Visions from Beyond

Chapter 5: Lab Experiments

After meeting at the police station for over an hour, Neal decided he liked Diana even if she was abrasive. She no longer treated him as a suspect—a decided plus. He was surprised at how much he enjoyed discussing the cases, and he gained new insights into Peter's character. It would be so easy to tease him about poofs and transporter platforms, but his own situation was too tenuous to test Peter's tolerance.

On their way out, Neal noticed a woman with long copper hair peppering the desk sergeant with questions. She was demanding details about the murder last night, but he wasn't giving her any satisfaction. Neal grinned when he saw her. Sara Pabodie, cub reporter. Who else would dare give the sergeant such a hard time?

A smile flashed across her face when she spotted Neal. Abandoning the sergeant, she strode over to greet him. "What are you doing here?"

Neal turned to Peter. "Allow me to introduce you to Arkham's next Bob Woodward—Sara Pabodie, ace news-ferret."

She made a face. "Investigative journalist, please."

Sara had been a journalism student at Miskatonic. They were the same age, but she was a few years behind him since he'd started early. He and Kate had double-dated a few times with Sara and her boyfriend, a football player on the university team. Kate told him the two had split up last year.

"You probably don't remember me, Professor Gilman," Sara said. "I attended your lecture on ancient civilizations last year. There must have been over two hundred students in the class."

"Call me Peter and yes, I remember you. You were the one always staying late to zing me with questions. I see you haven't changed."

She laughed. "I've always been nosy, and now I'm getting paid for it."

"You're working full-time for the Arkham Gazette?" Neal asked

She nodded and pulled her notebook out of her bag. "Were you here about Seth? Anything you can tell me, on or off the record?"

"Sorry, Sara," Peter said. "We have nothing to report."

She handed out her business card. "Well, if you should happen to remember anything, you'll call me? I'm looking for my first exclusive." As Neal turned to leave, she placed a hand on his arm and pulled him aside. "Hey, why don't you return my calls?" She lowered her voice. "I know it's not easy, but still, you should make an effort."

Why was it he always wound up apologizing to her? He fell back on the easy excuse. "I'd been so focused on preparing for the term, my course notes —"

"—and being a hermit? Shutting yourself off from the world won't help. You need to let your friends in."

He made an impatient gesture. "I know. I'm trying."

"You may think you are, but try harder," she said bluntly and added in a softer voice, "She was my friend too. You ever want to talk about it, you give me a call, okay? But if I don't hear anything soon, I'm calling you. I don't have to remind you how persistent I am."

Sara meant well, but Neal didn't know if he'd ever feel ready to discuss Kate. He rejoined Peter and they exited the police station. He hoped Peter wouldn't ask about their exchange. Neal had done enough soul-exposing for one day.

"I assume you noticed Diana said the murders started four months ago," Peter said. "Didn't you tell me you started having your dream four months ago?"

Neal nodded. "I'd been wondering about that too. You mentioned you brought your stone back from Egypt about the same time."

"Interesting coincidence, if that's what it is. Care to speculate?"

"It's tempting to say there's a relation between the stones left behind at the crime scenes, your artifact, and the stone I've been seeing in my dreams, but I don't have a clue as to what it would be." He turned to look at Peter. "Do you have any theories?"