Garden of Sorrow (Book 4 of Psychic Visions, a paranormal romantic suspense) by Dale Mayer Read Free Book Online

can run, but you can't hide."
    He looked so eerily sure of himself, her nerves couldn`t take any more. She slammed her gearshift into drive and raced off.
    ***
    Long shadows fell on the empty parking lot as Alexis escaped.
    "Well, well, well," he whispered to the empty parking lot. That was a first. Occasionally a probe made someone feel odd, uncertain even, but that was after he'd had a good chance to check their energy out. Alexis was unique. He'd barely opened his senses, barely sent out a smidge of his consciousness before she'd noticed the shift in energy. As a physical touch.
    Then she'd panicked.
    Kevin considered some of the things he'd heard about her. Scott had said she was well-liked but a loner with a spitfire temper. That she wasn't afraid to call a spade a spade, a great friend to have on your side...
    Whereas her boss said the exact opposite. Rick's comments had been caustic, and basically said, 'Alexis is walking trouble, with an attitude.'
    Mostly, she was an enigma. One he had no intention of walking away from, and for more than one reason. Psychic intuition had supplied the knowledge of an upcoming relationship – an intuition that had yet to fail him – and his imagination had filled in the rest. Images so vivid, they'd driven him half-mad last night. Which, considering she wasn't even close to enjoying a night in his bed, had frustrated him beyond sleep.
    Thank God, she hadn't been able to hide her response to him. He'd take some solace in that.
    He grinned. He could expect one hell of a fight getting her into his bed.
    That was all right. It would make the victory all the sweeter.
    For both of them.
    ***
    Alexis shuddered in relief when she finally turned off the truck's engine at her apartment. Not the most pleasant trip to the garage and then home. She couldn't explain the continued sense of unease. It lived under her skin these days. She ran to the front entrance.
    "Hey, Alexis."
    She raced past her neighbor with a fast wave and headed for the stairs, knowing she still had to navigate the hallway. Afraid nerves would overtake her if she slowed down, she ran up the three flights to her floor. The door to her hallway stood on her right but fear of a repeat of yesterday's hallway vision made her hand hesitate, hover over the handle...
    Irritated by her lack of control, she forced herself to pull the door open.
    So far, so good. It looked normal. With a confidence she didn't feel, she strode down the length to her apartment. Just as she unlocked the door, a faint voice reached out to her.
    Hello.
    Alexis pivoted in surprise. "Who's there?"
    A small, rippling mirage wavered in front of her. Transparent and wispy, the outline of a child slowly appeared. Alexis reared back. It was the child from the ditch.
    Help me , the voice intoned. Please…Help free me…
    Trembling and weak, Alexis shook her head in denial. Her mind screamed even as she reached for a semblance of control.
    "Who are you?" she whispered to the miniature apparition, so clear and yet so transparent. "What do you want?" She wiped her hands on her jeans.
    Huge, expressive eyes beckoned to Alex, drawing her closer. She noticed the odd-brownish tint first, only to realize it was a dingy carpet showing through. The child's eyes were empty windows to an old soul.
    "Dai…sy. Help me…" The voice trailed off as the image rippled then faded into nothingness in front of her.
    "Oh God, oh God, oh God." Alexis couldn't stop her frantic litany of prayer any more than she could control the mad trembling that prevented her fingers from opening the door…
    Finally, she made it inside. Alexis leaned against the locked and chained door, taking in deep gulps of air.
    Talk about déjà vu. Adapting to ghosts was so not on her agenda. And helping them… She shuddered at the thought.
    When she finally peeled herself off the door, she couldn't stop pacing. Nervous energy sent her storming around the tiny apartment. Her nerves couldn't take much more. Chills