He shook his head, like he didn’t think it bit the big one at all. Yeah, well he wasn’t about to have gremlins pooping in his yard and killing neighbor’s animals if not the neighbors themselves.
I was so going to be evicted.
“You won’t even see them. They have strict orders to stay on the perimeter of the property. The only thing you have to do is feed them once a day.”
“Feed them?” I stood up. “What the hell am I supposed to feed them?”
Quillan laughed. “Dog food. Two scoops a day.”
“Okay, you do realize I’ve killed every houseplant I’ve ever owned?”
A smirk played with his lips. “Dulce, I’m sure you’ll be fine. This will be good for you.”
“I never planned on having a dog or a cat or anything else. I’m not a pet person.”
The smile didn’t vanish from his lips. “Well, now you have gremlins.”
“I’m so glad you’re enjoying this.”
Quillan crossed his arms above his chest. “It might be slightly entertaining but I’m more worried about you than anything else.” He paused. “I’m going to check on you every day after work.”
I sat down again and sighed until it felt like all the air was escaping my lungs. “You don’t have to do that. With freaking gremlins around, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Quillan touched my shoulder again. “I want to. You know I don’t want anything bad happening to you, Dulce.”
I dropped my gaze as heat rushed to my cheeks. “Yeah, yeah,” I waved away his concern with an indifferent hand. “I’m your favorite, blah blah blah.”
Quillan laughed but it didn’t make me feel any better.
“How many gremlins do I have to feed?”
“Just two.”
I nodded, feeling slightly guilty that I was still keeping the fact that Knight and I were working together from Quillan. Quillan was a good boss and my friend.
“So, am I free to go now?” I asked.
“Yes, and just so you know, the gremlins are arriving tonight.”
Holy Hades, it was like a bad horror movie. “Great, then I need to go to the store and get some Purina.” I shook my head. “Goddamit.”
Quillan chuckled. “I already took care of that for you, Dulce. I’ve got it in my truck.”
I forced myself to smile. It wasn’t his fault. He was trying to make this as easy on me as he could. “Thanks, Quill. What time are you coming over?”
“How about six thirty? I’ll bring dinner.”
“Don’t get any ideas.”
He laughed. “I’ll try not to.”
###
When six p.m. rolled around, I’d managed to email my Captain Slade queries to nearly every agency on my list. I stood up, stretched, and caught my reflection in the mirror. An oversized t-shirt and boxers weren’t the greatest thing to wear when company's expected.
I neared the door of my bedroom and eyed my jeans draped over my armchair. They’d do. I threw them on along with a black tank top and considered myself dressed. I mean, I didn’t want to give Quillan the wrong impression.
A knock sounded on the front door.
After checking the peephole, I pulled it open and found Quillan with a bag of Alpo on one shoulder and dog dishes in both hands.
I reached for the dishes, but Quillan just grinned and showed himself into my unremarkable apartment.
“Where should I put this?” he asked and lifted his shoulder as if he needed to draw attention to the enormous bag of dog food.
“How about outside?”
He frowned. “It’ll get wet outside or animals will get into it. You need to embrace the gremlins, Dulce.”
I’m sure he couldn’t help his smile. “Funny. I guess in the kitchen.”
Quillan dropped the mammoth bag of Alpo onto my linoleum floor and headed for the back door that led into the woods bordering my apartment building. I watched him open the door and drop both bowls onto the weed-ridden “yard”.
“And what do I do if any of my neighbors sees one of the ugly things and freaks out?” I asked.
Quillan slapped his hands together as if his job here was done and closed the door behind him. “They won’t. I cast an illusion, so to the unknowing eye, they look just like dogs—a Labrador and a Dalmation, to be exact.”
“I’m not allowed to have dogs here.”
“Then don’t let anyone see you feed them. They’ll stay in the woods and won’t cause you any trouble. No one will even notice they’re here.” Quillan started for the front door. “I left the food in the truck. Got Chinese.”
Of course, that immediately made me think of the massage parlor. Dammit, I still needed to pay a visit to Dagan.
“That sounds great, thanks Quill.”
I watched his large frame as he walked through the door, then I started for the kitchen. Pulling out my best silverware, I held a fork up to the light and used the hem of my shirt to wipe away the water spots.
Quillan walked back in, the smell of sweet and sour something wooing my nose. My stomach growled, and I could feel my cheeks instantly coloring. Quillan didn’t seem to notice or was polite enough not to comment. He started dishing us up, as I searched for a place for us to sit. I only had two chairs and one was currently residing at my desk. Quillan handed me a plate and motioned for me to sit at the table while he assumed my computer chair.
“So, when are the gremlins coming?” I asked.
“Not sure. The delivery guy is supposed to call me when they’re close.”
“Thanks,” I managed and watched him take a few bites. He accidentally nudged my mouse and Captain Slade’s Bounty jumped onto the screen, causing a bite of Chinese food to get lodged in my throat.
“What are you going to do with your free time?” Quillan asked as he glanced at the word document.
I shrugged, trying to swallow my panic and a lump of sweet and sour pork. I had done all my search and replaces of Quillan’s name, hadn’t I?
“Nothing really,” I answered.
Quillan nodded and turned his attention to the computer again. “What’s this?”
I jumped from my seat and raced to the computer, hoping and praying Captain Slade’s name would greet me. “It’s a book.”
Quillan took a bite of rice. “What’s it about?”
I blushed and reached the desk, scanning the page. “Um, pirates.”
He glanced at the screen again. “Cool, I like pirates. May I?”
I nodded before I could stop myself and peered over his shoulder as he read the page and clicked to the next. And there, highlighted in blue was Quillan’s name with the prompt: replace? staring at me like it was having the last laugh.
“What?” he started, sounding completely confused.
Heat like liquid lava attacked my neck and face as I tried to grab the mouse but he shifted it away and continued reading.
“I, um…I was using you as the inspiration for one of my characters,” I said, my heart pounding in my head.
“You were?” He actually sounded flattered. “Captain Quillan reached out to Clementine and grabbed her by the bodice,” he read as I cringed. “Pulling her to him, he grabbed her head and tilting it back, brought his lips to her throat as she moaned in ecstasy.”
I lurched for the mouse and closed the document. “Okay that’s enough.”
Quillan swiveled around in his chair and gave me a huge smile. “Wow.”
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself,” I said, searching for a reasonable excuse as to why my boss’ name happened to be in my sex scene. “I just wanted Captain Slade to be…a blond and um…you were the first person who came to mind.”
Okay, that didn’t totally suck.
“Oh,” Quillan said and dropped his smile.
“Yeah, it just makes it easier for me to write when I can think about the people I know.” I paused. “Trey and Sam are in it too.”
Okay, getting better.
His phone went off before he could ask m
e any more questions, and I inwardly sighed.
“Hi,” Quillan said into the receiver. “Yeah, we’re here. Ten minutes? Great.”
He hung up and faced me again, delving back into his Chinese food. I was already full.
“You’re finished?” he asked and eyed me like he didn’t trust me.
“Yeah, I don’t eat much. Want the rest?” I offered my plate. He nodded, still mid chew, and took the plate.
When he was halfway through my dinner, the sound of the doorbell interrupted us. I got up, but Quillan was quick to subdue me. “Don’t know who it is, better that I get it.”
I jumped in front of him. “Give me a break. This is my house, and Sam’s spell keeps anything bad away.”
“Sam’s spell is breakable, Dulce,” Quillan said, looking fatigued.
“I know that,” I snapped.
The doorbell dinged again. Quillan sighed. “You’re so stubborn,” he said as I pulled open the door, and we both faced a short and rotund man. Well, actually, goblin.
“Delivery for a Dulcie O’Neil,” the goblin said. “Got them in the truck.”
Quillan started after him. I decided to clean up the Chinese food. Glancing out my kitchen window, which overlooked the yard, I watched as Quillan and the goblin struggled with a large wooden crate. Finding the Chinese food less than interesting, I started for the living room window, which would offer a better view.
Luckily, it didn’t seem like any of my neighbors were home. Quillan had probably cast a spell to keep them away. Whatever worked, I guess.
Thinking I should pay more attention to my new companions, I started for the front door and, closing it behind me, followed the curse words into the back yard. Quillan had a crow bar up against the crate, and the goblin had one on the opposite side. They pulled together, and the front popped open.
Neither man moved, but something inside the crate did. It poked its head out and continued advancing, looking like some sort of pig dog. Labrador or Dalmation? Yeah, no. Its enormous head looked like a bulbous circular mound with two red eyes and tusks as long as my forearms.
Quillan neared the opening of the crate, bending down as if to make friends with the hideous thing. The gremlin approached him, and sniffed at his hand. Its skin was pasty white and completely devoid of fur. It looked an albino dog with mange. It wasn’t a small creature. Seated, it came up to my waist, and its head was easily bigger than any St. Bernard’s. But this creature had nothing endearing about him, even if you wrapped a little first aid kit around its neck.
“Dulce, come say hello,” Quillan said, before turning to face me.
Reluctantly, I started toward the crate, noticing the other gremlin cautiously making its way out of the enclosure. I stood beside Quillan, and he drew my hand forward. The strange little creature sniffed it with little interest. Apparently finding me less than appetizing, it trotted off into the woods, its friend following.
“So, which one’s the Lab, and which one’s the Dalmatian?” I asked.
Quillan smiled down at me. “Very funny, Dulce.”
An hour later, I had two gremlins who were happily scouting out the environment of the woods alongside my apartment. I was doing dishes, and Quillan was en route back to his place.
The shrill ring of the phone cut right through the calmness of the moment. I answered it and heard the unmistakable sound of panting on the other end.
“Dulce, it’s Trey. I gotta come over.”
“What?” I was less than polite but still, Trey needing to come over was definitely on the weird side. We weren’t exactly friends and we’d never been to one another’s houses, which was totally and completely fine by me.
“I had a vision, Dulce. I had a vision of the creature killing Fabian.”
My heart about dropped out of my chest.
EIGHT
Trey was shaking, but he assured me it wasn’t unusual after he had a vision. Not blessed with second sight, I had nothing to go on but his word.
“Do you want a glass of water?” I asked as I showed him into my living room.
He shook his head, sweat sailing from his forehead onto my floor. I tried not to gag and instead, motioned him toward the couch. “Have a seat.”
Trey threw himself onto the sofa, the cushions and springs groaning under his weight. His gaze rested on the TV until it looked like he was hypnotized. But, the TV wasn’t on, so it couldn’t have been that enthralling.
“I know I’m not supposed to be here—Quillan said you were off the squad for a while. But, Dulce, I thought you’d want to know anyway.”
I got the gist of it. Trey was scared but didn’t want to go to Quillan in his current unsettled state. And he probably didn’t want to stay home either, with visions of a creature tearing Fabian apart dancing in his head.
“Do you want to take the couch tonight?” I asked.
“Yeah, if I could. I’m usually not like this after a vision, but this one was pretty bad.” He glanced away, and I knew there was more. I just hoped he wouldn’t start crying—his lower lip was trembling like a three year old before a tantrum.
“I’m afraid if anyone knows I had the vision, they’ll come after me. There’s a lot of incriminating stuff in it.”
That was something I hadn’t considered. “How would they find out?”
“When I have visions, sometimes whoever is involved knows I’m having them.”
“That’s happened before?”
“Yep, if whoever I see is sensitive enough, they can pick up on it.”
“If that’s the case, you need to tell Quillan. You should be protected.”
Trey just nodded, but it was a nod that said he probably wouldn’t. That was one of the things I didn’t get about men—the whole machismo thing—that if Trey told Quillan he was scared, he’d look like a wuss.
“Why don’t you tell me about it?” I started.
Trey exhaled. “Here goes. I was eating dinner tonight, and it hit me out of nowhere. I saw Fabian in his store. It was late, and he was there by himself. Then I remember seeing him trying to get away from something. I got the impression that whatever it was, it was female. And there was someone else in the background. He was dressed all in black and had his head down so I couldn’t see his face. But he was there, watching the whole thing.”
“Okay, you think the creature is female. That’s good to know. Did you catch anything about the size of it or what it looked like?”
He shook his head. “No, nothing. I might’ve been seeing the situation through the creature’s eyes. I could see everything about…Fabian.”
Trey shivered and dropped his attention to his fidgeting hands. “I can’t be alone, Dulce. Not after seeing that.”
“You can stay here tonight. I’ve got Sam’s protection spell on the place, and Quillan dropped off two gremlins earlier this evening so I’m about as safe as can be.” I laughed, trying to lighten Trey’s mood, but he barely managed a half smile. I’d never seen him like this, and it freaked me out. Usually he was the annoying sidekick—the perpetual thorn in my side. I wasn’t prepared for a role change.
“Thanks, Dulce.”
“You know you have to tell Quillan tomorrow?” I asked. “I’m off the case, remember?”
How I was going to get this information to Knight was another question. I’d given him my phone number, but I didn’t have his. I’d have to wait until he called me or showed up in my dreams again. Hopefully I’d get the call.
“Yeah, I’ll tell him tomorrow.”
I stood up and started for the hall closet, pulling two blue blankets from the top shelf and tossed them to Trey. “I’m going to get some shuteye. It’s been a long day,” I said.
A sad smile twisted his lips. “Yeah, me too.”
“Help yourself to anything—there’s some left over Chinese and juice and beers in the fridge.”
Trey threw me a half-hearted smile. “Thanks, Dulce. This means a lot to me. I owe you one.”
“No worries,” I said a
nd started for my bedroom. “Night, Trey.”
###
I woke up to the sound of the shower running. Trey had literally made himself at home. Not that it bothered me. I sat up and sighed, pushing my feet into my dog slippers. I plodded into the living room and noticed Trey had folded the blankets neatly in a corner of the couch.
I started for the kitchen to put the coffee on. The shower stopped and moments later, Trey walked into the kitchen wearing his clothes from last night.
“What’s for breakfast?” he asked and I suddenly had the very strange image of waking up to him every morning. Egad.
“Just the leftover Chinese food. Want some coffee?”
“No, no coffee, but do you mind if I help myself to the Chinese?”
I shook my head and handed him a fork. “Go for it. Are you driving to Headquarters now?”
“Yeah,” he said as he pulled a box of Chinese from the fridge. He started in on the cold, fried rice right away, not even pausing to take a seat. The dude was serious about eating.
“Do you need to stay here tonight?” I asked, trying to sound…friendly. It wasn’t that I’m a bitch or anything. I’m just not really used to having company. Maybe I’m a little on the anti-social side. But, considering Trey’s current state, he needed a friend.
He shook his head. “No, I think I’ll be alright. I’ve got to get over it anyway—it’s not like I’m going to move in with you.”
He actually looked hopeful.
“Exactly. Will you do me a favor, and talk to Sam, she’ll put a protection spell on your place.”
“Yep, I’ll do that,” he said.
“I’ll call you tonight to see how you are.”
“What are you up to today?” he asked.
My thoughts returned to his question and my face flushed. Sam was meeting me in about an hour to go to my ear augmentation consultation. Not like I wanted to admit that to Trey anytime soon. “Oh, Sam and I are meeting for lunch.” It was sort of the truth, we were planning on getting lunch—afterwards.
Trey finished his rice, threw the container in the trash, and then faced me with a big grin. He started for the door, looking one hundred times better than he had last night. “Well, I guess I better get to work. Thanks, Dulce.”