Grace was getting out.
Kyle had told her they couldn’t hold her. She submitted to fingerprinting, but she knew hers wouldn’t match any on the gun.
So she stood outside the police station, drinking in her freedom. The day hadn’t seemed so warm or inviting.
Zach stopped next to her. “Give you a lift?”
Where did he stand in all this? “You think I did it?”
“No.” His head shook from side to side. “But they must or they wouldn’t have brought you in. You sure you didn’t see anyone?”
She sighed. Ever the cop. Could he not be for five minutes? “No and I’ve said that a million times today.”
“Sorry.”
He put a hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged it off. “Maybe you shouldn’t be consorting with a murder suspect.”
“Grace.”
Her name on his lips stopped her. “You aren’t a suspect or you’d still be in there.”
“I’m out here because of Kyle.” She looked up at him. He seemed taller to her. His jet black hair was a little more rumpled than usual. His eyes were just as steely. “Thanks.”
He put a hand on her arm. “Look I have to go shower and get to work. Let me drop you somewhere.”
“I’m going home.”
“You sure you want to be there?”
“Yes, I need to sleep. I have to work tonight.” A thought occurred to her. “I need to get into the morgue.”
“For what?”
She waved a hand away. “I’ll find another ride. I have something to do at the hospital.”
She left him standing on the steps.
He’d live. She’d almost forgotten that she needed to see Dolores. She only had a few minutes or her power would be gone. She’d never save Dolores. Zach may forgive her, but she couldn’t forgive herself
The morgue attendant wasn’t so keen on that idea. “She’s due for an autopsy this morning.”
“Just a peek before you cut her up.”
“This some closure thing?”
“Right.”
The tall, thin man frowned. “Okay.”
He led her to a drawer in a stark, cold room. “She’s in here. You have five minutes.”
Graced braced herself for a rewind.
She wasn’t disappointed.
The sun shone as it had the first two times she went through that day.
But this time Dolores was shaking her head. “No, I’m sorry I just rented the apartment to someone.”
“Oh,” Grace said unsure of where to go from here. This hadn’t happened last time. Maybe she could talk the tenant out of this place. She’d have to think of some great story.
Gee, the landlady’s going to get killed and I need to be there to save her. Like I did the last two times I was here.
They’d be fitting her with a straitjacket for sure.
Dolores put a hand on her hip. “Anything else?”
She was being dismissed. “Uh, no.”
Zach pulled up at that moment. He strode over to them full of authority. Her heart burst at the sight of him, but she tamped it down. He didn’t know her from Adam.
“Problem?” Zach said. His mirrored sunglasses obscured his eyes, but she knew his gaze would go right through her.
Dolores spoke before Grace could form any words. “I’m trying to tell this woman I rented the apartment already. She isn’t leaving. She insists I should rent it to her.”
Zach looked over his sunglasses. “Oh? You have a problem miss?”
Grace shook her head, wondering what she’d said and why was this time even more different than the last rewind. Thoughts swirled in her brain. Someone was doing something different each time. But who would know to do that, but her and she did everything the same as she could.
“No, problem, but I would like to talk to you.”
He flipped a card out of his pocket. “Make an appointment.”
She took the proffered item, but shook her head. “I need to speak with you now.”
Zach crossed his arms, his stance wide as if bracing for something. “Okay.”
“Could I buy you a cup of coffee or something?”
He shrugged. “I’ll be back in a little bit, Lors.”
With a peck on the cheek, he strode back to his car. “Follow me.”
Grace met him two blocks away at a coffee shop on the main drag in Glen Hills. He ordered his with shot of cinnamon.
She sipped her latte, gathering her words carefully. The direct approach would have to work, not that she liked it that way. If she couldn’t be on Dolores doorstep she’d have to find another way to keep her eye on the woman. “I think Dolores is in trouble.”
Zach took man-sized swig of his frilly coffee, then set the cup down on the table. His long fingers stroked the Styrofoam, making Grace’s mouth water.
She shook away the images of her and Zach naked when his deep voice interrupted them. “In trouble how?”
“She’s going to be murdered.”
He straightened at the word “murder.” “Do you know for a fact? Have you heard of some plot?”
“Not exactly.”
How could she tell him? This had never become any easier for her. And probably wouldn’t ever. So she forged ahead. “I can’t tell you how, I know, I just know.”
“Now, Miss?”
“Harmony, but call me Grace.”
“Miss Harmony, if you’re trying to protect someone, they shouldn’t be. If they want to commit murder then they do not deserve your loyalty.”
She sighed, trying to get rid of her frustration. Her heart swelled with her emotions for him and she couldn’t think straight. She just wanted to kiss him and see if he’d remember. Her fingers ached to touch him. She longed to be touched by him. “I’m not protecting anyone. But Dolores.”
“Then why do you think she’s in danger?”
Grace took a breath, then blew it out noisily. “Sometimes I know things before hand.”
His mouth twisted into grimace. “Oh, a psychic.” His eyes rolled. “I’ve dealt with those before.”
“Then you understand.”
“Completely.” He stood, then dropped some bills on the Formica table. “And I’m not buying into your scam.”
Grace’s mouth fell open as he strode out of the coffee shop.
Well that didn’t go well.
Zach strolled back to his car. He heard the thud of someone running behind him. Not the rhythmic patter of a jogger, but someone in a hurry. He whirled to find the young woman racing towards him.
She stopped two feet from him, her chest heaving. “What if I can prove that I know things?”
“Ma’am, you are looking at the world’s greatest skeptic. I’m not going to be bothered.”
“Please.”
Her green eyes pleaded with him. He was always a sucker for a pretty face. And she had a nice one. And a
