J.D. Robb - Visions In Death

"So many people have been through here, I don't know what I'm going to get. Truthfully, my gift is more direct, contact with someone or something. Usually."

About ten yards into the trees, Eve stopped. There was no one around, she noted after a sweep. People were at work, in school, at the shops, in restaurants.

It was too close to the street, this tony street, for chemi-head gatherings or illegals transactions.

"It was here, wasn't it?" Celina took off her shades, pocketed them, stared at the ground. "Where he grabbed her, dragged her deeper into the woods." Her breathing was slow and even as she walked. A very deliberate sound.

"Struck her, in the face, knocked her down, dazed her. I can see the ground's torn up, so this must be where he…" She took another breath, then squatted down and ran her hands over the grass and dirt. Yanked them back again. "God!" Eve could see her clench her jaw as she touched the ground again. "He raped her here. Control, humiliate, and punish.

There's a name in his mind not hers. I can't see it, can't quite… but it's not her name, it's not Elisa he's punishing." She drew her hands back again, tucked them under her arms as if to warm them. "It's difficult for me to get past her, and what was done to her. She's my connection, and she doesn't know him. She doesn't know why this is happening. He's just…" She lifted her head, looked at Eve. "I can see you." Eve felt a chill in her belly. "I'm not why you're here." "You're a very strong presence, Dallas. Strong mind, strong feelings. Strong instincts. You layer over it all." With a half laugh, Celina straightened, stepped carefully back and away from the scene. "I'm surprised you're so resistant and suspicious of sensitives when you have a gift yourself." "I don't." Staring, Celina huffed out an impatient breath. "Bull. Do you think what you see and feel and know is just instinct?

Only instinct?" Then she shrugged. "Whatever you call it, it's a gift." She rubbed her arms. "He carried her from here. It's dim because she was already gone. Some part of her is still with me, but it's thin." "She weighed about a hundred and thirty. Deadweight now." "He's very strong." "Have to be." "Prides himself," Celina murmured as she began to walk.

"Yes, there's pride. In his body, in his strength. She's so much weaker than he is now." "Not the victim." Eve fell into step with her. "But who the victim symbolizes." "Possibly. Probably." Celina brushed stray hair away from her face. A trio of interlinked gold circles swung at her ears.

"You probably see him more clearly than I do. You're not as afraid of him as I am." She paused to study the castle. "I wonder why he picked this spot. It's fanciful. A landmark. He could have left her anywhere. It would've been easier." Eve had her thoughts on that, but kept them to herself.

"How tall is he?" "Well over six feet. Well over. Closer to seven. Thick-bodied, but hard not fat. Not hard fat. Muscular. I could feel that, when he raped her." She sat on the grass. "Sorry. I'm getting the shakes. I'm not used to this kind of work. It's draining. How do you do it?" "It's what I do." "Yes. Both of you." She opened her purse, took out a pretty box. "Blocker," she said when she selected a pill from it.

"Vicious headache. I can't do anymore today. I'm sorry.

Tapped out."

To Eve's surprise, Celina stretched out full length on the grass. "Do you know what I'd normally be doing now?" "Can't say." Idly, Celina checked the time. "Oh, yes. Francine. Right about now I'd be settling down to a consult with Francine.

I give her a weekly, because I'm fond of her. She's a lovely, foolish, wealthy woman with a terminal case of husbanditis.

She just keeps marrying them. She's about to take on husband number five, though I've advised her against it. Just as I did with numbers three and four." Lazily, Celina drew the pair of stylish sunshades back out of her pocket. She slipped them on. "She'll get teary during our hour together, and protest that she must follow her heart." Her lips quirked as she patted a hand on her breast. "That this time it's going to be different. She'll marry the opportunistic son of a bitch who will then cheat on her he already has, but she'll refuse to believe it make her miserable, then walk off with her pride, her self-esteem, and a nice chunk of her portfolio." She shook her head, pushed herself up to sitting. "Poor gullible Francine. And that, Lieutenant Dallas, Detective Peabody, is about the most tragic case I allow myself to deal with." "How do you know when you talk to a client that you won't see something tragic?" Eve asked, and Celina smiled.

"It's my job to know. And if I miss something, then see it, I do what I can, then I step back. I don't believe in suffering, particularly when it's me doing the suffering. I don't understand why people insist on causing it or enduring it. I'm a shallow creature," she said, stretching like a cat in the sun.

"But until a couple of nights ago, a damn contented one." Peabody offered a hand to help her up. Celina studied it, grinned. "Can I take a peek? Just surface. Not deep probe, no secrets. You both interest me."

Peabody wiped her hand on her trousers, then offered it again. "I guess so." Celina clasped hands, continued to hold it after she'd gained her feet. "You're a dependable woman. Sturdy shoulders, and a loyal streak that encompasses every area of your life. You're proud of your badge, and the work you do.

Careful," she said with a laugh, and released Peabody's hand.

"You open like a door. I didn't intend to peek into your personal life. But he's a cutie." She winked. "She-Body." Peabody flushed. "We're, ah, moving into a new place together. Going to cohabitate." "Congratulations. Ain't love grand?" Smiling, she turned to Eve. Raised her eyebrows.

"No." Laughing, Celina tucked her hands into her pockets. "One of these days, I predict, you'll trust me enough. Thanks," she said to Peabody. "You cleansed my palate. I'll catch a cab in a bit. I want to walk off this headache before I go home." She started to walk, directing herself away from the path they'd taken. Then she stopped, turned. There was none of the easy humor on her face now. "It's going to be soon. The next. I don't know how I know that, but I do. It's going to be very soon."

Eve watched her go, and gift or no gift, knew she was right.

"She's really interesting." Peabody waited a beat, then slid her gaze toward Eve as they cut west, then south toward Central. "Don't you think?" "She's not a yawn. But tell me, in specifics, what did we get from this?" "Okay, not a lot that we didn't already know or believe or suspect." Peabody shifted in her seat and regretted the tea. Now she had to pee, and she knew damn well Eve wouldn't stop at a handy restaurant where the flash of a badge would get her toilet privileges. She crossed her legs tight, and tried to concentrate.

"Still, the fact is it's interesting to consult with a sensitive, one as obviously gifted as Celina. I am dependable and loyal, after all." "Just like the family schnauzer." "I prefer cocker spaniel "cause they've got those cute, floppy ears." She recrossed her legs. "And, in my experience, if a sensitive's made this sort of connection, they can get more if they focus and keep open. I think she will. She's hooked in, and wants to see it through." Eve glanced in the rearview at the blast of siren. She recognized the subtle difference in tone and identified an emergency medical vehicle an instant before the spinning red light of the medical tech wagon came into view.

She eased toward the curb, and the rat trap she was currently stuck with driving vibrated like gelatin in the wake of the speeding wagon.

"I want you to call Requisitions, the minute we get back to Central. Beg, bribe, threaten, offer sexual favors of any nature, but get us a decent ride by the end of shift." Peabody had her teeth clenched and did her best to speak through them. "Who's going to perform the sexual favors, should it come to that?" "You, Detective. I outrank you." The sacrifices I make for the badge." "Health clubs." "What?" "We're going to start checking out health clubs." "Sir, I don't think I can tone up appreciably before dispensing sexual favors if you want the vehicle by end of shift." "Jesus, Peabody, get your face out of the gutter." "Well, you put it there." Eve jockeyed through traffic. "Let us return to our sworn duty and our current investigation. If we're after a solo and there's no evidence to lead us to suspect this was a duet or gang killing this is one strong son of a bitch. Not just in shape, not muscle-bound, but a seriously strong guy.