Keep Me Safe(57)
“I’m suggesting that since he and Ramie share a mental pathway and that he’s able to project inside her mind to glean information . . . that she can do the same to him.” Eliza watched Caleb closely, no doubt concerned about his reaction. But instead of a volatile outburst, he turned, looking inquisitively at Ramie.
“Can you do that?” he asked, skepticism written all over his face.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I’ve never tried. I’ve never wanted to try. I’m able to establish a mental pathway to the victim by touching something that belonged to her so it stands to reason that I’d be able to tap into him doing the same.”
Caleb blew out his breath and shook his head. “And that’s the catch. You can’t very well track him when you have nothing he’s touched.”
“Not so fast,” Eliza murmured.
Caleb’s head shot up and his brow wrinkled as he stared back at Eliza.
Eliza fiddled with a pencil the artist had left and then she slid the drawing closer to her, studying it intently.
“I don’t know how it would affect her,” Eliza said after a moment’s hesitation. “It’s not like we have case histories or actual research to back us up. The conversations and speculation center on a what-if scenario and pose the question what if a person had a specific psychic gift, which of course we all know to be factual even in the absence of actual proof. But what if she visited the crime scene? If he keeps the same MO then he will have left an item belonging to the victim at the scene of the crime, his invitation or perhaps challenge to Ramie to come after him. Which also means he was there and touched something in the vicinity. No one can be that careful not to leave a single trace behind. And Ramie doesn’t need a tangible object. She’s able to collect information when she touches someone or touches something another person came in contact with.”
“No way will I risk Ramie by taking her somewhere the killer is likely close by,” Caleb said, shaking his head vehemently. “Not only that but if she has a link to both killer and victim, think what that would do to her! She’d suffer everything the victim is subjected to but then she would also experience torture, pain and death through the killer’s eyes and it would be as if she murdered the victim herself. We can’t put that kind of burden on her. It may well push her over the edge.”
How calmly they discussed her sanity, or rather the lack of. She knew Caleb had her best interests—her absolute protection—at heart, but she also knew that this could very well be their only real shot to take a monster down.
Instead of fear, anticipation—a sense of excitement—coursed through her veins.
Her voice, when she spoke, was strong and convincing, a spark for the first time she could remember in forever. She was suddenly imbued by hope that she’d refused to allow herself to even consider until now.
“Caleb, it could work.”
Caleb jerked his head around in obvious surprise. She winced at just how shocked he was that she would entertain anything but avoidance or running away. An art she’d perfected over the last year and a half. It was a testament to just how much of a coward she was that he now stared at her in disbelief.
“No,” he finally said. “Don’t even think about it, Ramie. There are a million things that could go wrong in a scenario like this. I won’t chance it. I won’t risk your life or trade it for another.”
“It’s a good idea and you know it,” she argued. “If it were anyone else but me, if your security firm had been hired to protect someone like me, you wouldn’t hesitate because you’d know that you were providing top-notch protection. Ever hear the saying that the best defense is a good offense? It’s time for me to stop running and start hunting him like he’s hunted me all these months. He’d hardly expect it. He’s certainly become well acquainted with my MO. As long as he sticks to his, we have the upper hand.”
“This is insane,” Caleb bit out.
“I think it’s better that we don’t bring up my mental status or lack thereof,” she said dryly.
Caleb winced, apology reflected in his expression.
“She wouldn’t be alone or unguarded,” Dane interjected from the doorway to the living room. He walked toward where the others were seated and stood next to Caleb, his stare gauging Caleb’s temperament. “The killer would be a fool to return to the crime scene. Besides that, he’ll have no way of knowing that she’ll be there.”
Caleb shook his head, his eyes shooting sparks. “The hell he won’t know. If he has an open line into Ramie’s mind and can see her surroundings then he’ll know exactly where she is and what she’s doing. We may as well paint a bull’s-eye on her forehead and tie her to a tree.”