The Harbinger

by Wendy Wang

  “Well, let’s take a look and see what we’ve got, shall we?”

  The nurse peeled away the bloody gauze and Matt leaned in close, examining her wound, pressing gently on the tissue around it. Charlie squeezed her eyes shut and kept her breathing as steady as she could.

  Matt gave the nurse some instructions on irrigating the wound and ordering an x-ray. When he was done, he glanced back at Charlie. “So, should I give Scott a call, let him know what’s going on?”

  Charlie’s eyes flew open and she gave him a pointed look. "Don't you dare,” she said, her voice full of aggravation. "Scott is not my husband anymore and you know it."

  Matt smirked. “I know. I just always thought it was a shame you two split up.”

  “I’m sure you do.” Charlie’s lips twisted into a disdainful scowl at Matt’s boldfaced lie. If she’d had something solid in her hands, she would've thrown it at him. She'd known Matthew Skerrit as long as she'd known Scott. Once when she and Scott had broken up for a month, Matt had chased her, trying to keep them from getting back together. But he failed. If there was one thing she knew about Matt, it was that he didn't like to fail. "

  “So when was your last tetanus shot?" Matt asked.

  "I don't know. A while I guess,” Charlie said.

  “Well, it’s your lucky day.” His blue eyes glinted with mischief as he grinned. “Let’s give her a booster,” Matt said to the nurse.

  “Yes, sir,” Nurse Jolie said and typed it into her computer.

  “Great" Charlie laid back against the pillow and stared at the crisscross pattern of the drop ceiling tiles.

  “Are you allergic to penicillin, Charlie?” Matt asked.

  “No,” Charlie said.

  “Great, we’ll give you a shot and then send you home with some oral antibiotics, okay?”

  “Whatever you think is best, Matt,” Charlie said not taking her eyes off the ceiling.

  “Great.” Matt peeled his gloves off. “It was great to see you, Charlie. How’s that cousin of yours, Lisa?”

  Charlie gave Jason a furtive glance. He’d moved closer to her bed and his lips puckered as if he’d been sucking on lemons.

  “She’s great.” Charlie reached out and touched Jason’s arm.

  “Maybe I should give her a call,” Matt mused.

  “Awww, maybe you shouldn’t,” Charlie quipped. “She’s got a boyfriend.”

  “Well you know what they say,” Matt said. “Unless he’s put a ring on it. She’s fair game.”

  Jason took a half-step forward and Charlie tightened her grip on his arm. “That’s not what they say at all.”

  “Charlie’s right. That’s not what they say at all, Matthew Skerrit,” Lisa said from the doorway. “

  Matt chuckled and turned. “Lisa Holloway, as I live and breathe. Dang girl, you look good.”

  “Uh-huh,” Lisa put her hands on her slim hips and narrowed her eyes. “How’s Charlie?”

  “She’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna take good care of her.”

  "Good,” she said, seeming to ignore the way he looked her up and down. “Well, I wouldn’t want to keep you from your patients.” Lisa took a step back and raised her hand in a dismissive gesture.

  “Looks like some things never change.” Matt’s smile disappeared and his expression hardened. “Take care, Charlie. Make sure you follow all the instructions the nurse gives you, okay?”

  “I will. Thanks, Matt,” Charlie said. She sank into her pillow and closed her eyes as the nurse began the painful process of debriding and irrigating her wound. Hopefully, Matt wouldn't be the jerk she knew he could be and call Scott against her wishes. That was the last thing she needed today because she could lie to Matthew Skerrit’s face and wear a smile as she did it, but Scott would want the truth.

  They’d come a long way over the last year but there was no way he’d believe her. Hell, she barely believed it. She couldn’t wait to get Lisa alone to talk about what had happened and try to make some sense of all this. Charlie looked to Jason and Tom. “Listen, this may take a while. Y’all don’t have to stay.”

  “Charlie’s right,” Lisa said. “I’m here now. I know y’all have other things to do. I’m her family. I’ll take care of her now.”

  Jason’s mouth drew up into a sour pucker. “Fine. I need to go back to work anyway. Will you text me later? Let me know you’re okay?”

  “Of course,” Charlie said. “If y’all would just drop my car off and leave the keys with my uncle, that’d be great.”

  “Sure thing,” Jason said. He shifted his gaze to Lisa. “Can I speak with you a minute?”

  Lisa jutted her chin. “All right.”

  Charlie watched the two of them disappear from view.

  “Do you want me to stay?” Tom asked. He rubbed his thumb over the back of Charlie’s. “I don’t mind.”

  “I could be here for hours. I don’t want you to have to wait,” she said.

  “I don’t mind.”

  Charlie slipped her hand out of his and cupped his cheek. “You are sweet to me. Why don’t I call you when I’m on my way home.”

  Tom took her hand in his and pressed his lips to her palm. “Whatever you wish.”

  Charlie watched as Tom left the room, heading in the opposite direction of Lisa and Jason. Didn’t he know the exit was the other way? Maybe he has business here. The skin on her arms broke into goose flesh and she shivered.

  “Are you cold?” the nurse asked. “Do you need a blanket?”

  Charlie cracked an automatic smile. “No, I’m fine, thank you.”

  “Okay, Charlie, I’m just going to irrigate your wound and make sure it’s good and clean. Then we’re gonna send you off for a quick x-ray.”

  The nurse settled on the stool at the foot of the bed and held a plastic kidney shaped basin in one hand.

  “Great,” Charlie muttered.

  She lay back on the pillow and stared up at the ceiling again and waited for the pain to be over.

  Lisa’s shoes clicked on the linoleum floor as she walked away from Charlie’s room with Jason trailing behind her.

  She’d gotten a text from Charlie. I’m at St. Frances. Had an accident. I'm okay. Don't come. Heart heart heart. Your boyfriend is here with me.

  My boyfriend?

  You know. Cop. Average height, light brown hair, intense demeanor. Your boyfriend Jason.

  Who said he was my boyfriend?

  He did. Well. Said you were his girlfriend so…

  When?

  Last night. So, I just wanted to tell you not to worry and not to come. Okay?

  What the hell was she supposed to do with that? It was information overload. How on earth could Charlie expect her not to come? She totally didn’t want to deal with the other little bomb Charlie dropped. Sometimes her cousin could be infuriating. After a quick call to her sister Jen, they had decided that it was best if Lisa went to the hospital, since Jen had to pick up Ruby from tap dance class.

  Her heart beat hard in her throat matching the click-clack of her shoes on the tile flooring outside Charlie’s room as she replayed last night in her head. Jason had swung by after she’d left her father’s. He’d been sweet, hopeful, penitent and she’d picked a fight. Could feel herself doing it. Words had been thrown like daggers. Mean words meant to wound. Words she regretted in the harsh light of this place. She stepped back against the wall as a nurse rushed by carrying a small child in her arms.

  She should have known he’d be here, that Charlie’s injury would somehow of course be connected to him. Seeing skeezy Matt Skerrit didn’t help matters much either. She saw the way that Jason looked at her. Why were men so damned territorial?

  “Hey,” Jason sidled up next to her.

  "Hey," she said trying to keep her voice under control. She wanted to say she didn’t mean anything she’d said last night, but the words wouldn’t come. They flowed so easily when she was angry, but froze in her throat as soon as she wanted forgiveness. Why was sorry so hard to say?
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  “I'm glad you're here,” he said. He pressed his arm against hers. Maybe he’d forgiven her. Maybe.

  “You are?”

  “Yeah, she needs her family,” he said.

  “Yeah, she does.” Lisa nodded. It wasn’t what she’d hoped he’d say.

  “Listen, I’ve gotta go back to work. I need to finish up a few things," he said. His gaze felt heavy on her.

  "Sure." She stepped away from the wall and crossed her arms. "Don't let me stop you."

  Jason blew out a breath and looked away. "You're still mad at me."

  It wasn't a question. Lisa blinked, not sure how to respond. A pang of guilt filled her chest. She’d hurt him. Her cheeks and chest burned with shame. "I'm not mad."

  “You’re not?” He narrowed his eyes.

  “No,” she sighed. "I was. But I’m not anymore."

  "Really?" He cocked his head like he didn’t believe her, but a smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I don't want you to be mad at me."

  “That’s good because I don’t want to be mad at you,” she said, her eyes casting about, not able to land on him.

  “You forgive me for working on our vacation?” He took a step, closing the gap between them.

  “You forgive me for being mean to you last night?” Now she could look up.

  “Maybe,” he said. “Did you really date that doctor guy?”

  “So what if I did? I don’t harass you about the girls you’ve dated,” she huffed.

  “It’s just he doesn’t really seem your type.”

  “He’s not. That’s why we’re not still dating,” Lisa said. She tightened her arms across her chest. “Did you tell Charlie I was your girlfriend?”

  “Maybe,” he said grinning. “Does that make you mad too?"

  "No. Not exactly mad. It would've been nice if maybe you would have asked me. Instead of declaring it to my cousin."

  Jason's lips twitched at the corners and he moved closer, putting a tentative hand on the top of her hip. "Lisa Marie Holloway, will you officially be my girlfriend?"

  "I don't know," she said, trying to keep her own smile under control. “You seem like you could be more trouble than you’re worth.”

  “I think you like trouble,” he grinned, putting his other hand on her hip. “I need to go back to work for two hours tops. After that, I’m all yours. How about I take you someplace nice. We’ll eat some dinner, watch the sunset.”

  “What about Cameron?” Lisa said.

  “He’s a big boy. He can take care of himself," Jason said.

  "I don't know. I need to get Charlie home after this and she may need me."

  "She's not gonna need you," Jason said.

  "Oh yeah? How do you know that?"

  "Two reasons. Tom and Jen. You know once you get her home the two of them will be mother-henning her all night," he chuckled.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Lisa wrapped one arm around his neck. “Okay. You’ve got yourself a date. But I want to go someplace nice."

  "It's too late for reservations,” Jason said, looking at his watch.

  "Well I don't want to go to the café, if that's what you're about to suggest.”

  "Fine. How about we go to Margie's Crab House."

  "Okay. Fine. Meet you at 7:30. Don't be late," she scolded.

  He smirked. “When am I ever late?”

  She quirked one eyebrow and opened her mouth to answer but he pressed his mouth to hers making, her forget the question.

  Chapter 6

  Ben Sutton sat on the porch swing in the rear of the Holloway house with his arms stretched across the back. Twilight cast a murky blanket across the yard and sky. The sharp piney scent of bug spray still hung in the air from where Jen had sprayed them both down. But it was giving way to the smells of cooler air. A flash of lightning streaked across the sky and, as if on cue, a rumble of thunder answered. A promise of rain. Jen emerged from the house, letting the screen door slam with a flat thud behind her. She had two cold beers in her hand and held one of the sweaty bottles out for him. He took it and smiled at her.

  "Thank you," he said. She sat down next to him, rocking the swing a little bit.

  "So how much longer do you think you're going to be in town?"

  She asked the question that had been hanging between them for the last month. When he hadn’t received a new assignment, instead of resorting to his nomadic ways he had stayed put, something he rarely did. But it was the pull of this woman that had kept him here. Her vivacious and loving spirit, and it didn't hurt that she was adorable. With her heart-shaped face and elfin features. And her pink full lips. That beckoned to be kissed. He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers.

  "Until I get a call," he whispered. He felt her shiver next to him despite the 75-degree heat. She nodded and sat back, taking a long draw from the bottle of beer.

  "So that could be any time then?" she asked.

  "Yes," he said, sitting back. The chains squealed in protest as he pushed the swing with his legs back and forth. Back and forth. Measuring the moments of silence between them. He could feel her next to him, her body thrumming with questions that she didn't really want the answers to. He reached over and put his hand on top of hers. And pulled it to his mouth, kissing her knuckles. "You know I don't stay in one place for very long."

  Jen didn't look at him. She stared down at the bottle in her hand. Her thumb traced a line through the condensation on the bottle's neck.

  "Just because I leave a place, you know," he said. He leaned forward letting the swing settle and resting his elbows on his knees. "It doesn't mean I can't come back."

  "Right," she said. "Do you like it? Just sort of drifting around with no home?"

  He shrugged one shoulder. “You know I used to. But as I've gotten older …" He blew out a heavy breath. "It's not like I haven't thought about finding a place to live. You know, settling down. But what I do for a living …"

  "Yeah," Jen said. "It's kind of unusual. I don't think I would know how to explain it to somebody. Hi, this is my friend Ben. He hunts down witches who break the rules and exacts justice. It doesn't really roll off the tongue like police officer or doctor or dogcatcher," she chuckled.

  He was glad of the sound. Maybe it meant that she could accept it if he wanted to come back.

  "Hotel living gets old," he said. "That's for sure. I mean being able to spend time with you and your family here. It's meant a lot to me." He wanted to say it showed him a different world. A world that he'd never really known before. But he didn't. She didn't need to know that much about how he grew up. Not yet. Why infect her with that darkness?

  "Well you know you're welcome here. Any time. Even my daddy likes you. And he doesn't like anybody that I bring home," Jen said.

  "So he didn't like Ruby's father?" Ben asked.

  "No. My father hated Mark Goldberg with a passion. Especially after he … well, especially after …" She paused and her face became thoughtful.

  He could feel her searching for the most delicate way to say, Before he knocked me up and left me. One thing he’d learned about her is that no matter how bad something might be, she always found that silver lining. It was one of the things that endeared her to him. He’d never known anyone who could see the light in a dark situation quite as easily as Jen.

  "Well after things didn't work out and Ruby came along."

  "I can imagine he did. I would've felt the same way if you had been my daughter," Ben said.

  "Well," Jen said, straightening her shoulders. She tipped her chin and smiled. "I can't complain. I've had you for a month and a half now. And I've enjoyed every minute of it."

  He shifted again, putting his arm around her. The swing rocked back and forth a little. "I have, too. And I want to keep enjoying every minute as long as I'm here. Are you okay with that?"

  She looked up at him, her blue eyes wide. "Yes," she said. "I am if you are."

  "Good," he said. He leaned in and kissed her, this time lingering for a mo
ment. His empty hand found her cheek and cupped it. There was so much he wanted to say, wanted to admit but couldn't quite bring himself to do it. The phone in his pocket buzzed against the front of his thigh. He broke the kiss and smiled. He pulled his phone from his pocket and stared down at the face of Lauren Coldwater. His boss at the Defenders of Light. He’d almost hoped she’d lost his number. Being a rogue witch hunter had become more tedious and less exciting since meeting Jen. "Sorry. I need to take this."

  "No problem," she said. She pushed to her feet. "I'm gonna go kiss Ruby good night. You take your phone call. I'll be back in a few minutes."

  He nodded and pressed the green answer icon. "Lauren, what have you got?"

  "We have a problem," Lauren said. There were no niceties between them now. No, how are you? Lauren always got straight to the point and perpetually sounded like she was gritting her teeth.

  "We always do," he said. "What's going on?"

  "There’s a demon on the loose in a place called Arcadia, Georgia. He's been picking off livestock and it appears that he's moved on to humans. We believe he was called by a solitary practitioner in that area.” She meant a witch not affiliated with a coven like Evangeline’s and the cousins, sworn to only practice white magic. “We need you to pick her up and slay that demon. Or send him back to hell, whichever one is easiest for you," Lauren said nonchalantly.

  "I'll pick up the witch but I don't usually slay demons, Lauren. Don't you have a cleanup crew for that?" Ben asked.

  "Well, I have a problem with that," Lauren said. "Unfortunately, my last cleanup crew … well,” she sighed. He wasn’t sure if it was for dramatic effect or if she was really emoting. She made it hard to know the difference sometimes. “They failed their last mission.”

  A failed mission meant only one thing. The crew had died. There was no in between. Succeed or die. Those were pretty much the choices.

  “… and we haven't had a chance to hire anyone new yet, so we need you to do it. You absolutely have a budget and can hire whomever you need to help you. But we just need it done as soon as possible. All right?"