My brain was on fire; a myriad of questions dominated my thoughts. How could Celeste’s situation be so closely tied to my own? Was it a coincidence that her soul had been promised to my parents’ killer, or was there some connection or design afoot? A chilling thought occurred to me as I reviewed the timeline. Twenty-one years ago my parents had been murdered, about the time Celeste was born…
Dammit, I needed to talk to Skulick about this! Man did I miss having him with me in the field. This monster hunter business worked best as a team effort. Together we might come up with a working theory to explain this crazy connection.
Despite all our efforts, one question had tormented us for years: Which demon had targeted my family? Hell counted many assassins among its legions. I had always believed my father had pissed off the wrong horned bastard during his work as a hunter, but maybe there was a different explanation.
I scrambled to my feet and approached the downed zombie. Empty eyes peered glassily up at me, the demon’s presence long gone. I resisted the temptation to kick the corpse for good measure. God, how I wanted to put the thing that had killed my parents in a world of pain. I exhaled sharply and balled my fists, struggling to maintain my composure. Pulling myself together, I tried to steer my thoughts into a more logical, constructive direction. Better to channel my rage against the real enemy. The dead man before me was a victim and had served as a convenient vehicle to the beast that had caused all this misery. At the stroke of midnight, the filthy beast would materialize in front of Celeste, and he’d find me waiting for him, guns blazing.
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled me out of my seething thoughts of vengeance. I whirled around and came face to face with Detective Jane Archer.
For a split second our recent awkwardness didn’t matter as relief flooded me. I was so happy to see a familiar face. The moment didn’t last long because her service revolver was pointed straight at me.
Archer was a good cop; she must’ve figured out the killer might make a go for Robert Horne next. And from her point of view, the corpse I’d pumped full of bullets wasn’t a demon or monster but the son of one of the most influential men in the city.
Spending the night in a jail cell wasn’t an option. Only a few hours remained before midnight. I intended to be there when the demon came for Celeste’s soul. And there was still a chance of saving the last surviving Horne brother. Getting arrested at this point in the game would be a disaster.
“I know this looks bad, Jane, “I said, my voice sounding meek to myself, “but there’s an explanation for all of this.”
“I’m listening.” There was a strange calm in her voice, her features unreadable.
I pointed at the corpse at my feet. “Robert Horne was already dead when I got here,” I explained. “The stab wound on his chest matches the one of the other victim.”
Archer ducked into her haunches and located the wound in question. A frown wrinkled her forehead. “So why pump an entire magazine into him?”
“Would you believe me if I told you a demon hitched a ride in Robert Horne’s corpse and took a swing at me?” I said with a sheepish grin twitching at the edges of my lips.
Archer considered this for a beat. To my surprise, she coolly said, “Can’t really blame him.”
I clenched my jaw. “This isn’t funny.”
“Neither is murder.” The playfulness had gone out of her voice, icy now.
“You know me, Archer,” I implored, spreading my hands wide.
I thought so at one point.” Her gun never wavered as she spoke. All business.
Despite the gun leveled at me, I took a step toward her.
“You have to trust me on this, Jane.”
The professional exterior cracked, and the knot of muscles on the side of her jaw pulsed. “Last time I trusted you, it didn’t work out so well, did it now? To be honest, I don’t think I’m the one who has a problem trusting people.”
Touché.
“I’m sorry, Archer. I really am. I never meant to hurt you.”
Her eyes flickered, but her face maintained its steely composure. “You wouldn’t be the first relationship-phobic guy looking for a quick fling.”
Those words stung, but I deserved them. Archer was right. I avoided relationships, sure, but not for the reasons most guys do. Archer wasn’t a one-night stand to me. I cared about her. And that more than anything terrified me. Every time I allowed someone into my heart, they were taken from me. If something were to happen to Archer because of me, because of what I do…
To my surprise, Archer lowered her pistol
“Tell me, why are the Hornes being targeted?”
“One of them made a deal with a demon, and Hell is about to collect.”
“You got to give me more than that.”
“I’m running out of time, Jane, and it’s a long story.”
Sirens were growing louder outside the art gallery. More cops were on the way. Any moment now, the place would be swarming with the boys in blue. I had to get out of here. Almost as if Archer had read my thoughts, she nodded at the exit.
“I believe you didn’t kill this man, but once forensics runs those bullets and traces them back to your gun, I won’t be able to protect you.”
“This isn’t a normal gun. They won’t be able to trace the ballistics.”