INK: Abstraction Read online

  I slink out from under him and head for the hallway. “Yeah, we should go. I don’t want to be late for lunch with Trish. Otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  “Give me a minute.” He rolls his eyes then looks down at his pants.

  A giggle escapes. “Boys are so awkward.”

  “Yeah, only when girls drive us crazy.” He looks me up and down. “You drive me crazy, Shay.”

  “I was already there, I hope you’re just coming to visit.”

  Eli gets that sappy look on his face and says mockingly, “I’ll follow you anywhere.”

  “Good, follow me to lunch. I’m hungry.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Sit Down & Shut Up

  The Specter

  That little shit has defied me for the last time. He just won’t listen and he’s going about all of this the wrong way. Going after kills that don’t help me, he’s complicating things and it may be time to eliminate him.

  At the front of the bus I see the driver. He sneaks a swig from a flask. Very nice, he’s the perfect candidate. The children on the bus are unruly animals. If a child behaved this way in my day, they would have been beaten, severely.

  “Sit down!” the bus driver bellows from the front, glaring in the rearview mirror.

  None of the children obey him, they only mock him. Ah yes, here we are. It’s time to take over. In a flash I’m behind the driver. I look at his identification card. “Hello Reggie,” I whisper in his ear.

  He hears me and reacts by looking around to find the source of the voice, but he’s unable to see me. “Reggie, I’m going to ease your pain. Trust me.” Starting at his shoulder I move my hand down his arm and grasp his hand. I do the same with the other. The children screaming reaches a crescendo and he inhales deep to scream at them to shut up. I ride inside him on that breath. This is too easy.

  Fully in control of poor Reggie, I floor the gas straight through the red light. Reaching the diner, I see Bailey walking across the parking lot. Aside from teaching him a lesson, I’m going to help him avert a complete disaster; he doesn’t know she’ll be there.

  Then I see that walking roadblock Carl, the real target. A thrill courses through me knowing I’m mere moments from his death. I wish I could take my time with him, but I’ve been unable to get through to anyone weak enough to kill him. I would love to taste his flesh on my lips, drink his blood and watch the light drain from his eyes as I feast on his raw kidneys. True, I prefer them cooked, but for him I’ll make an exception. I want him to know that I’m consuming him. That he’s dying by my hand. But this will have to do.

  With my hands gripping the large steering wheel I make a sharp right turn. The children on the bus are screaming with terror. Oh, the beautiful joy of their screams, they infuse me with an incredible power born of their terror. The bus pops hard over the curb, running down shrubbery. Carl is in my crosshairs and he’s only ten feet from his death, from me taking him out of my way. The excitement in me grows with every inch I grow closer. Bailey has nearly reached him and still has not seen me. Dolt, he should be more aware of his surroundings.

  As I near the front of the diner, Carl looks up and directly into my eyes. He knows it’s me. He knows I’m going to kill him; I’m going to run him down like a squirrel crossing the road.

  ***

  Carl

  The Specter is nearby, I can feel him, he’s watching me. I spot Bailey across the parking lot heading for the door. Shit, I wouldn’t think he’d be this ballsy. My attention is drawn by a loud crashing sound.

  Bailey yells across the parking lot from the opposite direction of the bus. “Carl!” There’s hatred in his eyes and he picks up the pace toward me.

  It’s all happening so fast, I jump out of the way of the bus in barely enough time. I can hear the sound of children screaming frantically. The bus crashes through the front of the diner spraying glass, brick and mortar everywhere. Jesus Christ, Shay’s in there. When I try to get up I realize I’ve hurt my leg. I don’t think it’s broken, but it’s bleeding pretty badly. Where the hell is Bailey? I look around the parking lot that’s in utter chaos and hear the horn of the bus sounding off in a long constant bleat. Everyone is screaming, both children and patrons of the diner.

  Bailey is lying on the ground a few feet from me. I struggle to my feet, but I’m having a difficult time walking with the dizziness. I crawl toward Bailey and I hear Shay’s voice.

  “Carl! Carl!” She reaches me and kneels down on the ground beside me. “Oh my God, are you okay? Stay still.”

  “Get out of here. This was the Specter.” She looks at me confused. “Go!”

  “Carl, you need medical attention. I’m not going anywhere,” she says, pushing on my shoulders to keep me down. “Eli is checking on the kids on the bus and someone is trying to help the driver.”

  My head is spinning and I’m feeling my consciousness slipping away. “Bailey.”

  “What?” She looks around upon hearing Bailey’s name.

  “Bailey is here.” I push it out, barely able to speak. I look over to where Bailey is and see him stirring.

  “Billy!” Trish’s shrill voice carries right through my brain as she runs toward Bailey.

  “Carl, are you saying Bailey is here?” Shay shakes me to keep me awake.

  “Yes, Trish.”

  “What are you talking about?” Shay looks up at Trish and her eyes widen. “Holy shit.”

  She stands up from me. “Stay put.” Shay runs toward Trish and Bailey, screaming, “Trish!”

  “Shay, no!” I try to get up, but I can’t. Where is Eli? I call out to Shay again, and then I call for Eli.

  Eli comes running from the other side of the bus carrying a little girl that’s about six years old. Her head is bleeding. “What is it, Carl?”

  “Bailey!” I point to Shay, who’s standing over him, yelling.

  Bailey scrambles to his feet and grabs her by the arm, trying to pull her away. She’s doing a good job resisting him and throws him off with a nice Kali Lihay. He counters with trying to get her in a headlock.

  “Billy, what the fuck are you doing?” Trish yells out and grabs Shay’s other arm.

  Shay’s pleading with Trish while in the middle of a tug of war. “Trish, his name isn’t Billy, this is Bailey!”

  “Just fuck!” Eli puts the girl down. “Carl, take care of her.” He runs over to Shay. When Bailey sees Eli he lets go of Shay and takes off across the parking lot.

  Trish starts screaming hysterically. “Fuck you Shay, fuck you.”

  I check on the little girl with the curly red hair that Eli set down near me. She’s moaning softly and calls quietly for her mommy. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” I stroke her head, trying to calm her. The air is soon filled with the sound of sirens.

  Paramedics descend on the scene and begin pulling children from the bus which is more than halfway inside the restaurant. Two paramedics come to me. “Sir, are you okay?” they ask even though they are attending to the little girl.

  “I’m fine, take care of her.” They start working on her.

  Shay is practically dragging Trish back to where I am. “Trish, shut up and listen.” Shay grabs her by the shoulders.

  “I need to check on him, he’s hurt. Did you see he had blood all over him? He needs to go to the hospital.” Tears are streaming down Trish’s face.

  “Trish, I’m sorry, but you need to listen to me.” Eli is trying to speak in a calming tone. “Trish, his name is Bailey. He’s been stalking Shay. He attacked her this morning.”

  Trish stands with a vile look on her face, and she’s speechless for only another moment before she lays in on Shay. “Why do you always have to do this to me, Shay? Why can’t you let me be happy?”

  She pulls away from Eli, crossing her arms, looking in the direction Bailey went. This dumb bitch is going to have some serious shit to work out.

  “Trish, listen. Bailey has been stalking me since Tampa.” Shay tries to reason with her. />
  “You’re wrong. Maybe he just looks like the same guy,” she pleads, even though I can see it in her eyes that she knows.

  “Honey, I’m so sorry.” Shay tries to hug her, but Trish won’t have any part of it.

  “No Shay, I’m the only one sorry here, sorry that I ever trusted that you could let me be happy.” Trish turns to walk away and is stopped by a uniformed police officer. Honestly, I expected more from Trish, but perhaps she’s not in fighting form.

  “Ma’am, are you hurt?” he says, full of concern.

  “I’m fine, Johnny small cock, I’m leaving.” She tries to maneuver around him.

  The cop purses his lips and inhales a breath. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to stick around until we can question you.” He tries to guide her back toward the restaurant.

  Trish pulls away. “Fuck you, little boy blue, I was eating lunch and a fucking bus crashed through the front of the restaurant. End of story.”

  “Ma’am, you may be in shock and you should see one of the paramedics and get checked out.” He tries to reason with her.

  “I’m fine, I can even tell you how many fingers I’m holding up. Just one, fuck you.” She gives him the finger and walks away.

  The cop takes her by the arm. “Ma’am, I’m afraid I can’t let you leave. Please come with me.”

  They disappear on the other side of the bus. I turn to Shay. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m okay. Where’s Eli?” she asks, looking around.

  “He was just with you,” I answer. I mentally scan the area to see if I can hear him.

  The color drains from Shay’s face. “Oh no, what if Eli went after Bailey?”

  “He didn’t.” I try to reassure her, but she sees through the lie.

  “Carl, I would think you of all people would know that I’m beyond the little white lies that are supposed to protect me.”

  “I don’t know where he is,” I admit.

  She stands. “I’ve got to find him.”

  “Shay, I need you stay here with me,” I urge.

  “Carl, I have to find Eli.” She’s approaching panic.

  “Darlin’, Eli’s fine.”

  “Yeah, Captain America is on the other side of the bus helping all the little children. It’s a real pisser of a Hallmark moment,” Trish chides as she walks by.

  “Trish.” Shay turns to her. “Wait.”

  Trish gives Shay the finger and continues walking.

  “Trish, he’s dangerous. You have to listen to me. He was at the signing. He attacked me this morning. You have to believe me.” Shay pleads with her, chasing her across the parking lot.

  Trish stops short and turns to face Shay. “I’m not like you. I haven’t spent my whole life with two guys fighting over me since before they knew what their dicks were for.”

  “Trish, it’s not—” Trish cuts her off.

  “You don’t get it, do you? I don’t know why you feel the need to ruin this for me. I have a good thing going with Billy, why do you have to ruin it? You’re a fucking drama queen and a liar. Billy would never hurt anyone.” The hardest part of listening to Trish is that she doesn’t really believe it herself.

  Shay takes a few steps toward Trish, speaking calmly. “I want you to be happy, but I don’t want you to be in danger.”

  “You’ve never wanted me to be happy, Shay. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve judged every decision I’ve ever made.” She looks down then back up at Shay with a coldness in her gaze. “This from the biggest dick tease on the planet, when everyone but the two dumbasses you are fucking knows that you don’t love either of them.”

  Shay’s visibly shaken by Trish’s words. She presses her lips together, forming her words carefully. “If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. But why don’t you ask him what happened to his arm.”

  “What?” She’s bewildered.

  Shay’s eyes take on a fierceness spurred by the memory of what Bailey tried to do to her this morning. “When he climbed into Eli’s bed with me this morning I fought him off.” She swallows hard. “I bit him, I bit him hard on the arm.”

  “He said he was…” She trails off, looking away from Shay. “I don’t have to sit here and listen to this bullshit fantasy of yours.”

  “His arm is fucked up, isn’t it?” she demands.

  “Yeah, so?”

  “How would I know that?” Shay steps closer to her and tries to put her arms around Trish.

  “No.” Trish steps back, putting her arms up in surrender. “Fuck you Shay, fuck you.” She walks away.

  Shay looks to me as though I could somehow help. I shrug helplessly, but try to get up. Shay comes to me. “You shouldn’t try to move until you get looked at.”

  “Just help me up; I can’t let Captain America take all the credit for rescuing the children.” I lean forward and pull myself up to my feet. The leg hurts like a bitch, but I’ll manage.

  Shay lets out a little laugh. “He is a hero, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know.” She helps me walk toward the bus where paramedics are working on several children. The cop Trish encountered earlier comes to us.

  “Ma’am, you should sit down until you’ve been checked out.” He’s looking her up and down, noticing her injuries.

  Shay looks down at herself and chuckles. “I’m fine. These days I always look like this. I wasn’t hurt.”

  The cop gets a concerned look on his face and eyes me. “Why don’t you come with me.” He tries to take Shay by the arm.

  “Oh, um, no. It’s not what you think.” She looks at me and smiles. “I just got out of the hospital yesterday. I’m fine, really.”

  He doesn’t seem satisfied with her answer. “I’ll need you to stick around so we can take your statement.”

  Eli comes around the corner from the bus. “Hey Nunez, she’s with me. It’s fine.”

  He looks at Shay then Eli. “Okay, Walker, but we will still need a statement.”

  “We’re not going anywhere. I’ll be sure she sticks around.” Eli pats him on the shoulder as he walks back around the bus.

  “Is everyone okay?” Shay hesitates, expecting the worst.

  “It seems like there could be a few concussions, cuts and bruises. All of the kids are okay, but I’m afraid the bus driver didn’t make it. It looks like he had a heart attack or stroke. There were no visible injuries.”

  Shay hangs her head then looks at me. “Carl?”

  I inhale a deep breath. “We’ll talk. But I would love to find a chair that hasn’t been smashed to bits.”

  Eli grabs one of the patio chairs, and I take a seat. Shay is not handling any of this in stride. She’s having a hard time reconciling Trish and Bailey. “You know, darlin’, it all makes sense. That’s how he was able to find you, how he always seemed to know where you were.”

  “Do you think he’ll hurt Trish?” she asks, nearly in tears.

  Eli runs his fingers through his hair. “Shay, you don’t need to be worrying about her right now.”

  “The strange thing about Bailey is he was able to block me out. That’s why I never saw him as a real threat.” I really want to avoid Shay knowing what I’ve discovered about Bailey. I do think he’ll hurt Trish to get what he wants. “I think he may be in league with the Specter.”

  Shay’s face goes white. “Wait, are you saying he’s the one committing these murders?”

  “What?” Eli is astounded at the revelation.

  “It’s possible,” I answer. “But it doesn’t seem likely. McNab will be back in the morning. I think we need to pay Bailey a visit.”

  “Be careful Carl, we’ve seen what he can do,” Eli warns.

  “I can handle him.” I reassure them both. “I can’t handle sitting here much longer. Can we get the questioning part out of the way so I can get out of here?”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” Eli looks around until he sees a cop he recognizes.

  I look at Shay. I don’t know what to say but I feel
compelled to comfort her, let her know that I don’t think he’ll hurt Trish, but I don’t know that, nor do I believe it. She’s standing, looking at me, waiting for me to say anything.

  “No Carl, I’m not waiting for you to say something. I’m just listening.” She scowls at me knowingly.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You think that Bailey would hurt Trish. Don’t try to hide it Carl, I can hear you.” She folds her arms across her chest.

  “I’m sorry, I just don’t want to upset you.”

  “It’s a little late for that; it would seem that a ghost just crashed a school bus full of children into a restaurant to kill one of us. None of us are sure who. My best friend is fucking a serial killer who’s stalking me, and oh yeah, she’s pissed at me because I’m trying to save her from said serial killer.” She huffs out a breath. “Did I miss anything?”

  She missed a ton, but I’m not going to be the one that mentions it. “I think you’ve got it all.”

  “No, I did miss something. Someone I thought I could trust is keeping things from me.” She bores into me with cruel, hurt eyes and spins around, walking away.

  I’m going to have to figure out how to smooth this over. I’ve also got to figure out how to keep her out of my head.

  “You can’t keep me out Carl, I’m here to stay,” she yells back over her shoulder.

  Shit.

  Chapter Thirty

  Need a Better Dry Cleaner

  Shay

  Eli throws his keys on the breakfast bar and rests his head on his hands. “Jesus what a day.”

  His white shirt is covered in blood and dirt. It’s torn in a few different spots. His typically perfect hair is completely disheveled. It makes me wonder what I must look like, but honestly, I didn’t spend the afternoon pulling injured children from a school bus. He really is Captain America.

  “Yeah, it kind of feels like we say that at the end of every day.” I look to the floor feeling responsible for the constant state of emergency.

  He doesn’t look up. “It’s okay, aside from the bus driver it looks like everyone’s going to be okay.”

  “Yeah, well, you were a real hero out there today.” I lean against his back and slide my arms around him and lock them tight in an embrace. “I hardly knew what to do, I couldn’t even save Trish.” I feel the weight of that on my heart and try to push it away.