Omaha Stakes by Mark Everett Stone

Author:Mark Everett Stone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: vampire, monster, nebraska, secret government agency, world under
Publisher: Camel Press
Published: 2014-12-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Kal

Let’s Dance

Riiiiinngg ….

Snap! Just like that the dream ended, the last frame of the movie passing my mind’s light, and the screen went blank. I bolted upright, eyes wide and staring. Mid-afternoon light streamed through the thin inner curtains that shielded the windows and tinted the room in shades of sepia.

That dream … so vivid, so perfect. Every detail, every nuance perfectly shaded, as if I were experiencing the whole thing all over again.

Riiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggg ….

I knew who was on the other end of that phone, waiting patiently like a spider for me to answer. My hand reached out of its own accord and snagged the receiver.

“Hello?”

“I told you there was pus beneath the flesh of this city,” said the hateful, snaky voice. “It is good to see that you survived. You surpassed my expectations.”

“How did you find out about The Trade Group?” I will not throw the phone across the room; I will not throw the phone across the room. Thinking that didn’t stop the urge, but it kept me centered.

“I will tell you soon.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the TV set and I froze. It was on, the volume muted, and I clearly remembered shutting it off. Words were scrolling across the bottom: KAL, UPDATE PLEASE … KAL, UPDATE PLEASE.

I picked up the remote to answer and continued my conversation with Maydock, a study in multitasking. “You must have some serious mojo, Docky, to set everything up like this.” AM FINE, GHOST. HOW IS THE TEAM?

The response was immediate. THEY ARE FINE AND THE TRADE GROUP HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE. Good, that was a load off my mind.

“Do not call me that, Kalevi Hakala,” Maydock growled. Seems like he was big on respect and fear and I had neither for him. That seemed to cheese him off something fierce.

“Well, Maydock, I am sick and tired of your little games.” GOOD NEWS, GHOST. I THINK IT IS ABOUT TIME THE BUREAU OFFICIALLY SENDS A TEAM TO OMAHA TO MOP UP THE TRADE GROUP AFFAIR. I WILL HANDLE MAYDOCK. GIVE JEANIE MY LOVE. HAVE TO GO, KAL OUT.

“You won’t have to play games anymore, Kal.” There was a serious edge to Maydock’s voice I hadn’t heard before. The snaky whisperings sounded vicious and full of hate.

UNDERSTOOD, KAL. I WILL INFORM THE DIRECTOR. GOOD LUCK. WILL KEEP IN TOUCH.

The words disappeared as Ghost signed off. I guess he wanted to make sure I was all right. “Good to know, Maydock,” I continued. “What now? You realize that once the police report on the silver mesh inside that building and the Polynesian security guard with the strange tattoos, Otto will alert the Bureau. We have to send a team now.”

Once again that disgusting laugh crept into my ear. “Of course. I planned on that. I know you will not meet with the team because you know I am watching and will do terrible things if you disobey.”

He was right about that. I dared not buck his say on that matter.

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