“Lily!”

  She called again and the girl stood still, holding the stuffed bear in her two little hands, clutching it tightly.

  “Lily!”

  “Jamsey?”

  As soon as the name was uttered, Lily’s dark eyes came to life and the tears trailing down her cheeks evaporated from the heat.

  “Help me.”

  The words were so quiet that James almost missed them in the middle of her panic.

  “Help, Addy.”

  James was startled out of the illusion by hands on her arms and worried green eyes looking over her with concern. James finally made out Addison’s figure, and she buried her face in her shoulder and started to cry. The smell was still singeing the inside of her nostrils, and she tried to breath in Addison’s perfume to chase it away. The heat on her legs from the fire that had once been so close was slowly dissipating as she was rocked back and forth. Her lips found Addison’s neck, and she pressed them softly into the skin.

  Addison turned her chin to kiss the side of James’ head, comforting the frightened woman. When the seeking mouth found hers, she tried to pull back and protest, but James was insistent. Addison gave in and cupped James’ cheeks, deepening the embrace until she felt the body against hers move away. Mewling softly, Addison opened her eyes to see that James had made her way to the center of the bed. Giving in, Addison slipped off her shoes and climbed on the mattress, letting her body hover over James.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Always.”

  James grinned, and Addison saw no more tears lingering before her mouth descended to her lover’s. She felt the tugging of her clothes and sighed, letting them slip away without any further objection.

  Chapter Four

  James pushed the dream from her mind and ignored Addison for the rest of their time off. Two very silent days had passed. Addison finally left late the morning of the first day because of the silent treatment James was giving her. She had insisted on staying the night, and James couldn’t have cared less who was there, so long as someone was at the time.

  That night, James went out with Jimmy and caught up with Max a few hours later: he joined them at her favorite bar downtown. Jimmy was decent enough; she would be willing to get together with him again before he lost himself to his studies. He had the ability to make her laugh, which was hard and after her frightening dream it was appreciated.

  Stalking into the station at fifteen to six on Friday morning with little to no sleep was not the best experience. Addison was already there and completely chipper. The woman lived on coffee; James couldn’t understand how she drank so much of it. Max and James carpooled in, but he was only there for two days and then she was on her own. Grumbling to herself, she sat through the shift change with her jaws clenching and made her way to the racks to try, once again, for some shut eye. That lasted all of five minutes before the Chief came in and shook her arm.

  “How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine.”

  James turned onto her back despite not wanting to. She would prefer to be left alone.

  “Thanks, for the other night. Not sure I remembered to tell you that.”

  “Anytime, don’t think of it.”

  Addison let her fingers slide over James’ face and over her hairline, not very subtly checking to see if there were any remnants of the goose egg James received three days earlier.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Biting the inside of her lip, James took a risk that she rarely ever did. “It was only a nightmare… but it seemed so real.”

  “Are you sure it was only a nightmare?”

  James narrowed her eyes studying the woman carefully. “Yeah… what else would it be?”

  “Suppressed memory, special connection to whoever the dream was about, a warning… who knows there are quite a variety of things that it could be.”

  Addison drew in a breath and let it out slowly, her eyes tracking James’ movements. James’ fear and anxiety floated through Addison’s stomach and chest, tightening her muscles and weighing heavily. Addison pushed the feeling away and closed herself off.

  “A warning…?” James had her interest piqued, even if she didn’t believe in all that supernatural, tinky woo-woo stuff, she wasn’t going to discount what the Chief had to say. And Lily had told her to help Addison.

  Addison swallowed. “Yeah, like your subconscious telling you that something bad was going to happen.”

  “It was so vivid.”

  James closed her eyes and she could still feel the flames licking at her skin.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been that scared before. And Lily… she was just standing there like nothing was wrong and then she talked to me… she asked for help.”

  Addison set a hand against James’ thigh and let her focus on the touch before speaking.

  “Lily? You were dreaming about Lily?”

  Addison’s back straightened, and her jaw clenched tight. Her mind whirled in frenzy, and it made James feel like she was on the edge of a precarious cliff.

  “Yeah, it’s not the first time that it’s happened, you know that.”

  James noted the worry set in the lines of Addison’s face, but then was lost in her own little reverie of the dream, reliving each moment. Usually she forgot dreams, even nightmares, but this one was far too striking.

  “You never told me she spoke to you.” Addison moved closer and her hand slid up to cup James’ jaw, her green eyes stared into honeyed ones. “Tell me exactly what you saw.”

  As James recounted the dream, Addison could see it play across her vision as if she had been the one dreaming. The emotions and fear that James felt became almost too much for her, but soon enough the tale was over. She was left with a cold sweat lingering along her spine. Pulling away, she tightened her lips into a line and sat back, her hand on James’ arm. It had been a long time since she’d done that and she was feeling light headed.

  “What did she look like?”

  “Who?”

  “Lily. Did she look the same as she did all those years ago?”

  Thinking for a moment, James had the realization Addison had already seen.

  “No, she was older. Her hair was longer. She was definitely older. Four or five—that’s what she’d be now. That’s weird.”

  “Probably not as strange as you think.”

  Addison closed her eyes and gripped James’ wrist tightly. She was swaying back and forth, unable to control the movement. James sat up and steadied Addison’s weak form.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah, just a dizzy spell… it’s nothing.”

  Not quite believing her, James slipped from the bed and tactfully laid Addison down where she had been. Her eyes scanned the pale and sweat ridden face, her fingers sliding to her wrist to check her pulse and her mind working overtime.

  “Addy.”

  “Just give me a minute.”

  Huffing out the words, she closed her eyes not wanting to see the worry on her lover’s face.

  “I’ll be fine in a minute.”

  Addison spoke softly that time, hoping she could calm the nerves she felt running through the other woman. The connection she had initiated to see James’ dream always lasted longer than she intended.

  “What happened?”

  “It’s nothing, I promise. Just over taxed myself.”

  James took her word for it, but didn’t really trust her. It was only seven in the morning and Addison was not someone who did too much, too fast. Ever. Two minutes later, a pale pink color returned to Addison’s cheeks, and she was sitting up without feeling like she was going to topple over into oblivion.

  “You should rest.”

  “Really, James, I’m fine.”

  To prove her point, Addison stood up and spun in a circle with her hands out and a smile on her face when she turned to James again.

  “See?”

  “Okay.” James took a deep breath and rolled her eyes.

  Addison looked around the room quickly before leaning and sliding up onto her toes pressing her lips firmly and quickly to James’.

  “Go play with the boys, eat breakfast. You’ve been cooped up in your house by yourself moping far too much this weekend.”

  With a smirk on Addison’s lips, both women exited. James headed for the dining room where everyone was stuffing their faces with eggs and bacon, while Addison made for her office.

  Sitting in her chair after shutting the door, Addison took a deep breath and ran through the list of people she could call. Her cell was slipping through her fingers as she debated. The small device slipped back and forth from one end to the other: use contacts she had through the department, or use her “other” contacts. Deciding, she finally slid the lock and dialed.

  “Deputy Taylor.”

  “Hey, Heath.”

  “Addison, I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon, you left in quite a hurry the other night.”

  “Yeah, an emergency came up. It was great seeing you again, though.”

  She was aching to get over the formal chitchat they were making, but it was always necessary, especially when requesting a favor as large as the one that she was about to make.

  “We should do it again.”

  “When are you off next?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “Monday.”

  “Hmmm, I’m working Monday. What about Tuesday? We can do a late lunch.”

  “Sounds good.”

  She was gnawing on her cheek and fiddling with a pen. Tossing the writing instrument aside, she started.

  “I have a favor I need to ask you.”

  “Shoot. Anything for you, babe.”

  Cringing, Addison ignored the false endearment.

  “I need some information on a kid. She was involved in a fire two years ago and I need to find out where she’s been placed.”

  “Placed?”

  “Yeah, both her parents died in the fire. She’d be four or five now. I’m looking up her exact birthday from our records.” She started typing on her computer. “She was put in the system, but I need to do a follow up.”

  “A follow up, from a fire that happened over two years ago. If that’s not fishy, Addy, I don’t know what is.”

  She rolled her eyes as soon as she pulled up the records and leaned back in her chair.

  “I know it’s not something that you’re supposed to do and that I shouldn’t be asking. But it’s really important. The girl could be in trouble.”

  If all else failed with Heath, she knew she could pull this card and he would do it for her. Two years was a long time to not talk and she had good reason for leaving, but this was a child’s life and she hoped he would see that.

  “All right. What’s her name?”

  She could hear him typing in the background and was hoping that he’d find some information.

  “Alyssa Stanton. Birthday is January 6, 2008.”

  Pausing, she waited to see if any information came up. He cleared his throat and she could hear a shuffling as he adjusted the phone that was pressed to his ear.

  “Find anything?”

  “Hold on.” A few more clicks and then she heard him humming. “Seems that there is open case with her name on it. CPS was called because of a disturbance at the house.”

  “What kind of disturbance?”

  Addison could feel her chest muscles tightening and breathing became far more difficult. She really hoped it wasn’t what she was thinking.

  “Nothing more than a domestic. Which could mean just about anything.”

  “Okay.” The next question she knew he would have a hard time answering for her, but she needed to know. “Do you have her placements address?”

  “Addy…”

  “I know, but… I just have a bad feeling. I won’t do anything rash, I just want to drive by and check up on her.”

  “I can’t do that. I really can’t, Addison. Do you know how much trouble I could get in? I only just started here. I can’t have this on my record already.”

  “You’re right, you’re right.”

  Addison looked at the pen she threw onto her desk earlier, debating whether or not to pick it up again. Reaching out, she gripped the cheap plastic and squeezed before spinning it end on end between her fingers.

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “It’s okay. I know how emotional these things get for you and that you have a hard time dealing with the fallout.”

  Grinding her teeth, Addison let it drop. She had no intention of starting an argument she would never win, but it reminded her of why she hadn’t talked to him in two years. She was just about to speak when his voice spilled over to her.

  “I’ve got a call, but I’ll see you soon and hopefully not in the field.”

  “Yeah, talk to you later. Thanks again, Heath.”

  Ending the conversation she pursed her lips. Listening to the loud voices outside her shut door, she could still feel the unease seeping off the sole woman out there. Being intimate with the person she used her gift on always worsened the effects of the connection, never eased them. They lasted hours longer than they should have and led to lingering emotional repercussions. Thinking quickly, she dialed another number.

  “Addison! You need to call more often, this is completely unacceptable.”

  The light tones of the high voice set Addison at ease, and she found herself unconsciously smiling at him.

  “You won’t believe what’s been going on around here. Apparently some dude is trying to capture the boss-lady and has been putting out threats like none other. It’s crazy around here. There are new things showing up every day.”

  “Rob—”

  “It’s like everyone is running around with their heads cut off—”

  “Rob—”

  “What?”

  He finally stopped talking for two seconds, and Addison interjected. She licked her lips, saying, “I need you to find a kid for me.”

  #

  Addison had the information in her hand less than twelve hours later: the address and the names of the foster parents. While she hated using certain contacts, she had felt it had been necessary to protect the safety of the girl. Taking her work truck, she drove around the neighborhood where the girl was located. It was close to dinner, so she was sure the family wouldn’t be out doing anything. Addison only hoped that they weren’t on vacation. She stopped at the end of the street, pulling out the picture in the file that Rob sent her.

  She stared at the beautiful child. Her hair had grown to the length in James’ dream, and yet her eyes were jarringly dissimilar. They were still a dark brown like James had seen, but it was as if the girl had no soul. She was staring blankly at the camera with no emotion on her features and her jaw set in a constant line. Addison shuddered and put the picture away.

  Pushing the truck into gear, she started down the street slowly, pretending as though she was doing a routine check of the neighborhood. Her eyes only had one destination. The yellow house that sat on the corner of the block with a white minivan in the driveway, red curtains in the windows, and a very unexciting short, white picket fence in the front yard. Addison’s eyes scanned each window until she came across Lily.

  The girl was staring directly into the vehicle and Addison had shivers that tingled against her back. Biting her lip, Addison made sure to lock eyes with Lily until her small body was picked up roughly by a man who Addison assumed was her foster father.

  Lily turned to him as he held her out from his body. If Addison didn’t know better the move would be a loving one—a father holding his child close, looking her over, seeing her perfection only to tell her she was loved. But that’s not what this was, and Lily remained impassive.

  She was set at the dining table and a plate was put in front of her. There was a television on in the background as the two adults and four children sat around the table and said a prayer. Lily stared directly at Addison once again.

  Addison waited until Lily’s name was called and her line of focus broken. Taking off, Addison returned to the station for the evening meal. It was Friday night and there would no doubt be a few calls about local college students, even if it was summer.

  The table was set and Max was behind the oven pulling out his famous baked chicken that everyone loved. Since he was taking off early, he volunteered to cook dinner to make up for his absence. There was little complaint. James was winning her newest round of the car racing game against Collins and there was quite a bit of shouting when Addison came up the stairs. She dropped her bag in her office and made for Max running a hand down his arm.

  “Need any help?”

  “If you want to make the salad, that’d be nice.”

  Addison was grateful for something to focus on and she got out the greens and started to shred the lettuce the way she knew James liked it. It was handy being around men the majority of the time, as they rarely noticed certain things such as the way to make a salad to impress the girlfriend who happened to have particular tastes. The leaves were cleaned with water and then dried before being pressed into a bowl.

  Taking out the spinach from the fridge, Addison repeated the process. The roaring of voices started and she assumed James had been bumped up to the next level in the gaming chart, as it was so aptly called. Some of the boys were whining about her win and others were congratulating her. Slicing up tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers, she tossed all the items into the bowl. Taking tongs, she started to mix.

  “Dinner’s almost ready,” she called.

  Addison set the salad filled bowl onto the table and went back for the side dishes Max had already made. Sweet potato mash—which was one of her personal favorites—and corn on the cob fresh from the farmers market. All hands sat and started to chow down on the food after the quick mandatory prayer.

  Hours later and well into the night, they received their first call. A student was passed out drunk at one of the local pubs and needed medical assistance. Addison sent one engine, knowing the medics would arrive quickly and take over the case. She was left with one trainee and the rest regulars. They were arguing over a recently released movie that she didn’t have time to see. The movie was something about sparkly vampires, and it made her smile even though she had no idea what they were talking about. James would know though; Addison would have to ask when she got back.