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“But I’d hold off until morning,” Gerard said. He was also right about that. It was tempting to disturb her, given the urgency, but I let the thought go. I didn’t want to cause her additional pain. We could wait a few hours.
“Why?” Hansen asked.
“Because she needs her sleep, that’s why,” I said, making it clear there was no discussing this. Her condition was painful to us all, but nothing compared to what it did to Annalise herself. Thankfully, Hansen didn’t press the matter. He would find out later anyway.
I noticed Gerard tapping his thick thigh with his hand, a signal that I was allowed to listen in. I looked at him and focused on what was under the surface.
How is he progressing?
I could hear him as clear as if he’d been using his voice, but the little echoes and breaths in normal speech were not there. Instead, I could hear several words underneath talking over each other, vying for attention or trying to stay hidden. I focused on the conscious thoughts, though. They were easier. I could, of course, not answer Gerard the same way, but my feelings of exasperation were enough as they flooded into him.
The corners of his mouth went up a fraction.
I understand he is seeing some of the worst of us, but is he a threat, do you think?
I wasn’t sure yet. I didn’t think he would be. At least not to everyone. Confusion and uncertainty dominated my mindset and I could not see how I expressed that very clearly.
I’m guessing you’re not sure. Is he difficult?
“Are you two seriously having a discussion together with yourthoughts and feelings?” Hansen interrupted our seemingly silent pause. His voice was pure disbelief.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Dr. Morris was right. He was quick on the uptake. A little too much maybe.
“To answer your question,” I told Gerard. “He likes things done in a certain way.”
“I also talk about people to their faces,” Hansen said. “But that’s neither here nor there with you guys, it seems. And speaking of which…what are you?”
I glanced at him. He seemed almost relaxed seated on the too soft couch, making even him sink down and look smaller than he was. Between wishes for coffee, sleep, and his slippers, I heard Gerard wonder how I hadn’t told him this yet. I broke our connection.
“We’re only people,” I said. “Like the rest of you.”
Hansen snorted at this. “Not quite.”
“We’re not a separate species,” Gerard chimed in, “but we have something…extra…to put it like that.”
“How is that?”
Gerard and I looked at each other. No one really knew the answer to this. “It’s hereditary. Runs in families, and manifests in different ways and strengths.”
“Since when?” Hansen pressed, focused on the big man. He wasn’t used to getting answers this readily. Hell, even I hadn’t expected that from Gerard. But he had a whole community to protect. Right now, he was trying the friendly approach. Different approaches would have to come later, if necessary.
“Since always, we think.”
“How is that even possible? How does no one know about this?”
“But you do know about us. Psychics, healers, mediums, and the like. Most of them are frauds, not all, but most. Those who are real are often disliked by their communities. Exposure puts everyone at risk.”
“How so? You seem to have some…advantages.”
Gerard shrugged, his bathrobe tightening over his shoulders. He was sitting in his nightclothes as we had woken him up. For something like what we were dealing with, that wasn’t an issue, though. Not with him.
“A few perhaps, but there are less of us. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s nature’s way of keeping us in check? Regardless, non-affiliates are no worse than us when it comes to doing harm, and we are usually perceived as a threat. Or as someone who can be used.” He glanced at me. “After what you’ve seen these last days, Detective, you can perhaps understand that?”
Hansen uncrossed his arms and nodded at this. He understood that most people have the ability to be shitty to others. I might not have liked his people, but I knew there had to be a reason he’d wanted to work as a cop. I guessed they did help regular people.
“All right,” Hansen continued, “but what about—”
“Ah, I’m sorry,” Gerard stopped him by holding up a hand in surrender. “I can’t answer any more of your questions now. And I get that it is frustrating. Trust me, I know,” he said emphatically to the detective who had crossed his arms over his chest again. “But I have to go and pay my respects to the poor young men. And I need to talk to Dr. Morris. I can give you something in exchange for my rude departure, though. Any questions you might have about us can be directed at Maggie.” He looked at me, deadly serious, but I could see the mirth in his eyes. He knew I was crap at things like this. “And she will answer them,” he continued, “within reason, of course.”
