Scott Sigler - Nocturnal - A Novel

Hillary had led him from the white dungeon, taking a different path than she’d used before. This time, instead of coming out on the ledge, he found himself sliding through a narrow, hidden passage and into the arena maze. Aggie hadn’t known what to expect. He certainly hadn’t expected the place to be empty, nor would he have dreamed that a place of monsters and death and terror could be even more disturbing when it was empty and mostly dark.

A tug on his arm. Hillary gestured all around, showing off like a proud homeowner. “Tonight, everyone will be here to watch the king join with Mommy and give our kind a future. That is when I will take you out. Until then, I have a place for you to wait. Come.”

She turned left. Aggie found himself at the cavern’s wall — a dead end. Hillary slid past a tall boulder and into a hidden space. She vanished from sight.

Aggie gently adjusted his grip on the knit bag, then followed.

A Blast from Amy’s Past

It was like walking into a time warp.

Amy hadn’t seen this man in decades. He had the same eyes, the same mouth and the same face, although wrinkles had blurred and softened his features. But all the time in the world couldn’t fade the memory of their last meeting.

“Alder Jessup,” she said.

He smiled and nodded. “Amy Zou. It’s been a long time.”

She looked at the man just behind Alder. Again that time-warp sensation. The man looked like the Alder she remembered from so long ago, if that Alder had been a metal-hipster douchebag.

“Hey, cop,” the younger man said. “Gestapo stare-downs might work on the trust-fund kiddies, but I’m past that level.”

Alder closed his eyes and sighed. “Chief Amy Zou, this is my grandson, Adam. Adam was just going to get himself a cup of coffee.”

Adam smiled and nodded. “Nice meeting you, Chief. If I stumble upon a rampaging herd of wild donuts, I’ll break out the speargun and bring you breakfast.”

The angry young man walked off, his chains and jewelry rattling with each step.

“My apologies,” Alder said. “All I can say is that his talent is well worth the trouble.”

“Mister Jessup, why are you here?”

“I came to watch over Jebediah. I assume you’re here to do the same. If you are, perhaps you should come out to my automobile. Adam has brought several items that could be of use to you should Marie’s Children attack.”

Those words nearly made Amy flinch. She looked up and down the hall. No one was paying attention.

She leaned in. “Alder, we have this covered. I have people on duty to protect him. I just came from Erickson’s room. He’s not awake yet, but he’s getting better.”

Alder sighed in that way old men can sigh and make you feel like a child no matter what age you are. “All this time, my dear, and you still don’t truly understand.”

She thought back to the nightmares she’d seen in Erickson’s basement. Alder was right — she hadn’t truly understood what was out there, how many were out there.

He patted her on the shoulder. “I am not just here to protect Jebediah,” he said. “I would like to have a word with you about a police officer of yours. I think we need to discuss one Bryan Clauser.”

Zou Talks to Bryan

Bryan stood on the sidewalk of Potrero Avenue, watching Pookie stare at the Buick’s driver’s-side window. Streetlight gleamed against the cracks in the glass, lit up the tentacle-like sprawl of beer tendrils that had dried in place.

“Awesome,” Pookie said. “You know, sometimes when people borrow my car, they get it washed and leave me with a full tank of gas. But this? This is so much better.”

“I said I was sorry. I’ll pay for it.”

“With what, food stamps? We’re fired, remember?”

Bryan rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “Really, man? I think we’ve got more important things to worry about than the window of your POS Buick.”

Pookie shrugged. “Yeah, we do. Like the two hundred bucks you owe me for my trip to Oakland.”

“You thought I was in Oakland?”

“Did I mention, I looked everywhere ? Why, yes, yes I think I did mention that.”

“But two hundred dollars?”

“I took a cab,” Pookie said. “You know how I hate public transportation. Kinda the reason I bought a car, know what I’m saying?”

Pookie didn’t get pissed that often, but when he did he didn’t stop talking about it. He wanted — and deserved — an apology. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t call you, okay?”

Pookie nodded. “Apology accepted, but too bad you’re not talking to your dad — I’d have him ground you for trashing my ride.”

Pookie Chang, lone resident of No-Subject-Is-Off-Limits Land .

“That man is not my father.”

“And I’m not chubby,” Pookie said. “Amazing how we can just wish things into existence.”

“With what I’m going through, are you really going to go there? Now? ”

Pookie shrugged. “You need to get over it. I think you’ve filled your quota for feeling sorry for yourself.”

“ Feeling sorry for myself? You jackass, I’m a goddamn mutant or whatever.”

Pookie used his jacket sleeve to wipe at the dried-beer tentacles. “So you got an extra chromosome. It’s not like you got cancer, Bro. It is what it is, so accept it and let’s move on.”

Maybe Bryan should have done this solo after all. Only Pookie could reduce being a mutant, finding out your entire childhood had been a lie and tracking down serial killers that were actually your half-brothers to just get over it .

Pookie stopped wiping at the cracked window. He turned to stare at Bryan. “You thinking you should ditch me? For my safety, maybe?”

Bryan looked down at the sidewalk. He hated it when his partner did that.

Pookie feathered back his hair. “Forget it, my Young Rebel Detective. No one wants a show about a loner cop. I told you I’m down for the gunfight. You’re stuck with me. Agreed?”

Bryan looked up. Before he could answer, Pookie pointed down the sidewalk.

“Uh-oh,” he said. “Here come da judge.”

Bryan followed Pookie’s gaze and saw Amy Zou walking quickly toward them, dress blues pressed, hat positioned perfectly on her head.

“She doesn’t seem happy,” Pookie said.

“Does she ever?”

“No,” he said. “Should we make a run for it?”

“Too late. And I’ve got a few things I want to hear from her.” Bryan crossed his arms, leaned against the black station wagon and tried to look disrespectful. He wasn’t sure how to do that — maybe he’d have to get some lessons from Adam.

She stopped in front of them. “Clauser,” she said. “Chang.”

“Chief,” Bryan said.

“MILFy woman who fired my ass,” Pookie said.

Zou ignored the comment. “Clauser, we need to talk. Alone.”

Bryan looked at Pookie. Pookie shook his head slightly. Even if Bryan wanted the man gone, he wouldn’t go anywhere.

“Pookie stays, Chief,” Bryan said. “Anything you want to say to me you can say in front of my partner.”

“ Life partner,” Pookie said. “But only for tax purposes. Oh, and the Bed Bath and Beyond registry.”

Zou turned her humorless stare on Pookie. She held it until he looked away. She turned back to Bryan. “Alder told me that you’re one of them.”

She said it with such a matter-of-fact tone. Zou was right, and so was Robin; he was one of them.

“I don’t understand any of it, Chief. I have no idea what’s happening and it’s freaking me out.”

“But you came to the hospital,” she said. “Why?”

Bryan looked at Pookie, who just shrugged.