Don't Touch (14 page)

He could see she didn’t from the expression
on her face. Her eyes welled up and he pulled her into his lap.
Ryan let him hold her, the way he soothed her with his voice and
was so careful of how he touched her added to the grief. There was
no way he would be interested in a washed up ME with psychic
tendencies and a truly crazy sister.

She had to do something fast or she would
lose what was slowly coming back. “Do you know what judge is
residing?”

Jackson gave her the name and she grabbed the
phone calling her own attorney. He was livid shouting into the
phone several times. After making a few phone calls himself the
attorney called her back. “You have a chamber with the judge at
nine in the morning.”

“Thanks I’ll be there.” Hanging up the phone
she turned to Jack but before she could ask he was answering.

“I’ll go pick us up some dinner and get some
things from my place. I’ll stay here and we’ll go together
okay?”

Ryan nodded and hugged him. “You don’t have
to do any of this you know.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Maybe I want
to.” With that he walked to the car and drove off. Leaving her to
wonder if he meant it the same way she had understood it.

Three hours later he arrived with a small
suitcase and a box of fried chicken in tow. He set her down and
refused to let her move as he grabbed paper plates and cups. She
didn’t have plastic silverware so he pulled a pair of gloves from a
box on the counter and picked out what they needed.

They ate dinner and settled on the couch Ryan
flipped through the channels and found Master and Commander the Far
Side of the World. After a few minutes she elbowed him. “So what’s
with the gloves?”

He grinned that wicked grin. “Maybe I want to
do this.”

He wrapped her fingers in his. She blushed as
she tightened her hand. But it isn’t real she thought. “Jack, I
know you’re going to be gone as soon as we solve this case. I just
can’t take that on top of everything else. Not to mention I’m sure
you don’t want any of my attachments.”

Resting his forehead to hers Jackson looked
into those questioning dark eyes. “I’m not going anywhere after the
case is solved now matter which way this goes. I was sitting here
earlier thinking about you and should I even try.”

She sighed. This was good but could there
ever be any more. How do you love someone you can’t touch? “I don’t
know what to say to that. I know what I would like but it’s not
fair to you. Let’s just leave it here for now, alright?”

Sitting back he smiled his eyes said he
wasn’t disappointed making her return that smile. He brushed her
hair back but didn’t let go of her hand. “I’m not pushing, or
expecting anything. I meant it when I said I’m not going anywhere,
Ryan. Your trust in me means a lot.”

She settled back down against his shoulder.
“I do trust you or you wouldn’t be sitting here. You are the reason
I’m doing all this. You were the one who let me see that I could be
apart of the world again. So I don’t want you to go anywhere.”

The night was surprisingly peaceful Ryan
slept without nightmares and Jack slept next to her. He woke with
the alarm and stretched. “I haven’t slept like that since I was a
beat cop.”

Ryan didn’t want to move not only was she
warm and comfortable but her mind didn’t want to explore the
possibilities of the chamber meeting with the judge. Jack seemed to
sense it. He stroked her hair for a minute then jumped up and
grabbed a black box with a red ribbon tied around it out of his
case.

Grinning she sat up and opened the gift. A
beautiful set of supple leather gloves. They were so soft and
light. “I should say you shouldn’t have but I’m going to be greedy
and say thank you I love them.”

He smiled and went to the hall bath get
ready. Ryan had a firm chat with herself in the shower. Do not lose
your temper, remember who you are, you are not crazy no matter what
Amber brings up, and lastly find a way to open up and let that man
in. If she let Jackson Prince go she really was crazy.

Jackson was waiting for her in the living
room. The sight of him caught her breath. The usually scruffy
detective could easily give his cover model partner a run for his
money. Jack was dressed in black slacks and jacket with a blue
shirt that changed his eyes to match. No tie of course. His
chestnut waves were tamed and his beard neatly trimmed. She
couldn’t wait to walk out with him on her arm.

Jack turned when the bedroom door opened and
Ryan stepped out. Her hair tumbled about her shoulders in a dark
cascade over her black jacket. A lacy cream-colored camisole and a
black skirt that clung to all the right curves. He couldn’t help
but let his eyes travel down to the pointed pumps that accentuated
her already lovely legs. “Hello beautiful.”

She smiled. “Hi handsome.” She walked over
and stood with him looking into a large mirror on the wall. “Let’s
go make everyone jealous.”

Laughing he opened the door. “Tom is going to
be all over you. I better make sure my gun is loaded.”

Amber was waiting in the courthouse lobby.
“Ry, you’ve got to understand. You’ve not been well.” Ryan and Jack
walked right by not stopping not even looking her way. Amber chased
them to the elevator. “Ryan you need help, you’re not going to get
it from sleeping with a cop.”

Ryan smiled wickedly as she put her hand up
and stopped the doors. When they opened she looked her sister in
the eye. “What bothers you more, that he’s a cop or that he’s
sleeping with me?”

Jackson held his surprised gasp until the
doors shut and the box began to rise. “So we’re sleeping
together?”

Ryan shrugged. “Well you did lie next to me
in a bed and snored, I’d call that sleeping together.”

The doors opened with him saying. “I don’t
snore.”

Thomas was waiting with the Heinz’s the three
along with the attorneys looked at the couple agape. He just
shrugged and walked out with Ryan. A woman opened the office door.
“You may come in now.”

The group flowed into the fairly large
office. The judge sitting behind his desk put down the file to
watch them. His eyes fell on Ryan immediately, observing her
composure and actions.

His attention only moved when Amber entered
the room. The younger woman seemed flustered as she glanced toward
her sibling. She started whispering to her lawyer.

The judge called the meeting to order when
the stenographer was set up. “I must have on record that I do know
the defendant professionally and have seen her in social circles. I
do not have any close contact or relationships with Dr. Ryan
Reign.” Turning to Amber and her attorney he spoke. “With that said
I must say that on first impression Miss Reign you seem to be the
one out of sorts.”

The stalwart attorney Amber had hired
motioned to Ryan with his hand as he spoke. “Your Honor, Miss Reign
has been under terrible strain over her sister’s recent actions.
She is very concerned that Miss Reign may be making decisions
involving serious police cases that could be detrimental to herself
as well as the investigations.”

Though shocked to her core and hurt Ryan
didn’t bat an eye at the allegations. The judge raised an eyebrow
and dressed down the man before turning to Ryan. “That’s Dr. Reign,
Mr. Daniels.”

“But she no longer practices sir.”

“I don’t give a damn if she tends goats these
days. Once you earn those letters behind your name they are used
till you die. Even retired it would be Dr. Reign.” Giving her
lawyer a once over the judge sat back shaking his head. “Doctor,
are you willing to speak to me or do I have to go through your
mouthpiece as well.”

Ryan smiled. He was one of her favorite
judges to testify for. He didn’t beat the bush until it bled. “I’ll
gladly answer what I can, Judge Holden.”

“Good, we can dispense with the foolishness.
Are you or have you been diagnosed as insane or mentally
deficient?”

“No, your honor I have not.”

“Have you seen any professionals in the
mental health field?”

“Yes, after my accident I had some
difficulties and sought help to solve the problems. They said there
was nothing to fix. I’m sure you have copies of the reports.”

“I do and they do. I also have the notes from
one in particular that suggested that you were OCD since you would
not touch anything. Particularly an item someone else had touched.
I see that today you have on gloves, can you explain this to
me.”

Ryan took a deep breath, it was time to come
out into the open. “Since the accident I have developed the ability
to read impressions left on objects. I wear the gloves to keep from
reading things or people accidentally. This is also why I am
working with the police detectives at this time.”

He sat back and looked her over. She had said
all that with a straight face, not even cracking a smile. Her
sister however, was grinning ear to ear. Amber pointed to Jackson.
“Your honor, Detective Prince has taken advantage of my sister’s
state of mind. He has been seen at her home all hours of the day
and night and overnight the last two.”

The judge leaned on his desk and glared at
her. “Honey, even crazy people are allowed to have boyfriends. I
see nothing wrong with romance in the workplace. What does concern
me, Dr. Reign, is the fact that you have locked yourself in your
home for over a year.”

“Sir, I didn’t know what this ability was. It
was frightening to pick up a can of soda or grab a grocery cart and
have a vision. Most have not been a pleasant experience, so I
started to wear latex gloves. People tend to think you're nuts or a
freak for wearing gloves or whipping them out to drink out of the
glass the waitress just set down.”

He looked at her hard. “What’s changed? You
are out and about these days with the detectives.”

“This case. I started using the ability
instead of fearing it. I’m learning to use it and how to block it.
I have found someone to mentor me with the same ability. I know how
it sounds, and for a while I thought I was losing my mind.” She
took off her right glove. “Judge, I’m willing to demonstrate my
ability. I only need a personal object.”

After a moments consideration, Judge Holden
opened his desk drawer and pulled out a silver pen. It was an
expensive ball point that probably came with a fancy case. He set
the item on the edge of the desk then held it up so she didn’t have
to touch the desk to pick it up.

Amber was incensed. “You can’t be encouraging
this? It is obvious she needs help and they are making her worse.
Convincing her that she can do this, whatever it is.”

Ryan took the pen. “It’s called psychometry,
Amber.” She let her fingers wrap around the object then her eyes
widened as she saw it’s origin. “Wow, I would keep that under lock
and key sir. The President of the United States used this pen to
sign the bill on gun storage you brought in legislation making it a
law. He gave this to you personally and shook your hand.”

Amber snorted. “You read about it in the
paper.”

The good judge laughed and set the blue
velvet box the pen rested in on the desk. The lid was embossed with
a golden eagle holding wheat in one claw and thirteen arrows in the
other, the Presidential seal. “My involvement was kept on the down
low. I didn’t want to be turned into the next political candidate
like so many of my colleagues.”

He sat back and eyed both women. “Miss Reign,
what would you be gaining by having guardianship of your
sister?”

Mr. Daniels put a hand on hers. “She would be
assured that her sister would be cared for and not exposed to the
traumatic situations thrust upon her the last weeks.”

The judge had seen Amber’s financial records
as well as Ryan’s. Ryan was savvy with her money. If Amber could
get her sister declared incompetent and get guardianship. She could
charge a hefty guardianship fee as well as having almost free reign
on the accounts.

Instead of trying to help her sibling
understand what was happening to her, Amber abandoned her. Then
sought to take what she thought Ryan had, and making it seem as
though Ryan had already lost her mind and life.

“I have spoken to Captain Heinz in charge of
the investigations. He can find no evidence to support the claims
of Amber Reign. Nor can Detective Thomas Lord. Detective Prince,
you have spent more shall we say intimate moments with Dr. Reign
can you support the plaintiffs' claims?”

“No. on all counts. your Honor. I must state
as well for the benefit of Dr. Reign that she has become a dear
friend. We have not had… relations. We are working a serial murder
investigation. You as a judge know how horrific that can be. Ryan
has to get into these people’s heads see what they see or feel. She
called me upset over nightmares generated by these visions. I’m
staying in her home till this is over for support and a shoulder to
lean on since her family has turned away. It had been three months
before Miss Reign had seen her sister, your Honor, I don’t think
that she has any right to make a statement on Dr. Reign’s life in
general.”

The room fell quiet as the judge put his arms
behind his head and tilted the chair back. He blew out a breath.
“We don’t need a full hearing kids, this is plain and simple. Dr.
Reign go do your thing whatever it is you do. You are as together
as I have ever seen you. And you look lovely today by the way. I
expect to see that suit on the witness stand at your next case. I
declare that the good doctor is not insane and there will be no
appeals in this matter.