-The Smoking Man-
Monday 1:30 p.m.
Caleb held Sarah's hand as they walked across the campus of the private high school. The two had just finished with their classes for the day and were crossing the vast yard to meet with Pogue and Kate. On the right, Caleb noticed Tyler and Reid standing nearby laughing together. The Sons spotted Caleb and Sarah, and Reid called out to them, walking over.
"Hey, Caleb, beautiful," Reid greeted with a nod to Sarah, trying to charm the ladies as always. Tyler's greeting was much more simple.
"Hi." The quiet Son went silent again, sneaker scuffing the ground.
"Hey, Reid. Hi, Tyler," Sarah said in greeting.
"Hey, guys," Pogue called to them while approaching the group. Kate was with him. Something he saw caused Pogue to stop short of the others. Kate followed his gaze and a smile broke out across her face, eyes wide with surprise.
"Chase!" she exclaimed.
Chase Collins stood several yards away from the group of six, watching them, hands shoved in the pockets of his green coat. After exclaiming the name, Kate raced across the yard to where he stood and hugged him tightly. Chase's eyes got big in confusion and surprise. The Sons told Kate about how Chase nearly killed her when he cursed her two months ago, but strangely Kate had only said one thing.
"He had his reasons I'm sure."
Immediately afterward, she stated she forgave him and occasionally would voice her wonder as to where Chase might be. Any mention of the guy drove Pogue crazy to no end since he loathed the guy. Caleb and the guys glared at Chase, their stances hostile. Sarah looked up at him.
"Caleb, what's he doing here?"
He was concerned by this turn of events, frowning in Chase's direction. He worried for Sarah's safety.
"Come on, guys, let's see what this is about," Caleb suggested.
They nodded, no trace of a smile could be found on any of them. Well, except for Kate. She grinned up into Chase's face after releasing him from her tight embrace.
"Where have you been, idiot? I missed you."
Chase's face seemed frozen in stunned confusion. He had placed a spell on the woman before. A dangerous spell that could have killed her, and yet, not a trace of anger or fear or resentment of any kind on her face. Her arms were still on his shoulders and he became aware of this as the Sons and Sarah approached. Pogue was walking faster than the others and he reached them first, wrenching Kate away from Chase as quick as he could.
"Ow. Pogue!"
"Go stand by Sarah, Kate."
Kate looked furious. "Pogue-"
"Just do it, Kate!" her boyfriend demanded, his voice filled with so much anger that Kate did as she was told. As soon as Kate stepped away, Pogue rounded on their enemy.
"What the hell are you doing here, Chase?"
Before he could speak, Pogue grabbed him by the jacket and shoved him against the tree nearby. "What are you doing here, Chase?" he shouted.
The guy stared calmly back at Pogue, suppressing the urge to feel scared and angry. Caleb reached them along with Tyler and Reid.
"Pogue, back off," Caleb said, his tone serious. Pogue looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and frustration.
"Pogue," Caleb said again. Finally Pogue stepped back, but not far. He turned to the problem. "You must be crazy showing up here, Chase."
"I'm not here by choice, okay? I'd leave you guys alone but this is important."
He was not happy to hear that and his face showed it. He started to speak to warn him off but Chase spoke.
"You're all in danger. I needed to warn you."
Caleb glared in anger. "Why? What are you gonna do, Chase?"
The warlock looked startled at the accusation. Then Reid and Pogue were stepping forward, ready to pick a fight with him. Reid, always eager to use his powers, shouted a warning to his friends and sent an aura of black energy shooting toward Chase. Caught by surprise, Chase dove to avoid it a moment too late and it glanced off his shoulder, sending him flipping to the ground.
He got up perfectly all right but anger flooded through him and his eyes blackened, the urge to use power in retaliation clearly flooding his soul. The Sons readied themselves for the attack, including Tyler, who was usually the last to react with violence. It surprised them when Chase shook his head and blinked, the blackness fading from his eyes until his green eye color returned. He was visibly shaking from the force it took to swallow the desire to use, to fight back.
There was silence as they stared at Chase and he stared in return. For the first time, he appeared to realize the amount of hatred the Sons felt for him. He slowly let his hands fall to his sides and his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"I know you have no reason to trust me. In fact, it would be mad for you to. But if you have any sense of honesty, know that I mean well."
"What are you talking about?" Pogue questioned suspiciously.
"You couldn't possibly understand," Chase muttered softly. Turning to walk away, he glanced back. "Beware of someone who smokes. A man. I don't know any more than that."
He left at a brisk pace. No one tried to stop him and after a moment Reid said, "He was just talking, lying."
Caleb wasn't so sure. He felt like there was more to Chase's unexpected visit.
"But then why didn't he use his powers? Did you see the effort it took him to restrain the intoxicating hold of the power? Before, he could barely contain himself with his power and now he was able to control it. Something doesn't add up."
Pogue placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder. "Come on. Obviously he must have seen he couldn't possibly beat us all, so he fled."
He nodded agreement but he couldn't shake the feeling something else was going on. Reid and Tyler turned to leave. Pogue started to follow, turning to Caleb to say, "All I know is, that little shit better not show his face again. Or I swear I'll kill him."
/
3:45 p.m. Nicky's Club
The Sons and girls were exiting their usual hang out spot after spending nearly two hours there. Kate was mad at Pogue. She made no attempt to hide her annoyance at the way he treated her earlier. Sarah was unusually quiet and the boys continued to pretend their encounter with Chase never happened. As they left the club to go to their cars, they paused when Reid and Tyler stopped to argue about which of them successfully hit on a girl inside.
"Typical boys," Sarah said to Kate, trying to cheer her up, but only got a small strained smile.
"Caleb Danvers?"
All of them turned to find the source of the voice. A man leaned against the wall of the club. He wore an expensive black suit and tie and had slicked back brown hair that was slightly graying. He appeared to be in his mid to late forties and his pale gray eyes stood out. The man gazed at them blandly and took a drag of his cigarette. Once he got their attention, he tossed it to the ground and stamped it out. Standing straight, he walked over to them. Reid and Tyler paused their argument upon noticing the man as he started talking.
"Mr. Danvers, it's good to finally be able to meet you. I've waited some time for this."
Caleb peered cautiously at the unknown man. "Do I know you?"
The stranger adjusted his tie and answered smugly. "You don't know me, Mr. Danvers, but I know you." He looked the other three Sons over and added, "Of the Sons of Ipswich I know a lot."
He pulled a cigarette pack out of the inside of his suit jacket and replaced it after pulling a cigarette from it. He put the stick between his lips and lit it, inhaling and then exhaling smoke.
"You four really do keep a low profile. Until the recent amount of activity in this town... Gotcha."
He took another drag on his cigarette and that was when Caleb pieced it together. This was the person Chase warned them of, a smoking man. Caleb gave his friends a meaningful look, noting the man and the cigarette with head tilts. They caught on to his message.
"How do you know us?" Reid demanded, glaring.
He was given a small smile and Pogue impatiently demanded, "Answer him! Did Chase put you up to this?"
The man finished exhaling smoke and chuckled. "Mr. Collins? Hardly. He isn't even aware of my existence. Actually, it was the rather loud incident between you Sons and the previously mentioned Mr. Collins which alerted me to your location. Though Mr. Collins seems to have disappeared into the wind." He took another puff and stepped closer to Caleb.
Caleb winced and stepped away from the smoking man. A weird feeling had coursed through his body when the man came nearer. An unsettling feeling that made him nauseous and weak. It was like his power had gone from him.
"What was that?" He asked, searching for an answer. The sensation had vanished as soon as he'd stepped away and he had no idea what just happened.
The man flicked his cigarette onto the cement and crushed it beneath his foot, giving Caleb that small smile of his. He proceeded to pull a necklace out from under his dress shirt and held it on display for them to see.
"Your powers are useless around me. This necklace, the symbol on it in particular, stifles the power you hold."
The Sons stared at him in disbelief, and at the necklace. It had a symbol resembling a backward S with a line going through the center.
"Yeah right," Reid said.
His eyes blackened as he prepared to use his power but suddenly sparks flew from them. His black eyes glowed bright white before returning to their usual blue. He looked shocked and that quickly became anger.
"Son of a bitch! Well if I can't blast you then I'll just beat you the good old fashioned way!"
Reid stepped toward the man, raising his fists in a menacing way. The smoker sighed in annoyance and unbuttoned his suit jacket, opening the left side to reveal a gun holster with a black handgun fitted snugly inside.
"I strongly advise against taking violent action toward me. It would be most unwise."
A black limousine with tinted windows pulled up to Nicky's club. The limo driver got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, opening the side door. He stood there in silence, his face expressionless and partly hidden by dark sunglasses. The stranger glanced at him and the driver nodded. He nodded back and examined the Sons.
"Again, a pleasure to meet you all, including the lovely Miss Wenham and Miss Tunney, however, it seems this conversation must be continued another time. I have other matters to attend to but believe me, I am not finished with the Sons of Ipswich." He smirked and walked to the car.
Stopping briefly to light a cigarette, he got into the back of the limo. The driver shut the door and walked around to the driver's side. For a moment he paused, looking directly at Caleb. He got in the car. The limousine pulled away from the club and drove off. The group of them remained silent.
Reid turned around to the others wearing a worried expression. "What was that?"
Pogue spoke confusion. "So, this means..Chase was telling the truth."
"Why would he warn us?" Reid asked, matching Pogue's inability to comprehend. "He doesn't care about us so why would he do that?"
Kate frowned. "Why are you guys like that? Why can't you give Chase a chance?"
Everyone looked at her and Pogue uttered, "What are you talking about, Kate?"
Caleb piped up. "Kate, Chase is no good. He tried to kill me. He nearly killed Pogue and he could have killed you and Sarah."
"But he didn't," Kate replied, folding her arms and standing her ground.
Surprisingly Tyler spoke up. "He is the heir to the bastard son of Hagan Pope. He's dangerous."
Kate glowered. "His descendants in no way make him a bad person. It's not his fault who his ancestors are." She focused on Caleb. "And how can you judge him? You don't know him."
They were astounded. They didn't know how to react. It was then that her best friend stepped in. "Kate, girl to girl, Chase is bad news. He almost killed you."
She shrugged it off. "No, he cursed me. He never intended for me to die. Besides, he was a really good friend. Sometimes when he was with me, I could tell he was normal and honest. And he didn't kill any of us after all, now did he? Doesn't that count for something?"
"Are you in love with this guy, Kate?" Pogue demanded, glaring at her accusingly. "Because you just can't seem to get him off your mind."
Kate's expression grew sad. "We're just friends, Pogue." She stepped up to him and caressed his cheek. "It's you I love."
She kissed him and when she pulled away, she laid her head on his shoulder and smiled with contentment. The argument was forgotten for now. Caleb couldn't say how long that would last.
Again Tyler surprised them by being the one to say something decisive. "We should find him."
All eyes landed on the youngest of the Ipswich Sons and Sarah began nodding.
"You're right. He was truthful when he told us about a smoking man. We really need to find him. We need answers."
/
9:03 p.m. Danvers Manor
After several hours of asking around campus in search of where Chase could have gone, they had nothing. A bit disheartened, the group decided to head to Caleb's house to decide their next move. Their guard went up as soon as they pulled into the driveway. Because parked in front of Caleb's house? The black limousine.
They wasted no time parking and hurrying toward the house. As they did, the driver's door opened and the driver stepped out. The group hesitated, but the man simply tilted his head in their direction in acknowledgment of their presence. Again, his face was impossible to read. The driver watched as they headed to the front door and then they were inside.
No sooner did they enter the expansive foyer when voices could be heard from the next room. They went in the room, Caleb leading the way, to find his mom seated on the sofa near the fireplace. Unsurprisingly to him, she was emptying a straight vodka, most likely not her first or final drink of the night. He was used to his mom drinking herself to oblivion at night. She had done it every night since his dad left, years ago. But the difference now was tonight she was not alone. Stood near the fireplace in his black suit and tie was the smoking man. He had been speaking to Caleb's mother, abruptly halting speech when the Sons and girls entered.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Their looks showed they shared Pogue's hostility at the intrusion. Reid stepped forth with his fists clenched, hoping to lay on some hurt. Pogue placed a hand on Reid's chest to keep him from getting too close.
"You have no right coming here," Caleb informed the unpleasant man.
"Caleb, learn your manners. Mr. Werner is a guest in this house and you will treat him accordingly," his mom chastised, frowning toward him. Her attentions returned to the man lighting a second cigarette. "Apparently we went to school together."
Caleb sighed, his embarrassment temporarily overcoming his anger. His mother was definitely drunk. He was embarrassed further when his mother smiled at the man with misplaced fondness.
"I hope you don't take offense, Mark. I don't remember many from high school." She gestured with her glass. "Especially with all the drinking."
The smoking man politely smiled. "Don't worry, Amy. It's quite alright. I have a forgettable face. Now I have greatly enjoyed your company, my dear, but I should be on my way."
His mom appeared disappointed, face falling. "Oh? Is that so?"
"I'm afraid it is. I have a meeting I must attend."
"So late?" she questioned curiously.
The guy put out his cigarette in the ashtray and gave her his small smile. "In my kind of work, these meetings are necessary."
She laughed excessively, clearly the result of her drinking. "Well you simply must tell me all about what you do sometime."
"Yes, sometime," he replied, nodding his head to Caleb's mom in a polite gesture. "Good night, Amy. Have a pleasant evening."
He strolled past the group and they heard the front door open and close. Leaving the girls inside despite their protests, the Sons followed. He was waiting for them, leaning against the limo as he lit a cigarette. Caleb couldn't believe how many he went through in a day.
The man pocketed the lighter and looked up at them with disinterest. He blew out smoke and stood straight. The Sons assembled outside and stared back, unsure if they were to speak or wait for him to take the initiative. The smoking man spoke first, canceling their uncertainty.
"I have information."
"What?" Caleb asked bluntly. He didn't want this man around any longer.
"Information that I need you to use."
"What kind of information?"
"A location."
"Of what?" Caleb asked, slightly curious.
"Of whom, actually. The infamous Chase Collins. I received information from..certain individuals and now I'm here to tell you where he is. You have been searching for him, if I'm not mistaken." He used a tone that said he knew exactly what was accurate. "He is currently living in a small town near Ipswich. A town called Durnom. Go to the club called Varsity and you will find him there."
"Why do you want us to find him? Huh? Why is he so important to you? Who are you?" Reid asked, bombarding him with questions they were all wondering.
The man ignored his questions and opening the back limo door, he glanced to Reid. "Find him."
He got into the car and the Sons watched until the car was out of sight. They stood in silent confusion for a moment before Caleb broke it.
"Tyler, get the girls. Durnom is a twenty minute drive from here. We're leaving now."