Page 3 of Dark Bastard

Sam doubted that very much. He had no clue who she was, but nothing inside told him she was any sort of agent. “I wouldn’t worry about that.”

Lazarus hummed and continued working until he unlocked the information. “Ellie McLaren.”

“What does it say about her?” It was like a punch in the sternum to learn her name, and his question to Lazarus sounded closer to a sneer than a genuine question. Sam never lost his cool, and he had to bring himself back.

“Easy, brother. I’m pulling up the information as we speak.”

Ellie. Even if he didn’t utter her name, his lips moved, mouthing the syllables. Who was she? And more urgently, why did he feel as if she’d been on the verge, the same edge he’d been less than an hour ago?

“I found her tax report and she’s a 911 operator here in Chicago.”

“She said she was about to start her shift, that’s probably where she’s heading. Do you have the location?”

“Near Park Avenue. I’m sending you the address. I’ll call you an Uber. It will be quicker than getting a cab, especially where you are.”

As he was checking the address, Lazarus’ words made their way through his urgency as did the fact that his brother knew where he was. “Are you keeping tabs on me?”

With a deep sigh, Lazarus’s British accent seemed deeper, sharper. “Always, Sam. You’re my brother and I care. The car is en route, and when you have a minute, I want to know why this Ellie McLaren has turned you into an impatient bastard.”

The line went dead just as a vehicle approached, flashing its headlight in Sam’s direction. He didn’t know if he was ready to make sense of this, yet, let alone tell his brother, as he had a couple of questions to answer on his own.

* * *

The hint of dawn,now only minutes away seemed to drop the temperature even more as he left the building. Sam pushed the discomfort to the back of his mind as steam rose inside him at the fact that Ellie wasn’t at the 911 call center. However, luck was on his side and for once, didn’t disappear along the way. He’d found a way to access the call center, which wasn’t hard as the people coming and going were like zombies, not noticing who was around them as tiredness dulled their attention.

Inside, it had been easy to locate the call center, and even Ellie’s spot, but her chair was empty. Worry gnawed at him until he found out that Ellie had called in to get the night off. Where was she? Sam doubted the woman would’ve lied about heading to work, and the fact she’d notified her boss just after their discussion calmed his alarm a little.

It was tempting to contact Lazarus once more, but he wanted to find a way on his own. In some weird way, he didn’t want anyone else to know about Ellie.

In the almost deserted section, it had been only a matter of seconds and skill to keep a low profile from the various cameras and slide into an empty office. Morning was arriving, but Sam had to make the best of a few minutes alone with the computer.

The first good news was that the machine had Internet access, allowing him to set a few safeguards to remain undetected before digging in and find the holy grail: her home address.

Sam took public transport, most probably the route Ellie took to go home. Even knowing she wasn’t there, he looked around, discreetly examining the passengers. It was the first time he wondered what the sad woman looked like. She didn’t have a worn or raw voice often found in older women. With everything going on, Sam never thought about checking her photo, and for him, it didn’t matter; she was a human being who was suffering, much like he was.

He didn’t want to analyze his reaction to it or think beyond what he’d do after making sure she was all right.

After a thirty-minute ride with a few transfers and walks in-between, Sam was once again frozen when he arrived in front of the brick four-story building. It blended perfectly in the turn-of-the-century working-class neighborhood. Some parts had been restored, but most were still showing their age, or maybe that impression was caused by the bleak morning winter light.

People were milling around now, the city coming alive as a new day began, and he looked around for a place to stake out the building, maybe a restaurant when someone came out. The older man glanced at Sam before smiling. He was bald and had a bright-red cardigan buttoned over his ample belly. “Hey! Finally! I thought you’d never arrive.”

Before he could tell him off and leave, the man turned and reentered the building, holding the door open behind him.

Sam forced himself to relax his features and smile. If he could enter the building and take a look without having to pick a lock, he’d be dumb to set the poor man straight.

“I don’t have time to waste today. A pipe burst in one of my other buildings, and the guy is screaming non-stop. I swear sometimes I shouldn’t have bought that place!”

As they took the staircase, Sam noticed the place was worn and in need of repairs and a coat of paint, or ten, but it was reasonably maintained. At least as much as the old man could do Sam guessed.

Huffing and puffing, they finally made their way to the top floor. There were only two doors there, and the landlord made his way to the closest one to unlock it.

“Last tenant left all his stuff. I decided to keep it as it’s not rotten, but you can do whatever you want with it, or bring your own things in. Just don’t leave anything on the sidewalk. You have to dispose of it correctly or I’ll be sure to slip the fine under your door.”

Sam stepped inside, trying to look like he was interested. Light was slowly making its way in, causing the floating dust to appear like a shroud of starlight. The place was musty, but at least whoever was there last hadn’t left a body behind. Bare and utilitarian, it was clear a man had lived there previously. The bathroom was bigger than he’d expected with a wide shower stall. The kitchen space simple and efficient. Going to the windows, Sam had a clear view of the back, including a small alley and other similar apartment buildings nearby.

“There are only two apartments on this floor, so you shouldn’t be disturbed. Your neighbor mostly works nights, so you shouldn’t be bothered at all.”

Sam’s entire body stilled. Ellie. Her home was just on the other side of the wall. Was she already there sleeping?

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