Page 23 of A Touch of Murder
"What consists of a bad reaction?" Barret asked. "Do I need to know anything if I'm the one helping you when you read Trina's body?"
Adam set his plastic fork down. "Possibly. I planned on talking about it on the way there but now is as good time as any.You've seen how thirsty I get, and how I use chocolate to help keep my energy up. Sometimes I get very tired and weak as well. I need you to know that no matter how weak I seem, I'm okay. I may need help getting to the car, may fall asleep on you as you drive me home, but I don't need medical attention or anything. It's just that sometimes if a read is very rough or violent, it takes more than the average read like you've seen me do in the past."
"Will you pass out?" Barret asked.
"I never have before, so I doubt it. I've done readings on some very violent things and never passed out, but I get tired. I'll probably sleep for hours after reading Trina. Just get me home after and I'll be okay. I've already stocked up on water and candy bars in the apartment for after and I'll bring a bag with me for you to hand me directly after. I can't stress enough, please don't call for an ambulance or rush me to the hospital no matter how weak I seem. I'll be okay. I don't know what I'm going to see, so I have no way of knowing how I'll respond. Just have a chair ready for me when I get done and water there for me to drink. The candy helps, but not as much as the water." Adam gave him a small smile. "Did I scare you from wanting to help?"
"No, but damn. I'm not sure you should do this if it's that hard on your body."
"It might not be. It might be no worse than it was watching her get taken. It depends on what I see. I'd prefer it to just be you and me there. We can record it, but I'll be more comfortable telling you what I see than if a bunch of people are around. Some things the general public doesn't need to know, and I want to be able to tell you everything, no matter how horrible it might be. There could be a clue there we pick up on later." Adam picked up his fork and started to eat again.
Barret nodded. "I'll make sure we're alone. I planned on bringing an audio recorder. I debated on a video, but I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, and honestly, no one needs tosee her body while you do this. It's going to be a closed casket at the funeral." He stared down at his food, his appetite suddenly not as strong. "Not great dinner conversation, is it?"
"No, but it's a conversation we needed to have. There is nothing pretty about this, but it's our best chance to find out more information. I want her killers caught, and if I can give you the one clue that makes that happen, then I'll do whatever it takes to get those answers." Adam reached for his drink. "Speaking of funerals, have you heard when Roy will be buried?"
"Not until Thursday. Edith wanted to give the family time to fly in. I heard a rumor she might put the ranch up for sale, but I don't know how much truth there is to that. I know it's a big spread for her to handle on her own, even with the ranch hands helping."
Adam nodded. "Nice nest egg for retirement if she sales. I just hope whoever buys it keeps it as a ranch and doesn't build."
They made small talk as they finished eating, and Barret found himself really enjoying Adam's company. Other than meeting the guys at Manny's for a beer after work, he really hadn't been out recently. He hoped they could do this again, but next time not have a murder investigation going on. Maybe they could go hiking one Sunday or something.
They gathered their trash and threw it in the can by the curb before getting back into the car. Barret drove the short route to Adam's shop and apartment and parked in front. "So, how does ten sound on Sunday? Is that too early for you?"
"No, that works. It will give me time to wake up and get some caffeine in me."
Adam opened the car door. "Thanks for dinner tonight. You didn't have to pay."
"I invited you to join me." Barret shrugged. "Just wish we'd had better luck locating our suspect."
"Me too." Adam sighed. "Well, I enjoyed the night even if we didn't find who we were looking for. Maybe we can do it again another time."
Barret held eye contact with Adam. "I'd like that. Let's get this case closed, then we'll plan something."
"Sounds good." Adam stood. "See you Sunday." He shut the door, gave a single thump of his fist on the top of the car, then turned to go inside.
As Barret watched him, he had to laugh. Wasn't it less than a week ago he'd thought his man was a fool? How things changed with a little insight. He slowly pulled away, trying hard not to think about the next time the two of them could go out when work wouldn't be involved.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Adam gulped the last of his coffee, grabbed the small duffel bag that was filled with water bottles and candy bars, made sure he had his phone, then headed out the door. He ran down the single flight of stairs and went around the side of the building just as Barret was pulling to a stop at the curb. He quickly made his way over to the car and got in. "Good timing."
"I try to be prompt." Barret smiled. "You still okay to do this?"
"Yeah, I'm ready. Not excited, but hopeful we'll get something useful from this. Old Man Farley knows we're coming in?"
"I called to verify this morning. He's got the body in one of the viewing rooms and will open the casket when we get there. He said to prepare ourselves. Since the family chose to do a closed casket, they didn't do anything fancy with the body. She's bruised and beaten."
"I figure she would be. Just the fact she'd been left out in the weather for who knows how long told me the body might not be in the best condition. It's okay. I just need to touch her. I could do this even if she was just bone." Adam pulled the seatbelt into place.
"How many times have you had to do this?" Barret asked.
Adam closed his eyes, remembering the first time. His mother's body. He quickly pushed that memory away and focused on the other times. "Three, but only one of those had been murdered. The last time was a mother who was convinced someone had pushed her child out of the tree and wanted me to see if I could tell her what really happened. She wasn't happy when I verified what all the witnesses had said. The kid slippedon a branch and had fallen on his own. There wasn't anyone near him at the time."
"Wow, how did she take that?"
"Not well. Tried to get back her money, but my contracts are solid. I get paid even if I tell someone something they don't agree with. I'm confident in my visions. I get she was hurting and looking to blame someone, but the truth was, no one hurt her child. Accidents do happen." Adam watched out the window as they made their way across town to the small funeral home.
"Do I need to sign a contract for today?" Barret asked.
