Dead of Winter (Cold Case Psychic #15) - Pandora Pine Page 0,30

case file.

“We’ll work on the best friends.” Ronan pointed between himself and Tennyson. He had a feeling those girlfriends knew a lot more than what they’d told the police back in ’85. Ronan hoped that after all this time, they still remembered the details.

“I want to go to the crime scene after lunch,” Ten added. “We can all go together, or Ronan and I can go alone. It’s up to you.”

“I think we all should go, and maybe bring Cope, Carson, and Cole with us if they’re available,” Jude said carefully.

“That’s a good idea, Jude,” Ten agreed. “Who knows what the other psychics might pick up that I don’t.” He got up from his seat and headed toward the door. “I’m also going to reach out to Bertha today. She might have more insight into what hell is going on with Skye than I do.”

“Good plan. Come get me when you’re done.”

“You don’t want in on the conversation?” Ten looked surprised.

“No.” Ronan shook his head. “This is going to be a serious conversation, and you don’t need me and my tight ass serving as a distraction. Tell Bertha I send my love.”

Ten nodded as he headed out the door. He shut it behind him.

“Damn, I haven’t seen him like that since he lost his gift.” Fitzgibbon shook his head.

“Ten lost his gift?” Jude’s mouth dropped open.

“He did,” Ronan agreed. “It was shortly after we started dating. He’d somehow managed to slam the door shut on his powers and didn’t know how to open them again. It was a wild time.” One Ronan didn’t want to ever experience again.

He wasn’t overly concerned with Ten at the moment. Skye Washington not wanting to help solve her own murder was a function of her personality and had nothing to do with Ten’s gift. Not knowing what the girl’s spirit knew was only going to make solving her murder that much harder.

14

Tennyson

After Ten grabbed a coffee from West Side Sweets, he locked himself inside his own reading room. When the business expanded two years ago to include a second storefront, Ten had been overjoyed to have his own space to work, think, and dream. Things weren’t so dreamy today.

“Cheer up, Tenny,” Bertha Craig said, materializing in the chair in front of him. “Things aren’t as bad as they seem.”

“Usually I agree with everything you say, Bertha, but not this time. You didn’t see Skye Washington last night.” Twelve hours later, Ten’s chat with the reluctant spirit was still bothering him.

“The hell if I didn’t.” Bertha cackled. Her laughter shook the walls.

“What? I didn’t see or sense you in the house last night.” Ten would have known if Bertha was there. “You couldn’t have been there.”

“Bullshit, kiddo. I’ve been at this being dead thing for a long time. I know how to keep myself hidden when the situation calls for it.”

“I’m confused.” Ten was a lot more than that, but he could only handle one thing at a time. “Why didn’t you do what you usually do and butt in. I could have used your help with Skye. I’ve never encountered a spirit like hers in the thirty-something years I’ve been doing this.”

“That’s exactly why I kept to myself. I wanted to see and hear what was going on before jumping in with both feet. I’ve come across some spirits like that in my time. I read one of them once before my dirt nap, but Skye’s the absolute worst case I’ve seen.” Bertha smiled at Ten, but it wasn’t her usual happy grin.

“I still don’t understand.” Ten felt more muddled now than he had last night when Skye disappeared from his room.

“I know you don’t, and I’m going to do my best to explain it to you.” Bertha paused for a moment, seeming to be mulling things over. “Did you ever know someone who left a job or a town and never looked back? One of those ‘Later, suckers’ types?”

Ten nodded. “A couple of times. Kids who were a few years ahead of me in high school. They left Union Chapel on graduation day and never came back. I asked my mom about one man in particular, and she said the guy didn’t even call his parents anymore. He was completely done with his roots and that was that.”

“I would say that’s exactly what happened with Skye. Her reasons for turning her back on her family might have everything to do with her murder, or they may have nothing to do with it at