Paul Kohler - The Borrowed Souls, A Novel

I jumped to the front of the store while Maxine and Dana were at the back. I once again unlatched the puppy cages, releasing them back into the store. Then, suddenly, a customer opened the front door.

As the middle-aged woman walked in, she was nearly assaulted by an adult Doberman pinscher, launching its open jaws toward her face. She screamed in horror, bringing her arms up in defense. Dana heard the commotion and bolted toward the new catastrophe, making it to the front of the store just as the Doberman was about to land on the cowering woman. He grabbed the dog’s collar and yanked him back just in the nick of time.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am. We’re not sure what’s going on this morning. It appears all of our pet cages won’t remain shut.” Just then, he noticed the puppies scouring about the store again.

I jumped once more, finally landing on top of the sales counter to watch. Maxine was attempting to herd the cats back into their cages while also trying to keep the dogs from chasing them. Dana was at the front of the store apologizing profusely to the female customer. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was now just past one in the afternoon. I concluded that it would be difficult for Dana to make it to Luke’s apartment in time to kill them at the time I witnessed earlier. Still, I remained on the sales counter for another thirty minutes, enjoying the spectacle in front of me.

At a quarter till two, I felt confident that I had once again changed fate, and Meghan and Luke would continue on living. I smiled as Dana and Maxine captured the last few fleeing animals in the store. A moment later, I vanished.

When I arrived at Luke’s apartment, I was surprised at myself for actually being happy to see both him and Meghan alive. They were in the kitchen, about to have a late lunch.

“I have to say, Meg, if you’re going to be around here more often, constantly building up my appetite, we’re going to have to switch to low-fat food. Otherwise, I’m going to gain like twenty-five pounds before you know it,” Luke teased.

“Don’t put the blame on me, mister. You’re the one that has the grabby hands and the irresistible moves. I guess we’ll just have to increase our sexual activities to keep the weight gain at bay.”

“That would just create a vicious circle,” Luke said, brushing up against her. “But I’m not going to complain,”

“It’s nice that you two finally get out of bed,” I said, moving from the living room into the kitchen.

Meghan looked at me, let out a slight scream, and dropped the glass she was holding. Luke, who was equally startled, jumped at my voice and turned in my direction.

“Who the hell are you? And how’d you get into my apartment?”

I was at a complete loss for words. I hadn’t expected them to be able to see or hear me.

“I, uh, I’m here to… warn you that Dana knows everything,” I said slowly. “In fact, he may very well be on his way here right now.”

Meghan gasped in horror.

“You’re lying,” Luke protested. “Just because I’m the Congressman’s son doesn’t give you the right to follow me around, perpetuating lies for your own personal gain.”

“Believe what you want, buddy, but it’s the truth. I’m… the PI that he hired to follow you two around. He knows everything, and to say that he’s pissed would be an understatement.”

“Then if he hired you, why are you telling us? Isn’t that some kind of conflict of interest in some private detective code of conduct, or something?” Luke asked, clearly still skeptical.

I looked at Meghan. Fear was clearly present on her face. She obviously knew what Dana was capable of.

“If you don’t believe me, just ask your little girlfriend here and she’ll verify just how much of a lunatic Dana Sharp really is.”

Luke looked at Meghan as she started to cry. She began to hyperventilate and could only nod in agreement.

“See?” I said. “I suggest you two end this now before someone gets hurt—and I mean really hurt. Or, Meghan, you need to end it with Dana before he does something drastic.” As I talked, I tried to figure out why these two could see and hear me. If I’d made the change, their deaths would no longer be imminent, therefore they should be as oblivious to my presence as Dana was earlier. Had a change actually been made, or had I only succeeded in delaying their deaths? Only time would tell now, unless… unless I could get them to make the change for themselves.

“Suppose we believe you,” Luke said. “You seem to have more information that you’re withholding. What are you not telling us?”

I threw my hands up. “Hey, I’m just the messenger. Dana hired me to follow you two and confirm his suspicions. After I gave him this address, my contract with him was over.”

“So you do want money, then,” Luke demanded.

“Nope. None whatsoever. This is a friendly warning and nothing more.”

“If that’s true, then who’s the guy behind you? Is he your muscle? The wrench to squeeze the money from my pocket?” Luke asked.

I spun around, expecting to see Dana walking in holding the gun. But to my surprise, I saw someone that I had never expected to see in person.

Enoch Gant stood by the front door.

“I bet you’re surprised to see me,” Enoch said, tipping his bowler hat slightly.

“What? What, what are you doing here?” I asked.

“I’m here to lend you a hand, obviously,” Enoch said, coming to stand next to me in the kitchen.

“So you do know him,” Luke said.

“Actually, Mr. Holloway, Jack and I have not been formally introduced. We’re kind of coworkers in an estranged sort of way, isn’t that right, Jack?” Enoch said.

Ignoring Enoch’s question, I said, “There’s nothing left here to handle. You’re wasting your time and you should leave.”

“Oh, sure there is, Jack. You haven’t yet fulfilled your obligation to the Sentinel.”

“Is the Sentinel the name of the PI firm you two work for?” Luke asked.

“Shut up, Luke,” I snapped.

“Why so short-tempered, Jack?” Enoch asked.

“Because I know what kind of person you are and these two do not.”

“You guys are really kinda freaking me out. I’m going to have to ask you to leave,” Luke said.

“Shut up, Luke,” Enoch said.

Luke gasped then went for his cell phone sitting on the corner of the countertop. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to call the police.”

Suddenly Enoch withdrew a Colt revolver from his inside suit pocket. It was amazingly similar to the revolver that Dana had not more than an hour ago.

At the sight of the gun, Meghan shrieked and grabbed on to Luke. They both stepped away from the countertop.

“Hey, now. We don’t want any trouble. I’m just asking if you two would leave. I won’t call the police if you guys leave right now.”

“Well, would you look at that? Jack, I see why you saved these two souls. They have such… intelligence. Seems such a shame that they have to die anyway.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked. “Their event has come and passed, and—”

“And what? Why exactly are you here, then?” Enoch asked.

“I just came by to see that they were, in fact, still alive.”

At that moment Enoch raised the revolver and pointed it at Meghan. Before I could protest, he pulled the trigger, shooting her in the head.

“Well it looks like you were wrong. One is alive and one is dead. I’d say plot twist, but then you’d just ignore my humorous jabs?”

Luke held Meghan’s limp body for a few seconds longer before he reluctantly let her fall to the floor. “You sonofabitch. You killed her!” he screamed.