How dare she? His eyes dissolved into angry slits as he glared at her. A trick, a ploy. I dont know whether youre a reporter, a tragedy groupie or just a crackpot
And he had been besieged by all of them, Eliza thought. In large numbers. There was nothing she could do about that. But to have his help, she needed to change his mind. There is a fourth choice.
Which is? His tone was guarded. Hypnotically beautiful eyes not withstanding, he wasnt about to be suckered into anything. Those days were gone.
Her eyes looked straight into him. That Im on the level.
Looking away, Walker laughed shortly. Even if he might once have been inclined to believe the kind of nonsense she was spouting, hed learned his lesson the hard way. His wife had paid clairvoyants to help. All they had done was help separate Rachel from her money. Bonnie was dead and he had to accept that. Had accepted it. He wasnt about to retrace his steps or retract his decision, the decision it had taken him months of soul-wrenching searching to reach.
He placed his hand on the door, ready to push it closed again. Sorry, I dont believe in things that go bump in the night.
Her hand touched his as she moved to stop him. A volley of lights blazed before her eyes. House lights. Bedroom lights. Is that why you keep the lights on at night?
Because he couldnt summon a single word to answer her with, Walker stared at her in stunned silence.
When you go to sleep at night, she continued in a gentle voice, knowing that he desperately needed comfort, needed hope, not someone who raised her voice to match his in a dual of words, is that why you dont turn off the lights?
How did you know? For the briefest of moments, Walker actually entertained the thought that she was on the level. And then he came to his senses. There was a logical explanation, there always was. He just had to look for it. You read that somewhere, didnt you?
Although, in all honesty, he didnt remember ever telling anyone that, not even his sister. It was just something between him and the memory of the child he still carried in his heart. The child who was no more.
No. The single word was devoid of guile. Until this morning, I didnt even know who you were. Shed missed the news medias coverage of the tragedy, missed the stories on page one and then page three until they had worked their way to the back of the newspaper. I wasnt in the city the month your daughter was kidnapped. I was in Georgia. Holding the hand of a man who had never accepted her. Holding his hand as he lay dying.
Eliza pushed the memory away. She was here to offer her help because Bonnie Banacek was missing, not to remember things that caused her pain. Pain only interfered with her ability to see things clearly.
Walker crossed his arms before his chest, a physically and emotionally immovable force. Uh-huh. And just what is it that brings you to my door now?
He didnt believe her, she thought. Shed caught him off guard with her question about the lights, shaken him up, but he still clung to his disbelief. In his place, maybe shed do the same.
All she could so was tell him the truth. Ive been having dreams about Bonnie. I think shes using me to get a message to you.
A sneer crept into his eyes, over his lips. Hed caught her in a lie. I thought you said you didnt channel.
Its not channeling, she corrected gently. As far as she knew, that had never happened to her. Channeling a spirit supposedly involves someone whos passed on. Your daughter is very much alive, Mr. Banacek.
Walker wanted to shout at her, to shake her until she recanted. He didnt know how, but he managed to hold on to his temper. Oh, and I have your guarantee on this, Miss He broke off in frustration.
Eldridge, she repeated quietly. Eliza Eldridge. Opening her purse, she took out a business card and handed it to him.
Now they were getting to it, he thought cynically. The pitch. He glanced down at the card.
ChildFinders, Inc.? Angry, he shoved the card back into her hand. What is this, some alternative form of ambulance chasing?
She had no choice but to take the card back. No, thats just a number where you can reach me during the day. And she hoped he would. This has nothing to do with the agency.
He was going to close
the door, she saw it in his eyes. Eliza placed her hand on his arm in a silent entreaty. The dream keeps recurring, she told him. I went to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Web site and looked for someone who resembled the girl in my dream.
A very convincing cover story, but that was all it was: a story. A one-story-fits-all with no truth to it. He made no effort to hide his contempt. Is that how you drum up business?
She could almost feel the wall of hostility hed erected around himself. No, we have no need to drum up business. Sadly, theres more than enough to go around. We get calls to search for missing children from all over the country.
Then why are you bothering me? he demanded, suddenly drained. Too drained to even pretend to be polite. Go answer them and leave me alone.