LITMIR.BIZ

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and talk to her. That might help you start separating yourself from what’s happening to her—at least long enough for me to try to figure out how to catch the guy who’s doing it to her.”

      “She’s not going to be able to help you do that.”

      “Because he’s keeping her from helping me,” Raef said.

      “He’s keeping her from helping anyone—even me. Any time Aubrey tries to talk about her murder, even tries to hint about it, it’s like he has some kind of electric line into her soul.” Lauren shook her head and Raef could see she was fighting back tears. “How the hell can he keep causing her such pain even after her body is dead?”

      Raef didn’t have one damn clue about how to answer that question, so he countered with one of his own. “It’s not just Aubrey who feels pain caused by him. It’s you, too.”

      “Yes, it’s me, too. And that’s not all. She’s getting weaker. He’s draining her, and the weaker she gets—the more she’s drained—the weaker I get. Somehow he can use her, and apparently several other people, even though they are all dead.” Lauren stared into his eyes. “How? How is he doing it?”

      “I’m going to be straight with you, Lauren. I’ve never heard of anything like this. Even when I was in the air force and Tracked terrorists. I experienced some really bad stuff, and some really bizarre stuff, but nothing that was leeching a ghost’s soul and the ghost’s living twin. Sorry, but I just don’t have the answers for you.”

      “So, basically, you don’t know what you’re doing.”

      “Basically, you’re correct. With your case I do not.”

      “Well, then, what am I going to do? Just fade away with Aubrey where we’ll exist forever somewhere between agony and darkness?” This time a tear escaped Lauren’s eye and rolled down her smooth cheek.

      “Not if I can help it,” Raef heard himself say.

      Lauren threw up her hands and repeated, “How?”

      “By doing something I hate like hell. I’m going to call in the cavalry and ask for help, even though it’s a damn annoying cavalry and she’s going to be obnoxiously pleased that she’s going to have to bail me out.”

      5

      “She’s way too small to be the cavalry,” Lauren whispered from beside Raef.

      They were sitting at his huge old desk peering into the big-screen Mac as the redhead answered the video call. She raised a scarlet brow and turned clear green eyes on Lauren, saying, “I don’t know what you mean by cavalry, but she’s not deaf.”

      “Hey, I’m sorry,” Lauren began. “I didn’t mean to—”

      “Yeah, yeah, stand down, tough girl,” Raef interrupted. “Milana Buineviciute, this is Lauren Wilcox. She’s a client of mine and I called you the cavalry, she didn’t.” Raef moved his gaze from the quick-tempered little redhead to Lauren. “Lana is the head medium for our Oklahoma City branch of After Moonrise. She’s a pain in the ass, and even though she claims to be Lithuanian I suspect her of being a Russian spy, but she knows more shit about ghosts than anyone I’ve ever met. Not that that’s a compliment.”

      “Atsiknisk,” Lana told Raef blandly. “Which means ‘fuck off’—in Lithuanian, not Russian. Try moving into the twenty-first century, Raef. The Cold War has been over for longer than I’ve been alive.” She looked at Lauren. “Good to meet you, Lauren.” Lana glanced back at Raef. “Hey, sudzius, she’s not a ghost.”

      “I’ve worked with you long enough to know you’re calling me a shithead, and I know Lauren isn’t a ghost, Nazi. It’s her twin sister who is dead.”

      “Nazis were German, not Russian or Lithuanian,” Lana told Raef smoothly before turning her attention back to Lauren. “A twin’s death is always difficult. Her ghost, she is with you?”

      Lauren nodded. “Yes, quite often, actually.”

      “What you are doing with this girl?” Lana snapped the question to Raef, her accent suddenly becoming more pronounced with her annoyance. “She should be working with a medium. If Vivian Peterson isn’t the right choice there in Tulsa, bring her here to me.”

      “Her sister was murdered—that’s why she’s here with me, not because I’m into overtime or trying to poach someone’s clients. You should know that,” Raef said, not caring that he sounded as pissed as he felt.

      Lana’s expression softened and she brushed back a strand of bright red hair from her forehead. “Sorry, Raef. You are right. I’ve been going through my own sudas lately.”

      “Which makes you the shithead?” he said with a quick smile.

      “Taip. Definitely. And now that we’ve established that, I am ready to listen.” Lana picked up a legal pad and a pen. “Tell me what has happened.”

      Raef quickly recapped Aubrey’s death and the events that had followed, reluctantly admitting everything, even the fact that he could feel her softer emotions, and ending with her latest manifestation in his living room. While he talked, Lana took notes, asked just a few pointed questions and looked grimmer and grimmer. When he was done she sighed and ran her hand through her fiery hair again.

      “Do you know what he is? This murderer who steals souls?” Lauren asked into the silence.

      “I do, but only through rumor and what amounts to fairy tales used to frighten children.”

      Lauren looked confused and Lana smiled. “I should clarify and say fairy tales used to frighten psychic children.”

      Raef felt a sliver of shock and sat up straighter. “The murderer is a psychic.”

      “Taip,” Lana agreed. “But more specifically, the murderer is a psychic whose Gift has to be much like yours.”

      “Mine?” Raef shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

      “You said you felt her emotions, and they were all softer, positive emotions. That’s not the norm for you, Raef.”

      “To say the least,” he snapped.

      “And this ghost, she seems to be filled with positive emotions?” Lana said.

      Lauren nodded. “Aubrey was full of joy and positive energy in life—she still is in death.”

      “When Aubrey tries to talk about her murder, when she gets anywhere close to darker, more negative emotions, like the fear and pain and even anger or hatred that remembering what happened to her evokes, that’s when she dissipates, correct?” Lana asked.

      “Yeah, it’s like he has a hook into her that he can reel back whenever he wants,” Raef said.

      “Not whenever.” Lana continued, “Lauren, if Aubrey manifestsand says nothing about her murder, if she simply visits you, does the killer pull her back to him?”

      “No, but we always end up trying to talk about her murder. She’s being drained. Even when we don’t say anything about her death at all. She’s still being drained,” Lauren said.

      “Because he’s feeding off her emotions—the negative ones—fear, pain, panic, hatred. He can’t tap into the softer emotions. My guess is he can’t even Trace her spirit when she’s feeling them.” Lana met Raef’s gaze. “He’s a psychic like you gone bad.”

      “Shit. I knew this was a cluster fuck of massive proportions,” Raef said.

      “Why? If he’s like you, then it should be easier for you to find him,” Lauren said. “Can’t you use your—” she paused and made a vague gesture with her hand “—your Gift or whatever and Track him down?”

      Raef jerked his chin at Lana.

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