Jennifer slid her phone back into her pocket, returning her attention to Amy’s house as the minutes ticked by. Twiddling with the ends of her hair, she wondered if she had it wrong. Perhaps Amy had just arranged to telephone her father, or Skype him with the kids. They certainly wouldn’t have wanted Jennifer’s face popping up during that conversation. She grasped the keys to turn over the ignition when a sporty-looking BMW drove past, with a recently registered plate. Jennifer narrowed her eyes as it braked, then parked next to the kerb outside Amy’s home.
Jennifer scooted down in her seat, her stomach doing somersaults. She watched as Amy’s front door opened, and she walked out to greet her visitors, wearing what looked like a new dress. Her sister’s hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she beamed as the car doors opened. A tall blonde woman stepped out onto the pavement, closely followed by the driver, who took her sister in a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head as they broke apart.
Jennifer clasped her hand in front of her mouth as bile clawed its way up her throat. Seeing her father again brought all the old feelings flooding back, the anxiety she had fought so hard to control was now sending her thoughts into a whirlwind of confusion. His blonde companion kissed Amy on the cheek, and it was clear this was not their first meeting.
He looked well, more than well, he looked handsome. His dark wavy hair was now cropped neatly at the sides. His moustache had disappeared, and his clean-shaven face revealed a strong, square jawline. No longer was he walking with shoulders hunched over, hands gripped around a can of beer. Smartly dressed in a black jacket and trousers, he carried himself with a self-assured walk, and as his hand found his companion’s waist, Jennifer guessed they were a couple. She was wearing a blue tie dress with matching heels, and carried herself with an air of sophistication.
‘Crafty cow,’ Jennifer muttered under her breath as Amy waved them inside. Anger, sadness, and dejection sank their teeth into her being in equal measure. The timing could not have been worse. The front door closed behind them, and Jennifer was left alone. She inhaled a ragged breath, wiping away her involuntary tears. She had seen everything she needed to see. Amy had welcomed their father and was happy to forget their past in order to do so. But the past also included her. Perhaps this was the way it was going to be: if Jennifer didn’t come on board then Amy would slowly push her out of her life, sacrificing their relationship in preference for their father. Jennifer turned her car as fat raindrops began to dapple her windscreen. If she couldn’t help her family then she could at least help others. It was time to make contact with the Raven.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The recent spring weather seemed a dim memory as the wind threatened the newly formed buds of the elm trees lining the path into the park. Jennifer huddled under her umbrella, the rain bouncing hard against the pavement. The legs of her trousers were already soaked through, and she hoped her attempts at communicating with the Raven would be fruitful. She could not risk invoking anything in her home, and on such a foul evening, the park would be deserted. Shaking her umbrella, she took refuge inside the small wooden shelter overlooking the children’s playground. Black clouds rumbled forth, casting the gloomy space into a monochrome grey. She hoped George had gotten himself down to the local homeless shelter. Even he had noticed the ravens watching her from the trees as they spoke earlier in the day.
She couldn’t leave it a minute longer. She had to try to make contact in whatever way she could.
As the wind howled through the chain-linked swings it felt as if she was the only person alive. Jennifer sat on the damp wooden bench, preparing to send feelers out into the darkness. It was a practice she had finely tuned in the last few months. Her unearthly communication was not just for speaking to the dead. If a living person was of a strong psychic nature and attuned to her frequency, she may be able to gently ease herself into their senses. But doing so was fraught with danger, used only as a last resort. She rested her hands on her lap and closed her eyes. Asking for protection, her breathing settled into a slow, steady flow. She sent her thoughts to the Raven. Her plan was to seek out his location then withdraw.
Her eyes fluttered shut, and she relaxed her limbs, searching the darkness for a face. She blinked, pushing visions of Will to the back of her mind, wishing he wasn’t such a distraction. Her breathing grew shallow as she focused on what appeared to be a fuzzy tunnel. No, it was a bridge. A set of rosary beads swung from side to side from a windscreen mirror. A country and western singer crooned in the background about standing by your man, and a gruff voice chuckled to himself. The vehicle rattled, making a whistling noise where the air filtered through the windows, and the car seat bounced with every bump in the road. She tried to look out for signs. Where was he? She tentatively pushed on, trying to focus on his face. The driver scratched behind his ear but the itch crawled to the back of his neck, and then his right arm. Jennifer gritted her teeth as the itch spread through her, crawling under her skin. He licked his furred teeth and she felt the slime on her tongue. It was almost too much to bear.
While I nodded, gently napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door, his voice whispered in the darkness.
‘Who are you?’ Jennifer whispered the thoughts in her mind, gently coaxing. Psychic communication was not like being in a police interview room. Demanding answers would not get her anywhere.
The thought returned felt razor sharp. You come knocking on my door and you ask me who I am?
‘You have made yourself known to me prior to this, so I would argue it is you knocking on my door,’ Jennifer said, unable to resist the dig. She sensed his amusement as he delivered the answer.
Why I’m Raven of course.
Jennifer swallowed, feeling like she was falling into the abyss of his mind. But she could not withdraw now, not yet. ‘Did you kill Emily Clarke?’ her thoughts whispered seductively. There was no place for anger in this world, and she sent her words like silken messengers rubbing against his rugged skin.
Maybe, maybe not, a faint echo of laughter, carried with a layer of dark intent.
‘What do you want, Raven? Tell me, perhaps I can help …’
You’ll find out soon enough. But do not come to me uninvited again …
Jennifer ignored his warning and probed further for clues, snaking through his energy. The vehicle came to an abrupt halt as the driver gathered strength. An earthy scent found her, not the fresh smell of the rain-sodden leaves in the park, but the smell of rotting tree roots, its bark infested with insects. By the time she felt the Raven’s energy build, it was too late to recoil. A raspy voice sent daggered shockwaves through her brain. The sound was deafening. GET OUT little pig! I said, GET OUT! Raven screamed, the painful impact throwing a stunned Jennifer back to reality. Clasping her hands over her ears, she bent over until the shockwaves ebbed. She groaned as her senses returned to the physical world, but the transition had been too quick. It felt like squeezing sweaty feet into a pair of ill-fitting shoes, and she sucked in cooling breaths, focusing on the rain tapping on the roof of the shelter, a hundred tiny nails drawing her attention. She ran her tongue over her teeth, relieved to find them clean, and free of the taint of tobacco she had tasted minutes before. But she desperately needed to shower, and scrub away the feeling of being in another man’s skin.
Jennifer reflected upon the contact on her way home. The rosary beads could give a connection to religious undertones and he seemed to be driving a car. Anxiety had begun to nest as the crawling sensation under her skin refused to leave. She inhaled deeply and breathed out slowly, releasing the rising tension. The dark voice carried a sense of urgency that worried her. You’ll find out soon enough. He wasn’t giving up. She scratched the back of her neck, focusing on the shower waiting for her at home. Will had invited her around and she was grateful for the distraction. She had spent too long in the Raven’s energy, and would be darkly rewarded by the feel of the old man’s body for several hours to come.