by Orren Merton
I grinned a little bashfully and caressed his right arm as it held the steering wheel. “I want…I want to be with you, Jake. I want to be a couple…if you still do…”
“Yes,” Jake responded, nodding eagerly. “Very much.” He glanced at me with an affectionate grin. He lifted his right hand off the steering wheel and took my hand. I took his hand into both of mine and rested them on my lap.
“We’re going to have to take it slow, at least for a while. I hope that’s okay. Not just because I’m new at this. But I still have some issues controlling my Sedu self. I’d hate to get lost in passion and…you know…burn your face off,” I quipped.
Jake chuckled. “Yeah…that would really kill the mood.”
I smiled back.
“Slow is okay. As slow as you want. We’ve got time. I can see myself being together with you for a very long…” He paused, swallowing his words awkwardly.
“I do too,” I said, lifting up his hand and kissing his fingers. “I do too.”
We found a metered parking space in the small lot next to Newport Pier and headed toward the beach. The coastal breeze felt really nice, making the hot, sunny day far more bearable. We saw Detective Godinez standing at the entrance to the pier, gazing at the wind-swept waves.
“Hi, Jake,” he said as we approached. “I’m glad to see you look well, Alex. Better than well, actually.”
“Thank you,” I said as we all shook hands.
“I had assumed…” Detective Godinez shifted his eyes a bit nervously to Jake.
“It’s okay, Jake knows everything,” I reassured the detective.
Detective Godinez gave him a faint smile and tipped his head at Jake. “Well, shall we walk then?”
We started walking up the mostly empty Pier. A few fishermen were hanging out with huge poles in the water, but that was about it. Detective Godinez was careful not to walk or talk next to any of them.
“I was the detective at the crime scene after the attack. I saw all the footprints—human and…other,” Detective Godinez said. “I knew that you never walked away from that alley. I’d hoped you’d escaped into Sediin.”
“I was rescued by my House,” I explained. “I could tell you knew more than you were letting on when you called my Sedu blade a ‘House pen.’ The rabbi told me that he had a friend with a Sedu in his ancestry…”
“My great-great-great-great-great-grandfather was a Seduman,” the detective nodded. “For decades, he was the sheriff of Breakwood, Arizona, a small village by the Mexican border.”
“And you met him?” I asked.
“Yup. He was quite old, as you’d imagine. He’d watched his children, his grandchildren, and his great-great grandchildren all live long, full lives and die of old age, but he lived on.”
“What was he like?”
“Cantankerous and a pain in the ass,” Detective Godinez chuckled. “He was the weird old relative who lived in the middle of the desert, a crazy old man who drove the adults who tried to take care of him up the wall but was fantastic with the kids. He loved to entertain the children by lighting candles with his fingers, blowing fire, you name it. And when we were old enough, he told us all who he was and showed us his Sedu blade. Looked like yours, but with a different House insignia, of course.”
“So why didn’t you tell me? I mean, you and Rabbi Hirsch knew all about Sediin, the Houses—”
“Well speaking for myself,” the detective began, “I didn’t want to say more than what you already knew. Norm was far better and more practiced at easing people into understanding the world of the Sedu than I.”
I nodded.
“And I’m sure Norm intended to tell you everything, over time. That’s how he did it. And it worked, it kept people from flipping out, which sadly has happened when I’ve told people too much, too soon, about the Sedu.”
I sighed. I missed Rabbi Norm. I wished he was there for me to share what had happened to me, and about what I was capable of now.
“Do you have any Sedu abilities?” I asked.
“It gets diluted every generation, from what I understand,” he explained. “All that I have left is that I don’t get sick. I wish I didn’t lose my hair, either,” he grinned, rubbing his hand over the middle of his head.
“Your hair looks fine,” I said.
“Thank you, Alex, but I wasn’t fishing. Anyway, I didn’t tell you more at the time because I didn’t know how much you knew, how involved you were in that whole thing. I figured if you didn’t know anything, there’s no way that Jake did.”
Jake raised his eyebrows and nodded.
“I…I know that you and Rabbi Hirsch were really close,” I swallowed. “This must have—”
“Hit me hard?” Detective Godinez said, with hints of sadness and anger in his voice. “Made this case even more personal? Absolutely.”
“It’s personal for us, too,” I softly added.
Detective Godinez nodded, took out his phone, and swiped on it a few times. “Are you ready to make an official statement?”
“I am. I’ve thought about…about what I can tell the normal world. But I also have some stuff just for you I should say off the record,” I told him.
“I understand,” the detective nodded. “That will be fine.”
He held his phone between the two of us.
Jake turned to Detective Godinez. “Do I need to take a walk?”
Detective Godinez shook his head.
“Whenever you’re ready,” the detective said.
I nodded and spoke into his phone, basically giving the same explanation of events that Rachel told me she gave: that we were chased into the alley by the bald man’s truck, that he trapped us and attacked us with two dogs, but my dad and brother scared them off. I then added that my dad took me home so I could recuperate.
“Are you going to need an address for my dad? Because if you do, that’s gonna be…awkward,” I mentioned as Detective Godinez put his phone back in his pocket.
“Both you and Rachel stated your father took you home. I’ll note that they took you to your condominium and stayed with you there,” he explained.
“Yeah…that sounds good,” I agreed.
“So now that the formality is out of the way,” the detective inhaled deeply, “what did you really want to tell me?”
“I’m sure that it’s a Seduman behind the disappearances…and I’m sure they’re murders.”
Detective Godinez sighed. “Norm and I discussed that. These disappearances have…the flavor of Sedu or Seduman crime. But we weren’t sure. What makes you certain?” he asked.
I told him about everything my family and I had discussed: how Rachel and I were expressly told that Rabbi Norm was murdered because he was on the right track, that the “animals” who attacked us were Mazzikim, what the Seduman was trying to accomplish by nabbing these people.
Detective Godinez listened carefully, asking questions and prodding me for details. He was never intimidating, never rushed me, but was very thorough and took notes on his phone. He didn’t speak again until I was finished.
“I was afraid of this. I was afraid that when Mrs. Whattley’s dog was terrified of you, it may have been because it somehow detected an aura of Sedu heritage in you, just as when Jake’s mom…” Detective Godinez turned to Jake with an apologetic expression.
Jake nodded.
“So here’s the thing,” I said, trying to change the subject from Jake’s mom. “Mazzikim can only survive in our dimension for about an hour before they’d disintegrate. So that means that the Seduman has to be close, right? No more than maybe a forty-five-minute drive at most?”
“Not necessarily,” the detective explained. “The Seduman may be located very far away, and the Mazzikim could have been summoned nearby. Even if the bald man isn’t the Seduman but an associate, the Seduman could have handed his Sedu blade to him to use at the site of the murder. Remember, there are similar missing persons cases from all over Southern California. And from the San Fer
nando Valley above Los Angeles County, down to Orange County, is definitely longer than an hour.”
I sighed and nodded. He was right.
“I have been following up on your tip that the missing persons worked from home,” he continued. “It turns out that all of them were members of different religious congregations. That tells me that whoever is looking for stay-at-home victims has gained access to the private membership details of various religious institutions. So this Seduman is probably not a staff member of any one institution, but has people on the inside of many institutions.”
“Who has access to that information?” Jake asked.
I was about to answer, but Detective Godinez answered first. “Board members like the Director of Membership or Membership Services, the administrative assistants of the religious schools, boards, and clergy people.”
“I remember B’nai David’s school secretary on the phone to her boyfriend. Maybe it’s not staff in these institutions, but people who get close to them?” I suggested.
“Could be,” Detective Godinez nodded as he took notes on his phone. “Definitely something to follow up. Thank you again, Alex. Is there anything else?”
“Two things,” I said.
“Okay, shoot,” he said.
“First, I need to be part of your investigation team.”
“When we learn anything concrete, I’d be happy to call—”
“No,” I shook my head. “I want to be there. You let Rabbi Hirsch in on—”
“It was more than simply friendship, Alex. Rabbi Hirsch was a spiritual expert that I consulted with on cases that I felt might involve this spiritual dimension. He had an eye for those who had been touched by the Sedu and could reach out to them. He was a valuable asset as well as a dear friend.”
“I understand,” I nodded. “Now I’m also an expert in Sediin. Trust me—you need me, Sergeant. I’m trained to—”
“You’re trained?” he asked with raised eyebrows.
“I am. I spent three months in Sediin learning—”
“Learning investigative techniques?” he interrupted. “Forensics? Criminal justice and Constitutional law? Because that’s what an investigation consists of.”
I sighed. I liked Detective Godinez. But I was getting frustrated.
“I never said I could do your job, Detective Sergeant,” I insisted. “You’re great at what you do, and I don’t want to get in your way. But—”
“I very much thank you for that, Alex,” he said. “And the best way to stay out of my way is to go about your normal routine, and if you hear anything let me know. When we solve the case—”
“Look,” this time I interrupted. “This guy is bringing over creatures from Sediin to do his dirty work! Bullets will be like bee stings to this guy. He can breathe fire! He and his House will kill every human being who faces him. But I’ve been trained to face people like him, and other Mazzikim and Sedim. And I’ve got a House behind me, just like him,” I insisted.
“This isn’t a family feud on Sediin, Alex,” Detective Godinez said pointedly. “This is Earth, and we have laws.”
“I know! But—”
“But I am an officer of the law,” Detective Godinez said, slowly and purposefully. “You are not. That means I’m sworn to protect you, and I won’t be endangering a civilian—or have a civilian, whatever her background, engaging a murder suspect.”
“But you can’t beat him!” I protested. “I can. My House can. I know you’re trying to protect me, but I’m trying to protect you and your officers too!”
“So what you’re telling me is that to defend against a Seduman murderer I should bring my own trained Seduman assassin?”
“What?” I shouted. Assassin? Damnit, that… Where the hell did he…urgh!
I felt my hair and eyes getting hot.
But then I also felt Jake’s hand on my back. I closed my eyes and concentrated on Jake’s hand pressed against me to calm myself. When my eyes felt normal I opened them again.
Detective Godinez never took his eyes off me. I felt like he was testing me, seeing how I’d react. Hopefully, by not going full Sedu on his ass, I proved myself.
“I’m not an assassin. I was trained to fight, but to defend, to protect. Like you…but Sedu style. I don’t want to kill anyone.”
“I appreciate that, Alex. And I believe you. I know you want to be on the side of the angels. But you’re going to have to leave the law enforcement to me. If you want to join the police academy after college, I’ll be the first to welcome you into our ranks. But until then, I’ll do the investigating and ultimately the arresting.”
I huffed but didn’t say anything. I knew that there was no changing his mind. And I did understand what he meant. He just didn’t understand me, or my reasons…
“What’s the second thing?” Detective Godinez asked.
“Huh?”
“You said there were two things. What’s the second?”
“Oh…I can free the souls that the Seduman has imprisoned. That’s another reason I want to come along. Those victims…I can bring them peace.”
I could feel Jake’s hand on my back start to caress me tenderly. It felt really good.
“How?” Detective Godinez asked.
“Let me come with you, and you’ll see,” I said. I hoped that would get him to reconsider…
“You’re sure that you can do this? You’re not just saying this in the hopes I change my mind?” he prodded.
“There are no lies in the House of Keroz,” I said, standing as tall and proud as I could.
Godinez smiled. “I’ll tell you what. After he’s arrested, I’ll let you visit him in his holding cell, even if he’s in fireproof lockdown wearing titanium shackles and a facemask. If you can convince him to free the souls before he’s arrested, you can convince him afterwards. In fact, perhaps you’ll have even more leverage once he’s in custody. At that point, maybe I can help you make a deal with him. But as much as I want those souls to be released, I simply can’t endanger your life to do it. And as much help as you’ve been, you’re not a trained investigator, either. So please, Alex, I’ll handle this. I know you don’t agree with my decision, but I hope that you understand.”
I sighed. I wasn’t going to convince him. Reluctantly I nodded.
“Thank you, Alex. And I need to get going. This case is front and center now, believe me. I appreciate all you’ve done and are willing to do. Keep in touch. And we’ll talk soon.”
Jake and I said our goodbyes to Detective Godinez and hung out at the end of the Pier as he walked off. For a moment, we both silently looked down, watching the waves careen into the wooden poles of the Pier.
“We’re going to find him on our own, aren’t we?” Jake broke the silence.
“I can’t just sit around,” I said. “But I don’t want to endanger you.”
Jake turned to me. “I’m in. I’m always in, when you’re involved.”
I smiled, grateful, and caressed Jake’s arm.
“So any ideas?” he asked.
“Well, I mentioned Debbie, the B’nai David school secretary, earlier. Maybe I can talk to her.”
“Sounds like a great place to start,” Jake nodded. “After we eat. Il Farro is just over there,” Jake pointed around the nearby buildings to our left.
He stepped away from the Pier and held out his hand to me. I took it.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble—or worse,” I said.
“I know,” he answered.
He turned to me as we strolled across the pier. “‘There are no lies in the House of Keroz.’ I like the sound of that,” Jake said.
“So do I,” I agreed. I leaned my head on his shoulder as hand in hand we left the Pier and the waves behind.
30
I didn’t think it would be possible, but we had a relaxing lunch. Jake reminded me that since religious school didn’t start until after normal school hours, Deborah Steinberg wouldn’t be at B’nai David yet; we might as well do ou
r best to enjoy our first lunch together as an “official” couple. And despite all the pain I knew he felt about his mom, his quiet enthusiasm at just sitting with me at a restaurant was contagious. Pretty soon, we were enjoying Italian breadsticks, soup, and salad like any other couple. Well, any other couple that spent the hours talking about other dimensions and how to approach investigating a series of murders, I guess. It was hard to believe that our first lunch together was only a week ago, last Monday. I felt so comfortable with him, like we’d been together our whole lives. Or like maybe we were meant to be.
When we arrived at Congregation B’nai David in the mid-afternoon and walked into the religious school wing of the main building, Debbie was just getting settled in her chair.
“Oh honey!” she exclaimed as soon as she saw me. She stood up and reached her hand out to me. “Come here! Are you okay? I heard what happened when you and Rachel left…”
I walked over, and she put her arm around my shoulders and hugged me close. I put my arm around her back and smiled gratefully. It felt nice to have people care about me.
I released my arms, and she let go as I leaned on the table. “Thanks so much. I’m fine now. It was really scary though.”
“I’ll bet,” she shook her head, her eyes widened for emphasis.
Jake walked over. “Hi, may I please see the lost and found box? I think my brother left a comb here.”
“Absolutely,” Debbie smiled. She spun around in her chair and walked toward a supply closet behind the counter. She opened the door, stepped inside, and returned with a large plastic crate filled with random junk.
“Here you are, Jake,” she said as she put the crate on the counter.
“Thanks. Do you mind if I have a seat with it?” Jake pointed to the tall blue chairs behind us.
“Be my guest,” Debbie held out her hand as if to offer him a seat. “But please don’t take it out of the reception area.”
“Got it, thanks,” Jake said as he picked up the crate and then took a seat on a blue chair, putting the crate on his lap. He started rifling through it.
I leaned in close to Debbie the way that Jake and I had discussed at lunch and smiled conspiratorially. “You were right about Jake all along. We’re an official couple now,” I whispered.
