Frozen Stiff

by L. J. Vickery

  Enten’s head seized. There was a goddess involved? Can you describe any of the men to me? Maybe the one in charge?

  “He was tall, but not as tall as you. His hair was a dirty blond color, and he would have been handsome if his eyes weren’t so close together…”

  Matthew. Lenore spit out. Dammit. I should have killed him when I had the chance.

  Kate looked shrewdly at Lenore. “Yes dear. Sometimes the nasty ones are better off dead,” she said in a practical tone.

  Marduk took up the questioning, not even blinking at her previous statement. How long ago did they leave?

  “Oh my. I have a little trouble with time.” She looked at the two incredulous aids staring at her, open mouthed. “Bev, honey. When did those gentlemen leave with Glory?”

  “Uh…” Bev hesitated before glancing at her watch. “No more than twenty minutes ago, sugar.” She looked around Kate’s chair. “Who…who are you talking to?”

  “My future son-in-law…and his…boss,” Kate guessed, turning back to Marduk. “You are the boss, correct?”

  Marduk nodded.

  Kate continued. “So you heard, Bev. Twenty minutes ago. Can you find her?”

  Enten could hear Marduk’s mind churning. We can’t track Matthew because he lacks god-signature energy, but we sure as hell can look for him on the Mass Pike…if we can ID his car. He turned back to Kate. Ask the ladies if there are security cameras in the parking lot. His request showed urgency, and Glory’s mom was onboard.

  “Do you have cameras on the cars that come and go out of your lot?” Kate asked the aids.

  “Well, sure. There are camera’s everywhere. The hallways, the rooms, even out here in the courtyard.” Jo slapped a hand over her mouth. Enten figured she’d just said something the residents probably didn’t know, that they were being monitored at all times.

  Shamash. Marduk immediately contacted their technology god back in the compound who was on the GTS, standing by. He had been left behind—along with Huxley, Dani-Lee and the witches—in case help was needed from afar. Kulla had also stayed behind because his brother still visited from the Overworld.

  Get your ass to us in Agawam, right the fuck now. Marduk barked. I need some security feeds reviewed. He gave Shamash the address of the home.

  Be there in minutes, boss man. Kulla’s now in charge on the home front.

  You got me. Kulla’s voice entered the conversation, and urged Shamash to travel. Go, genius boy.

  While they waited, Marduk pointed to Enlil, Dagon, Holly, Lenore, and Absu. Plan B. In case we can’t stop Matthew, en route, you five go place yourself strategically around the Plymouth office, and don’t let them take Glory inside at any cost. Do I make myself clear?

  I know that building like the back of my hand. Dagon replied, his face had gone cold and hard. No one will get by us, and Matthew? He will not live to see another day. He rounded with a look toward Enten. I promise.

  Enten grabbed Dagon’s arm before he disappeared completely. Just make sure Glory’s safe. Please.

  You’ve got it, my man. Dagon and company instantly disappeared, and in their place, Shamash stood.

  “My. You people certainly come and go rapidly.” Kate perused the curly mop-haired god and smiled. “I’m Glory’s mother, Kate.”

  Shamash flashed her a big smile. Very nice to meet you. He turned quickly to Marduk and was all business. Cameras?

  Try the offices behind the main lobby. We’re looking for footage of the parking lot, twenty or twenty-five minutes ago. Matthew and two men will be putting Glory into a car. We need to know the make, model, and color so we can scan the Pike and find them.

  On it. Shamash was gone again.

  Don’t worry, Kate. Tess knelt down beside Enten, who still had a hold of the woman’s hand. We’ll find her.

  “I’m just afraid those men will hurt her.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Glory’s had it rough all her life, you know. And just when things looked like they’d get better, I got sick and ended up here.” She sighed as if she blamed herself. “Glory needs good friends.” Her watering eyes landed on Enten. “She needs a good man.”

  They all startled when a nurse with a tray rapidly approached across the flagstones. “I have something here that will calm you, Kate. Doctor’s orders.”

  Enten’s eyes went from the tray, to the nurse, to the two women who’d been listening to one half of a conversation. May I? He asked Marduk.

  Be my guest. His boss replied.

  Kate, do you think you need a sedative or are you okay now? Enten softened his voice.

  “I’m good,” Kate stated matter-of-factly. “I know you’ll find her.” Her brows drew together. “Only you can’t bring her back here. They’ll find her again.”

  You let us worry about that. Enten said, reassuringly. Right now I have to take care of something else.

  He stood up and faced the unsuspecting nurse, reaching deep into her mind and pressing inward. He willed her to hear him and obey. You found that Kate didn’t need a sedative. You found her calm and reasonable. You disposed of the syringe you were to use for the injection, once you ascertained Kate was more than stable. Do you understand?

  “Yes. Kate is stable.” The nurse agreed with a smile, and as she turned, Enten “acquired” the tray and its contents, leaving the woman to exit with empty hands. At this point, Bev and Jo both backed up a step, having witnessed the disappearing items, and he knew they wondered exactly what went on. Enten got to them with some mind-pressing, too.

  Ladies. You can hear me, correct?

  They both nodded, their faces becoming blank.

  Kate has been sitting out here by herself, enjoying the nice air, and she hasn’t been upset, nor has she been speaking to anybody invisible. Is that clear?

  “Nobody’s here,” murmured Jo.

  “But who was…” Bev was being a little more difficult.

  Bev, you didn’t mean to, but you sat down in a chair and fell asleep when you came out to check on Kate. You had a little dream that she talked to a group of people, but you know it wasn’t real. Now tell me that’s right.

  Bev yawned and turned to Jo. “Thanks for waking me up,” she said. “I don’t know what got into me. I had the strangest dream.” Bev looked at Kate. “Will you be okay out here for a while, sweetheart? I’ll check on you in ten to see if you want to come back in.”

  “I’m fine for a while, Bev.” Kate had a huge grin on her face. “Thank you.” She waited until both of the women had gone before looking up at Enten. “Now that’s a useful trick.” She giggled. “Can you teach me that one?”

  Enten thought of the warmth that had come to him from Kate’s hands and responded honestly. I’ll bet you catch on to that one pretty fast, and there are probably a lot of other things you’re capable of you don’t know about. He smiled, his mind distracted from his problems for a very short interval.

  Shamash came rushing back to the group.

  A 2012 luxury sedan. White, goddammit. He spouted, and Enten raised an eyebrow. Twenty percent of all cars manufactured are white. The highest color percentage.

  Enten’s lips drew taught. The odds were against them, but it wouldn’t stop the determined gods. They’d find the bastards…and they’d kill them.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Glory sat, pressed as far into the left rear passenger door as she could possibly get. The evil looking dude next to her didn’t seem to be dicking around when he laid the semi-automatic handgun on his right leg, pointed in her direction.

  “Dead or alive. It doesn’t matter to us.” The head honcho driving said with a shrug, when at first she refused to get into the car back in Agawam. What a cold bastard. But then again, anyone who could use her helpless mother as a pawn wouldn’t have a heart, would he? That thought did nothing to assuage her trepidation. What did they want with her? Alive…or dead. She reviewed the little that had happened, and came up with a big fat blank.

  After leaving Lahar, which, in retrospect, wa
s the stupidest thing she could have done, she’d reached her car and waited until the phone rang again. The voice on the other end had instructed her to go to the complex where her mother stayed, and proceed to the inner courtyard a few doors down from her mother’s room.

  Glory was amazed she hadn’t gotten into any accidents on her way there, considering the way she’d been shaking. She couldn’t even remember what she had said to whoever was at the desk before she’d proceeded down the long hallway. All she knew was that when she got to her mother’s room, three men stood menacingly over Kate. Worry had been plastered all over her mom’s face as she begged Glory to leave her and run for help. That, Glory could not do. Instead, she’d traded herself for Kate’s safety, and left quietly with the men, knowing she had no choice. Her only regret had been abandoning a hysterical Kate. She hoped the staff would find her mother quickly. Glory was still in the dark as to what the kidnappers wanted.

  Half an hour into the trip—Glory noted they headed east on the Mass Pike—she finally cleared her throat and spoke. “I have no money, and neither does my mother.” She hoped her voice sounded level.

  “We’re not after your money, sweetheart.” He peered into the rear view mirror, but she was scrunched low and he obviously couldn’t get a look at her face.

  “Shift away from that door and sit up. I want to see you,” he barked.

  When she didn’t comply, he raised his voice. “Move it, or I’ll have Jenson there slap you ‘til you do.” The guy next to her raised an arm.

  Glory reacted quickly. She brought herself to a position where she could see the front seat guy’s too-close-together, brown eyes looking back at her.

  “That’s right, baby. Quick compliance. That’s nice. If you’re a good girl, we won’t make you hurt too badly before we hand you over to the woman in charge.” He laughed sadistically. “I’m not interested in a skinny bitch like you, but my guys are showing a little enthusiasm.” The man laughed a little too maniacally for Glory’s comfort, and she really didn’t like the ham-handed one called Jenson who leered, sitting far too closely now.

  “I did promise you some pussy, didn’t I Jenson?”

  “Yeah, boss.” The guy practically drooled and Glory went cold. She’d die before she let anyone touch her, but these men didn’t know that yet.

  “Who are you handing me over to?” Glory wanted to know more of their plans. Maybe she could talk them out of whatever they planned. Were these thugs working for her ex-husband? He’d certainly threatened her with all kinds of retribution when she’d left him five years ago. But she thought the asshole had given up on vengeance since he’d found a new squeeze. Could her ex’s new squeeze be the unidentified woman this man talked about? What was her name? Rhonda? Wanda? Yes. Wanda. That was it.

  “Is Wanda behind this?” Glory asked tremulously, taking another good look at the head captor. That had to be it. Wanda’s eyes were really close together just like this guy’s. Maybe he was her brother? “Because if she is, you can tell her I have no interest in taking Pete away from her…ever.”

  “I don’t know who the fuck Wanda is, or Pete.” The man spat. “My boss is Ereshkigal, and she’s going to be frigging ecstatic with me for bringing you in.”

  “Ereshkigal?” Glory had heard some really weird names lately, what with Enten’s troupe of acrobats, but Ereshkigal? What kind of name was that? “I don’t know anybody named Ereshkigal.”

  “Oh, you will, bitch, and if I know her, she’ll make you her little sex slave. And I won’t mind getting in on the action.” Glory tried not to gag. The man had clearly grabbed his crotch and fondled himself.

  She swallowed, fighting panic. “What did I do to make someone who doesn’t know me, hate me?” Dammit. She could hear her voice shake, and she wanted to sound strong. “I’m sure you must have the wrong woman.”

  “Oh no. We have the right bitch, don’t we fellas?”

  Jenson, the one sitting next to Glory in the back seat, let his eyes drop to her chest to move slowly down the rest of her torso. “I could have wished for one with a bit more meat, Matthew.” He grunted. “But yeah. She’s the right one. I guess she’ll do.”

  “What do you mean, the right one?” Glory kept talking. She scanned the vehicle for possible weapons. Maybe she could inflict some damage to them or their vehicle before goading them into killing her.

  “You happen to know a few guys who are on the extra-large side?” The boss—who she now knew was named Matthew—chided with a smirk. “Hey, bitch.” He must have noticed she wasn’t looking at him anymore. “Eyes front. What did I tell you, Jenson?”

  A hand whipped out and slapped her hard across the face. Glory instantly tasted blood in her mouth. It felt very familiar. She brought cold eyes back to Matthew’s in the mirror. So that was the way it would be. She armored herself as she’d learned to do, showing no emotion, and answered the assholes’ question. “Yeah. I know some big guys.”

  “Names wouldn’t happen to be fucking weird—like Marduk, Enlil, and Anshar—now would they?” he taunted. “How about Dagon? And, oh right, that bitch Lenore?”

  “I know them. They’re Enten’s friends. I met them on a photo shoot, but I don’t know them well.” Glory’s mind worked frantically. Why would some woman target her for making the acquaintance of the acrobats? Wait. Marduk had said there were some exes out for blood. He hadn’t meant that metaphorically? Shit. Maybe the blood would be hers.

  “Ah. Enten.” The asshole smirked. “That must be your god.”

  “My what?” Glory thought she must have heard him wrong. Her god? She kept her voice cold, crisp, and clear. “Excuse me?” That’s the second time she’d heard him referred to as such, and it nagged at her.

  “Cut the fucking act, sister. You know they’re immortals, and so do we.”

  Glory shook her head, not quite able to process what he said. “They are acrobats,” she said succinctly. “An acrobatic troupe from Quincy.”

  Matthew and the other, previously dour individuals broke out laughing.

  “Are you fucking shitting me?” It looked like Matthew, in hysterics, had all he could do to keep one eye on the road. “Those guys are not performers. Who told you that?”

  “Enten told me and, of course, they are. They did a little piece from their act.” Glory wasn’t about to be led. “What exactly are you trying to get at?” Her chin trembled a little in uncertainty, and she lost her cool edge. Maybe they were all―including Enten―some kind of mobsters or spies. What had she gotten herself in the middle of?

  “They’re gods, you stupid bitch. Fucking Mesopotamian, fallen, bad-ass, no-good gods. They have no morals, no scruples, and they suck up little morsels like you and spit them back out, making them useless as shit for the rest of their lives. That’s what your man, Enten, has planned for you. He’ll fuck you silly with his big-assed god-rod, and make you unusable for any other man. Hell, when he’s through with you, you’ll probably lose your mind and get shoved in a hospital, same as your mother. Both of you with mush for brains.” He smiled that evil smile again. “But we’re going to save you from all that.” He pointed to her seat-mate, and also to the passenger in front. “After my colleagues here, Jenson and Dunst, fuck you nicely with their very human and normal dicks, we’ll be putting you in the safe keeping of Ereshkigal, who will use you as bait to capture and kill the nasty motherfuckers.” Matthew snickered. “He told her he was an acrobat.” He looked at his buddies again. “An acrobat. Can you fucking believe that?”

  These guys were all crazy. All three of them. They couldn’t possibly believe Enten and his friends were gods. She thought of tender Enten, who had not pressed unwanted attention on her when he’d had the chance. She remembered the woman, Tess, who was well into her pregnancy and the apple of her husband’s loving eye. There was also Lahar, who had come to her just this morning to make her feel better about what had happened yesterday. Did that seem like unfeeling, uncaring…gods?

  Okay. So a few things abou
t Enten and his group didn’t quite add up. She thought she’d seen Enten fall from the sky…really fall from the sky out on Rainsford Island, not get tossed up and fall down like he’d told her. When she’d found him on the beach, he had been unquestionably cold. Not “in shock” cold, but “dead guy” cold. He hadn’t ever warmed up either, just opened his eyes and been awake.

  And there was that funny comment Enten had made at their picnic about how he hadn’t talked to his parents in thousands of years. It had set her back because it hadn’t sounded metaphorical, even though he had assured her it was.

  Also, there were a couple things her mother had said during their last visit. One, she had asked who Glory had brought with her. Kate had never hallucinated before, but most definitely thought she’d seen somebody in the room. Two, she’d gone on to say that—and Glory was sure these had been her exact words—she thought gods would make very good husbands. What kind of a thing was that to spit out? Wait. Her mother had also used Enten’s name, and Glory was certain she’d never mentioned it. Had someone invisible been in the room talking to her mother? No. Forget that. Glory began to fear for her mind. Was it the stress, or was this how it all started?

  “Gods,” Glory said flatly, unable to leave it alone.

  “Thought about it have you?” Matthew gloated. “Found a few things that don’t add up? Maybe that man of yours, Enten, has something unusual about him that’s very god-like?” he mentioned cryptically. “They all have special powers over nature, you know. Dagon has a thing with oceans, Anshar is supposedly whole-sky, whatever the fuck that means. And Marduk has thunder.”

  “Thunder?” Shit. Hadn’t there been an unexplained clap of thunder when she’d first straddled Enten’s prone body on the beach? Could that have been Marduk?

  Glory put her hands to her cheeks, ignoring the sting where she’d been slapped. Good Lord. Was what the lunatic in the front seat saying even remotely possible? Her head suddenly ached. There was no mistaking Enten’s cold. His acute cold. Asshole Matthew had said each one had a special power. Was Enten the god of refrigerator ice-makers? That would fit. Could she really be thinking this?