Human Monsters by Gregory Lamberson

Author:Gregory Lamberson [Lamberson, Gregory]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781605427331
Publisher: Medallion Media Group
Published: 2015-01-14T23:00:00+00:00

Jake fought to exit the Tower at an even keel. He knew Tower and Kira were watching him on monitors, and he could not exhibit an ounce of fear. Although he believed he had bought himself some time, he couldn’t help but wonder if some elaborate trap would manifest itself and dispatch him to a violent death.

Emerging outside, he took a deep breath of humid air. He craved a cigarette and wished he was packing a gun. Hurrying along the sidewalk, he didn’t breathe easier until he escaped the shadow of the Tower. He found himself standing in the center of a triangle formed by the Tower, the Flatiron Building, and Jackie’s building. For weeks he had sensed there was no coincidence that Lilith and Old Nick had been neighbors, and by electing to set up shop close enough to keep an eye on the Tower, Jake had brought himself within Lilith’s sphere, courtesy of Laurel.

Moving along the plywood barrier that surrounded the work zone, he took out his phone, dropped it on the ground, and stomped it until it shattered. Then he picked up the broken pieces and flung them over the fence. Backtracking, he went the long way around the block, passing beneath the Flatiron Building’s shadow. Not long ago, he had waded through water on this same strip. He passed the ramp of the garage he had swum into to reach his car, still submerged in dirty water.

“Beware the devil,” a preacher standing on an apple box said at the corner. “For he walks among us.”

Jake passed the man.

“Turn your back on evil at your peril!”

Thanks for the advice.

When Jake reached East Twenty-first Street, he made his way to Detective Bureau Manhattan. Climbing the steps, he no longer felt uncomfortable returning to his old stomping grounds. Any old wounds incurred by the circumstances of his resignation from the force had scabbed over.

Inside the squad room, he saw the same flurry of activity he had expected: detectives answering calls, clerks hurrying back and forth, all over the dull din of generators. He approached Maria’s desk, facing Bernie Reinhardt’s desk. Two years earlier, it had been his desk facing Edgar’s. Homicide had moved on without them.

“Feeling nostalgic, Helman?”

Jake turned to Mauceri, who stood with his sleeves rolled up. Air conditioners were not permitted during the blackout. Of course, the Tower had a more sophisticated backup system.

“Feeling old,” Jake said.

Mauceri recoiled at the sight of him. “Jesus, what happened to you now?”

“I tangled with some ruffians.”

“I’ll say you did. Where’s the other guy, six feet under?”

Jake smiled. And pinned under the carcass of a genetically engineered monster. “Is Maria around?”

“I sent her out on a call.” Mauceri gestured at Jake’s face. “Did this happen since Geoghegan pulled you in?”

“Teddy doesn’t mess around. Just joking.” He wanted to change the subject. “Do you mind if I leave Maria a note?”

“If that’s better than calling her.”

“My phone died.”

“Suit yourself. Did you see a doctor?”

Jake slid Maria’s notepad across the desk and plucked a pen from a pencil cup.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.