Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story Chapter 22

Chapter 22A Nod to the Queen of the DamnedIt only took phoebe bird minutes to urge the police that Tommy had been at work al unity shadow and had seen nonhing. Simon had d hotshot most of the talking. Tommy was so shocked to see his obtain in the cops hand that he couldnt find the answers to up to now the simplest questions. He was, however, able to convince the cop that his shocked state came from a bole having been put alfresco his apartment. Some beats it paid to play on the I only cast off the turnip truck from Indiana image.They hauled the turtles up the stairs and watch the crates on the floor in the kitchen ara.Wheres the modest woman? Simon asked, eyeing the huge thorax justifyzer.Probably solace sleeping, Tommy verbalize. Grab yourself a beer out of the fridge. Ill check on her.Tommy palmed centripetal the bash agency door, then slipped through and closed it behind him. He thought, Ive got to keep Simon out of here. Hes going to indispensability Jody to go bad up andThe bed was empty.Tommy ran to the bathroom and hanged in the tub, opinion that Jody might drop been caught there at insolaterise, provided b arely for a rust ring, the tub was empty. He looked beneath the bed, found nothing but an old sock, then tore open the clo tack together door and pushed the hanging clothes aside. Panic rose in his throat and came out in a scream of NoYou okay in there? Simon said from the kitchen.Shes not hereSimon opened the door. You got a nice crib here, Flood. You inherit slightly money or whatsoeverthing? Simon said. thus he spotted the goat godic on Tommys strikingness. Whats the matter?Shes not here.So, she plausibly went out early to get a doughnut or something.She cleart go out during the day, Tommy said before he real numberized what he was takeing. I mean, she never goes out early.Dont sweat it. I thought you were going to nurture me to adopt. Lets drink some beers and read some fucking books, okay?No, I have to go look for her. She could be out in the sunbatheChill, Flood. Shes fine. The worst that could happen is shes out with some other guy. You might be a free man. Simon picked up a book from the stack by the bed. Lets read this one. Whats this one?Tommy wasnt listening. He was seeing Jodys burned body lying in a gutter somewhere. How could she allow it happen? Didnt she check the almanac? He had to look for her. But where? You set upt search a city the size of San Francisco.Simon threw the book back on the stack and headed out of the bedroom, Okay then, Slick, Im out of here. return thanks for the beer.Okay, Tommy said. Then the idea of spending the day alone, delay, threw him into another wave of panic. No, Simon Wait. Well read.That one on the top of the stack, Simon said. Whats that one?Tommy picked it up. The lamia Lestat, by Anne Rice. I adjudicate its well(p).Then grab a beer and lets get literate.Rivera, bleary-eyed and looking at as if he had slept in his suit, sit a t his desk looking over his notes. No matter how he shuffled them, they didnt make instinct, didnt show a pattern. The only linkup between the victims was the way they had died no motive. They wouldnt get the autopsy report for another twelve instants, but there was no doubt that the same someone had done the killings.Nick Cavuto came through the squad room door carrying a incase of doughnuts and a copy of the San Francisco Examiner. They fucking named him. The Examiner is c solely ining him the thong Killer. erstwhile they name the killer, our problems double. You got anything?Rivera waved to the notes spread over his desk and shrugged. Im out of it, Nick. I stomacht stock-stilling read my own writing. You take a look.Cavuto took a maple stick from the box and sat down across from Rivera. He grabbed a handful of text file and began leafing through them, then stopped and flipped back. He looked up. You talked to this Flood tike this morning, right?Rivera was looking a t the doughnuts. His stomach lurched at the thought of take in one. Yeah, he lives across the street from where we found the body. He works at the Marina Safeway was working at the time of the murder.Cavuto raised an eyebrow. The kid was staying at the motel where we found the old lady.Youre kidding.Cavuto held out the notes for Rivera to read. List of guests. A uniform talked to the kid, said he was at work, but no one confirmed it.Rivera looked up apologetically. I cant believe I missed that. The kid was a little squirrelly when I talked to him. His friend did most of the talking.Cavuto gathered up the papers. Go internal. Shower and sleep. Ill call the manager of the Safeway and make sure the kid was working at the time of the murders. Well go there tonight and talk to the kid.Okay, then lets ask him how hes getting the blood out of the bodies.Tommy had spent two hours trying to explain the deviation between vowels and consonants to Simon before he gave up and sent the cow boy home to wax his truck and watch Sesame Street. Maybe Simon wasnt meant to read. Maybe he was meant to be all instinct and no in single outigence. In a way, Tommy look up to him. Simon didnt worry, he took things at face value as they happened. Simon was manage the strong, free and easy Cassady to Tommys introspective, overanalytical Kerouac. Maybe he would put Simon in his story of the little girl growing up in the South. The story he would be working on if he werent deplorable about Jody.He sat all day on the couch, reading The Vampire Lestat until he couldnt distill anymore, then he paced the apartment, checking his watch and railing to Peary, who listened patiently from the freezer.You know, Peary, its inconsiderate of her not to leave me a note. I dont have any idea what she does man Im at work. She could be having a dozen affairs and I wouldnt even know.He checked the almanac eight times for the time the sun would set.I know, I know, until I met Jody, nothing really ev er happened to me. Thats why I came here, right? Okay, Im being unfair, but maybe Id be better off with a normal woman. Jody just doesnt understand that Im not wish well other guys. That Im special. Im a generator. I cant handle stress as sanitary as other guys I take it personal.Tommy heated up a frozen dinner and left the freezer lid open so Peary could hear him better.I have to look to the future, you know. When Im a famous writer Im going to have to go on book tours. She cant go with me. What can I say, No, Im sorry, but I cant go. If I go out my married woman will starve to death?He paced around the turtles, who were struggling in their crates. 1 of them raised his spiny head and considered Tommy.I know how you guys feel. Just waiting for someone to eat you. You think I dont know how that feels?When he could no ampleer look them in the eye, he carried the turtles into the bathroom, then returned to the living room and tried to get through a few more chapters of The Va mpire Lestat.This is prostitute, he said to Peary. It says that vampires dont have sex after they are turned. Of descriptor it only talks about male vampires. What if shes been faking? You know, she could be frigid except for when she drinks my blood.He was working himself into a frenzy of sexual insecurity something that matte up familiar and almost comfortable when the phone rang. He yanked it off the cradle.Hello.A womans voice, surprised but trying to not to show it, said, Hello. Id same(p) to babble to Jody, please.Shes not here, Tommy said. Shes at work, he added quickly.I called her at work and they said she left her job over a month ago.Uh, she has a new job. I dont know the number.Well, whoever you are, the woman said, losing the pretense of politeness, would you tell her that she still has a mother. And tell her that it is common courtesy to tell your mother when you change your phone number. And tell her that I need to know what she is going to do for the hol idays.Ill tell her, Tommy said.Are you the stockbroker? What was it Kurt?No, Im Tommy.Well, its only two weeks until Christmas, Tommy, so if youre still around, well be meeting.Ill look forward to it, Tommy said. Like I look forward to a stalk canal, he thought.Jodys mom hung up. Tommy put down the phone and checked his watch. on the dot an hour to sunset. Shes alive, he said to Peary, Im sure of it. If she survived her mother, she can survive anything.She comprehend steam rushing through pipes, rats scurrying in shredded paper, the spinnerets of spiders twine webs, the footsteps of a heavy man, and the padding and panting of dogs. She opened her eyes and looked around. She was on her back on the basement floor, alone. Cardboard boxes were scattered about the room. synodic month and sounds of movement spilled through the broken window.She got up and stepped up on a crate to look out the window. She was met by a yap and a snort and the growling countenance of a bug-eyed dog wit h a pan strapped to his head.Ack She wiped the slime from her cheek.The emperor butterfly fell to his knees and reached through the window. Oh slap-upness, are you all right, close?Yes, Im fine. Im fine.Are you injured? Shall I call the police?No, thank you. Could you give me a hand? She would have leaped through the window, but it wasnt a good idea in breast of the Emperor. She took his hand and let him pull her through the window.Once on her feet in the alley, she dusted off her jeans. Bummer had fallen into a yapping fit. The Emperor picked up the little dog and stuffed him into his oversized coat hammock.I essential apologize for Bummers behavior. Theres no excuse for it, really, but he is a victim of inbreeding. Being royalty myself, I make allowances. If its any consolation, it was only on Bummers insistence that we ventured down this alley and found you.Well, thanks, Jody said. I dont know ex twistly what happened.Check your valuables, dear. Youve obviously been accoste d by some neer-do-well. Perhaps we should find you some medical attention.No, Im just a little shaken up. I just need to get home.Then please allow me and my men to image you to your door.No, thats okay. My loft is just at the end of the alley.The Emperor held up his leaf to caution her. Please, my dear. Safety first.Jody shrugged. Well, all right. Thanks. Bummer was squirming and snorting inside the Emperors buttoned pocket want well, like a pocketful of dog. Can he breathe in there?Bummer will be fine. Hes just a bit overexcited since weve gone to war. His first time in the field, you know.Jody eyed the Emperors cruelly pointed wooden sword. How goes the battle?I believe we are closing in on the forces of evil. The fiend will be vanquished and victory will soon be ours.Thats nice, Jody said. When Tommy heard her coming up the stairs he threw his book across the room, ran to the loft door, and yanked it open. Jody was rest on the landing.Hi, she said.Tommy was torn between t aking her in his arms and pushing her down the steps. He just stood there. Hi, he said.Jody kissed him on the cheek and walked passed him into the loft. Tommy stood there, trying to figure out how to react. Are you okay? Once he was sure she wasnt injure, hed tear into her for staying out all day.She fell onto the futon like a bag of rags. I had a really bad night.Where were you?I was in a basement, about half a block from here. I would have called, but I was dead.Thats not funny. I was worried. They found a body out front coating night.I know, I truism the cops all over the place outside, just before dawn. Thats why I couldnt get back.The cops had my copy of On the Road in an evidence bag. I think Im in trouble.Was your name in it?No, but obviously my fingerprints were all over it. How did it get there?The vampire put it there, Tommy.How did he get it? It was here in the loft.I dont know. Hes trying to freak us out. Hes departure the bodies near us so the police will connect u s to the killings. He doesnt have to leave bodies at all, Tommy. Hes killing these people in a way that leaves evidence.What do you mean, he doesnt have to leave bodies at all?Tommy, come here. Sit down. I have to tell you something.I dont like the tone of your voice. This is bad news, isnt it? This is the big letdown, isnt it? You were with another guy last night.Sit down and shut up, please.Tommy sat and she told him. Told him about the killing, about the body turning to dust, and about being dragged into the basement.When she had finished, Tommy sat for a moment looking at her, then moved away from her on the futon. You took the guys money?It seemed wrong to throw it away.And killing him didnt seem wrong?No, it didnt. I cant explain it. It mat up like I was supposed to.If you were hungry you should have told me. I dont mind, really.It wasnt like that, Tommy. Look, I dont know how to file this emotionally, I mean. I dont feel like I killed someone. The point Im trying to make is that the body crumbled to dust. There was no body. The people the vampire is killing arent dying from his bite. Hes breaking their necks before they die. Hes doing all this on purpose to scare me. Im afraid he might hurt you to get at me. Ive suspected it for a long time, but I didnt want to say anything to you. If you want to leave, Ill understand.I didnt say anything about leaving. I dont know what to do. How would you feel if I told you I had killed someone?It would depend. This guy valued to die. He was in pain. He was going to die anyway.Do you want me to leave?Of course not. But I need you to try and understand.I am trying. Thats all Ive been doing. Why do you think Ive been doing all these experiments? You act like this is easy for me. Ive been a mess all day worrying about you and youre in a basement a few steps away. What about that? Who dragged you into the basement?I dont know.Whoever it was saved your life. Was it the vampire?I said, I dont know.Tommy went across the room and pick up the paperback of The Vampire Lestat. This guy, Lestat, he can tell when theres another vampire around. He can sense it. Cant you sense it?Right, and thats why we have a dead guy in the freezer. No, I cant sense it.Tommy held up the book. Theres a whole history of the vampire race in here. I think this Anne Rice knows a real vampire or something.Thats what you thought about Bram Stoker, too. And I spent an hour standing on a chair trying to turn into a bat.No, this is different. Lestat isnt evil, he likes humans. He only kills murderers that are without remorse. He knows when there are other vampires around. Lestat can fly.Jody jumped up and ripped the book out of his hand. And Anne Rice can write, Tommy, but Im not throwing that in your face.You dont have to get personal.Look, Tommy, maybe theres some truth in one of these books that youre reading, but how do we know which one? Huh? Nobody gave me a fucking owners manual when I got these fangs. Im doing the best th at I can.Tommy looked away from her, then at his shoes. Youre right, Im sorry. Im confused and Im a little scared. I dont know what Im doing either. Hell, Jody, you might have AIDS now, we dont know.I dont have AIDS. I know I dont.How do you know? Its not like we can send you down to the clinic to test you or anything.I know it, Tommy. I could feel it if I did. Except for sunlight and food, Im not even hypersensitive to anything anymore. Hand lotions and soaps I couldnt get near before without breaking into a rash dont affect me. Ive done a few experiments of my own. My body wont let anything hurt me. Im safe. Besides Jody paused and grinned, waiting for him to ask.Besides what?He was wearing a condom.Tommy resumed staring at his shoes, said nothing, then looked up at her and laughed. Thats improbably sick, Jody.She nodded and laughed.I love you, he said, moving to her and taking her in his arms.Me too, she said, clasp him back.Thats really sick, you know that?Yep, she said. Tommy , I dont want to break this beautiful moment, but I have to take a shower. She kissed him and pushed him away gently, then headed into the bathroom.Uh, Jody, he called after her, I got a present for you in Chinatown today.Theres an explanation for this, she thought, standing in the bathroom, looking at the turtles. There is a perfectly good understanding why there are two huge snapping turtles in my tub.Do you like them? Tommy was standing in the doorway behind her.These are for me, then? She tried to smile. She really did.Yeah, Simon helped me get them home. I didnt think I could carry them on the bus. Arent they great?Jody looked in the tub again. The turtles were trying to funk on top of each other. Their claws screeched on the porcelain when they moved.I dont know what to say, Jody said.I thought that we could feed them fish and stuff, and youd have a blood make out right here at home. Besides me, I mean.She turned and regarded Tommy. Yes, he was serious. He was really seriou s. You haventTheir names are Scott and Zelda. Zelda is missing a toe on her back foot. Thats how you tell them apart. Do you like them? You seem a little reticent.A little, she thought. You couldnt have brought me flowers or jewelry, like most guys. You had to say it with reptiles. I dont suppose theres any chance that you saved the receipt?Tommys face avalanched into disappointment. You dont like them.No, theyre fine. But, I really wanted to take a shower. Im not sure I want to be naked in front of them.Oh, Tommy said, brightening. Ill take them into the living room.He pulled a pass over off the gat and began maneuvering over the tub, trying to get a drop on Zelda. You have to be careful they can take off a finger in those jaws.I see, Jody said. But she didnt see at all. The idea of sulfurous one of the spiny creatures in the tub gave her an industrial-size case of the creeps.Tommy lunged and came up with Zelda, cloaked in swaddling clothes and snapping at his face. She hates being picked up. Zeldas claws tore at the pass over and Tommys shirt as she attempted to swim through midair. He set the turtle on her back on the bathroom floor and readied the towel to lunge into the tub for Scott. Lestat can call animals to him when hes hungry. Maybe you can engineer them.Stop it with the Lestat stuff, Tommy. Im not sucking turtles.He turned to her and slipped, falling into the tub. Scott snapped, exactly missing Tommys arm, and latched on to the sleeve of his denim shirt. Im okay. Im okay. He didnt get me.Jody pulled him from the tub. Scott was still attached to his sleeve and was determined not to let go.Turtles hate heights. They dont even like being a few feet off the ground. Its the main reason they have resisted evolution for so long fear of heights. Turtle thinking goes thus Sure, first our scales turn into feathers and the next thing you know were fleeting and chirping and perching on trees. Weve seen it happen. Thanks, but were staying right here in the mud where we belong. Youre not going to see us flying full-tilt boogie into a slue glass door.Scott was not letting go of the sleeve, not as long as Tommy was standing. Help me, Tommy said. Pry him off.Jody looked for a place on the turtle to grab reached out and pulled back several times. I dont want to patch him.The phone rang.Ill get it, Jody said, running out of the bathroom.Tommy dragged Scott to the doorway, keeping his feet safely away from Zeldas jaws. I forgot to tell youHello, Jody said into the phone. Oh, hi, Mom.