Chapter 5
“Who knew?” Devyn murmured as she walked along the pathway through the park.
Beside her, Marlene stopped to look at her. “Knew what, love?”
“That was the detective.”
Marlene’s mouth curled into a soft smile. “Laurier? Mm-hm.”
Of course, Marlene knew. If not through the strength of her gifts, but because even one side of the conversation must’ve been obvious.
“He surprised me,” Devyn admitted. “I didn’t think he was capable of gratitude.”
“Of all the surprises people give us, I’d count that one as the best.”
Devyn agreed. They were walking the park near the police station, probing for any sign of Samantha. To passersby they probably looked like two friends out for a walk on a summer day and that’s how it needed to appear.
Instead, they were working from an overdose of caution. Neither of them dared to assume anything about their psychic gifts.
For Devyn, whose gifts emerged when she was young, her abyss and informants occasionally felt unreliable. Even now, after years of learning how to interpret the messages and visions, her talent could still obscure or distort reality so effectively that she got lost.
Trusting herself had been a hard-won victory. Definitely worth every effort and hour invested—past and present.
“I don’t get a sense of anyone here but us,” Marlene said as they meandered along the paths. “No one who is new to the afterlife, anyway.”
Devyn grinned. “You sound like a late-night psychic hotline commercial.”
“We all follow our strengths.” Marlene had spent a few years using her talent for fortune telling on those hotlines.
Until she gained such a following of dedicated fans that the company booted her out.
“From what you told me, it’s unlikely the spirit would linger here. She was attached to the detective.”
“True. My hope is that she’s been able to move on now that Cade is recovering from his grief.”
“That’s a lifelong process,” Marlene reminded her.
Devyn agreed. “He isn’t stuck. He can recover,” Devyn insisted. “That’s what matters.” His health and happiness were important to Samantha.
And when the doubts had slithered across her mind that she’d rushed him through a necessary struggle, she defeated them with Marlene’s training:
Being psychic is not mind control.
Psychic gifts cannot change a person.
Psychic advice is never a guarantee.
She’d helped a man who happened to be open to help at that moment. And apparently, she’d given the spirit of the woman who’d loved him some closure too.
“I guess we can go when you’re ready.” Devyn fished her car key fob from her purse, dropped them back in when Marlene sat down on the nearest bench.
“It’s a lovely day.” She patted the seat. “Join me. Let’s wallow in sunshine for a bit.”
Devyn sat down. “It is a good day to just be.”
For several minutes they wallowed in a glorious, calm day. Random thoughts floated up, tempting Devyn to break the peaceful silence.
She didn’t.
At any given moment, there were dozens of things she could discuss with Marlene.
None of them had to be addressed right now.
It had been too long since she’d taken time to just be quiet with the woman who was her lifelong friend and mentor.
The best of both worlds. At times, Marlene even slipped into the role of mother or older sister.
It was a dynamic relationship. The strongest in Devyn’s life outside of her family.
Marlene had taught Devyn that those subtle changes in perspective were part of the bigger magic and beauty of being a woman.
She’d explained that to care and nurture another woman at any stage was both an honor and a gift.
To receive that gift was in turn building strength to one day pass it on to another.
“You’re remarkable, Devyn,” Marlene murmured, as if reading Devyn’s thoughts. She patted Devyn’s hand. “My closest confidant. A light in my heart always. My pride and joy.”
The words seemed weighted with power. “Same goes,” Devyn said, gently deflecting. “I should say it more often, but I’m grateful for you every day. For your friendship above all.”
Marlene tipped her head back, smiling up at the sky. “Have you given much thought to your future?” she asked absently.
“Only when you tell me too,” Devyn confessed with a brief laugh. The future scared her sometimes. Not just because she couldn’t see potential outcomes as clearly as her mentor. The real problem was her natural inclination to resist the inevitable changes. “I’m trying to do better.”
“You always give your best,” Marlene assured her. “Don’t work or try. Just be yourself.” She pushed her sunglasses up into her hair, the sunlight catching on strands of gold and copper, along with the scattered glint of silver. A reminder of the age difference.
Devyn had bonded with Marlene for obvious reasons.
Her mentor had rescued her from the gifts that were overwhelming her.
She’d saved her life, emotionally and possibly physically.
No, Devyn’s gifts wouldn’t have killed her, but her quality of life had been in jeopardy.
Building healthy relationships would have been impossible without Marlene’s guidance.
Thanks to her mentor, Devyn could safely interact with other people without fear of causing harm or being harmed in turn.
“Be yourself,” Marlene repeated, murmuring now.
Devyn turned at the sound of rushing footsteps and managed to stifle the groan.
“Devyn!” Detective Hoffman smiled warmly.
Devyn flinched at the choice of words.
“I’m so glad we caught you.” Detective Laurier stood with her, looking a bit less enthused.
“We need your help.”
She stared, astonished that he would ask.
“I have another case very similar to Charlene Archer,” Hoffman said. “Dee Rollins, eighteen. She disappeared a couple months ago and the case is already cold. But Cade found a connection.”
“A possible connection,” he clarified.
“Detective Hoffman,” Devyn began, hoping to extricate herself.
“I know you said no. I heard you. But since you’re here—right here—would you please listen to what Cade found?”
Marlene’s elbow dug into her ribs with zero subtlety. In her mind she felt the encouragement to be herself. That mental link was a fascinating bond Devyn shared only with Marlene. Her mentor never abused the connection, and because of that, Devyn agreed to listen.
After all, she wasn’t supposed to be in Chicago.
She had planned to go back to her own place near Indianapolis but Marlene had urged her to stay.
They’d done some additional training and enjoyed loads of self-care.
They had even consulted with Serena before coming back to check on Samantha’s spirit.
The spirit was gone, which meant Marlene had been lingering in the park for another reason. She shot her mentor a look before meeting Hoffman’s gaze once more. “And if I find something unpalatable?”
“Isn’t that the best outcome?” Hoffman asked. “We are trying to stop a killer.”
Devyn didn’t bother reminding them the killer was quite likely one of their own. She hadn’t tripped over any obvious darkness around their station, yet she was confident they would find a law enforcement officer was behind Charlene’s murder.
“If Cade’s research is correct, we have a chance to save Dee,” Hoffman pleaded.
“With your help,” Cade said.
She glanced at Marlene and got a nod of approval.
Standing, the tall older woman with her perfect posture was a formidable presence as she addressed Cade. “Before I let you sweep Devyn away, I want your word that you will protect her.”
Hoffman’s lips parted on a reply but Marlene held up a finger silencing her. “Detective Laurier?”
“You have my word,” he replied.
“Thank you. I will hold you to it.” Turning she smiled and hugged Devyn. “Go do your thing sweetheart.”
“And be myself?”
“Everyday.” She dropped her sunglasses over her eyes. “Come see me when you’re done.”
Devyn hurried along with the detectives. Marlene’s approval hummed in the back of her mind. She was where she needed to be, even if she couldn’t quite see how it would work out.
Cade drove while Hoffman sat in the back with Devyn, filling her in on what they’d learned so far.
“Cade found a possible link between Charlene’s and Dee’s cases. Both disappearances coincide with a big law enforcement expo that occurred in Chicago this year as well as six years ago. He checked for similar crimes in the hosting cities.”
“And you found them,” Devyn stated.
“Yes,” Cade confirmed.
“And they’re all cold.” Again, not really a question.
“That’s right,” Hoffman continued. “Plenty of males in attendance, most of them forensics experts. We’re hoping that visiting the convention center will be helpful for you.”
“Two months after the fact,” Devyn said. “I can’t make any promises.”
“Just do your thing,” Hoffman implored. “You found a body that was buried six years ago.”
After plenty of research, interviews with the parents, and solitary time coaxing her informants to cooperate. While this wouldn’t be the first time she’d attempted something of this nature, it wasn’t her preferred way of working. “Tell me about Dee. Is she also on staff at the convention center?”
“No,” Hoffman replied. “She worked the coffee kiosk at the hotel. Physically, she resembles Charlene, just a year younger. The other victims also have similar physical attributes.” Hoffman pulled up an image on her phone. “Here’s a picture.”
The physical resemblance between Charlene and Dee landed like a punch, stealing Devyn’s breath. This killer had a type. She studied the photo while Hoffman relayed more details of the young woman’s life.
“We’re checking nearby hotels against conference attendees in case someone is still here,” Cade offered. “We are working the case through the normal channels, including tracking the ownership of the land where Charlene was found.”
The timeline—Dee disappeared two months ago—squeezed around Devyn’s chest like a mighty snake. The detectives believed the victim was alive. She wanted it to be true, but to bring the girl home, they had to find her.
Devyn had to find her.