After Midnight Read online

  In front of me, the police offer flipped open his notepad.

  “What time did you find him?”

  “Eight o’clock,” I said automatically, then flinched as he paused, quirking an eyebrow at me. Could I have sounded any less guilty?

  I tried again. “I forgot Starbucks closes at seven, but because I told my boyfriend I wouldn’t be home until eight, I was wandering past here then.”

  “And what were you doing between seven and eight?”

  “I left the coffee shop and took a walk through Laurelhurst Park.”

  “But you reported the body to 911 at…” he flipped the paper over, “eight twenty. So, what were you doing for the twenty minutes after you discovered Mr. Harding?”

  Flipping out, that’s what.

  I thought about the frantic jog I took around the block…twice…before attempting to wave down passerby, and checking for a pulse, which was super creepy, by the way. Never again.

  “She was with me.”

  I turned around in surprise as a man strolled up the sidewalk towards us, short black hair slicked back, his hands dug deep in the pockets of his black jeans. Hmm…black-on-black…me like. Wait, what?

  “And, who are you?”

  The man’s eyes raked over me as a slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Gabriel Davenport.”

  “Miss Hensley here,” Officer Marx gestured my direction, “said she found the body at eight. So, you were with her then?”

  “Yes, I was.”

  “And, neither of you thought to call 911 the minute you saw the body?”

  Gabriel glanced at me again as I carefully averted my eyes. I wasn’t a great liar, and had an even worse poker face, besides, this was his stupid story, so he was going to be the one to finish it.

  “I didn’t see a body, just Miss Hensley having a panic attack, which I tried my best to help her through.”

  “Why weren’t the two of you together when I arrived?”

  “Because I had some things I needed to take care of,” he said, folding his arms across his chest. “It was stupid to leave Miss Hensley alone, but I knew she would be safe with you.”

  “Stay here for a minute, please,” the officer said, walking over the driver’s side of his squad car, and I stepped away from Gabriel, eyes firmly fixed on a chunk of rock like it was the most interesting thing ever. I felt him watching me, but it was almost predatory in nature, and made me fidget.

  “If either of you remembers anything else that can be of use to this investigation, contact the station directly,” the officer said, returning to hand us both business cards. I stuffed mine into my back pocket as an EMT slid by, pulling a stretcher over to the grass.

  “You know, I probably could have handled that on my own,” I said after a minute and Gabriel laughed, taking in my Keep Calm and Dance in the Rain t-shirt and frizzy, loosely-done up hair. Next to him, I looked like a hobo.

  “Sure, but it wouldn’t have been very gentlemanly of me. Besides, you did have a panic attack, that part was true. As for the rest, well, I know for a fact you didn’t kill Mr. Harding, so I refuse to feel guilty about intervening on your behalf.”

  “You know nothing about me; what if I did kill him?”

  “I know you didn’t because I was watching you.”

  His words threw up a giant red flag and I backed away from him, hands balled into fists as I tried to remember the defensive moves Max had taught me. Was it left foot in front of right, hands at the level of my eyes, or sumo wrestler stance?

  “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

  “Says the creepy stalker.”

  “So now it’s a crime to watch someone? I’ll have to remember that.”

  “It’s very convenient that you chose not to help me out before I called 911. Did you enjoy watching me run around like a chicken with its head chopped off?”

  “A: I was busy removing evidence, and b: you’re amusingly squeamish at the sight of dead bodies. I thoroughly enjoyed the part when you threw up in the trashcan.” He smiled to himself in memory as I felt the blood run ice-cold through my veins, mind trying to process what he just said.

  “Removing evidence?” I choked. “You don’t mean… Oh hell no!”

  “Interesting choice of words,” he mumbled to himself before I spun around, darting across the grass into the park. I heard him begin to give chase and willed my legs to go faster, thinking if I just made it to the other side, I would be about five blocks away from the police station, and then I could find Officer Marx, and tell him the truth.

  Whatever that meant for me.

  I felt Gabriel’s hand close around my upper arm as he jerked me against him. Together, we fell to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

  “You killed him!”

  I struggled in his arms as he covered my mouth, breath hot in my ear.

  “I’m not going to hurt you, sweetheart, but if you run again, you’ll regret it. If I remove my hand, will you scream?” I shook my head. “Good girl.”

  “Why did you do it?” I whispered. I felt a couple of fat tears work their way down my cheek as he loomed above me, eyes bright…excited…even in the dim light.

  “His time was up.”

  I made one half-hearted attempt to escape, but his legs clamped down over mine, holding me in place.

  “Why do you get to decide that?”

  “Because I’m the only one who can.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re not ready to hear it yet.”

  I searched his eyes for answers I knew I wouldn’t find.

  “That’s it, let me up.” I pushed against his chest and he smiled, capturing my hands above my head.

  “I like you where you are.”

  I pushed and pulled again, struggling to no avail. “If you’re trying to be less intimidating, you’re failing. Either let me up, or I’ll knee you in the groin and run the rest of the way to the police station, where I’m one-hundred percent sure that I’ll find Officer Marx.”

  “You’ll do that anyways, won’t you?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You killed someone.”

  “I heard you the first two times,” he said, pressing me to the grass again as I tried to sit back up. “But you don’t know the circumstances that led to it.”

  “I don’t care. Murder is murder.”

  “And, what if he deserved it?”

  He looked away for a quick second and I took the opportunity to elbow him in the face. He winced but held on tight.

  “No one deserves to die,” I said, grunting as I threw my whole weight behind the escape, but it was like shoving a boulder. Uphill. Through sand.

  He smells so good…what is that, Irish Spring?

  “Axe body spray…Apollo. Nice, right?”

  I blinked, confused. “Excuse me?”

  “You’re enthusiastically sniffing my armpit.”

  “Well, your armpit is in my face.”

  He shifted slightly, sliding down my body as he kept a careful grip on my wrists. “Better?”

  No, I liked smelling you. Amy, snap out of it right now! He’s a murdering sociopath, not a hunk of meat. “Yup, thanks.”

  “He did deserve to die, despite your opinion on the subject. And when I say that I can’t tell you why, I expect you to listen.”

  I put as much anger behind my return glare as I could. “We just met twenty minutes ago. That doesn’t give you the right to tell me what to do like a child.”

  “Under no circumstances do I regard you as a child, Amy. Far from it. But, you have trust issues, and I’d like to rectify that.”

  “Trust issues?” I retorted, glaring at him. “Why on earth should I ever trust you?”

  “Because I can help you.”

  “I don’t need your help, so let me go.” I stretched my arms out to the side and down, like I was trying to make a snow angel and his smile widened as he used the leverage to brace himself on my shoulders.

  “You experience déjà vu more than others
, your sense of smell and sight are perfect, and you can keep any plant alive, without even trying.”

  I wanted to dispute his statements – to tell him none of it was true and to get lost but the look in his eyes, like he could see straight through me, brought me up short. It was alarming that he was hitting too close to home and I had no idea how he knew any of it in the first place.

  “When it rains, your back molars twinge, and when there’s a storm coming, you feel restless and energized, like you’ve had too much caffeine.”

  I swallowed. “It might be time to lay off the ‘shrooms, Gabriel. They’re messing with your brain.”

  “I don’t take drugs,” he said, snarling the word at me, and the sarcastic smile dried on my lips. “It makes you uncomfortable that I’m right, doesn’t it? Well, buck up, buttercup, because that’s just the beginning.”

  He glared at me as I tested the bonds again, detecting a slight…give…to his hold.

  You’re going to escape this, Amy. Just wait for it.

  “Well, this has been fun, but I need to go home now.”

  His eyes narrowed, tracing the expression on my face. “Something seems different about you, almost…hopeful. Why?”

  Don’t ruin this! Calm…collected…

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m still pinned and trying very hard not to think about the fact that the person doing the pinning just killed someone in cold blood so, unless you were kidding about hurting me, I think you should let me go.”

  “So you can run to the police station, and rat me out? Not a chance.”

  “You don’t get to walk away from this because you think you’re innocent.”

  “How often does someone die, Amy?”

  I felt a little skitter of fear chase its way up and down my spine. “I have absolutely no idea.”

  “Every five seconds. And this time, it was his turn to go. All I did was show up at the right time and place. He did the rest.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “It does to me.”

  With that, I broke free, scrambling to my feet. He lunged towards me, narrowly missing my ankle as I sprinted back the way we’d come, arms pumping at my sides. I could see the edge of the park in the distance, cars moving up and down the street sluggishly, and I leaned into it, breath coming in short little gasps.

  “I’m not going to hurt you!”

  Ah, shit…he’s close…move! “Leave me alone!”

  I was a little scared now, but it mingled and blended with a strange desire to run back towards him, and that scared me more than the chase itself. It wasn’t bad enough that I found a body – now I was running from the murderer, too.

  Why didn’t I let Max buy me pepper spray? Stupid, Amy…stupid…

  “You need my help.”

  “There’s. Nothing. I. Need. From. You!” I skirted a trashcan, clutching my side as a god-awful stitch threatened to bring me down. I darted into traffic as he reached the line of street lamps, brushing a few stray strands of hair into place. Safely across the street, I turned, watching him as he watched me, tensed, waiting for him to make a move. But he just smiled.

  “I’ll give this round to you, but I’ll still win the game, Amy. Kalinihta.”

  Goodnight.

  Wait…why do I know that?

  “Don’t hold your breath!” I called after him, but he just waved, blending into the night.

  An older couple walking their dog paused, eyes curious, as I balled my hands into fists at my side, stomping all the way home.

  Chapter Two

  The Underworld, 2017

  “This is taking forever.” Hades clutched his wine glass in a stranglehold, watching as servants milled around the table.

  “It’s been two years, brother. Keep trying; something is bound to get through to her,” Hermes said, stabbing his pocket knife into the arm of his chair again and again, chunks of wood raining down around his feet. “Besides, you’ve sent Emma to Portland to play nice with your wayward consort, so let her work her magic.” He gestured to the place setting across from him. “Are we expecting company?”

  “My staff thinks it’s hilarious to continue serving Persephone as if she were really here – as if she’s going to walk through that goddamned door any second.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Understatement of the year.”

  “She hasn’t died, Hades; she just…forgot who you are, lives with another man, and thinks that you’re a ‘murdering sociopath’…whatever that means…oh.” He stopped when he saw smoke drifting from Hades’ nostril, eyes spitting bits of fire and ice. “You didn’t know, did you?”

  “That my wife has a lover? No, I didn’t. Who is he?”

  “Maybe now is not the best time to -”

  Hades leapt from his chair, flinging Hermes half-way across the room, where he crashed to the polished marble floor, scampering backwards against the wall.

  “Please, be reasonable about this; you had to know it was a possibility. After all, you want her to be happy, don’t you?” He pawed at the hands wrapped around his throat, seeing black dots swim at the edges of his vision.

  “Her happiness is the only thing I’ve cared about in my entire existence, and now, thanks to another man, we’re separated. So, if you have any mercy left in your soul, you’ll tell me.”

  “His name is Max. He’s a vet tech, and they’ve been together for eight months. Now would you please let me go?” He coughed and sputtered as he fell to all fours, undoing the top button of his shirt, feeling the blood rush back to his extremities. “Was that really necessary? I would’ve told you without all the drama.”

  “I can’t lose her twice, Hermes. That would be the end of me.”

  “Then do something about it,” he said, as Hades threw him a wild, uncontrollable look. “You’ve watched her from the shadows, chasing away every mortal suitor that dared to breathe the same air she did, until now, but she’ll never be your queen again if you don’t act. By the way, not that it matters, but you should know she dreams about the dock.”

  Hades felt tears spring to his eyes, smiling wistfully in memory. “She does? How do you know this?”

  “You’re not the only family member who cares enough about her to check in from time to time, and dreams are sort of my specialty.”

  “That was the day I truly fell in love with her; when she told every soul in sight to ‘shut up so I can sort you properly’. She tried so hard to fit into my world, despite her initial objections…”

  “And she will again. Stop feeling so goddamned sorry for yourself and grow a pair.”

  Hades skewered him with a look so full of fire, it should have roasted him on the spot. “Brother or not, you go too far.”

  “You can’t kill me, even if you wanted to. Who would ferry the souls for you, if not me?”

  “I’d find someone else equal to the task.”

  “No, you wouldn’t. What are you going to do about the boy?”

  She would never forgive me if I killed him, and yet, he’s an unwanted distraction… “Let me deal with him.” He stood, depositing his napkin on the table. “I’m late.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I have an unexpected coffee date to crash. Don’t wait up for me.”

  Portland, Oregon

  “You’ve been avoiding me,” Sarah said, spinning her coffee lid around on the table as I leaned back in my chair, loving the way sunlight spilled over my face and neck.

  “That’s not true – I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately…things to do…”

  “For the past two months? I call bullshit on your whole excuse.”

  I sighed as the barista brought my coffee out, and I wrapped my hands around the bright red mug, admiring the heart-shaped foam across the top, as Sarah pat a couple of hairs into place. “Pretty crazy about the body, huh? Were you scared?”

  “You’ve made me watch enough zombie films…at night…right before I go home…that it would be silly of m
e not to be.”

  “Do the police know who killed him?”

  No, but I do… “I don’t think they have any leads yet, but I hope they catch him soon.” There, that answer should placate her. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same images replayed on a loop; Mr. Harding’s body, the police officer, Gabriel…I didn’t want to have to think about him ever again, but my subconscious, it seemed, had other ideas.

  “Hello, earth to Amy!” She waved her hands in front of my face, and I blinked in surprise.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah. What were you saying?”

  “I was trying to point out the absolutely gorgeous man sitting behind you, but you went…elsewhere.”

  I rolled my eyes, being careful not to spill on my scarf as I took a sip of coffee, thankful that she agreed to meet with me so short-notice. I really needed a friend, and as shallow as she was most of the time, her company was…soothing. “I’m not surprised you’re man-hunting; what are you on now…boyfriend number five, in less than six months?” Her bright green eyes pierced my own with faux horror, and I smiled. “You’re really going to deny it?”

  “I meet a lot of guys in my line of work as -”

  “A marketing advisor for Calvin Klein? Yeah, I know…you’ve told me that about a hundred times already, Sarah, but I don’t think your job description included sleeping with all the models!”

  “You’re just jealous.”

  “Being in a committed relationship is a good thing, Sarah Marie. You should try it sometime.”

  “Max keeps you on such a short leash, it’s a wonder he let you meet me here at all.” I kicked her under the table, making sure to get her shin for good measure. “Seriously, though, this guy is checking us out. Well, okay, it might just be you.”

  I swiveled around inconspicuously, careful not to meet anyone’s gaze directly. “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but anyways, he’s probably looking at you, silly. If he’s behind me, he can’t see my face, right? And my curls are doing their own crazy thing today.”

  “Okay, but if you’re not going to chase him, can I? It would be a shame to let that…morsel…go to waste.”