Truth Is Found (13 page)

It caught the breath in his chest, each and every time.

Beau knew how lucky he was to have her back in his life. Before finding out about his sister, he was always so alone.

Now he had family.

He had a sibling who, despite it all, wanted to be part of his life.

Beau only wished he knew his big brother before he died. From everything Tori told him, Trey sounded amazing. Beau only hoped that he could be strong, tough, and the kind of man his big brother had been.

God knew that Tori deserved it.

Truth be told, he felt personally responsible to his sister for his mother’s actions. After all, she deserted her kids to have him. His birth was the reason they were left behind. Then, as time passed, she became bitter and hard. She turned against Tori, wanting nothing but money and her fifteen minutes of fame.

Yes, Beau owed them.

If his mother wouldn’t pay them back, he would.

So, he was thrilled to be dressed as a waiter, playing undercover at the vineyard. It was the least he could do.

As he checked the time, he could feel eyes on him. He was an ex-Ranger, and he could tell when he was being watched. Only, they didn't feel like normal stares.

They bore through him.

As he turned, time stopped.

He was trapped in the gaze.

He watched her approach, and he didn't know what to do. Here was the woman they’d discussed in the office--the psychic who recommended them to the Nelms.

She was there.

She was approaching.

She was amazing.

Nyx Nightingale was even more striking up close and personal. For the first time ever, Beau couldn’t breathe. The unexpected punch to his solar plexus, when she looked at him, nearly took him to his knees.

Something about her caught his eye. It may have been her curves, the aqua colored eyes, or the way her tongue darted nervously across her lips as she approached.

In that minute, he wanted her.

It was odd.

Beau swore he felt something click. Before she even spoke to him, he could feel the silkiness of her words glide across his skin. She was driving him to obsession with merely a look.

“Nyx,” he whispered, unable to look away.

As she stopped in front of him, he didn't know what to say to her. His tongue was tied into knots.

“I need to speak privately to you and your sister, Beau. You need to bring Tori and her husband with you. You have to come,” she said, pulling a card out of her bag. “It’s important, and it’s why you’re here. I can give you the details of what brought you to the vineyard.”

He stared at her. “Your head hurts,” he said, when the words were finally able to break free from his chest. How he knew, he wasn’t sure. He only felt the need to comfort her. Beau wanted to run his fingers down the frown lines marring her brow. Then he longed to pull her against him, offering his body as shelter in the storm she was battling.

He knew invisible demons.

All soldiers did.

This woman was fighting for her life.

“It doesn’t matter about me,” she admitted, “just come to my shop tonight. Promise me, Beau. I need your word. He needs to hear you say it.”

He didn't know who she was talking about, but he could feel her distress. The woman looked like she was barely being held together at the seams.

“I’ll bring them, Nyx. I’ll make sure we’re there.”

The voice stopped screaming in her head. It was still there, begging her to tell him more, but she tried to ignore it. “Shut up,” she muttered.

“What?” he asked, taken aback.

She shook her head. “Sorry, not you. Please come to my shop tonight. I’ll wait there for you.”

With that, she handed him the card. The second his fingers touched hers, the voice stopped.

It ended.

It was gone.

The pain ebbed.

Beau held her hand in his. “Nyx, are you okay?” he asked, unsure if he should let her go. There was that gut instinct screaming for him to keep her there.

Something was horribly wrong.

He could feel it.

She was stunned he knew her name, and she was shocked he had the power to bring back the peace. It gave her enough time to know what she had to do.

Nyx had to leave.

“Just come!” she begged. “He needs to talk to you both.”

With that, she pulled her hand from his and began backing away. Immediately, the shouting continued. With each step away, it intensified until she thought she’d collapse under the weight of it all.

“Stop!” she hissed, talking to him, but knowing she must look like a crazy person.

People were staring.

Beau was watching her, but not with fear in his eyes. It was genuine concern. That astounded her.

She just had to get back to the shop.

Nyx had to get home to prepare for what was coming. She was sure it was going to end badly.

Only, she had no choice.

She wasn’t running this show. The voice was, and he meant business.

As she ran out, Tori crossed the room to her brother’s side. “What the hell?” she asked, as Julian joined her.

“That was the oddest thing,” Beau said, holding the card in his hand. “She gave me this.”

Tori took it, and she could hear the buzzing of Bethany in her brain. The woman was trying to tell her something.

“She wants us to meet her there tonight. She said she needs to tell us something. He needs to tell us something.”

Tori glanced over. “Seriously?” she asked. “That was the message?”

Her brother nodded. “That was really bizarre.” He didn't tell her that the minute he saw her, he was compelled to go with Nyx. If he did, his sister would think he was loopy.

There was no doubt.

“Well, we should go,” she stated.

“Why?” Julian asked.

“In her own way, she started all of this. We have to go see her because I don’t doubt she’s part of this.”

“How do you know?” Beau asked.

Tori glanced up at him. “A little ghost birdy told me.”

That was good enough for them.

CHAPTER Six

Tuesday Night

By the time they escaped the wine tasting, grabbed a change of clothes, and something to eat, it was close to nine at night. What Julian wanted to do was wander the vineyard under the cloak of darkness, but instead they were going to visit a psychic at her shop.

Yeah, this would only happen with their life.

Normal PI’s didn't have to do crazy things like this. Obviously, the universe wanted to play one hell of a joke on them.

This was proof.

Beau finished his ‘job’ and when Daniel Nelms was told he had real work to do, the man didn't make him stay to clean up. Instead, he was following behind them in his vehicle.

After interrogating a psychic, he was going to head to the hotel to catch some z’s. The man needed to crash if he was going to be working the next day.

Tori sat anxiously in her seat listening to the buzzing in her head. She was holding back from having a conversation with Bethany, only because she needed to be focused.

Julian was tense, she was worried about her brother’s safety, and a little irritated that they were going to be playing with a psychic when they had so much more to do.

“What’s your impression?” Julian finally asked.

“I don’t know.”

“What does Bethany say about her?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why not?”

“I’m an investigator. I don’t think I need a ghost telling me how to do my job,” she snapped. Then she realized how it came out. “I’m sorry, Jules,” she added.

“It’s okay. You’re pregnant and this has to be wearing you down. You’re growing a life.”

Yeah, and she was getting that feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something didn't feel right to her, and she didn't know why.

This felt like a trap.

It felt off.

While it had been her idea to head there, Tori didn't like it at all. If she told Julian that, he’d send her back to the vineyard, and she couldn’t let that happen. They were a team, and she wasn’t leaving her husband and brother out there to handle this alone.

She wasn’t insane.

Not yet, anyway.

“I want to know more about this woman,” she stated. “Tomorrow, can you have Christina do one of her in depth searches on her? If she has to, have her get one of our contacts at the FBI to run her on the DL. I’ll owe them one, and that’s fine by me.”

Julian was worried. “She has you riled up, and you haven’t met her yet. What’s up?”

“I can’t put my finger on it, but I feel like something’s about to happen, and I don’t like surprises.”

Yeah, neither did he.

If his wife was this wary, he should be too. “We’ll be okay, and as soon as we’re out of there, I’ll text Christina to build a dossier on her.”

She reached over to take his hand as he pulled into the parking lot. “I love you.”

He grinned. “I happen to be in love with you too, Victoria. You’re my all.”

She took a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

Julian was ready for anything. What he didn't tell his wife was that he’d brought his gun along on the trip. He didn't often carry, but something made him do it.

Now he saw there was a reason.

They were sinking fast.

       
        
* * *
  L   i   t   t   l  e  m  o  o  n  * * *

Shopping For Fate

From inside, she knew they were approaching. The voice in her head was going a million miles a minute. She could barely open her eyes to focus on the door.

When they arrived, the shit was going to hit the fan, and she knew it.

Then she’d be free. When they left, Nyx would be released from this burden. It was about time.

It took everything not to weep at the pain.

All Nyx had to do was wait this one out. Before the night was over, she’d have peace. Yes, she was worried about becoming just like him, but she couldn’t help it.

There was so much pain in her, and if she didn't escape, she’d sink even deeper into the mire. That was the last thing she wanted in life.

Tonight was the night.

When the bell on her door chimed, she prepared herself for what was to come.

Yes, it was time.

             
        
* * *
  L   i   t   t   l  e  m  o  o  n  * * *

Tori glanced around the inside of the kitschy shop.

It looked like any other psychic shop she’d ever been in, and really, Tori wasn’t surprised. When you ran a grift on people, you often had to have the tools of the trade.

From the look of it, the woman had them all at her disposal. It pissed Tori off.

There were crystals.

Tarot cards.

There was even a crystal ball.

She wanted to laugh. This was a farce and she knew it. A real psychic didn't need any of this shit to commune with the dead. Look at Vivian, Beckett, and even her. They had the gift, and they didn't need to surround themselves with pretty wrappings.

It made her blood pressure spike.

Yeah, Tori was looking forward to burying this fake.

Since she was looking more and more like a fraud, there was no doubt in her mind that they were wasting their time. This was the same old shit. This woman must have seen her on the news and wanted to align herself with them for fame and fortune.

As they perused the shop, they saw her enter the room. Beau didn't look away.

He couldn’t.

He could see the pain across her face, and that worried him. He didn't know why, but it did. He was compelled to go to her, but he stayed firmly planted beside his sister.

This was her thing, and he was still learning.

“Ms. Nightingale, you wanted to talk to us?” Tori asked, ignoring the buzzing in her head. This was a bad time for Bethany to be bugging her. Her spirit guide was going to have to wait. There was a fraud to defrock.

“I do. I have a few messages for you, and I have to deliver them or he won’t leave me alone.”

They stared at her as if she was cuckoo, and maybe she was. Her life had been a rollercoaster ride, and she wanted to get off. This was that last climb before the downward ride to the end.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Who needs to tell me something?” Tori asked.

She stayed in her spot, listening to the voice in her head. “I’m a medium. I channel spirits,” she began. “I don’t see them, but I hear them. He’s been talking to me for months. He found me one day, and he won’t go away.”

Tori stared at her. “Is that so? You hear voices in your head, huh?”

She braced her hands over her ears, trying to get some peace from the dead man’s ranting. “I know you think I’m crazy. Everyone always does, but that doesn’t negate that I have a job to do. He’s here, and he needs to talk to you both.”

She pointed at Beau and Tori.

“Okay, I’m listening. I think you’re full of shit, but you have my attention. Since I won’t be entertaining this bullshit past this evening, you might as well say it.”

Julian touched her shoulder. He could tell his wife was getting angry. He didn't understand why. If she could have a gift, why couldn’t this woman?

“Who is it?” Beau asked, watching her eyes go blind with the pain, or maybe it was her channeling. Before finding his sister, he never would have bought any of this bullshit, but here they were, and here was a woman he’d never seen before, but felt like he’d known for centuries.

“His name is Trey Christensen, and he’s very angry.”

With the mention of his name, the air was sucked from the room. Tori and Beau were both caught off guard, and there was that uncomfortable silence.

Of everything she’d expected to hear, this wasn’t it. Tori had thought that she was going to talk about the vineyard, maybe the dead priest, but never this.

No, never this.

To her, this was crossing a line. She couldn’t stay, and she wouldn’t forgive the woman bringing him up. Trey was sacred to her, and after the last couple of months with her mother popping up, she wasn’t going to let anyone besmirch his memory.

That had already happened with her father.

“He needs to talk to you.”

Tori began shaking as she pushed past Julian to head to the door. There was no way she was going to let this fake make a mockery out of her brother’s death.

That would happen when hell froze over.

“Wait! He said he’ll prove it. Victoria, please! If you go, he’s just going to make me follow you.”

Beau didn't move.

He was worried about his sister, but he was curious to see if this woman was the real deal.

Julian caught her at the door. “You have to stay,” he whispered in her ear. “You have to hear her out. She brought us here. You said that yourself. Listen, we’ll ignore what she says, and then she’s gone from our lives.”

Tori knew that was the best way to get rid of her.

“You’re stronger than she is. You can handle this,” he reassured.

Julian was right.

“Fine, but I can’t promise I won’t beat her ass into the ground for pulling this. Trey is off limits. He’s all I have left.”

Julian knew that wasn’t true. She had Beau, and she had all the Littlemoons, but he got the point. Trey died a hero, and that’s how she needed to see him.

He kissed her on the forehead. “You have a ghost of your own. You have nothing to fear. Bethany told you she’d protect you. Trust her.”

He was right.

If she had a ghost connected to her, what if this woman wasn’t lying?
What if…?

She shook her head.

It couldn’t be.

First her mother came back, and now this. Tori had to believe she was full of shit.

She had to hope.

Walking back toward her, she stood feet from the woman, her shoulders squared as if she was making her stand. “If you’re lying, you’re dying. I won’t tolerate this. I’m not like your other desperate clientele.”

Nyx touched her head. “Please! He’s going insane in my head, and I have to tell you what he wants you to know. He brought you here. He told me to go to the Nelms and tell them to hire you. I’m just the messenger.”

Beau watched her. She looked pale. The woman was obviously in so much pain. Moving closer, he touched her arm. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “He’s persistent.”

As his hand touched her, the waves of discomfort abated. He gave her peace. “He told me to tell you that you’re in danger here. He wants you to leave.”

“That’s funny, since he ‘supposedly’ brought us here,” Tori stated.

“He needed to see you again. He didn't get to say goodbye to you, and that’s keeping him here. He also wanted to meet him,” she said, pointing at Beau.

Neither of them moved. “Prove he’s really here,” Tori stated. “He used to call me something, and no one in this room knows it. No one but Trey, my dad, and myself know. If you hear him, tell me the nickname.”

She went quiet, slowly pulling her arm from Beau’s fingers. The second she did, she was awash in shouts. She grabbed her head. “Sprout. They called you sprout!”

Tori stepped back. She was shocked.

“He said you used to follow him around, sprouting up behind him everywhere. Your father used to call you that, not him. He gave you the name and it stuck. He simply called you Tori.”

She was telling the truth.

“He said ask your spirit guide,” she said, wavering on her feet. “Trey said you need to ask her. I can hear her in the background, trying to get you to listen to her. She said you never listen. You promised but never listen to her. Shit! She’s pouting like a child.”

Julian stared at her.

This was way more than he ever saw coming. The woman, if a fake, just got lucky.

REAL
lucky.

“What’s her name?” Tori asked, finally able to speak. No one would know it, unless they were family.

“Bethany.”

The wind chimes on display began moving, tinkling in the invisible wind. Tori could hear the music, and she could feel the cold fingers of Bethany’s hand on her skin.

‘Truth,’
she whispered into Tori’s ear.

That was all she had to hear. “Trey, are you really here?” Tori asked.

“Yes,” the woman replied. “I was killed in battle, and I died before I could tell you goodbye.”