“He’s in danger,” Kohnex said.
Laurel paused, standing to walk to the kitchen. “Who, Huck?”
“Yes. Everybody you care about is in danger, and I feel you’re going to lose him.”
She took a steady breath and pressed her hand on the counter. The cool marble calmed her. “If you know something about Captain Rivers, you need to tell me right now.”
“Just what I’ve heard. Just what I’ve felt and sensed. Just what fate wants me to know,” Kohnex said urgently.
Laurel pinched the bridge of her nose. “So you have no concrete evidence.”
Kohnex chuckled, the sound slightly hysterical. “There is nothing concrete. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I can see it. I can smell it coming for you, for him, I don’t know, for all of you. Please listen to me.”
Irritation slid into anger. “Unless you have something of actual importance to tell me, we are ending this phone call.”
He sighed loudly. “I just want to help you.”
“Then say something that makes sense,” she snapped.
He remained quiet for several moments. “I had a dream about you last night. There were veils all around you. Nobody is who they seem, and you’re going to lose.” His voice dropped to a rhythmic and hypnotic tone now.
“Have you been ingesting drugs?” she asked.
He snorted. “No more than usual.”
Her mind clicked through possible scenarios. She had no doubt that Pastor John had her private number. It would be easy enough for Tim Kohnex to get into the church and find it. “I’m not falling for this mysterious act you have going on. If you believe you’re psychic, you probably need mental help. And if you’re on drugs, you require intervention, but this is tedious.” She needed to look at his background more closely. “Where are you right now?”
“Me?” The sound of a door opening came over the line and then the pounding of rain. “I’m at my cabin, out on my back deck, looking at the river. It’s a dark night, Agent Snow. There’s no moon.”
“Do you have anything else to add, Mr. Kohnex?”
“No. I just felt I should warn you. Be careful. You are stepping into pools of darkness that not even you can comprehend.”
She clicked off. Her hands shook, and she didn’t know why. She didn’t believe him. So she quickly pressed speed dial.
“Yo, boss,” Nester answered sleepily. “Dude, what time is it?” The sound of him fumbling with something came over the line. “Oh, crap. It’s, like, two in the morning. You okay?” He sounded more alert.
“Yes, I’m all right. I’m sorry to awaken you.”
“Who is it, Nester?” a female voice asked sleepily.
Nester coughed. “It’s my boss. Just a sec. What can I do for you, Agent Snow?”
She listened to the wind whip pinecones against the windows. “Tim Kohnex just called me, and I kept him on the phone long enough for a trace. Call DC and find me his current location as of right now, okay?”
“I’m on it, Laurel. I’ll call you as soon as I have something. Also, I’ll be back to work on Monday. I just need the weekend here.”
It sounded like he had a lady love in Seattle as well. “All right. Thanks, Nester.”
Laurel put her phone on the counter and watched the storm. She knew Kohnex was either mentally challenged or on drugs. Even so, she grabbed her phone and dialed Huck just to hear his voice. He didn’t answer. She ignored her momentary panic and walked back into the living room.
As she watched Rachel Raprenzi’s livestream, Huck walked out of the forest carrying a petite, dark-haired girl who was smiling widely at him.
Relief slid through Laurel’s veins. The kids weren’t harmed. Huck was safe.
Laurel watched as Huck smiled and said something to the girl, who grinned and waved at the camera. Relief relaxed Laurel’s muscles, one by one. The duo appeared perfectly healthy.
At least for now.
