Caterpillar, a Paranormal Romance With a Touch of Horror by M. Leighton Page A

control over my gift the more I used it since I didn’t practically pass out this time.  I also seemed to be able to make much more sense out of what I was seeing. 
“Catherine Deen?”  I watched Megan’s pretty green eyes sparkle with the light of opportunity as the pieces of the puzzle fit together with an almost audible click.  “As in the Catherine Deen who discovered those two bodies?”
“Yes, unfortunately one and the same.”
“How would you like to do an exclusive with me?”
“Um, no thank you,” I politely declined. 
“Come on, it’ll be fun.  We can do a girl’s night and you can tell me your story over drinks.”
“I’d rather not, but thank you.” 
“Oh, come on.  Us working girls have to stick together.”
“No thanks,” I repeated. 
“Come on.  It’s your duty.”
She just wasn’t going to give up.
“All due respect, Ms. Bounty, but I said ‘no’.”  My tone clearly indicated that my patience was at an end.
That got her attention.  Unfortunately, she obviously didn’t take rejection well.  “Is this about your scar?” I gasped as her barb hit its mark.  A gleam of malicious satisfaction flickered in the depths of her jewel-tone eyes.  “My makeup people can fix that.”   
“Megan,” Tegan started, his low voice holding a silent warning.
“No, it’s not— I just—”
“You’re a Realtor, correct?” 
“Yes.  Why?”  My antennae twitched uncomfortably.
“Well, let’s just say your broker might have some interest in your…cooperation.”  She issued the blatant threat like an invitation to a tea party.
“You can ask anyone you’d like, Ms . Bounty, but rest assured I won’t be doing any interviews.”  My face felt tight with barely controlled anger and indignation.  I wasn’t prone to fits of temper, but I was already in the throes of a bad day.  Add to that a mixture of Tegan and Bounty and trouble was sure to follow.
“We’ll see,” she said lightly, her smile brightening as she looked to Tegan.  “Shall we?”
Tegan’s eyes met mine for an instant, but in that brief contact there was shocking intensity.  I felt like I’d stepped into mental quicksand, as if something was gently sucking away my toxic emotions, pulling them out through my toes.  And then the sensation was gone.   “Ladies,” he said with a nod and a polite twitch of his lips.  Then he turned and walked away, Megan hanging delicately on his arm.
I watched as they wove their way between the tables.  For the life of me, I couldn’t drudge up the embarrassment I’d felt or my irritation with Bounty, nor could I remember why Tegan’s mental hiding place had bothered me so.  It was like I’d left it all in the quicksand.  Before I could delve too deeply into what had happened, Rainn spoke.
“Girl!”  Rainn’s eyes were the size of saucers, a stunned smile stretched across her pouty, red-stained lips.  “I didn’t know you had it in you.  I’m so proud.  Let me buy you a drink.”
Even though I didn’t drink, I let her.  I needed one.  That was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.  I’d had more than a few bad days and I figured I was entitled to a little chemical relaxation.
“Bounty comes over here, thinking she’s all that.  All I can say is bangs.  She needs something to cover up that forehead.”  Rainn was babbling on.  “Actually, that thing was more like a fivehead.  Did you notice it?”
“Mmm,” was all the response I could formulate.  I was concentrating hard, willing my drink to carry my troubles away so I no longer had to think about Tegan or Megan Bounty.
An uncharacteristic moment of silence fell across our table.  I sipped from my pina colada and Rainn toyed with her straw.  Finally, as if she’d come to some sort of silent conclusion, Rainn broke her brief silence asked what I knew she was dying to know. 
“So, are you going to tell me what you saw in her head?” 
“In a nutshell, she has a very,