Page 13 of Brush with Death (Not Quite Dead #3)
“I FOUND YOUR MASTER,”
Rachel declared.
Cyril wrinkled his nose.
“Can we not call him that? I feel it gives him a power he doesn’t have and doesn’t deserve.”
“Sorry. I found Angelo. Thirty-eight, single. Went to college, dropped out after six months. He tried to enroll in the military, but they rejected him. He doesn’t live with his parents, but that’s only because he inherited an apartment from his grandmother. He works odd jobs here and there.”
Cyril frowned down at his cup of coffee. He had a hard time imagining that was how the Master lived. The man had managed to pull in Albert and Sam. He’d convinced them that they could summon demons and become rich and famous.
Why had they believed him? Did he believe that he could actually summon demons? Or was it an excuse to kill people?
Cyril hated that Sam had been in such a bad spot that he’d felt like that was his only way out. If Cyril had known, he would’ve done something to help, but Sam hadn’t come to him, and now, he was dead.
“You have an address,”
Vale said as he dried his hands at the sink
“I do. I did mention that he lived in his grandmother’s apartment, didn’t I?”
Rachel snarked.
“Then what are we waiting for? I don’t need this guy’s life history.”
“Stop being a dick. I’m sending everything to you and Russell.”
Rachel paused.
“Should I send it to John Smith, too?”
Vale groaned.
“Who told you? Russell?”
“He said it was a pleasure to work with John and that he knows what he’s doing, even though he’s a little green. He also said that you agreed to let John help.”
“Don’t send him anything.”
“No? Are you going to break your promise?”
“I didn’t promise him anything. He asked if he could be involved, but I didn’t answer.”
Cyril pressed his lips together. He hadn’t seen much of John the other night because after Vale had made sure that Russell would be okay, he’d whisked Cyril back home. Cyril had no idea what had happened to Albert or to his body, and he didn’t want to know. Albert had gotten what he deserved.
Now, it was time for Angelo to do the same. Cyril had wanted to go right away, but Vale had insisted that Rachel should look into the man. He could have been more dangerous than they expected.
It didn’t sound like it.
“Why did he do it?” he asked.
Rachel sighed.
“From what I can see, he truly believes that he can summon demons. He keeps buying herbs and crystals, and his social media posts are angry and delusional. He doesn’t feel like one of those smart serial killers. He’s unhinged.”
Angelo had killed many people, but he hadn’t done it because he wanted to kill. He’d done it because he truly thought he would be summoning a demon that would help him get away from the life he hated. Cyril hadn’t thought it possible, but Rachel had just confirmed it. Cyril might not understand it, but he didn’t have to. As long as Angelo believed in what he was doing, he’d continue hurting people.
It was sad, really. Cyril didn’t have any sympathy for Angelo, who’d clearly ruined his own life and was blaming other people for it, but the man wasn’t all there. Cyril couldn’t help but feel pity for him.
The front door banged open, making them jump. Vale looked like he was ready to kill whoever it was, and the fact that it was Russell didn’t deter him.
“Are we ready to roll?”
Russell asked as he walked into the kitchen.
His eyes lit up when he saw Vale’s cup of coffee on the table.
“You made me coffee.”
Vale snatched the cup before Russell could reach for it.
“I did not.”
Russell pouted, but it only lasted a few seconds.
“Well? Are we ready to go? We have an idiot to kill.”
Cyril swallowed. He understood that for Russell, this was business as usual, but he was still uneasy. He hadn’t seen what had happened to Albert, but he had a good imagination.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to send all of this to John Smith?”
Rachel asked.
“I will stop working with you if you do,”
Vale warned her.
“And there’s no need to,”
Russell added.
“I already texted him.”
Vale stared at him.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because he wanted to be involved.”
“And I want ice cream for dinner, but you don’t see me eating it.”
Russell frowned.
“Why don’t you? You could have ice cream for dinner. You’re an adult, and you decide what you eat.”
Vale looked like he was trying really hard to resist the urge to strangle Russell. He probably was.
“I don’t want anything to do with John. He tried to kill me.”
“And he apologized,”
Cyril pointed out.
Vale looked betrayed.
“Don’t do this to me. I can’t stand the guy.”
“Which is why we’re pairing him with Russell.”
“I can’t stand either of them. I’m going to have to deal with both for the rest of my life if we adopt him.”
“Who said anything about adopting him?”
Vale gestured at Russell.
“He already has. He’s taken in John as if he was a stray cat.”
“A stray cat who tried to kill you,”
Russell added.
“I can’t wait to repay the favor.”
“Well, boys, have fun,”
Rachel chirped.
“Cyril, do me a favor and snap a few pictures of the three of them. I can’t wait to see how it goes.”
“Cyril will do no such thing,”
Vale snapped before pressing his finger on the screen of his phone. He sighed.
“That wasn’t as satisfying as hanging up an actual phone would’ve been.”
“Careful there, you’re dating yourself,”
Russell teased.
“You’re only one year younger than me. You can’t tell me you didn’t use those phones when you were a kid.”
Cyril relaxed. He wouldn’t stay relaxed for long because they had to go and kill a man, but for now, he could enjoy the bantering.
It helped. He was about to face the horror of what had happened to Sam again, but once they were done with Angelo, it would be over. Sam would be avenged, and Cyril hoped it would help him rest more easily.
It wouldn’t help him, unfortunately.
JOHN WAS WAITING FOR them when they reached the building where Angelo lived. Vale kept up his glare because he didn’t want the man to think that he was happy to see him. He wasn’t. He found John annoying and wanted nothing to do with him, but a part of him was glad that John was there. If the man was even slightly competent, Vale would be able to focus on keeping Cyril safe.
“There’s only one way to get in and out, obviously,”
John said as he followed them into the building and up the stairs.
“He’s too high up to try and escape through a window, although I’d pay to see him try.”
“How long have you been here?”
Russell asked.
“I drove here as soon as I got your text. The guy’s home, by the way. I watched him with my binoculars, and I can’t say he’s very impressive. Are you sure he’s a serial killer?”
“He killed my friend,”
Cyril snapped.
John grimaced.
“Sorry for your loss.”
Vale thought he could tell what John was thinking, and he had to resist the urge to strangle him. Yes, John probably wouldn’t have made the mistake Sam had made by trusting Angelo. John was different from Sam, though. For one, he was a professional assassin, which meant he wasn’t a normal person. Sam had been. He’d been trying to find a job and a way to fix his life. He’d been desperate enough to trust Angelo and believe in summoning demons. That told Vale all he needed to know about Sam’s state of mind before he died, and no one had any right to judge him, especially not John.
Cyril was panting slightly by the time they reached the fifth floor. He leaned against Vale, and Vale wrapped an arm around his shoulders to quickly squeeze him.
He was used to taking the lead when working with others, but for once, he didn’t want to. He was fine staying back with Cyril, so when Russell turned to him, he shook his head. Russell stared at him for a moment before nodding. He understood.
Vale and Cyril stayed where they were as John and Russell moved toward the door. John was saying something to Russell, but he was speaking softly, and Vale couldn’t hear what it was. He was sure it would’ve annoyed him, though. Everything John did or said annoyed him.
“You’re not going with them?”
Cyril asked.
“There’s no reason for me to. They can enter the apartment and secure it without my help.”
“I thought for sure that you’d be the first in line to get in.”
“Normally, I would be, but I’d rather be here with you.”
Cyril snuggled closer.
“Thank you.”
Vale suspected that Cyril was thanking him for more than the hug they were still locked into.
“Anything for you. You know that.”
“Even when I drive you up the walls?”
“Even then.”
Vale kissed Cyril’s forehead. “Always.”
Cyril’s cheeks turned pink. He looked satisfied as if he’d hoped for that answer. Maybe Vale should tell him how much he loved him more often. He wasn’t usually one for words when it came to emotions, but for Cyril, he’d try.
Someone yelped, causing Vale to look up just in time to see John disappear into Angelo’s apartment. Vale squeezed Cyril one last time before letting go and taking his hand. Together, they walked toward the apartment. Russell was standing just inside the door when they reached it, and he gestured at them to come in. He closed the door behind them, and Vale took a moment to look around the place.
The apartment opened in a living room that had seen better days. There was a pile of pizza boxes on the coffee table, surrounded by empty cans of beer and sodas and dirty tissues that made Vale wrinkle his nose in disgust. The TV was on, and a videogame was paused on its screen. The controller had been abandoned on the couch between a blanket and what looked like a dirty sock. The air smelled stale and of sweat and cheesy chips.
Was Vale’s presence necessary? Between John and Russell, they would get all the answers they needed. Vale and Cyril could wait outside, away from the smell.
But Cyril had a different idea. He let go of Vale’s hand and marched toward where John was standing behind a chair. John had his hands on the shoulders of the man sitting in it as if to keep him there. Considering the panicked way Angelo was looking around the room, it was a distinct possibility. Hell, he might even try to leave the apartment through a window like John had mentioned, even though they were on the fifth floor.
“You killed my friend,”
Cyril accused.
Angelo looked exactly like Vale had imagined he would. He didn’t think the black color of Angelo’s hair was natural, but it accentuated the paleness of his skin. He was dressed in all black, and his feet were bare. The only thing that wasn’t how Vale had imagined was his age. Vale had thought he’d be in his twenties, but this guy had to be close to forty.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,”
Angelo said.
“If you leave now, I won’t call the cops.”
John snorted.
“And if we don’t leave now? What will you do?”
Angelo swallowed heavily. He glanced at Vale and Cyril, then at Russel, who was still by the door. Vale wasn’t surprised when he moved.
Angelo elbowed John in the stomach and scrambled to his feet while John folded in two. He ran for the closest window, which was a mistake. He should’ve gone for the bathroom or the bedroom. He’d have died anyway, but it would have taken John more time to get to him.
Vale watched Angelo struggle to open the window. He had no intention of helping John. He’d insisted on being there, so he could deal with it.
John went after Angelo. He grabbed his arm and pulled him back, then had to duck to avoid a fist.
“You know, I’m happy we brought him with us,”
Russell said.
He and Vale both watched John struggle with Angelo. It was kind of nice not to have to deal with that.
“I’m not. I don’t like him.”
“I know, but at least we don’t have to deal with that. We can make him do all the dirty work. We’re getting too old to get into fistfights.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“You’re telling me that you want to go and fight the guy?”
“I’m fine standing next to Cyril and keeping him safe.”
“Of course you are. I’m just saying that working with John might not be such a bad thing.”
Thankfully, Vale did have to answer that statement because John punched Angelo in the nose. Angelo cried out and reached up to cradle his face, and John took advantage of his distraction to grab him and push him back toward the chair. Angelo stumbled and almost fell, but no one moved to help him.
“You won’t like what happens if you try that again,”
John threatened.
Vale was impressed, even though he’d never admit it to anyone, least of all John. He sounded serious now, and Angelo seemed to believe him. He stayed on the chair and let go of his nose, which was spurting blood.
Vale grimaced. He didn’t like dealing with blood. He’d leave that to John, too, since he was so eager to help.
“You better talk if you don’t want it to get worse,”
Cyril said. He didn’t move closer to Angelo this time.
“What do you want to know?”
Angelo asked.
“What you did to my friend Sam.”
“I NEEDED A SACRIFICE to summon a demon,”
Angelo said.
Cyril hoped he’d never have to deal with anything like this again. It was taking all his self-control not to throw up in Angelo’s face—and not only because of the smell in the room. “Why Sam?”
“He was the new guy.”
“That’s it? You killed him because he was the new guy?”
“I had to kill someone.”
Cyril swallowed. He’d known that Angelo believed he could summon demons, but hearing it was different. He still hated Angelo and what he’d done, but part of him pitied the guy.
He didn’t pity him enough to get him out of paying for what he’d done to Sam, though.
“Tell us what happened in detail,”
Vale ordered.
“I told Sam about the ceremony to summon a demon and that he could be there with us. He was skeptical, but he agreed. I told him that we could ask the demon for whatever we wanted, but he only wanted a job.”
Angelo wrinkled his nose and whimpered. That had to hurt, and Cyril was glad it did. He wanted Angelo to suffer.
“A job wasn’t ambitious enough,”
Angelo continued.
“I decided to sacrifice him since we needed someone to die anyway.”
“You sacrificed Sam because he only wanted a job out of this?”
Cyril asked.
Vale wrapped an arm around Cyril’s waist as if he thought that Cyril would throw himself at Angelo. Cyril was tempted. He wanted to give him a good shake or scream in his face. He didn’t want to touch the guy, though.
Angelo shrugged.
“I had to sacrifice someone. Sam didn’t know what was happening. We built a fire and started chanting, and he kept glancing behind himself. He was afraid of the lake, I think. He tried to resist when I told him to get in, but I told him it was necessary and that we’d be going with him. As soon as it was deep enough, I jumped on him. It was the easiest way to do it. I tried other methods, but they’re too dirty.”
Cyril closed his eyes. He didn’t need to hear how Sam had died in detail. He’d seen the result of what had happened in that lake.
“Sam was the wrong person to sacrifice. It didn’t work, and we couldn’t summon the demon. We left him there and ran before anyone could see us.”
Angelo was talking as if it was something he’d done more than once, and Cyril remembered that Rachel had said that it might be. He was here for Sam, but he wanted justice for all of Angelo’s victims.
“It hadn’t worked before, either,”
he pointed out.
“I need to find the perfect one. I haven’t yet, but I will. I just have to find out what the demon likes.”
Cyril was done. It was clear that Angelo wouldn’t stop hurting people.
“What’s going to happen to him if we hand him over to the authorities?”
he asked Vale.
Vale guided him away from Angelo, who was still talking about his demon.
“Considering everything, I don’t think he’ll go to jail.”
“He has problems.”
“I don’t know. He’s certainly delusional, but I believe that he knew what he was doing. He knows that killing is wrong. He just doesn’t care.”
“Will the police even believe that he killed Sam? Do we have proof?”
Vale hesitated, then shook his head.
“We have his confession, but he’d be smart enough not to repeat it to the cops.”
“So there’s only one way to ensure that he won’t ever hurt anyone again.”
“I’m sorry, Cyril. I know you don’t like it, but as far as I’m concerned, the choice is easy. Angelo didn’t only kill Sam. He killed other people, and he’ll continue doing it as long as he tries to summon his demon. I don’t think cops will stop him.”
“All right.”
“All right?”
“The three of you should do what you have to do. I just want this to be over and for Sam to be at peace.”
“I’ll walk you back to the car.”
“There’s no need for you to do that. I can go on my own.”
Vale took Cyril’s hand and raised it to his lips so he could kiss it.
“I’m not leaving you alone right now. Russell and John don’t need me, anyway.”
“I would’ve thought you’d want to keep an eye on John.”
“I do, but you and Russell trust him. Maybe I should, too.”
Cyril smiled.
“You don’t hate him as much as you say.”
“Of course I hate him. He tried to kill me. He does have more training to do to become a decent assassin, though. He did an awful job when he came after me.”
“All right. You can walk me back to the car.”
“Give me a second.”
Vale kissed Cyril’s forehead and stepped away. Cyril didn’t turn to watch him. Angelo was still talking, and Cyril wanted nothing to do with him. He wanted to forget all about Angelo as soon as he was out the door of his apartment. He knew it wouldn’t work, but he could hope.
He couldn’t believe that no one had noticed what Angelo was doing. Had the police investigated the deaths of the people that Angelo had sacrificed? Cyril would have to ask Rachel if she could find out who they were. Had their deaths been deemed accidents, too? At the very least, that meant that the police were incompetent, but Cyril suspected it was more that they didn’t care. Why investigate something that looked enough like an accident that no one would question it?
At least Angelo wouldn’t hurt anyone ever again. It didn’t feel like enough, but it would have to be.