Voices – Page 45
“He did it again.” Brian slapped the paper down on the coffee table, looking grim. The headline seemed to stand off the page, bright and red and angry.
“Dr. Jackal Strikes. Third Victim Found Decapitated, Castrated,” John read out loud.
“Christ,” said Jen. She was smoking a cigarette, looking pale and tired, which was the norm for Jen in the mornings. Brian wondered if she was sick, but hadn’t yet asked her.
He’d seen the paper after leaving Susannah’s house that morning to pick up bagels, and bought a copy. After a quick breakfast, he’d left his girlfriend a note citing a work-related emergency (now that The Change was under control, Brian had taken a job at a record store), and headed for John’s apartment.
Once again, he’d woken them up, standing at the door, grinning as he heard Jen grumble “Where’s my fucking shirt?” from inside the apartment.
Eventually, John had opened the door, looked at Brian, rolled his eyes, and said “You’re early today.”
Now they were gathered in the apartment, drinking coffee (Brian had brought it from the shop on the corner) and reading the paper.
“We have to stop him,” Brian said. “Now.”
“We’re not ready,” said Jen.
“Fuck that. He’s just a guy, Jen. John could take him, let alone the three of us.”
“Maybe that’s true,” said John. “We have to find him first.”
Jen looked nervous. “You’re serious. We’ve been working together for what, six weeks? Seven? Seven weeks, and you’re going to go running out to be a superhero?”
John tapped the paper. “This guy had a family, Jen. Suppose that was your brother Tim that he caught, and cut, and castrated. Would you want to be a superhero then?
“No. I’d want to be the angel of death.”
“Jen…”
“Whatever, John. I get it. I understand the point. I’m just scared, okay?”
“It’s okay to be scared,” Brian said. “We’re all clearly fucked in the head for even thinking about doing this. But we are thinking about it, and I can’t sit here thinking while he’s killing people. Thinking won’t save the next person’s life. Doing might.”
“Or it might get us all killed.” Jen said. Her voice was bitter.
“No one’s twisting your arm,” John said. “You don’t have to go.”
Jen gave him a smoldering glance. “Fuck that, and fuck you if you really meant it. You think I’m going to let you go traipsing off to fight the bad guy while I sit here and wait to read about how he cut you up and chewed on you?”
John shrugged. “No, I don’t think that. I think you’re going to come with us and help. I just want to make sure you know what your options are.”
“I’m going.” Jen put her head in her hands.
“Jen, are you okay?” Brian asked.
“I’m fine,” Jen said without looking up.
John shot him a look, but Brian didn’t understand whatever John was trying to communicate. He shrugged at John, and held his hands out, as if to say what?
John shut his eyes, and after a second, Brian heard John’s voice, as if coming from the end of a long hallway.
She’s going through some shit right now. Best not to bring it up, the voice said in his mind.
Neat trick. New one? Brian thought.
Yes. It takes a lot of effort right now. And if I don’t stop soon, I’ll end up with a killer headache. Just let things drop with Jen for now, cool?
Cool.
John opened his eyes, nodded, and put a hand on Jen’s shoulder. She looked up at him, angry and scared, but unable to contain a small smile at his touch.
“We’ll be fine,” John said. “I’ll keep you safe.”
“Can you keep yourself safe, too?” She asked. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
“You’d better believe it. I like myself a lot.”
“That makes two of us, then,” Jen said.
“I don’t like either of you when you get all sappy like this,” Brian commented. His voice was dry, but there was a grin on his face.
Jen rolled her eyes, but laughed a bit. John smiled.
“Let’s go find Dr. Jackal,” he said.
