By the Fire: Issue 3 (3 page)

“What’s the matter” he asks.

I just shake my head. “I have a thing about cemeteries.”

Thing doesn’t describe it well enough. I have an irrational fear of them. You can probably imagine why. I haven’t set foot in one in years and I shiver every time I walk past one. None of that lets me off the hook this time though.

“Well deal with it and lets go” O’Bryan shouts at me.

I draw my pistol and step through the iron gates. Beside me he pulls out a Bowie Knife with bible verses etched into the blade. I glance at it and he just shrugs his shoulders at me.

“What, you thought you were the only one who knew a priest?”

We keep walking deeper into the cemetery. In the center stands the largest mausoleums and on impulse I walk straight for them. We arrive to see our man, or whatever, standing in front of one waving his hands in circular passes and chanting. So I sho
ot him in the back.

Unfortunately that just pissed him off. He spun around and charged us. I put another round into his chest which causes him to scream in pain. He keeps coming though. O’Bryan and I leap aside at the last second. A blow to my back sends me sprawling and I feel a weight on top of me.

I squirm trying to get free when the weight is suddenly gone. I roll over to see O’Bryan wrestling with the demon. As they turn I see the knife stuck between the demons shoulder blades. Master judo ka that he may be he isn’t strong enough to take this thing on. I clamber back to my feet to get back in the fight.

The first thing I want to do is s
low it down at least. So I spend two of my remaining rounds blowing out its knees. Roaring in agony it collapses losing its hold on O’Bryan. He falls down and backpedals away from it. Four rounds down with only two to go. I have to make them count. I rush forward and grab the knife hilt and twist. It screams again and goes down to all fours. I put the barrel of my revolver on the back of its head, cock the hammer and then it isn’t a threat anymore. One bullet left so I plug it in the head once more just to be safe.

O’Bryan is looking up at me wide eyed. I reach out a hand and help him to his feet. Dusting himself off he makes a circuit of the thing on the ground.

“What do we do now?”

I shake my head. “We take this thing to church and let the reverend figure out what to do with it.”

He nods. “I’ll find a wheelbarrow. You watch it just to make sure.”

A minute later he comes back with a w
heelbarrow and a tarp. We load the body up and cover it before making our way to the church. The reverend meets us at the door.

“Why did you bring th
at abomination here” he demands.

“Because I didn’t know what else to do with it.”

He sighs at me. “Very well, get it inside off the street before someone sees.”

We roll
the body through the entrance and there is a sound like cloth ripping. Sparks begin to fly. I threw an arm up to shield my face. Lights flash blindingly. When they stopped the body is gone.

“Someone really didn’t want that
thing in here” comments O’Bryan.

“Tell me about it” I say
. “Most days I’m surprised that I’m allowed in.”

I turn
back to the reverend. “How is Ashley?”

He purses
his lips at me. “The girl is fine. I’ve prayed over her all night and anointed her head with oil.”

I’m not sure what he hates about her more, her profession or her abilities. It doesn’t matter much to me as long as she is alive. I follow him to the room where she is laid out. As I enter the room she opens her eyes and smiles at me. I sat on the edge of her bed and brush the hair out of her eyes.

“How are you doing beautiful?”

“Oh, you know, been better. Did you get him?”

“We got him. You did great.”

“How’s Thomas?”

Now it’s my turns to purse my lips. I shouldn’t. I’ve known all along what she does. Besides, Thomas did save my life. I can’t help but be a little jealous.

“He’s good. He’s outside with the reverend.”

“That’s good. So, about what I said earlier.”

I perk up at her words.

“I meant it. I’m done. I told madam when I first woke up. I wanna be all yours. How does that sound?”

“Darlin, that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”

I hug her and I have to resist the urge to squeeze too hard. Maybe things are shaping up after all. I mean, what can stop a psychic and a dead man?

Walk
With Me

Chapter 3

The sky was black when they touched down. The last hour before they had landed the plane had been rocked several times with turbulence. When he stepped out onto the tarmac the sky cracked one last time with thunder and rain began to fall. David pulled his jacket closed tight and ran towards the main building. It was only a few dozen steps to the entrance but he was soaked before he got there.

He stopped inside to wipe water off of himself before heading to the rental kiosk. He shivered as he pulled out his rental form. The young woman at the counter looked up at him and smiled.

“Got caught in the rain?”

“Yeah. It just came out of nowhere.”

She was nodding her head. “It changes fast around here. Just wait, it’ll be sunny and hot here tomorrow.”

He finally found the forms he was looking for and handed them to her. “Hot? Its freezing out there right now.”

She just shrugged. “Wait just a minute Mr. Ritter. I’ll send someone to bring the car to the front entrance.”

While he waited he looked over his hotel information. Since a movie was being filmed in town all of the hotels were full. He shook his head when he saw that he was staying at a place called the Sawmill Inn Bed and Breakfast. A minute later he saw his car pull up and he walked out still wiping rain off of his coat. He plugged in the address into the cars GPS and pulled out of the lot.

“I hope the signs are in English
at least” he mumbled as he pulled onto the interstate.

Forty five minutes later he saw the sign for Rosepont, population 26,000, and luckily
the sign was indeed in English. Just on the outskirts of town the GPS sent him down a two lane highway past empty fields. After several miles he found himself in front of a sprawling Bed and Breakfast surrounded by a picket fence. The sign hanging by the walkway said ‘Welcome to the Sawmill Inn’.

David climbed out of the car and grabbed his bags off of the back seat.
Following the flag stone path he stopped on the porch. Above the door hung a giant crosscut saw.

“Well, that doesn’t look ominous at all” he said to himself. About that time the door swung open and a large lady stepped out wiping her hands on an apron.

“You must be David” she called out. “You’re just in time. I just finished lunch, complete with a plate of hot biscuits.”

“Well, I can’t turn down hot biscuits now can I?”

She pushed open the screen door and ushered him in. “We’ve got you set up in the Cooper Suite. You’re just gonna love it. Biggest suite in the house. Yes sir. Just gonna love it.”

He followed her upstairs as she rambled. At the end of the hall she pulled out a key and unlocked his room. The door opened and he was greeted to a
red room with heavy black and white drapes in a chevron pattern.

“Like I said best room here. Oh, I suppose you’ll be wanting your key. Can I get you anything? Lunch will be in just a few minutes. Want some coffee?”

He opened his mouth to respond but every time he did she cut him off. Finally he took hold of the door handle and started slowly closing it on her.

“I’m fine Mrs?”

“Oh, Mrs. Hammil. But everyone calls me Joyce.”

“Well Joyce, I think I’m going to freshen up. I’ll have to take a rain check on lunch but thanks anyway.”

He quickly shut the door before she could say anything else. He carelessly dropped his bag beside the bed before falling backwards across it. After a minute he sat up and started rubbing the back of his head before pulling out his cell phone. His call was answered on the third ring.

“Are you there” Melody asked.

“I’m here. Just got checked into the Sawmill. I’m about to head over to the morgue and identify the body. I’ll call you back when I’ve finished making the arrangements.”

“Good. Hurry.” Click.

He shook his head while he put away his phone. A quick google search gave him the address of the local morgue. He rubbed his head again and forced himself to start moving.

Opening the door just a crack he peaked down the hall. When he didn’t see his hostess he slipped out the door and ran bent over to the stairs. Stepping lightly he made it down the stairs, past the dining room and out the front without being spotted. As he slid into the driver’s seat he wiped the back of his hand across his forehead.

A short trip found him parking in front of a nondescript brick building. He opened the door to a dingy front office. Half of the fluorescent lights were flickering or out. Behind the counter sat a lone attendant in lab coat. He had greasy hair and his feet were up on the counter while he read a magazine.

He looked up at David. “Help ya?”

“I’m here to see Ashley Scott’s body.”

“Oh, the hottie in tray 12. She’s our VIP guest.”

David frowned but bit his tongue. The attendant kept talking as he got up. “I saw her around town some. Always wanted to see her naked.” He licked his lips.

David felt his fists clench. “The body please.”

“Ok. No need to be testy. I need to see your ID.”

David pulled out his wallet and tossed his license on the counter. The attendant looked at it bending it slightly back and forth before handing it back.

“Got a call yesterday authorizing you to sign for the body. Hate to see her go though. Just follow me.”

David stared hard at his back as he followed him
, still clenching his fist. He shivered when the cold air of the morgue hit him. The attendant turned around and smirked at him.

“Creeped out at the idea of seeing a dead body?”

David narrowed his eyes at him. “I’ve seen plenty of bodies. The only thing that creeps me out here is you. Now how about you just show me the victim.”

The attendant sniffed and spun on his heels. He led him to a storage unit along the wall and checked the number against his clipboard. He wrenched the handle open and slid the tray out. Stepping back he glowered at David as he pulled the sheet back.

David couldn’t help but gasp. There was his friend’s granddaughter on a slab. He forced himself to pull the sheet back further. The sight of her torso made him grit his teeth. Her body was covered in wild stab marks. His hands were trembling but he forced himself to lift her arms to inspect them. Numerous shallow cuts were on her arms and hands especially her palms and fingers.

He gently placed her arms back by her side and pulled the sheet back over her body. Taking his hat off he ran a hand through his hair.

“Not so pretty anymore is she” the attendant asked.

David moved suddenly and grabbed him by his lapels. “How about you just shut your damn mouth and get her body ready to go home you son of a bitch?”

He forced his hands to relax and shoved the attendant backwards. He smoothed out the front of his lab coat and thrust his clipboard towards David.

“Just sign this tough guy and hope I don’t press charges for assault.”

David snatched it from him and scribbled his signature on the page. He dropped it on the floor and walked out. Shoving his hands in his pockets helped keep them from wrapping around the attendant’s throat.

Outside he pulled out his cell phone and stared at it for almost five minutes before hitting the dial button. It rang twice before there was an answer.

“David?”

“Hey Melody.” He couldn’t think of what to say next and fell silent.

“Have you seen the body” Melody finally asked.

“Yeah. I just left. They’re processing the paper work to get her home to you.” He didn’t tell her what the attendant had said. Thinking about his words made him want to go back inside swinging.

“Is it bad?”

He wanted to lie to spare her but he couldn’t. “It’s bad. Whoever did this left her pretty messed up. But I swear I’m going to find this monster and make him pay.”

Melody’s voice took on a hard edge, “If you get the chance, kill him. Painfully.”

He didn’t know how to reply so he simply hung up.

Back in the vehicle he looked up the address for the police station. He followed the directions to a new brick building. Inside was a pretty blond working the front desk.

“May I help you sir” she asked him.

He took his hat off and held it in his hands. “My name is David Ritter. I’m acting on behalf of Melody Scott. I came to see if I could speak with the detective in charge of the Ashley Scott murder investigation.”

Her face fell when she heard Ashley’s name. “Oh that poor girl. You need to speak to Charlie. Excuse me, I mean Sergeant Miller. One second.”

She hit the intercom button on her phone. “Sarg, I have a David Ritter here to speak with you about the Scott case.”

“Send him on back Candy.”

“Yes sir. Oh and are we still on for dinner?”

A chuckle came over the intercom. “You know we are honey.”

“I’m just making sure that cute young thing in traffic hasn’t been hitting on you again.”

“Oh lord, just send Mr. Ritter back please.”

“Hey, that’s not a denial mister.”

She was smiling though when she looked up at David. “Go on back sweetie, last door on the left.”

David followed her directions and knocked on the open door frame. A tall man with close cropped hair stood up from behind his desk and walked around with his hand extended.

“Sergeant Charles Miller.”

“David Ritter” he replied as they shook.

“How may I help you Mr. Ritter?”

David held up a hand. “Just David please.”

He glanced around the office. Pictures were leaned against the wall around the room but most weren’t hung yet. “New office?”

“New station” Miller replied. “The old one got blown up.”

David jerked back slightly. “Uhm, what?”

Miller waved his hand in front of him. “It’s a long story. What can I do for you?”

David shook his head before taking a seat. “I’m here representing Melody Scott the grandmother of Ashley Scott. She asked me to stop by and inquire about the progress of the investigation.”

Miller leaned back in his seat. “There isn’t much I can discuss I’m afraid while this is an ongoing investigation. I hope you can understand.”

David nodded his head. “I understand perfectly. I worked as a detective for the LAPD for 10 years. Anything that I can relay would be helpful though. Any suspects that you are investigating?”

Miller shook his head. “We’re still conducting interviews and having the forensic evidence processed. It’s still too soon to have anyone in mind for this.”

David sat back and rubbed at his eyes. “I’m sorry Sergeant Miller. I don’t mean to pester you. The Scott family is very dear to me and I’m just hoping for a speedy resolution to this investigation.”

I understand. Have you seen the body yet?”

“I just came from there. I… I’ve seen some things but whoever did this was a monster.
Not the only monster that I met today.”

Miller leaned forward putting his arms on his desk. “I take it you met Craig while you were there?”

“The creepy morgue attendant?”

“That’s the one. He’s a ghoul. I’ve been trying to get him gone for a year now.” He shook his head while he said all this.

“I almost slugged him several times.”

The sergeant laughed. “Believe me I’ve felt the same way.” The smile left his face. “We’re going to find this guy. Don’t worry.”

David chewed on his lower lip a moment before responding. “I hope you don’t mind if I do some asking around of my own.”

Miller spread his hands out and said “Just let me know if you learn anything.”

David stood up and reached across the desk to shake his hand again before leaving. He tipped his hat to Candy who smiled and waved at him.

He was almost to his car when he heard his name being called Turning around he saw Sergeant Miller walking hurriedly towards him.

“Just wanted to say, if it was me, I’d start with a young lady named Christina Bell. That’d be Ashley Scott’s personal assistant. We haven’ gotten much out of her. Poor dear is pretty deeply shocked. But maybe you’ll have better luck. Most likely find her out at the shoot off of Farley Swamp road. Need directions?”

David grabbed his hand again and shook it. “Nah, I have a GPS but I appreciate
your help a lot Sergeant.”

Miller sketched him a salute and walked back towards the building. David climbed back into his car and started it up.

“Well, I guess I’m headed to the movies.”