She crumpled in the seat as the pain hit her.
Davy screamed.
She had to get up. Davy was scared. Had to take care of-
The voices faded and then vanished.
She was vaguely aware of the uniformed conductor beside her, his face concerned, saying something…
She slowly sat up in the seat.
Davy was crying.
She instinctively put her arm around him and drew him close. 'It's okay…' Her voice was slurred. She tried to steady it. 'Everything's okay, Davy.'
'Would you like me to take you to the first aid station, Miss?' The conductor said. 'Do you have someone you'd like me to call?'
'No, I'm fine.' But she wasn't fine, she thought in panic. Dear heaven, the voices… What if it happened again? Davy. She had to protect Davy. 'Maybe I am a little unwell. Perhaps you could have someone stay with me for a little while until I can get Davy's mom here to pick him up?' She reached for her phone. 'I'm going to call your mom, Davy. I must be coming down with flu or something.' She gently stroked his hair as she hugged him close. 'You remember a few months ago when you got sick? You were great after a few days but you felt a little wonky for a while.'
'Wonky,' he repeated, burying his head against her. 'I don't want you to be sick.'
'I'm only a little sick. I'm a doctor so I know things like that. By tomorrow I'll be okay.' She brushed her lips against his forehead. 'So will you help me by just being quiet and holding my hand? Sometimes that helps to make people feel better…'
'YOU'RE BACK EARLY.' PHILLIP looked up as she came in the door. 'I wasn't expecting you for another couple hours. Didn't Davy like-' He broke off as he saw her face. 'What's wrong?'
'Nothing.' She moistened her lips. 'Just a bad headache. I had Jana pick up Davy at the zoo. There wasn't any use ruining his day.'
'You never have headaches.'
'Well, I do now.' She headed for her bedroom. 'I'm going to try to sleep it off. I'll see you in a couple hours.'
She leaned against the door after she closed it behind her. She hated lying to Phillip. Since that first day they'd met at her mother's funeral, they'd always been honest with each other.
It couldn't be helped. She couldn't face anyone right now. She wanted to crawl into her bed like a wounded animal into its cave.
Was she going mad?
No, Mama had said…
She couldn't remember what she had said. It was blurred, like the voices, like the pain…
Sleep. Take a nap. Let everything drift away. After she woke she'd be able to think and plan how to handle this weirdness.
She crawled under the covers and curled up in a ball. It was going to be okay. She could handle whatever was happening to her. She just needed a little time to clear her head and decide what action to take.
And pray that the voices stayed away.
'I WANT TO SEE HER,' GRADY SAID when Phillip opened the door two hours later. 'And I don't want any arguments or protective crap, Phillip.'
Phillip stiffened. 'Why should I argue? I'm the one who phoned you. Remember?'
'But by this time I'm sure you've been mentally cursing me and considering the possibility that you'd be better off without my interference.'
'Maybe.'
'May I come in?'
Phillip didn't want to let him in, he realized. Grady had changed in the years that had passed. He had been only a young man of twenty-five when he'd approached Phillip about taking on the care of Megan. Now he must be in his mid-thirties and although still lean, still darkly handsome, beneath that glittering exterior he seemed weathered and scarred by experiences Phillip could only imagine. Even when he was younger he'd had an aura of power and confidence that was a little intimidating. Now that power was refined, more subtle, but infinitely stronger.
He shrugged and stepped aside. 'I couldn't stop you, could I?'
'Yes. You could shoot me.' He came into the house and closed the door. 'But that wouldn't be smart. I may not be what you want for Megan, but you don't like burning your bridges.' He glanced around the living room. 'Nice. Cozy.'
'We like it,' Phillip said. 'Megan and I picked out the furniture when we moved into the house after her mother's funeral. It was a new start for both of us and I wanted her to feel perfectly comfortable.'
'I'm sure she does. You did a good job in cocooning her. When you're a youngster, you need security.'
Phillip stiffened as he caught the implication. 'You mean she doesn't need that security, now that she's an adult. You're wrong. Everyone needs to feel safe.'
'But sometimes we don't get what we want or need. Where is she?'
'She's lying down. She's not feeling well.' He stared at him accusingly. 'Did you have something to do with that?'
'Yes.' He glanced at his watch. 'I can give her another thirty minutes to rest. I could go in and help, but she'd be better off if she came out of it herself. Why don't you give me a cup of coffee while I'm waiting?'
'I'm not feeling hospitable.' He gestured to the kitchen. 'Get it yourself.'
'Whatever.' He headed for the kitchen. 'I'll even make one for you.'
Phillip followed him and stood in the doorway watching him while he rummaged through the cabinets until he found the coffee. 'What did you do to her?'
'I did a little experimenting.' He scooped coffee into the coffeemaker. 'I had to see how much she could take.'
Phillip stiffened. 'What do you mean?'
'I lifted control.' He gave Phillip a level glance. 'I let her voices attack her. I thought the zoo was a good place since it's generally a happy escape for most people and there was a good chance the impact wouldn't be too heavy. I didn't want to make her face her particular demons, but I made sure she'd know they were there.'
'Damn you.'
'I thought that would be your reaction.' He shrugged. 'I thought it necessary. I had to see if she was still as strong as she was when she was a girl.'
'By hurting her?'
He nodded. 'By hurting her.'
'And what did you find out?'
'That she's a thousand times stronger. Molino would feel that he'd made a tremendous coup if he managed to kill her. She's not only her mother's daughter, but she's a powerhouse in her own right.' He added impatiently, 'I know you don't want to hear that. Too bad. Face it, Molino is either on her trail now or will find her eventually. It will be better if she's prepared. If
'Screw you. I won't let you near her.'
'Phillip.' Grady's voice was soft. 'You have no option. You're not her uncle. She's mine. I only lent her to you. Now I'm taking her back.'
'That's crap. She's a human being and she doesn't belong to anyone.'
'She belongs to me until I find the Ledger. After that, she can walk away. The two of you can disappear into
