Out of Body

Marley set the turban on the table. “Nothing from this, Nat. I tried, but I don’t feel anything. I’m sorry.”

“How about this?” He gave her the gloves. They were black, crocheted and fingerless.

“I like them,” Marley said, trying unsuccessfully to see the pattern. “They look old.”

“They probably are. Feel anything?”

She didn’t. Going from one item to another she grew tired and irritable.

“Give it up,” Gray said.

Nat’s phone rang. “Archer,” he answered. “When? You know her?”

Marley quit breathing.

“Friend Danny has a new lady love,” Nat said, slipping the phone away. “They were pretty cozy when they went into Danny’s place a few minutes ago and Danny didn’t seem to be looking upset over anything. That’s probably unimportant. The guys are just looking for something to report.”

Marley didn’t say anything and Gray got up. He walked to the railing and stood there looking out over the dark grounds. He also stood right in front of Sykes, whom Marley could see grinning at her. Gray’s hand rested on top of Sykes’s on the column, a fact Sykes obviously found humorous.

“We’ve got to wonder if we should be worrying about any woman being alone with Danny,” Gray said. “I always liked the guy, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

“Surely doesn’t,” Nat said. “But we can’t do anything unless there’s a complaint. Other than keep an eye on Danny.”

Sykes looked into Gray’s face as if he was looking for something.

Watching her brother unnerved Marley.

“Thanks for coming, Sykes. I’d appreciate it if you’d bug out now. I’ll make contact if I need you,” she said.

“Is that a promise? ”

“Yes.”

“Okay. He’s good-looking.” He ought to know when he was an inch from Gray’s face. “He could be interesting to sculpt. What does he look like with his clothes off?”

“Good night, Sykes.”

“Night. See you soon.”

“The only other thing I brought is this,” Nat said and produced Pearl Brite’s cycling helmet.

“I don’t want to do that,” Marley said. She stood abruptly. “No, I don’t want to touch it.”

“Why not?”

“There’s violence there. I…I don’t want to.”

“Then the helmet is exactly what you need to hold, Marley,” Nat said. “You’ve got strong feelings about it. That’s good.”

“Quit pushing her,” Gray snapped. “Not tonight. Let her think about it tonight.”

“Pearl Brite may not have long enough for anyone to take their time thinking about whether they want to help her or not.”

“That’s rotten,” Marley said sharply. “You know I want to help. You don’t know what I feel, but it’s not good. I don’t understand what’s going on and I have to think. Please put the helmet away. I’ll deal with it first thing in the morning.”

Visibly reluctant, Nat returned the helmet to its paper bag.

“Why don’t we all go back to town and do whatever we feel we have to do,” Nat said. “I’m glad I came out. It’s peaceful here. And it helps for us to spend time together off the record.”

Gray said, “Yes,” but Marley heard him as though through a closed window.

Her palms sweated and the still-visible welts there burned.

“Pipes has marks like these on her neck,” Marley said quietly, holding out her hands.

“What?” Nat spun around. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Gray said. “But we didn’t want to tell you too soon. She’s already the skittish type and we thought it best not to frighten her off altogether just in case she’s got useful information. Chances are that if we leave her alone, she’ll come to us eventually—if she’s got something to share.”

“Damn it,” Nat said. “You keep throwing these direct connections at me then telling me I can’t use them. I need to get to that woman and talk to her on her own.”

“The only way you can do that is by telling her about Marley’s experiences,” Gray said. “Do that and you could blow everything wide-open. We’d probably end up no closer to a solution if Pipes clams up.”

“You have gone too far, bitch.”

Marley jumped so hard her neck hurt. She looked from Nat to Gray, who showed no sign of having heard a grating male voice speak to her.

“Now I have seen you clearly. You are imprinted on my senses and I will find you. And you will tell me who betrayed me by telling you what you have no right to know. Anyone in my way will be removed.

“You’re going to tell me who and what you are. I will find out everything about you. I have never failed to get what I want. When I am finished, you will never get in my way again.”

Chapter 35

“Gray?”

Nat sounded uneasy.

“What?” Gray said.

“Something’s wrong,” Nat said under his breath.

Then Gray realized what the other man was talking about. Marley’s hands hung at her sides and she stared toward the house. Her face wasn’t so much rigid, as lifeless—except for her staring eyes.

Gray took a step toward her and felt an invisible force pushing him back.

“Do you think you should touch her?” Nat said. “What’s the matter with her?”

“I don’t know,” Gray said. “Marley?” he added quietly. He wanted to get her away from what he felt stirring around them.

Something deeply evil.

“She can’t hear us,” Nat said. “They don’t have a handbook on this one. Not that I’ve seen. Did you ever see her do this before?”

Gray was past his usual level of caution. “Not exactly.” A current buffeted him and he was surprised he didn’t stagger.

“Something like it, though?”

Gray ran a hand over his hair. “She’s seeing something we can’t see. Let her go.” It would be better for him to be alone with her.

Marley walked directly toward a door that opened on a room barely visible through large windows. She paused, then took another step.

“She’ll walk right into the glass,” Nat said, talking about the panes in the upper half of the door. Gray broke from the restraint and shot forward to grab her.

The door swung open of its own volition and Marley walked inside.

“Holy shit!” Nat said. “I didn’t see what I just saw.”

“We both did,” Gray said, following Marley.

“You can’t just walk into other people’s houses,” Nat said.

“We’re being let in. Invited in, if you like. But you can stay here if you feel better about it.”

He went after Marley with light, rapid steps and realized he was behaving as if he were dealing with a sleepwalker.

Lamps on bentwood tables glowed, beads swinging gently from the shades. They hadn’t been turned on a moment ago. The room was typical of its period and purpose. Widely spaced rattan furniture covered with cool- colored cotton fabrics grouped for conversation beneath wooden fans on heated days. Large, faded floral rugs on