| PART ONE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raising eight zombies a night was starting to take its toll. I made a mental note to schedule an appointment to shoot Bert for doing this to me. I finally mustered enough energy to get out of the Jeep. It could live outside for one night. I grabbed the mail out of the box as I unlocked the door and pushed it open. The cool air of the house was refreshing after the muggy night air. I kicked the door shut behind me, locked the door, and dropped my zombie bag by the couch on my way to the kitchen. I fixed a pot of coffee and started going through the mail while it brewed. Bills, bills, bills. I wrote out checks for them wishing the coffee would hurry up and finish. There were two envelopes left when I heard the telltale sound of a full pot. I took my baby penguin mug from the cabinet and filled it with coffee, and added real cream and sugar. As I stood waiting for the liquid to cool I picked up the two remaining envelopes. "You may already be a winner,” I read aloud. Yeah, me and the rest of the country. I tossed it in the trash. The last envelope had no return address. I slipped my finger under the flap and ripped it open. I pulled out the enclosed piece of paper and shook it open as I picked up my mug and headed out of the kitchen. I began to read the letter as I raised the mug to my mouth for that first glorious sip. It never made it that far. The mug fell from my hands and crashed to the floor. I looked in horror at the neatly printed words on the page. "AND SO THE HUNT BEGINS" That was it, no signature, no nothing, though it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out who it was from. My attention was diverted to my mug, which was now in pieces on the kitchen floor. I felt a tear leak from my eye. The bastard had caused me to break my favorite mug. He would pay for this. I picked up the pieces as fast as I could and threw a dishtowel over the spill. I grabbed the phone off the hook and dialed Edward's number in record time. I picked up the envelope while I waited for Edward to pick up the phone. "Hello," a sleepy voice said. "Edward, I've got a major problem here." I managed to squeak out. "Anita? What's wrong?" He sounded awake and concerned now. "Olaf sent me a letter - I think he's on his way." Edward started talking but I didn't hear a word he said. I was too busy staring at the envelope. There was no postmark. I looked closely at the stamp and realized with dread that it wasn't a stamp at all; it was just a sticker with a flag on it. My hear started beating out of control. "Anita!....ANITA!" I realized that I had dropped the phone and it was now dangling from the hook and Edward was yelling. I picked up the receiver. "Edward he's here - he's in St. Louis. There's no postmark and the stamp is a fake. He's been here - he's been to my house. Shit!" I was sounding very panicked now. "Anita, you have to calm down. Get out of the house as soon as possible. Call the boys and wait right where you re for them - don't be a hard ass on this. When they get there get your arsenal, go to the Circus, and stay put until I get there. I'll be on the next plane out of here and I'll see you in the morning." "Ok" I said, my voice shaking. "Don't worry too much, Anita, we'll take care of the problem. I'm going to call in some reinforcement - I'll fill you in tomorrow." He disconnected and I was left listening to dead air. Perhaps that wasn't the best analogy. I was scared beyond belief. Olaf had been to my house - quite possibly inside - he had the knowledge. Hell, he could be waiting in another room for me. I got a dial tone on the phone and called Jean-Claude's private number. The phone was answered on the second ring. "Hello?" It was Jason. "Jason, I need to talk to Jean-Claude." "He's on his way to Guilty Pleasures. Can I relay a message - I'm heading that way soon." "No you're not. Get your ass to my house." "Sure thing sweet cakes. Be naked and in bed when I get there." "Cut the crap, Jason, I'm in danger. Olaf has been here. Get some backup and get over here, NOW!" I fairly yelled the last part. "Shit! We're on the way." He hung up the phone and I was left with nothing to do but wait. I put my back in the corner and drew the Firestar from behind my back, transferred it to my left hand, and drew the Browning with my right. Who me paranoid? Nah. I stood there almost paralyzed with fear. With the rest of the house in darkness I would not be able to detect any movement. Minutes seemed like hours as I stood straining to hear any noise. I felt like I had been waiting for an eternity when the doorbell rang making me give a yelp and jump. I was about to yell "who is it", cause there was no was I was moving from my spot, when I heard Jason yell my name. "ANITA!" he yelled again. "The door's locked, let us in." He sounded frightened and concerned. "Break it down!" I yelled back. "I'm not moving." There was a sharp crack as the door jam gave and Jason came stumbling into view. I sighed with relief and lowered the guns. "Thank God! I thought you would never get here." Zane, Asher, and Damien came in behind Jason. Damien came towards me with a concerned look on his face, "Don't worry we're here for you now." Asher spoke up, "Gather whatever you need quickly. Zane, Jason, go before us and turn on the lights, check for danger. Damien, you and I will stay with Anita." We made our way to the bedroom. Jason was looking under the bed and behind the curtains. Zane opened the closet doors and pushed to the back corners feeling for anything. He turned to face us. "Look, Zane came out of the closet," Jason said snickering. Zane struck a queenly pose. It made me smile. "Guys, we don't have time for this. Zane grab that duffle bag from the closet. Jason, there’s a shotgun case and a suitcase under the bed if you would get them please." I started pulling shirts and pants off hangers and threw them in the suitcase after Jason laid it open on the bed. I grabbed an extra pair f black Nikes and threw them in, dug out some clean bras, undies and socks from the dresser and tossed them on top of everything. In times of crisis neatness doesn't count. I did a quick inventory of my arsenal. Shotguns - check, Uzis - check. Derringer - check. Extra Browning - check. Lots of bullets - check. I went back to the closet and pulled out my new Kevlar vest. I had recently bought it to replace the one that Edward had given me in New Mexico, which had been cut off me by some scary Aztec guys who wanted to cut my heart out. I was about to put in the suitcase but put it on instead - you can never be too careful. I was about to close the suitcase when I spotted Sigmund sitting by himself at the head of the bed. Everyone was watching me. Screw it, I was scared and he was my comfort, I picked him up, gently placed him on top, and closed the suitcase. We were ready to go. We cautiously made it out to the cars. Zane had driven them all over in his new sports car. "Damien, Jason, and myself shall ride with you. Zane will follow." Asher instructed. We all piled in and took off for the Circus. Once we were out of my driveway much of my fear drained away. There was no way for Olaf to access the underground areas of the Circus. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART TWO |