Chris Redding - Corpse Whisperer

“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.

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?”