The Peacock Angel: Rise of the Decarchs
Page 13
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Thane saw a whole slew of police through the little window of door thirty-one. They were sitting around a big table playing cards. One of the uniforms, who had obviously spotted Thane through the little window, walked towards the door. Thane noticed that the little man kept looking back nervously at the table. It seemed to Thane that he held little trust for his fellow players and was very leery of tomfoolery at the card table. He also seemed none too happy about removing himself from the game. He wore an inconvenienced look on his slender, bird like face.
The officer stopped at the door and peered upward through the window. The thick glass was all that stopped Thane's heavy breath from blowing into the fellow. From the looks of him, that might have been enough to topple him over.
He was a petite man. He looked reed thin and ghostly pale. His sunken eyes, thinning hair, and anemic traits had Thane wondering if the man was sick. His uniform was N.O.P.D.
"Step away from the glass and identify yourself," the officer barked.
It was a shrill order that left Thane temporarily stunned. He realized it was procedure, but the little man's size and manner offended him. He was certain that this guy liked to harass people. The little fellow probably bluffed a lot of folks with his cocky demeanor and gold shield. Thane, however, had seen his type many times before, and he wore a badge of his own.
"Lieutenant Thane Connally from Gale Parish," he responded. "I believe you gentlemen are expecting me."
Thane took one step backwards and came into full view of the officer staring at him from behind the door. The tiny bastard's air of superiority dissipated completely. He became overly friendly almost at once. He tried to engage Thane in conversation as he hurriedly worked to open the door.
If there was ever a time to be sarcastic or overblown, now was that time. Instead, he waited patiently to enter. He had no use for that kind of behavior.
As the little officer struggled to get the door open, Thane detected movement out of the corner of his right eye. He turned his head quickly and made out a figure walking towards him. As best he could tell, it was another human being, which would be the first that he had seen in the fourth floor hall. Soon the figure drew close enough for him to tell for certain. It was a man-a skinny fellow wearing a brown uniform.
His features were hard for Thane to make out in the poorly lit hall, but the young deputy could tell that something was wrong with the man. His movements seemed jerky and labored. Each step was unsure and awkward. There was nothing fluid about the man's range of motions at all. He reminded Thane of a toddler just learning to walk, or better yet, he acted as if he was a puppet manipulated by strings from above. Thane fully expected the man to topple over at any time.
This guy's either really sick or really drunk.
"Hey friend, are you all right?" asked Thane.
There was no answer. Only the beginnings of what Thane thought was a laugh of some sort came from the down turned head of the man. He was getting closer.
He could tell that the man was old. His skin, spotted and wrinkled, was the color of heavily creamed coffee and hung loosely on his lanky frame. His hair was cut short. It was dark and shiny, peppered with gray. His face was still hidden by shadow. He was very close now.
"Hey man, can you hear me?" Thane tried again.
Still there was no reply. Just the laugh again. It was childlike, but it was far from innocent. To Thane it sounded like an eight year old girl hiding from a playmate. From the mouth of a babe it could have been a joyful noise, but coming from the emaciated figure approaching him now it sounded unnatural and more than a little scary. He was almost to Thane.
During his time with the Sheriff's department, Thane had always relied on his instincts to keep him healthy. Many times in inmate dormitories he was able to anticipate the exact moment before things got dangerous. This was one of those moments.
Twice he had addressed the man in the hall, and twice he got no response besides the impish giggle that he heard still. He would not address him again. His heart began to thunder as he kept his eyes glued to the man and his back pressed against the door behind him that still wasn't open. He readied himself for whatever.
The man was directly in front of him now, and for an instant he thought that the stranger was going to walk right pass him.
Then he stopped . . . and turned . . . and raised his face from the shadow.
Thane saw the knife in his hand first, and then he saw the man's face.
He quickly forgot about the knife.
What the hell are you?