Falling Awake
Authors: Jayne Ann Krentz
JAYNE ANN KRENTZ
A
LSO BY
J
AYNE
A
NN
K
RENTZTruth or Dare
Light in Shadow
Summer in Eclipse Bay
Smoke in Mirrors
Dawn in Eclipse Bay
Lost & Found
Eclipse Bay
Soft Focus
Eye of the Beholder
Flash
Sharp Edges
Deep Waters
Absolutely, Positively
Trust Me
Grand Passion
Hidden Talents
Wildest Hearts
Family Man
Perfect Partners
Sweet Fortune
Silver Linings
The Golden Chance
B
Y
J
AYNE
A
NN
K
RENTZ WRITING AS
J
AYNE
C
ASTLEAfter Glow
Harmony
After Dark
Amaryllis
Zinnia
Orchid
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.ContentsFalling Awake
A G. P. Putnam’s Sons Book / published by arrangement with the author
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 by Jayne Ann Krentz
This book may not be reproduced in whole or part, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement and could subject the infringer to criminal and civil liability.
For information address:
The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is
http://www.penguinputnam.com
ISBN: 0-7865-5902-0
A G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS BOOK®
G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books first published by The G. P. Putnam’s Sons Publishing Group, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
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Electronic edition: September, 2005
For Louisa Edwards, with thanks for the title. Yep, you were definitely cut out for a career in publishing!
DREAM ANALYSIS NUMBER: 2-10
Prepared for:
Client # 2Rank of Dreamer:
Level 5 on the Belvedere Lucid Dream ScaleAnalyst:
I. Wright, Research Assistant, Belvedere Center for Sleep Research
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
The elements and symbols indicative of extreme violence and sexual perversion in this dream are so exaggerated and so bizarre that they point to the conclusion that the individual perpetrating the acts is in the grip of a chaotic bloodlust. It is, however, the opinion of this analyst that such a conclusion would be a mistake. On the contrary, it is likely that the perpetrator may have deliberately staged his crimes with the goal of ensuring that investigators will view them as the creations of a deranged mind.
This analyst suggests that the key to unlocking the hidden message of this dream is the red scarf that the dreamer saw when he opened the closet door. Lacking additional context, this is as far as it is possible to take the analysis.
Submitted by:
I. WrightPS: This analyst cannot help but notice that the dreamer (Client # 2) again reports the excessive and disorienting noise of the roller coaster in the gateway dream. This is the third
such dream in which that occurs. It indicates that the dreamer is still experiencing a considerable degree of physical pain. Although Client # 2 is clearly capable of controlling this discomfort while in the Level 5 lucid dream state, it is, at the very least, a serious distraction.It is assumed that Client # 2 consulted a doctor as this analyst advised in postscripts to the first two of these “loud” dreams and did not receive much help. Additional steps to help manage the pain and discomfort should be taken immediately.
This analyst suggests that the dreamer make an appointment with an acupuncturist.
1DREAM ANALYSIS NUMBER: 2-11
Prepared for:
Client # 2Rank of Dreamer:
Level 5 on the Belvedere Lucid Dream ScaleAnalyst:
I. Wright, Research Assistant, Belvedere Center for Sleep Research.
ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
The repetition of the color aqua blue is the most significant aspect of this dream report. All of these blue elements (the hammer, computer, photograph and mirror) have at least two things in common: (1) each is an object that is not customarily aqua blue in color, and (2) each is an object that does not appear to belong to the setting in which it was found. It is no doubt for these reasons that Client # 2 has identified them with an odd color while in the Level 5 lucid dream state.
It is strongly suggested that these items be reexamined in light of this analysis.
More detailed context would, as always, be
greatly appreciated
by this analyst as it would allow for a more complete interpretation.Submitted by:
I. WrightPS: This analyst is pleased to note that the extreme roller coaster noise of the earlier gateway dreams has receded in this dream report. She hopes this means that the acupuncture was
successful and that the dreamer is no longer experiencing as much physical pain as was previously indicated.It is also assumed that Client # 2 is continuing to follow the steps this analyst recommended at the outset of this consulting relationship. In this analyst’s experience, these measures help mitigate the traumatic effects of violent and bizarre Level 5 dreams: (1) Eat a primarily vegetarian diet (some fish is allowed but the client should definitely avoid red meat). (2) Do not watch violent films (old-fashioned 1930s-style screwball comedies are strongly suggested). (3) Do not read serial killer and other such graphically violent novels. They are obviously much too similar to your Level 5 dreams and will tend to reinforce the violent imagery. Romance novels are highly recommended instead.
a
funeral always made for a bad day. Knowing that it was probably his screwup that had put Katherine Ralston into the ground made things a whole lot worse for Ellis Cutler that afternoon.
He was supposed to be able to predict the actions of his quarry. Everyone who had ever worked with him said he was a major dream talent. Hell, he was a legend back at Frey-Salter, Inc., or at least he had been until a few months ago, when the rumors started up.
But in spite of his track record, the grim truth was that it had never even occurred to him that Vincent Scargill might kill Katherine.
“May God in his infinite mercy grant to Katherine’s family and
friends the serenity and peace of mind that can only come from the sure and certain knowledge that their loved one is at last in a safe harbor. . . .”
Katherine had been murdered in her apartment in Raleigh, North Carolina, but her relatives had brought her body home to this small town in Indiana to bury. It was ten o’clock in the morning, but the muggy heat of a Midwestern summer day was building fast. The sky was heavy and leaden. Wind stirred the old oaks that stood sentinel in the cemetery. Ellis could hear thunder in the distance.
He kept apart from the crowd of mourners, occupying his own private space. The others were all strangers to him. He had met Katherine on only a handful of occasions. She had been hired after he officially resigned from his position at Frey-Salter to
pursue other interests,
as Jack Lawson put it. He still freelanced for Lawson, however, and he allowed himself to be dragged back half a dozen times a year to conduct seminars with the new recruits. Katherine had attended a couple of his workshops. He recalled her as an attractive, vivacious blonde.
Lawson had told him she was not only a Level Five dreamer, but also a whiz with computers. Lawson loved high-tech gadgets but had no aptitude for dealing with them. He had been delighted with Katherine’s skill.
Ellis felt like a vulture standing at Katherine’s graveside. The malevolent cloud cover made the wraparound, obsidian-tinted sunglasses he wore unnecessary, but he did not remove them. Force of habit. He had discovered a long time ago that dark
glasses were one more way of keeping a safe distance between himself and other people.
The solemn service did not last long. When the final prayers had been spoken, Ellis turned and started back toward his rental car. There was nothing more he could do here.
“Did you know her?”
The voice came from behind and a few yards off. Ellis halted and looked back over his shoulder. A young man who appeared to be in his early twenties was approaching swiftly across the wet grass. There was a churning intensity in the long, quick strides. He had Katherine’s blue eyes and lean, dramatic features. Katherine’s personnel file had mentioned a twin brother.
“We were colleagues,” Ellis said. He searched for something that might sound appropriate and came up empty. “I’m sorry.”
“Dave Ralston.” Dave halted in front of him, bitter disappointment tightening his face and narrowing his eyes. “I thought maybe you were a cop.”
“What made you think that?”
“You look like one.” Dave shrugged, impatient and intense. “Also, you’re not from around here. No one recognized you.” He hesitated. “I’ve heard that the police often attend the funeral when there’s been a murder. Some theory about the killer showing up in the crowd.”
Ellis shook his head once. “I’m sorry,” he said again.
“You said you worked with my sister?”
“I’m affiliated with Frey-Salter, the firm where she was employed in North Carolina. My name is Ellis Cutler.”
Recognition and suspicion quickened in Dave’s expression. “Katherine mentioned you. Said you used to work as some kind of special analyst at Frey-Salter but that you’d left to become an outside consultant. She said you were practically a legend.”
“She exaggerated.”
Dave stared hard at the cream-colored, generic-looking Ford parked under an oak. “That yours?”
“A rental. Picked it up at the airport.”
Dave’s mouth twisted in frustration. Ellis’s intuition told him that the young man had been busily memorizing the license plate until he discovered the car was a rental.
“You probably heard that the cops think my sister was murdered because she interrupted a burglary in her apartment.”
“Yes,” Ellis said.
He hadn’t just heard the theory, he’d read every word of the investigating officer’s report, probing for anything that might give him a lead in his own quest. He’d also looked at the photos of the victim. He hoped Dave hadn’t seen those. Katherine had been shot at close range.