Chapter 8

Vicki left the office just as Coreen was dialing her friend's number and thought to herself, that girl knows some interesting people. She didn't know what she was going to say to Mike, because really, they hadn't been speaking much lately . Ever since he almost got Henry killed by the mad priest, the strain in their relationship had been evident, and it was growing worse, but hopefully Mike was feeling guilty enough to want to help without putting up too big of a fuss.

Hopefully.

She knew that was a pipe dream the minute he looked up from his paperwork and his expression went from 'I hate paperwork' to 'OH, HELL, what now?' "What do you want, Vicki? I'm really behind on the paperwork and I need to catch up before Crowley decides I'd look really good in a crossing guard uniform."

"She's on your case? Why?" That last stupid question earned her a look that said why do you think?

"Oh. Sorry." She looked down at her hands. "I wouldn't be here if I weren't desperate. I'm not looking to cause you trouble, Mike, but Henry's disappeared."

"And that's a bad thing, how?" The look on her face stopped him from continuing with that thought. "Sorry." He said it, but the insincerity dripped from his voice, "What's happened?"

"The house on Conover? The one that's supposed to be," she made little air quotes, "haunted? I don't think it's haunted, I think it's a portal to another world. I think that's where those people who went missing actually went. And I think it took Henry. I need to get him back."

"Why?" He looked at her defiantly, "Dammit, Vicki. If Fitzroy's disappeared, as far as I'm concerned, it's all good . He has done nothing but disrupt your life from day one, almost gotten you killed, exposed you to demons.Frankly,between worrying about you, the two of you working together, and you asking for my help, it's not just going to cost me my job one day, it's going to cost me my sanity."

She stood, "I don't know why I came here." The coldness in her voice shook him. "I thought maybe you'd feel a little bad about the way you've behaved around him, considering he's saved my life, and more than once. Go back to your police work. I'll figure it out." She grabbed her huge bag, and left, not looking back. Another bridge burned, she thought.

Once outside, she hailed a taxi and was heading back to the office when she changed her mind and asked the driver to take her back to the house on Conover. Asking him to wait, she walked up the cracked, filthy sidewalk to the house, staring at what was once a showcase, now a broken down shell. Walking into the foyer, she shined her light around, reaching out with her senses. This is where I'll find you, and I will find you. You're coming home to me Henry, and things will be different. She stood there, eyes closed, when the pain in her wrists hit. She looked down and her tattoos were warming up, not on fire like they usually were, but warm.

"Henry!" She spun, "can you hear me?" Her voice caught, "if you can, I'm working on a way to bring you home. You're coming home, I promise." She felt something like a warm breeze just sweep through her, touching her cheek. She shut her eyes and let it surround her. She could feel him, could feel his love for her.

Tears welling, she stood still for another minute, waiting for a sign. Whispering, "I'll be back with help," she turned and left. Fifteen minutes later, she was back in front of her office, heading up the stairs. She heard loud voices the closer she got.

"I'm leaving and you can't stop me." A voice that grated, so it must be Minnie's

"That's where you're wrong. I may be skinny, but I'm spry and I've been taking lessons." Definitely Coreen.

"Ladies, let's not fight, we need to work together and I need to be calm to do that." He sighed like a girl, "so pleasestop, the bad vibes are fucking up my chi." A voice she didn't recognize but, going by what Coreen had said, she was guessing it was her 'sensitive' friend. Quietly opening the door, she saw Coreen and Minnie nose to nose. The boy, she saw, was dressed in baggy jeans, a white button down shirt and an argyle print sweater vest. She could do nothing but stare at him, hoping his dress didn't reflect his ability.

The squabbling kept up, and steeling herself, she raised her voice a little, "Enough!" She barely managed to not slam the door. "We've got bigger things to worry about." She pointed at the red head, "you're not going anywhere until I get my friend back, so suck it up." She pointed at Coreen, "good job." Then she stuck her out her hand, "you must be Coreen's friend? I'm Vicki Nelson."

"Uh, yes, I'm Maxwell Achord" He grinned like a schoolboy, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "I'm here to help."

tbc