Deadly Visions by Roy Johansen Read Free Book Online

of the van, where Gary juggled his still camera with the 3-D digital video camera. Donna sat in the driver's seat, drumming her blue nails on the wheel to the rhythm of a song only she could hear.
    Donna's heavily made-up eyes flicked to Hadden-field in the rearview mirror. “You want atmospheric readings?”
    “No,”he said.”We'll get them later, when it's safe to move closer.”
    “Gotcha.”
    “Looks like they're on the move,”Gary said, squinting through his long zoom lens. “Are we following Gaines or staying on the site?”
    “We're staying here for a bit,”Haddenfield said.
    “Good,”Paul said. “You can entertain us by letting us know what the hell we're doing.”
    “You know the drill. Strictly need-to-know.”
    Donna stared at Haddenfield in the rearview mirror. “Does Monica Gaines know about us?”
    “Let's just say she's a participant in this project.”
    Paul shook his head. “Why would we hide our project from the police?”
    “You knew that was a condition of this project. In case you've forgotten, you're being very well paid.”
    Gary leaned back.”
Very
well paid. Don't rock the boat, Paul. I kind of like the cloak-and-dagger stuff.”
    “I just wish we had a little more information,”Paul said.
    Haddenfield turned away. “Just know that this is a very sensitive project.”
    “Sensitive
how?
”
    Haddenfield picked up a pair of binoculars and inspected the studio parking lot.”There are people out there who wouldn't hesitate to kill all of us for the answers to your questions. Shall we get going?”
    Joe, Howe, and Carla escorted Monica to the five remaining murder scenes, and each time her impressions matched those at the first two locations. She made sketches at each site, and they all featured the same wispy, cloaked spirits. The readings were vague yet disturbing, and Monica still insisted that dark supernatural entities were responsible for the killings.
    They broke for an early dinner at Houston's, across from the Lenox Square shopping center.
    “I'm sorry I wasn't more help,”Monica said after they'd placed their orders. “I've been places where I came up with absolutely nothing, but I've never had an experience like this.”
    “Neither have we, I assure you,”Howe said.
    Carla shrugged. “Well, it made things interesting. Good material for your TV show, huh?”
    “I'll discuss it, of course.”Monica pulled her sweater tightly around her, even though it was warm in the restaurant. “Something's out there that senses me every bit as powerfully as I sense it. I'm not sure if it feels threatened by me, or just …”Her voice trailed off.
    “What?”Joe asked.
    “Amused.”
    “You think you're being laughed at?”
    “I don't know. I suppose that would be better than having it angry at me.”
    “Listen, I'm curious,”Carla said. “You've been working with us for a couple of days now. Did you pick up impressions on any of us?”
    “Of course.”
    “Anything you'd care to share?”
    “Other than the fact that you're in a romantic relationship that you're trying to keep secret?”
    Carla swallowed hard. “What—what do you mean?”
    “You have strong feelings for someone, don't you? But you and this person aren't ready to share it with the world.”
    Carla's face reddened.
    Howe roared with laughter. “It's true, isn't it? Come on, Carla. Tell us about him. If it
is
a him.”
    “Shut up, Howe.”
    Howe was enjoying himself. “Is there something you want to tell us about yourself, Carla? Come on, 'fess up.”
    “No.”Carla clasped her hands in front of her. “I don't want to discuss it.”
    Monica smiled. “Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me.”She turned to Howe. “Congratulations, by the way.”
    “For what?”
    “Didn't you recently get engaged?”
    Howe coughed for a good ten seconds before taking a drink of water. “No.”
    She frowned. “Hmmm. I guess we'll have to chalk that one up as a miss.”
    “Not exactly.”Howe turned to Joe and