“You weave in some fine detail, Ms. Golden.”
Julia frowned at Cheney and said quickly, “Kathryn, did you get any clue whether he was the one who killed August?”
“No, there was nothing about August.” Kathryn rose, looked from one to the other, and said, “Are you lovers yet?”
“No,” Cheney said as he rose slowly. He stared into her golden-green witch eyes.
“You will be. Funny how I never pictured you with a policeman, Julia. On the other hand, I never pictured you with August either. He was so much older than you, from such a very different generation, but it didn’t seem to matter to him. He felt a bond with you, something special that held him firmly to you. I often wondered what it was.
“Let me add that August was special to me as well. Dear God, how I miss him, every single day. Do you know I haven’t been able to speak to him? I don’t know if it’s my own grief that keeps us apart, but I suppose that’s possible.”
Cheney said, “When the man was thinking about Julia, did you get any sense about when he was going to come after her again?”
She shook her head. “He’s so angry, so enraged she’s still alive, so bewildered that he failed, really, and that he’s got to try again soon. I felt urgency riding him, but nothing specific.”
Julia said, “You saw him staring at you—at me. Did it happen recently?”
“I don’t know, but it would make sense, wouldn’t it? I don’t think I’ve ever had a retro-vision before. But he didn’t think about the time or the day.”
“Kathryn, do you see anything else at all that might help us?”
Kathryn Golden shook her head.
“I don’t want to die, Kathryn.”
“No. I’m sure August doesn’t want you to join him just yet either. You’re much too young.”
Cheney said, “Don’t tell me Dr. Ransom is sitting here with us, hovering over Julia, all concerned?”
“If he is, I don’t know. I told you, Agent Stone, I haven’t been able to contact August. I simply knew him well enough to know what he would think.
“I have to say, Agent Stone, that your aura isn’t all that rich anymore. There’s unpleasantness ripping through it. Now, if you will both excuse me, the producer is here.”
“I don’t hear anything, ma’am,” Cheney said.
The front doorbell rang.
CHAPTER 34
SAN FRANCISCO
Late Monday afternoon
Dix slowly rose when he saw Charlotte Pallack coming toward him, weaving in and out of clusters of happy-hour young professionals at the Ugly Duck on Post Street. Odd, but he didn’t see Christie this time, not for even a brief moment. He saw a woman he didn’t know at all, a woman who had lied to him, a woman who’d been wearing Christie’s bracelet. He saw immediately she wasn’t wearing it now. He let her come to him, smiling at her as he waited. When she reached him, she rose up on her tiptoes and kissed him on his mouth.
Dix tightened his hands about her upper arms and slowly eased her back. She looked up at him, excitement in her eyes, or perhaps it was satisfaction. “Do you remember what you said to me when you left me on Saturday?”
“Never say never.”
He saw the flare of triumph in her eyes; she couldn’t hide it. She said, “Such a memorable line, Dix. Ah, but I knew you’d come back. I’m so pleased to see you again.”
She kissed him again, lightly touched her fingertips to his cheeks. “You have a five o’clock shadow.”
“I’m sorry about that but I just got in.” She arched a brow at him. “It’s only been two days, Dix.”
“It seems longer,” he said, “much longer.” He looked up at the waiter, all in black with a white bow tie, and asked him, “What have you got on tap?”
He ordered a Budweiser for himself and a white wine for Charlotte.
“Two days,” she said again. “I must admit you did surprise me. You really called me from SFO?”
He nodded. “The moment I got outside the United terminal, yes.”
“Are you staying with the Sherlocks again?”
“They very graciously invited me back.” He gave her what he hoped was a sexy look. “Mrs. Sherlock said I’m welcome because I’m tall, dark, and dangerous. I must add that Judge Sherlock laughed.”
She laughed as well, took the glass of wine from the waiter, and clicked her glass against his. “To getting to know new friends better, much better.”