Part 34 (1/2)
Suddenly he paused. He could have sworn he was being followed. Followed? On Bourbon Street? h.e.l.l, he was more tired than he had imagined.
He reached Montresse House and walked up on the porch. He knocked, then saw Gareth looking suspiciously out past one of the drapes. A second later, the door opened. As it did, Bobby sensed once again he was being followed. He spun around, ready to reach for his firearm.
”It's you,” he said, letting out a sigh. ”s.h.i.+t, you shouldn't follow an armed man like that.”
”Bobby Munro, what are you doing here?” Gareth asked.
”Just wanted to see Stacey for a minute, Gareth, that's all. Didn't know my friend was joining me.”
”Stacey's busy,” Gareth said.
”Come on, Gareth, I'm beat to s.h.i.+t. Let me see her for just a minute. Let me in.”
”h.e.l.l, Bobby. Come in and wait. I'll see if I can get her.”
Bobby stepped across the threshold, then turned to the man behind him. ”Hey, what's up? Why were you following me?”
”Don't know. Felt nervous,” Big Jim said. ”Just thought I'd say a quick h.e.l.lo to Stacey, too, then I'll be on my way.”
Bobby groaned. ”Great. Just great. Your shadow is behind you.”
Big Jim swung around to see Barry Larson coming up the walkway. ”Hey, Jim. You went running out. We're not done with the gig tonight.”
”We're on break,” Big Jim said, shaking his head. ”d.a.m.n it all, Barry, you don't have to go following me around all the time like we're in a flippin' nursery rhyme.”
”Sorry, thought something was wrong,” Barry said, hurt.
”Ah, come on in. We'll head back together in just a minute,” Big Jim said.
”Yeah, come on in,” Bobby echoed, forcing a smile.
Barry stepped inside, looking around. ”Lordy, this is a great place, huh?” he asked cheerfully.
”Yeah, but close the door,” Bobby said irritably. ”We don't want to let any bugs in.”
Stacey sat in a chair, watching over Mary. She had discovered that the girl was quite happy in her little prison as long as she could watch TV and as long as she was supplied with the sustenance she needed.
Gareth was prowling the house, she knew. He came by at least every half hour to check on them, then, nervously, went off to a.s.sure himself that the rest of the house was safe and well protected.
”Stacey?” Mary asked suddenly.
”Yes?”
”What's going to happen to me?” Mary asked softly, pathetically.
”Well...”
”Either he'll come and get me, or...someone will drive a stake through my heart.”
”Mary, maybe not. It's...it's a matter of finding the right path,” Stacey started to explain. Then Mary jumped up in alarm.
”What is it?” Stacey asked.
Mary pressed her hands hard against her ears. ”He's out there,” she whispered.
The way she said it gave Stacey the creeps.
”But I won't let him in. I won't, I won't, I swear it,” she cried.
Stacey stared in alarm as Mary cried out in agony, fell to the floor and curled into a fetal position. ”No!” she cried.
Stacey raced toward the door to the hallway. ”Gareth!”
She was relieved to hear the pounding of footsteps on the stairway. Then she started. Gareth was there, but he'd been followed up the stairs by Bobby Munro, Big Jim and Barry Larson.
Gareth spun around on the other two men. ”Get back downstairs. You were not asked up here.”
”I'm a cop, and I heard screaming,” Bobby announced, then charged into the room. Big Jim and Barry Larson were behind him.
Just great, she thought. All those people...This was a mess. They would see, they would all know....
Suddenly the French doors seemed to explode.
Stacey spun around. Shattered gla.s.s flew, momentarily filling the air with shards of brilliance.
There was a red-black mist, a miasma....
Then there was a man. Tall, with blazing eyes, ma.s.sive shoulders, and cruel features.
”Thank you ever so much for the invitation,” he said, his tone pleasantly conversational. Gaping, stunned, terrified, Stacey wondered what he was talking about, who the h.e.l.l had asked him in.
”Now, clear away that rubbish. I have come for the girl.” Mary cried out again. Stacey wanted to turn, to see who there was about to do his bidding, but she was too afraid to turn her back on what could only be the Master.
Jessica stared at the image as it faded. Bryan stepped back from the computer, turning to Sean.
”I think he gains control with that image. Like subliminal advertising-he has entered the modern age of communication,” Sean said.
Bryan stiffened suddenly. ”d.a.m.n it,” he swore.
”I know, it's amazing, isn't it?” Sean said.
”Yes, but that's not it. We've got to get back to Jessica's,” Bryan said.
”What's happened?” Jessica demanded, jumping up, eyes wide.
”He's on the move,” Lucien said. ”I sense it, too. Ragnor, you and I will go with them. Brent, watch over this house with the girls.”