Chris Redding - Corpse Whisperer

“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.