Surrender

by Cassandre Dayne

  The last he heard was the sounds of retching skating across the hallowed nightscapes of the city.

  ***

  Their cell phones buzzed at the same time. “Fuck! This can’t be good.” Mike snarled and set his beer down with a thud.

  Jax sighed as he stared at the text message. When it ended with a 911, it always meant a horrendous event. “The precinct.”

  “You want to do the honors buddy boy or shall I?”

  “I’ll do it.” The single beer had squelched the nausea but damp perspiration floated above his lip and refused to go away. Punching in the numbers he studied the television as the game neared its final seconds. He usually loved the playoffs but today for some reason his mind had wandered over the events of the case the entire game, that and the memories of the dream that remained vivid and fresh in his mind. “Sergeant, what’s up?’

  “There’s been another murder but this time we might’ve gotten lucky.”

  “Shit, lucky? How so?” For a killer to strike again after a couple of days meant either he was being pushed or his need was growing. Either way this was bad news.

  “There’s a witness,” Sergeant Sikes breathed.

  “Holy shit, you are kidding?”

  “Nope. Thinks she saw him coming out of the place.” Hissing, the Sergeant inhaled deeply.

  Jax turned toward Mike and shook his head. “Another boy?”

  “Yep and before you even ask, I already checked and this kid, John Simons worked with Aleksandr Vasiliev six months ago. It was all up and up with checks being exchanged. I got a hold of Mr. Vasiliev’s accountant and granted I think he had been prepped for a call, he was quite accommodating and while he was a little cagey about details, I see nothing odd about the event. Although he did scream at being interrupted the way he was.”

  “I don’t think I want to know.” If he knew the Sergeant, he’d sent a black and white over to rouse him.

  “Look, I already got grief from the mayor based on the fact that he received a call from a perky little reporter from Channel Twelve earlier today wondering what we were hiding so you gotta take this one down quickly,” Sergeant Sikes said quietly. “Damn this shit!”

  “Great, I thought you were handling the press.” Jax rubbed his eyes.

  “The press has this now? Fucking shit man!” Mike stood and turned off the television. “What?”

  Jax held up his finger.

  “I have a press conference scheduled but that’s not going to do us any good. I have no doubt the press will clamor to the scene. You also realize there’s a direct connection with this artist. There are too many coincidences here. If there’s any indication that he has any knowledge, bring his ass in,” the Sergeant huffed.

  The Sergeant was right and there were no coincidences only dead bodies lining up. Three for three. What wasn’t the artist telling him? “What’s the address, we’re on the way.” Jax snapped the phone shut and grumbled.

  “Let me guess, another one,” Mike snorted.

  “This is getting out of hand.”

  ***

  Martha Plimpton was the next-door neighbor and owned the house in which John Simons had rented. She sat at the dining room table of her home staring into nothing yet her hands and eyes twitched.

  What little Jax had learned on the way fit the pattern. John Simons was a struggling artist and model. The kid was barely twenty-four, had one recent arrest at a rave party involving drugs and had nine dollars and eighty-seven cents to his name. He had relatives in town and from what Jax could tell, John’s work history was sketchy.

  Martha nodded as Jax walked in. From what he’d seen next door, the poor woman would have nightmares for weeks. “Mrs. Plimpton?”

  She swallowed hard and attempted to look into his eyes as the horrors saturated her chestnut brown eyes into a dim look of someone beaten. Her soft voice was laced with a hoarse cough. “Just Martha. My husband died three years ago.”

  Jax pulled a kitchen chair out slowly. “Do you mind if I sit and just talk with you for a few moments?”

  “Um…no.”

  She was shaken but remarkably calm and Jax was surprised given what she’d seen. “I understand you heard John screaming earlier?”

  “I…yeah. I was watching the news and the poor kid just wailed. At first I thought he was playing around but by the second set, I knew he was being hurt.”

  “How so?”

  “You know that sound that’s so desperate?” Martha shivered.

  “You’ve heard sounds like that before?”

  “You live in the city you hear gunshots, robberies and drug deals. You never get immune but you just know it’s going to happen. I used to live closer in, down in Church Hill but by the forth time I was broken into, neither Sam or I could take it any longer. We thought it was safer here, you know? And now this. He was a good kid, a bit mixed up but aren’t we all. You know he had a big modeling job lined up in New York.”

  Sensing she was cracking around the edges, Jax kept his voice as soft as possible over the din of the blaring television. “Mrs. Plimpton – Martha - I know this is difficult for you but please tell me what you saw.”

  She sat wringing her hands for a moment as her body rocked back and forth in the chair. “I ran out and um didn’t see anything at first. It’s what I heard that scared me.”

  “What did you hear?”

  “Crackling of bushes and snapping twigs and…and a hiss. Then I could swear he was cursing but the words were odd somehow.”

  “Are you sure what you heard was from a male?”

  She nodded, her head bobbing up and down listlessly. “No doubt. The voice was very deep and hoarse.”

  “What did he say?”

  “I don’t know. That’s just it. I think what he was speaking was a foreign language but it’s not one I’ve ever heard before.”

  “Martha, there are many languages you might not recognize.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I used to teach at the University languages of all things and this was definitely a dialect I’ve never heard before.”

  “Did you see him?” A strange dialect to go along with the carved tattoo peaked his interest.

  “I don’t know what I saw really.”

  Jax leaned forward realizing she was terrified not only of what she had seen in the room but by what she had seen of the killer. “If you’re afraid that he identified you, we can provide protection for you.”

  Marta sat silently for long moments staring out into the night, her body rocking back and forth.

  He scooted the chair closer to hers. “Please Martha. We have a horrendous situation on our hands and this is the only break we’ve gotten. I need your help on this.”

  “He’s done this before?” She stared into his eyes as her trembles became shakes.

  “I’m afraid he has and we’ve had no eye witnesses before. With your help we may be able to stop him. Anything you saw could be helpful. Anything no matter how insignificant it seems to you just might be the detail we need.”

  Rubbing her eyes, she nodded. “Well, I saw a flash of long hair. I think it was blond but I wouldn’t swear to it and he was a big guy.”

  Instantly Jax froze. “How large, Martha?”

  “At least six four. I only know that because he reminded me of the size of my brother in law, God rest his soul.”

  “Did you see any other features? Did you catch a glimpse of his face or perhaps notice any type of clothing he wore?”

  “No, it was too dark. I barely made out his hair and wouldn’t have if it hadn’t been so long. You know I think my eyes were playing tricks on me anyway.” Her laugh was nervous, strained.

  “What do you mean?” Grimacing, Jax knew he had enough to go on to bring Aleksandr down to the station. Perhaps not enough for a search warrant but definitely a talk would be in order. It was very interesting how the pieces were falling into place and all signs leading directly to the good artist. That usually meant a frame. He didn’t like any of this a
t all. Someone was playing a terrible game and lives were being lost. Jax rubbed his eyes and heard his little voice telling him there were too many missing pieces.

  Martha shook her head. “It’s nothing really. I think I must have seen a flash of the streetlight or something.”

  “Martha, what is it? If it’s nothing we’ll check it out and that will be fine.”

  “Well, I could have sworn that I saw…no, it’s crazy.” Jerking to her feet, Martha glided toward the kitchen sink.

  “What is it, Martha? What bothers you so much?” He rose from the chair but remained behind the table. Whatever she believed she’d seen terrified her completely.

  She finally turned and looked him directly in the eyes. “I know this is going to sound insane but he turned and looked at me for a split second just before I went inside. The way the moonlight and the streetlight shimmered over his face hid most of his features and I could see little, but…but I saw his mouth and I could swear it was bloody and…” She whimpered and pressed the back of her hand against her mouth. “I’ve never seen anything like what that fucking animal did to John. He ripped…he ate his…oh God he ate his heart! You could see it right there. God the poor kid!” Sobbing she blinked furiously until she was able to speak, yet her breath was raspy. “He’s a freaking monster.”

  “Martha–“

  Martha held out her hand and shook her head. “I know what I saw. You’re going to think I’m fucking nuts but I know what I saw. He had fangs, bloody fangs.”

  On any other day he would have written her off a nut case, but on this ugly day, he knew the petite woman with dancing brown eyes and a soft demeanor was serious and sane and for a moment he wondered if he had been dropped into the middle of hell.

  Mike strode into the kitchen frowning. “We got problems. The press is here and they’re not taking no for an answer. You better get out here cause it’s starting to get ugly.”

  Jax nodded for him to go into the living room and turned toward Martha. “Thank you so much for telling me. I believe you, Martha. I really do and I’m going to do everything to follow up on this. You’ve been an amazing help tonight.”

  She nodded and wiped the single tear from the corner of her eye. “I’ve lived a long time Detective Steele and seen many things but how could anyone do something like that to another human being?”

  Jax sighed and took her hand. “I don’t know but I’m going to find out. Take care and if you think of anything else, please give me a call.”

  “Catch him, Detective Steele. Please.”

  Jax nodded and walked into the living room. The mass of people outside was almost too much to deal with. The blaring lights showered into the dimly lit room casting haunting shadows across the floor. “Jesus, what a nut house.”

  “Tell me about it. That perky blond sure is a looker but damn, she’s a tenacious bitch too. Still, I could do her.”

  “Mike, I’ll deal with the press, okay? You tell the boys to go pick up one Mr. Aleksandr Vasiliev at his studio for questioning.”

  “You think he has something to do with this, don’t cha? You never told me what happened the last night at the gallery. You should have told your partner,” Mike breathed.

  “I guess we never got around to it. He’s an interesting character. I do think he knows much more than he’s telling me and I think all three of these kids worked with him.”

  “Well, while you were being um…with Amanda, I got the paperwork on Greg Barnes. He did indeed work for this guy for a shoot. Paid the kid damn good money too. Did some checking into this guy Jax after I found out and couldn’t get a hold of you. You know he has a reputation? He might be a good businessman but the guy is…out there.”

  “Meaning?”

  “He’s a fucking faggot,” Michael snorted.

  “A little louder so the news crew can hear you. Jesus, what the hell does his sexual appetite have to do with anything here? You know better than this, Mike. God damn if anyone gets wind of this, do you know what they could do or say? Holy Christ here!”

  Mike stared at him, narrowing his eyes. “Whoa buddy, I was just commenting on his art and reputation and the sexual nature of the kills, nothing else. Why the hell are you so worked up about this?”

  “I’m just tired. Now we have a connection. Anything on Brent?”

  “I called and his boss is out of town for the weekend. You have an appointment with him first thing Monday morning. Here’s a folder though from Charlotte. She said you’d be interested in what she found.”

  Jax took the inch thick mass of papers and as he flipped through the pictures he nodded. He had indeed seen the symbol before. Cleaned up, they were quite visible and exactly from the stunning seductive photograph in Aleks’ studio. “Damn it all to hell.” The most interesting aspect about the three kills was that the men looked similar. While it might mean nothing given Aleks use of models, Jax made mental note.

  ***

  Aleksandr strode into Dark Towers after one a.m. knowing the club would close soon enough and the after hours festivities would begin for the select chosen few. The night was warm and humid and the activity inside the club was sweltering from the pulsing neon lights and the myriad of dancing partners in various stages of dress and undress. He glanced throughout the crowd, keening in on all the conversations looking for Felicity. While she usually wouldn’t come down to the floor, he sensed her presence and she was angry, livid in fact. He scanned the room. There was no abnormal activity and yet she was raging for some reason.

  He glanced at the main bartender who caught his eye and nodded, glancing up the stairs. Taking them two at a time, he reached her door within seconds. Aleks never knocked and she didn’t expect him to. “You’re angry.”

  Felicity turned with a jerk and glared at him, her mouth pursed and her eyes flashing with rage. “You bet. Some freak thinks he’s going to get a bead on me and the little creep can jack off as far as I’m concerned.”

  He raised his eyebrow and glanced at what she had in her hand. “Pictures?”

  “Of you and I fucking no less. The little jerk must think I give a shit he has me with you in handcuffs like what, he’s going to get money?”

  Aleks strode to her and jerked the glossies from her hand. There was no doubt where the pictures had been taken, the fire escape outside the third floor window. He had no curtains as he had no need. The telling pictures were nothing but someone’s game to tease him. He flipped through each one and hissed. The red markings over the crisp black and whites were taunting enough. They were not Durac’s style which meant their combined thoughts were real enough. Not only were representatives from the Jicard family in town, they wanted to play nasty little games. Snarling, he realized he was going to have to kick up the heat.

  “What the hell does this mean, Aleks? What does the freak want?”

  “A piece of me. How did these arrive and when?” Aleks hissed and immediately thought about Durac.

  “Today sometime. They were here when I got in lying in a plain envelope on my desk. I nearly threw it away in truth.”

  “Did you ask who put it on your desk?” Aleks glanced over the entire room.

  “If you’re thinking other things have been disturbed, they haven’t been. I asked all the employees and no one knows how he or she got in here.”

  “Then you have a breach in your security.”

  “Or someone working on the inside perhaps but I don’t really think so. The majority of my folks have been with me since the opening. I cannot imagine one of them doing this.” Felicity paced back and forth.

  “I have no doubt Felicity that it’s not you, it’s about me.”

  “But why? Because of what you are?”

  Aleks shook his head. While she understood some of his past, he hadn’t told her of his calling. There was no need and at this point it would place her life in danger. Fingering the necklace, this was the ultimate prize. Given the fact his powers were weak, why weren’t they coming to kill him and take the gilded
key? “Someone is no doubt trying to frame me for some murders that have occurred and these pictures are nothing more than a warning that he or she can get to me anytime they please.”

  “Murders? Are you kidding me, Aleksandr? What the hell is going on here? I can’t have this mess of shit associated with my club and you know that. I have enough trouble with the damn police as it is. Tell me, what’s going on? Why would someone want to frame you? I realize what you are Aleks but does this human know what you’re capable of?”

  “I don’t know Felicity on either count but I have an idea of where to start. May I keep these?” Aleks knew exactly where to start all right. He had no doubt that the entity who’d been foolish enough to tangle with Durac was either completely insane or had a death wish. Or a new regime was coming into play. He growled as he stared at the pictures again. How dare the person invade his privacy and threaten his livelihood. The thirst ravaged his system from the complete rage that pulsed through his body. He closed his eyes trying to force back the beast but he had come to the club for the woman, for sex and blood. “Lock the door.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me, lock the door. I’m too hungry to wait.”

  Felicity gave him a tawdry smile and glided toward the door. “You’re an insatiable man. You’ve just told me that there’s a killer loose with possibly a big scarlet ‘x’ next to your name and yet you want to fuck me.” Her laugh was laced with a trace of husky desire. She locked the door and turned around, backing against it. “So what do you need tonight?”

  “Nothing slow and sensual. Hard and fast, baby.”

  “Is it ever sensual with you?” She smiled as she eased toward him, hands on her hips. “Hmmm…” Placing her finger into her mouth, she suckled, pulsing the digit in and out past her ruby stained lips. Keeping just enough distance, she cocked her hip and tipped her head back bringing her finger out with a pop. “Tell me what you want.”

  “Come here woman lest I ravage you savagely.” He did enjoy their game. There was no other woman he could play with roughly and certainly no other that knew of his true self. While he would leave her soon enough as she would him as well, they enjoyed enough of their sexual hungers and she was completely trustworthy. The woman was also full of life’s energy and with a single taste of her sweet blood he was usually sated for days. The issues with Durac, while enlightening, had been draining indeed.