Deadly Touch Read online

  He’d have to come back; maybe one of the clerks did remember who else had tried on the dress—perhaps his victim was even someone who came often.

  If his suspicions were correct, the information could help identify the body.

  Once they were outside, Raina said, “You know I will never ever in a thousand years really wear that thing,” she said.

  “Yes, I know.”

  “That was an expensive...”

  “Tool,” he told her. “It’s a tool, and well worth it if it can help. Now, do you want to go to the local offices and try it on there? I didn’t think you wanted to try it on in the shop again.”

  “No! I barely made it out of there looking halfway sane the first time.”

  “Then we’ll head to the offices.”

  “Would it be possible for me to try it on somewhere a little more private?” she asked. She hesitated, wincing. “I, uh, I think my house will be the best place. It’s not far. I don’t know how much you remember about Miami, but it’s just off Sunset and US 1, High Pines area.”

  “That’s fine.”

  She looked at him. “I have a dog.”

  “Um, that’s nice?”

  “A big dog.”

  “Is he vicious?”

  “No! Well, he’s protective.”

  “I’m assuming I’ll be fine if you introduce me.”

  She nodded. “Yes, exactly. He’s just really big. He scares some people, but I can assure you, he’s an amazing, smart animal.”

  “Then he’ll know if someone means you harm—and I don’t.”

  They arrived at her house. It was a well-kept home, probably built in the 1950s, concrete block and stucco with a handsome stone fence around it and a carved wooden gate. The yard held a massive avocado tree to the one side and a few palms to the other.

  She led him up the porch steps to the front door, talking nervously. “I love where I am. Easy access to everything I need. I bought it from my parents. They always wanted to move down to Key West and finally did a few years ago. I love Key West, too, but I like to stay closer to most of my clients with quick and easy access to an airport. Of course, Miami International is superbusy, we all know that. Come in... Hey, Titan!” she called.

  The dog was already at the door, and as she’d said, it was big. It was a shepherd, Axel thought, though the animal’s fur was pitch-black. He wasn’t sure what kind, but he was the biggest shepherd Axel had ever seen.

  The animal barked—a deep bark with a hint of a growl.

  “It’s all right, Titan. We have a guest.”

  Axel set his hands out for the dog to sniff. Titan backed away a bit, then looked at Raina, wildly wagging his tail.

  “He’s a Belgian shepherd,” Raina told him. “A rescue. Someone bought him and decided he was too big. Anyway...”

  She paused. Titan was sniffing Axel’s fingers and wagging his tail. Axel barely had to bend to scratch the dog behind the ears. “Well, I guess you two will be fine,” she said.

  “He’s great,” Axel said. “And amazing for a rescue animal.”

  “He works with me, too.”

  “In your work as a trainer?”

  She nodded. “Dogs are wonderful, but they’re usually a mirror of the way they’re treated. I mean, sometimes aggression has been bred into them. But they’re such amazing companions. Not that he’s my only companion—I didn’t mean it that way. Well, he is my only roommate. I just meant that—never mind. I went to college knowing what I wanted to do and my degree is in animal science. Lots of biology and psychology, really. Here I am, rambling away...”

  “Because you don’t want to put the dress on,” he said. “Listen, I can’t make you do this, and I wouldn’t, either, but we’re at a loss here, with no evidence chain to follow, and when I heard you had called the body in... I was hoping we could find something out. Anything.”

  “Because you believe I only saw the body in the mirror because I tried a dress on.”

  “Yes.”

  She looked at him doubtfully. The dress—on a hanger with a plastic wrap over it—was draped over his arm. He offered it to her.

  She took it. “Okay, I’ll just step in my room. There’s a mirror in there. I’ll put the dress on and then call when I’m ready.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Uh, make yourself at home. Can I get you anything?”

  “I’m fine, thank you,” he assured her, hunkering down. “I’ll get to know Titan.”

  Raina disappeared into the bedroom. Titan watched her go, but kept a wary eye on Axel. He was happy enough to be scratched behind the ears.

  “No one bare-handed would mess with her with you around, huh, buddy?” he said to the dog, looking around the house as he did.

  It was nice. Not elegant, but nice. The living room furniture was handsomely coordinated in leather and tan fabric. The house had a fireplace with a mantel and he wondered if it was maybe older than he thought. Despite Florida’s reputation for heat, he could remember several winters when—if only for a few days—the temperature had hit the low thirties. Now air-conditioning systems reversed for the sporadic cold days, but many homes here had once been built with fireplaces.

  The mantel was filled with family pictures; her older brother with a woman Axel assumed to be his wife, her parents with her and her brother when they were young, a few pictures of dogs and one of Raina on a big, beautiful quarter horse.

  The living room offered a hall to the left with bedrooms, he assumed, since she had gone that way. Straight ahead was a dining room and through that he could see the door to the kitchen. Beyond that, a Florida-style family room with glass windows that opened to the backyard.

  He was still surveying the house and scratching the dog’s ears when both he and Titan heard a terrified scream.

  Dog and man jumped as one and rushed to the bedroom. Titan woofed. Axel shouted her name. “Raina!”

  Two doors were open along the hallway, but one was closed. He twisted the knob, instinct and logic telling him she would have closed the door when she went in to change.

  She was there, dead still in front of a full-length swivel mirror, just staring in a dress that admittedly looked amazing on her.

  He saw her reflection in the glass, the look of pure horror on her face.

  He didn’t see what she was seeing.

  “Raina?” he said.

  Trying to reach her, he almost tripped over Titan. The dog was doing the same. At first, Raina didn’t seem to see either of them.

  He caught her gently by the arms, turning her to him. She still didn’t seem to see him, but she didn’t protest his hold. And she was suddenly grasping wildly for her back, for the zipper, anxious to get the garment off.

  He was afraid that, as she struggled in his arms and he attempted to help her, Titan would get protective and attack him. But the big shepherd stayed seated nearby, whining, worried and anxious.

  The zipper was down. Heedless of his touch, she shimmied out of the dress. She was clad in only her bra and panties. Throwing the dress across the room, she sobbed as she fell into his arms.

  “You saw it again?” he asked softly.

  “As if I was there. As if I could smell the blood,” she whispered.

  Then suddenly she seemed to realize how exposed she was, and in a relative stranger’s arms. She pulled away and they both stared at each other. Awkward, to say the least.

  There was a directional quilt at the foot of her bed. He grabbed it and wrapped it around her shoulders. She swallowed, nodding. He thought of it as a “thanks.”

  Titan thumped his tail on the floor and whined.

  “Titan!” she said. She knelt down by the dog. “Sorry to scare you, boy. I’m good—really.”

  She wasn’t. Titan’s affection sent her toppling backward, losing the quilt. Axel offered her a h
and and she accepted it with a wince and a quick, “Thank you.”

  She regained her balance and awkwardly retrieved her hand. “I’m sorry. This is all so bizarre. I swear I’m not just being dramatic or seeking attention. I like my life. At least, I did like my life. Wow. I’m rambling again. I don’t know what is happening. Maybe this helped find a body. But it does nothing to help the woman. Or to catch the killer. I wish—”

  “I know it’s asking a lot, but are you still okay to take a ride out to the site with me?”

  She stared at him.

  She had a right to say no. He was asking a civilian to help in a murder investigation. One who was terrified by her own visions. She had every reason to back out, but instead she inhaled deeply, still staring at him. “Do you really think it would help? I mean, this mirror thing with the dress...it’s ridiculous. And I’m not sure—”

  “I’m not, either. And I know I’m asking a lot. I know you have a life and this has been...” He paused, grimacing. “Upsetting, to say the least. But—”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?”

  “Yes,” she repeated firmly. “I’m flexible until Friday evening. I have to be at a fundraiser. Titan and I are part of the entertainment for the night. If you want to go now, it’s fine. I’m just going to put on some jeans.”

  He nodded. “I want you to be sure.”

  “I’m okay,” she assured him. “I’m not going to lose it again, I promise. No more screaming or stumbling around. No matter what.”

  “Hey, anyone would scream if they saw what you did. I’ll wait for you in the living room.”

  He turned and left the room. To his surprise, the dog padded out with him.

  Maybe it was more important now for Titan to keep an eye on him than it was to watch out for his owner.

  Raina joined them in a matter of minutes.

  “House is nice,” he told her.

  “Thanks.”

  “You live alone?”

  “With what I do, I prefer to live alone.” She grimaced. “My clients usually have four legs and I work with them here sometimes. One of my friends, Lucia—actually you would’ve met her years ago, too—thought we’d make great roommates. But while she loves Titan, she’s afraid of a lot of other dogs. I knew it wouldn’t work.”

  “I see,” he said, and then couldn’t resist asking, “Does your vocation make dating hard?”

  She shrugged. “If you don’t like animals—dogs especially—you probably don’t want to be dating me.” She turned the question around. “What about you? Does being a fed make it hard? Oh, are you married? I suppose I have no reason to assume...”

  “No, I’m not married,” he said. “And yeah, my vocation makes it a little difficult sometimes. Anyway, let’s get going, shall we?”

  “Of course.” She headed for the door, and then swung back. “Titan, back soon. Guard the house, okay, boy?”

  The dog woofed as if he’d understood her every word. He followed them to the door, but made no attempt to come out.

  “That’s a good dog,” he told her.

  She smiled. “Most dogs are good dogs. They just need good people. So, what’s it like where you’re living? What have you been doing the last decade or so?”

  “Military, the academy, the FBI,” he told her.

  “Ah.” She was quiet for a minute as they got into his rental car. When they were seated, she asked, “What about your family? From what I can recall, your dad was Miccosukee and your mom wasn’t. Is that correct?”

  “Good memory. One grandmother was a Miccosukee, and one grandfather was a Seminole. One grandfather was from Norway, and the other grandmother was from England.”

  She laughed. “All-American boy. Your dad had a couple of homes, right?”

  “My mom and dad did, yes. Two homes, one on tribal land and another in Coconut Grove. He was in construction.”

  “Right, and your mom was a teacher. Are they still around here somewhere?”

  “My dad passed away three years ago. My mother loves to come back and visit, but she moved to New York City. She had some cousins there and she’s able to volunteer at a few schools, which she loves.”

  “That’s nice for her. I’m sorry about your dad.”

  “Thanks.” He hesitated. “He had a good life. He was older when I was born. I was able to be with him when he died, and so was my mom. Best that could be hoped for.”

  “I’m glad,” she murmured.

  She fell silent. The drive from her place to the Tamiami Trail and then straight out west wasn’t bad. It was midday and while rush hour in the Miami area could be brutal, they managed to avoid it.

  They were headed out on the Trail, crossing over onto Miccosukee reservation land, when she spoke again.

  “I still don’t get it. You believe what I saw. You didn’t call the police to escort me to an institution. And you’re bringing me out here.”

  He was silent. When he was about to speak, she broke in with, “And don’t tell me about a ghostly pirate ship. I mean, such things are suggestive, right? A foggy night, deep in the Glades. One could imagine all kinds of things. Over and above the real things like the alligators and snakes. Boas and pythons stretching well over ten feet these days.”

  “And not native,” he added.

  She persisted. “Right. So?”

  He looked ahead at the road. They were nearing the place where the body had been found, rolled almost to the water of the canal, hidden by bracken and brush and tree limbs and the natural fall of the embankment.

  “Hey!” she said.

  He glanced her way quickly. “In my line of work, I have seen all manner of things most people might not believe or accept. And I’ve discovered taking help in any form—however unbelievable others might think it—solves more cases than refusing to believe or follow leads that may not be what is customarily expected.”

  She was frustrated, he thought, but she fell silent suddenly.

  They had arrived. There were still police cars there—one from Dade County and one belonging to the Miccosukee police. A lone forensics vehicle remained.

  Axel looked carefully at Raina as they exited the car. She appeared level and fine with their arrival. Her head was high, as if she’d taken enough mockery for the day and was ready for anything.

  He was glad the police cars remaining belonged to Andrew and Nigel. He introduced them to Raina and neither asked questions about her being there. They greeted her politely and then told Axel they were heading out shortly. The autopsy wouldn’t be until the next day and the forensics team was just about finished.

  As they moved down the embankment, Raina said quietly, “They didn’t ask why I was here.”

  “They’re old friends.”

  “And so they let you do what you want?”

  “We’ve worked cases before.”

  “Ah. So they know you’re weird?”

  He smiled. “They know I’m weird.” He glanced her way. “I’ve known them since I was a kid. We all knew we’d go into law enforcement. We just went different ways.”

  He thought she might say, “I see”—without really seeing anything at all.

  She didn’t. She just kept walking with him. She’d worn the right shoes for the area, short boots with gripping soles, but she still slipped on a strip of mud. He caught her quickly and she smiled and added, “Thanks. I don’t really feel like wearing a lot of this swampy muck!”

  Then they were at the site, and she went silent and dead still. He stayed close, but drew his hand away, watching her.

  She closed her eyes. She saw something; he knew it by the way her body tensed.

  But she didn’t cry out. She opened her eyes at last and looked at him.

  “You saw the killing—or the killer?” he asked hopefully.

  Maybe that was way too much to h
ope for.

  She shook her head. “No, but I saw her. The victim. She was scared, but I don’t think she believed she was going to be killed. I think she thought she’d been kidnapped. She wasn’t dead on the way out here. She was killed here. She wasn’t in a trunk. I could see it or sense it or...something. I don’t even know how to explain. But she was seated in the back seat of a car. She was bound and gagged, and something was over her head. Like a burlap bag. It had that burlap smell like the bags horse feed comes in.” She stopped speaking. “She was led out here. I think it might have been something like a straight-edged razor that killed her—something supersharp. Right across the throat. Fast. She was almost dead before she knew she’d been hit.” She looked at him incredulously. “How could I possibly know all this?”

  “I don’t have the answer to that,” he told her. “I just know it is.”

  She nodded.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. Absolutely. I’m puzzled and confused. And so sorry for the poor woman. She was so frightened in the car, but she didn’t believe she was going to die. Maybe none of us ever believes we’re going to die—until it happens. Maybe there’s a way for me to see more. I’m not sure how, but maybe you know?”

  He couldn’t help but smile at that. “Nope. You’re unique.”

  “Ah, but you saw the pirate ship!”

  “I’ve never touched anything—or had anything touch me, like that dress—and had visions. Connections. Closest I’ve heard about is a friend whose fiancée saw events during a past-life regression. Which, honestly, most of the time, I do believe relies on the power of suggestion. Just as I think most mediums are brilliant showmen—or women.”

  “Oh. Okay, then.”

  “I’d like to have you speak with Andrew and Nigel. I think Nigel has headed back into the city, but Andrew has a place not far from here. Would you mind speaking with him?”

  “No, of course not. As long as—”

  “Trust me. He’s not going to make fun of you.”

  “Because he’s seen the pirate ship?”

  “Maybe. He has seen it. And he’s just not the kind of guy to mock others.” Fearing she’d change her mind, he added, “He’s got an unbelievable horse. Two horses actually—one he’s had forever, a quarter horse, sweet guy. And he has a mustang. I don’t know the whole history, but so wild he almost became glue. Andrew, of course, couldn’t let that happen and bought the horse. Maybe you’re a horse whisperer, too?”