Free Shadow of Doubt: Part 2 by W.J. May Page A

distracted if you saw that bitch tied
up and crying.” She laughed again and then cooed. “She’s not here,
sweetie, but I am.”
    Aurora was alive, just not with Nanny.
She could be safe – for now.
    Erebus pushed his luck. “Come meet me.
I’m on Stewart Avenue now. Meet me at the end of Lake Street, by
the Starbucks I always go to. It’ll take you ten minutes.” Anxiety
quickened his step. He was running out of time.
    “It’s raining, and it’s too late. I
can use your K-Six here and meet you tomorrow.”
    Shit! In the heat of the moment, he’d forgotten about the old
British pay phone setup in his living room. He had no idea if it
worked. If it didn’t Nanny would disappear from his life forever.
It was tempting, but too dangerous if he couldn’t find Aurora in
time.
    “It doesn’t work.” He
groaned. “It’s not set up as a payphone anymore. Come on, I can’t
wait. I – I want you now .” He clenched his jaw, hoping he
sounded convincing.
    “Ohhh…this is new. So now
you need me.” A
click sounded, then silence.
    “Nanny!” Panic shot up through his
chest.
    “Calm down, soldier. I just set the
phone down to get my raincoat on. It’s all I’m wearing.” She
paused. Erebus shook his head, knowing she was playing her ruse,
trying to get him to picture her. Fine, he’d play her
game.
    “Get your ass over here. Five minutes.
Then we’ve got fifteen minutes – ten for us and five to get to a
pay phone.”
    “I only need eight.” She hung
up.
    Erebus broke into a run, oblivious to
the rain now pouring down. He had five minutes to figure out what
he needed to do, every second ticking away on Aurora’s
chances.
     
    He reached the planned meeting place
before Nanny. His breath came short and rapid, from the run and
from gut-wrenching fear. His heart rate slowed to its normal
rhythm, but the pressure in his chest wouldn’t leave. Letting his
stride come to a standstill, he waited in front of a phone booth,
crossing his arms over his chest. The rain continued to batter
down, but he didn’t notice.
    Spotting Nanny walking briskly down
the street towards him, the anger inside him begged for release.
Her black trench coat tied loosely at her waist, her breasts were
almost completely exposed while she ran. Her skin looked
translucent against the black, the rain making it look like
snakeskin. A mortal could only dream about someone like Nanny
dressed like that. Knowing her, he wondered again how he ever
thought her lovely. Every part of his entire being loathed
her.
    Holding his breath, he checked his
watch again. They only had ten minutes till sunrise. He waited.
This was going to be the longest ten minutes of his life – longer
than immortality.
    “You came.” His voice sounded curt in
his ears. He didn’t care.
    “Of course.” She looked up at the sky.
Even though the grey clouds hid the night, she’d know how much time
they had. “This is going to be tight. One phone booth. Where’s
another one?” She glanced up both sides of the street. Her coat now
lay open on her shoulders. She couldn’t even be bothered to
modestly cover herself.
    “Two minutes up the road.”
He pointed behind him. Seven
minutes…
    “This one’s mine.” Never the unselfish
one, that Nanny.
    “Of course.” He slid the door
open.
    “You want to do it. In there?” Her
eyes grew big.
    “Sure. Make’s it kind of
symbolic – you, me, what we are, what we represent.” Five minutes…
    “Oh…I forgot you’re into all the
symbolism shit. Whatever.” She stepped into the booth, untying her
belt as she brushed past him. She turned and raised a leg against
the phone book attached under the phone. “I never –”
    Erebus slammed the door shut
and held it tight, cutting off her words. He stood outside the
booth, his shoulder, knee, and foot wedged against the bracket to
keep the door closed. Nanny’s mouth hung open, a moment of
confusion written on her face. Then her eyes narrowed as she
slapped her hand