Hunted (39 page)

It was true.  Mrs. Barnes had always had some irrational fear that something might happen to her daughter, which tended to make the woman just a tad over protective.  But, perhaps she had a reason to worry after all, especially considering what was happening in Fells Pointe at the moment.

“Lanie, are you sure you can trust the guy you’re hanging out with?” Finn suddenly asked.  “I mean, it’s an awful big coincidence that he showed up at the same time all this started happening.”

It was no coincidence.  It was absolutely on purpose.  “He doesn’t have anything to do with this,” she reiterated firmly, trying not to get annoyed. 

“But, how do you
know
?  Do you believe him just because he’s telling you!” Johnna wondered.  “I’m sure every serial killer in the world swears it wasn’t them!”

“It’s not him,” Lanie said again, reminding herself that her friends were just worried about her.

“Lanie, neither of us wants to hear about you being found dumped out someplace,” Finn said.  “I just think you should at least tell your dad about this guy.  If he really didn’t do anything then it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“I’ll think about it,” Lanie said, knowing she would not do that unless she had absolutely no choice.

“At least let us meet him,” Johnna said.  “I want to see this guy for myself.”

Johnna wanted to see if she could look at him and tell whether or not he was a serial killer.  Oh, if it only worked that way.

“I’ll think about it,” she repeated the phrase. 

“Think hard because I don’t want to have to narc you out to your dad, but I will, Lanie,” Johnna threatened, dead serious.

“So, what are we going to do with the rest of the day?” Lanie asked, hoping to shift the focus of the conversation.

Johnna shrugged a shoulder and let out a deep sigh.  “We could go to the garage and work on the float for a while,” she suggested.  “It’s right by the school so we’ll be safe, and technically we won’t be ditching if we’re there.”

“Eh, why not,” Finn agreed.  “I mean, it’s not usually my area, but I’ll pitch in.”

“Good.  Most of the Spirit Squad is trapped at home and we need that float to be finished, just in case we’re allowed to have the parade,” Johnna said.

“Well, let’s do that, then,” Finn said.  “But, I’m in no hurry.  I kind of want to hang around here for a while.  It makes me feel kind of naughty.”

Both Lanie and Johnna chuckled and obliged Finn his request to remain at Katy’s Korner until he tired of his naughty feeling, after which they all climbed back into the car and drove back to the school house.

The garage behind the school house was an enormous building that housed several float trailers, as well as all the other stuff it took to keep the school running.  The Spirit Squad float was sitting on the left side of the huge space, near the wall of unidentifiable tools the maintenance man used for…well, whatever he used them for.  Beside the float sat the cardboard boxes filled with all the things they would need to decorate it.

The three of them took a second to assess the state of things and then dove in and began working.  They stapled the foil skirting around the bottom of the trailer, doubling up the royal purple and gold to hide the ugly wheel bases.  They stapled all the colorful, glittering masks around the four posts that supported the roof, which was made of raffia, and even hung some of them down from the edges of it.  They strung some of the necklaces around, tossed some gold paper crowns in for effect, added in some fake flowers here and there that matched the color scheme, made sure the boxes of necklaces were safely onboard and by four thirty that afternoon, they declared the float finished.

Standing back, Lanie had to admit it looked decent.  Maybe the Spirit Squad girls could have done a better job of it with their cheerleader magic, but she thought it looked presentable.  It was very festive and sparkly and with all the team and the cheerleaders standing on it, no one would miss that touch of cheerleader magic. 

After nearly an entire day of working, they were all three tired and hungry and when Finn suggested that they hit The Pub, neither Lanie nor Johnna argued.  Lanie borrowed Johnna’s phone to text her dad to let him know where they were going, she had already spoken with Gretchen to get her permission to stay after school for a while, and they made for the exit.  Pulling open the creaky metal door, Lanie let out a sharp gasp when she saw Kyle standing right there. 

Johnna gasped, too, grabbing holding of Lanie, pulling her back through the door, and slamming it shut with enough force to shake the entire building.  “Oh my god!  It’s him!  Finn, find something to beat him with!”

Lanie pulled away from Johnna and flew back to the door, jerking it open even as Johnna was grasping and clawing to try and stop her.  When she jerked the metal open again, Kyle was still standing there, his staggeringly handsome features drawn tight, his sparkling green eyes filled with darkness.

Lanie was out the door and in Kyle’s arms before she even realized it was happening.  “What is?  What’s wrong?” she asked him, her voice wavering.  Something had happened.  She could see it there on his beautiful face.  The guilt…

“I was at your aunt’s house, Lanie.  I followed Frederik’s scent all over the place and I-I finally tracked it back to Gretchen’s,” he paused and Lanie felt some of the heat drain out of her body. She suddenly didn’t want to hear anymore.  “When I got there the front door was open…and Gretchen was gone.  Frederik’s scent was all over…he took her, Lanie.”

Lanie felt her throat constrict and her heart plummet into her stomach.  Oh God.  Not Gretchen.

“I’ve been trying to find her, but I can’t,” Kyle confessed, his expression stricken.  “He’s hidden her.  I-I don’t know what else to do.”

Lanie suddenly found it hard to breathe.  Oh God!  Gretchen!  That monster had Gretchen!  Which meant the next time she saw her aunt would be at her funeral.  Terror and ice cold desperation rose up inside her, choking her.  For a stunned moment, she couldn’t even react.  She could only stand and stare helplessly up at Kyle, who was staring back at her with the same helplessness etched onto his face.  

“I-I have to…to…” she finally croaked out, but then stalled. 

What?  She had to what?  Go looking for Gretchen?  Call her dad?  Have him go searching for the vampire who had taken her aunt? 

“Lanie, I think he may use her to try and lure you out,” Kyle said worriedly.

“Lanie, what’s going on?” Finn’s voice questioned from right behind her, causing Lanie to jump.  She’d forgotten her friends were there.

Letting go of Kyle, who’d apparently forgotten about them, too, she turned around to tell them that everything was fine and to go on home, but she couldn’t get a single word past her swollen throat.

“Lanie?” Johnna questioned in a scared voice, her enormous eyes glued to Kyle.  “What’s wrong?”

Lanie felt her chin begin to quiver.  Her aunt was dead, that was what was wrong. 

“Hey, man, what’s going on?” Finn demanded, also looking at Kyle.  “We’re her friends.  If something’s happened we should know.  We can help.”

“You can’t help,” Kyle said, his tone so heavy with sadness that Lanie nearly burst into tears right there.

“Tell us what’s going on,” Johnna insisted, quickly pulling out her phone.  “Otherwise, I’m calling your dad, Lanie.”

Lanie looked at Johnna, trying to gather herself enough to speak, but it was hard going.  “Call him,” she said to her friend.  “Tell him I’m coming to the station.”

Kyle’s cool hand was suddenly taking hold of hers.  “I’ll take you.  We’ll both talk to him.”

“Now, wait a minute!  Lanie, you don’t have to go anywhere with this guy!” Finn growled at them.

Kyle looked at both Finn and Johnna, ignoring the boy’s angry words.  “It’s wise for you both to go home, lock the doors, and stay there.  You might be next.”

Johnna’s mouth fell open and Finn took a step forward, his shoulders squared for battle.  “Dude, is that a threat!”

Lanie felt despair engulfing her.  “Finn, listen to him!  My aunt is
gone
!  And the person who took her might come after you next!  Please, both of you go home and stay there!” she cried out, tears welling up in her eyes.

If Frederik had taken her aunt, then who knew what he might do next!  No one she was close to was safe! 

“Lanie, wait.  We can’t—“ Finn began, but Lanie spun around and started walking away from him, effectively squelching any further argument.

“We have to get to my dad,” she told Kyle in a broken voice. 

Kyle didn’t argue, but took her by the arm and hurried her around the side of the garage, out of view of Johnna and Finn.  Once they were clear, Kyle scooped her up into his arms, settled her against his chest, and took off at a dead run.  Instantly, the wind was roaring by and her body was being compressed by the force it, but Lanie didn’t care.  She turned her face into Kyle’s neck and steeled herself against the icy onslaught.  She could bear it.  She had to get to her dad and this was the fastest way, so she could bear it.

She didn’t have to bear it for long, though, because it seemed in only a matter of moments they were slamming to a halt, which again caused Lanie’s organs to hit her ribcage.  She opened her eyes just as Kyle set her on her feet, finding that they were standing on the sidewalk outside the police station.  She glanced around, finding her dad’s patrol car parked in his space just up the street and relief rolled over her.

“Are you sure about this Lanie?” Kyle asked her in a serious tone.  “This’ll change everything.  And you run the risk of losing your dad, too.”

“I know,” she croaked out, tears already spilling down her cheeks. 

This would change everything for everyone, but Gretchen’s life was at stake, if she still had her life.  There was absolutely no choice.

“You don’t have to come in with me,” she told Kyle, turning and making for the door of the building.

“He won’t believe you if I’m not there,” Kyle said and she knew he was right. 

Without having the proof that what she was saying was true, Sheriff Bancroft would probably have her committed. 

Inside the familiar space, which smelled of disinfectant and old paper, Lanie made her way straight past the front desk and into her dad’s office.  Her father was sitting at his metal desk, a massive stack of paperwork in front of him.  He glanced up as Lanie and Kyle entered, his handsome features set. 

“Lanie?  How…how’d you get here so fast?  Johnna just called me,” he asked, confused.

Lanie, swiping at the tears rolling down her face, ignored the question.  “Dad, it’s Gretchen...”

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

“Dad, I’m telling you the truth!  It’s not Kyle!” Lanie shouted as her father shoved Kyle up against the wall of his office and had the handcuffs on him in less than a second flat.  “He didn’t do this!  And you can’t find Gretchen without him!”

“Lanie, what have you been taking!” Sam demanded angrily, grabbing Kyle by the scruff of his neck, whipping him around, and slamming him backward into the wall.  “Tell me what he gave you!”

“Dad, I’m not taking drugs!  I’m not imagining this! 
Frederik took Gretchen
!  If we don’t find her he’ll kill her!” she argued, desperation crushing her.

“Sheriff Bancroft, those girls were all drained of their blood, weren’t they!  Why do you think that is!” Kyle growled at the man.

“You shouldn’t say anything until I’ve read you your rights and you’ve called an attorney, asshole!” Sam snapped at him, giving him another slam into the wall, shaking the picture frames hanging there.

“Dad, listen to him!  Gretchen really is in trouble!” Lanie snapped, putting herself in between her father and the door of his office, just in case he decided to haul Kyle away.  He wasn’t getting out of the office unless he tazed her!

“The bodies are drained of their blood because Frederik
feeds
on them!” Kyle snarled at Sam.  “He drains them and then tosses them out like so much garbage!  He has Gretchen and if he doesn’t kill her then he plans on using her to draw Lanie to him!”

“Don’t say another word, boy!” Sam ordered, slamming Kyle against the wall for a third time.  “You’re only implicating yourself!”