Rising Light

Chapter 6: Children of the Axe

"It was really nice getting to see you." Kate sprawled out on the couch as Chas finished cleaning up breakfast. Zed had already left for the community college, she was really thriving being with them and getting to do the things that she hadn't before. Kate was happy for her; after that night in the hotel they had really started to bond and were on their way to becoming friends. It definitely helped that her mother liked her as much as she did.

"I loved seeing you too, sweetie," her mother said. They were talking a bit more often since New Orleans, after she found out her daughter was back to spending time with John. "Everyone's doing alright?"

"Yeah. Your father's wondering when you will be coming up to New York."

"Soon," she replied. "Chas is going to be seeing Geraldine soon and I heard the Royal Ballet was coming in. Maybe we could go see it?"

The front door could be heard from downstairs as someone came in. Kate watched the balcony, relieved to find John stumbling in. Victoria went on. "I would love that. I think Mrs. Cox will even be in if you want to find out what Ben's been up to."

Kate raised a brow at John as he came down the stairs looking more of a mess than he did when he went to the bar the night before. Someone had been up to no good. John, noticing her stare, smirked as Chas threw down the plate of extra food they made for breakfast. Maybe it was John or the mention of Ben, but she wasn't sure how to feel as the conversation came to an end.

"I'm going to have to call you back," Kate said before she hung up the phone. She took one of the empty seats next to John, tucking her legs underneath her. "So, what was their name? Assuming you were sober enough to remember to get that."

"Nora, smart alec." John cut into his food as Chas pulled out the map.

"Okay, Zed's in art class. You're both my problem today. So, where do you want to start?" Chas asked. The map was covered in blood spots, but none of them looked fresh enough to warrant a look.

John took a bite. "Back in bed. Just being honest."

"Do we even have anything?" she questioned him. "We haven't heard anything since New Orleans."

Chas stole John's plate out from under him. With a sigh, John took the magnify glass and looked around the closet part of the map, stopping in the south. "Birmingham... That's like what, two hours away? Well... We'll be there by lunch."

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They pulled up to an impressive looking house, after two hours of arguing about what kind of music to listen to, and Chas threatening to turn the radio off completely if they couldn't agree on something. Following the little set to they had settled on some channel that none of them were really all that enamoured with, but it was sound and that was the main thing. Instead of listening, Kate had focused her attention on her phone, on the articles that she could pull up about the house and everything that had happened there. All John said on the matter was that they needed to get the parents on side, something that was probably easier said than done in the mood he was currently in. The police tape was already firmly in place on the front door as they got out of the truck, Kate sliding across the front seat after Chas.

"Looks like we're late to the party," noted John, grabbing his bag out of the back. He didn't sound too disappointed about the fact.

"Local police blotter reported a double homicide last night. Man and his wife. Battered beyond recognition," Chas said.

"Bite marks? Puncture wounds? Flesh torn asunder?" asked John.

"No details in the report," noted Chas.