Chapter 2

“Barrett,” I said and looked behind me. I thought I could hear the beetle banging against the screen again. “I don’t know what I can do to help you.”

“You know damn well what you can do.”

I could hear desperate anger building in his voice.

I closed my eyes and was grateful when there was nothing but blackness. I knew what he wanted and I hated that I had ever told him about my gift. That was what my Aunt Cyn called it, I thought of it more as a curse.

“Tomorrow,” he said quickly.

I heard him blow his nose.

“Tomorrow at that Thai place over in the strip mall, you remember?”

I nodded, still trying to hold onto the darkness that was being invaded with lightning images that left electric residue behind my eyes.

“Anson?” He was pleading.

“Yes, I’m nodding, tomorrow for lunch.” I felt my eyes begin to burn.

“You’ll be there? Noon?”

“I’ll be there,” I hung up and wiped a hand across my eyes trying to relieve the burn. Why, damn it? Why?

I made my way back to bed and instead of lying down, sat there on the edge staring at the window where the beetle had been. It had flown away or fallen to the ground.

Barrett, fucking Barrett, my heart was pounding. I knew I shouldn’t get involved. For a second I thought about calling the police, but what had happened? I knew he was skeptical about my ability. So was I, for that matter. To call unexpectedly and ask me to help made me wonder what had happened and where was his daughter?

I looked down and could see the head of my erect cock poking through the fly on my boxers. What about the fact that I still wanted him. I wanted a man incapable of being anyone’s anything. The warnings in my brain met with the unhealthy want in my heart.

Why had he called me?

I looked away from the screen and finally lay down. I didn’t even know his daughters name, he had told me once but for some reason the only name that came to mind was Gabrielle. Although I was certain that wasn’t it.

More lightning images screamed across my mind; the girl on Barrett’s shoulders laughing, or was that an image I had seen at his apartment? Damn. I felt the burning in my eyes again. He wanted me to see, wanted me to look beyond this world into the world between and see if I could spot his daughter. I wondered if it was merely this that provoked him to call me at three A.M. or was it something more? Did it matter what the reason? Could I help him? I shook my head against the pillow and felt sweat trickle down my temples.

If you can see, then you help…

It was the voice of my Aunt Cyn I heard as I finally fell back into the shadow world of dreams and the promise she made me swear when she learned I could see not only into the future but find things hidden in the past as well. 2: Nothing New

I had seen him go into the restaurant and wanted him immediately, badly, and I hated myself for it. He wasn’t attainable. He wasn’t capable of the connection I needed from him and yet seeing him walk into that ugly pit of a Thai restaurant made me want him so badly that my heart had begun to beat against my chest like a native drum. I took several deep breaths before I got out of my car and followed him. When I entered, he saw and waved at me. I thought I could see a smile form on his lips as I went over and sat down.

“Tell me everything,” I said, trying to avoid looking into his eyes.

“You look good, all hot, and cute,” he said, trying to maintain his smile, but the weight of his sadness was too intense. Instead, he managed a pained grimace.

“Thanks,” I wanted to say more, return the compliment, but found I couldn’t, he was a keen listener and would be able to detect any false sentiment I could throw out. I stared at the menu and tried to ignore my heart that had once again taken up its incessant thrumming.

“Thanks for coming,” he said.

I could feel him staring at me.

When the waitress came over we ordered. Without the menu to stare at, I looked up and past him.

“Anson,” he said, saying my name like it was some sort of invocation.

Did he believe hewas dreaming? I could only imagine the nightmare of not knowing where your child was and if they would ever come back.