Page 109 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

“Sorry to cause alarm,” Donovan said, finally feeling a tugof guilt for, well... causing alarm.

“Everything is fine,” Swopes said. “Come here.”

“I can’t,” Donovan said. “I’m in pursuit.” He heard a softsigh as, presumably, Marika settled next to Swopes.

“What is this about, St. James?” Swopes only sounded annoyedfor his fiancée’s benefit. Donovan could hear the piqued interest in his voice.

“Your charge has me watching the doc. She’s worried abouther. Said she’s been distraught, and I have to concur.Something is definitely up. Do you know what mighthave the doc so riled? Or why Elwyn is so concerned?”

“That little shit didn’t tell me anything.”

“You can’t call her that,” Marika said, her toneadmonishing, and Donovan couldn’t help but grin. Swopes had met his match.Served him right.

“Sorry,” Swopes said sheepishly. “I don’t know a thing.You’re following the doc now?”

“I am. It looks like we’re headed for Ruidoso. Maybefarther. Do you know if she has family in that area?”

“Not that I know of. She only has her mother, and she’s in anursing home in Albuquerque. But what’s this about an attack?”

“Who was attacked?” Marika asked in a rush.

“The doc.”

“Oh, my God!”

“No, don’t get up.” Swopes tried to calm his soon-to-be.“Here, I’ll put this on speaker.”

“Okay.”

Donovan waited for her to get settled again beforeexplaining. “I saw an article. The doc was attacked in an alley around the timethe leeches tried to take over the world.”

“You mean the shade demons?” Swopes asked.

“Seriously? I have to be PC when itcomes to the blood-sucking monsters that killed Charley’s sister?”

“Not at all. I just wanted to clarify. Now that I know whatwe’re talking about, I can answer your question. No, I had no idea the doc hadbeen attacked before we met her. Are you sure it was one of the possessed?”

“No. And that’s the problem. I can’t find anything about anarrest. There was so much going on at that time. Maybe the cops chalked it upto a psycho and called it a day.”

“Maybe.”

“Is that what has the doc riled?” Marika asked.

“I don’t know, but she grabbed a bug-out bag and ran.”

“No shit?” she asked, astonished.

Donovan almost laughed. He’d never heard Marika swear. Thenagain, he’d never heard her say much of anything. She and Swopes had a sontogether whom they shared custody of, but they’d only recently rekindled thespark in their relationship. Thus, Donovan rarely saw the woman, much lesstalked to her. “No shit,” he answered. “I was just wondering how thorough of abackground check your fiancé did on her.”

“I thought you ran the background,” Swopessaid.

“Why would I? Isn’t that your job?”

“I was a little busy getting the compound ready for the darkprincess.”

“You can’t call her that either,” Swopes’ intended said.

Donovan liked Marika. “So, we really don’t know if the docwent to school with Charley or if Charley asked her to keep an eye on Elwyn?”