Dream Eyes

psychopath doesn’t foul his own nest, at least not unless he loses control or decides to get rid of witnesses. Why take the risk of killing locally?” Judson paused a beat. “Unless the challenge is downright irresistible.”
    “Evelyn’s group of study subjects was an irresistible attraction,” Gwen whispered. “Zander’s addiction got the better of his control.”
    “Taylor paid attention to events in Wilby because Louise Fuller, his tuner, was here. That leaves us with the question of how he found Louise in the first place.”
    “And why no one in town knew him until he joined the study,” Gwen added.
    Judson looked at the lab on the other side of the falls. “Just winging it here, but a couple of things I know for sure. Psychic talent seems to have a strong genetic component. If the Coppersmiths are any example, the ability to perceive and manipulate the paranormal can go down through the bloodline. The other thing I know is that family secrets are always the most tightly held.”
    “Family secrets?” Gwen was dumbfounded.
    “We need confirmation. I’ll call Sawyer.”
    He keyed in the coded number.
    Nick answered on the third ring. Judson could hear muffled voices in the background. One of them was his mother’s.
    “This had better be important,” Nick said. “I’m a little busy at the moment, Coppersmith.”
    “Doing what?” Judson asked.
    “Getting fitted for my tux. By the way, your mother says that you had better show up for a fitting soon or you’re going to be in big trouble. You’re Sam’s best man, remember?”
    “What I remember is that you’re supposed to be working on my case.”
    “Some of us—those of us with true talent—are capable of multitasking. Your mother and me, for instance. By the way, Mrs. Coppersmith says to tell you that she hasn’t turned up any odd financial maneuvers on the part of anyone on the list of suspects you gave me.”
    “I’ll add some more names to the list,” Judson said.
    “Pink
?
”
Outrage vibrated in Nick’s voice. “I’m walking the bride down the aisle. I can’t wear a pink shirt. This is a classic wedding. I wear a white shirt.”
    “Damn it, Sawyer,” Judson said. “Pay attention.”
    “Turns out that a couple of other heirs also spent some time in Sundew’s online chat room,” Nick said. “Neither had ever indicated any previous interest in psychic counseling. No, not pleats. Think Armani, not your high school prom rental.”
    “Forget the damn fitting, Sawyer,” Judson said. “I’m pulling you off the psychic chat room project for now. Something more urgent has come up.”
    Nick uttered a long-suffering sigh. “What do you want now?”
    “Deep background on a woman named Louise Fuller.”
    “What am I looking for?”
    “Family history. I’m looking for a bloodline link between Louise and Zander Taylor.”
    “The psycho who tried to murder Gwen? Shit. Think that son of a bitch is still alive after all?”
    “You tell me.”
    “Give me everything you’ve got on her,” Nick said.
    Judson rattled off the few facts they had.
    “I’ll get back to you as soon as I’ve got something,” Nick promised, cold and serious now.
    Judson ended the call.
    “Now what?” Gwen asked.
    “Now we wait,” Judson said. He hated this part. “I don’t think it’s going to take Sawyer long to find the answers, because I doubt if Louise knew how to bury her own past.”
    Gwen watched him. “You already know the answer, don’t you?”
    Judson hesitated. “I’ve learned the hard way not to leap to conclusions.”
    “But you know, don’t you?”
    “Yes,” he said. “It’s the only answer that fits.”
    * * *
    N ICK CALLED BACK fifteen minutes later. Judson could hear the energy in his voice.
We’re more alike than you think, Sawyer,
he thought.
We both thrive on the hunt
.
    He put the call on speakerphone so that Gwen could hear the conversation.
    “I may have something and it’s not good,” Nick said. “Thirty-four years ago, Louise Fuller was living in L.A. Got caught up in a cult that was heavily into psychoactive drugs. The cult was really a cover for a well-organized criminal gang. The leader controlled his followers with drugs and sex. He used his male followers to sell the drugs, and he pimped out his female followers. Louise was one of the prostitutes. She got pregnant. Gave the baby up for adoption.”
    “Any leads on the father?”
    “No. That’s a brick wall. Louise was living in a drug haze