Stolen Redemption

by Michel Prince

  In a moment Vince would be gone and I had no reason to see him again. Then again, I wasn’t dressed properly. Leather from head to toe. My hair braided, but wrapped tightly against my head. No respectable lady would dress this way.

  Harlot. No wonder he ran so quickly away.

  “When the noon hunters come back we will be meeting,” Kiyoshi ordered, and I turned to see his face full of irritation. “I want a full report on this detective. You have two hours to pull it together.”

  * * * *

  Detective Vincent DeTello

  She’d wanted more than just to thank me for the candy. What if she was caught up in a sex slave ring? I ran my hand over my face. Maybe I was chasing zebras. A sex slave ring in the southeast corner of Iowa…something was going on, not that, but women were missing. Even that one guy’s sister had stopped caring that he’d disappeared. Damarion, another unsolved missing person’s case dragging my clearance rate down and weighing on my conscience. Was this whole town unfeeling?

  “Hey, Vince, how’s it going?” Yappy stood on the public sidewalk in front of Maddie’s home.

  “She does have manners. Now did you bring me a cup of coffee on this cold day?” I asked, and she knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. “Meegan, why are you here?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.” Prim and eager as usual. I had to chuckle. Then again she was a transplant too. Maybe I could use that to my advantage. “You planning on telling me anything?” she asked.

  “No. I wasn’t planning on it, but if you brought me some coffee I might just make an exception.”

  Meegan looked up the street at Donutland, then took off at a steady pace.

  “DeTello,” Jones bellowed from the doorway. “Can you come here?”

  I went back inside. Jones led me to the bedroom where Connie, our entire forensics department, was latching the top of her kit.

  “Tell him, Connie,” Jones prodded.

  “Nothing, not a single fingerprint.”

  “See,” Jones said as if I was supposed to suddenly feel like a fool.

  “A grown woman had no fingerprints in her bedroom?” I asked Connie.

  “Yeah, so I doubt you found blood,” Jones said.

  “Jones,” I started, then shook my head. At least Connie seemed to understand. I think.

  “What? Let me guess, the guy used gloves so that was it, right?”

  “No, he didn’t use gloves,” I replied. “Why don’t you go back on patrol?”

  “Finally, real police work,” he grumbled. “Wish I could just walk around the damn town doing nothing and get paid.”

  “Those speed traps are hard work,” Connie muttered when he left. “Now that Columbo’s out of here…I even dusted the bathroom. I need to hire whoever was here to clean my house.”

  “Did you look at my evidence bag?”

  “Yes, I agree with you. She didn’t sit on a chocolate bar.”

  “Jones has all the detective skills of a Naked Gun movie.”

  Connie giggled and walked out with me. Meegan stood at the end of the pathway with a cup and bag.

  “I hope you like cream-filled.” She held out the bag and coffee.

  “I’m a cake donut guy…you know, with sprinkles.” I took the coffee but not the bag and walked toward my car. “But I’ll give you something. Did you know Wesleyan got a new offensive coordinator this year?”

  “I don’t write sports.”

  Placing the cup on top of my car, I rested my arms on the hood and looked at her with a grave expression.

  “I know what you write. I also know you can ask questions and dig in ways I can’t. Remember next time, I like a splash of cream.” I winked.

  She bit on the nugget of info I fed her. That would lead her to Damarion, then Nemesio. Maybe even a bit about Kiriana George, whoever she really was.

  My heater wheezed after I started my car. It was time to pay Bruce another visit. The drive to the run down trailer was as bad as my drive across Illinois to this town. Only then I was escaping. Escaping the pain and memories. Chicago had been my home, but like an abusive parent who could only see the bad no matter what I did. The final punishment sent me on a search for a new home. The listing by the MtPPD hit the search engine at the right time.

  Ten years ago when I became one of the youngest detectives in Cook County. If someone would have told me I’d run for the plains I’d have blackened their eyes for calling me a chicken. Tapped to go undercover, I’d seen and been around the worst of humanity. Now, even the thought of crossing the Mississippi frightened me. Jones was right about one thing—I did think my main duty would be figuring out who stole Billy Bob’s prize sow in this town.

  As I approached the farm I saw quite a bit of activity so I slowed down to avoid spooking those involved. The man who had been with Esther hopped out of the passenger side of a black Denali and opened the barn door. Inside I could see a half dozen vehicles. I tried to get the license plate number, but it was too far away and two other cars were right behind it. A woman drove in the truck, then parked it next to an older motorcycle as the others pulled in beside her. The man scanned the area before sliding the door closed.

  Instead of pulling in the driveway I turned around and went in search of my favorite magistrate. I was getting in that barn one way or another today.

  * * * *

  Esther Benson

  This compound was so strange. A meeting? Never had I been in a compound where the Frozen met so much. They met to talk about feelings, met for meals, and were now meeting to discuss the problem that is Detective DeTello. He wasn’t a problem though. The problem was that demon in the basement, Damarion. That was who I should have been investigating. Not Vincent and his gray-green eyes that held a loss behind a concerned look.

  My research, assisted by Zarmina, found he had been a dedicated officer who left Chicago abruptly three years ago to come to Mount Pleasant. Zarmina had helped me hack into sealed files to discover why. My heart lurched with each report. The final one had me in tears. But now was the time to be strong. The time to share what I’d learned about Vince since he’d come here.

  Absently my finger traced a picture of him from a few years ago that I’d printed off the Cook County website. He had a five o’clock shadow in the image as well as shoulder-length hair. He’d trimmed it since then, but I preferred the style from before. It reminded me of the paintings in my father’s study. Gabriel had shoulder-length hair too. I wondered why Vincent cut it. It was quite striking. When my finger glided across his lips mine tingled in response.

  “You okay?” Kiriana asked as she took the seat closest to me.

  “Of course.” I snapped the file shut and held it to my chest. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Your face is flush. I wasn’t sure if you were running a fever of some sort.”

  “Frozen do not get fevers.”

  “They also don’t get pregnant.” Kiriana placed her hands on her belly. “Well, some don’t.”

  Others entered the room and Kiriana dropped the subject of my warm face. Why had I been looking at the picture in such a way? I remember when my father had caught me sketching during his sermon and slammed his fist on the pulpit. Those in the audience thought he was emphasizing his point. I knew better. Especially when he caught me before I could discard the picture of a schoolmate of mine.

  Lust. Vixen. You ignore the word of God for the sins of the flesh.

  I jumped and shrieked when Kiyoshi tapped my shoulder, causing the room to stare.

  “You okay?”

  “Yes,” I replied with my focus on the carpet.

  “Will you be able to share what you’ve learned with the group?”

  “Give me a moment.”

  Kiyoshi began the conversation by stating we had a potential problem and with so many new members of the household it was time to brief everyone on the situation. Moving the compound with the closing of the local Hell’s Mouth less tha
n a year away, possibly a month, would cause us to lose sight of the end goal.

  “Doesn’t the princess already know where our compound is?” Berlin asked.

  “Not exactly,” Kiriana explained. “She and her Deumos were blindfolded and brought in and out without knowledge of the location. Additionally we drove different ways on the way here and back as well as taking long routes.”

  “The demons aren’t the issue,” I added. “We know their compound’s location and could attack at any time. The issue is the human threat.”

  “Humans are a threat?” Sophie, one of the newer Frozen, asked. “We protect them.”

  “And they cannot know about us,” Lars explained. He was one of the oldest members of the Frozen at our compound and Other to Zarmina, who had her fingers locked in his. Her tanned Middle Eastern skin seemed darker against his Nordic coloring. “That’s why we try to stay away from the city and never engage with those who live there.”

  “Nye didn’t and neither did Schmitty.”

  “And now look at them…old married fools,” Lars chided.

  “From the oldest and most married fool of them all,” Schmitty retorted and kissed his new bride Trisha on the cheek. “I take that as a compliment.”

  “The reality is panic would occur if humans knew about the demons emerging and hunting.” I crossed my arms and attempted to get the focus back on the subject at hand. “Nye has been here for close to fifty years without aging. How would it look to those in Mount Pleasant if they kept seeing him year after year?”

  “Vampire or werewolf. Got it. So what exactly is the threat?” Sophie asked.

  “The Deumos contacted the police a few months ago,” Kiriana said. “Nye and I thought nothing of it and really they hadn’t even attempted to contact us again until a few days ago.”

  “What do they want?”

  “Damarion,” she stated plainly. “The demon we hold in the basement. At least that was what they wanted. Has something changed?”

  “Now the detective wants you,” I stated.

  “Me?” she balked. “Why would he want me?”

  “Because you’re the only victim to survive a serial killer.”

  “My dad never came after me.”

  “Your dad?” A shiver shot through me, and the whole room stared at her.

  “Who does he think attacked me?” Kiriana asked.

  “I don’t know. Girls have gone missing. Blondes. Zarmina’s hacking found eleven girls missing and another two dead. What did you mean about your dad?”

  “My father is technically a serial killer, but he was high the whole time and is currently getting treatment in town at the prison.”

  “Mount Pleasant Correction isn’t a max security prison,” I gasped. “A serial killer is housed there?”

  “It’s where they send their sexual predators.”

  “He’s a rapist?”

  “My father has issues. Can we get back to this detective snooping around?”

  “He caught me at Bruce’s and again at a crime scene in town.”

  “Why were you at a crime scene?” Nye asked from a corner where he’d been standing in silence. Our leader, who rarely spoke except to scold, had come out against me.

  “It was an error in judgment that will not be repeated.”

  “Good.” Nye stepped from the shadows. His dark form cut through the room, silencing murmurs. “What, if any, threat is this Detective DeTello?”

  “How did you know his name?”

  “I was there when he spoke to Kiriana a few months ago…I’m assuming it’s the same man.”

  “It is.” I tapped the file on the desk in front of me. “He’s from Chicago originally. He used the phone number you gave him for Bruce to pull up his whole history. Family and all.”

  “That should have led him nowhere,” Nye said.

  “Exactly. And the fact Bruce is an old white guy made him wonder how he was one of your relatives.”

  “Oh crap, we did say that.” Kiriana reached for Nye’s hand as he sat on the arm of the couch.

  “I guess you guys are not good liars.” I sighed and bowed my head in shame. “I’m not much better. At this point in time Vince appears to be focusing on the people in town. Maybe if we help him find this killer or rapist he’ll leave us alone.”

  “How exactly would we help him?” Kiyoshi asked.

  “Um…well, if I…see…I hadn’t thought that far.”

  Kiyoshi looked at me with his mouth slightly agape as he nodded.

  “It’s a good idea,” Kiriana said. “We need to be on the lookout for criminal activity. The only thing is we can’t stop it or we will be a bigger part of the investigation and that we can’t have. Tell me about the victims.”

  I described the missing prostitutes. What they looked like and the newer victims. As I read the autopsy reports Kiriana’s face paled, but I didn’t give graphic evidence so I was unsure why. Wringing her hands, she kept her head down until she could no longer take whatever troubled her and tapped Nye’s hand. Rushing…the best she could with her engorged belly, she left the room with her Other in tow and we all sat stunned.

  “They’ll be right back,” Kiyoshi assured the group. “So we’re watching for someone after blondes.”

  “Why not use me as bait?” Berlin, a former socialite, offered. “I’m blonde. If that’s his only criteria, I should be right up his alley.”

  “That’s not an option.” Kiyoshi walked behind the secondary couch in the library and placed a hand on Berlin’s shoulder. “We are here to protect and more than likely a demon is influencing this killer. He’d smell you a mile away and leave.”

  “Smell me?” Berlin scoffed. “I will let you know I bathe in the best—”

  “We all give off a smell.” I interjected. Berlin was easily offended and new—a combination that still had her on more than one member of the Frozen’s hit list. “If you wish we could ask the sulfuric smelling creature in the basement what it is. I’m sure it’s delightful.”

  “Winter,” Kiriana said as she re-entered the room. “Which right now makes it very hard for them to distinguish us from the world around them. I remember when Nye first brought me here. He smelled of a cool brisk day.”

  “You’re not suggesting—”

  “No.” Kiriana sighed. “I’m not. Although Berlin is new, she made her presence known when she fought at their compound. And we’re not risking any of us, but these crimes sound familiar to me and I might just have an idea who is behind them.”

  “Who?”

  “The demon that influenced my father.”

  Chapter 4

  Pivane

  WELL, well, it appeared Nemesio ordered take out for me. Knocking on her door was a tiny little blonde. She does know my favorite flavor…oh, wait, the girl was Chinese…maybe Vietnamese. It’s been years since I’ve sampled a good Asian dish. My lip twitched as I watched the woman standing outside the home in the cul-de-sac Nemesio tended to reside in lately. She must not be there. I’d be a good neighbor and talk to the lady now peeking through the windows.

  “Can I help you?” I asked from my front door as I rubbed my arms from the cold.

  “Have you seen your neighbor lately?”

  I cocked my head to the side and took a few steps outside.

  “A few hours ago. I think she was running some errands.”

  “Do you know when she’ll be back?”

  “No, but if you’d like to come in and wait, it would be warmer.” I offered with a soft smile and she seemed to relax for a moment. “I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”

  “I’ll just leave my card.” The woman pulled out a business card and wrote a note on the back before slipping it in between the screen door and the doorjamb.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes,” she replied and hustled to the car. “I’m sure.”

  When she pulled off I walked to the third house in the cul-de-sac where
Nemi stayed to retrieve the card. Meegan Yap, a reporter from the Mount Pleasant Gazette. On the back she wrote, Investigating your brother’s disappearance. Call me.

  Entering the second home that had been taken over by the princess after hers was destroyed, I found it too was empty. Okay, this was strange. With only one home left to search, I entered it to find all of the women with three bantling demons still in the animal forms they possessed before becoming whole.

  Nemesio, Masako, Kanga, Ceiline, and last but not least, Princess LaDressa. We were down to three really since LaDressa doesn’t hunt and Masako is her handmaiden and protector. Kanga instantly recoiled when I entered the room. As if I could or would take her again. Her body was weaker than any I’d ever known, besides a human. The rest of the dark-haired Deumos I could take or leave…but our dear, sweet princess with her blonde-to-the-point-of-white hair…even I could smell the pheromones she caused to rush through my body.

  “I’m hurt, Nemi,” I said as I snagged a piece of jerky from a demon and savored the salt-laden goodness.

  “The food is for the demons,” she sniped.

  “Not because of that—because you didn’t tell me about your brother. How long has he been missing?”

  “Brother? Was Detective DeTello by?”

  “No, a reporter. An annoying one at that.”

  “Reporter?”

  I held the card up and Nemi crossed to me. Having a good six inches on her I simply held the card above my head.

  “You need to pay the toll if you want her number.”

  “I’m not fucking you.”

  “Then I guess I’ll just keep it.”

  “No, you won’t.” LaDressa rose from the head of the table. It was strange to see her hair pulled back and not loose. Today it was in a prudishly tight bun with a thin platinum webbing covering her skull.

  “You offering to pay the toll?” I purred with desire as she approached me. “Sandwiched between the two of you I feel like Damarion about to partake.”

  LaDressa’s already dark eyes found a deeper level as I could see the anger surge as her irises swirled. Her love for the fool that was our real Yahweh was admirable, but stupid and useless. He was torn between women even before he died. Now…he’d have to be a fool to be holding out for the princess because within a week I’d have her spread wide and accepting my seed.