Page 3 of A Seer and Present Danger

“There will be some kind of danger,” Yancy said. “A shake-up like Jean mentioned. But I couldn’t tell what that danger was. I can’t see the outcome, which is very strange for me. I can always see the outcome, especially of my future. But no matter how hard I focus, the future is just a static-filled blur.”

He sounded calm, but from how hard he was clasping his hands together on the table, I knew it was stressing him out.

“Has this ever happened to you before?” I asked. “Not being able to see the future?”

“No. Never. Not once in my life.”

Okay, he was more than stressed. He was afraid.

“When did this all start?” I asked. “When did you get that feeling, Jean?”

“A week ago?” She looked at Yancy who nodded.

“Same,” he said.

I tried to think of anything that had happened a week ago, but life had been chugging along in my neck of the woods.

“Let me help,” I offered. “You know I see little futures, which isn’t much. But maybe a little future will point at the bigger issue.”

“Oh please,” Jean said. “You and the little thing. You see big futures too.”

I hummed. “No, not really.”

“You warned Hogan about the oven a couple days ago.”

“That? Come on. Warning him that a batch of cookies was going to burn isn’t exactly lifesaving information.”

“To him it was. The bakery was swamped. He was shorthanded. He would have had to close for the rest of the day.” She pointed. “Big future right there. I win!”

That made me laugh. “All right, fine. It ended up being bigger than burned cookies. How about I see what I can see?”

“Please,” Yancy said while Jean nodded.

I calmed my thoughts, relaxed my shoulders, hands, toes.

Looking forward…out and out and out…any little thing…maybe it’s an ice cream truck….

Futures flashed:

Aggie calling me back to work. A fire.

Yancy leaves, Jean stays to meet Delaney. More fire.

A man. Light hair, dark eyes (boy howdy, he was handsome!) Fire, again.

I sorted the images and possibilities. “I think there’s a fire? Flame stuff shows up more than once. Do you think it could be a fire coming our way, Jean?”

She exhaled. “Maybe. Fires are dangerous.”

“Is it at my house?” Yancy asked. “Is that why I can’t see the future? Do I die in a fire?”

Whoa. Panic-city.

“No. I didn’t see you or your house.” I reached over and took his hand. “The fire might not be the thing. But I didn’t see anyone dying, either.”

He swallowed and ran his other hand over his face. “I’m sorry. Yes. Good. I wish I could see…anything. But it’s comforting you don’t see my death.”

“Can you tell where the fire hits?” Jean asked.