Kill Switch by Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene

Author:Neal Baer & Jonathan Greene [Baer, Neal & Greene, Jonathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780786031771
Publisher: Pinnacle Books
Published: 2012-08-21T04:00:00+00:00

Claire opened the door to her apartment, the fear gripping her as she stepped inside.

“The mess is in the bedroom,” Claire said.

“Why don’t you let me go in first and have a look, dear?” Dr. Lois Fairborn said gently.

Claire nodded. She was glad Fairborn was there. Coming home alone and having to clean up the slaughterhouse that was her bedroom was the last thing she could possibly bear. She’d asked Curtin if he could arrange for Fairborn to accompany her to the apartment. Curtin not only said he would, but also promised he’d go if Fairborn balked.

Which, of course, Fairborn hadn’t. The Vampire had become quite fond of Claire as a result of their therapy sessions, seeing her as a work in progress—not to mention that Fairborn genuinely cared about her.

“Claire? Do you want me to go in first?”

Claire stood motionless in the entry hall, feeling as if she were hanging on to the edge of a cliff.

“Yes. Please.”

“We’ll get through this together, okay?” Fairborn said in a reassuring voice.

Claire appreciated Fairborn’s encouragement but still felt scared out of her wits and didn’t want to go any further.

She could hear Fairborn opening the bedroom door. But there was no gasp of shock, and it took only a moment before Fairborn returned.

“Come with me,” she said.

“You want to help me face my fear?”

“I want to help you overcome it.”

She held out her hand. Tentatively, Claire took it. She let Fairborn lead her to the bedroom.

“Take a look,” she said.

Claire glanced at her shrink, then took a few steps forward toward the threshold. What she saw stunned her. The tableau she’d seen earlier that morning was completely gone, as though some higher power had simply erased it.

The bedroom was spotless. Her bed—their bed—was made neatly, covered with the same white comforter that, hours before, had been soaked in Ian’s blood. But not a drop of blood, nor a trace of what had happened, remained in the room.

Then the door to the bathroom opened. A little girl, about ten years old, walked out. Claire gasped.

“Amy? Is that you?”

“Hi, Claire. Wanna play hopscotch?”

“What are you doing here?”

And then everything slowed down. Another little girl walked out of the bathroom. Claire gasped as the girl grabbed Amy’s hand.

Claire was looking at her eight-year-old self.

She moved toward them. And they saw her.

“Hi,” said Amy. “Are you okay?”

“What’s wrong?” asked Little Claire.

Claire looked in the mirror. She saw tears rolling down her face.

“Are you lost?” asked Little Claire.

“Are you looking for someone?” Amy asked.

“I’m looking for you,” Claire said, kneeling in front of Amy. “Where are you?”

“I went away,” Amy said. “A man took me. He was bad.”

“What did he do to you?” Claire asked Amy.

“I can’t tell you,” Amy said innocently. “He said I couldn’t tell anyone.”

Claire began to sob. “I saw him take you away. I was there. Where did he take you? Please, tell me where.”

“Don’t cry,” Amy said in a comforting voice. “He hurt me but now I’m okay. I’m resting.”

Amy turned to Little Claire.

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