Free Bound by Blood (The Garner Witch Series) by P.A. Lupton Page B

that I know. She said I was the only person who knew. She had no family, and I was her closest friend. And it’s not the kind of thing you announce at the office.”
    Boy, I understood that. “Thank you Charlene.”
    We drove in silence back to the office. Not in the mood to chat, I’d had a horrible sense of foreboding, and it wasn’t the first time this morning.
    Morrison too, remained uncharacteristically quiet until we reached the office.
    “You have excellent instincts for gaining the witness’ trust.” We sat down at our desks. “I think we may have found our common link between the victims. At least two considered themselves psychic. Now we need to confirm if anyone suspected the same of our first victim.”
    “There isn’t even a small part of you that wonders if it could be true?” After what we’d heard from two witnesses about their gifts, I couldn’t believe Morrison still thought it was just their imagination.
    “No.”
    “How do you explain the incidents that their friends described?”
    “There will be a logical explanation for both.”
    I didn’t press the issue. Who was I to change what he believed, even if it was a narrow-minded perspective.
    For the rest of the day, I couldn’t shake this portentous feeling I’d been having all morning. Not only with this case, but something else... I knew in my gut that something was…off, but I didn’t know what. My instincts were usually attuned these things, so I became restless.
    Panic inexplicably gripped me right before Teresa, my boss’ assistant, poked her head into my office. “Hi, Brianna. Agent Hunter asked me to track you down. He needs to speak with you right away.”
    “Okay...” I had an awful churning in my stomach. “I’ll be right there.”
    Something bad was about to happen. I knew it the moment I entered Agent Hunter’s office. His usual friendly smile was absent, his body oozed tension, and—oh, God—sympathy. “Hello, Brianna, please sit down.”
    I took a seat and waited.
    He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Brianna, I spoke with SAIC Botsford in Chicago earlier. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you. Your father suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the hospital late last night.”
    I gasped. “Is he alright?” I asked, ignoring the screaming doubt inside my head. I felt pity surrounding him like a cloud, and I knew in my heart that my father was dead.
    Agent Hunter shook his head, his expression somber. “I’m so sorry Brianna...” His voice trailed off. He was still speaking, but I couldn’t recall what he said. My anguish drowned out his words and overshadowed everything else. The gaping emptiness in my chest, the only thing I felt. The rest of the world disappeared as I struggled to hold back my tears. All I kept thinking was how I rushed him off the other night and the fact I was annoyed he’d flown all the way to Denver to check on me. Guilt and grief warred inside me.
    Morrison escorted me to a plane and assured me he would take care of everything while I made funeral arrangements and settled my father’s affairs. Agent Hunter gave me a week to do what needed to be done.
    Before I got on the plane, Morrison turned to me with concern. “I’m so sorry, Brianna, for your loss. Are you going to be okay when you get to Chicago?”
    “I’ll be okay,” I answered numbly.
    “I can fly with you to Chicago, take you to your father’s house, and make sure you get settled.” The thoughtfulness of his offer no longer surprised me. Despite his cocky demeanor, Morrison was a great guy.
    “No, thank you. But I’m truly grateful for the offer.” He leaned in and hugged me. I squeezed him back, thankful for the small affection. “Keep me posted on the case.”
    “Don’t worry about the case. It’ll be here when you get back. Take care of your family first.” What family ? I thought sadly. My father was the only family I’d had. And for the first time in my life, I felt truly alone in the