Excerpt: Beyond Dead

"Sure I can't walk you in?" DeWayne asked three hours later.

"No, I'll be fine. Thanks for your help this evening."

"No problem. I hope you're not sidelined Friday. I really want to take you out again."

I smiled. "I'll do my best to stay available."

He leaned over and kissed my cheek. "See ya, Darby."

I got out, and waved at him as he backed up. As his taillights disappeared around the corner, I sighed, happy. And, I decided I wanted to share my happiness. Simon would still be up, and his place was only a couple blocks away.

He opened his door, even more surprised tonight than last night. "Wow, Darby! Two nights in a row. This is a record."

"Hey, Pops. How are you?"

He watched me quizzically for a second as I slipped off my jacket. "Fine. What's with that big grin on your face?"

"Just happy, that's all."

"Big turn around from yesterday. Things okay with you and Mark?"

The sound of my partner's name had me scowling. "No, that's another story. But I think I may be in love."

Pops' eyes bugged out. "You'd better come sit down. Who's your beau?"

I told him about DeWayne. "He respects me, Pops. And, he was so helpful tonight when my Civic wouldn't start. Bought dinner, wants to take me out on Friday. Ah... It's nice to have someone that likes me for me."

"I like you for you, Darby. You know that."

I nodded. "I mean other than you."

He smiled. "How'd you meet him?"

"The Society. But, he works for Bendex KCPD in our office."

"So he's a super. What's his power?"

"He's an empath."

Pops sat up straighter. "An empath?"

I nodded.

"Darby, you know I love you. And I want you to be happy. But, I want you to be careful with DeWayne."

"Huh?" I blinked.

"Since your discovery, I've done some of my own research about supers and their different strengths. The empaths are of great concern to me. While they can read your feelings, there's speculation they can also plant some of those feelings so you behave in a way acceptable to them."

"Pops—"

"I just want you to be careful. What was your feeling the first time you met him?"

"I was uncomfortable. It was a society meeting and Genova had gone off and left me again."

"And your next meetings?"

I didn't want to admit that tonight made three total. "I guess interest has grown. But that's only normal in any relationship."

"Yes, it is. But you haven't dated in a long time. All of a sudden you have a man who's interested in you, and you're flattered."

I scowled. "Where are you going with this?"

"I don't want you to get hurt. Please be cautious around him. He may be perfectly nice, but watch yourself around him. If you find yourself in a situation where you would normally be uncomfortable and aren't, run. Call me or Mark. Promise me you'll do this."

"Pops—"

"Promise me, Darby."

I stood. "You just don't want me to be happy. That's why you're saying all of this."

"No, I'm not. Sit down."

I shook my head. "No. I'm going home. It's been a long day. And I don't want to have you talk me out of falling in love!"

"Darby, listen to yourself! This isn't like you."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm going. I'll see you later."

Despite Pops' continued pleas, I ignored them, grabbed my jacket and bags, and stomped down the stairs to the first level and out into the night. How could he say those things? He didn't even know DeWayne. How could he, a so-called man of God, make that kind of judgment just because DeWayne was an empath?

He had no right. No right at all to call into question someone he didn't know. I'd read the reports, too. I liked to know what other supers could or couldn't do. Of course, the reports weren't comprehensive.

But, I was completely in control of myself. DeWayne hadn't 'probed' my mind, no more than sensing my thoughts yesterday. I knew what I thought, what I felt. And it would stay that way. No doubt about it.

I stalked home, making the two blocks in just under two minutes. I climbed the stairs to my apartment, and noticed my door was slightly ajar. Funny, I knew I'd shut and locked it this morning. I squatted in front of the door and examined the latch. Subtle black marks on the dark wood near the knob were in evidence, and I saw a few splinters of wood on the floor outside the door.

I fumbled for my phone, my previous troubles forgotten. I dialed. A moment later, Mark answered with a sleepy, "Hello?"

"Mark. It's Darby. I need you to come to my place."

"Darb, what's this about? Can't it wait 'til morning?"

"No. I think someone broke into my apartment."

That woke him up. "I'll be there in five minutes. Stay there. Don't go in."

"I can handle myself."

"Then why'd you call me?"

I sighed and tapped my foot. "Just come, please."

"I'm practically out the door."

I put in a quick call to dispatch. "Possible break-in at officer's residence. Partner en route, please send closest available units to assist." I gave my address and apartment number, then received confirmation additional backup was on its way.

I put my phone back in my pocket and dug a pair of latex gloves from my purse. After I unholstered my service weapon, I carefully opened the door. Holding my gun in one hand, I reached for the light switch with the other.

My living room looked like a hurricane had blown through. Lamps, tables, chairs were overturned. Papers and books strewn this way and that. The vase of dahlia's I'd so lovingly put together from my window box was shattered, the water and pebbles scattered over ten square feet.

It felt like someone had attacked me, not just my apartment. Were they still here? "Police! Come out with your hands where I can see them." I swept the living room, kicking the door shut, but not closed, with the heel of my boot.

Caution with me on every step I took, I cleared my living room as quickly as I could. No one under my overturned couch, in the coat closet, behind my TV. I glanced in the kitchen, didn't see any activity, and went for my bedroom.

Everything was a wreck here, too. After sweeping my bathroom, I checked everywhere in my bedroom. My sheets had been ripped to shreds, as had some of the stuffed bears I'd been given through the years. The yellow one Simon had given me after I moved in with him sustained the worse damage—he'd been decapitated and all limbs removed. I nearly wanted to puke. Who could do something so vicious?

I double-checked everything, my closet, under the bed, behind the overturned arm-chair in the corner I liked to read in. Nothing. Just mess.

I made my way to the kitchen and dining area. Everything was clear here too. Just a mess. Cans and bottles had been thrown to the floor, as had plates and glasses. Most had shattered. Knowing no one was here, the fear gave way to fury, especially when I spotted the note, stabbed into my counter with my butcher knife.

I leaned over and read it:

I may have missed you this time, but next time I won't. You're next, Darby Shaw.

I shivered. They'd been after me.

My front door burst open. I fought a scream.

"Darby?"

Mark. Thank the Lord in Heaven. "In here!"

He came into the kitchen, gun drawn, but aimed at the floor. "I told you not to come in."

"Looks like I didn't listen. Apartment's clear. No one's here but you and me."

He swore under his breath at me. "Do you know how much danger you just put yourself in?"

"Don't lecture me, Mark! I've had enough of that today! Besides, can't you see I've got a few other things on my mind right now? Like the fact someone wants to kill me?" I gestured a gloved hand to the note.

He holstered his weapon and crossed to the note, then let out a soft whistle. "You okay?"

I nodded. "Shaken. Why would anyone want to kill me?" I shivered.

Mark put his arm around my shoulder, this time, not an unwelcome gesture. "I don't know. But, we're going to find out. Did you call in additional backup?"

I nodded. "But no CSU's, not yet."

"I'll make the call. Why don't you come out to my car and we'll wait for them to get here together?"

"Sure." His arm still around my shoulder, I let my partner guide me outside, downstairs, and to his F-350 as he made the call to get CSU to the scene. Just as I was climbing up to the cab, backup arrived.