Page 80 of Pain
Faith laughed. "Night, Xan."
Xander waved. "Sweet dreams."
As he watched Matt and Faith leave the room, he realized he was fucked. No matter how hard he tried not to let his heart get involved, it already was, and that meant it was going to hurt like hell when Matt finally moved on.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Matt glanced over at Bryon as he parked the car. "You sure it's okay we came?"
"I think she'll be happy to meet Faith." Bryon glanced into the back seat and smiled at Faith. "There is something about seeing the good you do standing right in front of you."
Matt wondered if that was how the team felt seeing Faith. It was rare that they ever found out what happened after a sting. With Faith, they saw first-hand how it was for the child to be reunited with her family and try to start living again.
"Who is she again?" Faith asked as she stared out the window at the small house.
"Her name is Gretchen Price," Matt told her. He'd hesitated, trying to figure out how much to tell Faith, but she deserved to know that the woman had a hand in helping get her home. He'd talked to Bryon about it before they came. Smiling at Faith, he hoped she would understand. "You have to promise me you won't tell anyone what I'm about to say. It could get a lot of people in trouble, but it's because of Gretchen the police were able to find you."
"Really? What did she do?" Faith's eyes went wide.
"Have you ever heard of a psychic?" Bryon asked.
"Don't they see into the future and talk to dead people and stuff like that?" Faith wrinkled her brow.
"Some, but what Gretchen does is see people in trouble, like you were. She then gives the police information on what she sees. Like she might say, big lake by a cabin, with horses close by. It's not an exact location, but sometimes it's enough to help people know where to look," Matt explained.
"But, a lot of people don't believe in that stuff, so we have to make sure we don't tell anyone what Gretchen does because it could make people be mean to her." Bryon opened the car door.
"Okay." Faith pushed her door open and waited for Matt to come around and take her hand. She was still nervous in new places, and around people she didn't know, but she was slowly getting used to Bryon and the rest of the team the more they hung out at the team house.
They walked up to the front door together, Matt hoping that coming here was the right thing. They'd made an appointment for a psychic reading, wanting a cover for what they were really going for.
As Bryon knocked, Matt held his breath.
The door swung open and Gretchen smiled. "I knew you were coming." She patted Matt on the cheek without even a hello, then turned to Faith. "You must be Faith." Gretchen grinned at her. "You don't know how much it warms my heart to see you."
Faith blushed. "Thank you for helping them find me."
"Oh, honey, it was my pleasure." Gretchen nodded to the door. "Come inside and have some lemonade. I know we have much to discuss."
Matt got the feeling the last comment was directed at Bryon. It was almost eerie wondering how much this woman really knew about everything going on.
"We'll sit in the backyard, if that's okay." She led them through the house and into the backyard. "I just love summer. Everything is so fresh and pretty."
"Wow, look at all the flowers." Faith looked at the yard in awe.
"Go smell them. I'll have your lemonade here when you're done. It's always good to smell the roses." Gretchen laughed as she set a pitcher on the table with four glasses before sitting down. "She looks good. I'm glad you found her." She turned to Matt as he watched Faith walk around the small yard.
"It was because of you. If you hadn't given us that information, she might not have ever come home. I don't know how to thank you." Matt had tears in his eyes as he looked at Gretchen. "You saved her life."
"Now, I don't know about that, but I'm glad I could have a hand in getting her home. I'm guessing you didn't give my information to the police. They never seem to follow up on anything I give them."
Matt shook his head. "I was lucky enough to have friends."
"Which brings us to you." She patted Bryon's hand, staring into his eyes. "You do some interesting work."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Bryon smiled. "I was hoping you might work with us."
It was odd not to hear Bryon explain the job or what the team did. It was as if Gretchen already knew everything.
