The Cop and the Psychic

She's a fortune teller in a traveling carnival, reading futures for her survival. He's a

homicide detective trying to find a serial killer. Will he believe her when she asks for help?

I have to thank my Fran. Bless her. I'm comma impaired, a lousy typist, and she still helps me.

Chapter 10: EPOV

The devastation of the room becomes quite apparent as the smoky air swirls in curly-shaped darkened, clouds lifting to the wooden-beamed rafters. The window covers are torn in shreds over the panes. Loose papers, books, and candles cover the floor in haphazard piles. Many sheets of paper still float above, hovering like dark clouds from a storm. I watch in amazement as they wrinkle into balls, falling to the tile like pelting hail, bouncing off walls and tables before disappearing into puffs of darkened cinder.

Holding a trembling Bella close to me, I look at everyone huddled together under the table. "Is everyone all right?"

Francesca begins to straighten, and I gently grab her wrist. "Allow me to go first."

She nods, "Yes. A little worn from wear, but okay."

The other girls just moan their responses.

She warmly smiles.

As I crawl out from under the table with Bella clutching at my side, we inhale the darkened smoke, coughing in spurts. Her eyes are wide as she turns in every direction, staring at the debris and waving her hands. "What's that horrible smell?"

Amy snorts, "Burnt dill and lavender."

CeCe adds, "For protection."

Francesca coughs, "I believe it's over." She follows and stands near Bella, placing both hands on her cheeks. "Bella, I'm so sorry you were frightened."

The air begins to clear and become a light violet.

"I've never experienced anything like that. I don't delve into the black arts. I wouldn't have a clue about any of this."

Amy steps in and tightly embraces Bella, whispering into her ear, "Okasha is one of your spirit guides, Bella." She turns and gestures to the girls. "All of us have teachers, mentors." Amy sighs. "When you have a psychic experience, do you feel a voice in your head? Not always do we hear, but it's a sensation that sends a thought … a message."

Bella nods. "Yes."

"Okasha has been sent to you. She is one of many that guide you. She's not of the black arts. None of us deal in the negative. The power was unleashed."

"But we do have the knowledge to understand," Francesca adds. "What happened was a blessing." Bella frowns. "Yes, I know it's rather scary, but you were given a message, my girl."

"Did you know this was going to happen?" Bella turns to Amy.

"Not always are we given the full information, but we felt the energy would be harmless."

Bella huffs, "You call all of that harmless?"

Cheryl smiles, bending to grab a pile of books. "Sometimes, you just have to have that faith."

"This was not of her control, Bella. This killer is unaware of your location. I believe your guide felt his frustration. Unknowingly, another entity showed the displeasure of that frustration."

"It appears you are a focal point." CeCe begins to pick up the books and place them on the table. " I have to repeat Fran's words, 'You and Edward needed to bond.' I know it was rather intrusive of us, but your lives are in danger. Apart, you and Edward are defenseless. But together, you have this strength … Just like you and your father. You'll know what to do."

Bella whispers, "We worked together."

"We all believe you will survive. There will be more loss of lives. Once you figure out who this killer is, you will also have to find the source of his power," Francesca quietly states.

And Cheryl adds, "And kill it."

I admit, "I can't be a vigilante. I'm a detective. I can't take the law into my own hands."

"You can when it's self-defense, or you're protecting Bella from harm," CeCe forcefully protests.

"You and Bella must return home. I'm so sorry," Amy touches my arm. "We may not have identified the killer, but you will."

Francesca quietly nods. "You look deep within yourself, and you will know."

~TC&TP~

When Bella and I return to the condo, we remain silent. She enters the bathroom as I sit on the sofa, leaning my head back, clutching the top of the couch with one hand, running the other through my hair, and staring at the ceiling.

She walks out, holding all her toiletries and places them on the empty table.

I turn my head in her direction. "Hey, come here," I barely whisper.

Sitting, Bella rests her head on my shoulder, and I wrap my arms around her limp frame. "You know your dad spoke of you often."

She looks into my eyes with surprise. "He did?"

"Yeah. He was so proud of you getting your degree."

She huffs, "And I messed that up."

"I think he would have understood why you took a break."

Bella continues, "I may have lived across the country, but we talked every few days. He wanted to know everything about my classes, and he would go on and on about a few of his cases, and we'd work on them together."

She sadly smiles. "I was so lost without him, Edward. I missed him so much. I thought it was homesickness, so I stuck it out. But I still didn't feel right. I wanted to go home and go to school near him. And when he didn't call me, I knew something was wrong."

She clears her throat. "Long before his accident, he arranged with the department that if anything happened to him, my mother was to receive communication first, and she would tell me in person. He didn't want me to find out from an official call. She came to my dorm." She cries, and I hold onto her. "She didn't have to say anything to me ... I knew."

"He asked me to look after you a few days before his death. It was as though he knew something. Possibly, he did. Charlie was aware like you."

She smiles. "He would say he was a Swani, too." She giggles. "A play on…"

"Yeah, I get it."

She hums, "I guess you're stuck with me."

"I never thought I would be in this position. Charlie was a force to be reckoned with, and never did I think he would be taken down. He was my mentor. The academy taught me nothing compared to him. There's the book knowledge, but there's the Book of Charlie ... the street smarts. He read people. He told me it's all in that 'gut' feeling."

"It's true. You feel it in your gut."

"Is that how you know, Bella?"

She nods. "Yeah."

"Then, we're stuck together."

~TC&TP~

No sooner than we land, and Bella becomes hyper in her movements. She can't sit still and palms her hands over the window, staring out over the trees.

I remain silent.

As we enter the city limits of Forks, she begins to hum this haunting melody with a rough growl to her riffs.

I finally have to ask, "What's going on, Bella?" I smooth my hand over hers. "You okay?"

She tears her hand away from me with a slow hiss, "Don't touch me!"

With furrowed brows and a stern glare, she turns her head breathing heavily, leaning her back against the door. I turn off the road to a rest area and stop the car. Grabbing her shoulders, I tightly hold onto her. "I'm here."

Her rapid breaths become sporadic and forced. "I can't catch my …" Her eyes widen. "Edward, I feel as though I am being choked."

I open my door, running to her side, and lifting her out of the car. Holding her tightly, I whisper in her ear, "Feel me, Bella. I'm the only one touching you. It's all an illusion. You can fight this. They have no control over you." I urge, growling through my teeth, "Damn it! Fight."

One last hard breath and Bella falls limply into my arms, thrusting me backward. My feet buckle, and we land on a pile of dead leaves. With a steady airflow, Bella is asleep. Righting myself, I cuddle her close to my chest, laying my head over hers. "It's okay, baby. I have you."

I watch as a swirl of cold air tunnel leaves into a whirling spiral around us until they just drop to the ground. If I didn't see this with my own eyes, I would never have believed it.

Bella awakens, confused. She looks around. "How did we end up here?"

After I explain what occurred, I see Bella's expression change. "What?"

She huffs, "Aerokinesis."

I frown.

"This other person who has influence over the killer has the paranormal abilities to manipulate air and wind."

"How do you know?"

"Okasha told me." She shrugs. "Well, I assume she did."

"We're back in their playing field," I say.

"Pretty much. I felt this pressure getting stronger as we got closer to Forks."

"And they manipulated you."

She smooths her fingers over my lips. "You talked me down, Edward."

I kiss her.

"You're okay?"

She smirks. "You got the power in your kiss." She sings,

Your kiss is on my list (lips)

(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list (lips)

Because your kiss is on my list (lips) of the best things in life

(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list (lips)

(Because your kiss) your kiss I can't resist

(Because your kiss) is what I miss when I turn on the lights.

She giggles. "The girls are right, Edward." Bella absorbs every feature of my face, taking me in. She exhales, staring soulfully into my eyes. "We are better together." She pecks my lips, and I deepen it.

I call Mike when we get back to my place, but his cell goes to voicemail.

MPOV

With nothing better to do, I find myself searching the scene of Ariss' death. The police tape in a twist, as I walk within the perimeter of the crime. My intent wasn't to come here, but I felt this pull. With Jess at her mom's and Edward in New York, I didn't know where to go or what to do. So, here I am.

Remnants of the faint outline of the body are small and confined. I bend to grasp some dirt through my fingers and automatically lift it to my nose. Why would it smell like rotten meat? The pungent smell crunches up my face in disgust, but it's the sticky, slimy texture of the mud that consumes me. The color is off. Something just doesn't feel right, and I wonder if the other crime scenes are the same. After jotting down a few notes and stuffing them into my coat pocket, I know where I want to go.

Wiping my hand on a used tissue from my glove compartment, I start the car and head toward the outskirts of town. It's a cloudy day. Ha, what else is new? But the clouds are in a different formation. As I drive, I stare at the gray but darkening clouds at the top of my windshield's vision.

Alone on the winding road, I speed along with nothing but the tall trees, raging sentinels at my sides. With the windows down, the cool air turns cold and damp. Thunder rumbles in the foreground, as lightning flashes in front of me and a pounding rain plummets down out of nowhere.

Nerves strike me, and I glance into my rearview and side mirrors. Nope, still alone.

I continue my path as the storm rages. Lifting my windows, I hear the muffled sound of a racing engine. Once again, I glance in my rearview, and from out of nowhere is an oncoming car. No, it's more like a Batmobile. The flat black sports car is sleek and low to the ground. The blackened windows hide the interior. It soars closer, and I grab my wheel and tighten my grip. They don't seem to slow down as they race closely behind me. I step on the gas pedal and whisk my head from my rearview to the windshield.

At first, the Batcar bumps my back fender, and I jerk forward. Its next assault is hard and forceful. I push my foot to the metal and sail out of their way.

Once I make the turn, it appears I'm alone again. I slow my roll and catch my breath.

What the hell?

In front of me, coming down the ridge, the Batcar races in the middle of the road. A heavy wind surrounds me, and my car veers to the left and right until it's circular. My screeching tires fill my ears, and I bring my arms over my eyes as the car spins. The sound of my screams challenges the scraping noises from the outside of the car.

Suddenly, I feel as if I'm lifting into the air.

Then there's the sound of a thundering train, and all turns black.

Silence.

A/N: Whoo, what happened to Mike? What do you think?

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