Seraphina - Chapter 6

Chapter 61

The now familiar pounding filled Sera’s head as she sat up and looked around her.  She was lying in a bed, the room decorated in a New England shaker style.  It was a beautiful room, but at that moment, Sera couldn’t concentrate enough to even take it in.  She got to her feet, swaying a little as she made her way over to the huge window, which led onto a deck.2

Cal was sat at a patio table, his laptop open, tapping away while talking on his cell phone.3

“Sera, Oh good you’re awake. How are you feeling?”  Sera smiled weakly and sat down beside him.4

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck.”  Cal grimaced.  Closing his cell phone.5

“Sorry about that, the doc says you’ll feel pretty groggy for about a day.”  Sera reached for the jug of fruit juice in front of her, pouring herself a tall glass.  She drained it in a few seconds. 6

“Wow, you must have been really thirsty!”  Cal said inanely. Sera nodded.7

“So what do you need me to do?  I would rather just work and be done with it – I want to go home.”  Her eyes filled with easy tears, and Cal swore at himself.  He was feeling guilty enough about bringing her as it was.8

“I’m going to need your help finding where Melissa’s body is, firstly.  Then I will need you to help us find the truck they used to abduct her.  Think you can do that?”  Cal asked with a grin.  Sera rolled her eyes.9

“Of course I can.  I need something of her, something to get a feel of her.  Maybe I can even get her visit me again.”  Cal nodded.10

“I have a locket that she always wore.”  A female voice said from behind Sera.  Sera swung around in her seat looking into a pair of tearful blue eyes.  The woman walked towards her, holding out her hand.11

“Hello, I’m Drew Fearnley.  Pleased to meet you.”  Sera took the woman’s hand, feeling a zing of electricity as she absorbed her emotions.  Sera’s face flushed as visions filled her mind.12

Drew was holding a tiny baby, rocking her gently to sleep.  Drew at a child’s birthday party, helping a five-year-old Melissa blow out her candles.  Drew fastening the gold locket around her daughters throat on her sixteenth birthday.  13

Sera pulled her hand away sharply, holding her hand close to her chest in horror.14

“I’m sorry for your loss Mrs Fearnley.  You and Melissa were very close.”  Drew Fearnley’s eyes clouded with confusion and grief and she nodded dumbly.15

“Yes, we were.  What just happened?”  She asked astutely.  Sera took a steadying breath.16

“I just saw your most treasured memories of Melissa in your life.  Her birth, her 5th birthday party, her sixteenth birthday party when you gave her that locket.”  Drew’s eyes filled with tears.17

“My Baby! Who could do this to my baby?”  She dissolved into sobs, her composure slipping.  She dropped into the chair next to Sera, reaching for a handkerchief from the sleeve of her Chanel suit.  18

“Drew are you alright my dear?”  A male voice said, as Senator Fearnley walked over to the table. He put his hand on his wife’s shoulder, squeezing it gently.19

“I think perhaps you need to go and lie down.”  Drew nodded, getting to her feet without another word.  She placed the locket on the table in front of Sera, walking off and quickly disappearing through a door at the far end of the deck.  Senator Fearnley waited until he heard the door click closed before he launched into his tirade.20

“How dare you come here and upset my wife like this!  Drew is a not a well woman, the trauma of Melissa’s disappearance has almost brought her to a breakdown.  What did you say to her?”  Sera looked down at her shaking hands.  Senator Fearnley was a strong personality and he was overwhelming her, especially with his anger.21

“Please stop shouting at me Senator.”  Sera managed weakly.  Her quiet words shocked him into immediate silence.  He looked down at Sera in disbelief.  Sera sighed.22

“I shook your wife’s hand and I saw visions of her life with Melissa.  This upset her, understandably.  I have come here to help you Senator; I am not being paid for this, and I don’t want to be here as much as you don’t want me here? I will find your daughter, find her killers and then I will go back to my life and you will hear nothing of me again.”  Senator Fearnley nodded, satisfied.23

“So what can you tell me about your visions?”  He said finally, saying the word visions like it was unpleasant. Sera closed her eyes for a moment.24

“Melissa knew her attackers.  The van she was abducted in was black, and really beat up, with a large scratch on the rear bumper and a smashed taillight.  There were three of them, although I don’t think they were working alone.  The swamp where she was dumped was deep, very deep.  There was a tree close to the water, a tree shaped almost like a sequoia cactus.  That’s all I can remember.”  Sera said finally her fingers trembling as she reached to touch the locket.25

“What do you mean, you don’t think they were working alone?”  Sera shook her head.26

“I’m sorry, I need to lie down.”  She said finally getting to her feet.27

“Cal will you help me back to my room?”  Cal who had been silent through the whole ordeal got to his feet and helped Sera to her room.  Once inside, he helped her into bed.28

“Why didn’t you say something?”  Sera said as her cheek touched the cool cotton pillow.  29

“I don’t know, this whole thing is making me very uncomfortable.”  He said finally.  Sera nodded.30

“Senator Fearnley is up for re-election.  He was sliding in the polls.  It seems highly suspect that his only daughter would be kidnapped just before the election.”  Cal looked at Sera in horror.31

“Are you out of your mind?!”  He said shaking his head.  Sera frowned and turned her back on him.32

“I want to sleep now, will you leave me please.”  She said squeezing her eyes shut, so he couldn’t see the tears glistening on her lashes. 33

Cal sighed.  He walked away closing the door behind him.34