by Ike Hamill
“What’s with the sweater?”
“He thinks it makes him look skinny,” said Carol.
“I guess we’re stuck here until your sister comes out?” asked Lynne.
“She’ll be out in an hour. There’s a meeting right now, I bet she doesn’t stay past that,” said Carol. “Let’s park somewhere else for a while so I don’t get recognized here.”
Lynne backed out of the spot and they drove down the street to a coffee shop with parking behind the building. Lynne went inside and came back out with two cups. They watched the clock and tried to piece together their fragments of information.
“Sounds like you were digging a new portal,” said Lynne. “LIke the one we found in the woods.”
“Yes, no doubt,” said Carol. “I can just barely remember the woods, but it was the same thing. What’s the portal for though?”
“I can only assume it’s to bring something from some other world to here, right? Wouldn’t that be what a portal was for?” asked Lynne.
“I guess,” said Carol. “I don’t have any experience with this kind of stuff though. It’s all shocking to me." She blew on her coffee and then took a sip.
“But you were living with a Changeling for years,” said Lynne. “You had first-hand experience.”
“Just with that one thing though,” said Carol. “All this crazy stuff must be old hat to you.”
“Not really,” said Lynne. “I was thrust into it myself. I just started seeing stuff recently.”
“Great, so the only one with any real experience is Jenko, and he’s off chasing Gregory,” said Carol.
“What about that medium you mentioned? Seems like we could get some more information from him,” said Lynne.
“I don’t even know how to find that guy. He was tucked off in the woods somewhere. Even if we got dropped off in the exact same spot, I don’t think I could find him,” said Carol. “My sister should be getting out of that meeting about now. We should go back.”
Their timing was perfect. With Carol hunched down in the passenger seat, Lynne turned onto the side street just as Melanie’s car pulled out. Lynne followed her, several car-lengths back. After a couple of turns, Carol guessed their destination and Lynne backed off even further. They drove right by the street that Carol’s house sat on, slow enough to see Melanie pulling into Carol’s driveway.
“But you said that you were under hypnosis or something,” said Lynne. “Maybe she did the same thing to your sister? Could be that she’s done nothing consciously wrong.”
“You just don’t know Melanie,” said Carol. “I’ll bet you anything that she’s totally on-board.”
“Siblings are always too hard on each other,” said Lynne.
“Let’s go confront her and find out exactly what she’s up to,” said Carol.
“I’d rather wait and let her lead us to whomever she’s working for,” said Lynne. “Otherwise we risk getting nothing.”
Lynne turned around and pulled over near the corner of Carol’s street. She kept an eye out in the direction of Carol’s house. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, looking at the quiet neighborhood. Aside from a guy mowing his lawn across the street, there was very little action.
Carol broke the lull—“So, Jenko’s pretty hung up on you, huh?”
“What? No. We were partners. We worked for the Veyermin group, that’s all. Nothing ever happened between us,” said Lynne.
“That doesn’t mean he didn’t want something to happen. Judging by your reaction, it seems like you would have been at least partially receptive, too. You should have seen him when I found him. He was a total mess, getting drunk with his friend. It was clear he’d told Jerky all about you,” said Carol.
“He’s all business,” said Lynne. “Besides, I think he’s probably gay. And what do you mean, my reaction? I didn’t react.”
“You totally touched your head,” said Carol. She demonstrated by patting the side of her head. “That’s the first thing I look for. Trust me, I’ve dealt with about a million workplace romances. Those TV personalities are constantly hooking up with each other, and if they can’t find any other air talent to hook up with, then they pick the best of the interns.”
“Well I never thought of Jenko that way,” said Lynne. “Regardless of whether or not my head itched when you asked that question. That’s the first thing my mom asked too. If you didn’t notice, he’s kind of an asshole, and he’s way too old for me. Completely not my type.”
“And he risked his life for you,” said Carol. “Don’t forget that.”
“So did you,” said Lynne.
“Only because I don’t have anything to live for,” said Carol. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
“You know, I should though,” said Carol. “I should be out looking for my real daughter instead of getting hung up on this whole Donna thing, but I just can’t leave it unfinished. What if I went to find my daughter and I located her just as Donna was catching up with me? I don’t know if she was using me for slave labor, or if she had something more sinister planned.”
“I wonder why she picked you,” said Lynne.
“What do you mean?”
“In the hospital, or wherever. How did she single you out to be her fake mother? Was it totally random, or was there something special about you?” asked Lynne.
“I don’t know,” said Carol. “I never thought about it. Probably just timing or something. I was there to have a daughter and she needed someone to replace.”
“She must have had accomplices though, right? Someone to actually assist the exchange? Doesn’t matter how conscious an infant is, they’d need someone to physically replace her, right? And you said you think your daughter is being raised by someone else in New Hampshire?”
“Yeah. That’s what Billy told me when he was being possessed by Don.”
“So who’s raising her? Are they part of the conspiracy?” asked Lynne.
“I don’t know. I never thought about it, I guess,” said Carol. “Must have been one of the nurses or something. The security in that place was really tight. Nuns, nurses, and guards everywhere. Could only have been one of them or Don. Honestly, if it were a conspiracy, there would have been a dozen people involved.”
“Maybe you were involved too,” suggested Lynne.
“Not even funny,” said Carol.
“Sorry,” said Lynne.
“Oh!” said Carol. She shrunk down in her seat again. “There she is, get down.”
When Melanie had pulled past the car, Lynne raised up a little to watch where she went.
“Yup, I knew it,” said Carol.
“What’s that?” asked Lynne. She started up the car.
“She was getting her stupid dog. She left it at my place. That dog trashes her house every time she leaves it alone. She has to get a sitter if she even wants to go to the store. She brought the damn thing all the way over to my house so it could tear up my place while she was at the meeting.”
“That’s evil,” said Lynne.
“I told you,” said Carol.
They gave Melanie a generous lead and followed her for twenty minutes. There was only one hairy moment when Melanie disappeared. Lynne goosed Jenko’s car and they caught up with Melanie at a stoplight. Lynne slowed way too much and refused to pull up alongside Melanie at the light, but Melanie didn’t seem to notice. Carol was almost on the floor of the car, trying not to be seen.
A few minutes later, when Melanie turned down a side street, Lynne kept going straight.
“Where are you going?” asked Carol.
“We don’t need to follow her anymore,” said Lynne. “I’ve got a pretty good idea where she’s heading.”
“How’s that?”
“I can see it,” said Lynne. “I can see certain things. Your daughter is one of them.”
“That thing is not my daughter,” corrected Carol.
“Sorry,” said Lynne. “Donna is one of the things I can see. She leav
es a trail. What I saw just now wasn’t her trail, but it was close enough. I think they’re close, and I know I can follow that trail right to where they are.”
“Excellent,” said Carol. “So what now?”
“We go in hot,” said Lynne.
Lynne pulled the car into the lot of a small grocery store. Around the side of the building, Lynne parked near the big dumpster, away from the rest of the cars.
“What do you mean, hot?” asked Carol.
“Jenko always seems ready for anything,” said Lynne. “Let’s see what he has in the trunk. I’d be surprised if we didn’t find something good.”
“I don’t know,” said Carol. “He also seems pretty careful. I’m not sure he’d leave anything in the car and then park it overnight on the side of the road where anyone could break into it.”
“Only one way to find out,” said Lynne. She opened her door and fiddled around next to the seat until she found the trunk release.
The two women convened at the rear of the car. Lynne pulled open the trunk lid and revealed a clean, empty, carpeted trunk.
“Maybe he keeps everything good in that little black bag,” suggested Carol.
“This trunk is too clean. You know?” said Lynne. She leaned into the trunk and felt around the rough carpet.
“We’re not even sure what we’re dealing with,” said Carol. She backed away a half step, leaving Lynne searching in the trunk. “What if this thing isn’t afraid of guns or whatever.”
“Everything is afraid of guns,” said Lynne. She brushed her hair back behind her ears and tugged at the edges of the carpet.
“I don’t know,” said Carol. “It just seems like if this stuff is supernatural, then we should be looking for a more supernatural approach, you know?”
Lynne stood up straight and put her hand on the trunk lid. After deliberating for a second, she closed the trunk and rounded back to the driver’s door—“Good point, she called over her shoulder. Get in, I’ve got a different idea.”
Lynne drove through the downtown, across the river, and deep into one of the neighborhoods before pulling over. The two women didn’t speak during the trip. Lynne didn’t want to verbalize her idea—it seemed pretty farfetched once she set it in motion—and Carol wasn’t sure how to terminate the uncomfortable silence. When she pulled to the curb, Lynne turned to Carol and seemed to be about to speak, and then turned away.
Lynne opened her window and called out—“Domitius!”
Carol watched.
“Domi?” Lynne called. She felt Carol looking at her. “He’s my cat, I’m calling to my cat.”
“This is your house?” asked Carol.
“Yeah, I used to live there,” she pointed. “Until my bitch roommate sold me out. Domitius?” she called again.
Carol was about to ask why they had driven all that way to get a cat, when she nearly jumped out of her skin. Appearing like magic, the cat sailed through the window and onto Lynne’s lap. It was a spinning, arching ball of purring gray, and white, and black fur.
“Your cat?” asked Carol.
“Domi,” Lynne smiled. “This is Carol. He’s not just a cat. He was dead and I think I brought him back to life. Plus, he managed to scare off Felix more than once.”
“Felix?” Carol exhaled. “Why does that sound familiar?”
“I don’t know, maybe he was hanging around with Donna? He’s a little guy, but he can be very persuasive. Domi scared him off though. Didn’t you,” she smiled at the cat.
“Wait a second,” said Carol. “Was he about waist-high?”
Lynne nodded—“Yup." She continued to stroke Domitius.
“I think I’ve seen that thing. He chased me and Jeremy. Some crazy people at the cemetery captured him,” said Carol.
“Excellent, that might be one less thing we have to worry about,” said Lynne. “You ready?”
“Yes,” said Carol. “I think so. I know… Wait. That’s weird.”
“What?”
“I just haven’t seen a lock on a glove compartment since I was a kid. This car’s not that old,” she said.
“Great point!” said Lynne. She shut off the engine and pulled out the key so she could flip through the key ring. “Here, try this one,” she handed a key to Carol.
Carol opened up the glove compartment.
“Always the most obvious thing,” said Lynne. “Makes sense though; keep everything quick and close.”
Under a small folder, Carol discovered two handguns tucked in the bottom of the compartment. She pulled one out gingerly and turned it around in her hands.
“I’ll just leave them there until we get closer,” said Carol. She handed the keys back to Lynne.
“Good idea.”
DOMITIUS WAS THE FIRST out of the car. He jumped from Lynne’s lap as soon as her door opened. The two women left the car at a grocery store up the street from where they’d last seen Melanie. Carol went inside while Lynne waited. She came out with some clothesline and a roll of thick tape, in two separate bags. Each woman took a bag so they could conceal the guns.
As they walked down the street, Domi threaded his way next to the buildings. He kept pace with the women.
“There’s the first one,” said Lynne.
“You see something?” asked Carol.
“Yeah,” said Lynne. “It looks like a ribbon. Going down that street. It’s faint, so it’s probably getting old. They only last a certain amount of time.”
“And you’re sure it’s from Donna?” asked Carol.
“No, I’m not sure at all, but the only other ribbon I’ve ever seen like that came from Donna. I figure it’s either from her or somebody with her.”
They slowed when the got to the corner. An old brick building extended out to the sidewalk. The ribbon began on the opposite corner. Lynne looked first. Domi held back and watched her poke her head around the corner.
“It goes down towards the river. Looks like it turns into an alley down there,” said Lynne.
“Let’s just act casual,” said Carol.
Lynne nodded. Side-by-side they rounded corner and walked down the narrow street. Both sides were enclosed with three-story brick buildings. The sidewalk ran out after about fifty yards and they walked in the street. At the end of the block, where the brick buildings ended, another alley ran perpendicular to their street.
Carol paused and looked up and down the alley—“I think this is near where I was digging.”
Lynne turned around and looked back at Carol. “Makes sense,” she said.
“I don’t know why I didn’t recognize it earlier,” said Carol. “The river is right there. Is there a cemetery on top of that hill?”
“Yes,” said Lynne.
The buildings here were sided with metal and not as tall.
“The ribbon goes in there,” Lynne said, pointing to the wall on the side of the metal building. Carol moved in a big arc behind Lynne, not wanting to get too close to the warehouse. Once she was on the other side of Lynne, she could see that the wall panel had been pulled back.
Lynne knelt a peered into the darkness revealed by the bent panel. “Let’s go around the other side of this place and see if we can find a real door.”
Carol nodded. They walked slowly down the alley, until they found the next corner of the metal building. A tall fence stretched between that warehouse and the next. The space between the buildings was stacked with junk.
“Climb?” asked Carol.
“I don’t think so,” said Lynne. “We’re looking for somewhere your sister could drive right up to. Let’s go back around.”
Lynne had to call the cat to follow them—he was squeezing under the fence when they’d made the decision. The warehouse was long—it was hike to walk around to the other side. When they cleared the final corner, they were rewarded immediately. They found Melanie’s car parked in front of a set of steel doors.
“Okay,” said Lynne. “Time for these.”
She held the gun in her right hand
and stuffed the clothesline in her back pocket. Carol pocketed the tape, and they stood at the corner of the warehouse with their guns pointed to the sky.
“Lead the way,” Lynne said to the cat.
He strode forward, tail raised with confidence, and got as far as Melanie’s car. When the dog barked, it’s teeth clacking on the glass of the car window, Domi scrambled to his right and slammed against the building before ducking around the front of the car.
“Great,” said Lynne.
The dog kept barking until it saw Carol. Then, it’s aggressive barks turned into a whine.
“So much for the element of surprise,” said Lynne.
“Maybe they didn’t hear,” said Carol. She smiled and rolled her eyes.
“It’s open,” said Lynne. She had her hand on the warehouse door. “Domi, check it out,” she said to the front of the car. The black cat darted forward. Lyne cracked the door and let him slip through.
“Is he going to come back with a report?” asked Carol.
Lynne shrugged—“I don’t know,” she said. “I guess I we’ll hear something if anyone’s in there." She cracked the door again and peered inside. When she couldn’t see anything in the dark, she called the cat the return. He obediently came back through the door and circled around Lynne’s legs.
“So we go?” asked Carol.
“Yeah, but it’s dark. There are lights on, but it’s going to take a second for our eyes to adjust. We’ll go in quick and move to the side until our eyes adjust,” Lynne suggested.
“Okay,” said Carol. She came up alongside Lynne and waited for her signal. Lynne pulled open the door a foot and a half and they pressed through. Domi almost tripped Carol as she tried to move quickly and quietly inside. Lynne pushed her to the side and they crouched in the corner as the walls of the small room materialized out of the gloom. The room was lit by a single hanging bulb. Domi moved around the perimeter and waited next to a flimsy wooden door at the far end of the room. The ceiling was tall, but not nearly tall enough for the dimensions of the warehouse.
“Like a business office or something?” asked Lynne.