The nightmare, which was definitely fading into transparency, launched itself at me with a hate-filled screech. I’d like to say that I dove to the side, but it was more a collapse away from the path of the creature. I wasn’t in good enough shape to dodge its attack completely; a serrated tentacle lashed out, and I felt a hot tearing across my side. The thunk of the monster hitting the wall was barely audible, and as the elevator came to a halt, I distantly heard a frustrated shrieking noise. When the doors opened, I was greeted by a pair of uniformed Metropolitan Police officers, staring down at me sprawled on the elevator floor and covered in blood. Again.
CHAPTER 25 1535–1555, Monday, August 3, 2015
***Julian***
“Sir, do you require medical attention?” the female officer, on the left, asked me as she stepped into the elevator. Her partner stepped to the side and began talking into his cell phone. Apparently my clever response of, “Unghh…” failed to convince the woman that I was okay, and she was soon calling for a first aider and putting me in the recovery position.
I might have been lying there for about two minutes. My head had largely cleared, and a small crowd was forming around the elevator when the other door dinged open, and I saw the mystery man screening Tara and Ena as they hustled out of the building. I pointed them out to the police. I’d seen too many TV shows and read too many books where people had, for no reason, failed to turn to the authorities when the law was on their side, and I didn’t have Scooby Doo waiting in the wings to bail me out.
“That woman—she’s the one that did this!” Implying to a crowd of strangers that a relatively small woman had kicked my ass was, perhaps, not the proudest moment of my life.
I’d have felt better about my decision if the burly male officer hadn’t visibly struggled to contain his laughter as he began trotting across the entrance atrium to intercept the two OMG partners and their accomplice. I sat still, allowing the first aider from Reception to apply a bandage to my head and side. I guessed that the cut on my forehead might need a stitch or two, but the lines down my side and lower back were little more than deep scratches. I spent the time considering the evidence that I’d accumulated today.
I now knew that OMG was putting some kind of symbol on their clients and going to a lot of trouble to do so. I was only guessing that this mark was the same as the one that I’d seen glowing on Don’s hand, but I doubted it could be a coincidence. After seeing the way that the thing had weakened as we went down the elevator, I guessed that the malign force that OMG was using to rig their bids needed to be within a certain proximity of the marked individuals. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were some kind of time limit in general, given how Don’s body had run down during the fight in the restaurant. Lastly and most disturbingly, I was sure that I was triggering these attacks: first with Phil in the office, then at the restaurant with Don, and finally with Janice in the meeting room.
When the first aider was done bandaging me, I was confused to see that none of the OMG group were anywhere in the lobby. I turned to the female officer, hoping to find out why they were missing. “Ma’am, what happened to the woman who assaulted me? I’d like to press charges,” I said. If I could get threatened with grievous bodily harm for defending myself, there was no way I was going to let women I knew to be complicit in dozens of deaths get away if I could help it.
The officer turned toward me with a stern look on her face and said: “We’ve taken their details and will collect a further statement from them later. I’ll need to take your statement now, but my partner and I are very concerned with what we’ve heard about you. According to the solicitor that we just spoke to, she was only trying to stop you from assaulting your boss, a woman whom several security guards confirmed you were attacking, and with whom you’ve been known to argue on occasion. I also understand that you were involved in a separate altercation occurring here just last week?” She paused, staring at me expectantly as her partner sauntered up. The crowd that had gathered in the lobby had evaporated, and the two Met officers guided me to a couple of couches.
I’d like to say that I was confused by what had just happened, but actually I was fuming. Nobody would accuse me of being short tempered, but in the last few days I’d been: choked, beaten, handcuffed, bludgeoned, burned, beaten again, and attacked by an unnamed horror. And now the bitches who had caused it all were trying to get me locked up. Blood pounded in my ears, and I took a deep breath, ready to let the police across from me know just what a pair of shit-for-brains they really were. That’s when Nick saved me.
My mouth was already open to start a tirade, and the officers leaned forward in anticipation. It would have been much easier for me to incriminate myself in the heat of the moment with a careless word than to successfully explain that a monster was to blame. Fortunately, my phone buzzed and I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. There was a text message from Nick on the screen as well as several missed calls.
U OK? Y No answer? Conference line stayed open. Heard everything. Calling Richard 2 explain. Phil in bad condition in hospital. Bitches.
Officers Friendly and Cuddles, sitting across from me, frowned when I answered the phone in front of them, and I could see them visibly deflate when I closed my eyes and leaned back without speaking. After five or six seconds, the male officer spoke: “You know, the little woman that you claim beat you up mentioned that she heard you might have had something to do with the problems in Leicester Square last night? Said she had some pictures that she’d be sending over.”
When I opened my eyes, the man had what I could only describe as a shit-eating grin on his face. My hands balled into fists like bricks, and my face was an appropriate shade of red, but I replied calmly, “I’ll be going now. Thank you for your assistance, officers.” I stood to leave and limped toward the front door. If the police weren’t going to help me, maybe if I could get across town; I could intercept the OMG partners before they got back to their office and confront them. It didn’t really qualify as more than 12 percent of a plan, but it was the best I had. I hadn’t managed to totter more than five steps when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere until we clear up your little assault, Mr. Adler. If you’ll step over here, we’ll take your statement.”
I froze. Visions of blood and flame flashed across my mind, and I wondered: If I could call forth my abilities twice, could I do it a third time? I was on the brink of reaching for the desperate place inside me where I’d found help before, but Richard came out of the elevator, waving a mobile and leading Janice and Kelly, who were visibly trembling.
“Officers! Officers! These two women would like to make statements, as would I. In addition, there is another witness who would like to make a statement over the phone,” Richard said authoritatively. The two police officers looked him over, and I could see them sizing up the slight, unimposing man. Fortunately for me, the finance manager proved how he’d managed to fight his way up the corporate ladder, and he locked gazes with the man holding on to me, stopping a few feet away.
“This is urgent, and I believe you’d be derelict in your duty if you didn’t take our statements immediately,” he said. I had no idea if that meant anything in particular legally; however, the combination of his agitation and powerful voice drew both of the Met officers to him.
As much as I wanted to leave, I knew that I wouldn’t be allowed to, at least until this interview was complete. And although I didn’t expect the truth, I was burning to hear what Kelly had to say. I was at least a dozen feet away from Janice, and I could see now that her eyes were less clouded than they had been throughout the meeting. As much as I wanted to get nearer, I decided that I couldn’t risk getting any closer to her than I was now.
My respect for Richard grew by leaps and bounds as he explained, with short additions from Janice and Kelly, how the three partners had ended up arguing during the meeting, causing him to fetch Security. Janice confirmed in a few clearly rehears
ed words that she had been shocked into immobility by the scuffle and I had simply been trying to help her out of the room. She shot me a suspicious glance at the end of her speech but didn’t elaborate. The cops turned to me at the end of the statement, and I was the one with a shit-eating grin on my face. “What they said, officers.”
We all signed a few documents; frowning, the bobbies went on their way. I turned to Richard, beckoning him over as Janice slouched back to the elevator. Kelly lingered just out of earshot.
“Richard, I really appreciate your help. I’m not sure if I could have cleared that up on my own, and I know that we haven’t worked together much, but what you did really bailed me out.” I stuck my hand out, and the smaller man accepted it.
Richard glanced over his shoulder to make sure that no one was listening, drew me in close with a gesture, and then said: “When I’m in the office, I see you working late and think that you’re trying to do the right thing for the company with the bids that you get. I don’t want to see you getting into more trouble because of some dumb bitches hawking real estate and an IT guy who wants to award a bid to the first slut who sleeps with him. Keep in mind that I think Janice is trying to do the right thing too, and I’m not the only one who has noticed your little feud.”
My jaw almost dropped at Richard’s words, and I really didn’t know how to reconcile my gratitude with the hateful words that he’d just casually dropped into the conversation. Even as battered as I was, it was slightly insulting that he’d thought that I’d be okay with it, and my newfound respect for the man fizzled.
Before I could reply, Richard continued: “I’ve been friends with Nick for years, so when he called and told me what he’d heard in the room, I couldn’t let those Jezebels drag down another good staff member. Unfortunately, only we know what actually happened in that room, and HR has requested that you take a few days of leave while this whole mess gets sorted out. If you need anything from your desk, please ask and I’ll have it couriered over.” He shook his head sadly and paused expectantly.
I was slightly poleaxed. I knew that it would look bad to be involved in two altercations, but I hadn’t expected to be put on leave so quickly. “But who is going to finish the conference center bid and the stationery supply contract?” I replied confusedly.
Richard cocked an eyebrow before replying at a normal volume: “We’ll finish up the conference center recommendation in the next day or two. Janice, Nick, and I will recommend we stick with our usual supplier”—I saw Kelly’s hand go to her chest at that statement while the finance director continued—“and on the stationery contract…well, that doesn’t really matter anyhow. Just kick it over to Janice on your phone, and she can finish it. Those aren’t really important in the big picture, anyhow. Go home, take care of yourself, and this’ll all blow over in a few days.”
I thanked Richard again and stood still for a minute as he went to the elevator and followed Janice back upstairs. I noticed security guards looking in my direction, so I decided that it was probably time to make like shit and hit the trail. Which was appropriate, because that’s what I felt like.
I was almost out of the door when I felt a hand on my shoulder again. Couldn’t these assholes just let me leave? I did a quick turn on the spot, breaking contact, and yelled, “Leave me the hell alone!”
Kelly recoiled at my words like she’d been slapped and turned to go back into the lobby. If I wanted to really understand what was going on, she was my best chance for finding out. I hurried after her at my best hobble. The security guards thumped in my direction.
“Kelly—wait! I thought it was one of the security guards!” I yelled to her back, which made the security guards really pick up the pace. Luckily, she seemed to want to talk to me almost as badly as I wanted to talk to her, and she waved them back as she came to meet me. The guards stopped but didn’t go back to their posts by the reception desk.
The young Irishwoman strode over to me; up close, I could see how badly she’d been pummeled by her erstwhile partner. There was a bruise on each cheek, a cut under her right eye, and her lip had been split. She was still drop-dead gorgeous, and I felt myself stirring at her proximity. Down, boy. Must have been all the almost dying.
“I think we need to talk, Mr. Adler. I know…we know what you’ve been investigating, and I’m not sure you understand what you’ve got yourself into. Those two aren’t rational anymore,” She sniffled as she finished her sentence, and I wished that I had a handkerchief to offer.
“I think that there’s more of me to get into the situation than you might expect, Ms. MacDonnell,” I replied with a clever turn of phrase, puffing my chest out slightly and throwing her my most confident smile. The look on her face was a delicious mix of puzzlement and repulsion, and it took me a second to realize what I’d said. Julian Adler—ladies’ man.
“Did I mention that I might have a concussion right now?” I said, trying to salvage the situation.
Kelly snorted and tried out a smile, which her split lip turned into a wince, before she replied: “That makes two of us then. I know a place in Paddington where we should be able to talk. Can you make it over there?” The last words were added after a slight pause as she looked me over.
“Tis but a flesh wound,” I replied. As I said before: Julian Adler—ladies’ man. I took one look at the confused expression on her face, turned, and started walking toward the station before she changed her mind.
CHAPTER 26 1555–1630, Monday, August 3, 2015
***Kelly***
Kelly walked out of the door behind the ginger man and tried to hide her astonishment. As a computer geek, she’d always found it hard to choose between the comedy troupe and the programming language but in any event, how could someone be quoting Python only a few minutes after being beaten to a pulp and facing down the shadow creature? She took a moment to consider; perhaps there might be more to Julian Adler than just some Yankee office drone with a Hardy Boys complex.
“I think that you should just stay away from this, Julian. We needed this deal to go through, and the others are going to be very upset at everybody in your firm about not landing this business,” Kelly said, struggling to decide where to draw the line in what she told him. She knew that somehow he’d been able to see the horror that had manifested itself in the conference room, perhaps more clearly than even she and her partners had. However, even now it was hard to admit what they had done, and harder to consider that there might be someone who would believe her when she explained how they’d done it. Kelly was just glad that with the book destroyed, presumably no one else could be hurt that way.
“I can’t do that,” Julian retorted. The man didn’t take his eyes off of the station entrance looming in front of them or break his stride; he just stated his intentions as though there was no discussion to be had and kept hobbling. They were silent until Kelly took the lead; they sat at the same table she’d occupied earlier that day. The big tip she’d left seemed to have made an impression, and a familiar-looking waiter showed up to take their orders immediately: a cappuccino for her and a hot chocolate for Julian.
“What did you see today?” She stopped and waited patiently for his reply.
Julian paused and furrowed his brow before replying, “I saw a boiling darkness, like a living shadow in the light of day. I saw something out of nightmare. What do you know about it?”
So he had seen it more clearly than Kelly had. All she’d detected was a ripple moving through the room, like a heat haze. It was obvious that he’d decided this was going to be a game, a trading of question and answer. Well, she was a computer programmer; she knew how to play games, and she knew how to word queries.
“I don’t know what it is or where it comes from, but I do know how it finds its victims.” Kelly paused, intending to stop there. Julian frowned, and her guilt at what she’d unknowingly helped accomplish spurred her to continue. Her voice trembled as she added, “I also know how it’s called forth and the price it asks for its help.�
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“Tell me.” His eyes bored into hers, and Kelly squirmed in her seat. She already felt terrible, crushing remorse at what she’d done, but she had also expected to be in control of this situation. The man across from her seemed completely focused on getting the answers to his questions and not at all discomfited by the confirmation that monsters—or at least this one—were real.
Kelly spoke, trying to regain the initiative. “That’s not how this works. You asked your question, and I answered it. My turn.” She could see the color rising up in his face, even underneath the cover of purpling bruises, but eventually he nodded, so she continued. “How did you make it go away?”
Julian shook his head slowly before replying. “I didn’t do anything.” He paused but then shook his head again, clearly coming to some decision. “That’s not quite true. I did play a hunch. I simply made sure to increase the distance between Janice and the creature. I guessed that you’d marked her at the last meeting, and I thought that if the thing were separated from her, it would weaken faster. Looks like I was right.”
Kelly was surprised that he’d known about the signs, and if this had been just a few days earlier, she’d have been in a panic about their secret being revealed.
The man across from her shot out almost immediately, “Explain what you meant about the book being gone.”
Kelly was caught off guard again. She’d expected Julian to follow up on the previous question, but perhaps her evasion had told him enough that he didn’t need to follow up. Kelly spent nearly a minute considering her response, and she started to wonder if he was a natural redhead for a moment before focusing again, disgusted at herself. During that time, Julian mostly sat, silently maintaining eye contact, but just before she started to answer, he looked past her shoulder at something.
Dream Job (The Dreamwalker Chronicles Book 1) Page 15