Blue Twilight (17 page)

“What do you think it is, Max?”

“I don't know.”

Stormy stared her friend in the eyes. “You have a theory. Come on, Max, you always have a theory. What do you think is going on here?”

Max pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, cast a quick look into the bathroom. Lou had closed the door now, and she heard the shower running. She supposed he was beyond overhearing. “It seems to me it's got something to do with the coma.”

“I thought of that, too. But I don't understand….”

“You remember how after you came out of it, you said you'd been lost? Wandering around in some dark place, unable to find your way back? And how you met my sister there?”

“Morgan. Yeah, I remember. She helped me find my way back.” She lowered her head. “And
she
remembered it, too. She recognized me when she saw me, even though we'd never met before.”

“Which means it was real, on some level. That place where you went. You were able to interact with other people, other…beings.”

“I guess so. Yeah.”

“Do you remember encountering…anyone else while you were there?”

Stormy frowned, thought back, searching her mind. “No…I…no.”

“You seem uncertain.”

She shrugged. There had been other encounters, but they had been with herself. She'd seen her life unfold before her eyes, scenes of her own childhood. She'd seen her early childhood, happy times with her parents. She'd seen herself finding Jason and Max, way back in the second grade, and how they'd become friends from the start. She'd seen so much.

But none of that counted. “There were others. Flashes, speeding by us so fast. We thought they were people who weren't…stuck or lost like we were. We thought they knew where they were supposed to be—it was like a parade of souls flying past like comets, to the other side, or from it. They went in both directions. It seemed like we were in some kind of…way station. An in-between point. But besides them, I didn't see anyone else,” she told Max.

“I think maybe you did. Maybe you don't remember it, or maybe you weren't even aware of it, Stormy, but I think maybe someone…or something…sort of…came back with you.”

Stormy's face went utterly lax, and every whisper of breath fled her lungs. Max's theory—it fit what she had been feeling so perfectly that it gave her chills.

“Maybe some kind of…I don't know. Do you think maybe…something walked into your body while you were out of it? Sort of took up residence and now doesn't want to leave?”

Stormy closed her eyes. “Like…some kind of possession?”

“When you blank out, Storm, your eyes change color. Your voice changes. And I can't be sure, but I think you're speaking in a different language. It's like you're someone else.”

She couldn't stop the sob that rose up, nearly choking her. She doubled over, clutching her waist, fighting a sense of panic that wouldn't release its grip.

Max stroked her back and shoulders. “I could be wrong, Storm. It could be something else entirely, but—”

“It doesn't feel wrong. Jesus, Max, I just want it out of me. How do I get it out of me?”

“I don't know. But I promise you, we'll find out.”

 

It was dark when Jason Beck pulled up at the diner. He got out of the Jeep and started for the entrance, but the vampire didn't let him go inside. He snapped his powerful arm around the young man's neck from behind. Before Beck could blink, the vampire pulled him into an alley and shoved him up against the cinder-block wall.

“What do you think you're doing, Jason Beck?”

“Ah, Jesus, easy, would you?”

The vampire eased his grip, but didn't release him. “I have no intention of being easy on you. You've been given your orders. I told you to be patient. To wait for further instructions. And yet you let those prying bastards break into my lighthouse.”

“It's not like I could stop them! Not without tipping them off. Jesus, will you let me loose? I'm not going anywhere.”

The vampire let him go and heard his thoughts.
This is no man,
he was thinking,
but a vampire. The animal who holds my sister's life in his hands.

Jason's feet settled more firmly on the ground, and he smoothed his jacket where it had bunched around his shoulders.

He lifted his chin. “Is all this cloak-and-dagger crap really necessary? Couldn't we talk over a beer inside the diner? It's not like anyone in this town is going to challenge you.”

The vampire made sure his smile was slow and deliberate. “Quite correct. So what is this, an attempt to befriend me? It won't work, Jason Beck. I don't have any friends. And I never drink…beer.” His smile faded. “But you already knew that, didn't you? What did they find at the lighthouse?”

“I saw where you were holding my sister. My God, what kind of a monster would put a young girl in a hole like that?”

The vampire felt a twinge of conscience and had to lower his eyes, but only briefly. “The girls were there only for a short time. I assure you, their current accommodations are nothing short of luxurious, as you saw for yourself when you visited them. They have use of a theater, a pool, even a sauna. My house has every convenience. They're getting gourmet meals and the best of care, and they will continue to—as long as you follow my instructions to the letter.” He frowned then, staring hard into Jason's eyes and seeing there the man's nightmarish thoughts. “Your fears are unfounded, Beck. I haven't…tasted her. Children are not my preference. Stop torturing yourself with such thoughts and focus on what needs to be done.”

Jason Beck didn't know whether to believe that or not, the vampire sensed. But the young man hoped it was the truth.

“I understand the listening devices on the telephones in the motel rooms are no longer functioning.”

“That wasn't me. It was the ex-cop, Malone. He found one in his room and then checked all the others.
Hell, if I'd stopped him, he'd have known something was wrong.”

The vampire searched his eyes, his mind, and then nodded. “It doesn't matter. I can keep tabs on you without the aid of electronics.”

Jason swallowed, nodded. “I did what you asked. I got Max and Storm to come here. I don't know what more you want from me.”

The vampire lifted his dark brows. “Oh, a good deal more. I've found some of the information this Stuart woman has gathered on…certain matters. But I still don't know all I need to know about her. And far less than I need to know about the other woman. The one you call Storm. She interests me far more.”

Jason's head came up sharply. “What interest could you possibly have in her?”

“That, Jason Beck, is none of your concern. She is…ill?”

Jason shook his head. “She took a bullet to the head a few months ago. Spent some time in a coma. Now there seem to be…side effects. Or something.”

“Or something?”

Jason shrugged. “She's passed out a couple of times. Seems to have blackouts where she—I don't know, loses it.”

The vampire narrowed his eyes but could find no sign in the young man's mind that he was lying. “When you took her to the hospital, what did the doctors find?”

“Nothing. They couldn't find a damn thing. Malone
seems to think you might be the one messing with her head.”

“I am not. If she is ailing, it's not due to any interference from me. You…you have feelings for this… Storm?”

“We're friends. That's all.”

He nodded slowly. “You'd do well to see to it you remain no more than that.”

Jason frowned. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You're not to touch the woman called Storm. Do you understand?”

Jason didn't answer, didn't acknowledge the words. He was angry, fighting angry, but he knew better than to challenge the man who stood in front of him. He didn't stand a chance against him. He was smart.

And it was lucky for him, the vampire thought, that he was.

“I need the women. Both of them. You are to bring them to me, on my island, without the man.”

“No. Look, if you want to talk to Max, why don't you just go to the motel and ask her whatever the hell it is you want to know. Jesus, there's no way she'll refuse to tell you if she knows my sister's life depends on it.”

He held the young man's eyes. They were intense and determined. “You will bring the women to me, on the island. By night, only by night, and without this Malone. If you do this, I will release your sister and her friend. If you don't…”

“They're my friends,” Jason said. His voice broke. “Jesus, I can't just hand them over.”

“I do not intend to harm them.”

Jason shook his head slowly. “How the hell am I supposed to believe that?”

“I don't really care whether you believe it or not. I need the women. You will deliver them. Find a way.”

Jason lowered his head. “I'll try.”

“Three nights. Beginning with this one. If, by midnight of the third night, you have not brought them to me, I will come for them. Blood will be spilled. Your blood. Malone's blood. And that of your sister, for good measure. Do you understand?”

Jason nodded, unable to look the man in the eye.

The vampire knew there was no doubt in this young man's mind that he would betray the best friends he'd ever had in order to save his sister.

Jason lifted his head and dashed the moisture from his eyes when the vampire bade him good night. He tried to stop his shaking as he made his way out of the alley and into the diner.

 

Max watched the page print out and pulled it from the printer tray, eager. “Where the hell is Jason with our food?”

No sooner had she said it than someone knocked on the door. Stormy went to open it and Jason came in, his arms loaded down with bags. Stormy relieved him of one bag, set it on the bed, then took out the six-pack of beer and two six-packs of soft drinks. “We're gonna need some ice.”

Jason was already unpacking the other bag, setting their burgers and fries, all wrapped individually, on the paper plates that had been tucked into the bag beside them.

“Any trouble, Jay?” Lou asked.

“Nope. The service was a little slow. This town really needs a fast-food joint or two.” His tone was a little too cheerful, a little too light, Max thought. As if it were false, forced. “What have you guys been up to?” Jason asked.

“We went through the list of victims. People who've come up missing only to be found later on. Turns out a couple of them aren't too far away. Or weren't, when the articles were written. Storm's been using the Net to track them down. We thought maybe we could talk to them.”

“Good idea,” Jason said.

Max set aside the sheet of paper. “I've got some phone numbers. Going to call them after dinner.”

“Tonight?” He seemed surprised.

“Sure, Jay. Tonight. Why wait? The sooner we can unravel this thing, the better it'll be for Delia.”

He nodded.

“Why? Is there some reason you think we should wait on this?”

“No.” The denial was instant. “No, not at all. I'm just surprised. You sure do work fast.”

“It's the only speed she knows,” Lou said. “Let's at least eat first, though.”

Max smiled and moved the computer aside, making room on the table for them to sit around it for their meal. “We got those arrangements made for Sid and his
mom. Storm called in a favor from a friend with connections. They'll be getting a call from a private school tomorrow. I think it will work.”

“That's good,” Jason said. “The quicker the kid gets out of this hellhole, the better.”

Several burgers, fries and colas later, Max dialed the telephone, her stomach a little fluttery. She glanced at the clock, just to assure herself it wasn't too late to be phoning people. It wasn't quite nine, so she thought it was safe.

Sitting beside her, Lou looked at the list of names on the printout. “Starting from the top?” he asked.

She nodded. The telephone on the other end was ringing now. As she sat there, Stormy picked up the extension near the bed and curled her legs beneath her to listen in.

“Hello?” It was a woman's voice, deep and soft.

“Hello. I'm trying to reach Lisette Campanelli.”

There was a pause. “Who's calling?”

“My name is Maxine Stuart. I'm investigating the disappearance of two young women in or near the town of Endover.”

“I'm sorry. She's not available.”

Max decided to take a shot and said, “Lisette, please. They're high school girls.”

There was silence on the other end. But no telltale click in her ear.

“All I want to do is talk to you. That's all. I'll meet you wherever you say.”

There was a sigh. “It won't do you any good. I don't know anything about this.”

“That's more than I know,” Max said. “I know you were missing for a time under very similar circumstances. I think that whatever happened to you is happening to them.”

“I hope you're wrong.”

“Then you do remember something?”

Again, silence. A long stretch of it. Max fought to be patient, to give the woman time, when what she wanted to do was reach through the phone lines and shake her. But finally the woman sighed. “I'll meet you. Nowhere near Endover, however.”

“I understand.”

“Is that where you are now?” the woman asked.

“Yes.”

“There's something wrong with that place. You shouldn't stay there.” There was a pause. “There's a Starbucks in Manchester.”

“Just one?” Max laughed a little. A weak attempt to lighten the conversation.

The woman didn't respond in kind. “There are several. I'll give you directions to the right one, though.”

Max looked around the room for a map, only to see that Stormy already had an atlas open on the bed. Stormy put her hand over the mouthpiece and whispered, “That's forty miles away.”