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Jon and Seiji’s Monstrously Macabre Predicament

Page 20

by A.J. Sherwood

“It’s going to take me a few days to figure out how to properly do this, anyway, so the timing should work out.”

Donovan’s phone gave a little ditty and when he checked it, he grunted. “Borrowman’s here. Let’s get ’er done.”

Sighing, I got out. This was going to suck. It was going to be hard, and I hated every second of it, but I was also really determined to get Reggie and Charlie behind bars as quickly as I could. No one wanted their kind of twisted evil walking about.

Seiji popped out, grabbed a suitcase, but also pulled two sets of cuffs out? He handed one to Lachlan, another to Donovan. “I’ve got another set on me just in case, but those are designed to lock a psychic’s talent down.”

Donovan’s grin was all teeth. “Good. He can’t finagle his way out of these.”

“I felt it prudent to pack them.”

Seiji really was a thorough sort, wasn’t he? Also starting to understand why he had four suitcases.

We all headed for the main doors. Multiple squad cars and two ambulances pulled up at the same time. We got looks as we walked in, but we couldn’t clear the hospital of patients, so a side show we must be.

Borrowman met us at the main door. “All doors are covered,” he promised me in a quiet whisper. “And we can call in more backup if necessary.”

“Good. Let us cuff them, though, Seiji has cuffs for psychics. Donovan and Lachlan each have a pair.”

“Got it.”

I walked in with my friend at my side, people trailing in behind us. Poor Borrowman really was dragging. His eyebags had eyebags and a support system, and dreamed of sleeping for two days straight. After he processes people in the system, hopefully he’d be able to go home and do just that.

A woman in a business suit and red heels hustled our direction. She wore alarm like a crown around her head, all slate blue and bright greens. “I’m sorry, what is this about?”

“You’ve got at least two problematic employees and a lot of lawsuits heading your way,” I told her bluntly. “Detective Borrowman will fill you in.”

I blazed right past her, not interested in being bogged down, as I had people to find before they could realize they were in trouble. I had Seiji, Lachlan, Donovan and two cops right on my heels, and I’m happy to lead the charge. We knew about Charlie and Reggie, but I was here to make sure it was only them. Carrington might have only had ties to two men, but it didn’t mean they didn’t have more friends roped in.

With the hospital signs, I was able to figure out which ward housed the coma patients, and beelined straight there. I kept an eye on everyone as we passed, but most were fine. No criminals, at least. Up another level—stairs of course for me—and then into a new, wide, white hallway with a nurse’s station at the corner. A few gurneys and wheelchairs were left to one side of the hallway, as per typical with hospitals. I maneuvered around them, still looking at people.

Seiji was apparently more focused on the patients as he abruptly swore, “Shimatta,” and then ducked into a room.

Eh? Oh, he must have found a victim. I jogged backwards three steps and leaned in to see. He had paused at the foot of the bed, already pulling open his suitcase.

“Good?” I asked, vibrating with the need to move.

“Portal’s right over their damn chest,” he said with disgust. “But yes, I can save this one. I need about twenty minutes per patient.”

“Okay.”

Lachlan was already moving, positioning himself to stand in the doorway like a guard. “I got him, mate, go on with the hunt.”

“Shout if you need us.” I wasn’t going to be much help here, so I kept going. Glad my educated guess was spot on, though, and that Seiji was already saving one soul. Every person we saved was a score in the good guys’ books.

Donovan and the cops were my shadow as I kept combing the area. Nurses gave us looks askance as we moved, and I had to dodge visiting families, but they were a blur to me. Where the hell were the criminals who did this, they better be on shift right now. Oh shit, I didn’t think of that, what if they weren’t on shift? What if they did night shift? Shiiiit. I’d made an assumption I shouldn’t have. Surely Borrowman or Sho would have checked that, though, before sending us over here? Well, guess we could subpoena the staff on night shift and then go from there, but I really didn’t want to, that just gives them the chance to run—

From the corner of my eye, I saw a man come out of a patient’s room in a different hallway and just that one glimpse was enough to haul me to a screeching halt. “Donovan, get those cuffs ready.”

“Oh, found one?”

“I sure did.” I turned my head to talk to the cops. “Arnett, this guy is blacker than black, so don’t show mercy.”

Arnett was a veteran, ten years on the force and used to my insanity, so his craggy face just went grim. “So, the usual with you.”

“Heh, wish I could argue.” I shook my head and headed for the man.

The closer I got, the more I was able to piece together. A doctor, thirty year old male, and his cannibal tendencies had really kicked in about two years ago. His aura was truly foul, like a walking cloud of ash—my eyes felt stained just looking at him. He was also clearly the psychic who had created the portals.