The Dark Communion (The Midnight Defenders) Read Online Free Page B

seats were uncomfortable, and always wanted to drive one of his, though not the fun ones. He’d even offered to give me something else, buy me some used Honda or some shit, but there’s no way. The El Camino had character.
    There was a spare t-shirt in my floorboard, and I slipped out of the old, blood-spattered one, and into the other. It wasn’t fresh and clean, but it didn’t look like it belonged on-set of a Bruce Willis movie, either.
    As I started the engine, the first of the police cars came into view. We sat there for a minute, watched them approach and pull to a stop in front of the house, lights twirling. There were three of them, followed by a dark, unmarked Sedan.
    “Feds?” I said. I watched the woman step from the driver’s seat: typical black suit, blonde hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, high cheek bones, dark sunglasses. That arse that winked at me when she walked. “What’s Stone doing here?”
    I put the car in gear and drove slowly by, an eye on her the whole time, silently hoping she might turn with that glare of hatred she typically reserved for me. She didn’t. She crouched by the shattered door in the lawn, my size twelve boot print in the mud next to it. The uniformed officers were going for the house, the headless body spewed from the open doorway like the vomit he was.
    There was a guy in a suit, too – her partner, Whatshisname. His arse wasn’t as nice, not quite worth remembering.
    I took the Teddy out of my jacket and tossed it at Ape. He caught it, nimbly. “There are a lot of missing children lately,” he said. “Ever consider the Feds might be alerted to something like that?”
    “I’ve had five missing children cases in the past month. They haven’t bothered before.”
    “Well, they’re bothering now.”
    I sighed, said no more, and enjoyed the momentary silence. The radio played softly as we drove, and the Rolling Stones came on. I turned it up.
    I stole a glance at Ape, but he didn’t pay attention. His eyes fixed on the trees outside his window. The Towers’ family estate where we lived was south of and just outside the city proper. We had a bit of a drive ahead of us.
    After a few minutes, Ape reached over and turned the volume down. He looked straight at me.
    “Why are you doing this?” he asked.
    “Doing what?”
    “Taking all these cases that are difficult for you.”
    “I wouldn’t exactly call them difficult, mate. I think you noted this case is now officially closed.”
    “I don’t mean logically, Jono. I mean, emotionally. I’ve been watching you. You’re off, lately.”
    “Bollocks.” I didn’t want to argue with him. He was smarter than me. “Nothing’s difficult. I’m fine.”
    “How many years have we known each other? Eleven, twelve? Nothing gets to you, but kids, and the last five cases are wearing you so thin I can see through you.”
    “So, kids are missing. What choice do I have? Nothing else needs doing…”
    “There’s always something else needed. You could consult for the police again.”
    “Right. Most of them write me off as another two-bit psychic.”
    “You can’t save her, Jono. She’s gone.”
    “What the fuck are you talking about?”
    “Anna.” I shivered at the sound of her name. It was always difficult hearing someone else say it, haunting even. “It’s what this whole thing is about. The sooner you admit it, the sooner we can move on. You’re not focused. I have to keep asking you things, reminding you of stuff you normally do in your sleep. And when you do manage to do something, you begin phoning it in as soon as you know how everything will play out. Anna’s not there, Jono. And you aren’t going to find her. By helping other people find their missing children, you aren’t going to replace what you’ve lost.”
    “Phoning it in?”
    “Out of all that, that’s what you take away?” Frustrated, he turned away from me. It was almost like being married again.
    I ignored him. “I’m phoning it