And in a flash, she feels something, something move across her throat. It doesn’t even hurt at first. She just becomes aware of the warmth. Sticky warmth sliding down her throat and through her blouse and down her shirt. She can smell something awful and she starts to feel the pain and the smell at the same time, the pain at her throat, the smell of her own blood.”
Raina’s eyes closed at last.
Axel was about to rise when they opened again.
Titan whined softly again.
He turned.
The barn was in shadow. No lights turned on, just a bit of the sun filtering in through the wooden structure and the open doorway to the stables.
In those shadows, something appeared, slowly taking form.
It was Jennifer.
She was not ripped or torn or covered in the thick grasses or dense mud of the Everglades, of the embankment where she had been found.
She was in a flowered blouse and jeans, the outfit she had been wearing that day, fresh as it had been before she had been killed. Her eyes were wide and full of gratitude. There was a pained smile on her lips.
She reached out to Raina.
And, in turn, Raina reached out to her.
Then, just as it had appeared, the ghost of Jennifer Lowry disappeared, and as it did, Raina blinked and stood and stared and then sighed softly.
Axel stood, as well, and waited, ready to steady Raina, to speak, to hold her, to try to make better what had to have been hard and painful.
But Raina was fine. Steadfast. Straight as a ruler, dignified and in complete control.
“She so desperately wants to help us. Everything was stolen from her—life, a promise of happiness. She was excited about Jordan. She liked him—really liked him. I mean, we saw the picture Jordan had snapped of the two of them on his computer. He liked her, too. It was the first time in a long time she’d dared to think someone might really care for her. But she’s given us what she can. She just doesn’t know anymore.”
Axel nodded. “She’ll grow stronger. We’ll see her again. And there may be something she’ll recall later—just like a living witness. Raina, thank you,” he said softly.
Titan let out a woof. He had either sensed or seen the ghost. Dogs tended to be far more perceptive than people.
Raina looked at Kylie.
“Thank you so much!”
“I didn’t do anything,” Kylie told her. “You really came to it all on your own. And it gets better, honestly.”
“You’ve regressed again?” Axel asked Kylie.
She shook her head. “No, but I’m getting to be more like Raina. And I don’t think I’d be afraid to try much of anything—if Jon was there, of course, or perhaps other Krewe members.”
“I’m not sure we’ve learned much,” Raina said. “I mean, we knew she cared about Jordan. We know Jordan cared about her. He didn’t kill her. And now, he’s in a coma, and he can’t talk.”
“But we now know there was one kidnapper—and one driver,” Axel said. “That’s more to go on than before. Now we have to find out just how Jordan is related to those he might have suspected. He didn’t know Jennifer had been killed—and he was angry, incredibly angry. He knew the method and he evidently knew how to escape once they were in the Everglades.” He smiled at Raina. “We have the connection. Now, we’re going to find out where it leads.”
* * *
“Money,” Nigel said, looking up.
It had been quiet awhile. They were all—Axel, Nigel, Jon, Andrew, Kylie and Raina—going through files.
Every file they had on the murder victims.
On those around them.
“Motives for murder. Revenge, hatred, jealousy—money,” Axel said suddenly. He leaned forward. “Jennifer Lowry died just before she might be one of a number of people receiving a large inheritance. We need to be looking for a similar motive with the other victims.”
“But didn’t you all look into Peter Scarborough’s estranged wife? He had no money—he left no money,” Raina said.
“I’m looking at her finances, and I don’t see anything. Then again, he was cremated, and his ashes were finally picked up by a coworker. His stepchildren didn’t come. What the hell?” Nigel said.
Axel gritted his teeth and looked at his file. Nigel touched his arm. “Hey, this has been going on for years. We’re not going to get an easy answer.”
He nodded and stood. “There’s money somewhere. A money trail we can’t find. Raina, want to go riding?”
“Sure.”
“Good idea. Get out and clear your head,” Jon said quietly.