Black As Night (Quentin Black Mystery #2)

by Andrijeski, JC

  I rolled my eyes, fighting not to smack him again, and he glanced at me, aiming part of that smile at me, even as his eyes raked over me briefly.

  That time, I bit my lip for a different reason.

  I already knew how I looked, having glimpsed myself in the mirrored wall on the way in. I didn’t really want to do a point-by-point comparison with the woman on the other side of that counter, who was another gorgeous Thai woman about five years younger than me, with a perfectly made-up face done with flawless powder and red lipstick and wearing a low-cut green dress that matched the contact lenses she wore. She looked like she’d never emitted so much as a bead of sweat at any point in her life.

  Seconds later, Black had two key cards for us and we were headed to the elevators.

  He still kept me walking on the inside of him and away from the doors. Now that we had left reception, he was all business again. That cloak came down over me like a three foot wall, so dense I found it difficult to think my own thoughts.

  When I tried, he gave me a sharp look.

  “Stop fighting me, doc,” he said, glancing at me as he punched in the button for floor 10. “Just relax, okay? Let me overcompensate.”

  He startled me then, leaning towards me swiftly and kissing me gently on the mouth. He began to raise his head, then seemed to change his mind. Bending down, he kissed me a second time, more lingeringly. There was a lot more heat behind that one.

  “And stop getting jealous,” he murmured. “It’s fucking adorable and it’s distracting me.”

  When I scowled at him he winked, then stroked my cheek with his fingers.

  Briefly, his flecked gold eyes grew more serious.

  “It’s also completely unnecessary, Miri,” he said, his voice softer.

  Before I could get over my surprise at that, the doors pinged, opening in front of us. Black stalked out of the elevator with his usual, cat-like walk, holding the handle of the long case in one hand while I lugged the leather bag, tugging it back up to my shoulder when it slid down my arm. I started to follow him but he held up a hand, signaling me to wait. Jamming my thumb down on the “Open Doors” button, I did as he asked. Only after he’d scanned the hallway in both directions and checked a corner alcove did he wave me out of the car.

  “Okay, doc.” His eyes never stopped searching the corridors.

  Releasing the button I’d hit when he told me to wait, I followed him out when he motioned for me. The elevator doors closed pretty much the second I left the car.

  We stood in front of 1013 not long after that.

  He handed me the keycard, watching the corridors again as I opened the door.

  Once inside, he made me wait by the entrance while he scoped out the entire suite. It seemed like I stood there for a long couple of minutes before he pinged me an all-clear.

  “It’s okay, doc,” he called out. “You can come in.”

  I walked into the living room, where he was already laying the silver case on the floor and flipping numbers on the combination lock to get it open, wincing as he jarred his hurt shoulder. He had it unlocked seconds later, and then I saw him unsnapping the catches and flipping open the hard lid.

  He stood up briefly, pulling out chairs and then dragging an eight-foot dining room-sized table away from the longest of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the two-story suite. The place was bigger than my old apartment in the Richmond, I noted, glancing around––and probably intended more for families than couples staying here.

  Once he’d cleared a space on the hardwood floor, he began assembling the gun.

  “Is that an M-82?” I asked him, frowning.

  “Modified, yes.”

  I nodded. I recognized it from field training. But the barrel looked longer. And something was different about the way it connected with the receiver.

  If he heard me thinking about it, he didn’t bother to answer my questions.

  “Are you going to be able to fire it with that shoulder?” I said.

  He gave me a faint smile. “Yes.”

  Exhaling, I folded my arms, watching him fit the pieces together for a moment before I went back to scoping the layout of the suite.

  A full kitchen and bar stood to my left, just past the end of the corridor that made up the foyer. A wraparound sectional sofa and a massive wall-mounted LCD television stood directly in front of me. To the left of the bar lived the bottom of the staircase to the second floor of the suite, and to the right of that was where Black had cleared a space to work on the floor next to floor-to-ceiling windows that stretched twenty feet overhead.

  A corridor snaked off to my right, leading to what I assumed had to be the master bedroom and possibly a bathroom, since I’d heard the receptionist telling Black the room had its own private jacuzzi with a view of the river. Upstairs had to be more bedrooms.

  I leaned against the bar next to the espresso maker, watching Black as he checked the bolt of the gun. Wanting to get closer, I started to walk in his direction.

  He gave me a sharp look, holding up a hand.

  “Stay where you are, doc,” he said. “You’re good right there for now.”

  “Why?” I said, stiffly.

  “I don’t want you near the windows.”

  I let out a frustrated exhale. “Black. It’s not me he’s trying to kill.”

  He shrugged, unmoved. “I’m not getting too close to the windows either,” he said, not looking up as he adjusted the scope on top of the rifle.

  He pulled out the bipod legs on the front of the barrel, setting it on the cloth he’d placed on the section of hardwood floor he’d cleared at the base of the window. Lying down on the floor on his stomach, he slid forward, pressing the recoil pad on the stock against his good shoulder as he aimed the barrel at the opposite building––the same white, European-style building I remembered from our shared vision earlier.

  He propped his hurt arm on one of the cushions from the couch, presumably to take some of the pressure off the muscles and joint as he used that as his trigger hand.

  Settling his weight as he looked through the scope, he grunted. “...Or hadn’t you noticed I got us on the 10th floor, so he wouldn’t have direct line of sight?” he added, without looking up.

  I had noticed that, so I didn’t answer.

  Anyway, I could tell Black was still dealing with his own issues with everything that had happened today, if in his quieter yet arguably more violent way.

  “I’ll need you over here in a minute anyway,” he added, gruff. “But stay behind me. And on the floor.”

  “How do you plan to get him near the window?” I said, frowning. “He would think of this, you know. He’s not stupid.”

  “Neither am I, doc. Just trust me okay?”

  I nodded, getting a sliver of a snapshot off him that time. I still felt so entwined in him and his mind that I could feel pieces of what he intended. I still couldn’t feel anything about the deal he’d made with Anders though, so I knew he had some control over what he showed me.

  When he finished with the gun, positioning it where he wanted it, he glanced at me again from where he leaned over the stock, motioning me towards him.

  “Okay, Miri,” he said. “Come here. Stay well behind me, okay? Please?”

  I moved up next to where he bent over. I watched him adjust the back leg on the stock, shoving it back into the recoil pad so he could press it flat against his shoulder.

  Reaching into the bag where he had a few more of the .50 caliber magazines that went with the M-82, he pulled out a pair of binoculars and handed them to me. Relaxing a little, I took them gratefully, then aimed them down at the building where he had the rifle pointed.

  “How are you going to get him to go to the window?” I said again.

  “You have it, right?” Black said, ignoring my question. “Eighth floor. Third window from the right...?”

  “I’ve got it,” I said. “No target.”

  “Can you see Lawless?”

  Frowning, I lowered the
binoculars briefly then raised them again. The second time I scanned the room, I looked for Lawless, not Solonik. I found him almost at once. His head was partly blocked by the curtains and it was low since he sat by the bed. His white hair had blended in with the sheets and the white wall behind him, but it was definitely him.

  “Solonik’s not going to stand by the window, Black.”

  “He has to pass it to get to the door.”

  “Why would he go to the door?” I frowned, lowering the binoculars again. “He’s not going to fall for a fire alarm, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  Black smiled grimly, without taking his eyes off the scope. “I don’t need a fire alarm, baby,” he said, his hand on the trigger mechanism. “I’ve got you.”

  Realizing what he intended, I tensed at the second snapshot he sent me, but I didn’t argue. Instead I knelt behind him, fighting the impulse to touch him where he lay. I knew that would be a terrible idea, given what he was doing.

  “It might not work,” I muttered, back to looking through the binoculars.

  “It’ll work.” Black’s voice held zero doubt. “I’m going to do it now, okay? We’re coming up on the hour. I don’t want him getting trigger happy and killing the kid...or that old fuck Lawless for that matter. Bastard owes me after all this.”

  Hesitating only a bare second, I nodded.

  “Okay,” I said. “I’m ready.”

  I felt Black’s mind reach out almost the instant I thought it.

  That time, he aimed for Solonik directly. He was still careful as he did it, hovering overhead like we had before, looking down on the hospital room where Lawless’s grandson lay on the bed, eyes closed, and where Lawless himself sat on a chair next to him, clutching Pete’s hand.

  From this angle, I could see exactly where Solonik was. He stood in the far corner, away from the window and away from the outer walls. I knew he was paranoid enough to do that to avoid anyone aiming a gun at him through the plaster and wood.

  I also knew Black wouldn’t get a direct hit that way anyway, not from here.

  The barest flavor of me leaked through Black’s light.

  Solonik looked up, unholstering his gun.

  I saw his eyes widen slightly, right before he looked towards the window. A flicker of an image of me passed through Black. An image of me huddled in the white SUV in the parking lot behind the L-Tune Hotel, waiting for him. Alone.

  Suddenly, Solonik’s presence ran smack up against Black’s.

  How stupid you think I am? he sent. You think I walk out of here, looking for her, when I know you have gun aimed at my head this very minute? That what you think, pup?

  I think I’ve got her and you don’t, Black sent back coldly.

  Solonik smiled, looking up through the blurred lines of that other space. His eyes glowed almost white, pale stars tinged with violet.

  So...what? Solonik sent, amused. You are threatening to kill our girl now? Is that it? You would kill my precious girl, just to spite me? His thoughts grew exponentially colder. You have no idea what I would do to you, pup...if such a thing were to happen. You would wish yourself dead a thousand times over if you hurt a single hair on her head...

  She’d still be gone, Black retorted.

  Why would you do this? Solonik sent. Why hurt her?

  His voice still sounded deceptively casual in my head, but I could feel the beginnings of a fainter worry there. Some part of him was scouring over everything he knew about Black, trying to decide if Black might be serious.

  Moreover, I could feel what Black was doing, what he was projecting.

  He was letting Solonik think he was as twisted as he was.

  ...Why would you kill one of ours? Solonik said. Why? When there are no others like her?

  A cloud of revulsion came off Black’s light, making me wince.

  She’s not ‘one of ours,’ you sick fuck, he sent. She’s a dirtblood half-breed, however much you like defiling yourself with her. An abomination. Why the hell do you think I kept my cock away from her cunt?

  I flinched, but didn’t look at him.

  If you do not want her, give her to me, Solonik coaxed. We walk away, both of us.

  It’s too late for that, asshole, Black said.

  Why? Solonik sent. Why is this too late, brother? We can be reasonable. We just have a little misunderstanding, you and I. You no want her, give her to me. We both walk away...

  And you go back to killing my kids? Is that it?

  This is not me! I am not killing kids! Solonik held up his hands, staring up at the ceiling. His lips moved and I found myself thinking he was speaking aloud. I did not do this! I tell ilya this...you ask her! Just do not hurt her, please. Give her to me, and I will not harm you.

  Who’s doing it then? Who’s targeting my people?

  They are human! Solonik sent. Why you even care about this?

  They’re my fucking humans, Black said coldly. They’re mine. Do you get that? They’re under my protection. And I’m tired of this bullshit...I want to know who’s doing it. And why. They’ve obviously got some kind of beef with me.

  Solonik shook his head. I do not know his name. He is seer...

  Of course he’s a fucking seer! Black snapped. Do you think I’m an idiot? If he’s not you, he’s working with you. Who is he? Does he work for Lucky?

  I bit my lip, trying not to react to the conversation.

  I knew I had to keep my mind quiet, as inconspicuous as possible.

  I do not know his name! Solonik said, holding his hands up. He leaves the bodies for me sometimes. He leaves the bodies...with instructions. I do this, and I purify their souls.

  Why? Black snapped. Why would you do this?

  Even worms need a clean death...it is in the books, brother.

  Is he local?

  No...no, he is not from here.

  Why is he doing it, Solonik? Did he tell you?

  I do not know, the other seer sent, exhaling in irritation. He held up his hands once more, including the one gripping his gun. I know only that he does not like you, brother. He laughs about this...about the children. He says he take away your pets. He fuck them like what happened to you, when you are small...then he kills them. It is message, he says. He says you understand this message...that you come here to save the little children.

  Pausing, Solonik made another of those strange shrugs with his hands.

  He says he will break anything you try to keep pure, brother...

  I felt sickness on Black, echoing through me, bringing bile to my throat. He glanced at me, a bare instant, then focused back through the scope.

  I felt that harder grief settle somewhere in his gut.

  What else? he growled.

  He tells me this, that is all, Solonik said. He tells me you are unwilling when you are young. But that is all. I know nothing else...I swear it!

  What does he look like?

  I do not know this either. He wears mask...wooden Thai mask. He jokes that he is demon, that he is everyone and no one. He says he is Death too. It is always riddles with him. Always bullshit and riddles. Now please, please...give her to me. Give her to me, and I will not harm you...I promise!

  Rage expanded off Black. That time, it felt real.

  You promise? he sent. What’s your fucking promise worth?

  It is worth everything in this, brother. I love her. Give her to me and I will never harm you or yours again. I vow it...

  I fought with the revulsion that swam over me at his words.

  More than that, the emotion I felt behind them.

  I can’t give her to you, Black sent coldly, still staring down the rifle’s scope. Lucky tasked me to watch over her. He’s not going to be okay with me letting some half-breed loose, especially in the hands of a brother who’s gone apeshit because he can’t control his cock. Lucky told me to get rid of her if she posed any kind of risk––

  She’s no risk! Solonik sent, that fear shining brighter. She’s no risk! I promise you! I make
sure of this. I guard her for you...I fix this with Lucky, you’ll see...

  Disgust once more plumed off Black’s mind. Of course she’s a goddamned risk. She’s half human. Do you really not understand what that means?

  She’s seer! Solonik burst out. Who cares about her fucking parents?

  I felt the flicker of understanding on Black and realized he hadn’t been sure if Solonik knew exactly what I was. But Solonik’s mind overpowered the whispers of Black’s I felt, even sitting so close to him. I felt Solonik’s worry intensify, along with a rage he was barely suppressing as he thought about his options, what he could do to Black. I watched him through Black’s mind, saw him grip the gun he held in both hands, glancing towards the bed where Pete lay.

  I kill your pet humans, he sent.

  Go ahead, Black retorted. What the fuck do I care?

  So why are you here? Solonik sent. What do you want from me?

  Black gripped the gun tighter, still staring down the scope. What do I want? Are you fucking serious right now? I want you to call Lucky. He’s blaming me for your batshit crazy, so I told him I’d deal with it myself. Turn yourself in to him, and the female lives.

  No! Solonik said, holding up a hand. No! Just give her to me. We walk away.

  I can’t fucking give her to you, Black snapped. Either you turn yourself in to Lucky now, or I’m going to put a bullet in her head. It’s that simple.

  I give you the seer...the one who is killing kids! Solonik offered, holding up his hand. I give you him instead...you give me the female. We both walk away.

  Not good enough... Black growled. I’d have a price on my head before I left the city.

  I kill Lucky then, Solonik offered. Solve both our problems.

  Black let out a low chuckle. Jesus, you really are desperate.

  I do it. I can get close to him. I know what he looks like...I promise you. Just give me the female, I take care of this for both of us...

  Black shook his head, clicking. Call Lucky. You have thirty seconds to leave that room and pick up the phone...or I fire.

  How I know you not kill me? Solonik sent.

  I don’t kill fellow seers unless I have to. You’ll just have to trust me on that.

  So what about her? Solonik cried out. Why would you kill her?