Ruby looked at Zoe. She didn’t have the same emotional connection with the death. It was sort of a holiday for her, an adventure.
“Maybe, maybe not,” Jack said, walking over to the table and raising the lid on one of the pizza boxes. “But I think we need to discuss a few things.” He picked up a slice and took a bite but the pigginess was gone.
“Are you going to share those, Jack?” Catherine asked. “I think we might have to widen the doors to get you out of here.”
“Oops, sorry . . . and ha ha.” Jack picked up the box and walked around, offering pieces to everyone. “My partner keeps me under wraps.”
Jack stopped in front of T1. “Here ya go mate, you have the last piece.”
“Nope, don’t need it,” he said.
“Go on T1,” Zoe said. “You need some meat on you.”
“Don’t be so rude, Zoe,” Ruby said. “Sorry, that my friend is so blunt.”
“It’s okay, Ruby. I prefer to be lean and mean. I’ll get Zoe back some other time.” T1 gave Zoe a wink.
“Ruby, another thing.” Jack placed the pizza box back on the table. “We also have the man who visited your apartment block under lock and key.”
“That’s good to know.” She nodded slowly. “But I get the feeling something is still lingering.”
“She’s intuitive, Jack.” Catherine said.
Jack coughed into his fist and then continued. “Did you know the high priestess worked at your doctor’s clinic?”
Ruby sat back. “Really.” She knew who Jack was talking about—the healthcare assistant she nearly bumped into. She must have been the staff member whom her doctor mentioned was into witchcraft. “The lady would’ve had access to my personal details. She must have given my address to the crazy man. Why did she pick me—”
“Ruby,” Jack said.
She looked at Jack. “Sorry. My mind started running away.”
“You’re doing well,” Jack said. “But we still have a concern. We haven’t been able to locate the high priestess’s partner to ask him some questions.”
“Did he murder her?” Ruby asked.
“Why do you ask that?”
“Evil attracts evil.”
Something inside told Ruby the woman hadn’t just died. She’d been murdered. It was a spiritual thing she knew but didn’t understand—an inner peace trying to break free, but protecting her from the forces at the same time. Forces of evil, which seemed more interested in turmoil and death.
“We just want to find this man and ask him some questions.”
“You will, Jack. You’re good at what you do.” She believed that.
“Thank you, Ruby. That’s appreciated.” Jack looked at Catherine. “And she’s good too.”
Zoe chipped in. “And T1 and T2.”
A loud bang startled them. Jack walked over to the window, looked out, and called Ruby and Zoe over.
Black shadows criss-crossed the yard.
“They’re bats,” Jack said. “One flew into the window. After our pizza, maybe.”
“Funny, Jack,” Zoe said.
“Or maybe, drunk from the fermented fruit,” Catherine said.
“Hic.” Zoe was in fine form. “You know it just dawned on me that Batman did all his crime fighting at night time. He only came out of the cave at night time and that’s why they called him Batman . . . duh.”
A few raised eyebrows.
“I’m more of a Superman fan, “Jack said. “But regardless, we’d like you both to stay here for another day or so until we find out what this man is up to.”
Zoe had a wide grin. The Joker.
Ruby tuned out of the conversation surrounding her. Bats. Someone once told her that if a bat flew into your house it meant the devil was after you. She shuddered at that thought but in her mind the image of a man cloaked in a black cape remained. He seemed to be whispering something. Ruby leaned forward to try and catch his words.
I’m coming to get you.
<°)))><
“Jack, did you notice how Ruby’s mood changed?” Catherine asked as they sat in the vehicle outside the safe house. “Wonder what caused that?”
“The bats, maybe.”
“Probably. Bats, vampires, witches. All connected. Poor Ruby is going to have some nasty triggers until she gets over this.”
