“Yeah, Curran told me all about it. But don’t worry. I’m much more of a believer than he is.”
“You are?”
“Uh huh.”
“But I thought you science guys were all — “
“Science? Yeah, we are. But when I run up against something that defies my facts and logic, I don’t dismiss the unorthodox. Which is pretty much what I think this thing might be.”
“If it was him,” said Curran, “why’s he bothering with you? You aren’t even remotely evil.”
“No,” said Lauren. “I’m not.”
“And he supposedly only kills evil people?” asked Kwon.
“Supposedly,” said Curran. “Although Lauren says something killed two nuns last night in Brighton.”
“I didn’t see the bodies,” said Kwon. “You holding out on me?”
“No bodies to be seen,” said Curran. “We didn’t find any.”
Kwon whistled. “Freaky.”
“They were there,” said Lauren quietly.
“Relax,” said Curran. “I trust you on that, too.”
“You’re awfully trusting all of a sudden.”
Curran laughed. “Yeah, well good ol’ Dr. Kwon back there has a way of making me see the error of my mistrustful ways.”
Lauren turned and smiled at Kwon. “Thank you.”
He bowed. “Think nothing of it.” He tapped Curran on the shoulder. “Drop me at Copley. I’ll grab the Green Line to my place.”
“It’s cold out, man. You sure?”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine. I doubt that guy’s able to keep up with a car anyway, so I’m not concerned about being followed.”
“You call me tomorrow with a lab workup on that button, okay?”
“Yeah.”
Curran drew the car to a halt outside of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Rain sloshed down against the gray masonry walls. Kwon tapped them both on the shoulder. “Stay cool.”
“Stay dry,” said Curran.
Kwon hopped out and disappeared in the rush of rain. Curran slid the car back into drive and caught Beacon Street out toward Allston.
Lauren watched his windshield wipers flick away rivers of water. The yellow, red, and blue neon lights of the city looked warped and twisted viewed through the rain as they sped past Kenmore Square. She could hear the tires slosh through puddles.
“You okay?”
She looked at him. “I’m scared.”
“I would be, too.”
“What’s going on, Steve?”
“I don’t know.”
They sped up Commonwealth Avenue. The Burger King zipped past. Boston University dormitories and academic buildings flew by them as well. But even though it felt like they were speeding and leaving Marlborough Street far behind, Lauren couldn’t shake the feeling that her stalker was still with her.
That he knew how to get at her.
Any time he wanted to.
“Steve-“
“-You sure you want to go home?”
They both laughed. Curran smiled. “Sorry. It’s just that I thought you might be worried about this guy and maybe sleeping alone tonight isn’t the best ting for you.”
She eyed him. “And what would you suggest?”
Even in the darkness, she thought she could see his skin color change. So, the tough guy isn’t all that tough after all. She’d made him blush.
He stammered out an explanation. “What I meant was, that, you know, if you had a friend or something you could maybe bunk with. That might be better.”
“Uh huh.”
He risked a look at her. She almost laughed. “It’s okay, Steve. I appreciate the concern. You can drive me to my friend’s house if you don’t mind.”
“You want to call her?” He handed her his cell phone.
“Him, actually,” said Lauren. She took the cell phone. “Thanks.”
She thought she saw his color change again. She smiled and dialed the number. It rang three times before the voice picked up. “Hi, James. It’s me.” She spoke another minute all the while aware of Steve watching her out of the corner of his eye.
She hung up and handed the phone back to him. “Thanks. You can head down Waldeck Street and take a right at North Beacon.”
Curran jaw tightened. She knew what he was thinking. And she almost laughed out loud in spite of herself.
She directed him now. “A few more up on the right. There it is. Stop here.”
He pulled the car up to the curb and parked it. He sat there staring straight ahead. “Okay. Well. Good night.”
She looked at him. “Steve.”
He turned slowly. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for tonight.”
“Forget it.”
She touched his arm. “I’ll call you in the morning, all right?”
“Yeah.”
It was touching, his jealousy. She could see him trying hard to keep it all in check. She grasped the door handle. “Did you want to come up and meet my friend?”
“No.”
“All right, I’ll just tell Father Jim you weren’t feeling like it.”
He melted. “What?”
“My friend. Father Jim. This is where he lives.” She pointed through the window. “See? The house is attached to his church.” She looked back at Steve and saw he was smiling.
“Oh.”
She smiled at him. “Good night, Steve.”
Chapter Fifteen
Outside the bedroom window, Lauren could hear the rain and wind making the night their own. Trees closest to the window scratched at the glass like skeletal fingers trying to claw their way out of the ground.
She shivered once under the heavy weight of the down comforter and moved her hands south, finding warmth by her abdomen. She let them rest there, feeling the heat radiate out of her skin.
Rain spattered against the roof overhead and she wanted so badly to let the unsteady rhythm of it lull her into a deep sleep.
But sleep would not come.
In her mind, she could still see the image of the man standing in the rain.
Waiting for her.
Coming for her.
Was it the Soul Eater? Was he really after her as well? Would he kill her like he had the others?
