Page 3 of Shadow Touched

“Two beers. That’ll be six bucks.”

Brim dug out the cash from his pocket.“Where’d she go?”

“Who?” Clint asked.

“Leia.”

“Oh, she usually doesn’t work withcustomers. I can settle your account.”

People came over to settle their tab,keeping Clint busy. When Leia finally reappeared, she pushed acleaning cart. Yellow latex gloves covered her hands. Brim walkedover to her.

“What spooked you?” he asked.

“Oh, it was nothing,” she murmured, butdidn’t look at him.

“It seemed like something.”

“No, nothing.”

She made to move around him, but he blockedher path. Still, she kept her gaze averted.

“What is it? Why won’t you look at me?”

She hesitated for a moment then raised herlashes. She looked first at him, and then over his shoulder, beforefocusing once more on his face. She bit her bottom lip, then as ifmaking up her mind, she slipped off a glove and held up her hand,as if she wanted to shake his. Brim went to oblige her, but shereached over his shoulder to touch … air. Suddenly, her eyeschanged, from a deep chocolate to a molten gold. Their etherealglow caused the hair on the back of his neck to stand up. The worldfaded from around them, until his vision narrowed down to onlyher.

Then she pulled back and slumped down,gasping for air.

Something told him to leave her. That whatjust happened wasn’t natural. Truth be told, she had freaked himout just a little. As he mentally debated what to do, she grabbedhold of the edge of his leather cut.

“Wait,” she whispered. “Don’t go outthere.”

He tilted his head. “Out where? Outside? Whynot?”

“He’s waiting,” she said, still unable tolook him in the eye.

“Are you talking about the drunk?”

She shook her head.

Brim chuckled. “Darlin’, I’m not afraid ofany man—”

“No,” she said solemnly. “You don’tunderstand. He’s waiting in the dark, by the large oak tree flankedby two smaller ones. But you won’t see him. You won’t even feel thewhisper of the bullet right before it buries in your forehead,directly between the eyes.”

His amusement died instantly. “Is that athreat?”

“No. It’s a fact. Please … don’t walk outthat door. You were kind enough to help me, so let me return thefavor.”

“Look at me.”

She raised her head, but her hair obscuredher eyes. Slowly, he reached up, giving her time to pull away. Whenshe didn’t, he brushed her bangs aside. The ethereal glow was gone,and once more the rich chocolate orbs regarded him solemnly.

“How do you know someone is going to shootme?”

“You won’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.”

“I see… I see the shadow of death,” shewhispered.

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