Chris Redding - Corpse Whisperer

“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.”