He opened a small notebook and flipped a few pages.“From what I’ve learned, you seem to charge a substantial amount for psychic—what are they called?—readings?Why hasn’t the police department paid you for your rather specialized expertise?”
I side-eyed that one.“I can’t tell if that was a diss.Are you suggesting I overcharge for my gifts?”
He stared back, expressionless.“Shouldn’t youknowif that was a diss?”
I held up my gloved hand again.“I haven’t touched you.”On an eye roll, I added, “As to the question you keep asking, I refuse to profit off someone’s death.I help when and if I can.I volunteer that help.I’m not employed by the police department, but if I can help a victim find justice, I will.”
Kaknu checked his notes again.“I believe the captain asked you to read multiple bodies to better investigate the crime, to get that justice you spoke of, but you said no.Why was that?”
My, quite a lot of little birdies were in his ear, weren’t they?“If I feel too much is being asked of me, that my health and well-being will be compromised, I say no.I read two of the initial three bodies that were found.Both deaths were traumatic and I needed a break.”
He tapped the notebook against his leg without opening it this time.“I’ve read reports of you appearing to have injuries that mirror the victims.Is that part of your…gift?”
That pause held the disbelief and disdain of a hundred men—or however many worked for the police department.Assholes.“That doesn’t normally happen.The few times it has happened were anomalies that I believe had to do with how tightly I was tied to the victim in that moment.”
“I see.The coroner reported you having bruises around your neck after reading a victim who had been strangled.Another report was of you directing the police through the woods for a missing child and you having slashes across your body that matched the murder victim.”
Shitshitshit.
“Most recently,” he continued, “you were reading a victim who had drowned in a pond, and you vomited up what some witnesses estimated was a gallon of pond water.Manifesting the victims’ wounds feels more like the rule than the exception.”
I shrugged.“The incidents you listed were unusual.I’m not sure why I manifested their wounds.”
“If not you, whowouldknow?”he asked.Damn, he was good at this.
I gave him an annoyed approximation of a smile.“If my assistance is more hindrance than help, it would be best if the police stopped showing up on my doorstep asking for it, wouldn’t it?”
The corner of Kaknu’s lips kicked up before his expression became impassive again.“Thank you for your time, Ms.Corey.”He tapped his screen and pocketed his phone.“You answered well and your righteous indignation at the end will read as honest affront, which is how the innocent normally react.”
Hernández’s head whipped around.She stared at Kaknu, trying to figure out what was going on.
“Forgive me, Detective,” he said.“Arwyn and I know each other.There are, unfortunately, quite a few disgruntled officers who don’t like Arwyn, regardless of her track record in helping to solve cases.We needed an interview on record that addressed some of those complaints.”
“Lucky me,” I muttered.
“Now that that’s done, can we talk you into accompanying us to the morgue?”He put his notebook away.“There’s a body we’d very much like you to read.”
I thought about it and asked, “Those pages you were flipping through were blank, weren’t they?”
“I don’t know,” he replied, his dark eyes shining with humor.“You’re the psychic.”
I looked out at the ocean, suddenly tired.“I have work to do and, as you know, the coroner hates my guts.”
“Well, it’s too bad she’ll have to deal with you then, isn’t it?”he said with a smirk.
TWENTY-TWO
Look for the Rainbows
Remembering the promise I’d made Declan, I asked, “Is there a reason it has to be now?My gallery is open.Can my boyfriend and I go after we close here?”
“Absolutely,” he said, standing.“I’ll meet you there whatever time works for you.”
Hernández stood as well.
“We close at seven, but Declan’s going to want to make sure I eat before we go anywhere.”I didn’t want to rush to the morgue, but I also didn’t want to stay up late.“Is nine too late?”
“Not for me,” Kaknu said.“I can’t speak for the detectives, but I’ll meet you in front of the building”—he grinned—“as we both know the coroner won’t let you in on your own.”
