you would break this confidence, I wouldn’t tell you. However, if you were to say anything, no one would believe you, and you would find your life not quite as enjoyable as it is now,” he warned in a very quiet and very matter of fact tone of voice.
“I was born with a heightened sensitivity to noise,” he began. “As a child it was difficult because I grew up in an environment that wasn’t exactly, conducive, for my particular
sensitivities.”
He gave the information to Mark succinctly, in a matter of fact tone of voice, obviously
leaving out specific details. “As I grew older certain other abilities began to manifest, and it wasn’t too long before I realized I was… different… than others.”
Mark glanced sharply at Nicolai, and he caught the faraway look in the man’s eyes, as
though his mind were somewhere else, journeying to another place and time, before he began to speak again.
“Soon I couldn’t hide my peculiar capabilities and I knew I needed to leave the small
town where I’d lived my whole life. Most of my life,” he amended.
“I joined the Army, Special Forces, at seventeen and forged the permission slip that was
needed if you weren’t legal age.”
Mark listened attentively to the agent speak, realizing as he did so, although the agent
was succinct in his narration, giving away as little details as possible, he was learning about something not many people knew.
“I left the Army and trained at the FBI academy and joined their ranks as a field
operative. Eventually I headed up a specialized team of highly trained agents, with varying talents.”
After several moments had passed with no further answer from Montgomery, Mark asked
bluntly, “what exactly can you do?”
“I’m sensitive to vocal vibrations. I am able to pick up on strong emotions through
inanimate objects. Most sighted people rely on their sense of sight to guide them and help them make judgments. Those without sight, rely on their other senses, especially their sense of
hearing, to guide them. In most instances I rely on my heightened sense of sound to guide me.
I’m able to pick up nuances others cannot.”
“Like a dog.” Mark couldn’t keep back.
“Actually my hearing is much better than your average dog’s.” Nicolai countered and
watched Mark’s eyebrows rise even higher than they’d been.
Mark remembered what occurred in the conference room with the two cards. “Something
happened when you picked up the cards Maya was sent. I saw the way you looked.” Mark was
anxious to get to Maya, worried of this new threat.
“In answer to your question of control, I have received rigorous training to learn control.
I’ve learned to block out unwanted ‘sounds’ from coming through. As far as the cards, they
simply verified what I knew to be true. They were sent by the slayer,” he said simply and didn’t elaborate.
“So she’s after Maya now.”
“She’s not going to harm Dr. Richardson. At least not yet,” Montgomery amended.
“She’s placed her on a pedestal. Why, I don’t know, but more than likely it’s because of what Dr.
Richardson does with Imani House. The slayer sees them both as ‘protectors.’ Dr. Richardson helps them escape a life of prostitution by taking them off the streets; the killer helps them escape by killing those who use their services.”
“Why break into her house? Steal nothing but a small necklace with no real monetary
value? A trophy?”
“Of sorts. She has the other one, the one that belonged to Dr. Richardson’s foster sister.
She wants to feel closer to her. She probably wears it now, perhaps both of them. Or she’s given one away to a lover or family member so she can always look at it. Most serial criminals do this to enable them to relive the crime.”
“What does this mean for Maya?”
“It means the slayer feels a kinship to her. However, if Maya does some perceived
wrongdoing in her eyes, then she falls quickly from that erected pedestal and will no doubt become the next target.”
“Like what? What wrongdoing could she possibly commit to make this maniac turn on
her? You said she sees Maya and herself in similar roles as protectors. What could Maya do to change that view?” Mark asked the agent desperately, as they arrived at Imani House.
CHAPTER 44
“Dalia, the fashion fundraiser is a few weeks away, we just can’t cancel it. Imani House
relies on the money it generates to fund our programs.”
“I am sorry, Sesute, but I do not think this is a good time for it. I, as well as you, am aware of how much we rely on this money. But no amount of money is worth one’s life.”
Mark could hear Maya and Dalia through Maya’s partially opened door, as he and
Montgomery walked inside after a brief knock.
Both women turned in the direction of the door as the men walked inside. Immediately,
Mark walked over to where Maya stood and kissed her, showing no concern for their audience of two.
“Ms. Draugulis would you mind showing me around Imani House while the detective and
Dr. Richardson have a moment,” Nicolai asked.
“Of course Agent Montgomery.” Dalia walked slowly toward the agent, her eyes roaming
over his body. Nicolai kept his smile in check as he escorted Maya’s statuesque assistant out of the office.
Once the door closed behind the pair, Mark bent down to kiss Maya more slowly and
thoroughly, before gradually lifting his head to look down into her upturned face.
“I’m worried sweetheart,” he admitted as he led her to one of the oversized chairs, and
pulled her down unto his lap.
“Something to do with the burglary and the slayer?”
“Yes. We have reason to believe your anonymous admirer and the slayer are one in the same.” He saw her eyes widen, as her hand automatically went to her mouth in disbelief.
“Oh no. How could that be? I mean--how, how do you know? Did
