[Charlie Rhodes 06.0] The Incubus Impasse

by Amanda M. Lee

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m not an idiot,” I reminded him. “These circumstances are vastly different from the first time we were here. It’s dark now ... and there are people everywhere. They’re crawling around like ants.”

  “That’s a lovely picture.” He kept his hand firm on my hip. “We’ll take one of those outside tables, on the far side over there. I think people aren’t at them because they can’t hear the music as well, but that’s a bonus for us.”

  “Definitely.”

  I stuck close to Jack as he ordered our drinks and was grateful when we moved away from the drums that had been echoing in my rib cage. “I don’t like the noise,” I admitted as I sat down. I’d always been overly sensitive to extremely loud noises. I had no idea why, but I’d refrained from going to concerts once I realized how adverse I was to banging music.

  “I don’t either.” He sat across from me and patted my hand. “I wouldn’t put either of us through this, but I think we need to see if we can find any of Liam’s friends. If he has a chance to talk to them before we question them ... .”

  He didn’t have to finish the sentence. I understood the ramifications. “They might alter what they say.”

  He bobbed his head and took a drink from his beer. “Do you recognize anyone?”

  I tapped my bottom lip and scanned the crowd, my eyes ultimately falling on a familiar blonde. “The woman who hit on you that day is here.”

  He followed my gaze. It was dark, but I swear his cheeks flushed. “She didn’t hit on me,” he countered.

  “Oh, please.” I didn’t bother to hide my eye roll. “Who do you think you’re fooling? I saw her. She couldn’t lean over far enough so you could see down her shirt ... not that I would call that a shirt.”

  He leaned back in his chair, delight flitting through his eyes. “Are you jealous?”

  It was an interesting question. I’d been taught to consider it insulting, but I didn’t think it was. Sure, “jealous” was one of those words middle-school girls (and women acting like pre-teens) threw around daily. It was rarely true, but there were instances where it was.

  “I think jealousy is a reasonable thing that can’t always be controlled,” I hedged. “I don’t say that as a way to encourage you to act like an alpha dog on steroids whenever I talk to a man. I’m still annoyed about how you acted the other day.”

  “Even though that guy might be our killer?”

  I didn’t like that he might have a point. “It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t doing anything and he wasn’t really doing anything either. Well, unless he was trying to soften me up in an attempt to get me alone because he’s a sex demon who steals the essence of others. Wait ... this conversation is getting away from me.”

  Jack’s laugh was rich and low and served to put me at ease. The music was no longer overpowering. The strong breeze ruffled my hair and I could smell the saltwater. It was a lovely location ... and I felt relaxed despite the number of people buzzing around us.

  “I agree that jealousy is natural,” he said when he recovered. “There’s a level of jealousy that isn’t healthy. I think we’ve both seen that with Laura. A little jealousy — the kind where we tease each other and can laugh about it — isn’t so bad.”

  “I’m not going to let you use it as an excuse,” I warned. “Just because you might’ve been right in this particular instance doesn’t mean it will always be that way. That said, your little girlfriend looks to be a regular here. She might be worth talking to.”

  Jack looked resigned. “For the record, you’re my only girlfriend. She’s not even my type.”

  “What is your type?”

  “You.”

  “Do you want to expound on that?”

  “Are you fishing for compliments?”

  “How is that fishing for compliments?”

  “Because you want me to say you’re so magical, so beautiful, that you became the only example of my type to ever exist.”

  “Um ... I most certainly didn’t say I want that.”

  “But it’s true.” He cast me a fond smile. “Somehow, you managed to do something I never thought possible. I wouldn’t trade you for anything, but I’m still baffled.” He raised his finger in the air to get the blonde’s attention. “Try not to rip her face off. I promise that I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.”

  CELESTE LYNN was as oily as she looked. She told Jack she was twenty-three — she’d largely ignored me since joining us — but a quick poke through her head told me she’d shaved ten years off that number. I had to be honest, she looked good in her tiny top.

  I still didn’t like her.

  “Are you in town for business or pleasure?” Celeste asked with a grating giggle. Every time she let it loose it was as if my insides were being scraped by a blunt spoon.

  “A little of both,” Jack replied, offering me a wink that Celeste clearly ignored. She’d managed to box me out of the conversation, to the point I looked like the third wheel on my own date. I wasn’t happy with the turn of events, but she had information we needed.

  That didn’t mean I couldn’t lob a few mean thoughts in her direction.

  “Will you be hanging around for a while?” Celeste asked, twirling a strand of what was obviously dyed hair around her finger.

  “It depends on how things go,” Jack answered. “I’m actually looking for someone. I thought you might be able to help me.”

  “You’re looking for someone? I’m right here. Look no further.” She laughed at her own joke, which was enough to make me strain something rolling my eyes. She didn’t as much as look at me, so I wasn’t worried about her noticing.

  “I’m looking for a man.”

  I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing as the smile slipped from Celeste’s face.

  “Oh. Well ... oh.” Disappointment was evident, but she gave his arm a small squeeze. “That’s okay. I should’ve seen that coming. You’re too good looking to like women. I don’t have luck like that.”

  It took Jack a moment to understand what she was saying, and when he did his reaction was hysterical. “I didn’t mean that. I like women. One woman. That woman.” He pointed at me. “I’m looking for a man for my job. He frequents this establishment quite often.”

  “Her?” Celeste had obviously tuned the rest out as she focused her full attention on me ... and she didn’t look happy. “Why her? I mean ... I thought she was your sister.”

  If the situation wasn’t so sad it would’ve been hilarious.

  “She’s my girlfriend.” Jack was firm. “We have to travel all over the place for work. I won’t be here more than a few more days so ... you’re better off without me. Trust me.”

  “Definitely,” I agreed, earning a stern glare from Jack. “He’s not all he’s cracked up to be,” I added. “He can be a little overbearing.”

  “Thank you, Charlie.” He forced a smile on his face when he turned back to Celeste. “There’s a guy who hangs out here. His name is Liam. I’m pretty sure he’s a regular. Do you know him?”

  Celeste pursed her plump red lips and nodded after a moment. “I know the guy you’re talking about. Well-built. Twenty-five. Always drooling over any woman who will pay attention to him … as long as she has dark hair.”

  “That sounds like him,” Jack confirmed. “I was wondering if you’ve ever seen him here with a woman.”

  “Tons of them. This is a hookup joint. Look around.” Now that she knew Jack was off the menu her attitude was less than pleasant. “I would say he scored a good fifty percent of the time he was here. He’s got a certain appeal some women like. Not me, of course, but other people.”

  “If I showed you a photograph do you think you would be able to tell me if he ever left with a specific woman?” Jack asked. It was a long shot.

  “I guess, but I didn’t really pay attention to his dates. I don’t really care about them because ... well ... they’re not my dates. I only have enough time to worry about me.”

&n
bsp; “It’s a terrible burden, isn’t it?” I drawled “To be so beautiful and have to carry the torch for all women.”

  Celeste either didn’t register or ignored the sarcasm. “It’s the worst,” she agreed. “People don’t understand how hard it is for me.”

  Jack shot me a warning look and then held out his phone. “Just give it a look, okay?”

  I looked over Celeste’s shoulder so I could see what he was showing her. Savannah Billings. That was a good choice. She was the most recent woman to die.

  “You know, now that you mention it, she does kind of look familiar,” Celeste hedged. “The thing is, now that I think about it, all the women he left with looked the same. He had a specific type. It was a boring type if you ask me, but he obviously liked boring women.”

  “Can you describe the type?” Jack asked.

  “Sure.” Celeste swiveled on her chair until she was facing me. “They all looked exactly like her. Seriously, if he was here right now he would be all over her.”

  Speaking of that ... . “Was he here earlier this evening?” I asked.

  “I don’t think so. I don’t really know. It’s not like we hang out. We have nothing in common. I want to marry a rich man and have lots of babies. You know, be a homemaker with a yacht and a Ferrari.” She adopted a far-off expression.

  “That sounds like a lovely life.” Jack drained the rest of his beer and stood, holding out his hand for me. “Thank you a great deal for your time, Celeste. You’ve been a big help.”

  “Is that it?” She jutted out her lower lip. “I thought we would spend some time alone together. You know ... talk and stuff.” She did the hair twirl again. That was obviously her go-to move.

  “I’m going to go home with my girlfriend,” Jack countered. “I appreciate all you told us. Thank you.” His hand was firm at the small of my back as he prodded me toward the exit. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Oh, come on,” I teased. “Don’t you want to buy her a Ferrari and make her a homemaker?”

  “I would rather deafen myself with Q-tips and die alone.”

  “That’s rather extreme.”

  “That’s how I feel.” He didn’t stop until we were on the street in front of the bar, away from the noise and sweating bodies. When he looked at me something smoldered in his gaze. “I wasn’t joking. I have exactly one type. You. Not women who act like you. Not women who look like you. Just you. That woman in there is ... horrible.”

  I couldn’t help agreeing with him. “We didn’t get much,” I pointed out. “I mean ... she sort of confirmed it, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”

  “No, but it’s something.”

  We headed toward the car. He made to come to my side to open the door, but I was too tired.

  “Let’s just go home and go to bed,” I suggested. “I’m exhausted.”

  He headed to the driver’s side, his gaze intent on his keys. In that instant, I felt a pair of eyes on the back of my neck.

  When I lifted my head and whipped it in that direction, I found nothing but darkness beckoning. No one was there ... and yet someone was. I felt it.

  A chill swept through me.

  “Get in the car, Charlie,” Jack ordered. “I want to go to bed.”

  “Yeah. Sure.” Just as soon as it threatened to overtake me, the feeling was gone. Someone had definitely been there, but the space was empty now.

  So ... who was it? And why was he watching me?

  Twenty-Three

  I slid into sleep within seconds of climbing between the sheets. When I woke, it wasn’t Jack’s face I found staring at me.

  “What the ... ?” I clutched the sheet tighter to my chest and fixed Harley with an incredulous stare. “Do you knock?”

  She snorted in amusement and eased herself to a reclining position on my side of the bed. “I didn’t think that was wise given the fact that people are up and bustling about downstairs. I figured you wouldn’t want to explain that.”

  On my other side, Jack stirred ... and went rigid when he realized we weren’t alone. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He viciously swore under his breath as he fixed Harley with a hateful look. “This has to be a nightmare. There’s no other way to explain it.”

  She chuckled. “Oh, don’t pretend you didn’t have dreams about this.”

  “I guarantee you’ve never been in anything but my nightmares.”

  “Okay, maybe not me specifically, but there’s no guy in the world who hasn’t dreamt about having two women in bed with him at the same time.”

  “Me.” He thumped his chest. “I’m the guy. I’m more than happy with my one woman.”

  “Oh, isn’t he the cutest?” Harley winked at me and stretched out her legs. “So ... I haven’t been to bed yet. And, if you’re wondering, I do sleep. I can get by with less than a normal person, but looking this good isn’t easy. Beauty sleep is a must. Still, I knew how important confirmation was to you, so I went on a trip last night. Well, actually I went on three trips.”

  I was dressed in an oversized T-shirt and a pair of Jack’s boxer shorts, so I let the sheet slide down and propped myself up on the pillow to look her straight in the eye. “And?”

  “There are ghosts anchored in the water in each city,” Harley confirmed, sobering. “Do you want to know how many?”

  “I want you out of the bed,” Jack replied. “This is weird.”

  “You’re fine.” Harley offered up a dismissive wave. “You need to unclench occasionally. If you’re not careful you’re going to die with that stick up your butt and it’s going to make for an uncomfortable funeral.”

  Jack’s only response was a low growl. I patted his hand in an effort to soothe but kept my eyes on Harley. “How many ghosts did you find?”

  “Seventy.”

  If she hadn’t been crowding the edge of the bed I would’ve fallen out of it. “Seventy?” That couldn’t possibly be right. “That’s ... no way.”

  “I’m afraid so. I was a little surprised myself.” All traces of mirth were missing from her features. “There’re a lot of dead people in those cities and all the souls left behind are being ... tortured.”

  Jack, apparently forgetting his annoyance with Harley, shifted so he was sharing my pillow. The expression on his face was hard to read. “How are the souls being tortured?”

  “Would you want to be anchored outside of the city where you were killed for a millennium?”

  “Not particularly, but other than being trapped, what are we talking about?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Harley plucked at the sheet and tilted her head, considering. “The way the souls are being harvested reminds me of what a wraith would do. Are you familiar with wraiths?”

  Slowly, Jack shook his head and glanced at me. “Are you?”

  “I’ve heard of them, but ... I’ve never seen one,” I replied. “Everything I’ve read about them suggests I don’t want to see one. They’re monsters.”

  “Apparently there are a lot of monsters out there I wasn’t aware of.” He rested his hand on top of mine. “How does a wraith kill?”

  “Wraiths are former humans who sacrificed parts of their own souls to stave off death,” Harley explained. “Most of the time we’re talking about people who weren’t very good in life and were terrified of what was to come once they crossed into the great beyond. They essentially didn’t want to go to Hell, so they created a hell on earth.”

  Jack frowned. “Are you telling me Hell is real?”

  Her smile was enigmatic. “I forget you were a nonbeliever before Charlie came into your life. I’ll try to keep that in mind. You’re dealing with a steep learning curve — I get that — but you need to at least try to keep up.

  “In a nutshell, it’s all real ... at least to a certain extent,” she continued. “Heaven, Hell, Olam Haba, Hades, Paradise, Moksha, Nirvana, Samsara. Where you end up depends on what you believe in life. There’s a good and bad place for all practitioners
of those religions.

  “When an individual dies, a reaper comes for the soul. The soul is absorbed and then sent through the gate, where the souls are sorted and sent on to their final resting places. Wraiths interrupt the mechanics of that system. They kill humans by sucking their souls ... and essentially devouring them.”

  Jack wrinkled his nose. “Are you saying wraiths eat humans?”

  “Not their bodies, but they do eat the most important thing. Think about it this way: You and Charlie are together in this life. You’ll do your best to keep each other alive and hopefully grow old together. Once one of you dies, you’ll move on to a different place ... and, in theory, the other will eventually join the first. There you’ll have until the end of time together.”

  My cheeks colored at her example. “I think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself there.”

  Jack barreled forward as if I hadn’t spoken. “So there really is something beyond this life?”

  Harley’s lips curved. “Did you doubt that?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been wondering about a lot of things lately. Before this — before Charlie — I would’ve considered myself an atheist. Now, ... .” He trailed off, uncertain. “It’s a lot to absorb.”

  “It is and you’ll be fine.” Harley was back to her perky self. “When you don’t have that stick up your behind, you’re a fantastic man. You need to keep that in mind going forward. When in doubt, remove stick. It’s a pretty simple philosophy.”

  Jack’s scowl was back. “Are you done here?”

  “Not even close.” She turned her eyes back to me. “I know you figured there would be souls anchored in the water, but the sheer amount of dead people we’re talking about here has probably shaken you. I’m sorry for that. I wish I had better news.”

  “Are you sure about the number?” I asked.

  She nodded. “I counted in each location. I guess it’s possible that there could be more bodies even farther out, but somehow I doubt it. Whoever did this wanted the women to be close enough to see the lives they lost. Also, if he ever stopped by for a visit he might want to review his handiwork.”