Dark Creations: The Hunted (Part 4) (16 page)

“Where are we going?” Alexandra asked.

“Yeah, we’re here to help, too,” Yoshi chimed in.  “Give us a name and an address.”

Gabriel felt both relieved and apprehensive simultaneously.  They would help him, just as they’d sworn.  Their loyalty and friendship touched him.  But they were imperiling themselves.  They were already in mortal danger each day that they lived.  He doubted they realized that.  But the danger that loomed before they had arrived in California had been vague, remote.  Months of quiet, of enjoying the safety they had long since taken for granted, had distanced their thoughts from the reality of the situation, as well as its gravity.  But now, they were headed directly for it.  They were actively pursuing the danger they had fought so hard to evade.  

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked them.

“Where ever you are going, I am going, too,” Melissa said without hesitation.

“I’m in,” Yoshi agreed.

“You guys aren’t doing anything without me,” Alexandra said and nudged Yoshi.  “I’m in, too.”

“You don’t have to do this, you know.  This is not like Harbinger Falls.  This is much worse.  Two of Terzini’s creations were on the police force.  And I’m guessing there are more just like them, a lot more.  We could be walking right into extremely unsafe circumstances.”

“We knew that when we came here.  Not all the details, but the danger,” Yoshi said.  “You know I’m with you, brother.”

“We’re here aren’t we,” Alexandra said.

“Okay then.  Alex, you can drive and take us to this address,” Gabriel said and pointed to the agreed upon person on the list.  Alexandra began entering the information into the built-in GPS feature of the rental car.  “While Melissa and I are there, you and Yoshi can go to this next address.  Jack says it’s a couple of blocks away.”

Gabriel climbed in the back seat and waited as Alexandra submitted the second address.  Within moments, a voice sounded from a tiny speaker and guided them to their destination.  They drove for less than five minutes and stopped just outside a small home with a tile roof and stucco walls. The lawn was well maintained with an array of low growing shrubs and brightly colored flowering plants.  A long walkway filled with bricks in muted shades of salmon, red and green led to an arched entryway and portico. Beyond both, a dark wood door waited.  The overall presentation of the house was neat, attractive, and unassuming.

“How could anything evil live in an adorable little house like that?” Alexandra asked with a hint of sarcasm.  

“We don’t know who exactly lives in this house.  We have a name, that’s all,” Gabriel replied.

“And a story, right?  I mean, we have to have a reason for knocking on their door in the middle of the afternoon, right?” Melissa asked.

“Right.  We are married, eager to start a family, and our dog has gotten out again.  We live a few blocks over.  This is not the first time he’s run away and last time he ended up in their neighborhood. That’s our story, if it even gets to the point of needing an actual story, okay?”

“Okay,” she replied.

“We’ll be a few streets away.  Call when you’ve wrapped things up and we’ll get you,” Alexandra said.

Gabriel and Melissa climbed out of the car and Alexandra drove off with Yoshi.  The sun was high overhead and poured like liquid gold from pale-blue heavens.  Plump, white clouds dotted an otherwise crystal-clear sky, breaking apart in some spots and leaving wisps in their wake.  A faint breeze stirred brilliant green treetops.  The house and the weather were idyllic.  But behind the picturesque scenes, a threat lurked, and until he was faced with the home’s inhabitants, he would not know on which side they existed.

“Here we go,” he said and took Melissa’s hand in his.

They walked down the long, meticulously cobbled walkway and knocked on the front door.  After several seconds passed, the door opened and a young man, not much older than he, answered.   Gabriel did not want to risk glancing at Melissa, but he suspected she was thinking exactly what he was, that the man, while handsome, was not remarkably so. 

“Hi there, can I help you?” he asked with a smile. 

Gabriel noticed that the man’s smile was slightly crooked, and though it was aesthetically pleasing, he doubted Terzini would accommodate and replicate such an anomaly.

“Hi. We’re the Logan’s.  We live a couple of blocks over,” Gabriel gestured to his rear in an attempt to seem genuine but vague at the same time.  “Our dog is missing and we were wondering if you have seen him.  He’s a golden lab, about two years old.”

“No, I can’t say that I have,” the man replied and knit his brow sympathetically.  “But let me ask my wife.  She’s in her office working.  Come on in.  I’m Jeff, by the way.”

Jeff opened his front door further and ushered them into a bright, cozy living room.  Fabric, floral printed couches and cherry wood end tables bordered an area rug in a complimentary color and were all arranged around an ornate, marble fireplace.  The furniture was simple, inexpensive looking, and obviously situated around what the owners hoped to be the focal point of the room.      

“I’m John,” Gabriel lied as he and Melissa entered.  “And this is my wife Cindy.”

“Wife?” Jeff asked surprised.

“Yes.  You seem surprised,” Gabriel said smiling.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean to offend or judge. It’s just that you both look so young,” Jeff fumbled, clearly embarrassed.

“I’ll go ahead and take that as a compliment,” Melissa said.  “After all, what woman doesn’t want to look younger than she really is?”

Jeff relaxed visibly.  “Please, sit down.  Your wife let me off the hook,” he sighed then playfully nudged Gabriel before he sat.  “Say, do you have a picture of your dog by any chance?”

“No, I’ve been a terrible mommy and haven’t taken any recent ones.  The last pictures I took were when he was just a puppy,” Melissa said and her voice quivered with feigned emotion.

Gabriel was impressed with Melissa’s deceit.  And a little concerned as well. 

“Don’t beat yourself up,” Jeff comforted.  “We don’t have a pet, but I’m sure we would have done the same.  Has he ever gotten out before?”

“Sammy got out once last month,” Gabriel said.

“And we found him on this street,” Melissa added.

“Hmm, I guess Sammy’s trying to tell you to join us over here on Blossom Road,” Jeff tried to joke.

Melissa smiled faintly, just as a distressed pet owner would have. 

“Can I get you guys a drink?” Jeff asked.  “A glass of water, soda, or tea perhaps?”

“I would love a glass of water,” Melissa replied gratefully.

“And for you, John?”

“Water will be fine for me as well,” Gabriel answered.

Jeff disappeared into the kitchen.  While he was gone, Gabriel looked at Melissa, asked her with his eyes what she thought.  She replied by furrowing her brow and shaking her head from side to side.  She did not think Jeff was a creation, neither did he.   Gabriel reached out and took Melissa’s hand in his, “Love you,
Mrs.
Logan,” he said playfully.

“Love you too,
Mr.
Logan,” she said and returned his affectionate squeeze.

Neither Gabriel nor Melissa saw Jeff leaning in the entryway to the living room.  Fortunately, they had not spoken, and chose instead to communicate wordlessly. 

“Ah newlyweds,” he observed and sighed dramatically before bringing their bottles of water in.

Gabriel was thankful that the water was bottled and the seals unbroken.  If he was wrong about Jeff, they would have been foolish to accept a refreshment from him, and vulnerable. 

“Thanks,” Gabriel said.

“Thank you,” Melissa said.

“So you’re not a newlywed?” Melissa asked innocently.

“No, my wife Carol and I have been married for three years.  We’re old news,” he joked.

“Don’t tell her that,” Gabriel kidded back and Melissa tapped him playfully.

“Let me go and get her.  I don’t want to take up too much of your time.  I’m sure you want to find Sammy before it gets dark.”

Jeff disappeared once again and Gabriel and Melissa sat silently holding hands.  He winked at her and she flirted back, certain they were not in immediate danger at the moment.  When Jeff returned, he was followed by a young woman with sable hued hair that tumbled in a riot of curls to her shoulders, and eyes a rich shade of chestnut.  She wore a long, flowing top that could have easily been a maternity garment and leggings.  She was lovely, but again, not extraordinarily so.  Gabriel stood, and Melissa followed suit. 

“Hi,” Carol said as she entered the living room.  “Sorry to keep you waiting.  I didn’t even know we had company.”  She shot Jeff a cross look.

“See what I mean, we’re oldie-weds,” he laughed.

Carol smiled thinly then gave him another look of annoyance that was more playfully frustrated than it was angry. 

“I’m Carol, by the way.  Jeff told me your dog got out.”

“Yes, he did.  Sammy, our golden lab, got out of the yard.  We think maybe the gardener let him out accidentally,” Melissa said.

“Oh no, that’s so sad,” Carol said with genuine emotion touching her features.

“Last time he did this, we found him in this area,” Gabriel said.  “We’re going door to door to see if anyone has spotted him.”

“I’m sorry, but I haven’t.  I went out earlier, to the grocery store, but that was in the morning.”

“I can make a few calls if you’d like,” Jeff offered.

“That’s so nice of you,” Melissa began.  “But we’ve taken up enough of your time already.”

“Nonsense!  It’s no trouble really.  I have the day off today and she’s been working in her office.  It’ll give me something to do,” he said.

“I could give you a list of things if you’re looking for something to do,” Carol chimed in with the same playfully frustrated expression from earlier.

Gabriel couldn’t help but notice how effortless and comfortable their relationship was.  It did not come across as fake or forced.  Their interaction seemed reflective of two people who’d know each other for some time and were familiar enough to tease without
pestering.  He felt confident that they were an ordinary married couple, young by current standards, but ordinary, nonetheless.

“So how long have you two been dating,” Carol asked and flopped into the loveseat next to them.

“We’re married,” Melissa said and smiled.

“Newlyweds,” Jeff added.

“Oh, that explains it,” Carol laughed.

“Explains what?” Gabriel asked in the same joking tone.

“Why you’re holding hands,” Carol replied. “That stops after the first year,” she said more to Melissa.

“Are you two planning to start a family right away?” Jeff asked.

“Jeff! You’re not supposed to ask newlyweds that question.  Remember how upset we used to get when people asked us?” Carol reminded.

“Don’t worry, I don’t mind answering,” Melissa said.

“No! It was rude,” Carol continued.

“Really, I don’t mind.  I never wanted children, never saw them in my future or gave them any thought, until I met him.  The moment I met him everything changed.  I loved for the first time.  And suddenly the thought of having a child didn’t seem farfetched.”

Her words were so convincing, so believable, Gabriel found himself wishing they were married and making plans for a family.  He would love to live in a climate as warm and sunny as California, in a community with friendly, concerned neighbors as warm and inviting as Jeff and Carol.  Of course, her father would kill him where he stood for entertaining the notion of marrying and impregnating his daughter then moving her across the country, all before she graduated from college. Even after Melissa graduated from college, he doubted her father would want her to marry.  Gabriel would never know for sure, however, until he asked.  A smile spread across his lips as he rejoined the conversation.

“How about you two?  I shared, now it’s your turn.  Any babies in the future?” Melissa asked slyly, as if they’d been friends forever.

If he had posed the same question, he would have seemed presumptuous but Melissa, he observed, had a knack for connecting with perfect strangers.

“No way!” Carol blurted out.  “We’re years from that.  We’re only twenty-four.”

Melissa operated smoothly, calmly, though she was no less aware of what Carol had admitted than he was.  If they weren’t creations, and they weren’t pregnant, then why were they on the list?  Gabriel could not imagine how they tied in with either the officers or Terzini.

“May I use your restroom?” Melissa asked unexpectedly.

In his head Gabriel was screaming for her to stay, that something was not right about Carol and Jeff being on the list.  He could not tell her
not
to go to the bathroom.  But he psychically willed her not to as he frantically searched his mind for some way to stop her.  Every idea that presented itself seemed inappropriate or alarming.  So he was forced to sit tight and wait for her to return then leave as quickly as possible.

***