In the Dead of Night (21 page)

The sensation of a thousand icy pin-pricks traveled up and down my spine, and I could tell this misshapen mist studied me…
intently,
like it was sizing me up on the best way to attack me while I waved my knife and gun before it. Really, like a lot of good that’d do. Probably a better idea would be to turn around and high-tail it to the den. I’ll bet that’s where I’d find Gypsy, who had disappeared. Smart dog, yes…brave protector of the family, not so much.

“Get the hell out of my house!” I shouted while backing away, frightened enough to where my legs felt wobbly. “You ain’t welcome here, so get out
NOW-W-W!!!”

Given
the way it drifted toward me,
I knew I couldn’t outrun it. I had a tough time ignoring the thought I might get absorbed by the dark sucker, eaten alive to where only my cherished snakeskin boots were left to tell the tale of what happened, maybe with a sock left in ‘em and my .44 and Fiona’s Ginsu carving knife scattered on the floor.

The air grew even chillier around me, crackling with energy. I turned and ran, slipping on the hardwood floor on my way to the den. I felt certain the thing would catch me, but then something else unexpected happened. As the mist overtook me, my hand holding the knife penetrated its murky darkness, causing the damned thing to immediately withdraw from me. It flew away at incredible speed while it shriveled and shrunk. Like a helium-filled balloon set free at one of my kid’s birthday parties it moved back through the kitchen. It continued to fade away until it ‘popped’ against the back window. I swear, man, it sounded like a cheap firecracker right before it disappeared.

Cautiously, I pursued it. But when I reached the window only the scent of sulfur remained, most pungent near the curtains. I pulled them open, no longer cautious. In the backyard I saw what remained of the mist only for a brief instant, just beyond the parked Camaro where the security lights’ glow ends. Dissipating like a fleeting shadow, its remnants fluttered past the car and on into the thick wooded wilderness.

I waited for the thing to come back. Damned straight, I did. Once the noxious odor completely disappeared, I realized the event had ended. What it meant, I couldn’t begin to guess. Maybe it’s nothing—just a random visitation. But with everything going on around me—around
us
—it made sense that this visitation did mean
something
.

Was it some kind of warning, perhaps a message en masse from our seven murdered friends? That’s a positive take on it, anyway.

I just prayed it wasn’t some morphed version of Charlain Thompson, seeking revenge for the premature end to her misguided, self-serving life. If the Akashic Records that Edgar Cayce talks about really exist, then Dragon Lady’s ghost knows all about the recent compliments me and my NVP buddies paid her the other night.

That’d really suck if it was her and she has decided to return for some fun at Jimmy’s expense. I can easily picture her bringing along another Egyptian high-thread count noose—specially tied for me this time.

That thought alone made me desperately wish to call Fiona, to hear her voice, although I’d surely wake her. Besides, Mr. Ed said ‘No contact’ until I rejoined her at Stella’s place the next afternoon. He’s right about the risks involved in calling anyone, since it’s too damned easy these days to trace phone calls. And I’d already risked my family’s safety when I called Fiona earlier. There’s no way in hell I’d do that again and put them at further risk.

That left me no choice but to wait it out. Wait it out and keep my head on straight. It wouldn’t be easy, but dawn would be coming soon...and a few hours later I’d be reunited with my wife and boys. Whistling quietly to that thought, I got busy cleaning up the mess.

Chapter Nineteen

“Watch me, Daddy…. Watch me jump in the
water!”

The look on Ryan’s face was priceless. I made sure I caught it with my digital camera before he jumped into the pool. There’s one for the summer album.

Sunday afternoon.

Five days after I rejoined my family at Stella Hughes’s sprawling ranch home in Goodlettsville. My wife’s aunt will literally spoil her guests with the ultimate ‘southern’ pampering. She’s an incredible cook and hostess, and her home sits in a park setting. It’s like a mini resort with a pool, spa, and a great play area for kids.

“Gotcha, kiddo!”

I can already tell that my boys will be reluctant to go back home. Well, honestly, the same might be true for Fiona and me.

Stella’s an attractive brunette woman in her mid-fifties—the oldest sister among three, where Fiona’s mom, Joanne is the youngest—she fits the image of a true “Southern Belle” in the modern age. It’s an amazing thing to watch her effortlessly straddle the line between sophisticated and ‘down home’. Some of Goodlettsville and Nashville’s most noteworthy families are regular party guests in this house, and yet Stella can easily let her hair down for the likes of me and my rocker buddies. Other than my wife, I’ve never met anyone else like her.

Widowed a few years ago, she started a catering business with a long-time friend, and their company now services some of Nashville’s busiest country artists. Fiona has pitched in to help now and then, which is sort of how she became a psychic reader to many of the city’s music celebrities. Call it a friend of a friend of
another
friend kind of thing. Only in this case it’s family, starting with Stella, who shares the same Scottish foresight she and Fiona inherited from Stella’s mom, Flora Fraser, Fiona’s grandmother.

“When are you gonna swim again, Daddy?” Ryan asked me.

“In a minute…. I just need to talk to Mommy once she gets off the phone.”

“Okay…I’m gonna swim over to Auntie and Alex.”

“All right son…I’ll watch you.”

Cute as a bug, he no longer needs a life preserver. He’s mastered the beginner strokes, and is getting better every day at the intermediate skill set. I lingered long enough for Ryan to join Stella in the pool’s shallowest end, where Alex paddled around. Alex hates his preserver, but until he gets a little older, I’m reluctant to take it off, even for a few minutes. Something tells me his auntie and mom have been a bit less restrictive, but I’m sure they take extra care in watching over him. Tougher for me, since I’m usually working on a few things and not near as attentive as they are.

Not a lot has happened since my battle with that weird mist in my kitchen, in the wee hours last Tuesday morning. It’s sort of like we not only entered protective custody at Stella’s, but also stepped out of the real world where shit happens every day. No, Stella’s place isn’t a
complete
oasis...at least not one where everything in life is now pure bliss. Being out of circulation has definite consequences…like missing band rehearsal. I missed one on Thursday, even though Ricky sent me a text later that night saying everything went fine.

By the way, apparently text messages are okay, as long as we don’t respond. A one-way avenue for important info is a real pain in the ass. If Fiona or I need to reply to anything, we have to send those responses through Ed, who then uses his official cell phone. As you can imagine, we’ve only sent a few replies through him, all abbreviated. And no phone calls are allowed, period, unless we’re speaking to Detective Silver’s office.

But, back to what else was missed this week. Two paranormal investigations had to be postponed indefinitely. That really sucks, and is sort of the reason why Fiona is still on the phone right now, speaking with Ed, who called and left her a message earlier today. Something about ‘potential good news.’

That’d be really nice—especially since we couldn’t attend Mitch’s funeral on Thursday. We also missed Susan and Paul’s service on Friday, after Ed couldn’t arrange protection for us inside the Spring Hill Episcopalian Chapel where it was held. Fiona wept for hours on account of this, since she wanted to be there for a final goodbye to Susan. Me, I hate funerals, as I mentioned before. If nothing else, recent events have given me a deeper appreciation of those around me, the people I care about. After all, tomorrow’s not guaranteed to anyone. Only the present moment.

“When’s Mommy gonna join us in the pool?”

Alex sounded so somber…deadly serious as he asked me this question. Standing on Stella’s lap beneath the water’s surface in the shallow end, for a moment he looked a couple of years older.

“She’ll be along in a minute, too,” I told him, hoping my tone didn’t sound perturbed. It didn’t matter that it was Alex’s tenth request like this in the last hour, and probably the fourth or fifth time I gave my standard ‘in a minute’ response. “Just as soon as she finishes her phone call, and discusses something important with Daddy. Okay?”

No reply from my youngest. Just that same sullen look…deep blue eyes regarding me thoughtfully like he thought I was so full of shit. Good thing accountability ain’t enforced by the world’s dependant, helpless, and meek.

“There’s a fresh pitcher of sun tea on the kitchen counter if you’d like some, Jimmy,” advised Stella. She motioned to the kitchen window. “Why don’t you pour yourself a glass and I’ll tell Fiona to come find you when she’s done?”

Stella obviously sensed my growing restlessness, getting worse the longer my wife allows Ed to chew her ear off. My relentless pacing from one end of the pool’s deck to the other didn’t help. Hell, Daddy’s Stalin-esque vigil might be why my boys can hardly wait for Mommy to rejoin them, knowing my ass would have no choice but to relax and participate in some water volleyball and sea-creature chase.

That’s all totally fine by me, provided I get some time alone this afternoon. I need to strap on the bass and rehearse by myself…at least a little. I’ve gotta keep my chops fresh for the next get-together with my band mates, hopefully in the next day or so.

“I’ll do that in a moment. It actually sounds good, Nan,” I told her, using Stella’s preferred nickname.

The tea did sound quite tempting, and I headed inside the house to get some. I’d barely made it through the backdoor when Fiona called after me. Apparently her conversation with our friendly neighborhood dick had ended.

“What’s with you anyway?” she called after me, her tone irritated.

“Huh? What’s with
you?”
I retorted, more harshly than intended.

Actually, that’s not true. More like harsh and then ‘oops!’ once I realized it wasn’t the wisest response.

“Do you
really
want to go there with the attitude, Jimmy?” She stood up and moved over to where the boys and Stella were gathered. Alex reached up for her to lift him out of the water, which she managed to do without tumbling into the pool or her prized Blackberry nearly getting doused. “Everyone can feel your energy, buster, so you need to
chill!”

Alex’s perturbed gaze now matched his momma’s, while Ryan nodded emphatically in agreement. Stella smiled lovingly, although the expression on her face served to further validate my wife’s point of view.

“Okay…I’m sorry,” I told my wife, foregoing the tea for now.

I stepped back outside and moved over to her, hoping to offer a hug and kiss to make up. Tough to do when it included my soaking-wet four-year old.

“It’s okay,” Fiona told me, her voice much softer. She smiled. “Ed gave the go-ahead on lifting our house arrest.”

Ah, the subtle comedienne in our family, she always knows how to make me smile.

“So, I can join Ricky and the guys on Wednesday?” God I prayed that’s what she meant.

“Yes!”

Her smile immediately widened, which always makes her whole countenance glow. Like a frigging saint, she lights up everything around her. Even Alex’s sternness softened.

“It also means we can reschedule the two investigations I had to cancel last Thursday!” she continued, scarcely able to hide her excitement. I hoped Stella understood this wasn’t an indictment on her hospitality. Far from it. “We’ll still have to hang out here for a few days, just to be safe.”

“I’m fine with that,” I agreed.

“Me, too,” she said and then looked over at Stella. “You won’t mind us hanging around a while longer, would you Auntie?”

“Not at all!” she beamed, although the prospect of us heading back home later this week seemed to sadden her. “You can stay here as long as y’all like, you know.”

“I know, Auntie,” said Fiona. She sat Alex down and moved over to her aunt, stooping down to give her a hug at the pool’s edge. “I love you so much!”

“And I love you, too!”

Stella looked like she might cry, but caught herself.

“So, I take it the cops will still hang around?” I asked, ready to change the subject.

“Yes, the Goodlettsville police will still watch Auntie’s place,” Fiona advised. “And, wherever me and the kids go, an officer will be coming along. Ed said it will be a little complicated, so he’ll need to know where I’m going to be so he can make prior arrangements with the other departments.”

I guess that means I’m still thug-bait if I traverse the greater Nashville area alone. No surprise there.

“He doesn’t hate you, Jimmy—really he doesn’t,” she said, responding to either my thoughts or facial expression. “He just feels you can effectively fend for yourself. Especially if all you’ll be doing is going to band rehearsal in Madison.”