Page 44 of Pain
"You're Matthew Springton," she said it as a fact, not a question.
"Yes." Matt wished he hadn't already locked the front door, so he could have a quick escape if it was another journalist looking for an interview.
"My name isGretchen Price. I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm a psychic."
Matt held up his hands. "Thanks, but no thanks. The cops warned me people like you might show up and try and scam me."
"I'm not here to scam you, I promise. I make a good living on my own. I don't need to go out and attack people during the worst moments of their lives. I know you might not believe in what I do, but if you'll give me five minutes of your time, I'll explain." She looked up at him.
"Is it about Faith?"
"It is. I watch the news, keep track of cases like this where I might be able to help. I know there are many who claim to do what I do just to make a dollar, but I'm not asking for anything from you. I've studied the case as best I can with what little information is in the media, and I've had some visions. Now, I can't promise that they will lead to anything, but more times than not, what I see is accurate. All I want to do is give you the information and let you decide what you want to do with it. I've tried to contact the police. I just hate going directly to families, but as you might guess, the police aren't always willing to listen to someone like me. I hope that you might at least consider my information and maybe see if you can talk the police into following leads." She lifted a folder to him. "This is what I've seen. I've also left my card if you have any questions. I don't ask for anything in return. I just want to see you get your daughter back."
Matt took the folder, part of his mind telling him to tell the woman to get lost, but the other part, the part who would do anything, believe anything to get his daughter back, gripped the folder as if it was the most important file in the world. "You think she is still alive?"
Gretchen smiled. "I do. I wouldn't have come if I didn't. If I think a child has passed, I send the information to the police. I don't bother the family then. What they do with it from there, I don't know, but I've done my part as best I can. If I think the child is alive, I hope the family will push the police to follow up, since, sadly, I don't think they do on their own."
Matt wasn't sure what to say. Having someone tell him his daughter was alive was huge, but then the fact it was coming from some lady who could be crazy caused him to hesitate. "Thank you for bringing this to me."
"You're welcome. Good luck. I'll be watching the news to see her come home." Gretchen gently laid her hand on his arm for a moment before turning away. She took several steps before turning back to him. "And that man you're seeing, the one with the long beard. He needs you more than he shows. Don't let him push you away." She smiled again before turning back and heading down the sidewalk to her car.
Matt watched until she pulled away, wondering how she would know about Xander. They hadn't told anyone they were seeing each other. There would have been no way she could have known they were more than friends, even if she had been watching the house to gain information.
The whole thing left him uncomfortable, while at the same time, giving him hope that by some miracle, the woman was right, and Faith was alive.
With his mind elsewhere, Matt pulled out his phone and called his sister. "Trish, I'm not going to make it until later. Something's come up I need to do."
"Matt, Mom is looking forward to dinner."
"I'll be there for dinner, I promise, but I have some stuff to do first. Just let her know I will be there by five." That would give him three hours to look through the file and figure out what to do with it.
"Alright, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, just some personal business." Matt headed to his car, clicking the locks open. "Talk to you tonight." He didn't wait for her to say more. He ended the call and climbed into his car, starting it, and cranking the air conditioner.
He stared at the folder, almost scared to open it, finally deciding that he would wait until he got to the team house before he read anything in case it was upsetting. The last thing he needed was to be driving, thinking about whatever it was he might read.
As he pulled out onto the road, he reminded himself that many families had hired psychics, and many had come up with nothing. Just because some crazy lady claimed she knew things, didn't make it true. She could have written down anything to try and further her career. It was the fact that she didn't ask for anything in return that had him hoping that she was the real thing.
The drive to the team house took forever. He walked inside, the file tightly in his hand.
"Matt, I didn't expect to see you here." Trenton glanced up from the table. "I thought you had dinner with your family tonight."
"I do, but something came up. I'm still going, but wanted to look into something first."
"What's up?" Bryon walked out of the kitchen, drying his hands on a dishcloth.
"Um, this is going to sound crazy, and maybe I'm looking for hope where there is none, but I had a lady show up at my house. A psychic. She gave me this folder and said she hoped it would help lead me to Faith." Matt sat down at the table beside Trenton. "I haven't looked yet. I didn't want to be alone when I did." He flipped the folder open, holding his breath as he started to read.
Bryon sat down beside him. "You know that psychics usually are just looking to make a few bucks."
Matt nodded, but didn't speak, too interested in what he was reading.
The file was simple. Comments like, blue house, country setting, large trees, pond not far from house. There really wasn't a ton of information, but then again, there was. Already, Matt was thinking of ways he could search online for a location like this, maybe even drive around to areas that matched and look for a blue house.
"Matt, don't get your hopes up." Trenton reached over, turning the folder slightly his way so he could read.
"I know, but what if she is that one percent who does have a gift. I owe it to Faith to try, to at least consider what is here."
