Page 32 of Dark Visions (Strange Gifts #1)

Aislinn stood at the rear of the funeral home, watching the mourners pass by the closed casket. Christopher Krauss had been quick with the arrangements for his brother, and to their advantage, the services and funeral were taking place some two hundred miles south of where they both lived and worked.

Kane held tightly to Aislinn’s hand, Adam standing tall and strong on the opposite side of her. Outside, Flip waited in the large SUV watching for any signs of Deborah.

They were surprised that more people were not attending, although two hundred miles was a great distance for colleagues. It appeared that Michael didn’t have a lot of close friends other than his twin.

The minister stood and began with a few words, followed by one hymn. As Christopher made his way to the front of the room, standing by his brother’s casket, his grief etched on his face.

“My brother… my brother was more than just a brother to me. He was my best friend, my confidante, my partner in everything we did. I loved him more than life. I felt his happiness when he met his beautiful wife when they had their beautiful son. And I felt his pain when they were both lost to him. These last few years have been difficult for him, and I guess I wasn’t aware how difficult. I know that now he is at peace and will finally be reunited with his family.”

The tears fell silently down his cheeks, his eyes rimmed in red. The minister stood once more to tell the attendees that there would be a private graveside service for family only, meaning only Christopher.

“Let’s wait until everyone leaves,” said Kane. Aislinn nodded, watching the few mourners leave the funeral parlor. The minister gripped Christopher’s shoulder and turned to leave the room. The weight of his grief sent him to his knees, the agony of his loss finally collapsing down on him. Aislinn stepped forward slowly, turning to nod at Kane that all would be well.

She stood beside him at first, then kneeling, she wrapped her arms around him as he sobbed uncontrollably, collapsing against her body. Aislinn rubbed slow circles on his back, humming softly to him as she rocked him back and forth on the floor. It was several minutes before Christopher raised his head to see the small stranger holding him.

“I-I’m so sorry,” he sniffed.

“There is no need to apologize, Dr. Krauss,” she said with a weak smile.

“Wait, I know you. I treated you in the emergency room, didn’t I?” Aislinn nodded. “How did you know my brother? Why are you here?” Christopher Krauss looked up to see Kane and Adam standing like giants behind Aislinn.

“Dr. Krauss? My name is Kane Jackson, and this is my friend, Dr. Adam Thorn.”

“Hello. I’m sorry. This has been a rough few days. Do I know you?” he asked, staring at Adam.

“You don’t, doctor, but we knew your brother, sort of.”

“I don’t know if I want to hear this,” he said, staring at the threesome. “My brother… my brother wasn’t himself these last few years. He was grieving. Grieving so much for the loss of his wife and son.”

“Dr. Krauss…”

“Christopher, please call me Christopher,” he said to the doe-eyed beauty.

“Christopher, my name is Aislinn Carter. None of this will make sense to you, but I need to try and explain.” He stood and then sat down on the pew in the front row. The others followed suit and watched as he prepared himself for Aislinn’s story.

“I have a rare, unusual gift. When I touch people, I can see the evil that lurks within,” she said quietly. Christopher’s eyes grew wide at first and then turned skeptical. “I know it seems unbelievable, but I touched your brother’s hand a few weeks ago and saw things. He was angry and sad at the same time. He needed justice.”

Aislinn continued with all the details of the story, watching the expressions of Christopher Krauss. He seemed to jump from anger to disbelief and then to sadness, all in the same moment.

“I know this is difficult, Christopher, but we have to find this woman, Deborah. I believe that if we can convince her that you are Michael, we can stop her.”

Christopher Krauss stood and walked up to the casket of his brother, the huge spray of flowers flowing over the edges. He touched his palm to the cold, shiny wood and lowered his head.

“I knew he was in trouble. The police, they came to the hospital and brought me in for questioning. The night he shot himself, I confronted him. Told him that I would help him if he would just tell me what happened. I would have, you know. I would have protected him. He was my other half. My heart just doesn’t beat right unless he’s around. I find myself gasping for air.”

Aislinn felt his pain, even without touching him. She felt it when she was consoling him, his deep sadness, the pain, the anger, all of it.

“I know you’re hurting, Christopher,” said Kane, “but if we don’t stop this woman, she will kill again. We believe that she pushed your brother to a place he didn’t want to be, but he was in so much pain from his own loss. He wasn’t seeing clearly.”

Christopher nodded again. He turned to face the three individuals in the room and searched their faces for something, anything that would help him make the right decision.

“I’ll do this. I need to do this. I need to make things right, for Michael. I need to make amends,” he said.

“We understand that you need time to grieve, Christopher,” said Adam, “but we believe she will strike again soon. We have her telephone number if you will call her and at least set something up. It may get her to at least wait a day or two before finding her next victims.”

He nodded in sadness and regret and reached for the phone that Adam handed him. It was his brother’s phone, and he shook his head, wondering how the trio had acquired the cell phone.

“What should I say?” he asked.

“Tell her you had a death in the family. It’s the truth and will help you to keep your cover. Let her know that you’ll be back in town tomorrow and would like to meet up. She most likely has someone already scoped out.” He nodded and called the number on the phone, placing the phone on speaker.

Well, well, well, if it isn’t the good doctor finally calling for his taste of pussy and adventure.

Christopher Krauss winced at the words, unprepared for the crass nature of the conversation and the woman on the other end of the phone. She could not have been more different than his sister-in-law.

“I-I’m sorry,” he said.

What’s wrong with you? You don’t sound like yourself.

Christopher cleared his throat and fought back the tears threatening to spill.

“I’ve had a death in the family. That’s why I haven’t called. I’ll be back in town tomorrow. Can we get together then?” he asked.

Sorry about your family. Yea, tomorrow is good. I have the perfect couple, and they have a playroom in their house. We can meet them at the usual spot.

He looked up at Kane, panicked. He had no clue where the usual spot was. What was he supposed to say? Kane shook his head and wrote quickly on a notepad.

“No, not the usual place,” he said casually. “Let’s meet at Rubio’s first.”

Rubio’s? Well, aren’t we fancy? Okay, that’s fine. I can get a bite to eat before we have our fun. And Michael?

His brother’s name spoken from this woman’s lips nearly did him in. He swallowed and shook his head in disbelief.

Tomorrow night, I get what I want, all of it. From you too. I want the body parts for my collection.

“F-fine,” he said, swallowing. He hung up the phone and dropped to the floor again, his tears flowing faster. “How could this have been my brother’s life, and I not know it? It’s not possible!”

“I know it seems unbelievable, Christopher, but as you’ve pointed out, Michael was in a great deal of pain,” said Aislinn.

“We’ll be with you the whole time, Christopher,” said Kane. “Adam, myself, and another colleague will follow you to where she will have you meet the other couple. I have some friends in the department who will set a sting for the woman. We will do our best to keep your name and your brother’s name out of the papers.”

“Thank you for that,” he said calmly, standing and wiping his hands over the front of his suit.

“We’ll be there, but you won’t see us,” said Adam. He reached forward and handed a small pin to Christopher. “Wear this on your lapel. We’ll be able to hear and see everything that’s happening.”

He nodded again and looked back at the casket of his brother. Walking over to the box, he laid his hand on the smooth wood once more. Leaning his forehead down, he spoke softly and then turned toward Kane.

“I’ll be at Rubio’s at eight.”

Kane and Adam watched as he left the room, his shoulders slumped forward, his head hanging to his chest.

“He’s in so much pain,” said Aislinn, rubbing her temples.

“Are you getting a headache?” asked Kane.

“I-I don’t know. It just feels different, but it may be because you and Adam are here as well. I could feel his pain, his sadness, though. There wasn’t any violence, just… I don’t know.”

“It was a bit overpowering,” said Adam. “I could feel the waves of sadness coming through you. This is the weirdest thing I’ve ever experienced.”

“Me and you both, brother,” said Kane.

He led Aislinn from the room into the parking lot, where Flip waited patiently for them to return. When Aislinn got close, he reached for her hand and held it tightly.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “I felt it. The sadness. You were so overwhelmed.”

“I’m okay,” she said with a small grin. “This is so strange. It’s as if you all are a filter for me, taking some of the emotions from my shoulders.”

“That’s an interesting way of putting it,” said Adam. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe somehow, we are a filter for you. If we all have certain gifts, then maybe it’s why we’re able to help you.”

“Well, no matter why, I’m glad you’re all in my life. Right now, though, I’m tired and hungry,” she said weakly.

“Food it is,” said Flip, smiling.

By the time they were back at Kane’s loft it was nearly midnight, and they were all exhausted. Spook was sound asleep on the cot, lifting his head only to acknowledge their return. Adam and Flip took opposite ends of the sectional once more, and Aislinn and Kane held one another tight in the big bed.

Nightmares didn’t invade Aislinn’s sleep, only peaceful feelings of joy and happiness. Until the last moment of sleep, a small blip on the radar of her subconscious that woke her.

I’ll make this right. I’ll make everything alright.