Necrodrome
As Vicki, Henry and I sat in the car I watched it rock back and forth as our listening device showed that they were making sound. I watched in envy and Vicki brought the device up to her ear as Henry reached into the back seat for a water bottle. "I can honestly say I never thought I'd be doing anything like this" Henry stated.
"At least you can hear it I'm just sitting here like a lump" I told him.
"Stop wiggling around" Vicki scolded us. Just than a man sat up in the car. "Oh Barry I hope that was good for you because it's going to cost you" Vicki stated. Just than the car started to drive forward causing me to push Vicki down and turn and kiss Henry. When I saw the car drive past I pulled away as Vicki popped her head back up.
"I think I'm going to love stakeouts" Henry stated. Just as Henry went to kiss me again I felt Vicki hit me on the arm causing Henry to miss my mouth completely.
"Stop we wouldn't want the client to hear that on play back" Vicki told us. With this I turned back to Henry as he spoke.
"Men these days have no idea how to treat a woman" Henry sighed "He could have at least sprung for a motel room"
"No" I stated.
"No hotel no recite, no recite no paper trail is why the wife has us following him around" Vicki added in. With this Vicki looked over at the tap as awkwardness sat in. Here I was sitting with my boyfriend with my big sister in the back, watching people have sex as my sister scrutinizes us. As I looked over at Henry I realized he must have been thinking the same things because he started laughing nervously which caused me to join in. "You know I was once caught in flagrante delito with a girlfriend of a Vegas mobster" Henry told us. "The mug got me twice in the gut" he told us.
"I'm having a hard time picturing you as a gangster" Vicki stated. With this Henry rolled up his collar before turning to us again.
"When Bugsy caught me bumping ugly with a twist he went off the track clipped me in the spot. He and his boys dumped me in a Vegas landfill like I was yesterdays garbage he figured, he figured I was down for the long dirt nap but next night I was back with his skirt rigged up with the perfect song" Henry acted as I watched him impressed. At this I laughed a little bit before a thought hit me.
"Hey wait a minute you need blood to heal" I stated.
"There's lots of life in the dump and beggars can't be choosers" Henry answered as I cringed.
"I hope she was worth it" Vicki stated.
"Love is always worth the risk" Henry stated resting his arm against the back of the seat behind me. "Eternity's a long time to live with regret" he told me as he started to lean forward looking over at Vicki.
"You ever consider writing greeting cards" Vicki asked.
***
When Vicki and I walked into the funeral home I watched as a chubby man and a black lady arguing with each other. Just than he turned to us as he stepped away from the other lady. "Ah thank you for coming so quickly" he told us.
"Well your message did say it was urgent" Vicki told him.
"Ah yes very urgent Ms. Swanson these are the private detectives I was telling you about they will assure that your husband is found as quickly as possible" he told the black lady.
"You'll find my Diesel" she asked.
"We'll do are best" I answered after a paused.
"If you'll excuse us I believe Mr. Ulanova have some particulars to discuss about your case" Vicki stated as we headed into the back room. The second we walked into the room he started talking again.
"Thank you Ms. Nelsons you come highly recommended Dr. Mohadevon assures me I can expect results" he told us.
"Well in the further you may want to actually make sure I'll take the case before you start making promises" Vicki stated. He must have said something because suddenly he turned around as he continued to talk.
"This matter contains discretion above all else, and results, discretion and results" he told us.
'Why don't you just start telling me with the lat Mr. Swanson" Vicki stated.
"He arrived two days ago liver frailer, joystick reeks havoc with the skin tone so he was planned for an over night. When I came in this morning to check in on the status of his embalming procedure he was gone" he told us.
"Was there any evidence of a break in" Vicki asked.
"The back door was jimmied open he must have came and left that way" he told me.
"Are you sure" I asked.
"Heather and I were in the front office working on some paper work we would have seen him go out the front" he answered. "Dr Mohadevon also assures me I can offer you the curtsy of full disclosure" he told us.
"And you haven't phoned the police because why" I asked.
"There are aspects to this situation that the authorities wouldn't naturally comprehend" he answered. With this he walked over to the cupboard showing us a TV screen. "This was taken by our security camera" he told us. With this we watched as a man walked up to a table causing the dead body rose to life and than follow him out of he room.
"We need that disk" I stated.
"And a very large retainer" Vicki added.
***
That night I went to Henry's place to see if he knew anything about the video. "Come take a look at this" I told him as I pointed to the computer screen. With this Henry walked over and leaned beside me before he suddenly started smelling me. "What you doing" I asked as I turned to him.
"There's something different about you" he told me.
"I don't think so same soap, same shampoo same detergent" I stated trying to ignore the arousing and warm feeling of his breath against my neck head and everywhere else as he smelt.
"Something more primal" he told me as I breathed deeply trying to keep in control.
"I changed my fabric softener" I offered.
"You smell like death" he said completely ruining the mood.
"Okay, how is that even remotely a turn on" I asked pulling away from him angrily.
"Decay is a common base note in most perfumes, usually derived from jasmine" he told me.
"Oh" I stated.
"The fusion of attractive and repulsive scents creates a scents of urgency don't you think" he asked moving my hair to the side as he leaned down to my neck hopefully.
"Not really now watch please" I told him pushing him away and turning his face to the screen. With this I started playing the movie.
"What is that" he asked rubbing my arm lightly.
"Sweet Diesel Swanson" I answered.
"Not exactly my type" he answered nibbling my ear. With this I pushed him away again.
"As much as I'd love to finish this Vicki's waiting for us back at the office" I told him. With this he nodded to the computer giving in for now. "He was the heavy wait champion for about 10 minutes until the boxing commotions found out he bet on himself" I told him.
"Are we investigating his death" Henry asked.
"Not exactly" I answered. Just than I watched as the body rose to life before turning to Henry. "Here, that, is that some kind of voodoo" I asked
"It's a form of necromancies particularly foul magic practiced on the dead, from the look of that mask I'd say Egyptian" he told me. "What else do you have" he asked.
"Well the guy who broke in he knew the location of everyone of the surveillance cameras so he picked the door closest to the prep room, never shows his face, no finger prints he knows his way around this place" I told him.
***
"Boris Ulanova necromancies, impossible he hired you to find Mr. Swanson" the coroner told us as she glanced down at bottles.
"Well unfortunately in my business client does not always equal innocent" Vicki stated.
"How long have you known him" Henry asked.
"As long as I've worked here he's a most dedicated mortician. A hanist crime has been committed against Mr. Swanson and it's nothing worse than an Easter weekend" she told us.
"I take it you don't mean the holiday with the bunnies and the chocolate" I asked confused.
"She's talking about a resurrection" Henry told me.
"There's a code word for walking dead" Vicki asked.
"Well many colleges have had experiences that would sound crazy to a laid person. When I started I would see things out of the corner of my eye that I chocked up to tricks of light, now I accept the supernatural as a fact of life" she told us.
"And apparently a fact of death" Vicki stated.
"Alright thanks" I told her following Vicki to the door.
"So if Boris Ulanova didn't kill him perhaps a disgruntled employee" Henry offered.
"No disgruntled employees take office supplies" I Vicki argued.
"So where does that leave us" Henry asked.
"Well why resurrect the dead" I asked.
"Love" Vicki offered.
"His wife" Henry stated.
"Hey maybe he arranged all this for himself" I offered.
"Is that what you think" Henry asked.
"No I think it's a possibility" I answered. "He found out he had liver failure he couldn't face it so he went out and found someone who could resurrect him" I offered.
"For the recorded Swanson if reanimated, I am resurrected" Henry told me.
"There's a difference" Vicki asked.
"Diesel Swanson is still walking only because of the dark magic to serve the Necromancer who raised him. He has no freedom of will he has no life" Henry told us getting slightly angry. "I maintained my personality, my intelligence, my wit" Henry answered softening.
"Your humility" I asked.
"My soul" he finished taking a step closer to us before walking away.
***
The next evening after Vicki went out and got information I went to go talk to Mike. "No one ever could hover as good as you" Mike said as I hovered in front of him.
"Hey you remember Diesel Swanson" I asked knowing I had his attention though he didn't fully look up.
"Diesel the boxer yes" he answered finally looking up from his paper.
"Yah his body was stolen from the morgue a couple of days ago" I told him.
"And the reason the police weren't called is" Mike asked.
"This is where it gets a little tricky" I told him taking a seat uncomfortably. "It was theft by resurrection, reanimation" I corrected. "He's walking around. 'At first we thought it was somebody who had something against Swanson than we thought they had something against the funeral home. I got thinking and I thought maybe this has happened before maybe he's not the only one" I told him.
"Well if body snatching is the new joy riding I haven't heard anything about it" Mike told me.
"Could you check" I asked as he started laughing.
"What" He laughed. "Body snatching" he asked.
"Or grave robbery" I added ignoring his laughing.
"Look Lizzie I find out when people go into the ground not where they come out okay call me when he stats eating brains" Mike told me turning away slightly as if to say he was finished talking.
"He's eating brains" I tried to push.
"Nice try" Mike answered knowing I was lying.
"His body was stolen" I told him.
"Making it a case from major crimes" Mike teased.
"And he's walking around" I growled.
"And that is a Vegas act" Mike teased again. "Look Lizzie I have five active cases here I wish I could help you but I can't" Mike told me.
"Alright if you find anything out will you let me know" I sighed giving up for now.
"If I find something I promise you or Vicki will be the first to know" Mike vowed.
"Thank you" I told him.
"You're welcome" he answered as I headed out.
***
"The mask is a representation of Anubis" Coreen told us.
"Ah the Egyptian god of the dead" I added.
"According to myth he resurrected Osiris from the dead" she said handing Vicki a book. "My friends a security guard at the museum he lets me borrow reference material from time to time" she lied.
"You stole this" I asked.
"Borrowed you can't find everything on the internet" she defended herself.
"Ah now all we have to do is find an Egyptian Necromancer operating somewhere in the city" Vicki sighed.
"I love my job" I stated taking the book from Vicki. "Thanks for this good work" I stated as Vicki and Coreen headed out.
***
For the next few hours I read threw every inch of the book until suddenly there were another set of feet leaning against mine on the desk. "You could knock" I teased knowing it was Henry.
"You could call" Henry answered.
"You didn't seem all that interested in the case" I told him.
"Because I didn't consider the well being of Mr. Swanson's corporeal host to be an urgent priority" Henry teased back.
"Well I got to admit you seemed a bit flipped" I stated.
"You're searching for a body I have absolutely no doubt that his soul is at peace" Henry told me.
"Yah I'm not so sure about that" I told him flipping the pages in the book. "Egyptian funeral rituals my William Carmichael" I read.
"Sound exciting" Henry teased.
"Well it's 300 pages of university grade double speak complete with foot notes, he did have the courtesy of throwing in a few photos" I told him.
"Is there anything of value" he asked.
"Well lets see the Egyptians believed that the soul was divided into seven part" I told him.
"The Ren is your name the Secom energy the Aksum is best described as your ghost, Ka life force, Ba soul, Shea shadow and the Sekua your physical remains" Henry told me knowingly.
"Well g you'd pass the pop quiz" I teased.
"I spent a little bit of time in Egypt" he teased back.
"Yah I figured" I answered turning back to the book. "The important ones for us is Ba and Sekua soul and remains. The Ba was summoned back into the Sekua during the resurrection ritual because they believe is the soul didn't recognize the remains it wouldn't return to it" I told him.
"Hence mummification of the corpse" Henry told me. 'But what does that have to do with Swanson" he asked.
***
"I think they might be the same on both sides" Vicki said looking at a something that was found inside someone throat. "It's the benu bird" Vicki pointed.
"And that's the Ba" I added pointing farther down.
"What is that" Coreen asked looking at something.
"Diesel Swanson" Henry offered.
"How do you know that" Vicki asked.
"Am I the only one in the room who read the Rosetta Stone" he asked. At these words Vicki Coreen and I exchanged questioningly looks. "Oh you got to be kidding me" Henry sighed taking a seat across from us. "God I feel old" he sighed as I laughed slightly.
"Okay benu bird, that's Osiris, Ba Diesel Swanson I think this is a requisition form for a soul" Vicki offered.
"There will be rituals involved in enchanting a tablet but sensually yes but why does he snap the tablet in half" Henry asked.
"Maybe the guy who wrote this can help he mentions a lost chapter in the dead, describes a resurrection ritual involves a clay tablet he's the closest thing we've got to an expert" Coreen offered.
"I think he may be more than that I mean the same magic he describes in his thesis is being involved to raise the dead. I think William Carmichael might be our Necromancer" I told them.
***
As I followed Henry up the flight of stairs I watched Vicki and Henry for any look of a sound. "Anybody home" Vicki asked when we got o the door.
"I don't sense anyone" Henry somewhat answered. With this is lowly opened the door to find it unlocked.
"Never a good sign" I stated heading in the quiet apartment. Just as I looked over to the second room I saw Swanson who lunged at u as Henry pushed me to the side crouching down.
"Stay away, or I'll kill you to" Diesel growled.
"He can talk" I gasped in surprise.
"He can do a lot more than that" Henry answered as Diesel lunged at him but ended up over the stairs. We quickly followed it out to see the alleyway empty. After taking another look around we went back into the apartment.
"You could really hear Swanson he's trapped in there" Vicki told us looking around.
"I'd feel sorrier for the man if he didn't try to take my head off" Henry stated. "What are we looking for" Henry than asked.
"Anything" I answered dumping a garbage can.
"Is that really necessary" Henry asked as I noticed him take a step forward.
"This from a man who spent a weekend in a Vegas dumpster" Vicki asked helping me look threw it. Suddenly she pulled a piece of paper out looking it around.
***
"What you found was code for some kind of Internet site and here we go" Coreen told us as she turned the site on. On the screen popped the words Necrodrome.
"What's a Necrodrome" I asked.
"Necro dead Dome arena" Henry answered. Just than a video went on as two people Swanson and another guy fighting.
"Is this a snuff film" Coreen asked.
"Technically they're already dead" Henry answered. Just as I saw Swanson break the other guy's neck I buried my head into Henry shoulder.
"Excuse me" I quickly said pulling away.
"Are you okay" Vicki asked as I turned to leave.
"I'm okay" I answered.
***
The next night I watched in envy as Henry listened to the video and Vicki passed the room. I really wished I new what he heard. "Vicki" Henry suddenly said writing something down.
"Please tell me you got something" Vicki begged.
"Maybe I can hear something in the back ground on this audio" Henry stated writing down.
"Can I" Vicki asked as I felt sadness set in.
"You have to trust me on this on unless you can here sub sonic sounds" Henry told her.
"Okay what is it" Vicki asked.
"Train 79 Montreal now boarding" Henry told us. With this I pushed him to the side going to the train site.
"Okay there's a night time train to Montreal we'll head down there and work our way out" I told them as Vicki headed for the door.
"You know this can't have a happy ending when we find Swanson we're going to have to stop him literally" Henry told her.
"Yep but at least Darlene will have the chance to say good bye properly that should be worth something" Vicki answered.
***
After driving around to numerous building we finally stopped at an old warehouse to see Mike's car parked in front of us. 'That's Mike's car" Vicki noted too.
"He must be close" Henry added.
"Going to have to have a little chat with him about share z's" I joked. Just than we turned the corner to see people filling into the building.
"Must be something" Henry stated.
"Well I guess we should have dressed up" Vicki joked as we headed to the door.
"Oh I'm looking forward to this" I said feeling awkward.
"I wish I could share the same enthusiasm" Henry told me as we watched the man close the door.
"Looks like this could be a tough party to crash" I stated.
"Looks can be deceiving" Henry smiled backing up before spinning around and knocking the man out.
"Okay you know what go to Mike's car give us three minutes switch on the sirens than head on back in here" I thought.
"How do I do that" Henry asked.
"It's the switch marked sirens" Vicki answered.
"Sirens" Henry repeated as I walked up to the man and decked him again as he started to wake up.
***
With this Vicki and I sneaked inside to see Mike trapped in a cage surrounded by people and Swanson. "Anytime now Henry" Vicki stated. At that very second everyone started clearing up as Vicki and I started forward pretending to have a gun. Just than the man with the mask pulled it off to see the mortician's son with Mike's gun. "Great you and Carmichael partners, nice business plan" Vicki stated.
"We were partners until somebody got scared" he answered just than he raised a back with rocks as another guy walked forward.
"The power to resurrect the dead and this is how you use it" I sighed following Vicki over to a car.
"This was how it was meant to be used, I'm not going to grow old massaging dead people's hands" he told us. "Spent years watching my father fanning over them like they were something special. More concerned about than about his own family, the dead are meant to serve us" he told us forcing Vicki and I towards the cage. "They will serve me" he vowed.
"They're people" Vicki told him. "And you're enslaving them for some sick sport" she continued.
"The fights" he asked. "There just a promotional tool a chance to show case their skills and when the right people realize what I accomplished here, I'll be lying if I said I hadn't thought of the military applications" he said as he rose the bag again. Just than we were forced into the cage as I looked around for Henry hopefully.
"Told you to keep your nose out of this" Mike scolded us.
"Yah well I ignored you beside some bodies got to save your cute little ass" Vicki answered.
"Yah and you're doing a wonderful job by the way" Mike stated.
"It gets better don't worry" I told him making a small step towards the door.
"Alright Ivan I'm going to give you one last chance to surrender" I told him.
"I got you prisoner" he told me pointing the gun at me. "I got the zombies and the gun" he said. At that very second Henry dropped from the roof knocking the gun and him to the side. At the same second the two zombies attacked us as I darted out of the way. I watched as Henry persuaded Diesel to stop chocking Mike as Vicki got the gun from Ivan. Just than Vicki passed us the rocks as Henry grabbed them and showed them to Diesel.
"This is what you want" Henry stated.
"Henry" I asked.
"Are you sure that's such a good idea" Mike asked. I watched as Mike ran out of the cage and Diesel took the rocks. Just as he took it Diesel headed for the exit as Henry tried to stop him.
"Give him to me" he growled.
"As much as I'd like to do that Diesel he's our responsibility" Vicki answered. With these words he continued walking forward as Henry failed to stop him.
"Diesel stop" I cried.
"Time to find out what a head shot does to a zombie" Mike offered.
"He's not a zombie" Vicki, Henry and I told him. Just as he was meters away he turned and headed for the door.
"Where's he going" Mike asked.
"Oh god I think I know where" I answered following after him. "Diesel, Diesel stop" I cried.
"I want to see her" he turned to me.
"You're in no conditions" I offered. Just than he looked at his reflection on the window in shock and disgust.
"Tell her" he went to say.
"She knows and she loves you, and she knows you love her" I told him.
"Maybe there is a way" Henry offered.
***
Back at the funeral home I watched as Swanson's wife walked up in tears. I turned away as she spoke to him to give them privacy. I than glanced as I saw Vicki walk outside with her and Henry walked up to Diesel. I than watched as Diesel put the second half of the tablet in his mouth as Henry watched him. He than walked over to me tensely. "What's going to happen to Ivan" he asked.
"Well with any luck he'll go away for life for Swanson's and Carmichael's murders" I answered.
"And being caught in a warehouse full of dead people shouldn't help his case any" Henry added.
"I think I get it know the sweetness of death" I thought out loud.
"It's an acquired taste" he told me lightly touching my arm. With this I took his hand and dragged him onwards.
I'm Letting Everyone know I will not be doing the next episode (the baby episode)