I was genuinely shocked.

Mo’Lock and I got in the Nova and headed back. It wasn’t even noon yet. I should have been passed out. I wanted to think things over. I wanted to fade into the couch and just drift. I had a lot of shit in my system. It was a miracle I didn’t fall over in front of everybody.

In the driveway I turned to the ghoul. “Can you do me a favor?”

“Of course, Cal.”

“I need you to hit the streets and the sewers. See what the ghoul population knows about this crime. Maybe there are others we don’t know about.”

“I can do that.”

I went inside the house. The ghoul headed out.

I was finally alone. I flopped onto the couch. The TV was still on. I shut it off. I didn’t need the distraction or the noise. I popped a beer, filled a shot, and sat back and exhaled. I was fucking exhausted. I threw back the shot and chased it with the beer, then fell sideways on the couch.

Peace at last.

My phone rang about a millisecond after I closed my eyes. It was Wheatley. I answered, and I wasn’t happy.

“What?”

“Any idea what we’re dealing with?”

“I dunno. Some sort of life sucker. It clearly feeds on some part of the victims to regenerate itself, but I don’t have a clue what it is.”

Wheatley sounded disappointed. “Okay.”

“Let me ask you something, Wheat,” I said. “Have you had any cases recently, homicides, that even remotely fit this description?”

“Nothing. Not even a little.”

“I was afraid of that.”

“Why?”

“It could be that this thing, whatever it is, only needs to do this every few years, decades, who knows? We may have missed our window.”

“I’ve got detectives combing the city, going over reports. If we find anything similar, I’ll let you know.”

“Sounds good,” I said. “Can I pass out now?”

I hung up before he answered and laid my head back. This funky old couch never felt better.

I had nothing but nightmares waiting for me, a steady parade of death and regret. Most of my nightmares were the same, every damn night: I’m lost and trying to find my way home but never make it. Along the way I encounter dead people, people who I’ve lost, my parents, friends, lovers, all gone, dead, and all tormenting my dreams.

By the time it was dark I was starting to wake up. The last thing I needed was Mo’Lock’s big dead face in mine, but that’s what I got. Nothing better than being startled awake by a ghoul.

“Cal.”

“What?”

Mo’Lock backed off and let me sit up. I was groggy, so I had a shot and a beer chaser.

“I have some information for you.”

“Spill it.”