by Ballan, Greg
“She doesn't understand,” Erik said. “There's a certain amount of responsibility that comes with this job. My clients expect me to go to the edge for them; that's what they pay me for. If I start thinking about personal safety, I'll start hesitating and second-guessing myself. I'll lose my edge. I can't let that happen, not now, not ever.”
Shanda didn't agree with him, but she had not come here to argue, just the opposite, in fact. She gently leaned over and kissed him deeply and took him by the hand. “We can discuss all of that later. Right now, I'm up for a little exercise, and you need a diversion from all this gloom.”
“What did you have in mind?” Erik asked.
Shanda responded with a raised eyebrow. They walked out of Madame's arm and arm, heading toward his apartment, neither one noticing the intense stare of Alissa burning into their backs as they left.
* * * *
Erik awoke several hours later, feeling better than he had in quite a while. He could hear the even breathing next to him, which told him that Shanda was still in a deep sleep. He kissed the nape of her neck, gently untangled their arms from each other, and quietly got out of bed. He tiptoed from his bedroom and carefully closed the door behind him. After a quick shower, he put on some comfortable jeans and a T-shirt. He sat on the couch in his living room and began disassembling and cleaning his Ruger pistol. The weapon was in several pieces when he heard a knock on his door.
“Erik, it's me, Jeff. Are you in there?”
Erik opened the door. “Jeff, is something wrong?”
“I just need to talk to you, can I come in?”
Erik stepped back and gestured toward the chair in his living room. “Sure, have a seat, what's on your mind?”
Jeff leaned forward and took a deep breath. “Erik, I've known you for almost seven years now. In all these years that you've lived and run your business here, I've never interfered or questioned anything that you've done.” Jeff exhaled and took another deep breath. “I'm breaking that today. I heard about what happened to you yesterday; two of the women were in here from the party a few hours ago. They told me what happened, rather their daughters did.”
Jeff paused, as if expecting Erik to reply. Erik was silent, so Jeff continued.
“Now I can understand why Margaret was so angry. Please tell me you don't actually plan on tangling with those devils again?”
“Actually, I had planned on going back in with the police and two agents from New York as soon as we can coordinate an operation,” Erik answered in a flat tone.
“What are you thinking, man?” Jeff exploded. “Do you have a death wish?”
“I'm doing my job!” Erik responded forcefully.
“Your first job is to be ‘Daddy’ to that little ray of sunshine who comes in here every other Friday night and on Saturdays. She's your top priority, mister,” Jeff shouted.
Erik stood up quickly, a storm of anger flashed across his face and his fists clenched tightly. “All right, Jeff, you just crossed the line, friend or no.”
* * * *
“Erik! No!” Shanda screamed as Erik made his way toward Jeff. Her words brought him to a sudden stop. “He's right,” she whispered as she quickly stood between the two men. “Can't you see that we don't want you to get hurt any further? They won't care if you die up there. The only legacy you'll leave behind is a grieving daughter. Is that what you want?”
Tears began to flow down her cheeks. “Margaret was right this morning. I want more mornings like we just had. I want great nights and great days with you, for lots and lots of years to come. I want to see you grow old, watch Brianna grow up with you, not see a little girl placing flowers over a grave.”
Shanda could sense Erik's thoughts, read his anger, sense the warrior's pride burning within him—the pride which compelled him to continue to fight no matter what the odds, the pride that would ultimately lead him to his death if unchecked.
“Let your love for Brianna, your love for me, be stronger than your warrior's pride,” she whispered. “I know what you're feeling, Erik. I can feel it burning inside you. Your spirit demands satisfaction, it screams for a rematch despite the odds being so much against you. You know what we've shared. You can't hide your feelings from me.” She stood by Jeff. “Let it go for once, Erik, walk away. Pride isn't worth dying for, not when you have so much to live for and lots of people who care about you.”
Erik turned away and sat on the couch. He was quiet. Shanda could read the conflicting emotions coming from his mind as he came to grips with his ego. Erik Knight was a modern day warrior, not only in is mind but in his actions. His body seemed to be bred for combat; it was what he excelled at above all else. The detective's whole life had been one continual battle: first for acceptance, then for survival in the military, and now for his very life and livelihood. Shanda knew what she was asking of him was contrary to his nature.
“Think about it, babe, is this worth dying over and leaving Brianna and me alone?” she asked softly.
Erik was silent for several seconds. He looked up at her, his face calmer. “You guys are right, of course. I guess I got carried away with being the center of attention, the ‘Go to guy.’ I forgot what was really important. I'll tell Nelson I'm not going back up there. I guess I've done all that I can do. I have my daughter, a new love in my life, and good friends.” He looked over at Jeff. “Besides, I'm not that anxious to tangle with those things anyway, I'll let Steve and the boys in blue blast them with their heavy artillery. I've got better things to do.”
Shanda sat next to him and enfolded him in a tender embrace. “I know what that took and I'll reward you later,” she whispered as she kissed his lips tenderly.
“I apologize, Erik,” Jeff began. “I didn't realize you had company. I'll let myself out.”
“Jeff!” Erik called out.
The older man turned.
“Thank you,” Erik said plainly, but with a deep tone.
“Someone's gotta make sure you keep that head screwed on right,” he said, chuckling as he closed the door behind him.
* * * *
Several more hours had passed when Erik and Shanda made their way into Madame's. The couple was still all smiles and arm in arm; Jeff assumed that the young woman had given him his reward for abandoning the notion of pursuing the creatures.
Erik wordlessly grabbed a busboy cart and started clearing three nearby tables. He looked over at Jeff and nodded as he emptied the dirty dishes on the carousel. Jeff definitely saw a spring in Erik's step that had been missing for quite a long time. Erik walked back over to his booth and sat next to his new girlfriend. Jeff continued to watch the two from his hidden vantage point. They were laughing, holding hands, and staring into each other's eyes, too busy to notice the stares from the young waitress by the cash register.
* * * *
Jeff walked over to the counter where Alissa was eyeballing Erik and Shanda. “They make a cute couple, don't you think?” Jeff commented as Alissa broke her gaze.
“I suppose so,” she remarked, “but she'll distract him from what he has to do,” she concluded mysteriously.
“And what, pray tell, would that be?” Jeff asked, suddenly curious.
Alissa looked directly into his eyes, her dark blue eyes flashing momentarily. “It's not the right time yet, but when it is, he'll know what to do, I hope.” She shrugged her shoulders, and then quietly went back to her work at the counter.
“You're spookin’ me, little lady, and we've had enough of that in this town for quite a while,” Jeff remarked as he walked away.
Alissa watched Jeff disappear into the back room. “You're wrong. The real horror hasn't even begun,” she whispered silently as she looked back over at Erik and Shanda.
“I never expected to meet all my family in one place. They were very smart in their planning. How could they have known and planned so well?” Alissa remarked as she continued to gaze at the couple.
* * * *
Erik pulled into his ex-wife's driv
eway and made his way to the door. He rang the bell and waited. Margaret opened the door, her jaw dropped with surprise and she immediately began to look uncomfortable. Erik decided his best course of action was to head her off before she could start again.
“Before you say anything, you were right this morning and I was wrong.” Erik knew the best way to head Margaret off was by conceding defeat immediately. “Brianna comes first. They'll be going in without me, whenever they decide to go back,” he blurted out quickly.
Margaret took a step back and motioned him inside. “I'm glad you reconsidered.” She paused and cleared her throat. “Erik, let me apologize for causing such a scene this morning; I don't know what came over me. The thought of you back out there, possibly dying.... “She hesitated. “Even though we're divorced, well, it doesn't mean that I don't.... “She faltered again, struggling to get her words out.
“I understand,” Erik replied. “And thank you.”
Margaret suddenly blushed and hugged him awkwardly. “Again, I'm sorry for causing a scene in front of your friends,” she said as she pulled herself back. “Can I ask what changed your mind, you seemed dead set to go ahead this morning?”
Erik smiled at her, a genuine smile of warmth. “My friends convinced me that they would rather have me around than visit my headstone at a cemetery. They also suggested that the Munchkin deserved to have her dad around, living, even though he can be pig-headed at times.”
“It's good that you have friends that care. Listen to them, you'll probably live longer,” she added lightly.
“Indeed,” Erik remarked, staring up the large wooden staircase.
“Go on up, she's been expecting you,” Margaret remarked as she looked up the spacious stairwell.
Erik nodded and quickly headed up the stairs. He walked down the 40-foot foyer, realizing that the second floor hallway had more square footage than his entire apartment. He heard the sound of a radio blaring, and knocked on the last doorway.
“Coming,” a voice answered.
The door opened slowly and Brianna popped her head outside. When she saw her father her eyes opened wide with delight.
“Hi, Daddy!” she exclaimed, jumping into his arms.
“Hey, Munchkin, whatcha’ doin?” he asked as he carried her back into her room.
“Just hangin’ around, listening to some music,” she answered as she jumped from his arms and turned off her radio.
Erik took a few seconds to study his daughter's room. It was palatial. There were stuffed animals covering a queen-sized bed with brass head and footboards. Sitting on her desk was a state of the art computer that put the one he used in his business to shame. Erik had to admit that his daughter truly did have the best of everything here. Richard and Margaret provided her with anything a little girl could possibly dream of, and everything a blue collar PI couldn't. He again felt a pang of guilt.
“Are you going to stake the house out tonight?” she asked eagerly. “Can I stay up with you?”
“I don't think a stakeout is needed, Bri. I came to tuck you in and make sure the alarm is working,” he answered as his eyes carefully surveyed the window locks on her bedroom windows.
“But, Daddy, I don't want to sleep by myself. What if it comes back?” she asked in a voice suddenly laden with fear.
“It won't, honey, not here anyway.”
“But I'm scared,” she whispered.
Erik reached inside his shirt and pulled off his dog tags. “I'm going to tell you a little secret about a time when I was scared. It was before you were born. I was in the jungles of Columbia and I got separated from my unit after a firefight. I was terrified. I squeezed these tags so tight that I put a dent in this one. See the dent right here?” He held up the dented tag for her to inspect. “Whenever I felt the fear creeping back up on me, I would squeeze the tags and the fear would pass. After a few days, I found my unit and everything was all right again. But from then on, even today, whenever I get the chills, I squeeze these tags, just like I did years ago, and the fear goes away.” He placed the tags over her neck. “If you feel afraid, just squeeze the tags and your fear will go away too, just like it did for me.”
Brianna held the tags in her little hands and looked at them as if they were more precious than gold. She squeezed the tags and smiled. “I think it's working,” she whispered.
“Excellent, I knew it would.”
“But, Daddy?” she asked suddenly. “What will you use?”
“Daddy will get by for a few nights without it, you need them more than I do right now.”
Her little smile was like a warm ray of sunshine.
Erik spent another thirty minutes with his daughter and then headed back home. He performed one quick sweep of the home's perimeter before he left. Hopefully, his daughter would sleep well and not be plagued by nightmares from the hideous ordeals of the day before. Those kinds of horrors were for adults to deal with, not children. All that remained was to tell Nelson that he was off the case, and he couldn't do that until he was contacted. Until then, he had an entire evening to devote to Shanda and he intended to make the most of it.
[Back to Table of Contents]
* * *
Chapter 9
Sunday, 12:45 p.m.
Erik yawned as he bussed the dishes from another table. Shanda had reluctantly left early in the morning to get a fresh change of clothes and check on her business. They had been out late and stayed up even later. He was paying for it now. He had been bussing and waiting tables for almost five hours and was literally dead on his feet. What he needed more than anything now was a long sleep. Erik quickly discarded his apron and hair net and headed back into his office. He was about to lie down on his couch and sleep when he heard a knock on his door.
“Who is it?” he asked wearily.
“Alissa.”
“Alissa, what's up?” he asked, not bothering to get up from the couch.
“A Mr. Nelson is here to see you. Should I have him come back later?”
Erik stood and opened the door. “No, I'll deal with this now. Could you please have him come back here? And could I impose on you for a fresh pot of coffee? My eyes feel like they're made of sand paper right now.”
“I'll take care of it,” she assured him.
Erik did his best to snap himself out of the fog he was in. He knew Nelson would be angry with him for pulling out now, but there was no more choice for him in the matter.
Erik heard Nelson and Alissa walking down the hallway. Nelson followed her in and sat on the small couch opposite where Erik was now sitting. Alissa silently poured each man a cup of coffee.
“Will there be anything else?” she asked Erik in a professional manner.
“No, Alissa, that should do, and thank you again.”
Alissa smiled, nodded, and then closed the door behind her as she stepped into the hallway.
Erik studied the older man sitting across from him; he too looked tired, but there was something more. Nelson looked defeated. Erik had seen that look in men before. It didn't fit with Nelson's character.
“I take it you have news,” Erik began.
“Yes, and none of it good,” Nelson answered. “I spoke with the Reynolds yesterday; they've decided to let the local authorities take the lead in the investigation. We've been side-lined. I spoke with the chief of police and three town officials this morning and they're leading a force into the woods tomorrow with some local police and reservists from the National Guard. They're bringing in some pretty heavy weapons, M-16s, M-60s, and some other munitions. They're on a mission to exterminate those things and they pretty much said that civilians would only be in the way,” Nelson remarked as he sipped the steaming mug of coffee.
“Where does that leave us?” Erik asked, doing his best to hide his relief.
“It leaves us running the command post if you're up for being out of the action,” Nelson answered.
“Being out of the action is just what I want right now,” Erik answered.
“You heard!” Erik said, surprised.
“Yeah, I got the low down from that cop you're friendly with this morning. He was kind enough to let me read the report he filed,” Nelson answered. “That was pretty gutsy, Erik.”
“That thing wanted my daughter, that was only going to happen over my dead body.” Erik took another sip from his coffee cup. “I do know one thing: these creatures are intelligent and sentient. That one with the red eyes, there's a malevolence there that I've never felt; it's beyond human. They're a part of something that happened here that we can't even begin to understand,” he added moodily. Erik suddenly changed his tone. “But, with any luck, by the end of the day tomorrow, they'll be scattered in little pieces across the forest floor.”
“Let's hope so,” Nelson agreed. “So, I'll see you around 9:00 sharp at the same place as before?”
Erik nodded. “Yeah, I'll be there. We'll see if we can't keep these guys from blowing a hole in each other's head.” Erik drained the last of his coffee.
“One thing has been confirmed though, which you were right about all along, I might add,” Nelson began as he headed to the door.
“And that is?” Erik replied.
“Based on the events at the park, those things took Lisa Reynolds, and they're after other children for some reason. Whatever the reason is, it can't be anything good.” The elder detective adjusted his long trench coat. He paused, reaching inside for a folded binder of papers. He casually tossed the papers on the nearby table, “Here's some light reading.”
“What is this?” Erik asked as he eyeballed the documents.
“It's your copy of the lab report on the blood samples we took,” Nelson answered. “I turned a copy over to the boys in blue. It makes for some good reading, if you like science fiction.”
“Give me the Reader's Digest version,” Erik said as he walked over to pick up the papers.
“Sulfur-based bio organic compounds, unconventional DNA helicons, and a whole bunch of other tech jargon right outta Star Trek. The bottom line is, these things are contradictory to every other natural life form that's developed on this planet,” he remarked.
