Tuesday's Child by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online Page B

Where?”
    “Yes,” she signed, letting Jasmine translate for her. “She was by the river. There were swans on the water. She’s got long dark hair, is wearing jeans, and an orange strappy top. He chased her, and she fell. There was blood on her knees and hands. He looked as if he was helping her up, but he turned her onto her back, pushing her down. Then he put his hands around her throat…”
    Nate and Dane exchanged looks. “Did you see him? A park bench, anything? Something to narrow down the area for us to search.”
    She shook her head, still only able to sign. “Weeping willow trees, lots of them. Oh, there was a phone tower or pylon or something behind him. He wore a mask, but his eyes...”
    “If the time scales the same, we don’t have much time. I’ll get an all-points bulletin put out along that section of the river. Maybe they’ll see someone matching her description.” Dane pulled out his phone and turned away to make the call.
    Jasmine kept her face towards Adeline as she spoke. “Is she seeing the Herbalist murders, Nate?”
    “I wondered that, but the river’s nowhere near the—”
    Adeline cut him off now calm enough to form words. “He moves the bodies of the girls afterwards. It’s not random, where he’s leaving them.” She reached down and picked Ben up, cuddling him. “I’m all right,” she reassured him as he nudged her. She stroked his head and ears, the simple actions calming her.
    Jasmine touched her arm. “I want you to go home,” she signed as she spoke obviously making it clear there’d be no misunderstanding.
    “I’m fine.”
    Jasmine rolled her eyes and signed rapidly. “Don’t make me get Nate and Dane on to you. You’re no good to me like this. Go home. Have a bath. Watch some TV. Eat chocolate.”
    Part of her wanted to argue, to prove she was able to cope, but if she were honest, Adeline knew she couldn’t. These visions or whatever drained her. All she wanted to do was go home and pray.
    She wouldn’t wish this sense of helplessness on anyone. Knowing someone was being hurt and being unable to do anything about it ripped her heart in two. She had no idea why God had given her this ‘gift.’ Not if it didn’t save lives.
    Dane came back in. “Nate, we need to roll. Guv wants us to check this out.”
    Nate nodded. He looked at Adeline and held her gaze. “I’ll come pick you up at six.”
    Confusion filled her for a moment. Why was he picking her up at six? Then she remembered. He was cooking dinner for her. “Won’t you be busy now?”
    “Vianne is expecting you. I won’t let her down. I’ll pick you up at six.”
    “No, it’s fine. We’ll walk.” She held his gaze. “We’ll walk,” she repeated, signing it as well.
    Nate held his hands up in a show of defeat. “All right. You can walk. I’ll see you at six. Are you always this stubborn?”
    She shrugged slightly. “Mum would say you ain’t seen nothing yet. See you at six.”
    Nate rose and headed to the door.
    Dane kissed Jasmine and ran after him.
    “Come on Ben. Let’s go home.” She glanced at Jasmine, knowing she’d never manage the walk home no matter what she’d told Nate. “Can you take me, please? I didn’t want to appear weak in front of the men, but these things always take it out of me.”
    “Sure. Let me lock up and we’ll go. And you can fill me in on the way. I want to know how many of ‘these things’ as you put it you’ve had and what they mean.”
     
    ****
     
    Nate got back in the car, slamming the door harder than he needed. He let out a heavy sigh and shoved his hands viciously through his hair. They were too late, again. No sooner had they gotten to the river, than the call came through to go to Clover Drive.
    Dane got in and started the car. “Leave the door on the hinges, mate.”
    “Sorry.” Nate took a deep, supposedly calming breath, which did absolutely nothing for his stress levels. “That’s six women, Dane. And we still know nothing about