was wired. I went to the gym, worked out.”

“Anyone see you there?”

“I had to sign in with an electronic card.”

He cocked his head. “But you could have left?”

“I guess, yes, I could have. But I didn’t.”

“Then what?”

“I called Dolores and she met me at her place. She told me she was taking a half day anyway so she didn’t mind.”

“What time?”

“I’m gonna say ten or so. She may remember.”

“I’ll ask her.”

“No doubt.”

His gaze flicked back to her. She sensed something warm in his look, but he quickly buried it. The microwave dinged.

“Then after Dolores?”

“Shopping. I can show you the receipts.”

He nodded, snapped his book closed then stood. “How about that food?”

She eyed him wondering how he could bounce out of his cop persona so readily. “Food’s done then.”

He smiled. “Good, I’m starved.”

Zach dialed Ed Bauer as soon as he left Grace’s apartment. “She didn’t do it.”

“Who didn’t do what?”

“Grace Harmony didn’t set that fire.”

“What about the stuff I uncovered in Pennsylvania?”

“I don’t care. She didn’t do it.”

“Okay, but I’m not closing the book on her just because you’re dick is twitching.”

Zach disconnected and let out a loud laugh. Yes his dick was twitching

Chapter Fourteen

Grace’s cell phone rang, waking her out of an amazing dream. About Zach again.

Mark’s slurred speech brought her to full awake. Something was very wrong. Her bones told her. They ached with anticipation and not from her erotic fantasy.

“Mark? Are you drunk?”

What was going on with him? It was as if the world had leaned a little on its axis. Nothing was as it should be. She hated being confused.

“Yes, I’m sitting on the beach, toasted in several ways.”

“What’s wrong?”

She hadn’t known Mark to be a drinker. The occasional beer was the most she’d ever seen him consume. Something awful must have happened to him.

“I love you,” he said, with finality.

The words hung in her ear like a crouton that was too dry to swallow. This was not a problem she needed right now.

Her eyes fell closed. This was all happening too fast. She knew he felt this way, but why was he calling so soon? “What? Mark, what’s wrong? Tell me.”

“That’s it, Gracie. I love you and always have. I’m trying to prevent a murder, here. I’m so wracked with guilt.”

“Mark, calm down. Who is going to get murdered?”

Not another one. She’d had enough of dead bodies in her 29 years. She couldn’t handle another one.

“Oh, Gracie. You know. You always knew. Sometimes before I did.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I wish I didn’t love you. My phone’s dying.”

He severed the connection, leaving Grace with a pounding heart and a confused brain. She punched in his phone number, but his voicemail answered. “Mark, call me when you get this thing charged.”

What could all this mean? Did Mark have something to do with the puzzle of Dolores’ death? She couldn’t figure out how he could. She shook off the eerie chill that had descended on her.

Knowing full well sleep was not going to happen, Grace pulled on bike shorts and a t-shirt to go for a run. When she finished, she walked the last block, her mind still whirling from what Mark said.

“He couldn’t mean Dolores? He doesn’t even know her and why would he kill her?”

She ran a hand over her sweaty face and turned down the driveway, stopping dead for a moment. Someone stood looking up at her apartment. The moonlight illuminated him, but not enough for her to make a description.

Her cell phone came off her belt and she dialed the police, then Zach.

“How’d you get my number?” he said.

Shit. She’d forgotten she didn’t know that yet. “Uh, Dolores gave it to me in case of emergencies. This is one. There’s a guy standing on our driveway.”

“I’ll be right over.”

Grace hid behind a tree across the street but kept eyeing the man. He didn’t move, just stood and stared as if studying the place. What would she have to steal?

A patrol car cruised up the street, no lights or siren, then pulled into Dolores’ driveway. The man stared into the headlights, and then ran.

Grace walked over to the cop. “I’m the one who called.”

“I’m Officer James, Ma’am. You live here?”

“In the apartment above the garage. Didn’t you see that man? He ran away?”

The cop eyed her. “I didn’t see anyone.”

“He looked familiar.”

The cop pulled out a notepad. “You know him?”

“Can’t say for sure.”

Her head spun. This wasn’t how it should work. What had she done differently to make a change in the events?

The man didn’t resemble Mark. Who else would be here?

The cop asked a few more questions then promised he’d look around the neighborhood.

Zach was waiting for Grace when she got out of work. Same stance he’d had before, but two days earlier than she expected.

He wore khakis and a blue button-down shirt. Wet hair, slicked back from his face, ended in a riot of curls at his neck. Steely eyes stared through her over mirrored sunglasses. With his jaw set, his face looked to have been carved from granite.

She supposed that countenance could intimidate many, but she wasn’t buying. Her lack of sleep and inability to solve this murder took precedence over his ego.

“Howdy.”

His scowl deepened. She found him more attractive when he smiled. Now he was cop-like.

He pushed away from her car. “How’d you get my phone number?”

A bird flew overhead and squawked as if laying claim to some morsel of food no one else could see. Parking lot gulls she called them.

“I told you. Dolores gave it to me.”

“She says she didn’t.”

“She did. Maybe she forgot. She is pregnant.”

His hands clenched to fists, but she felt no fear. He wouldn’t hit her. “She told you that?”

“Yes. And I think you and I need to talk. Can I buy you a drink? I’ve had a rough day looking in a dumpster for someone’s ear.”

His stare went through her again. You’d think she’d asked him to strip naked in the parking lot. Not that she wouldn’t have enjoyed a private showing of the Zach Holten show. She missed his touch, even if it sent her brain into a frenzy of colors.

“Okay,” he said after a long silence.

He met her at the coffee shop next to the Robber Baron in downtown Mill Hall, a borough just south of the Glen Hills.

She led him to a table in the back corner of the smoke-free coffee bar. The place was in the lull between people on their way home and those coming out for dessert. This place had the best cheesecake she’d ever tasted.

Grace ordered a cappuccino, but Zach only wanted seltzer water. She wondered why no coffee? That’s what he’d ordered last time.

“So speak.”

“You’re going to think I’m nuts, but I believe that Dolores is in danger.”

He didn’t flinch. His expression didn’t change. Only his eyes flicked from his hands to her face. A small smile formed, indicating he liked what he saw. He visibly shook himself, reforming his expressionless face. “Danger from what?”

“From whom. I don’t know. She’s going to be murdered.”

If she could only kiss him and make him remember what they’d shared, maybe he’d believe her. Everyone else had amnesia. Not her.

He almost stood. She could see it in the stiffening of his spine. “Are you threatening her?”

“No, and I know it seems that way, but I’m not. Someone is going to kill her.”

Zach looked around the well-lit shop as if he were afraid someone heard her. He leaned closed so she could smell peppermint breath. “How do you know this?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“That’s obstruction of justice. Aiding a felon, too perhaps.”

“Zach, just listen. I realize you aren’t going to believe me, but I need to talk to your ex-boss.”

“My old boss? How do you know who my boss was?”

“I just do.”

“Miss, this is nuts. Why do you need to talk to my boss?”

“Because he might be the father of Dolores baby.”

He smacked his forehead then rubbed a hand down his face. “He’s a happily married man.”

“Humor me.”

Zach’s head shook, sending his now dry ebony curls in all directions. “No, you will not sully his reputation with these half-assed ideas. Did Dolores tell you he was the father of her baby?”

“Not exactly.”

Well she did, but not in this go round. Of course he wouldn’t understand that. She searched his face. There was no recognition of her, none of the tenderness they’d shared. Her heart hurt.

She’d never wanted to rewind again. Maybe after today became tomorrow and she turned thirty she wouldn’t have to, but would Zach ever fall in love again?

“For your information, I’m the father of her baby.”

If he were so sure, he wouldn’t be looking at Grace as if she were the only woman in the room. “You’re not.”

“I think Lors should know and she told me I was.”

“You aren’t. She’s too pregnant.”

“What? How can you know that?”

“I can’t answer that.”

The drinks arrived and Grace took a healthy swig of hers. The liquid scalded her throat like the reality she was facing. This part wasn’t getting any easier. Zach thought she was even nuttier than he did last time she was through this.

He sipped at his seltzer then set it on the table as if it were fine china. His long fingers traced a circle around the condensation on the glass. “Look, I don’t know what your game is, but maybe you need some help.” His hand snaked across the table and covered hers. She braced for the colors to come. They did, but she was able to keep her focus on his words.

“You didn’t need to concoct such a convoluted story to get me to go out with you. Grace, you seem like a sweet person, but I’m not the white picket fence type.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You think. That I.” She struggled to finish her sentences. “I didn’t do this to ask you out. If I’d wanted that, I would have asked the question, point blank.”

He withdrew his hand. “Then this isn’t a guise to get me alone.”

His face fell a little as if he’d been hoping that she had been interested in him. Could she use this to her advantage? Her mind searched for ideas to no avail.

“Zach, I’m telling the truth.”

His face hardened. “You haven’t told me much, Grace. Just some suppositions. Look, I’m hungry. I’m going home to eat.”

He stood and dropped some bills on the table.

Grace was at the bottom of a hill with no transportation to the top.

Zach finished his yoga, but his mind wasn’t settled. When he’d touched Grace’s hand he felt a warmth and sincerity he’d never seen in anyone. Not even Dolores and he’d married her.

His brain still not silent, he went for a walk in a local park.

Grace sat slumped on a bench, gripping her cell phone, a frown creasing her face. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so harsh on her.

“You okay?”

She jumped at his voice, then her eyes narrowed. He wasn’t welcome here. Dusk was settling all around them. The park goers had long left the swings still. No children laughed or screamed. The park was ready to go to sleep.

“Fine.”

She didn’t move to leave him so he sat next to her. She wore running shorts and a t-shirt damp with sweat.

“You run?”

She nodded still staring at her cell phone.

“Does it do tricks?”

“What?” She glanced at him.

“Your cell phone. You’re staring at it as if you expect it to come alive,” he said.

She tucked it back into her case on her shorts. “No. Just expecting someone to call back.”

“A lover?”

He didn’t know why he asked. That made no sense to his rational side.

Then he remembered that Dolores’ was carrying his baby. What did he owe her? She didn’t really want him back. She just wanted someone.

For now he’d just enjoy the company of the woman on the bench.

“No, but you made it clear you weren’t interested.”

“So did you.”

She chuckled. “I just said I didn’t make up the story about Dolores being in danger to get close to you. I really believe she’s in danger.”

He looked deep into her sea green eyes and knew she was telling the truth. At least as she saw it. “From whom?”

“Don’t know, but I think it’s the father of her baby.”

“Don’t go near my former boss. He’s a respectable man.”

“You’d be surprised what respectable men can get up to.”

“Not Kent Winger. He wouldn’t. He loves his wife. Oh they had a bad patch, but they’re back together.”

“Men can be seduced.”

“You seem pretty confident in that.”

She frowned and looked ahead. “Not personally or at least I’ve never done it.”

He mulled that over and decided she probably hadn’t. But he’d bet someone had seduced an ex-boyfriend. The hurt in her eyes spoke volumes. “So what’s with the phone call?”

“A friend called me drunk.”

“They do that sometimes. She just get dumped?”

“He, and I don’t think so. He doesn’t drink usually and to hear him drunk worries me.”

Especially because she knew he was probably in town. The why of his presence she could not figure out.

“Is he close by?”

“California. I think. His phone went dead at the end of the conversation and he hasn’t answered me yet.”

“Call the police out there.”

“I don’t know where he lives. He moves around a lot.”

“Doesn’t sound like a steady friend,” said Zach.

He knew he’d be on the internet looking into this guy when he got home.

“Oh, he is. Or at least has been in the past.”

“And now?”

“Now, I’m not so sure.” She took in a deep breath raising her shoulders. Her shirt lifted up from her belly to hint at what was underneath. He looked away enjoying the sight too much.

Who was this stranger, this woman who had somehow wheedled her way into his thoughts? What was it about her that was different? Maybe because she wasn’t hanging all over him because he was a cop.

Grace stood. “I’ve gotta go.”

Before he could say anything, she strode away from him.

He caught up to her before the parking lot. “Let me walk you to your car.”

“Not a safe place?”

“Too many hiding places.”

She said, “Goodbye,” when she slid into her car. Zach didn’t press, just let her go.

Chapter Fifteen

Celia was sitting in his car when Zach turned to open the door. Her uncanny abilities always unnerved him.

“She’s the one, Zach.”

“You said that about Dolores.”

He started the car.

“No, I didn’t. I said you’d marry her.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

Her head shook, sending her curls dancing around her head. “No, it didn’t stick. This Grace is the one. And she has powers.”

Zach closed his eyes for a moment counting to ten. His sister could try his patience. “Stop. Please. Can I drop you home?”

She frowned. “Sure.”

He put the car into gear wondering when this woman would ever get a life.

Mark appeared on her doorstep at three in the morning. Grace wasn’t asleep anyway. The clock was ticking, with less than twenty four hours until her birthday. Not even a full day until she’d lose her powers and Dolores was gone for good. The loss had sent her mother into a bottle then into a wall at ninety miles an hour.

Grace shuddered thinking that she wanted to be done with these powers, but only if she could save her landlord first.

This time Dolores must have called the police. And Mark didn’t run.

He staggered. Grace heard him coming down the driveway. He was singing. The police car pulled in illuminating her friend as she stared out the window.

Her robe thrown on, she raced down the steps to catch him before he fell or got arrested.

“Mark. What are you doing here?”

The officer moved to help her with the drunk. “Is everything okay, ma’am?”

“I think my friend had too much to drink. Could you help me get him upstairs?”

“Sure.”

Mark grabbed her face. “Gracie, Gracie, Gracie. You just don’t know what’s going on.”

She almost passed out from his breath. She and the cop managed to get him upstairs and in her bed. He kept singing.

Obviously reassured she had a handle on the situation, the police officer left without taking a report. A light burned in Dolores’ so Grace called to apologize. Dolores sounded odd, but she didn’t say anything to make Grace check on her.

Mark became silent. “Butterfly effect, Gracie.”

Assuming he was babbling, Grace just took off his shoes, then threw covers over him. “Guess I’ll sleep on the floor.”

A knock startled her. “Who now.”

A rumpled Zach leaned on her doorway. “Dolores called. Said there was trouble.”

“You some knight in shining armor? I’m fine.”

She bristled at the idea of someone coming to save her. She’d been saving her own neck for a long time.

“Is this your friend?” Zach indicated the inert form on her bed.

“Yes. At least I know where he is.”

“Thought he was in California?” He shifted to lean his shoulder on her door frame. She debated asking him in, but with her bed open she felt vulnerable to him.

“So did I.”

“Some friend. He lies, He worries you and now he’s had the police here.”

“He’s just going through something.”

“Mm.” His hand snaked out to run a finger along her jaw line.

Colors and objects exploded in her vision. She grabbed the door to keep herself steady. A warmth spread through her, but left when he stopped touching her.

“You okay?”

She shook off the vision. “Fine. Tomorrow I go to your boss.”

Zach stiffened. “Why?”

“Because I have to do everything I can to prevent this murder.”

“Grace, you can’t save the world.”

“I’m just trying to save Dolores.”

“Maybe she’s beyond saving.”

His gaze bore into her as if he were searching for her soul. She pulled the robe tighter around her. She didn’t want him to see her. But if he could see into her soul, maybe he’d believe her. And then maybe he’d run screaming from her like so many men. “That’s not nice to say.”

“I don’t mean to sound that way, but I’m tired of Dolores and her messes.”

“Especially the baby?”

His jaw line softened. “No, that may be a good thing.”

“Even if it isn’t yours?”

“It is, Grace.”

He stepped away from the door. An impulse had words streaming out of her mouth. “Zach, tomorrow at ten a thunderstorm will roll through here.”

“You the weather man now? The forecast called for sunny skies. A little humidity.”

“There’ll be a storm. If it comes through will you help me?”

“I’ll try, Grace, I’ll try.”

Zach stood by the window across the room from his desk. His watch read, “10:03.” Sure enough a storm was now tap dancing through Glen Hills. “Damn.”

When he’d told Grace he’d help her he never expected to make good on that promise. Now he owed her an apology.

Ignoring his case load and the blinking answering machine, he grabbed his suit jacket and went down the street to the hospital as soon as the storm left town. Grace and her partner had just come in from a call and she looked a little ragged.

“Tough one?”

She nodded, her eyes hollow.

He walked her to the cafeteria for coffee. She moved through the hallway as if in a daze. “Yeah. We should have saved her. We did last time.”

“Last time?”

Grace put a hand over her mouth as if she’d said something she shouldn’t. Shaking her head she said, “Never mind.”

Silence for a few steps. Then her gaze traveled back to his. “The storm. You’re going to help me.”

He frowned, but didn’t respond until they had settled at a table with coffee. “I guess I have to.”

Her finger traced a line around the outside of the cup. “Not if you don’t want to.”

Her tired voice struck him and he wanted to hold her for a moment. Not an affectionate person by nature, his reaction to her puzzled him.

“It’s going to happen tonight. I feel it. I took a half day. I’ll leave when we get the truck back in order.”

“And then what will you do?”

“Stay with Dolores.”

“She’ll be at work.”

This small woman couldn’t possibly protect Dolores. Besides, his ex-wife wouldn’t want to be protected. She was just that way. He knew that well enough. She turned on and off the fragility like a faucet.

“I’ll be there when she gets home.”

“You are not making any sense.”

“I realize that. You just have to believe me. Can you have a patrol car go by a few times this afternoon?”

“I can pull some strings, call in a favor or two, but not for no reason.”

“Unofficially?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks.”

She shifted sideways in the booth her eyes closing. Her hair, pulled back in a pony tail, was trying to escape the band. She finished her coffee in a gulp. “I better get back.”

Dolores’ car was in her driveway when Grace arrived home. Not a good sign. During the ride home, Grace wondered why Dolores hadn’t lost the baby this time. Why were things going in a different order?

Something niggled at the edge of her brain, but she couldn’t catch it. If she could see it, she knew she’d have the answer.

She knocked on the back door, not even bothering to go up to her apartment first.

“Oh, Grace, hello.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m just feeling under the weather. I’d invite you in, but I’m about to go down for a nap.”

Grace flashed to her vision of Dolores bleeding on the bathroom floor. “Are you bleeding?”

“Why would you ask that?”

She shook her head. “Just curious. You look pale.”

“Just fatigue. Too much gardening. How about I come over when I wake up,” Dolores said.

Grace nodded and backed down the steps, her instincts screaming for her to stay. The sun had gone behind a large dark cloud and she expected it would rain again. She couldn’t sit out in the yard. She needed to be in Dolores’ house.

Her mind reeling from the complications, Grace went up to her apartment. Mark sat at her kitchen table, devouring a burger.

“How’d you get in?”

She dropped her keys on the counter, then plopped her tired body into the chair opposite him.

“Your landlady let me in.”

“Why are you here?”

“I was hoping you’d know that.”

She snorted. “I don’t know anything this time.”

“This time? Why is it different?”

“Don’t know, but you said something about the butterfly effect.”

“Yeah? I’m pretty deep when I’m toasted.”

“Why did you show up here, drunk?”

“Because I feel as if we have unfinished business, Gracie.”

She stood and paced away from him. “I don’t feel about you the way you feel about me. Life would be simple if I did. Jeez, you’re the only one who knows about my thing.”

Unable to categorize her power as a gift, she’d never decided on a label.

Mark patted the table beside his plate. “Join me and tell me how it was last time.”

***

Zach maintained the speed limit to Dolores’ house, but just.

The sky had cleared, but the air still held the scent of a storm. Maybe Grace could tell him if there would be another one soon. Then he could plan a picnic.

Pulling into Dolores’ driveway he knew her car would be there. He’d already called her at work and they told him she’d gone home, sick.

Grace rushed up to him, with Mark on her heels. This guy was spending too much time with her.

“Zach, she isn’t answering.”

“I have a key.”

His heart stopped when he saw Dolores in a pool of blood. Her bathroom reeked of death, but her chest still rose in shallow breaths.

Grace commanded Mark to dial 9-1-1, while she knelt by Dolores. “I have a pulse, but it’s thready.”

“She shot?”

“No, I think she’s hemorrhaging. Maybe she lost the baby.”

Zach blinked for a moment. His heart ached for the child that wouldn’t be. Then he went back to cop mode, analyzing the scene clinically. “Why didn’t she call?”

“Maybe she woke up this way.”

“On the floor?”

“No, bleeding. She was under the weather when I saw her. She was going to take a nap.”

A siren wailed in the distance, a welcome sound to Zach’s ears. “Move,” he said.

“Leave her. They’re almost here.”

He shoved Grace out of the way, then scooped up Dolores. She hung limp in his arms and she had the coppery smell of blood about her. He raced to meet the ambulance at the driveway.

Without waiting for the crew to roll out the cot, Zach climbed into the ambulance, then laid Dolores on the white sheets. Grace appeared and gave a report to the medics.

“Can I stay here?” he asked.

The gloved medic nodded, not looking up from Dolores. The doors closed and someone patted it. The ambulance moved with sirens blaring.

Chapter Sixteen

Mark drove Grace to the hospital. She leapt out of the car just before he stopped it, then went to find Zach.

He paced the hallway outside a curtained room in the emergency room. If his shoulders were any more slumped, he’d have been walking on them.

“Zach?”

He pulled her into his arms most likely for his own comfort. Colors swirled in front of her, but she kept on her feet. He needed her now. Despite the kaleidoscope in her head she clung to his voice to stay conscious.

“Grace, she lost the baby.”

“I’m sorry, Zach.”

He let go and her vision cleared and gone was the warm enveloping feeling she experienced with the colors. Part of her sighed in relief, but another part of her longed for him to hold her again.

“Yeah, me, too.” Bitterness tinged his voice.

“You still love her.”

His sardonic smile creased his face. “No, actually I don’t. I care about her, but I don’t love her.”

He stared at her as if willing her to believe him. Why should it matter? He was much nicer this time, but would he still be interested in her? This crisis was not the time to find out. “No?”

“No, I realized that awhile ago, but I guess the idea of a child had me rethinking how I felt. I could have been a good Dad.”

“I’m sure, Zach.”

She didn’t dare put a hand on him, lest those colors come back. Not touching him felt awkward. She put her hands behind her back to resist any urge to make contact with him.

“You think me cold for not loving her?”

“No, you’ve been hurt.”

“Too many times.”

He paced away, his broad shoulders not as slumped as when she arrived. Maybe she’d helped him.

He swirled back to her. “What’s between you and Mark?”

Grace blinked, wondering where the question came from. “I’m not sure how to answer that.”

“Are you lovers?”

“No.”

Why did he need to know?

“Good.”

Mark appeared next to her and she had no time to question Zach further.

“Stop here,” Grace told Mark on the way home.

Entering the Robber Baron at the height of Happy Hour, she found all of her suspects at once. Lance Antonio sat at one end of the bar with the same crowd around him.

Kent Winger was at a table with his wife.

Grace bit her lip. She didn’t really want to confront Winger, but she knew Lance had a restraining order against him.

Eeny Meeny Miney Moe. Lance won or lost depending on how you saw it. She ordered a beer then walked over towards him.

“Hey.”

They exchanged witty comments then she got down to business. This time he didn’t mention the restraining order. How could she bring it up? Maybe Zach could check on it for her.

“I need to talk to you about Dolores Holten.”

He scowled. “Heard she got knocked up.”

“You do it?”

“Nope. Haven’t touched her in months.”

He sipped his beer as if dismissing Grace. “Maybe I think differently.”

“Yeah?”

“Prove it. I’ll give DNA if you want.”

“Did she dump you because she was pregnant?”

His beer mug hit the counter harder and she flinched. She touched a nerve with him.

“She tell you that? Well I dumped her.”

Sure. “I see. So did you dump her because she was pregnant?”

“I dumped her because I was tired of her. She’s a clingy lady.” He looked Grace up and down. “You got a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Good, because she’d steal him. Stole me from a fiance.” He shook his head. “Stupidest thing I did was go with Dolores.”

A motive. She dumps him after she ruins an engagement. “What would your fiance say?”

Lance’s eyes narrowed making Grace put up her hands in surrender. “Never mind.”

During her conversation with Lance, Kent Winger had left with his wife. She’d get him at work tomorrow.

Zach answered the knock on his door just after he finished his yoga session.

His heart, among other things, leaped to see Grace. His gaze swept the hallway expecting to see her shadow, Mark. Relief washed over him when he saw she was alone. “Come in.”

Her eye twinkled. “I have someone with a motive.”

“Motive?” He rubbed his face. While yoga had cleared his brain, this woman’s presence fogged it. “Oh, Dolores’ alleged murder.”

She stopped just inside his door, her gaze scanning him. Disappointment clouded her formerly sparkling eyes. “I thought you believed me.”

He put a hand on her arm. She didn’t flinch, but didn’t lean into him. “I want to.”

“What about the storm?”

Her eyes pleaded with him. He wasn’t the type to say something just because someone wanted to hear it. The truth usually came from his lips. “I’ll try.”

He closed the door and motioned for her to sit. She did, but perched on the edge of his brown leather couch. He settled on the coffee table, only inches from her. His blood thrummed at the proximity. “So who is going to do it?”

“Well she dumped Lance Antonio when she found out she was pregnant.”

“She stopped seeing him three months ago.”

Grace’s eyes narrowed. “You know the child wasn’t yours, right?”

He looked at the floor. Dolores had admitted to him the truth. The baby had been a girl at twelve weeks of gestation. They’d been together only two months ago. “Yes, she said she seduced me on purpose.” The betrayal cut through him.

“Women do strange things when they find out they’re pregnant.”

“You know from experience?”

“No, not first hand, but I’d feel desperate if I were alone and ready to have a child.”

He nodded. Maybe she had a point. “Go on. Did you talk to him?”

“Yes.”

He grimaced. Why do people intentionally walk into trouble? “Don’t do that again.”

A shrug moved her shoulders. “I was in a crowded bar.”

“Yes, but he’s a cop and can find out where you live.”

“Fine,” she said, but she didn’t believe he’d let it go.

“So what’d he say?”

Her eyes looked dark and exhausted now. “That he was done with her before she was pregnant.”

“She lied about how far along she was. He couldn’t know that.”

She stood. “We need to be having this conversation with Dolores.”

What was the hurry? “You think she’ll entertain the idea that someone wants to kill her? She’s not a big believer in this stuff.” She was too earnest to be lying. She must have some gift that he couldn’t explain.

Her butt went back onto his couch. “No, but she has to have a better idea who she’d pissed off enough to want her dead.”

Zach stood and paced away from her. His body protested the distance from her. Something in his core told him he should stick close to her. Returning to her, he sat on the couch. “If you were killed tomorrow or you knew you were going to be killed, who would you suspect?”

“This is different. Dolores is entrenched in this town. I’m a newcomer.”

“No one in your past? No ex-boyfriend who might have a grudge?” He needed to know that answer.

She stilled. Lines etched her face, then she shook her head. “Maybe.”

“My point is that is isn’t so easy to figure out who would want to kill you. Won’t be for Dolores either.”

A frown creased her mouth. “Then what are we supposed to do?”

“Find others with motive.”

“Your old boss?”

“No way.”

“Dolores said he was the father of her baby.”

“Once again, she lied.”

Grace stood then strode to the door. “Well I can’t sit here arguing with you while a killer is planning a murder.”

Grace stopped short walking toward her car. A man leaned against a vehicle three slots down from hers. His head darted around as if he was looking for someone.

She should go back and have Zach walk her out, but her instincts didn’t scream at her to run.

At the moment she wished she hadn’t dropped Mark at her apartment. A Spring breeze ruffled her hair. Lots of people had their windows open in case she screamed. Zach’s apartment was on the back of the building so he may not hear her.

Taking a deep breath, she walked toward her car, willing herself not to look a like a victim. At least she had on sneakers in case she needed to run.

“Grace Harmony?”

He’d spotted her. His voice came from deep in his body. She didn’t recognize it.

“Do I know you?” His posture didn’t relax, instead he seemed to be on high alert and ready to bolt. She couldn’t see his face. He stood just outside the light from a streetlamp.

“I was at the bar tonight with Lance.”

“Go ahead.”

He looked around the array of cars. “She was blackmailing someone.”

“Black mail? Dolores? I thought she was a trust fund girl?”

“She spent most of it.”

Grace surveyed what she knew about her landlord’s possessions. She couldn’t account for all the designer clothes and high end furniture. A bookseller didn’t make that much. “On what?

“It all went up her nose.”

“Coke? She’s a drug addict?”

She hadn’t seen that coming. That opened up a whole new file of suspects, not making her job easier.

“Was. She’s been clean for a year, but not before she blew through most of the money.”

This didn’t make the case any simpler. What if the killer was someone from her drug days?” Grace ran a hand down her face. “Who was she blackmailing?”

“Kent Winger.”

Zach’s former boss? “With what? And how do you know this?”

“Dolores and I have partied together.”

Is there anyone who hasn’t? She wondered why there wasn’t a revolving door on Dolores’ house.

“And you are?”

“Joe Smith.”

“Really?”

Her skepticism, born of too many louts in her life, jumped out of her voice.

“Really.”

Grace mulled over this. Why hadn’t Zach mentioned her drug problem? Joe could be a suspect, too. “Why’d you tell me all this?”

“Just doing a community service, he said.

He waved then disappeared into a car next to her. He drove away before she could ask him anything else.

Chapter Seventeen

Someone pounded on Zach’s door so he clicked off his monitor. No one would be able to see what he was searching for. Especially not Grace.

This time Grace didn’t wait for an invitation, but brushed past him. She sucked in a breath, but didn’t pause. “You didn’t tell me Dolores had a drug problem.”

“Had. She’s been clean for over a year.”

Grace crossed her arms and tapped her sneakered foot on his ceramic tile. “This could be drug related. Someone she pissed off in her former life?” Her eyes were wilder than during her last visit. Something had happened.

“Why now?” he asked.

“They could have just gotten out of prison. Or just gotten sober enough.”

Zach closed his front door, then leaned against it. Tired lines creased her face. He longed to take her into his arms as she had for him at the hospital. But now she needed the comfort.

Fighting her demons had to be hard enough, but trying to save someone who didn’t want to be saved must be even more difficult. “Let’s talk to Dolores when she comes home tomorrow.”

Her face lightened. “You mean it. She’ll be more receptive with you there.”

He reached out and brushed a hair from her face. She flinched, but didn’t back away. “Am I that repulsive?”

Her eyes found his. “No,” she whispered.

“Then why do you react or pull away every time I touch you.”

She shook her head, wresting his hand from her face. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“I’m feeling pretty receptive to some odd things at the moment.”

She sighed, her breath coming out between pursed lips. “You believe I go back in time.”

Her voice came out hollow as if the fight had gone out of her.

He took her hand and laced their fingers together. “I believe you have some kind of gift I can’t explain.”

Her gaze rested on their joined hands. Her face didn’t let on what she was feeling. What would he find if he crawled inside her head?

“That’s better than nothing, I guess,” she said.

“Your eyes cloud over and your body becomes stiff when I do this. Why?”

She bit her lip. “I see colors when you touch me.”

“Colors? Like a hallucination?”

“I guess. Having never done drugs I can only guess it’s like that.”

“What are you seeing now?” He traced a line across her jaw.

“Swirls of blues and oranges.”

“And now?”

He used his other hand to pull her closer to him. Her eyes had that faraway look to them.

“The colors are swirling faster. Like spin art. And I’m feeling dizzy. Stop.”

He let go of her. She stumbled back, but didn’t fall. She blinked as if she had something in her eyes.

“Better?”

“Yes, but my heart’s pounding. Don’t do that again.”

Zach frowned. “But I want to kiss you.”

Her eyes widened. “You always this straightforward?”

He thought for a moment. “No, I’m not. There’s something about you. Something I want to protect.”

“Oh. So you’re feeling alpha male.”

“Kind of. Certainly protective.”

She put a hand up to him, but didn’t touch him. He resisted the urge to move closer to regain contact with her. His body had been on fire from within and now he only felt numb from the absence of her heat.

“I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t need someone else to do that,” she said.

“Fair enough. What do you want?”

He stepped closer and she pulled her hand away as if from a hot stove. Not wanting to torture her, he didn’t move, just let her retreat.

“I want to solve Dolores’ murder and go about my life.”

She sighed and he could see her weariness painted into the dark circles under her eyes. He longed to take it all away from her. He’d take the burden, but she wouldn’t let him. Maybe she couldn’t.

His feelings for her were growing. He had no idea what to do with them. “What does it feel like to hold the fate of another’s life in your hands?”

She jammed a hair behind her ear. “More responsibility than I want.”

He moved closer to touch her. His fingertips brushed her arm. “Does anyone know what you can do?”

“Mark.”

“Of course.”

Somehow that guy managed to come between them even when he wasn’t here. “Why him?”

“Because he’s been my friend for a long time. Since high school.”

“And you aren’t lovers?”

She looked away from him. “I think Mark would like us to be.”

“Yes, I can see that.”

“Oh?”

“The way he looks at you.” Zach cocked his head, contemplating his next move.

“And how is that?”

Her voice was quieter now, more intimate. He liked how it took on a husky tone. “Like you were a side of beef and he was a hungry man.”

“That actually doesn’t sound attractive.”

A smile danced across her lips. The first one he’d seen in awhile. Was she even more serious than he was? “Maybe not, but it’s obvious he’s in love with you.”

She shrugged. “He thinks he is, but he isn’t. Mark falls in love ten times a day. And, trust me, none of them look like me.”

“Believe what you want. Do you feel that for him?”

“Why do you want to know?”

He dropped his arm back to his side. “Because I think I’d like to get to know you better, but I’m not going to interfere in an ongoing relationship.”

“We’re just friends.”

“Then I can do this.”

Without using his hands, he leaned into her and captured her lips in a sweet kiss. She trembled, but didn’t break away. His hormones agreed that she had experience kissing and he was rock hard with no preamble.

When he stopped she brushed past him, her face flushed. “I have to go,” she mumbled and failed to close the door behind her.

Grace’s heart hammered in her chest her whole ride home. She couldn’t stop touching her lips. Zach had seared his mark on them. That kiss had been more powerful than a lightning strike. Her emotions were getting stronger. Oh God. The sinking feeling in her chest told her she’d fallen in love with Zachary Holten.

Was there ever a more unlikely pair? He didn’t believe her gift. She was about to lose it before she could save Dolores. How’s that for irony?

Getting out of the car she stared up at the stars. If she didn’t save Dolores, she could have Zach. Not willing to entertain that thought she shook herself, mentally and physically.

Her mother had told her it would be a sin not to use her powers, but her mother hadn’t when her father had been killed. Grace didn’t understand until she became an adult that her mother had no choice. Her powers were waning and she didn’t want to disrupt her only daughter’s life.

No lights shone in Grace’s apartment.

Mark only murmured in his sleep on her sofa bed. Where was she supposed to sleep? Guess the chair would be it tonight.

But Dolores had several empty beds at her house tonight.

Grace crept out of her apartment and found a spare key. She slipped into Dolores’ house and chose a bed in the guest bedroom. The upstairs bath smelled of blood, still, but she was too weary to clean it.

“First thing in the morning.”

Only in her underwear, she slid into cool sheets and was asleep in seconds.

A noise woke her. When she didn’t hear it again she assumed it had been part of some dream. The clock on the nightstand read three. She snuggled further into the pillow.

Another noise had her on high alert.

Grabbing for her clothes she kept one ear cocked for another noise. Glass broke, but she couldn’t tell what room the sound came from. She wasn’t that familiar with the house layout.

With her clothes back on, she crept out into the hallway. Then she remembered her cell phone. Crawling under the bed, she dialed 9-1-1 then Zach who didn’t answer.

“Damn.”

Someone moved towards where she hid under the bed. Her phone rang. The footsteps stopped. She shut down the offending noise and held her breath.

The intruder didn’t make a sound.

She couldn’t see shoes under the bedroom door, but sensed someone on the other side of the door. Her heart pounded in her chest and only her self-control kept her from gasping for air.

The door creaked open. She hadn’t remade the bed so the intruder would know someone had been there.

Without a plan, she waited for a siren. Her teeth chattered as her hands sweat.

Two shots rang out sounding like puffs of air, then the footsteps retreated. A siren in the distance had Grace sliding out from under the bed.

The room went a hazy and she sunk to her knees hoping she could stay conscious. Relief sapped her strength. Her breath came out in rasps.

Footsteps again, but she had no will to move.

“Grace?”

Zach.

“I’m in the bedroom.”

Mark was on his heels. Zach knelt beside her and gathered her into his arms.

The colors danced, but Grace reveled in his warmth as she began to shiver. She clung to him as if he stood between her and death. Mark remained silent in the background. “The killer.”

“Did you see him?”

“Only his shoes and not a good look at them.”

“The back door has a broken pane of glass,” Zach said.

Grace blinked. That wasn’t right. Dolores had let her killer into her house. “But Dolores knew her killer.”

“What?”

“There was no sign of forced entry when she died. And the killer set the house on fire.”

Zach sighed and pulled her close. “Can you talk to the police?”

“Sure.”

“Don’t mention all this stuff. By the way, what were you doing here?” he asked.

Grace looked over his shoulder to Mark. “Someone was sleeping in my bed.”

Chapter Eighteen

Zach paced outside in the warm night while detectives questioned Grace.

Mark had disappeared when the police arrived. Zach thanked his stars for that. He found the squat man annoying and wondered how he ever thought Grace would be his lover.

His phone rang.

“Holten.”

“Zach.”

Dolores. What was she doing up in the middle of the morning? The time on his watch surprised him. He’d been here for two hours.

“Lors.”

“I heard there’s some trouble at my house?”

“How’d you find out?”

“I know other cops besides you. What happened?”

A crime scene tech dusted the back door for prints.

“Someone broke in and tried to kill Grace.”

“Grace? Who’d want to kill her?”

“Maybe they were looking for you.”

“Me? In Grace’s apartment?”

“They broke into your house.”

“Was anything stolen? Is Grace okay?”

“Slow down. Grace is fine,” he said.

Grace walked out of Dolores’ house looking as if she’d been run over by a truck.

“Lors, let me call you back. In fact, I’ll come by later and I’m sure one of the detectives will be by to talk to you.”

“Okay. I’m getting out today.”

“Good.”

He clicked off his phone his attention riveted on Grace. He hung up on his past while walking towards his future. Some primitive part of him knew that Grace was what lay ahead for him. Liking the idea, he quickened his pace.

The detectives waved then left. They’d talk to him later.

Her shoulders slumped so she looked bent in half.

Without thinking, purely on instinct, he pulled her into his arms. She shuddered. But didn’t pull away.

Instead her arms wrapped around him like a vise. Any part of her body that could, was touching his. His body reacted.

“Grace.”

That one word held for him a hope for the future. More than Dolores ever had. But what could he do? His job took up so much of his time and her talk about time travel and having been here before didn’t sit well in his rational brain.

“Let’s get you home.”

She shook her head against his chest, then stepped back. Her face became a study in composure as if she hadn’t been shot at. “I’ll be fine.”

“It’s okay. I’m here.”

Her head cocked. “I’m fine.”

Her voice came from deep inside of her, sounding hollow and far away.

“Someone tried to kill you tonight. You can’t be okay.”

“Someone tried to kill Dolores.”

He took her ice cold hands in his. “You don’t know that.”

“Why would they expect me to be there? No one knew I was sleeping there.”

“They went for the guest bedroom, not where Dolores sleeps.”

She nodded. “Good point. None of this makes sense.”

“Let’s have this conversation in your apartment.”

“Where’d Mark go?”

“I don’t know. He disappeared when the cops got here.”

She frowned. “That’s not like him.”

Zach figured it was completely in his character, but maybe he had a biased opinion of the weasel. Not in his best interests to criticize Mark, he didn’t comment. “Coffee?”

“No, I don’t need the caffeine.”

Grace sat on her open sofa bed, looking out the window into the dark night. The bags under her eyes had grown to steamer trunks. He searched for a glass then filled it with water.

She took it without looking at him. Not only didn’t she acknowledge it, she didn’t drink any either.

“Grace.”

“Yeah?”

Her gaze trudged over to him. “You want to stay at my place tonight? I don’t think you should be here. The killer could come back.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’ve said that several times and you haven’t convinced me yet.”

A sigh parted her lips. “Maybe I’m not fine. I’m a little spooked. I’ve never been shot at.”

“Can you remember anything about the person?”

She put up her hand. “I don’t need another interrogation right now.”

He sat, pressing his lips together. Once a cop, always a cop. What she needed was a friend since her best one wasn’t anywhere to be found. “The detectives will need to talk to Mark.”

“Mark? Why?”

“He was here. He may have seen something or heard something.”

Her head shook. “Mark sleeps like the dead.”

An uneasy feeling swept over him. She knew some intimate details for such a platonic relationship. “Well, they need to hear that from him. Do you know where he would have gone? Does he have any friends in town?”

“None other than me that I know of.”

Her exhaustion was written on her face, but he couldn’t let it go. They had to find Mark. “Think, Grace. Would he go to a hotel? Did he have a frequent flyer card or one of those ones from a hotel chain?”

Her gaze slid away from him. “I don’t know, really. Can I just go to sleep?”

He bit his tongue. He wasn’t helping her this way. Besides it wasn’t his case despite the fact that he was taking it personally. “Pack a bag. We’re going to my place.”

She blinked at him as if not understanding. “I have a bed here.”

He jammed a hand through his hair, yanking out a lock from the band that held it back. “And you aren’t safe, here. The cops have a guy posted on the street, but he may not be able to stay here all night.”

He stood signaling that the conversation was done. At least in his mind. Opening a closet door, he discovered an empty backpack. He dropped it onto the bed next to her.

“I don’t like running.”

“Oh? I think now might be the best time to run.”

Grasping her hand, he pulled her to her feet. She gasped and tugged at her hand. “Why would the killer come back?”

“He knows he didn’t get you,” Zach said.

“If he knew I wasn’t there he wouldn’t have shot at the bed.”

Good point, but he wasn’t leaving her here. “Maybe in the dark, the covers looked like a person.”

She didn’t believe him. “No, he was making a point.”

“Which would be?”

“That he was going to get me.”

He gritted his teeth, then worked to relax his jaw muscles. He hoped his voice didn’t come out strained. She was trying his patience. “Then you should come with me.”

Her frown told him she hadn’t realized her argument was circular. She hadn’t wanted to come back and prove his point correct.

Her shoulders slumped further. “Okay,” she said, defeat tinting her words.

She stood and as if on autopilot, then threw clothes into a backpack. When she finished, she looked at him her eyes lidded. “Let’s go.”

Grace just wanted to sleep. She didn’t care if she did it leaning against a wall. Or in the front seat of Zach’s car. He’d refused to let her drive and promised to drop her back home later in the day.

Thankfully, she had the day off, but she knew she had to be back for when Dolores would come home.

Zach led her into his apartment. “Sit. I need to put some clean sheets on the bed.”

“I’ll take the couch.”

She had to catch some shut eye before the afternoon.

“No. You’ll take the bed. I don’t have any appointments this morning, but I need to get stuff done here.”

Grace nodded, the fight out of her for the moment.

She must have dozed off because Zach shook her. “Grace.”

“Huh?”

“Go get undressed. You want a bath or something?”

“No.”

He took her hand. His warmth infused into her as the usual colors dance. Today they were yellow and green, leaving her wondering what that meant. She didn’t understand anything anymore.

Right now, she couldn’t wrap her brain around any explanation, but the colors were inviting. She didn’t feel dizzy, but she couldn’t see so she let Zach lead her.

He left her to her undressing which she did quickly, leaving on her underwear. Sliding into the sheets, her body sighed as if this were her own bed returned to after a long absence.

Something wasn’t right. She tossed and turned. She couldn’t get comfortable.

“Grace?”

Zach stood in the doorway. His shape was silhouetted by the beam cast by the hall light.

“What?”

“Are you okay?”

He came into the room and settled on the edge of the bed.

“I guess I can’t sleep. My birthday is today. I was born in the afternoon so I’m not officially thirty until it’s seven in the evening.”

“And why is that significant?”

“I’ll lose my powers when I’m thirty. Not just the day, but the exact time I was born. I have to solve this murder.”

“You have the weight of the world, on you.”

He ran a finger down her jaw line. She turned into his hand.

“It feels that way some days.”

“Will you be sorry you don’t have the power anymore?”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “If I save Dolores, I’ll be glad to be rid of it. But if she dies and I can’t help her then I’ll regret the loss of it.”

“Mm.”

His hand went through her hair. The colors appeared on the fringes of her vision. They didn’t obscure her view of Zach in his pajama bottom and no top.

She reached out and touched the muscles on his chest. He didn’t flinch. The colors didn’t deepen.

“Hold me.”

“I’m not sure I can just hold you, Grace.”

“Then don’t just hold me. Make me forget about all this.”

“You won’t be sorry in the morning?”

“No.” Because I’m falling in love with you. She couldn’t utter those words. She couldn’t reveal that much of herself.

“If you say to stop, I will,” he said as he took her into his arms.

“Go.”

It was better than her dreams.

Grace snuggled closer to Zach. His breathing steadied and she knew he was asleep.

What seemed like a minute later, she entered the dream world. Someone was chasing her. She knew the person, but couldn’t see him. Her dream self wanted to stop and look, but couldn’t risk being caught.

Her breath, ragged now, caught in her throat. She ran, stumbling in the darkness. She couldn’t figure out where she was.

Then someone called her name, shaking her, but she couldn’t see anyone.

“Grace.”

Zach’s voice invaded her unconscious brain, waking her up.

She buried her head into his chest as his arms enveloped her. They became a haven from her dream. Maybe even a haven from her world. No one could hurt her as long as Zach stayed close. She’d felt this before, but it hadn’t worked. Why would it work this time? Some part of her wanted to stay here warm and secure.

“You screamed.”

“Someone was chasing me. Someone I knew.”

“Who?”

“I couldn’t see them,” she said.

Her heart went back to a normal beat, but sped up as she realized that the colors weren’t dancing in front of her eyes. Dizziness didn’t threaten her. Instead his warmth covered her and she felt safe.

“It’s over now.”

He didn’t let go and her heart leapt at the idea. But she ended up pushing him away. She couldn’t risk getting involved. Not after last time. No good could come of it.

She had a job to do. Her last soul to save before her birthday.

“What?”

His eyes searched her.

“I’m okay. Thanks.”

The covers had slipped down and she pulled them over her. He was freshly showered and fully-dressed.

“Grace, let me help.”

“You are helping.”

“I mean, let me be here for you.”

His eyes pleaded with. It wouldn’t take much to just lean on him. Let him deal with the weight on her shoulders. But part of her couldn’t.

“No.” She spat out the word too fast. He flinched. She didn’t mean to reject him, but she couldn’t get close. She’d just lose him and that would hurt more then keeping him at arm’s length. “Sorry,” she said in a softer tone.

He stood, his gaze now wary, but intent. He was trying to reach into her soul. “They haven’t found Mark.”

“Oh?”

Where would he be? And why had he bailed on her?

“No. Think, Grace. Where would he be?”

“I truly don’t know.”

“He’s supposed to be your best friend.”

He certainly wasn’t acting like one. “I know. He’s been through a tough time.”

“And getting shot at is easy?” He sat back down as if his legs couldn’t hold him anymore. “Grace, let him go. Let this whole thing go.”

“No, I have to save Dolores.”

“She’s going to her mother’s house tonight. They live in a gated community. She’ll be fine.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Go on with your life. Dolores isn’t going to die.”

“I can’t be so sure. The killer could wait until we least expect him.”

And after tomorrow, If Dolores died again, she’d stay dead. A clock ticked in Grace’s mind. Less than twenty four hours. Barely even eight and she’d never go back in time again.

“Maybe, but Dolores isn’t your problem.”

“You don’t understand. She asked me to save her.”

He ran a hand over his face then put it on hers. The colors came back and her heart beat double time. The vision didn’t obscure him this time and she saw his face come closer to hers. “Give it up, Grace.”

His scent filled her nostrils, soap and aftershave. Her mouth went dry. What would she see if he kissed her?

His lips brushed her forehead. The colors exploded into a cacophony of blues and greens. Her pulse thrummed through her and she knew if he did put his lips on hers, she wouldn’t be able to resist. She might even go up in flames.

She’d had lovers before this, but none had touched her this way. No one caused her vision to blur or her heart to race.

“Grace,” he said, his voice a butterfly in her ear. “I need to go.”

She pulled him to her. “Just a few more minutes.” She’d draw from his strength and warmth. She’d get through this day.

His hands gripped her shoulders. “I can’t.” He pushed her away, then stood. “I need to go to work.” His voice cracked on the last word.

She slumped back into the pillows both relieved and disappointed. “Drop me home.”

“No. I want you to stay here.”

“And what should I do while you’re gone?”

He’d changed from jeans to slacks and a button down shirt. The color wasn’t opened revealing a solid neck. His pulsed bounced through a vein at his throat. So he’d been aroused too.

He hadn’t rejected her outright.

“Surf the net. I don’t really care. Just don’t go out or open the door for anyone.”

She sighed, not thrilled, but resigned. “Okay.”

Zach left, then Grace pulled on her clothes.

Chapter Nineteen

Zach ran into his ex-boss outside his store front office. Cars whizzed past on Main Street as he stopped to talk to Kent Winger. The man squirmed and Zach wondered what the man had to hide.

“Wanted to see your new digs and how you were getting along,” Kent explained.

Zach hadn’t been close to his old boss so the visit was a complete surprise. He must have some other motive.

“Come on in then.”

The man’s gazed darted to his watch then ran up and down the street. “No time.” He cleared his throat. “How’s Dolores doing?”

“She’s getting released today.”

“That’s great.”

His boss looked around the street and not at him during the exchange.

“You okay?”

“Sure. Why not?”

“No reason,” Zach said, but he tucked this behavior into his brain in case it continued.

“See you around.”

Zach stared at his boss’ back before he entered his office. The encounter left him with too many questions. Where did Kent figure into this puzzle? He shook off the nagging feeling that the answers were in front of him. “is HHeOdd.”

Mark, Grace’s friend, sat at his desk. Not phased by his appearance, Zach slid into his chair, then eyed this weasel of a man. He didn’t expect to believe anything he said.

“Shall we add breaking and entering to your list of sins?” Mark gave him a shrug and a sheepish grin. That probably worked on women, but Zach was inured to lame excuses. He’d heard them all. “So what’s your story? The detectives from last night are looking for you.”

Mark licked his lips. His clothes were rumpled, but the man himself was freshly showered. Wherever he spent last night had running water.

Zach’s sympathy level didn’t budge. This man had run out on his alleged best friend and on a criminal investigation. The latter was awful, but the former was unforgivable. Zach only understood loyalty. Probably why Dolores was still in his life.

“Uh.”

Zach held up his hand. “Don’t lie. You’re in some trouble already. You’re the best suspect.”

Mark straightened in his chair, his eyes wider than the prairie. “Me? Why would I try to kill Dolores?”

“Dolores?”

“Wasn’t that who the killer was going for?”

Guess Grace had told him about someone being after Dolores. He’d play along. “You’ve met her?”

“No.”

Mark’s gaze darted away. Why would he not want them to know he met Dolores? Zach leaned back in his chair wishing he’d stopped for coffee on his way over here. This shaggy dog story could have waited another minute.

This rodent might go whining to Grace that he didn’t treat him well. “Coffee?”

“No. Never drink the stuff.”

Not drink coffee? Next he’ll find out he’s a vegetarian or a Mormon. His caffeine craving would have to wait. He eyed the cold, empty pot of his maker then turned his attention back to Mark. “So spill it. Where have you been?”

“I got scared.”

“That you’d be suspected of attempted murder? Got that right. You running didn’t help.”

Mark stared at his shoes. “Probably not.”

“And you running out on your best friend, doesn’t sit well for me. She was scared last night.”

“I came back, after everyone was gone. She wasn’t home.”

“She was with me. I couldn’t let her stay there by herself.”

Mark’s head bobbed. “It’s all clear to me now.”

“What is?”

“You’re after Grace.”

“Whatever my feelings are for Grace don’t concern you.”

“I’m her best friend. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“The fact that you left to save your own skin when she’d been shot, that damages your credibility with me. I’m not telling you anything.”

Mark showed no reaction, as if he had no remorse.

“You need to turn yourself in. I can call the guys now.”

Mark stood. “I’ll do it, but only for Grace.”

He trudged out the door as if he had weights on his shoulders. Zach felt no pity for the man.

Before Zach could call Grace, his phone rang.

“We’ve had another fire. Same MO,” Ed Bauer said as he entered Zach’s office. The man looked around as any cop would to acquaint himself with the surroundings.

“And you want me to do what?” Zach said.

Ed sat. “Don’t know, but I need to blow off steam. We live in one of the most expensive counties in the country.”

“Arson is basically a white collar crime. Why would it surprise you it would happen here?”

“A serial arsonist?”

Zach leaned back in his chair. His old friend had a point. One fire for hire in a year was plenty. But they’d had three of them, including Grace’s apartment building. “Have you rounded up the usual suspects?”

“All have alibis.”

Zach shifted forward and tented his fingers in front of his face. His mind had been on Grace and Dolores most of the day. This was a welcome change. “Good ones?”

“Some of them in prison.”

“That’s pretty solid. Why come to me?”

“Venting. You may look at something differently than I have.”

“Clearly this is someone from somewhere else.”

“No, shit. Your sister have her crystal ball charged up?”

“I’m not sure where Celia is.”

Ed dropped his card on Zach’s desk. “Tell her to call me. I’m out of ideas.”

He left.

Zach turned to his computer intent on doing some research on Mark Handon. Instead his stomach rumbled.

He shut down his computer. It was time to go home and see Grace.

Disgusted with daytime television, Grace clicked it off then wandered over to the computer. While she waited for it to boot up she attempted not to read anything on Zach’s desk.

Not hard, since he was a neatnik, but he did have one stack of papers out on his blotter. Grace saw her name on the top one. Any pretense of leaving his privacy intact left her. Why would Zach have papers with her name on them? The sheaves were printouts of newspaper articles. Stories about what happened in her last town. Her last endeavor to save someone.

Her eyes fell shut. Did he still believe her? Or was he humoring her?

She deciphered his handwriting with difficulty. Her butt landed in the chair when she figured it out. He had questions. All of them assuming she was guilty. Her heart dropped to her feet.

As if she’d never read the stories she studied what Zach had printed. The whole tale was there about the last murder she prevented. The reporter had been local, but was bucking for a better job. Mavis Jones had been on her doorstep for the whole time she lived in Jefferson Common. When Grace finally granted her an interview, Mavis accused her of lying.

That was the first time she had ever come close to admitting her talent to a stranger and of course the reporter burned her.

And now Zach knew what this reporter had written. Did he believe Grace or the written word?

The phone rang, startling Grace, but she didn’t bother to pack up the papers.

“Hello?”

“Grace, it’s Zach.”

His voice held a warm intimacy that Grace couldn’t return.

“I’m on my way home. I can cook tonight or we can get take out. Your choice.”

“Whatever.” I won’t be here anyway.

“You okay? You mad at me?”

“I found some papers of yours. Accidentally.”

“Oh?”

“The ones you printed about me. From my last encounter with the dead.”

“I’ll explain when I get home.”

He hung up, leaving her wondering just what explanation he could give.

She grabbed clothes and began stuffing them back into her back pack. She wouldn’t be here when he arrived.

Zach didn’t bother with take out. He wanted to be home as soon as he could. With Grace vulnerable he couldn’t risk her getting the wrong idea. He cursed himself for not shredding those articles.

“Damn,” he said when he realized Grace had left.

He jumped into his car and drove to her apartment. Dolores was arriving home at that same time.

“Oh, Zach. Nice of you to come.”

“Is Grace here?”

“Yes, why?”

She studied him as a lover would study another for signs of cheating. He didn’t look away from her. He owed her no explanations. She lied to him on a regular basis, but he wouldn’t do the same. “I’m looking for her. I’ll drop in when I’m done.”

“Thanks, Zach, but I just want to rest.”

“Of course. You need anything?”

“No. I hired a nurse for the night.”

“Good.”

Zach waited until she was inside her house with her nurse before he took Grace’s steps two at a time.

She answered his knock, but didn’t let him in. “Go away, Zach. I don’t appreciate being a sideshow freak for anyone.”

“You aren’t.” He put out his hands to touch her, make her believe him. She stepped away from him. “I’ve never stopped being a cop. I always need to know what I’m dealing with.”

Disgust screwed up her face. “What you’re dealing with? I’m human Zach and I still have feelings.”

He cursed himself for using the wrong word. Talking had never been his forte. He sighed. “Grace, listen. I just want to help.”

“Then tell me who you think would try to kill Dolores.”

“You mean, you? The person shot at you.”

“Okay, then who would kill me?”

“Your friend, Mark.”

Her face scrunched up. “Mark?”

“He’s in love with you and can’t have you.”

“He just thinks he’s in love with me.”

“Can we have this conversation inside?”

She let him in, but not before thinking about it. “Okay.”

Perched on the edge of her couch, she looked at him, eyebrows up.

He clenched his fists. Had last night meant nothing? “You can’t fault me for wanting to know about you.”

“Why not? It’s an invasion of my privacy.”

“I wanted facts. Facts about this talent you say you have. It’s what I do. Investigate.”

“And what did you find out? What facts have you brought to light?” Bitterness tinged her voice.

He slumped onto the chair. “Nothing really. That reporter didn’t like you.”

“She thinks I made up a story to tell her.”

“So you told her the truth.”

She stood and paced away from him. “Look, the killer is still out there. And we’re in here splitting hairs. You can either help me or get out of my way.”

She was obviously determined to do this her way.

“So what’s our next move?”

“We keep an eye on Dolores’ house. The last time the person killed her the day she came home from the hospital.”

She had no idea how bizarre her words sounded to him. As if Dolores had been killed more than once. “There isn’t a better view from here. We just can’t see the front door.”

“There’s a cop out front, right?”

“Yes, but he could get called away at any moment if he’s needed somewhere else.”

She frowned and wrapped herself in her arms. Zach wanted his arms to be there, but he knew he had ground to make up. She wanted him to believe her. He’d get nowhere until he did. This whole idea was a tough sell. He considered her worth the try to stretch his imagination.

There were people in his family that said they had powers. He avoided them if he could. He wasn’t willing to avoid Grace. “Grace, I won’t apologize for doing something that is a part of me. I investigate. I have a curious nature and I needed to know about you. I wanted to make sure that Dolores wasn’t going to get ripped off.”

She nodded and seemed to be mulling that over. “I guess I can’t blame you.”

“You haven’t committed any crimes so I couldn’t do an official background check so I used the internet.”

“Why didn’t you read them and forget them? You printed them out.”

He stood and walked so he was within her personal space. She had to know how he felt. “Because there is something about you, something that draws me to you. And I haven’t felt this kind of attraction in a long time. Maybe not ever.”

Her eyes widened liked saucers. “I’ll probably move on after all this.”

His heart went heavy. He brushed a hair from her face, his fingers only grazing her cheek. He saw her flinch only because he was looking for it. Like dealing with a skittish colt, he’d have to take it slowly. Maybe she’d rethink moving on. “I guess I’ll deal with that if it happens.”

He reached out to her again still with some hesitation. Would she see the colors? His finger traced her jaw line and she didn’t pull away. Instead her eyes closed, her face leaning into his touch.

A murmur escaped her lips. “We can’t do this now.”

“I know, but I’m going to kiss you.”

He brought his lips to hers as lightning sent a sizzle through him. He’d kissed many women, some of them expert kissers. Right now his knees wanted to buckle. Instead, he dug his fingers into her hair as if it were a lifeline.

She responded by grabbing his shirt front and pulling him closer. No room for the Holy Spirit here.

Just as he was settling into the rhythm of her lips, she nudged him away. “I heard a car,” she said, her voice sandpaper.

His cop radar went on overload. The kiss still burned his lips, but the hair on the back of his neck stood.

“Damn. We’ll revisit that,” he said, glancing out the window.

He raced down Grace’s steps with her close behind. “It’s Mark.”

Sure enough her squat friend climbed out of a compact car. “What’s up guys?”

Chapter Twenty

Grace’s breath slowed. She was out of breath more from Zach’s kisses than from the trek down the steps.

Mark eyed them both.

Her hand went to her probably swollen lips. “Where have you been?” Her breathy voice held no venom. Guilt tinged her consciousness even though rationally she had no reason. Mark had no claim to her.

She just didn’t need to rub it in his face.

His gaze went to Zach who had moved closer to her. He couldn’t have been more obvious about possessing her than if he’d peed on her leg.

“Police station,” Mark said, more to Zach than to her. He looked like a kid daring Zach to tell on him.

Grace stepped away from Zach’s overbearing presence. Mark didn’t need this, nor did she. “You went in?”

“Sure, I got nothing to hide. They let me go finally. What have you two been up to?”

“Nothing,” she said, more quickly than she should have.

Mark faced Zach. “So you’ve moved in on her already.”

“Mark, it isn’t what you think,” Grace said.

“Oh, I can just imagine. I’m out of here.”

He slammed the car door and squealed his tires on the way out. Grace had never seen him so upset. “Has he been drinking?”

“I didn’t smell anything,” Zach said.

She rubbed a hand through her hair. What a mess she was making. Of her life. Of everyone’s around her. Zach’s arms hung at his sides, as if the crisis were over now. Was it just beginning?

He wasn’t here because he believed her. He was here because of his attraction to her. Not that she could deny there were feelings inside of her for him. She couldn’t act on them. She couldn’t get distracted.

She’d cost someone’s life once already. Her mind wouldn’t take that again.

“You better go check on Dolores,” Grace said.

Zach nodded. “Not until you’re inside, with the door locked.”

She trudged up the steps, wanting only sleep, knowing it would have to wait. Besides, with the sun up, she’d never sleep.

Her phone rang. Mark.

“I’m leaving town. I’ll be in touch,” he said.

“You okay?”

She didn’t want him to leave on this note. They’d been friends for too long to ruin the friendship now.

He sighed. “I’ll be okay. I just need some time, Gracie. I’ve loved you a long time. It’ll take me time to stop.”

“Mark, I wish I’d known.”

“No, I wish I hadn’t said anything.”

“Why?”

“Then I’d be here for you instead of running away licking my wounds. Just don’t call me for a few days.”

“Fair enough, Mark.”

He grunted.

“Mark?”

“Yeah, Gracie?”

“I’m sorry I don’t feel the same.”

“Not as sorry as I am.”

The dial tone shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. She returned the receiver with a heavy heart.

Grace’s phone rang again an hour later. She snatched it hoping it was Mark.

Instead a woman’s voice came on the line. “I know what you are.”

She’d had prank calls before, when she was more open about her gift. Since she didn’t broadcast her ability anymore, she hadn’t received any.

Until now. Her voice left her for a moment.

“What?”

She couldn’t hear any noise in the background so the person was calling from their home. Was it a neighbor? Had someone figured out who she was and what she could do?

She bit her lip. She’d have to shake the dust of this town off of her when she finished. Regret eased through her. Used to moving when a job was done she’d hoped she could stay in Glen Hills.

No such luck.

“I know what you are. And I’m going to tell people.”

“What will you tell them?”

“About your gift.”

There was no sneer in the woman’s voice. Usually the person who called told her she was spawn of the devil. This woman sounded as if she wanted to help Grace.

She wasn’t believing it. “Tell them what you want.”

Once her birthday came this would all be done. Her powers would be gone and she could live a normal life. That was only two hours away.

“I know.”

“How?”

Who had ratted her out?

“I just know.”

A click on the other end finished the conversation.

Zach let himself in, then called out Dolores’ name. Her nurse greeted him in the kitchen. “She wants to see you.”

“Good. Take a break. We might be awhile.”

The nurse poured herself a cup of coffee then sat at the kitchen table. Zach strode down the hallway and found

Dolores in her living room.

Propped up with pillows on her couch, she looked like the queen she thought she was. “Zach.”

“Lors.”

He didn’t kiss her. He didn’t even go near her. Instead he sat on a chair with the coffee table between them.

“So, she’s gotten to you.”

“Who and how did that person get to me?”

“Grace. You have feelings for her.”

He couldn’t deny that. “Yes.”

Dolores smiled. “I knew this day would come. I don’t have you anymore.”

“Lors, you lost me when you lied about the baby. Why?”

“I got scared.”

“You?”

“Yes, strangely enough. Ever since I quit drugs, I’ve never been as sure of myself as I was.”

“Don’t spread it on too thick, Lors. I’m not in a gullible mood.”

“Fine, you’re not in a good mood either. Why’d you come here?”

“Because someone tried to kill you. And I want to know why?”

“Now why would I know that? Besides I wasn’t here. Grace was. Maybe she’s the target.”

Zach shook his head. He did think that, but Grace was convinced someone was going to kill Dolores. “Your house. Who would have known she was here?”

“I don’t know who she talks to. We haven’t talked much.”

“So whose baby was it?”

Her mouth opened and closed a few times. “I’d rather not say. Especially since I lost the baby anyway.”

“You seem relieved more than heartbroken.”

“Honestly, I am. I initially saw it as a new start, a sign that I was on my way.”

“And now?”

“Just a mistake.”

“Would the father have any reason to kill you?”

Her jaw dropped. “I didn’t even tell him.”

“Why not?”

“Because we parted ways before I found out. I wasn’t going to get back with him.”

“Was he married?”

“No, just someone who couldn’t be tied down.”

“Who?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“Because he’s first on my list for who tried to shoot you.”

“Ever the cop, Zach.”

He shrugged. He wouldn’t apologize for what he was. Or what he had been. “Tell me.”

“No one you know. Frankly, I’m embarrassed. It was someone I had a fling with. We spent several days in bed then he had to leave. I’m not sure I could get in touch with him anyway.”

“Are you blackmailing anyone?” Grace said from the doorway.

Dolores turned to her like a cat who’d been cornered. Zach leapt between them even though his ex-wife wouldn’t be a formidable opponent at this point.

“You going to take everything from me, Grace? My dignity, too?”

“Quit the melodrama, Dolores,” Zach said.

“Why? She’s got you wrapped around her finger.”

Zach couldn’t deny that he would believe Grace over his ex-wife. But only because she’d been honest with him.

“I’m not here to steal anything.” Her gaze flicked to Zach. “I’m just here to save your life.”

“Huh? Please.”

“Listen to her Dolores.”

Grace sat on the coffee table. “Dolores, someone killed you and you spoke to me and asked me to help you.”

Grace’s heart fluttered in her chest. She’d never revealed herself to the person she was helping.

Seeing Dolores laugh didn’t encourage her to do it again.

Dolores looked from Grace to Zach. “And you believe her? She must be good in bed.”

Grace’s spine stiffened. She looked at Zach, then left. So much for the direct approach.

Zach caught up with her at the bottom of her steps. He pulled her into his embrace. “It’s okay. Dolores doesn’t have a lot of imagination.”

“You don’t believe me either.”

“I do. Or at least I’m trying.”

The colors green and gray danced in front of her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and the world went a little cockeyed. “I need to sit.”

“Let’s get you inside.”

His voice floated past her ear. The back yard grew blurry. Her knees went weak. “Zach.”

He scooped her up before she could fall. She hated and liked the feeling of his strong arms around her. He held her as if he carried damsels all the time.

She cursed herself for her weakness, especially since it involved Zach. Without her wanting it he could have her on her knees.

He placed her on her sofa bed as if she were fine China. The visions disappeared, but his touch remained. She didn’t understand this. It made no sense. Why did he sometimes affect her, but not other times? She didn’t need this part of her life being off-balance. She only wanted to get through to her birthday.

All would be over then. Her power gone, but then so would Zach. He wouldn’t remember and that made her heart ache.

“Let me get you some water.”

She grabbed at him. “Don’t go.” She’d never clung to anyone, not even Mark. Her mother had warned her to go through life alone, at least until her power was gone.

Funny, her mother hadn’t and her father ended up being killed when neither of them could help. Exhaustion crept into her bones like a dog coming back to its master after it has been bad.

He sat next to her, studying her, as if memorizing her features. “The colors?”

“Yes, but they’re gone now.”

He smiled. “Good. Don’t let Dolores bother you.”

“She did, but I shouldn’t have said anything. What’s our next move?”

He snuggled her closer, the embrace of a lover. She knew if she just kissed him, he’d make love to her. That’s a memory she would hold in her heart forever.

“Well, she kicked me out so I can’t stay in her house. I guess I’ll camp in my car. Do you really think that it’ll happen tonight?”

She bit her lip. “I don’t know anything anymore.”

“Well, just in case.”

He stood.

“Stay.”

His gaze went molten. “I can sleep on a chair.”

Her heart leapt. The idea of a warm body next to hers appealed to her. Especially his warm body. “No. There’s room on the bed.”

His head shook, his lids half-closed. “I can’t sleep next to you and not want something.”

He reached out to her. She leaned into his hand. “I don’t expect you to. I’m a big girl, Zach. I can make these choices.”

His smile lit up the room. “I’m going to do a circuit of the property. I’ll be back. Don’t let anyone else in.”

Grace laughed. “Who else would be here?”

“The boogey man,” Zach said, then left.

Chapter Twenty One

Zach walked in the waning sunlight. No one stirred, but a dog barked in the next block. He missed the sounds of a neighborhood; barbecues, kids screaming. You only heard footsteps in an apartment building. Sometimes someone played their stereo too loud.

He had to buy a house. He nodded as if he’d just made a major decision. Maybe he had. A decision to finally let another woman into his heart.

He rounded the front porch and heard a shot. His heart pumped wildly as he let himself into Dolores’ front door. The back door slammed as he searched for his ex-wife.

She lay bleeding in the hallway. The nurse was unconscious in the kitchen.

“Grace.”

As if a spirit bidden by a spell, she appeared in the doorway. “I heard the shot.”

“Did you see anyone?”

“No.”

Grace grabbed the phone and dialed for an ambulance.

“Damn. You were right.”

Her face told him she thought he’d believed her. He bit his tongue. He’d revealed that he hadn’t actually believed her.

Wrenching the sheet off of Dolores’ bed, he bunched it up and put it over her gaping chest wound. He held it down as if his life depended on it. If Dolores lived, Grace wouldn’t have to leave. His pulsed beat double time as his muscles strained to hold down the sheet.

“They’re on the way,” said Grace. She felt for a pulse, but shook her head. Then she began CPR.

No pulse appeared on Dolores before the EMT's arrived.

Grace surveyed the emergency department’s waiting room thinking she’d been here too much lately not even counting when she worked. She knew the time would come soon to rewind.

She had less than an hour before her birthday. Her heart raced at the idea she might not get to Dolores in time.

Dolores would ask that of her once again to help her. Her bones ached with weariness while her heart pumped with a newfound love.

Too bad he wouldn’t remember her. She would start from scratch with him. For once she didn’t want to leave anything behind. Usually it didn’t matter. Even though she’d been in a relationship last time, the timing of it had been that she’d only lost a bit of the relationship. She didn’t start again.

Zach wandered in and sat down next to her. His shoulders slumped and a piece of hair stood up from running his hand through it. He still cared about Dolores, if only a little bit.

“They’re still working on her.”

“I can find out more, but it’s better to let them work.”

He nodded his breath coming out in noisy burst. “I’m not a patient person.”

She touched his arm, a wave of dizziness washed over her. Her eyes fell closed and she slowed her breathing. His arms went around her probably as much for himself as for her comfort.

“I should have believed you. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay.”

I’m used to it. Only Mark ever believed her. Only Mark understood and she had no idea where he was. He had from the very beginning.

She sighed, drinking in Zach’s warmth that made her head spin. How could she be with him anyway when he made her feel sick? She disengaged herself from him, then stood. “Coffee?”

His gaze searched hers as if for an answer. “I don’t love her. I haven’t for a long time. That doesn’t stop me from worrying about her.”

“I realize that Zach. I just need to move.”

Two detectives appeared in the waiting room door. “Grace Harmony?”

“That’s me.”

“We need to talk to you. At the station.”

Zach stood. “This can’t wait, Josh?”

The detectives exchanged a glance. “No, Zach, it can’t.”

Grace didn’t know what to say. Would she get a chance to see Dolores if she wasn’t here? Would she rewind or would Dolores’ death always weigh on her mind.

Like the last time. She couldn’t do this again.

“Uh, do I need a lawyer?” she asked.

“Yes.”

A chill went down her spine.

“Wait a second. What do you have on her?” Zach asked. He put himself between her and his fellow officers.

“We can’t say, here, but we need to speak with Miss Harmony.”

“Josh, Bill, tell me.”

“We’ve found the murder weapon.”

“Okay, so,” Zach said.

She put a hand on his shoulder. He’d be risking his job. “Don’t. I’ll go. Find me a lawyer.”

She’d need to see Dolores. Maybe in the morgue. She gathered her purse, patted Zach on the arm, then followed the pair to an unmarked car.

When she turned around, Zach was in the hospital doorway, watching her. She waved and climbed into the vehicle.

They didn’t cuff her, but she looked restrained anyway. Zach went back to the waiting room, racking his brain for why finding the murder weapon meant questioning Grace. She had no connection to this event.

The nurse came in. “Mr. Holten? I’m sorry, but Dolores didn’t make it.”

“Thanks.”

He jammed a hand through his hair, not sure what to do next. Dolores didn’t have any known relatives. Her parents had died years before leaving her wealthy.

Not sure what his next move was, he drove to the police station. On his way he phoned a lawyer friend.

Kyle Walton had been Zach’s friend since high school. When Zach went to the police academy, Kyle went to college. As Zach took the detective’s exam, Kyle was passing the bar.

Not a criminal attorney, the two had never crossed paths professionally. Until now.

“Do you know what time it is? It is almost happy hour.”

Zach grimaced. “I didn’t realize it was late. It’s an

Emergency.”

“I have no doubt it is. You in trouble?”

“No, but someone I know is. She’s at the station for

Questioning.”

“She? Dolores?”

“No, she died tonight. Someone shot her.”

“Oh, Zach I’m sorry.”

He’d worry about Dolores’ death later. Grace problem he could do something about. He hoped she would let him. “Thanks, but I think Grace needs your help.”

“Grace. I’ll be at the station in fifteen minutes.

Tell her not to answer any questions until I get there.”

“She’s been there for a few minutes, now.”

“Then you get there and hold them off. Professional courtesy or something.”

Zach disconnected, hoping he wasn’t too late.

Grace sat in the interrogation room, a lukewarm cup of coffee in front of her. No one would tell her anything. No one would tell her if Dolores died.

Her gaze kept straying to where a clock should be. She had no idea what time it was. Her cell was off and in her purse, but they’d taken that.

She did know Dolores was probably dead. And she’d have to go back again. And Zach wouldn’t know her. Her heart ached at the idea.

She could not think of a reason why she sat here stewing. What game were they playing?

Finally, the two detectives that had brought her in arrived in the room.

“I’m Detective Harding. This is Detective Warren.”

Harding had a day’s growth of beard on a loose-fleshed face. Warren was younger and slimmer as if he hadn’t grown into his body yet. Mark looked like that when they first met.

“Why am I here and do I need a lawyer?”

Harding sat on the edge of the table, on the opposite of her. His warm smile didn’t soothe her. “Please don’t do the ‘good cop/bad cop.’”

“We have some questions about your version of the story.”

“My version?”

Grace’s mouth went dry. She’d been in interrogation rooms before today. And the scenario had always worked out, but not without a fight. She steeled herself.

“You say you heard the shot and came running from your apartment.”

“Yes.”

“But you didn’t see anyone exit Ms. Holten’s house.”

“No, but I wasn’t looking either. The night was dark and there were no lights on.”

“You didn’t turn on an outside light?”

“The one outside of my place had blown out and I had not replaced it.”

Dolores could corroborate her story. If she were alive.

“Did anyone else notice this?”

“Other than my landlord?”

“Yes.”

“Not that I know of.”

“Ms. Holten maybe?”

“Yes, but I don’t think she’s in any state to tell you that.”

The detectives exchanged a glance.

“She’s dead isn’t she?”

“Now why would you think that?” Harding asked.

“Because of your look. The one that passed between you.”

“We found the murder weapon.”

Ah, here it comes. “Where?”

“In the trashcan on the other side of the garage.” “Makes sense if he came out of Dolores’ house and ran.”

“He? Why do you think it’s a ‘he’?”

“I assumed,” she said.

“Or you know something about it?” Warren this time.

Her head went back and forth as if she were at a tennis match making her neck ache. “No, I don’t. I’m done talking. I want a lawyer.”

Warren frowned. “I don’t think a lawyer is going to help you out of this one.”

“Oh?”

Her pulse quickened. They think she did it?

“Nope, not this time.”

Zach pulled into a spot, set the brake and opened his door in one motion. Kyle had actually beaten him here.

His spirits rose a little. “Kyle.” He held out his hand.

His friend took it and they shook and hugged. “So tell me the story.”

“Maybe you should hear it from Grace.”

“And how do you know Grace?”

“Lors rented her garage apartment to her.”

“I’m still not getting the connection.”

“Always eager to bust my chops aren’t you?”

Kyle’s white smile brightened an otherwise bleak day. “You bet.”

Zach didn’t bother with the front desk. He knew Grace would be stewing in an interrogation room. Josh Warren stopped him before he entered.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“To see Grace.”

“She’s asked for a lawyer.”

“And I have one for her.”

Josh eyed Kyle. “He can go in.”

Zach motioned for Kyle to see Grace. “I’ll bring you some coffee.”

“Thanks,” he said.

Zach filled two cups with coffee and located a bottle of water in small refrigerator in the detective’s room. Returning to where Grace was, Zach barged in.

Her gaze met his. She was scared. Taking the water she thanked him, but turned away, no hint that they’d almost slept together that night. He leaned against the wall, his coffee in hand.

Acting like he belonged there, he figured he had about five minutes before they kicked him out.

Kyle glanced his way. “Do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

“With all due respect, I’d like to have a private conversation with my client.”

“We’re on the same side, Zach.”

“Still I have a right to see her in private.”

Zach frowned, knowing he was right. He nodded at Grace, who didn’t acknowledge him, then left.

Chapter Twenty Two

Grace was getting out.

Kyle had told her they couldn’t hold her. She submitted to fingerprinting, but she knew hers wouldn’t match any on the gun.

So she stood outside the police station, drinking in her freedom. The day hadn’t seemed so warm or inviting.

Zach stopped next to her. “Give you a lift?”

Where did he stand in all this? “You think I did it?”

“No.” His head shook from side to side. “But they must or they wouldn’t have brought you in. You sure you didn’t see anyone?”

She sighed. Ever the cop. Could he not be for five minutes? “No and I’ve said that a million times today.”

“Sorry.”

He put a hand on her shoulder.

She shrugged it off. “Maybe you shouldn’t be consorting with a murder suspect.”

“Grace.”

Her name on his lips stopped her. “You aren’t a suspect or you’d still be in there.”

“I’m out here because of Kyle.” She looked up at him. He seemed taller to her. His jet black hair was a little more rumpled than usual. His eyes were just as steely. “Thanks.”

He put a hand on her arm. “Look I have to go shower and get to work. Let me drop you somewhere.”

“I’m going home.”

“You sure you want to be there?”

“Yes, I need to sleep. I have to work tonight.” A thought occurred to her. “I need to get into the morgue.”

“For what?”

She waved a hand away. “I’ll find another ride. I have something to do at the hospital.”

She left him standing on the steps.

He’d live. She’d almost forgotten that she needed to see Dolores. She only had a few minutes or her power would be gone. She’d never save Dolores. Zach may forgive her, but she couldn’t forgive herself

The morgue attendant wasn’t so keen on that idea. “She’s due for an autopsy this morning.”

“Just a peek before you cut her up.”

“This some closure thing?”

“Right.”

The tall, thin man frowned. “Okay.”

He led her to a drawer in a stark, cold room. “She’s in here. You have five minutes.”

Graced braced herself for a rewind.

She wasn’t disappointed.

The sun shone as it had the first two times she went through that day.

But this time Dolores was shaking her head. “No, I’m sorry I just rented the apartment to someone.”

“Oh,” Grace said unsure of where to go from here. This hadn’t happened last time. Maybe she could talk the tenant out of this place. She’d have to think of some great story.

Gee, the landlady’s going to get killed and I need to be there to save her. Like I did the last two times I was here.

They’d be fitting her with a straitjacket for sure.

Dolores put a hand on her hip. “Anything else?”

She was being dismissed. “Uh, no.”

Zach pulled up at that moment. He strode over to them full of authority. Her heart burst at the sight of him, but she tamped it down. He didn’t know her from Adam.

“Problem?” Zach said. His mirrored sunglasses obscured his eyes, but she knew his gaze would go right through her.

Dolores spoke before Grace could form any words. “I’m trying to tell this woman I rented the apartment already. She isn’t leaving. She insists I should rent it to her.”

Zach looked over his sunglasses. “Oh? You have a problem miss?”

Grace shook her head, wondering what she’d said and why was this time even more different than the last rewind. Thoughts swirled in her brain. Someone was doing something different each time. But who would know to do that, but her and she did everything the same as she could.

“No, problem, but I would like to talk to you.”

He flipped a card out of his pocket. “Make an appointment.”

She took the proffered item, but shook her head. “I need to speak with you now.”

Zach crossed his arms, his stance wide as if bracing for something. “Okay.”

“Could I buy you a cup of coffee or something?”

He shrugged. “I’ll be back in a little bit, Lors.”

With a peck on the cheek, he strode back to his car. “Follow me.”

Grace met him two blocks away at a coffee shop on the main drag in Glen Hills. He ordered his with shot of cinnamon.

She sipped her latte, gathering her words carefully. The direct approach would have to work, not that she liked it that way. If she couldn’t be on Dolores doorstep she’d have to find another way to keep her eye on the woman. “I think Dolores is in trouble.”

Zach took man-sized swig of his frilly coffee, then set the cup down on the table. His long fingers stroked the Styrofoam, making Grace’s mouth water.

She shook away the images of her and Zach naked when his deep voice interrupted them. “In trouble how?”

“She’s going to be murdered.”

He straightened at the word “murder.” “Do you know for a fact? Have you heard of some plot?”

“Not exactly.”

How could she tell him? This had never become any easier for her. And probably wouldn’t ever. So she forged ahead. “I can’t tell you how, I know, I just know.”

“Now, Miss?”

“Harmony, but call me Grace.”

“Miss Harmony, if you’re trying to protect someone, they shouldn’t be. If they want to commit murder then they do not deserve your loyalty.”

She sighed, trying to get rid of her frustration. Her heart swelled with her emotions for him and she couldn’t think straight. She just wanted to kiss him and see if he’d remember. Her fingers ached to touch him. She longed to be touched by him. “I’m not protecting anyone. But Dolores.”

“Then why do you think she’s in danger?”

Grace took a breath, then blew it out noisily. “Sometimes I know things before hand.”

His mouth twisted into grimace. “Oh, a psychic.” His eyes rolled. “I’ve dealt with those before.”

“Then you understand.”

“Completely.” He stood, then dropped some bills on the Formica table. “And I’m not buying into your scam.”

Grace’s mouth fell open as he strode out of the coffee shop.

Well that didn’t go well.

Zach strolled back to his car. He heard the thud of someone running behind him. Not the rhythmic patter of a jogger, but someone in a hurry. He whirled to find the young woman racing towards him.

She stopped two feet from him, her chest heaving. “What if I can prove that I know things?”

“Ma’am, you are looking at the world’s greatest skeptic. I’m not going to be bothered.”

“Please.”

Her green eyes pleaded with him. He was always a sucker for a pretty face. And she had a nice one. And a nice body hidden in those baggy pants, he’d bet. What the hey? “Fine, Karnak, predict something.”

“Dolores is going to tell you she’s pregnant.”

“Fine, we’ll see.”

She shoved a napkin with numbers on it at him. “Call me either way.”

She turned and walked away from him, seemingly confident in her ability.

“We’ll see about that.”

Dolores was cooking some dinner when he arrived. The kitchen had been scrubbed, but it still looked shabby. The appliances needed to be updated.

“Want some?” she asked.

“Thanks.”

“What’d that chick have to say?”

He waved a hand in the air. “Just some nonsense. One of those psychics.”

“What’d she predict?”

“That you were going to be murdered.”

“Lovely. Will you miss me?”

“Won’t have to you’ll still be here. By the way, you’re pregnant.”

Dolores grew still. “You think so?”

“So the lady says.”

Zach dug into his meal. Dolores followed suit a few minutes later.

“She was so sure she gave me her number.”

He dropped the napkin with Grace’s number on the table. Dolores picked it up, then threw it aside. “Odd.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Grace decided she needed a book. Or just to see Dolores who happened to work at a bookstore. “Time to Read” occupied an old Victorian House on the main drag of Glen Hills. The shop sat between an ice cream parlor and a hardware store. Small town America alive and well in New Jersey.

She pushed open the door almost knocking down her quarry.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Dolores said.

Loaded down with books, the woman still struck a defiant pose. What had Grace done to deserve this being so hard? “I’m looking for a book.”

“No, you’re stalking me.”

Paranoid? “I am looking for you, too.” She surveyed the room and at one end sat a small coffee bar. “Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”

“Never drink the stuff.”

“So what can I get you so that you sit and listen to me?”

Dolores frowned. Dropping the books on a cart, she wiped her hands on her dress. “Okay if you’ll leave me alone after this.”

“I’ll try.”

Grace ordered a cappuccino, not that she needed the caffeine. She as too keyed up by the events being different that she could have run to Ohio.

“Spill it.”

“I think you’re in some danger.”

“Danger? What? From you stealing away Zach?”

Did she have Zach this time? “No, I think someone is trying to kill you.”

“Zach said you thought you were psychic.”

“You talked to Zach? Did you tell him about the baby?”

Dolores went still. Her face twisted into a grimace. “Now how do you know about the baby?”

“Because I know Dolores. Just like I know that in two days someone is going to enter your home and shoot you dead.”

Dolores blinked, her face a mask, now. “I think I’ve heard enough.” She stood.

“Dolores, I knew about the baby. Why would I be wrong about this?”

“Because you are. You could have found out I was pregnant other ways.”

Dolores moved away as if on a mission.

“Have you told anyone?”

“No.”

“Then how could I know?”

She whirled to face Grace. “I am pregnant and I don’t care how you know. This will bring Zach back to me.”

“But the baby isn’t his.”

Dolores’ mouth gaped open and she took in a sharp breath. “How do you know that?”

“I know things, Dolores. Now tell me why anyone would want to kill you?”

Chapter Twenty Three

“I was about to call you,” Zach said, as she sat by his desk.

He did have the receiver in his hand.

“She isn’t pregnant,” he said.

“Yes, she is.” Grace ran a hand over her face. Her hand longed to touch him. Just once so she could convey her feelings. He wouldn’t get it. Would he fall in love with her this time? “She just didn’t tell you because you brought it up.”

“You talked to her? I think you need to stay away from her.”

I can’t. How could she tell him? “We chatted. She is pregnant. She wants you back.”

“The child is mine. I’ll do what I need to.”

“But the baby isn’t yours.” she said louder than she wanted. If only she could go forward instead of backward. She’d be through all this. Frustration ate at her patience.

Zach frowned. “So the great Karnak knows that, too.”

Grace bristled at his tone. “No need to make fun. Dolores is in danger. In two nights, I think, someone is going to enter her home and shoot her. Have you checked out her new tenant?”

His back straightened. “I’m in the process of doing that. None of your concern.”

“He’d be a major suspect.”

Zach leaned back in his chair his arms crossed. “Why can’t you tell me who did it?”

“I can’t. I don’t have control over these things.”

“Is she really pregnant?”

“Yes, Za-Mr. Holten.”

“Then why didn’t she tell me? Dolores isn’t exactly one to back down from a confrontation. As a matter of fact I didn’t even confront her. I said it in passing conversation. Look, I have a pile of work to do so if you don’t have anything more specific to tell me about Dolores and her alleged killer I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Grace stood, knowing what her next move would be.

She needed to find out about Dolores’ tenant.

With Dolores at work, Grace was able to knock on the garage apartment door without prying eyes.

Too bad no one answered. She could see the furniture that came with the place and some boxes, but no other signs of life.

As she headed back to her car, her phone jangled. Mark’s cell number showed on her screen.

“Hey, Gracie.”

“Hey, Mark.”

“That wasn’t enthusiastic. Have I become a burden or are you having a bad day?”

“Bad day. I’ve rewound and everything is different again. I can’t even rent the apartment by Dolores.”

“Dolores?”

“I’m sorry, Mark, I’m speaking as if you rewound also. Dolores is the name of the person who is going to be killed.”

“I knew a Dolores once. Hot chick.”

“Unless you’ve lived in Glen Hills, New Jersey, I doubt you know her. Are you in California or on your way to see me?”

“Is that what I did last time?”

“Yes.” And professed your love. A love she couldn’t ever return. That part she certainly didn’t want to go through again. She could only hope that was different, too.

“Did you try to find out who the tenant is?”

“Yes, but she won’t tell me. I just knocked on his or her door with no answer.”

“Maybe he’s at work.”

“He?”

“Just a guess. So tell me about Dolores.”

“She’s pregnant. I don’t know who the father is. He’s my prime suspect, but I also think I need to find out about this tenant.”

“Why would this person be the killer? They didn’t rent the apartment last time.”

She sighed. “I know, but I’m grasping at straws here. No one believes me as usual.”

“Except for me.”

“Except for you. I’m even further away from the truth than I was last time. This is so frustrating.”

“I’m sure it is. But you always find a way.”

She enjoyed that at least one person on this earth believed her. She didn’t feel so isolated when she talked to Mark. Their friendship was her safety line in a crazy world. She’d hate to lose it.

“I didn’t last time. Maybe I’m losing my touch.”

“Not you Gracie. That would never happen.”

His voice warmed her.

“How can you be so sure?” she said. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore. Not her ability. Not her reasons for rewinding. She wasn’t even sure of her own heart.

“I just am, Gracie. I better go.”

He clicked off before she could ask him again where he was. Disappointment had her redialing. She only connected to his voicemail.

She didn’t bother leaving a message.

Zach couldn’t get the sight of Grace in his chair out of his mind. Her eyes had pleaded with him. As far as she knew, she was telling the truth.

He’d checked out Dolores’ tenant and his name was indeed Mark. Mark Handon. He’d have to find out if Grace knew him. She could be a reference. Then he’d do more research. This all didn’t sit right with him.

But first he needed to see Grace. She seemed familiar to him. Almost as if he’d met her in a dream.

His head shook. “I’m losing it.”

He found out where Grace lived and paid a visit on his way home from work. Easy since they lived in the same block just different apartment buildings.

So different that hers was on fire.

And Grace stood there hugging herself. Zach tried to talk himself out of going to her. There was something about her, a fragility that his alpha male heart couldn’t resist. Grace Harmony was a woman who needed to be protected. He just wasn’t sure if it was from herself or some outside source.

“Hey,” he said.

She jumped, her head whipping around to face him. She let out a breath when she saw him. “You.”

“Yeah, me.”

“What brings you here?”

“You.”

Her perky mouth dropped open. “Me?”

“Yeah. I can tell when someone’s lying and you aren’t. I’m not sure why you think what you’re saying is the truth, but you believe in your message.”

She licked her lips. “So, you’ll help me?”

“I haven’t decided that.”

Her big eyes teared up. Oh, God, don’t cry. He’d melt. She wiped away tears, as she turned away from him. A sniff then a snort came out of her. “Fine. I need to find a place to stay tonight.”

“I have a sofa bed.”

Why did he say that? He was tempted to look behind him to see if someone else said it. He didn’t even know this woman, but he was drawn to her. He shook himself mentally. Only her need to be rescued attracted him. A real need, not the fake, manipulative one that Dolores sported when she found it useful.

Dolores could take care of herself.

This lady was truly in distress.

“I couldn’t impose.”

“It wouldn’t be.” He tugged at her arm. “Have you eaten?”

“No,”

“Good, I’ve got some dinner to make and you might as well share with me.”

She studied him for a long minute and he expected her to decline. “Okay.”

With her arms still wrapped around herself she followed him to the car. “Mine’s blocked in by fire trucks.”

“We can come back later for it. Or tomorrow.”

“Later, I need to work tomorrow.”

“What do you do?” He slid into the car.

She belted herself into the seat. “I’m a paramedic at Centre Community Hospital.”

“My office is down the street from the hospital.”

“Yes, I know.”

She looked straight ahead for the two minute drive to his place. Her shoulders slumped and her feet dragged as she followed him up two flights of steps. “My humble abode,” he said when he unlocked the door.

“It’s nice,” she said even though her gaze never left her feet.

Zach put a hand on her back to usher her inside. She flinched as if his touched burned her.

Grace didn’t want to move away from his touch, but the visions it inspired took away her breath.

Instead of the erotic, steamy dreams she’d been having about Zach, she saw him in a very different scenario. Sitting on a lawn chair, two children sat on his lap. He played with them.

Some part of her knew they were her children, their children. Her heart raced and her breath quickened.

“Are you okay?”

Grace nodded, her words not available. She moved to the couch, shaking off the vision. “I’m fine.” Her voice made a come back. “You just startled me.”

Zach closed the door as if the subject were done. “I’ll get started on dinner. Can I get you a glass of wine?”

“Sure.”

Her mouth remained dry and part of her brain tried to understand the vision. She’d never had them until recently. What if every time he touched her this happened? She’d gotten used to the colors. These scenes would disturb her more.

Zach handed her a glass of amber liquid while she was still immersed in thought. “Is spaghetti okay?”

She smiled up at him. “Comfort food.”

“You look like you could use some comfort.” He held out his hand, a smile lighting up his eyes. “Come sit with me in the kitchen.”

Stark white cabinets lined one wall of the long skinny kitchen. A mural decorated the opposite wall.eH Zach was cooking in a vineyard. He motioned to the painting. “Friend of mine did that. I don’t use much cabinet space so I took them down. Now I feel as if I’m outside.”

“Nice,” was all Grace could think to say.

Grace found herself in cold storage. Her guess was the morgue. She opened a drawer sure that was the right one. When she uncovered the sheet, instead of Dolores an inert Zach lay there.

She nudged him. “Zach, ask me. Ask me for help.”

Then his eyelids snapped open like a shade let loose. “No, Grace you can’t help me.”

She screamed. Someone shook her.

“Grace.”

“No,” she said. Zach wouldn’t let her go.

“Grace, wake up.”

In that moment of clarity, as sheyou become awake, as the shreds of the dream still lingered on, but she realized that it was not real, Grace knew Zach’s arms were around her. For real. He wasn’t prone on a slab.

Her heart pounded in her throat. Her limbs shook as they grabbed him. The dream had been so real. She could see him on that slab as if her brain had taken a photo. If the dream was a premonition it was the first one she’d ever had.

“Bad dream,” he said, pulling her tighter.

She squeezed back the tears hanging onto her dignity with a fingernail.

Her gaze eventually traveled up to his eyes. He brushed a hair from her face, his look tender. Licking his lips, he leaned towards her.

All of her self-control went into not kissing him. She could sink into his arms, but it wouldn’t mean as much to him. This would be a fling and she couldn’t risk what she’d seen, the future she’d seen, on her need to be surrounded by a warm body.

“Don’t.”

He backed away, a frown creasing his face. “There’s something about you Grace. And that isn’t a line. I don’t need lines to get women in my bed.” His head shook, but he didn’t let go of her. “Just a day ago I didn’t know you, but I feel as if I have.”

She chuckled. “That’s a very bad pickup line, Zach.”

A smile replaced his frown, a sheepish one.

Her heart had slowed from the nightmare, but not completely. His touch didn’t launch any visions. Instead she felt safe and warm like home on a winter’s day.

Every fiber of her being longed to stay this way, but she had a murder to prevent. “I need your help.”

“What can I do?”

“I need you to believe me that Dolores is in trouble.”

“Oh, Grace.” He kissed her forehead then stood.

She felt cold again though the apartment was even cool. Darkness painted the windows. The only light in the room came from the hall light that Zach must have turned on when he came to her. She pulled the covers around her.

“I don’t see why she would be.”

“Do you know that she’s blackmailing the father of her baby?”

“Her alleged baby.”

“Ask her. She’s pregnant. She admitted it to me.”

“Okay, say she is. Why would she be blackmailing them?”

“Because he’s married.”

Zach crossed his arms, leaning more on one leg than the other. “Who is it?”

Could she tell him? No, he didn’t trust her yet. “I’m not sure.”

“Then how do you know she’s blackmailing someone?” He rubbed a hand down his face. “This is all ludicrous. Nuts. We’re talking about a woman I once loved.”

The pain in his eyes was palpable. The lines around his mouth deepened.

“Zach, what motive would I have for lying to you?”

His shoulders slumped. “None whatsoever.”

Chapter Twenty Four

Zach stood on Dolores’ porch wanting to knock, but unable to make his hand move. She opened the door her breath catching. “Zach.”

“Lors, we need to talk.”

“You sounded just like that when you asked for a divorce.”

“Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

She opened the screen door then followed him into her kitchen. “Coffee?”

“No thanks.”

He didn’t sit. He couldn’t, not even at work today. Something about Grace stuck her square in the middle of his thoughts. No amount of work would extricate her. And he needed to believe her if he planned on pursuing a relationship with her.

Now why did he think that? A relationship. Those thoughts hadn’t entered his mind since Dolores.

“You look serious.”

“I’ve been talking to Grace.”

“Did she tell you she thinks I’m in some kind of trouble?”

“I know it sounds strange, but she has no reason to lie.”

“She’s a nut, Zach. That’s it.”

“I don’t think so.”

Dolores crossed the room and stood inches from him. “You’ve slept with her. Boy, Zach you’ve never been one to think with the wrong head, but this time you have.”

Zach refused to justify the remark. “Are you pregnant?”

She took a step back. “Yes. And he’s yours.”

“Oh?”

“Remember that night.”

“That was once Lors.”

“It only takes once.”

“You sure it’s mine?”

Her mouth dropped open. He remembered the look well and knew it to be fake.

“Of course it is.”

Rumors had circulated about her antics with other officers. Some had even called her a badge bunny. Not to his face, but he knew that the rumor mill was sometimes correct. “If it’s mine I’ll do what’s right.”

“Even leave Miss Gracie alone?”

“Why? Is she that much of a threat to you? She’s trying to save you.”

“I’m not in need of saving.”

Grace came back from her last call of the day, glad it had been the end of the shift. She couldn’t decide if her bad night of sleep or Dolores’ unwillingness to believe her clouded her mind. She couldn’t make a decision on patient care. Thankfully her partner had taken control and no one died.

Her partner patted her on the back. “You okay, Grace?”

“No, but I’ll get a better night’s sleep tonight.”

In a hotel, away from Zach. First on her list was a trip to see what she could salvage from her apartment. When she walked to her car, she spotted Zach and groaned. Space from him would be delightful, but he was her only tangible link to Dolores.

Otherwise she’d be stalking the woman.

“Hey.”

Grace frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.”

“Why?”

“You need a place to stay tonight?”

“No, thanks.”

“I talked to Dolores. I owe you an apology. She is pregnant. And the baby is mine.”

Frustration welled up inside of her, making her grit her teeth. “The baby is not yours.”

“Why would Lors lie?”

“Zach, because you’re an honorable man who would do the right thing by her.”

“How you would you know that?”

She bit her tongue to avoid blurting out that she’d known him. He shouldn’t think she’s crazy. He was the one person who she needed to trust her. “I just do.”

“Whose baby is it?”

“I can’t tell you. It doesn’t matter. She’s going to lose it tonight anyway.”

“Oh?”

His brow knitted and she wished she could take the words back. “Never mind.” She brushed past him.

He grabbed her arm. She saw the vision again.

“You can’t make a statement like that and walk away.”

“Zach, I have to. You don’t believe anything I say. So why would you believe this.”

“I talked to her because I think maybe she is in trouble. Dolores hasn’t led a blameless life.”

“The drugs, I know.”

His mouth opened, but he snapped it shut. “You know about that?”

“Yes, go on.”

“Dolores and I lost touch for awhile after the divorce. Well, as much as we could since she was dating most of my coworkers. I heard. . stuff, let’s say. Maybe she pissed someone off.”

“Do you think her capable of blackmail?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then this conversation is over.”

“Grace.”

“Stop, Zach. It’s a stretch for you and it isn’t good enough to get me in your bed. It’s just lip service.”

Celia Johnson was the last person Zach expected to invite over for dinner. But she was his sister and his dealing with Grace had made him realize that life could be short.

She showed up dressed in conservative jeans he didn’t know she owned.

“I know I don’t look like myself, but I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

He led her into his living area. She looked around and he realized she hadn’t ever been here. She was the only family he had, and guilt streaked across his soul.

“Wine?”

“No thanks.”

“No?”

“I quit drinking. It interferes with. . ” Her hands flailed as if trying to grasp a word. “My gift.” Her hands rested at her sides. “Why am I here?”

He smiled. “Cut to the chase, huh?”

“I’m a little too tired for a confrontation.”

“Sit.”

She settled on his oversized, leather couch. Crossing her legs she looked at him as if waiting for the wisdom of the ages. He didn’t know where his ability to forgive her came from. Maybe his time with Grace made him realize that Celia’s power wasn’t always a positive thing for her.

“I’m sorry.”

Celia’s black tinged mouth dropped open. “You’re sorry, huh? For what?”

He sat beside her, his jean clad knee touching hers. “For not being a very good brother.”

She chuckled, her gaze never leaving his. “You have it bad.”

“Huh?”

“This Grace has you good.” She ran a hand through her unruly red locks.

“I don’t know what Grace has. How do you know about her anyway?”

His sister just smiled. “She has a gift. She may not see it that way.”

He leaned back on the cushions Grace’s face in his mind, her lips pursed in consternation. He wasn’t one to believe in love at first sight, but he was gobsmacked by Grace. It wasn’t love, but rather some strong connection. As if he’d known her all of his life.

He was drawn to her.

“Believe her.”

“I’m trying Celia.”

He brushed a hair from her face. “Will you forgive me?”

“I had a long time ago. I knew you didn’t understand that I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I can’t control what I see, but I feel compelled to tell you.”

He nodded thinking maybe he did understand. “So what do I do about this woman?”

She laughed again. “If I have to spell that out, Zach, then you’re in worse shape than I thought.

Chapter Twenty Five

Grace couldn’t sleep. She went for a run and ended up in Dolores’ neighborhood.

No lights were on either in Dolores’ house or the garage apartment. “I wonder if that guy is going to show up?”

She sighed.

A scream catapulted her out of her reverie. She took Dolores four front steps in one jump. She knocked, then barreled through the unlocked door. “Dolores?”

With her eyes already adjusted to the darkness, she could navigate through the house to the bathroom. A light shone and illuminated a crumpled figure. “Dolores?”

Surrounded by blood Dolores didn’t move. She had a weak, thready pulse. Grace dialed 9-1-1 then returned to monitor her patient. No one else had heard the scream.

Flipping open her cell phone, she dialed Zach’s number. “Zach, it’s Grace Harmony. I’m at Dolores’ house. She’s in trouble.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Come quickly.”

She disconnected, not wanting to explain. She wasn’t sure if Dolores had been shot or she’d lost the baby. Most likely this was the miscarriage.

A siren sounded in the distance, a welcome sound. The EMT’s arrived first and went to work. Two paramedics she worked with rolled on the scene. They loaded Dolores into the ambulance just as Zach arrived.

“She’s losing the baby,” Grace said to him. “I’ll drive.”

He followed, his face a study in disbelief. “The baby?”

“I think so.”

“She really wanted this baby.”

Grace just nodded grimly.

The scene of Zach pacing in the hospital emergency room was getting tired and stale for Grace. She went through the heartache with him three times now. Her strength ebbing, she wasn’t sure she could go through this again. She had to solve this during this rewind.

She brought him coffee. He held it, not taking any sips, as if he’d forgotten that it was there. “Drink.”

He looked down at the white Styrofoam cup as if he’d never seen it before this. “Can you find out what’s happening?”

“I can, but it’s better to let them work on her. They’ll let us know when they can.”

He nodded, obviously knowing that was the answer she would give. “I was just starting to wrap my brain around the idea of a kid. Never really thought about having one. When Dolores and I divorced I didn’t expect to remarry.”

“One never knows what life brings us.” She rubbed her head. “Sorry, that was trite.”

He put a hand on her thigh. “It’s okay.”

His warmth infused her and the vision of them and children sprang out of her mind like a screen coming up before her. She wanted to smile at the happiness she saw in the picture.

“You’ve done so much, Grace. How did you come to be there?”

“I was out running. I couldn’t sleep. Ended up on her doorstep, I guess to check on her.”

“Did you know something was wrong?”

She could lie and tell him she did, but she wanted him to trust her. “No, I didn’t. At least not consciously.”

“I’m glad you were there,” he said, his voice hollow.

A nurse appeared in the doorway. “Mr. Holten?”

Zach stood as if braced to hear whatever news she brought.

Chapter Twenty Six

The baby that didn’t make it wasn’t his. Dolores was okay, but the baby, a twelve week fetus, was not his. He didn’t know which emotion to feel first, relief or disappointment.

He knew at that point in time, he couldn’t ever trust Dolores again. He was done making excuses for her lies.

Now was the time to look forward and that meant this woman standing in front of him. He didn’t know why, but she seemed to be a part of his future.

“Let’s go,” he said.

She jumped out of her chair, her mouth opened. “Aren’t you going to wait until she’s settled in a room?”

“No, I’ll come see her tomorrow.” He could hear the bitterness in his own voice.

When they got to her car he said, “You must think me a jerk.”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t know your history with Dolores.”

“We have quite a colorful one. We ended our relationship three times before we married. I should have known better.”

He shook his head while he slid into the passenger side. She drove him back to his car at Dolores’ house. “Have you met the tenant?”

Zach looked up at the darkened apartment. “No. Seems odd that the person didn’t come out with all the commotion last night.”

“Maybe they aren’t home.”

“None of my business.” He glanced over at Grace not eager to leave her company. “You need some breakfast?”

“I need a shower and to go to work.”

“Can I meet you for lunch?”

“As long as you don’t mind being stood up.”

“Why?”

“Because if a call comes in I have to go.”

“That’s how it was when I was a cop.”

“Then it’s a deal. Noon in the hospital cafeteria?”

“I’ll see you then.”

Grace met Zach at lunch. Her morning had not gone well. Even her partner had remarked that she didn’t seem to have the touch anymore.

“Off day?”

“I usually can just get a feeling for what they need, but not today. At least I haven’t killed anyone.”

“About Dolores.”

She raised a hand. “I’m not sure I’m up to talking about her.”

“Good idea. Let’s talk about something else,” Zach said.

Silence ensued as Grace attacked her salad with gusto. Zach leaned back and watched, his sandwich untouched.

“What?” Grace asked, her fork in mid air. “I never know when a call is coming in so I eat when I can.”

“Understood.”

Grace dropped her fork. “I think we have to talk about Dolores.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s right here with us. I’m not sure I want to do this with her here.”

“I talked to her. She knows where I stand.”

“Yes, but I still think that she’s in danger. I can’t pretend she isn’t there. She’s what brought us together.”

Zach took a bite of his sandwich and chewed it as if they were the words Grace had said. Once he swallowed he spoke again. “Okay. Then maybe we need to get this murder out of the way.”

“You believe me?”

No one ever does. She understood what Cassandra in Troy felt.

“Yes.” He said it without flinching. His gaze never left her face.

“I don’t want you to patronize me.”

“I wouldn’t, Grace.”

He reached across and took her hand in his. His warmth settled about her, like a womb. The vision didn’t appear, but the remnants of its memory washed over her. “Okay. So who do you think would want to kill her?”

“If she’s blackmailing someone then that person”

“Not the father of her baby?”

“Could be one and the same, but not if he’s just the father of her baby. That problem is gone now.”

Grace’s pager went off before she could answer. “Duty calls.”

She shoved one more bite into her mouth before she stood. “Thanks for lunch, Zach. And for believing me.”

“What time are you done?”

“Six.”

“I’ll be here.”

She left liking that idea.

Zach held a bouquet of flowers, but he’d bought them out of duty not affection.

“Hey,” she said with more cheer than she had energy.

He gave her a perfunctory peck on the cheek. His heart held little emotion for her anymore. “Hey, Lors. How you feeling?”

“Lots of things.”

“Sorry about the baby.”

And he was. Maybe he would have been a good father. He probably hadn’t been a very good husband. Dolores hadn’t been a good wife. The baby might have made them good parents.

Now he’ll never know.

He regretted the lack of opportunity more than he regretted the loss of the actual child.

“Yeah, me, too,” she said. Her eyes misted over. “You know it wasn’t yours.”

He grimaced. “Yes.”

“Guess I lost my last chance with you now that the baby is gone.”

He snorted. “You lost your chance when you lied to me.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Now isn’t the time to go through this. You need to get better.”

“I’m checking myself out of the hospital, today. I’ve hired a private nurse to take care of me.”

“How can you afford that? You went through all of your parents’ money when you were on drugs.”

“Not all. I saved some for a rainy day.”

She couldn’t look him in the eye. He couldn’t know what she’d done.

“Have you blackmailed anyone?”

His bluntness struck her and she scrunched down in the bed, suddenly exhausted. “Don’t sugarcoat it Zach.”

“Dolores, I think you’re in danger.”

“Oh, Grace has convinced you of that?”

“Why do you think it’s Grace?”

“Because she’s been practically stalking me. I want her to stay away from me.”

“Lors, she saved your life the other night. She’s concerned that you’ve put yourself in danger.”

“Is it love, Zach? You’ve never taken anyone’s side over mine,” she said.

“Do you really want to know that answer or are you just changing the subject.”

“Can’t I know why I’ve been replaced? We’ve been a team for so long, Zach.”

“Don’t. We were never a team. You directed and I danced.”

A chuckled escaped Dolores. “You think I could control what you did?”

“Not all of my actions, but you knew what buttons to push when it was important to you.”

“I’m hurt, Zach.”

“You aren’t, Dolores. You have much thicker skin.”

“But you’re still concerned enough to feel I’m in danger.”

“It’s my job,” he said.

He saw her flinch. “Well, maybe I don’t want to be a case.”

“Just tell me who you’re blackmailing.”

She crossed her arms, the argument at a stalemate.

The end of the day couldn’t have come soon enough for Grace. After several bad calls, no one dying thankfully, a reporter left a message with her boss to contact her.

She’d dealt with this woman before in her last town and Grace wondered how the reporter had found her.

Looking forward to seeing Zach her step was lighter walking to her car. The dread took over when she saw how grim he looked.

At least he’d made it.

She stopped half a foot from him. He hadn’t gotten to know her enough for her to kiss him or go into his arms. Her heart ached for him to get to that point.

“What’s wrong?”

He jammed a hand through his hair. “I talked to Dolores. She’s home now.”

“So soon?”

“Checked herself out of the hospital. She hired a nurse.”

“Oh.”

This was significant, but she didn’t know why.

“She didn’t answer me when I asked her who she was blackmailing.”

Not “if,” but who. He believed her. Her heart leapt into her chest and she forced away a smile. “That’s how she can afford a nurse?”

“I’m guessing.”

She frowned. “Where does that leave us?”

“I don’t know. I can talk to the nurse and have her keep on eye out for anything strange.”

“Guess that’s the best we can do.”

“So, let’s get dinner.”

Grace glanced down at her cut off sweat pants and short t-shirt. “I’m not dressed for going out.”

His gaze raked over her as if seeing her for the first time. “Guess not. I can follow you to your hotel.”

“Sounds good.”

Right then her pager made a noise. “I forgot to leave this.”

Something in the dispatcher’s tone had her paralyzed.”

“Centre County to Glen Hills First Aid Squad and CCMC Unit 682 responding to a gunshot wound at. . “

The address sent chills through Grace.

“That’s Dolores’ address,” Zach said.

“The killer has already struck.”

“We’ll take my car.”

Chapter Twenty Seven

The usual pandemonium ensued in the emergency department of Centre Community Hospital as all hands fought to save Dolores Holten.

Grace wanted them to stop. She was going to die and Grace needed to rewind again.

Despite being unsure why she kept going back, she wanted to get the trip over with. She wanted to get the mystery solved and save Dolores.

Zach paced back in forth in front of Grace’s chair. “Can’t you find out anything?”

Before she could answer someone sat down next to her. She’d seen her before, but couldn’t place her.

Grace’s spine stiffened as if frozen by the chill that raced through her. This person meant her no good.

“I’m Celia Johnson,” the red haired woman said as if Grace would know who that was.

The woman crossed her legs her colorful caftan swishing with the movement. Her fiery hair bounced as she spoke. The brown on her lips reminded Grace of a corpse.

“No comment,” Grace said, then stood. This woman must be a reporter.

“I’m not a reporter.” The woman seemed to find that funny.

Grace whirled, longing to smack off that smirk. “What are you here for?”

“You need to come out. To tell the world about your talent.”

Grace’s jaw dropped to the floor. “You’re the woman on the phone. Leave me alone.”

Zach stepped between them. “Miss Harmony doesn’t want you here. I’m not sure I do either. Go, Celia.”

“It’s a free country.”

“But you are harassing her and I can call security.” Through gritted teeth he said, “Don’t make me do that Celia. Don’t make a scene.”

Zach knew this woman. She wondered if this was the psychic who ruined his career.

He tugged on the woman’s arm. He was more than familiar with her. Then something struck Grace. The two looked like brother and sister. There was something to ponder.

He wouldn’t believe her when his own sister had powers, too.

Celia’s gaze bounced from Zach to Grace then she sighed. “Fine, but you’ll hear from me again, Miss Harmony.”

Her hair swished down her back as she passed Grace. Through her teeth, she said, “This isn’t the last of this.”

Grace’s shoulders slumped. This put an even worse spin on Zach’s reluctance to believe her. He was a skeptic even with a family member. She had no shot to convince him.

This was the last thing she needed now.

Zach studied Grace as she settled back into her chair. He was drawn to her, but he didn’t know why.

She’d told him about her gift. Rewinding in time didn’t make sense. But it did. It would explain why he felt as if he’d met her before. Why he’d trusted her so easily.

The whole idea boggled his mind as, at the same time, it answered many questions.

Right then the nurse came in and told them that Dolores didn’t make it.

Grace’s face went white, but he didn’t think from surprise. Celia had rattled her. He made a mental note to tell her to back off. Not everyone was so proud of their gift.

He sighed. As much as Dolores made him mad, he hadn’t wanted her dead. A part of his soul ached for her. She’d been a part of his life for so long.

Grace rose and crossed to him. Needing the warmth of another body, he pulled her to him. As if he’d pulled his car into his own driveway, his heart settled into a rhythm that matched hers.

Her touch soothed him and he knew all would be okay.

“I need to go see her.”

“Grace, maybe it’s for the best. If you don’t go she can’t ask you to help her.”

Grace leaned back to look at him, her brow knit. “I can’t just walk away. I was given this gift to use. It would be denying who I am.”

“You could come back tomorrow. Just wait a day.”

“Why don’t you want me to do this?”

She left his arms and took a piece of him with her.

“Can you survive another rewind?”

“It’s difficult, but doable. Zach, I have no choice.”

He sighed. “Okay.”

She nodded and left him, his heart going with her.

A voice stopped Grace at the door to where Dolores lay dead.

“Miss Harmony?”

Grace’s eyes closed. “What?”

“Will you listen to me?”

“Miss Johnson I asked you to leave me alone.”

“I can’t. You’re wasting your talent. You could do so much more good with it.”

Grace turned to face her. “No, I’m doing all that I can. Someone has died tragically and they deserve to do that in peace and privacy.”

“I’m not interested in saving Dolores Holten.”

“What did she ever do to you?”

“Marry and hurt my brother.”

Exhaustion weighed on Grace. She just wanted this rewind over and done. Then what the woman said hit her. “You’re Zach’s sister?”

“He’s not proud of me. That’s why he didn’t tell you.”

“But if his sister has powers why is he such a skeptic?”

“Because I steered him wrong once. He lost his career because of it.”

Grace leaned against the wall. “So my power is a threat to him.”

It all made sense. He would never really believe and even if he did he wouldn’t trust her. The realization went through her like a knife.

“Then maybe it’s good I’m rewinding.”

“Oh?”

A man in a white uniform wheeled a gurney past her into Dolores’ room. She knew he was from the morgue. This may be her only chance to see Dolores. They would question he down there.

“Look, if you’ll excuse me, Miss Johnson I need to go. I need to rewind.”

“Will you talk to me when you come out?”

“Of course.”

The woman let her go. Now she had to convince the orderly to let her alone with Dolores body.

Grace had no desire to honor her promise to talk to Celia who now sat with Zach in the waiting room. She’d only assented because she thought she’d have rewound by now. The orderly had stood by the fact that he had orders to get the body to the morgue for autopsy.

This was a murder case, he kept saying.

Zach eyed her, his face a closed book. Celia looked past him a worried look on her face. “Now will you talk to me? I may have some insight into this case.”

Grace ignored Celia Johnson. “Zach, can you get me into see the body?”

He frowned then raked a hand through his hair indecision written on his face. “Not my investigation, Grace.”

She stepped closer to her. “You’ll try?”

He reached out a hand to her and his touch warmed her very soul. His touch was of a friend or a stranger comforting a stranger. Not a lover or someone who believes in you all the way. But he must have some faith in her or he wouldn’t still be here.

Her heart slowed its beat, having been here before this and not liking the situation now either. “Thanks.” She turned to the Celia. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“You promised.”

“I can’t.”

Right then two detectives joined the party.

Zach’s world spun out of control when he saw his colleagues. They stared at Grace as if she were the spawn of the devil.

Had he misjudged, totally misread her? He didn’t think her story of rewinding had been hiding a murder. “What’s up, guys?”

“We need to talk to Miss Harmony. At HQ.”

This was serious. They really thought they had something on her. A chill started in his heart. “What’s going on?”

“I’ll go, Zach. It’s okay.”

Defeat lowered her shoulders while it etched lines in her brow. He longed to hug her and take away from all of this. But he couldn’t and his impotent rage threatened to choke him. “I’ll get you a lawyer.”

She handed him a card as she crossed the room. “Call Mark. His uncle’s a lawyer.”

Mark again. That guy ended up everywhere. Why did she trust him so much? He looked at the number. Why was that so familiar? He shook it off knowing he’d think of it when something else was on his mind.

His sister appeared in his personal space. “See. Even the cops here think she did it. Strange, huh?”

Zach’s temper spiked. “She’s innocent until proven guilty.”

“Yeah, you cops always believe that.”

“And normal people never try someone in the public domain?”

She shrugged, obviously undaunted by his accusation. “Talk to Jeff Becker.”

“Who is he?”

“The last person Grace convinced she could help. His mother’s dead and Grace was brought in for questioning on that one, too. She predicted it.” Celia looked smug. “I can do investigating, too.”

“If they had a case, why isn’t she in jail?”

“She made bail then ran.”

He shook his head. She wouldn’t have been stupid enough to get involved with him if that were true. “I don’t believe it.”

Celia pulled out a notebook and tore off a piece. “Here’s Jeff’s number. Call him. I think you’ll be enlightened.”

“The newspaper reports said nothing about her being on the run.”

A smirk lifted a corner of her mouth. “So you have checked up on her.”

He had and now he wished he hadn’t. He needed to believe her, but the cop part of him knew he would talk to this Jeff guy. He took the number, then stuffed it into his shirt. “None of your business.”

“My cell number is on there, too. Call me if you want to know the real story.”

Chapter Twenty Eight

“How come all interrogations rooms look the same?” Grace said to the two-way mirror at one end of the drab room.

No pictures hung on the gray-green walls. The table was functional and the chair she sat in uncomfortable. Her stomach rumbled from hunger and her bladder screamed to be emptied. Three cups of coffee had settled there the moment she entered this room.

No one had come to talk to her, letting her stew. She knew the tactic. The cops in the last town had done the same.

The door opposite the mirror opened and two detectives entered the room. She braced herself even though she was innocent. Would they ferret out her secret?

She wasn’t a murderer, but a freak. And time was getting short. Tomorrow was her birthday. She had to touch Dolores soon.

The taller man sat across from her, his dark brown eyes boring a hole through her. Detective Malek he said his name was. His large head sported more hair than she’d ever seen on one human being. Kept short, she still couldn’t see his scalp or his forehead.

“We’re recording this.”

“Fine.”

She hoped Zach had called Mark. A lawyer should be on the way.

“Do you want a lawyer present?”

“Not yet.”

“What brought you to Dolores Holten’s house last night?”

“I was out for run and happened to go by her house when I heard a scream.”

“You happened by her house.” He looked over his shoulder at the other detective. “Is that your usual route?”

“I don’t have a usual route.”

“How many miles do you run?” He leaned towards her as if they were just two people talking in a coffee shop.

“Between three and six.”

“And how far is Miss Holten’s house from your apartment?”

“I don’t know. Besides I wasn’t at my apartment. It burned down.”

“Ah, yes, you’ve had a string of bad luck this week. So where did you run from?”

“The Hilton Garden Hotel.”

“Nice place. I would think that would be tough to afford on a paramedics salary.”

Grace shrugged. “No comment.”

“No comment? I’m not a reporter, Miss Harmony and this isn’t a game.”

His voice rose an octave, but she refused to get riled. They had no evidence. “Can I go now?”

“You in a hurry?”

“You haven’t booked me. Do it or let me go.”

“Have you been here before? Oh, that’s right. I talked to the Johnsonville PD this morning. You have been brought in for questioning there. They’d like to talk to you, too.”

A chill snaked up her spine. She’d hoped she had put that incident behind her. She’d moved because they couldn’t keep her in town. She’d run away, but not illegally.

She rose. “Unless you’re booking me, I’m leaving.”

“Sit down Miss Harmony.”

“No, I’m going.”

The detective by the door didn’t move, just stared at her as if there was no way she could get past him. She couldn’t, but her pride wouldn’t let her back down in this situation.

She whirled towards the detective at the table saying the one thing that would end the interrogation. “I want a lawyer.”

Zach called the number and had a lawyer on the way for Grace. Jeff Becker’s number stared at him accusingly from his desk blotter. His natural curiosity got the better of him and he punched the numbers into the telephone.

A young man answered on the second ring.

“This is Detective Zach Holten of the Centre County Prosecutor’s Office. I’d like to talk to you about Grace Harmony.”

“That bitch?”

“I’m sensing some hostility.”

“She killed my mother and got away with it. The stupid cops wouldn’t keep her in jail and now she’s free.”

“Why do you think she killed your mother?”

“Because she kept telling me that someone was going to kill her and then someone did. How else could she know if she didn’t kill her?”

“Your mother was bludgeoned?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice cracking.

“You think Grace, er Miss Harmony, is capable of that?”

“I can’t find any other explanation.”

Zach took a stab in the dark. “Were you lovers?”

“Yes.”

That was the guy’s motive for hating Grace. He thinks she befriended him to get to his mother. “Did you break up with her?”

“How could I not? I couldn’t be with someone who killed my mother.”

This guy was still angry. “Did she tell you she didn’t kill your mother?”

“Yes.”

If they’d been lovers, why didn’t he trust her? “Why didn’t you believe her?”

Then why didn’t he, himself, trust Grace either?

“Because she knew it would happen.”

“You don’t think there might have been another way for her to know?”

“Like what?”

“Like she’s psychic?”

A disgruntled laugh erupted from the phone. “You aren’t buying that story are you?”

Zach was trying. Even though the words sounded absurd to him. Oh, he knew psychics, just none that could go back in time. He was a stuck in an episode of Twilight Zone. “Thanks for your time, Mr. Becker.”

“Don’t get involved with her. She’s poison.”

Too late, thought Zach.

Mark’s lawyer was coming from Newark, so Grace had to wait, but the detectives let her stay in the interrogation room. Otherwise she would have walked out. And they’d let her go the bathroom.

She wondered where Zach was. Probably mourning his ex-wife. Would she get into see Dolores before it was too late.

Never before had she ever wanted to rewind. Her life was in a shambles and she had to work tonight. Would the lawyer get there in time?

Maybe she should just a walk out.

Then the door opened and Zach walked through looking like he’d lost his best friend.

Her heart leapt at the sight of him, but she didn’t move from her spot. Pulling out the chair across from her he sighed before setting his lanky frame onto the unpadded seat.

“Thanks for calling Mark.”

“I think he’s on his way here.”

“He should be in California.”

“Didn’t sound that way.” He raked a hand through his hair. “How are you holding up?”

“Fine since I didn’t do anything. You believe me.”

“I want to. I don’t believe you would have any reason to kill Dolores.”

His lack of faith in her cut, but he didn’t get to know her well enough this time to trust her. “I think I know what the problem is.”

“What?”

“Each time I’ve rewound, things have been different.”

“Okay.”

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

“Just listen for a minute,” she said, sensing his distrust.

“Go ahead.”

She motioned to the mirror. “Is there anyone in that room?”

He moved towards a switch on the wall then flicked it. “No one can hear us.”

“Someone is doing things differently every time.”

“Do you realize how nuts this sounds?”

Her eyes widened. She pulled her hair away from her face. “Zach, I thought you believed me.”

He looked at the table his hands raking through his hair. “I want to, Grace, but I can’t.”

She reached out to him, but stopped before she actually made contact. “What can I do to prove to you?”

“I’m not sure you can.”

Her arms crossed. “So you’ve been humoring me all along?”

He frowned at the floor, but didn’t speak. Her heart pumped, but was heavier in her chest.

“Anyway, I don’t know who else can rewind. Whoever it is must be screwing things up. I need to rewind. I need to see Dolores.”

“You can walk out of here.”

“Yes, but I cannot see Dolores. aShe’s part of a murder investigation. They won’t let just anyone view the body.”

“You work at the hospital, can’t you get in?”

“I can get to the morgue, but not to Dolores.”

His gaze met hers. “I can’t help you.”

Zach met Mark on his way out of the interrogation room. The guy reminded him of a weasel, beady eyes, pointy nose and scruffy beard. Did he know what a razor looked like?

“Mark Handon,” he said and held out a hand with short fingers.

“Detective Zach Holten.”

“Yes, I figured.”

“Your friend on the way?”

“Yeah, can I see Grace?”

“You related?”

“No.”

“I’ll have to talk to the detectives on the case.”

He did and they agreed Mark could go in. Zach didn’t look at Grace as he led the man to her.

Shutting the door, he wished he’d turned on the intercom. He’d be curious what Mark’s relationship was to Grace.

She’d been happy to see him.

Zach settled into a hard plastic chair on the other side of the mirror. He couldn’t hear, but he could watch.

Grace didn’t hug her friend. He seemed to expect it. Instead, she turned away from him towards the mirror.

Mark had his hands out as if pleading with her on some point. Lover’s spat?

He didn’t think so. Grace had more class in her little finger than this guy had in his whole body. His sense of privacy getting the best of him, he left to let them talk without observation.

Grace knew as soon as she saw him, Mark had done something wrong. She didn’t know what, but she could sense it.

But he wouldn’t tell her.

Then the odd thought struck her. Could he rewind?

“Why aren’t you in California?”

“I didn’t get the job and I heard about some auditions in Manhattan.”

“Were you going to let me know you were in town?”

His gaze slipped away from hers, a sure sign he was lying. “I wasn’t in town.”

“Right. When will your friend be here?”

“Any minute.”

“I have a favor to ask.” His eyes lit up as if he was now in her good graces. “I need to get into the morgue.”

“You work at the hospital, why can’t you get into it yourself.”

“No one’s going to let me into see Dolores.”

“Oh, you want to rewind again.”

“Again?”

Before she could call him on that, the door opened. The two grim detectives strode into the room. “We’re letting you go.”

“Just like that.”

“We don’t have enough to keep you.”

The threat of a lawyer was too much. “Then I’m out of here.” She brushed past Mark. “Tell your uncle I don’t need him.”

“Right.”

He followed her out, past the two cheap suited men. “So what’s the game plan?”

“Let’s get some coffee and I’ll tell you.”

Chapter Twenty Nine

Zach couldn’t focus on his yoga.

He’d let down Grace. Some part of him, not his rational brain, but some part of him knew she was right. She wasn’t a killer and what she’d said about rewinding did ring true.

“But how could it,” he said to his rice and beans dinner.

The meal, one of his favorites, tasted like melted plastic. He shoved it away from him while grabbing for the phone. He had to make good with her.

Her phone went straight to voicemail. “It’s Grace, leave a message.”

“Grace, its’ Zach. Call me. I’m sorry.”

Grace managed to get herself and Mark through the hospital and to the morgue, despite tight security that had been implemented since 9/11.

Now she stood before the door to where Dolores’ body would be stored until the Medical Examiner came down from Newark. She shouldn’t be here.

“You ready?”

Mark showed no trace of fear. She figured he was used to nefarious goings on so, but that was only a theory. He didn’t talk to her about major portions of his life.

Like why he was passing through New Jersey and not stopping to see her.

“Ready as I’ll ever be. You got your story straight, Mark?”

“Yes, Dolores was my sister. I’ll ask to see her alone and then let you in the back door.”

She left him to his tale and walked out onto a loading dock. After five and no one there expecting deliveries, she made it to the outside door of the morgue, unaccosted.

Looking through the window she saw Mark by the drawer that must have held Dolores.

“Miss Harmony?”

A security guard had sneaked up behind her. Did she know him?

“You need to come with me?”

“Why?”

She couldn’t imagine where he’d come from and how he knew her name.

“Don’t make it worse. You aren’t supposed to be at the morgue. The tech called and said you were trying to break in.”

He tugged at her arm as a police car rolled onto the scene. She stared at them wide eyed. What had gone wrong? Who knew she was here?

“I wasn’t. I didn’t even see the attendant,” she said.

“Come now, Miss Harmony, we know you’re distraught.”

Distraught? Who would have said that?

“We can get you help.”

She realized, all of a sudden, that she was being arrested for something she didn’t do. If they succeeded then she wouldn’t get into see Dolores. She’d be stuck in this version of the scenario.

With a yank, she retrieved her arm from the security guard then sprinted away from him. The only person who knew she was here must be the one person who could rewind.

One name came to her lips as she ran breathless from the shouting men.

Mark.

Not one to drive aimlessly, Zach couldn’t stay in his apartment. He’d called Grace back with his cell phone number.

But she still hadn’t called him.

Some force sent him towards his office. As he turned onto Main Street, he spotted Grace out jogging, but not in running clothes.

He slammed on the brakes and rolled down the window. “Grace,” he shouted.

She turned towards him, her step faltering, but she recovered and changed direction. Her breath took minutes to return as he sat in the car next to him. “Go,” she gasped out.

Making a u-turn he opted to go to a coffee shop. They needed to talk.

“What were you running from?”

She bit her lip. “Something spooked me.”

“Dead people talk to you, but other things spook you?”

She chuckled, a nervous twitter at best. “Odd, I know.”

The lie hung between them like crepe paper in the rain. Should he call her on it? He hadn’t given her any reason to trust him.

“What’s going on?”

“Zach you have to get me in to see Dolores. I know who is rewinding.”

“Who?”

“Mark.”

“How do you know?”

He parked diagonally in front of Bean There Drank That. His gaze studied her.

“He called the cops on my when I was trying to get into the morgue.”

“You’re running from the cops?”

“Yes.”

“Grace, we need to go back and straighten this out.”

“No, they’ll arrest me.”

“Won’t Mark explain?”

Bitterness tinged her voice. “I’m sure Mark’s long gone.”

He put a hand on hers. “Sucks to trust the wrong person.”

“Yeah, guess you know all about that with Dolores.”

A stab of pain went through him, not so much for what she’d been, but what she could have been. “Yep. Now let’s get back to the cops and explain everything.”

“No,” she said, then leapt out of the car.

Grace ran to her hotel, hoping she was ahead of the cops. A patrol car sat in the parking lot. Her frazzled brain searched for an alternate route inside the building.

Maybe the cops hadn’t gone to her room, yet.

Circling the building she found three guys sitting on a dock smoking cigarettes. After some cajoling and a little flirting she had on a set of kitchen whites.

Grabbing a tray with plates as she walked through the kitchen, she hoped she looked sufficiently like staff to get past anyone.

And she did, making it all the way to the elevator before a manager stopped her. But only to give her a dirty dish he found.

She smiled at the man, then kept going up to her floor.

No police waited outside in the hallway so she slipped into the room. Clothes were in odd places as if the cops had been here. “Why are they looking so hard for me?”

She jammed stuff into her bag and hiked it over her shoulder. Dropping the pretense of being a kitchen worker, she left the whites on the bed, hoping they’d find their way back to the owner.

“Disguise,” she said to her reflection in the elevator mirror.

Stopping in the gift shop, she bought a big hat and a pair of dark sunglasses. She tucked her hair into the head covering and limped out of the hotel.

Safely into a cab, she let out the breath she’d been holding, then directed the driver to her car. Which ended up being surrounded by cops.

“Damn.”

She couldn’t turn to Mark because he’d betrayed her. She’d have to come back during the night. So the cabbie took her to a park where she hoped she could spend the day in solitude.

Zach didn’t call and tell the police that he’d seen Grace. He should have. He’d be aiding a fugitive, not that he knew where she was.

But he had to find her and help her. Some primitive part of him knew she was innocent and needed to be protected. For once he wasn’t being a cop first.

He drove without direction, going on instinct as if with just his gut feeling he could find his mate. Grace.

Where would she be?

He hadn’t gotten to know her well enough to be acquainted with her habits.

He cursed his inability to see what had been in front of him. “Grace, where are you.”

As if on cue he pulled into the Glen Hills Municipal Park and there she sat alone in a tree grove. He walked towards her thinking she might be skittish.

She didn’t run when she saw him. Instead she sighed, her resignation to his presence a severe emotion on her face.

“Grace.”

She came into his arms. “Zach.”

His lips captured hers and she responded, her tongue licking out between them. “Don’t leave me.”

“I have to go back and find Dolores’ killer. I need to prevent her death,” she said.

“Not that I want Dolores dead, but will I remember you? I don’t want to lose you. I haven’t felt like this ever.”

“Zach it’s my destiny.”

“Maybe I am. Maybe you haven’t prevented it so we could be together.”

She stepped away from him, shaking her head. “It can’t be, Zach.”

“Why not?”

“Because I was given a gift for a reason.”

“Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.”

But he knew she would go back. His head dropped to look at the ground. A breeze stirred the trees around them. “What can I do?”

“I need to get into see Dolores.”

His gaze went through her, his tough cop stare, but she didn’t back down, didn’t change her mind. He reached out a hand to her. “We’ll find a way, then.”

No cops guarded the front entrance of the emergency department of Centre Community Hospital. Grace and Zach walked in among the bustling nurses as if they belonged there, too.

The multi-casualty accident whose patients had just rolled into the hospital were a godsend to the plan she’d hatched with Zach.

Without anyone noticing, she and Zach made their way to the morgue which sat in the bowels of the hospital. No one passed them in the lime green hallway behind the kitchen.

One of the patients from the car accident had died and his body lay outside the morgue door which stood ajar. Grace eased her way in behind Zach.

She slipped into a closet she knew sat by the front door while Zach asked to see Dolores.

“You’ll have to go yourself, I need to make copies of this paperwork and ours is jammed. Just stay until I get back so I can log in your visit,” the attendant said before pushing out into the hallway.

Grace came out of her hiding place. Zach’s gaze studied her. “Last chance to change your mind.”

“I won’t Zach.”

He kissed her as if he wouldn’t see her again, then she walked into the cold storage room.

Pausing before Dolores’ door, Grace drew in a deep, steadying breath. “Here goes,” she said to no one.

She rolled open the drawer and uncovered Dolores who must have been expecting her. Without hesitation, the dead woman grabbed Grace’s hand and spoke.

The colors swirled and Grace held onto her sanity with a nail. Where would she end up this time?

Chapter Thirty

Zach pulled up in front of Dolores’ house as she stood talking to a stranger. Something about the petite woman seemed familiar, but he didn’t think he’d ever arrested her at all. But when he was a cop he came in contact with all sorts of people.

The blond woman smiled at him as if they’d met, but he still couldn’t place her.

“I’ve already rented the place,” Dolores said as Zach walked towards them.

“If I may be nosy, is the man’s name Mark?”

Dolores’ jaw dropped open for a moment, but then she shook off her surprise. “I’m not sure that’s your business.”

“Do you know this Mark person?” Zach asked.

“Yes, I do and I think he’s trouble,” the woman said with such conviction Zach had to enquire.

“How do you know him?”

“We’ve been friends for years.”

Zach frowned and ran a hand through his hair. “Lovers’ spat?”

“No, we’ve never been that way.”

“Then why do you think he’s trouble?”

“This is Grace, by the way, Zach.” The phone inside Dolores’ house rang. “I’ll get that.”

Zach turned his attention to the beautiful woman in front of him. Her concerned look had his protective instincts surfacing.

Her eyes were a magnificent green, her hair a striking white blonde.

“I think he’s going to kill Dolores.”

He took a step back. “Kill? Did he tell you that?”

“No, and I can’t explain how I know.”

“You have to tell me how you know. You can’t go around accusing people of murder especially when there hasn’t been one.”

She frowned, brushing a hair out of her face. “I know things before hand.”

He stopped his eyes from rolling. “A psychic? I don’t believe.”

“Then you’ll just have to trust me.”

“So when is this murder going to take place?”

She shifted on her feet. “In the next two days.”

“Your sources can’t give you an exact date?”

“No, it’s changed.”

She stopped talking as if she’d said more than she wanted. Her hand covered her mouth.

“What’s changed?”

“Never mind.” She reached into her purse and produced a card. “Dolores is about to tell you she’s pregnant. If I’m right or wrong, call me.”

She bounced off down the street to an older sports car. He fingered the card as she drove away from him.

Grace knew who the caller would be when her phone rang.

“So she’s pregnant?” she said even though she knew the answer.

She walked back and forth from her dresser to a suitcase with the phone tucked under her chin. If the place was going to burn she might as well be ready.

“There are a dozen ways you could know that.”

“Name three.”

“You could work for her ob/gyn.”

“Not with HIPAA regs these days.”

“You could just know. Some women do.”

“I’m not an empath.”

“I’m out of ideas, but I’m sure there is a logical explanation. Just because I can’t think of it now does not mean it doesn’t exist,” said Zach.

“We could go around like this for days. Why don’t we prevent a murder? You need to find out who Dolores’ tenant is. I’ll bet his name is Mark Handon.”

“Whoa, I need more details before I go off half-cocked. How do you know this guy?”

“He’s a friend.”

“Then why don’t you know for sure he’s there?”

She hated to admit this. She didn’t want to think Mark had anything to do with her troubles. They’d been friends for such a long time. “He didn’t tell me, but I don’t know why.”

“Why would he kill Dolores?”

She frowned at her folded clothes, then settled on the bed. “I haven’t figured that out yet.”

She could hear his breathing and maybe even the wheels in his head, too. His hand was probably going through his hair.

“Are you free tonight?”

“I work.”

“A dinner break?”

“Not always possible,” she said.

“Where do you work?”

“I’m a medic for the hospital.”

“I’ll pay you a visit.”

“Our office is in the back, by the morgue.”

“I’ll be there.”

Not a date, but Zach would take it.

Something about Grace intrigued him. Maybe what attracted him was her combination of strength and fragility. Dolores was fragile, but only when she chose to be.

And lately Zach had been going for independent, strong women. Ones who didn’t really need him and his penchant for being a knight. Would Grace even let him save her? And from what did she need to be saved?

He never answered the question as he pulled into a parking lot beside the hospital.

A squat man with a day’s growth of beard lurked at the entrance Zach needed to use. He jumped when the detective walked up behind him.

“Looking for someone?”

“Uh, no.” The suspicious man walked away without making eye contact.

Zach found Grace in a bay stocking a plastic container that closed. Her hair fell out of her bun and her eyes had a tired tinge to them.

“Grace?”

She smiled when she made eye contact. The gesture lit up her whole face even while lines etched around her mouth. He probably would not have noticed her in a crowd, but she was pretty nonetheless.

“Hey.”

“There was a strange man hanging around outside. You guys might want to be careful when you go home tonight.”

“Oh, thanks. I’m almost finished here, we can go outside and talk at the picnic table across the street.”

“Sure, I’ll wait for you there.”

“Coffee?”

“No thanks.”

Minutes later, Grace shuffled over to him a Styrofoam cup in her hand.

“Rough call?”

She nodded then took a sip. “I’m losing my touch.”

“How long have you been a medic?”

“A decade.”

“Burnout?”

She looked past him as if the answer to his question lay there. “Not exactly. Maybe I just need a vacation.”

“Tell me about what you think is going to happen to Dolores.”

She took in a breath, then blew it out. “She’s going to be killed and I think Mark will do it.”

“Her tenant. Your friend.”

He wasn’t sure if her story could get crazier, but she believed what she was saying. “Look, Grace if this is revenge for some break up, I don’t want to be part of it.”

“We were never lovers.”

“Did you want to be?”

“No, but he does.”

“Does he know about your gift?”

“You don’t believe me do you?”

He reached a hand across to touch her. “I’d like to. Explain it to me.”

With half-closed eyes, she told him about how dead people talk to her. Murder victims and she has to save them. He’d never heard anything stranger. “And you’ve lived this before?”

“Yes, I’ve rewound here a number of times.”

“And have I been involved each time?”

“You believed me last time.”

He shook his head. How could he come to believe her? “What did you say or do to get me to accept this as true?”

“I predicted a storm and a baseball team winning.”

He chuckled. “I guess that would do it.”

Cars passed on the road in front of the hospital, but Zach couldn’t hear them on this side. The picnic table sat at one end of an empty parking lot used by the day workers.

He rubbed a hand through his hair, not knowing what to say. “Are you his accomplice?”

She flinched as if he’d reached out and smacked her. She stood, her coffee sloshing out of the small opening in the lid. “I think we’re done here.”

“Grace.”

He went after her, something compelling him to reach her to make her believe that he trusted her. “Stop.”

His strong command had her pausing on the curb. “What?”

“Look this is tough for me to wrap my brain around, but something tells me to trust you. Can you trust me?”

Her shoulders slumped, he rubbed her arms and was thankful she didn’t resist. When he touched her he could see his future, crazy stories and all.

She turned as if the effort took all of her energy. Her eyes traveled up to his face. “I don’t know if I can trust you, but I guess I have to if I’m to save Dolores and not rewind again.”

“So tell me about Mark.”

Zach trusted and believed Grace. She couldn’t be completely sure, but she wanted to be.

Right now Zach was on his way to see Mark.

Except that Mark was now standing outside the Emergency Medical Services office, his face a grin.

Grace’s heart leapt. She scribbled a number on a sheet, while whispering to her co-worker. “Call this number. Tell who answers that Mark is here.”

She opened the door, but didn’t let Mark inside the office. Instead she slipped out into the cool, Spring night. “What a surprise, Mark.”

She couldn’t remember if she normally hugged him, but right now touching him was last on her list of things to do.

“You aren’t surprised, Grace.”

“I didn’t expect you here.”

“Yes, you did.” He took a hold of her arm.

“Let go of me Mark.”

His expression in the outside light had her heart skipping a beat. This wasn’t Mark her best friend. This man with beady eyes and sweaty palms was a stranger to her.

“No, you can’t save her. Don’t save the baby.”

“Mark, you know she’s lost it every time.”

He became still and she tugged her arm out of his grip.

“You do know that I’ve rewound with you.”

“I figured it out last time. And you do something different every time.”

He chuckled. “That’s right, Gracie. And do you know why?”

The pager on her belt rattled and made noise. Dolores’ address came over the speaker.

“This is too soon. How could you have changed this?” Grace said moving towards the bay as the garage door slid open for her.

“You won’t know,” he said before an evil laugh.

“I’m not going to save the baby.” Could he hear the regret in her voice?

“But you will and Zach will get back with Dolores.”

“So.”

“You’re in love with him. You can’t deny that. But now you’ll only have me.”

Grace jumped in the truck thoughts racing around her. She couldn’t grasp any of them.

Chapter Thirty One

Zach had never been so eager to see an ambulance than when Grace and her partner pulled onto the scene.

Dolores had lost consciousness five minutes before their arrival. Without looking at him, Grace and her partner went to work.

They had her stabilized and in the ambulance so fast his head spun.

“You can’t follow us through the lights,” Grace said.

“I know. I wouldn’t.”

“Yes, you would. You care about her.”

Her words were not an accusation, but he took them that way. “Grace. She and I were over a long time ago.”

“The baby isn’t yours,” she said then covered her mouth as if she wished the words hadn’t come out of there.

“Save her, Grace.”

She nodded and closed the door to the ambulance. “I’ll do my best.”

The drive took no time even without going through lights and Zach paced in the waiting room before Grace emerged from the hallway.

Her grim face, said a lot. “She’s going to be fine.”

“She lost the baby.”

“The fetus was twelve weeks of gestation.”

He blinked. She might have hit him with a sledgehammer. “Then the baby couldn’t have been mine.”

“I’m sorry, Zach.”

She turned to leave, but he took two steps and put a hand on her arm. “You were right, again.”

“Yes, but I find no joy in it.” She sighed, her shoulders raising for a moment. “Look, I don’t know what to do with my feelings for you, but I’ll back off as soon as we get Mark.”

“Mark?”

“Yeah, I think he’s the killer.”

“Why?”

A sardonic laugh burst from her. “More hocus pocus. He can rewind on command. He’s been doing this, all of this. And he’s going to kill Dolores.”

“But why?”

“I don’t know, but I think they were lovers.”

“Then I need to confront Dolores with this. Find out the truth.”

“Not now,” she said.

“Tomorrow. She’s safe in here tonight.”

Grace shook her head. “Do you know how easy it is to get into a hospital if you know what you’re doing? Or at least act like you do?”

“They check identification here.”

“Not through the Emergency Department. Did anyone stop you?”

“No, but I asked about a specific patient.”

“Still, they don’t know you.”

“Look, I can call in some favors, get someone to stay with Lors tonight. I’ll take a shift, myself.”

“I’m off in two hours. I’ll find Mark.”

His grip tightened on her. “No. Leave that to the cops.”

“I’m not in any danger. He wants me, alive, as his lover.”

“Don’t Grace. Promise me.”

Her head cocked and she studied him as if looking for an answer to a question she didn’t want to ask. “All right.”

“This may sound crazy, but I just found you, I don’t want to lose you. If nothing else, I have good instincts and those say you’re important. To me and my future.”

A smile lifted her mouth, but only a little as exhaustion probably reigned.

“I promise.”

Ed Bauer called Zach as he left Grace.

“We got him.”

“Who’s him?”

“The torch. We got someone to confess. Sang like a bird. Squealed like a stuck pig. Told us a name.”

“I realize you’re excited, but could you cut the metaphors and tell me the name.”

“Mark Handon.”

Zach’s breath left his body. “Mark?”

“The name sound familiar?”

“Too familiar.”

“Know where I can find him? He’s a professional torch. Freelances all around the county apparently.”

Oh no. Grace was in trouble. She had to be if Mark was her friend. How could she get mixed up with that guy? “I know he’s in Glen Hills.”

“Really? Hot damn. Shouldn’t be too hard to find him.”

“That’s what you think. Gotta go, Ed.”

He disconnected then dialed Grace’s cell. The call went right to voicemail. “Damn.”

He dialed the hospital, but no one answered at the Emergency Medical Services office. She was probably out on a call.

She’d be safe in the hospital anyway.

Grace slept fitfully on the couch in the EMS office. The phone rang once, but she chose not to answer it. No emergency calls woke her, but her dreams wouldn’t let her settle into a refreshing respite.

Her partner woke her when the shift finished. Entering her car, she vacillated between keeping her promise to Zach and finding Mark.

The exhaustion in her bones decided for her. She drove to her hotel room only to find she had a visitor.

“Mark.”

Her heart beat faster as he looked even more deranged than earlier.

“Gracie.”

“What are you doing here?”

She leaned against the hotel door hoping she could open it again in a hurry. He stalked towards her. “I’ve come for you. Let’s leave here.”

“You know I can’t.”

“But if I leave, Dolores lives. I won’t be here to kill her.”

So he was the killer. She couldn’t wrap her brain around the idea. Mark had been her friend for years. Why? “Why did you, Mark?”

“Because she was going to leave Glen Hills.”

“So?”

“Move away from the door, Grace.”

She did, but only a few steps. She didn’t really think he would hurt her. “Okay.”

“Sit on the bed.”

“Why?”

“I can’t trust you. You go off and have feelings for Zach.” He tutted. “Look what happened when you did that last time.”

The horror of her last corpse came rushing back to her. As if caught in an undertow of emotions, her head spun. “Did you do that? Did you kill Kevin’s mother?”

“I had to Grace. She would have made sure you and her son got married.”

The breath went out of Grace. “I loved him.”

“But you shouldn’t Gracie. You should love me. And you’ll learn to.”

This was insane. He was insane. She had to get away from him. Now. Think. “Mark, you can’t make me love you.”

He sat down next to her on the bed. “You will Grace. And just think if you go with me Dolores won’t die. You’ll have accomplished your task.”

“It isn’t that simple, Mark.”

“Yes it is.”

He stroked a hand along her jaw and she stiffened. “Get used to it Grace. I plan to have lots of children with you.”

She gritted her teeth, attempting not to react to him. She’d pulled out her cell phone in the moment he wasn’t looking. She had it set to discreet so he wouldn’t hear her dialing.

Just as she connected with the other phone Mark said, “Now, put your hands behind your back.”

Zach’s phone startled him awake. He turned it off figuring no one would need him now.

Then he realized Grace might call, so he switched it on again. Not recognizing the number, he let the call go to voice mail.

Dolores woke up and searched the room. Her gaze rested on him.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Lors. How you feeling?”

“Like a truck hit me. Zach, I’m sorry.”

“No need. I believed what I wanted to believe. Anyway, I need to know all about Mark.”

Her mouth dropped open. “How do you know about him?”

“That doesn’t matter. I know that he’s going to try to kill you.”

“Mark? No, he wouldn’t. He’s just an arsonist. No one has ever died.”

“Yes, Grace. You’ve never been one to be a good judge of character.”

“Can’t argue that, but Mark?”

“Where’d you meet him?” Zach asked.

“Rehab. I know you’re not supposed to do that, but he pursued me.”

“Rehab?”

“Yes, he was released a day or two before me. He’s got a similar background. Rich, distant parents even though they are still alive.”

“What else do you know about him?”

“That I care deeply for him.”

“Does he have a violent streak?”

“Zach, I may be stupid, but I’m not going to put up with abuse.”

“True, sorry.”

“Why do you think he’s going to kill me?”

Should he tell her? A war waged before he answered. “Because of Grace.”

“Jeez, she won’t let him go.”

“No, Lors, it’s the other way around. He wants her.”

“No, that’s not what he told me. She won’t leave him alone. That’s why she followed him here and that’s why she wanted to know who my tenant was.”

“Grace didn’t know he was here until she saw him.”

“Is that what she told you?”

He hoped his gaze bore into her. He had to make her see. “Lors, who’s a better judge of character?”

“You obviously.”

“Then trust me when I say Mark is dangerous.”

His phone barked.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“I have an e-mail. Who would e-mail me?”

He looked at the picture on his phone and stood fast enough to knock over the chair. “Gotta go, Lors.”

***

Zach had alerted the state police. In his research on Mark Handon he had found out that the man owned a house down the Shore. He directed the police to the Garden State Parkway.

An All Points Bulletin was sent out.

The police had received multiple sightings of Mark’s car. They would get him.

Zach’s heart raced. It wouldn’t stop until he saw Grace. Touched her. Knew she was alive.

Nothing would do until she was in his arms.

And he’d make everything up to her.

He promised himself that as he exited Route 287 to get on the Parkway.

Thanks goodness the snot-nosed twenty-something at the phone store had talked Grace into a camera phone.

She took a picture of Mark and sent it to Zach. That’s if she remembered his address correctly.

Her captor had confiscated her cell phone not long after that. It rang once before Mark turned it off, dropping it on the seat beside him.

Grace lay across the back seat, her hands duct taped behind her. Her sweat was beginning to loosen the glue on them so she worked at the binding with as little noise as possible.

Mark rambled in the front.

“I have a nice house down the Shore for us. It’s been in my family for years.”

His family? She thought he was an orphan. How much did she really know about him?

“What house?”

She’d promised not to scream so he didn’t put tape over her mouth. Her mind worked furiously to get herself out of this situation. She didn’t know how stable he was. Maybe he would kill her.

“Our beach house.”

Think. Keep him talking. “I thought your parents were dead?”

“They are to me. They put me in a home for boys when I was younger.”

For mentally ill boys? He’d mentioned about running away at one point. That must have been from the home.

“Then they stuck me in rehab.”

Oh, God, that’s how he met Dolores. They had been lovers.

“You know, that Dolores isn’t a very good judge of character, getting involved with me.”

Grace grunted in agreement. Her hands were getting looser by the minute.

“She fell in love with me, not that that’s hard to do. That’s why I never figured out why you didn’t, Gracie. You were the one I always wanted.”

“That’s sometimes how it works. The one you want isn’t the one who wants you. Most people get over that.”

She heard Mark shift. “We’ll have to do something about that mouth, Gracie it just won’t do.”

Then she heard him utter an oath. Mark stopped the car. “Lay still Gracie or this cop gets it.”

Grace held her breath, wondering if Mark really had a gun. He didn’t show her one, but she didn’t trust his stability.

Think. What could she do? A blanket lay over her head and body. Maybe if she moved. She stretched out her feet, trying to shift her covering off of her.

“Step out of the car, sir,” the cop said.

Grace’s heart leapt. She wiggled as best she could. The blanket fell away from her feet, but not her head.

“Is there a problem, sir,” Mark said.

“No, I just want to show you something on your car.”

The door opened then shut.

“Hey, wait,” Mark said.

Grace’s heart skipped a beat, then something hit the side of the car.

Chapter Thirty Two

Zach pulled in behind the cop car where Mark sat. He didn’t glance at the attempted murderer. He would have wanted to spit on him.

He was too concerned about Grace anyway. He realized Grace was his future. With or without her powers. He didn’t care, when he’d been sure he would lose her, he knew that he loved her.

And he’d never had sex with her. He laughed at the idea.

The officer was just pulling her out of the vehicle when Zach got there. Her white hair stuck out at odd angles and her face looked haggard. She’d been through an ordeal, but she still looked beautiful to him.

“Grace.”

He took her into his arms, relief washing over him. She didn’t struggle. She melted into him as if she belonged there. And she did. She was his soul mate. The one he thought he’d never find.

Whispering in his ear, she said, “If you untie my arms I can hold you back.”

“Sorry. For everything.”

He nodded at the officer who cut the tape on her hands. He kissed the raw spots then she wrapped her arms around him. “You got my message.”

His grin hurt his face. “Yeah, pretty ingenious. I’ve never used that part of my phone.”

“He was taking me to his beach house.”

“He bought that house with the money he made torching places. We found someone who would finger him.” Zach pulled her closer, not ever wanting to let her go. “Not anymore.”

“I’ll get him in to booking,” the officer said then left them by the side of the road.

Zach just held onto her as if she’d disappear. “Don’t leave.”

“I don’t have to.”

He wanted to cheer. She wasn’t going to leave him. His gaze roved over her. His hands searched for any marks the monster could have put on her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I was scared. How’s Dolores?”

“She’s awake, but sad about the baby. The baby was Mark’s. She tried to blackmail him, but he turned the tables on her. She was scared, but didn’t believe he’d hurt her.”

“He wasn’t going to if I went with him this time.”

“You’re not going anywhere.”

“No, I don’t think I will.”

Epilogue

“Happy Birthday to you,” Zach said in a sing song voice.

Grace’s eyes were covered with his hand as he led her somewhere. She knew it was the hospital. She worked there so she ought to know its smell.

She just didn’t know what this had to do with her birthday.

“Ta da,” he said when they stopped.

He removed his hand from her face.

“Gee, I’ve always thought the morgue was romantic. How’d you know?”

“Ha, ha,” he said. “There is a method to my madness.”

He looked at his watch. “It’s now eight at night. You’re exactly thirty years old.”

“Okay. I’ll bite.”

“Come on, Grace. Don’t you want to know if you still have the power?”

“Oh, Zach.”

She hugged him. She’d been thinking about nothing else all day. She hadn’t wanted to bother him. She was wrong. He already knew what she was thinking.

“What if I didn’t lose the power and I rewind? Back before you and I. I’m not sure I could do that again.”

He put a finger to her lips. “I’ll risk it.”

“Why?”

“I want you to have peace of mind. I don’t want you to wonder. Besides, I think I’d fall in love with you no matter what,” he said.

The idea warmed her, but her heart fluttered in her chest. “Is there a murder victim?”

“Brought in this morning.”

“You can’t come with me.”

“I know Grace. I wish I could, but I know I can’t.”

She took a deep breath. Her rational side warred with her heart. She didn’t want to lose Zach. She didn’t want to start from scratch. She liked too much that he loved her.

And that she loved him.

“I could just stay away from dead people,” she said.

He shook his head. “You want to know almost as much as I want to know.”

He was right.

She took another deep breath and plunged into the cold storage room of the morgue. He’d whispered to her what drawer the victim was in.

With her hand shaking, she pulled it open.

A corpse lay inert on the cold slab. She gulped in air

Reaching out she touched the victim’s hand. No response. She waited. The corpse didn’t move, didn’t ask for her help, didn’t come alive.

Nothing.

Sweet nothing.

Content

Chris Redding
Corpse Whisperer

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Six

Chapter Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty One

Chapter Thirty Two

Epilogue