Connection, p.26
Connection, page 26
Julie studied her, shocked. “Why me?” she finally asked. “Why were you in my head? Why not Pam’s, Cameron’s, Roxie’s? Hell, Sergio’s, for that matter. Why me?”
Remmy shook her head. “I don’t know. I met some friends while I was in Omaha, people who understood me, understood my...ability. They explained it to me in a way that made sense. Basically, my soul is highly sensitive, almost like an antennae trying to pick up radio signals, but these radio signals are the emotions of others: high emotions, deep emotions—distress, guilt, pain, whatever. It always used to be previous emotions. You know, the guy who accidentally ran over his daughter’s dog seven years ago, and never forgave himself for telling his kid that Rover ran away. That kind of thing. But with you…” She shook her head and shrugged. “I was picking up on you and everything you were feeling. It was powerful.” She smiled, trying to inject a little lightness into a situation that still bothered her. “You’ve got quite the ticker, Julie.”
Julie’s smile was small as she played with the water bottle. So many questions plagued her, and she decided that now was the time to get them all out. “I had these dreams,” she said softly, feeling shy about the admissions she was about to make. “While I was there.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at Remmy, and therefore missed the slight intake of breath from her companion.
Remmy never knew whether or not she was reaching Julie with her dreams. She’d hoped, prayed even, that she was able to offer some kind of comfort, and that the visions she was seeing in her own dreams weren’t simply that—dreams. “What about them?” she asked, when it seemed Julie wasn’t going to continue.
Julie took a drink, more for something to do than because she actually wanted it. Eventually she continued. “I always found myself in a field. Well, at first, anyway, and then there was a lake or stream, something like that. Not a huge body of water, but water all the same. And trees,” she said, her voice growing softer with each memory of her dream paradise. “There was always someone with me, holding me, standing beside me. I could never see the person, just knew they were there to help me, to take it all away.” She swallowed reflexively then glanced over at her silent companion, a question in her eyes.
When she spoke, Remmy’s voice was very soft and filled with emotion. “I wanted to give you a safe place to hide, Julie. Wanted you to know you weren’t alone.”
Julie’s eyes filled with tears, which she tried to hold back but couldn’t. “It was you,” she murmured.
Remmy was pulled to her feet, and her arms were filled with Julie, who clung to her. She cupped the back of Julie’s head that rested on her shoulder.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Remmy stood off in the corner of the yard, a can of Dr Pepper in her hand, the two dogs at her feet chewing on the small bones she’d brought them. She glanced up at the gathered revelers, all talking and laughing with each other. She had come to not like large crowds, had never been one for idle chit chat with strangers, so she felt thoroughly uncomfortable. When had she gotten so shy? She remembered a time when she and Monica would walk into a bar or club, and she would own the place. But then, that likely was easier to do when she was higher than a kite or drunk on her ass. She was neither.
She was quite surprised when Matt Wilson came to the store and invited her to Julie’s barbecue. He said all she needed to bring were herself and a hearty appetite. So, there she sat, entertaining the dogs. That was a lie—they were entertaining her, keeping her from feeling like a total outsider. She glanced up periodically, eyes always finding Julie, who held a bottle of beer lazily between two fingers, listening intently to what an older, plump man was saying. Remmy smiled at Julie’s boisterous laughter.
“Hey.”
Remmy was startled by the voice that suddenly sounded by her side. Grace grinned down at her, a handsome man by her side. Remmy realized they had come in through the back fence, which was just behind her lawn chair.
“Hey!” she said, relief washing through her at seeing a familiar face. She stood and accepted Grace’s hug. “What are you doing here?”
“Thought we’d crash,” Grace said, her voice dry. She grinned when Remmy rolled her eyes. “Rem, this is my husband, Chris. Chris, Remmy the Wonder Girl.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Remmy. I’ve heard so much about you.” He took Remmy’s hand and shook it firmly.
“You, too, Chris. Sorry I kept Grace away so much.”
Chris’ laugh was full and rich.“Not a problem.” He turned to Grace. “I like this girl. She has my priorities straight.” He headed toward the patio. Grace’s eyes turned serious and she lagged behind.
“I need to talk to you later, Remmy,” she said, then hurried to catch up with Chris.
Remmy raised her pop can in acknowledgement then sat back in her chair. Bonnie and Clyde had taken off in search of attention from the new arrivals.
“Thanks, guys,” she muttered, crossing an ankle over her knee. She looked around the yard, which was already turning a deep, healthy green. Flowers had been planted, fresh dark soil indicating their presence. She noted the hose wrapped and hung on a hook mounted on the six foot privacy fence at the back of the yard. She also noted, with a smile, the new shed she had helped Julie put up two weeks ago. It had been a long, arduous task, but a rewarding one.
“Hey, Miss Anti-Social.” Julie walked over to Remmy and squatted down next to her. She picked up one of the bones the dogs had left, holding it up with a raised eyebrow. Remmy grinned sheepishly. “So, I wasn’t so thrilled that my big brother got to you first before I could invite you. After all, I’m the one throwing this little shindig.” She grinned. “Why don’t you come over and join us? I know a lot of people really want to talk to you.”
Remmy nodded. They were a part of the reason she was being “Miss Anti-Social”. “I’m just observing.”
“I see. Well, would you like to chew on a hotdog or a hamburger while you ‘observe’?”
“Hotdog.”
“With…?”
“Uh, bun?”
Julie rolled her eyes as she pushed to her feet. “You can put your own condiments on it,” she said, swatting Remmy on the arm.
Remmy watched her easily mix with the throng of guests. She hadn’t spent a great deal of time with Julie, really only while she helped with the painting and then the shed. Julie insisted she wasn’t just using Remmy for her muscle. In truth, Remmy wouldn’t have minded in the least.
After a few moments, Julie returned, a paper plate containing two hotdogs balanced on one hand, small bottles of ketchup and mustard clutched in the other. She handed the plate to Remmy and set the two condiments in the thick grass near the legs of her chair. “Okay, what else can I get you? Another soda?” She indicated the can in Remmy’s hand. “Chips? Fruit salad?”
Remmy grinned, shaking her head at Julie’s solicitous offers. “No, thank you. You don’t have to wait on me, Julie.”
“I know, but I want you to feel comfortable. I hate seeing you sitting over here all by yourself.” Julie sat in the grass in front of Remmy’s chair. Legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles, she leaned back on her hands.
“I’m always by myself, Julie. It’s nothing new.” Remmy picked up the ketchup, applying a generous amount to both hotdogs then adding a wee stream of mustard.
Julie studied her, head slightly cocked to the side. “Why are you such a loner? Just naturally your personality?”
Remmy chewed, thinking about the question before swallowing the food down with a drink of her pop. She shrugged. “Always have been. Guess it comes from moving around so much. After my cousin and I went our separate ways years back, it was just me.” She met Julie’s gaze. “Guess I just got used to it.”
“A rolling stone gathers no moss, Rem.”
Remmy smiled, liking the shortened version of her name on Julie’s lips. “Hmm. And the static deer shall grow stagnant.”
Julie’s brows drew. “What?”
Remmy chuckled. “No clue. My mom used to say that when I was a kid.”
“Are you close with your mom?” Julie accepted half of the second hotdog that Remmy offered her.
“Nope. I haven’t seen her since I was a teenager.” Remmy swallowed the last of her lunch, washing it down with the remainder of her Dr Pepper.
“Really? Why?”
Remmy was saved from going into the whole story when Grace stepped up beside Julie, causing the petite blonde to have to look way up into the dark face.
“Hey, guys,” Grace said, squatting next to Julie. Remmy gave her a small wave; Julie smiled in greeting. Grace looked from one to the other. “You know, I have to say, it’s a wonderful sight to see the two of you together, in person.” Her smile was big and genuine.
Julie returned the smile, reaching over and taking Remmy’s hand, squeezing it gently. “It’s been wonderful to get to know Remmy in person, and not just in a dream.” She looked over at Remmy, and they shared a private smile.
Grace watched them, their bond apparent even to her cynical self. Seeing how Remmy was with the flesh and blood Julie, she wondered how torturous it must have been for her during the most trying times of the case—thinking Julie was dead, then finally the rescue. She cleared her throat, remembering why she had intruded in the first place. “Remmy, there’s someone here who would like the chance to talk to you.”
****
Pam was chatting with a man to whom she hadn’t been introduced, still, she thought he was pretty interesting. She was holding the paper plate that now held only a few crumbs of chips, and a pickle she hadn’t wanted.
“I don’t know,” the man was saying. “I think the dental industry has gone downhill. Hell, my dentist steps in for about three seconds to tell me that his assistant will be taking care of me, then, poof.” he gestured for effect, “he’s gone.”
Pam chuckled. “Yeah, then he gets to take home six figures while we fight over squat.” Pam was interrupted by a touch on her shoulder. She turned to see Detective Cowan standing next to her, a young woman at her side.
“Pam, I’d like to introduce you to Remmy Foster. Remmy, this is Pam Beecham.” Grace stood between the women, a hand on each one’s shoulder.
Looking into the blue eyes of the beautiful young woman standing not three feet away from her, Pam’s life-hardened eyes softened. Without a word, she took Remmy into her arms and held her tightly for a long moment before releasing her. A smile softened Pam’s haggard features. “Honey, this is one of the greatest introductions I’ve ever had,” she said. “I owe you my life, and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
Not sure what to say, Remmy nodded. She had no connection with this woman, though she was one of the captives she had seen through Julie’s eyes. “You’re welcome, Pamela. I’m glad we got you out of there in one piece.” Unlike Roxie.
****
As the barbecue wound down, Remmy sat alone on the front porch of the house, a bottle of water between her feet. She rested her chin on her clasped hands, lost in thought.
Julie sat on the stoop next to her friend. Grace had taken Remmy into the house, where they stayed for about an hour. When they came out again, Remmy’s eyes were stormy, her brow knit in deep concentration. Grace and her husband had stayed for a short time then left with a tight hug for Julie and a shoulder squeeze for Remmy. “Hey.”
Remmy almost missed the soft voice next to her. She glanced over. “Sorry.” She cleared her throat, centering her attention on Julie. “Did you need help cleaning up?”
Julie bumped Remmy’s shoulder lightly. “No. You do know that your sole purpose is not to help me out around here, right?” Remmy tipped her bottle of water and took a long swallow. “What’s wrong, Remmy?” Julie could feel worry coming off her in waves. Remmy was concerned, perhaps even scared.
Remmy sat silently for a moment. Did she want to talk about it with Julie? Glancing over at her, she saw just how much Julie wanted to be there for her. Turning away, she said, “Grace asked me to help her with another case.”
Julie’s heart was gripped by ice cold fingers, the breath nearly knocked out of her. “Do you think you can do it?”
Remmy sighed heavily, shoulders slumping. “I don’t know. I told Grace to get me the crime scene photos and I’d see if I can connect.”
“What crime?”
Remmy shook her head. “I don’t know. I asked her not to tell me.” She smiled ruefully. “Don’t want any preconceived ideas.”
“Remmy?” Julie reached out and gently brushed strands of dark hair away from Remmy’s face, tucking them behind her ear. After a moment blue eyes met her own. So often when she’d been around Remmy, she had seen the haunted look in them, as though just looking at Julie made Remmy want to cry. Those times made Remmy’s already ancient eyes seem positively ageless. “Can you do this?” she whispered.
“I don’t know. I mean, I connected with you, but—”
“I don’t mean your abilities, Remmy. You’re so wonderfully sensitive, there’s no doubt you can do this. But, can you do this?”
Remmy sighed, leaning back on her hands, the cool cement of the porch under her palms. “Guess we’ll find out, huh?”
Chapter Forty
Remmy sat on her bed, legs tucked under her. She opened the manila envelope Grace had dropped off at the store. Inside were eight by ten glossies of the crime scene Grace wanted help with. She took a deep breath and laid the six pictures out across her comforter.
The first picture was of a kitchen, dishes stacked in a strainer to dry next to the sink, a frying pan on the stove top, a dishtowel hung over the handle of the oven door. A glass on the counter held the remnants of what looked to be juice of some sort. A child’s highchair was tucked into the corner near the back door.
Remmy’s gaze moved down to the tile floor in front of the almond-colored fridge. There was blood, two puddles, as though someone had been lying there bleeding.
The next picture showed a close up of a phone hanging on the wall, the light blue chord twisted. Next to the phone was a wooden frame with slanted shelves, probably for holding phone messages or notes. What caught Remmy’s eye was the blood spatter. From the pattern, it was obvious someone had been hit, and hit hard.
The third picture brought a hand to Remmy’s mouth as she swallowed her nausea. It was akin to the first picture, but the body had not yet been removed. The victim lay on her stomach, head turned to the side. Her eyes were open, wide with fear. Blood stained her shirt to the point where portions of the floral pattern disappeared beneath the crimson. Her feet were bare, jeans also stained with blood. Her hands were up by her face, the fingernails of her right hand chipped and torn. This woman had fought for her life.
Taking several deep breaths, Remmy set the pictures aside. She glanced over at the chair in the corner of her apartment, wishing that Julie was sitting in it. After several more breaths, Remmy turned back to the pictures. So far nothing had touched her, nothing had called out to her. She had never before attempted to get any sensations from photographs, and wasn’t sure whether she would be able to. It was like she wasn’t able to send herself out, as there was nothing to reach back.
Blowing out a loud breath, she put the three pictures back into the envelope, grateful to get them out of her sight and out of her hands, which felt dirty. She rubbed her fingers together, grimacing. They felt wet and sticky. She glanced at them, wondering whether Grace had spilled coffee or something on the photos before sliding them into the envelope. Nothing. She brought her fingers to her nose, closing her eyes as she inhaled. She gasped, eyes flying open. She looked at her fingers again, the coppery stench of blood fresh in her nostrils.
Large hands, fingers spread, a small cut on the pad of the thumb. The glint of a ring on the pinky, large and bulky. Stained with blood. In the distance, the crying of a child.
Remmy gasped, grabbing onto the comforter underneath her to steady herself. She heard something crumple and looked. Tucked into her right hand was a fourth photograph. Taking several deep breaths, she flattened the paper out, smoothing its image. At the center of the photo was an empty playpen, a child’s toy lying on the carpet just beyond.
Chapter Forty-one
Julie preceded Remmy into yet another store, hoping that maybe this would be the one. She glanced back at her shopping companion, chuckling at the bored look on her face. “Oh, come on,” she said, tugging playfully at Remmy’s sleeve. “This isn’t that bad, Remmy. Jeez. You act as though we’ve been at this for a week.”
Remmy met her gaze, a dark eyebrow rising. “We have.”
“Okay, so we have. But what can I do? If I’m going to start teaching this fall, I have to have clothes.” She noted Remmy’s doubtful look. “What?”
“Uh, Julie?” Remmy said, dutifully following her past racks of clothing.
“Yes, Remmy?” Julie said, holding up a blouse for inspection.
“Don’t you have clothes from last school year?”
Unable to meet her gaze for a moment, Julie slowly hung up the shirt. Finally she met amused blue eyes, which quickly lost their mirth at the seriousness of Julie’s expression. “A lot of my clothes don’t fit me anymore. I’ve lost a lot of weight since last year, Remmy,” she said softly. “I just can’t seem to put it back on.”
Remmy’s eyes softened immediately. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, glancing away. She felt warm fingers bring her face back until she met Julie’s gaze again. Julie’s smile nearly broke her heart. Why couldn’t she have prevented all of this? What good were her abilities if she couldn’t stop bad things from happening? Especially since she had seen Julie’s danger.
“Remmy?” The fingers underneath Remmy’s chin slid up to cup her cheek. “I’m not entirely sure what’s going through your mind, but I know it has something to do with Sergio Venti. Am I right?” Remmy’s downcast eyes told her all she needed to know. “I’m okay. Alright? I’m here, and you’re here, and everything’s okay.” Remmy nodded, doing her damndest to give Julie a smile.
