Page 7 of Dark Shadows
Mason walked out without looking back.
2
Mason climbed into his SUV and started the ignition when his phone rang.
“Did she take the bait?” his best friend, Cree Blue, asked in lieu of hello.
Mason glanced at the dashboard clock before answering into the Bluetooth speaker in his car. “She has four and a half minutes. Are you sure it was enough to do the trick? She’s not exactly offering to be helpful.”
“Well, I recall a time when you weren’t exactly helpful when I approached you. You weren’t a believer. I had to convince you. So maybe she just needs a little time to recognizeyourpotential,” Cree said.
She was the world’s worst at delivering life-changing news.
Of all the ways she could have told him that his world was about to change, she sent it in one of her damn letters, as if she was an anonymous tipster, sending information to him as she had to countless other unsuspecting folks.
Mason sighed. He couldn’t make Savanah agree any quicker. “She needs to hurry and figure things out, or your prediction is going to be wrong.”
He could feel Cree rolling her eyes even though he couldn’t see her. “I’m never wrong. Just ask my husband. And look at the bright side. I gave you leverage by knowing exactly what buttons to push.”
“Well, she hates cops, and she hasn’t come running out the door yet.”
“Relax, Mason,” Cree said. “You still have time to catch the guy. She might need more than a few minutes to say yes, but trust me, she will.”
“Can’t you just tell me who the killer is? I mean, come on. You used to offer your help without us even needing to ask for it. Hook up to that doohickey machine and plug in. Get me a name with a face.”
He glanced at the clock. Two minutes left.
“You know I can’t plug intoInsight. The electrical currents could hurt my pregnancy, and I won’t risk it. That leaves me with only my premonitions now. Well, at least until after I deliver. I’d be happy to tune in then.”
Mason knew she couldn’t. It wasn’t any less frustrating. The machine her father had designed helped the rest of the world see what was going on inside a psychic’s head, both the visions they saw and the way they saw things. Her family had been helping to solve cold cases for years, working under the radar with police departments and the FBI.
It was how they’d met. It was why Mason believed Cree without a shadow of a doubt.
If Cree claimed Savanah Miles was the woman who would help him catch this new threat, then she was. It was that simple.
He was fine with trusting. It was the part about being patient that he hated.
He had no use for that word in his vocabulary.
“Earth to Mason.”
“Sorry,” he said. “I’m worried that if the killer sticks with his routine, we’ll find another body within the next few days. If we don’t stop him in that time, we’ll have to wait weeks before he strikes again.”
“Finding Savanah was the first step, Mason. I’m sorry I can’t help you any more than I have.”
One minute.
“It’s okay. You gave that message from the ghost girl, Emily telling Savanah she needs to return. If she won’t believe me, she’ll believe a ghost, right?”
“Of course she will. Savanah will know you’re for real just by the fact you know Emily’s ghost was wearing a sunflower dress.”
“I guess I can’t expect all the answers on a silver platter. Tell West I said hi and that I’ll be back in town in three weeks to help him finish the nursery renovation project.”
“I will,” Cree said. “And, Mason…”
Mason paused, his finger poised to hang up. “Yeah?”
“Be careful.” Cree’s voice held a hint of concern.
