Organ Reapers

by West, Shay

  “I don’t believe it! It’s a device that actually dries hair,” she said.

  Tani mumbled a reply, losing interest. He moved down the street and peered into another window. This one held an array of colorful items Tani couldn’t begin to identify. There was nothing on his world to even compare. The woman behind the counter was bedecked in jewelry that covered her arms, ears, and neck. She even had things sticking out of her nose. He grinned when he spotted a display case holding what appeared to be the eye shades the people of this world wore.

  He moved back to Keena who still had her nose plastered against the glass watching the women get their hair cut. “Come on, I think I found the eye shades.”

  Tani opened the door to the building, the tinkling of the bell startling him. The woman gave them a warm smile as she walked around from behind the counter to greet them. She wore a long flowing skirt of bright purple fabric and a shirt so red it made Tani think of fresh blood. He swallowed against the bile rising in his throat. She jingled when she walked, much like the door when it opened.

  “Welcome! Is there something I can help you find?” she asked.

  “We are interested in purchasing some of those eye shades,” he said, pointing to the display case.

  “We have many to choose from. Let’s see if we can find the pair that fits your aura.”

  Tani had no idea what an aura was or how the eye shades would match up, but he was certainly glad he had picked this establishment; he didn’t want to call attention to himself by having his aura mismatched.

  The woman grabbed several pairs of the eye shades and had him and Keena try them on while looking into a mirror on the glass counter. She shook her head and placed the pairs back in the case, mumbling to herself before retrieving another pair for each of them. When she was satisfied, she clapped her hands and led them to another part of the counter.

  “Alrighty then, with tax it comes to $89.86”

  Tani reached into his pack and grabbed his coin sack. “I do not know how money works here, but I have this.” He spilled out gold and silver coins onto the counter.

  Her eyes hardened and she lost her friendly smile. “Is this some sort of joke?”

  “I...I don’t...this is all the coin we have,” Tani stammered.

  “Well, guess you better get to a bank and trade that in for real money, then you can come back and see me.” She grabbed the eye shades off the counter and put them back in the display case.

  “Please, what is a bank?”

  She rolled her eyes. “The joke’s over, sonny. Leave before I call the police.”

  Tani put his coins back in his pack with shaking hands. No matter what he and Keena tried, they only seemed to make people angry. He pushed the door and walked back out into the bright sunlight, the jingling of the bell stopping abruptly when the door closed behind him.

  He turned to Keena. “Let’s just get to the shelter. We can look for this bank later and see if we can get the proper coin to use on this world.”

  She reluctantly agreed and he led the way once more. The numbers on the buildings were getting closer to the one on the sheet of paper in his hand. The buildings were also becoming more run-down, their exteriors chipped and shabby, and their windows dirty, many of them broken.

  There it is!

  Tani looked at the sign above the door and noticed that one of the words matched one of the ones on the paper. Maybe that’s the word for shelter? He wanted to ask someone, but he figured it would call attention to himself if he admitted he didn’t know how to read.

  He walked up the steps completely unaware of the two figures following in the shadows.

  CHAPTER 28

  “ARE YOU SEEING what I’m seeing?”

  Eli nodded as he looked through the binoculars again.

  “Guess the crazies are coming out of the woodwork. Wonder if they were sent to kill the two, or just bring them back to wherever it is they’re from?”

  Eli noticed how careful Ava was not to mention an alternate world. The men following Tani and Keena made the hairs on his arms stand on end. They didn’t carry weapons of any kind, weren’t significantly enormous by any means, but something in their demeanor made Eli afraid for the safety of the two they followed.

  “We’ll follow slowly and only intervene if it looks like they mean to do Tani and Keena harm,” he said.

  Ava took several photos of the pair with her cell phone and immediately sent them to Charlie. Eli smiled. She was a good cop, quick witted and eager to bring down the bad guys. Just like me.

  He tried to focus on the men walking down the sidewalk rather than his partner. The thoughts running through his head were distracting and impossible. He and Ava could never be anything more than partners.

  Eli knew the reasoning behind such a rule, but it also sucked big time. Detectives and other cops were the only ones who truly knew the job and the toll it took. It was difficult to maintain a relationship with someone outside of the force. They just didn’t understand the requirements, hated the late night phone calls, the days being gone, always wondering if your spouse was indeed on a case or screwing their partner.

  Though he had never cheated on his wife, he had been married to the job. But a good detective had to be; it was impossible to solve murders without immersing oneself completely into the seedy underworld of crime. Eli had done the best he could, but Vicki just couldn’t handle not coming first in the relationship all the time. He had put her ahead of his work when he was able, but it hadn’t been enough. Nothing I did was ever enough.

  He clenched the binoculars, willing the bitterness to the back of his mind. Eli wondered if the rest of his life was going to be filled with thoughts of his ex and how much he wished he had never married her.

  Eli put the car into gear and pulled slowly back into traffic, keeping the two men far enough ahead, so that if they happened to stop, he would have plenty of time to park the car without being seen.

  Tani and Keena had stopped and were staring at the paper Ava had given to them with the address of the shelter. Eli frowned, wondering why they were staring at the paper like they had never seen writing before.

  They probably keep up the act all the time.

  “I just thought of something.” Ava turned slightly to face him. “What if these two were kidnapped when they were babies and raised on some sort of medieval compound out in the middle of nowhere? Maybe they live like the Amish or something, so being in a city is freaking them out.”

  “That sounds plausible, but what about their DNA? And the strange story about the gateways?”

  “Sounds like you’re starting to believe them.”

  “Not necessarily. I just want an explanation that fits all the evidence, not only parts of it.”

  She sighed. “Agreed. Maybe these two will shed some light on the issue.”

  Tani and Keena resumed their journey. They stopped one time to stare into the windows of a hair salon and shop that sold candle, crystals, incense, and hardware for the smoking aficionado. The two men made sure to stay back, hiding in shadows or moving in-between buildings to stay out of sight.

  “They’re not friendly, whoever they are,” Eli said.

  “Is your spidey sense tingling too?”

  “Has been since this damn case started.”

  The pair had finally managed to find the shelter after a short pit stop at the candle shop—what were they doing in there?—and were walking up the steps when the two thugs made their move. Eli parked the car and he and Ava got out, hands close to their firearms, but leaving them holstered for now. They were too far away to hear what was said, but it was clear that Tani and Keena were terrified.

  Eli signaled to Ava to take the right while he approached from the left.

  “You will come with us quietly or we have orders to terminate you,” the man with long hair was saying as Eli walked up.

  “Everything okay here?” Eli asked.

  The long-haired man turned slowly. “This is none of your conc
ern. I have been sent to retrieve these two.”

  “I heard that part. I also swear I heard you say you were going to kill them if they didn’t come with you.”

  “I have my orders.”

  “From who?”

  “It is none of your concern. These two will come with us now.” He reached for Tani’s arm.

  Eli stepped between the two, forcing the big man to let go of Tani’s arm. The two stood nose-to-nose, neither one willing to budge. The man’s eyes were cold and dead; he would kill the pair and leave without ever thinking twice about it.

  “No one’s going anywhere until we have some answ—”

  Without warning the long-haired man shoved Eli against Tani, and both fell down in a heap. Eli heard Ava cry out, and a thud as she hit the ground. The two men ran down the street faster than he expected from someone their size. He untangled himself from Tani.

  “You two,” he pointed at Tani and Keena, “stay here.”

  Eli took off after the two men. Ava followed closely behind him. The crowd parted for them easily, as the two running had already cleared a path. They had too much of a head start. We’ll never catch them.

  He called into the station and informed them of the situation, urging them to talk to Charlie and get the pictures of the suspects Ava had sent with her cell phone, and to have officers in the area on high alert. Eli kept up the pursuit in case the perps changed direction, easily keeping them in sight, but unable to gain any ground. His radio squawked as officers called in their locations, zeroing in on the two men.

  He stopped running and stood panting with his hands on his knees as Ava ran up beside him. She was winded, though not as badly as him. She kept up with me in those damn heels.

  “We need to get back to Tani and Keena in case those assholes double back,” Ava said.

  He noticed a gash on the side of her head, still oozing blood. “You okay?” he asked, pointing to her head.

  She waved him off. “I’ve had worse playing football with my brothers.”

  “Still, should probably get that looked at.”

  “Later. Let’s go check on Tani and Keena.”

  The pair jogged slowly back to the shelter. Eli kept up with the rapid conversations happening on the radio. Just when it seemed like they would capture the suspects, they would dart into an alley or climb a fence. However, the officers were tightening the noose and it wouldn’t be long until the two men would be left with nowhere to run.

  Tani and Keena were right where they left them, though a sizeable crowd had gathered around the shelter. Several people were fussing over the pair.

  “What are we going to do with them?” Ava asked as they stopped jogging to walk the rest of the way.

  “I’m sure they can still stay at the shelter.”

  “What if we can’t catch those two?”

  “We’ll catch them.”

  “And what if more come? Look at them, Eli.” She pointed to Tani and Keena. “They’ll be helpless if more men come.”

  “What do you want me to do, take them home with me like stray pets?”

  “No...well, maybe. I don’t know.” She stopped and wiped some of the blood from her head.

  “I was joking, Ava.”

  “Well, why couldn’t they stay with you just for a few days? You have the house with the extra rooms. Might do you some good to have the company.”

  “I have no interest in babysitting those two. They’ll be fine here. I’ll have a couple of officers keep an eye on the place. Come on, don’t look at me that way.” He stared at the ground and shuffled his feet.

  “I didn’t say anything.”

  “You don’t have to. You think I’m a shit. It’s written all over your face.” Eli rubbed his hands through his hair and growled. “Fine, you win. They can stay with me just until those two assholes are dealt with, understand? Once they’re in custody, back to the shelter they go. Remember, we’re hoping they will lead us back to the other crazy murders. Can’t follow them if they’re at my house.”

  Ava beamed. “That’s all I was thinking, just a couple of days.”

  The look of relief that appeared on Tani and Keena’s faces when Eli walked up was enough to make him feel guilty for refusing to let them stay at his house. I agreed at the end. Gotta count for something.

  “All right you two, let’s go.” Eli beckoned Tani and Keena forward.

  “Why are you arresting them? They ain’t done nothin’ wrong.”

  Eli faced the old man who had spoken and put on his best everything-is-going-to-be-okay smile. “They aren’t being taken into custody. We’re moving them to a safe location until the suspects have been apprehended.”

  The old man frowned and scratched under his snowy-white beard. “Well, if you say so...”

  Ava flashed him her thousand-watt smile. “We’re watching over them personally, sir.”

  The old man grinned and shuffled his feet. “That sounds like a right fine idea. And thank you, ma’am.”

  Eli snorted as the old man walked away. “I said the exact same thing and he doesn’t believe me. You say it and he’s falling all over himself.”

  She smoothed her hair. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Eli.”

  “Jealous, my ass,” Eli mumbled.

  “Are you taking us back to the metal cage?” Keena asked as they walked to the car.

  The fear in her voice was tangible. “No, you’re not going back to the station.”

  Ava cleared her throat loudly and motioned with her hands to tell them more. He sighed. “Actually, you’re coming with me. To my place.” It felt ridiculous to be saying that.

  “That is very kind of you,” Keena said.

  She was so small and frightened, hugging her knapsack to her chest like a child would hug their favorite blanket or toy. The more time he spent with them, the more he felt sorry for them.

  It’s part of their plan.

  Eli knew he needed to keep his wits about him if he had any hope of solving this case. He couldn’t let his feelings get in the way of his job. No matter how young these two were, they had killed people, butchered them. They would need to face prosecution. As soon as we find some real evidence.

  Suddenly, the chatter on the radio intensified. He stopped so he could listen more closely. Everything was jumbled and coming fast: the perps jumped a fence into an abandoned lot, flash of white light, no sign.

  Eli slammed his fists on the hood of the car. He grabbed Tani by the front of his shirt and shoved him against the side of the car. He ignored Ava’s protests and Keena’s wailing.

  “I’ve had it with this bullshit! Who are those guys and where did they go? I want answers, dammit, and I want the truth.” He punctuated his words by shaking Tani.

  “They are Enforcers and work for Master Kelhar. They were sent to bring us back and to find Satrick and bring him back as well,” Tani said shakily.

  “How can they disappear? Nearly every murder is associated with this strange flash of light. What the hell is it?” Eli refused to release Tani from his grip.

  “They used the gateway stones. They’ve returned home.”

  “Not this shit again. I’ve had it with your stories. If you don’t start telling me the truth, I’m leaving you both here, and you can deal with this on your own.”

  “It’s not a story, please let him go!” Keena cried out.

  “You can’t leave us alone. Master Kelhar may send others to come for us,” Tani said.

  “Then. Tell. Me. The. Truth,” Eli said through clenched teeth.

  “What if we proved it to you?”

  Eli turned to look at Keena. “Proved what?”

  “That we really are from another world. Would you help us?” she pleaded.

  “What did you have in mind?” Eli asked.

  “I have a set of stones. I can open a gateway back to our world.”

  CHAPTER 29

  ELI RELEASED TANI and the young man slid to the ground. Keena cried out and ran to him. Ava was standing
with her hands on her hips, glaring at Eli.

  “Don’t be pissed at me. I’m tired of this bullshit about another world.”

  “Keena just said she could prove it to you,” Ava said.

  “Okay, fine. I’ll play along. What do you need for this gateway activation ceremony? Some hash? Maybe a little peyote?”

  Tani stood with the help of Keena. “All we need are the stones.”

  “Shall we do it right here in the middle of the sidewalk?”

  “We require a large area that is clear of trees and buildings. It’s possible the stones will work in a crowded area, but I’ve never tried it.”

  “Fine. We’ll go to the same place the perps used. It’s not far from here,” Eli said as he opened the door to the car.

  He slammed the door much harder than he needed to. They were wasting time on this fool’s errand, time they could be spending looking for evidence to nail these two to the wall.

  Ava’s phone rang. Eli could only hear half the conversation, but it was clear that she was speaking to the captain, and his angry voice coming out of the phone indicated he was thoroughly pissed off. She tried to interrupt a few times, but finally just sat back and nodded and said mmmhmmm a lot and hung up.

  “That was the captain, and he’s not happy about losing the two thugs. He’s got several patrols searching all the nearby buildings. He’s convinced the flash of light is a trick to distract us so the perps can hide somewhere, then escape when we aren’t looking.”

  “That sounds like a rational theory. Did he say anything else?”

  Her eyes were sad when they met his. “There have been a couple more murders. One in Detroit and another in India somewhere.”

  Eli faced the front, too angry to say anything. Even though the victims weren’t in his town, he felt responsible somehow, like he had failed them. The two in the back seat should be on trial for the lives they took, and yet here he was, babysitting them and keeping them safe. Who’s going to keep the victims safe?