When they stepped into the room, Rachel’s eyes went to the man on the bed. The covers were rumpled, as though Frederick had made a violent attempt to get away. But he’d failed, and he was still cuffed and tied to the bedposts. Now he was lying pale and still, and she remembered the energy charge that had whizzed past her when she’d dodged aside. It must have zinged through the door and hit Frederick.
“Oh no,” Rachel whispered.
Jake rushed to the kidnapper and pressed a hand to his neck. “He’s alive.”
“We’ve got to save him. I want to turn him in to the police,” she heard herself say, disgusted with the idea of helpinghim even as the words came out of her mouth.
Jake turned toward her. “If his fingerprints are in Evelyn’s room, then it doesn’t matter if he’s dead or alive.”
She struggled with desperation. “There’s no way to know that for sure! He could have been wearing gloves. I want him to tell the police he killed her.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because it will be his best alternative.”
She moved to the other side of the bed, putting her hand on the man’s shoulder, struggling to overcome her revulsion at touching him. He’d tried to kidnap her. He’d tried to choke her, and it was so tempting to simply let him die. But she couldn’t do it.
Jake’s eyes went to her. When he started to speak, she shook her head.
I don’t want to take a chance on his hearing anything we say.
Right,Jake agreed.He’s in bad shape. Can you save him?
I don’t know.
You’ve connected with your clients on a deep level. Maybe that was why you could bring me back when I was dead.
That was different. I love you.
Their eyes met across the man on the bed.
We might hate this guy, but we need him alive. For us,Jake said.What should we do?
Pour energy into him.
Even saying that made Rachel recoil, but she reached for Jake’s hand. When his soul had left his body, she’d gone after him and brought him back.
Do you have the strength to do it after the way Kira zapped you?Jake asked.
I don’t know.
I’ll help.
She grimaced. When she’d known Jake was dying, she had pressed herself to him to get as close as possible. She could barely stand to touch Carter Frederick.
The idea of reaching out to this man sent a shiver of fear through her, but she pressed on.
Closing her eyes, she sensed energy building between herself and Jake. It was a comfort to feel him there. He was with her, every step of the way.
Still, she knew she had to do more than pump energy into Frederick if she was going to accomplish her goal.
When she clenched her jaw, she felt Jake soothing her.
It’s okay. Do your best. If you can’t manage it, that’s okay, too.
No, I’m going to do this, she answered, knowing that his giving her permission to fail made a difference.
She swallowed hard, then reached for Frederick’s mind.
