Don't Touch by Elise VanCise Page B

Heinz you must tell me how you keep people off your
desk.”
     
    He grinned. “Easy, I have a loaded gun.”
     
    His relaxed manner made her feel a lot
better. She picked up the coffee cup. “This belongs to Jack. Tom’s
nephew gave it to him for Christmas. He thinks Uncle Jack looks
like a pirate with all that scruff.”
     
    Jackson shifted his feet behind her. “I told
you she was good.”
    Barbara smiled quite proud of her student.
“Yes, you are good. It’s so easy for you to pick up the images. I
understand now why it had frightened you so as it emerged. Let’s do
something harder.”
     
    She pulled out a file that had some photos.
“Read these just like you told me you read the crime scene
pictures.”
     
    Ryan sat up a bit and examined the image.
Settling on a Raggedy Ann doll sitting on a high chair she placed
her hand over it. “This is a favorite toy, one that goes
everywhere. It was lost yesterday but you found it inside the
cabinet with the cereal boxes.” She looked at the Heinz’s “You’re
married and Ann belongs to your little girl.”
     
    Heinz shifted in his seat this time trying to
hide his smile from the room. “Put the rest away, honey. I’m afraid
of what else she may spill.”
     
    Barbara laughed and did just that sliding the
file back in her bag. “I use my maiden name because of my husband
being a cop. It would give me more points with clients but for him
having a psychic wife isn’t so good for his tough guy
reputation.”
     
    With that Heinz squeezed his wife’s hand. “I
think she qualifies to be on this case. If you need help Dr. Reign
call any time, day or night.”
     
    Ryan gave him a warm smile back. “You can
count on it. But now what do I do?”
     
    Barbara patted her gloved hand. “You have
them take you to the evidence locker and look at the evidence
boxes. Sometimes things call to me, I know how that sounds but
there’s no other way to explain it. An object that has a story to
tell seems to draw us. Even people are that way; we will feel drawn
or repelled. Walking down the street you may see a man that makes
you hug your bag a little tighter and you move over giving more
space. His energy is repelling you. Maybe he was just grumpy or
maybe he is giving off exactly what he is.”
    The officers gave the women some privacy to
talk. When the door shut Ryan couldn’t help it she had to know. She
had seen Barbara handle the objects in question and touch her
husband without care or covering her hands.
     
    “Barbara, how…” The other woman knew the
question.
     
    “Time. In time you get used to being
assaulted by visions. It happens when you least expect it so you
come to expect it from everywhere. There are still those that
startle me, but, over time they have gotten less intense and easier
to handle. I’ve learned to filter them out. And in time you will
too.”
     
    Barbara moved to the chair next to Ryan.
“Honey, you won’t get your life back. You will get a better one. I
know you picked up a bit more than just a trip to Disney on that
mug. You don’t have to be alone anymore, Ryan.”
     
     
    In the hall Heinz stood back and gave a good
look at the detectives. “You realize you’re not just playing a game
here gentlemen. This woman isn’t going to come out of this
unscathed. Barbara still has nightmares about past cases. Before
this is over you need to help her find a support line.”
     
    Thomas nodded. “She’s trying to work things
out with her sister.”
     
    Jackson snorted. “The phone call I heard this
afternoon that’s not going well. Don’t worry I’ll make sure Ryan
gets what she needs for the case and later.”
     
    The captain cast him a look that hinted
intentions. “You know me better than that, Cap. I just think the
lady has gotten the wrong end of the stick. She’s not a nutter,
she’s just afraid of this thing she can do, and determined to get
her life back. I figure we owe her for working with us.”
     
    Crossing his