Curse of the Dragon

by Madison Johns

  I followed a security guard up a long hallway and was taken to an office where Holly Holstein was busily searching through her purse. I cleared my throat to get her attention.

  She smiled as she held a tube of lipstick up. “Found it,” Holly said as she colored her lips red. “Come in and close the door.”

  I did as she requested and sat opposite her. “I know you don’t know who I am, but … .”

  “You’re the woman with a deadly disease, according to the mysterious Dr. Drake. Alex Frost from my recollection.”

  “Mysterious Dr. Drake?”

  “I should have said missing. I tried to find him, but I came up empty. And I hate when that happens.”

  “Me too. I wonder if Agents Bernstein and Hughes took him somewhere, a hospital perhaps?”

  “Let’s hope it was a mental hospital. The doctor was out of his tree.”

  “My thoughts exactly. I need your help to find Dr. Drake.”

  “What’s the angle?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  Holly tapped a pencil against her desktop. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

  “Okay, I can’t tell you yet.”

  “Is it worth my while to know?”

  “I believe Dr. Drake is being held against his will.”

  “Unstable people are committed.”

  “I don’t believe that. It’s not easy to commit someone for any length of time without a hearing at the very least,” I said. “Don’t you want to know what happened to Dr. Drake?”

  “I love the angle, and I’ll do it.”

  “Can I come with you?”

  “Sorry, babe, I don’t work that way.”

  “I need to speak to him before you go live with the story.”

  “I’ll go along with that.” We exchanged information and she said, “I’ll be in contact with you soon.”

  “Thanks, Holly. You’re the best.”

  “Tell Detective Blake I said to call me.”

  “How did you know I knew him?”

  “I’m in the business of knowing. It’s what I do.”

  “Whatever happened between you two?” I asked.

  “Nothing. I have a feeling he didn’t trust me.”

  “Reporters and detectives might not be the best mix, but I’ll put in a word in for you.”

  I sat across from Blake at the local greasy spoon. “Holly told me to tell you to call her.” I smiled.

  Blake’s brows drew together, but he remained silent.

  “You should call the woman. She seems nice.”

  “I’d rather not have pillow talk turn up on the news.”

  I leaned forward on my elbows. “I had no idea things had gone that far.”

  “Is she going to help you or what?”

  “She’s going to try to find Dr. Drake, but the jury is still out if she’ll be able to make good on her promise.”

  “Holly knows we’re acquainted, so she’ll work extra hard to find the doctor. But what do you think you can learn by talking to him? It might be dangerous.”

  “Nice to know you care.”

  I answered my phone when it rang and said, “Text me the address.” I disconnected and made to move, but Blake blocked my path.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  “Think?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it that way. Does Holly have the address already?”

  “I have a feeling you didn’t think Holly would be able to find Dr. Drake.”

  “That’s nowhere near the truth. I think I should go with you.”

  “I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine.”

  “And if it’s the same hospital that Bernstein and Hughes wanted to take you, you’ll need backup.”

  “I can’t afford it.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “It’s just that I’ll be entering the building -- and not necessarily legally.”

  “It shouldn’t be hard to walk in the front door of a hospital.”

  “Who said it’s a hospital?”

  “You’re right. It might be the lab the agents wanted to take you to. No problem there.”

  I sighed as my hands dropped to my hips. “I want to do this alone.”

  “You never go into a dangerous situation without backup.”

  “Those are rules for cops, not me. I promise you I’ve got this.”

  Blake’s eyes narrowed slightly and the muscles in his jaw bunched. “Fine, I’ll stay out of it.

  But text me the address when you get there.”

  “Why can’t you stay out of this?”

  “If my murder case has anything to do with Dr. Drake I need to be involved.”

  “I promise I’ll text you the address when I get there. There’s no sense in you going with me. It might be a dead end.”

  “That’s all I have to work from unless the werewolf is the killer.”

  “But I thought you already established the werewolf isn’t the killer.”

  “I really should have spoken to the psychics myself,” Blake said.

  “You do that while I check out this address.”

  Blake let me pass. I couldn’t let him go with me. I might have to break into the place or use a special skill in case I get into trouble. Might not be a good idea to grow dragon wings just yet, at least not publicly.”

  I stopped off home before I checked out the address and picked up the sword. I might not know how to wield a sword, but I couldn’t grow wings and breath fire long ago either. Besides, if I run into a dragon hunter it might be my only defense against a poison arrow. At this point I have to believe that someone found out who Glenn really was and killed him because of it. And it had to have something to do with Dr. Drake and the posse of insane agents.

  I parked off the shoulder of Edgewood Drive near the border between Port City and Westland. I hiked the remaining quarter mile to a once-white colonial mansion, now a dismal yellow.

  I kept to the thick woods directly across from it as I assessed the property. Two vehicles, one resembling an ambulance, were parked in the drive. Someone was using this as a hospital, but if it was government-owned as the agents suggested, it certainly wasn’t budgeted for much. The government couldn’t be sanctioning whatever was happening here.

  Two men walked on the porch and lighted cigarettes as I watched. It was nearly impossible to see who they were from all the way across the road. Come on, inner dragon, you need to help me here. I know dragons must have better eyesight than humans.

  I concentrated for a few minutes as my eyes cleared and I was able to see it was Bernstein and Hughes. I was in the right place, but not at the right time. I wouldn’t be able to snoop around with them so close, but why should I when I could simply stroll across the road and confront them?

  It wasn’t the best laid plans, but it was too late when they clambered off the porch at my approach.

  “Hello,” I greeted.

  Bernstein and Hughes exchanged a questionable look.

  “Not expecting me to stroll up the road today?” I asked.

  “Why are you here?” Bernstein asked, his lips forming a tense line.

  “I thought you wanted me to come here.”

  “No,” Hughes said. “Not here.”

  “So this isn’t the hospital where you planned to take me?”

  “You can accompany us to the office.”

  “The office here?” I asked as I walked forward.

  “I already told you, not here,” Hughes said. “Why are you not listening?”

  “I think I’d rather stay and see what this place is.”

  “There’s nothing to see here. We were planning to use it at one time, but it would take too much work for repairs, as you can see,” Bernstein said.

  “Is this where you’ve been hiding Dr. Drake?”

  “Dr. Drake is an ill man,” Hughes said.

  “Hardly ill,” I countered. “He’s a disease fanatic, but who can blame him? I was feeling out of sorts that d
ay at his clinic. He only wanted to alert the public.”

  “You were marked,” Hughes said.

  “No, I had a dreadful accident in the woods. I don’t believe the good doctor had seen anything quite like it before.”

  “That’s not true,” a deep voice said from the door. Dr. Drake wore white slacks and a lab coat. “Come inside and we can talk about it.”

  I quickly texted Blake and pushed my phone in my back pocket as I entered a large room adorned with dated orange plaid couches. I forced myself to sit down. I’d make myself nervous if I remained standing.

  Dr. Drake busied himself mixing a drink while Bernstein and Hughes lingered in the corner.

  “It’s about time I get answers. I’ve been worried about you, doctor. When you left with Agents Bernstein and Hughes I had the wrong idea. I thought they had you under lock and key.” I forced a smile. “I’m so relieved now.”

  “I didn’t understand at the time that what I was talking about was a breach of security. They hadn’t made that clear enough the last time,” Dr. Drake said.

  “Last time?”

  “Yes. I would have thought they had told you about a former patient who had the very same wounds as you.”

  “And what conclusions did you come to?”

  “He wasn’t in my care long enough for the results to come back. If the agents hadn’t brought me here I would never have known the truth. It seems the young man didn’t suffer from a deadly disease -- and neither have you.”

  “We should be going now,” Bernstein said as he nodded toward the door.

  “Could you give me the patient’s name?”

  “Don’t tell her,” Hughes said as he walked between the doctor and me. “She might be one of them.”

  “What is it that you think I am?”

  “You’re —.”

  “Interfering,” Dr. Drake interjected. “Agents, you can leave now.”

  My eyes widened when the agents moved to the door. “You’re really leaving?” I asked them.

  “Glenn Miller was the patient’s name,” Dr. Drake said.

  “Why isn’t he still in your care?”

  “When I found out Glenn’s brother Hugh was the deputy mayor of Port City, I had to allow Hugh to take his brother where he thought could provide better treatment.”

  “I wonder where that might have been?” I asked. “Hugh filed a missing person report for Glenn. He escaped from a hospital two months ago.”

  “Are you certain? He left my care two months ago.” Dr. Drake held out a glass of a clear substance. “Please allow me to offer you a refreshment.”

  “I’m good,” I said.

  “Glenn is missing and I need to find him. Bernstein and Hughes, you must find Glenn and bring him here.”

  “That’s not possible,” I said.

  “Do you know where he is?” Dr. Drake asked in earnest.

  I frowned. “Yes, he’s dead.”

  Dr. Drake’s eyes widened. “That’s impossible. You’re mistaken.”

  “His remains were identified yesterday and his brother was talking to the police,” I said.

  Dr. Drake pressed his fingers against his brow. “I can’t believe he’s dead. I’m certain Glenn’s strength had increased since I last saw him. It’s quite impossible that he’s dead.”

  “People die no matter who they are,” I said. “Who do you think Glenn was?”

  “He’s not human, or not entirely.”

  I laughed. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ve seen his injured back -- so like yours. I’ve seen his eyes transform before my eyes.”

  Fortunately for me I had on contacts. “That doesn’t seem that out of the norm. I had a jogging accident, but my back is healed now.”

  “Glenn’s injury didn’t heal. And I found scales in his wounds, just as I have from yours.”

  “Is that the only conclusion you can come to? What does it mean?” I asked frantically.

  “I’ve analyzed the scales, but haven’t been able to match them with any reptile on file. I was forced to consider other possibilities. There are records of a man who can shape shift into the form of a wolf.”

  “Wolves don’t have scales,” I offered.

  “Dragons have scales.”

  “First you think werewolves are real and now a man who can do what?”

  “Change shape to that of a dragon.”

  I laughed. “There is no such thing as a dragon. Did you see Glenn change forms?”

  “I was on the verge of discovering the truth.”

  “Did you kidnap Glenn after he left your care? Did he manage to escape from you?”

  “I swear I haven’t seen him since,” Dr. Drake said. “Please drink this. It will help to relax you.”

  “I don’t need anything to relax me, I’m good.”

  “He possessed strange weapons,” Dr. Drake said. “A medieval sword. And he wore a necklace just like yours,” he said as he pointed to my throat.

  I held the necklace. “You really should get some help.”

  “How did the dragon die?”

  “He’s a man, not a dragon. And he died from a poisoned arrow,” I said absently.

  “Only a dragon would die from a poisoned arrow,” Dr. Drake said.

  “A dragon hunter?” Bernstein asked with widened eyes. “Is that why you called us here?”

  “Think of the possibilities if the government were to possess the power to command a dragon shifter in battle. One with the ability of flight, fire and strength.”

  “Are you listening to yourself?” I asked. “Did you see Glenn change into a dragon?”

  Seventeen

  I stepped back as Blake and Trevelli charged into the room.

  “Did I hear the crazy man say what I think he said?” Trevelli asked. “The government wants to use dragon shifters for military missions?” His mouth slacked open. “Dragon shifters?” He scratched his head in disbelief.

  “You heard a man we were ready to take into custody,” Agent Bernstein said as Hughes pinned Dr. Drake to the floor.

  “Get off me, you oaf. I’m not crazy, I tell you.” He pointed at me. “She’s a dragon shifter. Don’t you see?”

  “We’re very sorry to have bothered you, Miss Frost,” Bernstein said. “Dr. Drake insisted you were a threat.”

  “You put cameras in my apartment.”

  “And demanded she leave with you,” Blake added.

  “We shouldn’t have listened to the doctor,” Hughes said.

  “Why did you want to silence Dr. Drake at the news conference?”

  “We can’t have him scaring the citizens with an alleged disease that you don’t have.”

  “Especially when we knew he had something much more destructive to say,” Hughes added.

  “The doctor tried to get me to drink that,” I informed Blake.

  Blake donned gloves and picked it up the cup. “I’ll have this tested.”

  “Are you actually arresting the doctor, Bernstein?”

  “It’s in our country’s best interests that this isn’t spoken of again. Dr. Drake will never be able to hurt you again.”

  “We have to tell the media something,” I said. “I promised Holly Holstein the exclusive after she was kind enough to find out where Dr. Drake was holed up.”

  “So Dr. Drake is twice as nuts as I pegged him?” Holly asked as she sipped her cocktail.

  “Exactly,” I said. “He believed our victim was an alien sent from Mars.”

  “I don’t believe this story,” Holly said. “Tell me the truth, Blake.”

  “Now we didn’t say you should go on air with this story. You simply have a delusional man who has spread stories about Glenn Miller, the murder victim.”

  “Do you think Dr. Drake had anything to do with Glenn’s death?”

  “We’re investigating that angle, but it appears doubtful. We’ll have to touch base with Hugh about his brother to find out the specifics.”

  “What was the cause o
f Glenn’s death? You must be able to tell me that much at least.”

  “You know I can’t tell you that, Holly,” Blake said.

  Holly pulled the cherry from her drink and sucked it between her red lips. “I expect the exclusive when this case is solved. Do you have any other suspects?”

  “The investigation is ongoing,” Blake said.

  “Why are you so hard to get along with?”

  “You know how this goes, Holly. We need to speak with Glenn’s brother again. I’ll give you an update over dinner tomorrow night, if that’s good with you.”

  The straw practically fell on the table. “I’ll take it that way. I mean dinner.”

  Blake’s eyes actually twinkled. I was so proud of my detective friend. He wasn’t without hope after all. Who knows, he might actually find he enjoys the company of a woman.

  Blake and I got into a waiting limousine in front of the restaurant. I adjusted myself once it was in motion as I nodded at Hugh Miller.

  Hugh was comfortably dressed in jeans and a Michigan State hoodie.

  “Aren’t you a little underdressed today,” I said.

  His brow shot up. “We’ve only had one conversation Ms. Frost. I’d hardly say you’ve learned all of my secrets in that brief amount of time.”

  “I believe you didn’t want to converse with me further.”

  “Argue the point later,” Blake said. “We have a few matters to clear up.”

  “How long had your brother been missing?” I asked.

  “You might want to answer her questions,” Blake said. “She’ll keep going on and on if you don’t.”

  “Sorry, but it’s hard enough to talk about Glenn with anyone. I don’t believe in speaking with a private investigator about such an important matter.”

  “She’s the one who found Dr. Drake and hashed it all out.”

  “Glenn has always been a free spirit. He traveled extensively since he graduated high school. Our parents were wealthy and we both had trust funds. I lost count of the countries he’s backpacked through. He spent the last year in Tibet.”

  “That was his last trip?” Blake asked.

  “Yes, and when he came back he wasn’t the same fun-loving brother I remembered. He suffered from nightmares and disappeared for days at a time. I brought Glenn to the doctor because of injuries he had developed. Dr. Drake suggested he could offer treatment at a private facility.”