Demon (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 1)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Are you in love with… uh… Laura?”

  Although calmed by thrice repeated journeys into Stan’s bottle, Mike had refused the offer to continue down that very tempting path. He didn’t answer with quick words or startled denials. Mike’s thoughts turned to the moments of intense attraction he’d shared with Laura – her moaning delight at his intimate touch and her sudden clutch of arms as she moved against him. He weighed all that with their many conversations, filled with hopes, dreams, and promises. Mike followed his Father’s advice on truth concerning important issues, no matter the outcome.

  “Yes. I doubt she loves me, but I do love her.” Mike sat up and took Gail’s hands in his. “We’re teens. I have trouble figuring out much of anything except right and wrong. Stan, Jerry, Janet, and Connie have been to a place with me near death… as you have tonight. I found Demon or he found me due to hooking up with my friends in a stupid stunt that could have killed us all.” Mike jerked a thumb at the now snoring Demon. “He’s with me until death do us part. He likes you… and so do I. Demon is my barometer of human interaction. I will always be your friend. If you’re looking for something more… I may not be a good choice.”

  “Well, that’s honest.” Gail flopped back to her prone position while still keeping Mike’s right hand in hers. “You’ve sort of bombed my world, Dempsey. I don’t suppose you’d like to be friends with benefits, huh?”

  Mike rolled immediately into a position where he stared into Gail’s eyes in the darkness. “I’m a teenager. I get hard every other minute my thoughts wander. What I don’t do is hurt a friend. I let people make their own decisions and take their own consequences. If you’re looking for a player to make you feel good about yourself, while talking you into doing what you shouldn’t do… then I got nothin’.”

  Gail laughed, squeezing Mike’s hand. “Wow, way to turn a girl’s head, you Philistine.”

  “Philistine?”

  “Yeah, you take advantage of my attraction to you but leave me with the guilt trip.”

  “Not happening.” Mike rolled back and clasped his hands behind his head. “You’re officially off the other than friends list completely.”

  Gail gasped in mock indignation while smacking Mike’s arm. “What if I don’t want to be off the other than friends list?”

  “Not your choice.”

  “What if I want to be your sidekick like Demon?”

  “I’m afraid not.” Mike gestured at the snoring Demon. “See, him and I don’t go out looking for trouble. We get enough of it without searching. If I’m deciphering your meaning, you want to go ghost-hunting like tonight. Not interested.”

  “It was exciting as hell.”

  “Which part? I only remember the near death part. I don’t remember you being all that thrilled either when I dragged you back to the pier. I think terrified would be a better word.”

  “Fine!” Gail plopped back with her arms crossed over her chest. When Mike didn’t take the bait, she hopped up on top of him, her hands pinning his shoulders. A split second later she heard a low, rumbling growl. Gail immediately rolled off Mike, holding both hands up. “Sorry Demon. I was just playin’.”

  “Grrumph!” Demon returned to his spot with Mike chuckling in appreciation.

  “C’mon, Mike. We could have fun doing real paranormal cases.”

  “Are you mental? What paranormal cases? You act like this is a Ghostbusters movie. Granted, we’ve had a couple of unexplainable events happen to us, but Demon’s the only extraordinary thing in the equation. What is it exactly that you want to do?”

  “I bet Demon could find missing things and people. We could be partners in a paranormal detective agency.”

  “You have gone around the bend, Gail. Listen to yourself. We’re still in high school. I’m a mechanic when I’m not in school. We’d be the laughing stock of the Bay Area.”

  “Until Demon solves a case,” Gail replied. “The first time he does something extraordinary out in the public eye, we’d be set to pick and choose anything we wanted to work on. My Dad sells equipment all over the area to law enforcement along with fire and rescue. I’ll talk to him. At least think about it.”

  Demon started snoring again. Mike pointed at the sleeping dog. “That’s a pretty good answer. I’ll sleep on it, but I don’t see anything good coming from it, and a whole lot of humiliation. I don’t know how Demon will react to any added duties. It may seem like he’s my dog, but I’m actually just his human sidekick like I told you before. When he wants something, he can make me do it or I pay the price.”

  “That is so tight! I’ll get him to make you do what I want.”

  “Let me know how that works out for you.”

  * * *

  Trying to slip into the tent with Stan and Jerry without waking them, Mike allowed Demon to go first until his eyes adjusted to the dark. While he spread his sleeping bag on the tent floor, both of his friends sat up. Stan held out his flask and Mike accepted it without hesitation, taking a long gulp before handing it back.

  “Sorry guys, I didn’t mean to wake you,” Mike said when his throat stopped burning.

  “You didn’t,” Jerry replied, looking at his luminescent watch face. “We had a bet going on how long it would take you to shed Gail. I owe you five, Stan, you prick. Whose idea was it to break up your night under the stars?”

  “It was a mutual decision.” Mike slipped inside his sleeping bag with Demon lying next to him.

  “That means it was you. I told you, Jer.”

  Jerry acquired Stan’s flask and took a sip. “You don’t know if Laura will even be back anytime soon, Dempsey. It’s not like you’re cheatin’ on her. She’s with someone else.”

  Mike chuckled a little. He propped himself up on one elbow and whispered “It wasn’t that. You guys should have heard what she wanted to do.”

  “We’re all ears, buddy,” Stan declared. He and Jerry scooted nearer to Mike.

  “Not that. She wants me and Demon to go into a paranormal investigating gig with her. Can you imagine the Demon-”

  “Man, I should have thought of that!” Stan retrieved his flask, taking a sip before passing it to Mike. “We want in. Right, Jer?”

  “I am so in. We could have our own reality show, Mike,” Jerry added. “Hell, Demon would put those sissy ‘Ghost Hunters’ to shame.”

  “Damn, Jer, that’s a hell of an idea! Mike… tell me you didn’t blow her off.”

  “I blew her off. Actually… what I said was – are you mental?”

  “And she said?” Stan prompted.

  “She threatened to coerce Demon to make me do it.”

  “Arf!” Demon inserted from his prone position.

  “I did tell her I’d sleep on it, but I was joking. Never did I think for a nanosecond you two would ever come up with an idea goofier than hers. I stand corrected.”

  Stan gave him the wave off. “First thing in the morning I’m hooking up with Gail and finding out what kind of connections she has that makes her think something like that would work. I wish you would have spent more time getting information and less time insulting her.”

  “Insulting her? Oh hell… never mind… do what you like. Remember though, the only one who has any say in this is Demon. What the hell makes you think he wants to play this game?”

  “Arf!” Demon seemed to agree.

  “Because I think being the star of a reality show could mean a lot of steak dinners, along with ham, salami, and cheese luncheons. How about that, D?”

  Demon uncharacteristically dived over into Stan’s lap. “Arf!”

  Stan hugged Demon. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. What do you say now, Dempsey?”

  Mike shrugged and reached over to take Stan’s flask. He took a sip. “Arf!”

  Chapter 7

  Alcatraz

  “Mike?”

  Mike slid out from under the Honda Accord he had been replacing drive axles on. Work replaced Joanie’s Friday the 13th weekend’s near disaster in h
is mind, allowing him to concentrate on something other than Gail’s paranormal delusions. Demon, who had been dozing off next to the car, looked up at Mike’s Dad with his head cocked off to the side. Seeing Demon’s look of curiosity, Mike decided to push up off the creeper rather than remain prone. When he caught sight of Gail standing next to his Father, along with a man bearing a distinct resemblance to Gail next to her, Mike stripped off the protective nitrile gloves he had on.

  “Hi Gail.”

  “Hi Mike. This is my Dad, Steve Corbett.”

  Mike shook hands with him. “Glad to meet you, Sir.”

  “It’s my pleasure completely, Mike. Thank you for my daughter’s life.”

  “Gail probably already told you, Demon here is the life saver. I’m his sidekick.”

  “Arf!” Demon agreed evoking the usual laughter.

  “That may be but without you along on her ill conceived night swim, Demon here wouldn’t have known she was in trouble.” Steve shook Demon’s paw, which the dog had immediately extended when Steve stroked his head. “Your heroic actions are also noted, Demon. Thank you.”

  “Arf!”

  “Steve and Gail have an interesting idea she says you already know about,” Dan said. “How close are you to finishing the Honda?”

  “Five more minutes, Dad.”

  “I’ll take them to the office while you finish and then I’d like to sit in on this.”

  “Uh… sure, Dad.”

  After Dan led Gail and her Father away to the office, Mike put the wheels on the Honda with Demon watching him from near the driver’s side door. Mike lowered the Honda. He gave Demon a pat on the head, sensing what the dog was thinking. For his part, Demon head butted Mike’s knee as his human sidekick knelt next to him.

  “Yeah, I know, this is not your kind of gig. Steak dinners or not, Gail’s a little pushy.”

  “Arf!”

  Mike chuckled and stood up. “You know what to do if this stuff sounds out of your range, buddy.”

  Demon immediately hunkered down, a low growl emanating from deep in his throat.

  “Yep, that’s the one. I’ll be right back and then we’ll go hear this story together.”

  “Grrumph.” Demon walked over to his usual spot at the back wall near Mike’s repair bay.

  Mike road tested the Honda and took the keys into the office after parking it in their pickup area. Demon trailed him in after Mike waved him over. Mike walked by the main customer counter, smiled at the shop’s secretary, Marion Monteiro, and set the shop copy of the job he’d completed and Honda keys on the counter. Marion, a heavy set woman in her forties with dyed blonde hair had an attitude that matched the sign over the desk: ‘Beware! I can go from zero to bitch in seconds’. She was polite and all business with the customers. Her professionalism could not be questioned, but she didn’t take guff from anyone. Marion loved Mike and Demon, treating them like they were her kids instead of a boy and his dog.

  “What’s this stuff about ghost hunting I’m hearing?” Marion asked in a whisper as she looked over Mike’s notes.

  “Even I’m not sure, Mar. A girl I met at Lake Del Valle has an idea about using me and the Demon to set up some kind of a paranormal seek and find agency. She’s somehow recruited her Dad and all my friends into it. Demon here is the last word on it because he’s the only thing paranormal we have. My friends have stars in their eyes about some kind of goofy reality show.”

  Marion chuckled, patting Mike’s hand while peeking over the counter at Demon. “After hearing the stories about you two I wouldn’t rule out anything. Thanks for filling me in. I trust Demon to smell out a bad deal.”

  “Arf!” Demon nodded.

  Marion shivered and pointed her finger warningly at Demon. “Don’t do that, D! You know how mental I get when you seem to understand every word I say. Go on now to your ghost meeting.”

  Mike and Demon entered Dan’s office where Gail and Steve sat opposite Dan at his desk. Mike pulled over another chair at the desk’s corner near his Father. Dan’s personal office consisted of a desk with computer, four chairs, and a bookcase. A fireproof safe bolted to the floor beside the bookcase contained flash drive backups and any cash taken in during the day. The gray cement floor and white stucco walls were unadorned except for business licenses hung behind Dan’s desk. Mike sat down with Demon sitting next to him attentively.

  “I guess this is where you explain how Demon and I can make complete fools out of ourselves.”

  Gail sighed and Steve laughed. “Gail told me you weren’t too thrilled with her idea. Your friends are really excited about it. I’ve filled your Dad in on what we have in mind. I not only sell equipment to Bay Area Police, Fire, and Rescue departments, I also do electrical setup and prop work for a movie company in the East Bay. They’re really interested in doing some filming of our project if things work out.”

  “Dad already has a case for us to check out,” Gail leaned toward Mike with obvious excitement. “A little girl disappeared this morning during a tour on Alcatraz Island. The park department called in extra searchers and dogs but can’t find any trace of her. My Dad convinced them to let Demon come out and try to find the kid.”

  “I kept the paranormal aspect to myself,” Steve added. “I told an acquaintance in Alcatraz park department that Demon is better than any bloodhound ever. The parents of the little girl are crazy with worry. Little Kelly disappeared during the tour of cellblock D, shortly after being shown cell 14D where it’s always cold inside. It’s part of the prison the inmates called the hole because recalcitrant prisoners suffered through solitary confinement in the darkness there. In 14D a prisoner screamed long into the night about being attacked. In the morning he was dead of strangulation. Kelly’s parents are understandably on the verge of insanity over her disappearance. They refuse to leave the island. Want to go take a look, Mike?”

  “Jesus… I… I don’t know. That’s no game of hide and seek.” Mike looked down at Demon. “Want to go out and see if you can find the little girl, D?”

  “Arf!” Demon stood up and trotted to the door.

  “Dad?”

  “I’m with Steve and Gail on this one. If Demon can find someone’s little girl I’m all for it. It’s nearly noon now. You better get moving. Call me if you need anything… anything at all.”

  “I will.” Mike stood up. “What about-”

  “Your crew is meeting us at the dock,” Gail interrupted, knowing what Mike’s question would be. “I knew you and Demon wouldn’t pass up this chance to save a kid. Dad’s going with us to film the whole thing from dock to finish. Don’t worry. We’re not forgetting what this is all about. I want Demon to find Kelly more than anything.”

  Mike led the way out, nodding his head in agreement. “I know that. The bad part is if Demon can’t help. The parents will be looking to blame everyone involved in this. I know it sounds silly, but that’s how things are today.”

  “Mike’s right,” Steve agreed from behind his daughter. “They’ll be devastated if something’s happened to Kelly and might lash out at everything and everybody. I hope they’re someplace other than where we’ll be during this search. If we hurry we can catch the 12:35 boat. Believe me, Mike, I’m as nervous about doing this as all of you put together. If Demon manages something remarkable, it really could lead to something much bigger.”

  “I’ll take your word for it,” Mike whispered under his breath, glancing down at Demon with more apprehension than he had felt when Demon plunged into Lake Del Valle after the ghost attacked them under the water. “We’re stopping at the novelty store on Washington Avenue. I’m getting squirt guns there and holy water at St. Joseph’s. We’ll stop at Pak & Save to get salt on the way to the novelty store. I’d like to help Demon if he needs us.”

  As if sensing Mike’s uneasiness, Demon head butted him as they walked, eliciting a chuckle from Mike as he stumbled sideways. “Okay for you, D.”

  * * *

  Mike passed out the large loaded squ
irt guns to his friends on the ferry from his backpack. “I’ll haul the salt in my backpack. Don’t pull these out until I tell you to. They’ll laugh us into the bay. I have two extra quart bottles of holy water if we need refills.”

  Mike expected to get kidded about the squirt guns but his friends took the proffered guns without comment. “If we do get into a situation, the salt is in my bag’s second to the last storage pocket. I poured it in loose so you only need to unzip the top and reach in for a handful.”

  Steve, who had been filming the squirt gun distribution, leaned in to film Mike’s showing of the salt. The teens hid their squirt guns within easy reach under their jackets. Everyone had dressed warm, knowing how cold the Bay could get if the sun was under clouds. The fog had swept in across the Bay as the ferry left the pier. With the wind not blowing its usual gusts the ferry cut through the water smoothly. Very little wave action or rocking motion made the sound of gently lapping waves and the ferry engines more distinguishable. They arrived at Alcatraz without incident, exiting the ferry where they were escorted by a policeman waiting for them to the prison main entrance on Alcatraz.

  “Man, this place is spooky even with a bunch of people scurrying around,” Janis remarked.

  Two park rangers guided them down the long corridor known as ‘Broadway’ during Alcatraz’s days in operation. A constant clattering echo heralded the presence of park police searchers looking for little Kelly on A and B cell blocks. Gail and her Dad brought up the rear with Gail holding extra lighting equipment for shots in darker areas, while Steve filmed everything. Mike, Jerry, Stan, Connie, and Janis walked together in a loose group down the wide corridor with Demon prancing slightly in front, his head moving side to side. The dog sniffed and stopped occasionally, the hackles on his neck rising as a low humming growl emanated from him. After a few moments, Demon would walk on.