Amber Smoke

by Kristin Cast

  They reached the car, and James climbed into the passenger seat. “It also says that her body was found two days later barely two blocks away from where she was last seen. All three of those places are too close together not to mean anything. He may not have killed her near there, but that’s where he likes to hunt.”

  “We need to send out a report telling everyone to call us if anyone goes missing within a five mile radius of where he dropped her body,” Schilling instructed.

  James pulled out his phone and typed up a precinct wide e-mail. “It’s sent. I hope we don’t hear anything, but I doubt he’ll stay away for long.” He let the rest of the ride continue in silence.

  The car bounced over potholes as they drove into the parking lot of the medical examiner’s office. “I’m close to mixing something up and filling those holes my damn self,” Schilling grumbled and pushed himself off the seat.

  “Jesus Christ.” He used the back of his sleeve to wipe sweat from his face. “I’m sweating buckets out here, and I haven’t even walked ten feet. Fall needs to kick it into gear.”

  “Yeah, it’s brutal.” James opened the office door. Cool air rushed out, and he eagerly followed it inside.

  “Ay! Tom!” A curvaceous woman threw up her hands and came out from behind the front desk. Her tall, spikey heels clacked against the tile floor as she giddily walked to the men. Her tight blue dress hugged her body, accentuating the intoxicating sway of her hips.

  She stood on her tiptoes, and Shilling gave her a bear hug. “V, I thought you were going to be out for the whole year.”

  “Sí, I thought so too, but my brother was arrested again. My parents finally had enough. They took Gloria from him last night. So, I come to work again,” she enunciated through her thick accent.

  “It’s good to have you back. Veronica, meet my new partner, Detective James Graham.”

  “Any friend of Tom’s is a friend of mine.” She gave him a sultry half smile. “You have come here for seeing the bodies, no?”

  “Yes. We’re here to see Dr. Pierce. And the bodies,” James said, concentrating on the smooth angles of her face so his eyes were too busy to drift over her spandex dress.

  “I’ll sign you in. You go back. Have your meeting with the crypt keeper.” Veronica’s smile widened, and she ushered them past the first set of doors.

  Pierce stood outside the exam room tapping her foot impatiently. Her petite frame was dwarfed by the width and height of the spotless hallway. “You’re late. And lucky I’m still here. I have other bodies that need attention, including my own.”

  “Sorry, Catherine. We got held up at the station,” James said.

  “And by Veronica,” Schilling whistled. “Good to see her back.”

  “She does give you something nice to look at after dealing with dead bodies all day. Why do you think I hired her?” Pierce winked playfully and opened the door to the exam room. “Graham, I got your message about the UV ink. You think it could be what’s causing the ridges on the tattoo?”

  “Sure do, but we won’t know for sure until we check.”

  “Which is where I come in.” She walked over to the wall covered in oversized silver filing cabinets. “Schilling, there’s a light wand behind you. Grab it for me, and I’ll pull out your victim.”

  She pulled open the small square door separating the living from the dead. A thin, white sheet covered the body leaving only the crown of her head exposed. Pierce lifted one side of the sheet to reveal the victim’s left arm as she explained. “Kirby already ran a UV light over the body when it first came in, but that examination was to test for signs of sexual assault, which the victim tested negative for. No blood or semen on the body or the clothes. So if this ink lights up, Kirby just missed it the first time around.” The dense black tattoo looked garish against her pale flesh. Pierce rotated the girl’s arm so the ridges through and around the tattoo faced up.

  “I’m ready when you are,” she said.

  Schilling clicked on the light and held it a few inches above the skin.

  The UV bulb reflected a bluish white X tattooed over one of the tree limbs. Next to it was a sequence of numbers 23.8.14, and in the middle of the hollow trunk glowed the victim’s last name.

  “Oh God. The twenty-third of August, 2014,” Pierce said without masking the horror in her voice. “Why would he tattoo her body with the date she died?”

  “And next to an X on the tree? Is he trying to mark that date on the tree? It doesn’t make sense.” James’s flicker of hope for a possible lead grew dimmer as he became more confused.

  “It’s ancestry,” Schilling said. “The sick bastard put the X through one of these small limbs, right?” His finger hovered over the area he spoke about and, without waiting for an answer, he continued. “It’s an offshoot of the Bailey family tree. He’s cut off the branch. He ended that part of their family. Wait, hold that thought. I’m buzzing.” Schilling handed James the UV light and put his phone on speaker.

  “What do you got for us?”

  “I have a note here that says you need to be alerted if any disappearances from the downtown area are called in.”

  “Yeah, and?” Schilling said impatiently.

  “A Lori Kostas just reported her twenty-three-year-old daughter missing. Said she was downtown last night at a party, and she hasn’t come home or been heard from since.”

  James’s heartbeat quickened. “Send us the mom’s address. We’re headed there now.”

  Eleven

  Eva rolled to her side. Heaviness tugged at her ankle, and she thrust out her leg to shake it away. Dull pain gripped her knee, and she opened her eyes to seek out the cause. She blinked hard against the thick, dry contacts fogging her vision.

  “Morning. Did you sleep well? You were out like a light.”

  She used her elbow to prop herself up to a seated position. Her head spun with sleepiness. “Where am I?”

  “At home. Well, Bill’s home.”

  Her breath caught in her throat as her vision cleared and settled on him. Memories bolted through her and terror gripped her stomach. She sat up, brought her knees to her chest, and pressed herself against the concrete wall behind her. A thick shackle of chain was wrapped around her ankle.

  “Now Eva, there’s no reason to be afraid. We’re just chatting. Remember, I’m one of the good guys.” She followed his eyes as they looked around the room. Each concrete wall was framed with plywood and sheets of drywall leaned up against them. “I know what you’re thinking, it still needs work. I’ve been watching a lot of those home improvement shows for ideas.” He hopped on the metal exam table cemented to the floor in the middle of the room. “You know the shows I’m talking about?”

  Eva’s breathing quickened, and she nodded at him weakly.

  “Is this scaring you?”

  Eva nodded again, holding back tears.

  “Just pretend it’s not here. It’s a table, Eva. A table can’t hurt you.” He rubbed his palm over the table’s smooth surface. “I got this at an estate sale. I know why I need this, but I cannot for the life of me think of why those people needed it. But we don’t need to focus on this right now. Okay? Tell me okay.”

  “Okay,” she rasped.

  “You don’t need to use your inside voice down here, Eva. The walls are concrete. It’s a fantastic sound barrier. No one can hear a peep from down here.”

  Eva hung her head. An oversized man’s T-shirt and sweat pants draped over her body. Her eyes widened and bile roared in her stomach as she did an internal body check.

  Don’t freak out. Don’t freak out.

  Tears dripped from her eyes and speckled her light gray sweat pants.

  “Nothing happened. I just rinsed you off and put you in a clean outfit. I wouldn’t do anything to you while you were unconscious. That’s not going to happen,” he snorted. “That’s not what this is about.”

  Eva swallowed hard and forced her eyes to relax. Her throat was sore and her voice hoarse as she spoke. “Wh
at happens now?”

  “I thought that we’d pick up where we left off last night and spend some more time together. No need to rush things. Don’t you agree?”

  She nodded slowly.

  Bill continued, “You know, I’ve been following your family for a while. Well, not literally following, that’d be creepy. That only started after I got out and made my way up here, but I know a lot about you, Eva. Why do you think I chose you?”

  “I…I don’t know. I don’t know. Why did you choose me?”

  “You already know the answer.”

  “I don’t. I swear.”

  “It’s staring at you plain as day.”

  “I swear I don’t know. Just tell me what you want from me.”

  “Admit what your ancestors did for hundreds of years and this will all be over. You want to go home, don’t you?”

  “But I…I don’t have anything to admit. They were ranchers, I think. What did they do?” She tripped over her words as her exhausted body trembled.

  “For hundreds of years your ancestors spouted prophecies that resulted in the slaying of innocent beings and you want to pretend like it never happened?” He slipped off the table, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. “I’m not going to lie to you; I’m getting a little irritated. This game you’re playing is making me very tired. And you’re never going to win. I am always the victor.”

  “I’m not playing a game,” she said meekly.

  Bill crept closer to her, right at the edge of her chain. “Then why won’t you admit it?” he hissed between clenched teeth.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she screamed, tears pouring from her eyes.

  “Confess your family’s crimes. Accept the blame!” He took a deep breath and smoothed out his button-down shirt. “We’ll both feel so much better after you do. This will all be over.”

  “You’re not making any sense,” she sobbed. “This is crazy. You are crazy.” She buried her head in her knees and struggled to control her shaking.

  “I’m a big enough man to admit that I may be, just a little. Being trapped in a pit in the Underworld for centuries will do that to you.”

  Eva lifted her head and let her legs dangle over the edge of the cot. “Bill, I know that you’re confused. But I want to help you,” she said, using the back of her hand to dry her face. “I won’t say anything about what’s happened. I just want to help you get better before you do anything you might regret. Please, just let me help you.”

  He charged at her, stopping inches from her face. She stiffened and her chest shook as she inhaled. “You’re testing my patience, Eva.” His breath stunk like old bandages. “I’m willing to help you, but only if you’re willing to help me. Can you do that?” She nodded stiffly. “Great. We’re going to have an exchange. I’ll tell you something you want to hear, and then you tell me something that I want to hear. Okay?” He stood and shuffled back a few steps. “The reason your dad left you. Do you want to know what made him run?”

  His eyes scanned her face, and she uttered a weak reply, “Yes.”

  “I did. It was me. He left because I got free. Daddy tucked his tail and ran because he was scared. He knew I would come looking for vengeance and my hunt would lead me straight to you. He didn’t want to deal with it, with you. That’s why he left you, because he’s a coward. And because he understood that under my caring exterior is a creature to be feared and respected. You understand that too, don’t you?”

  Bill’s phone rang and Eva felt a sliver of relief as he pulled it out of his back pocket. He looked at the screen and his eyebrows lifted.

  “Wowee, wow. It’s your mom. If that’s not great timing, I don’t know what is.” He waved the phone in front of Eva’s face.

  She opened her mouth, ready to yell the moment he hit the answer button. With one hand, he grabbed her by the neck and drove her against the wall. Her head hit the concrete with such force that it made her vision dance. He pressed the side of his face to hers and spoke into her ear. “Make a noise and I’ll crush your windpipe. Fear and respect. Remember that, Eva. I’m the good guy. Right now I’m being patient.” He ran his nose through her hair and inhaled before answering the phone.

  “Hi, Lori.”

  Eva faintly heard her mother’s voice. Tears burned her eyes as she struggled to breathe against the pressure of Bill’s hand.

  “No, I don’t think you’re being ridiculous at all. A mother’s instinct is a powerful thing, and you’re right to trust it.” He paused as Lori said a few more words. “Yes, of course. I have to tie up a few loose ends around here, and then I’ll be right over.” He hung up the phone and let go of Eva’s neck. “Wow. She sounds rattled.”

  Eva balled her hands into fists. “Don’t hurt her.”

  Bill chuckled sadly. “I won’t. Not today.”

  “I swear to God, if you even touch her I’ll—”

  “No, no, no, Eva. Fear and respect. Fear me. Respect me. I know you’re capable of it. Your father did it very well.”

  Eva’s voice caught in her throat.

  “Eva, I’m going to tell you how this is going to go, and I’m honest. You can trust me and what I tell you. I’m going to be there when the police notify your sweet mother that they’ve found her baby girl’s body. Then, I’m going to be there when she has to identify your lifeless corpse. And when she’s devastated and needs someone there to wipe away the tears? You got it. I’m her man. I will live your death every day, and it will be my greatest triumph. Fear me and respect me, Eva, for I am always the victor.”

  She unclenched her fists. His mood swings frightened her more than his threats of violence. Each time she began to relax, he snapped and stripped her of the confidence she’d gained.

  “You look hungry, and I can’t imagine you ate at that terrible party. You need your strength. I’ll be right back with some breakfast.”

  The blue basement door creaked as he opened it, and he didn’t attempt to close it when he left. Eva watched his body disappear up the carpeted stairs. She waited and looked for shadows in the square of sunlight that slipped through the open door.

  Certain he was gone, she slid off of the bunk and landed softly on the concrete floor. Her knee was stiff, but she could bear weight on it. She took two steps forward when the shackle around her ankle pulled tight against her skin. She bent over, grabbed the chain with both hands, and pulled hard. It didn’t budge. She crouched on her hands and knees and looked under the cot. He’d bolted the chain into the concrete with a fat metal screw. She yanked at the metal again; this time using her body weight and focusing her strength in short bursts. Nothing. The stairs creaked behind her, and she quickly and noiselessly took a seat back on the lumpy bunk.

  “Hope you like cereal,” he called from the stairs. “Don’t really care for it myself. Not much of a gourmand. Everything else that he had up there is rotten. The visitors I have usually don’t stay alive very long. So.” He dropped a box of Honey Nut Cheerios in her lap. “Here you go.” She couldn’t make herself look at him. Instead, she stared at the happy, heart healthy Cheerios bee.

  “I’m going to go away for a little while. When I leave, are you going to try to escape?”

  “No, I promise,” she said as she shook her head.

  “It’s okay if you do, Eva. It’s only natural. You can go ahead and try; I won’t be angry. I know you’ll be good while I’m gone, but you don’t have to worry; it won’t be for too long. And I’ll be sure to give your mom a hug for you.” He snaked one arm behind her back and gave her an awkward half hug.

  Eva cringed and didn’t look up as he walked away.

  “And don’t think I’ve forgotten our deal. I gave you something. When I get back, it’s your turn.”

  This time he closed the blue door, and the deadbolt clicked into place.

  Twelve

  Schilling pulled off of Cherry Street and into one of the small neighborhoods spider-webbing off of downtown. Beautifully maintained Craftsman homes li
ned the street and seemed to turn back the clock with their twentieth-century aesthetic.

  “I knew this would happen.”

  “Rookie mistake number twenty,” Schilling drawled. “Thinking you’re the only one with a theory.”

  James flushed red. “I’m shocked by how quickly he chose another victim,” he admitted.

  “We don’t know for sure that that’s what took place.”

  “So you don’t think there’s a possibility that this girl’s been abducted and something bad has happened?” The car rolled over a speed bump.

  “Of course there’s a possibility, and we’ll treat this with the utmost urgency. We also have to stay open to other options so we don’t get tunnel vision and miss anything. We already know she was at a party. Maybe she left with a guy and is sleeping it off somewhere.”

  They pulled up to the house. A black, waist-high wrought-iron fence wrapped around the lot’s perimeter and held signs letting intruders know the area was under twenty-four-hour monitoring.

  Schilling put the car in park and killed the engine. “Sure seems like someone put a lot of work into keeping people out.”

  “You going back on your previous irresponsible party girl theory?”

  “It’s still there until it’s proven false, but maybe Ms. Kostas has an angry ex we don’t know about.”

  “I’ll be sure to ask.” James got out of the car and approached the gate.

  “Hi, Detectives?” The front door opened and a woman stepped out of the house onto the expansive covered porch. “Sorry.” She pointed a remote toward them and the security gate glided open. “I stepped inside to grab more tissues.” She wore loose purple yoga pants and a matching cardigan. She wrapped the flowing sweater tightly around her and sat on the edge of a rocking chair.

  “No problem at all, ma’am.” Schilling led the pair onto the property. “Are you Lori Kostas?”