Close Your Eyes Read online

  “You can’t have everything.” She stared him in the eye. “I’d have to work on that for a while. I’ve given you the performance you wanted from me. You’re not getting anything else.” She paused. “Nothing. Don’t ask.”

  “My name is Adam Lynch. How did you know I was with the Bureau?”

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Lynch.”

  He studied her for an instant, then turned on his heel. “I’ll go. You’ll be more willing to deal with me if you don’t have to worry about keeping those kids waiting. We’ll continue this later.”

  “Make an appointment. I’ll see if I can fit you in. I doubt it. The FBI isn’t high on my list of priorities.”

  He gave a low whistle. “I understand you had a very warm relationship with one FBI agent. Jeff Stedler must have really pissed you off.” He paused. “I’m curious. In the bedroom or on a case?”

  She stiffened. “My God, what nerve. You’ll stay curious, you nosy bastard.”

  “Sorry. I’m usually not that clumsy. You’re having a peculiar effect on me. I’m finding there’s something about you that disturbs my usual modus operandi. Forgive me.” He moved toward the door. “We’ll talk later.”

  She couldn’t let him walk out of the room without asking the question.

  “Wait.” When he looked over his shoulder, she asked, “Did Jeff send you?”

  “No, though he’s the reason I’m here.” He smiled. “We’ll discuss him at the same time you explain how you knew the intimate details of my life. Tit for tat.” He left the studio.

  Clever. Lynch had dangled that alluring tidbit of information to hook her into another meeting. He wanted something. He probably wanted her.

  Kendra gazed after him with exasperation. She was tempted to just block him out of her thoughts and tell him to take a jump. But that reference to Jeff had made her curious … and a little worried.

  It was strange that Lynch made that abrupt sexual reference to her affair with Jeff. It wasn’t slick or diplomatic. For an instant, she’d seen a flicker of recklessness in his expression. Another facet of Lynch’s character revealed. Another sign of the complication she’d sensed. Did she want to assuage her curiosity badly enough to deal briefly with him again?

  She didn’t have to make up her mind just then. She had work to do.

  She went to the door to bring in Jenny Brooks, her next student.

  * * *

  KENDRA LOCKED UP THE studio and walked to her car as the late-afternoon sky softened into twilight. She had tried to block Adam Lynch from her mind all afternoon. Damn him for showing up in the middle of the day, taking her mental energy from people who needed it far more.

  Forget him. She would go home and document her observations, as she usually did after a day of appointments. As much as she cared for her clients, who ranged in age from two to ninety-three years old, she knew she could make an even bigger contribution with the treatment options she had developed and was still refining with each session. With precise protocols and careful documentation, she and others were slowly pushing the discipline of music therapy away from alternative woo-woo medicine and into the mainstream of accepted scientific opinion.

  If she could concentrate on what was important instead of the problem that Lynch had put before her. She still felt unsettled, and she knew that her encounter with Lynch would not be her last. She would have to consider what he’d said and decide how to handle him.

  If he let her have the time to consider anything before he pounced again.

  Adam Lynch was leaning against the hood of his sports car, waiting in the parking space when she drove up to her condo twenty minutes later.

  She wasn’t even surprised.

  She got out of her Honda and strolled toward him.

  He smiled. “You look a bit more mellow. Was the rest of your day successful?”

  “Fairly. I think I made a few steps forward in the dance.”

  “Dance?”

  “With my kids, learning is like a tango. Sometimes they learn the most complex steps with astonishing ease, and yet the simple ones baffle them.” She turned and moved toward her front door. “You might as well come in. You’d probably camp out here if I don’t get this over with.”

  “Possibly.” He followed her. “And, besides, you want to know about Jeff Stedler.”

  “That’s true.” She unlocked the front door. “You’re very perceptive.”

  “Which means you still care something for him.”

  “Does it? We were lovers for a year, but that doesn’t mean it was anything more than sex.”

  He tilted his head. “But I don’t think that you could have an extended sexual relationship with anyone unless you at least liked him.”

  “You have a right to your opinion.” She went into the condo and turned on the lights. “But you don’t really know anything about me, do you?”

  “I know you were born blind due to a degenerative corneal disease in the womb. You remained blind until you were twenty.” His gaze wandered around the contemporary living room decorated in rust, red, and gold shades. “Lots of color. This is charming. I can imagine how you must have embraced color when you first experienced it.”

  “It was as heady as a straight shot of vodka.” She looked at him. “I embraced a lot of things after my operation. Everything seemed new and exciting. Including Jeff Stedler.”

  “Interesting. But you haven’t satisfied my curiosity yet about what crystal ball you used to reveal all my secrets this afternoon.”

  “Secrets? It would take more than a crystal ball to learn anything about you that you didn’t want me to know. But you’re not going to let it go, are you? Okay, let’s get it over with.” She sat down on the arm of the rust armchair. “How long has it been since you were with the FBI, Adam Lynch?”

  “How did you know I was FBI? You said that before I mentioned Jeff Stedler.”

  “Your jacket cuts a clean line, but there’s still a rather distinct bulge under your left armpit.”

  “Many people carry guns.”

  “Not that many. Law enforcement and private security mostly, followed by gangsters and thugs.”

  He smiled. “You don’t think I’m a thug?”

  “Oh, you’re most definitely a thug. You’re just paid to be one by the FBI.”

  “I’m still waiting for an explanation how you knew that.”

  “You’re obviously aware that the FBI has brought me in to consult on a few cases. I’ve been in that stuffy third-floor conference room, and I’ve sat in those ridiculous diamond-backed chairs. When you take off your jacket and place it over the chair back, you’re left with three distinct impressions: one just below the collar and two others beneath the shoulders. That’s exactly what I’m seeing on that jacket of yours.”

  He shook his jacket lapels and brushed his shoulders. “Seriously?”

  “Don’t worry, it’s very faint, and it goes away after a day or so.”

  “Okay, but how do you know I’m still not an agent? How do you know it wasn’t just another day at the office?”

  “In that building, agents wear their IDs around their necks. Makes it easier to swipe across sensor pads to unlock doors. But visitors wear badges that clip to their clothing.” She walked up to him and pulled on his jacket’s breast pocket to show a quarter-inch horizontal crease near the top. “The badge holder leaves a mark that looks like this. If you were wearing something a bit more sheer, you might see what looks like a row of tiny teeth marks.”

  “Fortunately, I’m not in the habit of wearing silk shirts to FBI headquarters.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “But how do you know I was ever an agent at all?”

  “Even though you’re not wearing an ankle holster now, you still walk as if you are. You make a slight sweeping motion so your pant leg doesn’t press against your phantom holster. That’s law enforcement all the way.”

  “Really?” He looked down at his feet. “Do all FBI guys walk like that?”

  “More than you’d th
ink. Police detectives, too. It’s only slightly less obvious than a Haggar slacks pant leg pressed up against the side of a nine-millimeter automatic.”

  “I still wear it from time to time. And you were also right about the leg wound.” His brow furrowed. “But I’m pretty sure I’m not walking with a limp.”

  “Not a visible limp.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “To look at you, one would think you move with nothing but the utmost authority and confidence.”

  “I think there’s a ‘but’ coming.”

  “You still slightly favor your right leg. I can’t see it, but I can hear it. But what I can see is a pretty nasty scuff on the sole of your left shoe. It’s covered with shoe polish, but I can see it’s been worn down quite a bit. That might have been prevented if you hadn’t been so quick to ditch your crutches.”

  “How do you know I didn’t slip in the bathtub or have a motorcycle accident?”

  “I don’t. But it stands to reason that a man who has a need to carry two guns might occasionally find himself on the receiving end of some gunfire.” She stood, moved across the room, and picked up her guitar, which was leaning against the stone fireplace. She started tuning it. “And you don’t impress me as someone who would slip in the bathtub. You’re very sure on your feet.”

  “And where I’ve lived?” Lynch asked.

  “Simple linguistics.”

  “I’d say not so simple.”

  She shrugged. “Simple for me. Vocal patterns and spoken language are like music. There are many people who know a Chopin melody a mile away. Some of us are just as good with the spoken word.”

  “You picked up on a blend of my Midwestern and Eastern accents?

  “Not only that, but exactly how the vocal patterns interact. If you had grown up on the East Coast, then moved to the Midwest, you would sound much different today. It’s like the difference between a soup with half an onion cut into it, or a plate of sautéed onions with a couple spoonfuls of soup ladled over them. Totally different flavor.”

  “And my car?”

  She raised her phone and showed him the screen. There was a live video feed of the condo parking lot.

  He held the phone and looked at the display. “What’s this?”

  “It’s what it looks like. I have a Wi-Fi camera connected over the door. Here at home, it’s a security measure. I also have another one connected over the door at the studio. I like to see when my clients are coming.”

  “Or men in Ferraris?”

  “I glanced at it just after you came into the studio. I recognized the other four cars in the lot but not that one.”

  “I’ll be damned.” He smiled and shook his head. “I have to admit, I thought everybody was exaggerating about you and your—”

  “Parlor tricks?”

  “I was going to say ‘perceptive abilities.’ I can see it was no exaggeration.”

  “Glad you enjoyed the show.” She adjusted the tuning pegs, then looked up. “Now you talk. Why did you think it worth your while to come to see me and have me perform for you? If you want my help in an investigation, you’re going to be disappointed.”

  “You haven’t even heard what it is.”

  “I don’t need to. I don’t do that kind of thing anymore. You should have done your homework on me.”

  “Believe me, I did. I may not be able to write your life story based on the cut of your sweater, but I know quite a bit about you.”

  “Obviously not enough. Otherwise, you would have known not to waste your time coming here.”

  “Trust me, I won’t consider it a waste of time, no matter what your answer is.” He added softly, “It’s never a waste of time to meet fascinating people. And you’re remarkable, Kendra.”

  “Flattery won’t work with me. Cross it off your list.”

  “No flattery, just a statement of fact. You were blind since birth, but that didn’t stop you from working your way through school and getting a Ph.D. in psychology and a masters in music theory. From a very early age, you used your remaining senses to gather amazing amounts of information about the world around you. Information that most people couldn’t dream of perceiving.”

  She shrugged. “I used what I had.”

  “You used it in an extraordinary way. When you were twelve, a group of Fundamentalists accused you of being a witch, while another group in the same church said you were channeling the power of God.”

  She smiled. “Both explanations were much more interesting than the truth.”

  “Then, thanks to a stem-cell procedure in England, you got your sight at the age of twenty. Just seven years ago. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you since.”

  “No, you can’t.” She set the guitar down. “So don’t try. And I’m sure it’s not important for your purpose to try to understand me.”

  “You’re wrong; understanding is essential in what I do.” He continued. “And your amazing gifts just multiplied exponentially. When you were finally able to see, you wanted to absorb everything and process every single detail. And so you do. You still see more than anyone else in the room, and you do it without even trying.”

  She shook her head. “Who says I don’t have to try? It just so happens that I like trying. I’m greedy. I want to experience everything. I don’t take anything for granted.”

  “If you like it so much, why don’t you want to help me?”

  “I’ve already had that experience. I’m done with it. As I’m sure you know, I’ve already assisted on four investigations.”

  “You did more than assist. You broke those cases.”

  “I only did it as a favor to Jeff Stedler. He was intrigued by what I could do and asked me to do it as a favor. I agreed because I thought of it as a challenge, and it amused me.” Her lips tightened. “But then he got greedy and wanted me to keep on doing it. Suddenly, it didn’t amuse me any longer.”

  “And suddenly he didn’t amuse you any longer either.”

  “You could say that.” She met his eyes. “I don’t like being used, Lynch.”

  “Is that a warning?” he asked softly.

  “Yes.”

  “Accepted. But even if Stedler used you, evidently you haven’t jettisoned him completely, or you wouldn’t have let me into your house.”

  “Maybe. You said he didn’t send you here?”

  “No, but we’ve met.” He added deliberately, “And I think he’s a good man.”

  “Yes, one of the good guys. I never said he wasn’t. He wants to set the world right. That’s why he joined the Bureau.” She added wearily, “And he wanted me to help him do it. Batman and Superwoman fighting all the bad guys. He got the idea that I could be of some help to his investigations, and I guess I was. But I just can’t do it anymore.”

  “Perhaps you should reconsider. You can save lives.”

  “Don’t put that on me,” she said fiercely. “Jeff tried to tell me that, and I told him to go to hell. I won’t be responsible for what he thinks is the right thing to do.”

  “It’s true.”

  “I’m saving lives every day in that studio you visited today. It may not be as dramatic as what you and Jeff are doing, but for me, it’s a hell of a lot more worthwhile.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have decided to talk to you. Whatever your case is, I’m not interested.”

  “Six people, Dr. Michaels,” he said quietly. “Six people have been killed in the last forty-five days.”

  “Starting with the man in Highland Park?”

  He stiffened. “So you’ve been following it.”

  “Not really,” she said. “Jeff asked for my help a couple of weeks ago, and he told me a few things. I was wondering if that was the case you were talking about. I guess that answers the question.”

  Lynch stared at her. “Stedler came to see you about this case?”

  “I turned him down. I practically kicked him out. I told you, I’m not interested in doing this kind of thing anymore.”
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br />   He muttered a curse, and his tone was suddenly urgent. “What did Stedler say to you?”

  “Not much. I didn’t let him get very far. About the same as you’ve said. Except it was five murders then, not six.”

  “An administrative assistant was killed in a downtown parking garage at Gold’s Gym Monday night. We believe it’s connected to the others. What else did he tell you?”

  “Ask him yourself.”

  “I can’t ask him myself, dammit. He’s missing.”

  Shock rippled through her. She stared at him for a long moment. “Since when?”

  “More than seventy-two hours. I think it might have something to do with this case.”

  She was trying to recover from the shock. “And why do you think that?”

  “It’s a little complex. Let’s talk about it,” he coaxed persuasively. “You once cared for him. You must have some lingering feeling. Help me figure this out.”

  “There’s no evidence of foul play? He just disappeared?”

  “No evidence.”

  “Then Jeff could be working on a case and gone undercover. He doesn’t have to be in any danger.”

  “That’s true. But a little unlikely since no one at the office knew about it. What would it hurt to assume the worst and try to make the attempt to find him? Then you could be pleasantly surprised if he showed up on his own safe and sound.”

  She stared at him in exasperation. This man was just like Jeff, subtly pushing her buttons to get her to do what he wanted. Only Jeff had done it because he wanted to be Galahad, and she was the lance he could use to skewer the villains. She had an idea there was nothing of the white knight about this man.

  Enough.

  “No,” she said. “I don’t even know if you’re telling me the truth. You’re not…” She searched for words. “What I would call standard-issue FBI. And the FBI has a whole organization full of people who can track Jeff down. Why do they want me for this?”

  “They don’t want you.”

  Her brows rose. “This wasn’t their idea?”

  “No. They have a few problems with your … attitude. It’s all mine. Will you help me?”

  His urgency had given way to something else, she thought. Could it be … desperation? Not likely. She’d judge it would take something almost catastrophic to cause Lynch to become desperate. Or perhaps he was just trying another button on her.