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“I don’t—” She cut herself off and cleared her throat. She had to be smart and give him what he wanted. Anything to prolong the inevitable. She scratched at the ropes around her other wrist, but they were so tight. “I’m not sure why Apex is so interested in me. I didn’t even know they existed until earlier this year.”
“Ah, yes. Your trip to Charlotte.” He stood up straight and began pacing the room. “Your file goes back farther than that. To the night you were almost killed by Mr. Novak. Did you know that?”
She shook her head. Words had escaped her. A shadow had formed over Zbirak’s shoulder. At first, she thought it was his—cast by the overhead light. But no. It moved separately from him, drawing close, then backing away. Then it turned toward Cassie. She thought it might’ve locked its gaze on hers, but it didn’t have eyes.
A chill went down her spine.
“Ms. Quinn?” Zbirak took a threatening step toward Bob.
She had to think about what he’d just said. “N-No. I didn’t know that. I’ve never seen my file. I don’t know what’s in there.”
“It says you’re a psychic. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Prove it.”
Cassie had a hard time ignoring the shadow. It moved closer again, giving Zbirak a wide berth. “What?”
“Prove it. To me.” He swept his arms out to the side. “Make me a believer.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Zbirak gave no warning. He stepped over to Bob, and twisted the handle of the icepick, driving it deeper into his chest. The other man screamed, and Cassie rocked back and forth, nearly toppling the chair over in the process. Their captor waited until they were both quiet again. “Make it that simple.”
Cassie took a deep breath and closed her eyes, feeling the other presence in the room. It was weaker than most other spirits she’d encountered before. It felt far away.
Zbirak took a step closer. “I’m losing my patience.”
“Someone is here. A spirit. They’ve been following me all around the city. Trying to reach out to me, but I don’t know why.”
“You’ll have to give a more convincing performance than that, Ms. Quinn.”
Cassie ignored him. The shadow drew closer, as though hesitant to finally make contact. It was weak, but it had waited so long for this. As the tendrils of its shade slid across her skin, a searing heat scorched her from the inside out. Full of pain and frustration and the kind of anger that never goes away. Growing and growing until she didn’t think she could take any more. Sweat beaded across her forehead. She might’ve cried out, but she couldn’t hear anything aside from the burning inferno roaring in her ears.
When Cassie was certain she was about to pass out, the heat faded. It was slow, and her skin prickled like she’d been in the sun too long, but it was calmer now. Gentler. Like a warm summer day. Unbidden, she thought of California, of the golden coast. The sea spray on her face, and the smell of salt in the air. A happier time. A time before the pain.
As the feeling faded, she was left with the dregs of someone else’s memories. Thoughts and feelings and experiences that weren’t her own. And even before opening her eyes, she could feel she was alone with the two other men. The shadow had dissipated. Gone forever.
“California.” Her voice was hoarse, parched dry from the imaginary heat.
Zbirak waited a beat before he spoke. “What did you say?”
Cassie opened her eyes, half expecting to still be in the sun, next to the ocean. “She was from California.”
“Who was?”
“I don’t know her name.” Cassie licked her lips. They felt cracked and burned. “She loved the ocean. Did you know that?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“The woman you helped bury. The one Reed killed. She wasn’t even dead when you set fire to her body. She felt it, every excruciating second, until her mind couldn’t take anymore. When she finally gave up, she thought she’d go somewhere nice. Somewhere cool. But she never left. Not when she had unfinished business.”
“How did you know that?” Zbirak’s voice was hushed now. He didn’t sound afraid, but harbored an edge of danger. Like an animal who knew its hunters were closing in. “How did you know about California? Did Reed tell you that?”
“No. She did.” Cassie looked up into Zbirak’s eyes, and for the first time, she felt no fear. “Did you know spirits draw power from the energy left behind when they die? That’s why you only see them lingering in certain spheres of influences. Where they died. Where they’re buried. But sometimes they’re drawn to the people who had an impact on them—like their loved ones. Or the ones who killed them.”
“I’ve killed a lot of people, Ms. Quinn.” Zbirak was starting to recover. “What makes this one different?”
