“The beast’s recent activity level suggests otherwise. And so does the velocity of her killing spree.”
I had to concur with Skulick. There was a reckless urgency to these killings. Celeste was playing for keeps.
“There’s something else I haven’t told you yet,” I suddenly said, surprised at myself. I had planned to keep the next part to myself, at least until I knew more. But Skulick has a way of drawing information out of me. Plus I needed to get this off my chest.
“I’m all ears,” Skulick said.
My voice was empty of all emotion as I spoke. “I confronted the demon back at Robert Horne’s art gallery…and it’s not the first time we faced him.”
A deep silence greeted me on the other end of the line.
“We’re up against the monster that killed mom and dad.”
There ya go. The cat was out of the bag.
I tried to imagine Skulick’s face during this moment. We both had spent more than a decade trying to identify my parents’ killer and never gotten even close.
“Are you sure, kid?” Skulick said, his voice trembling with barely contained emotion. I think we’d both given up hope of ever avenging my parents. The denizens of Hell were many. As the years passed, new horrors had kept us busy and demanded our time and skill. Chasing after ghosts became a luxury when new monsters threatened the world every day. Still, the need for closure remained, like an open wound that refused to heal. Could this case be our chance of putting the past behind us?
“If that’s true, do you know what it means?”
I had a theory. It was crazy, but everything about this situation was crazy. I decided to share it with Skulick.
“Horne might not have offered up his daughter’s soul for the reason we thought,” I said. “Maybe he wanted the demon to kill my parents. It would mean Horne didn’t conjure Mammon or one of the other wealth demons. Instead, he must’ve summoned one of Hell’s assassins to do his bidding.”
“What would a media tycoon like Horne have to gain from your parents’ death?” Skulick asked, giving voice to the myriad of crazy thoughts simmering inside of me.
The question hung there.
“This is absurd,” Skulick acknowledged.
“No shit. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”
“And if Horne did target your parents, what are the odds his daughter would seek us out twenty-one years later by chance?”
“Somewhere south of zero,” I said. “There’s something we’re not seeing here.”
“You better return to headquarters,” Skulick said. ”I’m getting a bad vibe about all of this.”
“Sorry, but no can do,” I said. “I’m on my way to the Horne estate.”
“Listen, kid, I can only imagine how this must be affecting you. If it weren’t for this goddamn chair, I’d be out there with you. You’re walking into the lion’s den without backup. Without knowing what game Horne and his daughter are playing…well, I’m afraid you’re not going be walking back out again.”
“I’m sorry, Skulick, but I have no choice.”
There was a steely determination in my voice.
“Getting yourself killed isn’t the way to honor your parents.”
“I survived the demon once. I can do it again.”
Talk about an idle boast; Skulick had saved my sorry ass that night. Nevertheless, I needed to pump myself up for the upcoming confrontation. I had to believe I was doing the right thing here.
“Even if you find the answers you’re looking for, how will you be able to destroy this demon?”
“That’s why I’m going to interrogate Horne. Only he knows what we’re dealing with here and why my parents were targeted.”
And I want to look into the bastard’s eyes before I pull the trigger, I mentally added. Out loud, I said, “Wish me luck.”
With these words I killed the call. The renewed silence weighed heavy on me. Outside the car’s windshield, the tree cover grew denser. Under normal circumstances, I would’ve tried to enjoy the bucolic view. For city boys like me, the country always had a special charm.
But not tonight. I barely noticed anything other than the stretch of road unwinding ahead of me.
Skulick was right. I was rushing into battle. But this wasn’t a suicide mission, at least not in my mind. I had a plan. I would infiltrate the property and seek out the bastard who’d ordered my parents’ murder. Soon, Desmond Horne would have to answer for the crimes of the past.
And if I found his answers lacking…well, maybe it was about time I broke my cardinal rule. I wasn’t going to let the old bastard get away with my parents’ murder.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LESS THAN AN hour remained before the demon, whose name I still didn’t know, would claim Celeste’s soul. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was already at the mansion, waiting to strike her bargain when the demon materialized at midnight.