Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes
Page 83

I was torn. Nothing good had ever come from a vision. Why would I will one to happen?
“Come on, give it a try. What do you have to do? Touch me?”
“No, they don’t work like that. They just happen. I don’t see visions for me, though. I see visions for other people, through their eyes. The one with Daniel Crocker was the first time I’d ever seen myself in a vision, and the first time I’d ever seen something really bad. Usually it’s things like where someone misplaced their keys.”
“Sounds useful.”
“It's a nuisance because whatever I see just blurts out of my mouth.”
“Like when you told me about Hilary’s dog.”
I nodded. I didn’t want to think about Hilary but I had to know. “Is Hilary your girlfriend?”
“No, we have a working relationship.”
I wondered what that meant, but said nothing.
“So what do you say?” Joe said. “Let’s try it.”
“What?” I asked confused. “A vision? I don’t know… I wouldn't even know how to begin.”
“Since you see visions for other people, maybe you could concentrate on me.”
“All right,” I agreed with great reluctance. I turned to face Joe on the sofa, sitting cross-legged and held his hands in mine. I closed my eyes and thought about Joe working for Crocker and the big meeting. I concentrated really hard and tried to picture Joe’s face in my mind. A little flicker appeared in my head. And then I felt a vision coming. I squeezed his hands and kept concentrating.
I saw a warehouse. It looked like a mechanic’s garage. A couple of men carried small bundles and loaded them into a delivery truck. Crocker and some other men came into view and I felt myself being slammed against the wall, Crocker’s face in front of mine.
“This is your last chance, McAllister. Tell me where she is or I’m gonna kill you.” Crocker held a gun up to my forehead.
“I don’t know,” I heard Joe’s voice say.
There was a gunshot and then nothing.
“He’s gonna kill you,” I whispered. “Because of me.”
My eyes flew open to look into Joe’s surprised ones. Then his expression changed, becoming grim before he said, “I figured he might try.”
“You knew?” I asked in disbelief.
“I suspected.”
“Then why are you doing it? Don't go!”
“Because I think I can stay alive long enough for somethin' important to happen. If I don't go all of these past months work and Sloan’s death will have been for nothin’.”
“But he’s gonna kill you because of me. Crocker wants me and thinks you know where I am. Maybe I should turn myself into him.”
“Absolutely not.”
“I’ll tell him I ran away, that you had nothin’ to do with it.”
“Absolutely not.”
“If I do it before you show up, maybe I can stay alive long enough for what you need to happen.”
“This is not up for discussion, Rose. He will probably hurt you the moment he sees you, if not shoot you dead first. You’ve embarrassed him twice.”
“But he’s gonna kill you. Because of me.”
“No, he won’t.”
“I saw it!”
“You’re livin' proof that what you see doesn't always happen. Rose, I can’t not go because you saw somethin' happen in your head.”
“You’re the one who made me try it,” I said, hurt by his reaction.
Joe pulled me into his arms and gave me a kiss. “I don’t want to leave with us fightin’.”
“Then don’t go.”
Joe sighed and got up. “Do not look out the windows. Do not go outside until I come back. If something happens to me, Hilary knows you’re here and will come and get you herself. Do not open the door for anyone.”
“You make it sound like I’m in jail.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you are. Come here.” He grabbed my hands and pulled me off the sofa. “How about a kiss for good luck?”
I gave him a good one, trying to make him forget about going. But it didn't work. He walked to the front door.
“Please be careful, Joe,” I choked out through the lump in my throat.
He turned to look at me. His face looked like it belonged on Mount Rushmore, his profile hard with determination. “You still have to play in the rain,” he said, breaking out into a mischievous smile. “I want to do that one with you. Don’t do it without me, okay?”
I nodded, afraid I’d burst out into tears if I said anything.
And then he was gone.
I must have paced a furrow in his living room floor. I glanced at the clock. Only ten minutes had passed. I had no idea how long Joe would be gone. It could be an hour. Or ten. I threw myself on his sofa in frustration, sure I was gonna go crazy before he came back.
Then I heard barking.
I scrambled up. The sound came from the backyard. I ran into Joe’s bedroom and looked out the window. Over by my shed, at the edge of all the contents that still littered the yard, stood Muffy. Barking.
Muffy never barked. Why was she by the shed? She moved next to the rose bushes and howled, a chilling, haunting whine.
My stomach tumbled with nervousness and indecision. That dog meant everything to me. What if she ran away again? I couldn’t just leave her out there.
I ran to the front and peeked through the cracks of the curtains. No cars on the street, nothing suspicious-looking. Should I risk it? If I got caught, Crocker would know Joe helped me.