Demon (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 1)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “I talked her into it, Dad. Laura’s in trouble and she doesn’t want to stay by herself. She can be like an older sister.”

  Dan opened the hotdog package while Jenny put a pan of water on the stove and turned the burner up. “Did you give Mike any thought while you were angling for a roommate, Little Sis?”

  “Mike and Laura are meant for each other.”

  “You do know she’s pregnant with another man’s child, right?”

  “It was a lapse of judgment. You told me everyone makes mistakes. Besides, it’s just until she gets settled into classes at the college and has some time to fit in over at Demon Inc.”

  “Demon Inc? Never mind. Quit side tracking. A mistake is forgetting to do your homework one night or losing a bus pass. I’m not saying it was a bad idea. I’m saying it should have been discussed as a family, right D?”

  Demon, who had been standing patiently watching for the hotdog water to boil, gauged who was closer to the pan. Dan intuitively figured Demon’s angle and edged in next to the pan. He was rewarded with a quick ‘arf’ of agreement, which his wife immediately waved off with a look of disgust.

  “I admitted getting rolled once tonight. Play me again at your own risk.”

  Dan chuckled. “Sorry, Hon. It’s a done deal now. Nothing to do about it but make the best of it. Mike and Laura aren’t screaming at each other so I guess Mike’s taking it in stride. You want catsup on yours, D?”

  Demon shook his head slowly in the negative as he watched Dan use tongs to transfer the hotdogs to a serving plate to cool.

  * * *

  Mike looked over the latest model iPad’s layout of phone numbers coordinated with GPS hookup to each of their cell-phones. The app on the next screen gave him shortest routes to the place Laura had used for an example. “Impressive. Steve really knows his stuff. I can see why you wouldn’t need to be at the office to coordinate everyone at a moment’s notice. You’ll probably have to deal with a lot of stop in people curious about what we’re doing.”

  “Mr. Corbett warned me of that, but he has security cameras at the office, each one of you can monitor through your own phones. Do you really think this thing will work, Mike? It… it seems so weird.”

  “Remember that first night we got together with Demon.”

  Laura laughed, rocking and nodding her head. “You’re thinking if I think this new business is weird, what did I think hooking up with you and the Demon was, right?”

  “Something like that. Ever since Demon came along I have direction like I never had before. Anything generated because of him I go along with because he’s not a demon. He’s a blessing.”

  “That’s why you still have a soft spot for me even though I treat you like shit.”

  Mike grinned. “Not exactly, but I remember every moment of that walk home together with Demon while sipping that awful tasting beer. Nothing in my life up to that time compared to it. I hooked up with the best friends I’ve ever had that night, especially my paranormal partner. I then managed some attention from a certain redhead I’d had a crush on during a long walk in the moonlight.”

  Laura leaned into Mike. “I remember the car ride on your lap. That’s when I first knew you liked me.”

  “Thanks for pointing out the most embarrassing moment I’d had up until then.”

  “Hummmm… you didn’t really have anything to be embarrassed about. I’m not very attractive anymore.”

  Mike grinned over at Laura in the hazy porch light. “Are you fishing for a compliment?”

  “Maybe, but I was really fishing for a kiss.”

  Mike turned slightly. His hand covered Laura’s where she had gripped his thigh, remembering the last hand on his thigh had been Gail’s. “I think you look beautiful, but-”

  Laura lunged a little, her mouth covering his with an urgency that startled Mike. Lava heat raced through him as he heard her low moan and Laura’s arms wound around him tightly. Dan cleared his throat from behind the screen door with giggling laughter from Jenny and Joanie next to him. Mike and Laura jumped apart. Mike helped Laura up while avoiding his family’s looks of amusement.

  “It seems my timing has been right on the money lately.”

  “It depends on your perspective, Dad. I think your timing sucks.”

  “Arf!” Demon agreed as he peeked out the screen from behind Dan’s leg.

  Laura had blushed to the point she seemed to shine in the porch light. “I…I’m sorry about that.”

  “No need to be sorry, young lady,” Dan replied. “I only need to know if I have to padlock Joanie’s room from the outside or not.”

  Mike waved his arms with emphasis. “Not necessary. You have my word on it.”

  “That’s good enough for me. Either of you want a hot dog. It turns out even Demon has some will power.”

  A growling, prancing, four legged Demon immediately refuted Dan’s hint. Demon’s audible protest that he had barely refrained from devouring the Ball Park Frank supply in the Rawlins’ household was met with much laughter.

  “That’s okay, D, I think Laura and I are going to take a walk. C’mon with us.”

  A smiling Dan opened the screen door in order to allow the ecstatic Demon to leap from the entrance threshold to the Rawlins’ walkway where he landed with panther like aplomb. Laura immediately knelt to give him a heartfelt hug.

  “Thanks D. I needed something to lighten up that moment.”

  “Arf!”

  “We’ll be back in a little,” Mike said with a wave before taking Laura’s hand and walking toward Demon waiting patiently on the perimeter sidewalk.

  “Knowing you, trouble magnet, I’ll send out the search team if you’re not in the doorway twenty minutes from now.”

  Mike paused, his shoulders hunching for a split second. He guiltily acknowledged his Dad’s jibe with a quick salute. Laura gripped Mike’s hand more tightly, jerking him forward down the sidewalk with Demon scouting ahead.

  * * *

  Dan watched his son, only partially sure it was a joke. He turned to Jenny after Joanie retreated toward the living room to watch TV. He jerked a thumb toward the dog and accompanying couple. “Okay, what’s your take on that, Hon?”

  “I ain’t goin’ there tonight. I have a nice red wine in the kitchen I’d like to sample while we sample whatever mind numbing fare Joanie’s started watching on TV.”

  “I’ll join you, but I’ll put my fist through the TV if it’s Family Guy, The Simpsons, or American Dad.”

  Jenny laughed. “Agreed, but simply switching the channel would be a little easier on our budget.”

  “You’re the boss,” Dan acknowledged.

  Chapter 11

  Final Pre-Fight Disturbances

  Demon galloped in happy circles around Mike and Laura, stopping only for the momentary sniff at all vertically positioned inanimate objects. A three-quarter moon illuminated the cloudless sky with comfortable accompaniment from a warm breeze, unusual for the area. They rounded the corner on Wicks Blvd continuing a comfortable silence, reluctant to start a conversation addressing the same question of where they were going figuratively and literally. The traffic on Wicks was sparse with an assortment of sedans and SUV’s common for the small middle class neighborhood. Mike saw the low slung, black, nineties era Camaro convertible slow down as it passed them. He noted four guys of indeterminate age staring at him as the Camaro went by. Demon yanked at his pants leg before running around the next street corner.

  “Grrrofff!”

  Mike pulled Laura along toward Demon as the Camaro stopped and began reversing with voices yelling for him to hold up. “D thinks it’s time to run. C’mon.”

  Demon waited for them to draw nearer before heading up the next street running parallel to Mike’s. He paced next to the houses, evoking a cacophony of dogs barking. When Demon ran past a house five down from the corner that was quiet, he angled toward the fence gate on the right of the house before waiting. Mike and Laura caught up to him as the Camaro drov
e by in front. The three huddled against the darkened house, making no movement or sound. Mike saw what looked like gun barrels glinting under the street lamps. The passengers stayed silent, trying to determine where their targets were hiding. Dogs continued their yapping intruder alert barks until numerous owners called out angrily at the dogs or journeyed outside to see what upset the dogs. Laura gripped Mike’s arm with both her hands, head buried against his shoulder. Demon remained hunched down at their feet, ready for anything. The Camaro drove on finally. Mike ran out to the street, hiding behind the huge Maple tree growing in the front lawn. He memorized the plate number, illuminated by the Camaro license plate light, and ran back.

  “Quick, give me your iPad. I can call out on this, right?”

  Laura handed over the device after starting the Line 2 application which made the iPad capable of outgoing phone calls. “It’s all set.”

  Mike dug his wallet out and found Tom Huang’s card. Thirty seconds later Huang answered and Mike identified himself.

  “Hey Mike, I heard you had a rough night in San Jose. How-”

  “It’s gotten even rougher, Sir. A black ninety-five or ninety-six Camaro convertible is hunting for us. There are four armed men in it.” Mike recited the license number and where he, Laura, and Demon were hiding.

  “Stay where you are. I’m on it.”

  Mike turned to Laura. “I called the police officer that helped us with the missing little girl and put in a good word with the San Jose cops at the weigh-in fiasco tonight. He’ll send a police car around for us. I’m hoping they catch up with the Camaro. I’ll call Dad and tell him what happened so he doesn’t come unglued when we get a police escort back. This seems to be the never ending nightmare night.” Mike ruffled the fur on Demon’s head. “Thanks for the heads-up, D.”

  Mike called Dan and explained their situation, letting his Father vent about the latest obvious gang confrontation. “Yep, that’s how I see it, but we’re safe, and-”

  Wailing sirens and gunshots in the distance cut Mike short. “Okay, it may be Officer Huang caught up to the Gang-mobile.”

  “I hope only those jerks that were after you ended up with extra holes. See you soon. There’s no way we could have opted out in the hunt for Stacey, so we’ll take it as it comes. I’m sure glad you had that i-thingy with you.”

  “Me too. We’ll be back soon unless we have to head to our second home at the San Leandro police department.”

  “I’ll tell your Mom. She’ll love this.”

  Mike handed the iPad back to Laura. “Can we go out front by the tree, D?”

  “Arf!” Demon trekked in front, his nose in the air.

  Ten minutes later a squad car with no sirens and a blue flashing light drove up. Tom Huang waved from the driver’s seat. “Hop in. I’ll take you home.”

  “We heard shots,” Mike said as he and Laura scooted into the patrol car’s back seat with Demon.

  “That was us catching up with the Camaro and those idiots firing a few shots at one of our cars. We boxed them and they gave up without any more problems. They’re nailed but good. If I think I need more to charge them with I’ll give you a call. As it looks now though, attempted murder of police officers on cruiser cam is gold.”

  Haung stopped in front of the Rawlins’ home. “For the time being it might be a good idea to forego the night walks, Mike.”

  Mike opened the cruiser door while nodding his assent. “Count on it, Sir. Thank you.”

  “Anytime. I know it wasn’t pleasant for you, but we nailed some more bad guys tonight with no casualties. Let’s count our blessings.”

  “Noted.” Mike smiled and waved as Officer Huang drove away.

  “Oh look, Jen, it’s the trouble magnet and his posse,” Dan called out from the doorway. “Only you can turn a moonlight walk around the block into a gun battle.”

  “Thanks, Dad… that’s so sweet. I think D needs another beer. I’ll watch Family Guy up in my room with him tonight.”

  “Arf!” Demon nearly ran Joanie over heading for the stairs.

  Laura stared up at the disappearing Demon tail. “He watches Family Guy?”

  “Brian’s his hero,” Jenny replied.

  “I have got to see this.” Laura headed for the stairs.

  Mike sighed. “I’ll bring the beer, sodas, and popcorn.”

  * * *

  Watching the brutal afternoon practice at Jim Sochor Field, the UC Davis Aggie stadium, reminded Mike of what Stan and Jerry went through every day this time of year in the hundred degree heat. His friends performed well enough to evoke praise from their coaches. Stan played cornerback while Jerry was a sure hands wide receiver. Since it was broad daylight, and the stands were nearly empty, Mike concentrated on his friends’ actions on the field, knowing they would want him to comment later in detail. When two men sat on each side of him, jockeying down from behind, Mike shook his head with a grim smile. He heard movement behind him and glanced back as a hulking figure sat down directly behind him.

  “What’s up, Holmes?”

  Mike met Terry Santana’s smiling gaze on his right with a shrug and grin. “Not much, Terry. Just watchin’ a little football. How about you?”

  “Not too good, Skippy. We have a problem.”

  “I’ll be glad to help if I can.” Mike gauged nearness, facial expressions, and hands as he looked around at Terry Santana’s companions. No hands were showing, and they were wearing hoodies on a day temperature dictated the least clothing possible. “What can I do for you?”

  “Drop the charges on my homey for the gun problem the other night.”

  “Yeah, that’ll happen. Pick something else.”

  Terry leaned into Mike, grabbing his right arm. “That wasn’t a request, asshole! A lot of bad things happen if you don’t play nice.”

  Mike smiled. “Listen to yourself, moron. The cops won’t drop anything no matter what I say. They have your friend with the gun firing a shot in a public parking lot. What do you think I can do about it?”

  Mike watched Santana’s mouth working for a moment with no sound as he could tell Santana had not thought his intimidation gambit through. “You’d be better off getting him a good lawyer. What the hell is all this about, Terry? It’s not like you don’t have skills. You’re throwing everything you have away doing this gangster crap.”

  “You got a big mouth, Rawlins. You ain’t got that damn dog with you today. Maybe you better figure out a way to beg and plead my boy out of jail.”

  Mike kept his mouth shut and focused on the practice. After a minute, the guy behind him smacked Mike in the back of the head. Expecting it, Mike went forward and spun, smashing a knee into the guy next to him before throwing a right hook that caught the guy who had hit him flush on the temple. He crumpled over the seat out cold. Mike grabbed the guy he had kneed, dragging him to the side by the shoulders. The stunned Santana could only jockey to get around his slumped friend. The one who had been kneed held his face with both hands, blood spurting between his fingers from a shattered nose. Mike shielded Santana away, using his bloody friend.

  “You and me tomorrow night, Terry! Take these two fools out of here before you all end up in jail. This was a stupid idea. You want me… fine… we do it in the ring. I can’t get that clown that tried to kill me off no how and I wouldn’t if I could. C’mon… you and me in the ring.”

  Santana’s hands clenched, his face twisted in helpless fury. He heard voices shouting up at them from the field. Cleats clattered on the cement as Stan and Jerry had vaulted up into the stands with some of their coaches and teammates right behind them. Santana yanked his groggy friend struggling to get up off the seat onto his feet. Mike pushed the one he was holding toward the other two.

  Santana pointed at Mike. “You’re dead, Rawlins! I’ll put the permanent sleeper on you. Best start praying the ref can save you.”

  “What’s up, Mikey?” Stan arrived first, scrambling up over the seats with Jerry right behind him.

  “
Terry and his friends wanted to romance me before the fight. He’s leavin’, right Terry?”

  “Remember what I said!” Santana pulled his two friends down the aisle of seats.

  “What’s going on here?” One of the coaches arrived, watching the retreating Santana. “Do I need to call security for those guys?”

  “No sir, they’re leaving. Thanks for the help.”

  “This is our friend Mike Rawlins, Coach. He’s a senior at Arroyo High School.” Jerry explained. “This is Coach Sterling, Mikey.”

  “I’m sorry for disturbing your practice, sir. It won’t happen again.”

  Sterling nodded his head, before looking up into Mike’s face. “Forget it. How tall are you, son?”

  “About six/five, sir.”

  “You play any football.”

  “No sir.”

  “Too bad. Maybe Stan and Jerry can talk you into trying out next year. We could use a wide receiver with quickness. I saw the move you did to take out those two quacks.”

  “I appreciate your understanding, sir. I’d certainly take it into consideration. I’ve never played organized football though. I work as a mechanic at my Dad’s repair shop which takes up most of my free time. I know football is a sport with demanding practice hours.”

  Coach Sterling smiled, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, it is. You intrigue me, kid. I’ve been kept in the loop by Stan and Jerry about what’s been happening with all the stuff off the field. I must say, you guys are well into something beyond my comfort zone. Nice meeting you, Mike. Next time you come see practice, leave your stalkers at home.”

  “I will, sir.”

  Jerry leaned in close to Mike before heading back down to the field. “Forget about football, Mikey. I have enough competition at wide receiver.”

  Mike nodded. “I was being polite. Just watching your practices makes me want to run out of the stadium.”

  Jerry laughed as he turned to go with a wave. “Thanks. I’ll let Stan know.”