Free Deadly Visions by Roy Johansen Page B

windows toward the nurses'station. “The plump nurse with the red hair thinks I won't make it past Friday.”
    Joe turned and spotted the nurse, who was at the desk, filling out paperwork.”How do you know?”
    Monica managed a smile even though the effort was obviously painful.”I'm psychic, remember? She's been leaking information to a tabloid newspaper.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Positive. She even promised to snap some pictures of my body after they wheel me down to the morgue.”
    Joe stared at Monica in shock.
    Monica nodded.”She wants ten thousand dollars, but they're willing to pay only five. Poor thing.”
    “If you're sure about this, I'll talk to her supervisor on the way out.”
    “Don't. At least not yet. She has a call in to one of the paper's competitors, and I'd like to see if they meet her price.” Monica closed her eyes, obviously fighting a wave of pain. After a moment, she glanced back at Joe. “You're dying to find out how I know this, aren't you? I have no telephone, and no one else has come to see me today.”
    “Look, I didn't come here to debunk you.”
    “But you do want to ask me about the sketches you found in my hotel room.”
    Joe raised the large manila envelope he was holding. “Very good. Do you know what I want to ask?”
    “I'm not in peak form. Fill me in on that one.”
    Joe pulled out the sketches and showed them to her. “Did you draw these before you actually visited the crime scenes?”
    “Of course not. You were there when I gathered my impressions.”
    “It looks like these were drawn without any knowledge of the actual area.”
    “I display my drawings on my website and in my books. When I'm in the field, my sketches are often rushed. Sometimes I like to refine my drawings. If the settings look a bit different, chalk it up to artistic license.” She gritted her teeth and suddenly turned away.
    “Do you want me to get someone?”
    Monica turned back.”No.”
    Almost anyone else would have gladly taken a morphine drip, Joe thought. The lady was a fighter. He put away the drawings.”Okay. I'm also here to ask you who might have done this.”
    “How could I possibly know that?”
    “Well, given the fact that you're a world-famous psychic—”
    “Are you actually giving some tiny shred of credence to my abilities?”
    Joe pursed his lips. “You're a very intelligent and intuitive person. I'd be remiss if I didn't get your impressions.”
    She settled back and stared at the ceiling. “I have no idea. I haven't been able to sense anything sincethis happened. Whatever it is, I still don't think it's human.”
    “So you're standing by that.”
    “Of course.”
    “Listen to me. Whoever is committing these murders may be afraid of you. They may have somehow engineered this attack to keep you from discovering them.”
    “I've thought of that.”
    “I know your show and website are making a lot of noise about this 'spirit killer'angle, but it may be obscuring the real issue here. There may be a flesh-and-blood murderer out there who wants you dead.”
    “I appreciate your concern.”
    The plump nurse walked into the room carrying a clipboard.”Don't mind me, keep talking.” She studied the instrument readings.
    Monica raised her head.”There's a disposable camera in your locker, isn't there, honey?”
    The nurse suddenly wore a startled expression. “Uh—yes, ma'am.”
    Monica nodded. “I can see it. Tell me, dear, why would you want a camera in a place like this?”
    The nurse turned red. “Well, there's a—a party later.”
    “A party? Hmmm. I'm getting a slightly different reading. I can't quite put my finger on it. I see the camera, its flash going off—”
    “I'm sorry, I have to run.” The nurse bolted from the room.
    Joe chuckled. “I still think I should talk to her supervisor.”
    Monica closed her eyes again, but this time shewore a faint smile. “Only if I don't make it. In the meantime, I'll enjoy torturing that poor girl.”
    What a