Gator Baitin' (The Grateful Undead series Book 2)

by Susan Stec

  JoAnn's voice sent us in another direction. "The Pastor and Kim are leaving their condo at Howey. They should be at the mall in an hour. You better not miss them."

  I hit the red button on my armrest. "Don't worry JoAnn. If they're anything like Resi, I'm sure they'll be there all day."

  "Nuh-uh," Resi said.

  * * * *

  "Do you want me in human form?" Gibbie asked, flanked by Paul and Jake as we entered the Mall. His little body shimmered and, right in front of my eyes, he turned human. God help me, he was beautiful.

  "You're black!" I shouted, looking around to see if anyone saw him shift.

  An old woman pushing one of those foldable metal carts tsked at me as she passed.

  Marcus cleared his throat.

  "And you're beautiful!" I said loud enough for the old lady to hear.

  "What the hell? You tryin' to piss me off, tinker-toy?" Zaire snarled.

  This brought a burble of laughter up the back of my throat.

  Gibbie, looking like Mr. Stud Muffins, leaned across Paul and took my hand, pulling it to his lips. "I can be anything you want me to be, Susan."

  Marcus made his chest bigger.

  Mom slid in between Paul and Gibbie, rubbing her hand down his chest. "Don't change back on my account. You look just fine."

  "I'll say," I whispered.

  Marcus jerked my hand out of Gibbie's. "It's just an illusion, dear."

  "Who gives a shit, he feels real to me." Mom snuggled up to him.

  "He ain't nothin' but a wannabe home-boy." Zaire flicked her tongue between her lips showing off a gold ball on the tip.

  I blushed.

  Paul laughed.

  With a deep masculine voice, Gibbie said, "My sensual song will take you to places you've never been. Ready for a bit of up close and personal spiritual enlightenment, Resi?" He wet his bottom lip with a big, thick tongue. I about wet my pants.

  "Hey, Yanni-wanna-be with all your enlightenment shit. In case you haven't noticed, she's mine, so get up off it," Zaire yelled, getting raised eyebrows and gasps from passersby.

  "I think you'd be more effective in your true form, fairy," Marcus said curtly.

  "I think he's more effective the way he is." Mom curled her arm around Gibbie's muscular chocolate one.

  He was a good six feet tall, closely cropped hair and dark smooth skin. His brilliant green eyes smiled down at me. White teeth accentuated a full sexy mouth. He had a chiseled jaw that contradicted his boyish face, and a broad chest, curving in a perfect V to a small waist. With thighs straining for room in the tight jeans he wore, he strutted comfortably beside Mom, overshadowing her. His eyes twinkled as he smiled wickedly.

  "Enough, Chick. Gibbie can be seen in any form he wishes. And we use that to our advantage as Rogue Hunters. But it's just illusion." Marcus emphasized the last sentence. He turned to the delicious delusion. "Gibbie, back to your original form, please. We need you close to the pastor and her sister when we find them."

  Gibbie took Mom's hand from his arm and kissed it, really playing the part as he strutted off in the direction of the food court, getting sidelong glances from women and men alike.

  "Holy shit!" Mom said as we watched Gibbie's very firm butt sway with his masculine swagger.

  "Let me warn all of you." Marcus glared at me. "Gibbie gives nothing without taking something in return."

  "He can take me—I pray he wants to take me," Mom said, getting giggles from Resi.

  Zaire rolled her eyes.

  "We're going to do some shopping. Call us if you need us," Resi sang, taking Zaire's arm.

  "Great, I'd rather eat a bug then shop." Zaire scowled.

  "Aw, come on, you can help me pick out something sexy to wear later," Resi whined.

  "What? To church?" Mom said. "Because that's where we're all going tonight—Faith World."

  "Oh Joy, joy, joy!" I said, smiling at Marcus.

  "There they are." Mom blew a hiss and pointed at a clothes rack in Sears as we rounded a corner in the Mall.

  I grabbed her hand. "That's a good tactic. Why not tell the whole store?"

  Marcus grabbed me, signaling the others to follow us as he pulled us into Radio Shack outside of Sears. "Gibbie, go over and listen to their conversation. You're the only one that can get up close enough. Paul, you and Jake can walk over and shop somewhere in the area around the women. The rest of us will hit the security office. That way we can maintain both visual and communications with you. JoAnn cannot see us in the mall. She can hear you though, and we should keep her in the loop."

  "Hey, I'm in charge here," Mom scoffed.

  "So what would you like to do, Chick?" Christopher asked, dragging her toward the food court where the Security Office was located.

  She slapped him on the head, getting the attention of one of the clerks in Radio Shack.

  "Did you see that? That woman just hit her kid," said a skinny young man with a Radio Shack logo on his shirt as he frowned at Mom.

  "Chick, be nice," Marcus warned. "We don't need to draw unwanted attention."

  Mom turned to the clerk, shoving Christopher at him. "Here, you take the brat and call me in the morning if everyone's still alive." She strutted toward the exit. Christopher yanked free and ran after her.

  "I can't believe her!" the clerk shouted after them. "Women like that should get their tubes tied."

  "Don't worry buddy, she ain't making no more babies," Christopher yelled back. Mom slapped him again.

  I pressed the communication button tucked under my breast, turning away from the conversation while I looked for a corner to hide. "JoAnn, can you tell the girls we spotted the Pastor and Kim in Sears? Tell them to stay away from the store."

  JoAnn whined, I was wondering when you'd check in with me. It's okay. Never mind that I've been waiting patiently, glued to this darn computer all day.

  Aunt JoAnn, you haven't been glued to the computer, Jeni said. You've been sucking bloody juice boxes and reading smut novels all day.

  Marcus walked over, wiggling his eyebrows. Paul and Jake sauntered toward Sears.

  I certainly have not! JoAnn said.

  Have too! Jeni laughed.

  I have not!

  I yanked the earbob out of my ear and rubbed my temples, shoved them back in and hissed into the transmitter. "Can you both just shut up? I'm sorry if I keep forgetting to turn the silly thing on, JoAnn. Maybe it's because your nagging voice distracts me."

  I know what Resi and Zaire are doing. Unlike you, they keep me posted. Resi is getting a haircut at the Chopping Block and Zaire is waiting for her. I'll let them know. Not to worry yourself, let me know if you need me. JoAnn told us in a sarcastic snivel.

  "Yeah, well don't hold your breath," I said. We all slinked out of Radio Shack, heading for Security.

  ~~~

  Chapter 18

  There they go just a struttin' 'round the mall

  ~~~

  Marcus walked up to the man in front of the display of computer screens. The security guard was sipping a soda, deeply absorbed in the act of observing two teens in a dressing room.

  A girl with long blonde curls and legs that went on forever was clad only in a thong, her clothes piled on the floor. Hands on her hips, she was staring at a brunette that looked fifteen. The one with brown hair pulled her top off, and both girls leaned into the mirror, sizing their chests up.

  Marcus snapped his fingers. The man looked up and I listened to Marcus push thoughts into the man's mind. You're going to go over there and lie on that sofa against the wall and take a long nap. I'll wake you when it's time for you to get back to your surveillance.

  The man's glazed eyes took in the three of us standing behind him. He shook his head, got up, walked over to the couch, sat down, fell back, and closed his eyes.

  Mom sauntered over to him, fangs slipping from her gums.

  "Chick, no biting," Marcus ordered.

  "I didn't drink this morning, and this guy's cute. Just a little bite, a l
ittle sex, and bam, I'm good to go." Mom unzipped the man's pants.

  "I'm in." Christopher jumped on the sofa, placed his Marvel Heroes tennis shoes and scrunchy socks on both sides of the man's hips, and smiled at Mom.

  "Get down Christopher," I scowled. "There will be no threesome, or any sex, for that matter. Suck it up Mom."

  Mom gave Christopher a smug smile.

  "It doesn't take three of us to watch a monitor. She can share," Christopher said, eyes on Mom.

  Mom shook her head. "Not happening. Back away from my dinner."

  "Gimme a break." He made no attempt to get down.

  Are you guys in place? JoAnn asked.

  I pushed the talk button. "Most of us." I sneered at Christopher and my mother.

  Marcus, can you see if you can patch me into the equipment? JoAnn asked.

  I slid my hand across my throat, vigorously shaking my head from side to side.

  "Get off the man before I slap you," Mom said from behind me.

  "Make me," Christopher answered.

  Marcus answered JoAnn. "I can try, but I'm afraid it might be over with before I can patch you through."

  I heard a yelp and turned. Mom had Christopher against the wall over the couch, her fangs inches from his neck. "Mother, suck those fangs right back in your mouth."

  She let go of Christopher. He slid down the wall.

  Well, let me know if you need Resi and Zaire. They just checked in. They're shopping now, JoAnn said as Christopher strutted over, finger-shooting Mom.

  A few minutes later, Mom studied the computer screens, wiped blood from her lips and mumbled about how much better it would've been if the rest of us weren’t in the room.

  We ignored her. There were twelve screens with about thirty squares of different areas under surveillance on each screen. I quickly ran my eyes over them.

  Marcus pointed to one. "There they are. Kim is trying on clothes."

  "Damn, Kim has some cute little knockers." Christopher hopped up on the chair in front of the computers.

  "Can you get audio?" Mom glared at Christopher.

  Marcus started fiddling with the keyboard. I watched Kim dress. The girls were carrying on a conversation and I didn't see the fairy.

  "Can we see Gibbie on this thing?" I asked.

  "I don't know if he would come across on a monitor, even to our eyes." Marcus was tapping keys.

  "Hey, they're leaving," Christopher said.

  The girls walked out of the room with a few churchy dresses and three bras. We picked them up in the clothes department on one of the other screens.

  "Look, there's Paul, and Jake is across the aisle from him." I pointed to another screen.

  Mom pushed the communications button on her chest. "JoAnn, can you tell Paul and Jake that the girls are two aisles over in the women's department?"

  Can do, JoAnn announced.

  The girls headed towards the lingerie department. Jake and Paul followed.

  Fifteen minutes later, the pastor and Kim left, bags in hand. We were in the food court waiting for the rest of the team. The security guard was back at his job, none the wiser.

  I spotted Resi; Zaire, carrying way too many shopping bags, was scowling beside her. They walked toward us.

  Jake turned the corner with a Sears bag held tightly to his chest. Paul glanced at him and smiled.

  As they approached, Resi threw another handful of bags at Zaire. "Ohhh, wha'd ya buy?" she sang, tossed Zaire another handful of shopping sacks, and with movement a human would have missed, she yanked the bag from Jake.

  Jake reached for it. Resi turned circles, peeking inside. She squee'd and pulled out a dark purple thong and a push-up bra. Resi cocked her eyebrow, grinning at Jake. "Something you want to tell us?"

  "I had to buy them. We were hanging around in the lingerie department too long," Jake said, small puffs of smoke wafting from his nostrils.

  "Yes we did," Paul mused, "but you didn't have to hold the thong up in front of my crotch and coo."

  "Well, what was I supposed to do? I had to do something so we wouldn't break our cover." Jake burped and the air in front of him shimmered with heat.

  Zaire took three steps back, her hands covering her hair. Resi giggled and put everything back in the bag. Mom whipped it out of her hand.

  "What?" Mom said to Resi. "You know he's not going to return them."

  "Did you accomplish anything besides embarrassing the effeminate over there?" Marcus asked Jake while pointing at Paul.

  Paul answered. "Julie was coaching Kim on what to wear while ministering as they picked out dresses."

  "It was clearly evident that something is changing at the church," Jake said all businesslike.

  Gibbie flew up in a whirlwind of fluttering wings, dusting red sparkles everywhere. "Guess what they talked about in the dressing room?"

  "I hate it when you play thirty questions," Christopher said. "Just spill it, for Christ's sake."

  "Paul and Jake already told us, Mr. Black-And-So-Fuckin’-Beautiful." Zaire sarcastically scowled at the fairy.

  "Admit it. You wanted me," Gibbie teased.

  "You don't have the right equipment, asshole," Zaire hissed.

  "Little black woman, you don't know what you're missing." Gibbie said, but winked at me.

  "That's enough, fairy." Marcus deepened his voice and I hid a smile. "Tell us what you heard."

  Gibbie few two circles around me, landed on Paul's shoulder, and smiled at us.

  "Oh, for the love of blood, can you give it up without the games just one time?" Christopher asked.

  Gibbie shot in front of Marcus, doing the hummingbird thing. "Julie and Kim were practicing. Kim's going to take over the ministry. And tonight they're planning to do some healing trick to show the followers what Kim has to offer."

  Christopher and I exchanged a look of mild understanding.

  "I wonder what they're up to," Paul said, staring at the Sears bag in Mom's hand.

  "You're goggling my purchase. Surely you don't want me to…" Jake asked Paul.

  I burst out laughing.

  "Actually, I was wondering what Jeni would look like in them." Paul snickered, cutting me off mid laugh.

  No wolf was going to bed with my human kid.

  "Time to go," Marcus said, taking my arm before I fanged Paul.

  * * * *

  "Talk to us about Dorius and this Erzsebet woman. What did he see in her?" I asked, sitting next to Marcus in the middle seat of the burb.

  "Did you ever meet her?" Resi asked from behind me.

  Mom's excited expression appeared between the front seats. "Did he turn her into a vampire and is she still alive?"

  "I'm not sure, Chick, but I was just going to call Dennis at BAMVC to see if he's heard from Dorius." Marcus took out his cellphone as the speaker on the dash came alive.

  "Dorius just called, he's leaving Hungary tonight. He asked that I inform all of you that he will be joining you tomorrow at the house," Jeni told us from dashboard of the Suburban.

  Mom pushed her red button and we both asked, "Did he find out anything?"

  Mom turned in her seat and glared back at me. "Susan, I'm in charge until Dorius gets here. And I've had about enough from you, your side kick, and your mate today, so all of you back off."

  Jake shot up in the back seat. "Chick, you're not going to suck your teeth, are you?"

  Mom tossed me a wicked smile. "I'm not sucking anything…yet!"

  "Dorius talked to Erzsebet." JoAnn's singing voice floated from the monitor.

  Marcus jumped to attention. He punched a few numbers in his cellphone.

  "Yesss," Dorius' angry hiss wafted from the cell.

  "You talked to her?" Marcus asked.

  "Yes, but I did not actually see her in person. She's clearly able to communicate and still very angry," Dorius answered.

  "What do you mean you heard her? What were the circumstances?" Marcus asked.

  "I went to the castle, and this time I was able t
o walk right up to her chambers. Memories of her flooded my mind as soon as I entered, rendering me almost unconscious. Her voice echoed from the walls. Erzsebet wants to kill me, Marcus, and I don't know why she just didn't do it today. I woke on the damp floor of her ruined chambers, holding that insufferable gold hand-mirror she always carried. When I peered into the mirror, instead of my image, Erzsebet was smiling at me with her wicked black eyes. 'Catch me if you can,' she whispered, and when her image faded I threw the mirror at the wall and it broke into pieces." Dorius sounded tense, as if he were choking out the words.

  Our eyes were riveted to the phone. Being the wordy bitch that I am, I had to ask, "Is she involved with Faith World?"

  "Yesss," Dorius' voice hissed through the cellphone.

  "Can we stop her?" Marcus asked.

  "I don't know. I'll be in Miami early tomorrow morning. I needed to get the hell out of there. I'll join you as soon as I get the girls started on some research. Then we'll talk," Dorius said and the line went dead.

  "Damn, he didn't even ask what was going on here," Mom said.

  "I've never heard Dorius this upset," Paul said.

  "I got his ass covered," Christopher announced.

  Marcus slowly shook his head, running his long fingers through his black hair.

  "So what do we do now?" I asked him.

  "We go to church," he answered.

  * * * *

  "I don't understand. How is she contacting Julie, and are Eval and his father in on this?" I asked as we drove to Faith World later that night. "Who the hell is Raphael? Didn't Eval call his demon when Dorius was questioning him?"

  "He did, and I'm sure there's a connection," Marcus said. "I would be willing to bet she's working her evil through the demon, probably with the help of Eval. She's a very sick woman, but a patient one."

  "But why isn't she screwing with the people in Hungary instead of nesting here in the United States?" Resi asked.

  "Because Dorius is here." Marcus sighed. "She has evidently been playing him for years. He's had an interest in Faith World since Sarah established the church in the seventies."

  "Are you saying all of this is about Dorius?" Mom asked from the front seat.

  Marcus adjusted himself in the seat next to me. "I don't know what happened between them that created such animosity. However, I do know that Erzsebet was a very sadistic woman before she became immortal, and was said to be into witchcraft. I attended several events at Palatine Thurzo's home in Hungary. There was much gossip about her then."