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got up and walked to the door. “We should be armed.”
     
    Sarah nodded. “Can you handle that?”
     
    “I’ll try. Hirst’ll be no help. We’re supposed to be leaving.”
     
    “Do your best, Parkman. We need weapons.”
     
    He opened the door and exited without another word.
     
    Sarah looked up at the ceiling of the hotel room. “Vivian, you have got to make this easier.”
     
    She slipped out of her track pants gingerly, mindful of her broken ankle, feeling every bit a stranger in her own body.
     
    Another presence lingered in her mental shadows. Vivian remained close. So close that Sarah could almost smell her. Like they were twins inhabiting the same body. The only creepy parts were the thoughts and memories that popped up from time to time. Ones that weren’t Sarah’s. Ones of a different date and time.
     
    An image of her parents had formed in her mind two days ago when her parents were in their twenties. A time before Sarah was born.
     
    Goose bumps accompanied that image. It was impossible for Sarah to have seen her parents, listened to them, walked with them, in those years.
     
    Only Vivian knew Caleb and Amelia then. Only Vivian had those thoughts and memories.
     
    But why would Vivian’s human presence be coming through to Sarah? Could it be a result of what happened in Canada when Vivian had completely taken over Sarah’s body?
     
    If so, what would happen to Sarah if Vivian did it again? Would she lose more of herself? Could Vivian ultimately take over and lock Sarah out of her own body in some way?
     
    She shuddered at the thought.
     
    “Just help me stop this killer, Vivian. Then carry on. Sanity is something I kind of enjoy having.”
     
    Sarah was afraid for the first time what her gift might be doing to her.
     
    Could Vivian’s purpose pull Sarah out of depression all those years ago, effectively saving her life, only to kill her on the inside because she had channeled through her too often?
     
    “Only time will tell,” she whispered to the empty room.
     

Chapter 6

    Father Adams examined the night stars for a sign from God. When none came, he donned his black hat and gripped the door handle of the church. From just outside the door, he could hear Father George offering a sermon on sin. It was a good sermon. One Father Adams had performed himself over the years. He entered the church, taking pains to remain as silent as possible.
     
    The church had a good crowd as Father George was popular with the congregation. He was gentle, kind and good with kids. Perhaps a little too good. Ultimately Father George had been shuffled around the Catholic Churches of America until he landed in the big city of Los Angeles under the watchful eye of Father Adams. Today was a day Father Adams dreaded as he needed to give Father George a sermon of his own.
     
    “God is ready to heal those who sincerely wish to amend their lives,” Father George said from the pulpit. “But he won’t take pity on the obstinate sinner.”
     
    Father George’s eyes stopped on Adams. He paused, nodded, and then continued.
     
    “The Lord pardons sins but he cannot pardon those who are determined to offend him.” He raised his hand, pointing skyward. “Nor can we demand from God a reason why he pardons one a hundred sins, and takes others out of life and sends them to Hell after three or four sins.” He lowered his arm and gripped the sides of the pulpit with both hands. “He who receives pardon, says St. Augustine, is pardoned through the pure mercy of God. They who are chastised are justly punished.”
     
    Father Adams leaned against one of the pillars until Father George finished. He watched as the priest walked some of his congregation to the doors and whispered goodbyes to the lot of them. Father Adams involved himself with some of the people filing out of the church and remained patient, as the Lord would expect of a man in his position.
     
    After a time, the big doors shut on the front of the