Hidden Currents (43 page)

“And that dog is dangerous. You shouldn’t have him around people.”

“He’s only dangerous to criminals. He particularly hates men who abuse women, rapists and pedophiles. Just a thing he has.” Jackson gave a hand signal and Bomber snarled, showing a mouthful of teeth, then subsided at another signal from Jackson, but he never once took his gaze from RJ.

The Reverend glared at Inez. “Can’t you hurry? If you weren’t talking so much, you’d get a lot more done.”

Jackson looked at the girl. “How old are you?”

RJ yanked the girl close to him, his face a twisted mask of fury. “She doesn’t have to answer your questions. Her mother put her in my charge.”

“Are you all right?” Jackson asked her.

The girl refused to look at him. She just shook her head.

“Don’t make trouble, Venita,” RJ warned. His voice seemed soft and soothing, even cautionary, but Jackson felt the psychic push of energy signaling something altogether different. “Your mother will be so disappointed.”

The girl stiffened and averted her face further.

“You don’t have to be afraid,” Jackson said. “I’m a deputy sheriff. If this man has hurt you or threatened you in any way, I can help you.”

“I’m a man of God,” the Reverend proclaimed loudly and, gripping the teenager’s arm, he tugged her away from Jackson, leaving his items on the counter.

Jackson watched them leave the store with a speculative gaze behind his dark glasses.

“Can’t you arrest him?” Inez said. “He’s a monster.”

She looked at Frank. Clearly she believed Frank shouldn’t have gone to prison when RJ so clearly should. She believed Frank had been duped, that he wasn’t a malicious criminal. Jackson thought maybe a little bit of greed had come into play, or Frank wouldn’t have been so easily duped, but he wasn’t going to voice his opinion.

“He hasn’t been caught committing a crime, Inez.” Jackson glanced at his watch. He wanted to call a friend at the office and find out what they could about the teen and her mother and they had to get back to the house soon. Elle’s sisters would be coming over to do another healing session with her.

“He’s sleazy,” Inez declared. “Every time he comes near me, my skin crawls. And Bomber didn’t like him.” She smiled at the dog. “Good boy. You’re a very good dog.”

Elle patted Bomber’s sides. “He is a good boy. We’ll see you later, Inez. And you, too, Frank. We’re heading home.”

“Elle could use a little more rest, Jackson,” Inez advised. “She’s still pale and has dark circles under her eyes.”

Elle couldn’t stop her fingers from creeping up to touch her face. Inez had seen her bruised and swollen face, but her sisters had made her look normal again, hadn’t they? For a moment she doubted. She could still feel every punch, every slap, the vicious quick jabs and then the gentle strokes. Stavros’s voice whispering to her, pleading and cajoling that she just needed to behave, that this was hurting him to have to punish her this way. She shuddered and turned to bury her face against Jackson’s chest, uncaring of the people around her.

You’re safe, baby. I’m right here. I’m always with you.

Inez looked stricken. Elle had always been self-sufficient and sure of herself, absolutely confident, even as a young child. Yet, she’d curled into Jackson and suddenly appeared quite fragile. “What did I say, Jackson?” she whispered, walking with them to the door.

“Nothing at all, Inez,” he said. “You’re fine.”

Elle managed a small smile over her shoulder as Jackson took her out of the store. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”

“Nothing happened, Elle. You’re going to be all right.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close. “You’ll find you’re going to have triggers and you just have to deal with them when they crop up.
We’ll
deal with them.”

She quickened her steps on the wooden planks, hurrying toward Jackson’s truck. The wind blew in off the sea, just a breeze, ruffling her hair and touching her face. They could both hear the feminine voices singing a soft melody, a soothing balm to her raw nerves. Out in the ocean, several whales surfaced, blowing as they did so, as if saying hello, and then swimming silently past the headlines before slipping back under the water again. At once she could hear their answering song, the breeze skipping over the water to bring the healing tones, the melodic keening and groaning, accompanied by churring and whistling.

The whales sang to Elle, performing a masterpiece, a sonata, most likely directed by Abigail. The unusual music sustained her on the way home. Highway 1 wound along the cliffs above the ocean and the whales kept pace with them, gliding lazily through the water, singing to her, occasionally breaching so she could maintain a visual.

As they drove up the drive to his home, Jackson noticed the abundance of bird life and plants and flowers. The blossoms seemed thicker and more colorful. He could see herbs had sprung up in one section just along the back fence as he parked the truck. The Drake women sat on his deck, listening to the whales, singing back to them in low tones. Abigail and Joley singing a harmony while the other women’s voices rose and fell in counterpoint like waves.

Jackson went up the stairs and stood, Elle leaning against him, listening to the song the whales and the girls performed back and forth. When the last note faded, he shook his head. “Unbelievable,” he said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d hear something like that. I’m not going to ask how you did that.”

Abigail smiled at him, even as she dropped down on her knees to greet Bomber. She scratched his ears and chest. “I’ve decided to try tonight, Jackson. You know, to attack Gratsos through Bomber. Kate’s going to do another session with Elle and I’m going to join just before she withdraws. We think Elle is at her most vulnerable right then and he feels the barrier slip for a moment. You’re maintaining it, but as Kate withdrew she sensed you holding yourself back to give her more privacy. And that made Elle’s defenses just weak enough that he almost slipped through.” She looked at Kate. “We’re going to give him another opportunity and this time we’ll be ready.”

“I don’t understand what you’re going to do to him. How can Bomber possibly touch him?” Elle rubbed her throat as if she felt Stavros choking her.

Abigail glanced at Hannah and they exchanged a wicked little grin. Jackson frowned and stirred, suddenly uncomfortable. “What are you two up to?” he demanded.

“A little experiment is all.” Sarah began to build a circle right there on his deck with candles.

“Where’s Ilya? And Jonas? And Ty. Damon was going to be here. We have things to discuss. What’s going on? Where’s Aleksandr and Matt?”

The sisters burst out laughing. “You sound a little scared,” Elle said. “Are you afraid of my sisters?”

“A little,” Jackson admitted. “Things get out of hand fast when you’re all together.”

“Ty’s pulling another shift,” Libby explained. “They’re very shorthanded with that flu going around. And Damon is with him. He drove to the Willit’s station house to talk about something to do with energy and the Bermuda Triangle. I didn’t really listen. When they get all technical I just tune them out.”

“Matt’s got this thing with his brother tonight,” Abbey added. “And Aleksandr, Ilya and Jonas are doing some research for Damon. He wanted them to talk to the fishermen and divers in the area and get some data for some big project he’s working on.”

“Great,” Jackson muttered and folded his arms across his chest. “They get the fun, and I get left unprotected with all of you.”

Sarah pointed to the kitchen. “Make yourself useful. We’ll need tea and cookies after the session.”

“Cookies?” His eyebrow shot up. When she glared at him he sighed. “Fine. I think Inez or Mrs. Darden sent some over.” He kissed the top of Elle’s head and stalked into the house, feeling slightly guilty that he was leaving Bomber in the midst of women he knew were up to no good.

Elle sank down onto the mat in the center of the circle, Kate to her right, Abigail on her left. Bomber lay down with his head in Abbey’s lap, ears forward alertly while she stroked his head. Libby sat facing Elle, and Hannah, Joley and Sarah made a semicircle behind her. The scent of lavender permeated the air.

Elle held up her hand before her sisters could begin a healing chant.
Jackson.

Right here, baby. Can’t you feel me?

She wrapped herself in him, in his warmth and strength. Letting out her breath, she nodded and Joley began the soft melody to draw energy from around them to heal Elle’s tattered talents. She felt the familiar touch of Kate as she entered, so light, so soothing, bringing her calm and serenity along with the rebuilding energy. This time she felt the difference immediately as her sister worked, building on her previous session, restoring and repairing faster and faster.

Just as she thought she might have to stop Kate from doing too much and burning herself out, she felt Abigail’s touch. Truth. Purity. Then Hannah. Mischievous and determined. Sarah. A force to be reckoned with, a sword beyond measure. Joley, a thirst for vengeance and a need to protect her younger sister. Libby entered last, her sweet, healing touch spreading through Elle’s body and then uniting them all until they were a solid unit.

Okay. Pull back a little, Jackson,
Sarah instructed.

Jackson weakened the barrier in Elle’s mind, so that her shield shimmered nearly transparent, giving her sisters glimpses of her memories if they’d chosen to look. They stayed focused on one thing—waiting in silence—staying to the back of Elle’s mind, hoping their enemy would take the bait.

Abigail drew the dog’s mind into their center. He was on alert, already sensing Stavros’s entry. Before the man could set himself, they dragged one memory from Elle’s mind. Stavros, stark naked, body exposed. Abigail hissed a command. The dog leapt. Roared. All teeth. Ferocious. Stavros screamed. High-pitched. Agony. And then he was gone.

18

“
ALL right, baby, you’re going to tell me why you insisted I go over to the Dardens’ this evening and repair the stairs and look at the roof and every other thing in their house from the electricity to the generator.” Jackson made it a demand. “What’s up? You were tired and whether you want to admit it or not, you’re a little intimidated by the Dardens. And why did you give them those large candles with the crucifix in them and ask them to keep them lit through the night? And then make me stop at Inez’s to give candles to her and Frank Warner? Something’s up, and don’t give me your innocent look. It was a big deal to you.”

Elle sighed and looked up at the sky. The sunset had been spectacular. She understood why Jackson had built his house in the exact spot he’d chosen. His deck had the most extraordinary view of the setting sun. Colors had streaked across the sky, all orange and red and pink, while the sun, a bright molten ball, had poured liquid gold into the sea. They hadn’t gone inside, content to sit side by side on a blanket up on the dunes while the sky turned from orange to purple.

Jackson remained silent, outlasting her. She sighed again, knowing she was going to tell him and he’d probably think she was crazy. “I saw Death today.” Her confession came out in a little rush. “Today in the grocery store, I saw Death.”

He turned to her, studying her upturned, anxious expression and a chill went down his spine. She was very serious. “What does that mean?”

“I sometimes can see with a second sight. I don’t know how else to tell you, most of my sisters can do it. Today, in the grocery store, he was there, looking for someone to take. Both Frank Warner and Mrs. Darden attracted his attention, but anyone in the store, including you, is at risk.”

“That’s crazy, Elle. Death isn’t a person. It just happens.”

“He looks for people close to death, a sickness, an accident, a suicide. He finds them. I saw him. You don’t have to believe me.” She looked out over the ocean. “We all have a deep faith, and I know you do, too. I’ve seen you in church, Jackson, but even though there is good and evil in the world, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t anomalies as well. Some people think we’re an anomaly, but obviously we want to believe our gifts were given to us for good. There are things you just can’t explain. Death is one of them. We’ve always called the apparition that. He comes sometimes and looks for someone close to dying and speeds it up.”

“Can you stop it?”

She shrugged. “We think it’s like accidents and random occurrences, but that once he’s in the vicinity, he isn’t satisfied and won’t leave until he’s stolen a life. It isn’t the same as a natural death, because he craves that life and succeeds in stealing it.”

Jackson shook his head. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“He looked at everyone in the store and he has their scent, the essence of their life. I saw him take it in and he’ll not stop until he’s satisfied.”

“Did you tell your sisters?”

“I took Sarah aside and told her. She’s seen Death before, when he came here on Damon’s shoulders. Damon had slipped away and Death wanted him back, but he took someone else. Whether we helped fight him or not, none of us really know.”

“But there’s nothing you can really do about it?”

“Not unless we’re there when he tries to steal life—and even then we might not be strong enough to stop him.”

“You can’t save the world, Elle,” he said gently. “Sometimes, when I’m working, I have to repeat that to myself a dozen times a shift.”

“I know.” She produced a tentative smile. “But sometimes we can get in a little strike for justice.” The smile faded. “He was closer, Jackson.”

His head spun around and he locked gazes with her. “What do you mean? He? Death?” But he had a sinking feeling she wasn’t talking about death—not from the look on her face.

Her stomach churned and she pressed a hand there. “Stavros. I felt him and he was closer. He knows where I am and he’s coming.”

He let his breath out and nodded. “It’s okay, baby. I figured he’d come. As soon as he answered Dane’s phone, I knew.”

“And you’re not afraid?”

Terrified. She wanted to say terrified. He knew that and understood. Jackson shook his head. “No, I think it’s a major tactical error for him to come onto our turf. He’s arrogant and used to getting his way. He thinks he’ll buy off the cops or the locals and get help to reacquire you, but he’s going to run into a little problem with that plan.”