Lorena patted her ample bosom. “I’ve been having visions and dreams since the very hour Katie went missing. When I saw Cassidy Shaw on the TV, and she said Katie was missing, I knew in my marrow that was who I was dreaming about. But to get to the truth, I need to be able to hold something of hers. Something she might have worn would be good.”
Nic was glad that they had already taken away something for the dogs, should they ever need them. If they ever got to a point where they could narrow this down to an area smaller than Portland.
“Just a second,” Valerie said. She left the kitchen and they heard her footsteps go upstairs.
“So how does this work?” Nic asked while they waited.
Lorena simpered, not at all deterred by Nic’s glare. “When I’m in one of my trances, I don’t see or hear in a traditional way. It’s energy. I receive an impression of the energy the person is sending out. It doesn’t matter if they’re dead. They’re not dead to me.”
Valerie reappeared holding a red sweater. “Katie wore this two days before she left. It hasn’t been washed.”
With eager hands, Lorena pressed it to her chest. “I’m going to go inside myself now. Don’t be worried if you hear me make strange sounds. I lose myself when I’m in one of my trances.”
Wayne murmured, “Okay,” and Valerie nodded. It was all Nic could do not to roll her eyes. What would you do if it were Makayla? she scolded herself. How far would you go?
Lorena closed her eyes. She rubbed the sweater over her face and then let her hands and the sweater drop into her lap. “Okay, Katie, tell me where you are. Tell me where you are, baby. I can help you. Katie, where are you?” As Lorena spoke, she rocked forward and back, her upper body following a small circle.
There was a long silence. Nic looked at her watch. One minute ticked by. Two. Three. When Lorena finally spoke, the three of them jumped. Her voice was slower, lower-pitched, like a sleepwalker’s.
“I see an old car. There’s something on top of it. Maybe it’s an Oldsmobile?”
Despite herself, Nicole felt her skin prickle. She saw Katie, not sitting in a car, but sprawled unmoving in the trunk. A spill of honey-blonde hair across her open, staring eyes.
“Katie, tell me what I’m looking at, sweetie. Come on. Tell me where you are. Are you in the car?” Her plump hands, with rings on every finger, kneaded the sweater.
There was a long silence. Lorena cocked her head to one side, as if listening. “There are trees where she is. A lot of them.”
Good guess, Lorena. Oregon is nothing but trees.
“But is she alive?” Wayne demanded.
“Water. She’s near water.”
Near water. Give me a break. Every place in Portland is near water. We’ve got the Columbia and Willamette rivers and countless creeks and streams. Not to mention the rain.
But Valerie and Wayne had grabbed each other’s hands.
“I see something green. A duffle bag? And I’m hearing a name like Larry.” She drew the name out, giving it an extra syllable. “Lar-er-y. Or something like that.” Her face screwed up. “Katie, where are you? Are you with someone named Larry? No, that’s not it, is it? But something close. Is it someone you know?”
Good choice, Lorena. How many names rhyme with Larry? Mary, Harry, Carrie, Barry, Jeri, Terry? Half the city probably qualifies.
“Mmm,” Lorena moaned. The pitch of her voice had changed, arced higher. Her head was loose, her neck boneless. “Mmm.”
The three of them stared at her.
“Mommy.” Her voice was high-pitched and breathy. “Mommy. Where are you?”
The back of Nic’s neck prickled. Stop it! she warned herself. Don’t fall for this crap. Despite knowing it was a bunch of hooey, there was something about the woman’s voice that was getting to her.
Valerie leaned forward and tentatively touched Lorena’s arm. “I’m right here, honey. I’m right here.”
“It’s dark,” Lorena whimpered. “I’m scared.” She whimpered again. “Mommy? Mommy?”
Then it was like the older woman had touched a live wire. Her body jerked upright, and her arms and legs stiffened, breaking contact with Valerie. Her eyes snapped open.
“What did you see?” Wayne’s voice broke. “Tell me. Is she alive?”
Lorena’s voice was soft and slurred, as if she was only slowly coming back from where she had been. “I saw Katie laughing and smiling.”
Nic stiffened. This was cruel. This was downright cruel. Katie laughing and smiling? Why give these poor people false hope?
Valerie’s hand shot out and gripped Lorena’s forearm, her fingers digging in. “She’s alive, then?” Her voice was ragged.
“Sometimes I see the future and sometimes I see the past.” Lorena sounded exhausted. “And sometimes I see the present.”
“Was she with someone?” Wayne asked. His hand closed on Lorena’s other wrist. “What was she wearing? Was it this time of year?”
“Did she look older or younger?” Valerie asked.
The three of them were in a tight knot. Only Nic leaned away from what was going on. At some point, although she didn’t remember doing it, she had crossed her arms.