“I’ve been chasin’ monsters for so long, it’s just one less in a world filled with ‘em. I took his life before he took hundreds. We can chase evil forever and never get ‘em all.”
She clasped his hand, but said nothing.
He opened the sunroof, let the chilly air wash over him. “If you’re cold, turn on the heater.”
“The cold air feels good,” she replied.
They drove to Franconia, stopped at the gated entrance, pressed the buzzer.
“I’m here,” said a raspy voice.
“Pied Piper,” Greystone said.
“Park out back.”
The gate opened. He drove in, parked near the backentrance. An older man walked outside pushing a gurney. They transferred the body and CK rolled it inside.
“Unzip the bag,” CK instructed.
“You’re standin’ right there,” Greystone said.
“Yeah, so I am, but this ain’t my first rodeo, kid. Sometimes they ain’t dead and all hell breaks out.”
Greystone unzipped the bag, stared down at Haqazzii’s lifeless face. He felt no joy in taking this man’s life. He felt no pain either. Not anymore. He’d come to terms with his part in these missions. If he hadn’t, he would’ve lost his mind years ago.
“Dead,” Greystone said.
“Help me,” CK said as he opened the metal door to the incinerator.
Out of the corner of his eye, Caroline took a few steps back. He got that. He didn’t much like standin’ so close to being burned alive either.
Together, he and CK moved the body to the cement slab. “Are his pockets empty? Check him for jewelry.”
Greystone checked, found nothing. “He’s good.”
“No, man, he’s not good,” CK grumbled, his gruff voice slicing through the air. “No one’s good who ends up here with me.”
Greystone stood beside Caroline as Haqazzii vanished inside the crematorium. When the heavy metal door closed, pain hit him in the chest. Death was final, but this… this was beyond intense. A shudder ripped through him and he clasped her hand.
“Take off or hang.” CK gestured toward the small waiting area in the entryway. “I’ll be in my office.”
“How long?” Caroline asked.
“A few hours,” CK replied.
Greystone shoved the tip into CK’s hand. “We’re stickin’ around.”
After CK retreated into his office, he and Caroline moved to the waiting room.
“I’m sending a group text to the team,” she said.
Seconds later, his phone binged with an incoming text.
Effective immediately all shifts are canceled starting with Addison and Hawk
Addison replied.
Just got here. D in surgery
