Nightside 08 - The Unnatural Inquirer

you and the Afterlife Recording back to the Unnatural Inquirer’s offices,” Bettie said briskly. “You’ll have the paper’s full resources behind you. No-one will dare touch you.”
    “And once you’ve handed over the DVD, no-one will have any reason to go after you,” I said.
    “They might expect me to intercept another broadcast,” said Donavon.
    “We’ve seen your television,” I said. “Smash it. End of problem.”
    “We’ll never make it to the paper’s offices,” said Donavon. “They’ll be lining up to get at me, all along the way.”
    “John will find a way,” Alex said firmly. “It’s what he does. When he isn’t busy trashing my bar.”
    “He doesn’t have his gift any more,” said Bettie. “He’s been neutered.”
    “Actually, no,” I said. “I’ve got it back, now I’ve caught up with Donavon. Tell me, Pen, what made you think to come here, looking for me?”
    “I got a phone call,” said Donavon. “It said I’d be safe at Strangefellows. That John Taylor could protect me. I knew your name, of course. And the bar’s reputation.”
    “Who called you?” I said.
    “Don’t know. Identity withheld. I didn’t recognise the voice. But I was desperate, so…”
    Alex looked at me. “Kid Cthulhu?”
    “Maybe,” I said. “Or maybe there’s another player in this game. Someone powerful enough to shut down my gift until it didn’t matter any more. And just maybe, someone who wanted me to find Donavon, eventually…The rules of this game seem to be changing. I wonder why.”
    “I’d better track down Suzie,” said Alex.
    “She might have her phone turned off if she’s busy. You know Suzie’s only really happy when she’s working. If you can find her, tell her I need her the moment she’s free. I’ve got a feeling this case is going to get seriously ugly.”
    “Got it,” said Alex. He turned away to root through the mess at the back of the bar, searching through the debris for his phone.
    Bettie was looking at me now, her expression hard to read. I looked patiently back, waiting for her to make the first move.
    “Is that what you and Suzie have in common?” she said finally. “The thing that holds you together? That you’re both killers?”
    “It’s not that simple,” I said.
    “I’ve never understood what you see in Shotgun Suzie. She’s a monster. She lives to kill. How can you stay with someone like that?”
    “No-one else has shared what we’ve shared,” I said. “Seen the things we’ve seen, done the things we’ve had to do. There’s no-one else we could talk to, no-one else who’d understand.”
    “I want to understand,” said Bettie. She moved slowly forward, almost in spite of herself, then suddenly she was in my arms again, her face pressed against my shoulder. I held her lightly, not wanting to scare her off. She buried her face in my shoulder, so she wouldn’t have to look me in the eye. “Oh, John…You killed to protect me. I know that. I know it was necessary. But…you don’t have to be like this. So…cold. I could warm you.” She finally looked up at me. Our eyes met, and she didn’t flinch. She put her face up, and I kissed her. Because I wanted to. After a while, she stepped back, and I quickly let her go. She managed a small smile.
    “Let me take you away from all this, John. Living in an insane world is bound to make you crazy. And living with a crazy woman…”
    “She’s not crazy,” I said. “Just troubled.”
    “Of course, John.”
    “Suzie and I need each other.”
    “No you don’t! Sweetie, you really don’t. You need a normal, healthy relationship. I could make you happy, John, in all the ways that matter.”
    “How can I trust you?” I said. “You’re a lust demon’s daughter.”
    “Well,” said Bettie, “no-one’s perfect.”
    We both laughed. Sometimes…it’s the little moments, the shared moments, that matter the most.
    Alex came back, scowling as he looked from me to Bettie, and back again. “Suzie isn’t answering her phone. But I’ve put the word out. Someone will bump into her. What do we do now?”
    “I think it’s way past time we sat down and watched this bloody DVD and see what’s on it,” I said. “You’ve got a player upstairs, haven’t you, Alex?”
    “Well, yes, but like I said I’ve got my new girl-friend up there…”
    “If you think it’s going to be too much for her, send her home,” I said. “I’m not going one step further with this case