The Detective Inspectors (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 4) (7 page)

Nightshade was moving on with his life and I was doing the same. Hadn’t I just accepted a date with Declan? Who the hell was I to say he couldn’t find someone new? I balled my hands into fists and wanted to scream, I hated even thinking about all this crap. I had bigger damn problems to worry about.

I shook my head to clear it and walked out of the room to join Jess and Val sitting on the couch watching Doctor Who. That was it; I was done with this whole man thing. I was going to concentrate on finding Edgar and not worry about any more damn men.

The buzz of the doorbell stopped me in mid-stride and I swung around to the door and pulled it open.

“Hey, Chloe,” Slade smiled down at me.

“Crap.”

Status: I am not a bad person, really.

The next few days were a whirlwind of activities as I tried to get used to my new digs as well as traveling back and forth from London to Cape May to help Gran with her own move into the house on Mission Way. Dad’s parents had okayed the temporary move and since they rarely ever used the place they were happy to have someone there to watch over it.

I found myself walking around London visiting places Dad and I used to stop at whenever his magic act was scheduled here. Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, and the Tower of London, I especially enjoyed the ravens that where there. Their black eyes followed your every move as you walked passed them perched on posts. But those were only a few of my favorite places. The memories made me feel like he was right there with me even though he was gone. I had loved our vagabond lifestyle, always on the move and having only each other to answer to. I missed it terribly, the weight of responsibility hanging much too heavily over my head these days.

I’d been avoiding calls from Uncle Archie for a few days. I wanted to acclimate myself to my new digs, my new life before I started training. Gavin continued slamming me regularly with Polymorph sessions and now I needed to add even more to my schedule. I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a few days to myself.

Gavin continued his search for Edgar, Val was busy with school, Jess with training, and Slade was working on some project for the Impossible Engineers. So I was all on my own, a perfect chance to explore.

Walking down Leicester Street I saw the billing for Prince Charles Cinema and couldn’t help but smile. They were having a double bill of
Casablanca
and
Key Largo
. Dad used to drag me to all the old movies and I loved Humphrey Bogart flicks. I could hardly contain myself as I got in line for tickets.

“Are these movies even in color?” the irritated female voice asked a few spots ahead of me.

I craned my neck to see who was complaining but all I could see was the back of her. She was dressed as if she was going to a nightclub instead of a movie. Her short skirt and tight jacket with her stiletto heels didn’t leave much to the imagination, other than screaming I’m a dirty tramp.

“No, they’re in black and white,”

  I nearly bolted as soon as I heard Nightshade’s voice. There he was a few feet away from me with Darla whom I should have recognized but her hooker outfit threw me off. I couldn’t believe it... of all the movie joints in all of London he had to come here.

“Do we have to see it? Can’t we just watch it at your place?” she whined.

“It’s not the same as seeing it in the theater.”

“I guess, I mean at least we’d be alone at your place.” She leaned against him looping her arm through his. “Pleeeease.”

 I cringed at her childish plea.

“I told you I wanted to see the two movies, if you didn’t want to come, you didn’t have to.”

“Come on this is going to be boring.”

“No, it isn’t. Go find something else to do if you don’t to see the movies. We’ll meet up later.”

“But I want to do something together.”

“It’s either the movies or run along.”

 I slipped my hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing,

“Why do you have to be such a jerk?”

“I’m sorry, are you still here?” Nightshade turned to look down at her, grabbing her arm and disengaging it from his own.

“Fine be that way!” Darla stormed out of the theater in a huff, a few of the people in line around me clapping as she passed them.

Nightshade was next in line at the ticket window and held up his index finger. “One for the double bill.”

He walked off and I hoped it would be the last I saw of him while I was here. My plan was simply to grab my popcorn and drink, find a nice dark corner of the theater and watch the movies alone. I hadn’t expected to run into Nightshade, actually wish I hadn’t, but I wasn’t going to let it stop me from enjoying myself.

I could barely contain my glee when I had my snacks and made my way into the theater, I was almost home free. I slipped into the back of the dark theater behind a couple on a date and found a row of uninhabited seats.

“Well, well, well.”

 My blood chilled in my veins and I knew I was caught. Nightshade leaned over the seat behind me, planting his face too close to mine.

 “If I didn’t know any better I would say you’re following me.”

“Funny.” The word nearly caught in my throat but I was able to choke it out.

“You like Bogie?”

“Who doesn’t?” I thought about Darla and did my best to contain a smirk.

“Stupid people.” Nightshade hopped over the chair and slipped into the seat beside me. “Does your boyfriend know you’re out on your own?”

“I told you, Slade and I aren’t together anymore.”

“Right, I forgot you’re with Goldilocks now. Where is he?” He feigned searching the seats for Declan. “Am I in his seat?”

“Shut up, Nightshade. I’m here on my own.”

“The horror, a girl out on her own in the big scary world.” He laughed and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I can handle myself.”

“I’ll judge that for myself, Masters.”

“I didn’t say you could join me.”

“Would you rather I left?” he made a half-hearted move to leave.

“Are you going to annoy me the entire time?”

“Trust me, Masters, if I want to annoy you. You’ll know it.”

“Be quiet, Nightshade, the movie’s starting.”

 The house lights dimmed and the previews came on. Nightshade and I sat in pure silence watching, not disturbing each other in the least. After a few minutes I realized I was sharing my popcorn with him and we were both hunched down in our seats watching contentedly.

Key Largo was the first showing and even though I know every line I was mesmerized watching it all unfold on the big screen. Sitting in the dark next to Nightshade, I couldn’t help every now and then to glance over at him. The silver screen highlighted his good looks and I could almost fool myself into believing that he was my Nightshade and we were out on a date like any normal couple. Not that we’d ever had one, or that we were normal, but at least we shared good taste in movies.

At the climax of the movie with Bogart on the boat, I smiled and waited for the house lights to come on. The lights came up after the credits played and some people made quick trips to the bathroom for the short intermission between movies.

“You want some more?” Nightshade motioned to the near empty bag of popcorn as he stood up.

“If you do.” I shrugged and he hurried off. What the hell was I doing here? He could barely remember me and yet here we were sitting and watching movies together. But maybe, just maybe, spending time with him this way would help jog memories of us. I could at least hope. Besides it was nice being here with him.

 “Here you go.” Nightshade returned handing me the bag and slipping into his seat.

“Thanks.”

“No worries, Masters, at least you have good taste in movies.”

“You too.” I wanted to say more but the lights dimmed and the music played as
Casablanca
started. I shut off the chaos in my head and lost myself in another movie. One of my all-time favorites that should be required viewing for anyone who enjoys films.

The next hour and a half we sat in total silence watching the film. We ate our popcorn and every now and again his hand would brush against mine as we both reached for the buttery kernels. But that was it, we didn’t linger in the touch, though I would have liked to.

 When the movie finished and the lights came back on, people began filing out of the theater and I stood up to join them.

“One of the best movies ever made,” he said standing and following along.

“Agreed,” I replied as we entered the lobby, old movie posters of upcoming attractions plastered all over the walls. I stopped at a set billed for next weekend.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark, I love that movie! Dad used to take me to see it no matter what country we were in. I think I’ve seen it in over ten languages.”

“Great flick, maybe Goldilocks can take you?” he smirked.

I wanted to punch him, instead I smiled and said, “Maybe he can.”

“He seems like more of a romantic comedy guy to me.”

“Cute, Nightshade.”

“I’m not the one dating the guy who likes romantic comedies.” He laughed.

“No you’re dating the shrill girl who has no taste in movies.” My smile turned smug and he titled his head in question.

“You saw, Darla?’

“More like heard her along with everyone else on line.” I slipped my hands under my chin and pouted my lips. “Please can we watch it at home that way I don’t have to pretend to like it for you? Pleeease. Pretty, pretty pleeease.” I mocked her and enjoyed every second of it.

“She has other assets.”

“Yeah, I think everyone saw those as well.”

“I didn’t know you cared.” He raised a curious eyebrow and I swallowed hard.

“I don’t, but it’s pretty hard not to notice a shrill harpy when you see one. I thought you had better taste than that.” It was so damn hard to say that I didn’t care when I loved the guy. But what was I to do? I damn well wish I knew.

 “I remember Darla.” His eyes stared off into the distance for a moment, and then he focused on me once again. “My other memories are so jumbled. It’s hard to make out what’s real and what they planted in my head.”

“Like with me?” I pointed to myself as we walked out of the cinema and onto the street.

“Everything from when Lauren died till now is suspect as far as I’m concerned. You are a particularly hard case; I think they really wanted me to hate you.”

 I’d seen images of them torturing Nightshade, and then deciding to use the Forget Me Not on him. They’d thought they had the perfect weapon to use against me. My mother must have thought it was poetic justice using him against me and I was damn well going to make her pay for it.

“The First Kind doesn’t like me much.”

“It seems that way.”

“You and I were friends,” I said softly.

“Were we?”

“Yes, I’d say you probably knew me better than most people.”

“Even your boyfriend?”

“I told you Slade and I broke up.”

“I know, I know,” he said as if struggling to recall.

 The wind kicked up and blew down the street forcing me to zip up my hoodie and shove my hands in my pockets to stay warm. Nightshade zipped up his leather jacket and I remembered how warm and comfortable it had been to wear. My eyes lingered on it and the memories.

 He lifted his arm and his eyes focused on the leather, then looked from it back to me. “You were wearing this when we fought?”

 Had he remembered our battle in the Mapmakers Union dimension? “Yes I was.” I bit my lip wanting to say so much more but knowing he had to recall it on his own.

“Why?”

“Your mom had given it to me.”

“She did, why?”

“Like I said we were friends.” The wind blew harder whipping my hair across my face. Nightshade reached out and brushed the wayward strands away. His fingers dusted along my forehead and down my cheek. I looked up into his two different colored eyes and could see that he was struggling to remember.

“Masters?” he whispered, his warm, gentle touch lingering on my cheek.

Status: My luck is beyond sucky.

“Nightshade,” Darla yelled as if scolding as she approached us. “What is she doing here?”

 Nightshade took a step away from me, his hand dropping to his side and my heart with it. “Going to the movies, Darla, you have a problem with that?”

 I turned to face her and she stopped abruptly. The last time we had been face to face, we had fought and it hadn’t ended well for her.

“Still trying to hang around Guilders I see.” She sneered at me.

I grinned. “Still dressing like a hooker I see.”

“You bitch.”

“Takes one to know one, Darla.”

“Why don’t you go play with your
traitor
cousin?”

 That was it, I jumped forward ready to fight, but Nightshade’s arm wrapped around my waist and spun me away from her.

“Don’t you ever talk about Jess that way!” I yelled clawing at his arm to release me.

“Poor baby, still upset about your daddy?”

 I let out a guttural growl and punched at Nightshade’s arm as hard as I could, my hands aching to get at her throat.

“Darla, shut up now,” Nightshade ordered while keeping firm hold on me.

“But she—”

“I said shut up, and don’t ever make remarks about Jess or Chloe’s father. Do you understand me? You have no idea what it’s like to lose a parent, so keep your damn mouth shut.”

“You’re defending her?” She raised her voice and Nightshade’s arm slowly slipped off my waist and he walked toward Darla.

He towered over her and his hands were clinched at his sides. “Jess is a Guilder and my friend.”

“But she’s DS,” —she pointed passed him at me—“I don’t want you talking to her.”

 I stood my ground, wanting to fight her but knowing I would only cause myself more headaches if I did. Maybe Gavin’s training was paying off after all.

“What makes you think you can tell me who I can to talk with? What? Because we went on a few dates you think you can dictate to me? Don’t ever think you can tell me what to do... ever.”

“Th—that’s not wh—what I was saying,” Darla stammered as Nightshade looked over his shoulder at me.