The eidolon guided Lance to the gym, where the girl attended a volleyball practice. Lance could feel the eidolon prepare to go active. "Stop it. We'll get in more trouble." Despite his words, Lance found himself bathed in the eidolon's light.
Rachel shoved him out the door and said, "What are you doing?" She couldn't hide the exasperation. She leaned against the wall.
"The eidolon is doing what it wants."
"Ask it if the girl is in danger."
A green checkmark appeared in Lance's mind, "She's in danger," he smiled, "Is it from the creature we fought last night?" Another checkmark. "She's a target for the bone man."
"I've been meaning to ask you about that. Did anything about the intruder stand out?" Rachel peeked into the gym, "She's still there."
Lance thought back to the night before. What stood out most? The hat and clothes, as did the sack of bones. "He acted like a child. He kept saying stuff like no fair, and I got here first."
"So are you saying he's underdeveloped?"
"I don't think he's human. The eidolon picks up on it."
Rachel bowed her chin to her chest in thought. "I see. So what do we know about our boneman?" She held up her hand with five fingers and lowered them one at a time with each fact. "His victims are alcoholics. He attacks at night and counts bones by his victim's bedside."
"He whistles. You mentioned people heard whistling in the area," Lance offered.
Rachel's phone dinged, "Your mom managed to get your father on the line. She wants to speak with me privately. Can I trust you to get information out of the girl?"
"I can try," Lance said. "I'm not exactly Mr. Smooth."
Rachel smiled and tousled his hair, "Be yourself, and you'll be fine."
***
Twenty minutes later, the girl emerged with her friends. She saw Lance and smiled, "I'll talk to you guys in a bit."
Lance took deep breaths and tried to keep his breathing under control. The eidolon rattled the mind cage, "Do you want to save the girl or not?" he muttered under his breath.
Her willowy form stopped a fair distance away. "I'd come closer, but after English..."
"It's okay. I don't want to be near me right now." Lance paused and extended a hand. "Lance Ryder."
"Preshea Dhawan." Her soft hand felt delicate in his rough grip. "How much trouble are you in?" Preshea's brown eyes held him in thrall.
"Luckily, my mom's girlfriend is a Detective. She helped smooth things over. I'm surprised you aren't afraid of me." It took him a moment to realize he still held her hand. He let go and rubbed the back of his neck, "Sorry about that."
Preshea giggled, "It's fine," she said. "I'd be afraid if you intended to hurt people. It seemed like you were grasping for control. You've never gone out of your way to hurt anyone."
Lance opened and closed his hands rapidly before he wiped the sweat on the rough fabric of his pants. "Have you seen a pale man counting bones next a loved ones bed?"
Preshea looked around, "You know about that? How did you find out?"
"It happened to me last night." Warren pointed to the foyer, "I should check in with my mom. Since the whole eidolon thing, she's been out of her mind with worry."
Preshea brushed a curly lock from her eyes. She had a quiet dignity about her. Her smile caused others to smile with her. "Can I walk with you?"
The eidolon flashed a thumbs up. "My spiritual friend likes the idea. I think your his type."
"You mean that thing isn't a part of you?"
"Yes and no," Lance said. He told Preshea about the accident. Her eyes widened at the tale. "...anyway, that's how this whole thing came about.
"I think the bone counter is after my brother. My uncle died recently. My brother cried for days. He came home drunk shortly after the funeral. Then he started drinking during the day. I don't recognize him anymore."
"I'll do my best to protect him," Lance said. He kept his words confident and tried to lower his voice to sound older. "If you give me your address, I'll check on you later."
Preshea stopped and played with her fingers. She kept her eyes pointed to the ground and said, "You hardly know me."
"I have an ax to grind with the bastard anyway. He came after my mother. There's no love lost between the bone collector and me." The eidolon urged him to ask another question. Lance raked over what he knew, "If the bone counter came to visit one night. What stopped him?"
"I heard the neighbor's dog barking," Preshea said. "The pale giant grew worried and bolted through the nearest door. Do you think there's something to that?" As she moved closer, a soft flowery scent wreaked havoc with his senses. He couldn't get enough of her smile.
"I have no idea, but it might be worth looking into."
***
Abigail embraced Lance in front of Preshea. "Your father's selfishness did this to you." thick tears ran down her face. "I can't believe he never told me." Her eyes saw Preshea. She shoved Lance out of the way, "Abigail Ryder, I am Lances mother."
Rachel facepalmed and sighed, "I can't take her anywhere."
Preshea hid a smile behind her hand and said, "Pleased to meet you. Your son is very kind. If you'll excuse me, I should get home, or my parents will worry."
She wrote something on a post-it and handed it to Lance. Her smooth. Perhaps we could see a movie or something?" She sashayed into the distance.
"Since when do you bring girls to meet me? Not that I mind. She was quite lovely, wasn't she..." She trailed at Lance's grumpy expression.
"Preshea's family received a visit from the bone counter. Her brother is an alcoholic. She said he freaked out when he heard the dog."
Rachel drew a notebook from her shirt pocket, "I'll check to see if any of the previous victims lived near dogs.
Abigail took a deep breath, "You'll never believe what your father told me."