Part 5 (1/2)
”I would also suggest,” Awan said, ”that you try to find out who this skinrunner is. A name and an address. Might come in handy if you can't get the object.”
”Any ideas how to find that out?” Deem asked.
”We track him,” Winn said.
”Exactly,” Awan agreed.
”What, from my house?” Deem asked. ”Tonight?”
”We'll never be able to do it ourselves,” Winn said. ”He's too fast. But I know someone who can.”
”A Caller?” Awan asked.
”Yes,” Winn said. ”How'd you know?”
”They're the only ones who can keep up with them,” Awan said. ”But hard to use. They always want something in return.”
”What Caller?” Deem asked Winn.
”I know one named Sagan,” Winn said. ”Lives in an abandoned house south of Mesquite. He works with a loser named Brett Jones, robbing liquor stores. He's not the sharpest crayon in the box, so I'll bet I can get him to track the skinrunner.”
”How?” Deem asked. ”Do you have a plan?”
”Kinda,” Winn said, smiling. ”It's a half plan. Might work.”
”I hate half plans,” Deem said.
”His big thing is corpses,” Winn said. ”Every time Brett finds some road kill, he sc.r.a.pes it up and uses it to pay Sagan for his help. So, I'm thinking we offer Sagan something more juicy for his time. Real corpses.”
”How are you going to do that?” Awan asked.
”Devil's Throat,” Deem said, remembering the dozens of animated corpses they'd trapped inside.
”Exactly,” Winn said. ”I'll offer to tell him where to find them if he tracks the skinrunner and gets us his address.”
Deem nodded her head slowly, in approval. ”OK,” she said. ”Not a bad half plan.”
”Sounds like we each have an a.s.signment,” Awan said. ”I'll get headed back to Indian Springs and I'll let you know if I find anything in my grandfather's journals.”
”I'll contact Eliza,” Deem said.
”And I'll go see Sagan,” Winn said. ”Want to come with?” he asked Deem.
”Sure,” Deem said, ”as long as we can stop somewhere on the way back. Won't take long.”
”And then we'll set up to watch your roof tonight,” Winn said, ”and see if we can spot this f.u.c.ker.”
Winn stopped his Jeep in front of a half dilapidated house several miles south of Mesquite. Deem stepped out of the pa.s.senger side and looked around. The nearest neighbor was a speck on the horizon.
The house appeared to have been abandoned for years. The front yard was overgrown with large sagebrush. Part of the roof had collapsed, and not a pane of gla.s.s remained in any of the windows.
”What a dump,” Deem said.
”Perfect for a ghost, right?” Winn said.
Deem knew the ghost they'd be encountering wasn't just a ghost. Callers were more self-aware than most ghosts. They weren't trapped in some endless cycle, unable to move on. They liked being ghosts, and they made a life of it. They were created by being buried in a cave that housed a spirit in the rocks. The spirit granted them Caller abilities, provided they fed the spirit what it wanted. Most wanted blood.
Winn walked through the brush in front of the house. The door was boarded over. He walked around the side of the house, Deem following.
In the back, there was a set of stone steps descending to a bas.e.m.e.nt. They were covered over by a piece of loose plywood. Winn pushed the plywood aside and descended the steps.
Once they were inside the bas.e.m.e.nt, Deem looked up; there were holes in the ceiling which she could see through to the main floor. She pulled out her flashlight and turned it on. Seeing the structure made her even more nervous that it might collapse.
”Sagan?” Winn called. ”Come out. I want to talk to you.”
Deem felt something brush the back of her hair, and she turned quickly. Nothing was there.
”I felt something,” Deem said.
”Sagan?” Winn called. ”Don't f.u.c.k around, I've got something you want, and you don't want to p.i.s.s me off.”
Sagan materialized directly in front of Deem. It startled her and she jumped back.
”I told you not to f.u.c.k around,” Winn said.
Deem saw Winn jump into the River. She took another step back from Sagan and then followed Winn into the flow.
Sagan looked like a twenty year old delinquent. He wore a dirty wife beater and a baggy pair of chinos. His arms were covered in tattoos. He leered at Deem, a small face peering out from around long hair.
She's pretty! he said.
Too bad you're a ghost, Winn said to Sagan.
Yeah, I'd love to tap that, Sagan said, moving around Deem.
You want some fresh meat? Winn asked.
Sagan turned from Deem to look at Winn. Whatcha got? he asked.
Human corpses, Winn said. A nice supply. Would keep that cave spirit of yours happy for a long time.
Deem saw Sagan respond like a dog. He ran up to Winn.
Where? Sagan asked. I could use some!
Well, this is a nice supply, would probably set you up for a long time, Winn said. That's worth a lot, isn't it?
If it's true, Sagan said, losing some of his enthusiasm.