Veil of Darkness (Book 1)

by Derek Adam

  That kind of foul vulgarity can do a number on a young teenager. Virgil had some long sessions with me on sex education, trying to undo Sutter’s influence.

  “Hitch was your buddy for a long time, right?”

  “Don’t start, Sutter.”

  “He just seems pleasant now. That’s all I’m sayin’.” Sutter had stepped ahead of me and was walking backwards, arms outstretched. “He seems to like ya okay, callin’ ya out here. Wantin’ to see you.”

  “Sutter…”

  “Absence makes the heart grow fonder ‘n all that.” Sutter stopped in front of me as we entered the parking lot for the diner, and I came up short as he leaned in close to me. “Did you two ever… you know…”

  Sutter bobbed his eyebrows and scratched at the stubble on his chin as he grinned at me. I rolled my eyes and stepped around him, even though I didn’t have to.

  “What?” he called after me. “T’ain’t nothin’ wrong with a lil’ mandingo, Rooster. I won’t judge ya none.”

  I turned around and pulled the revolver from the gun belt and waved it at him. “I swear to all that’s holy and unholy in this world, Sutter, I will throw your gun into the field and leave you there to haunt your own private acre of tall grass, rats, and hobo shit.”

  Sutter squinted at me with one eye and rolled the tooth pick in his mouth, pushing his hat up on his head.

  “What? What are you gonna say now?”

  He grinned and pointed past me. Glancing back, I saw Hitch power walking toward me. He snatched the trooper hat from his head and looked like he was about to pop a vein.

  I slid the revolver back into the holster and turned around to Hitch stabbing me in the chest with the stiff brim of his hat.

  “Are you out of your damn head, Luca? The hell are you doin’ standing out here waving that gun around?”

  He didn’t wait for me to respond but instead leaned in closer, gritting his teeth and getting in my face. “And why the fuck are you here? I told you to stay away and quit messin’ with Paula. You do this shit every time you come through and I’m tired of it.”

  “Maybe if you answered your phone, I wouldn’t have to come looking for you.” I stood there with my hands on my hips, squaring up with him.

  I never did take the opportunity to knock his teeth out after what happened, and being this close to him reminded me of that.

  I doubt I’d get far knocking him on his ass, now that he was a cop.

  Still… it would be satisfying.

  He stood there, glaring at me. I’m assuming. I couldn’t really see his eyes through the aviator sunglasses.

  “Goddammit…” He stuffed his hat on his head and turned back toward the diner. “Come on.”

  *****

  It wasn’t easy filling Hitch in on the details without giving him everything.

  Part of me was still wary about letting him know anything about Emma. My part in it all could be easily explained – to a point. Hers, a random stranger in the middle of the woods who just happened to be in the same place all the crazy shit went down, would be far more difficult.

  ‘Easy’ was a relative term.

  Despite the fact that Hitch grew up with me and had a basic understanding of my abilities, he was always pretty skeptical.

  Taking him from years of thinking I could see dead people to ritualistic summonings from decades-old organizations, demons, and monsters… was pushing the limits on what Hitch could handle.

  He seemed to take it in stride though.

  “So, you’re tellin’ me it wasn’t just a bunch of bullshit scribbled on those cabins. That there are demons up there?”

  “At least one nasty one. Worked me over pretty good. Some smaller ones that I made short work of.”

  He shrugged and leaned in toward me, taking off his hat and sliding it down the table. “So, what are you gonna do about it?”

  “Oh, now all the sudden I can handle it, huh?” I sat back and looked around the diner. Save for two old guys recreating a scene from Grumpy Old Men at the counter, the place was empty. Paula was banging around in the kitchen, but stayed close to the pass through to watch us. She kept shooting me dirty looks. “Are you even gonna be able to pay me, the way you’re being so damn hushed about this?”

  “Yeah, I told ’em I was bringing in an outside investigator. We have a budget for that.”

  “You got a budget for ghostbusters?”

  “Eh… if anyone asks, you’re a college professor from Phoenix University.”

  “…isn’t that an online college?”

  “It doesn’t matter, Luca. I need you to wrap this up.” Hitch was jabbing the table with his finger, leaning over and hissing at me just above a forced whisper.

  “Why are you whispering, Hitch. There’s no one in here. There’s no one anywhere. Where the hell is everyone, anyway?”

  “Canada closed the border.” He sat back, picking up his coffee with an annoyed look on his face.

  “The hell did they do that for?”

  He shrugged and shot me an annoyed look. “I don’t know, they didn’t tell me shit.”

  “Look, Hitch. I’ll deal with it, whatever. But you need to work on getting some equipment up there as soon as possible to level those cabins. That’s some next level stuff that I don’t dabble in.”

  “Jesus Christ, Luca, how the hell am I supposed to do that? Far as we know, people died up there, with all that blood and whatnot. I can’t just go in with a bulldozer and knock ’em over!”

  “You better figure it out, Hitch. If you won’t do it, then I will. You want someone else wandering into those places?”

  “What do you mean, someone else?”

  I hesitated and shook my head, scowling at him. “You know what I mean. Some kids hanging around up there, or some homeless guy trying to find a place to sleep.”

  “Just get it done, Luca.”

  Fuckin’ Hitch. Just like him to let someone ride out in front and do the work, so he can pick up at the end and take credit.

  Paula stepped to the edge of the table with a pot of coffee. She wouldn’t look at me.

  As if I had done something wrong.

  I wanted to hop up and scream in her face that she was the one who cheated.

  It’s amazing how many years can go by, but you still can’t let shit go. I don’t know how I was able to tolerate Hitch. It might have been all the years of friendship, but I definitely couldn’t stomach Paula.

  She was still gorgeous and wore her late twenties well. Pretty brown hair in a bob, same seashell jewelry she used to love making, and just a touch too much makeup… but it looked good on her.

  She poured Hitch a fresh cup of coffee and smiled sweetly at him.

  At least she seemed happy, I guess.

  Whatever.

  “Can I get two coffees to go, Paula?”

  She finished pouring his cup and walked away without looking at me, turning her head as if to flip loose hair in my direction.

  Nice. I sighed and slapped my hand on the table.

  “That’s my cue to go beat some demon dick.”

  “Sorry, Luca.”

  I started to slide from the booth and froze, looking at him. “What?”

  “For giving you so much shit. Not believing you.”

  “Oh, that’s what you’re sorry about?” I shook my head and stood up. “You’re unbelievable, Hitch. When I’m done with this, be sure to lose my number.”

  “Luca.”

  “What, Hitch?”

  “Pastor Jim is looking for you. You need to go see him before you head back up.”

  He was the only one I used to make regular visits to, but even that fell off a way back. I can’t imagine what he’d be looking for, other than to catch up and see if he could take me for a dunk and keep me holy.

  If he only knew.

  “What does he want?”

  Hitch put his arms up in a dramatic shrug.

  “God forbid you have to do any real detective work. You’re a shitty c
op, Hitch.”

  “I know. I’ll see you around, Luca.”

  I donned the heaviest scowl as I took him in, smugly sitting there like there was nothing wrong with the world around him.

  He’d spend the entirety of his career aging in that booth, and probably retire half-drunk with a beer gut and a badge still on his chest.

  I had all kinds of words for him in that moment but nothing seemed as satisfying as knowing he was stuck here.

  He’d grow old here.

  And he’d just be another mossy tombstone on the hillside beyond the church.

  If I was lucky, maybe he’d come back and I’d get the chance to let Sutter have a go at him. As if summoned by the very thought of his name, he was walking next to me as I exited the diner.

  “I know what you’re thinkin’, Rooster. That guy is a cocksucker. It ain’t easy to let things go, but ya gotta be a man.”

  I pushed through the doors and stepped outside, wincing at the foul stench as the warm air filled my nose.

  Sutter just kept right on talking.

  “Ya gotta move on, son. It ain’t easy to forget when everythin’ around remind ya of him… ya know, like… garbage… and dog shit.”

  I stopped and turned to Sutter, grimacing as I waited for it He tipped his hat up with his finger and plucked the toothpick from his mouth, pointing it at me.

  “But karma comes around like a whore lookin’ for seconds. He’ll get his… but it won’t be from me, son. Wipe that shit from your head. He’s got saber-toothed crotch crickets, and I don’t bed with unclean men.”

  He stared at me with the most serious face, like he was doing his best impression of a Virgil pep-talk.

  I couldn’t help it. Despite how fucked everything was right now, I laughed good and hard. Sutter grinned big as I nodded, replacing his toothpick.

  “There’s my Rooster. Besides, I got a fun way to get back at him.” Sutter tiptoed toward the Jeep in long strides, hands comically outstretched, and turned with a grin as he pointed at the door. “Keys are in it.”

  *****

  “Well that’s horrifying.” I peered out the window of the Jeep at the old church as I held the phone. “Just don’t rearrange my stuff, and I better not find your toothbrush there.”

  We said our goodbyes and I ended the call with a smirk.

  At least I knew Emma was fine and Virgil was keeping her company. I hadn’t anticipated an extra stop. I didn’t want her getting antsy and heading off back to those cabins on her own.

  Under most circumstances, I would have dodged seeing Pastor Jim, but a small part of me hoped that maybe he could offer some insight.

  Not likely. Ironically, I wasn’t a person of faith despite everything I dealt with.

  And Pastor Jim wasn’t exactly a firm believer in what he knew of my abilities.

  I guess we’ll see who can convince who of what today.

  “I thought this would be nicer…” Sutter mumbled as he looked around the interior of the Jeep. “Kind of junky. What’s horrifying?”

  “Virgil gave her a tour of the truck, and they’re currently looking through my old photos.” Popping the seatbelt and opening the door, I stood and adjusted the gun belt on my hip.

  Sutter appeared next to me as I made my way toward the church.

  It was a small building, but decorative and impressive. Some architect or builder at some point took inspiration from the great cathedrals in history and replicated their most elaborate features, but on a much smaller scale.

  This was one of the reasons I couldn’t stand religion as a whole.

  If there was a God, I imagine he’d be just as happy if people worshipped him from a shack with a dirt floor.

  But Pastor Jim didn’t build it. He was just the man behind the podium.

  Whatever misgivings I had about faith, he was still a good man and took care of his flock.

  “Much as I ain’t keen on hangin’ back, you might wanna leave that.” Sutter gestured to the gun belt as I approached the steps of the church.

  I wasn’t warm to the idea of wandering without the gun, but he was right.

  Wearing it in public was one thing, but open carrying into a church probably wasn’t wise. I nodded and returned to the vehicle, unbuckling the belt and slinging it into the middle to hang from the back of the center console.

  “I’ll just be a few minutes, Sutter.”

  *****

  The interior of the church was even more overdone than the outside. Glossy wood, decorative statues, stained glass, vaulted ceilings.

  It had all the signs and markings of vanity and wealth.

  I didn’t hold it against anyone personally, but I always wondered how many families could have been helped, and how many meals purchased, with the amount of money spent on building this mini-monstrosity.

  The church was empty and quiet, like the parking lot outside… and just like the rest of the town today.

  In the front row of seats, I could see his bent head, hunched over. Probably reading, or in prayer. I marched up the aisle with purpose, noting that the stench of garbage was permeating everything in the town – the interior of the church offered no sanctuary from the smell.

  It almost seemed concentrated inside, likely from the wide-open space and lack of airflow.

  As I approached, he stood and turned.

  It wasn’t Pastor Jim. It was another man, much younger. Perhaps the same age as me, somewhere in his late twenties.

  He was remarkably similar to Pastor Jim in build, with the same tightly cropped black hair and dark suit with the trademark white circlet around his collar.

  Closing the book in his hands, he placed it on the seat and stepped to me with the kind of intense, welcoming smile that makes you feel inadequate, no matter how you respond.

  “You must be Luca.” He extended a hand, taking mine with a firm handshake as his other hand squeezed my elbow. I hated that kind of power handshake stuff. “I’m Michael.”

  “That’s very angelic. Your parents chose appropriately.”

  He laughed and nodded. “I get that often, sure.”

  Skipping further pleasantries and small talk, I looked around the place. It had been years since I’d been inside.

  A touch of nostalgia pulled at me and I thought briefly about all the Sundays spent here with my grandfather.

  There were also countless evenings running around here during community events.

  He was a deacon and huge supporter of the church. Such a waste of time…

  “So, Pastor Jim is expecting me.”

  “He’s with a family but asked me to wait for you. He wants you to see their daughter. It’s a… delicate situation.”

  “Delicate, how?”

  “Pastor Jim said that you have a unique field of study, and you might be able to help. The daughter is sick.”

  “Well, I’m not a specialist doc, that’s for sure.”

  “Not that kind of sick. You should come see; he’s expecting you. I can take you to him.”

  “Michael, listen, I appreciate that he feels like I can help somehow, but I’m… kind of occupied right now.”

  “But you’re here.”

  “I was expecting a quick conversation, not a side quest.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Nothing… just tell him I’m sorry, I can’t help right now.” I turned to leave and he put his hand on the back of my shoulder.

  “Luca, he needs your help. She’s dying.”

  I turned back, noting the sincere pleading in his eyes. “Then you should probably get her to a hospital.”

  “It’s not like that. She tried to hurt her family and nearly killed her mother. It’s nothing like we’ve seen. He thinks you can help.”

  “You think she’s possessed.” My shoulders slumped. I had a feeling that was where this was going as he opened his hands. He didn’t say yes, or nod, but I understood his response. “Michael, do I look like a priest? Besides, I’m not… exactly equipped for that right now. I d
on’t know what to tell you.”

  “He’s out of options.”

  “Well, that’s reassuring. I don’t like to think of myself as the last-ditch effort…” We stared at each other and I shrugged. “What do you expect me to do? I don’t even have my things with me.”

  “You could try.”

  “Ah, Jesus Christ…” Those words hit me like a slap in the face. They reverberated in my head in the voice of my grandfather. That was how he moved me to action, whether I was stuck on homework, facing a bully, or some unknown issue. When I was ready to quit, and told him I didn’t know what to do, those three words always got used, and they always hit home.

  I rubbed my forehead and turned to head out of the church. “Let’s go, Padre.”

  *****

  Michael was surprisingly quiet in the passenger seat, maintaining a steady smile for most of the drive. He didn’t really say much, other than telling me where to turn.

  Sutter was practically pressing his face to the guy, while leaning up from the back. I kept glancing at him without making it obvious.

  I wanted to shoo him away and tell him to back off.

  Sutter shared my distaste for the clergy, and religion in general. His problem was a little more deep-seated though.

  He was fine with Pastor Jim, but anyone else was heavily scrutinized.

  I imagine I’d be the same if it were a psychotic priest who took a knife to my family. Unfortunately for Sutter, he handled that priest on his own and gunned him down.

  “This is a nice ride,” Michael spoke up, running his hand across the dash of the Jeep.

  “Thanks, I just stole it.”

  He laughed in response and we looked to one another, but I held a straight and serious face. His smile slowly faded.

  “Oh.” He settled back into the passenger seat, folding his hands in his lap. “I appreciate your willingness to help, if you can.”

  “It’s fine. Par for the course today, truthfully.” My thoughts went to this morning and I pulled the phone from my jacket. I needed to let Emma know what was going on.

  I really didn’t want her giving up and taking off on her own.

  I don’t even know why I argued with Michael initially. As soon as he said the girl needed help, I was ready to jump.