He and Christian walked back to Christian’s SUV. A police officer was looking through the driver’s side window with a flashlight. When he saw Christian and Ethan walk up together, he glared. “You boys having yourselves a good time tonight?”
For a moment, Ethan wasn’t sure what he meant. When he finally did, his face burned. “It’s not like that.”
“We’re friends,” Christian said stiffly.
“Friends,” the cop snorted. “We both know you two came looking for a hookup. But you can’t do it here,” the cop said. “Park’s closed.”
“Sorry,” Ethan muttered. He didn’t want to let this homophone get to him, but he suddenly felt very small. He kept his eyes on the ground.
As the police car’s strobe lights reflected off the pavement, Ethan caught a flash. A scrap of memory from the vision. Music, just like Sophie had said. And not just any music. Disco, specifically We Are Family.
“I know where it is,” he whispered to Christian. The cop had taken their IDs and was running them.
“Where?”
“Rendezvous. That place near the coney island we were at.”
Christian grinned. “Now if we can only make it through the night without getting arrested.”
Fortunately, their luck held, and fifteen minutes later they were on their way. The moment Christian pulled out of the park, however, Ethan’s phone rang. It was Tessa. Her voice was taut with emotion. “David’s had another seizure,” she said. “It’s bad, Ethan. If you want to say good-bye, I suggest you come back now.”
Hearing the news, Christian made a hard left turn. “Go to him,” he said. “Let me take care of the other thing. He needs you.”
Ethan, numb with shock, nodded. Although, he wasn’t sure if David needed him as much as he needed David.
Chapter Thirty-two
Tessa was restlessly pacing in the living room when Ethan arrived at David’s house. He immediately started towards the bedroom, but Tessa stopped him.
“The nurse is in there right now,” she said. “It will give us a chance to talk.”
Ethan glanced at the bedroom doorway. “You said it was urgent.”
“This will only take a minute,” she promised. At Ethan’s reluctant nod, she said, “You remember when you told me that you’d do anything to make him better?”
“Of course.”
“Did you do it? That thing you were talking about?” She searched his face, looking for answers.
“I tried,” Ethan said miserably. Tried and failed. Unlike Denise, he didn’t have the stomach for it. Not even to save David.
“Can you try again?” she asked. “For me?”
“Tessa - ”
She grabbed his sleeve and hung on tightly. “Please, Ethan. I don’t know what you had to do, but whatever it was, I’ll try to make it up to you. I can’t lose him!”
Even if Ethan had the guts to gather another soul, he wasn’t sure where he’d go to find one. The shadow was keeping well hidden. “I can’t.”
“Then tell me what to do,” she pleaded. “I’ll take care of it.”
“You wouldn’t be able to. It takes a…special…gift.” Or curse, depending on how you looked at it.
She let go of his arm, suddenly understanding. “This has to do with the otherworld, doesn’t it?” At his nod, a tear trickled down her cheek. “I thought it was some kind of unorthodox, medical treatment. Something someone had never tried before.” She wiped her eyes. “What did you have to do?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” he said. He wasn’t about to do it again. Collecting the soul of the woman in the convenience store had been awful. He felt responsible for that young woman’s death, and the act had been too close to murder. Besides, it hadn’t helped. David was still dying.
The front door rattled. Bev and John walked in without waiting for an invitation. Ethan bristled. If these truly were David’s last moments, then he wanted them all to himself. Yet, as Tessa hugged her parents, Ethan struggled to make his peace with them. As flawed as they were, Bev and John were still David’s mother and father. They had as much right to be with their son as Ethan did.
Spying Ethan in the corner, John pushed his way past the women and stuck a finger in Ethan’s face. “This is for family only,” he snarled. “You need to leave.”
“Dad! You can’t do that,” Tessa objected. “Ethan has a right to be here, too.”
“Like hell.”
Ethan struggled to remain calm. “I’m not leaving. Besides, I live here now, too.” He smiled as he delivered the jab, enjoying the furious looks on John and Bev’s faces.
John drew back his fist, ready to swing. Ethan grabbed John’s wrist and twisted it behind his back. David’s dad grunted in pain. “I don’t want to hurt you,” Ethan said, “but you’re leaving me no choice.”
“Stop!” Both mother and daughter begged him at once.
“I will if he does,” Ethan said. To his relief, John nodded. Ethan relaxed his hold. The moment he did, however, John sucker punched him. Ethan doubled over with a gasp. Pain exploded in his gut, bringing a rush of nausea that rose like a sour tide in his throat.
“Dad!” Tessa, a ball of fury, dragged her father away from Ethan. “God, Ethan, I’m so sorry! Mom, Dad, if you can’t be civil, then leave. This is Ethan’s house.”
When Ethan’s vision cleared, he saw that even Bev had paled at her husband’s outburst. “I’m sorry,” she stuttered. “My husband has a temper.”
“Your husband is an ass,” Ethan said when he could find his voice. He clutched his injured stomach. That punch would leave a bruise.
“Go to David,” Tessa said softly. “We’ll wait out here. Take all the time you want.”
Ethan didn’t need another invitation. He went into the bedroom. Only to find Denise standing by the side of David’s bed.
For a moment, the two of them stared at each other. Then Ethan saw the white thread of light shimmering above David’s chest. It was David’s soul, ready to be collected.
“Get the hell away from him!” Ethan demanded.
“I can explain,” she said. “I came to see you, but the minute I walked in, I could sense him.” She nodded at David.
“I said, get away!” he ordered. He dodged around the hospital bed, ready to block her from collecting David’s soul.
“He’s at death’s door,” Denise said. “He’ll be gone soon.”
The news hit like a hammer strike, but Ethan shoved his grief aside. He needed a clear head to deal with this ghoul. He had to stop her now or twelve other people were going to die tonight.
But how could he do it? He didn’t have Christian’s determination to kill her outright. And talking hadn’t done any good. He also didn’t have any more souls to boost his power. No, he’d have to settle for restraining her. Then he’d have to smuggle her out of the house and past Tessa and her parents. The task seemed indomitable.
“It isn’t painful,” Denise told him. “It’s peaceful and natural. Death told me that when I was a child on the plane.” She seemed eager to offer Ethan comfort, but her lies were sickening.
“Death is horrible,” he said. He needed to keep her talking. Keep her distracted.
“But the afterlife is beautiful,” she countered. “I’ve seen it. I know.” She nodded to where David lay. “He’s suffering now, but he’ll be back to normal on the other side. Fully restored.”
Restored. The word rang a bell in Ethan’s memory. For a moment, he couldn’t remember it, and when he did he moaned. The shadow had promised him the same thing, only now it made sense. Death had no intention of bringing David back to life; it had only meant that David would be better after he’d crossed the great divide. The shadow hadn’t lied, but it hadn’t told the truth, either.
Still, Ethan would be damned if he was going to let this woman touch the shining purity of David’s soul. “Whatever Death told you is a lie,” he said. “You aren’t going to get eternal life.”
Her beatific smile turned ug
ly. “Death doesn’t lie.”
“It doesn’t tell the truth, either,” Ethan snapped. He glanced around for something he could use to restrain Denise. Then he spied one of David’s free weights by the door. An idea formed. He’d knock her over the head and drag her into the closet until everyone had left or until the midnight massacre was over.
Suddenly, Denise lunged for David’s soul. Ethan reacted instinctively, knocking her hand away. The IV clattered to the floor. She shoved him aside, going for the light. Ethan checked her like a linesman in a football game, knocking her to the floor. He pressed all of his weight on her, but she struggled like a wild cat. She kicked and yanked his hair, anything to get him to let go. It was no problem subduing her, though. That was, until she landed a lucky punch to his already injured gut.
Ethan cried out and clutched his stomach. Sensing opportunity, Denise wriggled out from under him. Ethan staggered to his feet, but she was too quick. In one fluid motion, she swiped the soul from the air. While Ethan watched, horrified, the monitor next to the bed flat lined.
The monitor emitted a piercing wail. Tessa, John, and Bev rushed into the room. “What happened?” John demanded.
“He’s gone,” Denise said. Collecting the soul had erased years from her features. Although she still didn’t look completely healthy, she seemed much better than she had earlier.
Ethan stared at the empty spot where David’s soul had been only moments before. “David,” he whispered.
Tessa tried to put her arm around him, but he ducked aside. “No!” He caught a fleeting glimpse of Denise heading out of the bedroom door. Shoving his way between Bev and John, Ethan chased after Denise. He had to stop her! It was too late for David, but it wasn’t too late to save those about to be massacred.
He ran out of the door and down the sidewalk. She was only a few steps ahead. He put on speed, readying himself for a flying tackle. But as he launched himself at her, he was met with a spongy resistance. His hands grabbed at nothing. She was getting away! He struggled to catch up, but his feet were mired to the ground.
Leave her be.
The shadow! It was preventing him from capturing Denise just as it had done to Sophie. “Let me go!” he roared.
She has work to do.
Ethan struggled, but it was like trying to throw punches under water. Nothing landed. Furious, he increased his struggle. He wasn’t going to give up.
When a car horn blared, he realized that the shadow had nearly forced him into the street. Traffic whizzed past, inches from his face. One more push, and he’d land in the path of an oncoming car. Terrified, he lashed out at the shadow, trying to gain control, but the force refused to give way.
“You can’t kill me yet,” he shouted. “It’s not my time!”
In response, the shadow shoved him hard. Arms pinwheeling, Ethan staggered into the road. Brakes squealed, and he braced himself for impact. In a flash, he imagined himself by David’s side in the heavenly realm, both of them looking down on Ethan’s broken body.
But the car stopped in time. The furious driver stuck his head out of the window and cursed. “Get out of the road, you moron!”
Shaking, Ethan stumbled out of the road and back to the safety of the sidewalk. He pressed his hands to his jackhammering heart. If the driver hadn’t stopped in time, he would have ended up like Sophie. And David.
Gasping, he searched for Denise, but it was no use. She had already gotten into her car and driven away. The moment she was out of sight, the shadow vanished. Ethan clenched his fists and shouted an obscenity. He’d failed on all fronts. David was gone, Denise was free, and the massacre was about to take place.
He called Christian, praying he would pick up. When Christian’s gruff hello sounded in his ear, Ethan said, “She’s on her way. Be prepared.”
Chapter Thirty-three
Rendezvous’ parking lot was bathed in the red and blue strobe lights of police flashers. Police cruisers and yellow caution tape provided a barrier between the crowd and the nightclub. People stood in clusters, all eyes on the building. It was Ethan’s nightmare brought to life.
Ethan parked on the edge of the chaos and jumped out of his car. He searched every face, looking for Christian. When he didn’t find him, he grabbed his cell and dialed. To his relief, Christian picked up. “Where the hell are you?” Ethan demanded. “What’s going on?”
“Right behind you,” Christian said and tapped him on the shoulder.
Ethan whirled. He hadn’t realized how much he’d wanted to see Christian until they were face to face. He grabbed Christian in a bear hug and squeezed.
“How’s your boyfriend?” Christian asked when Ethan had let go.
“Gone,” Ethan said flatly. There’d be time for mourning later. Now, they had to find Denise. “Has the Reaper been here?” he asked. “Are we too late?”
“No.” Christian had the luxury of height, and he looked over the heads of the other gawkers. “Someone called in a bomb threat. The police have dogs in there now, sniffing around.”
“She planted a bomb?” Ethan was amazed. He wouldn’t have guessed that Denise had the knowhow. Then again, all kinds of information was available on the Internet if you knew where to look.
“I’m not sure it was her,” Christian muttered. “In fact, all of this smells to high heaven.” He nodded at the crowd. “Forcing everyone outside like this would make for easy pickings. All it would take is a rifle and a hunting blind.”
A chill traveled down Ethan’s spine. Christian was right. It would be too easy to start shooting into the crowd. “We need to get these people to take cover.”
The kids in the crowd - and to Ethan’s eyes, the young twenty-somethings were young and carefree kids - were recording the scene on their phones and joking and laughing among themselves. They’d been ushered outside without their coats, and most of them had their arms hugged tightly around themselves to keep warm. A few shared a cigarette. Another smoked a joint. To them, it was just another night at the club. Maybe more interesting than most nights, but still normal.
A pair of cops, each accompanied by a German shepherd, exited the club. The dogs looked calm, almost happy if the tail wagging could be believed. The cops, however, were grim. They consulted with a man wearing a suit too flashy to be another officer.
“I think they’re about to give the all clear,” Christian muttered. His back and shoulders were tense, and his hand was on his hip, ready to draw his gun. Ethan’s own muscles were rigid, too. It was like expecting a bomb to go off under his feet at any moment. Denise had to be here somewhere, just waiting to take her first shot.
“Go talk to cops,” Christian said. “Tell them what we know. Even if they think you’re crazy, they might do something.”
“Like lock me up,” Ethan said.
“Still wouldn’t hurt to try,” Christian said. “I’ll keep looking around the crowd. Denise has to be here somewhere.”
Ethan made his way over to the police officers. The first one was a gray-haired man with a paunchy stomach. He almost looked bored.
“I need to talk to someone in charge,” Ethan said.
“Step back, Sir,” the officer said brusquely.
Ethan kept his eyes on the club. He wasn’t sure what worried him more: that there might be a bomb in the building, or that someone might fire on the crowd. “Something terrible is going to happen. We need to stop it.”
The officer’s flat expression didn’t change. “We’re checking the building. We’ll let everyone know when its all clear.”
“But…”
“Step back, Sir.”
Grinding his teeth, Ethan found another officer and got the same brush off. Everyone was focused on the bomb threat. No one wanted to hear that there was more trouble.
He finally found a young officer who stood near one of the parked cruisers. She frowned viciously at the crowd, as if a severe expression would compensate for how young she was. Her eyes darted from one place to another, trying to take it
all in. This was probably her first big emergency, and no doubt she’d play things by the book. Ethan didn’t blame her for that, but her lack of experience worried him. Still, no other officer was giving him so much as a second glance.
“Excuse me,” he told her. “I think the crowd is in danger.” When she started to reply, he held up his hand to stop her. “Not just from the bomb,” he said, “but from a shooter, too.”
Her gaze sharpened, and her hand went to the radio on her shoulder. “How do you know that?”
This was the part that had him worried. He couldn’t explain this rationally. “I just think it would be a good idea to make sure that no one is carrying a gun. And you should look into a woman named Denise Larson.”
“Let me see your ID, Sir,” the officer said. “Then put your hands on my car and spread your legs.” She spoke into the radio, asking for assistance.
“I’m not the shooter,” Ethan said. “I’m telling you that there’s another person who’s the shooter.”
“License,” she said.
Ethan dug out his wallet and surrendered his license. “If you’d just let me explain…”
“Hands on the car,” she ordered.
Great. This was exactly what he’d been afraid of. Ethan put his hands against the patrol car and spread his legs as the officer patted him down. To his embarrassment, they were drawing a crowd.
“Ethan! There you are!” Christian shoved his way through the crowd. “What has he done this time?” he joked to the police officer.
“He’s your friend?” she asked dubiously.
“Yeah. And he’s probably had too much to drink. I was going to take him home earlier, then all of this happened,” Christian said. “Ethan’s head is full of conspiracy theories. He thinks that this is all because of aliens or Al-Qaeda or maybe aliens working with Al-Quaeda.”
“It is,” Ethan said, playing along.
The officer continued to glare. “I’m running his ID. Wait here.”
“I told you this wouldn’t work,” Ethan muttered to Christian. He kept his hands firmly planted on the cop car, not wanting to give the officer any reason to arrest him.
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