“Son, what’s this all about? What are you keeping from us?” Gabriella asked.
Luca blew out a breath. “Patricia Richardson, who lives around the corner, was found dead yesterday. It looks like her car had been run off the road. Her little girl, Mandy, was in the back seat. When they found the car, the little girl was missing.”
“Oh my God!” Gabriella exclaimed.
“Man, Jack must be going crazy right now,” Gabe said, glancing at his parents. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to check on my wife and son.” Gabe’s face had blanched with what could only be the fear of a young husband and father when they heard about such a tragedy. He stood up and, with a polite nod at Dawn, said, “Nice to meet you, Dawn. Take care of yourself.”
“Thanks. You too.”
Gabriella stood up and hugged her son. “It’s okay, Gabe. They’re safe here.”
He glanced at his dad again, who nodded at him, and then he turned and left the dining room.
Gabriella sat in Gabe’s empty chair and heaved a deep sigh. “Every time I hear about this kind of tragedy, I just can’t help but wonder who these animals are who prey upon innocent people.”
Antonio reached out and grasped his wife’s hand. As he stroked it with his thumb, he asked, “What does Dawn have to do with it?”
Luca hesitated, glancing at Dawn. She for one didn’t mind if his parents knew about her. They seemed like good, open-minded people.
“I’m a psychic,” she blurted.
Gabriella and Antonio didn’t look shocked at all. In fact, if not for Antonio’s slightly raised eyebrow, you’d think she had just told him it was going to rain.
Antonio turned to Luca. “Are you investigating Patricia’s death and Mandy’s disappearance?”
“Technically, I’m not on the case, but the entire squad was briefed this morning. We’re all on the lookout.”
“And that’s why you contacted Dawn?” Gabriella asked.
“Yes,” Luca said. “I asked Dawn to walk by the Richardson place to see if she could get any vibes, then I met up with her for coffee to discuss any leads she may have found.”
“And then I fainted,” Dawn finished. “Sorry about that.”
Gabriella glanced at her husband, concern etched on her face.
“Did you have a vision of the missing girl?” Antonio asked.
“Yes,” Dawn replied. At Luca’s nod, she told them everything she’d seen—except their son covered in blood. “Then at the end, I just saw blackness and I felt her confusion, but I think she’s okay, unharmed.”
“Is that why you fainted?” Gabriella asked. “Does it take a lot out of you?”
“Uh…” Dawn glanced at Luca and then back at his parents. “Sometimes.”
* * *
“You’ve been up all night, and it’s already past eleven a.m.,” Gabriella said to Luca. “Why don’t we take Dawn home so you can get some sleep?”
“Thanks, but I want to drive her home.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Dawn piped up. “I’ll just hop on the subway.”
“No, we can’t let you do that,” Gabriella said. “You just came out of a dead faint, and Luca said it happened in the middle of the street. I’ll drive you home.”
“Ma, I can drive Dawn home.” Luca raised his eyebrows at his mother, giving her a look that meant he wanted to talk to Dawn.
“Okay, okay.” She swiveled enough to smile at Antonio.
“Thank you for the soup and…everything,” Dawn said to Antonio and Gabriella. “I really appreciate your kindness.”
