Demon at War (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 3)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Yes it is, ma’am.” Mike watched Abby straining at her leash toward his car.

  The woman jerked on the leash and spoke a quick command to sit. Abby did so reluctantly. “What was your dog doing running around the park off leash?”

  That logic did not get past Mike. “I would imagine he was running around like your Abby.”

  “Then it is a male mongrel?”

  Demon popped up from the front seat with a distinctive warning growl, causing pandemonium in the backseat. Mike glanced back momentarily. Ah… yeah, he is.”

  “Is he fixed?”

  “Um… no.”

  The woman stared at the teens in irritated fashion. “Why not?”

  “Well… ah… is Abby fixed?”

  “My Abby is a purebred. What am I supposed to do now? She’s ruined.”

  Mike thought about that statement for a moment while trying to ignore the muffled howls of laughter coming from his car. “I’m not sure what you mean by ruined, ma’am. Let me give you my phone number in case Abby has to go to the vet.”

  Mike ran over to the car where Denny already had the window down and was holding out a notepad and pen. He wrote down his phone number and tore it off. Mike went back over to hand it to the woman. “Call me if you need anything for Abby.”

  “Oh… believe you me… I’ll be calling! I hope you and your friends still think this is funny when you get the vet bill!” The woman stalked away, dragging on Abby’s leash.

  When Mike got behind the wheel, Demon was eyeballing the retreating woman and dog with his snarl face. “Nice one, Farfel.”

  “That looked like love in Abby’s eyes, Fluffy,” Denny remarked, launching back against the seat as Demon whipped around with a growling, snapping physical reply.

  “Best tell Frodo if he wants to be whole with the ladies, he’d better put a sock in it.”

  Mike repeated the threat with grinning appreciation. “We have problems, D. Plus, I tried out a new power which worked exceedingly well. It’s made everyone a little uncomfortable with me.” Mike explained the situation to Demon without any flourishes, and what they planned to do.

  “You’re right. Let’s go home so I can get something to eat. I think we should spray around this Benedict house to make sure if something is going on they won’t get loose. Ask Frodo if he has enough mixture blessed to coat the roof too. The holy water will dissipate but the Colloidal Silver residue won’t. You did right getting the truth out of that twit, CD.”

  Mike shook his head, starting the car, and heading out of the parking lot. “Good one, D. We should have thought of that already.” Mike clued Denny in.

  “I have plenty at Demon Inc. We’ll retrieve some fresh packs when we drop Laura off. Outsmarted by Fluffy again.”

  “Arf!” Demon put a period on that statement.

  * * *

  Laura sat in the front seat while Demon and Denny sat in the back. It was a silent ride over to Demon Inc. Even Demon showed an uneasiness with the way Laura had taken the news about Sandy Albertson. Mike updated his parents the moment he reached home, making sure Laura was called down to hear it. Joanie had reinforced all of what Mike revealed about Sandy’s involvement and the danger it presented. Dan and Jenny took the update of impending doom in stride. They had steeled themselves to the fact they could not stand in the way of Demon Inc’s escalating involvement in world shattering events. Laura took the news with only her hands clasped into fists revealing her underlying feelings.

  “She’s getting ready to blow, CD. The lava’s breaking the surface.”

  “Shut-up, Farfel.”

  “I’m glad we’re not collecting the devil’s spawn while Laura’s still in the car.”

  Mike resisted showing any sign he and Demon were conversing. “Shut-up, Farfel.”

  At Demon Inc, Denny and Mike retrieved fresh holy water packs, while Laura went straight to Demon Inc’s main computer lab. She inputted the address and parameters for assessing local police involvement and calls. Mike went into the lab when he and Denny were ready to go.

  “I’ll come back for you soon. Thanks for coming out tonight to do this.”

  “No problem, CD. Make sure you give that two-faced, sociopath a big kiss for me.”

  Mike hesitated. “A silent exit seems the best policy after that acknowledgement.”

  “Too late!”

  “Oh boy…” Mike mumbled on his way out.

  “Mike!”

  Mike turned around as Laura ran into his arms, hugging him tightly. “Sorry. Be careful tonight. If D senses anything, you all are pulling back, right?”

  “That’s the plan. I haven’t forgotten about my coaching date on Wednesday either.” Mike kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you soon.”

  In the car again, Mike looked back at Denny. “You’re okay with the spawn of Satan sitting next to you, aren’t you, Den?”

  “Oh yeah. We were bonding at lunch after you left, Mike

  “I’ll bet.”

  Chapter Eight

  An FBI Upgrade

  “Who is this guy that’s picking you up, Sandy?” Chet Albertson glanced away from the TV, having seen Sandy avoid the living room.

  Sandy stopped. It was nearly eight o’clock, and she had hoped to wait in the kitchen for Mike to ring the doorbell. “Mike Rawlins. He’s the friend of Denny Stossle, the tutor I told you and Mom about. Denny helps a lot of Mike’s sister’s friends with school subjects.”

  Chet sat up, and turned off the TV. “Wait a minute. Rawlins? You mean the kid with the dog that finds kidnapped kids?”

  Sandy’s mouth tightened. “Yeah, Dad, that Rawlins.”

  “He filled in at quarterback and played defense last Friday.” Chet stood up, smiling at his daughter. “I’d like to meet him. You wouldn’t happen to be dating him, would you?”

  “No Dad. Mike agreed to give Denny Stossle a ride too, so he volunteered to drive me to his house after he picks up Denny.”

  “Well… that was nice of him. If your grades improve, you’d be able to have a car too, Sandy. I like the notion you’re seeking out tutoring help on your own.”

  The doorbell rang. Chet stopped Sandy from running over to it. “I’ll get it.”

  Chet opened the door with Sandy standing next to him. Tendrils of darkness slithered into Sandy’s mind at the sight of Mike. He was dressed neatly in jeans and a black leather jacket, but to her, he might as well have been the devil himself. Her eyes glazed. Sandy had to fight for what little control she retained. Mike stuck out his hand and Chet shook it.

  “Hello, Sir, I’m Mike Rawlins. Hi, Sandy.” Mike smiled at Sandy, his eyes narrowed slightly.

  Sandy felt the tingling ache in her head when she looked in his eyes. “Hi, Mike.”

  “I’m glad to meet you, Mike. I’ve been hearing all about the Kinsler girl’s rescue. That dog of yours is really something.”

  “Demon’s in the car. Would you like to meet him, Sir?”

  “I sure would.” Chet stepped back, calling out toward the kitchen. “Ruth? C’mon out and meet the kid and his dog that saved that Kinsler girl.”

  Mike turned and did a two toned whistle. Demon was next to him in seconds. “D, Mr. Albertson is a real fan of ours.”

  Demon stood on his hind legs and extended a paw out to the stunned Chet as his wife arrived next to him. Each of them shook Demon’s paw. When he dropped down, the couple bent down to hug him, laughing in delight. “I like these two, CD. What the hell happened to their spawn?”

  “He’s incredible!”

  “Yes, he is, Sir. He has a sixth sense for evil, and he can track anything anywhere.”

  “Is… is it true the kidnapper was killed when you caught him?” Ruth Albertson asked.

  “I’m not allowed to talk about the event details, Ms. Albertson, but the kidnapper did not survive.”

  “Good! At least the poor girl won’t have to testify against that monster, and her parents are a disgrace,” Ruth replied with conviction. “Well, you tw
o have a good time. It’s nice seeing Sandy paying attention to her studies. She’s so involved with cheerleading she sometimes forgets to study.”

  “Sometimes?” Chet snorted, putting an arm around the cringing Sandy. “This is a good start, girl. We’ll see you later.”

  “Bye Dad… Mom… see you later.” Sandy walked out with her book bag, but stopped to watch the parting scene between her parents and Mike.

  Demon immediately went in and hugged Chet and Ruth with his forelegs while putting his face against them before heading out after Sandy.

  “Oh my God!” Chet exchanged shocked and delighted glances with his wife. “Boy, if you ever need to leave Demon with anyone, please call us.”

  Mike shook hands with them. “I will, Sir, thank you.”

  “How’d you get that scar, Mike?”

  Mike touched it absently. “That’s another long story, ma’am. I’ll have to tell it another time. I’ll have Sandy back by eleven if that’s okay?”

  “It sure is,” Chet said. “I hope you play ball Friday night.”

  “I’ll be with the team, but it’ll be more in a supporting role.”

  “We’re coming to watch, so see if you can’t get in there. They need you.”

  “We’ll see, Sir.” Mike walked out. Demon followed with Sandy in step next to him.”

  Sandy glanced back toward her home’s entrance, making sure her folks had closed their door. “Great. My parents think you’re a saint now.”

  “Guess what else, girlfriend? Your studies will be getting better from now on. We’re going to turn you from the dark side, right D?”

  “Arf!”

  Sandy hurried around in front of Mike as they reached the car with Denny waiting next to it. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Mike concentrated, willing an increase in his control. Sandy winced, stumbling back, and even Demon glanced at Mike with his head tilted slightly in his questioning posture. “It means we like your parents. We don’t understand how you turned into a self-loving sociopath, but we’re going to fix you – or at least what’s left of you if I notice we’re not bringing you into the light.”

  Sandy massaged her temples. “Who gets to bring you back?”

  * * *

  The house on Benedict was all dark. No sign of movement went on in any of the houses nearby. Mike backed into the driveway. He shut off the engine and they stayed silent and dark, watching for any interest or movement on the street. Taking note of the houses with lights, Mike, Denny, and Demon searched for anything that might disrupt their recon of the house. Finally after five full minutes, Denny opened his laptop computer.

  “We’re in place, Laura. We’ll get right to coating the house and perimeter.”

  “You’re loud and clear. They have a disturbance over at the K-mart on Floresta, so most of the available officers are there. Are you still planning on going in?”

  “We need to know every aspect of this so we have to,” Mike put in.

  “Okay. Let me know when you enter and I’ll be monitoring silent alarms or call ins.”

  “Will do, Laura,” Denny replied. “Okay, Mike, let’s do it. Do you want to let D do a perimeter recon first?”

  “Yep. I’ll let him out over me. We don’t move until he gets back.” Mike opened his door and Demon shot out over him. Mike closed the door and they all watched as Demon streaked to the left, vaulting the fence.

  “I didn’t know your dog ran this stupid operation,” Sandy remarked. She grabbed her head, feeling the now familiar tingle. “Don’t Mike!”

  Mike swiveled around to look at her, while Denny remained quiet, watching Mike with interest. “You sure are a slow learner.”

  Still pressing her hands to her temples, Sandy squinted at Mike. “What the hell’s happened to you, you freak?”

  “I’m only going to explain this to you once. We’re doing this to prevent a mass invasion of creatures you can’t even imagine. They nearly broke into earth’s dimension through portals made by unthinking idiots like you. You’re too self absorbed not to love your conveniences and high school drama. The Haunts you want to bring through will end all semblance of what we have on earth.” Mike reached out and grabbed Sandy’s chin in an unbreakable grip. “I like your parents and would never willingly put them through the heartbreak of your death, but I have no intention of sacrificing my friends and family to your stupidity. Is that clear enough for you?”

  “Yes,” Sandy answered through clenched teeth.

  Mike released her. He saw movement on the right side of the house as Demon cleared the fence on the opposite side and stalked along near the house front to the entrance before continuing on to the car. Mike opened his door and Demon leaped over to the passenger seat.

  “There’s definitely Haunt residue, CD. These nitwits nearly became Haunt sock puppets. I see that fearful look in Satan Sandy’s eyes. Have you been working her over again?”

  “She still thinks this is a game, D. I don’t know if anything less than a Haunt encounter will ever get through to her.”

  “Are you two conversing?” Denny asked.

  “D senses Haunt residue and a near miss. We’re decorating the house and grounds, Laura.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “Stay here, Sandy, while Denny and I coat the roof and perimeter. We’ll go in and go over your group’s antics afterwards.”

  Sandy chortled. “What’s to prevent me from ditching this mongrel and simply running off?”

  Demon leaped into the backseat between Denny and Sandy, shocking even Denny, his teeth bared in a snarling growl of violent promise, inches away from the startled Sandy’s face.

  “I don’t think we need answer that now, Sandy. Let’s do it, Den.”

  Denny put a hesitant hand on Demon’s head. “Don’t eat her, D.”

  Demon let out a growling bark. “Tell Frodo to stuff it and get to work.”

  “D doesn’t need your directions. Let’s go.”

  Mike and Denny unloaded and donned their packs from the trunk. They went over to the gate. “We’ll start here, Den. I’ll do the back of the house and rear roof area. You do the front perimeter and roof.”

  It only took the two teens ten minutes to finish. They met back by the fence.

  “Should we put away the packs, Mike, or coat the inside perimeter too?”

  “Good question. I hate to do anything in there that would damage the house, but screw it, let’s do the inside too. There won’t be much residue anyway. I’ll go get Sandy.”

  Mike opened the rear car door. Demon leaped out and continued on to where Denny waited by the front door. “C’mon, Sandy, let’s go get this done. We should still have time for Denny to help you with your homework.”

  “Wonderful.” Sandy went ahead and opened the door for them. Mike held her back as Demon scurried in first to check out the inside.

  “It’s clear, CD.”

  “We’re in, Laura,” Mike said as he closed the door behind them.

  “The police are still engaged elsewhere, Mike. The disturbance at the K-mart is still going on.”

  “Take us through it, Sandy,” Denny directed, making a video of the interior.

  Over the next twenty minutes Sandy pointed out exactly where her group of Satan groupies formed their circle, did their chants, and where she observed the beginning of a portal opening. Mike and Denny then coated the inside perimeter of the room, and at Demon’s urging, sprayed the ceiling above the spot Sandy claimed they nearly opened the portal at. They then locked the house and left. Demon went into the back of Mike’s Chevy with Sandy and Denny when they reached Demon Inc to make room for Laura. Laura got in on the passenger side front, showing some surprise Sandy was still with them.

  “I thought you were going to drop Sandy off at her house,” Laura said.

  “Hello to you too, Laura. Long time, no see.”

  “Yeah, Sandy, great seeing you too, you-”

  “Easy there,” Mike interrupted with a cautioning hand wave
. “We’re taking Sandy to our house so Denny can give her some tutoring assistance. That was our cover for her to come with us tonight. It won’t take long.”

  After a rather uncomfortably silent ride to the Rawlins’ house, Mike made the necessary introduction of Sandy to his parents. Denny went with Sandy and Joanie into the kitchen to work on studies, while Mike paid off on his promise to Demon. He poured Demon a double shot and beer into his bowl, which Demon savored slowly. Mike sat down to do his own homework, grateful Laura decided to call it a night and adjourn to Joanie’s room. The rather mundane chore of studying soothed the awkward situation. Sandy seemed surprised at Denny’s knowledge of her senior subjects. Her sullenness disappeared as she actively showed interest in the subject at hand.

  The doorbell rang. Mike heard his Mom answer the door and greet the visitor warmly. He smiled at his MMA coach Carl Jenkins, who walked into the kitchen. Mike stood to greet him and shake hands, as did Denny.

  “I know you just fought last Saturday, and with the extracurricular Haunt happenings, I wouldn’t blame you for turning me down. Ted Oliver fractured an ankle tonight at practice. He was supposed to fight Chaney Costanza in two weeks. I don’t have another heavyweight in Costanza’s class. What do you say to filling in for Ted?”

  “Sure, Coach, I can fill in. I’m sorry, but I have a lot going on this week. Denny and I will be working with Demon Inc complications. We won’t be back at practice until next Monday.”

  “I’ve already heard all the news reports. Part of the reason I came tonight since you weren’t at practice was to find out if everything they’re saying is true. After seeing you expel and kill those things inside Ira and his girlfriend, I’d believe pretty much anything I hear or read about you and Demon.”

  “All I can say is we’re the good guys, Coach.” Mike resisted looking over at Sandy when she snorted derisively. “Anyway, count me in for the Costanza fight.”

  “You make sure you’re at practice next week, Mike. Costanza is no one to be taken lightly.” Jenkins knelt down next to Demon and stroked his head before continuing to the door. “See you guys later. Keep him out of trouble, Denny.”

  “What’s your second choice, Coach,” Denny called out after him. After Jenkins left, Denny turned to Mike. “I heard some of the guys talking about Costanza. He’s in line for a shot inside the Ultimate Fighter circuit.”