Nimravid (The MacFade Chronicles Book 1) Read online

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  “Could be, let’s see what they know.”

  “So you figure because I know a little something about that. I’d have the inside track?”

  Chief Martin looked uncomfortable. “All we know is that another officer disappeared last night and we found what was left of him this morning. The time line between when we took Previtt into custody and when we lost contact with officer Charles rules him out as a suspect. We need your help Dalton. You have… avenues open to you that we don’t.”

  “What’s the body count?”

  “If we had any actual bodies it would be four.”

  “Any signs of a struggle?”

  “Not that we can tell. There is so little evidence; we haven’t even been able to determine where they were killed. All we know is that none of their guns had been fired.”

  “It’s not gang related then, Martin. It’s usually a one for one deal and they wouldn’t be this quiet about it. Anyone killing that many police has a vendetta and the juice to not be concerned about retaliation, so it probably isn’t any Ferguson resident. You know Chief, mostly all I’ve done is crack heads together. I don’t exactly have a lot of friends along those AVENUES.” The chief gave me a sly grin. “Come off it lad. We’ve heard the stories. Dalton Walker comes around asking questions, you had better have answers, if you know what’s good for you. You’re either being modest or careful; no one is trying to set you up. We’ve kept this out of the press so as not to cause panic or encourage any copy cats. Tensions are already high because of the riots. We can’t pay your regular fee up front, but, so far we’ve been able to raise $3800. Will you help us? Please?”

  “The chief saying please? That’s pure desperation, Alex.” I would have done it for free just to hear him say it. I gave Claire a pained look. She laid her hand on my wrist, giving me a squeeze and a pleading look. I dropped my chin to my chest and shook my head. She walked me right into this one. “OK, Chief I’ll look into it.” He reached into his jacket pocket and slid an envelope across the desk. Somehow I knew this was going to be a mistake—and as usual, I was right. I took the envelope and slid it into my jacket pocket. “I’ll accept this for now.” The chief nodded his head in understanding. “Don’t collect any more.” He gave me a puzzled look. Claire smiled she knew what was coming next. I gave her a hairy eyeball. “Don’t do that!”

  “Do what?”

  “Don’t you dare enjoy this, Claire.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Her smile widening, just a little. I had been played like a cheap violin; even as pissed as I was with the department. I was doing this for the old man and Claire, no one else. The money felt awkward in my pocket, like it didn’t belong.

  “Imagine that…”

  “I have my expenses, Mai.”

  “Of course.”

  “Bloody nagging females…” I blew out an exasperated breath and tossed the money back onto the desk. “I won’t profit from something like this. I’ll track my expenses. You can reimburse me later.” Claire’s smile widened to a grin. “Not a word out of you,” I growled. Chief Martin looked shocked, “What’s this? Dalton Walker refusing money?” Trust me, it doesn’t happen often, more frequently since I discovered my humanity through Claire and Shelly. “Are you sure, Mack? You’re doing the job. We want to pay you.”

  “This is the right thing to do and I don’t like to make money like this, filthy lucre and all that rot. I live a by a code, Chief. This situation dictates I get involved, regardless.”

  “Hmmm…Claire said you would say something like that.”

  “Oh did she? Can’t imagine why…” Claire feigned an innocent look. She knows I, like make many Yakuza, practice Ninkyo-duo. It’s basically Yakuza social justice. The ultimate contradiction, in contrast to how we choose to live our lives. Some might call it, honor among thugs. It suffices to say; we are a very complicated group of people. We bully the bullies, which I enjoy immensely. This is a different, but honor demands my involvement.

  I could Sense Claire was immensely proud of me, and herself, of course. “Chief I’m going to need access to the crime scene reports and any actual scenes. I’m going to give you my cell number, your eyes only.”

  “Of course.”

  “Anything else I need to know?”

  “Yes.” I rolled my eyes. “Go ahead man, spit it out, haven’t got all flaming day.”

  “All the victims have been black and straight arrows.” I studied his face for a moment.

  “That’s interesting; no one with a grudge?”

  “Not that we can determine. All of them were well liked and respected.”

  “Weird…sounds like a well-informed serial killer or a highly organized hate group.”

  “Yes, that’s part of the problem.”

  “You think it might be a cop.”

  “Not necessarily,” Chief Martin sounded defensive. “But someone on the inside is definitely passing on information. Someone with something to hide, you and I both know there are dirty cops out there, but this just feels different.”

  “Go with that feeling, human instinct is a powerful thing. I have to warn you though; I am a contractor, not a detective. I’ll do my best, you have my word on that but I can’t promise you anything and you might not like what I find. I not going to sugar coat anything.”

  “I understand Mack. I trust you. Just let me know if you need anything else.”

  “Two more things.”

  “Yes?”

  “If Decker interferes with me, in any way, while I’m doing this, I’m sending him back to you in an ambulance.” Claire’s eyes flew open, “Oh come on Mack! You can’t make a threat against a detective right in front of the chief of D’s and the district attorney. You know better than that!”

  “That was before Ferguson, babe. Things are different now.”

  Claire rolled her eyes. Martin just smiled, knowing the score. “Fair enough, I don’t like the little ass kisser anyway. And the second?”

  “Given the circumstances, how important is it to you that this person or persons sees the inside of a courtroom?” He was on the same page already. “I see no reason for you to put yourself or others at any unnecessary risk, to make that happen. Do what you need to do.”

  “Chief Martin!” Claire gasped. She had come a little late to the party. I nodded, “Good, I was hoping you’d see things my way.” I saw a light of confidence spring to life in his eyes, like he knew everything was going to be alright. I hate that. It’s a huge amount of pressure. “One more thing Chief, I’ve gotten an anonymous tip that if you sift through the slag piles at a certain steel mill you’ll find the remains of several juvenile females.” He stared at me for a second and a slight smile formed on his lips. “Anonymous right…one of these days we are going to have a long talk, Mack.”

  “Look forward to it, Donny boy, but today is not that day.” He nodded to Claire and left pulling the door closed behind him. I turned to Claire. “Lunch?” She was leaning back in her chair smiling, immense pride and adoration radiating from her. I could tell she wanted me right then and there. As painful as it was, I didn’t have the time, especially inside a government office. “What?” I pretended like I didn’t know what the smile was about. “You know what.” She smiled as her foot slowly slid up and down my left calf. “You accepted this job AND took it easy on the chief when you could have been a real hard ass about the harassment you get from the department.”

  “Hah! You admit it! It’s harassment.”

  “Knock it off, Alex. This is not the time.”

  “I admit nothing. Only that I am so very proud of you.” I could virtually see the pheromones blasting from her pores. I needed to head it off before it caused an inconvenient reaction. “Sarno’s?” Claire nodded. “Sure.”

  We walked down the street to a favorite bistro of mine. Claire had the Pasta Pomodoro and I had most of the right side of the menu. During lunch she thanked me for considering Effie’s Sunday dinner and told me how much it meant to her, but NO PRE
SSURE, yeah, right. She leaned forward in her chair, putting on her “lawyer face”, not my favorite look.

  “Good, now that you’ve been fed, what about these disappearances?” I flipped my napkin onto the table. So much for dessert, it’s not like I didn’t know this was coming. “Claire, you know what I do for a living. The only thing I can do is look at the evidence and hope to get a reading. After that, I’ll do my best to run down the target. Hopefully in time to keep any more cops from disappearing. That’s the plan at least.”

  “That’s the plan? Sniff around the evidence and hope to get lucky?”

  “That’s all I can do. If your lab boys can’t turn anything up, then I’m all you’ve got left. That’s the process, trust me, Babe. I’ll do everything I can; I gave Martin my word.”

  “I know, it’s just that these policemen’s families keep calling the Mayor’s office demanding answers and we don’t have any. It seems like all we have left anymore are twenty one gun salutes and honor guards but in this case we don’t even have a fucking body to bury.” Claire doesn’t swear in public often, that’s how upset she was. I reached out and took her hand, gently kissing it. “That sounds really tough, Babe, I’m sorry. This’ll be my top priority. I’ve got to check in with a friend first and make sure no one is visiting any reprisal on her for helping me out last night.” There was no need to explain. “You’re a good man, Dalton Walker.” The twinkle in her eye, returned. I smiled and winked, “There she is.”

  Chapter 12

  Turned out, Shauna was fine, I had told the shelter she was on the run from a dangerous man. The young priest who runs the place, and I, go way back, so he didn’t ask any more questions after I assured him I would address her situation shortly. He knew what I meant; my reputation being well established in the area. Needing to move quickly, I made some inquiries and heard Dominic was howling for my blood, my address wasn’t exactly unlisted. Getting home around 4 pm, I powered up all the defensive wards to test them, everything checked out. If Dominic wanted a fight, he’d get one, but most of his guys are going to fry like moths on a bug zapper. I’d have to deal with the neighbors later. Dressing in my combat clothes, multi-pocketed black BDU pants and matching vest, along with an arsenal of small charmed weapons and amulets, I was as ready as I was ever going to be.

  I explained to Lucy and Charles that very bad people were coming here and, at my command, they were to go into the bedroom and close the door. It’s set to automatically lock when they step on a special pressure switch, in essence their safe room. Calling Shelly, I got voice mail and asked her to stay home tonight because I was having a meeting at the house with some potentially dangerous clients. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed she would get it in time and miraculously, it wouldn’t pique her interest, in other words… a total crap shoot.

  Mai sensing my anxiety, appeared in front of me as I loaded my Beretta with my own personal kills-all ammo, a composite of white phosphorus and Elfen silver. “Well that’s it, Alex. All we have to do now is wait. We’re prepared, relax and build up as much of an energy reserve as you can. You know where all of the strongest access points are.” (Power conduits of natural stone built into the house itself.) “We’ll start scanning around sunset and Casey is already on the roof.”

  “Let’s hope that’s enough, Mai.”

  As I was sitting in my easy chair, Listening and Watching, I morphed the rod through its most familiar weapon forms and in the process, started getting on Mai’s nerves. “Stop it. You’re just using up nervous energy that you may need later. Most of those are pure reflex.” I nodded, knowing she was right. Getting keyed up before a fight is just damn near impossible to avoid.

  Just as I was starting to relax I received a text. It read: “You shit! You’re going to miss my cheer competition. I knew it, anything to get out of it. I am so pissed at you! Love Shelly.” My head dropped to my chest, my head bouncing as I chuckled softly to myself. She got the message. You shit, blah blah blah, pissed at you, LOVE Shelly. Teenage girls, they speak the only language in this cosmos that I don’t understand or, maybe it’s just women in general. No time for that now.

  “Incoming Mack!” Casey called out, sounding the alarm.

  “What have we got?”

  “Two black Escalades, across the street, just sitting there.”

  “Thanks Casey, keep an eye out. Mai and I’ll handle it from here.” I sat down to meditate, Mai’s consciousness melding with mine, properly linked she can operate the armor, independent of my movements, if necessary.

  “Good Alex, now let your Senses extend out from the house. What do you See?”

  “Two sets of eyes watching the house, sun is still up but setting fast. There is an anxious presence in a vehicle across the street.”

  “Good, what else?”

  “No time, the sun just set and the doors are opening.”

  My eyes snapped open and I lithely sprang to my feet. “Showtime guys, into the bedroom, both of you.” Lucy trotted up to me, refusing to move. She stood in front of me, a defiant face with a dust bunny, clinging to her long beard. It was next to impossible to take her seriously. “Lucy good fighter. Lucy protect Alex.” She said, her tail wagging furiously. I knelt down to stroke her head, removing the clot of debris from her chin. “Lucy not know if Lucy good fighter. Lucy has never been in a fight. Alex knows Alex is a GREAT fighter. Alex will take care of Alex. Lucy need’s to go to Alex’s bedroom and close door if Alex tells her to, now go.” Lucy turned around and slowly trudged back to the bedroom shortly behind Charles, grumbling to herself the whole way. “Lucy good fighter. Lucy want help. Lucy never help. Everybody always tell Lucy what do.”

  “Oi! That’s enough of your back talk, young lady.”

  I checked the lock on the impenetrable door to the chimney and backed up against it so I had a full view of all windows and doors. I morphed the gauntlet into the sword breaker claw and the rod into a wakizashi (a short samurai sword), the best combination for defending against multiple swordsmen, in a small space. I could smell them through the window, four of them and then the doorbell rang. What the? Did I really hear that? A second ring sounded; then a polite knock at the door. “Mr. Walker? Are you at home?”

  “Well, that was unexpected. Now what?”

  “Now we answer the door, Mai. That’s a vampire; but it’s not Dominic. I’d know his stench and arrogant countenance anywhere.” I let the claw revert to its natural bracer state and the rod, into its cane form, leaving it hanging from my forearm. “This ought to be good,” I mumbled as I opened the door.

  “Who wants to die first?” I Projected a strong sense of danger and fear, but wasn’t really prepared for what I was looking at; a rather handsome, middle aged vampire of about 54 when he was turned. He had jet black hair, lightly streaked with gray from the temples back and an eastern European look. I inhaled through my nose as deeply as I could, without being obvious. The smell of decomposition wasn’t strong on him and it was sweet. “Careful Alex, this is an old one, very old.” New vampires tend to be acrid, because their bodies haven’t figured out the correct ratio of re-generation to decomposition. This one had it down cold, a long time ago.

  He noticed me sniffing him and smiled patiently taking no offense. “Hopefully establishing an order to die in, will not be necessary. Dalton Walker, may I presume?”

  “You may presume anything you want, pal. It’s a free country.” There were two rather large vamps flanking him about seven feet away at the bottom of the porch steps. I could see bulges under their long coats. One under the arm, one at the hip, my Sight revealing a sword and a semi-automatic, personal guard, no doubt. At the same time, I noticed two energy fields on either side of the leader, just the right size for a couple of Shrouded adults. “Permit me to introduce myself. I am Kolann Rayner, chieftain of the Rayner clan, and I believe we need to talk.” He studied my face. “You were expecting someone else?”

  “Yeah, that thieving blighter, Dominic, he with you?”

  �
��Well… yes and no. He’s a member of my clan council, but that fool will not be joining us tonight. This really isn’t the place to have such a conversation. May I come in?”

  “Oh, of course Mr. Vampire, please do come in. Feel free to make yourself at home. Would you like to start by slaughtering every living thing inside? Then, if you’re still hungry, we can move on to the neighbors.” Mai’s thoughts were saturated with malice. “You aren’t really going to invite him in, are you?”

  ”I have an idea. What if I LET him in but don’t necessarily INVITE him in?”

  “It’s purely a technicality, but you might be on to something.”

  In most homes, thresholds retain a guardian like power. As I understand it, the love, loyalty and affection a family has for each other builds up in a threshold over time and creates a protective barrier. Entering a threshold uninvited, triggers a defensive response and diminishes the power of the intruder. I left the main door open and walked into the living room, seating myself in the chair facing the door. Kolann, who had been holding the screen door open, raised his eyebrows and gave me a questioning look. When I did not react, he ASSUMED, he was invited in. I watched the door closely as Kolann made a show of dropping the rather stout walking stick he had been holding, hitting the porch with a very solid thunk, heavier than it looked and just the ever-so-slight hint, of a rattle. Obviously a diversion, for the Shrouded vamps to slip in, while he bent over to pick it up. “Please excuse me, I can be so clumsy first thing in the evening. I suppose I haven’t fully woken up yet.”

  “That’s alright Kolann, have a sword in the cane, do we?” I didn’t react, just patiently waited for him to come in and gestured to the chair opposite mine. The energy field of the threshold pulsed after each vampire walked through. They didn’t seem to notice, probably weren’t expecting it. “So far so good, Alex, stay on your guard, he didn’t take much of a hit.”

  Seating himself, Kolann leaned the walking stick up against the side of my couch, within arm’s reach, another dead giveaway. A true gentleman would have placed it in the large vase next to my coat closet, which is full of canes, umbrellas and a couple surprises, if this meeting went sideways. The two Shrouded figures did a circuit around the room; both settling in to stand next to Kolann’s chair. This was promising not to be a dull evening.