Through Smoke: The Troubled Heroes Series (24 page)

Michael couldn’t help but smile at her.  In the midst of all the drama and problems, she still found a way to make him feel better about everything, no matter how deep he felt he was in.  “Thank you, Eva.”

“For what?”

He didn’t reply, but instead leaned in and brushed his lips over hers.  With each second, their kiss grew more passionate.  He felt her mouth trail from his mouth, down his chin, and to his neck, an unintentional moan escaping from deep within his throat.  Her hands traced around the top of his jeans.  Her palms were smooth against his chest as she helped aid in taking his shirt off. 

“Mikey…” She spoke between kisses. “Let’s get your mind off of today.”

For a split second, Michael felt guilty to be doing this, almost like it wasn’t right, but it was quickly replaced with a deep need for this to happen.  He was almost sure that if he even tried to resist Eva that she wouldn’t let it happen.  There wasn’t a chance in hell that he could pull away now.

She had definitely accomplished her goal.  She got his mind off of things.  All he could think about was how this all felt so good, and felt so right. 

Michael was pulled from a deep sleep when he heard his phone ringing next to his head.  He felt Eva next to him; her heavy breathing became shallower as he reached for the phone on the nightstand. He kissed her on the forehead as the bright display blinded him.  Who was calling at this time of night? 

“Hello?”

“Damn Mikey, you got yourself an amazing girlfriend, to come over and service you like that when you should be mourning the death of your friend.”

Michael instantly sat up, his heart pounding at the sound of Viper’s voice on the other end of the line.  “Where the hell are you?” Eva was now awake and sitting up beside him, a questionable look painted across her face. 

Viper laughed.  “What do you think Darryl is thinking right about now?  He’s stone cold in a coffin, and you’re busy fornicating with a woman you’re not even married to on the day he is buried. Some friend you are.”

All Michael could think was how he wished he had his phone bugged right about now.  That, and how did Viper know what was happening in his place?  “Where are you, Viper? How did you know that?”

“Oh, how you’d like to know, wouldn’t you?”  Viper’s breathing was heavy on the other line.  “I love to know that you’re squirming, Mikey.  If I told you how I knew that would take the fun outta all of this, now wouldn’t it?”

Michael got out of bed and put on a pair of jeans, walking to his living room, his eyes scanning the dark room.  “No, I guess it wouldn’t be fun for you.”  He wasn’t sure what he was doing, but Viper had broken into his place before. Maybe he was there again.  “So tell me, Viper, are you scared?”

“Scared? I think you’re asking the wrong person, Fireman.”

Michael shrugged and went into the guest bedroom, opening up closets and doorways to see if Viper was stowed away in one. “Oh I don’t know. Seems you’re the one who hides away and only comes out when it’s convenient.  If you ask me, I think you know just who you’re dealing with and it scares you a little bit.”

Viper let out a raspy laugh.  “I didn’t know you were a funny guy, Fireman.  I think you’re full of shit.”

Michael leaned against the doorframe, noticing Eva standing in the hallway.  He nodded at her and continued to talk to Viper.  “You killed my best friend.  Don’t think you’re gonna get away with it.”

“Tell your girlfriend that she’s got a nice body, clothed or not, I got a nice show.”

Anger flared through Michael and he looked back at Eva, trying to hide it from her.  He ducked back into the guestroom.  “Listen here you fucker.  You mess with Eva and I’ll make sure I’ll kill you slow, you hear me?” He knew all Viper wanted to do was get a rise out of him, and he allowed him to win.  “You’re already in enough shit as it is.”

“Temper, temper, Fireman.  Just what I like to hear! We’ll be in touch.” 

There was a click and the line went dead. He saw Eva out of the corner of his eye, standing in the doorway, causing him to jump. Just from her look he could tell she wanted some answers.  “Mikey, what the hell?”

He tapped the phone against his leg and shrugged. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that she pretty much was involved in everything now too.  Just the opposite of what he wanted to happen.  “That was Viper.”

“What did he say?”

Michael walked past her into the living room and checked the lock on the door.  “He saw us today, Eva.”

“How?” Her voice was shaky and he grabbed her hand, trying to comfort her but it was next to impossible.  He couldn’t even calm himself down, much less her. 

“I don’t know.” He slammed his hands down on the bar, rattling glasses in the upper cabinets.  “Damn it.” Guilt poured over him yet again.  How many lives was he going to screw up in the process?  The only way to ensure that anyone he knew would be safe was to eliminate them from his life until this was all over. 

“I think this is a fine time to call the police, don’t you think?”

Michael looked up at her and then out of the window, hoping that maybe there would be some kind of clue out there.  Could Viper have possibly been watching from another building?  There were known stalkers that did that to people all the time.  The building next to his was another apartment complex.  It was a possibility. 

“What if he’s still watching, Eva?”  His voice was a whisper and he felt her arm wrap around his.

Her breath was warm against his skin as she leaned in. “Maybe it’ll scare him, seeing the cops involved.”

“Or worse.  He could get even more hostile.”

She pulled away and began to pace, her brow creased with worry. “How do we know he really saw anything?  He could just be bull shitting you, Mikey.  Playing you like a pawn.” She paused and sat on the edge of the couch.  “Maybe he saw you on the street with me walking this way and just let his imagination run wild.”

Michael wished that were true.  Her speculation was good, but sadly, was inaccurate.  “Eva, he was specific about what we were doing.”  He sat beside her and kissed her on the forehead, reaching for his phone again.  “I’ll give Detective Matson a call.” 

There was a long, silent pause, and finally on the sixth ring Matson picked up.  “Sorry for calling so late Detective, but we just had another encounter with Viper.”

Judging by Matson’s tone of voice, Michael had woken him up.  “What happened, McGinnis?”

“He claimed to be spying on us. Was very specific with what he saw.  Didn’t say where he was or how he did it.”

There was a low grumble and Michael wasn’t even positive if the detective was awake enough to remember their conversation.  “Okay.  I’ll assemble a neighborhood watch.  I’ll give the description you gave me of him and see if we can get a sketch artist on this.”  There was another low cough.  “McGinnis, I suggest you keep all your curtains drawn and change the locks on your doors.  We’ll get this taken care of, but in the meantime I need you to stay levelheaded and don’t panic.  We gotta be patient.”

Michael rolled his eyes.  That was easy for him to say.  He wasn’t on the receiving end of a man threatening his, as well as Eva and Casey’s lives.  “Thanks, Detective Matson.”  He hung the phone up and squeezed Eva’s hand.  “I don’t know if we benefited from that or not.

The rest of the night, Michael had a hard time even attempting sleep.  He would jump at every little sound, first making sure Eva was okay and then looking into the darkness, half expecting to see Viper’s face emerge from the black.  He was glad to see that Eva was asleep, the rise and fall of her chest was rhythmic and soothing to him.  Rolling over, he glanced at the alarm clock. The red digits beamed brightly.  It was three fifteen.  He wished he was working tomorrow, but the Captain hadn’t cleared him to get back on the truck until he talked to the department psychologist.  The last thing he wanted to d
o was open up to some stranger.

Eva mumbled something inaudible in her sleep and buried her face in his chest.  He wanted to get up and do something but feared leaving her here alone.  He wouldn’t do that.  Now that Viper knew Eva was close to him she would definitely be a target.  It was already bad enough that he had lost Darryl. 

It was evident that the police were dragging their feet about this.  A part of him was glad that they didn’t come in here blazing with lights and sirens, but shouldn’t have Detective Matson at least dispatched someone to scan the area and see if they could at least find Viper? He was known to be in the area. 

He reached for his phone and came close to calling Darryl.  He wondered how long it would take for him to realize that there would never be a way to call his best friend again.  Tossing the phone back on the nightstand, he burrowed under the covers and fought off all other thought.  He’d hopefully get in a good two hours of sleep, if that.  By allowing the insomnia to take over, he was allowing Viper to win.  He was terrorizing them in any way, shape, or form, and Michael’s sleep deprivation was a victory for the bad guy.

Chapter Fifteen

“Mikey, I gotta get up and get to work.”  Michael felt an arm nudge him in the side, along with an annoying alarm ringing in his ear.  “Hit the snooze or something! That sounds horrible!”  Michael rolled over and saw Eva above him, searching for something on his nightstand.

“What are you looking for?”  He felt hungover.  He let out a moan and rubbed the palm of his hand over his eye.

“Your damn cell phone so I can get it to shut up!”

He finally pulled through his confusion, grabbing the phone that somehow buried underneath mail and junk that he didn’t remember setting there.  “You gotta work today?” He mumbled into the pillow, hoping Eva could make out what he was saying. 

“Yes, I have a shift at seven.”  She got off the side of the bed and grabbed one of his shirts and put it on.  She looked good in his shirt, he couldn’t deny that.

“You didn’t tell me you had to work.  Sorry you were up so late.”

Eva scoffed and smoothed her hair out, putting it up in a ponytail.  “Not like we could help it. We just have some psycho mad man looking through your window with binoculars.” She paused and took a look at herself in the mirror.  “It’s six fifteen.  I desperately need a shower.  Think Captain will be pissed if I’m late?”

Michael balled up a pillow and tucked it under his chin as he watched her from the bed.  “Don’t be silly, use mine.”

She gave him a side glare and leaned down, giving him a peck on the lips.  “All of my stuff is at my place.  Thanks for the offer though.” She bit her bottom lip and ran her hand through his hair.  “You gonna go try and see that shrink today?”

He shrugged.  It didn’t sound too appealing, but he wanted to get back to work so he could somewhat keep an eye on her.  There was no telling what Viper would do.  “I don’t really want to.  And I really wish you didn’t have to work today.”

“Why?  It’s the best thing for us.  Get our mind off of this other bull shit.”

Michael let out a sigh and kicked his legs over the side of the bed.  “I’m just a little gun shy about Viper and what he’s capable of, that’s all.  Just be careful, okay?  I’ll go see that shrink and get this crap over with.  It’s a waste of time.”

She kissed him again, this time a little deeper and longer.  “It’s not a waste of time if it’ll get you back on the truck.  I’ll text you later.”  She squeezed his hand and was out the door quickly, leaving him alone in the silence of his apartment, exactly where he didn’t want to be.

“McGinnis, are you here to see the psychologist?”  The Captain was sitting at his desk and caught Michael off guard as he walked through the station.  “I haven’t seen you in plain clothes in so long, I almost didn’t recognize you!”

Michael couldn’t help but feel a knot in his stomach.  Talking to a shrink was the last thing he wanted to do and not the most thrilling either.  “Sir, with all due respect, why am I having to see someone?”

Captain Rooker folded his hands together on top of his desk.  “Come in and have a seat for a second.”

Michael did as he was told, his curiosity running wild.  He wouldn’t say this out loud, but he felt targeted.  Why didn’t anyone else have to talk to a psychologist?

“McGinnis, it’s standard procedure for firemen to talk to someone if or when a man in the company is killed.”

Michael leaned back in the chair and chewed on the inside of his cheek.  “I thought you said if we needed it, to tell you.”