Sid swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d struggled for days with whether or not she should move on. The wedding ring had gotten to her though, like a nail in the coffin. It was time to move on. She had to, for her sanity. She didn’t want to make an event out of it though. There wouldn’t be a grave nor a marker. She couldn’t do that. Not without a body. A ceremony would have to do. Smoke was an unknown soldier. An ex-Navy SEAL. A man who had perished in combat with remains that had not been discovered. Without dishonoring any fellow soldiers, she felt Arlington was the best place to honor Smoke’s life. Quietly.
With the wind nipping at her chin, she stood with tears freezing on her face, reflecting on the times they had. Watching the Marines, she gave thanks to all of the brave men and women who had made the ultimate sacrifice. All gave some. Some gave all. Smoke had given his life to save hers and their son’s. She’d have to learn to accept it. With a quiet nod, she said, “Let’s go.”
Guppy led the way back to where the car was parked. He opened the back door of a black Cadillac Escalade. Sid loaded JK into his car seat and climbed in the back. Sam and Guppy closed themselves inside the front, and out of the parking lot and down the road they went. The ride was quiet. Rain started to splatter on the windows.
Sam blew her nose. “So, Sid, are we taking you home?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you want to go somewhere and grab something to eat?”
“Just drive.”
“We can watch JK if you need some time alone. It won’t be a problem. You know how much we love him.”
“I know. We’ll see. We’ve still got a drive ahead of us. Just head back my way.” She fished Smoke’s ring out of her pocket. The metal was warm. She slipped it over her thumb, but it was way too big.
“Maybe you should wear it around your neck?”
“I’ve thought about that.” Sid gave a little shrug. “I don’t know.”
“Sid, I’m not going to hold it against you for moving on. Smoke wouldn’t either. I know him. He’d understand.”
“I know. I keep asking myself if I’d be okay with that if I was in the same situation. What if I were gone? Would he move on?”
Sam shook her head. “The difference is that Smoke was never looking for somebody. He was a loner. Chances are that he’d just do what he normally did. You know, he’s quirky but pragmatic.”
“So, you don’t think he’d date or marry again?”
“I just don’t think he’d be looking. I never thought he’d meet anyone, and I was thrilled when he found you.”
“Me too,” Guppy said.
“And now, Smoke has a legacy, you and his son. But he’d want him to have a father. A good one of course. He was an orphan, you know. Having a dad would have meant a lot to him.”
Sid didn’t have any idea what the days ahead had in store for her. She was a bounty hunter, but that part of her life seemed to be closed for now. She needed steadier if not safer work now that she had JK to look out for. Something to dig into. With all of the changes going on at the FBI, now might be a good time to go back and start with a clean slate. She looked out the window, noticing one of the diners she and Smoke had frequented. The restaurant was practically empty. A man sitting in the window slouched over the table caught her eye. She lost sight of him as they passed. “Hey, let’s get something to eat.”
“Now?” Guppy said, looking at her in the rearview mirror. “Sure thing, then. Where do you want to go?”
“That diner would be nice.”
Guppy shrugged, got off at the next exit, and turned the car around. The three of them rushed into the diner as a downpour of rain started. Inside, they eyed one of the many empty booths. The man Sid had seen slouched over the table was gone, but his dishes were still there. Syrup coated the plate, and three tall soda cups were empty.
Sam gave Sid a push. “Let’s take a seat at a clean one.” She sneered a little. “If we can find one. You know I don’t like these places where I can catch those secondhand carbs.”
“You’ll live.” Sid found a booth, still eyeing the other table. She set JK and his car seat in the booth first.
The waitress came by, wearing a peach uniform and apron. The plump woman offered to get them some coffee with a smile.
Sid asked her, “What happened to the man who was sitting over there?”
The waitress looked around. Sticking her pen in her mouth, she said, “I don’t know. He was just here a moment ago.” She hollered into the kitchen. “Archie, it looks like we got another dine and dasher. Geez, he was a handsome fella too.” A door squeaked in the back. A tall man emerged from the bathrooms in the back. “Oh, never mind. There he is.”
Sid’s eyes met the eyes of Doctor Endicott.
CHAPTER 27
Dr. Endicott’s eyes widened when he saw Sid. He followed it up with a friendly smile. His short beard was a few days old. He was very casual, wearing khakis and a sweater, but his clothing was still nice.
He came right to her. “Sidney, what a pleasant surprise. I was starting to think I would never see you again.”
She took his hand, and with a tilt of her head, she said, “Hi, Steven. Let me introduce you to my sister-in-law, Sam, and her husband, Guppy.”
Steven shook hands with both of them. “Very nice to meet you.”
Sam was giving Sid the “go ahead” eyeball.
“You’ll have to forgive my appearance. I’m taking some time off. I’m sort of on a bender. Those long days catch up with me. I tend to overdo it.”
“Leading a double life will do that to you,” Sid said.
“Excuse me?” he asked, looking at her quizzically. “I don’t take your meaning. Uh, may I take a peek at the little guy?” He leaned over the table toward JK.
Sid caught his arm and pulled him back. “No. I’m not a big believer in coincidences, Steven.” She pointed at his booth with her chin. “Take a seat.”
“But I was just—”
“Sit!”
With a polite nod to Sam and Guppy, Steven took a seat in his booth.
Sid sat down across from him. She took a long draw of air through her nose. “Who are you, Steven?”
“I’m your doctor. Or at least I was. There isn’t much of a doctor–parent relationship after the delivery, unless of course you have another baby. Or, say, if we were dating?”
“You haven’t been following me, have you?”
“Pfft?” His face drew up with perplexity. “I’m flabbergasted. I admit I have an honest flare for you, but I’d never take it to the level of stalking.”
The waitress walked up. “Can I get you anything else, honey? Or are you ready for the check?”
“The check will be fine.”
The waitress peeled it off her pad.
Sid snagged it.
“Hey!”
“I’ve got this.”
“Fine by me. I’m just glad he didn’t dine and dash.” The waitress tended to another table.
Sid read over the receipt. “Interesting. One large order of pancakes, two Great American Breakfasts, three Cokes, and a chocolate shake.”
“Again, I’m on a bender.”
Guppy and Sam sat up in their seats. Their eyes were glued on Sid and Steven.
“Bender, my ass. Who are you, Steven? This is the same wholesome junk-food diet my husband thrived on. A bit ridiculous, I might add. But coincidence? I don’t think so. You’re screwing with my head.” A sick feeling overcame her. The man who had delivered her baby wasn’t the man she believed him to be. “You work for the Drake, don’t you.”
“The who?”
Sid slapped the table. The fork jumped off the plate. “Don’t screw with me, Steven—or whoever you are.” She pictured Reginald the Doppelganger in her head. She had seen his body in a coffin, but his remains were supposedly splattered everywhere. Her gut told her he wasn’t dead. “Give me a straight answer.”
“Listen, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just want to lea
ve.”
“Problem,” Guppy said, sitting down beside Dr. Endicott, pinning him in.
“I think we have a shifter in our midst,” Sid said.
Remaining calm, Steven said, “The last thing I want to do is draw unwanted attention to myself. I don’t think anyone would want that these days. I just want to lie low. I suggest you do the same.” He winked at Sid. “All of this tension is giving me butterflies.”
Sid caught her breath. She searched the man’s eyes. They weren’t Doctor Endicott’s. They had changed. They were Smoke’s. “What in the world is going on?”
“Listen to me,” the man said. “There are eyes and ears everywhere. Just pretend this is normal.” He glanced out the window.
A black sedan had just pulled into the driveway. The headlights went out, but no one exited the vehicle. It was still pouring rain.
“Mrs. Smoke, I’ll explain when the time is right, but you are still drawing too much attention. Meet me at my office. Tomorrow. Come alone. Room 365, across from Endicott’s.”
“No, you aren’t going anywhere. I can’t take these games anymore.”
“Me either. Just give me one more day. I have to go. Now. Night falls. It’s a problem.”
Guppy’s face was filled with confusion. He watched Sid and said, “What do you want me to do?”
“Play along. He can go.”
Guppy got up. He gave Doctor Endicott a firm handshake. “Nice meeting you.”
“You too,” the doctor said. He winked at Sam. Then he said to Sid, “Are you still going to pay that bill?”
“I think I’ve paid enough already.”
He tossed a fifty on the table. “Bye for now.”
Feeling her soul leave her body, she watched the man exit the diner, get into a white Lexus sedan, and drive away. Shortly after that, the people in the black sedan entered: a man, a woman, and three children. Sid climbed from her booth into another.
Sam said, “What just happened? I saw him. I swear I saw him.”
“Me too.” Sid shook her head. “I have a feeling I’m not going to sleep a wink tonight.”
CHAPTER 28
Sid drove herself to the hospital center. JK was with her, bundled up and quiet. She paid the parking attendant, crossed traffic, and headed up the sidewalk and inside the building. The hospital was a new establishment with a clean grey antislip tile floor. The walls were painted white and decorated with paintings and other artwork. Avoiding the elevators, she took the stairwell up to the second floor. Down the hallway the doctors’ offices were in. White oak doors, pale-yellow walls, carpeted floor. The doors had rectangular portals in them. She could see parents and children waiting in the lobby.
She peeked into Doctor Endicott’s office. Pregnant women were sitting in chairs, reading notepads. One of them was fanning herself with an old magazine. That was office #370. On the other side was office #365. There wasn’t a name plate on the door. It was open. The hallway was empty, and she went inside. The lobby was barren. The door to the secretary’s station was open.
Sid called out, “Smoke?” She headed into the hallway that led into the examination rooms. “Doctor Endicott?”
“Back here,” said a solemn voice.
She couldn’t tell if the voice was Smoke’s or Dr. Endicott’s, but it came from the exam room in the back end of the hall. She went inside. A tall man was peering out the window with his back to her. He wore a doctor’s lab coat. She set JK down on the exam table. Her hand went to her gun, hidden under her jacket. “It’s time to see what’s behind door number one.”
Slowly, the man turned. It was Smoke. Tall, dark, and mysterious, he faced her with his hands up and the sliver of a smile on his face. He appeared exhausted. “Hi, honey.”
“It better be you.” She pointed her gun at him. “Swear to God that it’s you, John.”
“I’ll swear it, but I won’t take the Lord’s name in vain. Sid, it’s me.”
His voice assured her. She rushed into his arms and squeezed him with all her might. Fingernails digging into his back, she said, “You better be real! You better be real!”
His long, sinewy arms reeled her body into his. He stroked her hair. “I’m sorry.”
She shuddered in his arms. Her tears soaked his coat. It was him. She could feel it. She looked up into his face and drowned in his eyes. Her breath was taken away.
He bent down.
She pushed up on her toes and gave him a long, passionate kiss. When they broke it off, she said, “Why all of the games, John? Why?”
“I’m me, but I’m not me anymore.” There was sadness in his voice. His face was long. “They changed me, but I escaped.”
“So, you’re a shifter?”
“I’m something, but I didn’t go willingly. I’ve just been hiding.”
The baby cooed under his blanket in the car seat.
Smoke said to Sid, “May I?”
“Of course.” She tucked her gun away. “You know, I’ve been pretty upset that you haven’t been around for all this.”
“I was there.” He shook his stethoscope at her. “Who do you think delivered my little man? I did.” He picked up the infant and tucked the boy into his chest. He kissed JK’s forehead. “There’s my boy.”
“That was you, for certain?”
“Yup. I tried to drop some hints when you came in for your checkups. I couldn’t help myself. ”
“You did all of those? I thought Doctor Endicott was too touchy and feely.”
“I didn’t get the impression that you minded. It makes me wonder what was going on in that head of yours.” Smoke tickled the baby’s ribs. JK giggled.
“I should have caught on to the milkshake comment.”
“You’d just had a baby. It was easy to slip by you. Besides, the real Doctor Endicott is a health jock. He wouldn’t have syrup and pancakes if it killed him.”
Sid sat down in one of the chairs. “John, you’re telling me you can shape-shift, like Reginald?”
“Sort of. I’m not quite so adept at it.”
“And how am I to be certain you aren’t Reginald?”
“You know I’m not. Besides, I splattered him on the railroad tracks. Well, the train did. You can be certain he isn’t coming back. I promise.” He lifted JK high in the air. With admiration, he said, “He’s one beautiful boy, isn’t he?”
“Of course. Mom’s crazy about him.”
“I bet.” Smoke sat down beside Sid, cradling their toddler in his arms. “Look, I’m far from out of the woods yet, and me revealing myself isn’t the best decision. I just couldn’t go on with you thinking I was dead. I mean, I wanted them to think that you thought I was dead, but I couldn’t stand you thinking that I was. It ate me up.”
“I knew you weren’t dead. I just didn’t feel it. I was still empty, though. Then Allison started flapping her lips.” She punched Smoke in the arm. “Oh, I hate you.” She hit him again. “But I love you so much more.”
“Sid, I don’t know if I can be what I once was. I’m changed. Watch what I can do. Cursed blood runs through me.”
She palmed his face. “No, I don’t want to see what you can do. Just be you. I mean, can’t you just be you and still have the power?”
With dread, he said, “Not at night.”
CHAPTER 29
“Night? What happens at night?” She could see creases building in his face. His jaw muscles were tightening. She gave him a soft punch in the arm. “Do you howl at the moon or something?”
“Not exactly.”
She touched his face. “You know I’ll love you no matter what, right? What did they do to you? How did this happen?”
“After the fight at the clone plant, Kane caught up with me and took me out. I woke up in a room painted like our apartment.”
“I was there.”
“You were? When?”
“I think I missed you by a few days. Russ Davenport and Cort Calhoun, do you remember him? Well, they came across your whereabouts on the dark
web. I was so close, John, but I was too late. Sorry. Tell me everything.”
“While I was captive, your sister offered me the world, as always. I didn’t cave, of course, but then Kane came. They knocked me out, and the next thing I know, I’m strapped to a table. IVs are running through me, strange music is playing, and there are electrodes all over my body. What they did hurt so bad that it blinded me. It was a blood transfusion of some sort. Real nasty.”
“Was there a man there named Frank, a long-faced, elderly creep?”
“I don’t know. So many things were going on, the faces are a blur. People came in and out. There was chanting, bright flickering lights. I felt myself move through time. I saw a hellish portal. I honestly thought I was a goner.”
“Then what happened?”
“I woke up with fire running through my veins. I can still feel it. It’s a living thing. I have to wrestle with it or embrace it. Anyway, I was in an old arena, very medieval. Kane and Allison and someone else put me up against deaders and that one fella, Wild Jack? Remember him?”
She nodded.
“Well, I beat him, to the point of death. I’m pretty sure that’s what they wanted, for me to take a life. Then I transformed and made my escape. I was being chased from all directions in a network of catacombs. I ran. I hid. I fought shifters off. Finally—and I don’t know how—I pictured myself as something else. It happened. I ambled out as a deader. Drove off as a guard in a peacoat. The difference was the daylight. I can shift in the day, but at night, I’m just a monster.”
“What have you been doing all this time?”
“Hiding. Learning. Spying. They’re still looking for me. They know I haven’t just vanished. They’ve been watching you the entire time. I’ve been watching you most of the time.” He smiled down at his son. “Becoming your doctor was a work of genius, you have to admit.”
“So you’ve been seeing patients?”
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files: Special Edition Fantasy Bundle, Books 6 thru 10 (Smoke Special Edition Book 2) Page 47
