Josh relaxed back into his seat, smiling. “True, but you are a grown, intelligent woman. You are aware of the risks and dangers and choose to proceed anyway. I fail to see how it's my place to stop you.”
“It isn’t,” she agreed. She wondered if that was some reverse psychology trick or if he really meant what he said. Then she realised it didn’t matter because trick or not, she wasn’t going to stop. She sat on the spare chair, opposite Dr Malcolm’s desk. She felt slightly better about Josh now. Every sense she had told her he was dangerous, but at least he didn’t try to patronise her.
“Thank you,” it wasn’t the most gracious thank you ever offered but it was the best she could manage.
“For what?”
“Not treating me like an idiot who can’t make her own decisions.”
Josh laughed. “Oh, Frankie, you are an idiot. It simply isn’t my place to stop you.”
Scary vampire or not, Frankie was just about to tear him a new one when Derrick Malcolm returned with two mugs of coffee. The man had excellent timing. He handed Frankie her mug then took a seat behind the desk and turned to Josh.
“Now then, you had some questions for me?” he asked.
“Yes. I’ll be brief. Is there any way to halt a demon summoning ceremony?” Josh asked.
Derrick considered the question for a moment. “The procedure has already started?” Josh nodded. When the writer didn’t speak again for a while Josh continued. “Is there a spell or prayer we could perform ourselves to block the summoning?”
Derrick shook his head. “Not that I’ve ever heard. Your only option is to stop the one calling the demon. Physically stopping him from completing the rituals.”
“Couldn’t he or someone else just finish it off?” Frankie asked.
Derrick shook his head. “No. All the summoning rituals must adhere to a strict timeline. There’s usually a few hours leeway but the sacrifices must be completed at set intervals. If one sacrifice is missed then the summoner must begin again from scratch.”
“The problem is we don’t seem to be able to locate him,” Josh explained.
“I’m afraid you must,” Derrick’s eyes suddenly looked older, haunted. “It’s the only way.”
“That’s why I’m here,” Frankie chimed in. “I’m still hoping to find him in time.”
Derrick now turned his attention to Frankie. “If I can, then of course I’ll help.”
“I was told you’ve done some research on zombies, among other things.”
Derrick nodded. “I’ve done some research for a couple of books. What did you want to know?”
“Our suspect is using zombies to commit his crimes. I was hoping by understanding why, we might have a better chance of catching him.”
“Well,” he leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “First off, zombies are very rare. It’s extremely difficult to raise the dead and usually more trouble than it’s worth. I’ve discovered perhaps only two actual incidents in my lifetime, the rest are exaggerations or mass hysteria. There are two types of zombie, the first is just a shell, the reanimated corpse. Their basic impulses survive, like the fight or flight instinct, fear of heights and loud noises etcetera, but higher reasoning is gone along with the soul.”
“That sounds like what I saw.” Frankie remembered the zombie, his vacant expression and slow moves, despite his strength. Seeing Alex and Frankie breaking into its hideout probably scared it and it fought until it was able to run away.
“A zombie like that couldn’t commit crimes and escape notice. What’s more they have no reason to commit a crime, their intellect is gone. They can follow only simple instructions but no more.”
“So what’s the other type?” Frankie realised both she and Josh were sitting forward, eager to listen.
“That is when a zombie is possessed. Once the corpse is reanimated it’s taken over by another soul and forced to do that soul’s bidding.”
“So our killer must possess the zombie when he murders these women?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“Why not possess a live person?” she asked. “It would be a lot less noticeable.”
“But much harder. A living person’s soul will fight any intruder and since it’s rightfully their body, they usually win.”
Frankie was leaning so far forward now that her elbows were resting on her knees. “It seems like a lot of work to go to when he could just kill them himself.”
“That depends,” Josh interrupted. “This summoning is the most important event in our killer’s life. He’s smart enough to know that the unique nature of the killings would draw attention and if he’s stopped his whole future is in jeopardy. As far as he’s concerned summoning this demon will set him up for eternity. Would you take a risk with something that important?”
Frankie could see his point. “But he’s being lied to, the demon will kill him when he no longer needs him.” She continued that thought on. “Maybe we could convince him that the demon is lying to him? Special reports in the papers and on the news?”
Derrick shook his head. “I’m afraid that would be a wasted effort. The demon has already gained power in the summoner’s mind and there is no longer any reasoning with him. To all intents and purposes, your killer is insane.”
“So how do you make a zombie?”
Derrick shrugged. “There are half a dozen methods, all different.”
Frankie leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She had her answer as to why, but she couldn’t see how that would help her right now.
“If a demon does make it through to this realm,” she asked, “how can we send it back?”
“The best way is before it’s fully manifested itself in this realm. It will be weak for a few minutes and if the doorway is closed before it’s fully manifested it will be drawn back into hell.”
“Can you be more specific?”
The writer shook his head. “I’m afraid such cases are very rare and I’ve never met anyone who has actually stopped a demon.”
Frankie stood. “Okay. Thank you for your time, Dr Malcolm. Can I call you if I have any further questions?”
“Of course,” he handed her a business card with his number on. Frankie didn’t bother to tell him MI5 already had it on file.
Josh stayed behind for a few minutes but when he finally left, Frankie was leaning against his car door.
“So, where are Romulus and Remus tonight?”
Josh’s eyes narrowed. “I take it that you want something?” he said, standing close to her. He was trying to intimidate her, which only made Frankie angry.
“Yes, I want to know about this demon. I want to know who, how, where and when.”
He gave her an incredulous smile. “Do you really think I’d be here if I knew where and when?”
“No, but I still want everything you’ve got.”
“I can simply move you,” he replied.
“Yes, you could. I could also use every resource MI5 has to make your life miserable but that would be rather mean spirited of me, wouldn’t it?”
Josh scowled at her and she noticed his green eyes for the first time as they began to darken to a deep emerald green. A moment later she felt it. It felt like being tickled inside her skull and the sensation made her shiver.
She considered that Josh would be angry if he couldn’t invade her mind and wondered if she should try and let him in. Then she considered what Josh might do if he had control of her mind and decided that wasn’t a route she wanted to go down.
Josh’s scowl deepened and the tickling sensation began to feel more like scratching. Frankie just managed to resist the urge to stick her tongue out at him.
He finally turned away and the sensation stopped. She heard him mutter, “He said you were different.”
“So are you going to talk to me or are we going to stand here all evening?”
“Not here,” he said, turning back to her. “I saw a pub on High Street as I came in. The Kings Arms, meet me ther
e.”
Before she knew what was happening, he’d moved her aside and was climbing into the Hummer.
Frankie walked calmly over to her car and turned her SatNav on. As well as her car in blue it showed another signal, this one in red. She gave him a few minutes headstart and followed. As she thought, he passed the pub and continued back to the city.
Josh wasn’t in the best of moods as he drove home. Frankie was proving to be a very interesting woman and under normal circumstances, he would enjoy unravelling the mystery. Unfortunately now wasn’t the time for distractions like Frankie, plus she was already claimed by another.
Josh wasn’t sure which fact irked him more.
He could hear that his sons were both home and busy making phone calls to their shapeshifting friends. He hoped they found something because right now, they all seemed to be at a dead end.
He had just sat down and used the remote control to turn the fire on when there was a knock on the door. He decided to ignore it, probably nothing. Alex would call if he had any information.
The knock came again and he reluctantly got to his feet and made his way to the front door. He opened it and saw Frankie standing there.
Adam appeared at the top of the staircase, directly in front of the door. “Need help?” he asked.
Josh shook his head. “I’m fine, thank you. Adam, this is Francis Wright.”
Adam nodded in her direction. “Nice to meet you,” then he left before she could reply.
“You are quite persistent,” Josh told Frankie. She merely shrugged. “I haven’t killed anyone out of malice in more than thirty years,” he continued, “you’re in danger of breaking that streak.”
Frankie simply stood straight, refusing to be intimidated by him.
“You may as well come in,” he stood back and allowed her to enter. Her eyes darted around, taking every detail in.
“You like it?” he couldn’t help asking. He’d spent months renovating the place until it was perfect.
“It’s very nice.” Her voice was stiff - he hoped it was with fear.
“So tell me, do you have a death wish or are you simply incapable of knowing what’s good for you?”
She turned to face him. “Neither. I have a job to do.”
Josh stared at her for a long time. He expected her to blush and look away but she met his gaze, unflinching. She really was an enigma.
He walked back to the study and sat back down. She followed and took the seat next to his.
Frankie half expected to be expelled at any moment but so far her luck was holding. “So, is this place yours?” she asked.
Josh’s eyes snapped to her face and she wished she hadn't spoken. “Yes.”
Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, she told herself. “From what Alex said I didn’t think you were local.”
“I have houses all over the country. It makes it easier when I have to… move on.”
“I know what you are,” she clarified.
“Yes, I suspected as much.”
“I honestly don’t want to hurt you, I want to help. Hell, this is my investigation.”
Josh gave a short bark of laughter. “You think you could hurt me?” he asked, his tone incredulous.
“No, but I can help.”
He considered her for a moment. “Very well. Not because I think you can help, but because Alexander gave you his word.”
“Why should that bother you?” she asked.
“Because trust is all we vampires have, once a vampire breaks his word he will never be trusted again. Now, what was it you wanted to know?”
Relief flooded her system. “Everything you’ve learned about the demon.”
“His name is Baimon, one of the Kings of Hell. He tempts his followers with knowledge of science and some of the greatest mysteries known to mankind. He tells everything the summoner wants to know and binds men to the summoner's will.”
“Tempting,” Frankie commented.
“Indeed. The ritual to allow him full access to this realm consists of four sacrifices, three days apart. Once the first three have been made, a final sacrifice must be performed on holy ground in the middle of the triangle.”
“So tomorrow night he’s going to unleash this thing unless we get to him first.”
“Precisely.”
“And this Baimon is... bad?”
“He’s a King of Hell and Lucifer’s most loyal follower. His first desire once free will be to bring his master across.”
“You mean Lucifer is real?”
“There is a supernatural entity that humans call Lucifer and he is very real. As for him being a fallen angle or presiding over hell, I couldn’t say.”
“So we’re looking at hell on earth, then.”
They both sat in silence for a while.
“Why four sacrifices?” she asked. “He seems to have a thing for threes.”
“The fourth isn’t precisely a sacrifice. He or she will become the demon’s host body.”
“It will possess them?”
“Yes.”
Frankie still had a nagging feeling that the key to this resided in the zombie. Maybe she’d seen too many horror movies, but she couldn’t shake the idea.
“What does the grimoire say about the process to raise a zombie?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Why?”
Frankie shook her head. “I just feel like I’m missing something.”
“I’ll call the professor and see if he’ll send any more information.” He went to use the phone on his desk.
Josh made the call and the professor promised to get back to him as soon as possible with those details. As he hung up the phone, Adam came in.
“Dad?”
“Any news?” Josh asked.
“Not on the demon but Matt Winters of the Grayfur pack has vouched for your new friend.”
Josh had known Matt for many years and trusted him. Shapeshifters didn’t vouch for people lightly. In their world, if you did so and things turned bad, your life was forfeit. That was good enough for Josh.
Frankie realised Josh had given Adam her name so he could check up on her. At least she knew she’d get a glowing recommendation from Matt Winters.
“You were checking up on me?” she asked the young man. He flashed her an apologetic smile and disappeared. She turned her question on Josh who was sitting back down beside her.
“Of course. You are immune to our powers and you work for MI5. How did you help the Greyfur pack?”
“That’s confidential,” she reminded him.
Josh raised his eyebrows, his expression asking if she was serious.
“Fine, his pack was being attacked by vigilantes who saw one of them change one night.”
“And you helped stopped them?”
“I stopped them, erased their memories of shapeshifters and had them jailed for GBH.”
“You erased their memories?” he looked slightly amazed. “I see you have other talents I have yet to discover.”
“I didn’t personally do it,” she clarified. “We have good relationships with a few covens; the memories were erased with witchcraft.”
“I see. And how did you know where I went after leaving the writer's home? I know you weren’t following me.”
She debated with herself for a moment before deciding to tell him. “I put a tracker on your car. How did you know I’d be at Derrick Malcolm’s house?”
“Who says I knew?”
“Derrick Malcolm. You told him you were expecting a friend.”
Josh gave her a rueful smile. “Sorry, that’s one I can’t tell you.”
“Okay how about this one then. I know some vampires can have children, but how can a vampire have two shapeshifter children?”
“They’re not mine.”
“But he called you Dad.”
“I adopted them. Their parents were killed by hunters. I found them shivering, huddled close to their parents' bodies.”
“And you just took them home?”
“Someone had to. Social services are hardly equipped to raise a shapeshifting child.”
“And a vampire is?”
He looked smug. “I think they’ve turned out very well.”
Suddenly Frankie caught the scent of burgers and her stomach growled.
Josh looked amused. “If you’d like some real food I’m sure the boys have enough to spare.”
“I’m fine, thank you.” She tried not to blush with embarrassment. “And what do you mean by real food.”
His eyes twinkled. “I get the feeling you live on a diet of junk food and ready meals.”
“How do you know what my diet’s like?” she asked, feeling defensive since he also hadn't told her how he knew about Derrick Malcolm yet.
“Just a guess, my dear, but I must say,” his eyes travelled the length of her body. “You look very good on it.”
Frankie checked her watch, wondering if she should leave and hope Josh passed the professor’s information on to her or stay until it came through.
“Dad,” Mark poked his head around the door. “Dinner’s ready. We made enough for Francis,” he looked at her, “if you’d like to join us?”
An image of the shapeshifters feasting on the flesh of a cow while their ‘father’ drank its blood flashed through Frankie’s mind.
“It’s Frankie. And that’s very kind of you, but I’m fine, thank you.”
Mark grinned. “Come on, you have to help us. If you don’t, Adam will eat it all and he’s nearly big enough to turn into a hippo already.”
“Oi!” came a muffled cry of protest from deeper in the house.
Josh got to his feet and followed his son out. When she didn’t immediately follow he turned back. “Come on.”
Frankie followed him through to the back of the house and into a large kitchen. The place was rustic in feel, rather as you’d imagine a farmhouse kitchen might look. The flagstones on the floor looked well worn though cared for and Frankie wondered if they were the original tiles. The kitchen units were distressed pine and in the centre of the large room stood an old, battle-scarred pine table.
While the rest of the house was perfect, this was a room she could relax in. It felt homey. The feeling was reinforced when she spotted the two Springer spaniels dozing by the fireplace.
Past Due Page 16