Olympus Drive Book 2: Nothing to See Here

Chapter 32

Detective Stamos

When I offered to drive his girlfriend home I didn't think it would be three hours away. That's fine though. Not really but at least the girl got home safe.

She directs me to a small, well kept ranch  in a small, well kept subdivision. Lights are on inside, waiting up for her? That's nice.

"Okay, you sure you're not sick?" she's still extremely drunk even though I've been giving her water. She hasn't thrown up either though.

"I'm fine. I just want to sleep I'm really tired, you can go."

"Is anybody home?" I walk her in anyway, after she fumbles with the keycode on the door.

"I don't really know."

"Well, let's make sure it's safe," I say, following her in to the little living room.

"See? I'm fine, officer," she slurs, amused. She's never been walked home before has she? When I was her age----okay I didn't date, but the thing is when you have a female friend going home alone you make sure rapists aren't hidden someplace in the dark house.

"Hello, Anna," a man steps out of I assume back bedrooms. He's small, and lithe, with odd eyes and there is something disturbingly, uniquely predatory about him. As if a jaguar somehow got caught and wrapped up in human skin. The skin doesn't fit properly and this creature isn't used to it yet, but by God that won't stop it from tearing your throat out for sheer pleasure. He almost licks his lips as he stares at me,  looking me up and down one too many times.

"My nephew took her out drinking tonight, I'm sober so I drove her home," I say, my badge is clearly hanging on my chest.

"Detective this is my mom's homeless crazy old boyfriend," Anna informs me.

"That's cool," that does not sound like a safe person to leave her with.

"Your mother's lying down Anna, why don't you as well?" he asks, he's still staring at me, though.

"My names' Stamos, I'm with Winfell PD," I say, because he is clearly not planning on introducing himself. And I'm feeling like I need to make sure her mother is alive. Is that blood on his shirt? Yes, it definitely is.

"I see," and he's still not going to introduce himself.

"And you are?" I ask.

"Jace Cronus. As Anna said I'm an old friend of her mother's," he says, flatly, "Will that be all?"

"You ah—ruined that shirt there," I say, looking at the obvious blood splatter on it.

"I hunt," he says, flatly.

"What?"

"Things that don't want to die." That sounds an awful lot like people, and he knows it. I really don't want to leave this drunk kid here.

"You're up awfully late," I want to stall but I have no idea what I'll do. Also, Anna does not seem concerned.

"I was waiting up for Anna to get home safe. I appreciate your concern officer."

"Detective. I'll send Thyme to deliver your wallet and—clothes," I say, she is not wearing pants just underwear and she's leaning against a chair not caring.

"Detective," the man says, smiling, "We won't keep you."

"Anna, you good?" I ask I am fully prepared to drive her home with me.

"Is your name Detective or are you a Detective? That was unclear," Anna says, she's still very drunk.

"I am a detective," I say, still watching the man.

"Time you slept it off, Anna, I'll see your friend out," he says, handing her a bathrobe to put on. Oh he was trying not to look at her being naked. Maybe he's not a threat to her. He's definitely a threat though. That thing is a living, breathing, definition of a threat.

"Okay cool, night detective," she takes the robe and just holds it, going back down a hall I assume to her room.

"Goodnight," he says, staring at me.

"You really homeless?"

"I prefer the term transient."

"You got any ID?"

"I don't have to prove who I am to you, detective," he says, practically slurping the last word like he'd love to taste me.

"Actually if I think that girl is in danger you kind of do," I say, I'm a good head taller than him but I don't think that that will mean much.

"You're well out of your jurisdiction and by your attire off duty. You have no power here," he says, calmly, "As you saw Anna was not concerned with my presence. Nor should you be."

"Oh I'm concerned about everything," I say, slowly, taking a step back. "If you can't give me some form of ID now then I'm gonna stand in the yard and call the local PD to come and check on Anna and her mom and make sure they want you in their house with blood all over your shirt."

He sighs, walking to a table and finding his wallet. He hands it to me. Several credit cards and a photo ID. Different name though. But the face matches.

I look at it then up at him. He knows the disparity.

"I'm changing my name," he says, flatly.

"Why?"

"Personal reasons."

"There's an address here," I say.

"I don't live there anymore."

"Okay," I take a photo of the ID, then hand it back to him, "My kid is going to be calling that girl in the morning when they sober up."

"Fantastic," he says, stepping closer. Predatory, that's the only word to describe his movements. Like a cat stalking its prey. Not practiced on two legs but still no less dangerous.

"Night now," I say, and then I do leave. He closes the door once I'm barely out of it. I don't like it. Not one bit. I'll put in a call to the local PD and ask them to do a drive by, check for any disturbance. And I'm sending Thyme's violent ass to go check on his girlfriend as soon as possible.