He was a man who had suffered a great deal, and her heart went out to him. He had Bonnies eyes, she thought, looking at him.
Mr. Banacek?
Yes? This time, the word came out a little more civilized
sounding, though it was by no means intended to be friendly.
He wanted to be left alone. Alone to repackage the box and find some way to store it away again. It was hard enough to find a place for himself tonight without having to deal with some wispy dark-blond stranger who looked as if the wind had literally blown her to his doorstep.
My name is Eliza Eldridge. Id like to speak to you about Bonnie.
His jaw tightened so rigidly, had it been made out of glass, Eliza was certain it would have shattered.
What about her?
I believe shes still alive. In her entire experience, shed never found an easy way to say this. Ive had this dream about her
His eyes darkened to the color of a storm. The next moment, hed slammed the door shut in her face.
Chapter 2
Walker felt himself beginning a not-so-slow burn. Didnt these people have lives? Didnt they have anything better to do than torment people touched by tragedy?
He strode back to the door, growing angrier with the woman leaning on his bell with every step he took.
Go away, Ms. Eldridge, he shouted through the door. He made no attempt to sound civil. At this point, he just wanted her to get out of his life. Im not about to talk to you.
Eliza placed her outstretched hand on the door, wishing there was some way to touch the man behind it. Wishing she could make Walker Banacek understand and accept what it was that she wanted to do for him. But this part had never come about easily. It wasnt quite like tilting at windmills, but it came close. People regarded clairvoyants as something between certified lunatics and fairy folk.
Just give me a few minutes of your time to explain, please.
The door didnt open.
If you dont leave now, he called to her, Ill call the police.
If he thought that was a threat, he was going to be disappointed, she thought. Shed been subjected to far worse. Ask for Lieutenant Trent Lanihan. Hell vouch for me.
For a moment there was nothing but silence, and she thought that perhaps he had walked away, after all. And then, to her surprise, the door opened, but not enough to allow her to come in.
Look, trust me, Ive heard it all, Walker snapped coldly as he stood in the doorway. So you can take your crystal ball, your tarot cards, your channeling persona, or whatever the hell you claim to use to bilk people out of their money and prey on their paltry hopes, and get the hell off my doorstep because I promise you, I am not in the mood for whatever bill of goods it is youre trying to sell me.
But before Walker could close the door on her again, Eliza wedged her body into the doorway, deterring his attempts to throw her out. He would have to do it bodily, or be forced to listen to her.
When he glared at her incredulously, she met his gaze not defiantly, but with such understanding that it took his breath away. Stunned, he stopped holding the door firmly in place and listened.
I dont use a crystal ball, tarot cards or a channeling persona, she told him in a soft voice meant to inspire confidence and soothe an impassioned beast. Her mouth curved slightly; she knew exactly what he was thinking. Im not a quack, Mr. Banacek. I have no explanation for my abilities, I only know that there are times when Im made aware of things that other people arent, and at times I can see things that other people dont.
He sincerely doubted that. She didnt see things; what she accomplished she did with hypnosis. In his opinion, there was no other explanation for why hed momentarily ceased pushing her out. No other explanation why he wasnt pushing her out this second. It had to be hypnosis. One look into her eyes would convince anyone of that. They were a light shade of blue, so light that it made him think of the nylon used in making translucent nightgowns. Even now they seemed to be invading his very mind.
He blinked, rousing himself. Whatever tricks she was attempting to pull, they werent going to work on him. Hed been through too much already. Go away, he ordered sternly.
Eliza hated being put in the position of forcing herself on someone, but this was too important for her to turn away. A childs life could be hanging in the balance.
Not yet, Mr. Banacek, not until you hear me out. When Im finished, if you still want me to leave, I will. No calls to the police will be necessary.
Walker was torn. He didnt like being played for a fool, but he had to admit that no matter how hard he tried to smother it, to bury it, there was still a small part of him that clung to irrational hope, hope that flew in the
face of all the statistics to the contrary. Hope of finding Bonnie.
His eyes held hers. Then, after a beat, he opened the door a little wider. But his body remained in the way, blocking access to his house. He wasnt about to let her mistake this for an invitation.
What is this to you?
He had a right to question. A lost child, Mr. Banacek, she replied softly. What is it to you?