Office of the Seer

[Otis McNutt 395]

On Friday April 14th 1865 while attending a play in his honor President Abraham Lincoln was attacked. Moments before the attacker John Wilkes Booth could shoot, the President's life was saved by Simon Penington an 18 year old typesetter from Tuplo Mississippi. When asked how he came to discover the plot young Master Penington said rather plainly "I dreamed about it sir." Days later at a dinner in his honor Simon Penington was awarded with a position in the government. Lincoln was a staunch believer in the Occult and he saw Penington's gifts as an asset that could be used to aid the country, thus the Office of the Seer was born.

Over the next few decades The Office grew as more and more Seers were discovered. Taken in secret to a place where their gifts could be nurtured the Seers became indispensable tools for solving crimes both public and private. Today the Seers live among us working to protect lives and catch criminals.

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter One: Murder Redefined

The rain had moved off and the sky was clearing. Rebecca "Becky" Monrow decided to go for a jog. As she set out the sun came out from behind the greyish storm clouds. The temperature quickly climed turning the pools of water into floating vapor. As the streets dried up Becky decided to venture off the beaten path and went "offroad" which in this case meant venturing to the site of the old quarry. A century ago the quarry yielded the most magnificent marble, a kind of ebony and Ivory malaise that one one look upon with stunned awe. But lying face down in a freshly fallen pool was no would be countertop, no decorative rolling pin but the body of a young woman. Seeing the sight took Becky slightly aback, but being a trauma nurse she had seen far worse. Plucking a pink Nokia with plastic crystals from her pocket she hurridly dialed 911.

Minutes went by before the first Black and White showed up, followed seconds later by an Ambulance and for some reason soon afterwards a fire truck. As Becky talked to an officer wearing his blues a black Crown Victoria pulled up, a flashing blue light strobing silently on the roof. Stepping out from behind the drivers seat was Detective Mike "Hardcase" Mallone, he was called "Hardcase" due to his proclivity for choosing such assignments. His partner Amanda Rhodes climbed out of the passenger side. Like some strange Vaudville act they strolled oved to the taped off edge. It was an unusual sight to behold Mallone was as tall as an oak, with shoulders like a linebacker and a jaw made of the same stuff that was once dug out of the ground at their feet. Rhodes on the other hand was short, not weirdly short but small for a cop female or otherwise. Her slender frame and mixed heritage were offset by her walk, a walk that screamed "don't mess with me!" in her rookie days she single handedly took down a six foot tall Samoan weighing four hundred and fiftg pounds. When asked how she would always give the same answer. "What do you think."

Mallone and Rhodes looked over the steep side in tandem and both let out twin whistles. "You go first and i'll follow." Mallone said chuckling. "Shove it Hardcase!" Rhodes said. "How do we get down to her?" Rhodes asked. "I think theirs a road, over there." a uniformed officer said. "Too steep for cars but walking should work fine." he added.

The Detectives walked down the makeshift ramp followed closely by the Medical Examiner. "What happened to her, Spence?" Rhodes asked. Spencer Wallace was the youngest M.E. in city history, graduating medical school at fifteen he decided to forgo the living for the dead. "She's dead Rhodes, at least I think she is." "Very funny kid, what else?" Mallone said puffing out his chest. "She was attacked somewhere else, and dumped here. She was strangled by something thin." he said examining ligature marks on her neck. "Possibly a thin Nylon rope judging from the flecks left in the wound track." He brushed her hair away revealing her face. She was beautiful, with light blue eyeshadow and timid pink lipstick. "Judging from the dress she was probably coming from a party of some kind." Rhodes said. "Any ID?" she added. Mallone fumbled through her nearby purse. "No wallet, no Cellphone, nothing."

"Her name is Abby Montgomery." a low piercing voice announced. The three turned and faced the source of the voice. "Who invited you to this party Chance?" Rhodes asked. Chance Foster was an enygma, his very presence set ones teeth on edge. He was a great cop who cleared his assignments with ease but still people were cautious of him. "Montgomery as in Mayor Tobias Montgomery?" Mallone asked. "This beauty is his eldest daughter Abby." he said "Last leaving a charity dinner at eleven p.m. last night." "That's why you're here is it, to see the swift completion of this case?" Rhodes asked. "Yeah sorry." he said showing no hint of emotion. "Some day I'm gonna figure out what the 'interdepartmental leason with OSP' is really all about, come on Mallone." she said motioning to leave. "Captain wants the both of you to stay detective, to...ahem assist me in the investigation." Rhodes' face took on a slightly reddish tint. "Oh..OK." she said. "So what do you see that we're missing supercop?" Chance looked around. As he did the environment shifted he saw a dark figure walking down the narrow slope carrying thr girl across his back, he then gently placed her down and backed away and up the incline once again. "This place meant something to him, to them actually." he said pointing to the girl. "Are you saying she knew him?" Rhodes asked. Chance looked back at the girl as he stared at her face she smiled at him it took a moment for him to realise that it was a day ago, she was laughing and dancing at the party the man who would kill her wad standing nearby watching her, she saw him a got frightened. "She knew him but was not happy to see him, she wac angry and a little bit sad as well." Rhodes nodded. "OK Mallone check into old boyfriends." Rhodes turned back to Chance. "What next?"

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Two: The PD way!

Rhodes kept her amazingly Hazel eyes fixed on Chence Foster. Mallone walked over and handed her a cup of coffee. "What's up Manda, you got something going with Foster?" Rhodes snorted a laugh. "That guy, hell no!" she said. "Then what's up, why the hairy eyeball?" Mallone asked. "There's just something about him, something doesn't sit with me." Foster looked up and oved at them. "Did he hear us?" Mallone asked. "Don't be silly!" Rhodes said. "Detectives, my office now!" Chief Klein shouted throght his slightly open door.

Klein was a short man, his round face was framed by a thin beard of white fuzz, his bald head was offset by a similar patch of white hair rounding the back and sides. "Yes chief?" Mallone asked. "How are things going with Detective Foster?" he asked. "Permission to speak freely chief?" Rhodes asked. "Sure Amanda." he said back. "The guy gives me the creeps, why is it everytime a case goes south they bring in these OSP guys, I've worked here for four years and still have no idea what their all about." Rhodes said. "We use advanced investigate techniques Detective Rhodes, when cases that seem impossible to solve OSP solves them." "And when a powerful individual such as the VIC's father demands results?" Rhodes asked. "Unfortunatly yes, speaking of which, her computer showed up."

They walked to the IT unit's office, a massive row of computer banks monitoring false accounts on Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. "How's it going Sam?" Rhodes asked of Sam Worthy, the young tech specialist. "Nowhere fast, she's got some serious encryption on this beast like government issue CIA crap!" "The 'Lockpick' program not working?" Mallone asked. "It's like trying to kill a Rhino with a throwing dart, IMPOSSIBLE!" Foster walked over a touched the computer, flashes of Abby sitting at it hit him she was chatting with someone, he also saw images of her pet poodle named Jackie. "Try Jackie as a password Simon." Chance said. Simon entered the password entry screen and typed the word in. "It worked Chance how...?" "It was the name of her dog, just a guess." "Yeah a guess!" Rhones said. "If you'll excuse me, I have an appointment elsewhere." Foster walked away. "Hey hold up Chance!" Rhodes shouted. "Yes Detective?" he asked. "We're in the middle of a case, you can't just leave whenever you like." "I have to go Detective Rhodes I..." "I don't care about you Foster, I care about that girl in Autopsy her killer is still out there and until he's caught theres no us only her that the PD way!" "I understand that, I'm going to interview her parents right away." Rhodes sighed. "That's the appointment, interviewing her folks?" Chance nodded. "Yes the Mayor's really busy." Chance turned away. "Hey Foster, sorry about that." "I understand Detective." he said.

As he walked away, Foster tried to forget what he saw in Rhodes mind. He saw a small girl being sexually assaulted, the man never being caught, and the girl growing up to distrust men.

Edited 4 Jul 2009 by Savanti Romero (see edit history)

[Hiro Protagonist 0]

Oh. My GOD!!! this is freakin' awesome!!!

[Stormsworder 0]

Giant blocks of text, aaaah!

Okay, I'm sorry to sound so picky, but... Every time you switch speakers, PLEASE make a new paragraph. It's confusing if it's all jumbled together like that, and I can't read it all that well myself if it's in that format.

Sorry. >.< Very very sorry. It just strains my eyes so much trying to read all of that together, and I lose track of where I am easily... not to mention it's difficult keeping track of who's speaking sometimes. I don't wanna go grammar nazi on you, but so you know, proper grammar says to have a new paragraph when the speaker shifts, just so you know. It will also allow for easier following of your story.

Some novel I read in AP English didn't do new paragraphs... man, I got nothing from that book. >>;

Edited 9 Jul 2009 by Stormsworder (see edit history)

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Three: Room to Grieve

Chance Foster pulled his Black BMW up to the Mayor's Mansion. Even before he stepped out he could feel the grief from the house. In his younger days he hated his empathic abilities, although not as strong as his second sight they still packed a punch. "I'm so sorry for your loss!" those words echoed in his mind as he drifted back, back to that horrible day.

It had been raining for days and it finally seemed like the storm system, that had stalled had moved on. "We'll be gone for three hours honey, no more." his mother Madison said to him. As they left he ran to the window his dad Tom winked at him as he backed out.

Chance closed the car door behind him and, much like a cricket the car chirped locking the doors automatically. "As he touched the heavy brass doorknocker images of long dead occupants hit him. "Yes?" an elderly man asked jolting him from his vision. "Detective Foster Cascade Police Department OSP." he said "I have this, thank you Henry." a gruff voice said from within. "I am Tobias Montgomery." The man said wipping a tear away with a kleenex. "Yes, of course Mr. Mayor." Chance said. "Tobias please detective, i'm just a normal citizen today." Chance turned around smiling. "Thanks for joining me detective." he said to Rhodes who was walking up. "How do you do that?" she asked. "I smelled your perfume." he shot back. "I'm not wearing any." she answered. "Mr. Mayor I'm Detective Ananda Rhodes Cascade Police." The Mayor reached out and shook her hand. "Are you OSP as well?" he asked. "No sir just regular PD." Tobias coughed clearing hus throat. "Please come in." he said. "Can I get you something to drink?" he asked. "No thank you, duty and all." Rhodes said. "I have a Burbon, neat." Chance said. "Coming up." Tobias said. "No drinking on duty Foster!" Rhodes said. "Hey he offered!" Foster said back quickly.

"Did your daughter have any enemies sir?" Rhodes asked. "No...no everybody loved Abby." he said. "She was having a real tough time with her mothers death and all but she was pulling through." he said. "How long since your wife passed sir?" Foster asked. "Ex-wife and it's been a little over a year." he said. "And where is the NEW Mrs. Montgomery?" Rhodes asked. "She's at the Funeral home....making the arrangements." He said his voice breaking. "And did they get along sir, your wife and daughter?" Rhodes asked. "Yes they were like the best of friends." the mayor said.

Ecen before the words left his lips Chance could sense the lie coming. "Are you sure sir?" he asked. "Well they faught, but everybody fights sometimes." Chance nodded. "Of course." he leaned over towards Rhodes' ear. "I'm gonna have a look around, ok." he said. "I'll finish up." Rhodes said.

Foster could feel the essence of the Mansion wafting around him. He ducked past the downstairs Foyer and brushed past the dangling aparition of Simon Barnes, Cascade Mayor 1982-1989 forever hanging where he committed suicide as his embezzlement of city funds became known.

As a child Foster hated the old buildings, his Great Aunts estate had many lingering spirits, and when you're eight you don't know of such things." he passed by Abby's childhood room a ducked his head in. "Oh sorry Ma'am, i didn't know anybody was he..." he started to say. "Even in death." he said smiling. "Pamela Montgomery sat at her daughters bed looking at him." "I was sick, she had her whole life ahead of her!" the sad spirit said. Chance let his breath out, a cloud erupting from his mouth. "I promise I'll find the truth." he said to her. "Thank you." she said vanishing. "Who are you talking to?" Rhodes asked. "Just making a promise to the girl detective." "What like her ghost...Ooh Wee Ooh!" she said. "Nope her spirits crossed over." "Very funny Foster!" she said. "I got all I'm gonna get from the Mayor, you wanna come while i interview the Wife?" She asked. "No you do it, I'll be back at the PD."

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Four: Grieving Mother?

Amanda Rhodes pulled into Cascade Funeral Home and walked up. Inside she could see the Mayors new wife, Helen Montgomery chatting on her cellular phone. "She seems to be taking it well." Rhodes walked in. "Mrs. Montgomery I have a few questions about..." Montgomery held up her index finger. "No comment!" she said coldly. "No Ma'am it's not like that I..." "I said no comment, do I have to call the Police?" she said rudely. "No need I will...oh wait there here!" Rhodes said dangling her badge infront of Helen's face. "I'll call you back." Helen said closing her Blackberry. "Sorry officer, the press' been hounding me since Abby's death." Helen said tearing up. "It's detective Mrs. Montgomery." Rhodes said. "Yes of course." she said. "How did Abby's seem leading up to her death?" Rhodes asked. "Fine Detective, she was dealing with her depression and getting her life back on track." Rhodes nodded scribbling her exact words down. "And your relationship, how was that?" Rhodes asked. "We fought sometimes, but that's common practice for Step mom's and daughters." "You'd think the close age would bond you two." Rhodes said. "Well it didn't!" Helen said defensively. "That's all for now Ma'am, if you think of anything useful give me a call." Rhodes said handing her a business card.

Rhodes walked back to her car and began to dial Foster when her phone rang. "I was just about to call you Foster." Rhodes said. "How did the interview go?" Foster asked. "Some Crocodile tears, and not much else!" Rhodes said. "She was talking to someone when I arrived, I wonder if it was the husband." she said. "No definitely not, he's on tv right now and has been for about an hour."

Rhodes walked up to Foster who was sitting quietly at his desk. "What ya got there?" she asked. "Abby Montgomery's diary." he said. "You took her Diary foster, that's low!" Rhodes said. "It's from when she was a kid, she mentions things, listen to this..."

"Mommy went to visit Great Aunt Sofia, Daddy had a friend over he said she was a secret friend and that mommy would be mad if she found out."

"So daddy stepped out on mommy huh?" Rhodes asked. "How much you wanna bet the current Mrs. Montgomery was seeing the Mayor before the Ex became the Ex?" she added. "It's a good bet." Foster said. "I did some digging and found this." he said placing forms on his desk. "Volunteer forms for Selectman Montgomery's Mayoral Campaign?" Rhodes asked. "Look at the seventh name down." he said. "Helen Barnes? that's not...?" "The maiden name of the current Mrs. Mayor, you bet." Foster said. "Interesting, very interesting." Rhodes said. "It says she only worked there for three weeks." Rhodes read more. "I'm suprised the press didn't break this out when they went public, an elected official and an 18 year old mistress." Rhodes said. "It's been virtually erased from all digital files, this was the only record! You know beancounters are meticulous to the point of being anal!" Foster said. "Someone went to an awful lot of trouble to cover up this little nugget, maybe enough to kill over?" Rhodes asked.

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Five: Dreaming of Death

Chance Foster sat at his home desk, as he went over reports he sipped a cup of Earl Grey Tea. "What's wrong?" a voice asked behind him. "Do you have to do that, it's very weird!" Chance said. "I'm you're mother, I'm allowed to care." she said. "But most of those mothers are alive." he said turning to face her. "Sorry Mom, bad day at work." he said apologetically. "Tell me about it." she said. "It's the Abby Montgomery Case, I discovered some things about the Mayor and his wife they were together long before the Ex-wife became an Ex." "Do you think the Mistress had something to do with the Daughters death?" she asked. "I'm not sure, there's no motive unless..." "Unless what?" Madison Foster asked. "Unless she found out something about her mothers death!" Chance said grabbing his keys.

"You're here late, I thought you went home." Rhodes said. "I did, came back." he said. "Why?" Rhodes added. "I think Abby found out something about her mothers death, she said sge was sick but now I'm not so sure." Foster said. "Who said she was sick?" Rhodes asked. "What?" Chance asked. "Never mind." She said.

"Guy's check this out!" Mallone said plopping a stack of papers on Rhodes' desk. "The IT guys found a diary on Abby Montgomery's computer." Foster picked up the pages. "I had the dream again, I'm alone on the cold wet ground I think I'm dead. Mom tells me that I'm safe in bed, what would she know she's dead!"

"It does NOT say that!" Rhodes said picking up the papers. "You bet it does, this girl was into some serious stuff she talks about dreams coming true, and talking to ghosts really freaky stuff!" Mallone laughed. "Foster, what's wrong?" Rhodes asked seeing the expression on his face. "I need to make a phone call." Foster stood up from his desk and walked away.

"Hello Chance, how are you?" Director Mays asked. "Why wasn't I told Kelvin?" Chance shouted. "What do you mean Chance?" Kelvin asked. "Don't try it Kelvin, I can tell even over the phone you're lying!" "It was need to know Chance, you didn't!" Kelvin said. "She saw it, did you know that she saw her death coming, was she initiated yet?" Chance asked. "We had assets shadowing her, they were going to make contact but she extinguished before it could happen." Kelvin said. "She was murdered Kelvin, she didn't extinguish!" Chance shouted. "Who was shadowing her?" he added. "It was Mendez."

Chance sighed as he hung up the phone. "Mendez!" The very mention of the name made him drift back.

"I'm April, April Mendez what's your name?" she asked him. Chance had just arrived, his aunt had grown tired of his problems and shipped him off to a home for troubled kids, or so she thought. "I'm Chance Foster." he said not looking up. "There's somebody looking at you Chance." April had said pointing to a wall. "You can ses her too?" he asked. "Yes but not clearly, like a shadow." she said. "That's my mom, she's dead." Chance said. "No one has been able to see her except you." Chance said. "That's because we're Seers, that's what Dr. Mays says anyhow." April said. "Seers, what's that?" he asked. "Our brains work different than most, we can see energies left over after people have died, some call them ghosts." April said smiling. "Then why do they talk?" Chance said.

"Foster, what's wrong?" Rhodes said walking over. "I was kept out of the loop on vital, beed to know information." Foster said. "What information?" she asked. "I need a drink, you want one."

Foster sat down in a far booth of "Stahl's Pub", Amanda Rhodes slid in opposite him. "Hey Chance, what'll it be?" The Bartender asked. "Hey Smokey, I'll have a Burbon straight, she'll have a Whiskey sour with a cherry-olive-cherry on a stick." Smokey smiled. "Coming up."

"That's my drink, nobody knows my drink!" Rhodes said. "I know, it's called a Sweet-neat you started drinking it in college." Foster said. "This is getting creepy, what's wrong?" she asked. "I'm about to break every rule in every unwritten book, because I'm not sure I know who to trust." Foster said. "What are you talking about Chance?" Rhodes asked. "Wait a minute." Chance said closing his eyes.

"Ok were clean." he said. "Do you want to know the secret, the big hush hush secret of the OSP." he asked. "Yeah ok Foster, I'll bite."

"In 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was saved by a young Type setter named Simon Pennington" Foster said. "Yeah thanks for the history lession, I know that." Rhodes said. "Yeah but what was left out of the history books was that Pennington dreamed of the attempt on Lincoln's life, that's the secret of the Office of Special Projects, were psychics started in secret all those years ago." Foster said. "Psychics, come on Chance!" she said. "I can prove it to you, but you might not want to hear it." he said. "Oh now you have to." Rhodes said. "She's sorry you know." Foster said. "Who is?" Rhodes asked. "Your Mother, she's with you, she always is." Foster said looking at Rhodes' long deceased Mother. "That's not funny Foster STOP IT!" Rhodes said. "She's still angry with me." The spirit of Mona Rhodes said. "She knows you're still angry with her, because she didn't stop him from hurting you...your uncle." Foster said. "She knew he was doing it, and she did nothing!" Rhodes said. "But she did Detective, you just don't know." Foster said. "They called it a Suicide, but she killed him." Foster said. "He was blackout drunk and she placed the gun in his mouth and...well you know." he said. Rhodes took a long gulp of her drink and slammed the empty glass down. "Alright Foster, lets say I believe you about all this Miss Cleo stuff, what next?" she asked.

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Six: April Morn'

"I don't have to be psychic to see that you're nervious." Amanda Rhodes said tapping Foster's shoulder. "Is it that obvious?" Chance Foster asked her. "So this April and you have history?" she asked. "You could say that." he said. "But you're not gonna tell me, are you?" she asked. "After my folks died my aunt took me in, it didn't take long to see that I was "Different" so she took me to a Psychiatrist, Dr. Oftenhouse. Dr. Oftenhouse suggested that I be committed to an asylum." Rhodes looked at him shocked. "No way!" she said. "Oh no you see Oftenhouse worked for the Office of the Seer, a kinda plant looking for kids with paranormal abilities." "Like you?" Rhodes asked. "Yes like me." Foster answered. "I went with him to Falkmore Asylum which was actually a OSP facility and that's the first time I saw April." Chance sighed. "She was my first friend who was not dead, and the older we grew to closer we became."

"How did it end?" Rhodes asked. "We left Falkmore and joined OSP, I went into officers training and she chose to become a Watcher that was eight years ago." Foster said. "Watcher?" Rhodes asked. "A Watcher shadows potential Seers until introductions." "And you say that Abby Montgomery was a potential?" Rhodes asked. "That's what Mays said." Chance answered. "And Mays is the..?" "He's kinda the chief of the OSP." Foster said. "So let's go find April and grill her." Rhodes said.

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Seven: Rhodes to Perdition

"Wow this is where she lives, OSP must pay well!" Rhodes said looking at April's swanky apartment building. "Not really April's independently wealthy, family trust. Her father was Oscar Mendez." "Of Oscar's Mega Cookies, I love those!" Rhodes said. "They helped me get through bad a break up in college." she added. "Simon Harkness?" Cade asked. "Stay outta my head Ms. Cleo!" she said. "Sorry, you practlically shouted it."

Foster and Rhodes walked in and past the main security desk. "Can I help you?" The Guard asked. "Police business." they said in unison, heading for the elevator. "So which floor is she on?" Rhodes asked. "She's got the top floor penthouse." Foster said pushing the button marked 'PH'. "Looks like we need a key." Rhodes said. Foster reached into his pocket and fished out his keys, one of which fit perfectly in the slot, as he turned it a flood of emotion hit him.

"Turn it, hurry!" April had said. She giggled as kissed his neck passionately. She undid his belt and tossed it aside. "What are you doing?" Foster had asked. "Getting you ready, once this elevator stops, you're all mine!" she said giggling.

"Foster...foster snap outta it, were here!" Foster shook his head. "Sorry, I had a vision of April and I here years ago. It was so strong." Rhodes grinned. "I can see that." she said. Foster wondered what she gad meant until he felt the telltale stiffness downstairs. "Oh sorry." he said blushing slightly. "Don't be, it's not my first time seeing an erection." The doors opened and revealed the penthouse, the lights were off and things were strewn about. Rhodes ducked own and drew her weapon, Foster did the same. Foster looked out and motioned for Rhodes to take a position on his six o'clock. She nodded silently and went in. Foster Went in and took up a position directly opposite her. Rhodes looked on as Foster closed his eyes. "It's clear Rhodes, whoever did this is long gone." Rhodes and Foster stood up. "The light switch is next to you." he said. Rhodes switched it on and chuckled. "That ESP is very handy, wish I had it." she said. "You do, I mean all people have the capacity for it, some are born with access while others either train themselves to use it or it unlocks following a traumatic brain injury." Rhodes walked into the apartment. "What happened here?" she asked. "Someone was looking for something." Foster said watching a shodowy after image skulk around. "It's odd, but I can't see a face almost as if...no it's impossible!" he said. "What?" Rhodes asked. "Only a Seer can mask themselves in this manner." he said. "I'll check the kitchen, you check the bedroom, it's probably..." "I know where it is." Foster said.

Foster rounded the hall and opened the bedroom door. "Rhodes call a bus!" he shouted. Rhodes rushed in a saw Foster on the bed, hovering over a woman. "Is that April?" she asked. "Yes, call the bus!" Rhodes grabbed her Cell phone. "This is Detective Amanda Rhodes Cascade Police, I need CSU and an Ambulance at 450 Lerchmont Street, Penthouse Apartment." She closed her cell. "They'll be here soon." she said walking over. "Is she dead?" Rhodes asked. "No." Foster said "But your thingy said nobody was here?" she asked. "My thingy, never heard it put that way before." he said. "Your ESP psychic thing." she said. "Yeah I got it." Foster said.

Foster ran his hands over April's head. "She's in a Kel-nor-re." he said. "A what?" Rhodes asked. "A Psychic self induced coma." he said looking around. "Foster your eyes are all black, are you alright?" Rhodes asked seeing the shocking sight. "I'm looking around." he said.

Foster watched as the events of the last few hours played back. "A little narration for the non-psychic please!" Rhodes said. "Sorry." Foster said.

"Mr. Shadow was looking for something, April came home and suprised him then she ran in here to get her gun, they struggled and fell to the ground. "Tell me where it is!" he shouted. "Go to hell!" she said back. She kicked him in the balls and jumped on the bed. "Don't you dare!" he shouted as she went into Kel-nor-re. "Damn!" he shouted storming out." Foster's eyes returned to normal. "He is a Seer!" he said sitting down. "Why didn't he kill her after she slipped into the coma?" Rhodes asked. "He knew that if she died a violent death she'd seek out another Seer and he would be exposed at least this way she's outta commission for a while." "Detective Rhodes." a voice asked. "In here guys." she said.

Two paramedics walked in. "We have her detectives." the lead medic said. "Take her to Johnson Memorial." Foster said "But Hope General's closer." the other medic said. "But she's going to Johnson Memorial, right." Foster said. "Yes sir Detective." the medic said putting April on the board. "Why Johnson?" Rhodes asked. "It's an OSP front hospital."

Rhodes and Foster walked into the living room. "CSU's here." Rhodes said. "I want every inch of this apartment printed, scanned and tweezed if there's even an eyelash that doesn't belong to the owner I want to know about it!" Foster said leaving the apartment. "What's wrong with him?" the CSU lead asked. "He knows the victim...really well." Rhodes said.

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Eight: Night and the City

"Coffee?" Rhodes asked. Foster looked up and nodded, his eyes red. "You look like crap, you been crying?" "No!" Foster said. "It's alright, you two were close." Rhodes said patting his shoulder. "I wasn't crying, I was trying to reach her but she's really sunk in there." Mendez's room's door opened and the doctor walked out. "How is she doctor?" Cade asked. "Is she...?" he asked gestering to Rhodes. "She's aware." Cade said. "OK, her Aura is strong and were trying everything to break the Kel-nor-re but..." "But what?" Foster asked. "Who ever attacked her, it appears he...he used a tel-chak!" Foster snarled furiously. "Tel-Chak...you're sure?" he asked. "I'm sorry detective." The doctor walked away leaving Foster and Rhodes alone. "What's a Tel..?" "A Tel-Chak is a powerful barrier, almost like a wall around her Astral self." "Astral self, what's that?"

"The Astral plain, also known as the Dreaming is a metaphysical realm where you go when you dream, people like us can access it when awake that's why I couldn't sense her I thought she slipped into Kel-nor-re but in reality she left her body behind and now she's trapped somewhere." "Is she alright?" Rhoses asked. "The spirit can't exist outside the body for to long and the Tel-Chak can't be broken except by the one who made it." "And we have no idea who did that." Rhodes said. "Did CSU find anything?" Foster asked. "No prints, no fibers nothing except those belonging to her." Foster stood up. "We gotta get back in that Apartment, he was looking for something important, something that had to do with the dead girl." "You really think it has to do with Abby Montgomery?" Rhodes asked. "No one at OSP knew that she was being shadowed, perhaps she met with her killer and April wrote the meeting down, that would be the clue tying him to her death!" Foster said. "Why not just warn OSP about a killer in their midst?" Rhodes asked. "Because either than you, I'm not sure OSP can be trusted, anyone of them could've killed Abby and attacked April."

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Nine: Back in the Saddle Again

Foster and Rhodes exited the Elevator. The CSU seal was pasted on the door, a quick slice from a knife took care of that. "So no to protocol?" Rhodes asked. "When I find this guy, the last thing he gets is rights." Foster said closing his knife.

"CSU certainly did a number on this place." Rhodes said. "There's still fingerprint dust all over the place." she added. Foster rubbed his eyes and sighed. "Stay calm baby." "What did you say?" Fosted asked Rhodes. "I didn't say anything." she said. "I said it." a female voice said. "Mom Jeez I wish you would stop that!" Foster said. "You're mother's here, where?" Rhodes asked. "She's near the fireplace." Foster said. "So this is the new partner?" Madison asked. "Yeah, why are you here mom?" Foster asked. "I could feel your anger Cadence, don't do anything you'll regret." she said. "I'll try Mom." he said. "What did she say?" Rhodes asked. "She told me to be careful." Foster said. "She's right." she added.

"So what are we looking for?" Rhodes asked. "April had to have hid her ledger somewhere I'd find it." "That's good, where?" Rhodes asked. "I'm not sure, somewhere that has great significance to both of..." Foster scanned the room and focused on an empty space on the fireplace mantel. "There used to be a framed picture of us there." he said. "There is a picture there, of two kids." Rhodes said. "Oh she is briliant!" Foster said. "What, what happened." Rhodes asked. "Grab the picture." Rhodes grabbed the frame and brought it over." She put a veil around it!" he said. "A veil, what's that?" Rhodes asked. "It's a psychic camouflage, it obscures things from other psychics, but normal people can see them." Foster said. Rhodes opened the frame and pulled out a tiny booklet. "That's it, April's ledger!" Foster said. "Now we'll finally get to the bottom of the whole mess!" Rhodes said.

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Ten: Unwelcome Answer

Kelvin Mays walked into his office and past his Secretary, Ms. Wright embossed on her desk plate. "Good Morning Director Mays, your 9 o'clock is here." she said as he went in. "I don't remember having a meeting." he said walking in. "Ahh Hello Cadence, how have you been?" he said seeing Foster sitting in his office, with Rhodes next to him. "But I can see that this is not a social visit, is it?" Kelvin asked. "Wow he really is Psychic?" Rhodes said. "You told Cadence, that's a major breech in OSP protocol." Mays said taking a seat. "So is killing the daughter of the Mayor of Cascade." Rhodes added. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Mays said. "Let me refresh your memory." Foster said taking out the Ledger. "Abby Montgomery's been meeting somebody after hours lately, I'm not sure who but I will investigate." Foster said reading. "That's not much, how does it point to me?" Mays asked. "That's not all Mays, April was following Abby for months and in that time she noted the make and model of car she was in, a black Rolls Royce." "Exactly what you drive." Rhodes said. "There are a lot of Rolls Royces out there, and a good many of them are black." Mays added. "April goes on to say that Abby eventully stopped meeting her mysterious sutor after she showed up with a black eye and bruised ribs, but that isn't the end of it..." Foster said. "Oh can I read this part?" Rhodes asked. "Sure." Foster said handing her the book. "Abby Montgomery accompanied her father to some society dinner, I was suprised to see Kelvin Mays the Director of OSP there, I could sence Abby's fear and anger when she saw him, They were dating until he became violent and she broke it off, must call Cade and tell him." Rhodes said closing the book. "But she never called me, Abby Montgomery died later that night and before April could tell me you discovered that your girlfriend was a potential and went to clean up your mess." Foster said. "Impressive Detective, you always were the best of us." Mays said. "But I was smarter." he added winking. "Rhodes down!" Foster shouted toppling both chairs over. Mays stood up and fired, a second of reacting Cade reached out and deflected the bullet. "Stop Mays!" Foster shouted standing up. "Rhodes are you alright?" Foster asked. "Yeah, let's get this prick!" Rhodes said drawing her weapon.

Foster and Rhodes ran out into the hall guns drawn. "Helen, where did he go?" Foster asked. "He ran down that way, Cade he had a gun why?" Helen Wright asked. "He's a killer lady." Rhodes said. Cade and Amanda ran down the hall and caught up to Mays. "Kelvin stop, it's over!" Foster shouted. "It's not over Cadence, I loved her you know." Mays said. "I noticed her when I had dinner with the Mayor, she was so pretty and gifted I tried to keep her budding talents hidden but those damn watchers must have found out anyway!" Mays said. "That's when your love turned to obsession isn't it?" Rhodes asked. "You started controlling her, becoming violent and obsessive until she broke it off." Foster asked. "She told me it was over and I respected that." Mays said. "But then you saw her at the event." Rhodes said. "Yes then I knew that fate wanted us to be together." Mays said. "When she left the party you followed her, you told her your feelings but she didn't want you back did she?" Rhodes asked. "No she said she moved on, was dating someone new." Mays said. "So you got so angry that you choked the life out of her, watched the light fade from a promising Seer." Foster asked. "She didn't want me, and I couldn't live with her." Mays lifted his gun. "Kelvin stop!" Foster shouted, but Mays didn't he drew down on Rhodes and pulled the trigger.

Mays collapaed, two bloody holes in his pressed white shirt. Rhodes and Foster's guns smoked as they holstered them. "Will he come back?" Rhodes asked. "As a spirit, probably the mentally unbalanced almost never cross over." Foster said. "He's dead does that mean the whammy he pulled on April will go away?" Rhodes asked. "Yeah she'll be fine." Foster said. "Well go on Casanova, I got the paperwork duty for this one." Rhodes said. "Really you're sure?" Foster asked. "Hell yeah, of course I think the whole psychic OSP things out of the bag." Rhodes said. "I think it's time OSP's been in the shadows for too long." Foster said. "Yeah yeah get going, I'll see you back at PD." Rhodes said.

Foster walked the corridor to April's room, as he got closer the doctor walked out. "Ahh detective just in time, Ms. Mendez was asking on you." Foster smiled as he walked in. "Hey Sleeping Beauty." Foster said smiling. "Very funny, Cade." Amanda said. "Tell me you got him." Amanda asked. "Yes Kelvin Mays is no more." Foster said. "You killed him?" April asked. "Suicide by cop, he drew down on us so we had no choice." Foster said frowning. "Oh Cade I'm sorry, I know he was your friend." April said. "He was long ago, but that man was not the same Kelvin Mays." Cade said sighing. "Hey stop thinking that!" April said. "I'm empathic remember and don't worry I'm fine." She added. "I can't help it, when I went into your room and saw you on the bed I was so afraid that I had lost you before.." "Before what?" April asked, tears welling in her eyes. "Before I could tell you how sorry I was about letting work come between us." Foster said kneeling down next to her. "From the moment I saw you, I was in love with you." He said grabbing her hand. "Yes." April said. "That's cheating." Foster said reaching into his pocket revealing a small grey box. "I'm an empath, it's my job." April said smiling through her tears. "I had this ring for five years." Foster said sliding it on her finger. "Do you have to go?" April asked. "I'm not going anywhere." Foster said sliding a chair near the bed.

[Otis McNutt 395]

Chapter Eleven: Three Months Later

"So I guess the big secrets out?" Mallone asked. "What secret?" Foster asked. "You you're psychic." Mallone said. "Oh yeah I guess." Foster said. "Hey you can't like read minds can you?" Mallone asked. "What no, it doesn't work like that." Foster said. "Oh good because.." "Unless it's a really strong thought." Foster added. "Oh ha ha, very funny." Amanda Rhodes walked up. "Hey Foster you're gonna be late!" She said. Foster looked at his watch. "Oh crap, you mind finishing this report for me?" Foster asked Rhodes. "Sure Romeo, just remeber don't lock your knees or you'll drop like a stone." Rhodes said. "Right." Foster chuckled. "Got your vows?" Mallone asked. "Up here." Foster said pointing to his head. "You'll all be there right?" he asked. "Yes Cadence now go!" Rhodes shouted. "I'm going, I'm going." he said walking away.

Mallone dragged a chair next to Rhodes. "Jeez what a weirdo, are you sure he's psychic?" He asked her. "Oh Mike." Foster shouted. "Your secrets safe with me, Atlas!" he added. Mallone sat there, his face white as a sheet. "What does that mean?" Rhodes asked. "Nothing, nothing at all." Mallone said walking quickly away.

The End

Edited 9 Aug 2009 by Savanti Romero (see edit history)

[Otis McNutt 395]

Cade Foster will return in "In Plain Sight: A Cade Foster Mystery" on ZeldaFan.net