Gunning For Angels (Fallen Angels Book 1) (20 page)

I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will.

–Charlotte Bronte

Bud paused, struggling to catch his breath. He was at the top of the stairs and he was scared. His heart was pounding too hard. He wiped the sweat from his brow and rested. After what seemed like an eternity, he felt his heart slow down and the pressure ease, and he moved forward.

He k
nocked on Chip’s door. “Come on. We got work to do.”

Bunnie pounded up the stairs, demanding, “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

“Work.” Bud went to their bedroom and changed into his work clothes as Bunnie, hot on his heels, threatened him with everything from divorce to murder in the first.

Chip came to the doorway, unsure.

Bud looked at him, “We leave in five minutes.”

Chip disappeared.

“As God as my witness, Bud…!” Bunnie yelled.

“If you divorce me, you divorce me. I hope you don’t. In the meantime, I’m going to work.”

“Bud!” Bunnie gasped in astonishment. 

“If I retire,
I die
.”

Bud could feel Bunnie glowering at him from the top of the stairs as he made his way to the garage. Chip bounded after him and Bud pointed him to the driver’s seat. “I need a driver. Quit anytime you want – especially if it’s to go back to school.”

“What’s the pay?”

“Write your book.”

Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.

–G. K. Chesterton

Enid decided that if she was going to die, it wasn’t going to be because of not fighting like a mad cat in a corner. She made a grim vow that, no matter what, she was going to get a record-breaking amount of DNA evidence under her fingernails – even if it meant clawing his face off.  

If I do nothing, I’m dead…

It didn’t matter what she did –
she had to do
something.
Anything was better then waiting for
him
to call the shots. She felt panic surging up and, gritting her teeth, she forced it down as she muttered to herself…

If, if, if…

She repeated it over and over again – until it became a primitive song. After a long while, it took shape and, without her willing it, it took form into something resembling a 1950s doo-wop song.

She felt cold and she began to move around – something resembling an awkward dance. She swung her arms, snapping her fingers as she sang, “Shoo-bop shoo-bop-if-a-roo.”

When the door opened, she’d been dancing and singing for what felt like forever. She turned to the door and, hoping that he couldn’t hear her pounding heart, she plastered a smile on her face, waved a friendly hello and continued to sing and dance her doo-wop song.

“He” was a white man in his forties, well built, with thick black hair and wary eyes. If it wasn’t for the gun, he would have looked totally normal. 

He stood still, watching her.

She threw back her head and smiled like she was having the time of her life. “Shoo-bop, shoooo-boppity-iffity-boo.” 

He stared, a glint of something in his eyes.

Fear?

Does he think I’m crazy?

Maybe I am…

“Do you mind if I take off my bra?” Enid said sweetly. She was so startled to hear how calm her voice sounded that she – giggled. 

His eyebrows shot up in surprise and one corner of his mouth curled.

Enid followed her instinct like a bird catching a breeze. Reaching under her shirt, she unsnapped her bra.

He stared at her with shining eyes, mouth agape.

Still singing and dancing, Enid reached under each sleeve and whipped off her bra through the neck of her shirt like she’d seen her mother do a thousand times after coming through the front door at the end of a long day at work.

Enid shut her eyes, the bra dangling from her right hand as she sang and danced like she was in her own world. Enid sensed more than heard him moving closer and somehow, she was not just ready, but perfectly calm when he placed his hand on her breast.

Enid whipped the bra around his neck and pulled with all her might. His body went rigid and she saw the black of his eyes flare as his gun clattered to the floor. Enid swung around and somehow got behind him. Enid wrapped her legs around his waist and hung on – knowing that if she let go – she was dead.

His fingers dug into his neck, trying to get between the bra and his flesh as he hurtled them both around the tiny room, slamming her into the wall so hard she felt her teeth rattle and a searing pain shoot down her left side. Enid leaned back, putting all her weight into pulling the bra tighter around his neck that was now swollen and bulging with veins. It flashed through her mind that she might have a chance – if she killed him.

Him or me!

He dropped to his knees, desperately trying to pry his fingers between the bra and his swollen neck. It seemed like she’d been pulling tight for a thousand years when he finally fell forward like a sack of grain. Enid stayed on his back, straddling his body as she pulled and pulled and pulled…

He’s not dead! It’s a trick – like in the movies.

After a long time, Enid forced her hands to loosen their grip.

Heart pounding, Enid backed toward the door. Her foot hit the gun and it clattered into the wall. She grabbed it and aimed it at him.

Enid slammed the door shut, locking it with shaking hands.
She shoved the gun in the back of her jeans, between the fabric and her flesh. There was a key in a second lock and she locked that too. Enid shoved the key in her pocket and looked around. She was startled to see that she was in the hallway of a house.

Enid heard a woman’s voice from outside call
ing out for someone named “Dennie” and she headed in the other direction, which led her to a kitchen where an open box of Cap’n Crunch sat on the counter.

When her eyes landed on the back door, all her panic surged up and Enid barreled through the door and out into the night.

Her foot caught on something and she fell forward, sprawling face first into the dirt. Enid scrambled to her feet and ran toward a road illuminated by streetlights. Terrified that
he
was going to jump out and drag her back to the room, Enid bolted for the center of the street where she ran as fast and hard as she could – until her lungs and legs wouldn’t let her go any farther.

Enid fell to her knees, gulping for air. The road felt so welcoming that she lay down on her side, enjoying the feel of the asphalt against her cheek. She brushed the hair from her face and realized she was shaking – worse than shaking; her whole body was convulsed with tremors.

Enid held herself tight and the horrible shaking got better. Her breath came easier. She struggled to her feet and staggered forward.

Enid heard a car and turned. Blinded by oncoming headlights, she froze, realizing, but not able to move as the car’s brakes screamed for her to move…

Then, it all went black and Enid felt a terrible pain – a searing horrible pain and every bone in her body hurt.

She blinked.

Where am I?

The sky was above her and – everything hurt. Vaguely, Enid heard a car idling and a screech of tires as it disappeared into the night.

Enid tried to lift her head, but couldn’t. She looked at the sky, the stars…

Why do I hurt?

Orion was there, blinking down at her. She could always spot the three stars that made his belt. There’s his head…

A man’s face bent over her, blocking Orion. He was saying something, but she couldn’t make out. Enid watched his lips move, wondering why he looked so scared. The thought blew through her brain like a newspaper caught in the wind…

Jack.

Why wasn’t he there for me?

The man was calling to her as if from far away. Enid felt herself slipping out on a black tide, felt it enclosing her, carrying her away.

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

–Plato

Jack was surprised to see Jeni’s apartment building was even shabbier than he expected. He hadn’t expected much, but the contrast between how Eve and her mother were living and how Jeni was living was jarring
.

He wondered if Jeni knew that her building was one of the apartments where the county dumped recently released jailbirds and pedophiles. It was an eyesore that smacked of an out-of-state owner. Across the street was a nicer apartment building, and up and down the road were small but decent-looking houses that put what Jack had always referred to as “the pedophile motel” to shame. 

Jack parked and walked the short distance to Jeni’s front door. The window next to the door had cardboard tacked to it. He knocked loud enough to be heard above the pop music that was coming from within. Someone lowered the volume and he felt the presence of someone on the other side of the door.

“Jeni?” he asked, knocking again.

For a moment, he thought she was going to pretend she wasn’t there, but she opened the door and greeted him with an embarrassed smile.

“Sorry to drop in unannounced,” he said.   

Jeni’s embarrassment was palpable as she hurried to pick toys off the floor. She threw them into the makeshift crib and a plush toy hit the baby in the head. The baby stirred, but didn’t awake.

Jeni looked casual sexy in jean shorts, a scrub-shirt and fluffy house slippers. “You should have called.”

“I was in the neighborhood.” Jack sat on the lumpy couch that creaked under his weight. 

“It’s temporary. Till I find a better place,” she said.

“It’s nice,” Jack said, hoping he sounded sincere, but knowing he didn’t. 

The baby woke with a start, crying. Jeni picked her up, jiggled her into silence. “You want a beer?” 

“No, thanks.”

Jeni eyed him eagerly. “Did you find her?”

“Your mother’s name was Ann Smith.”

“Was?
” Jeni said in a small voice. 

Jack nodded.

Jeni hugged the baby closer and kissed the top of her head.

Jack said, “Back in the day, your mother
worked at a local strip club – with Vivian.”

“Vivian – a dancer? No way.
”

“A place called The Sugar Shack. It burned down.”

Jeni blinked several times. “How did – my mother…?” 

“Car accident. Nothing suspicious.”

“Why would you think it was suspicious?”

“You weren’t even one year old when it happened. Vivian took you in.”

“How come nobody told me I was adopted? Didn’t I have any family – other than my mother?”

“You have a grandmother.”

Jeni’s eyes lit up.

“She and your mother had a falling out,” Jack said quickly.

“Does she know I’m alive? Maybe she doesn’t know!” 

“She knows.”

Jeni stared at him for a long shocked moment. She whispered, “She doesn’t want me?”

Jack searched for the right words. “She’s religious – not
in a good way. She wrote Ann off.”

“Do you think…?”

“Vivian took you in, but didn’t go through any official routes. She took you home and called you her own. Probably why she didn’t tell you.”

“How is that even possible? You have to tell
somebody
– social services or…”

“Your mother died in a car wreck and Vivian took you in. That’s it.”

“Did Eve know?”

“I don’t know,” Jack said, surprised at the lie that rolled off his tongue. He frowned, wondering why he was telling a lie for Eve.

Jeni sat thinking for a long time before she looked up, perplexed. “Why wouldn’t they want me to know?”

“I was hoping you could tell me.”

“How would I
know?”

“Do you remember anything – maybe somebody said something – something that struck you strange at the time?”

Jeni dashed away a tear with the back of her hand. “My grandmother – I want to see her.”

“She’s not fit to feed a dog.”

“I want to meet her. You can’t stop me.”

“She’ll make you sad.”

Jeni stared at him.

Jack stayed silent. He hated the thought of Jeni hearing that her own grandmother believed that she heard from the Angel Gabriel that Jeni was better off dead. He hesitated and said, “Sleep on it. If you want to go – I’ll go with you.”

Jeni stared at him, her eyes troubled. 

“You ok
ay?” Jack said.

“I guess I should be happy Viv took me in,” Jeni said with an unconvincing smile.

“Why did you start calling her Viv – instead of mom?” Jack said, relieved to be on firmer ground.

“Do you think my grandmother…?”

Jack abruptly stood, frowning. He eyed the door, itching to leave. “I’ll call you if I find out anything more.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, good luck.” Jack cringed at the false note in his voice. In two strides he was at the door, but when he turned to shut the door, he froze.

Tears rolled down Jeni’s cheeks, dripping off her face. He stared at her. She was beautiful – Stella, but better.

Jeni walked to him and wrapped her arms around him, hiding her face in his shirt.

Jack hesitated, but her body pressed to his made it too late to leave. He tilted her face up and looked into her blue eye
s that were shining with tears. Their lips met and Jack gave a groan, his arms wrapping tight around her. He lifted her off the ground, carried her into the bedroom.

Fast, and they were naked and on the bed, Jeni moving her hips aggressively into him, like she was grinding on one of her customer’s laps.

He grabbed her face, “Cut it! I don’t need a show – I want
you
.”

Jeni’s face flushed crimson. She tried to push him away, but he pressed her down in a kiss that left her clinging to him like a vine to a rock.

Jack explored and teased every inch of her, until they both could stand it no longer.

“Make me your own,” she whispered.

He did.

The baby cried, the neighbor pounded on the wall, the sun slowly disappeared – leaving long shadows across their bodies until the shadows were destroyed by the night – until they were destroyed by each other.

It was close to midnight when Jack leaned back, exhausted. He examined the water damage on the ceiling.

Jeni was pressed up against him, caressing his stomach. “I don’t ever want to leave this room.”

He reached out, cupped her breast. “Let me help you, Jeni.”

“Is that what you think I want – help?
This
is what I want…” She moved her hand to his heart. “And
this
…” She ran her fingertip downward.

“I can’t promise you anything. If I do promise you anything – don’t trust me.”

“I don’t need no promises – or help. I been looking for a man like you. I’ll take
this,
thank you very much.”

“Let me help you find a decent place. They’ll be no strings attached.”

She smiled, kissed his hand. “Strings –
I like
. The way you fuck –
I love
.”

Jack got out bed and began dressing.

She sat up on one elbow. “Don’t tell me there’s been
two pussies
in this bed?”

He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m goin’ to get us food. You hungry?”

“Lyin’ dog,” she grinned. “You don’t think I know what a man leaving looks like? I figured you for a leg man.”

“What makes you think I’m not?”

“If you
were
, you’d be next to me – with your fingers in my pie. You wouldn’t be offering to
help me
–like I’m a stray off the street.”

“I like you, Jeni.” Jack remembered that he said the same thing to Eve.

“I’m not Eve,” she snapped.

Jack shot her a look, startled.

Did she know?

“You said her name,” Jeni said. 

He shook his head, eyeing her warily. “You heard it in your head, sister. I didn’t say it.”

She gave a short, mirthless laugh. “I’m going to tell you a story. Not because I want to, but because you need to know what kind of person you’re up against.”

“You – or your sister?”

“Our stepfather was a monster. Whoever cut his heart out should get a medal. He was a Grade-A, certified daughter-fucking pedophile. Eve will never admit it – not to you, not to herself. Me? I never been to de Nile. I call it like it is. But Eve would rather
die
than admit that daddy had his dick up her ass.”

Jack looked down, hating that he felt pity for them – all three of them.

“She told you different, huh? Yeah, that’s her – her shit don’t stink and it never will – not in
her
world.”

“Did Vivian know?”

“She didn’t want to know so she made sure
not
to know. Eve’s special trick was pretending to be sick. Then Laura started playing sick – and sleeping in Eve’s room so he couldn’t come after them – safety in numbers. I was the easy target – too damned healthy and
stupid
to play sick. I hate them for that. If they weren’t always playing sick – it wouldn’t have all ended up on me.” Jeni laughed, “Literally.”

Jack winced.

“Eve didn’t ever
not
try to steal anything I ever had.
Except him.
You think I’m living like this ‘cause I want to? I’m making a
home
for me and my baby in the only world I know that
she
wants no part of – and that works fine by me. If you want Eve – tell her you fucked me and she’s getting sloppy seconds. Don’t forget to wrap it up pretty, though – she don’t like it dirty,
like I do
. And if you want to
keep
Eve, you better start telling yourself lies as fast and hard as you can  – ‘cause the truth and Eve go together like a fuckin’ hawk and the bitch-ass sparrow.”

“Jeni…” Jack said in a voice that was made for easing his way out of front doors.

Jeni jumped up, furious. “You don’t fucking deserve a real woman. You want
me
– you can stuff dollars in my cunt like the rest of them.” She picked up an ashtray and hurled it at him.

It hit Jack in the forehead, drawing blood. She even had better aim than Stella.

Jeni said, “You think I want to marry you and have kids and live in some…”

“Shit,” Jack said, his face changing to alarm. 

Jeni stopped, startled. 

“
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.”
Jack shoved on his shoes and ran to the door.

“What?” Jeni ran after him.

“I was supposed to pick up Enid.”

“You
forgot
her?”

Jack bounded for the door, waving over his shoulder, “I’ll call. I promise.” He winced, hating that he threw another promise into the world.

“Jack!” she called after him as he ran down the walkway. He jumped into his car, not looking back, not wanting to look back and see her standing in the doorway alone. A part of him wished that he could be the man she needed, but he knew it was no use.

As he sped away, he saw Frank Ficus’s dark sedan sitting like a toad on the road. Jack hit the accelerator, watching as Frank K-turned to tail him.

Why is he still following me?

Jack sped toward the meeting place. Cursing, he held his sleeve up to his temple, trying to stop the bleeding. He wasn’t in the mood to listen to Enid’s lip and he sure as hell didn’t want to explain shit to her.

He thought about Jeni, deciding that the smartest thing to do would be to forget her. He found her mother, so he had nothing left to do but cash her check. She’d become a memory – a regret. He didn’t need a magic eight ball to know that, no matter how you cut it, Jeni was trouble. That’s all he needed – to get involved with a dancer with daddy issues.

Reluctantly, he put his sleeve up to his face and breathed in. He could smell Jeni – and he liked it.