Light Me Up

THEO

The rain hitMoon Harbor first, but the winds would soon be the problem.

After that little episode in the town hall parking lot, I drove Sara straight to my place. By the time we arrived, I could barely see out of the windshield. It was romantic at first, getting pelted by the rain after a deep, hard fuck. Holding hands as we ran up the steps. But a storm was a storm. And Sara told me she’d had a bad feeling that this one was going to cause trouble.

After we showered and dried off, I called the station to get an update. The National Weather Service had put out an alert, but two commercial fishing boats were still out at sea and racing against the storm to get to port.

“The Stella Rose just made it.” Trish told me. I released a long sigh. That was the boat Raf worked on. He was safe.

“What about the other? Which is it?”

“Uh, the Fortuna Fin.”

“Shit.” That was a large vessel. If it was working with a full crew, we had possibly twelve men out there in the path of the storm. “All right. Put the Coast Guard on standby.”

“Copy that.”

“You guys safe down there?”

“Yeah, the winds are picking up, but so far, so good. But, uh, Sheriff?”

“What is it?”

“We had a report come in from a state trooper out in Tannersville. Said he saw a dozen or so bikers at a rest stop. They got on the highway before he could get a good look at their insignia, but he was pretty sure it’s them. Devil’s Rain.”

“Dammit. This would all be happening at once. All right, well this is a step toward ending this thing. Any other details? What time?”

“Uh…” the sound of rustling papers came through the phone, and my adrenaline pumped faster. “Looks like eight o’clock. He didn’t say anything else, but he saw our bulletin so figured we’d want to know.”

It was after nine now. They could be in town. But it was raining and thundering out there. Would bikers be out on the streets or hunkered down til the storm passed? My mind skated over all the scenarios, trying to triage. What was the most important thing to take care of right now?

“Okay. Call me if you hear anything else. And let Miller know. I’ll be in soon, but then I’m going to do one more sweep, make sure everyone is off the streets.”

“Will do. See you in a bit.”

I hung up and turned to finish getting dressed, but the look on Sara’s face stopped me. Worry covered every feature. My heart sank.

“Possible Devil’s Rain sighting in Tannersville.”

Her eyes grew wide, but she squared her shoulders and nodded.

“What’s the plan?”

“I’m going to bring you to the station. It’s safer there.”

“You’re going back out in the storm, though?”

“I’m sorry, baby, but I need to make sure everyone is safe.”

“But who will keep you safe?”

“You doubt me?” I smiled, trying to keep my tone light. “I’ll keep myself safe. I’ll take my truck, use my magnetic beacon light. That’s safer than the sedan.”

She shrugged, then nodded. “Can I just stay here?”

“The station is safer.” I stepped up to her and wrapped my hands around the back of her neck. “I need to know you’re protected and safe. I won’t be able to do my job if you’re not. If you go to the station, you’ll be surrounded by people I trust.”

“Okay. Just promise to come back to me soon.”

“Always.”

* * *

I dropped Sara off, made sure she was safe, and then went out to patrol the streets. The rain was coming down diagonally now, joined by hail, and both were pelting my windshield faster than my wipers could keep up.

It looked like the town had taken the warnings seriously and hunkered down. I’d seen no signs of bikers, Devil’s Rain, or otherwise, which made sense. The bad weather was good for one thing, at least. We could deal with that problem tomorrow.

I did a sweep of the outer neighborhoods, then closer to downtown. The winds had knocked the electricity out, judging by the darkness of all the buildings. My mind went to Sara, but I knew the station had generators. She’d be fine. Passing by her house, I noted how the storm was going to make the damaged kitchen, already open to the elements, worse. But that was another problem for another day.

I turned left onto Harbor Street, intending to check it again before heading back to the station. As I passed by the harbor, a bright light caught my attention. The Fortuna Fin was heading for port, only a few hundred meters from the dock. A little knot in my chest eased. They made it, thank god.

Before I could stop to wait for them, though, something on the other side of the street caught my attention. Another light. Barely visible through the rain. But in the darkness of the rest of town, it was stark. Someone was in The Witch’s Brew.

I pulled my truck over and grabbed my flashlight, gun, and radio. I didn’t want to call for backup because I didn’t want anyone else out here in the storm. But in case I needed to, I’d be ready.

There was no way to sneak up on them, whoever was in there. I needed to just get to the door and go in, brute force style.

Opening my truck door, I made a run for it, then got close to the wall, just feet from the glass door. The light was still bouncing around inside. A flashlight. If the door was unlocked, I’d walk in. If it was locked, well, I’d break the glass and deal with Sara’s wrath later.

It was now or never.

I pulled out my gun, then with my other hand turned the knob. I rammed my shoulder into the door, and made it inside. I couldn’t see anyone, but the light source had disappeared. I turned mine on and swept it over the floor and into the corners of the room.

“Police! Come out with your hands up!”

I listened intently, but all I heard was the rain and wind outside.

Slowly, I walked to the counter, swinging my light to illuminate the space behind it, but found the area empty. They had to be in the kitchen. And just as I turned, I realized my mistake.

I wasn’t fast enough. And the gunshot proved it.