Page 31 of A Touch of Murder (Touched #1)

"I saw William, the man Mom had been seeing, beat my mother unconscious, and as if that wasn't enough, he took a metal statue that Mom had loved and used it to kill her.

I witnessed the whole thing. Told the cops as much when they showed up, but no one believed me.

Sure, they figured William was the one who attacked Mom, but they told me I'd come up with a story in my mind about how it had happened. It was so frustrating."

"Did they end up arresting the guy?" Barret asked.

"Two years later. He'd taken off and was living in Alaska when he got arrested for a domestic situation. He'd beaten his new wife to the point she has brain damage. He's now in the Colorado State Penitentiary for fifty years. He'll die there probably, and I'm okay with that."

"Did you have to testify?"

Adam shook his head. "No. The D.A. thought I would bring up things I had imagined and not just stick to the facts.

He was probably right. I'd seen what happened when he killed her, even if it was after the fact, but I doubt I could have kept quiet about it.

They didn't need me to testify. His prints were on the statue, and his blood was found mixed with Mom's.

He'd hit her so hard he'd cut his knuckles open. "

"Not to mention he skipped town right after," Barret said. "So, what happened to you after that?"

"I didn't have family around to take me in, but I got lucky.

My neighbor was a sweet older lady who I'd always liked.

I helped her with her yard work and stuff as I got older.

She talked the state into letting her take custody of me for a couple of years.

I stayed with her until she died when I was twenty-five.

She was barely able to get around and since she took me in, I couldn't just drop her off at a nursing home.

She died comfortably in her bed. She left me her home, which was a surprise.

She had a daughter who lives in Florida, but I guess she didn't want the home and agreed it should go to me.

I stayed there until I sold it to move here and buy the shop. "

Barret set his spoon down. "That's one hell of a childhood."

"It wasn't all horrible." Adam shrugged.

"It wasn't all good either. I'm so sorry you had to find your mother that way. That was what you were talking about when you told me Trina wasn't the first victim you'd read, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. I was a mess after that one. I hadn't fully learned how to recover from reading things yet, and as you saw with Trina, a murder victim hits me a lot harder than any object does.

Police and paramedics thought I was in shock, which I was, but I was also feeling the effect of reading Mom's body and seeing what happened to her.

" Adam stood. "Want more? I'm going to have a second bowl. "

"If you have enough. I don't want to take your leftovers for tomorrow."

Adam laughed. "If we finish this tonight, I have chicken to toss in the crockpot in the morning. Having company while I eat is worth the sacrifice." He grabbed Barret's bowl and filled it.

Barret took the bowl. "Thanks. So how did you decide to use your ability for a career?"

"Well, I started out by going to some new age type fairs.

I'd have a booth and would advertise that I could tell people the history of almost any item.

It was slow going at first, but the more fairs I participated in, the more word of mouth brought people to me.

I'd get calls in between fairs to go do readings sometimes.

I was stunned people wanted to pay me to do it.

I wasn't sure at first what to charge so I just said twenty dollars.

I found that small of an amount had all kinds of people coming to see me and got burned out pretty fast. I raised the price to fifty dollars.

That cut back on the people who weren't really serious or were using me like a side-show performer.

I did okay in Denver, but I was never happy there.

Like I told you before, a simple drive up to Yellowstone brought me through here and I fell in love with the place.

" Adam reached for another piece of cornbread.

"This place is something magical. It's got issues like any town, but I love the tightknit community.

I thought I'd hate everyone knowing everything about me.

Thought at first it might be a huge gossip hub, and it is in many ways, but people are nice about it.

I didn't think I'd miss my sister as much as I did while I was in Seattle.

I was young and had big dreams of living in the big city and being a big-time cop.

Didn't take long to realize that wasn't what I wanted out of life. "

"What do you want?"

Barret thought about the question for a moment, then shook his head.

"I'd like to meet someone someday, maybe get married.

I was a bit worried when I first moved here that being gay in such a small community might be a problem, but Becky promised me it wouldn't be an issue.

She pointed out that there were several gay couples around and they were accepted just fine.

At the time, dating wasn't big on my agenda.

I'd had a bad breakup in Seattle right before I left and was feeling a bit gun-shy when it came to dating.

Now, after settling in here for a few years, I think I'm ready to start dating and thinking more about my future.

" Barret paused for moment, then decided what the hell.

He had nothing to lose. "I was hoping that maybe once this case is closed and I have a bit more time on my hands, you might like to go out with me. "

Adam looked up, an expression of shock on his face.

"Me? I'm flattered, but you know that's not possible.

I mean, I enjoy spending time with you, and sharing meals, but as far as dating goes, well, that's just not in the cards for me.

Dating leads to other things. Things I can't really… " Adam held up his gloved hand.

"Let me ask you something. Is that rule more for your protection from seeing a person's past or is it to protect them from you seeing it?"

"Maybe a bit of both, but mostly to protect their privacy. No one wants someone to see everything about them. We all have secrets."

"You did tell me once that if you touched something enough that the visions slowed or even stopped, right?"

"Yeah, but with a person… That could take a while. There's a lot there to read, and new memories are always being made." Adam cleared his throat. "Want more water?" He stood and went to the fridge.

"No, I'm good." Barret could tell the conversation made Adam nervous. He decided to let the topic drop for now. "Is it safe to leave a crockpot all day while I go to work? I'm seriously thinking about getting one."

"I haven't had a problem and know a lot of people do it.

I'm sure there's a slight risk, but I think you'd be okay.

There are millions of recipes online. You could try them on your days off just to get used to how it works and see if you like it.

" Adam set an apple fritter in front of Barret.

"I ran over to the bakery after work to get us dessert.

" He sat down, placing another one in front of himself.

"Thank you. I love these things. It's the one thing Beck makes that I can't resist. I've always liked apple pie, but when she gave me one of her fritters, I was hooked.

" Barret was touched that Adam would go out of his way to get them dessert and remember what he liked.

Then again, maybe Becky told him what to get.

"Got to have dessert and I was tired of ice cream." Adam shrugged.

"Ice cream is never bad."

"I usually have a bowl at night while I watch TV or read. Tonight, I wanted something different."

They ate in silence and Barret felt better than he had all day.

He was tired, but the food and company had taken his mind off work for a while.

He would still spend the night tossing and turning thinking about the case, but this break had been needed.

When he was done, he offered to help Adam with the dishes.

"I've got them. Go home and get some sleep. I can see how tired you are. This case is really getting to you." Adam set his bowl in the sink and rinsed it.

"It is, but it should. I want these men arrested and locked away."

"That's nicer than what I want for them."

Barret smiled. "Yeah, I'd be the first flip the switch on them, but having them off the streets would be enough. I go to bed every night fearing another girl will go missing and it will be all my fault."

"This isn't on you. You can't rid the world of all evil.

The town has been warned. The kids know to be careful, and they are.

I heard some talking the other day about how they don't go anywhere alone and walk one another to their cars after work now.

You're closer than ever to identifying these men.

Think of where you were with the case a week ago. Don't be hard on yourself."

Barret knew Adam was right, but it was still hard. "I'm just tired."

"Want to take some chili home with you?" Adam asked as he leaned against the counter.

"Thanks, but no. I appreciate the offer, but I'm going to shower and hit the bed, then be back at it by seven in the morning.

There's no guarantee that I'd get around to eating it.

At least here, you know it won't go to waste.

" Barret stepped closer to Adam. "I want you to think about something.

" He prayed he wasn't about to make a huge mistake.

He reached out and traced his fingertip down Adam's cheek.

"Not everyone is afraid of your touch." He pulled his finger back and started for the door.

"Thanks for dinner. I'll talk to you soon.

" With that done, he quickly left the apartment, hoping he'd just given Adam a ton to think about.