to focus on Paul.
The sheriff’s car, an ambulance, and Grady’s Jeep were all angled in front of the store when Paul pulled in. He also saw the crumpled up sign lying over to the far side of the building. “Crap! All I wanted was a few hours with the woman I’m crazy about…And I get this.” He grudgingly stepped out of his truck and met two male paramedics in the middle of the lot as they were loading the gurney with the old man’s body into the ambulance. He just shook his head. He hoped the incident wouldn’t have an effect on his business. Wasn’t that he didn’t care that someone had died on his property, but the store and the station were his and Judy’s only means of support.
He recognized that blond Klaus standing just inside the store – He had an arm around Sally! And they seemed to be enjoying one another’s company immensely. This was weird! “Wonders never cease,” he mumbled and went on in.
Dorian was in the back by the beer cooler talking to the tall and lanky Sheriff Brooks and Grady. Judy was standing behind Dorian looking perplexed as he gave his account of what had happened. When Judy saw Paul, she announced, “My brother’s here now.”
Grady glanced over to Paul. “Glad you’re back.”
Dorian was saying, “Well…that about sums it up. Hope I was of some help.” He flashed a sideward glance at Paul.
Why do I have the feeling he’s laughing at me?
Brooks thanked Dorian and turned to Paul and Grady. “It looks purely accidental. Of course, we won’t know for sure until we get the coroner’s report. Right now it appears he was killed when the sign hit him. Big slash across his neck.”
Paul and Grady shared glances.
Dorian went up to Paul. “Real sorry about what happened here. But I moved your sign off to the side so folks could get in.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lodovico,” Paul replied.
“No problem.” Dorian nodded to the others. “Hope the rest of the evening goes better.” He walked off, nodding to Klaus from behind Sally’s back as he went out the door.
“Still don’t like him!” Paul muttered, watching Dorian leave.
Brooks looked at Paul questioningly. “He’s been a big help here tonight.”
Paul exhaled loudly.
“He’s right,” Grady added. “He seemed more than eager to help.”
“Yeah…Doesn’t he always?”
Grady cocked his head.
“Never mind,” Paul said. “I’m just not in a real good mood right now.”
“Understandable, Paul,” Brooks replied. He straightened his posture. “Well…Grady…guess that’s all the damage we can do for now. I’ll get back with you later…soon as we get the coroner’s report.”
“Good…Catch you later”
Sheriff Brooks walked off, stopping briefly to thank Klaus for his help and then left.
Paul and Grady stood there, taking it all in. It was Grady who finally spoke.
“Something weird going on.”
“So…You feel it too?”
“Afraid so. Something about all this just does not feel right. I checked the weather for the area. There were no storms in sight. So where in hell did the lightning come from that took down that sign?”
“I might ask a similar question about the big tree limb that crashed on Amber’s porch.”
“Hmmm…Really?” Grady asked.
“Really. In fact, I still have to go cut that thing up. Just haven’t gotten around to it.”
“Well…You look tired, Paul. And I confess that I’m getting there myself. I’m calling it an evening. I hope!” He gave Paul a friendly slap on the shoulder. “Later, my friend.”
“Later.” Paul saw that Klaus had left and Judy and Sally were doing their best to get the store ready to close down for the night.
Paul wondered if he could actually get back to Amber’s and spend a few hours with her without anymore incidents. Only, he wanted to go out and look around first, check over the sign. He looked over at Sally and Judy. “Going to take a look around outside…Then I’m going back to Ambers. You girls think you can manage things?”
“Sure, Paul,” Sally said, smiling cheerfully. Evidently she was happy about something, in spite of things. “We got it covered.”
“You just have some fun, brother.” Judy said, looking up from counting a stack of ones. “I’ll lock up.”
“Thanks a million.” He stepped outside.
Klaus was waiting for Dorian on the front porch when Dorian got home. Dorian knew immediately that the tow-headed vampire thought that he’d been messing with him when the lightning hit and the sign came down, which was only partially true.
“Klaus,” Dorian acknowledged, making one graceful leap to his porch.
“What the hell did you think you were doing? I told you I didn’t want interference with my hunting.”
“Come on now! How did I interfere? I didn’t partake of any of your dinner. And I didn’t try to stop you.”
“No. Just brought that friggin’ sign down of top of me! And singed my clothes.”
“What do you care about your clothes? You were soaked in the old man’s blood.”
“Point taken…But why the fireworks? The lightning?
“I had an ulterior motive. Wanted that Paul fella to have to come back to his store. That’s all. You just happened to be there. But you did see that I covered for you, too?”
“Could take it that way. But it did occur to me that you were having second thoughts about pissing me off.”
“Relax…Wasn’t the case. No…if you’ll excuse me? I have someone I want to see.”
“Ahhh!” Klaus sighed. “The pretty lady.”
“Right. And I know that would-be boyfriend of hers is going to be coming back. And I want to see her first.”
“Mind if I hang around?”
“Not as long as you don’t spy on me…I like my privacy when it comes to personal matters…But…there’s some beer in the fridge. You’re welcome to one.” Dorian said, unlocking his door.
“Don’t mind if I do.”
Dorian held the door open for Klaus and then left, ending up on Amber’s front porch in seconds. He could see her through the window, talking on her phone. “Just hurry,” she was saying. “I want you to tell me all about it.”
Dorian sighed. Paul was coming back even earlier than he had thought. Nope! Not gonna happen on my watch! He changed to his raven body and flew off, eyes peeled on each vehicle moving down the highway. Finally he spotted Paul’s Dodge Ram. Got ya! He swooped down and alighted on the truck’s roof, riding with Paul until he turned off the main highway and was on the narrow side road that led up to the bend and around to Amber’s cabin. He summoned all his powers and a cloud suddenly rolled in and it began to rain hard.
“Damn!” Paul said, switching on his wipers. “Wasn’t even a sign of rain when I left.”
Lightning struck really close, first on the left side of the road and then on the right. “Holy Mother of God! I don’t freakin’ believe this!” Then a bolt hit a tree, lighting up the entire sky, almost blinding Paul. He got his vision back just in time to slam on his brakes before hitting a felled tree that came down just seconds prior. He jumped out of his truck, rain pouring down on his head, staring unbelievingly at the big tree that could have crushed him had he been a second sooner. He sucked in air. “Well…guess I should be thankful that I’m alive.” He knew there was no way he was going to get his truck around this. But he was stubborn. He climbed back in his truck and threw it in reverse and found a place on the side of the road wide enough for him to park.
He would walk to Ambers.
Amber glanced out her front room window. A storm had come up suddenly. “I hope Paul’s almost here,” she said to her dog that was lying on the bear rug. “I hate to think of him driving in this downpour. Visibility has to be bad.”
A bolt of lightning struck nearby. She jumped. Then her lights went off. “No!” She couldn’t remember where she had put her flashlight. “I should have been more pr
epared for this.” She felt her way around in the kitchen, hoping to find the box of matches and a couple of storm candles that she had recently bought, just in case. Only, she couldn’t remember which drawer she’d stashed them in.
She heard Star pad in behind her. “Wouldn’t know what I did with those candles and matches, would you, boy?”
He sniffed.
“Guess not.” Then there was a flash of light and a knock on her back door and she all but jumped out of her skin.
“Amber?” She heard Dorian’s now familiar, euphonic voice. “You okay?” He had a flashlight and it shone blindingly through the door window into her eyes.
“Oh…” She made her way to the door and let the very wet man in. “Just about scared me to death.”
“My sincere apologies,” he said. “My power’s out, too…Weird how that storm just came up.” He reached down and ruffled Star’s ears, as the dog was nudging him with his nose for acknowledgement.
“Yes…it is.” She briefly wondered how he’d gotten there so fast, but quickly pushed the thought aside, glad to have help.
He stood very close. She could smell that wet pine with a touch of sage. And except for the beam from the flashlight, it was dark.
She couldn’t make out his face, as he still had the light turned on her. “You have a flashlight?” he asked, and then lowered the beam as he realized it was in her eyes.
“I think so…but I can’t remember where it is.”
“Candles?”
“Yeah…Think they’re here in the kitchen somewhere.”
“I’ll help you look for them.” He turned then and searched through her kitchen drawers. “Eureka!” he said,
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