“You are welcome, Danny.”
It surprised him, hearing Gustav refer to him by name. Usually, the old man referred to him as “boy”. Danny felt a surge of warmth for his mentor. Over the last few weeks, he’d come to think of him as a friend. He’d spent more and more time with Gustav and less with Chuck, Matt, Ronnie and Jeremy. He suddenly felt guilty about that, and wondered what his friends were doing now.
789
Bedrik stepped out of the shower. Steam rose from his body and fogged the mirror. Candles burned on the sink, their soothing fragrance filling the bathroom. He closed his eyes and sighed. He was calm, relaxed. Ready to meditate. He planned on seeking out whoever had discovered his brother’s body. It had to be someone with abilities like his. Not Gustav. He’d taken great care to mask his true nature from the old magus. Obviously, the Russian wasn’t aware of Bedrik’s plan. If he was, he’d have made a move by now. He hadn’t and that was a relief. It meant that Bedrik didn’t have to worry about attracting the attention of the Kwan. But if it wasn’t Gustav who’d discovered Martin, then that meant there was a third magus in Brackard’s Point. Danny? Impossible. The boy had latent talent. Anyone could see that. But reading Crowley after school did not make one an adept. However, Danny knew Gustav, and he’d obviously lied about their relationship earlier. Bedrik was sure of it. Could the old man be tutoring the boy? Was Danny his apprentice?
Bedrik’s eyes suddenly snapped open. He was instantly alert.
Someone was outside.
Someone had penetrated the circle around his home—a barrier invisible to the human eye. There was no sound. No flashing lights or blaring alarm; nothing to alert the trespasser that their presence had been detected. But Bedrik knew. He felt it immediately.
Moving quickly to the bedroom, Bedrik took off his towel and put on black running shorts and a t-shirt. Then he slid on his running shoes. As he dressed, he listened for intruders, but the house was silent. Bedrik slipped out the back door and moved through the yard. He peeked around the side of the house.
Matt Adams was crouched over the open hood of Bedrik’s car. He recognized the boy right away. Matt was one of Danny’s friends. He hadn’t grown up here with Danny, the way Jeremy, Chuck, and Ronnie had—but he’d been friends with them since moving to Brackard’s Point.
He’d been meditating, seeking an answer to the question of Danny. Now, here was one of Danny’s friends. The synchronicity was not lost on him.
Bedrik’s smile was cold.
Matt glanced towards the house and then the street, making sure he wasn’t observed. Then he turned his attention back to the engine. His hands were grimy.
Bedrik silently crept up behind him.
“Can I help you, Matthew?”
Shrieking, Matt jumped, smashing his head on the underside of the hood. Bedrik grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him away from the car. Matt was big for an eleven-year-old boy, but no match for the older man. He tried to break Bedrik’s grip, but the teacher squeezed harder. Matt’s other hand held a pair of wire cutters.
“Let go of me. I didn’t do nothing!”
“We’ll let the police decide that, Matthew.” Bedrik glanced at the engine. The wires had been cut. “I’ll bet your father will be very happy to learn how you’re spending your spare time. Imagine his reaction when you’re expelled from school.”
“No!” Matt lashed out, driving the wire cutters into Bedrik’s side. The point punched through his skin. Bedrik tossed him to the ground and felt his ribs. His fingers came away wet and red.
“You little shit.”
Moaning, Matt struggled to rise. Bedrik kicked him in the crotch. The boy collapsed, choking.
“Forget the police. Forget your father. You drew blood. I’ll deal with you myself.”
“Please,” Matt sobbed. “I didn’t mean to do it. I was just pissed off.”
“Who else knows you’re here?” Bedrik demanded. “Chuck? Ronnie and Jeremy?”
Danny?
Bedrik’s anger faded. An idea occurred to him. It was perfect.
“Nobody,” Matt moaned. “I swear. I didn’t tell no one. Chuck’s at home fucking around with his bass Ronnie and Jeremy went up to Hook Mountain to get stoned. I don’t know where Danny is. We haven’t seen him much lately.”
“You miss your friend, do you?”
Matt looked up at him and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “Who…Danny?”
“Yes. You’re resentful of the time he no longer spends with you?”
“Well, yeah…sort of.”
“Then I’ll make sure you see more of him. Stand up.”
“Are you gonna kick me again?”
“No, I’m not going to kick you. I’m going to help you. Come inside.”
Matt paused. “No way.”
“Come inside or I’ll call the police immediately and you can deal with your father’s retribution when you get home.”
Lowering his head, Matt followed the teacher inside the house. He limped, walking slowly and cradling his swollen testicles through his jeans. Bedrik closed the door behind them.
Then the screaming started. It continued for a very long time.
789
Later, Bedrik returned to Gethsemane Cemetery and stood in front of a headstone. Sam Oberman stood guard nearby, his body occupied by another. A ball of fireflies hovered over the grave. The name on the stone was Timothy Wells. His spirit was enraged, his mind like a hornet’s nest, seething with images. A crowbar. Blood. Teeth. Violation. A used condom. A child’s Halloween mask. Bedrik didn’t know what it all meant, and didn’t care. If he’d had more time, he’d have searched Wells’ memories in detail. But he didn’t. Timothy Wells longed for release. For revenge. That was enough.
“Come forth,” Bedrik commanded.
Timothy Wells’ shade slithered from the soil and knelt in front of its master.
Bedrik returned home and the shade followed. They went inside.
The screaming continued.
789
Then it stopped.
SEVEN
Haven’t seen much of you lately, man,” Chuck said to Danny as they walked to school together. “What, you too good to hang out with us anymore?”
“Sorry,” Danny apologized. He felt guilty for blowing off his friends from the Hill. But he couldn’t explain it to them either. Ronnie and Jeremy would laugh. Chuck and Matt would think he’d gone crazy. “I’ve just been busy with stuff.”
“Like what?”
Danny shrugged. “Just school. Studying. Shit like that.”
“Studying?” Chuck frowned. “Since when?”
“I don’t want to be stuck in this town forever. I can’t play an instrument like you. I suck at sports. And my Mom sure ain’t gonna put me through college. So I’ve got to start doing better in school.”
“Who are you and what did you do with Danny?”
Snickering, Danny punched him in the arm. Chuck hit him back. Then the two boys laughed. It felt good.
“Man,” Chuck said. “You studying…and I thought Matt was the only one acting weird.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you hung out with us more lately, you’d know. Two nights ago, he went over to Mr. Bedrik’s house. He was gonna cut the wires on his car, the way Jeremy showed us.”
Danny’s stomach fluttered. “Did he get caught?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
“We don’t know what happened. He showed up for school yesterday and he was all buddy-buddy with Bedrik. Ronnie gave him shit about it at lunch, and Matt said it was all just a misunderstanding. Said Bedrik was an okay guy and he forgave him for the whole detention thing.”
“A misunderstanding? Matt’s old man beat the shit out of him for that. I can’t believe he let it drop.”