Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton and the Berkley
Publishing Group do not authorize this author. All characters that you
recognize belong to Laurell K. Hamilton except for the ones created by the
people in this group. This is solely for entertainment purposes.
Rating: R just to be on the safe side.
I turned to Anita; she seemed to have pulled herself together by this time. I looked at Gregory he seemed a bit shell-shocked. Well it was nothing to the way I was feeling. I cleared my throat and both of them looked at me sharply. Feeling vulnerable after what had just occurred I tried to cover up as best I could. I brought my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I laid my forehead on my knees and spoke through them, “Tell me I have a change of clothes.”
I heard Anita sigh harshly, her tone showing the confusion we both felt, “Yeah, they’re out in the jeep I’ll go get them and you can get changed.” I nodded, still not looking at her. Not knowing quite why I breathed a little sigh of relief when she left.
Talking to no one in particular I asked, “Why does this shit always happen to me?”
From the corner of the room Gregory answered, “Do you want to know what I think?”
I didn’t really want to know what he thought but I held my tongue on that score. I had really asked a rhetorical question but if he had answer or thought he did, I’d let him share it with me. Trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice I said, “Dazzle me with your brilliance.”
He snorted. Apparently the sarcasm carried through anyway. “ I was just going to say that perhaps because you have that spark that allows you to conduct the dead.”
It was my turn to snort. “Apparently you weren’t watching. Because I didn’t seem to have any control of this thing. Hell it’s my body I should have gotten a say.”
Whatever he was going to say next was cut off as the door opened again and to my immediate relief Anita walked in carrying a duffle bag. Throwing it at me she ordered me to get dressed and motioned for Gregory to leave with her. I guess that she had some things that she wanted to discuss with him. Turning the pair quickly left the room.
Dismissing them from my thoughts I opened the bag a little apprehensively. Thankfully there was only clothing and weapons in the bag. I pulled out a tee that read ‘Boys Dream About Me’ and a pair of faded blue jeans that were worn so much that there were rips in the knees and the seat was in danger of the same. I noticed that there was also a matching bra and panties set done in a soft blue color that reminded me of ice glaciers.
Quickly getting dressed I finished my outfit with the Browning. At the bottom of the bag was a pair of knives with wrist sheathes that I knew weren’t mine. I wondered what Anita was telling me without telling me. I was already on high alert; did she want me to be even more vigilant? Donning the wrist sheathes and sliding the knives home I threw on the short sweatshirt the cover the weapons. Taking a last look around the room I didn’t notice anything else that was mine so I picked up the empty duffle bag and walked out the door.
The room was one of many along an endless hallway. Gregory and Anita were at the far end discussing something in low hushed tones and you could see Gregory shaking his head. Whatever Anita was telling him, he didn’t agree with, and let her know it. Either sensing me or just wanting to get away from Anita, Gregory turned his head and noticed me walking down the hallway toward them. I wondered what they had been talking about. I was fairly sure that I had been the subject because when they saw me they both stopped talking altogether.
“How you feeling?” Anita asked her face full of motherly concern
“Like shit. My chest hurts and I want out of here.” You could see the confusion give way to understanding. She blushed a beautiful shade of red that at any other time might have elicited a laugh from me but now all I wanted to do was soothe any hurt feelings. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out.” Instead of helping the situation you could see her shut herself away and that hurt me.
Deciding that nothing was going to make this situation any better I threw a look over my shoulder and turned back to them. “Sooo what are we waiting for?” I tried to keep my tone light but all I succeeded in doing was sounding strained.
Gregory shoved himself angrily away from the wall. “Not for me.” He yelled over his shoulder as he was walking away from us.
Turning to Anita with a question in my eyes she just shook her head. She did an about face and started walking in the opposite direction. “You coming?” She asked over her shoulder never breaking stride. Not being left much choice I followed Anita out of the makeshift hospital to her jeep. She opened the passenger’s side door without a word and walked around to her side of the car. Climbing in and throwing the duffle bag into the back seat I turned and stared dispassionately out the front windshield. “Seatbelt.” Anita barked as she started up the jeep. I reluctantly buckled my seatbelt and once again went back to staring out the windshield.
Anita put the car into gear and pulled out of the parking space and onto the street, which was deserted despite the fact that the sun was blazing in the sky. We were about 10 minutes from the hospital before Anita spoke. Even then the tone was curt. “Dolph has called more times than I care to think about. Now I don’t know what he wants but I need you to keep as much as you can under your hat as it were.” Her hands gripping were gripping the steering wheel so hard that her knuckles were white. You could tell that she was tense. You didn’t need to be a were to know that. Her body language spoke volumes to those that knew what to look for.
She was asking me to do something that I wasn’t comfortable with. I was honest almost to a fault. It was one characteristic that had made more than one friend leave me. Gazing at Anita I considered exactly how to respond to what she had just said. “So you’re telling me to lie to my boss?” My tone was as sharp as hers had been only moments ago.
“Not lie exactly. Just answer only the questions that he asks.” She spoke without ever looking at me.
It was infuriating to have a conversation with someone who refused to look at you. Sighing harshly I crossed my arms over my chest I felt a scowl cover my face. “You know that Dolph isn’t a stupid man, Anita, if he thinks there’s something there he’s going to keep digging until he get all the answers.” My words showing her how I felt about what she was asking me to do.
She turned to look at me then. Her face set in angry lines. “So you’re telling me you’re going to tell him whatever he wants to know. If you told him everything do you really think that you’re going to get to keep that badge that you’ve worked so hard to get?” Her voice sharp with disbelief.
Raising an eyebrow at her I spoke severely. “I never said I was going to tell him everything. I’m just not going to lie to him. I may not tell him everything but I’m not going to keep him in the dark on this.”
She looked triumphant and I would have dearly loved to knock that look off her face. “That’s all I’m asking for.” Her tone conciliatory now that she was getting her way.
The rest of the drive to the station was a silent one. I was debating on how much I could actually tell Dolph without risking a career that I had worked so hard to build. I stared blindly out the windshield at the cars in front of us. The journey to the station ended all too quickly in my estimation.
Did you ever notice how all police buildings look the same? They were always square and made of brick. Like maybe that was the cheapest building material that they could find.
Sighing I unbuckled the seatbelt and climbed out of the jeep and started walking up to the front door. Turning I noticed that Anita was still in the car. She rolled down the passenger’s side window and said that she had somethings to take care of and that when I was done here to give her a call and someone would come to pick me up. I nodded and waved as she pulled away from the curb disappearing from sight.
Taking a deep fortifying breath I opened the door and took the stairs up to the second floor. Walking into the squad room I surveyed the scene before me. People were busily filing papers and answering phones. I was looking for Dolph or Zerbrowski. Finally spotting Dolph I made my way over to him. He was conversing with another gentleman. The second man was shorter than Dolph but not by much. He was broad shouldered, what little bit of hair was showing was a dark color; his goatee framed the most kissable pair of lips I’d seen in quite a while. The new guy was wearing a maroon button down shirt with a matching tie and a pair of black slacks and the shiniest pair of loafers I’ve ever seen. I watched as the second man nudged Dolph.
Dolph turned as I made the last few steps up to them. His look was not entirely friendly. His voice was clipped as he spoke to me. “And just where the hell have you been for the past two days? I’ve called Anita a dozen times trying to find you. I thought we had lost you…again.”
Being the ever irrepressible smartass that I was I said with not a little bit of amusement. “Well I’m glad that somebody cares Dolph. Because I was beginning to think that the people around here didn’t like me.”
Dolph’s eyes narrowed and he said. “Why what happened?”
I plastered my best shocked expression on my face. “You mean you haven’t heard?” I was lying through my teeth and hoping that Dolph was buying it lock, stock and barrel. He shook his head. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. This was where it could get tricky. “Anita said something about you calling the last couple of days but she didn’t tell me that she hadn’t told you a damn thing.”
His face said that he believed as much. “I’m not surprised. She never tells me anything unless her ass is already in hot water.”
If only you knew how hot the water is Dolph, I thought to myself. “Well I’m not sure where the hell to start.” Nice easy simple statement. And totally true.
Dolph crossed his arm over his chest and his tone heavily laced with skepticism. “Try starting with why I have a doctor filing a report about harassment.”
At first I was confused I didn’t remember any doctor, and then it hit me, the doctor that had worked on Dayla had been a lycanthrope. Of which kind I was still unsure. “Well,” I started slowly not sure exactly how much to tell him. “When I went to check on Dayla at the hospital they weren’t treating her. I wasn’t quite myself and probably said somethings I shouldn’t have.” I looked at him to gauge his reaction; he was not pleased, and that was putting it mildly.
His face was cold and his voice colder. “Follow me.” Then he turned and started walking away. Looking at the new guy he shrugged and motioned for me to follow Dolph. I did if somewhat reluctantly. Dolph walked into a tiny office and I was shortly behind him, my newfound shadow, quietly closing the door behind us all.
Dolph seated himself behind a desk that he made look like it was intended for a child. I stood near the door and the new guy stood next to me. Dolph busied himself shuffling papers about on his desk. All his mannerisms spoke of some great anger that was just looking for a target. Knowing when to just keep my yap shut I did just that.
Finally Dolph looked up at us and sighed. “First let me introduce you to your new supervisor. David Buchanan meet Aluna Bastion. Aluna meet Buchanan.” Buchanan and I exchanged looks and goofy smiles and shook hands. “Buchanan is going to be your immediate supervisor. He’s in charge of the preternatural juvenile unit here. You will be joining his team.”
I didn’t like being switched automatically from one supervisor to another under normal circumstances. But nothing lately had seemed even remotely normal. “Okay. So why the switch?” My tone hardly betrayed the fact that I was upset. Bully for me.
“Well you were supposed to report to Buchanan your first day. He was the one that alerted us to the fact that there might be a connection between your disappearance and the recent trouble.”
“Okay but that still doesn’t explain why you acted like my supervisor when you knew that you weren’t.”
“There’s a reason for that.”
“I’m all aquiver with anticipation to hear this dazzling explanation.” I was tired I was hurt and I wanted nothing more than a nice long hot bath. So sue me if I sounded a little testy.
Dolph’s eyes narrowed and his face hardened. “Your last supervisor said you were a pain in the ass. I was willing to over look that if you could do your job. But you will not use that tone when you’re addressing either Buchanan or myself. Do you get me Detective?”
As much as I hated to admit it he was right. I had crossed the line and now I was paying for it. “Yes sir. I understand.” My tone while not conciliatory was close enough to be galling as hell.
Dolph didn’t seem mollified by my compliance. If anything he seemed more suspicious however his tone was businesslike, as if to say ‘If you don’t screw up any more then all is forgiven’. “Okay. Now let’s get down to why you haven’t come into work the last couple of days. Starting with the Doctor at St. Louis University Hospital*.”
I was thinking of how to word it and then just thought, oh screw it. “Anita and I went down to the hospital. When we got there Dayla had just arrived and the Doctor and nurses were just staring at her. I made some unfortunate comments. Anita was the one that finally got the medical team to actually do their job.”
“What exactly did you say?” This was from Buchanan, who had a voice that didn’t match his body at all. It was a quiet voice, the kind you would have expected out of a high school nerd rather than a ranking Detective.
I turned to him, not sure what to say. To be honest I had already forgotten. I remembered the gist of it but not exactly what I had said. “Well to be honest I don’t remember exactly what I said. I remember the gist of what was said. It was something along the lines of them being a bunch of narrow-minded S.O.B.’s that were willing to let the patient die rather than risk possibly being infected with a lycanthropy. I’m sorry if we’d been talking about someone other than a family member I might have been willing to overlook it or even understand it. But the large cat lycanthropy is harder to catch than say rat or wolf.”
Buchanan was nodding sympathetically. When I glanced at Dolph he was unmoved. “That still doesn’t explain why he would want to come down here and file a complaint against the department for harassment. So what aren’t you telling me?”
I knew better than to think that Dolph would be swayed by sisterly concern. I had hoped that he would however buy it. Sighing I ran a hand through my hair again. “When the medical team had finished up and moving her to the isolation ward I stayed behind to talk with the doctor about what had caused the wounds on Dayla and find out why she had appeared dead to everyone else. Which he never answered by the way. I found out that the good doctor had been called to a friend’s to help with some new shifters in town. The doctor told me that they didn’t care about outing themselves or anybody else for that matter.”
“Why would the doctor help out a bunch of lycanthropes that he didn’t even know?”
“Maybe he takes his Hippocratic oath very seriously, Dolph, I don’t know. What I do know is that this friend that he helped made very sure that he wouldn’t talk to the police. But I think it was me that he didn’t want to talk to. Maybe you should send someone down to take a run at him. They might be able to get something out of him that he was reluctant to talk to me about.”
Dolph nodded. “But all of that doesn’t explain why you didn’t show up for work.” He held up a hand when I would have spoken. “And don’t try and tell me you were with your sister, because I called the hospital and they told me you had interviewed both your sister and her husband and left.”
“Well if you would let me speak, I’d tell you what happened.” I crossed my arms over my chest, my stance combative and aggressive as hell. But I was pissed.
Dolph threw my line back in my face. “Well I’m aquiver with anticipation to hear your explanation.” His tone as well as his body language all saying he was just as upset as I was.
Shooting a look at Buchanan he looked bored yet interested. It was a look that I had seen before, although I seriously doubted that Buchanan had any contact with Jean-Claude, I’d been wrong before so this wouldn’t have been the first time. “Well after getting a statement from Jared, Anita and I were making our back to her car when we were attacked from behind. I don’t remember much just a phrase that wasn’t English. That’s about all I can tell you.”
“Why didn’t Anita mention the attack?” Dolph stood up abruptly, nearly causing the desk to over turn. If I hadn’t been so quick it would have. Dolph jumped back when I caught the desk, and when I turned to look at Buchanan he had his hand hovering over his weapon.
Great! Just great! The people that I work with are going to be jumpier than long tail cats in a room full of rocking chairs. I slowly eased away from the desk holding my hands up in front of me showing that I was unarmed. Glancing from one to the other. Dolph looked embarrassed, but Buchanan had his hands once again at his side. Neither apologized for the misconception but both were looking at me speculatively.
Coughing Dolph straitened his tie and sat back down at his desk. I lowered my hands and resumed standing by the door but out of touching range of Buchanan. I didn’t want either of them to get the drop on me. I know that I shouldn’t have been worried about such things in a station house but nonetheless I was.
Clearing his throat again, Dolph asked. “What was I saying?”
“You were asking why Anita didn’t tell you about the attack.” My voice was flat and dull. I was suddenly tired of being constantly suspected in this investigation. I wanted to get these crimes solved just like everyone else but that didn’t mean that I wanted to be the top suspect.
Dolph nodded. He was back in control of himself. He turned his gaze toward me and said something that totally threw me for a loop. “We got a call last night about some trouble at the Circus of the Damned. When we went down to investigate they said that there had been a panic last night over some imagined escaped animal. Jean-Claude mentioned that a little girl had been found wandering around and no on had come to claim her. We of course turned her over to Social Services, and the little girl has been reunited with her father.”
My heart clenched at the mention of Eli but I let it go. I could only show a bland reaction to Dolph’s words. Anything more would raise his suspicion. “Well I know that some of Jean-Claude’s people were hurt in the stampede for the doors. Anita ended up transporting some of them home. Some were transported to various medical facilities.”
Dolph narrowed his eyes and then spoke. “I noticed that you never said where you were. So now out with it where were you?”
I flushed with embarrassment. I was going to have to lie to him and hope he believed me. “I um…that is to say…” I stopped rubbed the back of my neck and looked at Dolph uncertainly. “Dolph to be honest I was trampled when I tried to help restore order.”
Dolph looked like he was trying not to laugh, Buchanan was in much the same condition. I gave them both my best disgruntled look. Dolph sobered instantly. “So do you have clearance from the doctor to return to full duty?” His face concerned, it reminded me of my dad’s face. My heart gave a painful twist at that thought. My dad had not understood why I had felt the need to move across country and I hadn’t been able to adequately explain it to him.
I pulled my thoughts away from the dangerous road they were traveling and met his gaze levelly. “I’m sorry Dolph I didn’t talk to the doctor before I left. I just left.”
Dolph looked stunned. Buchanan spoke up apparently expecting that answer. “Then I’m afraid until you’re seen by the police’s physician you’re now on light duty.”
It was my turn to be stunned. My gaze bounced from one to the other. But both men looked firm in their resolve. “You’re serious,” I sputtered.
“I’m afraid so, Luna. If we send you out for duty and you hurt yourself even more we’re liable. We can’t risk that. It would give them the opportunity that they’ve been looking for to shut us down.” Buchanan held up his hands when I would have interrupted. “I’m really sorry about this. My hands are tied and there’s nothing I can do.”
I turned pleading eyes to Dolph. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Luna there’s nothing I can do. Even if I could I wouldn’t. It’s not good for morale. Luna, try to see it from our point of view. We cannot afford to do anything the least bit improper. One toe out of line can mean the end of the entire squad. See the doctor. If he releases you, you can return to full duty no problem. If not then you’re on light duty until you’re cleared.”
I flopped down in the nearest chair defeated. I wanted, needed to be doing something, even if it meant shuffling papers. Grudgingly I agreed to the terms. Dolph nodded and picked up his phone and dialed. Don’t ask me why he made the appointment for me because I have no idea. The appointment was going to be in three days but I shook my head at that one. Finally it was decided that it would take place two days after the full moon.
Dolph looked at me for a moment. A strange expression crossed his face and before I could define it, it was gone. He leaned back in his chair. “Did you know that we have your car in the impound yard?”
That question threw me for a second. I didn’t think I had a car I didn’t have the keys or anything. So why would I have thought that I actually had transportation. I shook my head dumbly.
The smug bastard just grinned like a fool. Could you tell I was in a foul mood? “Yeah ole Igor is down at City Impound right now. Collecting dust and quite a few admirers as well. I can have someone take you down there to get it if you like.”
He knew damn good and well that I would want my truck back. Hold the phone. Igor? Igor is a truck? That was too strange even for my twisted brain. Unbidden came a flashback of sitting in the Dodge Powerwagon going to Utah on a hunting trip with my parents. Dad had called the Dodge Igor. He had said it wasn’t too bright but powerful as hell. I smiled wistfully at the thought.
Dolph leaned across the desk. “So did you want to go get that truck of yours?”
More than anything I’ve wanted since I woke up in this wonderland. Houston we have a problem. “Um, Dolph, I don’t have the keys for it.” My voice dejected like a kid who’d been told that there was no Santa.
Dolph smiled like an indulgent parent. “You want to tell her or shall I?”
Turning to Buchanan he smiled like the cat that swallowed the canary. “If you don’t mind I’d like to.” Dolph merely nodded his head. “Well as to the keys for said vehicle, that’s actually a funny story.” He glanced at me merrily and my glare did nothing to change his expression. He continued on his amusement growing with each word. “It seems that you hired a professional vehicle moving service and when you weren’t at the address given, they immediately turned the car over to the police fearing that if anything happened to it that they would be liable. So you see we have your keys.”
At my outraged look they both began laughing like fools. Oh just wonderful I’m so glad that someone’s enjoying this, because I sure in the hell wasn’t. I couldn’t remember hiring a moving company for my truck. Obviously I had and then a thought occurred to me. “Dolph, Buchanan, if you both can stifle your fit of amusement at my expense I have a question.” They managed to tone down the laughter. “Are you done,” when they nodded I asked. “So do either of you actually have this address where the truck was supposed to be delivered to or do I have to hunt it up myself?”
They both immediately sobered. Buchanan coughed and Dolph wouldn’t look at me. That sounded warning bells in my head. I had worked long enough in this business to know when people knew something that they didn’t want to tell you. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared the two down until finally Dolph spoke. “Luna, you have to understand. You were gone so long and we had so little evidence, that we were almost positive that there had to be a connection.”
“And that means you’ve ransacked my apartment doesn’t it? You went to a judge and on circumstantial evidence got a search warrant. So now just whom did you serve the warrant to?”
Buchanan sounded defensive when he spoke. “The only person that we could serve it to, the building manager. He was most helpful he unlocked the apartment and told us that you had obviously thought about this a lot. You had paid first, last and the deposit all in one payment. Then a couple of weeks later you also had paid for a year long lease in advance. We worked under the assumption that you planned to stay. But what we couldn’t understand, if you were setting up to be a figure in the crime world, then why would you be so easy to find? That was when we started to doubt that we were chasing the right lead.” He looked apologetic but I wasn’t buying it.
I was in no mood to be here any longer. I stood abruptly causing Buchanan’s hand to jump to his weapon. Dolph shot a warning in both our directions; silently telling us to ease down. Again I raised my hands in front of me and once again Buchanan’s hand dropped to his side. Sighing Dolph spoke. “Take her to get her truck. Show her the apartment, then get your ass back here because we need to talk.”
The ride to the city impound didn’t take long. There were quite a few people milling about. Some of them watched us intently. We traveled down rows upon rows of seized and abandoned vehicles. My truck was the last in the about the fourth row from the back. Reaching into his jacket pocket Buchanan grabbed the keys to my truck. As soon as I saw them I recognized them. There were only two keys on the ring and big plastic number one.
My truck was named Igor. I hadn’t given the truck that name my dad had, and it had just sort of stuck. It was a 1964 Dodge Powerwagon, everything in the truck was stock. It was worth a small fortune as it was. The paint job was done in a metallic blue/black color, shimmering with a rainbow of blues and blacks depending on how the light hit it, but over that were pale grey transparent ghost flames that went over the hood and down the sides to the first set of doors.
Buchanan handed me the keys without a word. I walked to the driver’s side door unlocked it and climbed in. The smell of the leather interior greeted my senses. It had been too long. Lovingly I ran my hands along the dash. Igor needed a bath and as soon as I got to Anita’s that was what I was going to do. Flipping the keys in my hand I put the keys into the ignition. The engine hesitated a moment and roared to life. Smiling jubilantly I turned to Buchanan he was grinning as well and impulsively I reached out the door and pulled him into a one armed hug.
His laugh sounded more at home with his body than his voice had. He pulled back and told me that we would next go to the apartment and I could talk to the building manager. I nodded eager to see what kind of destruction had occurred and if I was even still welcome as a tenant. Buchanan guided me out of the row Igor was on and when we reached the guard shack. We went inside and filled out all the necessary paper work. That done and out of the way, I was to follow Buchanan to the apartment.
We arrived at the apartment complex at roughly 4:30 and my stomach rumbled grumpily at me. It reminded me that I hadn’t eaten in I don’t know when. After this I was going straight to the first burger stand I came across. I met briefly with the building manager and spoke to him. He showed me to the apartment smiling like he knew a secret that I didn’t. It was unnerving as hell but I let it slide since I had Buchanan with me.
The building manager, call me Mac, opened the door to apartment 13, showed me the security code to turn the alarm on and off. Our little trio walked down a short hallway into what was the living room. Stopping short I looked around Buchanan who had been following behind me bumped into to me. My furniture had all been setup. The couch was off white and overstuffed, my grandmother’s cherry wood end tables had been placed at both ends of the couch. My matching recliner was to the right of the couch, facing the matching cherry wood coffee table, on which had been laid many remotes. Taking another halting step into the apartment I saw that the TV, VCR, DVD player had all been hooked up. I was informed that the cable would be turned on by the end of the day.
Walking further in I saw that my dining room table was placed in a small area just off the kitchen. The table and four chairs were a gift from my aunt/godmother. They were solid oak in a very light color. The chairs even had the green and white gingham check that I had wanted to do the kitchen in. The kitchen was even set up. The microwave was out along with my coffee pot and electric can opener. I walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge and sure enough there were all the essentials. Eggs, milk, bread, cheese and some lunch meats. I turned to Buchanan then tears gathering in my eyes and looked around. “Why?” Someone or someones had gone to a lot of trouble to setup the apartment. It looked ready to be lived in. I knew that I didn’t want the moving company to do that I didn’t want them going through my personal belongings.
“Because we were afraid that if we left the apartment the way it had been that your stuff might not be here, if and when we found you. Because we take care of our own.” His voice was gruff with emotion and he looked away from me.
Taking a deep breath I started down the hall that led off the living room. This hallway wasn’t much longer than the other and there were three doors, one at the very end of the hall, one to the right and one to the left. The one at the end led to a room that contained all my personal belongings. My dresser, my computer desk complete with computer, my bed that was made up in my favorite sheets and blankets. I walked over to my dresser and opened the top drawer and found my clothing in it. Turning to Buchanan with a pair of red lace panties hanging from my index finger, I quirked an eyebrow at him.
Buchanan blushed furiously, Mac was laughing at his discomfort, then coughed and spoke. “I didn’t put your clothes away.” When my other eyebrow shot up to join the other, “That is to say that we had Detective Reynolds put the clothing away, she was less likely to ah, um that is, take trophies.” His voice dropping so low that if I hadn’t had the enhanced hearing I wouldn’t have heard it at all.
Laughing I put the panties back in the drawer and walked back to the hallway. I checked the door to the right; well actually from the hallway it was the left, the room turned out to be a bathroom, complete with my rubber ducky motif. I laughed at the imagined sight of Zerbrowski putting the little rubber duckies around the bathroom at just so intervals. I half closed the door and opened the remaining door. It was a spare bedroom with a full size bed that my sister had sent me, before she found out that I had already bought a queen sized bed, when I finally made up my mind to move. The bed was dressed in the only sheets that I had for it crisp white cotton. The remainder of the bedroom furniture was in here as well as the boxes marked ‘stuffed animals’
I walked quickly back into the living room and picked up the phone. I had service. It surprised me until Mac told me that he had called to have it turned on in my name with the help of Dolph. Actually Dolph had pretty much taken care of all the utilities and all I had to do was come back here, to stay here that is.
I thanked both Mac and Buchanan profusely and was in a better mood than I had been in a while. I was on my way to Anita’s when I spotted a McDonalds and pulled off the highway and headed right for it. Placing and paying for my order I was back on the highway in less than fifteen minutes. The sun had just about set when I pulled up in Anita’s drive. I was in a jubilant mood; I felt like I was walking on air, I was giddy with my newfound freedom. I didn’t have to depend on Anita any more for a ride anywhere and most importantly I didn’t have to impose on her hospitality any longer. Something that ought to make her happy.
The door opened slowly and a hesitant head came out. It was Nathaniel. A grin spread over his face when he recognized me, and then just as suddenly as it had appeared it was gone, replaced with something close to fear. He motioned to the truck with his chin. “Where’d you get the truck?”
I looked back at Igor for a long moment, using that time to school my own features. I was hurt at his sudden look of fear and I had no idea why he felt that way. My words were flat and emotionless. “Dolph had my car impounded while I was in the hospital.”
He looked at me warily and backed slowly away from the door. Slowly walking after Nathaniel, my earlier euphoria washed away in the wake of his fear. Reaching the living room all conversation ceased. Some of the pard had assembled. There was Greg, Vivan, Nathaniel, Caleb, and Elizabeth. They all eyed me as if I had sprouted another head. Feeling not just a little like the outsider I walked down the hall to where my gym bag had been. It was still there. I walked over to it and checking the contents of it to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind.
Next I picked up my travel gun case, it was heavier than it should have been. I was already carrying the Browning. A thought occurred to me. Maybe this wasn’t my Browning in my holster. Quickly opening the case there it sat in the foam padding. Setting the case on the bed I drew out Anita’s spare gun and holstered my own. I also pulled out my shield, which I had transferred to a chain, that I could wear around my neck, and dropped it down my tee shirt. I wasn’t on duty: no need for it to be out.
I walked down the hall with the gun naked in my hand. The tension level in the room soared. It made me tighten my grip on the handle of the gun. I didn’t like the feeling I was getting, I knew I was a stranger to most of these people, but the way they were acting would make you think I was a time bomb about to go off.
Thinking maybe I could talk them down I started to ask them a question when a noise from the door distracted me. In the time it took to turn my head Elizabeth launched herself at me. Toppling me to the ground the gun skittering out of reach as the door was opening. I slugged her once, twice and still she was clawing at me. I was out of practice and couldn’t seem to remember any of my training now. Without thinking I wrapped my legs around her waist and pushed her shoulder so that she was lying on her back between my legs. I locked my ankles and started applying pressure as the door fully opened.
Anita took the situation in with a glance. I hadn’t let go of Elizabeth when I saw Anita. In truth I was afraid to, afraid that if I let her go, she would attack me again. Hell I didn’t even know what had started it to begin with. Anita didn’t seem in the least phased by what she had seen upon entering the house. She looked at us then the group still in the living room, then back at us. “Explain!” That one word said more than a mouthful of words could have.
“Don’t look at me because I don’t know. They’ve been acting strange since I got here roughly ten minutes ago. I came out here to ask where I should leave your gun when this bitch,” when I said bitch I gave a slight squeeze to Elizabeth, “jumped me.”
Anita’s dark gaze shot to Elizabeth. “Is that right?” Elizabeth had the grace to blush but didn’t say anything. “I’m going to take that as a yes.” Anita stalked over to the where the gun had ended up, right in the door way between the living room and kitchen, bent over and picked it up. She turned her gaze back to me. “You can let her go now.”
Slowly I unlocked my ankles and swung the leg on her stomach over her. She rolled away from me, her glare promising revenge. I blew her a kiss. That pissed her off enough that she started to move and the hard click of a gun being cocked stopped her cold.
Anita’s hard gaze took in the occupants of the room. “So is someone gonna tell me what you have against, Luna?” By that time I had stood and could clearly see the people in the room. Whenever her eyes fell on someone they would either drop their eyes or look away. Sighing Anita gave up trying to get them to talk. She walked over to Nathaniel and squatted by him keeping her eyes on everyone in the room as well as putting a wall at her back. “Tell me.” Her voice hard and inflexible.
He hung his head and spoke so quietly that I didn’t catch all of it. I heard enough to be upset. “Greg called all of us over, said he had something that we needed to know.” I didn’t catch the next part but another phrase reached me. “She’s capable of bringing back Gabe.” Again I didn’t get it all but the last sentence was, “We’re all afraid.” He looked up at her then. His lavender eyes big as saucers and filled with fear.
It hurt my heart to see that look on his face. It hurt even more to know that I was the one that he was afraid of. I didn’t want to be here any more. I didn’t want to be among people that hated and feared me and what I was. It didn’t seem to matter that I hadn’t wanted any of this to happen. That I just wanted to have a nice normal life.
Not looking at any of the other occupants of the room, I turned and stormed down the hall. I went into the room I had been using grabbing my gym bag and my gun safe, I walked back out to the living room past the startled occupants and out the door, slamming it behind me hard enough to rattled the door hinges. Jerking open the door of my truck I threw my stuff in and was sliding into the driver’s seat when the door opened again.
Anita came storming out of the house just as upset as I was. She stopped a foot from the car door. “What do you think your doing?” Her voice biting and might have made me rethink what I was doing had I not been as upset as I was.
“I would think that it’s perfectly clear what I’m doing. I will not stay where I’m not wanted. Don’t worry Anita I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
“The hell you will! You’ll tell me right now where the fuck you think you’re going.”
Not being in the mood to really piss in my own post toastee’s, I sighed the leaned across the front seat brushing my hand across the dash. Reaching the sweet spot I thumped the dash one good time, and the glove compartment popped open. Pulling out a pad of paper and a pen I leaned back into my seat. Jotting down the address and phone number I handed the piece of paper to Anita. “Now if you don’t mind I don’t want to be here any more. I’m sure you understand.”
Anita stepped back dumbly nodding her head. Putting the keys in the ignition I turned the engine over and roared out of Anita’s drive. I was driving fast and knew I should slow down but not bothering to. I was back at my apartment in a little under twenty minutes.
Trudging up the stairs to my apartment I numbly opened my apartment door, switched off the alarm, shut and relocked the door. Now that I was on my home turf I could hurt, I could cry. Sagging against the door I slid down starting to cry. Sobs shook my body as the last few hours of stress finally got their release. Eventually the tears spent themselves and I could finally move.
I walked to the bathroom and started running a bath. A nice hot bath I added some rose scented bath crystals. Walking into my bedroom I pulled out a pair of clean white cotton undies I also took out my purple nightshirt. There was an embroidered frog puckered up for a kiss and stitched over the frog was princess. Padding into the spare bedroom. I rummaged through box after box looking for Teddy. Teddy was my tried and true best friend. Actually he was a teddy bear that I had been given a couple of years ago. After finding him I laid him on the bed and went to take my bath.
The bath relaxed my muscles and helped me feel a bit better. Soaking in the bath had always been my favorite escape and now it was no different. I must have drifted off without realizing it when I looked down at my hands and feet were all wrinkled and prune looking. Sighing I stood up let the water out of the bath and dried off. Walking to my room with just the towel wrapped around me told just how cold this place was. Quickly changing into my clothes I slid into bed.
This was the first time in a long time that I had slept alone. I was reminded strongly just how alone I was. There was no one to care if I lived or died. Dayla and Jared didn’t count; family never counts, because even if they’re mad at you they love you. I was alone, afraid and for the first time in a long time vulnerable. My tears fell silently to my pillow as I whispered my plea to God. Please God let tomorrow be a better day than today. Sleep came quickly for me then. And my last thought was, tomorrow just has to be better than today. I mean how much worse could it get? Never mind don’t answer that.