Page 38 of Chasing Dreams
She gave him a puzzled frown. “Planned what?”
“Planned to do away with her to get the kid.”
Her topaz eyes widened. “No! They were selfish jerks, but none of them cared enough to be a murderer. You’re suggesting that someone deliberately killed Maggie. That’s impossible. Besides I’m sure that whoever Jack’s father was, he never knew it.”
“Okay.” He pushed the dishes aside and spread his hand over hers on the table. “We needed to consider all the possibilities. From what you’ve told me, the police aren’t going to be any help. We know that.”
Her gaze dropped to his hand on hers, before fluttering back to his face. “I know. They consider the case closed, and they think I’m crazy.”
“Shaine.”
She cocked her head in reply.
“When we get more to go on, I’ll contact my FBI friend. He couldn’t do anything officially, but he may be able to help.”
She turned her hand beneath his and squeezed his fingers. “Do you think so?”
“I don’t know. It all depends on what you come up with in the next few days.”
Apprehension flitted across her features. He wouldn’t let himself back out because of what she might have to go through next. This was what she’d wanted from the beginning. But he knew.
He knew.
She had no idea what she was letting herself in for.
* *
Shaine put away the groceries while Austin worked out and went for his run. They were still full from their meal in town, so they’d planned to have fruit and cheese later in the evening.
After his shower, Austin tended the fire and brought a couple of files and envelopes from his office.
With a nervous trembling in her limbs, Shaine surveyed his approach. He placed the items on the low table and sat beside her on the sofa. “Ready?”
Apprehension crushed her resolve. “Are you sure this is necessary? Couldn’t you just tell me how? Talk about it some more?”
He read through a folder. “We’ve talked for days, Shaine.”
“I know, but—”
“Look. This is what you came here for. Why you badgered me into hearing you out. You convinced me to see it your way. I could be doing a dozen other things far less unpleasant, but this is what you asked of me.”
Shame clenched a fist against her quaking stomach. He was right. He’d warned her a hundred times. He’d tried to talk her out of it, convince her otherwise, but she’d insisted on him teaching her.
Besides, there was no other way to help Jack.
She swallowed her squeamish cowardice and sat up straight. “You’re right. I’m ready.”
Austin went into the kitchen for a minute and returned with a pair of tongs. He looked into a bulky manila envelope, used the tongs to remove an object and held it toward her.
Shaine stared at the small pink ballet slipper with an alarming mixture of dread and anticipation. Her hands were glued to the knees of her jeans. She couldn’t have reached for the satin slipper if she’d wanted to.
“I didn’t have to touch anything to see the Deets boy,” she rationalized. “Or Tommy in the woods. I just dreamed about them and knew where they were.”
“That’s right,” he said. “You don’t have to touch things to get random readings. But we’re not looking for a chance vision. We’re zeroing in. This will help you do that. You’ll see more clearly and more specifically.”
He didn’t share her hesitation. He grabbed her right hand, turned it over and placed the object in her palm. Dropping the tongs on the table, he took her other hand and closed it over the slipper, holding both her hands between his.
“It’s like going to sleep,” he said. “If you try too hard, or concentrate on doing it or not doing it, you’ll lay awake all night. This is similar. Just let it happen.”
