as I added, “He was distracted by the screaming of one Empusae while the other snuck up and wrenched the door open. Jeni fled as he was being torn apart.”
Dear God, what she’s witnessed… Belle said. I have to help her, Liz. It’s the only way she’ll get through this.
I know. I removed my hands, swiped at the tears, and then raised my gaze to Jeni’s parents. “My friend Belle can mute her memories of this event if you wish. It may help her recover.”
Ryanne frowned. “Wouldn’t it be better to totally erase them?”
“Full erasure really isn’t possible.” Which wasn’t exactly the truth; a strong enough telepath could do so, but it wasn’t something that was either recommended or often even tried, as it left the recipient extremely confused and sometimes unable to fully function. “But we can certainly cloud her memories of the event. She’ll know what has happened, but it’ll no longer have the same immediacy or effect.”
“When can your friend get here?” Ryanne immediately said.
I glanced at Karleen rather than replying. Her smile was tight—she did not want another outsider in the compound. Especially when that person was linked to me. “It would perhaps be better if Jeni is taken out of the compound to be treated.”
“But surely—” Sean began, only to be cut off by a look from Aiden’s father.
“Is there anything else in her mind that could help?” Aiden said.
“No.” I returned to the end of the bed and then glanced at Jeni’s parents. “If you want to give us a call at the café later this morning, we can make arrangements for Belle to come and see Jeni. I’d keep her sedated though—her memories are… harrowing.”
They both nodded. I flicked my gaze over to Karleen. “Thank you for allowing me up here today.”
“You’re quite welcome.”
Her reply was as insincere as my thank you, and amusement stirred. Hopefully, I managed to keep it in check. I glanced up at Aiden. “If you want to get back to the crime scene, just drop me off outside the compound, on the main road. I’ll get Belle to come pick me up.”
“After all the help you’ve been giving us, the least I can do is take you home.” He glanced at his parents. “I’ll update you when I know more.”
With that, he touched a hand to my back and guided me out the room. He didn’t say anything until we were back in his truck and heading out of the compound.
“I’ll drop by later this afternoon to get a composite of the two Empusae. The likelihood of them hiding in plain sight might be remote, but I don’t think we can risk it.”
I nodded and rubbed my arms. While the morning air held a bite, the chill was more an inner one, its source the wash of Jeni’s horror and terror still echoing through my brain.
Which is not dissimilar to what happens when you go too deep with a psychometry reading, Belle commented.
And means it’s something I don’t need to be doing too often.
With that, I agree. Ask Aiden if he’d like a coffee and an egg and bacon sandwich to be waiting for him when he gets here.
I passed the message on, and got a brief but bright smile in reply. That would be a yes, thanks, Belle.
Once we were out of the compound, Aiden hit the accelerator. It didn’t take us long to get back to Castle Rock. Belle was waiting, as promised. Once I’d handed him the coffee and sandwich, I leaned across and kissed him. He brushed the hair out of my eyes and then gently ran his fingers down my cheek. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Yeah.”
He didn’t look convinced, but didn’t comment. I climbed out and, once he’d left, followed Belle back into the café.
She came out of the kitchen with two mugs of coffee. “The council isn’t going to keep this one quiet.”
“No. And are you sure you’ve put enough alcohol in those coffees?”
She raised her eyebrows. “You can’t possibly smell it from there—I wasn’t that heavy-handed.”
I accepted the mug and took a sip. The whiskey was evident but it certainly wasn’t overpowering. “Maybe my great love for the malted stuff has made me hyperaware of its presence.”
“Maybe.” Belle’s expression suggested she doubted it. “Anyway, I got a call from Monty about ten minutes ago. The tracer is staying in town for the next couple of days.”
“Is she intending to question us some more?”
“She didn’t say, and he wasn’t certain.