Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-one

“Recently?” Gideon asked.

He was not questioning her statement, she realized. Just looking for more information. Knowing that made it easier for her to concentrate.

“Good question.” She raised the camera again and focused on the disturbing pool of paranormal radiance. “Not recently as in last night or last week. I think we’re talking months, not years. That’s not very helpful, is it?”

“You never know. Every data point matters.”

“Like you said, there’s a learning curve when it comes to talent.” She started to lower the camera but a flicker of energy at the edge of her vision made her stop. She focused again and turned slowly in a circle, taking a close look at the rest of the room.

“What do you see?” Gideon asked.

“There are some weird prints around the minibar,” she said. “They look like they date from about the same time as the murder stain but they are still unusually hot.” She lowered the camera. “They shouldn’t be so hot.”

“Unless they were laid down with a lot of intense emotion.”

“Yes.” She brightened. “Yes, that makes sense.” Intrigued by the notion, she raised the camera again. “Hmm. I think you’re right. Whatever it is, it’s not a happy vibe, I can tell you that much. More like frightened. Panicky.”

Gideon crossed to the small refrigerator and opened the door. “Any prints inside?”

She walked closer to the minibar and examined the interior through the camera lens. “Yes, but not the same as those on the outside. It looks like whoever left the hot prints was trying to move the minibar.”

“Let’s take a look.”

Gideon switched on the lights and went back to the small refrigerator. He leaned his cane against the nearby table, gripped the minibar on either side, and eased it away from the wall.

He checked the back. “There’s a piece of white cardboard taped to the rear panel.”

Amelia watched him remove the cardboard. When he straightened she saw that he was holding one side of what had once been a small white box. She moved closer to get a better look. Aurora Islands Pharmaceutical Laboratory was emblazoned in blue on one side. Stunned, she looked at Gideon.

“It’s the same as the box in the photograph that came from Night Island,” she said. “The first three letters are identical. ‘Aur.’ It can’t be a coincidence.”

“Trust me, I’m not about to argue. I agree with you.” Gideon turned the cardboard over and looked at the other side. “It gets better. Take a look.”

He gave her the small piece of cardboard. There was a short, hand-printed note on the back. She read it aloud. “?‘My name is Dr. S. Fulbrook. If you find this message it means I’m dead. This company murdered me.’?”

“You were right,” Gideon said. “The photo of a portion of a box that your friends brought back from Night Island was a lead.”

“Yes.” Amelia looked up from the note, excitement sparking and flashing across all of her senses. “I knew it was important. But I would not have found that note if it hadn’t been for you.”

“You’re the one who tracked it down.”

“Only because I’m starting to think in terms of focus and control,” she said. “That’s your doing. I’ve got a long way to go but I can see a path forward. I must admit I’ve made more progress in the past twenty-four hours, thanks to you, than I did after a month of appointments with Dr. Pike.”

Gideon gave her an unreadable look. “Yeah, well, that’s great.”

“You know, this could be a new career path for you.”

“Advising people on how to cope with their suddenly enhanced paranormal senses? Somehow I don’t think there would be much demand for that particular service. It’s not like there are a lot of newly minted psychics running around, and I don’t think I’m cut out to be a counselor.”

“It could be a sideline.”

“Forget it.” He switched his attention back to Fulbrook’s note. “We need to find out whatever we can about this pharmaceutical company.”

“Right,” she said. “I’ll call Phoebe in Seattle right now and have her get started on a search. Trust me, she’s got a real talent for that kind of thing.”

“Tell her she can probably assume it’s an offshore operation.”

“What makes you think that?” she asked, curious.

“Aside from the fact that it is most likely engaged in some very illegal activities, you mean?”

“Well, yes.”

“The name of the company,” Gideon said. “The Aurora Islands are phantom islands off the coast of South America. Supposedly they’ve been sighted a couple of times over the centuries but no one has ever found them. Looks like whoever named the lab is into irony.”

“I get it. Fake islands, fake pharmaceutical company.”

“I’m sure the lab is real. It’s just not going to be easy to find.”

Amelia looked at the carpet near the bathroom door. A somber knowing whispered through her. “Please turn out the lights. I need to take another look at something.”

Without a word, Gideon switched off the lights again.

She raised her camera and studied the luminous dark energy on the carpet. When she was certain of her conclusion she lowered the camera.

“The person who died over there on the floor is the same individual who left the prints on the minibar,” she said. “Dr. Fulbrook did not make it out of this room alive.”