“Well … thank you.” Things started slipping into place. “You ran because you thought Jack was the incubus and you believed he would follow you because he recognized you.”
“We hate each other,” Liam confirmed. “We want to kill each other. When you started chasing me I was confused. I listened to you in the cemetery. You didn’t speak like him, Jack, and you genuinely seemed to care about her. I was just about to reveal myself when you left. I needed to think about what you were talking about, so I followed far enough behind to get your license plate number. I paid to have it run and it tracked back to a rental place. A woman there told me the name of the company that rented it. Then I ran the Legacy Foundation and realized what you did for a living. That’s when I decided to trust you. I figured you would come to this spot once you searched my room at the hostel.”
“Sorry about that,” Jack said ruefully. It was obvious he was coming around to the idea of trusting Liam. “We assumed you were the guilty party, especially when I couldn’t find a real record of you anywhere.”
“I don’t blame you.” Liam rubbed his chin and shifted his eyes to the darkened street. “He’s going to come here tonight, hunting. He’s going to kill another woman if we don’t stop him. I need your help to finish this, and that’s not easy for me to admit.”
“We’ll help you,” Jack promised. “We’ll work together. Do you know what identity he’s going by here?”
“I don’t. I haven’t gotten that far yet. I’ve been spending my nights trying to protect women at the bars because I don’t know what else to do.”
“That’s a noble pursuit,” Jack reassured him. “We need to be even more proactive.”
“What do you suggest?”
“We add bait to the mix,” I replied simply.
Jack shifted next to me and when I risked a glance at his face I found his eyes pressed shut.
“What bait?” Liam was clearly confused. “What are you talking about.”
“You said it yourself,” I replied briskly. “I’m his type. I say we use that, draw him into a trap, and then end him for good. If a knife to the chest doesn’t work, we’ll have to try something else. We’ll all work together. We’ll get it done.”
“Charlie ... .” Jack’s voice sounded strangled. “I don’t like this.”
“Do you have another idea?”
“No, but ... .”
“We have to do this.” I was firm. “We can’t let another woman die. We have to free those souls.”
He held my gaze for what felt like forever and then nodded. “Fine. You’re going to be so careful that you’ll win an award for being a strategic thinker tonight. I will not lose you.”
“You won’t,” I promised him. “I already have a plan.”
“Am I going to like this plan?”
“Probably not, but it’s totally awesome.”
“Of course it is.”
Twenty-Eight
Jack took control of the plan. If I was to be used as bait, he wanted to think through every scenario. He finally agreed that we had no other choice and it was our best shot, but he was hardly happy about it.
“You know what to do, right?” He ran his hands over my shoulders and stared into my eyes as we prepared to separate.
“I do. It’ll be fine, Jack. I swear it.”
He didn’t look convinced, but nodded. “Don’t take any unnecessary chances. I won’t lecture you about the necessary ones because I know there’s no stopping you when you put your mind to something.”
“In this particular case, there’s not. It’ll be okay. This is better than going into the strip club.”
That nudged a small, reluctant smile out of him. “You just didn’t want to dance.”
“Pretty much.” I rolled up to the balls of my feet and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Don’t move unless I give you the signal. Also, maybe try to distract Liam. If I have to use magic ... .”
He solemnly nodded. “I won’t let him hurt you. I know he’s been through a lot, but so have you. He’ll have to deal with how we handle things. That’s all there is to it.”
“Just keep an eye on him,” I instructed. “If it comes to it, maybe leave me to handle this and take him someplace else.”
Jack immediately started shaking his head. “That’s not going to happen, Charlie. You’re not facing this alone. Don’t even ... .” His face flushed with anger. “Just don’t. You agreed that we would do this together. You can’t back out now.”
“I’m not backing out,” I reassured him. “I’m just trying to ensure we get the best possible outcome.”
“We will. One thing I’ve learned since this entire thing started is that we’re better together, stronger. This will prove that.”
I had no doubt he was right.
I WALKED THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF the Down & Dirty, holding my phone to my ear and pretending to have a conversation. “I don’t want to go in by myself, Jack.” He wasn’t on the other end of the call, of course. I was putting on a show. “I’ll just wait for you here.” I waited a moment, as if listening to his end of the conversation. “No. I won’t go inside without you. I told you I was uncomfortable with this. I’m just going to walk around the block.” Another beat of silence. “I’ll be fine. You’re only thirty minutes behind me. I think I can keep out of trouble until you get here.” I said some hasty goodbyes and then shoved the phone in my pocket, muttering to myself as if frustrated.
If this plan was to work, we had to assume the incubus was already here and watching the area. I’d just given him a brief opening. I was his type. I was alone. It wouldn’t get any better than this.
Jack and Liam were secluded in Liam’s truck, parked across the road. They could see me but were still a fair distance away. Jack didn’t like that in the least, but I had to remind him that we were dealing with a demon, and he would be detected if he tried to stick too close. He was reluctant but didn’t argue further.
I pretended to be bored, scuffing my feet against the sidewalk. A loud noise in front of the bar drew my attention. A raucous couple yukking it up as they drunkenly leaned on each other. They were a bit loud for my taste, so I rounded the corner. Jack and Liam could still see me, but I was a bit farther away.
My phone buzzed in my pocket and when I pulled it out I read a message from Jack.
Don’t go very far.
I could practically feel the worry emanating from him even though he was two-hundred feet away. He was anxious to the point of making himself sick. This wasn’t how he wanted to handle things and yet he knew this was our best chance, so he shuttered his emotions and worked with me instead of against. I wouldn’t forget this. It felt like an important chapter in our story.
I typed back a reassuring message and returned the phone to my pocket, pulling up short when a shadow crossed my path. I assumed it was someone heading toward the bar, There was an apology on my lips when I raised my eyes. All thoughts of saying “I’m sorry” died when I recognized the face in front of me.
“Seriously?” I was at a loss. “It’s you?”
Reverend Alexander was dressed in street clothes, jeans and a simple shirt. He had a small bag clutched in one hand, one that looked like the sort a doctor would carry for house calls. He looked just as surprised to see me as I was to see him.
“What are you doing here?” he blurted out.
“I asked you first.” I held my ground. He wasn’t nearly as scary in the real world as he was in his church. Well, unless he was the demon. Then he was even scarier.
“I don’t have time for games, young lady,” Alexander snapped. “What are you doing here?” His gaze drifted toward the bar, which was rocking thanks to the ridiculous music. “You’re not a performer, are you?”
Well, now I was officially offended. “Don’t be absurd. I’m here ... looking for a guy.” Wait. That might’ve come out wrong.
Alexander furrowed his brow. “I thought you were with the young man you who was with you when you vis
ited the church. I got a particular vibe off you.”
Oh, that was a load of crap. “You mean your nutty minion Gretchen told you we were together. Why do you even care?”
“I’m trying to figure out why you’re here.”
Something occurred to me. “Wait ... why are you here? Are you here for the show? This is a bar for couples. Ugh. Please tell me Gretchen isn’t your partner. I’ll have nightmares for years.”
The look he shot me was withering. “I’m not here for the show.”
“Then why are you here?”
“You tell me first.”
“No, you tell me.” I folded my arms over my chest and pinned him with my best “You will do what I say whether you like it or not” glare. When my phone dinged in my pocket, I growled and retrieved it. I didn’t even have to look to know it was from Jack.
Is Alexander the incubus?
That was an interesting question. I didn’t have an answer. I hesitated and worked my jaw before asking the obvious question. “Okay, this is going to sound weird but I don’t really have a choice in the matter. I’m sorry if this upsets you ... or makes you think I’m crazy ... or gives you more fodder to talk about with your crazy girlfriend. I have to ask. Are you an incubus?”
Instead of reacting with outrage or hysterical guffaws, Alexander narrowed his eyes. “Not last time I checked. Are you hunting an incubus?”
“Maybe.” I had a wild notion and decided to go with it. “Are you hunting an incubus?”
“Maybe.” He mimicked my tone to perfection. “Why are you here?” This time there was no accusation to the question, just honest curiosity.
“I’m looking for the creature killing women. This is one of the points on his pentagram map. I believe he’s going to show up here tonight. When I saw you, well, I naturally assumed you were our guy.”
He made a face. “You shouldn’t assume things. It makes you look like a dolt, and you have enough marks in that column to overcome.”
I glared. “Don’t insult me. I don’t need to put up with your crap. You’re just as much of a dolt as me, but you don’t have the excuse of youth. You’re old and still act like an idiot. What’s up with that?”
“I think this conversation is done,” Alexander snapped. “Be on your way. I have work to do here.” He looked determined as he tried to push past me ... and then frowned when his gaze landed on something. I turned to see what it was and sighed when I realized it was Liam and Jack. “You’re not alone,” he murmured.
“Do you really think Jack would allow me to come to this place without backup? Come on. I know you’re out of touch, but you need to buy a clue. That’s like buying a vowel on Wheel of Fortune if you’re confused.”
“I’m familiar with Wheel of Fortune.” Alexander worked his jaw. “You’re here for the same reason I am.”
“The incubus? Maybe. But why are you here searching for the incubus? How do you even know?”
Footsteps on the sidewalk interrupted Alexander. When I turned to greet what I was sure was another drunken strip club couple I was doubly shocked to find Samuel joining the party. “Oh, he roped you into this, too, huh? You poor thing. Unless ... um ... are you the other half of his couple?”
Alexander didn’t yell at me for asking the question. Instead his gaze went dark as he focused on the younger reverend. There was something in his countenance that I couldn’t identify, but it felt a lot like loathing.
“What’s going on?” Samuel asked. He momentarily looked shocked when he first registered us, but recovered quickly. I was surprised by the reaction. “What are you doing here?”
“That seems to be the question of the evening,” I replied. “Aren’t you two here together?” I couldn’t for the life of me fathom how they would show up at the same strip club if they didn’t arrive as a pair.
“We’re not together,” Alexander gritted out, his eyes full of fire. “We haven’t been together for weeks.”
I was sincerely having trouble putting things together. “Is this like a lover’s spat?”
Before either could respond, I heard a door slam and risked a glance toward the truck where Liam and Jack were waiting. They were both out of the vehicle and heading in my direction. Liam looked as if he was going to start mowing bodies down to get to us.
“I won’t let you get away again,” he howled.
My eyes first went to Alexander because he seemed the obvious choice for the threat. If anyone was a demon in human form, it had to be him. To my utter surprise, though, he didn’t react to Liam at all. No, that honor went to Samuel.
“No way.” The words escaped from my mouth in a whoosh and my eyes went wide. “No freaking way!”
Samuel wasn’t waiting around to hear accusations lobbed at him. He took off in the direction he came from. Because I was closest, I didn’t have a choice. I gave chase. Unfortunately for Jack and Liam, a group of rowdy patrons from the bar decided to get involved, too, and they joined in, even though they had no idea who they were chasing or why.
“Let’s get him,” one of the men yelled.
I had to stop looking over my shoulder and focus on what was in front of me when Jack got tied up with the growing group. He would have to take care of himself. I couldn’t let the incubus get away. This might be our only chance to stop him.
Samuel was fast, but I was determined. I put my head down and gave it my all as I followed him into the night. He zigged down an alley and then zagged up a one-way street in an attempt to lose me. He went around another three corners and never diminished his pace. Neither did I. By the time he came upon a dead end behind what looked to be an old grocery store we were completely separated from the rest of the group.
“End of the line,” I gasped, lowering my hands to the front of my thighs and fighting to catch my breath. “There’s nowhere left to run.”
“I was going to say the same to you.” This time when Samuel turned, his eyes glowed an odd blue. They definitely weren’t human ... and he wasn’t gasping for breath at all.
Uh-oh.
I sucked in oxygen and fought to maintain control of my reaction. He was a demon, I reminded myself. Somehow he’d talked himself into those other women’s bedrooms. That meant he had mind power. I had to keep him out of my head. Even now I could feel him poking and prodding as he looked for a way in.
“You’re probably going to want to stop doing that,” I said, slamming shut the door to my mind and putting a bit of extra magic behind it as I slapped him back.
His eyes went wide. “What are you?” He didn’t sound upset that I was something other than human. In fact, he sounded intrigued.
“I was about to ask you the same question. We’ve been working under the assumption that you’re an incubus.”
“I am one of the oldest creatures imaginable,” he fired back. “I am more than one thing. So are you. You’re ... different.” He lifted his nose to the air and scented. “You’re amazing. I caught your scent at the church but couldn’t allow myself to dwell on it. What are you?”
He seemed enraptured. I hoped I could work that to my advantage. “I’m an Aquarius,” I replied without hesitation. “And you’re ... wearing another man’s body.” That’s when the full brunt of what I was dealing with hit me. “The real Samuel Rodriguez is dead, isn’t he?”
“Long dead,” the incubus confirmed, seemingly amused by the sorrow that momentarily coursed through me. “I wouldn’t be too upset if I were you. He was a real ass. That’s how I managed to overtake him in the first place. The bitterness growing in his heart regarding Alexander’s refusal to hand over the church made him easy pickings. He wasn’t my first clergyman, but I always get a little thrill when I can overtake one.”
“That’s part of it?” I mused. I was buying time until I could figure out what to do. I was genuinely at a loss. “You need the people you inhabit to have a black heart.”
“No, just a fractured soul,” he replied. “Samuel had one. He was having an affair with that insipid Gre
tchen. I ended that right away, which made her a little mad. Crazy mad, not angry mad ... although she’s a little of both now that I think about it.
“I probably should’ve given more thought to my actions because she’s the reason I’m in this situation to begin with,” he lamented. “I’ve been in this city for almost two months. I sign on with ships when I need to move. It’s not as easy to get a driver’s license as it used to be since September 11th. Basically I stick on the ship until I find a place I like and then depart. I remain in a city until I’m bored with it – or run out by that idiot Liam, which seems to be the norm these days – and then get on with another ship. It’s a cycle I enjoy because I get bored if I stay in one place too long.
“I found Samuel on my third day. He was easy to overpower. I found out about Gretchen the day after because she was a bit needy. When I ended the affair, she started whispering in Alexander’s ear. She told him there was something wrong with me ... and then he caught me in a lie because I didn’t do enough research before taking over this persona. He’s been suspicious of me ever since. I guess that’s why he’s here.”
“There is something wrong with you,” I pointed out. “You’re a sick, sick man. Of course, you’re not even a man.”
“Neither are you.”
“A man? You’re right.”
“You’re not human. At least not entirely. You’re something else.”
“Sweet talking me will get you nowhere.”
“I think it’s going to get me exactly where I want.” He took a menacing step toward me, but I held my ground. “You’re different but still the same, Charlie. You look like the others, like Savannah and her friends – who made it far too easy by clustering together in that little group. But you’re more. You’re a challenge, unlike them. They lined up and wanted to be slaughtered. I think part of them wanted it.
[Charlie Rhodes 06.0] The Incubus Impasse Page 27