Page 8 of No Time for Doubt
“Meaning not yet.”
Marlene knew her too well.“Yes.That’s right,” Devyn confirmed.If failure was the likely outcome, Devyn didn’t want to be discouraged.Right this second, she didn’t have the extra energy to power through the clouding thoughts of a potential failure.And Marlene couldn’t hide or soften the results of her searches with Devyn the way she often did with regular clients.
They were just too close.
“I’m on the way, Marlene.He didn’t take her far.”
The pause was telling.Marlene was doing an intuition check.“Your confidence is a good sign.”
That was the boost Devyn needed.“Thanks.”She drove on, focused on being patient and attentive to any clues.Despite years of control over her gifts, affirmations from Marlene were always welcome.Especially in stressful situations.
“Be wary of the water,” Marlene warned.
A shiver lifted the hair on Devyn’s arms.She was currently driving toward Lake Michigan, relying purely on her intuition.Nell was still alive but Devyn had to find her and put a stop to whatever her husband had in mind.
“Do me a favor?”Devyn asked.
“Anything, my dear.”
“Call Detective Laurier.Tell him the burglary was staged.Nell isn’t at a spa or away from her phone.Her husband kidnapped her.”
Early this morning, before anyone in the neighborhood had been awake to witness it.She was seeing those details more clearly.“He went back and tossed the place after.”
“After what?”
Devyn appreciated the prompt, but it didn’t spark any new revelations.“Not sure.I’m only sure she’s alive.”
Marlene hesitated.“All right.I’m tracking your phone.”
“Thanks.”Devyn appreciated her friend and mentor even more during times like this.“Love you.”
“Love you,” Marlene replied, then ended the call.
As the resulting silence washed over her, Devyn relaxed, staying open to any intuitive guidance.Better than any navigation app, she followed the nudges and wound up near the Lincoln Park Conservatory.Soft, insistent pressure along the back of her neck directed her to the parking area.
Finding a space, she pulled in and cut the engine.She closed her eyes, reaching for any sign of Nell.Fear coated her throat as the feelings assailed her: darkness, tight space, body cramps, headache from a foul, pungent smell clogging the air.
Fuel or oil?
The bastard must’ve stashed her in a trunk.
Angry all over again, Devyn searched the parking lot, calling for Nell, waiting on the helpful nudges, but none came.
She refused to accept defeat.Nell needed her.No one else was even close to unraveling the lies Daniel Pereda was spinning.For all she knew he’d keep the police twisting until it was too late for Nell.
Be wary of the water.
Devyn looked around.Other than Lake Michigan, she didn’t see a body of water in the immediate area.Nothing close to the conservatory anyway.Her gaze drifted to the lake.If Nell was out there, a rescue might be impossible.What was she missing?Her gaze slid over the yacht club nearby.She’d been led tothispoint.
Why?Why?
The question burned in her throat.She wanted to scream and throw a fit until the answers came to her.Childish impatience had never been effective.More importantly, tantrums never provided anything accurate.
As a kid when this feeling came upon her, she’d just grab hold of whatever popped into her head, often spitting out the information to the embarrassment of her parents or the detriment of anyone nearby.When the abyss gave her something, she shared it, no filters.
Not knowing any better was hardly a helpful excuse.The behavior made her an outcast as a child and her lack of control alienated her parents as well.
Fortunately, Marlene had come into their lives and saved them all from labeling Devyn’s gifts as an uncontrollable curse.Devyn shivered, then immediately offered up gratitude for all she’d learned.
