“You and Bobby were in a gang together?” Jack asked, and when Tyrone answered, “Yes.” the boy’s mother began to sob in earnest. Tyrone explained that he had been jumped or rather beaten into the Hell’s Disciples three weeks ago.
“Bobby said we were going to go beat this kid up, this kid who was one of our rivals. He knew where the kid was going to be…alone.” Tyrone related lowly. “I didn’t want to do it. I knew how it would upset my Mama if she ever found out.” Tyrone ducked his head in shame when his mom burst into tears all over again. Tyrone swiped at his eyes. “But, I knew if I didn’t go then I would be the one getting the beating. I went because I was scared not to.”
“The kid you beat was Ernie Sanchez?” Jack asked calmly, and Tyrone’s mother began to wail painfully, having obviously recognized the name of the other murder victim.
“Bobby jumped him in the alley behind Lani’s Garden Center. Ernie worked there, and was getting off late.” Tyrone explained. “I kicked the kid once or twice, just for show, you know? But Bobby was in such a rage that he didn’t notice I wasn’t as in to it as he was. I was glad of that. I thought it would be over soon, but then I saw Ernie on the ground, lying there with his eye cut. His face was all pulpy and bloody mess. Then Bobby starts shouting at him, telling Ernie he’s a dead man. Still, I think we’re leaving, that Ernie is going to be okay, but then Bobby whips out this metal pipe, and before I know what he’s doing he’s wailing away at Ernie.” Tyrone sobbed out the last in shocked disbelief. “Ernie tried to get to his feet, to run, but Bobby keeps hitting him, in the legs, the back of the knee, his back. I don’t know what to do. I scream at Bobby to stop. I try to tell him he’s taking things too far, but he won’t listen to me!” Tyrone shook his head madly. “He just wouldn’t listen.” he insisted.
The room had become eerily silent, Jack noticed. Even Tyrone’s distraught mother had fell quiet in shock at what she was hearing.
“Go on, Tyrone.” Jack encouraged., and he patted the boy’s knee in a comforting manner.
“He wouldn’t stop hitting Ernie. I’m screaming. Ernie is screaming in pain. We’re both begging Bobby to stop. I can see though that Bobby isn’t about to stop, so I jumped on him from behind. I’m pulling on his arm, the one with the pipe in it, but Bobby is stronger than me. He tossed me away like I was nothing, and he starts hitting Ernie in the head. I jump up again to help Ernie, but Bobby’s stopped hitting him now. I look, and I see that Ernie isn’t moving anymore. His head, oh God, his head! There’s blood everywhere, seeping out of Ernie’s mouth, all over Bobby and even splattered on me. And then I just know; Ernie’s dead.” Tyrone looked up suddenly with tears streaming down his face. He met Jack’s gaze. “Am I going to jail now?” he asked in a frightened tone.
“There’s more, Tyrone. I need to know what happened next, what happened to Bobby?” Jack encouraged.
“You wouldn’t believe me.” Tyrone insisted in a shaky voice.
“Bobby isn’t the first victim I’ve seen killed like this, Tyrone. If you’ve witnessed something, I need to know what.” Jack strongly insisted.
Tyrone shook his head. “I saw it with my own eyes, but I don’t even believe it.” Tyrone said deep in thought. Jack and Bordello exchanged looks, and Jack suddenly knew that what he was about to hear wouldn’t sit well with him.
“Whatever the case, we still need to know what you saw.” he encouraged the boy to go on.
“You’ll think I’m crazy.” Tyrone warned.
“Just tell us the truth no matter what it is.”
Tyrone gathered his thoughts and went on with his story. Why did it suddenly feel like he was back in the Boy Scouts, and they were all sitting around a campfire relating ghost stories, Jack wondered sarcastically.
“It wasn’t human, what killed Bobby.” Tyrone said shakily.
“Not human?” Jack repeated, and Tyrone shook his head negatively.
“It was strong, very strong. It…uh …She, had Bobby off of the ground, and Bobby was kicking and fighting, but it did him no good. Then Bobby didn’t move at all, and the thing, whatever it was, it threw Bobby’s body on me so hard and fast that it knocked me down. When I looked up, it was climbing the alley wall. The wall goes straight up, man, but it had long, sharp nails that dug into the brick like a cat would a tree. It was like an animal, but…but it looked like a woman.” Tyrone was so deep in thought that Jack found it near impossible not to believe the kid.
“A woman?” Jack couldn’t help but to remember what Jose Gonzales had said. “She was beautiful, man. I told her I could eat her alive, but it seems she was the o
ne doing the eating tonight, eh?” Jose had said.
“All I could see was the back of her, but she had long, blonde hair, and she was built not all muscular like a dude, but slender, athletic. Tyrone went on. “I mean I could tell by her shape that she was a woman.”
“And how did she get a hold of Bobby without you seeing her face?” Bordello was the one to ask.
“I
was upset over Ernie. I was crying. I couldn’t help thinking I was going to jail. I knew it was going to kill my mama. Bobby got mad at me, real mad. He knocked me down. He had the pipe in his hand, the one that he had killed Ernie with. He had it in the air, coming down at me with it. I closed my eyes. I thought I was going to die, like Ernie had. I thought…I thought that would be better than going to jail, then breaking my mama’s heart.” Tears slipped down Tyrone’s cheeks. “But the hit never came. I felt this gush of wind, and when I opened my eyes again, Bobby was gone. I was going to run then, but then I heard this scuffling sound coming from deeper within the alley. I heard…I heard muffled screams and…”
“What?” Jack persisted.
“Strange sounds that I can’t describe. I should have run, but I couldn’t. I crept toward the alley, and that was when I saw it, her.” Tyrone finished.
“And what was she doing?” Jack asked almost urgently, as his heart beat away from him.
“It looked like it was eating Bobby’s neck.” Tyrone looked up. Jack’s heart thumped hard. He met Bordello’s gaze, and he knew Tony Bordello was just as thrown by all of this as he, himself was.
Why did he suddenly feel like they were on a case of the X-files?
Jack and Tony left the kid and told him they might need him for questioning later, insisting that he not leave town.
“He’s going to jail. You know that, right?” Bordello said glumly as they climbed into their sedan.
“Yeah.” Jack quipped. “I know.” It was a shame. The kid’s life would be ruined for one foolish mistake, but that mistake had cost another kid his life. Two kids actually, Jack thought with a shake of his head. Such a shame.
Chapter ten
Lillian walked into their coffee shop at a little past ten p.m. She and Jack had not arranged to meet there this night, but had somehow both ended up there anyway. Jack was already seated in their booth when Lillian slid in on the other side of the table. Jack was sipping black coffee. Setting the cup down, he said. “I’m going to have to arrest a kid.”
“And you don’t want to.” Lillian filled in, reading it of his mind, and seeing it in his slumped shoulders.
“No.” Jack agreed, and he took another sip of his coffee. His heart was saddened, Lillian thought, listening to the slow beats of it. He didn’t want to put this kid in jail. He thought it would ruin the boy’s life. He was probably right.
“I’m sorry.” Lillian whispered sincerely. Jack’s dark amber eyes lifted, and the regret Lillian saw there was almost physical. Lillian reached for Jack’s hand, cradling the warmth of it
in her own, cold, lifeless one. Jack didn’t seem to notice though.
“You’re out late.” He commented, beseeching her eyes.
“I wanted to see you.” Lillian confessed. Jack’s gaze burned into her once more.
“Why?” he asked, and she could hear his heartbeat had picked up.
“I don’t know. I just felt compelled to.” Lillian admitted.
“And now that you’ve seen me?” Jack was staring at her mouth. His desire was evident without reading his mind. Her stomach churned most curiously. Lillian stood suddenly because what she was feeling frightened her, frightened her because she wanted it, wanted him so much. Jack stood slowly. He took her cool hands in his. “Walk with me.” He said and he led her outside. Together they walked down the sidewalk to the front of the next building, a business that had already closed for the evening. Turning her, Jack pressed her back to the cool glass of the store front window and stepped in close. Lillian met and held Jack’s heated gaze. “You can’t keep doing this.” Jack said huskily.
“Doing what?” Lillian asked, staring at his inviting mouth.
“Walking in and out of my life. Either you’re in or you’re out, Lilly.” he voiced as he leaned in closer to her body. The scent of his body washed over her, clean and masculine. She drew it in, drew him in.
“I dreamt of you today.” Jack told her, touching the side of her face with gentle fingertips.
“You did?” Lillian replied curiously. Jack nodded slowly, and he leaned in so that his tempting mouth hovered over her awaiting lips. It was all Lillian could do not to pull him to her, to surrender to all that he offered.
“I dreamt you were calling my name, only it wasn’t my name. You said Jax.” he breathed out.
“Jack.” Lilly called his name softly now. Her hands tangled in the
front of his shirt, and slowly she pulled him toward her. What was she doing? She didn’t know. The only thing she did know was that she was powerless to resist. “Jack.” she whispered his name again just as the warmth of his mouth touched her lips. The kiss was gentle, searching, and Lillian returned the gentle caress the best that she knew how. She had not been kissed in ages, had not had the desire for such things, but now desire seemed to live and breathe within her, seemed to beat in her dead heart, and pulse through her dry veins. She closed her eyes, and surrendered to the one thing she had thought never to have again. Jack’s arms came around her. His hands tangled in the length of her hair, tipping her head back as his mouth sought hers again and again. Heat rose in her belly, and she gasped at the shock of the warmth there, where no warmth had been for over a hundred years. “Jack.” she called his name urgently, as he kissed the corner of her mouth, her ear, her neck. Jack pulled her to him, crushing her body against his, and groaning low in his throat.
“Lilly. Sweet Lilly. What are you doing to me?” he whispered heatedly through her hair.
“I could ask the same thing of you, Jack Stone?” Lillian countered huskily, and Jack pulled back just far enough to stare down into her eyes. He smiled down at her, and she couldn’t help but to smile back. He brushed the side of her face with gentle fingertips, and then tenderly kissed her lips. Lillian melted into him, laying her cheek to his strong shoulder. Jack held her close, sweeping his hands up and down her back.
“Lilly, you’re way of my league, but I want you. I want you so bad, I ache, and it’s not just physical. It’s more, so much more.” he breathed out. Lillian stepped back. She met his amber gaze, and searched his beautiful eyes.
“I’m right in your league, Jack Stone.” she told him, and he grinned.
“Must you always use both of my names?” he asked in a teasing manner. “You sound so serious with that English accent of yours.” he playfully grabbed her sides, and moved his fingers against her flesh in rapid movements. Lillian just stared at him. “Not ticklish, hmm?” Jack said, sounding disappointed, and his fingers paused. Ticklish? Oh yes! Her father used to tickle her when sh
e was a child. She recalled now rolling on the floor in gales of laughter. She smiled at the memory.
“Forgive me, Jack. I don’t socialize often.” She tried to explain as best as she could.
“Why not?” Jack locked his arms around her waist.
“A long time ag
o, something happened to me…that changed me. Forever.” she said quite seriously. What was she doing? She was on the verge of telling Jack everything!
“You were hurt?” Jack guessed, sounding more than a little protective. Lillian couldn’t do it.
She pulled away, and walked away a few steps, giving Jack her back.
“I should leave.” She voiced.
“Lilly, whatever it is-” Jack began, but she cut him off and turned, flashing him a practiced smile.
“It’s nothing.” she lied quickly. “I should go.” she said again, feeling the confusion arise in Jack. He wanted to help her, but he didn’t know how. There was no way he could help, Lillian thought regrettably. Her soul was lost forever. Jack’s didn’t have to be. “Goodnight, Jack.” she said with finality. It took so much for Lillian to walk away from Jack, but her feet were moving on auto pilot, taking her forward, away from him as her mind and heart lingered behind.
Chapter eleven
“A woman.” Jack said it out loud, hoping that saying it out loud would make it sound more plausible.
“It’s just not possible.” Bordello said thoughtfully as he thumbed through the case folders.
“Both Jose Gonzales and Tyrone Watson say that it was a woman. Hell, they practically gave the same description.” Jack pointed out
. He scooped up his now, cold, Styrofoam cup of coffee from the desktop and wrinkled his nose in distaste as he took a long, bitter swallow. Caffeine was a life saver on this job. Even if it did taste like shit, he thought.
“Yea
h, but Tyrone only saw her from behind. It could have been a guy.” Bordello countered.
“So now we’re looking for a vampire in drag?” Jack laughed out. He couldn’t help it. “This case is getting ridiculous.” he shook his head.
“Tell me about it.” Bordello whistled beneath his breath. “But our guy, or our girl, whichever he or she may be, is still out there, and their still killing innocent people.” Bordello’s voice dropped dead serious.
“I know.” Jack replied stonily, and he took another sip of his bitter coffee.
Jack sat at the coffee shop that next evening, but it wasn’t Lillian Saint Rose who sat across from him tonight. No. It was Dr. Harold. She lo
oked about as appealing as ever: not very. Her strawberry blonde hair was tied back haphazardly at her neck and there was no makeup to speak of was on her pale, pretty face. She was dressed in tan slacks, a blue top, and the ever present white lab coat. Jack grunted at the sight of her, but she sat down anyway.
“I think we’re dealing with two separate killers here, Jack.” Dr. Harold spat out instead of the standard greeting most normal people would use.
“Alright.” Jack leaned forward with his elbows on the table. “Tell me why?”
Dr. Harold was more than happy to oblige. “The first killer is larger than the second. The fang marks on two of the victims, Rita Gallenger and Walter Brown
, were identical. They were also somewhat larger than the marks found on Arthur Miller and Bobby Williams.”
“You measured?” Jack‘s brow rose inquisitively. He had to admit he was impressed. What had made her do such a thing? Was that protocol?
“The depth and width.” Dr. Harold cut Jack off with a curt nod of her head. “Like I said, much larger. There are also distinctions between the killings. For instance, Bobby Williams and Arthur Miller were killed cleanly and quickly, while the other two victims, well, they were killed a little more messily, now weren’t they?” A smart smile lit her face as if she had just figured out a most difficult puzzle. “Our other killer took his time.”
“And you know this how?” Jack rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He knew what was coming next, and he wasn’t in the mood for it as usual.
“Well, I can’t be sure concerning Rita Gallenger with her, uh, body missing, but I did have time to examine and measure the wounds in her neck. They matched the wounds of Walter Brown, body number one. Walter Brown also sustained other wounds, scratches, bruises, cuts, which suggest to me a struggle. Arthur Miller and Bobby Williams had little to no bruising. No scratches. And the wounds found in their necks were substantially smaller than the ones in the other two victims.” Dr. Harold finished relating her theory.
Jack thought over all she had told him. Dr. Harold was a whack job, but when it came to medical autopsies she was the best in her field, didn’t miss a thing! He knew he shouldn’t count her theories out. Even though s
he was screaming vampire, there were some truthful facts somewhere embedded within the mythology.
“Also, and this is more your territory, but did you notice that both Arthur Miller and Bobby Williams weren’t the best of men?” Dr. Harold leaned forward to say lowly as if she didn’t want anyone else to hear.
“What do you mean? Williams was a gang banger, but Miller was-” Jack didn’t make the connection.
“A child molester?” Dr. Harold filled in.
“What?” Jack looked up sharply.
“Hasn‘t anyone told you, Jack?” Dr. Harold exclaimed. “Two little girls came forward with their mothers. Jordan Gray, the News’ anchor, suggested that they expected even more children to come forward.”
“Shit.” Jack cursed beneath his breath. Why hadn’t he been told? He should have been the first to know! Damn it!
“Yea
h, shit.” Dr. Harold repeated. Jack couldn’t help but to think of what Tyrone had told them concerning how Bobby Williams had brutally beaten a young boy to death. Another evil doer?
“Rita Gallneger was a prostitute.” Jack thought and blurted out at the same time.
“Yes. Not a noble profession, but who was she truly hurting besides herself?” Dr. Harold cocked a curious brow.
“So you’re theory is that one of our guys kills for spo
rt and the other kills for, what, some kind of punishment?” Jack scoffed in disbelief.
“No. I know you think I’m crazy, Jack, but listen to me. Both of the killers kill for blood, for nourishment, but one, the female, she’s more selective with her prey. She likes the evil-doers.” Dr. Harold leaned in closer for confidence.
Jack rolled his eyes. She was crazy! Dr. Harold shook her head angrily. She stood to her tall height and snapped down at Jack, “Think about it, Jack!” Then she was gone.
How he could he not think about it, Jack thought after Dr. Harold had stomped fitfully from the building. The woman was insane, but her theories almost made sense. Was he going crazy too? Both Jose Gonzales and Tyrone Watson had witnessed a woman doing the killings. No one had been see
n at the other two murder sites. Jack and Bordello had just had an ass-chewing from the Commissioner that afternoon and the FBI was threatening to take over the case if they didn‘t find a suspect soon. The titles serial killer and madman were being thrown around every other sentence. Yet Jack and Bordello really had nothing solid to go on. There were no fingerprints to speak of, no blood that didn’t belong to the victims. There had been no skin tissue beneath any of the victims’ fingernails even though there had been an obvious sign of a struggle. No hair. No threads or fibers found on any of the crime scenes. Nothing! All they really had to go on was the word of two witnesses, and both swore to have seen a blonde woman with supernatural strengths! This was ridiculous! A woman couldn’t have done this. It just wasn’t possible. The strength that was needed to carryout such a crime no woman could possibly accomplish alone, Jack reasoned. He just couldn’t wrap his mind around it.
“You’re pale, My Lady. You haven’t fed in a week.” Reginald fussed over Lillian a few nights later. Lillian brushed Reginald worries off with a wave of her hand.
“It’s becoming too dangerous to hunt.” She said calmly. Truth be told, she was feeling a little weak and groggy. “Four bodies have been found, not counting the last I took. The city, the people are becoming frightened.”
“Still, you must nourish yourself.” Reginald worried.
“Nourish myself? You mean kill, Reginald? I must murder another to feed myself!” Lillian hissed in a temperament.
“It’s the way of things. It always has been. You do not take from the innocent, and the ones that you do take are better off out of this world.” Reginald barked in her defense.
“Tell that to the police officers working the case! To the families of the victims I take, to the ones who discover the bodies in horror!” Lillian all but shouted as she sprang to her feet in one lithe movement, and sent an antique lamp flying across the room with a sharp flick of her
hand. The lamp crashed loudly and shattered against the far wall. Josh and Troy came running at the sudden noise.
“Lillian, you are still with us this evening?”
Troy asked in surprise, and Lillian scowled at him. She could read of his mind what he was thinking. “Why aren’t you out? Why aren’t you hunting, feeding?”