Tommy had been sent to watch the girl on five thirty-one Everglades Drive. He wasn't to engage her, just watch. He sat in the blackness of the house across the street; a high powered camera scope sat virtually invisible in the hanging folds of the black curtains. Three weeks passed with out a single thing to report. The girl never left the house, never opened the shades that faced him, never had any visitors. To a lesser scout, it may appear to be an empty house, but Tommy knew she was there. He was simply waiting... and watching.
December nineteenth welcomed a police cruiser to the house. Through the scope he could watch the girl leave the house with her uniformed escort. He slipped his phone open, punched a familiar number and waited for the caller to pick up. "Let me know when she leaves." He shoved the phone back in his pocket once he heard the recipient's agreement.
He spent the time rifling through news stories just to busy himself while she was out. He was not to leave his post for any reason until instructed to do so. According to Nickolas, his employer and friend, it was a matter of life and death. Whose, he didn't know, but he owed Nickolas more than his life so he would do what ever he asked of him.
Just over hour later, his phone vibrated. He lifted the receiver to ear to get the message he'd been waiting for. "Thanks." He replied and replaced it to his pocket. He sat on the stool in front of the scope and watched for the return of his subject. He heard the roar of the truck before he saw it. He watched through the scope as the big black Dodge decked out in chrome pulled into the circle drive. He didn't get out, but the girl paused to talk to him. He zoomed in on her expression. Their was a hint of sadness behind her otherwise cold, black sunglasses as she appeared to stare longingly at her escort.
Tommy shifted his focus then to the driver of the big truck. A fair skinned man with sloppy brown hair. He watched him watch her enter the house. As the man pulled through the drive, his face came into view. Tommy recognized him. He didn't need the photos Nickolas had sent to know who the boy was. But he grabbed them for comparison anyway. The guy hadn't changed much since he'd seen him last. A little taller, maybe; messier hair, no glasses, but definitely the same man he'd rescued from that fire seven years earlier.
The same man returned for her in the wee hours of the morning only to bring her back less than an hour later. Tommy watched as he sat in the driveway, with his head on the steering wheel for several minutes after she entered the house. Then the man yanked his truck into gear and sped off into the night without further hesitation.
The house was silent for two days after that. No one came, no one left. The third day, the big black Dodge returned for her at ten-fifteen and although his contact had called him an hour later, the two did not return until six-thirty. This time the man did not simply drop her off, he followed her into the house and did not immerge until late morning. It was time to make the call.
He dialed Nickolas. "They were together, sir"
"Are you sure it was him?"
"Positive. No mistake. He spent the enire night with her. He just left."
"Then you'll approach her now."
"Don't we need them together?"
"Just talk to her first. Convince her to come to me. If the boy remembers anything, he'll follow her."
"Yes, sir." He jammed the phone into his pocket and grabbed his jacket. Best get it over with.
*
He walked briskly across the street in just a few strides. No doorbell, he'd have to knock. The first wrap went ignored. The second brought his subject to the door extremely irritated with wet eyes. She'd been crying. The door flew open but the sight of him left her momentarily speechless. She knew him, that was good. "Hello, Twila. er, I mean, Rose. May I come in?"
She nodded and backed out of the way, closing the door behind him. "I can't say that I'm happy to see you. The last time you popped into my life, I lost my husband."
"I suppose, I can understand that. I never wanted to take him from you, but given the alternative..."
"Yes, I suppose it was necessary." She sighed. "I'm sorry, I don't remember your name." She turned towards the kitchen.
He followed without being asked. "You wouldn't. I didn't have a chance to give it the last time we met." He smiled to ease the tension a bit. "Name's Tommy. Tommy Serine. I was a fr..."
"A friend of my mother's. I know. She seemed to trust you well enough. Do you drink tea, Mr. Serine?" A hot cup of water was placed before him as well as a basket of flavored teas.
"Yes, thank you." He chose a lemon herb tea and sat on the available bar stool.
"I must say, it's about time you got the nerve to come visit. It must have been terribly boring to just sit and watch my every move these past few weeks." He coughed. She smiled. "Hungry?"
"No, thanks. I'm good." He would have never guessed she was aware of his surveillance. He was careful not to be seen or heard.
"Yes, I'm sure you are." she quipped. "So, why now? What makes this day so special that I am so graced by your presence?" She propped her elbows on the bar to emphasize her distain with fake enthusiasm.
"Um," he gargled through his tea, "Well, to be precise; it's Adrian."
"What about him?"
"Well, it's no secret that he wants you dead."
"Old news,Tommy. Tell me something I don't know."
"He knows where you are."
"No surprise there."
"I was sent to help you. Or at least take to the one who can help."
"And by that you mean Nickolas, of course." she smiled at his slack jaw response. "Tell me something. Is he still hanging with Jason or is he more of a loner now?"
"How do you kn..."
"Know about your dear friend Nickolas and his little pet, Jason? Please. Do I look like an idiot? Who do you think told Adrian about me in the first place?"
"That can't be true." Tommy stuttered through his disbelief.
"And who was it that told Adrian where to find Mother and I each and every time he did? And my wedding? Who do you suppose tipped him off to that? Mother trusted him to keep us safe, yet every time she would tell him where we were; Adrian would show up in a matter of hours. So, no thank you. I've no need for his kind of help."
Tommy was genuinely concerned for her. He held no knowledge of what she had just disclosed and admittedly he was perplexed as to how to move forward. "I..." was all he could squeak out.
"Look Tommy. I already know that Adrian knows where I am. I already know he intends to kill me by whatever means necessary and for whatever crazy reason he has. I know you've been watching me for several weeks which is probably how Adrian found me in the first place. No doubt Nickolas has told him everything. And I also know that the only reason you contacted me today is because you recognized the man visiting me as my husband, Kaden. But let me assure you that he remembers nothing. You did your job well. And I sure as heck have no intention to help him remember anything."
"But he needs to remember. Nickolas said he must."
"Nickolas, smickolas. You tell your boss that I'm not interested in his kind of safety any more than I look forward to dealing Adrian yet again. I'm sure you, personally, mean me no harm, but I really have no plans to meet with Nickolas, Jason or any other mythical creature from beyond normality. I don't do demons or vampires. They can't be trusted." She led him to the door to show him out.
"I will relay your message." He walked out discouraged and confused. She had certainly given him a lot to think about. "I'm sorry, Rose. I had no idea."
"Uh huh. I'm sure you didn't. Oh and please do give Melanie at the precinct my best will ya?" She shut the door before he could say another word.