“No, the class is full,” said Miles. He closed his laptop and leaned back in the desk chair as he ran his fingers through his hair. “Not a single seat left. So taking the class with you, is out.”
“I’d give you my seat, man, but I really need this class,” said Xander, from his seat on the loveseat, where he sat petting Chip.
“I know Xander, don’t worry about it,” said Miles. “I’ve rearranged my schedule anyway, I’ll just have that time slot free.”
“You know, this might be just as well,” said Xander. “You’re Anika’s husband. I could see him making class difficult for you because of that. You’ve got a perfect GPA, and it would be a shame for him to get a chance to wreck that.”
Uh, yeah. Well all Miles would have to do is talk to the President of the university, and that problem would be taken care of. After all the support the Bannerman Foundation gives to the school, they’re on a first-name basis. He knows Miles’ character. Still, I could see Xander’s point.
“I’m disappointed we won’t have the class together, but I am glad he won’t have any control he can wield over you. If he wants to mess up my GPA, I don’t care. I’m not in the running for valedictorian, anyway.”
“You’re assured of a job too, no matter what your GPA is or even whether you complete a degree at all,” said Miles, putting his arm around me as he sat next to me on the couch.
I laughed.
“Too true. Neither one of us really needs a degree.”
“You’re right. We’re going for the education, and I do think we’ll learn things that are better off not being taught by experience, especially in business.”
Night hopped up onto the loveseat next to Xander, and looked at him. He changed his mind, and hopped back down.
“What was that all about?” asked Xander, as we laughed.
“Who knows,” I said.
“He’s a one woman cat I think,” said Miles. “More and more, Night doesn’t have much use for anyone but Anika.”
“At least your dogs don’t feel that way,” said Xander, as he continued to pet Chip, and Trixie wandered over to collect her share of the attention. “So you guys wanted to talk about something. What’s up?”
I looked toward the door.
“We’re waiting for Jenny, she should be here any minute. She was finishing up something she was baking, and then she’ll be right here.”
“I know where I’m going after this, then,” said Xander. “She’s amazing in the kitchen. After we’re married, if I’m not careful, I’m going to gain a ton of weight.”
I laughed. That was probably very true.
“Keep working out, Xander, otherwise I can see that happening,” said Miles.
Pandora hopped onto the couch and tried to lay on Miles’ knee. She nearly fell to the floor instead, and would have, if Miles didn’t reach out and catch her.
“You’re getting too big for this,” he said, as he scratched under her chin, and she purred.
I heard a tap at the door, so I jumped up.
“That’ll be Jenny,” I said, and I hurried to answer.
“Hi!” I said, as I opened the door. “Come in!”
“Hi,” Jenny said. She smiled and held out a tray. “I brought some of my baking to share.”
“Ooh, that looks sooo good!” I said, admiring the pastries. “What are they?”
“Apple fritters,” said Jenny. “Yesterday we were out driving, and passed by a fruit stand near an orchard, and this is the result.”
“Well thank you!” I said, leading the way to the living room. “You’re awesome, and living practically next door to you and your kitchen is great.”
I grabbed some plates and napkins, then joined everyone else back in the living room.
We each took a plate and a delectable apple fritter, which of course we had to try right away.
“Oh my word, Jenny!” I said. “This—is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.”
“It really is amazing, Jenny,” agreed Miles.
“You’re the best,” Xander said, kissing Jenny’s cheek, and she smiled.
“Thanks, everyone. Not to brag, but… I kind of agree! These really are good.”
We laughed.
“You’re not bragging, just being honest,” I said.
“Now that we’re all here,” said Miles, “there’s something we feel you need to know. It’s going to sound kind of crazy, but in spite of that, it’s the truth.”
He had Jenny and Xander’s full attention now.
“Anika seems to have… an ability, I guess you could call it. She has the Red Alert feeling that you’ve heard her talk about before, which I think most people have to some extent, though it’s usually called gut instinct. I can’t help but think that Anika’s is stronger than most. There’s something else, though. She senses a darkness about certain people. This has only happened with Alfred, George Frank, Bea Carlton, and now Professor Ryan Mead. It’s stronger with Professor Mead than it was with the others.”
Jenny and Xander looked concerned, and as if they were trying to process this.
“Anika didn’t sense this same darkness with Bill the jerk. So our theory is that she can sense, or feel, and even see a darkness surrounding people who have committed murder.”
We waited to see what our friends would say.
“Okay, well—wow,” said Xander. “That is the last thing I expected to hear you say.”
“I know, it’s bizarre and kind of crazy,” I said. “I sensed, or felt it, with Alfred and then more so with the shadow figure I kept seeing last year, which it turns out was George Frank. Bea Carlton, too. When I saw Professor Mead at the restaurant, that darkness was so strong it was overwhelming. It’s like a dark swirling cloud.”
“I saw your face, Anika,” said Jenny. “I knew something had to be wrong. I thought maybe he said something to you that you weren’t telling us.”
“He did, I didn’t appreciate his pick-up line. It was what I saw and that strong feeling that affected me, though. Only it isn’t a feeling, it’s different, and hard to explain.”
“When we were on campus earlier today, we had the dogs with us. Anika went inside the Student Center for a minute, and I stayed outside with them. While she was there, she saw Professor Mead.”
“I had that very strong sense of darkness again, and that extreme Red Alert feeling. You know the kind of people Alfred Sullivan and George Frank and Bea Carlton were, and the kind of crimes they committed. Yet with this Professor Mead, the darkness emanating from him is so much stronger.”
“I want you to know this, Xander, because I’m counting on you to keep an eye on Anika during class when I can’t be there. You need to realize there’s something unusual here. It’s more than past allegations, and his unwelcome attention directed toward my wife.”
“Miles would rather I drop the class. But he understands that I feel strongly that there’s something I need to do here. I can sense there’s something bad, and dangerous about this guy. More than likely, I’m the only one who can. There’s a mystery here and if I can solve it, the result will be that victims receive justice, and others are spared. So… I’m going to be open to whatever information I can get while in class, and Miles is going to research and see if we can track down anything in Mead’s past that is suspicious, and can enlighten us as to what this guy’s done to cause this darkness to surround him.”
We waited for our friends to mull it all over.
“I wonder if what you see is something spiritual, a spiritual darkness,” said Jenny. “I mean… it must be.”
“Yeah… I’ve no idea,” I said. “But it’s there, and it isn’t good.”
“Okay,” said Xander. “I can’t say I’m not freaked out here. This is just not—normal. But then again, what about you two is?”
No kidding! If only you knew, Xander.
“You… felt led,” said Jenny.
“What?” I said.
“You said in your interview, and I’ve
heard you tell other people when they’ve asked, that you found the cave because you felt led.”
“Yeah….?”
Jenny looked at me intently. Talk about sensing things, she almost seemed able to read minds sometimes. She was making me nervous! I tried not to look like a deer in the headlights.
“Were you led?”
“Um—like what do you mean?” I managed.
Jenny closed her eyes and massaged both sides of her forehead. Miles rubbed my back, no doubt trying to help me relax and look less stressed.
“Anika has an awareness that is rare,” Miles said. “She’s very sensitive to some things. Spiritual things, is probably a good way to put it.”
Jenny nodded, her eyes still closed, still rubbing her forehead.
“Okay. I believe you. I don’t understand everything… but I believe you.”
Jenny opened her eyes again and gave me a searching look. I busied myself taking another bite of apple fritter, which my mouth was way too dry to manage successfully. I sat there working away at it, wondering how I’d ever manage to swallow. Miles seemed to know, he picked up a bottle of water on the end table beside him, and handed it to me. I took it gratefully, and managed to take a sip without choking myself.
“So then,” said Xander, “we’re going to be operating under the assumption that this guy is bad news. He’s killed before, and could kill again. Anika’s under cover and I am too I guess, keeping an eye on her.”
“That about sums it up,” said Miles.
“Are you going to arm me with a sophisticated webcam again?” asked Xander.
“That’s a good idea,” said Miles. “Maybe you and Anika both.”
“Cool,” said Xander. “You can count on me.”
“Thank you, Xander,” said Miles. “I wouldn’t be okay with this at all, if you weren’t in the class also.”
“Yes, thanks, Xander,” I said.
“No problem,” he replied. “Not to minimize the seriousness of the situation, but this could be fun. High tech gadgets, and playing detective for real.”
“Just… don’t forget the danger too,” Jenny said to him. “Assuming that everything we’ve talked about is correct, then this is a dangerous person you’ll be investigating. What would stop him from trying to kill again, if he felt threatened?”
“I won’t forget, Jenny,” Xander said seriously, as he put his arm around her. “I won’t forget for a single minute.”
“Okay,” she said, then smiled. “I’ll be praying for you, both of you.”
“I know you will,” said Xander, as he leaned closer to kiss her.
I quickly looked at Miles. He looked back, laughter in his eyes. I gave them a fraction of a second, then clapped my hands loudly.
“Save it for summer, people!”
Jenny and Xander laughed.
“Aw, man!” said Xander. “Maybe we should’ve gone easier on you guys last year!”
“Yes, well, you didn’t,” said Miles. “And I don’t think I need to tell you how much joy Anika is having at the thought of paying you back, this year.”
We all laughed.
“That’s right!” I said. “I’ll have you conditioned just like you did Miles. You’ve no idea how long it took for him to be able to kiss me for more than a few seconds at a time.”
Everyone laughed again at that.
“We’ve created a monster,” laughed Xander.
“Yes,” I said, and smiled. “Yes, you have.”
Miles laughed.
“Well, you’re a very beautiful monster, anyway. And I’m glad you’re on my side,” he said, pulling me close and kissing the side of my face. He turned to Xander. “Why don’t you check with your cousin and see if you can get more details about Professor Mead, and the charges that were brought against him. His reputation also. Anything we can learn about him would be helpful, right now we don’t have a whole lot to go on.”
“I’ll call Cheryl and see what she can find out. If she doesn’t already know, maybe she can look into it.”
“Great. The more information we have, the better. Tell her to be careful, though. If we’re right, then this guy’s a killer, and for her own safety, we don’t want him to know she’s looking for information.”
“I will,” said Xander.
“Tell her you have a friend who’s concerned,” I said, “because he seems to have taken an unwelcome interest in her.”
“You could tell your cousin that your friend’s husband is even more concerned,” said Miles, giving me a worried look that would change my mind about this whole thing, if it weren’t for that strong feeling that I have.
“I’ll take care of it,” said Xander, as he and Jenny stood. “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”
“Thanks, Xander,” Miles said as he and I also stood, and walked with them to the door.
We said goodbye, and closed the door behind them, as they walked back down the hall to Jenny’s and Annette’s apartment.
I turned and hugged Miles hard, and he hugged me back.
“I’m so sorry this worries you,” I said, looking up at him apologetically.
“I know, you feel you have to do this. And I do support you,” said Miles, tightening his arms around me. “I will keep supporting you, and I’ll make sure you’re safe somehow. What you’re able to sense just really disturbs me, and I hate the thought of you being anywhere near someone who has that cloud of darkness hovering around them. But I understand you, and how you feel. It’s okay.”
Tears filled my eyes. I appreciated that Miles was so supportive, and sad that I was making him worry. Sad that we weren’t going to have a chance to learn what a normal school year feels like.
“It’s okay,” Miles said softly. “We’ll get this figured out as quickly as possible, then get on with our life.”
I nodded. Miles kissed me, and I forgot all about everything else.
Chapter 4
“Pass it! I’m open!” I shouted to Jenny, who was being blocked by John, Xander, and Miles.
Jenny threw the ball low, and I grabbed it. I dribbled toward the basket. Uh-oh, Miles and his excellent reflexes would be on me any second. I took a chance and shot the ball at the backboard. It bounced onto the rim and rolled around several times, then fell through the net.
“Nice shot!” said Miles, hugging me and spinning me around, as Jenny and Annette applauded. “You’re getting good at this.”
“Maybe you’ll want to be on my team from now on,” I said, proud of what I’d done. That was three points for us!
“I’m already on your team,” Miles said, that melting look in his eyes.
“That’s unfair,” I said, as I began to melt. If he wasn’t hanging onto me, I might have collapsed right there on the basketball court.
“What is?” Miles asked, looking puzzled.
“Using that look on me,” I said. “It gives you unfair advantage.”
Miles laughed.
“Okay, then. I’ll try to hold back. Maybe I’ll glare at you instead.”
That made me laugh. Miles kissed me, and then we turned back to the game.
The other players stood in a row. Their movements were exaggerated, and ranged from looking at their watches, to yawning, to tapping their toes.
That made me laugh, too.
“Whose side are you on anyway, man?” asked Xander, not looking nearly as indignant as he sounded.
“Hers,” Miles promptly replied.
“Great!” said John. “I’d say the other team has unfair advantage, then. One of your players is taking out one of ours.”
“I’m taking you out Miles, any preference as to where we go?” I asked him.
“Home would be good,” he said, giving me another one of those looks.
“Talk about unfair advantage! One of your players is incapacitating one of ours with a look!” Annette said.
That made both of us laugh, especially me.
“You guys are so much worse than you were when
you were engaged,” said Jenny, rolling her eyes and laughing too.
“We need to invite another couple to join us, two couples per team,” said practical John. “Otherwise we’ll never finish a game!”
“How about Paul and his girlfriend?” asked Xander, dribbling the basketball. “Are they still together?”
“I’ll ask, the next time I see him,” said Miles, as Xander passed him the ball.
I latched onto it, and wouldn’t let go. We briefly grappled for the ball, then Miles grabbed me, instead. I squealed, and managed to throw the ball to Jenny.
“I hope that counts,” said Jenny, as she easily made a basket.
“These two are too silly to have a decent game,” said Xander, rolling his eyes as he put his arm around Jenny and kissed her cheek. “Please tell me this isn’t what happens after people get married.”
“Sorry guys, but I haven’t seen my wife since early this morning. If I ever have another urgent meeting that lasts all day, we’ll cancel the game.”
“No kidding. I can’t believe it took so long,” I said. “If I’d known, I would have gone with you. Next time, just plan on it.”
“That would’ve been nice, at least we could have had lunch together.”
“Why don’t we give up on the game for tonight. Let’s pick up something to eat and meet up at our place,” said Annette. “We can just hang out instead.”
“I love that idea,” I said. “Does Chinese sound good to everyone? We can order on the way home.”
“That sounds great,” said John, picking up his water bottle and gym bag, as the rest of us gathered our own things.
“We’ll see you all there, then,” said Annette. “We can watch a movie, or just hang out.”
“I baked today, I’m trying out some new pastry recipes,” said Jenny. “You can all test them for me.”
“Oh, I am so there,” said Xander, grabbing Jenny by the hand, and heading for the door. “You had me at ‘I baked today!’”
The rest of us laughed, and adjourned to our separate vehicles. Since I rode to the game with Jenny and Xander, I rode back home with Miles, and didn’t have an extra vehicle to worry about.
“I missed you so much,” I said, as soon as we were in our SUV. “This was the longest day ever. Well, except for those days I thought I’d never see you again. Otherwise, this was the longest day ever!”
Darkness Falls Page 6