Night Kill (Private Investigator Andrew Knight Mystery Series)

by RL Edinger

  “What’s wrong with Wyatt?” Andrew asked.

  “He was knocked cold,” Kara answered.

  “Let’s sit down and then you can explain it all to me,” Andrew suggested. Kara gave him a squeeze and took hold of Andrew’s hand. She led them over to Wyatt. She and Andrew sat down on the cushioned floor.

  “The last thing I saw was the helicopter out of control,” Andrew said. “How did you manage to gain control?”

  “It was part of my training,” Kara explained. “We used a simulator to learn how bring a helicopter out of crash situations just like that.”

  “What happened after you landed?” Andrew asked.

  “During the landing, which was still quite rough, Wyatt was knocked out,” Kara answered. “Fortunately there was a hole in the top of the cargo plane, so I lowered the both of us inside. After I got Wyatt secured away, I climbed back up to the helicopter. I grabbed the medical supplies and that’s when I noticed a weapons storage box. When I opened it, I found several crossbows along with arrows inside.” Kara paused to catch her breath as she was speaking so quickly to get all the information out for Andrew. Kara went on, “So I took the medical supplies down first and then went back for the weapons. I knew we had to lead the knights away from the plane. But with Wyatt still out cold, I had to make both sets of tracks. When I got to the edge of the clearing, I found a stick and used it, as a support. When I was done, it looked like Wyatt was injured. When I got back to the plane, I found some twine and rigged up the cross bow traps. It was just in case we had any unwanted guests.”

  “Like me?” Andrew interjected.

  “No,” Kara laughed. She turned more serious again, “After that I needed to get some rest. I had lain down beside Wyatt and fell asleep.”

  “Well, you’re not going to like this,” Andrew started to say.

  “No, no, no way…” Kara protested.

  “We need to go back and get the other helicopter,” Andrew insisted. “It’s the only way out of here.”

  “What about Ana and her knights?” Kara was afraid.

  “We’ll use the secret entrance to get inside,” Andrew reassured Kara with an embrace. “I will take care of Ana and the rest.” Andrew answered. He took a deep breath. “There is one more thing.”

  “What’s that?” Kara asked.

  “We need to find out where Ana has the list of all the Knights of VanHelsing,” Andrew answered. Kara saw the serious expression on his face. “It’s the only way we can put a stop to the Knight’s forever.”

  “It too dangerous of a thing to do,” Kara warned. “If they know you have it, you’re a dead man.”

  “Once I have the list,” Andrew came back. “They are finished.”

  “What about Wyatt?” Kara nodded in his direction.

  “He should be fine here until he wakes up,” Andrew stood up. “We’ll just reset your traps and settle in for a bit. The sleeping area you built, should keep us warm. We’ll need to stay inside the plane until tonight. That’s when we make our move.” Andrew walked over to the crossbows Kara had rigged up. He reset the twine and loaded the crossbows. Andrew joined Kara, who was already lying down, and lay behind her. Kara was shivering. Andrew spooned Kara, sharing his warmth with her. Kara reached back and brought Andrew’s arm over her. She took hold of his hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “When I saw you charge Ana and her knights,” Kara spoke softly. “I thought you were going to die.” She started to cry. Andrew bent down and kissed Kara’s cheek and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “We’re okay now. Soon we’ll be on our way home.”

  “It’s not okay for Talia,” Kara was still crying. “She sacrificed herself for us; for you.” Kara turned over and faced Andrew. “Why did she do that?”

  “For love,” Andrew sniffed. He finally broke down. Kara drew Andrew to her and let him rest his head on her bossom. She held onto Andrew tightly with tears in her own eyes. Kara didn’t know if they would even make it back home. Kara dried her tears and that’s when she realized Andrew had fallen asleep. Kara closed her eyes and was soon asleep too.

  Wyatt jolted awake. He looked around. The surroundings were unfamiliar. Wyatt had a hunch he was inside an old cargo plane with all the wooden crates and things. He looked closer and saw a man and a woman asleep. They were the same ones that had kidnapped him from the castle. Wyatt had to get away and back to Gothica. He moved ever so slowly so as not to wake them. Wyatt finally slid off the bed of old parachutes. He looked at the door and saw the rigged crossbows. There was no way he could use that door. Wyatt looked around and saw the hole in the ceiling of the plane. He crept quietly over to it and used the crates as his escape staircase. Wyatt pulled himself up and was just about out when he cut his hand on the jagged metal of the hole. Blood seeped from his wound. Wyatt licked his lips at the sight of the blood. Forgotten urges consumed Wyatt as he brought his hand up to his lips. Wyatt lapped up the crimson from his hand. Now was not the time for this. Wyatt pulled his hand away and finished the climb. He looked at his surroundings. Wyatt saw Gothica off in the distance. He smiled broadly. Wyatt slid down and tucked and rolled when he hit the snowy ground. He glanced back at the cargo plane one last time, smiled at the success of his escape, and immediately took off for Gothic. Wyatt ran as fast as he could go. He had to tell Ana and his fellow knights where the man and woman were hiding. His courage would surely impress Ana and she would make him one of her elite squad.

  Andrew was the first to wake up. He looked up at the hole. It was still daylight. They would have to wait until dark to slip back into Gothica. Andrew glanced down at Kara. She was sleeping so peacefully, that he did not want to wake her. Andrew turned to check on Wyatt, but he was not there! Andrew jumped up and searched the plane with his eyes. The rigged crossbows were still in tack. That meant Wyatt had to have climbed out the hole in the ceiling. Andrew hopped up on the crates and was about to climb out of the hole when he noticed blood on some of the metal. Wyatt must have injured himself when he climbed out. Andrew finished his climb and sat down on the top of the cargo plane. He could see a trail of blood droplets on the plane and in the snow down below. Andrew already knew where Wyatt was headed; straight to Gothica. He also knew that Wyatt would tell Ana and her knights exactly where they were. Andrew went back to the hole and dropped down inside.

  Kara woke up to see Andrew drop back down inside the plane. Why had he gone outside in the first place? Kara glanced around and saw that Wyatt was gone. She jumped up in a panic.

  Andrew hopped down from the last crate and walked over to Kara, who was awake now.

  “Wyatt is gone and he has headed back to Gothica,” Andrew said. He looked worried.

  “What do we do now?” Kara was scared.

  “We have to get out of here before they come for us,” Andrew answered. He left and went over to the rigged crossbows. Andrew released the triggers and removed the strings. “We need to take these with us.”

  “They will know we are coming,” Kara wailed. “How do we get back inside Gothica?”

  “We have to use the secret entrance,” Andrew informed her again.

  “It will be guarded,” Kara answered back sharply.

  “We will have to be smart and careful,” Andrew reassured her. “Once inside we need to find all the information we can about the Knights of VanHelsing.”

  “When I interviewed Ana for my book, she mentioned a journal with all the names, real names, of the knights,” Kara recalled. She paused briefly as another thought filled her head. “That book also contains the names of all the ‘vampires’ that were killed by the knights over the years.” Kara was more worried than ever. She warned Andrew, “With that book you could put and end to centuries of innocent deaths at the hands of Ana and her knights. It would be too dangerous for it to be in your possession. They would never let you use it or keep it.”

  “It is the only way to finally put an end to their reign of death,” Andrew shot back. He took one last look around. “We need to get goin
g.”

  “Okay,” Kara agreed.

  Andrew climbed up the crates with Kara right behind him. He handed her his crossbow. Andrew pulled himself up and out on top of the cargo plane. He looked around and was relieved that the coast was clear. Andrew told Kara that it was clear. She handed him up the crossbows and arrow scabbards. Kara boosted herself up and climbed out of the plane. She joined Andrew. They slid down together and headed off towards the forest. They would have to find a place to hide until dark.

  Ana dropped down on one knee just at the crest of the meadow and surveyed it through her spy glass. She saw the helicopter that rested on top of the cargo plane. There was no movement. Either Andrew or Kara were still inside, or already gone. Ana hoped that they were still inside the plane. It would make things much easier. When Wyatt showed up at Gothica, Ana knew that Kara was still alive. When her knights had searched the surrounding forest and had not found any trace of them, Ana was furious. She wondered how they could have escaped. The surrounding forest and mountains were virtually impossible to traverse on foot. Ana knew they had to be somewhere close by, but never suspected the old airplane graveyard. Andrew had become a liability and needed to be eliminated. Ana suspected that Andrew might be after journal. Ana smirked that Andrew would never find it, but if he ever did, he would never have a chance to use it.

  Ana looked one more time through the spyglass. There was still no movement. Ana signaled her knights to advance on the plane. They loaded their crossbows and crept forward. Ana loaded her own weapon and advanced onto the cargo plane.

  The knights took up positions at the door and on top of the plane. Ana immediately signaled for the attack on the cargo plane to begin. The two knights who were next to the side door, pulled it open and ducked, but nothing came out at them. They slipped inside as the ones on top of the plane dropped down to join them. Ana entered the plane once her knights had it secured. Andrew and Kara were gone. That meant they were on their way to Gothica. But it was too risky to try and enter during the light of day. Ana suspected that Andrew would attempt it only when it was dark. Either way, she and her knights would be ready for them. Ana promised herself that she would repay Andrew for the defeat he had brought upon them. Ana would make certain that Andrew and Kara would die before the dawn tomorrow. Ana instructed her knights to follow and they left the cargo plane.

  Ana surveyed the surrounding landscape. She knew that somewhere out there, Andrew was watching at this very moment. Ana narrowed her eyes and clenched her jaw. She needed to anticipate Andrew’s next move. What would it be? Ana motioned for her knights to follow and they began their trek back to Gothica.

  The secret entrance appeared to be unguarded. Andrew and Kara watched from the safety of some bushes a short distance away. The sun was starting to set and the light was fading fast. Andrew knew that there were some of Ana’s knights around, but wasn’t sure where.

  “Tell me more about your interview with Ana for your book,” Andrew asked as he settled down. Kara sat down beside him.

  “What do you want to know?” Kara answered.

  “Where did you interview her?” Andrew asked.

  “We were in the library, why?” Kara inquired.

  “Where did you sit?” Andrew continued.

  “Why is that important?” Kara pressed.

  “Where did you sit?” Andrew repeated the question.

  “Is that important?” Kara was still confused.

  “Yes,” Andrew finally answered. “Ana doesn’t do anything without reason. Everything she does has a reason or purpose.” Andrew paused to check the secret entrance area, there was no change. He turned back to Kara, “Ana believes that she is the one who decides who lives and who dies and so on. I believe that it was a power trip that led her to have you conduct the interview in the library. Ana was probably gloating with superiority by having you seated near the Knights of VanHelsing book and not even have known it.”

  “Why wouldn’t she hide it in her room,” Kara asked, “Where it would be safer?”

  “That would be the first place someone would look,” Andrew answered. He stopped again to check the area by the secret entrance. There was no movement. Andrew continued, “They say the best way to hide something is right in plain sight.”

  What would it be?” Kara asked. This time she checked the area. Kara thought she saw a shadow move across the castle wall. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. There was movement. “Look,” Kara whispered and pointed to the shadow. Andrew looked and watched. A few minutes later, two knights walked past the secret entrance and into the shrubbery next to it.

  “So how are we going to get inside and to the library?” Kara bit her lip.

  “I want you to stay here,” Andrew ordered. “I will be right back.”

  Kara watched as Andrew left the safety of their hiding place.

  It was dark now, and the moon’s light was cast upon the stone block castle walls. A cool night air rustled throughout the forest of trees.

  Two knights kept their vigil. A very important task they were given to fulfill; to keep out their most dangerous adversary. He wasn’t the blood thirsty enemy of ancient past. No this one was more deadly. This one had knowledge of their centuries old quest. This enemy sought to destroy them once and for all.

  The forest’s darkness was still now. The two knights listened with strained ears. With tired eyes they searched the darkness in vain. They knew this enemy was out there somewhere, watching and waiting to strike. Instead, a voice unexpectedly broke the silence; ‘Hello, how are you?’ The two knights turned to see, and when their eyes set upon him; they froze for a moment in fear. They recovered and instinctively reached for the cross bows that were clipped on their belts. It was too late for them; the enemy had the upper hand. He struck them down unforgivingly and the two brave knights fell where they stood.

  The enemy knelt down and in turn searched each one. What was he looking for? Minutes later he found what he was looking for; the key to unlock the secret panel. He stopped for a moment and cast down his eyes on the knights. He wondered what their fate might be. What would their master do since they allowed the enemy to enter the gate?

  Andrew stepped from the shadows. He signaled Kara that the coast was clear. She quickly joined him at the wall. Each block was identical to the next; except for the one with the octagon shape carved out of it.

  Andrew took the key; a medallion with the VanHelsing crest etched upon it. He placed the medallion in the stone and gave it a push. The wall trembled and moaned as it opened. Andrew took Kara by the hand and at the same time removed the medallion. They quickly stepped inside the passageway just as the wall started to close. Soon the wall was back in its silent post.

  The passageway was an abyss, but Andrew remembered the way, since he had used it before, to escape. Kara held tightly onto Andrew’s hand as they wound their way through the passage. Soon they stopped. Kara couldn’t see, but she knew that Andrew was listening for several minutes.

  “Let’s go,” Andrew finally said.

  Light peered through as Andrew opened the stone panel. They exited and now stood in the great room.

  “Where is the library?” Andrew asked.

  “Down the hallway, last room on the left,” Kara answered.

  “I want you to find Wyatt,” Andrew instructed her. “Use whatever force necessary to get him to come with you.” Andrew stopped and scanned the room to make certain they had not been detected. Satisfied, he continued, “After you got him, head for the helicopter.”

  “What about you?” Kara’s eyes began to tear up. “Remember last time?”

  “I will be there!” Andrew reassured her with a kiss on the cheek. “One more thing before I go. Where in the library did you conduct your interview with Ana?”

  “There is a grand table in the center of the room,” Kara answered. She finally got it. “That’s where the book is, right?”

  “Right,” Andrew grinned. He gave Kara a gentle nudge to get going and he heade
d down the hallway. Kara watched him go. Once he was out of sight, Kara went to search for Wyatt.

  The library was immense and Andrew stood there in awe, when he stepped inside. He could only imagine the great undertaking in gathering all the books that lined the towering shelves.

  And there in the middle of it all was the object of his desire. A grand table of wood and stone hewed from the very mountains and forest that surround Gothica.

  Andrew walked up to the table. High back intricately carved chairs, twelve in all, lined all sides of the table. The table base was solid stone, polished to a lustrous finish. Andrew ran his hand along the glossy surface of the table top and its perfectly laid edges. He stopped and knelt down to examine the octagon shapes that lined the surface of the table base. Andrew stood again and continued on. When he got to the head of the table, Andrew noticed a slot just below the edge of the table top. He removed the medallion and slid it sideways into the slot. Andrew had barely stepped back as the floor opened and revealed a hidden staircase. Andrew descended the stairs.

  At the bottom of the stairs was a small room. At center of the room was a stone and wood stand. On that stand was the book. Andrew took a step forward. The stone he stepped on, sunk into the floor itself. Andrew immediately dropped down, narrowly being missed by twin deadly arrows meant for any unwanted intruder. Andrew rolled and jumped to his feet next to the stand. He took the book and made a dash for the stairs.

  Andrew emerged at the top of the stairs and was immediately struck in the back. The force of the blow brought him to his knees. The book went flying from his hands and skidded across the floor. Andrew jumped up and turned around to see Ana standing there. She held a sword in each hand.

  “You have become a liability,” Ana was grim. “I don’t like liabilities.”

  “Just let us go,” Andrew replied.