Blood & Spirits (20 page)

I open the door, and step into the front parlor and see Julie sitting on the sofa smiling at me. “Hi, boss. I’m back.”

Okay, now that brings home a little bit closer.

She stands up and holds her arms out and I practically run over to her. I wrap my arms around her and squeeze tightly as she and I both start to cry.

“Are you really you?” I ask it aloud but I can feel her, the emotion pouring off of her. My Julie’s back.

“As much as I ever was.” She beams a smile at me through her tears and I squeeze her firmly again.

Piper and Leslie stroll in from the kitchen, both grinning like the little succubi they are.

“Nobody called me.”

“We weren’t sure how long it would last, and we didn’t want to get you excited over nothing,” Piper explains.

“She just woke up a few minutes after you left, confused and wanting breakfast. So, ten pancakes, some bacon and bath later…here she is.” Leslie is glowing as much as Julie and I are.

“I don’t know what happened, V. The last thing I remember was that guy coming at me and then I woke up in bed.” Julie is trying to give me explanations I don’t need right now.

“We’ll figure that out. All we need to focus on is that you’re back, and how lost we all were without you.”

The four of us spend over an hour together in the parlor telling Julie what she’s missed, and I tell them what happened with Lucy and Garrett.

They are concerned but clearly happy that I’m actually back with them again and not so caught up in all the drama for the moment. Sometimes I forget how close we actually are, and how distant I can become. It’s only at times like this that I’m aware of how far I’ve gone from those who matter so much to me.

“I just can’t lose you, Julie. I’ve already lost so much so fast. I built so much on you, and I don’t mean that to be a burden on you, but I just can’t deal with losing you. You’re like my right hand. Not like a servant, or even a friend, but a part of me.” I break down a little and the tears come back.

Julie tells me not to cry, but the four of us all continue.

Frank walks in and seems apologetic for a moment for interrupting. Then he asks if he can talk to me privately. I step out into the backyard with him and he tells me that Lewis has warned him to stay clear of the Jefferson House if I was going to be here. The police it seems are supposed to be watching the place.

“Why would they be watching our house?” I’m confused, but at this point unsurprised to get bad news.

“Witnesses have come forward and identified you as the ‘murderer’ of Calvin Hocker. There was evidence recovered at the scene where his body was found that places you there.” I start to speak but he waves me off, speaking over me. “It gets worse. Geoff Peters and Jerry Atkins, the two missing clients I’ve been looking for, they’ve come forward with charges that you have been running a house of prostitution and trying to blackmail them.”

He pauses to let that sink in as my eyes widen.

“Yeah, you like that? They allege you tried to kill them when they refused your blackmail attempts.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I wish I weren’t, really wish I weren’t. But there are multiple warrants for your arrest. This is not a safe place for you to be during the day, just in case.”

Frank asks about where Garrett is, and I’m impressed. I can tell he actually wants to know, it’s not just a nicety for my sake.

I explain how things went down with Paco and the funeral home, and how I saw shit that he would not believe in there. That we saw Lucy, but we couldn’t save her. How Garrett is still there, trapped now too, and Paco refused to help. Frank tries hard not to say “I told ya so” but I can see it, I can feel it.

I ask him if he’s told the girls about the warrants yet, and he says no. So I ask him to step back inside with me so we can sort some things out.

I get them all back together in the parlor and tell them that for safety we’re gonna do a couple things different for right now.

I’m going to do a couple things and then head to the ranch house to stay for tonight and tomorrow during the day.

Julie and Frank are going to meet me there in about two hours, and then they’ll be back here for the night.

Piper and Leslie are going to hang at the Mercy Hospital waiting room, to be there for the girls that are still recovering, until I call and tell them it’s safe to come back.

Everyone says they’re clear on the plan, and we all go in separate directions getting things together. I head upstairs and pack, but not much, as I don’t plan on being out there long.

I know what my next step is, and I don’t want to do it, but if we’re gonna make it through this it has to be done.

***

I leave the Charger in the driveway. I want Frank to drive it back to the house to keep up the appearance of normality, and I don’t want it getting blocked in.

Walking into the ranch house tonight it feels like a prison. I walk into Jules’ bedroom, or the one that was his until he moved back to Chicago in ’95. It still feels like him in here.

I pick up a picture from the dresser of Jules with me when I was a little girl. Before I knew what he was. Long before he made me what I am. Am I doing the right thing?

I sit down on the edge of his bed and dial the number. It only rings once before I hear him, and I shudder deep down inside.

“Veronica?”

“Yes.”

“What is it you need, child?” I can’t tell over the phone if it’s compassion or contempt in his voice.

“I’m at the end of my rope. The town that I’ve called home for the better part of seventy years is now not a safe place for me to be. I have the police, hit men, spirits, and even the Council of Elders is after me. Almost all of the people I care about, protect, or count on are hurt, or missing. I’m really at my wits end and that’s why I’m talking to you. I need you, Jules. I have no one left to turn to. I really doubt I’d live if I try to load up and run, and I am too invested in those who’re missing to do that anyway.”

There’s a long breathless silence on the other end of the line, and I fear he may just be done with me.

“Stay where you are until tomorrow night. Pick me up at the airport at ten, and be ready to explain how things got so out of hand.”

The call ends. I don’t know if I’ve done the right thing or not, but I don’t see any other hope I have.

I flip the phone back open and scroll down through my phone book to find a runner. Jessica will do. She wouldn’t usually be the best idea for a job like this, she’s a bit of a junkie, but people won’t tie her to me, and my best people are either hurt or too busy.

She answers and is all too happy to pull another job for me. I pay her too well. I tell her to sit on the airport and watch it, from now until tomorrow night. My only explanation to her it that I have something important coming in, and I want to make sure it’s not going to be a problem.

“Can I share some of it?” She thinks I’m moving product, that’s great.

“You can have your usual salary. What you spend it on is up to you as always.”

***

While reclining in the living room with my eleventh rum and Coke, I hear the familiar sound of a VW engine pulling up my driveway. I look out the front window to see Julie pulling in and evidently Frank is riding with her. I believe that’s got to be a first.

I watch as Julie looks confused as where to park and Frank explains to her that since I left the Charger out I expect her to park in the garage. I can’t help but smile. He knows so well how I think.

They walk into the house and I call them into the living room. Frank heads for the bar, and I’m not surprised. Julie can see right away that there’s something wrong, but she seems afraid to ask.

“Frank, get your drink and come over here and sit down. I want to talk to the two of you.”

Julie sits on the couch with her back to the front window. I love the girl’s innocence. Even with people trying to kill us she can turn her back to the world.

Frank walks over and takes the chair next to mine and hikes his leg up. They’re both looking at me expectantly. I don’t know if the news I’m giving them is good or bad. I don’t want to tell them that I think it could make things any worse, but I have to be honest.

“I know that I’ve told you both about Jules before. He’s the one who found me, raised me, and gave me the disease that seems to be my asset and enemy these days.”

They both nod, like they are both reluctant to make any judgment yet, wait to see where story time with V will lead them.

“Well, he used to live here. Here, in fact, in this house. He moved to Chicago years ago, but he left me this place, along with several other things here and there that have helped me navigate my life, and become what I have been for as long as you’ve known me.”

I take another drink of my Coke-colored rum, hating that I have to talk about this.

“I feel that I’ve reached a point where there isn’t anything left that I can do to put things back together for all of us. So rather than let it get any worse, as I’m sure I’m talented enough to do, I’ve called Jules and asked him to help. He’ll be coming in by plane tomorrow night, God help us all.” I say it quickly and down another drink.

“If that was supposed to be a pep talk, boss…” Frank trails off, but Julie picks up for him.

“Yeah, I don’t feel your pep there at all. What’s the downside to this? If he’s like your father, won’t he do anything he can to help you out?”

“The truth is, I’m not sure how he’ll take this, or what will happen. He may swoop in and save the day. He may just kill me for embarrassing him with the Council. I really don’t know.”

I stand and wobble a little, making my way to the bar for a refill. Frank and Julie both notice my condition and now the almost healed claw marks on my back.

Frank speaks up first. “V, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”

“Drunk?” I ask him with a little laugh.

“Well, yeah. Drunk… and hurt too.” I know he’s worried about me, but what he doesn’t see is that this is the bottom; it can only go up from here.

“My body purges alcohol so quickly it’s hard for me to get drunk, but I can do it if I’m determined. I don’t think I own enough booze to get sloppy though. I’m just trying to take the edge off.”

Julie finally decides to chime in. “What about your back, those… scratches?”

I turn around to see two seriously shaken children scared that their parent has completely lost their mind.

“Those were from the spirits I failed to rescue Lucy from.” I say it as level as I can. Maybe it’s time to stop drinking for the night. As an afterthought I add, “Oh, and lost Garrett too.”

Yeah, I’m cutting myself off right there. I make the decision a moment before I see the sun coming up.

“Julie, I need you to get the black steamer trunk with the leather straps from the basement, and make sure that the clothes in it are going to be ready to wear tomorrow night when I wake up.”

She nods but continues to stare at me for a moment, until I wave her off.

“Frank, I’d like you to take her back to the Jefferson House in the afternoon. We need to keep up appearances, so take the Charger, please.”

I notice again that I feel a little dizzy and light headed.

“I think I should lie down.”

I get as far as the hallway before I turn to Frank and give him more honesty than I probably should.

“On the bright side, this is all going to be over very soon, one way or the other.” I give a smile that he doesn’t return and then, “Be ready tomorrow night in case I need to call you.”

He nods to me and I head down the hall to my room, fall into bed and am promptly unconscious.

“THAT’S IT, THAT’S EVERYTHING.
That’s how I got in this mess that has spiraled completely out of control.” I look down at my floor, my face red, and tears flowing down it. It seems so much worse when I have to relive it.

Jules looks down at his drink as he pushes back deep into the dark brown oversized chair. He leans the glass to the side and shakes it slightly, clinking the ice cubes together. Pondering everything he now knows about the situation. I’ve told him everything, and what I didn’t say I know he saw firsthand from my memory. I’m on pins and needles.

He is still my hero and savior, at least until he tells me that I’m not worth the time or effort anymore. I hope that there is still something left in him that cares about me.

He stands and walks slowly back over to the window. He looks out for a few moments before turning and retrieving the knife from its case on the table.

Looking back over to me, he motions me to join him. My body reacts before I can even think about what he wants.

He looks into my eyes. I know that he can see much more than my soul with that gaze, and I squirm a little under its weight.

“I gave you this when you were sixteen, to protect yourself from the things that come after sixteen year old girls.” He raises his hand to my cheek and his thumb touches my lips. Instinctively, my body reacts and my fangs are bared.

“I gave you these to protect you from the things that any normal girl shouldn’t have to encounter. Nightmares and monsters.” He lets his hand drop from my face and I immediately miss it.

“What you’re facing now, whatever it is that has set out to destroy you; it is more than I’ve prepared you for. I gave you nothing to protect you from it. The fact that you have done as well as you have is a testament to the things I didn’t give you. Your choice in people to surround yourself with, your natural charm, your razor-sharp intellect and the speed at which it moves, these are why you are still alive.” His words melt into me, they spill over me like a wave. How could I have waited so painfully long to call on him for help? How could I have forgotten how good he is to me?

He walks across the room to the bar and pours himself another drink. His attitude has shifted. He’s protective and proud, and I can tell. I can’t help but blush a little as I look over at him lifting his glass to his lips.

“To be honest, I don’t see many things that I would have done differently; based on the information you had at the time. I do think this Molder should have come to your attention sooner if you were running your affairs as tightly as I taught you.”