The Victorious Redemption Complete Series Boxed Set, page 63
Rhonda considered this. She looked down at her feet, shoulders slumping. “I don’t know. It’s not like Tommy at all to do something like that. I didn’t know he had it in him.”
“Start from the top,” Jasmine instructed her. “Tell me about that night. Was Tommy acting suspicious, or stranger than he would usually?”
Rhonda rested back against the wall, leaning her head on the brickwork. “I don’t know. I’m not often at home these days. Aunt Irene can attest to that.”
“Oh, she already has,” Jasmine confirmed with a warm smile.
Rhonda chuckled. “The first moment I knew that something was wrong was when Tommy didn’t show up to watch the film with me. He said he was going to head out with his dumbass friends but that he’d be back in time to watch. I waited for almost an hour before deciding to head out and find him.”
“That doesn’t sound that suspicious. From what your aunt has told me, you’re not exactly the reliable sort, either.” She smiled again, trying to create some rapport with the girl.
Rhonda frowned, trying to put up a wall between them. “I know I’m not,” she snapped. “I don’t profess to be.”
“But you expected your brother to sit and watch a film with you?” Jasmine asked.
“We have a pact,” Rhonda replied simply.
“A pact?” Jasmine pressed.
Rhonda rolled her eyes. “It means a promise that no one can break. We made it after Mom died. Neither of us had ever broken the pact, until last night.”
“What’s the pact?” Jasmine asked, studying the emotion in Rhonda’s eyes.
Rhonda looked down at her feet and kicked a stone around. “It’s stupid.”
“No,” Jasmine assured her. “Pacts aren’t stupid. Tell me.”
Rhonda sighed. “Every year, on the same day, we sit down together and watch Steel Magnolias at midnight.”
Jasmine frowned, taken aback. “Steel Magnolias? That’s that eighties film, isn’t it? Julia Roberts and…and…” Jasmine racked her brain, trying to remember what she knew of the film. It had been years since she saw it herself. She remembered sitting next to her mother on the battered leather couch, watching the film on TV.
“Sally Field, and Shirley MacLaine, and blah, blah, blah,” Rhonda filled in. “See. Stupid.”
“Why that film?” Jasmine asked. “I wouldn’t have imagined an eighties comedy-drama film was prime time viewing for two kids of your age.”
At the word “kids,” Rhonda glared at Jasmine.
“It was Mom’s favorite film,” Rhonda explained. “Today’s her birthday, so we ring in every year together by watching the movie and reminding ourselves of what we lost. How shit life is without her. It was Tommy’s idea, to begin with, but now…”
“You kind of like it?” Jasmine finished.
Rhonda nodded. “I knew that something was off when he didn’t show up. It wasn’t like Tommy. He wouldn’t miss something like this. Not without telling me. So I went off to find him. I looked in all his usual haunts, but he was nowhere to be found. I guess I got a little desperate and strayed too far from home when I stumbled across the Nest.”
“You can say that again,” Jasmine agreed. “The Nest isn’t exactly local to you. And to arrive at that time of night… You must really love your brother.”
Rhonda shrugged. “I heard gunshots. I was worried.”
“So you went toward the gunshots?” Jasmine asked. “For your brother? That’s brave. That shows a love that you’re lucky to feel.”
Rhonda continued, ignoring Jasmine’s words. “That’s when I saw you running out of the place. Bloodied and mean-looking. When you saw me, I froze. I’m embarrassed to admit that you scared the shit out of me. So, I ran.”
Jasmine thought back to that night, remembering her frantic mind trying to choose between pursuing the girl or seeing if Eddy was okay. The night was a blur to recall. She wondered what would have happened if she had gone after Rhonda in that desperate state, if she had not had time to calm down before interrogating her. Would Jasmine have done something stupid?
That doesn’t matter now. You’re here, in this moment.
“Have you been to see Tommy at the hospital?” Jasmine wondered if this could be the same girl who had passed on the parasite to the nurse. Perhaps whoever had it out for Eddy had some connection with this family, some hatred.
“No.” Rhonda looked at her feet again. Jasmine was finding it difficult to tell whether the girl was being sincere or putting on an act. “I’m scared to. I don’t want to see him like that. That’s not the Tommy I know.” She ran her fingers through her hair, suddenly frustrated. “None of it makes sense. I can’t imagine what would be going through Tommy’s head to shoot up a place like that. I didn’t even know that he had a gun. He’s a good kid, Jasmine. You’ve got to believe me. He’s one of the good ones. He’d never do anything like this.”
“What do you think happened?” Jasmine probed. Her mind flashed to the hideous creature she’d bagged up and left at the Nest. “Because the fact is, he did shoot my friend. I was there. I saw the whole thing.”
You also slashed up her brother, didn’t you? Jasmine thought. It was self-defense, she answered herself with dismay.
“I don’t know.” Rhonda searched her mind for an answer. “Maybe someone persuaded him? Or blackmailed him. But then…I can’t imagine what they could possibly have on Tommy to make him do it.”
Jasmine weighed her words while the quiet of the alley pressed on them. She noted that not a single car had driven up or down the nearby street. “What do you know of Mr. Vorhees?”
“Who?” Rhonda asked without hesitation.
“My friend,” Jasmine replied. “Eddy. Eddy Vorhees.”
Rhonda searched her mind. “Never heard of him. Why? Should I have? Is he famous or something?”
Jasmine chewed her lip, getting her best reading on Rhonda. From what she could tell, the girl had no deception in her eyes. She truly didn’t know who Eddy was. Jasmine tried to understand what kind of monster could have targeted Tommy to perform the heinous act she had witnessed. She realized that if they had found Tommy and set him on his way, they could come back and put Rhonda in the exact same position. Her aunt was hardly Guardian of the Year material, and from what she could tell, Rhonda was already swimming in dangerous waters.
Jasmine softened, digging her hands back into her pockets. “Listen, if you’re really concerned about your brother, I can let you in on a few things that I’ve found out during my investigation.”
“Yes!” Rhonda put a hand to her mouth, embarrassed at letting her eagerness slip. “Yes, please. I want to know.”
“Okay,” Jasmine replied. “But not here. If we’re going to go into this together, we need a safer place, away from prying ears. If you go and ask your aunt to find out if you can accompany me back to the Nest, we can go from there.”
Rhonda looked insulted. “Ask Irene?”
Jasmine smirked. “Yes. Not for you, but for me. It wouldn’t do well to look like I’d influenced a kid to follow me back to a bar in the middle of the night.”
“You’ve met her, right?” Rhonda asked.
Jasmine considered this with a chuckle. “Fair enough. Maybe just leave a note.”
CHAPTER TEN
Jasmine reveled in the familiar, homey feel of the Nest. After a turbulent twenty-four hours, it was nice to be home. Though it saddened her to note that the place hadn’t been open for business for some time, she finally felt like she was making some kind of progress on the case.
When she entered with Rhonda, Ivan looked up from the table he was cleaning, a fierce determination on his face to remove something that Jasmine couldn’t see. How keen were his part-Domovoi eyes?
She guided Rhonda over to the bar, and they both sat.
Rhonda looked uncertainly around her. “Isn’t anyone going to wonder why an underage kid is in a bar? Won’t you guys get in trouble?”
Jasmine shrugged. “It’s not the top of my concerns. Given that this place is closed for now, and that this neighborhood isn’t your typical pristine suburb, you should be fine. If anyone comes in, we’ll just hide you upstairs away from the cops.”
She grinned at Rhonda. To Jasmine’s surprise, the girl offered a smile back.
“It’s definitely better than Roxbury,” Rhonda offered.
“Hey, we’re given what we’re given,” Jasmine returned.
Ivan drifted over to the bar and set two glasses on the counter to make drinks for Jasmine and Rhonda. He made a screwdriver for Jasmine, and Rhonda looked uncertain as he shook an aggressive amount of chili flakes and pepper into the glass. When finished, he set about pouring a glass of soda for Rhonda.
Rhonda held out a hand to stop him. “I want what she’s having.”
Jasmine chuckled. “No, you don’t.”
Rhonda clarified, “Minus the spices.” When Ivan stared unblinkingly at her, she added, “Please.”
Ivan looked at Jasmine for confirmation. Given the amount of shit this girl had seen and been through, Jasmine let her pity lead her judgment. After all, what could one drink hurt?
“You heard her,” Jasmine directed Ivan.
Ivan’s lips thinned. Still, he obliged, pouring the orange and the vodka into the second glass, muttering beneath his breath, “Waste of good vodka.” He finished pouring the drink, then slid a menu toward Rhonda. “You hungry?”
Rhonda looked taken aback, and Jasmine wondered when was the last time someone had shown true concern for her. It was clear her aunt had lost all motivation and drive to parent some time ago.
Rhonda dragged a finger down the menu, eventually settling on a burger with fries. Ivan grunted his acknowledgment and went into the kitchen. After a few clicks of switches and buttons, Jasmine heard the gleaming silver cooker fire up.
“You’re lucky,” she informed Rhonda. “When I first got here, he wasn’t nearly half as accommodating.”
“What do you mean?” Rhonda asked. She sipped from her drink and winced at the taste of vodka. She tried to hide it from Jasmine, but it was too late.
Jasmine told Rhonda about stumbling across the Nest. She didn’t go into the circumstances that led her there, only choosing to share that she had been homeless and alone, and that she had lived with Ivan ever since.
“What convinced him to let you stay here?” Rhonda cautiously brought the drink to her lips again.
“Eddy,” Jasmine answered with a fond smile on her face.
Rhonda searched her mind for a moment. “The dude Tommy shot?”
She said it in such a sharp, nonchalant way that Jasmine was caught off guard. She choked on her drink, and the pair of them descended into laughter as Ivan clattered away in the kitchen. “Yes, that dude.”
“Sounds like a good guy,” Rhonda guessed sadly.
“He is.” Jasmine turned to face Rhonda fully. “Which is why I’m really trying to get to the bottom of this mess. Someone is after him, and I don’t know why. You may hold the key to finding out.”
“I’m not involved,” Rhonda insisted, the wall suddenly going back up between them.
“Not directly,” Jasmine confirmed. “And I’m not saying you’re in trouble. But you know more than I do about Tommy, and I’ve been in investigative journalism for a long time, so I know when someone isn’t telling me the full truth…”
“…the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” Rhonda quipped.
“Exactly.” Jasmine waited patiently.
Rhonda sipped her drink, acclimatizing to the liquor. Jasmine couldn’t tell if the alcohol was loosening the girl’s tongue or if Rhonda was growing more comfortable around Jasmine, but something changed in her demeanor.
Ivan re-entered the bar with a plate in hand. He placed the plate down in front of Rhonda, steam rising from the top of the french fries. Without a word, he walked away, leaving the pair in peace.
Rhonda popped a fry in her mouth. She spoke as she chewed. “You’ll never believe me if I told you the truth. Even I’m not sure how much I believe of what I know.”
Jasmine chuckled. “Wanna bet? I’ve seen some freaky shit in my time.”
“Prove it,” Rhonda commanded.
Jasmine placed a hand flat on the countertop. She triggered her claws to appear, the sharp, tapered points growing from her fingertips. Rhonda’s eyes widened as the claws on that hand reached their full length, bone-white blades gleaming. Jasmine reached over to Rhonda’s plate and prodded a spike through one of the fatter french fries. She chewed the end with a cocky grin on her face.
For a moment, Jasmine was unsure if Rhonda was going to run away. The color had drained from her face, and her lower lip quivered. At last, she managed, “What kind of monster are you?”
Jasmine laughed. “One of a kind.”
Rhonda waited for her to elaborate, but Jasmine didn’t.
“You can’t leave me with that,” Rhonda persisted, fascination taking over. “Are you a vampire?”
“Nope,” Jasmine answered.
Rhonda tried again. “Wolverine?”
Jasmine shook her head.
“Skeleton? Zombie? Wendigo? Werewolf? Frankenstein? Ghoul?” Rhonda fired her flurry of questions so fast that Jasmine didn’t have time to answer. “Are you even living? Do you have a heartbeat? Can you fire projectiles from your fingers? What if your claws break? Can you sprout hair?”
Jasmine waited for the line of questioning to finish. “Are you done?”
“Sorry,” Rhonda replied abashedly. “I don’t mean to pry. It’s just…I knew I wasn’t going crazy. I’ve seen some weird shit in this city, but whenever I tried to bring it up with friends, they all called me a loon. I know what I’ve seen. And now…here’s proof.”
“Your friends didn’t believe you?” Jasmine asked. “Some friends they are.”
“Tommy did. Tommy was the only one who believed the stories I’d told him.”
“What did you see?” Jasmine questioned.
Rhonda considered this while she chewed on another french fry. “I was out late one night, walking through Silver Park. The moon was just about full, so it wasn’t too dark, and it was warm out. Out of nowhere, a chill came through, and I heard a long howl. I figured it must have been a wolf or a coyote or something, but my skin broke out in gooseflesh and my heart started racing. I ran past an alley, and I couldn’t see much, but dark figures were moving in a flurry. I heard chewing and chomping and the cries of feral animals. I thought I must be going crazy. I ran home as fast as I could. The next day I read in the paper that some local politician had gone missing.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want to make the connection, but it all seemed too coincidental.”
She looked at Jasmine as if trying to get confirmation of what she had seen.
Jasmine met her gaze but remained quiet.
“It’s not just that,” Rhonda continued. “I’ve heard groaning near the rivers, something that smelled like dead things. One night, I looked out my bedroom window and saw someone staring in at me. When I blinked, they were gone.”
In her head, Jasmine listed the creatures in the scenario: werewolf, zombie, vampire. She didn’t say them out loud, not knowing for certain that these were what Rhonda had seen. She knew from experience that children, even teenagers, had wild imaginations. That didn’t discredit the possibilities, however.
“Well?” Rhonda asked, trying to pull an answer from Jasmine.
“You could be right,” Jasmine replied. “I can’t know for sure, though. Those monsters you listed, vampires, ghouls, zombies, Weres—they all exist. I’ve seen many of them myself. They tend to keep to themselves when they can. It wouldn’t do for the supernatural world to announce their existence to humans.”
“Fuck…” Rhonda took a large bite from her burger, and sauce dripped down her chin. She chuckled. “Look, I’m a vampire.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “So this is all the stuff you’ve seen, but what about your brother? Was Tommy tied up in supernatural secrets?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Rhonda answered. “What I do know is that Tommy wouldn’t do this of his own accord. If what you say happened did happen, something else was behind it. Something made him do it.”
“I believe you,” Jasmine assured her. “Which is why I want to catch this bastard, whoever it is.” She leaned closer, asking a final time, “Tell me what Tommy was doing. How this could have happened.”
Rhonda swallowed her mouthful. “On one condition.”
“Anything,” Jasmine agreed.
“Anything?” Rhonda challenged her. She had a dangerous edge to her voice.
“Well, not anything,” Jasmine clarified. “I won’t kill your mortal enemies or steal a puppy for you.”
Rhonda dismissed this. “I don’t want that, anyway.”
“Then what?” Jasmine met her stare.
“Just…help me make sure Tommy is okay,” Rhonda requested. “I know that I’m not going to be able to stop him going to jail, or juvie, or wherever it is that kids go when they commit a crime. But I just want him to be safe. He doesn’t deserve to be in prison, and he needs to live a normal life when he gets out. Promise me you’ll help him whenever and however you can, so he can live a good life.”
Jasmine contemplated this. Realistically, she couldn’t promise this for Tommy. What Rhonda was asking was to take Tommy under her wing and protect him at a place and time in which she wouldn’t be able to help him. What was she meant to do? Melt between prison bars to guard him if he got into scraps with hardass felons?
She looked into Rhonda’s eyes, knowing she was so close to finding what she needed. Would it be the worst thing to look after the kid when he was free? To pass some money his way and help a kid who never asked for any of this to happen?
No turning back now, Jasmine. Your friend’s life depends on it.
“Fine,” Jasmine answered at last. “I’ll do what I can. I don’t know how much that is, but I’ll do what I can.”
