Page 18 of Preying Game

He looked physically fit. But his mind was like a nest of snakes. And that made him dangerous in ways she couldn’t even imagine.

oOo

Jonah lay on his bed, breathing hard. He had done it. Against all odds, using self-hypnosis, he had sent his apparition to Alice’s prison. He’d materialized outside her room, stepped through the solid door, and managed to stay there for a few seconds, until the bastard who kept her captive had showed up. That had been enough to break the link with her.

But if he’d done it once, he could do it again. He settled the pillow comfortably under his head and went through all the steps he’d followed earlier. Putting himself in a trance, going to the relaxing beach, descending the stairs to the corridor that led to her cell. But this time the light in the hallway was dimmer. It was like he wasn’t quite there. And when he walked to the door of her cell and pushed his hand against it, he met resistance. He shoved harder, changed the angle, pounded his fist, but none of it worked. This time there was no way to get through the door.

Exerting his will in this twilight place only gave him a headache.

“Shit,” he muttered as the whole scene flickered out of existence.

Apparently he couldn’t just come here on his own. Alice had to be ready to receive him. And probably now she was busy. Working out, he thought with a snarl. The bastard was making her push herself to her physical limit.

Jonah sat up and ran a hand through his hair. After a lot of effort, he’d managed the initial trip to her cell on his own. But now she knew he had done it, and hopefully she’d be able to reach out to him—the way she had that first time on the car radio.

Realistically he knew he’d have to wait until she was alone and receptive. Which probably meant tonight.

He cursed again. How was he going to get through the next ten or twelve hours waiting to try it again?

He went for another long run along the country roads near his auto shop, this time at his normal pace. The activity made him feel closer to her. Maybe she was doing the same thing.

Back home, he stopped beside the Chevy and put his hand on the flat roof, thanking God he’d bought the car. If he hadn’t done it, he was sure he wouldn’t have hooked up with Alice.

Upstairs, he showered and dressed.

At a Starbucks in a shopping center on Route 1, he got a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Bringing the food with him, he drove to the Decorah medical facility.

Grant was sitting at the security station when Jonah walked in. He looked up and gave him a considering look. “I’m guessing you’ve had some success with Alice.”

“How do you know?”

“Your attitude. You seem . . . calmer. And more confident.”

“Yes and no.”

“Sit down and tell me about it.”

Jonah took the other chair and put his food on the counter. He was taking a sip of coffee when Grant asked,

“You know where she is?”

“Not yet, but I took a page from your playbook.”

“As in?”

“I went to where she is. The way you went to Jenny when she was being held captive. I never would have considered trying it—except that I knew it had worked for you.”

Grant’s eyes lit up. “Way to go. How did you do it?”

“Self-hypnosis.”

“Clever. I wouldn’t have thought of that.”

“But you had the advantage of already being with Jenny,” he answered, not making a big deal of what kind of contact the other couple must have had.

“How long were you with Alice?”

“It was only for a few seconds. Then I think the guy who’s holding her came to the door, and the connection snapped off.”

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