Nature remained where she was. She had not watched anything. Her thoughts were on the man, and the girl in his possession. What was it that made him impossible to see? Was it the evil she felt? Was it the need driving him? What? She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up.
"Let's get something to eat."
She was not hungry, but knew Westerly was right. She had to eat, whether she liked it or not. The image of Sandy nagging her came to mind. Her secretary constantly reminded her of the fact that she would be of no help to anyone if she starved herself to death. She missed Sandy and again wondered about her decision to leave the woman behind. She would call her when they returned to the motel.
Westerly guided her to the camper. He tucked her inside before he got in. Starting the engine, he asked, "What you want?"
"I don't care whatever you want."
"I saw a Steak 'N Shake on the way here."
"Sounds good. We can go there if you want." Her voice sounded so drained.
He put the camper into drive and pulled onto the road. Spangle stayed at the scene to coordinate things with Officer Myristate. This was not Westerly's territory. He did not have jurisdiction here. He glanced at the woman next to him. She was focused on the scenery as it passed. He returned his attention to the road. It was getting late, but the traffic had not thinned. In fact, it was heavier due to people going out to eat or party, whichever, he didn't care. All he wanted was food and sleep.
They picked up drive thru and continued on to the Best Western. Nature did not want to have to deal with so many people, especially after having to deal with the feelings of the hidden killer. The smell of the food caused her stomach to grumble. She was not sure if it was because of hunger or nausea. She cracked her window to get some fresh air.
"Are you okay?"
"I will be. I just need to take a shower." She thought about having him stop at a music shop to get a CD but decided against it. She needed the shower more than she needed the music. She stared out the window at the lights of the businesses.
They parked in the closest spot to the room, got out, and made their way upstairs. Nature was tired. She stumbled a couple of times. Westerly tried to help her, but she shrugged his hands off. She did not want anyone touching her, not even Web.
Once in the room, Westerly sat in a chair near the small table. He turned on the television and pulled out his portion of the food. He ignored her as he started to eat. Nature knew he was mad, but she could not help it. She needed a scalding hot shower immediately. She needed to feel fresh again, not tainted. Her food remained on the table, untouched.
She made it to the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Leaving the lid down, she moved to the toilet and eased herself onto it. Hiding her face with her hands, she cried quietly for several minutes. When she recovered enough, she got up and turned the water on. She had to pull her hand back when the water became too hot to keep it there. She adjusted the temperature slightly before shedding her clothes. She stepped under the water. It turned her skin red. She ignored the feeling. She immersed herself under the strong stream coming from the showerhead.
The emotions that Alice experienced ... the innocence, the joy, the loss, the fear, and especially, the pain, flooded through her. Those, and the feeling of the evil consuming the man they sought, so soon after the Alice session, caused her to crumple into a heap. The water hit her. It felt like a thousand tiny needles. She tried to block the emotions, to get them to go away. She couldn't. They filled her every fiber. They threatened to consume her completely. She threw her head back and screamed.
Web bolted to the bathroom when the screams started. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. He pounded on it. The screams continued. He yelled. He threw his shoulder at the door several times. It held. The screams continued. Finally, he stood back and kicked the door. It flew open, slamming into the wall. Before it had a chance to bounce back, he was inside the room.
The shower curtain was shut. The screams echoed in the tiny space behind it. He yanked it open. Nature lay curled into a tight ball. Her skin was beet red from the scalding water hitting it. His entrance went unnoticed.
He stepped into the shower, blocking her from the hot water. He grabbed her, pulling her against his body. He sat down, ignoring how wet he was getting. He wrapped his arms around her. He whispered soothing words. He kissed her wet hair. He held her tight.
Nature felt the arms wrap around her, but she was lost, lost in the feelings of Alice. She heard the words. She struggled to regain control. She turned her thoughts to Brad. She used his love to help her as she had so many times before. She felt Alice's grip on her loosen. She relaxed into the arms holding her.
Westerly felt Nature relax. He watched as she looked up at him. He saw her brown eyes. He realized he loved those eyes, their depth, their color, everything about them. He bent over and kissed her. She responded, kissing him back. He did not realize she was lost in the rapture of her lost husband, that she did not really see him.
He kissed her lips, her face, her neck. He moved his lips to her breasts. She sighed with pleasure. He sucked on them. She moaned. He moved his lips back to hers. They kissed with a hunger both had not felt in a long time.
He rose to his feet and picked her up in his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck. He carried her to the bed. She gripped the material of his shirt tight. The feelings of Brad ran through her. She knew deep inside that he was dead, but he was so alive right now. She did not want that feeling to leave. She felt the bed under her. She felt the lips on her body. She knew to whom they belonged. She knew they were not Brad's. She didn't care.
)
Nature Kranderson, a reclusive psychic, stumbles upon the work of a serial killer when she tries to locate a missing teen for her family. For some reason, the killer's face remains shrouded; although she can clearly see the perverted things he does to his female victims. When she is asked to help locate another missing girl, she joins forces with Sheriff Web Westerly and embarks on a cross-country trek.
