Lila said, “Before we all high-five and go our separate ways, one question.”
Charleston just looked at her; that was all the encouragement he was going to give, and all she needed. “When we visit the parents, is it questioning the family of a suspect who’s escaped by magical means, is it looking at him as another potential victim of the demon, or is it a condolence call?”
“Normally if we found just bits of skin it would be a condolence call, but nothing about this has been normal, so we don’t know if their son is dead, missing, kidnapped by a demon, or a willing accomplice.”
“Mark Cookson is not an unwilling victim here,” I said.
“How can you be so sure?” Charleston asked.
“You heard them talking to each other. Cookson is a distinct personality; he’s not just somebody who got taken over because he messed with things he didn’t understand the consequences of.”
“Again, how can you be so sure of that?”
“Because even victims who wanted to deal with demons, once it’s inside them, they’re afraid. The demon helps them live out their fantasies, but most people don’t actually want to do their revenge fantasies. You’ve seen it before, Lieutenant; the human host is distraught and horrified whenever they can speak to us. Cookson doesn’t seem to feel any remorse at all, let alone horror, at what he did to Megan Borowski.”
“Just because the kid is enjoying the power trip doesn’t mean he’s not a victim,” Charleston said.
“If he enjoyed doing what he did to her, then he is too dangerous to be out there among other potential victims whether he’s sharing a body with a demon or alone in his skin.”
“I can’t rule anything out, Havoc. We have no way of knowing how much the demon is influencing Cookson. He could be horrified once the demon is out of him.”
“Do you really want another of these people to go free and use ‘the demon made me do it’ as an alibi?”
“No, but the courts have ruled that demon possession is a viable court defense. It’s only our job to bag them, Havoc; putting them behind bars is up to the lawyers.”
I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, realizing that my hands were in fists at my sides. I fought to relax my hands as I breathed in and out.
“If you don’t feel up to this today, Havoc, you can tap out. You got clawed up by a demon, take the rest of today off.”
“No, thank you, Lieutenant, but I want to help get this guy.”
He gave me that look that said he wasn’t sure he believed me, but he said, “Fine, but if at any point you think you need a break, take it; Bridges will drop you back at your car, or your apartment, whatever you need.”
“I must look worse than I feel for you to baby me like this,” I said, smiling to try and make it a joke.
The look he gave back was serious with no hint of a smile. His dark eyes were trying to read past the smiling, pleasant face I was giving him. He knew me too well to believe it, but he finally gave a small nod.
“Tell the parents we’re looking for him and you’re just there to gather information to help us figure out what is going on.”
“Will do, Lieutenant,” Bridges said.
“I’ll try to keep an open mind about Cookson, sir.”
“That’s all I ask, Havoc. Now go and find out things. I’ll take Sato and head back to the original crime scene and work it from that end.”
“Aye-aye, bossman,” Bridges said, and headed for the elevators again. This time I followed her without questioning it. I’d try to keep an open mind, but I knew what I’d heard. Mark Cookson wasn’t a victim; he was a bad guy.
My watch vibrated against my wrist. One glance was enough to make me groan. I so did not need this right now.
“What’s wrong?” Lila asked.
“I’m due at couples therapy with Reggie.”
“Oh, Havoc, I’m sorry. Couples therapy sucks,” Lila said. She’d gone through her own messy divorce just after I joined the unit. Her ex-wife had come to the precinct once and thrown a box at Lila full of couple gifts. At least my personal issues hadn’t gotten that messy, not yet. I tried picturing Reggie throwing stuff at me at work in front of strangers. No, she’d never lose control like that in public. She saved her passion for private, including her anger.
“Thanks, Lila, I appreciate the solidarity.”
“Bitches be crazy, and dudes are stupid—I’ve married one apiece, trust me, it all sucks.” I’d met her ex-husband, Rob; he seemed okay and a lot less likely to throw shit at you than her ex-wife, Annie.
Charleston came back to us; apparently he’d overheard. “I’ve been happily married to my beautiful wife for thirty years. Not all marriages end in divorce.”
“You got lucky,” Lila said.
“Part of it’s luck, finding someone who’s willing to work on the marriage and their own personal issues. A couple either grows together or grows apart.”
“In the spirit of trying to grow together, I can’t miss this appointment, Lieutenant, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me, Havoc,” he said.
I turned to Lila. “I’m so sorry, I’m leaving you hanging here. You need some magical backup in case the parents are involved somehow, or in case there’s been enough black magic done in the house to thin the veil between this reality and Hell.”
“I know my job, Havoc,” Lila said, giving me a look that made me try to explain.
“I’m not questioning that; you know I’d take you as backup any day. It’s just I’m feeling guilty that I won’t be there to help you face it, whatever it is.”
Her face softened. “You’re a good guy, Havoc.”
“Thanks, I just hope my wife agrees with you today.”
“Well, she won’t if you miss the appointment,” Charleston said, frowning. “We can get MacGregor to meet Lila at the home.”
“Old MacGregor or young?” Lila asked.
Charleston half laughed and half sighed. It was funny, but it was making things more complicated. “They aren’t related, Bridges.”
“Let me see: a middle-aged or a little older white guy who’s nearly six feet tall and hasn’t hit a gym in almost as long as Antero, compared to a twenty-something, younger-than-Gimble black man who is as tall as you and Havoc—by God they are twins, or at least long-lost family.” She was smiling and overly pleased with herself, but the fact that the newest temporary officer in our unit shared a last name with the detective who had been with us the longest had led to a lot of jokes.
“MacGregor has been in the unit longer than anyone except Ravensong, so he’s MacGregor,” Charleston said as if he’d just decided it.
“Okay, what do we call MacGregor two, then?” she asked.
“Why not just use his first name?” I asked.
“I tried calling him Goliath,” Lila said, “and he gave me this look, said he doesn’t go by it.”
“I can understand why he doesn’t use it, but what does he go by?” I asked.
Charleston said, “I already had this talk with him, and he goes by MacGregor.”