Murder burst into the penthouse. “Levi! We’re home!” She held the door open for Grant, since his arms were loaded with shopping bags. It was 4:13 pm.
Levi walked into the suite’s common area. He had finally picked the evening’s look. Black leather pants and a snug, white tucked in t-shirt. Over that, a slightly puffy red windbreaker with a Chinese inspired print. He’d also freshly renewed his high-top fade at the corner barbershop.
Murder smiled. He looked like a million bucks, and also like he hadn’t tried very hard at all, classic Levi.
Even Grant could see how well the look worked. “Looking to make sure you get kidnapped, huh?” Grant winked at him and Levi laughed. Murder walked past them to the lavatory.
“Absolutely! Bring on the fuzzy handcuffs! Did she make you go shopping?”
“No, I needed to go.” He showed Levi the watch. “Apparently I can’t simply ‘hang that from my Wranglers’ whatever that means.”
Levi laughed, but upon scrutiny of the watch added, “she’s right you know?”
“I’m sure she is.” Grant looked at the bags, picked one, and seeing that Murder was now back out of the lavatory, he went in to shower and change, but not without stopping her for a kiss.
Murder took Levi’s hand and dragged him to her closet. He watched as she looked through the clothes. “Levi. Why?”
“I don’t know. I think I hoped you’d never have to find out.”
She shook her head. “I’m so sorry. And worse you had to dream it all again. I’ve been thinking about what Colin said. Some Protectors want to be emancipated and don't think about me. I want you to think about you for a change.”
“I have thought about it all a lot today. We don’t even know if… this sounds cliché, but we don’t even know if I’m real without you… the dream walk also very handily reminded me that I am but clay, formed by who knows what kind of person. We’re not even completely sure that I’m bound to you, or that what I was told of your curse is true, either.”
Murder reached up to the closet’s shelf. The green flicker hit Levi’s eyes.
“Wow,” Levi stared at the ring. “It’s beautiful… where…” he realized where very suddenly.
“The ring and the watch are Grant’s family heirlooms.” She looked at him with a very serious expression. “This ring feels remarkably strong. It wasn’t locked away… the watch was. The watch… he opened it and it washed over the whole room. I’ve seen light shows, but this was different, intense.”
Levi’s expression diminished. “He gave you his grandmother's ring?”
“Yes, but he didn’t ask for anything. He didn’t propose, or put any labels on us. He was worried about asking me while you’re still in such a funk, and while he’s in grief over Ethel. If we elect to run, he would come with us. He thinks we should make our stand, and think I agree, but you’re my partner in this sense, not Grant, not yet. You come first. The decision to stay, or go. To try and change the arrangement of our curse. We have to decide that together.”
“Let’s hear Colin and his support group out. You know I love you, right? You’ve been nothing but kind to me. Even still, I’m interested in being free from our magical bond. Maybe even being free to grow old and die. If... that’s possible for a man made of clay.”
Murder cried. Levi held her.
“I’m so sorry you’ve suffered for me,” she said, through her tears, “I never wanted that. I would never…”
***
Levi waited on the corner in front of the Dominick hotel. He’d texted Colin asking if the meeting was something he could walk to. He offered to pick him up.
Grant and Murder were waiting in the Ford sedan to follow them.
Thanks to Rita and Grant, Levi was prepared. He had a few GPS trackers on him and a small two-way radio in his ear. The radio was uncomfortable at first, but after about five minutes it felt normal.
A loud, black decades-old Volvo station wagon sped up to where Levi was waiting. He was about to yell at the owner, accusing them of noise pollution, when the heavily tinted driver’s window rolled down and Colin smiled out of the ridiculous automobile.
“You know I was about to complain about damn kids and their toys, right?”
Colin laughed. “Get in, and let me show you what my toy can do!”
Levi smiled in spite of himself. Colin’s accent was too cute.
He opened the Volvo’s heavy passenger door and got in. The black leather seat was very comfortable. Levi relaxed a little. “This is actually quite ni—” his head was thrown to the headrest as the beast rocketed forward, filling the night with its raucous engine tones. Colin finally let off the gas a little.
Levi shook his head. “What are you, twelve?”
Colin laughed. “No mate, but I picked my name after the World Rally Car driver Colin MacRae. Didn’t realize you’d be so sensitive.”
Levi shook his head and laughed. “Well, I'm not… not impressed, by the beast’s ability to pull itself along at literal breakneck speeds…”
“Good!” Colin pressed the ‘loud pedal’ again as the sights of New York became a blur.
***
Grant was having trouble keeping up with the black Volvo. Before passing the detective’s exam with flying colors, he'd been a beat cop, on foot. He’d never had to actually chase a car.
“I should’ve let you drive.” He looked at Murder, who was even more pale than normal.
“Me? Drive this? Hardly… it doesn’t even have a clutch pedal”
He laughed. “Check and see if Levi has turned on a tracker. If he has…”
She pulled out the bulky tablet and clicked it on. “Yes, he has. You can back off a little more. Keep our cover.”
“Good, ” he laughed with relief.
Murder couldn’t have driven anyway. She couldn’t take her eyes off him in his new clothes. Fitted, three piece, navy pinstripe suit, jacket off, light blue sleeves rolled to reveal powerful-looking forearms. His grandfather’s watch’s t-bar double chain was adding an extra touch of class. It would be an extra chore paying attention to the stakeout rather than jumping his bones tonight.
***
The Volvo finally slowed. Much to his own surprise, Levi was giggling from an intoxicating surge of adrenaline.
He looked at Colin. “Okay, that was a rush!”
Colin laughed. The fear of dying didn’t go away for them. All the pain was the same as dying for real, and there was even more pain associated with coming back.
“Do you have a last name, Colin?”
“Nope,” he smiled, “but Ira Brener, is my given name.” The Irish accent was gone. Levi looked hurt.
Colin was surprised. “Levi isn’t your real name, is it?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry for lying to you. I don’t use my real name online anywhere. Maybe you shouldn’t either. It hasn’t soured your opinion of me, has it?”
Levi looked at his new friend. His smile was fierce and loyal. “I’ll let it slide if you never lie to me again.”
“Deal. In fact, this meeting should be rather revealing”
They had parked at an old warehouse. Levi had gone into observant mode. He wanted to keep the details, just in case. There were a few cars here, a 2000s red Thunderbird, a grey FR-S, and a white Bentley. No Aventador.
Inside there was a large, very plain, round table. There were four people there waiting. A white man, middle-aged in appearance, in jeans and a slayer t-shirt. A Latina woman, short, cute, casual dress. A tall, muscular, well-dressed black man with a shaved head and piercing eyes. Last, but arguably not least, was a beautiful young woman, with a powdered wig? She was dressed all in white. Her pallor made Murder look tanned, or was that stage makeup? She looked like a Harajuku Lola or a Marie Antoinette fan, but also Goth. Levi was speechless.
The middle-aged man stood. “Please, sit.” He motioned at the two empty chairs.
Ira/Colin nodded at Levi who reluctantly sat. The situation was unnerving at best. His ear radio and lapel pin camera were on. He was hoping it was putting out a clear signal and that Murder was close.
***
Grant parked the Ford on the street, just far enough away to not be seen. Murder had the tablet and had been watching events unfold.
“They’re a shuddersome lot.” She sounded worried.
Grant looked at the still image she had saved. “They’re a diverse bunch at least, looks like all walks of life. The older man looks like he’s trying to hold onto his youthfulness too hard, typical, really. The bald man and the woman. Body language. They’re definitely involved. The younger-looking woman… is that a powdered wig?
“I fancy it is, and she's so pale,” Murder paused, “I believe that might be the first time that phrase has left my lips.” they both laughed.
“She gets moon burn.”
Murder hit him. Still, she couldn’t help but chuckle. The girl was ghastly pale.
As Levi sat, the pinhole camera angled to the sky.
“I guess we should be quiet since we’re blind…” Grant said. He leaned in hoping to hear better.
Murder sighed. She didn’t like this at all.
She opened the microphone to Levi’s ear and whispered. “Don’t panic… just carefully move the camera. I’m looking at the ceiling.”
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