Chapter 24

    On their way to Monterey they stopped in Reno. They chose a quiet hotel and visited few clubs, had few drinks and danced a bit. Without unnecessary madness, so in the morning they could move on.

    At two p.m. on Saturday they were already in Monterey. The city captivated her with its beauty. The white houses built in colonial style, proximity to the ocean and fabulous cliffs. And flowers! They were everywhere! Colorful and fragrant! Thanks to them the city seemed more vivid. Though Mel saw mainly shops and malls. Jay rolled her eyes at this.

    She focused on her task.

    - You’ve got time till seven. – Jay said. – Then we’ll go for some dinner and maybe some club for the end of our trip. We’re coming back tomorrow.

    - Can’t we just prolong our stay here? – Mel used her voice of sulky teenage, which she’d mastered to perfection. – They won’t kick us out from college if we miss few days!

    - I’m supposed to collect data and come back. Besides, isn’t someone waiting for you? – Saying that, Jay realized that her friend didn’t call her boyfriend once. ‘And it’s been a while since she last mentioned him!’ She thought.

    - Well… - Mel noticed Jay’s sudden vigilance. – I broke up with Rick some time ago.

    - I’m so sorry, sweetie!

    - Needlessly. He was an asshole anyway! – She snorted, then she smiled charmingly, giving the sign that everything was fine. – I’m okay! Really! – She assured her friend as Jay was looking at her suspiciously.

    - What about pick-up in the evening then? – Proposed Jay. She knew this would make her friend happy.

    - You still in a relationship. – Mel noticed.

    - You know what they say: What eyes don’t see… What’s more, I haven’t signed any papers stating that he got me exclusive! – She joked.

    - We can get away for some beer. – Mel agreed.

    - Okay! – Though her proposal was only partly accepted, Jay grasped that thought. ‘Maybe it’ll allow me to distance myself?’ She thought. – We’ll go to some cool club and look at the fate! – Deep in her heart she already felt like a mean traitor.

    - Deal! – Said Mel after a minute of reflection. – What’s the harm in it?!

    Although her friend agreed for outing, Jay suspected that something was wrong. Mel never rejected proposals to go out on the tiles. Even when she was in a relationship with some guy. And for sure, she didn’t turn her nose up at pick-up. This could mean one. Mel fell in love. And it was serious.

***

    Jay had no problems to find the right address. The directions were accurate, so she didn’t wander. The Thomsons lived at the suburbs of Monterey in a beautiful stone house in sand color. It matched perfectly the surrounding scenery – cliffs and the ocean stretching across the horizon. ‘Sunsets must be wicked here!’ She thought. In big, shiny with cleanliness windows where delicate, snow white curtains. Garden was well kept – full of flowers and equally trimmed lawn. On the driveway stood heavily battered Dodge in color of old gold, and by the wicket a speckled dog was barking furiously. He looked like crossbreed – something between Alsatian and mongrel.

    As soon as she left the car the barking stopped, and the dog grinned in the smile and wagged his tail joyfully. Jay always had good contact with animals, so she came closer and greeted the dog without hesitation. The front door opened the same moment, and a woman appeared in threshold.

    She was about thirty-five – forty years old. Her long blonde hair, full of brighter reflections made by sun, was running lightly on her back. Eyes, even from a distance, seemed to be unbelievably blue. She was wearing well-fitting jeans and simple white shirt. She smiled slightly and greeted Jay with a light reserve.

    - You called me on my husband’s death? – She asked a little bit surprised.

    - Yes, I did. I’m Jaysabel Tyler. – She reached out her hand.

    - Sarah Thomson. – She shook Jay’s hand. Her hand was soft, but not weak. – You’re very young.

    - I’m seventeen.

    Sarah’s blue eyed look softened. As if she finally realized that a girl at the age of her children is standing in front of her, asking how her husband died. Undoubtedly, in Jay’s favor was the seriousness of her face and tragic events, she participated in, and which echoed in her turquoise eyes. It built sympathy.

    - Please, come in. – Mrs. Thomson proposed, though her face was indecisive. – Would you like something to drink? Coffee, tea? – She asked leading her guest through the lobby towards the living room.

    - I’d like coffee. And please, call me Jay. – She said with a gentle smile, wanting to win the woman’s trust. But her smile wasn’t reciprocated.

    - Please, make yourself comfortable, I’ll be back in a minute. – She left leaving Jay alone.

    The living room was large, painted in color of juicy peach, with glazed out onto the terrace, which overlooked the cliffs and the ocean. Just under the one of the walls there stood a huge marble fireplace, and on it - silver frames full of photos of a happy family – parents and kids, grandparents. Jay grabbed a photo in which Paul Thomson hold in his arms lovely, redheaded girl wearing a candy-pink dress. A tall, dark haired man with green eyes, slightly prominent cheekbones and a charming dimple in his chin. A smiling, proud father and a loving husband.

    - Who were you for real? – She whispered to herself.

She put the photo back on its place and looked around the living room. A comfortable couch and armchairs covered with eco leather in warm brown color, a coffee table made of impregnated alder wood, on the other side there was a table and chairs with high backrests. There was a small palm tree in every corner, and the walls were hung with paintings in which Jay recognized Picasso’s replicas.

    - My father collected them. – Jay turned away from pictures, pretending to be surprised. She sensed her earlier. She could hear her steps on fluffy carpets, but didn’t show that. Mrs. Thomson was standing with a tray in the doorway. – He handed them to me in his will. – She added and walked to the table to serve coffee.

    - They’re extremely well made. For a layman they may come as originals. – Jay decided to grasp this little stand of agreement.

    - You know the art? – It sounded more like a statement mixed with surprise, but with contentment as well.

    - My mother loved art and infected us with it. – She sent the hostess a gentle smile.

    - Us? – Sarah picked up quickly.

    - I’ve got six brothers. Including one twin. – Another smile received no reply.

    - Large family. – She almost whispered. – Paul and I always wanted to have more kids. But Rose and Sam are all that left me. – Jay could hear in her voice sadness confused with pride. Children have to be her whole world.

    - It must be hard for you. – She said with compassion.

    The fact that she didn’t use the past time draw her interlocutor’s attention.

    - You perfectly understand that, right? – It was a rhetorical question, so Jay decided not to interrupt Mrs. Thomson. – You know how it is to lose someone whom you loved with all your heart. – Her eyes went to the photos on the fireplace. – How it is to find out things, you had no idea about. How it is to deal with uncertainty, grief, despair. You’re wondering why, but there’s no one to answer your questions.

    What can one say to a woman, who has been mourning for seven consecutive years?

    - Yes, I know how it is. – Jay sat down beside the trembling woman and grabbed her hand. – We’ll probably never find out why our loved ones were hiding from us the truth about themselves. – She said gently. – But I want to find out why they had to die. – She added with determination in her voice. – And I’m asking you for help. – She finished with an imploring whisper.

    Sarah was crying openly now. Big tears rolled down her pale cheeks, her mouth trembled.

    - Paul never behaved strangely. – She started slowly. – He was the most loving husband and father. He played with kids, he walked on walks with them, and he took them for trips, read them before sleep. On Sundays mornings he used to wake up earlier and prepared breakfast. – Now it was easier for her. – He worked for local magazine as a sports reporter, he was generally liked and respected. Because he loved sports, work was his passion. And now I don’t even know if he really drove all those matches and games. – She ended, resigned.

    - You think he cheated you? – Jay looked more closely at the woman next to her.

    - No. – She replied after a moment. – I know he wanted to protect us all, but still it hurts so badly. I’d prefer to know and constantly worrying about him than to think that he’s watching a match to give his report. Maybe it would be easier for me to come to terms with it.

    Jay understood it well. It wasn’t about reducing the pain after the loss of a loved one, because no one is able to sooth it. But to ease the shock at the news o their death. The awareness that one day the police might knock at the door and inform that her husband had died, could alleviate the blow. Meanwhile, Sarah Thomson, just as Jay and her brothers, wasn’t prepared for such news.

    She allowed the woman to cry and talk about her husband. She listened carefully, trying to remember all details, which could shed some light on their small investigation.

    It turned out that Paul was a sports lover not only professionally – he trained kickboxing, ran a lot and shot great with a bow and crossbow. ‘Quite interesting activities.’ She thought. ‘I’d rather expect some team membership. Football or baseball.’

    What’s more, he travelled a lot, not always for the biggest sports events. More often he chose less important game plays and sports that don’t enjoy much interest. If he was the hunter for real, and Jay was willing to believe it, she needed to check his reports with police files. She was ready to bet, that in those places well deserved punishment met very bad guys.

    They’ve been talking for a good hour, when the front door opened and they could hear a male voice.

    - We’re home, mum! – Jay remembered that Paul Thomson had orphaned two children, eleven-year-old Samuel and eight-year-old Rose.

    - We’re in living room! – She informed her son.

    After a moment, a boy aged eighteen entered the room. He was tall, wide in shoulders like a school rugby team player should be. He was like his father. He had his nose and lips, but eyes he got from mother. He was wearing heavily battered, worn out jeans and black T-shirt with inscription ‘Metallica’, and black sneakers on his feet. His lime honey hair was a little bit too long.

    Straight after him, ran in a fifteen-year-old girl with a shock of red hair framing her oval face. She had Paul’s eyes, lush green. A small raised nose was scented with a lot of small freckles. She was wearing khaki cotton leggings and a white long-sleeved tunic, and light white pumps on her feet.

    They both stopped at the threshold and watched Jay suspiciously. They looked at each other for a moment. The youth clearly judged Jay in terms of attractiveness, the girl – in danger.

    - Sam, Rose, this is … - It wasn’t the first time someone forgot her name. It was unique, so she used it rarely to avoid astonishment and unnecessary questions.

    - I’m Jay. – She stood up and reached out her hand.

    They shook it in turn, and Jay took a chance to get to know better their moods and attitude to the stranger. She didn’t count on warm welcome, but still it could be a bit better. ‘Or worse! They could bring pitchforks with them!’ She thought sarcastically.

    - Is that the woman who asked about dad? – Sam clearly lost his appetite for sexy girl with beautiful eyes. ‘What color is that?’ He asked himself. – You were supposed not to agree for the meeting! – He was angry and wasn’t going to hide it. He was even good at ignoring Jay.

    - But I accepted it. – Sarah was calm.

    - Why?! – He couldn’t understand the fact that his mother wanted to go through all of this one more time. – Didn’t you suffer enough?

    - Maybe it’s high time to deal with it definitely. – She said in a trembling voice, and new tears flowed from her eyes.

    That was too much for Sam. He turned rapidly toward Jay, grabbed her arm and begun to lead her to the door, as if she was unruly kid you send to the corner as a punishment.

    - Please leave! – He said sharply. He couldn’t bear that his mother was crying again.

    He had an iron grip and Jay knew she was going to have awful bruises. She wanted to protest, break out, and even to whack the boy’s pretty face, but then she felt something she wasn’t prepared for. ‘He’s got the power!’ It crossed her mind. ‘He inherited the gift from his father. He's the hunter!’ Stunned, she stopped to resist and allowed Sam to lead her to the exit.

    - Samuel! – Sharp reprimand made her son restrain from throwing the girl out the door. – Jay is my guest and we still haven’t finished our conversation!

    - Maybe I’d better go. – Jay, when she wanted, could be charmingly shy and embarrassed.

    - Sit down, honey. – Mrs. Thomson patted the couch beside her. – I’d like you to tell me about your mother. Of course if it’s not too painful for you. – She added quickly.

    - It’s always painful. – She told the truth, but noticed it met with understanding. At least from Sarah.

    - You were still a child when your mother died. – She said with compassion.

    - I was twelve then. – Because of Sam and Rose she decided to tell everything. – My mom and I liked to spend time with each other. We often trained together. Yoga, tennis, swimming. And jogging. We live by the forest, so we were usually running around it. It was summer. Hot August. – She spoke calmly, weighing every word. – We agreed to run in the late afternoon, when it gets cooler. – Under the influence of memories, her voice became quieter and deeper. – I came back about seven. I overstayed at my friend’s and totally forgot that we were agreed. My mom had already gone, but our housekeeper told me she had left fifteen minutes earlier. – She felt her throat dry. – I run quickly to my room, changed clothes and went after her. I knew every of her favorite paths, so I knew I’d find her quickly. – She wasn’t sure why she’s saying that. She just felt, that they should know details. – One of the alleys crossed the clearing. – She felt pain in her heart and tears flowed into her eyes. But she stopped them. – She was there. Lying on soft moss that looked like ruby silk bed sheets. She was staring straight at me. – Her voice was empty now, impassive. As if it didn’t concern her at all. As if she was a passive observer. – Her eyes were bland. Unseeing. A man was leaning over her. At least he looked like a man from behind. But when he lifted over her, and I was able to see his face, I realized that what I was looking at was neither a man nor an animal. Instead of face he had a drown-out mouth covered with fur. Fangs stack out form his opened jaws. Instead of fingers he had claws. He was all smeared with blood. – She looked up and met Sam’s horrified eyes. She might stop at this point, but for some reason she wanted to shock him even more. – Her blood. He had torn her throat out. She had no chance.

    - Poor child. – She could hear Mrs. Thomson’s whisper. But Jay didn’t need compassion. It was her pain and she had to deal with it. Alone.

    - Among trees, to the right of me, stood another figure. – She continued, ignoring Sarah’s compassionate gestures. – A man. Tall, with pale complexion and bright blue eyes. He stood there and watched. As if he took pleasure in this. – She finished with lump in her throat, and her voice was more like a whisper.

    There was silence. Jay was sitting with her head down, aware that she was watched by three pairs of eyes filled with pity and horror. Now she knew that this family deserved sincerity. Perhaps her story was brutal, but true. No lies. No soppy tales.

    - I want to find them. – She said finally. – Find and kill. – She looked up again, but this time her eyes were full of wrath and determination. – My mother was the hunter. She hunted vampires and shape-shifters, who managed to get away from justice. That’s why she died. – She gave them time to ask questions, but they had none. She decided to put everything on one card. – I suppose that Paul was the hunter too, and that he was sentenced to death as well.

    - What are you talking about? – Rose didn’t allow such thought to consciousness.

    - I want to avenge them, and I hope you’ll help me.

    - You want us to help you to kill the murderers? – Sam couldn’t believe what he just heard.

    - No. – Jay stopped the comments by hand. – I don’t want to involve you in this.

    - You already did it! – Rose said reproachfully.

    - I just want some information. – Jay defended herself. – I’m not going to stain your hands with blood. I’m even not going to contact you more. I just need info. – She argued.

    - What do you need? – Sarah suddenly joined the conversation, and her whisper spoke for itself. She was determined.

    - I can’t promise I’ll succeed. – She realized that she gave the widow hope to regain her peace of mind.

    - It doesn’t matter. – She gave Jay a pale smile. – You want to find the truth, that counts. That you want the guilty to be punished. If there’s any chance for this, I want to help you. So ask.

    - I just want to know if your husband had any particularly close friends. Acquaintances, a buddy, whom he met quite often? – Jay thought about Sean. He stayed with them, though he could leave.

    - Dan Robins. – One name, but how valuable. – They were good friends. – Mrs. Thomson continued. – They went together for beer, poker. Sometimes they went fishing. There was not a week they didn’t meet. But… You think he… - She didn’t dare to finish.

    - My mother had a partner, a werewolf, who helped her track criminals with supernatural abilities. – She said calmly. – If I’m right, Paul Thomson might have such a partner too. At least, it won’t hurt to check.

    She was given Dan Robins’ address and phone number – it turned out that Paul’s friend sometimes visits the widow and her kids. She said goodbye and left. She didn’t have too much time. She was leaving Monterey the next day and she had no idea when she would be able to come again.

    She got into the car, sent Mel a message, that she got some extra time for shopping madness, and she herself started along the coast to the other side of the city, hoping to find Dan at home.