The Final Omen: Second Sight Book Four (14 page)

A kitchen cart blocked her path and she saw it a moment too late. She knocked into it and several plates smashed into pieces as they fell onto the floor. She cringed at the racket and hurried to the backdoor to unlock it and permit Declan inside. As he shut the door behind him, he said, “You’re like a bull in a fucking china shop. What happened to being stealthy?”

“I’m sorry,” she apologized and trembled from her nerves. “Let’s not fight. We should be quick and get out of here before any of the neighbors notice anything.”

“Keep the lights off and use only the flashlight. We should probably search her mail first and see if we find anything that could help us figure out her connection to you and why you’re both being targeted by the same guy.”

In the kitchen, they found a wooden bin containing the mail next to a phone handset. They searched through it quickly, but didn’t find any personal letters. The mail was made up of mostly bills that were past due. She set the mail back into the bin and said to him, “Maybe we should head upstairs or to her bedroom? She could have an office where she has more paperwork. We could look for information about where she works or even divorce papers to find out the name of her son’s father.”

If she could track down the office complex where Michelle worked, it could help open up an official investigation into her disappearance. It was possible someone saw something suspicious the night she was abducted from the parking garage.

“Yes, but let’s hurry. We’ll try the rooms upstairs first before searching the rest of the house.”

Kate was growing restless as well. The house felt haunted and she hated rummaging through Michelle’s personal items. It had also crossed Kate’s mind that she and Declan were covering a potential crime scene with their fingerprints. If it finally came to light Michelle was missing, they could be held liable for her disappearance.

They crossed the threshold into the living room and stumbled to the staircase at the front of the house. Kate held the flashlight to guide their way, but stopped shortly at the base of the stairs. On the living room walls, Michelle had hung several family photographs. A little boy around the age of seven smiled out at her. His dark hair was sticking up in tufts and his two front teeth were missing. Crystal blue eyes held mischief and delight. It was a face Kate would never forget.

Declan began to ascend the stairs, but she held him in place with a vise-like grip. He swiveled back around and questioned softly, “What is it?”

“Michelle’s son,” she choked out, “I know him.” She directed the flashlight to more pictures on the wall. Her heart plummeted as she saw one of Michelle and her son, snuggling and grinning at the camera. Kate had thought the woman looked familiar, but the connection had never clicked together.

“Who is he?”

“He’s Matt Spencer…the first person I ever found.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Matt stormed out of the backdoor, allowing the screen to slam shut behind him. He stomped angrily over to the sandbox and kicked the sand with the tip of his sneaker. He had fled from the house in a huff, angry with his mother for not allowing him to watch his favorite cartoon. Instead, she’d told him he had enough TV and to go outside and get some fresh air.

He picked up one of his toy trucks and drove it over the sand piles. Each time it ran over the sand he made crunching sounds. After a few minutes of playing, his anger cooled and he found himself focused on using the trucks to create a large pile of sand. A noise to his left distracted him and he turned towards the disruption.

His father stood behind the metal gate and was waving to him frantically. The top of the wire fence was waist high and his father could easily be seen from Matt’s vantage point. His dad was in the side yard of the house and once he had Matt’s attention, it was easy to gesture him forward. Matt stood up and stared at his father with uncertainty. Matt’s mom had said his dad was bad and he couldn’t be around Matt anymore.

He looked at the rear of his house and then back at his father, mentally debating what to do. Matt was still upset with his mom, but he didn’t want to go to his dad if he was a bad guy. Matt’s father noticed the hesitation and held up a shiny red remote control car he’d been hiding behind his back. Matt let out a squeal of delight and rushed over to the gate.

“Hi Mattie,” his dad whispered with a tremble in his voice. He looked worse for wear on closer inspection—his clothing was rumpled and his blond hair had grown long and fell in front of his face. His blue eyes scanned the yard and he shot a nervous look towards the door.

“Daddy, what are you doing here? Mommy said we have to stay away from you,” Matt said as his father passed the red car over the gate. Matt lovingly stroked the car and looked eager to try it out. He held out his hand for the remote.

“Let’s go to the park and play with it, Mattie,” his father said. He had a faint Southern accent. Matt’s mom had told him his dad had moved to New Jersey from South Carolina over ten years ago.

“I have to let Mommy know first…” Matt started.

His father shook his head vehemently. “We don’t have to go to the park. Why don’t you just take a quick walk to my car? I have your birthday present in the back and we can come right back and show your Mom what you got.”

“But Mommy says we can’t talk to you,” Matt protested.

“Your mom is mad at me right now, but I’m still your same Dad. I’ve never hurt you before and I just want to give you your present because your mom wouldn’t let me see you on your birthday.”

Matt took some time to consider what his father said. It was true that he looked mostly like the same old father. His clothing looked like it needed a good washing and he couldn’t seem to stop shaking as they spoke, but when he smiled, it reminded Matt of how much fun they used to have playing baseball and football together.

“Okay,” Matt said with his chin tilted defiantly, “but we have to come right back because Mom said lunch will be ready soon.”

His father lifted up the metal latch for the gate and Matt strode out. His father didn’t bother closing the gate. He took Matt by the hand and walked at a swift pace towards a black pickup truck. The truck was a four-door model with a snug backseat, but still roomy enough for Matt. It was parked half of a block away from the house and his dad looked up and down the street before opening the door.

Matt spotted the large box on the seat and hurled his body inside. He smiled as he saw the wrapping paper featuring Thomas the Train, it was the same show his mother had denied him earlier. He barely noticed the door slam behind him. However, he did peek away from the present when he heard his dad enter the front seat and start the car.

“Daddy, what are you doing? Where are we going?”

Matt’s father ignored the questions and instead peeled away from the curb. He cast a nervous look behind him as he sped out of the neighborhood. Once the house was out of view, his shoulders slumped and he exhaled.

“Daddy, Mom said it’s almost time for lunch. You better bring me home.”

“Don’t you want to spend time with me? It’s not fair that I don’t get to see you and your Mom gets to all the time. I love you, Mattie, you’re my reason for living.” He glanced back at Matt through the rearview mirror. The intensity of his father’s blue eyes, the same shade as Matt’s, only caused the boy’s anxiety to grow.

His father was bad—it had to be true because Matt’s mom never lied to him. Why didn’t he listen to her? Why did he get in the car when she’d warned him over and over again that his father had changed and he wasn’t safe to be around? Matt remembered the fights they had before his dad left. Some nights it was so bad, Matt had climbed under the covers and pretended he lived on Mars alone—a soundless and desolate place where he couldn’t hear the screams and the crying.

“Take me home!” he demanded. He used his grown-up voice, the one he’d been practicing since he became the man of the house and had to take care of his mom because they didn’t have Daddy anymore. Matt wanted his father to turn back as soon as possible.

The alarm bells were ringing inside of the five-year-old’s brain and he understood something wasn’t right with the situation. His father had driven off without telling Mom and hadn’t bothered to check if Matt was buckled. Each time his father made a sharp turn, Matt was bounced against the door.

“You’re staying with me for a while. You belong with me,” his father stated resolutely.

Matt started to cry and rushed over to the door. He tried it to see if it would open. He slammed his small hand against the window when it didn’t budge. The look his father sent him was deadly and it made Matt cower back into his seat.

“Get in your seatbelt and quit crying like a little girl. You’re living with me from now on, so you better get used to the idea.” His father didn’t raise his voice; there was no need. The menace was clear in the way he spat out the words and the strain of his muscles as he gripped the steering wheel.

Matt tried to quiet his tears, but he was too worked up to calm down. He buckled his seatbelt and watched out of the window as they put more distance between him and his house. His present sat next to him, long forgotten about.

They were driving for some time before his father finally slowed down the car. They were pulling into a heavily wooded area. Matt was new to reading, but he was able to make out most of the words on the sign at the entrance. Hide A Way. Fitting, since his father was hiding them somewhere far away from Mom.

A couple of miles into the campground, Matt’s father made a sharp left and took his truck off-road. Matt held onto the door handle to lessen the bouncing as they headed into a secluded wooded area. When they came to a clearing, surrounded by pine trees, a lone trailer was parked. His father turned off the car and walked around to the back. Matt tried to squirm away, but he wasn’t able to free himself from the seatbelt in time. His father unbuckled Matt and grabbed him securely around his waist. He struggled as his father walked closer to the trailer. Matt was terrified over the thought of going inside.

The trailer’s windows had been covered with black tape, making it impossible to see in or out. The exterior was rusted and speckled with mud. A padlock was in place on the door and his father worked on the numbers as Matt continuously fought.

“Let me go!” he screamed out.

His father gripped Matt tightly enough that he found it hard to catch a breath. “Scream all you want, Mattie. It’s just me and you out here.”

He slumped, defeated, against his father. The trailer door swung open, revealing only blackness. The thought of going inside brought on a new wave of fresh horror. He could only imagine what kinds of creepy things were hiding inside the dilapidated trailer. With a hard push from behind, he was plunged into the darkness. He screamed once again; a fruitless cry for help. He wished all over again that he’d heeded his mother. She was right—his father was bad, oh so very bad…

Chapter Twenty-Five

Kate had allowed Declan to take over driving duties as they headed back to Franklin. She was spiraling and she couldn’t concentrate on the road as she dug up memories of Matt Spencer and his father. She’d never met Matt’s mother, but must’ve seen a photo of her at some point after the impending media explosion following Kate’s involvement in the case. The flashes had come from Michelle after all.

After a nurse caring for Kate told authorities about Kate’s “dream” the police had found Matt in the exact spot she’d seen during what turned out to be her very first vision. His father had been with Matt at the time and was subsequently charged with his son’s abduction.

She’d put herself in a self-imposed exile after Matt’s discovery. She denied her abilities and told her friends and family it was a one-time thing, a fluke. The truth was she hadn’t been prepared for the fallout that came from being a psychic and having the ability to see inside the minds of those closest to her.

Declan had taken the news of her connection to Matt and his mother in stride. Kate had expected him to give her a hard time about not remembering who Michelle was, but he resisted giving Kate a tongue-lashing. They had premonitions of hundreds of people; it was hard to recall each one. Michelle hadn’t reached out to Kate after Matt was found and the last she’d heard about the family, Peter was arrested and was serving time at the county penitentiary.

“Should Peter still be in jail? Have you seen him since you’ve had the vision of him?”

Kate shook her head. “I’m not sure what happened after he was arrested. I read some of the newspapers about the case, but once the papers started dragging my good name through the mud, I decided a media blackout was the best way to keep my sanity intact.”

“Although what he did was seriously crazy, the courts may have gone lenient on him because Matt was his kid. Was Matt hurt at all?”

“No, just scared. His father fed him and let him play video games and gave him toys while he was locked up. I guess his plan was to eventually take off for good with the boy.”

“A plan you spoiled,” Declan supplied.

Her reply was cut off by her cell phone’s ringtone. Kate dug her phone out of her bag and looked over helplessly at Declan. “It’s Jared. What do I say?”

“I don’t know. Maybe start with something like, ‘Hi honey, I figured out who wants me dead. Can you go and cuff him for me?’”

“I can’t,” she said, but didn’t elaborate. Hurriedly, she answered, not wanting the call to be sent to voicemail.

“Hi babe,” she said softly.

“Hey, how’s your night going?”

A battle waged inside of her. Her heart wanted to confess everything to him, explain how she suspected Peter Spencer was behind everything, but her hyper-analytical brain had different ideas. It was tempting fate all over again and she’d die first before seeing harm come to Jared. “It’s fine. Declan and I made a McDonald’s run. We’re heading back to the house now.” She ignored Declan’s elbow to her ribs over the car’s center console. “How’s work?”

“Looks like I’m going to be stuck here for another couple of hours, I might not get home until after midnight. Can Declan hang out until then? I hate leaving you alone.”

Her gut twisted at his words. Over time, he had cut away completely at her defenses and she was no longer the girl he’d met the year before. She loved him, madly and unconditionally, and she’d shield him at any cost.

“I love you,” she breathed into the receiver. Her face burned as she became very aware of Declan’s quiet presence next to her.

“I love you, too.” He chuckled, but then turned serious. “Are you okay? You sound upset. Did you have a vision?”

Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t allow him to hear the sorrow in her voice. She felt lost not being able to confide in him. Even when he’d been off-limits, merely a friend, she felt like the second she told him her deepest fears, he’d make everything better. But she wouldn’t survive losing him.

“No, I just wish you were coming home. My mom and I…” she cleared her throat, mentally shaking off her regrets, and continued, “My mom and I are getting together tomorrow morning to put together the favors for Julie’s wedding. I’ll just sleep at her house tonight.”

“Okay, but you’re sure everything is fine?”

“Yes. I just hate how much you’ve been working. I wish we could take off for a while. Take a vacation from life or something.”

She could hear the smile in his voice. “A vacation is definitely something we can do. I promise, Kate, as soon as your case is solved, we can go anywhere in the world you want.”

Without a second’s hesitation, she blurted out, “Hawaii.”

“Absolutely. I’ll buy you a coconut bikini and a grass skirt. We’ll lay on the beach all day and drink out of glasses with umbrellas.”

She sighed wistfully at his description. She almost giggled out loud as she imagined sneaking a banana hammock into his suitcase.

Jared’s earnest tone made her grip the phone tighter. “I’m going to make sure you’re happy, Kate. I hate what you’ve been through and that I’ve been powerless to stop it. It’s going to be over soon and we’ll have Hawaii and dozens more vacations just like it.”

She intended to make him keep his promise. The second she hung up the phone, she’d start hunting Peter Spencer down and make sure he was brought to justice for all of the misery he caused her and his own family. She was certain he was the one holding Michelle and Matt, trying to force them back into his life through brutality and entrapment.

“I’ll call you tomorrow when I’m on my way home from my mom’s house. Stay safe.”

“You, too. I love you. I’ll have my cell phone on, call me if you need anything or have a vision.”

She hung up the phone and could practically taste Declan’s disappointment hovering in the air. He remained silent, a rarity in itself. She started, “You probably think I’m being an idiot for not telling Jared about Peter Spencer, but…”

“But nothing, Kate. I saw Jared after you were stabbed—he was unrecognizable. I could see he was getting closer and closer to the edge and would probably lose it completely if you had actually died. I knew it was over for us then and I’d never have a shot when you had someone so completely devoted to you. He wants to save you, Kate and you need to let him.”

“I’m not going to risk anyone I love getting hurt. If I tell him and he goes after Peter and dies, I’d be to blame because I wouldn’t have followed my intuition. I never fully relied on my premonitions and it has cost me. I’m going to finish this thing with Peter on my own.”

“Jared’s a detective, Kate. He has resources we don’t,” Declan countered.

“The cops won’t get involved at this point. What proof do we have? Michelle and Matt haven’t been reported missing. The only evidence we have are my visions, and that’s not going to seem reliable. I’ve never seen Peter actually commit the crimes we’re accusing him of. He’s always been wearing the mask.”

“Listen, we’ll figure this out together. I can make a few calls to my contacts and find out if and when Peter Spencer was released from prison. Now that we have a new suspect, we could concentrate on getting what we need directly from him. He won’t be able to hide for long.”

Out of all of the possible suspects she considered in the past, Peter never crossed her mind. She’d barely given him a passing thought. It was chilling to imagine he’d been spending the three years since she last had a vision of him plotting his revenge. She wanted to kick herself for not suspecting him sooner, but she could only move forward.

She dug her fingernails into her palms as she replayed the night of her attack over again. He hadn’t hesitated as he drove the knife deep into her body. He had watched her scream and bleed as she fought for her life. He’d been remorseless and his hatred hadn’t cooled since that night. He was obviously still after her, determined to make her suffer for taking his child away from him.

He’d left scars in his wake, but she wouldn’t relent—she’d fight and win the next round. If she had her wish, Peter’s suffering would be endless. His end would come with a lifetime behind bars and Matt gone from his father’s life for good.