by Tanya Simon
“What do you people have against me sleeping?” he growled into the phone.
“Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, Jefferies, but you’re gonna want to get your ass over here.” Lieutenant Kessler’s voice was full of humor. “We’ve got a full confession!”
“What?” Sam was wide-awake now.
“Uniforms caught this guy trying to abduct a girl from the mall, ‘bout six this evening. He just gave us a confession.”
“I’m on my way. Did someone tell Lily?” Sam said as he got out of bed and pulled on his shorts.
“Yeah, she’s on her way.”
“See ya in fifteen.” Sam replied as he grunted his way into jeans.
“Okie Dokie.” He could hear the lieutenant chuckle as he was hanging up.
Sam pulled on his shirt, grabbed his service revolver and his keys and was out the door. He argued with himself the whole way to the station. Part of him couldn’t accept this was over. Part of him was grateful. And part of him just wanted answers. He sighed as he got out of the car and walked towards the doors.
“Sam.” Lilith ran up to him. “Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know yet, I don’t think so.” Sam held the door open for her. “Why now? Why so easy?”
“I know. ’That's what I was thinking.” She walked through the door and down the hall to the squad room. Sam watched the way her butt sashayed down the hall in tight blue jeans.
“Lily.” She stopped and turned to face him, he trotted to catch up with her. “That ought to be illegal.” He said with a big grin on his face.
“What should?” She looked puzzled.
“Those jeans, darlin’, those jeans.” He put his arm around her and they headed down the hall. Lilith shook her head.
“I could say the same for you, darlin’.” She said and pushed the squad room door open.
A huge black man with muscles threatening to burst out of his shirt glanced at Lilith and looked down.
“Jefferies, Adamson.” Lieutenant Kessler gestured to the black man. “He’s all yours.”
Sam walked over to the giant and the man stood up. Sam took a step back, when his head only came to the man’s pecs. The black man smiled malevolently.
“Name’s Simon Thomas.” He glared at Sam. “I assume you want to ask me about how good those girls’ insides tasted or maybe what splitting them open did for me?” He ended with a chuckle.
Sam swallowed bile and motioned for Simon to go into the interrogation room. Lilith stayed behind him and he didn’t blame her. He held a chair out for Lilith and she cautiously sat and inched the chair away from Simon.
“Start at the beginning, Mr. Thomas. Don’t leave anything out, and maybe we all can still get a decent night’s sleep.” Sam took out his pen and notepad.
About half way through the story of cannibalism and mutilation, Sam couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up quickly, barely keeping his dinner down. Simon’s white teeth gleamed, sharp and deadly in the feral smile he shot at Sam. Sam ran from the room when he imagined the teeth sinking into a still beating heart. Simon’s malignant laughter followed him out of the room.
Lilith glanced over at Simon and he lowered his head in deference. She said a quick spell, so no one outside of the room could hear her or see into the room. She made them see her sitting there, while Simon leered at her.
“You are doing very well, Simon.” Lilith purred and flipped her long, wavy blond hair over her delicate shoulders.
“Thank you, sister.” Simon whispered reverently.
“Why won’t you look at me, Simon?” She stared at him.
“Because I am not worthy.”
“Of course, you are.” She smiled sweetly. “You are indispensable to the Ascension, brother.”
He looked up. “Thank you.”
“Now.” She leaned closer, “You should not only look at me, but fling some insults my way.’
“Yes, sister.”
Sam wiped his mouth, and stared at his reflection in the gritty mirror. He let himself wallow in his shame until he remembered he’d left Lily in there alone. Grimacing, he flung open the door and forced himself out.
Entering the room, he cursed as he took in the scene. Simon had Lilith pressed against the wall and was toying with her hair. He licked her face as Sam struggled to pull him off; he reached one of his paw-like hands inside her shirt. Lilith’s eyes met his and he saw they were full of terror. Sam pulled out his revolver, cocked it and pressed it into Simon’s thick, solid neck.
Simon just laughed and flung Sam across the room like he was a tiresome child. Sam slid down the wall dazed. He struggled to find his gun as Simon’s huge hands closed around Lilith’s slender throat. Sam could hear the other officers trying to get in the room but the debris from when Simon had thrown Sam blocked the door. Lilith’s hands clawed uselessly at Simon’s and her body began to go limp, Lilith’s eyes started to roll back into her head.
Sam cursed as he finally got his hand around his revolver. He leveled it at the giant’s head and emptied the gun, as rage swept over him. He came back into himself and shook his head to clear it. The now headless giant lay slumped on the floor. Sam got to Lilith as the door slammed open and the other officers ran in. She was clutching her throat and gasping for air. He folded her against him, mumbling soothing words in her ear.
Several hours later, Sam took Lily to his house; she didn’t want to be alone. He went to the kitchen and put on coffee. Sam turned to the refrigerator to see what there was to eat and saw her standing there in the doorway looking lost and vulnerable. The bruises on her neck stood out, marring her perfect skin.
Sam’s hand clenched in rage and he broke the glass jar he was holding. Lilith rushed to him and pulled him to the faucet to rinse the blood and glass from his hand. She bent her head over his hand and gently kissed it. Sam pushed her hair back and stared at the bruises.
“I shouldn’t have left you alone with him.”
“You had to leave and there was a whole room of cops just on the other side of the window.” She held his hand.
“He almost killed you.” Sam closed his eyes as the thought stole his breath and pulled her into his arms.
“But he didn’t. You saved me.” She wrapped her arms around him. He reluctantly let her go, when she pushed away from him. She gently touched his face. “Make love to me Sam.”
“I…ah…are you sure, Lily?”
“Yes.” She kissed him.
Sam swept her up into his arms and carried her upstairs.
Sam figured he was out of things to do upstairs, so, he took a breath and went downstairs to face Lilith. He found her in the kitchen attempting to cook what might have been breakfast. He laughed when she cracked an egg and cursed when egg and shell went into the frying pan.
“Okay.” He grabbed the hot skillet from her and put it into the sink. “How about a doughnut from the bakery down the street?”
“Okay.” She pouted a little as she removed her apron. “But I’m buying.”
“Deal.” He walked to the back door.
“Sam.” She grabbed his arm and felt him tense. “Last night was wonderful.” She kissed him lightly. “Thanks.”
“I was feeling like a cad for having taken advantage of you.” He sighed in relief.
“You didn’t take advantage. I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t sure.”
“So, we’re okay?” Sam asked as he held the door open for her.
“We’re okay.” Lily got in and Sam shut the door and climbed in on his side. “Did you open doors for Naomi?”
“No. Why?” Sam started the car and backed out of the garage.
“Then why do you do it for me?”
“It feels right. I don’t know why. If it bothers you I’ll stop.”
“It doesn’t bother me. It flatters me.” She smiled at him and touched his arm.
“Then I’ll keep doing it.” He took her hand and held it.
After that night they spent every night together. An
d Sam felt himself falling for Lily. He was lonely when they weren’t together. He found himself staring at her when he should be working. He could tell her anything. And for the first time since his wife had left, he felt complete.
23
One night Lily picked up the picture of a little girl sitting on Sam’s desk. A miniature version of Sam’s smile beamed out at her. She gently traced the face with her finger, wondering what was happening to her. She actually thought it would be wonderful to carry Sam’s child.
Sam took the picture from her and looked at the little girl, tears gathered in his eyes. “It’s the only picture of her I have left. All the others were destroyed when Naomi blew up my house.” He gently placed it on the desk.
“Sam.” She said as she sat down across from him. “Tell me about your wife and child.”
“Why?” There was abject misery in his voice.
“I need to hear and I think you need to talk about it.” She rolled her chair around to him and took his hands in hers, rubbing her fingers over his knuckles. “Please.”
“I was married to Beth before I joined the academy; she was actually okay with being married to a cop. Our marriage was ideal and when we found out she was pregnant, well, it was just icing on the cake.” He picked up the picture. “I left a stakeout early to be at the hospital with her. She had a quick labor and we had a beautiful baby girl. Beth wanted to name her Amy after her favorite character in her favorite book, “Little Women”. So Amy it was. She was perfect. She walked early; she read by three, she was very bright. The summer after first grade my parents wanted to take her to Disneyland. So, Beth and I decided to let them.” He put the picture down and folded his arms as if to block the pain. “She flew into Phoenix by herself; she was so excited I thought she would burst. She called us that night jabbering away.” His breath caught. “The next day they headed out at dawn for Disneyland. About an hour out of town a semi cut my father off, he hit another car, flipping his, they slid upside down across the median and a car coming from the other direction plowed into them, hard enough to fold the car in half. Amy and my parents were killed.”
“Oh. Sam.” She rose and went to hug him.
“Beth and I tried to hold it together but we couldn’t. Six months after the funeral I came home to an empty house. A week later divorce papers arrived in the mail. I signed them. I never saw her again, six months later she was killed in a skiing accident.” He leaned into Lilith’s hair. “I love you, Lily.” He was startled to hear himself say it and his eyes grew.
Lilith closed her eyes and for the first time in eight thousand years said something from her heart. “I love you, too, Sam.”
Sam squeezed her tightly as she began to cry.
President Traylor Addams the Third chugged a snifter of tequila and straightened his tie. Then he checked his reflection in the mirror over the bar. Satisfied, he went to sit behind his desk.
“Doris, you may send in my three o’clock.” He said in a calm, clear voice.
He swallowed as the door swung open and a beautiful redhead in a form-fitting green business suit sashayed in and took a seat across the desk from him, daintily crossing her long legs and smoothing her skirt.
“Have tequila, Tray, if it will help you keep your wits about you.” Raevanne purred at him, her green eyes glowing.
Tray rose and poured himself another snifter of tequila; he chugged it and finally calmed enough to remember his manners.
“Would you like something, Raevanne?”
“No, thank you.”
Tray took his seat again. He sat back and looked Raevanne in the face. She smiled at him.
“The time has come my friend. You will organize a press conference announcing your resignation. You will name Eric Marx, your vice president as your successor.”
“Why can’t I remain president?” Tray almost whined.
“You are not Roodmasi. We financed you, because it would have been difficult to get Eric into office. You have profited from your six years in office.”
“And if I refuse?” Tray sat back in his chair and gave Raevanne his best steely-eyed stare.
“You will watch your family die horrific deaths, before you die screaming.” Raevanne checked her manicure. “Do not think for even a minute, you have control over the situation.” She looked up at him. “Your only choice is whether you and your family live or die. Either one is okay with me. So choose.”
Tray studied her for a moment. He knew she had money, but he was the President. The Secret Service protected his family and they could not be bought. He had researched the Roodmasi, and he knew they were widespread and violent. He was the President of the most powerful nation in the world. If he gave the order the military could and would crush the Roodmasi.
“I think I am going to keep the office.” He smiled smugly at her and reached over to get a Cuban from the mahogany case on his rosewood desk. He lit it and blew the smoke at her.
“So be it.” Raevanne stood. “Wrong choice, Tray.”
The door opened again and four men wearing black, with everything covered except for their eyes entered the room, dragging his struggling family in with them. His son and daughter tried to run to him. One of the men grabbed them.
“What does my Shivana wish?” The man holding his wife said.
“Death.” Raevanne said as she stepped out of the way so Tray could see clearly.
The man holding his wife twisted her head so her face was over her back and ripped off her head. The light glistened on the slippery, wet bones of her spinal column. Tray cried out. Raevanne looked at him, and she nodded at the man who held his hysterical daughter in his hands. He gently smoothed the ten-year-old girl’s hair. He knelt down in front of her and gently wiped her tears. He gathered her to him and looked up at Tray. He moved his hand and the little girl jerked. The man let her body go and threw her still beating heart on the floor.
“Okay! God!” Tray dropped to his knees in front of Raevanne. “Please!”
“You were given a choice.” Raevanne said dispassionately. She nodded at the man holding the sobbing preteen boy.
The man put his arms around the boy’s shoulders and turned him to face his father. He placed an arm around him to hold him in place. The struggling boy went still when he saw the giant knife in the man’s hand. The man made a quick motion, left to right and the boy’s intestines glurped out of a gaping wound. Tray screamed as the man threw the boy down like trash on the bloody rug, with the presidential shield in the middle of the famous room.
Tray looked at Raevanne. She smiled serenely. He sprung up and lunged for her. She stabbed him in the stomach and calmly slit his throat. She licked the blood off her stiletto before sliding it back into her hair.
“Doris.” Raevanne sat down behind the desk. The shapely, well-dressed brunette walked in stepping daintily over the mess.
She bowed in front of Raevanne, and stood. “Yes, my Shivana?”
“Give us time to depart. Upon returning from your afternoon break, discover the family tragically beyond help. Go into the other room, throw up and begin screaming for help. Eric and the Secret Service agents on duty will take it from there.”
“Yes, my Shivana.”
“You will follow Eric’s commands until further notice. May Satan guide your steps, sister?”
“And yours, Shivana.” She watched as Raevanne and the others left. She gave them half an hour; she went and did as she was told.
Eric Marx checked his perfect smile in the gold-framed mirror. He smiled at Doris as she brushed hair off his shoulders. They both remembered how good last night had been. She promised him another amazing night with her eyes. He nodded discreetly, and he went to give his speech.
Flashes went off continually as he stepped onto the dais. Reporters yelled over one another to be heard.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I will give a brief speech, and I will take questions for five minutes. If you will take your seats we will begin.”
He waited until i
t was reasonably quiet.
“It is with great sorrow and a sense of purpose I take the highest office in the land. Sorrow, for the world has lost a bright light in the terrible murder of Traylor Addams. A sense of purpose to finish his mission to heal this great nation. I share his vision to make this nation whole by removing religion from government on any and all levels. Our nation has spent far too long fighting over what should be personal moral issues and not public ones. Based on the founding principals of this great land, we do not have the right to limit freedom based on either religious beliefs or sexual orientation. In the past, we have spent lives and money trying to force a belief system on the disenfranchised in our own country and the citizens of other lands who do not share our moral, political, or religious beliefs. No more. Those resources will be used to feed and clothe our homeless, to find them shelter, to make them a functioning part of our society again. America will no longer be a nation of moral hypocrisy. From this moment forward, it will be a nation of tolerance. America will truly be a nation of freedom, where a man rules over his own home, and the laws serve the common man, not just the rich. I ask you to step forward with me, into an America as it was meant to be.” He smiled as the back of the room erupted with loud cheering. He saw his fellow Roodmasi and the smile grew. He called for silence again and pointed to a woman in a yellow suit in the first row.
