Read The Ninth Nightmare Online
Authors: Graham Masterton
Tags: #Fiction, #Horror, #Serial Murderers, #Circus, #Crime, #Supernatural, #Freak Shows, #Horror Fiction, #Occult & Supernatural
The Ninth Nightmare (44 page)
âOK, then. Who are they? I'll have them paged for you.'
John tried to see inside the hotel lobby. It was crowded with guests and luggage and police officers. âWhat's going on here? Why is everybody having to leave?'
âJust tell me who you've come to collect, sir, and I'll have them fetched out.'
âOK. It's the Kaiser Twins, Kieran and Kiera.'
âThe Kaiser Twins have their own limo, sir.'
âI know that. But I have to talk to them. It's important.'
âSorry, friend. That's not going to be possible. We have a major situation here. Why don't you write them a fan letter or something?'
âTell them that D.M. is here. That's all I'm asking.'
âI'll see what I can do. But wait here.'
The officer disappeared into the hotel lobby and John knew that he wasn't going to make any attempt to tell Kieran and Kiera that he was here. Guests were already starting to leave the hotel, and police were escorting them to a line of taxis waiting in the side street.
He was about to give up when Detective Hudson came down the steps, looking harassed.
âHey!' he said. âRemember me?'
Detective Hudson frowned at him and then nodded. âSure I remember you. The cab driver with attitude.'
âWhat's going down here? Why is everybody having to leave?'
âYou'll see it on the news soon enough. They found dead bodies in nine of the rooms.'
âJesus. Do they know who did it?'
âAll of them killed differently. Including my partner.'
âYou mean Detective Windsocky? The guy who looked like me?'
âYes,' said Detective Hudson. âThe guy who looked like you.'
âI'm real sorry for your loss,' John told him.
âWell, I doubt if you are, but thanks.' Detective Hudson's lips tightened and John could see that he was close to tears.
âListen,' said John. âYou're tired. You're in shock. But take it from me, your partner is in a real nice place now, with real friendly people. And he's a whole man again.'
Detective Hudson stared at him. âWhat do you mean by that?'
John realized that apart from the police, and whoever had found his body, only the Night Warriors knew how Detective Wisocky had been mutilated.
âI mean he's at peace. I'm sure of it. That's all.'
At that moment, a woman TV reporter came pushing her way through the crowds calling out â
Detective! Detective!
' and Detective Hudson turned away. John walked back across the road and climbed into his cab.
Detective! Detective!
' and Detective Hudson turned away. John walked back across the road and climbed into his cab.
He wasn't entirely surprised to find Dean Brunswick III already sitting in the passenger seat. Dean looked haggard and very sick now, and as John made himself comfortable behind the wheel, he started to cough.
âYou're in a bad way, Dean,' John told him.
âOh, I'll get over it. We all get over it, in the end.'
âCheer me up, why don't you?' said John. He started the engine, and checked his rear-view mirror. âSo, where do you want to go?'
âSomeplace happy. I always like a happy ending.'
âOK,' said John, âQuizno's it is, for a triple meat sub, and onion rings. And try not to cough all over it.'
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