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eBook Category: Mystery/Crime/Suspense/Thriller
eBook Description: Elaine Brinsfield is an independent, attractive young woman who loves her job as a daycare teacher. To her vivacious roommate, Caro Tovar, and her co-workers, the only thing missing in Elaine's life is a good man. That man seems to be Ken Lammerson, the handsome police officer who comes to Elaine's rescue and is immediately attracted to her. A victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her stepfather, Elaine can't bear the thought of being touched by a man. The coping mechanism of astral projection she used as a child returns unbidden, accompanied by the threatening appearance of ghostly evil spectral beings. The gift-or curse-of astral projection enables Elaine to solve a vicious murder, but skeptical cops make her the number one suspect.

eBook Publisher: The Fiction Works, Published: http://www.fictionworks.com, 2004
Fictionwise Release Date: March 2004

11 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [662 KB], eReader (PDB) [221 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [211 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [190 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [173 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [234 KB], hiebook (KML) [475 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [270 KB], iSilo (PDB) [174 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [215 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [249 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [287 KB]
Words: 62082
Reading time: 177-248 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"Meredith's ability to spin a tale that captures a reader's imagination will keep you turning the pages until the very end."--Nancy Mehl, author of Graven Images

"The Astral Gift packs an emotional wallop as well as telling a compelling story. It is sure to please current fans of Ms. Meredith and win her new ones."--Roberta Austin, reviewer for All About Murder and Murder and Mayhem

"...brilliantly crafted in a fast-pace manner that brings the readers to the edge of their seats. It is a highly recommended book for anyone who enjoys mystery with elements of supernatural phenomenon."--Shirley Cheng, author of Daring Quests of Mystic

"I want a drink of water," Elaine said quite plainly for a three-year-old. She wasn't thirsty, just hoped to delay bedtime. But her mother's expression warned her not to try any more tricks.

Her mother leaned over the lowered side of the wooden baby crib to tuck the blanket around Elaine, kissing her forehead. Mommy must be tired from working overtime. Probably why she didn't want to observe their usual bedtime ritual. She hadn't even read her a story!

It wasn't fair. Not the least bit sleepy ... Elaine felt like playing. When she gazed across the room at the shelves holding her toys, Raggedy Ann, slumped in a corner, winked a button eye, and her embroidered mouth lifted in a smile. The fuzzy teddy bear beckoned to her with outstretched paws.

"Good night, Elaine." Mommy raised the side of the bed and switched off the overhead bulb before going out, leaving the door ajar when she left. A yellow rectangle of light from the hall spilled into the room and over her toys, enticing her to play all the more.

Heavy footsteps came down the hall. The huge form of her stepfather blocked the warm glow as he filled the doorway.

No, no, please don't come in.

"Sweet Elaine, you didn't think I'd let you go off to sleep without a good-night kiss, did you?" His gravely voice dripped a false sweetness.

Dread clenched her, and she turned her head away before he reached the crib. But she imagined his rough hands with their ragged and dirty fingernails, black hair sprouting from the backs, even before they lifted her nightie.

Elaine shut her eyes tightly. But she was unable to block out the smell of stale cigarette smoke clinging to his clothes or the acrid odor of his dried sweat mixed with his beery hot breath.

Without knowing how she did it, Elaine lifted out of her body just as her stepfather's rough fingers touched her skin. She glided to her waiting playmates. After settling herself on the floor, she gathered her toys around her.

Once, she glanced across the room at the little girl in the bed, a little girl with pale, wispy hair just like hers. Her stepfather leaned over the other child, but Elaine didn't want to see anymore.

There seemed to be someone else in the room--she could hear whispering and breathing sounds--and in the darkest corner she could almost see something ... something scary. But whatever it was, it wasn't as frightening as her stepfather.

No matter how spooky the noises or menacing the moving shadows, nothing was as bad as what the man was doing to the child in the bed.

Elaine hung onto Raggedy Ann and the teddy bear until her stepfather left the crib and disappeared from the room. In an instant, she returned to her body, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.