by E R Landron
“If I hadn’t had nosy neighbors I would have ended your life by now. You, sick son of a bitch!”
Kokolite’s eyes widen and left himself on the passenger’s seat as stealthy as he could. I get in the driver’s seat and in one motion jam the keys and start the car. I drive off, putting the seatbelt as the car is in motion. Kokolite opens the window and starts doing waves with his hands as the wind passes through his fingerless glove. For a long minute, the only sound is the engine and the wind entering through the window. I feel the silence creeping on. I snap. Got myself to calm down. I look at Kokolite and back to the road and back to Kokolite three more times.
“Sometimes it is easier just to say something.”, he says.
He keeps looking at his hands surfing through the wind.
“I want to say I am sorry.”, I say.
I’m serious, but I feel empathy towards Kokolite.
“What for?”, he asks.
“Me… being a dick with you… and you don’t deserve it.”
“Awww… but …you may have your reasons.”
“I do… yet you’ve been good. You’ve sacrificed yourself too many times in this period… and you don’t even know me.”
“You have a good heart though. You want to do good and…”
“I entered your mind K…”
“What? How?”
“On the building. When we were looking for you… a huge shriek what I presume was you… connected me… connected us.”
Kokolite enters his hand from outside the window. He starts to do rapid eye movements as he looks nervous. He keeps his face straight avoiding any stare with me. He closes his hands and caresses his thumbs together.
“For a moment we shared something that made clear what we both something more in life.”
Kokolite’s eyes tear up. The glare of his eyes shine as each street lamps hits them.
“What I want to say is… I do understand why you don’t talk about it. But if you need to, you’ll have a friend to confide.”, I say.
KOKOLITE
I slowly turn my face to hers and smile. She takes her sight from the road for a second, and I mouth a “Thank You”. We return our sights forward as the car continues as fast as it can to get to the police station. I really do not know how the connection occurred, but it did and something I had bottled inside for years now is out. I felt as if a big weight lifted from my shoulders. I miss my family. Each day for all this year. I hear people’s thoughts each and every day which can make anyone go a bit insane and yet holding up to something like my family; that doesn’t help at all. Maybe this is what I needed all these years… open myself up to someone. It was better said than done. I… I think I can start healing now.
MIEKE
We arrive at the station with a bruised face Oliver. Policemen are already waiting for and help me to process him. By now everything about Oliver have been confirmed. “As soon as you patched it in, three calls from 911 entered about a breaking and entering in your building.” one officer says.
I finish the paperwork on Oliver. Too many co-workers are baffled seen Mr. pretty boy FBI man in cuffs and shock to learn that he tried to assault me. I’m getting more expressions like "what the hell!?", "no way!”, “was he drunk?", between others. If he really thinks by now that I screwed his life, this will put his professional life on a tomb. Ortiz comes to the front of the station in her wheelchair as well and stops me.
“Hey, you Ok? I tried my best to get here faster but you know I retired from running.”, she says.
I smile.
“Oh my... that was funny. But yeah I’m good. So is my sister. Thanks for asking.”, I say.
“If you need anything just let me know.”
“I’ll bet you'll run to our aide.”
“Ha! It’s only funny when I say it. Now I can go to human resources and make a harassment claim.”
I smile once again and pat Ortiz on her shoulder.
“Take care, Ortiz. See you around.”, I say.
Ortiz nods as I walk the stairs and quickly get to the car. I wave as the passenger seat gets from back to front to its normal position. "You found the doppelganger!" I read Ortiz’s lips. Oh. Now she knows. We drive off.
Night - Cemetery
I keep driving and make a quick detour. The sky gets cloudy, and some lightning strike and raindrops fall. Now? Really? Man!! I hit the steering wheel.
“I’m going to the cemetery for a quick moment.”, I say.
“I know. I can hear you.”
“It’s annoying.”
“I can hear that too.”
We get to the cemetery. I get out and quickly feel the breeze. Smells as if it was soon going to rain harder. I lean over Kokolite's window.
“You don't need to say it. I’ll stay here! You do you. It's something way overdue.”, K says.
Kokolite hands me a flashlight, and I grab it. I nod and press my lips hard and just answer by double tapping the top of the car. I stop at the entrance as thunder strikes the horizon, making it flash all over the ground and tombstones. It is tranquil. Move Mieke. You can do this! I turn the flashlight on as I make my way to where dad lied. The ground is mushy from the humidity and the rains the city has been receiving all week. My boots make so much noise. I try concentrating on how I’ll react once I get there. Nervous. My hands tremble. I feel thirsty. After a minute or so walking I arrive at the tombstone. My eyes water in an instant. My lips tremble.
R.I.P. Herman Hertz
Good Hearted man, father, husband, and comic nerd.
Badge 20036
Would be missed by his brothers in blue and loving daughters.
The comic nerd part makes me laugh hard. Tears kept pouring. I laugh and cry at the same time. I kneel down and touch the tombstone. My jeans quickly become humid, yet I do not care at this time. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry I took this long dad!". The rain starts to pick up its pace. Now my tears mix with the fallen rain. I hear some sounds. I draw my gun. An old man with a lantern and an umbrella walks my way. He covers his eyes from my flashlight.
"Who goes there?" He says in a loud voice.
"I'm a police officer; I'll be in a second out!"
The man gets closer and reveals a droopy face as if the years have fallen on him. His hair like cotton balls.
"You look like him" his voice now sounds soothing.
"You… you knew him? You knew my dad?" my voice almost fades as I choke up.
"Everybody knew Herman! I bet you think good things about him. Well… he is that and so much more. I'll leave you to it..." he smirks. "Your sister visits him from time to time!"
The groundskeeper walks away. I feel a bit better than when I got here. The thought that there isn’t a single wrong saying about him reassures me that the vision of him isn’t tarnished. "I wish you could say something back to me..." As I look down at the tombstone again, some footsteps come back my way.
"So how you knew him again?" I raise my voice without looking.
A second passes and no answer. I take out my gun. A young woman late 20s, low 30s is where the groundskeeper was standing. A coat covers her hair. I raise my gun and flashlight, and the woman raises her hands showing a letter on one hand.
"Mieke Hertz?" the strange woman asks.
"Yes?"
"This is for you!" she extends the letter.
"What is it?" I ask.
The woman takes off the upper part of her coat to reveal a red hair that shines as more thunder flash the area again.
"I just deliver miss."
I grab the letter. I recognize the handwriting as I examine the letter. I try to do a mental picture just in case. She is a messenger, yet she’s built, serious face that tells a story of too much experience lived. Black tank top with the light brownish coat with black stripes, maybe Velcro and a choker with a cross dangling. I go back to the letter, all cripple and humid because of the rain.
"Who send this?" I ask rai
sing my head quickly.
I’m met with an empty cemetery. What the fuck? I jam the letter in my coat and run out of the cemetery. Next time I'll come on daytime. Almost two heart attacks in a second. Jesus Christ!
I get to the car and Kokolite smiles. I smile back as I open the door.
"May I ask if everything was good?", Kokolite asks.
"Yeah! Better than expected."
"At least while you were there a saw Joe, the groundskeeper. Haven't seen him in ages." Kokolite threw his hand twice in the air back and forth to make his point.
"You know him too?", I ask.
"Yeah! Joe is good peeps!"
"And the woman?" I ask.
"What woman?"
"The woman that came after Joe."
"What are you talking about?" He looks confused.
"Never mind... thanks for not entering in my thoughts."
"I kind of did... but I don't see her, what she looked like?"
What’s weird is that the mental picture I did of her, fades so quickly that it almost seems like it didn't happen. I quickly shove my hand searching for the letter. I take it out and still see dad's handwriting on it. What the fuck… what were we talking about again? I get spook. I start the car and put it in reverse and drive off.
"Let's just get out of here!", I say.
After driving a for a while, we arrive at an old style dinner close to the apartment. Ezequiel is already waiting inside. We enter and walk towards the booth Zeek sits. Kokolite slides like a kid to the end of the bench. I sit next to Ezequiel. Quickly a middle age waitress arrives with menus. I gesture a no with the menus as they hang in the air which the waitress retreats courteously.
“Give me coffee. Strong. Apple pie. And a big scoop of ice cream.”, I say.
The waitress looks at both Ezequiel and Kokolite chewing her gum while adjusting her white plastic headband. I look at them but their blank slate tells me, they don't know what to do.
“Get them the same please.”, I continue.
The waitress nods and takes another look at both Ezequiel and Kokolite and bites her lip. As she walks away Kokolite’s jaw drops as he points at her with his thumb.
“That woman is a freaaaaak! The things she would do to us at the same time. Oh, Lord! No confession on Earth will forgive her.”, Kokolite says to Ezequiel.
He smirks. I roll my eyes upwards and let a huge sigh. My lips hide as I look for the next thing to say.
“Diane stayed put?”, I ask.
“Yes, she did.”, Ezequiel says.
“Ok… good. What's going on guys? One week and what’s this with me being famous.”
“It will be better for K to tell you. I'm getting adjusted to the whole city talking.”, Ezequiel says.
“Koko?”, I ask.
“Well, I told you already you are famous. You beat Ripa...”, K says.
“You mean we beat Ripa. And that’s another thing wasn’t he supposed to be a god?”, I ask.
“About the god, I don’t know? About who beat who? Sorry, Mieke... your name is the only one dangling here. We are your followers it seems. How a crazy person living in the church all these years beat the most powerful vampire in the city? It was all you, they say. All crazy stories...”, he says.
“But that’s crazy! I’m just human. I can’t have followers. Can’t you talk to the city? Or whatever makes the story straight?”, I pull my hair.
“Wish it could be that easy, make a press conference and say the things as they happened.”
As I was going to hit the table, the waitress brought a tray with three apple pies with the ice cream scoops leaning on the side with the coffees. She places each pair in front of us.
“Anything else guys?”, she asks.
“Not at the moment. Thank you, mam.”, I say.
The waitress smiles again and winks at Ezequiel. Kokolite's eyes open up and turn to me as I’m breaking two sugar packages and stirring my coffee.
“If she does... does... it! She could go to jail!”, Kokolite says.
“Koko continue.”, I say.
“Really!? Oh Lord!”, he whines.
“What he tries to say is. There's a power shift. Apparently, the council was murdered. Ripa was killed. It seems treaties have been broken, but up to what extent? We do not know.”, Ezequiel says.
I’m taking each word and analyzing them one by one. I just got to know this existed and now I'm the notorious number one suspect for everything wrong vampire? How did that happen? Both above the law on humans and a criminal in their world.
“This must suck for you!”, Kokolite says.
“Kokolite!”, Ezequiel snaps.
“So what now?”, I ask.
“We will train you. We will protect you and your sister. This will be a mere distraction. Our main focus, on the other hand, should still be to find Drake. Find the orb and the sarcophagus and see what he wants to do with all that.”, Ezequiel says.
I nod and take a bite of the apple pie. Ezequiel looks at it weird and takes a bite at it as well. A huge smile appears on Ezequiel's face.
“Your food is strange but good!”
I look at Kokolite as if he isn’t going to touch his food.
“Oh, I don't eat food... your food. I wish I was that dust old like the mummy over here to eat that.”, he says.
“I will take it then!”, Ezequiel says.
Ezequiel grabs Kokolite’s plate and jams his spoon on it and shoves a huge chunk of apple pie and ice cream to his mouth, making it difficult to keep his mouth open as he chews.
“You don't eat at all?”, I ask.
“You are a bad detective. They should evaluate you guys more. Blood duh!”, Kokolite says tapping his head.
Ezequiel swallows with difficulty.
“Let her be Kokolite; she will help us get that orb. We will get that orb. You’ll see. I enjoy your food Mieke. When we meet again, we eat your food.”
I force a smile, but Ezequiel's words still linger in my mind. We have to find an old ass vampire with an orb and a sarcophagus. He raises the dead; the other is super-fast. I'm a human and vampires are saying I killed the most powerful kingpin on the city. What would that play out for me and Diane? How bad can this get? Am I prepared? I can do this. I would do this. I look at both Ezequiel and Kokolite sharing a laugh. My world keeps getting weirder each passing second.
Night - Mieke’s Apartment
I got to the apartment with more questions that I can grasp. I tap my jacket. The letter. I took it out. I saunter inspecting each part of it. I have a new weight on top. I put it back. I’m nervous. It isn’t just the letter. The nightmare isn’t over. Yes, Ezequiel and Kokolite will train me. Protect me. To what extent? I am human. They fought somebody that almost killed them. Even though he died. There’s a more powerful vampire that we have to look for. I can’t go and recruit people like the Army does. It’s plain and simply crazy.
I go to Diane's room. She’s sleeping with the gun I gave her earlier. I took it and place it on my waist. My fingers run through Diane's hair. She’s safe. Diane has a photo on her nightstand of us. Including dad. All smiles. Diane has ice cream all over her face. I poke dad's face and tap my jacket. The letter. I close Diane's door discretely and head to my room.
I check if the window is locked. Paranoid much. I took off the jacket and place the letter on the bed. I pace. Right to left for a minute or two. I bite my fingers. I need a smoke. Mieke you quit. I sigh. My palms are getting sweaty. I’m making stories of what the letter contains. Maybe is one last goodbye. Some insurance information. Something about that son of a bitch Oliver. A sorry message? I need a smoke. I stop pacing with one hand across my chest grabbing my elbow as the other arm is straight in my mouth with a half bitten nail. I spit the nail and jump to bed leg crossed and grab the letter as if I have little time to read it. In a single sweep, I rip the envelope seal with my finger. My heart is raising. I sigh as I hold the letter. For a second all
the words look blurry. I squint. I sigh again. I shake my head. One more breath.
Hey Schnucki
I hope you are good as you can be when reading this. I know you are very busy with the bureau and all, but I hope you have a second to spare on looking for the things that matter in your HOME. I bet you feel stronger than ever and that you are glad that we traded the dolls for guns when you were growing up. I miss that TIME. I will miss it all. As you may know, my TIME ended quicker than I thought. That doesn't mean your TIME has to stop. I would send out for you some angels to protect you and guide you. From now on I advise you to keep your ears open and also keep an open mind. Don't take anything for granted and follow your gut feeling. You know how the world is, and every time you open your eyes, it will get scarier. I'm no saint, but I did everything in my power for you and Diane to be safe, to be good, to be protected. You two are my world and forever will be.
I will love you forever and beyond,
DAD
A tear falls in the letter. I keep sobbing as I see dad's writing. I could actually hear his voice. I fell to my pillow looking for some comfort. Tears keep dropping to my temple and into my hair. Wait a minute. My heart stops for a moment, and I jump sitting down. I reread it. Once more. The whole letter is written regular except for the word “home” and "time." It is all capitalized letters. What are you trying to say? I’m tapping rapidly my knees. Home? Like here? Time. Time. Time? It can't be... I stood up and went to the hall. Grandad's old cuckoo clock hangs there, motionless. I can't tell the last time that bird singed. I examine the whole thing. Unhook it from the wall and brought it back to my bed. I lift it up and down and saw it from side to side. The weights are bronze acorns; the wooden headboard is of carved birds and detailed leafs. The pendulum is another leaf. On the hole to hang the clock, there’s nothing. I open the door, but the only thing there is the birdie. I gave it a shake. Nothing. I try to take the back wall to see the interior, but it’s stuck. Some force grinding my teeth but no luck. I can’t get it open. Maybe I’ll smash it. I read the letter once more. The word "time" is capitalized three times. Time? Is that it? I move the hands of the clock one by one to meet at three o’clock. Nothing happened. All three maybe? I move the hands of the clock one by one again all at the number three. 3:33? As soon as I put the last one, a faded "cuckoo" sounds off. I drop the clock and hold my breath. The back wall opens. A key. Golden with a series of numbers and cuts upwards and down with three numbers on the uppercut. Why would you give me a key?
