by Glenn Rolfe
“The man’s name is Gabriel. Gabriel Riley. He’s renting the cottage out by the old cemetery on outer West Grand Avenue. My sister called you guys a few days ago to report him acting like a creep across the street from our house. He’s also personally threatened me.”
Rocky held back the bit about Gabriel being a vampire. He wanted to at least be listened to first.
“What proof do you have that this… Gabriel Riley, was it? What do you know about this guy that tells you he’s responsible for the abduction of over fifteen people and the possible deaths of four more?”
This was the tricky part.
“He’s the man that broke into my uncle’s house and attacked my father. I don’t know what he did to my uncle, but I bet you’ll find all the proof you need at that cottage.”
“Listen, kid, I’m real sorry about your dad. I am, but if this is some sort of sick way of placing the blame….” To Rocky’s surprise Shannon sighed. He seemed genuinely empathetic.
“Morning, Todd,” a voice said from behind Rocky.
“Morning, Pete, you look like hell.”
Officer Nelson looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. The bags beneath his eyes were like bruised craters.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Shannon said, standing up.
“Sure.” Nelson nodded at Rocky. “What’s this about? Everything okay?”
“Let’s talk first,” Shannon said, before looking Rocky in the eye and tapping his desk. “Stay right here a minute, okay, kid?”
Rocky nodded and folded his hands over his lap.
Shannon and Nelson went all the way across the room to what Rocky assumed was Pete Nelson’s desk by the window.
He couldn’t make out a thing they said, but he took note of each and every glance they threw in turns in his direction. Neither one laughed.
He’d gotten this far in each of last night’s imagined scenarios. The next part was the make-or-break part of the conversation.
“Kid,” Shannon yelled. “Come on over here.”
Rocky got up and headed around the front desk and joined the officers at Nelson’s desk.
“I remember the phone call from your sister. Julie, right?” Officer Nelson said.
Rocky nodded.
“Some tall weirdo in sunglasses….” Officer Nelson trailed off as he said it. Rocky thought it looked like something clicked in his mind.
“Pete,” Shannon said, “what is it?”
Nelson opened a drawer and shuffled through a number of files. He found the one he was looking for and pulled it out, placing it on the desk. He opened the folder and lifted the handwritten report.
“Tall, pale, sunglasses, hat, maybe ponytail.”
That was Julie’s description of the man that waved to her from across the street. The man Rocky already knew was Gabriel.
“And you say you now know who this man is?” Nelson asked.
“Yes.”
“And how’s that, if you don’t mind telling me.”
“I’ve been seeing his sister since almost the start of summer vacation.”
“And do you have any reason to think he means you harm?”
“He caught us together on the beach a couple weeks ago and told me if he caught me around November, that’s her name, that he’d kill me.”
Nelson appeared to think on it.
“I don’t know, Pete,” Shannon chimed in. “I mean, I guess the guy could have a grudge against Zukas here, but that doesn’t make him a killer or even a bad guy in my opinion. I have a younger sister. Sometimes you have to scare punks away.”
“Did you see his teeth or his fingernails?” Nelson asked.
“What?” Rocky wasn’t sure how to respond. “I mean, I didn’t see his teeth…or his fingernails, I guess.”
Shannon barged in again. “Zukas, have you guys seen this Gabriel guy since that day your sister reported him?”
“No.”
“There you go. Maybe he wanted to scare you away from his sister. Looks like it worked like a charm.”
Nelson looked at Rocky. There was almost a sense of acknowledgement, what it meant Rocky had no idea. “Shannon,” Nelson said. “Can you give me and the kid a few minutes?”
“Sure, Pete, but I think—”
“I know what you think, Todd. Thanks.”
“All right, whatever.” Shannon shoved his chair back, agitated. He ran a hand through his short blond buzz cut and started back to his desk.
Nelson squinted. “Is there something you’re not telling me about all this?”
Here was his opening. Here was his chance to say it.
Say it.
“Why? You don’t believe me?” Rocky said instead.
Nelson picked up a pencil from a black pen holder on the corner of his desk and began tapping it on the desktop.
“This man who threatened you. You’re certain he’s also the fella your sister saw?”
“Yes.”
“But you haven’t seen him since.”
“No.”
“How about the sister?”
Rocky saw her floating off the ground.
We’re vampires.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Twice,” Rocky said. “I saw her at Palace Playland on my birthday, the 4th, and she gave me a present right before telling me we couldn’t see each other anymore. That it wasn’t safe.”
“It wasn’t safe for you?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“And the second time?”
“She called me later that night. After nine. We were celebrating my birthday at my house and my sister said I had a phone call. It was my friend, November, and she asked me to meet her down the street.”
“And did you?”
“Yeah. She…she warned me that there was something different about her brother. That he was dangerous.”
“Those were her exact words?”
Rocky nodded.
“I’ll tell you what,” Nelson said. “I’m interested in having a talk with this Gabriel.”
“So, you believe me?”
“I’m not so sure about tying the guy to all that’s happening around here, but I bumped into a fella last night on the pier. Matches the description of your guy. Tall, ponytail, and sunglasses even though it was well after dark. Now, that can fit plenty of people floating through town, but this guy spoke to me. And I didn’t get a real good feeling from him. Between you and me, he managed to give me the creeps.”
“That sounds like him.”
“Well, you have that address for me?”
Chapter Thirty
Pete sent the Zukas kid home and told Shannon to stay put. Damn, he felt bad for the boy. He’d seen him fall to pieces right before his eyes when he had to tell him about his father. Heartbreaking. Pete had lost his older brother to the Vietnam war. Freddy had been enlisted for two years when the shitty conflict began. Made it through three tours before getting blown up a week before he was set to come home.
Shaking the memory free, Pete stepped into the parking lot and saw the newbie, Matt Martin, getting ready to take off.
“Martin,” Pete said.
“Yeah?”
“I need you to run out to see someone with me.”
“Yeah, sure,” he said. “I’ll follow you?”
“Yep.”
“Officer Nelson,” Matt said.
“What’d I tell you, Martin? Nelson or Pete is fine. What is it?”
“Is this anything to do with…with the killer?”
“I don’t think so, Martin, but you’ve got to be prepared for anything.”
The kid swallowed hard.
Pete felt bad for him, almost.
He remembered the case of the heebee jeebees this Gabriel fella ha
d left him with last night. Nightmares and everything after he finally convinced himself the guy wasn’t coming through his window.
Five minutes later, they arrived at the cottage the Zukas kid described. A black Grand Prix sat in the driveway, only now it had a U-Haul trailer attached to it. The kid hadn’t mentioned that. Pete didn’t doubt that it hadn’t been there the other day.
He pulled in behind the trailer and watched as Martin pulled his cruiser up on the shoulder before the rental place.
They stepped to the door and knocked.
It was just before eleven in the morning. To Pete’s surprise, the man, Gabriel Riley, answered the door.
The sunglasses were gone. It looked as if the man’s pupils had swallowed the rest of his eyes. Two onyx orbs bore into him.
“Hello, Officer,” Gabriel said. “Why, look at you, all dressed up. Ah, and the nick on your neck looks much better this morning, if you don’t mind me saying.”
Pete’s hand found the Band-Aid. “Can we come in, Mr. Riley, is it?”
“Why yes, of course, but you must excuse the place. Our vacation is coming to its end here in your lovely little town.” He moved aside and ushered them in.
The place looked nearly empty save for the stock furniture the renters probably supplied. A blue sofa, wooden coffee table, little stand with a small Zenith television, a Formica table in the clean kitchen across the way.
“Are you the only one home?” Pete asked.
“No. My sister and mother are in their chambers.”
Chambers?
“Is there a problem, officers?” Gabriel asked.
“We received a couple reports about a gentleman that fits your description,” Peter said. “A couple of harassment complaints. Had your name and address even.”
The smile on the pale man’s face with the midnight eyes faltered slightly.
“I assure you, officers, I have harmed no one.”
“I didn’t say anything about harm,” Pete said, pulling the little notebook from his front pocket. “When did your family arrive in town?”
“I’m not sure I need to answer your questions.”
“I’m quite certain you do, Mr. Riley. We take harassment charges very seriously in this town.”
“I see,” he said. “Well, then, we arrived here June 3rd.”
“So, you’ve been here just over a month then?”
“Yes. I suppose so.”
“Do you know a Rocky Zukas, Mr. Riley?”
“No, I’m afraid that name doesn’t ring a bell.”
“Is your sister a November Riley?”
“Yes.”
“Were you aware at any time over these last few weeks of her relationship with a local boy named Rocky Zukas?”
Gabriel took a deep breath. Pete noticed the man’s nostrils flaring. His eyes squinting.
“I do not meddle in my sister’s affairs.”
“Did you know she was seeing someone here in town?”
“What she does is not my business, so long as she doesn’t get herself into trouble.”
“And did you think this boy, Rocky Zukas, was trouble? Did you threaten him on the beach after catching him with your sister?”
“I…I may have told the boy she was with to find someone else to aim his hormones at.”
“Did you threaten to kill Mr. Zukas if you caught him with your sister again?”
Gabriel seemed to unravel ever so slightly. He was rubbing his forefinger and getting visibly agitated.
“I told him what I had to, to protect my younger sister. If I used that sort of language then forgive me, but it worked. For goodness’ sake, officer, it was just to scare the young man off. You know what these boys have in mind nowadays with their heavy metal music and their drugs.”
“Did you ever go to the boy’s home?”
“What?”
“The boy’s sister called to report a man fitting your description last week standing outside their home.”
“When did it become a crime for someone to wave to someone else?”
“I never said anything about you waving to her.”
“What is this all about?” Gabriel asked, his voice rising.
“May we take a quick look around the premises?” Pete asked.
“Fine. Do as you wish, but may I please ask you not to bother my family? My mother has been very ill this summer, I’m afraid she’s been laid up for most of our vacation.”
“Sure. May we see your room?”
“Of course,” he said, stepping past them and leading them down the hall.
He opened the door to a very basic, barebones bedroom. A simple full-sized bed, a dresser, and nightstand with a lamp upon it. The lamp was lit since a very heavy black shade covered the lone window.
“Afraid of the sun?” Pete asked, motioning toward the drawn shades.
“I’m a bit of a night owl. I’m usually just waking up at this hour, but with the preparations to head home, I’m up early.”
“Hmm,” Pete said, walking in and opening the closet. Bare. “Wow, you either packed very lightly or that U-Haul outside is already filled.”
“Yes, we are hoping to head home within the next couple days,” Gabriel said.
“Does this property have a basement?” Pete asked.
“Why, yes it does,” Gabriel said, his lips curling upward at the edges.
The butterflies in Pete’s stomach began to take flight. Everything about this guy was telling him there was something more to him. He didn’t like it. The disappearances began precisely in line with his arrival. He’d threatened a local boy, and inadvertently admitted to harassing the kid’s sister. Though none of that was enough to charge him with anything.
As he and Martin followed the man to the door in the dim hallway, Pete’s hand moved to the pistol at his side.
“I’ll have to warn you to watch your steps, officers. The stairs are a bit creaky and weak in spots. There’s but one dim bulb at the bottom.”
Pete looked back to Martin and nodded at the gun on the boy’s hip. Martin gently undid the button over the flap to his sidearm. He looked nervous but otherwise showed no signs of weakness.
Good, Pete thought. Being scared kept you on your toes.
They began their descent behind Gabriel.
The scent of earth told Pete it was a dirt-floor basement. Probably not more than the size of the living room above it, maybe the living room and kitchen.
As they reached the bottom, Pete grabbed for his flashlight. If Gabriel was in front of him, he couldn’t see him. He didn’t even hear the man over his own blood thrashing in his ear.
He was about to flick his flashlight on when the dim bulb at the centre of the small cellar bloomed to life, revealing nothing but a few mostly empty shelves featuring some paint cans and a small toolbox. There were two wooden pallets leaned up against the far wall.
“Satisfied?” Gabriel asked.
“Yes, thank you,” Pete said. Relief flooded him; the adrenaline rush subsided, leaving him shaky but able to breathe again.
“I’ll stay down here with the light until you gentlemen reach the top step.”
They turned and made their way back up and to the front door.
“Should we talk to the sister?” Martin asked.
“Let’s just head back,” Pete said.
Gabriel was right behind them. Both officers jumped.
“Sorry, did I frighten you, officers?” That devilish smirk crossed his odd face again.
“One more question,” Pete said. “Where were you on the night of July 4th between the hours of, say, nine and two?”
“I believe I watched your town’s wonderful fireworks display from the beach before retreating home.”
“Really? You just went home? I thought you said you were a night owl?�
��
“Not that night,” he said, the smile gone, his dark eyes intense.
“And your mother or your sister could verify your whereabouts during those hours?”
“They surely would.”
“Mr. Riley,” Pete said, “I may need to check with them on that. I won’t disturb them at this moment, but you can count on my coming back later, unless they’d be willing to come down to the station this afternoon.”
“Of course. If you truly think you need to speak with them, I’ll be sure to let them know.”
“Thanks much,” Pete said, heading toward the porch steps.
“Say, you wouldn’t want to show me the inside of that trailer, would you?”
“I’m sorry, Officer,” Gabriel said, a scowl on his face from where he stood in the doorway, his voice a low growl. “But is there something you want to charge me with?”
“No, but I would ask that you and your family stick around for the next forty-eight hours or so. At least until I can check on a few things,” Pete said, raising his notepad. “Now, you have yourself a nice afternoon, Mr. Riley.”
Gabriel went back inside, slamming the door.
Pete eyed the trailer as they walked by.
“Sir, is there something you need to tell me?” Martin asked.
“Let’s get back to the station. I think we need to see what’s inside this trailer.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Officer Nelson had sent him home, but Rocky’s hands trembled as he reached his uncle’s house. Part of him expected to see his uncle come bouncing out the front door or laughing around the corner welcoming him to come out back and have a drink. Neither happened, of course. Rocky stared at the front door, looking through the small porch where they’d found his father. Where Gabriel had left him to die. But if Gabriel was responsible for killing his dad, why had his body been left when no others had?
His father’s official cause of death was a heart attack. Maybe vampires couldn’t drink from someone who was dying. An accident, maybe?
Another reason came to mind. It was a message. A message meant for him.
Bastard.
Rocky stepped to the porch and stood at the busted door. Looking around the entryway, he saw so much of his uncle. His trusty red Coleman cooler, his waders hanging from a nail on the other side of the door, and of course, the babes in bikinis from his Hot Rod magazines plastering the limited wall space, a true tits-and-ass wallpaper, and probably part of the reason his uncle never had a girlfriend. Well, that and the fact that his uncle seemed content drinking beer and puttering around the yard and garage at will. Before meeting November, Rocky could have easily seen himself enjoying a lifetime of solitary comforts, wrapped up in music, movies, and a few burgers and drinks with Axel. Had Uncle Arthur ever met someone like her? Well, not just like her. No one was like her. Maybe there had been women. How well did he really know his uncle in his personal life? Rocky couldn’t recall a time when he’d ever asked his uncle about his likes and loves outside of cars or bands. Standing next to the porch’s broken screen door, picking at the splintered wood where the hinges had come off, he spotted a jackknife on the floor in the corner. Simple brown handle with a tarnished brass end. He picked it up and pulled out the blade. Tracing its edge with his thumb, he saw it was still sharp. He closed it up and slipped it into the pocket of his shorts.
