situation. He looked like a little boy getting caught with his hand in the
cookie jar, or something much worse.
“Something like that. Sorry. I
know it’s a pain for you, but it just happens. It’s not like I try to do it. I
don’t dig around in your head for info. At times people are sending the energy
out so strong it’s hard not to catch bits and pieces. The more the person
becomes agitated or angered or any other emotion that happens with the thought,
the stronger it is.”
“So I didn’t imagine your blush
in the station?”
Whitney shook her head, as her
cheeks got pink again.
“I’m so sorry.” Nick started
talking faster. “I had no idea. I didn’t mean to, I mean I wasn’t trying to be…
Oh hell. I’m sorry. How can someone keep from thinking like that around you?”
Whitney was trying to keep from
laughing again. “Nick, it’s okay. Everyone has thoughts like that. It’s normal,
and flattering. Being exposed to everyone’s thoughts from a young age has
taught me to ignore most of it. I do wish I could turn it off sometimes, but I
can’t.
“Okay. Let’s change subjects.
Back to Sarah.”
“Sarah just gets too nervous
for this work. She was on the verge of being let go, but I wanted to help her.
Give her another chance. See, stupid. I didn’t realize the next assignment
would be so…hard.” Whitney sighed. “Well, I guess I had better get back to my
room and get started on my report.”
“Can you tell me anything right
now that will help us?”
“Not yet. I have to take the
time to go over it. It’ll take a while. Thanks for taking me to breakfast and
for being patient.”
“Do you know who did it?”
“Nick, if I knew that I’d tell
you. Really. Just give me some time.”
Nick shrugged and put out his
cigarette. If she could see things, why didn’t she see the killer? It still
wasn’t making much sense, and his belief system was going haywire. His mind was
deep in thought all the way to the motel. She seemed lost in her own thoughts
as rode along in silence. Just as they pulled into the motel his cell phone
rang.
“Naylor. Yeah. Dropping her off
at the motel. No. No. Fine!” He turned to Whitney. “It’s Agent Hollerman. He
wants to talk to you.”
Whitney slowly reached for the
phone. Nick’s face had turned to stone. He was being asked to do something he
didn’t like.
“Hello.” It was Agent
Hollerman. “Yeah. Uh huh. No! I’ll be fine.” Whitney could hear the whining in
her voice and tried to sound more commanding. “No. Look, this is getting
ridiculous.”
The agent on the other end
sounded like a father talking to his errant teenager. “Look Whitney, you know
you shouldn’t be alone. It’s one thing to take risks, but not unnecessary ones.
You need someone there, and I can’t get away. I’ve tried, but everyone is out
on assignment and no one can be pulled off. Nick has already been through the
worst of it. Let him stay with you just until you finish the report. Whitney? Whitney
if you can’t do this, I can pull you off the case.”
“No! That’s not fair. You know
I can’t stop now. I want to stop this guy as bad as you do.” Whitney paused.
“Fine! Whatever. We’ll do it your way. Are you sure he’s willing?”
Whitney handed the phone back
to Nick. “He wants to talk to you again.”
Nick talked over the details
and hung up. So now he was the new “assistant”. The captain had cleared it as
long as Nick agreed. He thought about saying no, but he just couldn’t do it,
even though in this case an assistant was a glorified babysitter. Of course
that meant she would be accompanying him on any detective work, which would be
another headache. He looked over at Whitney. She was looking out the window,
but he could see the tears rolling down her cheeks. He couldn’t believe he’d
started the day thinking she was a nut, and now he found himself wishing he
could do something to ease her pain. What kind of life could she have