A Deep and Dark December(68)

He could see she believed what she was saying. How could this be? A person with an undiscovered ability, running around San Rey, using his influence to make people kill themselves? How was that possible? He couldn’t wrap his head around it. And then he thought of the interviews he’d done over the past few weeks. Over and over people told him how they didn’t know why they’d done the things he was arresting them for. The thought had struck them and they’d felt compelled to act on it. As though they had no choice. No free will.

“I think he compelled Greg and Keith to take their own lives,” Erin was saying, her voice full of purpose and determination. “He probably killed Deidre. In fact, I know he did. I think that’s what started this whole thing. He killed Deidre and is using his ability to distract you and the entire town from what he’s done.”

“Compelled. That’s an interesting word.” And consistent with what had been happening. Turning it around in his head, he could see it. The person manipulating people into committing crimes and worse, had to be in possession of a very strong ability. Erin had shied away from the word power, but in this instance, it fit.

“He targeted my aunt because she can read minds and my dad because he can put suggestions into people’s heads,” Erin continued. “I can see the past and future. I’ve actually seen what he’s done. He’s twisting our abilities, using them against us.”

He couldn’t deny what she was saying. At the same time he didn’t want to believe it. A murderer with the ability to command others to do terrible things. Things they would never do on their own. If what Erin was saying was true, there was a serial killer in San Rey(?).





“You don’t believe me,” Erin said.

Graham let out a frustrated breath. “It’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

Graham rubbed her shoulder. They sat side by side on the couch in front of the fire. Outside the wind had kicked up, rushing through the trees and rattling the windows. Inside the fire leapt and spat, licking up in spiraling tendrils. Every once in a while, the wind dashed down the chimney and flattened it, but the fire would surge up again, more determined than ever to burn on. A lot like Erin and her indomitable spirit, he thought.

“How do we find out who it is and stop them?” he asked. “Is there some kind of ability detector? Can you or your aunt or your dad tell if someone you meet has a talent of some kind?”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“Have you ever met anyone else with abilities?”

She shook her head.

He waited a beat then asked, “Did your mother have an ability?”

“No.” Her answer closed the door on any other questions he might have had about that side of her family.

He leaned his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. He still shook inside from seeing Erin lying on the floor, her gaze fixed and blank. He’d thought for a moment that she was dead and it was Patricia all over again without all the blood and the sickening knowledge that he was to blame. Only it would be his fault if something happened to Erin.

He sat up and turned to face her. “I have to tell you something.” He hadn’t meant to blurt it out, but if he couldn’t be honest with himself, he could at least be honest with her.

She shifted, pulling away from him a little. “What.”

Not a question. Maybe she already knew. That was why she’d been acting suspicious toward him, standoffish. Even now he could feel her withdrawing from him, watching him as though he’d turn on her at any moment. She deserved better than him, better than a son who couldn’t stand up to his father, better than the failure he was. She was right to mistrust him. He would let her down as he’d let Patricia down. He was a disappointment to his father, this town, himself.

“What, Graham?”

He looked down at her hand on his arm, then up into her eyes. The wariness was there, but at the center was something he hadn’t expected and didn’t deserve. She cared for him. He’d have to find a way to nurture it, make it crowd out the doubt until it disappeared entirely.

“I came here to break things off between us.”

Her head jolted back a little and her lips parted. She hadn’t been expecting him to say that. Then what—

“Why?” she was asking, her hands now clenched in her lap. “I mean okay. Sure. If that’s what you want.”

“No, I—”

She took a breath and lifted her chin. “It was a stupid idea anyway and never would have worked out. You’re right. It’s best to end things now. I guess I should thank you.”

“Is that what you want?”

“It doesn’t seem to—” Her body went stiff and she clamped her eyes shut, grabbing her head in her hands. “The…pain.”

He dropped to his knees in front of her and gripped her forearms. “Erin. Break out of it.” He gave her a little shake. “Stop it!”

Her eyes popped open. She blinked slowly as though she expected the pain to strike again.

“Gone?”

“Yeah. I think so. You can let go of me.”

He eased back, his heart pounding so hard, the backs of his eyes stung. “It hit faster that time.”

“I’m fine now. You can go.”