by S D Hegyes
Sorsha sighed. It wasn’t that she’d ever hidden her financial troubles from him. She just hadn’t ever explained just how many of her surgeries she’d been paying for out of pocket since she was discharged from the military.
“I’m a little behind on bills. A roommate seemed the most logical answer since I have an empty room I’m not doing anything with.”
She knew he was nodding from the silence on the other end of the line. “That makes sense. Alright, I know you haven’t looked at those papers yet.”
Sorsha smiled. He knew her so well.
“So, tell me, without looking at those documents, who sounded most interesting? Who did you most see as your roommate?”
As she thought about it, Sorsha stood, put the phone on speaker and sat it down atop her dresser, rummaging through drawers. “There were a couple that jumped out at me when I talked to them. Francine.” She could hear his disapproval in the sound he made. “What?”
“She’s got three kids and has skipped child support payments.”
“Is she on hard times?”
“According to her financial records, no. She’s actually worth a quarter of a million dollars. There’s a warrant for her arrest actually.”
“For missing child support payments?” She yanked a sports bra and a tank top on.
Tanner’s hum of acknowledgement surprised her.
“Wow,” she said, shock coloring her voice. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”
“I didn’t either. Apparently if you dodge the courthouse long enough, they come after you,” he teased.
Alright, that removed Francine from her list. She told Tanner a couple other names he approved of. Then she remembered the man from the night before, the one she swore up and down she recognized from somewhere—even if she couldn’t remember where that was.
“What about Larz Kazal?”
Tanner whistled. “I’d wondered if you’d mention that name. How did you feel about him?”
“No bad vibes, and you know how I am about people.”
“You already talked to him in person?”
She nodded, even though he couldn’t see her and tugged on a pair of workout pants. “I did. He was in the apartment complex, asking questions and grabbed my ad.”
“Huh.”
Sorsha paused in pulling on a pair of socks. “Everything alright, Tanner? You sound a little jealous.” She smiled even as she teased him and finished tugging the socks on.
“Maybe just a little,” he admitted without embarrassment.
“Tell me about him,” Sorsha said. It was better to let it slide than to keep beating a dead horse. They weren’t going to start dating again, and they both knew it.
“Anything for you, Phantom,” Tanner teased, returning to his usual flirtation that made her grin. “Kazal passes with flying colors. I’ve never seen anyone as clean as him actually. I know you. You’re suspicious of everyone, and you say you got nothing bad from him?”
She shook her head and pulled on her sneakers. “None. Other than he seemed familiar, which I mentioned before.”
“Maybe he’s been a donor at the clinic.”
“I don’t think so, but maybe. I mean, it’s possible. I just feel I should know why I recognize him is all.” She tugged her hair over her shoulder and braided it, using the loose hair band on her dresser to tie it off. “Oh well. So, he’s clean?”
“As a whistle. It’s kind of scary.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone with a record this clean. There’s not even a speeding ticket.”
Sorsha grinned. “Do you want me to ask why he’s never had a speeding ticket?”
“Yeah, actually. It would make me feel a lot better.”
She laughed. “I’ll add that to my list of questions. Right after: if you killed someone, where would you hide the body, and which Star Wars should someone see first?”
She could almost see Tanner’s frown. “Now you’re just mocking me. That’s not nice. That being said, if anyone says the first Star Wars to watch is The Phantom Menace, I will personally hunt them down and shoot them for you.”
That made her laugh. It had been a bit since she and Tanner had spoken, and if she were honest with herself, she missed him. It was good to talk to him and hear what he had to say. “So, what have you been up to lately? Still in the army? Or did they finally kick you out?”
“Who? Me? No. Got out shortly after you did and joined a private sector. I thought I told you.”
“No. Can you spare any details or is it top secret?” She figured if he worked for a private group, he couldn’t tell her anything, but it never hurt to ask.
He was silent for a moment. “I get to kill things for a living still, but other than that, I can’t say squat. You know how it is.”
“Yeah, I remember.” They’d been on many classified missions. She knew the drill.
Tanner’s voice changed and she knew he was grinning. “Hell, maybe someday I can tell you more as I convince you to run away with me and hunt monsters.”
She laughed. “I happen to like my job.”
“But you’re still training. I can tell you’re getting ready to do some PT.”
“How do you know?” She grinned though because he was right. As soon as she got off the phone with him, she planned on going for a run.
“I know what it sounds like when you put me on speaker and get dressed, Phantom.”
“Guilty.” Man, was he good though.
Silence. “It was fucked up how they handled everything though. I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” There was nothing to be done about it though. Sorsha made a decision in the field, and it cost them dearly. No one was even certain how she and Tanner survived. “I can’t complain too much. This job’s not that bad,” she added.
“Maybe not, but you had a lot going for you when you were active duty.”
“Can’t change the past, Tanner.” She shrugged one shoulder and picked up the phone, taking it off speaker and holding it to her ear again. “It’s fine. I have other things to worry about.”
“Like finding a roommate?”
“Like finding a roommate,” she agreed, grinning. “Thanks for helping me run the background checks.”
“You know I got you. All you have to do is ask. ANyway, have you double-checked your rent agreement to make sure it’s allowed?”
Sorsha had. She’d combed through her lease and hadn’t found anything against having roommates. Her landlord didn’t care as long as he was paid on time. “Yes.”
“Good. I’d hate to have to come bail you out of another bad situation.” There was a grin in his voice. “Maybe someday, I will. Ah, that would make me one of the happiest men in the world. To rescue a woman as special as you.”
“You’re such a flirt.” She grinned though. She’d missed Tanner’s teasing.
“Only with you.” They both knew it was a lie, but it was one neither minded.
“Still coming for New Year’s?”
“If I can. Work has me travelling. Mostly been on the west coast. Haven’t been to the east coast yet. It’s just a matter of time though, I bet, with you around.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, laughing.
“You attract trouble, Phantom. You always have.”
He wasn’t wrong, but she decided not to respond to his words. “You’re staying safe, aren’t you?” she asked instead.
“As safe as I can with this job. Don’t worry though. It’s no worse than what we went through overseas.”
She didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. Depending on what parts of their time overseas he was talking about, it could be either. “Good.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to go now, Tanner.”
“Oh? Got a hot date I don’t know about?”
Sorsha laughed. “You and Irene wish.”
“I really must meet Irene. She sounds like a great person.”
“You two would really h
it it off, I think.”
“Really? Wait.” She heard him snap his fingers and mutter a curse word. “Why am I asking that? You’re friends with her, and as I mentioned, you’re good with people.”
“Have a good one, Tanner.”
“You as well, Phantom. Talk to you soon.”
“Bye.” She ended the call, pulled on her athletic jacket, and slid her phone into her pocket, cursing its size. “Why are pockets on women’s clothing so small?”
7
In the end, Sorsha’s list of roommate candidates shortened after reading through all the information Tanner sent her. She spent the week calling people and scheduling interviews for Saturday.
As dawn rose on Saturday morning, Sorsha did too, climbing out of bed and throwing on her jogging clothes. She was determined to get in a morning run and breakfast before her first interview showed up. Maybe if she was lucky, she’d be able to take a quick nap before she had to be at the lobby.
By the time she returned, showered and dressed, it was nearly time for her first interviewee to arrive. With a last glance at the time on her phone, Sorsha shoved her phone in her pocket and opened the door, pulling it inward.
“I’m sorry, young man, but Sorsha doesn’t live here.”
Sorsha took a step back inside her apartment and waited, listening to Mr. Church’s exchange with Simon, her first interviewee. Of course, Mr. Church had suggested she put his room number on the ad—to test how well people could listen to directions. She’d told every candidate she’d meet them in the lobby. If they attempted to come to her home, they’d find themselves greeting Mr. Church instead.
The apartment complex had lots of rules residents had to follow. If someone couldn’t follow a simple direction to wait in the lobby, they probably wouldn’t follow the complex’s rules either.
She realized it was a safety measure too.
“I’m supposed to meet her here for an interview in about ten minutes.” The aggression in his voice was clear.
“I’m sorry. She doesn’t live here. Now, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“I’m not leaving until I see Sorsha Phantom.”
Sorsha couldn’t see the interaction down the hall, but she could hear Mr. Church’s taser as he turned it on. She grinned. Of course Mr. Church had one at his disposal.
“You’ll leave now,” Mr. Church told him.
There was a moment of silence, and Sorsha knew Simon was weighing his options. She heard him growl. “Fine, but I’ll be back as soon as I find out where she is.”
Sorsha dug her phone from her pocket, praying she reached it before it went off. Her gut told her Simon would call her as soon as he turned away from Mr. Church’s door.
She closed her door and silenced her phone just before it began to ring. She waited a few minutes, walking away from her front door before she answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Sorsha?”
“This is she.”
“Hi there. This is Simon. I tried coming up to the apartment you mentioned in your ad, but there was a rude man there instead. Can you give me the room number again, so I can make sure I have the right one?” The voice on the phone sounded so different than the one she’d heard in the hall a few seconds before, and she narrowed her eyes. Her stomach tightened with anger and distrust.
“I’m sorry, Simon, but no. I can’t. My instructions were clear. We were to meet in the lobby. Since you can’t seem to follow interview instructions, I’m going to assume you can’t follow apartment regulations. I’m sorry.” She wasn’t. Not really. Not after his treatment of his would-be neighbor.
For a moment, she contemplated whether she was overreacting and being more petty than necessary.
“Excuse me?” The voice sounded more like the one she’d heard in the hall.
Nope. She wasn’t being petty. “You’re not getting the apartment room, Simon.”
“You bitch!” A snarl came across the line, but Sorsha hung up before she could listen to anymore insults. There was no reason to talk further to someone who’d insult her at the drop of a hat.
Outside, she heard someone raging up the stairs, spitting profanities. She heard Simon bang on Mr. Church’s door and scream, “Where is she? Where is Sorsha Phantom?”
Sorsha tossed her phone on the couch and moved toward the door, her fingers twitching in agitation.
“Open up! Tell me where she is!”
Mr. Church didn’t answer, and Sorsha breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want anyone to harm him.
Silence rang through the hall. Sorsha stepped closer to her door, listening. Where had Simon gone? Had he given up and left? She doubted it.
Her door rattled as a fist slammed against it. “Anyone home? I’m looking for Sorsha Phantom.”
Blazing hot anger ran through Sorsha. No. This wasn’t happening. This young man wasn’t going to make her feel like a coward. She’d been up against adversaries in combat when she was active duty in the army. She would not let some angry asshole scare her from her own home.
Her hand curled into a ball and she yanked her door open, her fist already rising to where she guessed Simon’s face would be based on the sound of his voice.
The young man on the other side of the door reared back in pain and stumbled to the floor, blood spurting from his nose.
“You have five seconds to get out of here.”
Sorsha’s voice was colder than ice in the middle of winter as she looked down at Simon. His eyes blazed red, similar to those of Frank Thirst, and when he opened his mouth to snarl at her, she saw the same elongated canines as well.
“I’ve already called the police, and they should be here shortly. The station isn’t that far from here. If you stand and decide not to leave, I will make you wish you had.”
Simon smiled up at her. “You’re Sorsha Phantom.”
It wasn’t a question, so Sorsha said nothing. She continued to glare at him, hoping Mr. Church’d had the sense to call the police since she hadn’t. It didn’t seem Simon would call her bluff though.
Instead, he laughed. “You’re the little phantom everyone’s suddenly talking about. You don’t look like much, but I guess that makes sense.” He gave her an appraising look. “I’ll leave, but you can bet you’ll see me again, Sorsha Phantom.” He used the wall to brace himself as he climbed to his feet.
“It better not be in or around this apartment complex, Simon. You’re no longer welcome here.”
Simon’s smirk turned into a frown. “That doesn’t work on my kind, sweetheart.”
Sorsha’s expression didn’t change, but confusion rippled through her at his words. “No idea what you’re talking about. Get out of my apartment complex, Simon.”
He grinned at her. “Yes, ma’am.” He tipped an imaginary hat to her.
Sorsha watched him go. Once she heard the front entrance door open and close again, she looked over at her neighbor’s door.
Mr. Church stood with his door open just wide enough to poke his head through, and he gave her an approving grin. “Good show, Sorsha. I forget sometimes that you aren’t a frail thing.”
She nodded her head and gave him a crooked smile. “I do know how to defend myself, although it’s harder when old injuries flare up.” She looked down the stairs. “Or when some asshole tries to bully their way into your home.”
Mr. Church nodded his agreement. “Understandable. Think he’ll be back?”
She shrugged. “No idea, but I made it clear he wasn’t welcome, I think.”
“I saw. Good work. Take care of yourself, Sorsha.”
“You too, Mr. Church, and thank you. I’m sorry he bothered you.”
He grinned. “Anytime, young lady. I doubt the rest of your interviews will go as badly. There’s no way you could have more than one asshole.”
That was debatable, but she hoped he was right. She didn’t want to punch the rest of her interviewees in order to make them leave.
8
Although
Sorsha tried to be quiet on the stairs so that she could watch the man standing at the bulletin board again, she knew something must have tipped him off to her presence. He raked a hand over the shaved side of his head, and nibbled at the piercing in his lower lip.
The moment he sensed her though, he stiffened, his eyes not quite working their way to where she stood at the top of the stairs, as if he knew he was being watched. Then he forced himself to relax, turning his back to the board and leaning against it, bracing one foot against the wall. He crossed his arms across his chest as he gazed about the room.
No way anyone found that comfortable, but it gave her a chance to eye him in appreciation.
He wore a tee shirt featuring several characters from both the Marvel and DC franchise. It was taught against his frame though, as if too small. The same could be said about the black jeans that hung low on his hips in the way she imagined rock stars might wear theirs.
It had to be intentional, as it left little to the imagination about the man underneath and had her licking her lips.
Black pointed boots and the same jacket from the weekend before tied up the package in a neat little bow. Irene would eat him alive. Hopefully, he could handle her and stick around.
Time to get this over with, she told herself and went downstairs to meet him. The rest of her interviews had gone better than the first one, but she felt exhausted and ready to be done for the day. If she were honest with herself, this was the interview she’d been looking forward to the most, which was why she’d scheduled it last.
Larz glanced up at her as she turned off the stairs and walked toward him. He pushed himself off the wall and wiped his palms on his jeans, as if he were the nervous one.
“First question,” she said with a grin. “Marvel or DC?”
He narrowed his eyes at her and gave her a sideways look before glancing down at his shirt. “Is this a trick question?”
She shook her head. “Curious is all.”
“Both then. I enjoy both universes immensely.”
“Good answer.” She held out her hand and shook his, careful to pull it away before the orange vapors could start drifting from her fingertips. Why her power reacted so strongly to him, she didn’t know, but maybe she could figure it out if he decided to move in with her.