Danni chuckled to herself. It was incredible what the power of suggestion could accomplish. Nevertheless, something about it nagged her. She called up Google Maps on her laptop and quickly searched for the town. A few mouse clicks later and she saw the connection. Shilough was located close to the area where they would be investigating. Probably little more than a coincidence, but maybe worth mentioning to Derek.
CHAPTER 5
A sigh of contentment slipped from Abigail Linton’s lips as her boyfriend’s hand slid beneath her bra. She had initially balked at the prospect of parking all the way out on Swamp Forge Road, but her protests gradually subsided as Mike’s expert hands began to win her over. Besides, their other options were pretty limited.
Mike’s parents were staying in tonight, so there was no chance of privacy there, and he wasn’t welcome at her house thanks to Abby’s mother coming home early the week before and catching them half-dressed. Stupidly, Mike had gotten his car detailed two days earlier, ensuring he didn’t have enough cash for even a cheap motel room.
The forge, as it was commonly called, was a known make-out spot. As a result, it was on the patrol routes of the local cops. Many a friend had been caught in the act by the accusing glare of a Maglite shining through their windows. Abby was already on thin ice with her parents, so the prospect of being dropped off at home by the police wasn’t particularly high on her priority list.
Mike wasn’t to be dissuaded, though. His father was an ex-State Trooper. According to him, some careful questioning on his part had given rise to a bit of insight. The patrols out on the forge took place at random intervals so as to catch any kids thinking they’d figured out a pattern, but they were staggered and somewhat inconsistent. Shilough, only a few miles to the north, didn’t have much of a police force. Hammonton did, but the route was outside of their usual jurisdiction. Once a patrol car made its rounds on the forge, it would be at least two hours before another would retrace that route.
“That’s more than enough time,” he had told her with a sly grin.
“Yeah, an hour and fifty-eight minutes longer than you usually need,” she’d replied.
Swamp Forge Road lived up to its name for the most part. It wove through marshlands with scrub brush on either side of it, the closest main road being Route 206 several miles to the west. The lack of street lights and surrounding dense vegetation made it feel even more dark and claustrophobic. Missing a turn on the narrow road was an ideal way to end up stuck in a bog.
Fortunately, Mike had that covered, too. In addition to pumping his father for information, some of his buddies knew the road well. There were dry spots, back and hidden from the road, if one knew where to find them. A person just had to be smart about where they pulled off and make sure to kill the lights once they were parked.
Mike and Abby had cruised the length of the road a few times, all while keeping an eye out for the patrol they knew would eventually drive past them. Finally, they spotted a plainly marked police car. They passed it, then headed out to grab a bite at McDonald’s so as to kill a half-hour or so – lest they be overzealous, park, and the cop end up doubling back to check on them.
Now, at last, parked far back from the road and alone in the back seat of Mike’s car, he was able to resume what he’d started the week before. His hands unsnapped her bra, then went back to work on her breasts.
“Stop playing around and get to it,” she demanded, removing his hands from her chest and moving them down to her still-clasped jeans.
“I love it when you're aggressive.”
“I just don't want to get caught, so let's go.”
“You want it that badly, do you?”
She threw out a sigh. “If you can still talk, maybe your mouth isn't busy enough.”
“I'll take that as a challenge,” he replied, sliding his way down her body.
Abby indulged him as he stopped long enough to suckle on her nipples. Damn, he was good with his tongue. Mike could be a bit of a jerk when he wanted to be. Everything was a goddamned joke to him. But, damn, did he know his way around her body. She could tolerate his asshole humor as long as he put his mouth to better use. They got on well enough and had plenty in common, but the fact that he nearly always brought her to orgasm didn't hurt their relationship in the slightest.
Gotta have priorities, she considered as he unbuckled her pants with his teeth.
Abby felt a shudder beneath her and found herself momentarily confused. Mike hadn't even removed her pants yet.
“Like that, huh?” He chuckled.
“Wait, Mike...”
The car again jolted around them.
“What the fuck, babe?” he asked, raising his head. “I know I'm good, but...”
“Just shut up for a second. I swear, if one of your asshole friends followed us out here...” Her voice trailed off as she saw that he wasn't paying her any attention. Even in the darkness of the car, she could see that his eyes were open wide and staring past her.
Before she could turn to follow his gaze, the window behind her exploded, showering her with safety glass. The outside world no longer muffled, the sound of the window breaking gave way to a frenetic chuffing as if someone was struggling for breath but was too excited to calm down.
She barely had time to witness Mike's anguished cry as his hands moved to protect his face, having been directly in the path of the broken glass, when a massive arm came through the window. Abby couldn’t discern any color in the gloom except to note that it was large and dark. Claws raked across the naked flesh of her torso and she felt the sting of her skin giving way. Then the hand pushed past her, reaching toward her boyfriend.
It grabbed hold of the front of his shirt and pulled. Whatever it was, it was deathly strong, and it dragged her boyfriend over her. Mike's head impacted with the top of the door frame, halting his progress but only momentarily. Another yank from their attacker, and his head pushed back with a sickly snap, then he was dragged through the now open window.
All of it happened so quickly that Abby barely had time to comprehend that her boyfriend was, in all likelihood, beyond help. She sat up and looked out the window, only to see a dark shape pounce upon the unmoving form of her lover. Snarls quickly replaced the tortured wheezing.
Adrenaline raced through her body, already awash in a stew of hormones, and – beyond all good sense – she found herself fumbling with the handle.
“Get off him!” She pushed the door open and into the creature, hoping to drive it off. It was like hitting concrete. The metal slapped against the beast, causing it to grunt in surprise. Unhurt, it turned to face her.
Abby couldn't see much in the dark, but she saw enough to make her rethink her plan. It bared its teeth, housed in a misshapen head, and let loose a hiss of rage. The stench of its breath washed over her. It smelled of decay – the marshes and endless bogs of this accursed place.
She immediately abandoned her course of action, pulling the door shut in the process. Scrambling into the front seat as the abomination turned its attention back toward Mike, Abby hopped behind the wheel. She might not be able to drive it away herself, but perhaps she could scare it off or even run it over.
Realization hit as she found the ignition switch empty. Mike must've pocketed the key when they parked.
“Goddamn it!” She punched the wheel, inadvertently striking the horn. It let out a long blast and the creature screeched in surprise before launching itself at the driver's side door.
Her bravery all but spent, Abby quickly scooted to the other side and fumbled with the latch. The driver's side window shattered beneath the creature's assault and within moments, its grasping talons were seeking her.
Abby let out a shriek but managed to open the door behind her, falling to the ground.
She scooted backward from the car and managed to scramble to her feet. She turned to run but then stopped, well aware that any delay could potentially be a costly one.
The road! She couldn't afford to run deeper in
to the woods. That would be the end of it. If she could get to the road, maybe she could get lucky and flag down a car. Hell, maybe tonight was the one night the cops decided to double-down on their patrols.
Remembering that Mike had pulled in and then turned around, she oriented herself with the front of the car just as the creature was extricating itself from the window.
It was a couple dozen yards at most to the road from where they were parked. Abby wasn't much of a sprinter, but considering the labored breathing of the creature, she felt her chances had to be better than even.
She ran no more than ten paces before daring to glance behind her, certain she’d see the creature's nightmare face just inches away. But there was nothing save the darkness of the forest. She might as well have had her eyes shut for all the good it did. That thing might be right behind her or it could have bounded off into the night unseen.
She didn’t dare let hope slow her steps. She'd seen enough monster movies sitting by Mike's side to know that letting down her guard was a death sentence.
Abigail turned back toward the road, intent on winning this race, when she slammed into something. Dazed, she stumbled back. Sadly, all thought that she might have hit nothing more than a tree was erased as strong hands grasped her shoulders, digging into her skin.
Fetid breath washed down upon her as whatever it was leaned in closer.
“Hello, Sarah.”
CHAPTER 6
If there was one downside to their job, Derek considered – aside from the possibility of being mauled to death – it was that their government connections almost never afforded them any perks when it came to flying. The flight down from Anchorage was fine in itself, but the connection they caught in Denver was overcrowded and turbulent. Flying through a storm somewhere over Ohio, Francis had nervously joked about incurring the wrath of the Thunderbird, eliciting recognition from some fans of the show that happened to be aboard. A flurry of questions and several autograph requests didn’t make the flight any more comfortable.
By the time the plane touched down in Newark, Derek was seriously tempted to blow their cover and present his badge just to get people to leave them alone. Fortunately, they were able to regain some level of obscurity again in the crowded terminal. Their gear, being of a slightly more sensitive nature, was being shipped by special courier. They only needed to grab a few bags before making their escape.
Fortunately, Norah was good to her word, as Derek knew she would be. Off in a special VIP section of the long-term lot sat their rides – two gleaming black SUVs. Behind one was a trailer, in which rested two similarly colored ATVs. The vehicles were unmarked. About two years back, Francis had suggested having them detailed with the show’s logo so as to make them look less ominous, but Derek had shot it down. Doing so ran the risk of fans spotting them and trying to take a closer look. Though the windows were fully tinted and the locks military grade, there was always the chance that someone would get more of an eyeful than they should and see that his team were carrying cargo slightly more lethal than camera equipment.
As usual, Mitchell groused when they came to the vehicles. Their small fleet had once included a van formerly used for FBI surveillance, but converted to a highly capable mobile lab. It had been damaged beyond repair during the Bonanza Creek debacle. Government budget cuts hadn’t yet allowed for a replacement, and no more hand-me-downs had come their way.
“I’m told Rutgers has a lab less than an hour away from the site we’re investigating and we’ll have full access to it,” Derek mentioned in passing.
“Just as long as it has doors that lock,” Mitchell grumbled before climbing into one of the SUVs with Francis. Derek took the other with Danni, tossing her the keys.
“Napping or research?” she asked as she climbed behind the wheel of the massive vehicle.
“We have at least an hour and a half to the capital ... probably longer if we hit some of that famous Jersey traffic, so maybe a little of both.”
♦ ♦ ♦
“I’m gonna go grab something to eat. You in?”
Arthur Killian, a chem-bio major in his junior year, looked up from his notes. “Can’t. I have a test tomorrow in molecular biology. I want to get my studying done early so I don’t have to call off work later.”
His roommate Leo Kelsey shrugged. “Hard to pass a test if you pass out from hunger first.”
“Even harder to pass if you haven’t picked up your textbook in over a month.” Arthur pointed at the unopened physics book lying atop a pile of his roommate’s clothes.
“I’ve picked it up.”
“Dropping it doesn’t count.”
“Baby steps, bro.” Leo opened the door. “Later.”
“Later,” Arthur replied absentmindedly, his focus already back on his notes.
His roommate walked out with an unconcerned chuckle that didn’t surprise Arthur. Introduction to Physics was nothing more than an elective to fill Leo’s graduation requirements. He didn’t much care what grade he got as long as he passed. And, considering he had a roommate he could hit up for advice right before the final, he probably would pass, even if it was by the skin of his teeth.
Truth be told, it didn’t bother Arthur much, even though Leo was pretty much using him as a means to avoid doing any real coursework. Besides, being quizzed on the basics wasn’t a bad thing. It kept his mind sharp.
And he needed his wits about him assisting Dr. Reingold in the lab. The cellular biology professor was a stickler for detail. Arthur normally wouldn’t have even gotten his foot in the door, except there was a shortage of graduate TAs this year due to recent tuition increases for the master’s program. Their misfortune, however, had been his gain.
Now it was on him to hold up his end of the work while maintaining the GPA which had gotten him the position to begin with.
His phone rang and he was once more interrupted from his studies.
Speak of the devil, he thought as he saw who was calling. “Hey, Dr. Reingold,” he answered cheerfully, despite being slightly annoyed. Reingold wasn’t one to call unless there was a good reason, though, so Arthur pushed those feelings aside so he could pay attention.
“Extra shifts?” he replied after the professor was finished. “Yeah, I’m available, but how many do you need? I have a test coming up in...”
He stopped talking as the voice on the other end continued.
“Are you serious?! Sorry, professor. I mean, yes ... I’ve heard of them. No, no! It’s not a bother at all. I just double-checked my schedule and I’m definitely free. Yes. However long they ... I mean, you need me. Thank you, sir!”
Arthur hung up, the notes in front of him all but forgotten. A knot of nervous anticipation was beginning to worm its way through his guts. The call had been quick and to the point, Reingold’s style, but it wasn’t the conversation itself that had him all flustered as much as the subject.
He glanced up at the wall above his bed and the poster that hung there. A blonde, bikini-clad goddess stared down at him from it. She was stretched across a statue of a sea monster, her bright smile infinitely more appealing than the dour scowls that seemed to be all the rage for fashion models these days. Printed in the lower right-hand corner was the logo for her TV show – The Crypto Hunter.
Arthur had just been told that the entire cast was on their way to his school. Not only that, but they needed access to one of the labs too, for whatever reason. Reingold had called to see if he’d be interested in assisting them for however long they’d be there. The professor obviously considered this an assignment more worthy of a lowly assistant, and Arthur wasn’t about to correct him.
In all reality, it might very well be nothing more than a babysitting assignment. After all, as far as he was concerned, the show had about as much basis in reality as professional wrestling. But it was entertaining nevertheless, so what did it really matter?
He glanced down at his notes and considered things. He knew the subject matter fairly well. The odds were still
in his favor. And, even if they weren’t, getting to meet the show’s newest costar was well worth failing one stupid test.
♦ ♦ ♦
Eric Zeist waited for his boss to finish his call. He knew better than to interrupt. It didn’t take long to discover that working for Governor Jonas Yarlberg entailed very little leeway. You either did what he wanted you to do, the way he wanted it done, or your tenure on his staff would be a short one. There wasn’t much room for discussion to the contrary, aside from maybe asking when your last paycheck would be mailed out.
As the chief of Yarlberg’s personal security detail, Eric had to deal with more than his fair share of the man’s quirks. Eric was a pragmatic man, though. The pay for his position was good and the prestige was even better. It was worth the aggravation or uncertainty of knowing what his next assignment might be.
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