by JE Gurley
At the top of the steps, I glanced back and saw a second juvenile rushing at me, gliding just above the floor. I looked at the debris of the wrecked gate, knowing I could not shut it and suspecting I could not hold it closed against the juvenile even if I could. Searching desperately for a weapon, I grabbed the wrought iron spear lying on the floor and quickly examined its diamond-shaped tip. I hoped it was sharp enough to do the trick. I hefted it with both hands and braced myself just as the juvenile launched itself up the steps at me, mouth open wide, screaming its anger. I struck it in the chest. The spear penetrated deep, but the force of the blow knocked me backwards and I lost my grip on the spear. Luckily, the butt end of my spear entangled in the twisted wreckage of the gate. The wounded creature thrashed about but could not pull free.
I eased around it, keeping out of reach of its flailing talons, raced back down the steps and located the Pfeifer with my flashlight. I briefly considered searching for the owner of the pair of legs that had clipped me from behind. I suspected one of my dark-suited friends in the SUV, though their reasoning defied me.
The creature still struggled frantically, screaming loudly but only succeeding in enlarging the wound. I took careful aim. The juvenile went deathly silent and stared at me as if it knew what was coming. I fired. The report echoed throughout the nave like thunder. The creature’s head disintegrated, covering the floor and wall with gore. It remained upright, headless, pinned like a butterfly by the metal spear through its chest. I sighed and leaned against the altar to rest. The cold stone felt comforting. I had eliminated two of the creatures but not the adult I had come for and I did not want to go back into the basement alone. I couldn’t watch my front and back at the same time. I knew I was in way over my head. I decided to return to my car and report in.
The desk sergeant thought I was crazy or drunk. Rather than waste time, I had him contact Captain Bledsoe. The captain was not happy to hear from me at three in the morning, especially when I told him what I had done.
“I thought I took you off this case,” he screamed over the phone. I thought it odd that his voice sounded the same in the confines of my car over the cell phone as it did in his office, the wonders of telecommunication.
“I came back to find my lighter,” I lied.
“And stumbled across two dead girls and killed two young…whatever the hell they are? You’re a walking poster child for a screw up, Hardin. I know you don’t smoke. I want you off of and far away from this case or so help me I’ll lock you up as a suspect.”
I ignored his threat. “I know this creature better than anyone,” I protested.
“We have five dead girls and four dead cops. I can’t afford to lose any more people. If you don’t back off, I’ll take your badge and melt it down for a coffee spoon. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you,” I mumbled half believing this new threat.
“You wait until forensics gets there, then you go home, but I want you back here first thing in the morning, Hardin. We’re not through with our little talk yet.”
I shut off my cell phone, shoved it in my jacket and sat back to wait for the rest of the troops to arrive. There was little more I could do. I needed to speak with Joria about the juveniles. She had not mentioned the possibility, though in hindsight, the creatures had to reproduce in some manner even if they were long lived. I shuddered at the thought of more than one Chupacabra on the loose.
I started the engine and turned on the heater to dispel the chill that had mysteriously come over me. Suddenly, the roof caved in as the car shuddered under a massive blow. The driver’s side airbag exploded in my face, almost smothering me before deflating. Glass from the moon roof showered down on my head. I looked up into the enraged face of the adult Chupacabra. I didn’t take time to think through the situation; I jerked the car into gear and stomped on the accelerator. The car slewed sideways on the wet gravel as I yanked the wheel and the creature slid to the rear of the car but did not lose its grip.
The Pfeifer was on the passenger seat, but I couldn’t drive and use it at the same time. It took two hands to operate. My right arm was still sore from firing the damn thing earlier, but I managed to take out my .45. If felt like a derringer in my hand after the Pfeifer .60 caliber. I pointed my Acura toward the street, trying to think of some way to shake the thing off my car. Metal shredded behind me as it clawed its way back onto the roof. A talon slipped through the open moon roof and ripped into the headrest inches from my face. I fired three quick shots through the roof and the talon withdrew.
I hit the main road at a reckless seventy-five miles per hour. The car bounced over the curb and crushed a street sign before I managed to bring it under control. I swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle. In my rear view mirror, I saw it fishtail to a stop; then follow me. It was my unknown friends in the black SUV. I had managed to dislodge my ill-tempered friend, but I saw it gliding above and behind me caught in the lights of the SUV. It folded its wings and dove, crashing onto the roof once more. The car bounced as a leg crashed through the windshield. I ducked the razor sharp claws as they ripped a chunk from the back of my seat and kept driving. It peeled the windshield away with my hand. The wind whipped through the car scattering papers and empty fast food containers. I swerved from one side of the road to the other in a futile attempt to dislodge the creature, but it had a secure grip.
I fired three more shots into the roof and heard a scream but knew I had caused no real damage. To kill it, I would have to stop long enough to bring the Pfeifer to bear, long enough for the creature to rip through the roof and kill me. I continued driving. I made a sharp turn and slid sideways, sideswiping a parked car, setting off its burglar alarm. I roared down the street, ignoring traffic lights, trusting that the sparse late night traffic would avoid me.
I spotted a twenty-four hour fast food business and turned the car into the drive-through lane. My goal was the low awning over the take out window. The creature hit the awning, ripping the metal awning from the building. I glanced over into the stunned, pimply face of a young boy wearing a paper hat as I roared through, bouncing over the curb and back onto the street with a squeal of tires. I had failed to shake off my unwanted passenger but I frightened the crap out of a couple of teenagers.
I realized I was three blocks from police headquarters. I grabbed my cell phone and hit the speed dial for the desk.
“This is Detective Hardin,” I yelled over the rush of air and the screams of the enraged creature. “I’m headed to the station with the creature in tow. Get some armed men to the parking garage. Hurry!”
I didn’t know if he would believe me or not, but I didn’t have time for a lengthy conversation. The creature was methodically shredding my roof to get at me. I had one chance to separate the creature from my car. To do so, I needed something more substantial than an awning. The speedometer read ninety-five as I saw headquarters coming up on my left. I slammed on my brakes and turned the wheel sharply to send the car into a barely controlled skid. My shoulder felt as if the steering wheel was ripping it off as I held on for dear life. The creature continued to pound on the roof. Moonlight peeked through wide gashes in the metal.
In the center of the building was the underground parking garage with its seven foot, six inch entrance. Lew had always complained because he could not park his massive Ford Explorer in the parking garage. As the car slowed out of the skid, I straightened the wheel and floored it, aiming for the entrance. My Acura had no trouble making it under the bar, but with my passenger, I was certain I exceeded the maximum. The ramp sloped steeply downward. I soared off the ramp. The roof of the car slammed into the concrete building, peeling it back and taking the creature with it. As I hit and bounced wildly, I put all my weight on the brakes. Still I slammed into a black and white cruiser and set off the alarm. The impact wrenched my shoulder but my seat belt harness prevented me from flying out the missing windshield.
I looked back as the creature picked itself up off the asphalt, pieces of my roof wrapp
ed around its torso like a hula skirt. I released my seat belt and reached onto the floor for the Pfeifer. Two uniforms rushed out of the elevator door. I yelled for them to stop. They stood there staring at the creature in disbelief. I laid the Pfeifer across the driver side door and took aim. The creature stood and roared. I fired. The gun recoiled so hard it hit the top of the door, but my aim had been true. Or close enough. The bullet struck the creature in the side near the hip. Blood splashed the asphalt and the creature swayed but remained erect. It screamed at me one last time before rushing out the garage door and sailing into the air. I did not fail to notice there was no sign of where I had struck the creature near the same spot one night earlier.
My earplugs had fallen out during my reckless drive. The explosion of the shot in the confined space of the parking garage almost deafened me. I had trouble hearing the two uniforms as they spoke to me, helping me out of the car. My right arm and shoulder were numb and my chest throbbed where I had slammed into the steering wheel. I was groggy. As they led me away, I looked back at my demolished Acura and wondered how I was going to explain this to my insurance agent.
10
Things back at the studio did not go quite as Ella Ramirez had expected. Instead of her boss’ lauding her efforts and ingenuity, two men in dark suits and shades and stinking of the government were waiting in his office. They were so identical they could have been twins. As she entered, one of them turned to her.
“We’ll take that, Ms. Ramirez.”
She clutched the video camcorder’s memory card tightly in her hand as she backed away glaring at him in defiance. “Like hell you will.
He turned to her boss, Gil Everson, for support.
“Give it to them, Ella,” Everson snapped. He was perspiring profusely in spite of the air conditioning. “If you don’t, they’ll pull the station’s license.”
She was incredulous. “This footage is worth a fortune! It’s news! We’re a news station! They have no right,” she added defiantly.
The second agent spoke. “This incident is currently under investigation. We cannot risk a public panic by allowing you to air unsubstantiated video. Give us the memory card and our labs will verify its authenticity.”
She stared at him, wishing she could see the eyes behind those two-hundred dollar shades. How could he keep a straight face speaking such bullshit? “Unsubstantiated? My cameraman and I both were eyewitnesses. We don’t need you to verify it.”
“Nevertheless, it is our duty.”
“We have a constitutional right,” she said.
“We’re with Homeland Security, Ms. Ramirez, part of the same federal government that issues radio and television licenses.”
She leaned forward. “Is that a threat? What is your name?” she demanded.
“Agent Hays and Agent Nelson,” he replied, smiling. He held out his hand. She reluctantly handed him the card.
“I want this back,” she warned, knowing she would never see it again.
“Thank you, Ms. Ramirez,” he said. “When our investigation is complete, we will return your footage.”
Capaldi was waiting outside Everson’s office. He shot the agents the bird when they passed. She imagined they glared at him behind their shades.
“We’re not through yet,” she said. “Next time we play what we get unedited.”
Capaldi smiled. “What kind of cameraman do you think I am? I made a copy before I gave you the memory card.”
Ella kissed him on the forehead. “You’re a genius, Steve. Hide it, and then pick me up a couple of blocks away around the corner in case they’re watching.”
“Where are we going?”
“We stick with Hardin. He’s my story now.”
11
After answering a few dozen questions from confused colleagues and having my wounds treated by a uniform with first aid training, I made an excuse and left the squad room. I checked out a black and white unit from the motor pool and drove directly to Joria’s hotel. I desperately needed her input on the remaining juvenile Chupacabra before confronting Captain Bledsoe. I was certain he would not only relieve me of my duties but also place me on suspension pending a formal inquiry. I could not afford such hindrances at this stage of the hunt.
She answered the door in panties and a cotton t-shirt that did little to hide her body. Her eyes went wide when she noticed my condition.
“Tack! What happened to you?”
I pushed past her wordlessly as I stumbled to a chair and collapsed. She closed the door and sat in the chair opposite me leaning forward.
“The creature has children,” I burst out. “Three, I think. I killed two.”
A look of anger crossed her face; then quickly vanished. I assumed she was angry at my going alone to face the creature. “Two?” She asked.
I nodded. “I saw three empty eggs but only two juveniles. The adult chased me. I lost it at the precinct station.”
She reached out a hand and caressed mine gently. “You were very lucky.”
“Damn right!” I agreed. “I wrecked my car in the process.”
She stood and offered me her hand. “Come. Lay down on the bed and rest.”
I let her lead me to the bed, too exhausted to resist. She gently pushed me down. The soft mattress felt like a slice of heaven.
“Let me take off your shoes.”
She untied my shoes and slipped them off; then lifted my legs onto the bed. It felt good to lie back and relax. My shoulder ached. My head throbbed and my chest ached with each breath. Every muscle in my body seemed pissed at me for my escapades. Joria slipped into bed and nestled up against my back. Her body warmth seeped into my muscles, relaxing them but affecting another muscle. I reached for her but she gently brushed off my awkward advance.
“Sleep,” she whispered in my ear. “I’ll be here for you later.”
I closed my eyes and slept.
****
When I awoke, Joria was watching the news. I listened from the bed as Ella Ramirez on WBBT channel 7 finished her report. It was not good news.
“The police have identified the bodies of two more dead girls brutally killed by the Midnight Monster.” A shot of the monastery from the previous night flashed on the screen with police units swarming all over the scene. “My cameraman and I have been following the movements of one of the detectives on the case closely. Detective Thackery Hardin, as many of you may remember, lost his partner to the Midnight Monster earlier this week.” A video clip of Lew and I entering the Sattersby apartment building ran in the lower corner of the screen. They got a great shot of my scowl as I confronted the line of reporters. Luckily, there was no sound. She continued, “So far, five young women, a young man and four members of the police have become the Midnight Monster’s grisly victims. Tonight, exclusively on WBBT 7 News, we will air a video of the Midnight Monster in action.”
Joria heard me stirring and turned to face me, smiling.
“How do you feel?” she asked with a lilt in her voice.
“I was better until I heard the news. That bitch is spreading my name all over the television. City hall is going to love this.”
“Forget it for now. I’ve ordered breakfast from room service. It should be here soon.”
As if on cue, my empty stomach rumbled. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten. “Sounds great.”
More seriously, she said, “Tell me about last night.”
I talked her through the night’s events, leaving out the condition of the bodies. She knew that well enough and I didn’t need to remember. I could still see them.
“How large were the juveniles?”
“About five feet tall.” I cocked an eyebrow at her. “Why didn’t you mention the possibility of offspring? I thought the creature was a male.”
“They are hermaphroditic, as you must have guessed by now, capable of procreating on their own. I did not say anything because I had hoped that I might be wrong. They seldom have young or they would have overrun humankind lon
g ago. My father uncovered legends of more than one creature but could not prove it. We have never seen more than one. If the creature is nesting, it could explain its reluctance to leave the area.”
“How many young do they normally have? I saw three empty eggs.”
She hesitated. “Three only?”
“Just three,” I replied. “Why?”
She turned away. “Nothing. I don’t know how many young they bear.”
I stared at her. Something didn’t sound right. After years on the force, I had developed a sixth sense of when someone was lying to me. But why would she lie? I dismissed my suspicions as unfounded but decided not to mention my unknown assailant. I scratched my chin. The scab had fallen off but it still itched.
“I got the impression they mature quickly. If we don’t act fast, we’ll soon have two adults to deal with.” That thought frightened me. I got up and stretched. I was still sore but not as sore as before my nap. “I need a shower,” I said. I didn’t have fresh clothes to put on but at least I wouldn’t smell as badly after a good scrubbing.
“Breakfast should be here by then,” she said.
I went into the bathroom and removed my clothes. Looking in the mirror, I saw I could use a shave but it would have to wait. I wasn’t going to borrow one of those cheap disposable razors from Joria. The scars on my chin and forehead did nothing to improve my appearance, not that I had ever considered myself handsome. I stepped into the shower and let the hot water cascade down my body, soothing my weary muscles. As I stood there letting the water sluice off my body, considering my next move, Joria pulled back the shower curtain.
“Is there room for two,” she asked coyly.
She was naked. I ran my eyes over her luscious nude body appraisingly. I noticed three parallel scars on her shoulder, barely visible through her tan. I dismissed them as my eyes roved the remainder of her body.