by Penny Knight
After a small break in traffic, we drive further down main South Road. His right indicator blinks, heading left off the expressway. Shit, where is he going? I follow suit and pull up a few cars behind him stopped at a red light. My phone rings. I glance at the time: eight-ten pm. I bite my lip. Now I really want to vomit.
“Hello,” I answer.
“E, hey,” Topher says. “Where are you?”
“Um, I...” I’m not sure how to answer that.
“Leo is asking where you are. He’s pissed.” I roll my eyes.
“I’m going to be late. Just tell him something came up.”
“Late? Something came up? You are out of–” His voice gets muffled.
“Elita,” Leo’s hard voice bellows through the phone.
Crapity, crap, crap. “Leo,” I say.
“Where are you?” He is very calm.
“Hey, I’m all good.” I go with the ditsy card trick in my deck of diversion tactics. “I’m just going to be a bit late, just finishing up a job.”
“Ok,” he grits out, “I asked where you are, not how you were doing.”
Yep, he’s mad. I look around. “Just at the lights, on main South Road, heading onto the expressway.” I hold my breath, waiting for an explosion.
Silence.
Then the phone goes dead. I furrow my brow and look at the phone. The call ended.
“Rude much?” I throw the phone on the seat. “What the hell is his deal?” I say out loud to no one. That settles it, no more answering the phone and just concentrating on what I’m doing here. No more distractions. I shuffle into my seat and get comfortable.
The passenger door flies open, and my heart skips a beat, thinking maybe the psycho store man has made me. I jump back in my seat ready to fight, but without having even time to blink, Leo is sitting beside me. My mouth drops open.
“What the–” I shake my head, “How?” I look back to the phone. I was on the phone to him like one second ago. Horns sound and I look up and see there are no cars in front of me. I’m now the one holding up traffic. Still shocked, I slam my foot on the pedal and the car propels forward.
“How in the actual hell did you get here so fast?” I think I’m yelling, it’s the only way to hear over my pounding heart.
“You might want to slow down,” he says.
“Slow down?” I glance to him with wide eyes. “Are you serious, after that? I am now going too fast for you?” Unbelievable.
He chuckles, “I told you we were fast.”
“Fast, yeah. But that is insane.” My heart rate is slowly coming down, taking in this new information.
“Turn around, Elita. We are going back.” The humour in his voice now gone.
My heart rate picks up again, this time from anger.
“No,” I say and straighten in my seat.
“No?”
“I can’t.”
“Elita,” his voice deepens. “I told you to be back at the hotel before sunset.”
He told me. Heat travels through my body like fire.
“Listen, before we have this conversation. Let’s get one thing clear.” I have to stop this right now or I might explode. “Let’s drop the ‘I told you’ from your vocabulary when you talk to me. Because I don’t know how it works in your Immortalie world. But in my world, you can’t tell me what to do.”
Silence.
I look to him and he’s staring at me.
“Ok?” I ask.
I see his throat bobble as he swallows hard and nods ever so slightly. He leans back in his seat. “Ok then.” He cracks his neck. “Well. Where are we going?”
Did I just win this one? Did he just give in? A smile forms on my lips, and I let it sink in. Until I realise, I have to answer the question. I bite my inner lip as I contemplate my answer.
“Fuck,” he mutters, “I’m not going to like this.”
Can’t argue with him there. I decide on half the truth.
“I’m following the lime green Toyota.”
“Why?”
“An assignment,” I say.
“About what?”
“Um,” I lift my hand from the wheel and nibble on my nail. “Well, the driver may have abducted a woman,” I say. My voice stifled from the nail in my mouth.
I hear Leo turn in his seat. “Say that again?”
I put both hands on the wheel. “He may have abducted a woman.”
“How is this a job of a private investigator?”
“That is a good question.” My mind is ticking over how I’m going to sweet talk my way out of telling him the truth. “It’s hard to explain,” I turn to him and smile, “complicated even.” I just need some time to figure this all out.
“Elita, don’t get me wrong, you have a beautiful smile, but you are not fooling me. Answer the question.”
Ok, I’m just going to move past him admitting he likes my smile and ignore how that makes me feel.
“Leo, this man is evil. He has a girl locked up, possibly torturing her. And I have to stop it.”
“What?” he growls.
I freeze. His tone makes me a little nervous. I don’t know him and what makes him angry, or what he is capable of. I need to smooth this over.
“Look, I know I was meant to be back before sunset. But I have to do this.” I hope by being earnest and honest he cuts me some slack. Well, not one hundred percent honest.
“And what happens when you get there?” his eyes narrow.
“I’m not sure yet, but I will figure it out.” I have a feeling he will not like the answer.
“Let me get this straight. You’re following this man, who may or may not have a girl locked up. Possibly torturing her amongst other heinous things and you plan to waltz in there and what? Simply ask him to let her go?”
Ok, I may not have a kick-ass plan ready to go, but his sarcastic tone is grating my nerves. Gone is the fear I had of him. Why is it he can get me so mad, so easily?
“No one asked you to be here, Leo.” I turn to him. “Feel free to fly off,” I say, waving my hand towards the sky.
Silence.
“You aren’t scared of me. Are you?” he asks.
“What’s the point of being scared? You’re stronger, faster, immortal, but whatever. It’s obvious if you wanted me dead, I would be. For whatever reason, you’re helping me. And I’m going with my gut here and am pretty sure because you have ulterior motives for that. If you wanted to hurt me, I couldn’t stop you. So, what’s the point of being scared?”
I turn to him and continue.
“Everything is out of my fucking control right now. You think I’m going to let you, or anyone else, have control over my fear? You are out of your mind.” I shake my head.
After a moment, he turns his head and concentrates on the road ahead. I take that as the conversation’s over which suits me just fine. I need time to figure out the plan and to simmer down. We silently sit as I follow the car ahead.
“He turned left.” Leo breaks the silence.
“I know.” I flick on the indicator to exit the expressway. Instantly, I regret my clipped tone. I’m not always such a bitch, well, not really anyway. I keep a good distance behind the Toyota as I follow it down the hilly road. This is not how I wanted my day to go, or even my week.
My life had finally come to a stable halt. One where my future wasn’t laced with uncertainty. What I wouldn’t give to be back at the warehouse, watching Topher attempt one of his culinary masterpieces, sipping on some red wine. Simple. That is all I had ever wanted, a simple, quiet life.
Instead, I’m trailing a potential serial killer. Out of my comfort zone, with a man, or better yet an Immortalie by my side. I need to come to grips with the changes. I don’t see myself returning to simple anytime soon.
“So.” I decide to embrace the time alone with Leo and learn more about him. And what Immortalies are. “You’re quick. Got that one. You like, flew here or something? What else?”
“You’re talking to me again,”
he says.
“I guess so.” I give him a quick side eye glance. Smart ass. “So, you’re strong? What, like Superman strong?”
“Stronger.” His lips turn up.
“Oh my god, I’m not sure if there is room for me in this car with your massive head and all.”
He laughs, and it sounds amazing.
I bite back a smile.
“Ok, so let’s get this straight. You can’t go in the sunlight. You’re strong and quick. You know, this is all very familiar.” I slow the car as I steer around a steep cliff. “In every vampire show ever made.”
“I see where this is going,” he lifts his hand towards my face.
Not expecting it. I panic and nearly veer the car off the cliff’s edge.
“It’s ok. Trust me,” he says as he gently touches the side of my face.
How I manage to keep the car on the road is beyond me, as his warm touch catches me off guard. With one stroke of his thumb, he stirs feelings inside me I’m not prepared for. My stomach flutters, goosebumps prick under my hair. I swallow hard.
“You know.” I try to calm my breathing. “A woman once told me. If someone has to say they can be trusted...” My fingers fumble as it brushes against his. Moving his hand from my face. “They most probably can’t.”
“Wise woman.” The air in the car thickens. I feel his gaze on me, but I dare not look.
“Yes, she is.” I then realise what he planned to show me with his touch. “You’re warm, not cold.”
“Yes. And we don’t drink blood, either.”
“Ok, so a stake to the heart, that won’t kill you?”
“Nor silver.”
Interesting.
The car in front finally pulls into a gravel driveway. It’s dark. Streetlights not reaching in this part of the hills. I decide to follow past the house for a bit.
“There.” Leo points. “Just ten metres up. The road opens, park behind the trees out of sight of the road.”
I automatically go to reject his orders, then realise it was a good plan. I follow his directions and stop behind the tall gum trees that shield the car from sight.
As soon as the engine stops, I jump out, Leo already by my side. I close my eyes and concentrate, trying to hear anything in the distance near the house. As much as I try, I can’t hear a thing.
I move my hair to the side and pick up the amulet, taking it off. Leaning back in the car, I gently place it in the glove box.
It helps.
There’s something in the distance. It sounds like a voice. But I can’t be sure. I need to get closer.
“This way,” I say, running off to the house.
All the while Leo watches in silence. By he does fall in step right next to me.
The house in the hills is hidden behind tall trees, veering off from a long driveway. Even in the dark I can tell the front is well maintained, the edging of the shrubs clean cut.
I see a shadow in what looks like the kitchen. From the tree where we hide behind, it’s about twenty metres from his car in the carport.
“What’s the plan?” Leo whispers.
“Just need to get a little closer.” I’ve been trying to see if I could hear any confirmation, but we are so far away.
I hear his intake of breath. I know he isn’t into that plan, but he keeps quiet.
Once the man moves toward the stove with his back toward the window, we move. I look to the gutters and spot the sensor lights, and make sure to avoid them. I sneak around to the side of the house, keeping a good distance from the perimeter just in case. I need to find the room, or get close enough to where he could have her.
I halt as I hear whimpering, like a crying hound.
“Can you hear that?” I whisper to Leo.
“The creep singing inside?” he says.
I shake my head. “Is he singing? I can’t hear.” They really do have great hearing.
He nods.
“What is he singing?”
He scrunches up his nose. “Um, Moon River.”
I shudder. Great, now I will never be able to listen to that song again.
I step closer to the small window that’s close to the ground, and the wailing gets louder. My foot hits a rock and I stumble, Leo’s quick reflexes stop my fall. But my heavy footsteps on a branch snap a twig. We both go still, waiting to see if he had heard the noise.
Oh my god, what was that? God, please help me. The wailing gets louder and is gut wrenching.
My hand covers my mouth.
He’s back, oh please God, please kill me. Please let him kill me.
My eyes water.
“She’s in there,” I turn to Leo.
He nods. “Ok, let’s call the cops to take care of it.”
I nod. “I have a burner in the car.”
We hustle back quietly the way we came. And once out of view and hearing distance, we break into a run.
Tony always makes me carry more than enough burners to get me out of trouble. Normally I’m working against the police, not always on the right side of the law to get the job done. But I know that they’re needed, and sometimes the only thing to do is give them tips and information without being traced.
Jumping straight in the car, adrenaline courses through my veins, I lunge to the backseat and open my backpack. With fumbling hands, I find the burner phone and flick off the back cover to remove the battery. Opening the centre console, I find one of the pre-paid sim cards that has been set up with a fake account already and try to insert it in the small slot. My fingers aren’t cooperating and I’m struggling when Leo reaches for the phone.
“Here.” He takes it from me and effortlessly replaces the card, then hands it back.
“Thanks,” I say and I dial the police.
I try hard to give all the information to the police where they believe there is imminent danger to the woman’s life without going into detail. I pretend I’ve been spotted and hang up abruptly, so they understand the severity of the situation and I pray that I’ve done enough to convince them to act quickly. They said they were sending a patrol car as soon as possible, but I can’t know when that will be. As soon as the call finishes, I remove the battery and sim and throw it in the console. I’ll get rid of it later.
Jumping out of the car, I slam the door. “We have to go back.”
“Why? You’ve done all you can. By the way you handled that call, the police will be here very soon.”
“Yeah, but not soon enough. We need to go back and make sure he doesn’t hurt her again.”
“We can’t be here when the cops come.”
“I know, it’s just...” I look back toward the house. I can’t leave her alone there. “We can pretend we need help.” I turn back to Leo. “Ask to use the phone or something?”
“That doesn’t sound like a good idea.” His brow furrows.
“You have super hearing, yeah?”
He nods.
“Well, when you hear the sirens, we’ll leave. They won’t see us.”
His eyes go to the house. I know he’s considering it.
“I’m going. You can stay if you want.” I turn and don’t wait for his answer.
“Dammit.” He’s right beside me as I run towards the house.
When we get closer to the front door, the sensor light flicks on. There’s no sound from the woman I heard before, and I just pray we’re not too late. My shaky hand knocks on the wooden door. Pathetic, it barely registers a sound, my nerves getting the best of me. I try again, and at least this time I don’t sound like a two-year-old.
The door creaks open and the man from the store peers through the small crack.
Who the hell are you? I hear him think first. “Can I help you?” he asks as he looks me up and down. Well hello pretty lady, mmm.
My jaw clenches. “Hi, sorry to interrupt.”
Anytime, you dumb unlucky woman. You have no idea where you have just landed, his thoughts breaking my concentration.
I don’t know if I can do this. Wh
at was I thinking?
“Um... ah...” I shake my head. “We’re having some car troubles up the road. We’ve lost phone service and were just wondering if we could use your landline?” I finally get out.
Car troubles. Hmmm. How unlucky you are to end up at my doorstep. A whore. All by yourself. Must be my lucky day. Wait, did she say we?
“We?” he asks.
“Yeah, me and my boyfriend. It shouldn’t take too long.” I can’t believe how grateful I am that Leo is with me.
A boyfriend? Where is he? The door opens wider and so do his eyes when he sees Leo. Fuck me, he is a big fellow. I don’t need this trouble. Just get this over with.
“Ok, sure,” the man says.
“Thank you,” I say, stepping throught the threshold, Leo’s warmth behind me calming my nerves.
“Thank you, Mr...?” Leo asks, as he extends his hand to shake the man’s. I don’t know why he did that; I have constant bile wanting to rise from my throat just being in close proximity to him. Let alone touching him. Then I remember Leo hasn’t heard this monster’s thoughts.
“Trevor, you can just call me Trevor.” He shakes his hand.
Help, please. Who are you? Please don’t leave me here. He is a monster. Please. Please. Help. Help. The woman’s cries ring out.
She’s close. I look to Leo then Trevor and both appear not to have heard her screams. They can’t hear her, so she’s definitely thinking. And if she isn’t screaming for help that leaves one answer. She’s gagged.
I have to help her.
Her cries are still ringing in my head, pleas for help and worse. I concentrate on the direction of the calls as we follow the man through the hall, turning left into the dining room and away from her screams.
“Would you like some tea?” I faintly hear him ask, the woman’s tormented cries overpowering my head. I look towards the man and realise he’s waiting for me to answer. A quick glance around and I notice Leo’s gone. Panic creeps up my spine. He must notice. “He’s making the call,” he says pointing to the hall.
