Page 13 of A Touch of Murder (Touched #1)

Adam smiled as Maggie Crenshaw walked into his shop. "Afternoon, Maggie. What brings you in today?" He knew the woman from brief interactions around town, but he didn't know her well.

"I was told you needed a sketch artist." She patted the large bag she carried.

"Police called me. I'm the department's artist when the need arises.

" She looked around. "Nice place. I can't believe I haven't been here before now.

" She turned to look at the essential oils they sold.

"I've tried a few of these. Really help my hay fever when it kicks in.

But that's for later. You got time to sit down with me right now? "

"Sure. My assistant Jacey just ran down the street to get a late lunch, but he should be back soon. We can get started, but I may have to stop if anyone else comes in before he's back." Adam led her to his back office.

"That's fine. I hear we're working the Wilson girl's case. You get a vision?" Maggie asked.

"Family brought me something of hers. I was able to see a man's face when she was attacked. I'm hoping it's someone somebody knows." He gestured to the table. "Will that give you enough room? If not, we can go upstairs to my apartment. There's a bigger table there."

"This is perfect. The way I work is I do two images.

I've got my computer that has software many of the police departments use to piece together a face, but I also like to do it the old-fashioned way and draw.

I find that those computer images miss the little things, a scar, a wrinkle, a slight bump on the nose.

I can draw those in better than the computer can create them.

I always like to start with the drawing first, if that's okay? "

"Whatever works for you. I'm just glad to be helping. Can I get you a bottle of water while you set up?"

"Sounds good. It's not too hot out there yet, but summer's coming. In no time we'll be sweating our butts off.'' She pushed back her braids so they laid behind her shoulders, then opened her bag and started pulling out items.

Adam pulled two water bottles from the small fridge and went to sit with her. "I knew you were an artist, but I had no idea you worked with the police."

"Been doing it for years. Thankfully, they don't need me often.

Most of the time I spend my days painting at home or sometimes doing a mural on one of the business windows.

Speaking of which, when are you going to let me paint something on yours?

" She set down a large sketch pad and some charcoal pencils.

"Anytime. I'd be proud to have your work displayed. What would you paint?"

"I'm not sure. You have anything big happening you want to promote? A sale or something you have planned?" She pulled a laptop out and set it aside.

"I have a woman coming in for a few weeks in June who does aura readings. Would that count as something interesting?"

"Oh, auras, now that could be fun. I could paint a human body with an aura around it.

Make it as tall as your window. That would help attract people to the shop while she's here.

Let them know you've got something special going on.

When we're done here, you can give me the date she's arriving, and I'll come in a few days before and get it done.

" Maggie reached for a pencil. "Okay, let's get started.

Tell me first in simple terms what he looks like, then we'll get more detailed. "

Adam spent the next two hours working with Maggie. He tried to remember everything he could about the man and even went as far as playing part of the recording to make sure he'd not said something during it that he'd forgotten.

"What do you think? She turned the drawing around to him.

Her talent was evident. Though he'd only given her tiny pieces of information, she'd taken it and created an almost eerie drawing of what he'd seen.

She'd even drawn the hat and the Marlin's logo on it.

He was stunned and a bit creeped out to stare at the face of the person he knew hurt Trina. "That's him. Exactly how I saw him."

"Good. We'll have you sit at the laptop for a bit and try and do the same, but I find my drawings are usually closer to the real thing.

" She powered up the laptop. "I'm going to show you how this works, then leave you alone for a bit to play around with it.

I'll go browse your store for a few minutes, then come back to see how you're doing or if you have any questions.

I find if I'm not hovering, you will feel rushed or hesitate to try several images. "

"Thanks. Feel free to grab more water out of the fridge over there. There's a small bathroom just behind Jacey's desk out there if you need it." He was already watching intently as she pulled up the program.

"I'll be fine. It will give me a chance to catch up with Jacey and see what's new with his family. I taught most of those kids throughout the years." She showed him where to switch from each feature so he could scroll through eyes, noses, and lips to change them as he wanted. "You got it?"

"Yeah, I think so. I'll yell if I get stuck." Adam was excited to see if he could piece together the face he wanted everyone to see, and hopefully, someone to identify.

"Then I'll see you in a few minutes." She left him.

He heard her and Jacey talking out front but quickly lost focus on them and gave his full attention to the computer.

It was so much easier talking about what he'd seen than trying to piece a face together like a puzzle.

There were so many options. He could thicken or thin lips with a simple touch of a button or narrow the eyes a million different ways.

He wondered if one image was used more than others.

Did evil people have some sort of facial identity that was more common than another?

Like those freaky mass shooters who always had huge, zombie looking eyes.

He forced himself to focus. To remember.

He had to get this right. He wanted Trina's killers to be caught.

If only he'd seen the other man's face too.

He worked until he thought he had it as close as he could get, but even at that, it was not even close to as perfect as Maggie's drawing.

He leaned back and took a minute to just stare at the image.

Was this someone in town? Someone people knew?

He hated the thought that it could be someone local.

His gut told him this person had killed before, though he had nothing to back that up.

It wasn't something he'd seen. Just something about the way the man looked, the way he'd attacked Trina made him think this hadn't been his first time.

"Finished?" Maggie walked back into the room.

"I think so. This wasn't easy. It doesn't look anywhere near the same as the one you drew." Adam turned the laptop toward her.

"Not yet, but now we'll add to it. It will never be as good, but we'll get it close.

" She started clicking items, adding in the thicker beard and the scar Adam had recalled on the man's cheek.

Slowly, as they discussed it and she added more, he saw the image come alive. "You're really amazing at this stuff."

"It's my job." She smiled. "I'd still rather be drawing a family portrait than this stuff, but if it helps catch the bad guys, I'll keep doing it."

"I sometimes have people ask if I can draw someone I see.

They'll bring me an item like a necklace or broach, and I'll see the previous owner.

Often a long-lost family member of the person who has the item now.

Would you be willing to draw what I see for them, just like you did for this?

They'd pay you, of course. You could set a rate that works for you, and I could call you when they request something.

It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

" Adam liked the idea of adding that extra option to some of his readings.

"I'd love that. I'm still volunteering at the school, and do have some other things going on, but if you call me, we'll work something out.

I can even do animals if people want. And don't forget I will be back around the first part of June to paint your front windows.

" She grinned. "You'll have more customers than you know what to do with. "

"Don't say that. I need a little time to recover between readings, but I do hope we have a good crowd for our guest. You just let me know when and how much I owe you."

"You owe me nothing. I do the windows around town for free. It's a chance to show off my art as well as help the community. It's something I enjoy." She held up her hands. "Don't argue."

Adam laughed. "I won't." He liked Maggie and hoped they would work together again. "If you ever need something read…"

"When I inherit that famous that famous Vincent van Gogh, I'll be in touch to learn the history behind it. Right now, I can only show off the artwork the kids make for me at school. That keeps me happy enough, but thank you for the offer." She turned the computer toward him. "What do you think?"

"Not as perfect as the one you created, but close. I don't think we're going to get any closer using the computer."

"Neither do I." She saved the image. "Now I'll get these to Officers Whitestone and Vance, and we can see if anyone knows who he is. If we find him, I'll be more than happy to draw his dead body hanging from one of the trees in the park."

Adam was a bit shocked by her words, but he agreed with her. He would be happy to pull the rope tight if he got the chance. "We can only hope it will be that easy to find him. I fear he's probably not local."

"That's a good thing too. We don't want his kind living in our neighborhoods." Maggie started to pack things.

"Hope you're not talking about me." Barret walked into the office.

"You're a different kind of trouble." Maggie smiled. "I was just headed over to see you."