Specter of Death- Part 25

            "Doctor Tynesdale?” Kim shouted. “Can you hear me?”

Without waiting for a reply, Angela grabbed her bottle of water and doused the unconscious man’s face. Sputtering, Phillip Tynesdale blinked twice then massaged his forehead before speaking.

            “My apologies, ladies,” he muttered. “I don’t know what came over me. A sudden dizzy spell. If you would be so kind as to hand me my bag … I should check my blood sugar levels.”

Gillian retrieved the doctor’s bag and helped him dig through the papers and files to retrieve his glucometer kit. She inserted the test strip into the machine and, because Dr. Tynesdale’s hands were trembling so severely, she pressed the lancet into his finger. Taking over, Dr. Tynesdale pressed on the tiny puncture to produce a drop of blood and applied it to the test strip.

            “No wonder,” Kim gasped. “Sixty-three is way too low! How long has it been since you last had a meal?”

Embarrassed, he pulled a small snack from his bag and ate it.

            “That should hold me until I can get some lunch. In fact, I think we all need a lunch break. If one of you lovely ladies will drive, lunch is on me.”

They piled into Kim’s car and she took them to one of her favorite lunch spots.

****

On the other side of town, Bill and Detective Sanchez were pulling into the Inner Sanctum’s parking lot.

            “I’m surprised they’d pick a spot in this part of town,” Sanchez muttered. “Guess they couldn’t find a building on the nicer side.”

            “No, I’d bet this was a deliberate choice. One, they’re less likely to have anyone prying.” Bill replied. “Two, they have plenty of access to people who are down on their luck. Isn’t that what most cults do? Prey on the easiest targets?”

            “Hmm, good point.” She said, smiling. “Well, we should probably get in there. Remember, in there, I’m just Gabriella not Detective Sanchez, okay?”

She slid out of the car at the same time as her passenger. Bill waited until they fell in step next to each other.

            “Sure thing, Gabby.”

Bill grinned at the detective’s scowl. She threw a playful punch at his shoulder then shocked him by snuggling up against his body.

            “It’ll look less conspicuous if we pretend to be a couple,” Gabriella whispered in Bill’s ear.

            “Anything you say, sweetie.” He chuckled.

Hand in hand, they crossed the threshold into the Inner Sanctum. 

**** I will be spending next week with my family to celebrate Thanksgiving. Since it is highly probable that my nephews and niece will be keeping me busy, I plan to post the next installment of Specter of Death on Tuesday, December 1st. (assuming the zombies don't rise up) Happy Thanksgiving!! 

Specter of Death- Part 24

Blushing, Bill smoothed his hand over his buzzed scalp and offered the new detective a sly grin.

            “You don’t know me but I’d never try to manipulate an officer of the law … unless, of course, it worked. In that case, you’ve got me.”

            “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you? Well, ordinarily, I’d say no to a civilian tagging along but those Seekers aren’t right in the head. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind having someone watching my back.” Detective Sanchez replied. “But if I tell you to leave … you’d better be out the door A-friggin’-sap. Got that?”

            “Yes, ma’am!” He said, trying to hold back a chuckle. “As you wish.”

Together, Detective Sanchez and Bill exited the morgue, leaving the others to their work. Dr. Tynesdale picked up where he left off in the deciphering of Seth’s symbols.

            “Now, those two symbols have opposite meanings which is why it is so vital to get input from the zealots who created them. On one hand, it could mean the key has unlocked the beyond. But, if it is the other, it means the key locked the gateway.”

Gillian’s weight shifted from side to side as she fidgeted with her rings. The weight of a hand that wasn’t there rested on her shoulder. The same gesture would have provided comfort if offered by Kim or Angela but the shadow figure’s presence only brought fear.

     She tried to focus on Dr. Tynesdale instead, and his tedious rambling. The doctor had moved on to another theory as he fumbled through his notes and files. Gillian’s mind wandered until Dr. Tynesdale cried out and let loose a torrent of profanities that would make a trucker blush. His files and a mountain of papers burst from his hands and fluttered to the floor.

            “Doctor? Are you okay?” Kim asked.

            “Pardon my language,” he responded, his voice wavering. He slowly lifted his hand and pointed to Gillian. “I, um, don’t mean to alarm you, dear, but are you aware that there is a, uh … spirit of sorts behind you?”

Kim and Angela whipped around to look at their friend but they saw nothing. Mutual expressions of confusion passed between the friends They glanced back at the professor and his previously rosy face had paled to the color of skim milk.

            “I’ve studied this for years but never before have I actually seen a shadow person with my own eyes. Truth be told, I always assumed those who claimed to have seen one were a little off in the head. Please, tell me you ladies see it too!” Dr. Tynesdale said, his eyes never leaving Gillian’s face.

Kim and Angela exchanged worried glances and shook their heads no. One raced to get the professor a glass of water while the other felt his head for signs of a fever. They fussed over him for a moment before Gillian broke the silence.

            “Don’t worry, Doctor Tynesdale, I see it too. It’s been following me ever since the Ouija Board séance.”

            “Extraordinary,” he murmured just before fainting.