Vicarious

by Jon F. Merz

  “I think I’m doing fine.”

  “Oh yeah, you’re doing great,” said Kwon. “The only woman who’s shown you any kind of interest in all the years we’ve known each other has you flip-flopping over her profession. You’ve got some kind of galactic battle brewing between the powers of good and evil, possibly involving Satan himself, and you’re sitting in a crappy car on Beacon Hill – in the rain no less - talking to some slick gigolo Korean when you oughta be out doing anything related to what I just said.” He took a sip from his thermos. “You’re doing great. No doubt. No doubt.”

  “I can’t believe we’re discussing this.”

  “Hey, you dragged me out here. I was all happy with my former plans for this evening.”

  “Yeah but we have to discuss this?”

  “I don’t watch TV. Besides, this is the most relevant thing in both our lives right now. May as well hash it out if we can.”

  I’m tired of discussing my non-existent love life, thought Curran. “So you’re convinced that there really is a Soul Eater?”

  “Sure.”

  “You say it so cavalier.”

  “Nope. Just acknowledging what makes the most sense.” Kwon sighed. “Look, I’m a man of science. I deal in human bodies. I see the results of civilization and lifestyle on a very physical basis. You eat a lot of red meat and don’t exercise, I see pounds of undigested gunk in your intestinal tract. You smoke butts – ahem – and you end up with black lungs. You screw everyone you meet and don’t play it safe, you get - ”

  “- what’s your point?”

  “The point, super cop, is that the one thing I don’t see is how this world affects us on a spiritual level. See, I’ve got no scientific facts and figures that will help me figure out why someone who is otherwise super healthy will just drop dead. So, when I run up against something like that, I usually find I’m pretty open to explanations that I might not otherwise be.”

  “And you think I should be, too?”

  “Probably make your life a lot less stressful.”

  Curran listened to the rain hitting the roof of the car. “It’s not that easy for me.”

  “You know what I think?”

  “Do I want to?”

  “Probably not. I think you’re just scared to start believing again. That nasty-ass priest freaked your belief system up real good. You’ve never wanted to believe in a God since that day because you couldn’t fathom how someone supposedly so super-powerful would ever let an evil man do that kind of stuff.”

  Curran stared at Kwon. Kwon eyed him back.

  Curran chewed his lip. “Mind if I smoke?”

  “I absolutely mind. Don’t kill me with your passive suicidal tendencies.”

  “You’re drinking.”

  Kwon raised one eyebrow. “There’s no evidence that liquor burps will kill you. Leave the butts where they are.”

  Curran cracked the window. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Maybe I am.”

  “Doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  “Self-revelation doesn’t work that way. Despite what Oprah says.”

  Curran glanced at him and grinned. “Thanks for hanging out tonight.”

  “Forget it. Next time I’ll just unplug my phone so you can’t call.”

  Curran’s phone rang. He picked it up. “Yeah?”

  “Steve?”

  Lauren. Curran smiled. “Hey.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Beacon Hill. In the cold rain. Kwon’s with me.”

  “Can you come pick me up?”

  “Where are you?”

  “Marlborough Street.”

  Curran frowned. Something about her voice. Anger? No. Fear. “You okay?”

  “Steve.” She paused. “I think someone’s following me.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lauren marveled at the way Marlborough Street could go from looking like a picturesque and homey slice of upscale urban life to a shadowy enclave of hidden secrets and deeper fears. The dogwood trees that blossomed white in the Spring groaned under the gusts of cold wind whipping through the street. Cold rain and sleet sprayed across her face even though she waited under the entryway of the secret library. The closest streetlight put out a pitiful amount of illumination that barely penetrated the ravenous shadows lingering on the yellowed fringes.

  Please hurry, Steve, she thought.

  She wasn’t sure when she’d become aware of him. She wasn’t sure when he’d started following her.

  But she knew he was there.

  Right now.

  Close.

  She could feel him lurking. A presence. Out of sight, but still nearby. Waiting.

  But for what?

  Was it the Soul Eater? Or just someone who had some other unnatural interest in her? She supposed she was attractive enough to warrant a stalker. But it had never happened before. And things hadn’t gotten strange like this until she’d gotten mixed up with Steve.

  And his case.

  The bushes closest to the stairs shifted. She jumped. A lone gray striped Tabby cat, its fur matted down wet and cold slunk along the edge of the building looking for a place to lay low for the night.

  Lauren exhaled.

  She knew the trip from Beacon Hill to her location shouldn’t take long. But every second seemed to crawl. Every minute took an hour. Every breath a lifetime of worry.

  Behind her, the doors to the library were locked up tight for the night. The lone staff member had already gone home.

  Lauren stood on the front stoop.

  Alone.

  Did he know that? Did her stalker know she waited by herself? Was he watching her right now, smiling to himself at her obvious discomfort and fear? Maybe he could smell it bleeding off her in waves the way sharks do when they scent their prey from miles away.

  Lauren imagined the vibrations emanating from her body in ripples that fed out into the night. She could picture the predators who knew how to tune into those ripples. She could see them hungering for her. Salivating. Reaching for her…

  Another cold wind snapped across the front of the building. A rustle in the wet leaves to her right sounded like a footstep. And then another sounded even closer.

  Lauren drew herself into the shadow of the column closest to her. She wondered if its darkness would shield her from view.

  Steve, hurry!

  The wind rose and the dogwoods moaned, bending and weaving like eerie wooden specters. Lauren shivered and shrunk into the depths of her overcoat. She gripped her house keys in her right hand, trying to remember the self-defense techniques she’d learned in that course from years back.

  A clap of thunder boomed. She jumped again.

  A flash of lightning lit up the whole street.

  And on the edge of her vision, she saw him. The details came at her fast. Fragmented by the brevity of the illumination.

  A man.

  Black overcoat. A cape? A mustache.

  And…a smile?

  From the subway the other night!

  The darkness swallowed him up again.

  And Lauren heard his footsteps. Clear this time. She felt sure he was coming for her now. Felt sure he knew she was alone.

  Vulnerable.

  Twin blazes of white light cut down the street at speed. She heard the car’s engine gunning, heard the brakes squeal as the driver slammed his foot down. A blue strobe light rebounded off the homes nearby.

  Steve!

  Dr. Kwon came out of the car and Curran came out of the other side. He rushed over to her and she fell into his arms. And breathed in the security of his body warmth, felt his arms wrap around her.

  “Where is he?”

  She looked up and saw a different man. Gone was the steely-eyed detective she’d met days ago. In his place she saw the ferocity and determination of a man who hunted.

  She pointed. “Over there.”

  Curran looked at Dr. Kwon.
“Look after her.”

  “You got it.”

  A flashlight and a pistol materialized in Steve’s hands. He edged across the street, the heavy beam of the flashlight arcing through the darkness. The barrel of his gun moved where the beam did. Tracking. Ready to fire.

  She felt Kwon’s arm come around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it. Steve will bag him no sweat.”

  “You’re sure?”

  Kwon chuckled. “Seen him work a few times. He knows what he’s doing, that’s no lie.”

  They watched him cross the street. He moved slowly, always panning left to right. He bent down once and then stood back up. He checked further down the street.

  But after five minutes, Curran came back, pistol and flashlight lowered but still ready. “No one there.”

  “I saw him. He was waiting for me.” She looked at him. “Steve, you’ve got to believe me.”

  He nodded. “I do.” He gestured to Kwon. “Let’s get in the car.”

  Kwon hopped in the back seat while Lauren took the front passenger’s side. Curran got in the car and locked the doors. He turned and faced Lauren.

  “When did you notice him?”

  “I don’t know really. It was like one minute I was perfectly fine and the next I knew he was out there. Like I could feel the weight of his stare. And I just knew.”

  Curran nodded slowly. “What did he look like?”

  “When the lightning flashed I only saw him for a moment. A mustache. Black overcoat. I thought it was a cape at first, but I think it was just a flowing coat of some sort.”

  “Was he white, Asian, black – what?”

  “He looked white, but not pale. Swarthy kind of. Almost olive skinned if that makes sense.”

  “Would you recognize him if you saw him again?”

  She paused. Would she? The light had been on and off again so fast that she wasn’t sure. “I don’t know. But I think he was on the subway with me last night.”

  “Last night?”

  “After you left. On the way home.” She glanced back at Kwon who was already shooting Curran a dirty look. “I insisted on taking myself home, Dr. Kwon.”

  Kwon’s gaze softened and he leaned over the seat. “You sure there was someone out there, Curran?”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  “But you didn’t find anyone.”

  “No. I didn’t. But I found this.” He held up his right hand and Lauren saw the circular object.

  “What’s that?”

  Curran handed it to her. She turned it over in her hand and examined it under the dim glow of the car’s interior light. “Some kind of button?”

  “What I’d guess,” said Curran. “But it’s old. Very old.”

  “It looks like it’s made out of…bone?”

  “My guess, yeah.” Curran took it from her and handed it over to Kwon. “Ever seen anything like this before, pal?”

  Lauren heard Kwon clear his throat. “Looks like it’s definitely bone. Hard to tell from what though.”

  “Could it be human?”

  “I can’t tell without running it through the lab. But yeah, it could be, I suppose.”

  “Could you tell how old it is?”

  “Sure, we could carbon date it. Take a little time, though.”

  Lauren looked at him. “You really think it’s human bone?”

  Curran shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You sure this came from our guy?” asked Kwon.

  Curran pointed through the rain-slicked windshield. “I found it over there in a recessed portion of the brownstone’s wall.”

  “Could have been dropped by anyone, though,” said Kwon.

  “It wasn’t wet yet,” said Curran quietly. “Which means it must have just dropped onto the ground. Presumably when whoever was over there heard us roll up.”

  Lauren shivered. “Can you turn the heat up, Steve?”

  “Sure.” He flicked the fan selector up and she felt a rush of hot air flood the car. It felt good on her skin. But it did little to warm her insides.

  “I’m glad you got here when you did.”

  Curran nodded. “Me, too.”

  “Any later,” said Kwon, “and it might not have been good.”

  Curran sniffed. “I’m sure that cheered up Lauren plenty.”

  She tried to laugh but it died before it came out. “He’s right, though. I hate to think of what would have happened.”

  Curran slid the car into gear. “Okay, first things first: we drop Kwon off at home and then I drop you off at home. How’s that sound?”

  “It would sound better if I didn’t think I had someone out there stalking me.”Curran smiled. “I think he’s long gone now.”

  “Steve, what if it was…him?”

  Kwon’s head popped over the seat. “The Soul Eater?”

  Lauren looked at Curran. Curran looked back and grinned. “It’s okay. I told him about it.”

  Lauren steeled herself for Kwon’s insinuations that she might be crazy for thinking such things about the supernatural. Instead he simply cleared his throat.

  “Yeah, Curran told me all about it. But don’t worry. I’m much more of a believer than he is.”

  “You are?”

  “Uh huh.”

  “But I thought you science guys were all – “

  “Science? Yeah, we are. But when I run up against something that defies my facts and logic, I don’t dismiss the unorthodox. Which is pretty much what I think this thing might be.”

  “If it was him,” said Curran, “why’s he bothering with you? You aren’t even remotely evil.”

  “No,” said Lauren. “I’m not.”

  “And he supposedly only kills evil people?” asked Kwon.

  “Supposedly,” said Curran. “Although Lauren says something killed two nuns last night in Brighton.”

  “I didn’t see the bodies,” said Kwon. “You holding out on me?”

  “No bodies to be seen,” said Curran. “We didn’t find any.”

  Kwon whistled. “Freaky.”

  “They were there,” said Lauren quietly.

  “Relax,” said Curran. “I trust you on that, too.”

  “You’re awfully trusting all of a sudden.”

  Curran laughed. “Yeah, well good ol’ Dr. Kwon back there has a way of making me see the error of my mistrustful ways.”

  Lauren turned and smiled at Kwon. “Thank you.”

  He bowed. “Think nothing of it.” He tapped Curran on the shoulder. “Drop me at Copley. I’ll grab the Green Line to my place.”

  “It’s cold out, man. You sure?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be fine. I doubt that guy’s able to keep up with a car anyway, so I’m not concerned about being followed.”

  “You call me tomorrow with a lab workup on that button, okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  Curran drew the car to a halt outside of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Rain sloshed down against the gray masonry walls. Kwon tapped them both on the shoulder. “Stay cool.”

  “Stay dry,” said Curran.

  Kwon hopped out and disappeared in the rush of rain. Curran slid the car back into drive and caught Beacon Street out toward Allston.

  Lauren watched his windshield wipers flick away rivers of water. The yellow, red, and blue neon lights of the city looked warped and twisted viewed through the rain as they sped past Kenmore Square. She could hear the tires slosh through puddles.

  “You okay?”

  She looked at him. “I’m scared.”

  “I would be, too.”

  “What’s going on, Steve?”

  “I don’t know.”

  They sped up Commonwealth Avenue. The Burger King zipped past. Boston University dormitories and academic buildings flew by them as well. But even though it felt like they were speeding and leaving Marlborough Street far behind, Lauren couldn’t shake the feeling that her stalker was still
with her.

  That he knew how to get at her.

  Any time he wanted to.

  “Steve-“

  “-You sure you want to go home?”

  They both laughed. Curran smiled. “Sorry. It’s just that I thought you might be worried about this guy and maybe sleeping alone tonight isn’t the best ting for you.”

  She eyed him. “And what would you suggest?”

  Even in the darkness, she thought she could see his skin color change. So, the tough guy isn’t all that tough after all. She’d made him blush.

  He stammered out an explanation. “What I meant was, that, you know, if you had a friend or something you could maybe bunk with. That might be better.”

  “Uh huh.”

  He risked a look at her. She almost laughed. “It’s okay, Steve. I appreciate the concern. You can drive me to my friend’s house if you don’t mind.”

  “You want to call her?” He handed her his cell phone.

  “Him, actually,” said Lauren. She took the cell phone. “Thanks.”

  She thought she saw his color change again. She smiled and dialed the number. It rang three times before the voice picked up. “Hi, James. It’s me.” She spoke another minute all the while aware of Steve watching her out of the corner of his eye.

  She hung up and handed the phone back to him. “Thanks. You can head down Waldeck Street and take a right at North Beacon.”

  Curran jaw tightened. She knew what he was thinking. And she almost laughed out loud in spite of herself.

  She directed him now. “A few more up on the right. There it is. Stop here.”

  He pulled the car up to the curb and parked it. He sat there staring straight ahead. “Okay. Well. Good night.”

  She looked at him. “Steve.”

  He turned slowly. “Yeah?”

  “Thank you for tonight.”

  “Forget it.”

  She touched his arm. “I’ll call you in the morning, all right?”

  “Yeah.”

  It was touching, his jealousy. She could see him trying hard to keep it all in check. She grasped the door handle. “Did you want to come up and meet my friend?”

  “No.”

  “All right, I’ll just tell Father Jim you weren’t feeling like it.”

  He melted. “What?”