Psychic Voices: Mary Jameson Book 1: A Supernatural Thriller (Psychic Voices: Book 1 in the Mary Jameson Supernatural Thriller Series) by JP Alters

Author:JP Alters [Alters, JP & Alters, JP]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J.P. Alters
Published: 2023-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Part Three

Chapter 1

‘Hi.’ I sit down at the dinner table opposite Derek and next to Marcie, who turns to me straight away.

‘Chicken en croute with veg tonight. My favourite.’

‘Hmm, I love it too–didn’t we have that last weekend aswell?’

‘Sophie’s gone.’ Derek breaks into our banal conversation with a bald statement. Marcie and I gawp at him, and Marcie is the first to speak.

‘Gone where?’

We both glance around the room trying to spot Sophie, then I realise Derek means “gone, gone.” He looks devastated.

I put a hand on his arm and try to cheer him up.

‘Sophie might just be into a drawing right now, or lying down in her room or something? Or maybe she’s gone for a walk?’

I am out of practice with socialising, but I hope I sound reassuring.

Derek’s face looks tense, then he shakes his head, denying the possibility.

‘No. She isn’t here at all, Mary. I ask the staff. They said Sophie was discharged today. At her request.’

‘But Derek, that’s great.’ Marcie sounds jubilant. ‘That’s what she said she wanted? How come you sound so worried? Derek?’

She switches from my face to his, as though seeking answers. I know there are none written on my face because I am keeping it carefully blank.

‘Yes. She did say that was what she wanted… but to just leave without even one word to me, even you or Marcie? We were close, and she said she liked you guys. To think that she would just leave without speaking, when she knew how worried I was about everything that I think has been going on…’

‘What? So, what do you think happened? Adelia pushed a video in her face and suddenly–whoop - she’s a goner?’

‘Mary.’

Derek clenches his jaw and I grin at him, trying to force some levity into the conversation. His face, and Marcie’s awkward chuckle, both inform me I have missed the mark, and my joke has fallen flat. Oops.

Metaphorical tumbleweed drifts down the table between us as my comment hangs in the air. Feeling bad, I decide to mollify Derek. He is closing his eyes again, and I watch a vein throbbing at his temple. Shit. Derek is really upset, interrupting my apology.

‘Derek, I—’

‘This is serious, Mary. Why can’t you get that into your head?’

Derek’s middle-class voice is verging on aggressive, and I feel my back straighten in response.

‘There’s no need to get shitty with me, Derek. I’m just saying that it might not be this big, terrible drama. Sophie may just have gotten what she wanted, that’s all. We can have a difference of opinion you know. But… I didn’t mean to make fun. I know you think this is serious.’

‘It is serious, Mary. Why won’t you listen?’

With a scowl, Derek stares at me, then Marcie, then back to me again, rapping out, ‘Do we have a “difference of opinion?” Weren’t we in agreement that there is something fishy going on here?’

I consider his words, and my next ones, carefully, not wanting Derek to be upset with me. Against all odds, I like him.

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