Dark Side of Noon (Wind Dancer Book 2)

by Tierney James

  “What are you talking about?” Perez snapped.

  “Two of us trying to come in. The rest are still searching for the girl.”

  “Roger that.”

  Cleo wanted to run into the night in search for her friends. Knowing Wind Dancer remained unharmed helped, but Jacque didn’t have super strength or the ability to bounce back like a time-traveling Pawnee.

  “Ask them how badly he’s hurt, Chief Perez. I need to know how to treat him when he gets here.”

  “You’re not treating anybody, Doc, until my guys check him out first.” She opened up the radio again. “How bad is the detective? Over.”

  There was a pause then, “Hard to say with just a flashlight. Got some cuts and he’s limping, but he’s waved off any assistance. Said Dr. Sommers will know what to do.”

  “Let me talk to him,” Cleo insisted.

  “Can you put him on? The doc is here and needs reassurance.”

  “Hello?” came a familiar voice.

  Cleo snatched the phone out of the chief’s hand. “Jacque,” she said with a sigh. “Are you guys okay?”

  “A little banged up. Wind Dancer is his usual Superman self. Might need a stitch or two. Got any of that pain medication you give those worthless gangbangers in Chicago?”

  Cleo chuckled. “I’ll see what I can do. Take care of the big guy for me.”

  “Oh sure. Nothing like once again making me feel like a bridesmaid instead of a bride.”

  Taking a deep breath, she handed the radio to Perez, who observed her with interest. “So, you and Detective Marquette an item?”

  “Absolutely not,” Cleo smiled. “But if you’re interested, I wouldn’t let that hunk of steel and muscle get away. He’s smart as a whip and a straight-up guy. He’s more like a big brother to me. A very annoying one at times.”

  Perez’s eyes narrowed when she smiled suspiciously at her. “I’m a little busy with the job.”

  “That’s what he always says. Probably why both of you are single.”

  “I see light. Here they come,” called one of the paramedics who placed his rifle in the cab of the ambulance while the other man rested his weapon against the side before jerking open the rear doors of the vehicle.

  Perez and Cleo ran to the entrance to watch as a distant orb of light moved back and forth across, what must have been, a trail. They were still a ways out, maybe two hundred yards when the light vanished only to reappear once they emerged from the cover of a dense stand of trees. Both women leveled their beam of light toward the men then lowered it to the road so not to blind them.

  One rescuer appeared to be helping a man; Jacque, she imagined. The other shone a light on their progress toward safety. It was Wind Dancer she wanted to find and run to, although it was wiser to wait for him to come to her. At first, she didn’t see him until they were closer. He followed behind, carrying a large bundle in his arms. They hollered to bring a gurney. In seconds, the two paramedics were headed at full throttle, with the gurney.

  “Jacque must be really hurt,” Cleo choked as her hand laid on her heart.

  “I don’t think so,” Perez replied, shining a light in their direction.

  The entire party halted as Wind Dancer laid whatever he carried on the gurney. The paramedics jumped and nearly fell then eased closer to take a better look. Cleo thought she heard one of them swear. Jacque moved away from the group, and everyone started toward the entrance. It took all four of the men to push the gurney.

  Wind Dancer came around and lifted Jacque’s arm around his neck to help him. Even though she didn’t witness it, Cleo imagined the stubborn detective tried to refuse help from his partner to give the appearance of toughness. The temptation was just too great for her to wait and bolted toward the two men who had become such a part of her life over the last few years. She didn’t know until she reached them that Perez had followed.

  Both women relieved Wind Dancer of the detective. The Pawnee staggered a few steps and stopped long enough to take a deep breath. She had never witnessed him become exhausted.

  “Wind Dancer?” she asked and reached her bad hand toward him.

  He waved her off. “I am okay. Jacque is hurt. I can walk on my own. The beast was heavy.”

  Beast? A quick observation of the moving gurney revealed a creature the size of a bear.

  Jacque smiled over at Perez with a lopsided grin. “I’m touched, Perez. Didn’t know you cared.”

  “I don’t,” she snapped but couldn’t resist ending with a smile.

  “Really, Jacque?” Cleo groaned. “Is this the only way you can get a date?”

  He leaned over and kissed her on the temple. “Pretty much. I’m not proud of it.”

  “Shut up and walk,” Perez ordered, “or I’ll make you ride on the gurney with that thing.”

  Once at the entrance, the paramedics helped the women with Jacque and led him to the ambulance where he refused to do anything but sit on the rear edge of the vehicle.

  The attention now turned to the beast lying wide-eyed on the gurney.

  “What the hell is that?” Jacque asked, pointing a shaking finger toward the gurney.

  Everyone gathered around staring at the beast the size of a bear with spikes on its spine. The eyes, wide open, glowed red.

  One of the paramedics who was an Indian explained. “I heard tales from the old ones about these. It is a Chupacabra. Some say it is a rabid beast and can fly.” He nodded to Cleo. “He’ll need to get checked out and may have to have shots if it has rabies.”

  “Great. Some camping trip this turned out to be,” Jacque fumed.

  “It is said they can fly. Do you see wings?” the paramedic asked, shining the flashlight on the hideous beast. He picked up a stick from the ground and pried open the lips. “Look at those teeth,” he mumbled. “It is also said that it’s known to suck the blood out of your pets and family.”

  Perez shook her head in disbelief. “I’ve heard about these things my whole life but never believed in them, although a lot of people do, which is, in a way, scarier, since I didn’t pay it any attention.”

  Cleo put her arm around Wind Dancer, finding him soaked to the skin with sweat.

  “Are you hurt? Did it scratch you, too?”

  “Not sure. I fight it. Attacked Jacque.”

  “Thank goodness he is quicker than lightning or I’d be dead,” Jacque admitted as they joined him at the ambulance. “Got my leg with those claws. Reminds me of a monster from a Spielberg movie.”

  Wind Dancer sat down next to his partner, exhausted. “Should we call this Spielberg to tell us what to do?”

  Both Cleo and Jacque smiled and laid hands on the Pawnee’s leg in appreciation of his strength and innocence.

  “No, buddy. I think we’ll let the chief take it from here. We need a good night’s sleep.”

  Cleo called for more supplies to get to work on Jacque, knowing he was going to give her a hard time when she started to cut the leg of his jeans. He slapped at her hand, knocking the scissors free.

  “These are my favorite jeans. You’re not going to dissect them.”

  “Maybe if Wind Dancer holds him down, we can take them off,” Perez said, joining them as she slipped her phone into her pocket.

  Jacque twisted his mouth in a pout. “And who says dreams don’t come true.”

  Both women burst out laughing. Wind Dancer folded his arms across his chest and chuckled at the joke before adding his own take on the situation.

  “Jacque, you need to remember both women are armed and dangerous.”

  “Even better,” he said sarcastically.

  The radio crackled alive in Perez’s hand as she lifted it to her mouth.

  “Go ahead.”.

  “Chief, we found Abby,” came a winded declaration.

  Chapter 25

  “Alive?” she said, waving her hands at the ambulance crew.

  “Yes. Unconscious though. Will mark the area for investigation tomorrow,” came an excited response.<
br />
  “Sending you help. Give me your location.”

  A loud round of cheers lifted the gloom of first responders as Perez sent two officers and the ambulance team in with a stretcher.

  “I don’t understand it.” Perez shook her head. “That is no more than twenty yards from the ranger shack. We searched there first. Nothing.”

  Wind Dancer started to follow the men toward the entrance, but Perez grabbed his arm.

  “You’ve done enough.” Perez stepped in front of him and quickly moved two steps back when he towered over her and leveled a dangerous frown. The good mood had left his dark face that now resembled storm clouds.

  “They are not safe. I can help if there is trouble.”

  “Detective Marquette, you better rein your partner in before I do.”

  Cleo moved in front of him and touched his side with her good hand. “Jacque and I need you now. Chief Perez is doing her job. She can use us here. Please,” she spoke in a whisper. He smiled down at her and ran his hand down her cheekbone.

  “Okay, Cleopatra.”

  “I’m calling another ambulance,” Perez announced as she activated her phone. “Just called a zoologist friend. Will be here in the morning. Talked to him about the beast an hour ago.” She turned to Jacque. “You should go to ER. That beast is going to be in the cabin section of the ambulance, and I don’t want the paramedic to be in there with it. He’ll ride up front with the driver.”

  “Did anyone try and open my car?” asked Cleo. “My purse is in there.”

  Perez dug in her pocket and tossed her the keys. “We got it open after you left. I have your key and locked it up since your purse was still there. Now.” She nodded in the direction of town. “I’ve got to stay here or I’d take Detective Marquette to the ER, but you will have to do it unless Wind Dancer can drive.”

  “No,” shouted both Cleo and Jacque.

  “There’s no reason I can’t drive.” Jacque spoke through gritted teeth as he eased off the step of the ambulance.

  “I’ll drive. It’s my left wrist that’s broke. It won’t be a problem. We could all use some rest. Chief, I just want to wait until they bring Abby out so I can check her out, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Here they come. I’ll have an officer swing by and take her mother to the hospital.”

  Abby’s dad ran alongside the gurney as the men carried her in. He held her hand and kept saying, “Daddy is here. You’re going to be okay.”

  The ambulance pulled in and they swung into action immediately. Cleo gave a quick exam to make sure she wasn’t bleeding, surprised at how clean she was, in spite of having a few deep scrapes, and bruises, nothing appeared to require stitches. One of the paramedics retrieved a stethoscope for Cleo to check her other vitals. She suggested an IV of fluids as soon as possible and noted her blood pressure was low. A dark bruise around her ankle the size of a hand and another one on her upper arm already was evident, but in the poor lighting, it was hard to tell much.

  “Hopefully, your doc on duty will take charge quickly. I want her seen ASAP. Understand?” The paramedics nodded and wheeled her to the ambulance. She reached out and touched the arm of her father. “I don’t see any big problems right now. Be sure they check everything.” He nodded and had started to walk away when she grabbed his arm. “I mean everything.” His bewildered expression forced her to continue. “To make sure she wasn’t sexually assaulted.” The realization his child may be changed for life dawned in his watery eyes as he hurried to the ambulance.

  Perez sighed as she joined Cleo. “Poor guy. At least we found her.”

  “Can you radio in and make sure they check under her fingernails. They were dirty and I thought I spotted traces of blood.”

  Perez called the hospital and asked for the ER doctor, giving him instructions from Cleo. He remembered her from earlier in the day and assured the chief he’d make it a priority. When she clicked off, the chief tilted her head at Cleo before speaking.

  “Dr. Berman said you had no business driving and should rest. Said the meds he gave you would knock out a horse.”

  “I didn’t take any. I took an over the counter they gave me at the hospital. Saving it for tonight.”

  “I would like some of that, too,” Jacque called from the open car window of his SUV.

  “I’m having one of my officers drive you in.” Perez motioned for an older man to come forward. “George will take you.”

  “Happy to, young lady. The chief never gives me enough to do. Thinks I’m too old.” The smoker’s voice explained the yellow smile.

  “Not true, George. Don’t want anything to happen to you before you retire next month is all.”

  He chuckled, making his over-the-belt belly bounce. Cleo wondered how long he actually had left with being overweight and a smoker. Chances were good, he had high blood pressure. Those brown spots on his neck and under his ear showed signs of skin cancer, too.

  “Thank you, George. We appreciate it.” Cleo moved toward the car backward as she directed her voice toward Perez. “Should we wait for you at the hospital?”

  “No. Making sure everything is secure here then I’ll drop by to see what you found out about the girl and the detective. They’re waiting for you and Abby at the hospital. Get a room at the Mountain View Inn. Across the street from the hospital. I’ll make sure they keep a room for you. On us. I’ll swing by when I can.”

  Cleo gave two thumbs-up. “Glad this day is finally over.”

  The darkness swallowed them up as they headed toward Sunset Rock. Except for the beam of light ahead of them, it appeared they had fallen into a black abyss, swerving this way and that. Exhaustion lay heavy on Cleo and her two friends.

  Jacque rode in the front seat with George, only because Wind Dancer could be a handful at times when the car moved and he couldn’t get his bearings. Since their driver remained unaware of how special the Pawnee was, she thought it best she sit next to him in the back seat. Holding onto her usually redirected his train of thought. Most of the time, this could turn into a pleasant experience, but tonight she ached and felt like she had drowned in a sea of still-unanswered questions.

  “How ya doing, Jacque?” She reached up and touched his shoulder, which caused him to flinch.

  “Nothing a good night’s sleep won’t fix. You?”

  “Same. But wanted to run this by you. Abby’s hands were clean and so were other parts of her exposed body. Wouldn’t running through brush or over a trail leave you a little more banged up or at least dirty?”

  “I’d think so. I noticed that, too. Even her face looked like it had been scrubbed. Couldn’t hide those bruises though. Bottoms of her feet were slick as a baby’s. That was rough terrain, too. We’re missing something.”

  “The monster carried her,” Wind Dancer said offhandedly. “Not want to hurt.”

  Cleo agreed and continued. She quickly brought them up to speed on Mansi and his son.

  “I’m telling you, something isn’t right there. They are involved. I just know it. He has a history with both Abby and Tinker, the boy found dead in the truck.”

  “Did you tell Perez this?” Jacque winced as he adjusted his seat.

  “Everything happened so fast with you guys being hurt, that creature, then finding Abby, I didn’t have a chance. Anyway, according to Mansi, his son has Marfan syndrome.”

  “What the hell is that?” Jacque grumbled as he tried to get comfortable. “Give me one of those knockout pills, Cleo.”

  “No. Not until you are checked out.”

  “I can knock you out, buddy.” Wind Dancer leaned in and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

  “Stop being a cry baby, Jacque,” Cleo ordered. “Marfan is a genetic condition that affects the connective tissues in the body. Lots of things can go wrong like heart valve problems, scoliosis for starters. People with Marfan syndrome are usually very tall and thin. Their arms, legs, fingers, and toes are also disproportionately long. Some symptoms can be severe. I saw Alo, Mansi
’s son, at a distance and he fit this description. He is also disfigured. Tinker tormented him from time to time. Abby took up for him.”

  “Maybe that’s our guy.” Jacque tried to roll his shoulder. “Come on, Cleo. I’m in pain.”

  “No pills. Anyway, from what I understand, whoever took little Liam moved fast and was strong.”

  “Yes. He strong, too. Liam say woman tried to protect him and fought hard.” Wind Dancer spoke quietly and stared out the window as if remembering.

  “That’s where it gets tricky. People with Marfan aren’t usually all that strong. Depending on how severe Alo’s condition is, he may not have had the energy or ability to run fast or take a beating from Tonya.”

  Jacque sighed. “For heaven’s sake. This is just a freak thing you’re talking about. Probably more weirdness you found out in the museum growing up.”

  “Okay. How about this. Did you know Abraham Lincoln had Marfan syndrome?” Jacque gave her a bewildered frown. “And so did Julius Caesar and Tutankhamen. There are a few basketball players and Olympic swimmers with mild cases. In more recent times, authorities believe that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had Marfan syndrome.”

  George put his two cents in. “I know Alo. Strange guy. Sneaks around like a ghoul. Always with his head down. Likes to spend a lot of time in the woods, too. Several campers have been scared by him and filed complaints.”

  “There was blood and dirt under her fingernails. That needs to be analyzed. DNA doesn’t lie,” Cleo said as she rested against the seat.

  “Who is DNA?” Wind Dancer asked in his most serious voice. “Is this a friend?”

  Jacque twisted in his seat to focus on the Pawnee and smiled. “You better believe it. Hey what’s that?”

  Barreling out of a side road with large spotlights aimed at them, all Cleo heard was Jacque yell, “Look out!” then the unmistakable sound of shattering glass, followed by the roll of their SUV as Wind Dancer crushed her beneath him.

  Chapter 26

  How long had she been unconscious? Seconds? Minutes? Hours?

  Wind Dancer lay half on and half off of her body. She managed to wiggle out by shoving on his chest. A bright light flooded the SUV, exposing the blood on the Pawnee’s jaw and hairline. It was hard to move in such a confined space. Through her fog, Cleo realized they rested in a tilted position.