When Valaria got the call from Lupe that it would be possible for her to monitor Natalia that night, she and Travis were already out of the restaurant. They were walking along the boardwalk in front of historic Cannery Row, as it meandered toward the Aquarium.

"So, if the girl speaks again tonight, you'll record her?"

"Yes, but not only," Valeria replied, a little dizzy from the tequila. "I plan to engage her in a dialogue. It's sometimes possible in these states when dreams are being vocalized."

"You mean her parents have never done that with her before?"

"Apparently not. And I'm used to that way of thinking. It's sort of a cultural thing. An Old-World idea that the sleeper should never be awakened while sleep talking or walking."

"They're worried about a trauma which might result, I suppose."

"Yes, but there's simply no hard data to supports that. Especially If it occurs only in a dialogue. There could be harmful effects if the subject is violently awakened or finds themselves alone in a strange environment. But this will not be the case with Natalia in her own bed with her mother nearby."

"Naturally."

"Mothers are super-cautious about these things, and I respect that."

"So, what do you intend to find out tonight? That is, if Natalie allows this dialogue?"

"Possibly who or from where she is getting her visions, those dreams she has. I'll just play it out and see. It could be a case of her channeling another presence while she's asleep. Someone speaking through her. A sort of remote consciousness. You see there's this obvious impression that much of what Natalia reports is beyond her understanding as a child. Even as a precious adolescent as she seems to be. I'll be listening for this adult sensibility somewhere if she speaks with me tonight in her sleep. Try to engage it in dialogue."

They walked out onto a wide gray terrace associated with the Aquarium complex. People were standing at the rails and watching a group of sea otters below, frolicking in the kelp-covered sea.

"Oh my gosh! These little guys are so cute!" she exclaimed. "They're like puppies."

"Yeah, sea-otters are one of our big attractions to this area. They are pretty damn cute."

He reached over and put his arm around her as they looked out toward the horizon. There was a curvaceous and warm element to her body which he felt, fighting the urge to pull her closer to him. Valeria responded by turning to face him closely.

"You know, you've been super helpful to me on this impromptu trip out here, Travis. And I want to thank you for that."

She moved close, giving him the signal that he could hold her in both of his arms. As Travis proceeded to do this, once again she immediately felt a stimulation return to her that only the embrace of a man could bring out. It came quickly and strongly. There was a silent moment when she expected to him to kiss her on the lips but instead of allowing it, she took a step back, not feeling the time was right. She knew it would only engage her in something capable of destroying her determined mindset for that evening. Halting what she had been so disturbingly distracted by, after hearing Natalia's frightening recording that morning.

"Sorry," she said, self-consciously. "I guess I've not been much fun today. . . Being so consumed with this case."

"I understand," Travis said, slowly and gently letting her go, "We've both been sort of thrown into this, I guess."

For the moment she did not look back into his eyes.

"So are there any similarities to this case . . . with others you've studied?" he asked.

"I'm doing my dissertation on eight separate paranormal activity incidents. With all of them I've personally been involved with the research. I surveyed some twenty-five incidents in all over the past year. Only these eight have conclusive evidence that some inexplicable anomaly had occurred. Either existentially or perceptually. And which clearly defy any simple explanation. This case, Natalia's case, I'll call Case Nine, has that . . . plus an extra element to it which I am very interested in tracing further. Quite frankly, that's its odd connection to me."

She looked over at him more seriously.

"Hopefully, Travis, that may come out more in any dialogue we might share tonight. And even if not, this experience will definitely be the ninth in my final write-up next year."

Valeria no longer looked at him the way she had before—somewhat flirtatiously, though he was still the same attractive male. Travis recognizable this and tried not to show his disappointment. For he also understood, as Valeria did, that whatever she might learn that night could be also a major tipping point in the Monterey murder case.

At Valeria's request, the present plan included him taking her back to her hotel for more Internet preparations she said she needed. Then, around ten that evening, which was around the time Natalia's mother explained her daughter would be in bed, Valeria would be driven to the Leon's home for the night. Travis had agreed to deliver her there with a few toiletry items, her digital recorder and laptop computer. He understood she would remain vigilant the whole night, hopeful the girl would once again engage in speaking in her sleep.

"Well, I guess that leaves us some real time to kill," Travis said hopefully, as they moved back onto the boardwalk toward his truck. "You up for a journey though the 17 Mile Drive of Pebble Beach . . . home to billionaires and mansions of the movie stars?"

Valeria knew he was doing his best to make some better inroad to that previously anticipated interlude which had once seemed so much on track. She still found it difficult to turn him down.

"Only if I get to meet George Clooney or Leonardo di Caprio," she said, smiling.

"I was planning more for you to meet Johnny Dep around his swimming pool," he jokingly replied.

"Alright," she laughed. "I suppose he'll do."

* * *

Valaria had no idea the environs around the Pebble Beach private estates could be so jaw-dropping beautiful or exclusive. There were literally castles on a scale of Scotland out on the pine covered bluffs. And crystal glass, multi-level homes that sat in the midst of the trees but with front yards that ran out unobstructed to the ocean's edge. At one point Travis parked his truck at a vantage point along the car path. There from inside, the two looked down at the famous Lone Cypress tree, majestically growing out of a massive rock formation just off shore. The brilliant white spray from blue-green waves exploded up into the air in a manner that was hypnotic to watch.

Travis quietly moved closer to her in the cab of his truck.

"I really hope your interest in this case brings you back to the Peninsula," he told her in a soft voice. She was looking directly at him now and the once thwarted warmth was returning as she saw how sincere his eyes were.

"Well, I'm certain that will happen," she said honestly. "And not just because of this case. You've been so sweet and accommodating . . . and I have to admit, I would want no other guide or colleague next to me then, or right now than you."

He smiled and took the well-stated opportunity to move closer. Valeria knew there would be a more certain attempt at a kiss, and for the first time all day, she actually anticipated it herself. There was, after all, something highly alluring about him, which now she was willing to test with that ultimate arbiter, a first kiss and his manly embrace again.

As she expected, he gently turned her face toward his and she allowed him to kiss her lightly on the lips. It was a breathless moment for both of them which turned rapidly into a more fulsome embrace and a longer, more passionate kiss. Valeria felt her heart beating stronger as they both paused to catch their breath, then silently resumed for another joining of their lips and the caressing of shoulders and backs. Valeria was not surprised to feel her whole body heat-up so quickly. Was it the tequila from earlier, Travis's strong masculine control of the situation, or simply her vulnerability of being so long away from such enticing interplay?

As she felt his hand gently move onto one of her breasts and caress her there, she slowly removed it, but allowed the kiss to continue. And before they paused for air and reflection again, that same hand was now on her thigh and threatening to slide down between both legs. Again, she stopped him, not because it was offensive or unwanted, but because of how wonderful she knew it would feel should she not prevent it there at the side of the road.

"Is that bed back at your hotel a single or double?" He craftily asked in a whisper.

"I'm afraid this first trip it will remain a single," she answered back. "Though, that's not to say," she added coyly, "what the future might hold." She then straightened up and moved back over to her side of the cab. "Especially here," she said looking out. "On this very beautiful and intoxicating edge of the world."

Travis gentlemanly acknowledged her temporary rebuff and smiled at her.

"So, with a good deal of paranormal activity tonight, I can expect you'll come back so we may resume this project?"

"That is definitely the plan," she smiled and stated boldly, feeling her body thankfully cool down.

"Well then. It looks like it's back to work for both of us. I have a student questionnaire to write tonight for my class and you have a date tonight with some . . . unseen, dark force that hopefully will not make you so serious next time."

"One never knows in this business," Valeria said, laughing. Travis started his truck and they headed back toward the freeway with the fog just beginning to roll back in.

* * *