Shadow Walker

Rain

Tommy turned to Dec, scowling. "Thanks for nothing."

Dec was still gaping at the silver disk in his hand. "Are you serious? That guy was a freak."

"He's the leader of the most powerful Nocturnal movement we've seen so far. He owns this bloody club. You could've shown him some respect."

Dec spluttered. So Lazar was the one paying the police to keep the club running. And that's why everyone had his tattoos. But where did he get the get all his money from? "Sounds like a cult, Tommy. They'll use you up, force you to do their bidding, and bail on the ensuing shit storm."

"I'd rather be an idiot stuck in a shit storm saving lives, than hiding undercover, hoping it'll pass," Tommy retorted.

This made Dec reel. Was Tommy trying to say Dec was a skive? "Easy to say when you're not the one being arrested," he blurted, even though he knew it was a senseless remark. Tommy would gladly have taken a black mark on his record if he thought it was for the 'Nocturnal cause'. Hell, he'd probably give his life if he knew it would make him some kind of martyr. Which was what made him a perfect target for Lazar.

A hero thinks with his head, a fool thinks with his heart. Dec's hand came to rest absentmindedly on the front pocket of his jeans where the note from Dirk was tucked away. It should've been given to Tommy, not him.

Tommy was standing now, and slapping the heel of his palm on the pop-rivet corner of the metal casket table. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again. Then, without so much as a goodbye, he walked away.

Dec watched him go, stomach churning. His mind travelled back to the strange girl, Teegan, with her tower heels and psychology degree. He wondered if she was right about Tommy. Maybe he wasn't such a good friend after all. Maybe it was time Dec stopped trying to keep up with Tommy's outlandish plans.

But then again—

He forced himself to remember the Tommy he knew growing up in Quarry Cove—the small fishing town on the southernmost coast of the Isles, where Dec's mother used to manage their family's wheat farm and where Tommy's family owned land too—land that had been passed down through the generations of his family, making them the longest surviving native owners in the area. It was where they'd skimmed rocks, fished off the jetty, ridden their bikes to the local dump to collect parts to make go karts. Tommy's parents presided over the council for marine park protection, the same council Dec's mum was on. Tommy and Dec used to play at the back of the town hall during council meetings.

Dec never knew his father. His mum re-married when he was five and soon after, Mel came along. Tommy had been like a second brother to her. They used to tease her mercilessly, then get into fights with any neighbourhood kids who tried to do the same. Typical brothers, they alone retained the right to rile her up.

When Adele's marriage fell through and she sold the farm to move to the big city of Atunda, Dec had been forced to change schools. Thankfully, Tommy's parents decided to board Tommy at the same high school, and he was the sole reason Dec didn't go completely friendless that year.

While Tommy become known as the class clown and was loved by everyone except his teachers, Dec faded into the background. Still, Tommy remained a loyal friend who refused to go to any parties unless Dec was invited too. Dec would never forget the time Tommy turned down the advances of the girl he'd been crushing on for years when she told him he'd be better off without Dec as his constant 'tag-along'. Surely that had to count for something. Surely all their history was worth more than a fight about the NYR.

Dec's stomach churned again. This time, not from this fight with Tommy. This time, it was from the beers he'd drunk on an empty stomach, which had been empty since his run-in with the police the night before. He stood and swayed, closed his eyes and immediately regretted doing so when the ground tipped and threatened to buck him sideways. Feet struggling for purchase on the dust-coated concrete floor, he staggered towards the main crypt and leaned on the coffin bar, earning him a scowl from the bartender.