Chapter 59

 

A week had passed and Fred felt he had physically healed well enough to get back to work.

“Honey, I’ve decided I have to return to Sarasota to lend my hand to Donna’s capture.”

“What will happen to me in the meantime?”

“I’ve talked to Shade, he’s agreeable to letting you stay here. You’ll be safe here. This might be the most protected area in America, and I will return as soon as I can.”

“I thought you wanted me to go further north.”

“Well, I don’t have the feeling that your life is in danger here anymore. I guess it was just a gut feeling that I had at the time, but it’s gone now.”

“How is your head?”

“Great, I’m as sexy as ever.”

“I don’t know, I always had a thing for someone with a bandage on his head instead of hair. I really think the bandage was becoming to you. Maybe you should dye it a nice blue color, though. I’ve always thought you wear blue well.”

Fred didn’t want Maureen to know, but in truth, his head was aching. He had hoped that in the last few days he would be healed to the extent that his intense pain would diminish. But so far, each morning that he woke up, the pain was more extreme than the day before.

“Fred, I worry about you going back there,” Maureen said. “Donna scares me, and she’s already killed so many people.”

“Don’t worry, hon. You forget that now I’m Donna’s equal.” 

“That may be. But she killed Atwell and, according to you, he had stronger powers than she did. “

“Yes, but I suspect he was not expecting her; I’ll be ready.”

* * *

Fred took the next Amtrak back to Florida. The end of the line was Sanford, Florida, a few miles to the north of Orlando. Jim was waiting for him when he got off the train. 

“What’s the latest with your operation?” Jim asked.

“Not much, I guess I’m healing all right.” Fred didn’t want to burden Jim with the details.

“And how about your psychic abilities?”

“They’re still being tested, but I certainly have some ability I didn’t have before the operation. And, no, you don’t have to put a police check on my house while I’m back in Sarasota.”

Jim said, “What in hell are you talking about?”

“Actually, I picked up on the thoughts in your mind. I wasn’t prying, but sometimes it comes to me unexpectedly.”

“God, Fred, that gives me the chills; I guess in the future I won’t try to keep a secret from you.”

“Jim, my sole reason for having the operation was to help me capture Donna. Frankly, this new ability I have is a pain in the ass. Is there any news about her?”

“None at all. Do you think she has fled the area?”

“No, I’m certain of that; she won’t leave until she gets what she wants, and what she wants is me in the morgue.”