Avenger (11 page)

Celestine shook his head with regret.

Naiten placed a hand on his shoulder. “If he is dealing in drugs we will summon Lidwien out of him. Luke’s time will be up.”

Chapter Seventeen

Making a living while in hiding was a cumbrous and risky business.

While resisting the strong draw of sleepiness, Luke prepared the packages that would bring him income. After opening six of the small plastic bags, he extracted six rubber bands and lined them up. He then retrieved a teaspoon and an old metal container.

“What are you doing?” Pru asked softly, startling him into dropping the teaspoon.

“Why are you here? Did something happen?” He felt guilty, his reaction didn’t help.

Pain and reproach were visible in Pru’s eyes even from her post by the window. “Nothing happened to my body.”

He retrieved the spoon from the floor, his gaze never leaving her. “What brings you here then? We agreed—”

“I arrived few minutes ago. You were so fixated on what you were doing you didn’t even notice.” She heaved a sigh. “I thought you insisted I remain at the hospital for my safety.”

“It was for your safety.” An awkward emotion churned in his chest. Her sad eyes accused him, just like Celestine’s tone. Disappointment seeped from her in waves, breaking cold sweat all over his skin. His past was shady, he would give them that, but they should at least trust in him, believe he would do the right thing. He wasn’t a disillusioned teenager anymore.

It isn’t easy after seeing what you’re doing.

True. Disappointment in him was all he received from people he cared about. They just assumed, and his stubborn nature took over. It always did. A realization hit him then, he almost doubled over with its painful severity. All he ever wanted was someone to believe in him, or stop him. Instead, he was treated like a lost cause.

Silently, Luke measured few spoons full from the container and added them to the bags.

Pru crossed her arms. “You don’t lie, Luke. I know this much about you. You might evade, change topics, or hide facts, but never lie. From where I stand, it looks like you’re preparing drug packets to sell.”

“Of course that’s how it looks like.”

“Then what is it? I’m giving you benefit of the doubt but your past taints everything you do.” She gestured at the packets. “This doesn’t make sense because I’m certain you’re not dealing. Make me believe.”

Pru believed in him, she was literally begging him to restore her confidence in him. This was his chance to defend himself, to explain. His mother loved him, but didn’t trust him and had to earn an honest living to feed herself. Celestine was bound by Laymour’s rules and couldn’t risk confirming what he suspected. Pru, on the other hand, was willing to believe in him. “Look around you, would I keep my raw stash in the open, on a shelf, in an old cookie container?”

She bristled. “You’re avoiding a direct answer again. What are you doing?”

He reached in the container and scooped out a spoon of the stuff into his mouth.

“No!” She rushed forward as though to stop him, most probably thinking he would overdose and die.

He smacked his lips a couple of times. “Nothing will happen to me, unless I’m diabetic, which I’m not.”

Pru frowned in confusion.

He nodded. “This is powdered sugar to the consistency of the drug of choice in the market. I pack it and sell it to addicts as cocaine or heroin.”

“And they buy it? Just like that?”

Luke yawned and covered his mouth. “Yes. One of my spirit hunting fringe benefits is the ability to influence thoughts. As long as the thought is a plausible and a welcomed one by the receiver, it works. The people who come to me are in dire need for a fix initially. I convince them it is a drug and when they take it their body reacts as though they got the fix they craved.”

“This doesn’t help anyone. If you’re not there, they’ll look for another pusher?”

“I also make them believe the quality of
my drugs
is the best considering the price I charge. They remain loyal to me, and with every transaction, I push another thought in their minds. They don’t really need this, they can quit anytime they want, a rehab will give them their lives back. After six or seven meetings, they stop seeking me. Even if I meet them on the street they change lanes to avoid me.” He laughed. “I become a representation of their shameful past.”

“So, it-it does work?”

“Judging by their improved complexion, confidence, and cleaner outfits, I would say, yeah.”

She chewed on her lip. “Maybe you can help Carmen overcome her addiction with your approach.”

For Pru he would do anything her little heart desired and Carmen mattered to her. “I will unless she played an active part in getting you tangled with these people.”

“Not according to her conversation with Eloise. You saw how she was in the hospital.” She snapped her fingers. “I’ve been meaning to ask how
you
stopped using.”

He leaned on the counter and crossed his arms. “I think the spirit within me purged my body’s needs while my new situation helped me see that selling drugs wasn’t worth it.”

“Look,” she said, slouching. “I’m sorry for the way I questioned you. B-but why do it in the first place?” Her black, expressive eyes sought him. They were gentle, compassionate, and large enough to lose one’s self in.

“Money is one reason, helping others kick the habit is another.”

She cocked her head and said, “There’s another reason you’re not sharing.”

He hesitated. She was very perceptive and he liked that about her, but she also cared for him. Revenge was not part of Pru’s convictions. Bracing himself against her reaction, he said, “This way I keep taps on the ones who do sell them. It might also help us find out who’s behind your accident.”

Her eyes widened in unconcealed astonishment, keeping him in sight. “You think the car accident led to my coma, Ellen’s possession, and the attempt on my life?”

Luke yawned again, his eyes watering from exhaustion. “I recognized one of the paramedics you described. You wouldn’t be in a coma if those paramedics didn’t start the ball rolling by injecting you with what would make the doctors think you have diabetes.”

Instead of objecting to his way of thinking and denying the truth in his words, Pru looked at him, her open smile enough to drive drowsiness out of his system. Her red curls cascading on her shoulders and chest, her twinkling eyes tantalizing. “You’re very tired, Luke. No, there’s no escaping the truth. Go to bed now and I’ll see you tomorrow.” She paused. “You’re as wonderful as I thought you to be and then some.”

Before he could even answer, she took a step back and disappeared through the window.

Shaking his head at the surge of gayety in his spirit, Luke ignored the packets of sugar and plopped on the bed.

In his head, Celestine said,
Why did you make me doubt you?

Luke plumped out the pillow under his head and said,
Because you might think you got me whipped. It’s enough that my life is no more, I wanted to have some leverage, something to threaten you people with. Besides, how can I live with myself if you fall in love with me and out of love with the hunter before me?

I am on your side, Luke. Always,
Celestine said
.

Luke knew that, was somehow certain of it. Unfortunately, he’d allowed his insecurities to cloud his judgment of the good Celestine represented. He wanted to say so to his guide, but the pull of sleep was too strong to resist.

Chapter Eighteen

Luke blinked open his eyes. Moaning, he squeezed them shut again at the onslaught of late afternoon sunlight. It was an irritating feeling at the best of times, worse following a dream that turned nightmare. In his dream, he was walking down the street with Pru. Light breeze ruffled her curls gently, swaying those silky tresses on her shoulders and back. As he talked—he couldn’t hear what he said—she nodded every now and then, a smile touching her lips. Then he’d asked her a question and she didn’t answer, so he touched her shoulder. She turned to him, a look of bewilderment in her eyes as she pulled out the earpieces and paused her iPod. She frowned, asking, “I’m sorry, but do I know you?”

Now, he rubbed his face and pushed out of his sweat-drenched bed, her question on his mind. Would she remember him when she woke from her coma?

“We need to talk,” Celestine said.

Luke eyed the orange orb in the sky. “We will, let me make a phone call first.”

When he hung up with Herbert, Celestine asked, “Is all well at the hospital?”

“Herbert’s shift is almost over but Pru’s family is with her.” From the orderly’s description, Carla had an army with her. Adoria, Carla’s sister, was there, along with her husband, their three months old daughter, and Andrew’s bodyguards. Andrew’s presence was especially important since he could pull strong strings to get Pru out of that place.

Their presence also explained why Pru wasn’t in his room today. Luke headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

“It is imperative that I report to the Laymour this day. The Pit Keeper is most intrigued by spirits and humans’ interest in Pru. Why do you think she is of importance to them?”

Luke paused and turned slowly. “Pru has nothing to do with peddlers. She is revolted by them and the havoc they bring on innocent lives.”

“I am not hinting that she is a willing participant in something disreputable, nevertheless, the matter is mystifying.”

Luke ignored him and entered the bathroom, Celestine followed.

“Why is it so important to report back so soon?”

Celestine’s presence became more transparent, as though he were about to leave. “I must set a wrong right.”

“What wrong is that?” Luke asked.

The silence that followed meant his guide had already left the building.

The coward.

After a quick shower and a quicker breakfast comprising of oatmeal cookies, Luke donned his black outfit and left to pay Carmen a visit. It took him fifteen minutes on the subway to reach her one bedroom apartment. Pru had assured him that Carmen and her boyfriend returned home after seven in the evening. Still, to be on the safe side, Luke hung outside the building, his eyes on their balcony for any movement. It would be dark soon, lights would come on before that.

At seeing and sensing no movement, he slipped from his refuge behind an oak tree and crossed the street to the building. He climbed the stairs to the second floor, the whole while resisting a feeling of misgiving that pressed on his chest. At the apartment, Luke paused in front of the door and leaned on it, listening. The door was snatched open and he almost tumbled in. A disheveled Carmen stood before him, hazel eyes wide open with unmistakable expectancy.

“Took your time to deliver. Now, give it to me,” Carmen snapped, stretching a hand toward him. Her hand, as well as her voice, shook badly.

Luke righted himself and glanced around. “Can’t do this out here. You know the rules.”

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear while her gaze shifted all over the hall. “Yes, yes. Of course. Come on in.”

Desperation had made her muddled mind lose all senses of safety precautions. She hadn’t recognized him even though they’d hung out together in the same neighborhood.

Yellow walls had tasteful arrangements of pre-framed photos that meshed with off-white curtains hanging on the balcony door and window while dark green sofa faced a reasonably sized flat screen TV. Carmen must’ve furnished the apartment during her days of sobriety.

“Well! Hand it over.” She rubbed her arm, raising the sleeve of her loose and colorful kimono. No needle tracks. A sniffer then.

Luke stalked to the window and glanced out. Beside the beat-up Volkswagen turning around the corner and the moving van before the compound across the street, nothing stirred. The banter of the movers drifted to him from the road.

He regarded her. “I have some questions for you first then I’ll hand over your fix.”

The rubbing of the arm ceased just as distrust crept into her eyes. “The deal doesn’t include chitchat.”

He moved closer. “What does it include then?”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Carmen took a step back, tightening the robe’s knot.

Luke made his gaze travel up and down her body. “I want to know what the deal was. Obviously, I shouldn’t expect cash, so what were you supposed to pay with? Or did you pay already?”

At that, Carmen darted to the bedroom. Luke caught up with her before she slammed the door shut. Sobbing, Carmen withdrew further inside the room. “What do you want?”

“I want to know why you betrayed your best friend.”

Her eyes widened, she sniffed and wiped at her nose. “Pru.”

Luke nodded.

She wet her lips, her shifty gaze taking in the whole room. “I did nothing to her.”

“You sold her out. I want to know why and to whom.”

This nasty feeling I have will lessen if I tell him. What can he do anyway? And who will he tell?
Luke pushed into her mind. His attempt would have bounced off a stonewall if she had used already, but since her system was relatively clean, he hoped he would get to her.

“She always liked to help others,” Carmen whispered in shaky voice. Luke didn’t interrupt. Guilt was a sharp weapon that could cut to the bone if exploited right.

Her narrowed gaze shot back to him. “No one told her to be a goody two-shoes. Always running around trying to clean the world, to save animals, to help anything that breathed.” She pulled on her hair. “Look where it got her. I couldn’t say no.”

I should tell him what happened. It will ease the burden on my heart
, Luke pushed again.

“They won’t kill her, just silence her until they figured out how to use her. They promised.”

Luke frowned. Use Pru for what? Before he could voice his question, the doorbell rang. Carmen’s attention went straight to the apartment door and she opened her mouth to scream. Wrapping one arm around her waist, Luke swiftly stepped behind her and covered her mouth with his hand. As she kicked and mumbled, he dragged her with him to the front door—one of her slippers fell off—and peeked through the peephole. Barney, greater than a mountain and deadlier than an Asian cobra, stood on the other side. The blood coursing in Luke’s veins froze, his heartbeats hammered through his chest, and time ground to a halt at that moment. If it weren’t for Carmen’s kicks, he wouldn’t have snapped out of it and eased his hand before suffocating her.