Fasha used the pub's phone
booth for the privacy it afforded, not because she needed to use
the phone. She had her own she could use. Checking the time, she
noted her parents were probably just sitting down for lunch.
Whereas she and Jahar were waiting to be served supper. It
took one ring before the familiar voice answered. "Miss
Bycote. By what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" She
sat in stunned silence for a moment. She'd half expected for a
secretary to answer, not the man himself. "Mr.
Morrow, there are some things I need to check with you
about." "You're
wanting more information about garphars, am I correct?" She
started to reply to the affirmative, when he added, "Are you
being affected by this case in ways that concern you, Miss Bycote?" Her
anger briefly flared. "You’re damn right it is. I'm having
flashbacks to the real murders! It's like I'm there, living
through those nightmares!" "And
you're calling me because you don't understand why," he
finished. "Let's
just cut out the bullshit, Mr. Morrow. You know what I am. That's
why you sent me here. To ferret out my own kind." Several
seconds of silence answered her. She was about to inquire if the
man was still on the line, when he spoke. "Miss
Bycote, did your parents ever tell you about foretelling?" "Foretelling?
Are you talking about premonition? I'm not talking about seeing
what's to come. I'm seeing things as they happened! I'm reliving
those murders, and I'm the victim!" She knew her voice
revealed her worry and fear, but she couldn't help herself. "Foretelling
may mean premonition when it comes to humans, but in your case, or
shall I say, in the case of Breachers, it's not often the same
thing." Morrow's calm words were soothing. "How
do you mean, not the same thing?" "In
your case, foretelling can be knowing who your intended mate is
directly upon meeting them." "Let
me assure you, Mr. Morrow. That killer is
not my intended
mate," she hastily retorted. Morrow
continued as if she hadn't spoken. "Or foretelling can be a
way for you to tell when you've come in contact with another
Breacher." She
took a deep breath. "So what are you telling me? I already
know we're tracking another Breacher. You said so yourself. That's
why we're here, isn't it? That'll it'll take a vampire to kill
another vampire?" "Precisely,
Miss Bycote. But foretelling can also be a way for you to prepare
for the encounter which is to come. The closer he gets to you, the
more strength you will need to have in order to face him. And to
defend yourself." He paused. "If it's any consolation,
you do know the female of your species is stronger than the male,
don't you?" She
nodded, even though she knew the man wouldn't see her. "I've
been told." "Good.
Is there anything else? I got Mr. Viento's report, by the way.
Please tell him thank you for me." "One
other thing, Mr. Morrow. So, by this foretelling, if I come in
close contact with another garphar, I'll be able to identify him?
On that paper you gave us at the airport, it states that most
Breachers know when they're in the presence of another Breacher,
but that doesn't apply to garphars. Why not?" "We
haven't been able to figure that out. You may not necessarily
identify him as another garphar, nor will you be able to tell if
he's even a Breacher. From what I've gathered, the only garphar
you'll be aware of is the one who pushes your emotional buttons.
Your fear, your sense of self-preservation, pay close heed to
those signals and trust your instincts. By your report and this
conversation, it sounds as if you're close to taking down our
killer. Take care, Miss Bycote. And good luck." The phone went dead as Morrow ended their call. Fasha stuffed the cell into her jacket pocket and went to join Jahar at their table. |