56 Safe House Needs a New Name or Reapercussions I
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"It's one thing to show up, take the soul, get on with your afterlife.
You can think of yourself like some kind of…accident.
But when you have to work at it, it feels more like…murder." - Georgia Lass
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Ray hovering from near the ceiling listened to Kevin on the phone. On his left and right were Kevin's two shadows, ghosts of people he had killed years before. Kevin hung up a phone. Ray, from this half the conversation, was sure he was talking to Bob Testalino. Kevin motioned to someone outside the office and Dr. Steinman entered the room. This guy got around, had his fingers in all sorts of pots, dangerous pots. The doctor stood a moment looking about perhaps unsure of what to do, but then took one of the seats in front of Kevin's desk.
"How is he?"
"He'll likely survive. He really should go to a hospital. That bullet did some major damage but it seems to have miraculously missed anything vital. But to be sure…"
"Yes, I know, the hospital."
The doctor raised his eyebrows seemed to decide against some thought wanting to exit and said instead, "The other one, Scott, will be just fine. A flesh wound only and the important thing now is to keep the bandages clean and avoid infection. I'll need to stay for a while longer. I want to observe… Steve right? …a bit longer to be sure the miracle sticks."
"Thank you." Kevin reached down into a lower drawer. Ray moved closer. Kevin's shadows didn't move. Kevin pulled up a bundle of 100 dollar bills and passed it over. "Here's a down payment. There's an extra room you can rest in down the hall… first door on your right."
The Doc stood.
"And you'll find some clean towels and extra clothes in the drawers…a variety of sizes. Take whatever you need."
"Thank you. But for now I need to check on my patient."
Kevin nodded.
Ray looked up. George was close. He could feel her approach. "Guys, I'll be right back." And he moved through the walls and toward her position. He found George standing about 100 yards away with Benny in an open space among a stand of the many trees surrounding the premises. The safe house was a large complex, probably 8-10,000 square feet of living space in all set among ample wooded land insulating it from neighbors. As he approached he could see she was unusually bright and dressed for business in her long black oversized hoodie. The somber effect was offset somewhat by the short red skirt over blue jeans. The hood was down and her face stood out like a beacon in the dark - for those like his kind who could see it. "Boss. Benny."
"Ray."
"You remember that doctor who hosted Joy? Well, he's in there now picking up some extra cash treating the two who were hit."
"Really? Dr. Steinman?"
"The one and only."
She seemed to ponder the implications of that and said, "I want to offer a deal to the ghosts who've been following those four around."
"Ahh, OK. Bigsby doesn't have any shadows of his own but the other three do. What's the deal?"
"All four have appointments tonight. I want them to give them a preview of Hell before they pass over."
"And the ghosts are going to deliver the preview?"
"Yes."
"And, of course, you won't interfere with their choices afterward?"
"No. I don't want them to scatter when I come in. I just want to make them the offer. Make sure they don't scatter."
"You got it." Ray and Benny departed.
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George approached the house with Benny and found the ghosts and Ray waiting for her just outside. She counted nine, which would be more than enough.
She stopped short. One woman was wearing an orange outfit - for eternity, at least on this side, she wouldn't be getting a change. People from all walks of life with a common thread - someone paid to have them killed, and their killers were inside the house. Seven of the nine stood like a row of statues eyes fixed on her. She stood still checking them over. A few moments passed and a few seemed agitated fidgeting in place, not something ghosts usually did. But she figured they all had waited a long time refusing to cross over following these men wherever they went watching them kill others again and again. A couple hung back from the group keeping extra distance from her. "There's no need to fear me." Not one offered to speak. Ray stood to the side. Benny hovered next to her. "I want to make a deal."
One man moved closer and apart from the group, their spokesman. "Ray here says that you will deliver them to us. Can you really do that?"
"I can. I will."
The ghosts murmured among themselves. The spokesman looked back and they returned to silence with just a movement here and there. "And how will you accomplish this? I, we, don't doubt your word…but, you are a reaper and your behavior…is tightly constrained."
"I will make it so you can physically…how to put it…interact with them."
More murmuring and crosstalk. She waited until it died down. The spokesman asked, "And, Ms. Lass, what will we owe you in return?"
She paused at that. She considered what she was planning…it was over acceptable boundaries for a reaper. But then…she was over waiting for Meigan's minions and Meigan to make attempts on her…charges…her family. She would do what she had to do to protect her own. If she had acted sooner her never-to-be born nephew would still be alive. Reggie would have another, but this one, this little boy, was gone, forever. The four men inside the house had crossed over boundaries important to her and she would send a message to their boss that coming near hers again would be very dangerous. "I want you to make the transition to the other side as painful as possible, preferably with lots of blood. And…I understand there's one of them with no…companions…I want you all to agree to help him in the same manner with his transition."
The spokesman looked back. The others quickly assented. The two who had hung a bit back joined their compatriots. He said, "Then, Ms. Lass, you have a deal."
She explained in outline how the night was to go until near morning when the four men would arrive at their appointments. She entered the house ghosting and started the first phase…with a light touch, an adjustment to their relationship with the in-between dimension her new friends were inhabiting and waiting eagerly for the four to join with them, a reunion of sorts.
She moved off well away from the house and materialized. She brought out her phone and called Rube. He was with Trip, and Roxy was there. Rube put her on speaker phone.
Rube said, "John's out of surgery and Jane is doing well. Reggie and Charlotte are already up and about."
"Everything is set up here. I've tweaked the four so they can hear, but not see, for the opening."
"They'll make their appointments?"
"Rube, by the time I'm done with them, they'll will be begging to make those appointments."
"Good girl."
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Kevin was leaning back in his chair eyes closed. Bob was furious. But fortunately and thank God Bob seemed to realize he bore some responsibility by forcing Bigsby on his team. He half expected an authorization to scrub the little shit tonight, but Bob told him to leave him alone. No further discussions. There was no point to it. Kevin figured Bob would deal with him personally. The rest of the team would be out next week and move into the other safe house. He was told to stay away from that complex. At one point Dave was on speaker with Bob and advised…what did he say? Something about 'they' must know. Bob cut him off. He wasn't at all clear what he was talking about. Kevin needed to think. His life was on the line. He could feel it. If ever he needed to think clearly this was the time.
He opened his eyes. This room was quiet. The whole house was silent. Only a few lights were on. The Doc was upstairs with Steve. Steve was good man. There was no way they could take him to a hospital though. Take shots at the Hesburghs and you had the entire law enforcement machine up in arms. There would be police at every medical facility anywhere within two even three hundred miles. Maybe for a price the doctor could bring more resources in. Bob authorized him to pay out what he needed to. Bob took care of his people. What was done was done. What was important was what he chose to do going forward, and given the fuck up his cousin had managed. Everything, well most everything after that unfortunate screw-up was going well considering. It could be much worse. One of them could have been left at the scene, dead or worse wounded. They were outgunned and up against experienced and armed professionals. He knew Jane and Tom were very capable. Yes, it could have been much worse. The three got away. They were safe here in this complex. They had the Doc. Bob would come out and pick up the pieces and they would have another go at the Hesburghs. He put his hands to his face. Oh my God. The Hesburghs had gotten so sloppy. They would not see another chance like this that Bigsby just pissed away, that he just fucking pissed away. If only, if only he had stayed with them.
A scream came from upstairs. He sat up grabbed his pistol and listened. He rose from his chair and moved towards the main staircase. The Doc stood at the top of the stairs looking down. He seemed poised to run down and probably would have but for Kevin's appearance.
The Doc asked, "What was that?"
He was the one upstairs where the sound came from. Jesus Christ. Kevin climbed the stairs. At the top the Doc moved behind him and away from the hall wing from where Kevin guessed the scream came from. They heard another scream. It sounded like Scott. Bigsby opened his door and came out with a pistol - not a 22. He would have to take that away from his cousin soon. He was more likely to shoot one of them. Scott burst out of his room stumbled and dropping his Bible he fell to the floor. He was in his underwear. Kevin walked gun ready down the hall to him. Scott hauled himself up and looked back into the room. He backed away slowly from his room's open door.
"Scott. Scott. What's wrong?"
"Can't you hear them?"
"Who?" Kevin entered the room. It looked fine. He heard nothing. The bed was messed up where Scott had pulled a few blankets getting out and away, but…otherwise fine. He turned to face Scott.
Scott's shoulders fell. He took a deep breath and let it out. His hands went to his face and back down. "Fuck."
"Bad dream?"
"That's a fucking understatment."
"Doc can you give him something?" It occurred to Kevin that the Doc may have already given Scott something that might have caused this reaction.
The Doc came closer and also looked calmer. "He should be relaxed already." He stopped and looked around. "I don't know."
"Look, Scott, we're safe here. Just relax. I talked to Bob. He understands."
Bigsby, standing just a few feet down the hall overheard that. "He understands what?" He walked closer.
"Put that gun down and go to sleep. And stay in your room."
"Kevin. I want to know what it is he understands. I want to talk to him myself."
"You'll get your chance to talk to him soon enough. There won't be any unauthorized phone calls out to anyone…including your mother. I used an encrypted line. No communication out without my authorization or by God I will put a bullet in your head. You understand that?"
He looked like he wanted to argue, but he probably realized he had screwed up big time. "OK."
"I asked you a question. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I understand."
"Get back in your room. We'll talk about this tomorrow." Please if there is a just God give me an excuse to kill this little shit. "And put that gun away. You're safe here." And I don't feel safe from you.
Bigsby closed his door.
Kevin looked at the Doc. "Could you check him over?"
"Sure." The Doc took Scott by the arm and led him back into his room.
Kevin saw the Bible still on the floor, forgotten by Scott. Kevin reached down to pick it up, but stopped short. He studied it. It was always odd for Scott to be reading that thing. What was the point? If it were true, what good was reading it for someone like Scott? If it weren't, again what was the point? He shook his head and stood straight. He headed downstairs back to his office and the communication center. Inside there was one lit lamp on his desk and another in the corner. He had a couch down there and he should try to sleep, and he probably could but for the fact while Bigsby was off fucking up the entire mission single handedly he was sleeping back here in a nice comfortable bed. He put his gun down on his desk and his hands to his face. He would be lucky to survive this. Probably the only thing that would keep him alive was his blood tie. He couldn't sleep. Fucked. He sat down into his chair, leaned back and tried taking deep slow breaths.
"Kevin. Do you remember me?"
He jumped up. "Who's there?"
No one answered. He could have sworn he heard a voice, a man's voice. It said, 'Do you remember me?' or something like that. He sat up and listened. He got up and looked out his window. It was dark. There were clouds blocking whatever moon might be out tonight. It was quiet as a tomb inside. Nothing. He sat back down.
"Keeeevin. You remember me, don't you?"
He jumped up. That one was louder and a woman's voice. He had heard that voice before in his dreams, but always saying certain other words. These were new, not a memory. He was awake and the words were new, different, like someone talking directly to him. He picked up the gun and realized he was holding his breath. Jesus. He forced himself to breathe. He was hearing things. That was not good. There was no one here but him. He moved over to the light switch and flipped it on. The room was bright now. No one. He moved out into the hall and turned those lights on. Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone duck back into a dark room on the other side of the foyer. Shit. There was someone in here in this house and they were in that room right now. He held the pistol up in ready position. He moved into the foyer and flipped the lights on. He approached the room across the foyer where he was sure he saw something or someone move. He reached inside and flipped the light switch. The room lit up. With gun ready he moved inside. There was no one. There was no door but this one. He could see every nook and cranny from here and there was no one. This was not good at all. He was seeing things, too.
Then from his office he heard two voices talking, a man and a woman. Loud as two people in real life these two were talking.
The man. "I don't think he remembers us, do you?"
Then the woman. "I don't feel welcome at all."
The man again. "And here we've been with him for so sooo long."
Kevin moved quickly back to his office with his gun at the ready and in front. He was inside and…there was no one. He put the gun down. And put his hand to his face. He hadn't even been there tonight. He had been sleeping. Was he under that much stress?
Upstairs he heard a shot. And then another and two more. He ran out of his office and took several stairs at once. At the top he put his gun up and at the ready. Bigsby came tumbling backwards out of his room onto the hallway floor with his own gun in hand. Jesus Christ. Kevin moved quickly over to him. Bigsby was terrified looking back eyes wide into his room. Kevin looked inside. There was nothing. There was only a lamp on and from here what appeared to be an empty room. He flipped the overhead lights on and entered himself. Nothing. If Kevin hadn't just heard what he did downstairs he would be chewing the kid out. "Bigsby. Tell me exactly what you think you heard."
"I..I..don't know." He looked on the edge of a breakdown.
"Did you hear voices?"
"I…I…heard someone talking to me." He got up and seemed to be scrapping together some courage from somewhere. "I'm not crazy. I heard someone talking to me just like they were standing not three feet away."
"I believe you. I heard someone downstairs."
The Doc was peeking from the slightly ajar door to Steve's room. Clearly the Doc was not one to rush toward gun fire. When he saw Kevin only then the Doc came out. Scott lurched out of his room with a pistol in hand.
The Doc walked over to the hallway light switches and flipped everything on, lighting the hallway up. They all stood there and listened looking at each other. There was nothing visible that threatened and everything looked as it should except three of four men standing in the hallway were holding guns and two were in their underwear.
Steve, from the room behind the Doc, screamed. The Doc jumped to the side. Kevin moved quickly inside the room. Steve was sitting upright eyes wide. "They've come for me. Kevin. They've come for me."
"Who? Who's come for you?"
"People I killed years ago. They said that they're waiting for me. They want to make sure I get where I'm…supposed to go." He let himself plop back down.
Kevin looked around. He turned to the Doc. "Did you hear anything?"
"If you mean something other than the shouting, gun shots, and such, no. Nothing. No voices. Steve said he could hear someone talking to him when I was with him, but I couldn't hear anything. It seems very real to him, though."
Kevin considered just for a moment that somehow the Doc was engineering this shit, but it didn't seem remotely plausible. And why would he? This did not look good at all. But what could he do? He sat down on Steve's bed. He noticed an US magazine half in a paper bag that had been knocked to the floor. He reached for it and pulled it out to show to Steve. Steve was breathing heavily eyes jumping around. "Hey, guy, you read this one yet?"
Steve, closed and opened his eyes, and seemed to come back. He smiled Those voices momentarily forgotten. "No. I was saving that one."
A dark thought crossed his mind. "Let's leave this lamp on and why don't you read it now? It'll be light in a few hours and all…I'm sure all this nonsense will be gone by daylight." There was no point scaring them. What would be would be either way, and he felt his duty to…what? To make whatever was coming easier…by taking their minds off these distractions. Yes, they were distractions. Something wanted them scared witless. He could see that now. The Doc though didn't seemed scared at all. Steve wiped his brow and took a deep breath. He settled in to focus on his movie starlets maybe to dream about meeting one someday. Kevin got up and moved to the door. The Doc looked awfully calm. Kevin said, "I'll leave the door open." He looked toward the Doc. "Let's talk downstairs."
Scott in the hallway shouted, "Look." He was pointing down the hall.
Kevin exited and turned that way and…there was nothing there. "What did you see?"
Scott was staring down the hall. "I saw a…a ghost."
Kevin kept his voice steady. "Scott." He started again voice flat. "Scott, how do you know it was a ghost?"
Scott fell exhausted against the wall. "I…it…she…it." He looked like he might lose it right here. And he was holding a loaded weapon. No one moved waiting. He gave up, sighed heavily, and took a deep breath. "She was wearing the same clothes seven years ago when I put…this gun…" He nodded to the weapon he was holding. "I put this to her head. She begged me not to kill her. Like they all do, if you give them the chance. It was a funny orange outfit for her kid's birthday party that day. Funny. How you remember every…little…detail…"
No one laughed including the Doc. He was the only one who hadn't seen or heard anything out of the ordinary. And God Damn It he seemed calm, too calm. Kevin wanted to discuss with him loading the three up with enough medicine so that they were not able hear anything, so they couldn't wake up until broad daylight. He would stay awake and watch over things, maybe with the Doc, maybe not.
"So you recognize her, for sure?"
Scott's eyes jumped to lock on his. "What did I just say?"
"Maybe someone is in the house, someone playing tricks on us. That's the only rational explanation."
"No. No. I know she's dead. I killed her. Seven years ago. No one. No one could pull this shit. I'm hearing other voices, too. I know exactly who they are. Every…fucking…one, and they know me." He chuckled.
Shit. Kevin did not want to hear that. The voices he heard…weren't just any voices. He turned to the Doc. "Do you know what is going on?"
"No. I'm observing. I don't seem to be sharing…these voices and visions. I don't know what's going on."
"Could it be something you gave us?"
"Well, I haven't given you anything at all. Nor Bigsby. And Scott and Steve have received different medications. So I doubt it could be something like that."
Kevin didn't think so either. The four stood there. Kevin had no idea what to do next. Something else did though. They all heard a scream downstairs coming from his office. A woman. Loud. Then this woman started pleading loud enough so they could all hear her all the way up here. "Please don't kill my children, please. They're innocent. I beg you please. They don't know who you are…and they are innocent." She sobbed.
He to his bones now understood the stupid phrase 'blood running cold' because his did. Oh my God. He knew that voice. He remembered it exactly. Sometimes he woke up in a nightmare with that voice. Oh my God. He said nothing. Scott looked at him and said, "Kevin. Kevin. What do we do?"
All he could think of was so pathetic, but he said it anyway, "Pray." That Bible on the floor caught his eye. God he was desperate for his thoughts to stray so far.
Bigsby asked, "Are we going down to see what she's doing in the house?"
Kevin said, "That won't be necessary."
Scott asked, "You know that voice, don't you?"
"Yes. Yes, I do. All too well."
Scott continued, "I heard someone I killed a few years back begging me for mercy. They used the same words and the same voice they used just before I killed them." He held his gun down. "What the f*ck is going on?"
Bigsby scoffed, "I heard voices, but not anyone I ever met."
The three turned to him. Scott said in a centered voice that Kevin could feel had been stripped down to a core malice, "Have you ever actually looked into someone's eyes and killed them in cold blood, on a real fucking job, you fucking little prick?"
"Why are you blaming me? I'm hearing the voices too?"
"I'll tell you why you little fucking piece of shit. Because tonight you did something so fucking stupid my gut tells me all this shit is connected to that cock up."
Bigsby looked to Kevin offended. "Man, that's crazy talk."
Scott laughed. "Crazy talk is it? It's not my talk. We're in a nightmare that you somehow brought about." Scott's eyes narrowed. He looked at Bigsby with killing intent. "And just maybe if you were to die then just maybe the whole nightmare would stop." He pointed his gun directly at Bigsby's head.
Kevin said, "Bigsby, don't move. Scott, now listen to me. Bob is going to deal with him soon enough."
Scott glared at Bigsby. Then his face softened. He slowly lowered his gun. "I think it's too late."
Bigsby never did know when to shut the fuck up. "Man, you are one crazy motherfucker."
Kevin was ready, but Scott didn't respond. Scott looked up at Kevin. And then didn't say anything. His eyes had no hope in them, like he realized it was over. Like that woman's did years ago when she understood he was going to kill her children, no hope. Scott turned, noticed his Bible on the floor. His eyes stayed on it for long moments. His head shook and leaving it on the floor he walked into his room and shut the door. The three remaining in the hall looked at each other. Kevin could hear Scott talking to someone maybe several someones. Bigsby looked from Kevin to the door and back again. He could hear them. The Doc was looking down the hall.
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Ray, George, and Benny listened to the proceedings from inside an empty bedroom. George moved outside the house and they followed her.
Ray chuckled, "That didn't take long at all."
George said, "Let's up the stress a bit. Their appointments are approaching and, well, we don't want them to be late."
Ray moved down to Kevin's office. Benny went outside. He wasn't to be a part of the finale. George moved back inside and out of sight. She ghosted the four giving them the full treatment - to touch and be touched - to make the reunions so much more fulfilling. She never even told Reggie it was a boy. She never would tell her. Never got to talk about possible names for him. She was so looking forward to that. Never was so final, an eternity of not being.
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Kevin shivered a bit, recovered, and turned to the Doc. "You want a drink? I sure could use one."
The Doc shrugged. Kevin couldn't shake the feeling that the Doc understood more than he was revealing, but then…he didn't suspect him of being the cause of any of this. The two walked down the stairs and into his office. He left the double doors wide open. The office was empty as he expected. He gestured toward an easy chair next to a coffee table and walked over to a cabinet. He had some good stuff, whisky, he had tucked away for a celebration when the mission was done. He knew now in his bones he wasn't going to see that. He poured two low wide glasses full and then placed them on a tray with the bottle. One of these would probably put him down. He walked them over to the Doc who was sitting. "Here you go Doc." He placed the glass in front of him and the bottle between them. He took another chair across from the Doc and sat back to wait for the last act of this little drama. He wasn't chasing any more diversions. That's what they were. He suspected the best was yet to come. He realized he forgot something and got up to retrieve his weapon. He would need this soon. He placed it next to his glass on the table.
The Doc made no move to drink. Kevin picked his up and offered a toast. "To the good times as long as they last." He couldn't resist a chuckle. And then he took a healthy swallow. "Which don't appear to be lasting much longer." It burned going down. Really good stuff. And tingled going through him. Maybe this was the cure. The Doc picked up his glass but made no move. Finally, he did a little tip and sipped a bit and placed it back on the low table. He sat back. He was amazingly collected. "Tell me, Doc, truthfully. Do you know what is going on?"
"No, Kevin, I do not."
"Why are you so…unafraid?" He watched him. "How can you be sure they're not here for you, too?"
"I'm not. I doubt it though."
That was an interesting response. He considered his next question.
A scream came from upstairs. Sounded like Bigsby. He didn't move. Nor did the Doc. What was the point? Another scream. That sounded like Steve. Steve's door was open. He was begging, pleading. More screaming and this time some serious thrashing about in Steve's room. The wide double door opening to his office allowed them a clear view of the foyer and stairs. From the top of the stairs Steve came head over heals down bouncing hard. Not good. He reached for his glass and took another swallow. He would need it. He looked back over at Steve. Steve struggled to stand up using the banister at the bottom of the stairs. He looked over at them and then back up to the top of the stairs, no he looked down along the way he had fallen. Kevin could see now that his intestines it would seem had been pulled out and led back up the steps. Steve fell over. Now that was a slow way to go and painful. He took another drink and checked his gun was still there. The Doc made no move. That was odd. Steve really could use a doctor now. Kevin closed his eyes. He opened them.
He heard Scott calling out from the top of the stairs. "Holy Fucking Christ." He lurched down step by step holding the handrail with one hand and his gun in the other. When he reached the bottom he studied Steve's situation. Steve wasn't dead yet. He was still moaning. Scott looked over to him.
Kevin rendered the only aid he had for his comrade. "Scott. Want a drink?" The two were facing the most dangerous enemy they had ever faced and it was immune to their bullets, and, well, they weren't going to walk away from this engagement.
Bigsby started yelling something from his room. It was muffled. Scott looked up the stairs and then came toward him and the Doc. He stopped and turned to look again up the stairs. Kevin watched as a number of somebodies moved down the stairs, in a haphazard line. The whisky was dulling the effect. He would shit himself if he hadn't locked down his nerves. Those were real ghosts. They filed down to the stairs and one by one arrayed themselves in a long presentation line. Kevin recognized a couple of them. The woman, yes, the one he heard before. She was dressed and looked exactly as at that moment he shot her. He knew her voice so well. He had heard it in his dreams, nightmares, for years. And there was the man. That was a bad job. The guy was a pretty decent guy. Innocent of serious wrong doing as near he could tell when he researched him, except of course for the fact someone with money took out a contract. The reckoning was here. Scott seemed to see a few of his old jobs come back to say hello. He was shaking his head. Most had finished the march and were lined up at the bottom. All of the ghosts but two. Those two he could see were turning Steve over and…ahh shit pulling more of his insides out. Steve wasn't quite far enough gone to be oblivious so he screamed. Oh, there was Bigsby come down to join the party. Well, he fell down to join the party…and hit the bottom hard. He pulled himself together enough to see what was being done to Steve and screamed again. His tough guy facade was stripped away. He fired his gun at one of the two ghosts working on Steve. One was holding Steve down and the other feeling around inside his belly opening things up even more. Oh man that had to hurt. Neither noticed the gun. Figured. Can't kill something already dead. That was disturbing how they were ripping poor Steve apart like that.
Scott was watching too. He said, "No." Kevin turned to hear what else he might contribute to the proceedings, because this was turning into a real reunion party and the four of them were the guests of honor, but Scott put his gun to his head and pulled the trigger. Which, of course, blew his brains out.
He died and the hell if Kevin couldn't see Scott's ghost standing right there. And look, there was that young girl standing there too. She looked a little different but he could tell it was her. Tricky how one so dangerous was in such a petite package. Yeah, he could see the black hoodie as a little odd for a pint size high school girl, and he could see now she was wearing jeans with a short bright red skirt overlay. Odd combination. She smiled at Scott. And then damn if some fucking dark cloud monster didn't well up from around her and swallow poor Scott up completely. And poof, it and he were gone. Kevin laughed. He looked over at the Doc. He was watching all this too. His mouth was open. Man, the Doc was pale. Kevin laughed some more. Pale as a ghost. The Doc was pale as a ghost. Finally poor Steve died. The dark thing appeared again and took his soul too. And poof, both were gone. He laughed again. Poof, poof. God, this was funny. He took another drink while he still could. Hey and the Doc was gulping some of his own. Glad to see it wasn't going to be wasted. He hated a party where good stuff got slopped around and wasted. Now he understood why that girl was so fucking dangerous, but damn it would've helped to know why before. Did Bob know this shit. She packed a mean punch.
Oh, poor Bigsby was shaking like a leaf in a strong wind. "Kevin."
He sounded pathetic. As numb as Kevin's brain was he guessed the kid's problem. The kid came towards him one lurching step at a time. Bigsby looked at the girl and then back to him. "Kevin. Please. Help me." Bigsby looked at his gun. He stopped and looked back at the ghosts. They were lined up at the bottom of the stairs. Just standing there. The girl was off to the side. The kid turned back. "Kevin."
Even the best of families have failures, weak recessives. He bet the kid would pee his pants soon. The kid came closer, stopped and looked over his shoulder and then started to turn back to him. Kevin picked his gun up and shot him in the left eye, a bit cross ways as he turned a tad, but it did the trick. Problem solved. He chuckled. Bigsby's ghost appeared. The girl looked disappointed. He supposed she didn't like his cousin. He didn't either. Bigsby's ghost started moving slowly, but then gathered his wits and went through the wall and was gone. Kid started this whole thing and got off easy. No poof poof for him. Kevin put his gun down, and reached for his glass. Still quite a bit left. He studied his glass. Odd how things can seem so obviously true one way but turn out so different. He had been pretty sure that there wasn't really a hereafter. He sure didn't remember anything from before being born and they say this old universe has been here a very long time. Nothing. So he thought it would be oblivion afterward too. The key was to live well, die quick, and exit gracefully. But as things were developing here, as Steve might have attested, that girl wasn't planning graceful quick exits for any of them.
He looked up and something amazing happened. All those ghosts moved away back into the house or out through the walls. The girl moved away too. Now that was surprising. And then hell if Dick, good ole Dick, didn't appear and come sauntering over as if Dick had just noticed him in some bar and was strolling over to chat. "Hi, Dick. Long time no see." The drink was interfering with his taking in this odd turn of events. "Dick, I heard you was dead."
"I am, Kevin. Very dead."
"Ahh. Care to join the Doc and me for a drink?"
Dick smiled. "Sure, Kevin." He moved closer and lowered himself to their level. No chair.
Kevin looked over at the Doc. "Doc, this is Dick. An old friend of mine. We did some jobs together." Damn the whisky was affecting him. "So what brings you here today of all days? Back from the dead?"
"Oh, I'm still very dead, old friend. I see you're in a bit of a fix here."
Kevin looked around. He focused hard through the brain fog and there was Bigsby's body, very dead right there almost at their feet and then over to the left a bit that was Scott. Good man, Scott. He shot himself. And over at the bottom of the stairs that was Steve. Man that was a hard way to go. "Damn. What the fuck happened, Dick? The Doc, here, says he don't know, but I suspect he knows more than he's telling. What do you have to say about that?"
"Well, I'd say he overheard some stuff he probably should not have. Back at his hospital."
"He has a hospital?"
"It's a hospital for people with head problems. It doesn't matter. He couldn't have helped Steve."
"Oh. Too bad. Bit late anyway." Steve was all done. "When am I dying?"
"Soon, my friend, very soon."
"Who the fuck is that girl?"
"She's my boss. She's what's called a grim reaper. She collects the souls of people who die."
"And you work for her?"
"That I do."
"Anyway…" Kevin looked around. The girl wasn't in sight. He leaned forward and just above a whisper he said, "Anyway, you could put a good word in for me?"
"I did old friend. That's why we're talking now." Dick looked around.
"What happened?" He waved at the blood and gore all around.
"You mean why did this happen?"
"OK. Why did this happen? I've done a lot over the years…but this seems like maybe somebody upstairs, or maybe downstairs, is pissed off. You know what I mean?"
"Bigsby fucked up big time with that little stunt last night."
"Yeah, I kinda figured that was connected."
"You see, he almost killed my Boss's ex-boyfriend, now attached to her sister. That sister was pregnant and lost the baby." Dick frowned. "I could go on, but you get the picture. And to top it off my Boss is very big among the reaper community."
"She knows that I did not authorize that little stunt?"
"Yes, she does. As it happens she doesn't determine your appointment. That's a done deal by a power much higher up. What might be up in the air is…what happens now?"
"Is there another option than that dark thing?"
Dick nodded.
The girl came walking slowly down the stairs. Ominously he also saw several of the ghosts including the man and woman, the two who owned those voices he had heard, follow her down. He watched her take each stair step and walk around and over to where they were sitting. Two of the ghosts followed her just behind stopping a little too close for his comfort level. Their eyes were fixed unblinking on him. Kevin motioned to an empty chair. "Please." And she sat down.
He indicated the glasses and the bottle. "Drink?"
"No. No, but thankyou. I don't drink on the job."
He laughed. It was good she had a sense of humor. But she did not smile. She was relaxed leaning back in her chair studying him.
"I want to apologize for last night's…events."
"You would have done the same only more efficiently…after your uncle gets here…next week. It's only the timing you didn't authorize."
If only he hadn't put so much away. He couldn't think clearly. He needed to outwit the Devil here. Think evil. "OK. I admit I would do my job."
"You're a Testalino. Antonio Testalino."
"That's right." He paused. "What can I offer you?"
"I don't know. What can you offer me?" She leaned just a tad forward and the barest of smiles showed itself.
He mused. "What can I offer you for my life?"
"Your life is not on the table. You have an appointment. It's how it ends that's up for consideration and then, more importantly, what happens to your soul?"
Her cold eyes drilled into him. He asked, "What can I offer you for my soul?"
She watched him.
"How about I give up the team that's coming for your sister and the others?"
"Really? You would betray your family in exchange for your soul?"
"Yes."
She looked at her watch. "Time's up."
He looked around. The ghosts moved closer. That was bad. Much worse was they were coming for him.
.
.
George said, "Take him outside." She pointed towards a large window.
The man and woman who had their special personal interest in how Kevin transitioned grabbed him, one on each side. They lifted him into the air and crashed him through the window. Several of the other ghosts followed close behind. She could hear Kevin screaming. She turned her attention to the doctor. He didn't say anything or try to move from his chair. Dick hovered nearby. Benny came in. And through it all the three watched the doctor, listening to Kevin, Kevin who made a very bad and final last choice, be torn apart, dissected, by some very eager ghosts. It was interesting how long someone could live with body parts, outside and inside, being removed. After several more long minutes the thrashing and screaming stopped and it was quiet. George felt the chilly night air coming through the open window. Kevin's soul never made it inside. The Dark took him.
She leaned forward. "Well. It's getting late. Dr. Steinman…"
The doctor, who had endured stoically throughout Kevin's dissection just outside, found his voice. "I had nothing to do with those events, the ones last night."
She stood up. Ray and Benny moved in behind her. He didn't move from his chair. She said, "I know. If I were you I would collect your things and leave. Those shots might have been heard by someone, and, well, the police are on edge and more alert than usual." She left him sitting, walked out the front door, and the three ghosted home. It would be light soon and she really would like a shower before she went by the hospital to get Reggie. She was so looking forward to picking out a name, well, helping to pick out a name for the little guy.
.
.
Dr. Steinman sat still letting his eyes move about the room from his chair. His shirt was drenched in sweat. He wiped his forehead with his sleeve. It was still dark out, but he could hear the first hints of dawn approaching. Through the now open window birds were stirring and venturing a twitter here and there. The ghosts were gone, at least he couldn't see anything of them, thank God for small favors. The girl was gone. The bodies were here. Blood was everywhere. And he was here. What else of his was still here. He walked through in his mind everywhere he had been and everything he had touched. He had to move quickly and get out before anyone saw him, even saw him driving remotely close to here. He got up and started with his glass of whisky. Next would be that drawer with the bundles of money. That was an opportunity he would be foolish to ignore.