BELIEVE in DEMONS

by Richard Alanson

  A Carter McBride Supernatural Thriller

  BELIEVE in DEMONS

  Book One in the Demon Wars Series

  Richard Alanson

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents that are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental

  Published by Richard Alanson©2018

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorised reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher

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  Chapter 1

  C arter McBride was sleeping peacefully in his house. The moonlight shone outside, a sliver of light broke through a small gap in the curtains. Carter's bare chest, etched with scars and pockmarks from an eventful life, rose and fell with every breath. The arm of his wife, Nicky, was draped over his body. Her hair splayed over the blue bed covers. It was the very depth of the night and the entire city was peaceful, or so it seemed.

  A noise rattled and Carter was immediately awake. Finely honed instincts kicked into action. His eyes bolted open and his breathing stopped as he took stock of the room and strained his ears.

  Beside him his wife was sleeping. The faint sound of a car driving by reached him. Other than that, nothing. Growling to himself, Carter lay his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes once more.

  Then he heard it again. It was a rattling sound. Furrowing his brow, more annoyed than intimidated, Carter flung away the sheets and threw his long legs over the edge of the bed. Clad in only black underwear he reached over for his handgun. The dark metal weapon always rested on his bedside table. It was a compromise between him and Nicky. He always preferred it under the pillow.

  Carter wasn't a man to compromise on many things but even he knew that when it came to marriage, a certain amount of flexibility was needed. Hopefully, the mistakes he'd made in his first marriage and the lessons he'd learned would make this second one last.

  Nicky stirred a little.

  “Where are you going?” she murmured softly.

  “Stay calm. Call the cops. I think there's somebody in the house,” he replied, then crept out of the bedroom. Each footstep was placed carefully. Carter knew his house, knew every creaking floorboard and every weak step. The door to Robbie's room was open. Carter's 11-year-old son wasn't there at the moment though. He was staying with his mother. Maybe that was a blessing if some fool had broken in. Carter shook his head. A snarl curled his lips. The stupidity of the criminal class never ceased to amaze him. Where was the planning, the research? He almost pitied the state of criminals these days. Still, it made his job a hell of a lot easier. After six years on the force, he wasn't sure anything could surprise him anymore. He'd seen it all, although as yet he'd never had his home broken into.

  It was the last thing he needed. He'd been looking forward to a restful sleep for a change but now he was going to have to subdue this thief and cart him down to the station. There was an alternative though. Carter could always leave the robber chained up to a pole outside. The thought amused him and replaced the snarl on his face with a grin.

  The faint rattling sound appeared again. This time Carter wasn't sure if it came from inside the house or not. He wasn't about to let the mystery thief get away. Moving swiftly, his feet almost glided across the floor as he descended the stairs two at a time. The gun was held straight out in front of him. It was second nature to him now. The gun was just as much a part of him as any of his limbs, not that Nicky was a big fan. Still, it was part of the job and there had been more than a few times when his life had been saved by his weapon. Nicky would have put the call through by now. Judging from the time Officer Garrett was probably on duty right now.

  It was almost absurd how many mistakes this criminal had made, but that was a feature of the criminal mind. They always made mistakes and for Carter, it was just a matter of waiting for the right time before they showed themselves for what they were.

  Carter pressed himself against the wall and then lowered himself down. Peering into the front room, he relaxed when he saw that there was nobody in there. Nothing seemed to be disturbed either. He wasn't going to announce himself until as late as possible to give the intruder a little time to relax and catch him off guard. Hopefully, the guy wasn't armed. That would make the whole thing a lot easier, and there would be less paperwork.

  There was the noise again. It seemed to be coming from the kitchen. Carter moved to the door and peered in but he couldn't see anything. He wasn't going to take a chance though.

  “I can hear you in there. You're making a big mistake. If you give yourself up now it'll be easier on you. I'm a policeman and I'm armed. I don't know who you are but you picked the wrong house,” he said in a clear and even voice. Across the hall he caught a sight of his own reflection in the mirror. The five-day beard was getting like it needed a trim and his brown hair wasn't much better but it wasn't those he focused on. He had to stop from laughing at the sight of himself, just in underwear, ready to take down the intruder. This house was supposed to be his sanctuary, his safety, the one place in the world where nobody could touch him.

  The grin on his face disappeared quickly. His grip tightened upon the gun and he emerged from his hiding place, eyes darting around the kitchen searching for the intruder. It would only take a moment to fire but he hoped that would not be necessary.

  Nobody was there. Carter let the gun hang at his side and he breathed deeply, trying to keep himself calm. The noise sounded again. Now that Carter was in the kitchen he could tell that it came from outside. He walked to the counter and leaned over the sink to look out the window to see a shadowy figure by the trash cans. It was just some homeless guy. Carter shook his head and flicked on a light. Watching as the vagrant slipped into the shadows, away from his house, Carter placed the gun on the side. It made a heavy thunk. Grabbing a glass and filling it with water, he drank so haphazardly the liquid spilled over his chin and drops fell over his torso. Taking a banana from the fruit bowl and peeling away the skin, he gazed outside whilst munching on the fruit. He hoped he wasn't getting paranoid in his old age, but at least his instincts were still sharp. Better that he had reacted and was wrong than if he had slept through something serious.

  ****

  After he finished the banana, he tossed the skin into the trash and then made his way back upstairs. Nicky was sitting bolt upright, a look of fear on her face.

  “What happened?” she said.

  “False alarm,” Carter replied. Nicky rolled her eyes and fell back into a sleeping position. Carter sat on the edge of the bed as he placed his gun back in its place and then grabbed his cell phone.

  “Everything alright?” Garrett's voice sounded concerned. Given the background noise young Officer Garrett was on his way, which didn't surprise Carter. The kid was eager to impress. If he stayed sensible, then he'd make a good cop one day.

  “Yeah, I made a mistake, it was nothing.”

  “Getting jumpy in your old age?” the young officer teased.

  “Nothing wrong with being careful officer,” Carter replied, emphasizing the last word. Garrett cleared his throat.

  “Of
course, sir. My apologies, sir.”

  Carter grinned. It was important to not let Garrett be too comfortable with him. A little fear went a long way. “I was just calling to tell you that there's no need to come round. Head back to the station.”

  “Yes, sir. Sorry again, sir. If there's anything else you need don't hesitate to call.”

  “I won't,” Carter said, and then ended the call. He pulled the covers back over his body and sighed, shaking his head at the impudence of Garrett. Old age indeed. He was only 32 and still on track to make Chief by 40. Carter didn't have many ambitions in the world but that was one of them and one he intended to see through to the end. It was difficult not to feel paranoid sometimes though. He'd made enemies in his career and there was always someone ready to swear vengeance against him for doing his job. He glanced over at Nicky, who was sleeping soundly again already. He always envied her ability to fall asleep within minutes no matter where she was. It always took him an age. There was always so much on his mind.

  He leaned over and kissed her lightly on her forehead. She really was beautiful, and he was a lucky man. He wasn't going to take this second chance for granted. It had been five years that they were married now, almost as long as he had been a cop. It didn't seem like five years but then time had a funny way of moving far more quickly than anyone would like. It still amazed Carter that Robbie was 11. It seemed like just the other day when Robbie was small enough to fit in Carter's hand. Soon enough Robbie would be making his own way in the world, not that Carter wanted to think about that just yet. Time was like a fire in which we all burn and for Carter, it felt as though things were getting hotter all the time.

  Chapter 2

  C arter was awake bright and early. He awoke to the sight of Nicky fastening earrings in and arranging her hair in the elegant manner of all beautiful women. Carter stretched and kissed her good morning.

  “What was that about last night?”

  “Turned out to just be some homeless guy rummaging around outside.”

  “They really ought to do something about that. It's not good to have strange people lurking outside going through our things.”

  “They're harmless, really. I'm sorry for waking you. I was afraid it was going to be something serious.”

  “No problem. I got enough sleep. You wanna watch a movie tonight?”

  “Yeah, that'll be nice.”

  “We might as well make the most of our time while Robbie is away,” Nicky said, the tone of her voice dropping. Carter's ears pricked up. Nicky swung her leg around and looked at him with a sultry expression.

  “Yes, we might as well,” Carter agreed. Nicky rose and sauntered towards him; her hourglass hips swaying as she did so. She draped her arms around Carter's neck and he was engulfed in her sweet fragrance. It was more intoxicating than any liquor. Nicky tilted her head and brushed her lips against his, then broke away as though she was just a dream.

  “I'll see you later,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes. Carter sighed with exasperation. His entire body was rigid with anticipation and now he'd have to go the whole day looking forward to getting home and enjoying his wife's attentions. He growled playfully at her and then she was gone.

  ****

  Carter grabbed an apple and flicked on the television. Eating fruit had a therapeutic effect on him; it helped him think and was certainly healthier than smoking. The ticker tape ran along the bottom and offered nothing but bad news. Sometimes Carter wondered why he even bothered to watch the news anymore. According to all the news networks, the world was nothing but death and destruction, chaos, and mayhem. The truth wasn't as bad as all that as long as justice reigned supreme. Law was the most important thing in the world and as long as good men stayed true to their ideals of justice the world would end up as a good place. Not the best it could be, but good nonetheless. He flicked the channel over to a cartoon and wished that life was as simple as he thought it had been when he had been younger. A lot had happened to temper his viewpoint of the world over the years, mostly to do with Eddie.

  Carter tried not to think about his brother much. It was too painful, and it wasn't like there was anything Carter could do to change things. Even so, the events still plagued him and weighed heavily on his soul. The only thing Carter could do was be the best detective, husband and father he could be. Life had taken a lot from him already. Too much in fact. But there was no point in crying over it.

  He tossed the apple core away and then slammed the door behind him, venturing out into the crisp morning air. His jacket was tight around his trim body and his breath swirled as he exhaled. It was a nice morning for a walk to clear his head. It wouldn't be long before he was at the precinct but he found it important to immerse himself in the world around him and to never forget the city he had sworn to protect. In the distance the skyscrapers of Los Angeles rose into the sky, threatening to pierce the very heavens, the morning light reflecting off the windows. Here in the San Fernando Valley the surrounding houses were far more humble, and they housed ordinary people, people whose safety depended on him. They were sheltered from the truth of the world, but Carter had taken it upon himself to stand up to the ugliness of the world and fight back. By his own logic if he didn't do anything then nobody would. It wasn't exactly a one-man war but sometimes allies seemed few and far between.

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  The Van Nuys police station was only a few blocks from his house. He told himself that walking to work was a good way to get some exercise in addition to his nightly runs, yet it was only an excuse so that he could feel less guilty about indulging in some of his unhealthier vices, like alcohol and cigarettes. Nicky had long since given up on nagging him. There were reasons why many cops turned to them of course. It wasn't an easy life and sometimes it was necessary to take the edge off. Carter had it under control though. He always told himself that the moment it interfered with his work or impaired his judgment he would give up without any hesitation. He'd seen how it could ruin lives.

  Case in point, on the corner he was approaching he saw a man huddled down with a stained and tattered blanket wrapped around his body. The man held out a withered, shaking hand. His eyes were milky-gray. His beard was wispy. His face lined with creases. Carter glanced at him and thought it could have been the same man who had been rummaging around outside his house the previous night. There were often times when Carter wished he had more money, usually when he saw people like this. It was all too easy to slip through the cracks in society and be forgotten, oftentimes through no fault of their own. A lot of people like Nicky saw them as a nuisance but not Carter. He wished he could help them properly, but on his salary it was hard enough to take care of everything he needed to. He tossed a few coins into the man's blanket and then handed him a card for the local shelter.

  “Check this place out if you haven't already. Tell them Carter McBride sent you. It's a good place with good people,” he said. The man thanked him. The look on his face touched Carter's heart. Kindness was something the man evidently was not used to. Carter walked into the precinct and hoped the man could get some shelter and food. It would be a long struggle back but there was always a way back, Carter believed that vehemently. As long as you still had breath left in your body there was always a way to return from even the darkest place.

  Chapter 3

  C arter hung up his jacket and shoved his bag into a locker. A group of officers was gathered around Detective Mick Sosa, a hotshot detective whose career trajectory had mirrored Carter's. They had been at the academy together and both had similar ambitions. A friendly rivalry had developed over the years, although Sosa took it more seriously than Carter did, especially as Carter had just won a promotion the two of them had been vying for. Sosa was standing in the middle of the room gesticulating wildly as he described a shootout he'd been involved in. Carter rolled his eyes. The truth was probably far less dramatic. Sosa had a knack for melodrama and for making his own role in these crimes more important than it actually was. He had a way w
ith words though and the rest of the surrounding men were spellbound by his tale.

  “...we were pinned down and all I could hear was my heart hammering in my chest. I really thought it was going to be the end. I'm sure you've all had that moment, where you look inside yourself and you see all the things that you're never going to get to do again, like never hold your children, or kiss your wife. Anyway, I had my gun. I only had a few rounds left. The rest of the men weren't in much better shape. It’s times like that when you question your calling. I started to regret my decision to be a cop. My mom wanted me to be a chef you know. It would have been a hell of a lot safer, and in that moment I was ready to start wishing for another life, but I stopped that way of thinking pretty damn quickly. I'm a detective, and that's the greatest privilege I'll ever have. I wasn't going to dishonor myself, my family, or my brothers by wishing I was somewhere else. It's just the job, and I was going to make sure I did my job until my last breath. If that was what God had planned for me then so be it. I trust Him and I was ready to meet Him if that was the way things were going to go. Anyway, I looked at the other men and we were inspired. It was as though we could see into each other’s' minds. We rose and fired in concert. All our shots hit their targets, and they dropped like flies. It was divine intervention at its finest. The Lord was smiling upon us that day.”

  Carter couldn't help but chuckle. All eyes turned towards him.

  “What's so funny?” Sosa said. Carter paused for a moment. Everyone looked annoyed at him for his show of disrespect. There were a lot of people with strong religious beliefs but Carter wasn't one of them. His relationship with God was a long and complicated one.

  “I'm sorry, and I'm glad you're alright, but I know the incident you’re talking about.”

  “Yeah, and your point is?”

  Carter sighed. He didn't want to get pulled into a theological debate but it didn't seem as though there was much choice. “My point is that if the Lord is so wise and forgiving and saved you, why did he not find it in his power to save the two officers who died in the incident as well? It sounds to me like you got lucky and they didn't.”