Chapter Three "I wish I could stop thinking about Angela,but there's just something about her.Maybe,I'm just.....I don't know.Maybe,Bill's right.I've been working on the force for twelve years,now.Maybe I should start thinking about my life,for a change.Settle down.Raise a family.Dad did.Well,since I'll be off for a bit,perhaps I'll make out a list of all of my qualities and see if there's anyone I know of that's compatible.Hmph.Bill forgot his tapes.I'll give hm a call later,to let him know. Jason heads upstairs to the bedroom and sits down.He opens the drawer to the nightstand,pulls out a book and begins to thumb through it."Now let's see...Where was I?Chapter Four:Learning To See That Which Is And That Which Is Not.If I can get through reading this ,it might give me some insight on why that filth,killed Mr.Willis.Seems like the more I read this thing,the more I can't put it down." ****************************************************** "I needed that.Riding around Belle Isle always clears my head.Now,I only have to deal with this cat for a liitle while longer,report back to the dog and then it's "bye-bye-kitty"." Mike unlocks the door and plops down on the couch. "Good.You're back.Did you get "lucky"?",Dorphixius asks,slyly. "No.And don't think I appreciated your little joke,either." "Which one?" "You know what I'm talking about." "Either tell me which one or I'll EAT it out of you." "Setting me up on a date with the cop that killed me.And I'm gettin' REAL tired of your threats.",the last part Mike says under his breath. "I had no idea that was who killed you.I've merely been answering calls that Angela's been receiving,to be nosy and to keep up apperances.I did think that sending you on a date would be humorous,but this is rich!Irony can be quite the comedian,at times.Case in point:Ravesat!" Ravesat enters the room and Mike's heart stops. "That's my body!What the $#^%,is my body doin' walkin' around!" "Mike.Mike!That's not your body,anymore.It belongs to Ravesat,now.Your problem is:You don't pay attention.Remember when I said that if you got all of those ingredients back by five,I wouldn't tell my friends about you?Who did you think I was talking about?The alleycats?",Dorphixius' laughter sounds like nails over broken glass.It shatters the mirror hanging over the mantle of the fireplace. "You've kept this body in pretty good shape,by mortal standards.Perhaps later,I'll show you how thankful I am,wench!",then Ravesat and Dorphixious head towards the basement.Leaving Mike alone to himself,in the livingroom.One thought repeating over in his head:"Kll the cat.Kill the cat.Kill.The.Cat." ****************************************************** "Coming!I'm coming!",yells Jason,as he limps to his front door."Hi,Gwen.What can I do for you?" "You said you'd help me with my gutters,last week.Remember?" Gwendolynn Davies:Divoced.No children.About my age.Occupation:customer service specialist for the local phone cmpany.She's a good neighbor.Always finding time to help out in the community.I remember when I first moved in,she baked me berry cobblers for a month.I forgot I promised her I'd clean out her gutters for her.That was before my knee got busted."I'm sorry,Gwen.I had a little accident on the job.Come on in.." "Oh my!Are you okay?" "I'll live." "I brought over........" "A berry cobbler?",smirks Jason. "No,brat." "Brat" was her favorite word to use.It could mean anything from "joy" to "rage".Fortunately for me,it was the former. "I brought you over some spaghetti.Now,it may taste different than the last time,becuase I never measure out the ingredients." "I'm sure it'll be fine.Maybe,there's something else I can do for you,instead of your gutters." "My goodness!",Gwen says,blushing. "Huh?Oh,I didn't mean..." "I know,Jason.It's just funny,that's all.I'll take care of my gutters.Is there anything else I can........Gwen's voice trails off,as she notices the adult movies left by Bill,a few nights ago.Still on Jason's coffee table.Jason sees where her gaze is. "Oh!Those aren't mine.They're from a friend.I mean,they belong to a friend.He wanted me to see them.Wait!There's nothing going on between us.He's my partner.I mean,my partner on the force!" "It's okay',laughs Gwen"I guess that's your version of "physical therapy"." Now it's Jason's turn to blush as Gwen spies something else on the coffee table."Oooh!What's this?This is a pretty thick book,but what language is it in?" "What do you mean?It's in English." "Then they must have a different language than we do.Parts of it look like Latin.Maybe.It's like a hodge-podge of different stuff." "You don't say?Well,I can still stop by later and see if there's anything else I can help with." "That would be nice.Well,I'd better get going if I want to get those gutters cleaned.See you later,Jason." After Gwendolynn walks out,Jason locks the door and makes a phone call."Hello,Bill?It's Jason.You left your tapes over here a few nights ago.Plus,there's something I need you to take a look at.Yeah,I need your opinion on something.Thanks." ****************************************************** "So,you haven't been able to gain entry into the house?" "I'm afraid not,Jeremy.I've been trying to find a way in,but I think the demon's put up some kind of barrier against unwanted spirits.The woman you asked about has been running several errands for them.She also,broke into some house in Roseville.She took several weapons out of a passage in one of the walls and hid them in a tree in Allen Park.She's also been buying cleaning supplies and hiding them there,as well.I did manage to get a better look at the man who showed up a few nights ago. The spirit describes the man as best he can,to Jeremy.Jeremy's face is motionless,save for the flare from his eyes. "Creation!I knew it couldn't have been just one demon.Thanks,Tom." "You're welcome,Jeremy.Perhaps I should get a few more spirits together?" "That would be good.Perhaps if one of you "hitched" a ride inside of Mike,you may be able to bypass the barrier." "Good idea.Should I let Mike know?" "No.I think at this point,the less he knows,the less likely he'll have a nervous breakdown.If it's not too late already,that is." "So,I'll get back to you when I can.Anything else?" "After you find out what's going on or who the players are,we should start doing like Mike." "Going crazy?" "No.Preparing for war." ***************************************************** "Where'd you get this book from?This thing reads like Chinese arithmetic.And I can't understand any of that crap!" "So,you can't read any of it,huh,Bill?" "Isn't that what I just said?You got this on audio tape?" "No.I found it.I think it might be worth something." "Well,pass me some more of that spaghetti and I'll make some calls for you.Mmmmm.This is better than the usual stuff you cook." "I didn't cook that .Gwen did." "You mean from next door?She leave any of those berry cobblers?" "Yes,I mean her.And no,she just left the spaghetti." "Y'know,she looks pretty good.She's not lazy and she can cook."Course,all that could change,if she ever gets married again.Why haven't you two got together?" "I don't know." "Well then,what about Angela?" "Angela is...different.We talked briefly up at the coney a day ago.She seemed kind of preoccupied.What does she do for a living?" "She works for a cleaning service." "Oh.That explains all of those cleaning supplies she had." "You suck,as a detective.You've got at least two women interested in you and all you can do is ask me questions about a book that nobody can read.How many people does Gwen cook for?" "Well,there's the community...." "Screw the community!How many people does she continue to cook for?" "Just me I guess,not counting weekly church functions." "Exactly!Do you know how wild a church woman can be,behind closed doors?They'll have you speakin' in tongues!And Angela stopped by and you two talked up at the coney.Both of them are interested in you.Stop living in the past,'cause your present is passing you by and your future looks bleak." "You're probably.....",the doorbell interupts Jason."Just a sec ,Bill." Jason opens the door and turns to Bill in surprise,trying to stop from chuckling. "Hey,Bill!You've got company." "Who?" "It's your wife.Shirley."