Unraveled Visions (A Shaman Mystery) (37 page)

Behind them, Eric was on his toes, arms raised, fists tight, shoulders heaving. I was willing Andy to stay strong, to keep walking, to keep his head turned away from Atkinson’s intimidating stance, to keep his temper cool.

“You’re nearly there,” I whispered. “Let the child do the calling for you.”

Something flashed across my mind. A dark cave, glowing lights. My dream, the night Mirela had come to my house. The woman following the man from darkness into light. Orpheus, defying the god of the underworld, Hades, to reclaim his dead wife, Eurydice. But he had erred. He’d looked back at her as they escaped into the world of the living, and lost her forever.

Don’t look back!

As Andy reached the Punto, Drea caught him up. She stood alongside him, one hand ruffling her son’s hair, as they strapped him into the toddler seat Andy had kept at the ready. They looked at each other but did not touch. They climbed into the front of the car. The engine fired into life.

Rey didn’t speak again until Drea and Andy were out of sight. “Well, sir, I’ll allow you to proceed, so long as you take care, on the understanding that you leave your temporary address with us now and present your driving licence and insurance at Bridgwater Police Station within forty-eight hours.”

There was a long pause. In silence, Eric took the notebook the constable offered him and scribbled his address. With a cautious action, Rey helped the young wife clip the baby into the harness, and closed the door on Bony Elbows.

“Is it understood, sir? Licence and insurance?”

“Yes, officer, that’s understood.” Atkinson’s voice was low and dangerous.

“I wouldn’t call a detective an officer,” I whispered under my breath. “Not if I was you.”

The Discovery drove away with ponderous care. The first officer got into the unmarked car and turned in the opposite direction as the vehicles hit the road.

I was still crouching behind a car. I stood, properly, and stepped out into the open. I looked at Rey.

He was standing so solitary, but his shoulders were not hunched or bowed. His stance told the world he was ready for the next case Somerset might throw at him.

“Fancy some music?” I called across the cars between us.

“Sorry?”

“A Christmas drink at the Egg, Rey? Fergus is doing a gig. Going out with a bang.”

“Now I’ve heard it all.”

He held out his hand to me.

I walked across and took it.

the end

about the author

Nina Milton holds an MA in creative writing, works as a tutor and writer for the Open College of the Arts, is a prize-winning short story writer, and has authored several children’s books, including
Sweet’n’Sour, Tough Luck,
and
Intergalactic Holiday
.
Unraveled Visions
is her second novel with Midnight Ink.

Author photo by Jenefer Llewellyn Ferguson.