The Departed

episode…”
    “Good.” She blew out a sigh. “I’ve never had to have that particular pleasure, you know.”
    “Don’t make me use it, please.” He pressed on the gas with a little more force than necessary as he took a winding road that led out of town, toward Beau’s house.
    She reached over, touched his hand. “If you need it, then do it—don’t think, just do it. I’d rather not be trapped in one of those visions any longer than needed.”
    “I know.”
    The rest of the trip passed in silence, a tense, unhappy silence. Dez didn’t recognize the unmarked, narrow road he took, although she did glimpse what looked like Beau’s house some distance ahead. They parked in a narrow little spot off the road and she braced herself as she climbed out of the car, waiting by the hood as Taylor went around. She glimpsed the Taser as he tucked it away and she grimaced, mumbling a heartfelt prayer he wouldn’t need it—for both of their sakes.
    As he drew even with her, their gazes connected. “Are you going to be okay?” she asked quietly.
    “After you collapsed on me, you’re asking me?” His gaze was unreadable.
    She reached up, touching his cheek. “It’s not my blood that could be out there somewhere, Taylor.” She stepped closer, sliding an arm around his waist. “Are you going to be okay? If…I—hell.” She tipped her head back and stared at him. “We just managed to find each other. I don’t want to lose you already. As selfish as that seems, I’m scared it will happen. But even more, I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “Anything you tell me is going to hurt.” He hooked his hand around her neck, pulled her close. “But I’ve already figured out enough—you’re here for this. I know that. And whatever happened to my baby sister, it’s keeping her trapped here. She deserves better than that.”
    He pressed his brow to hers. “Help her let go. No matter what we find, it’s going to hurt. But keeping her trapped here just because I can’t face the truth makes me even more of a bastard than I already am. We’re not doing that. And I’m not losing you, either. So let’s get this done.”
    * * *
     
    HE hoped he hadn’t lied. Oh, he wasn’t worried about the deal with losing her—he wasn’t giving Desiree Lincoln up, not while he breathed. He just hoped he could face what she told him.
    The frozen grass crunched under their feet as they walked along, breath foggy in the cold air.
    They’d been walking for twenty minutes when he saw it starting for her. It was always a disturbing change to see. Sometimes because she’d have that little smile on her face. Today there was no smile. Today, her eyes got darker, her mouth flattened into a firm line, and there was something about the way she stared off into the distance that made him wonder if she was even here .
    Occasionally her mouth would move, but she never said a word. Sometimes she’d cock her head, like she’d heard something, something he couldn’t hear.
    Then abruptly, she stopped. Her head turned. And she stared.
    Taylor vaguely knew where they were—Meyer’s Field. And it was pretty damn close to where they’d been the other night. Dez was staring off at some point to the north and when he moved closer, he could even see the point her gaze was fixed on.
    And her lips were moving again.
    In some silent, soundless conversation.
    * * *
     
    “NO—stop it! Let me go!”
    Anna was screaming. The lady touching her, she wasn’t hurting her, but when she did touch her, there was pain. Pain in her head, and Anna couldn’t block it off. Sometimes that happened, but usually, it wasn’t like this.
    It hurt, and it hurt and it was ugly, so ugly—
    My angel, my pretty angel. You little slut, you let him touch you —
    She tore away from the lady and tried to run, but the lady caught her. “No!” Anna screamed, swinging out, hardly able to see for the tears. Pain cramped her belly, but it wasn’t really hers, it came from the lady.
    “Sweetheart, it’s okay,” the lady babbled, trying to hug her, trying to hold her.
    Earlier, those hugs had felt so nice. Mama never really hugged her like that. Taylor did, and Daddy did, but Mama never hugged her. Anna liked those hugs. But now…ever since the woman called her angel…
    Whimpering, Anna tried to get away. The ugly pictures swarmed
her mind. A man, she knew him—what was he doing? It was wrong, she knew that…so wrong. Grunting and groaning—she saw images of him