Nightwalker

by Rhonda L. Print

  I flipped the switch to boot up my computer. It didn’t come on, so I did what every self-respecting woman would do—I flicked the switch off then on again as if by some miracle it would work the second time.

  It didn’t.

  I crawled under my desk to check the cords. Well, shit. It wasn’t plugged in. I must have accidentally unplugged it. I picked up the cord and moved to put it in the outlet when I saw the envelope taped to the wall next to the outlet. I dropped the cord, pulled my gun and banged my head on the bottom of the desk in my haste to cover my back. “Shit!” I swept through the room with my right hand on my gun and my left rubbing the lump growing on my head. I moved out of the office and went through the house methodically checking closets, doors and windows. No boogeyman hiding anywhere. I dialed Wilson’s number and made my way back to the office.

  “Wilson.”

  “I found an envelope under my desk.”

  “Don’t touch a thing.”

  “No shit,” I said dryly.

  “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes and have a uniform there in five. Stay out of the house until I get there.” Wilson paused, “Oh, and try not to shoot the uniform, smartass.” He hung up.

  Two separate cop cars pulled up to my house three minutes later, lights and sirens cutting through the peaceful silence of the night. Cops don’t mess around when it comes to their families. I greeted the officers, who already had instructions from Wilson to man the front and back doors after checking the house. Hmm. Why didn’t I think of that?

  A truck pulled into my drive a couple of minutes later. I knew who it was even in the blackness of night. Joaquín jumped out almost before the truck stopped rolling. “I heard the call on the radio. You okay?” He closed the distance between his truck and me at a jog, stopping on the porch to flash his badge to the cop at the door.

  “I’m fine, someone just left me a little present in my office. Wilson told me not to touch anything until he gets here. He asked me to wait on the porch.”

  His eyes narrowed in confusion. “What kind of present?”

  “An envelope, taped to the outlet my computer was plugged into.”

  “I should check the house, make sure it’s clear.” He walked into the house ahead of me.

  I followed him in and this time I had to say it out loud. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “I just want to be sure.”

  “Do you honestly think that both officers and myself didn’t do a thorough job of it? Besides, Wilson said to stay out of the house until he gets here.”

  “You don’t always have to be so stubborn, you know.” He rubbed his eyebrows.

  “But I’m so damn good at it.” I smiled sweetly at him.

  Wilson pulled up just in time to watch the argument about to happen. As it turned out, he was in no mood for theatrics and ended it. “Joaquín,” he barked, “go home.”

  “In case you don’t remember, I’m a cop, too.”

  “In case you don’t remember, this is not reservation land. Now get the hell out of here.” The look in Wilson’s eye clearly stated that he would not budge on this issue.

  Joaquín gave my shoulders a squeeze and walked out to his truck like a kid who’d just been punished by his dad. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

  Three hours and two pots of coffee later and we were looking at a bagged, photographed and identified piece of evidence. My house was covered in the black ink stuff that cops use to check for fingerprints. They came up with none.

  The contents of the evidence held another message coded in runes. My computer was now plugged in and humming and my reference books for ancient runes were scattered across the floor. The symbols were pretty similar to the first set of runes. The same upside-down stick figure with the X through it, the hourglass symbol for war and a new addition of an oblong with three stick figures drawn together as if holding hands, two large and one small in the middle.

  “This one indicates family.” I pointed it out to Wilson. “It’s war and death but now also family. I still don’t know what the fuck the last one is, though. I’ve searched through my reference books and been halfway across the Internet and I still haven’t found anything even close to this.”

  “Do you know anyone who might know what it is?” Wilson downed the last of his coffee.

  “One person, back in the old neighborhood.”

  “No way, Leah. We don’t know who shot you up the last time you were there.”

  “I’ll take some backup, I won’t go alone.” He raised his eyebrows at me. “I promise, scout’s honor.”

  “You were never a scout.”

  “No, but I will take back-up. I’ll even let you pick them out.”

  His expression was briefly shocked; then a smirk curled the corners of his lips. “Joaquín and me.”

  “You just threw him out of my house. Now you want him to go with us?”

  “I didn’t need him here and he pissed me off. He had no right to do what he did to you, but he is still a cop, a damn good one. We’ll back you up or it’s no go.”

  “How are you going to stop me?”

  “I mean it, Leah, I’ll lock your ass up until this is over if I have to. Paperwork tends to get lost in the department all the time.”

  “Shit!”

  He smiled. “Yeah, shit, but we’re still going. Tomorrow morning we’ll meet here, nine sharp. I’ll make arrangements with Joaquín. I, uh, don’t suppose I can talk you into coming back home with me tonight?”

  I shook my head.

  “I didn’t think so, but I had to try. As it is Alli will have my ass in a sling.”

  He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead then headed out the door. I locked it behind him, did another check on the windows and doors and stuffed my face back into the computer. Somebody, somewhere, had to have seen this rune before.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was an hour-long drive into the city. Wilson insisted we all go in his car. I rode shotgun and Joaquín was in the back seat like an ugly prom date. I emptied the paper coffee cup we’d picked up at a drive-thru on the way out of town. I was getting better at the lack of sleep thing. Caffeine, a gift from the gods, would see me through.

  “Joaquín, would you please stop whistling and not be so fucking cheerful this morning.” Maybe I did need more sleep.

  “You never were much of a morning person.”

  “Nice of you to get something about me right.”

  “Children, children,” Wilson chided. “If I have to pull this car off the road to stop you two from fighting, I promise it will not be pleasant.”

  The next forty-five minutes went by in silence.

  Every city has its dirty underside. The part of town you avoid or, if you absolutely have to go, you keep your doors locked. The bridges along the Avenue were cluttered with homeless people and drug addicts. Every corner was lined with hookers. I had lived here for much too long of my life. I knew how to get through the fences, which building was safe to hide in and the look in the eyes of someone who had taken one hit or one snort too many. I knew how to live in this godforsaken place and prayed every day never to have to live here again. I did owe some of my best fighting skills to this life. Street fighting wasn’t as fancy as martial arts, but it got the job done.

  Sebastian lived in one of the broken-down mobile homes that lined the Avenue. I don’t know if he ever really owned it, but no one would mess with Sebastian. The level of his psychic powers staggered me and apparently he had heard and seen more in his head than he could handle. Nicely put, Sebastian was as crazy as a loon. If he was in a good mood and you brought the right motivation, in this case a couple of bottles of whiskey, he would help you out. We pulled onto the gravel that sparsely covered the area around the place. The stairs were rotted, the foundation crooked and most windows were boarded up. The air held the stench of bodily fluids that I didn’t even want to think about.

  I opened the car door and felt the power emanating from him wash over me. Sebastian w
as sober, or at least not passed out drunk. His power dimmed when he was that drunk, which is why, I’m sure, that he drank. Wilson and Joaquín held their guns pointed toward the ground. In this neighborhood no one would even notice someone sporting a gun. People who rat out to the cops have a very, very short life expectancy in this part of town.

  “You have been gone for many moons, Leah,” Sebastian called out before we reached the stairs.

  “May we come in, Sebastian?”

  “You have always been welcome here, alone.”

  Both Wilson and Joaquín shook their heads. “I don’t think my friends will allow me to come in alone, Sebastian. I’ve brought you a bottle of whiskey. I’ll make it two if you let my friends come in.”

  There was a long pause while Sebastian considered my request. “You were going to offer both bottles anyway. Nice try, Leah.”

  Damn.

  We still hadn’t walked up the steps and the windows were boarded up. Sebastian didn’t need to see us to know what we were planning. He was the most gifted psychic I’d ever met or even heard of.

  “You may bring the older one with you. The younger one, the one that hurt you, can stay outside.”

  I spared a glance at Joaquín, shrugged my shoulders and climbed the steps with Wilson. As strong as the stench was outside, the inside had still contained most of it. I pulled my shirt above my mouth and nose in an attempt to mask the odor. Wilson followed my lead.

  “The whiskey?” Sebastian sat in the remnants of a recliner. His frail body was covered with a tattered blanket. A cigarette hung from his thin, colorless lips.

  I set the bottles on the upturned box beside him.

  “You saw the runes.” He turned his eyes to me. “You cannot decipher them.” He made it a statement.

  “I cannot decipher one.”

  “It is a circle.”

  “Yes.”

  “The symbol for eternity. There is also an X with two dots on either side. The symbol of a wolf. Another symbol warns of danger.”

  I pulled the page out of my pocket and showed it to Wilson, who raised both eyebrows at me.

  “Son of a bitch,” I muttered.

  “The other symbol, the continuous spiral that connects on itself is the symbol for immortality. Am I correct?”

  Shit. “Yes,” I whispered. I knew what Sebastian could do but it still creeped me out. “What does it mean?”

  “That I cannot tell you. I can only see what the symbols are and what they mean. Each destiny is created personally. You must decide what it means to you.”

  “So, you’re telling me that all this has something to do with my fucking destiny?”

  “What I’m telling you is that you need to decide what it means for yourself.”

  My stomach began to heave in protest to the odor still permeating through my shirt. “Thank you, Sebastian. You have been helpful.” Wilson and I turned to leave. After Wilson had walked through the door, Sebastian stopped me. “You must remain with the nightwalker. He will protect and guide you.”

  I spun around. “Sebastian! How did you know that?”

  His body lay on the floor in front of the chair. Wilson turned, walked past me, and checked the pulse on Sebastian’s carotid artery. He shook his head. “Sorry Leah. He’s gone.”

  I wrapped my arms around my shoulders, resting my chin in the crook.

  “Joaquín,” Wilson called.

  * * * *

  Six hours and a flurry of activity later Sebastian’s body was hauled off to the morgue. The reports had been taken and the dilapidated mobile home taped off. There should be more to life than that. I felt empty inside. Useless.

  “Leah? Do you hear me?” Joaquín stood in front of me.

  “Sorry, Joaquín. I was just … thinking.”

  “This won’t happen to you, Leah. You have people who care about you, people you care about.”

  “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “I can see it in your face.” He cupped my face in his hands and tilted it to his. “I love you, remember?”

  “You may have loved me before…”

  “No, I still love you now.” He spoke softly. “Can you honestly say that you don’t love me?”

  “I loved you once, Joaquín.” I shook my head too quickly and too many times. “I loved you once.”

  His hands fell to his sides.

  Wilson took my hand and led me to the car. “It’ll be long past dark by the time we get home.” It was a long silent ride.

  I saw an unfamiliar car parked in front of my house as we pulled up. I pulled my gun and turned the safety off as Wilson rolled the car to a stop. I got out a step ahead of Joaquín and Wilson, but lowered my gun when I saw Ian leaning against the black Mercedes. It looked completely out of place on my gravel driveway.

  So did Ian. He wore a silk white shirt that billowed in the light breeze. His tan pants fit the lean lines of his body perfectly. He straightened, palms facing forward. It was then I realized that Wilson and Joaquín still had their guns aimed at Ian.

  “Stand down boys. It’s Ian.” Wilson lowered his gun as I holstered mine. A flick of Ian’s eyes directed me toward Joaquín. He held his gun in a two-handed stance, directly aimed at Ian’s chest. I positioned myself between Joaquín and Ian. “Stand down, Joaquín,” I ordered. “You can’t shoot him just because I’m dating him.”

  Joaquín’s hand trembled, a look of pure hatred in his eyes. Wilson placed his hand on Joaquín’s shoulder. “Holster your gun, Joaquín.” He enunciated each word slow and loud. Joaquín did what he was told and took a step up next to me.

  “Are you here for business or personal reasons, Ian?” Wilson asked.

  Ian looked to me, then back to Wilson. “Personal.” The corners of his mouth twitched, suppressing a grin.

  “Then we best be going. Leah?” he questioned.

  I nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Wilson.”

  Wilson grabbed Joaquín’s upper arm and led him back to the car. Joaquín glanced at me; then turned to glare at Ian as Wilson pulled him toward the car.

  I walked into Ian’s arms, sliding my hands around his waist under his coat. Ian hugged me protectively while Joaquín fiercely scowled at him as he and Wilson drove past out of my driveway. I had bigger things to worry about than Joaquín’s bruised ego and right this minute I didn’t want to think about any of them.

  I buried my face in Ian’s chest and breathed in the scent of him. The static in my head ceased immediately and I felt better than I had all day.

  “Better?” He rubbed his hands up and down my back.

  “Much.” I leaned my head back to look up at him. “Why are you here?”

  “I felt your distress. I needed to see for myself that you were well.”

  “How…”

  He kissed the tip of my nose and rolled his eyes at me. “Vampire.” He lifted his shoulder.

  “One day very soon, you and I are going to have a talk about exactly what that means.” He started to speak and I held up my hand to stop him. “Not tonight, God please. I’ve had all I care to deal with today already.”

  He pulled me tighter into him. “Perhaps you need to sleep.”

  I shook my head. “No. What I’d really like is a beer or three. Come on, let’s go out for a while.” I headed toward my truck.

  He stopped me and pulled open the passenger door to his car. “I’ll drive.” I started to argue when he interrupted, “alcohol does not affect me the way it does you.”

  Well, shit, he had me there.

  Luigi’s Place was hopping tonight. Each table was full, but I didn’t come here to sit anyway. I wanted a tall, cold beer and a shoulder to cry on. I held Ian’s hand as I made my way across the tiled floors to the bar. Tony flashed me a broad smile until Ian stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Tony’s smile faded into a scowl. Great. Everyone still thought that Joaquín and I were together. Wonder where they got that idea?

  “I’ll take a Bud Light on
tap, Tony.” I turned to Ian. “You?”

  “Make that two.” Ian nodded at Tony.

  “I’ll need to stop in the ‘little girl’s room’. See if you can grab a couple of barstools.” Ian gave my shoulders a quick squeeze and I walked away.

  A quick stop in a stall and fluff of the hair later I walked out of the restroom to see Tony with a not-so-pleasant look on his face, talking to Ian. I walked over and planted a kiss on Ian then turned innocent eyes on Tony. “You’re not harassing my boyfriend, are ya, Tony?”

  “Since when is…” he waved a hand toward Ian, “he, your boyfriend?”

  “I appreciate you looking out for me, Tony, but if you want to be pissed at someone, take it out on Joaquín. I’m not the one who went home drunk with a stranger. He made his choice and I made mine. It’s over between us no matter what shit he’s been saying.” My voice became louder as I punctuated each sentence. Silence fell across the bar.

  Sophia and Luigi came up beside me. “We didn’t know, Leah,” Tony stammered. Sophia and Luigi both nodded their heads. “Joaquín told everyone that you got cold feet and to keep an eye out for you. He suspected that you were being harassed by another man. I am sorry.”

  “I know you were just looking after me.” The anger rushed out of my body. I could feel the sincerity of his words. “I should have guessed that Joaquín had something to do with this.”

  Sophia started speaking Italian very quickly and I could tell by her tone and the shocked expression on Tony’s face that she must have been cursing. She hugged me lightly and then walked away. Luigi cleared his throat. “She, uh, said that Joaquín is a liar and a pig, just in a few different words.” Tony laughed.