The Lurker at the Threshold : A Horror Mystery by Brandon Berntson (books under 200 pages .txt) 📗

“Mi-gos,” Armitage said, looking at the book in his hand.

Macky pulled his hand from the window and looked at Armitage.  “Excuse me?”

“Mi-gos,” the doctor repeated.  “The winged creatures we saw in the sky.  They’re called mi-gos.  I thought you’d want to know.”

“Is that relevant to the moment?”

“It’s quite relevant to the moment, Dev,” Armitage said.  “It’s good to know you’re enemy.”

“You’ve been logging in some long hours,” Macky said.  “And for that, I thank you.”

“You may now proceed with your yelling and banging,” Armitage said.  He stuck his finger in the book, using the flashlight to read.

Macky frowned.  Millie looked at him, holding Mr. Kalabraise, and shrugged.

Macky went to the window, cupping his hands around his eyes.  He peered inside.  “I don’t see anybody.”

“Maybe they’re asleep,” Millie said.

“How late is it?”

Armitage looked at his watch.  “Twelve thirty-seven.”

“A.M. or P.M.?” Macky said.  He slapped his thigh and guffawed.  He wiped tears from his eyes.  He was laughing hard.  Everyone looked at him, eyebrows raised.

“Come on!” he said.  “You didn’t think that was funny?”

No one replied.  It was quiet on this part of the street.  He hated to make such a racket, but he didn’t have a choice.  He started banging on the window again.

“Hey, you guys in there!  Amelia!  Newt!”

“Discretion again,” Millie said, calmly.

“I saved your neck at Sarnath, you know?” Macky said.  “And your little dog.  The least you could is show some gratitude instead of making sarcastic remarks.”

“She has a name,” Millie said.  “And it’s, Mr. Kalabraise.”

“You gave a female dog a male appellation?” Armitage said, raising his eyes over his glasses.

Millie shrugged.  “I believe in the uniqueness of character.”

“She’s got you there,” Capshaw said.

“Besides I saved you, too,” Millie told Macky.

“Huh?” he asked.

“The kangaroo monster.”

“Right.  I already thanked you for that.”

“And you are most welcome.”  Millie beamed.

“What about your lock-picking set, Dev?” Capshaw said.

“This is why I need people around me,” Macky said.

He pulled out the lock-picking set for the third time that day.  He did a little maneuvering with the deadbolt.  He asked Armitage to shine the light where he was working. Soon, the lock clicked.  He turned the knob and pushed the door open.

They stepped inside.

“I don’t see anybody,” Capshaw said.

Macky went to the curtain dividing the shop from the apartment in back.  “Newt!  Amelia!  You guys here?”

The bookstore was empty.

“Where is everybody?” he asked.

“Over here,” a voice said from the dark.

Chapter 14

“I’ll tell you something, Duke, being in love might be the dandiest thing this side of caramel and peanut butter.”

“I never cared much for caramel or peanut butter,” Duke said.

“Was this how it was for you and Vera?  Were you guys madly in love for the first couple of years?  Didn’t you think it was the best thing that could’ve happened to you?  I mean, it’s just swell!  It’s like a ride at the amusement park!”

“They only last a couple of minutes.”

“What’s that?”

“Amusement park rides.”

“You’re just being cross,” Newt said, and got back on track.  “All your life you’ve been waiting for this thing to arrive, and when it gets here, it’s just incredible!  Don’t you think?  I never thought a person could feel this way.  I even started liking her stutter, Duke.  Sounds cute to me.  She doesn’t stutter like she used to, sure, so that’s gotta mean something, right?”

“She’s getting used to talking back to you.”

“Don’t say things like that.  Seriously.  Amelia and I are just great. She’s like the bacon to my potato, the mushroom to my garlic.”

Duke looked at him and frowned.

“We’ve had a few disagreements and things,” Newt went on.  “It’s not perfect.  I know that.  But she’s sweet.  Caring.  You know?  Thoughtful.  She likes to make sure you’re happy.”

“And what do you do to make her happy?”

“I rub her feet, make her dinner, and treat her to breakfast whenever I can.  I cuddle with her.  She likes that.  I talk to her.  We talk all the time.  We never run out of things to talk about.  We listen to those mystery shows on the radio, The Phantom Caper, Duck’s Bill.  You listen to those, Duke?”

“No.”

“You’re not feeling it, are you?”

“I never said that,” Duke told him, walking along the alley.

“So, what’s the problem?”

“I don’t have one.”

“It sounds like you do.”

“Well, I don’t.”

They continued down the alley.  The steady drip-drip of water was coming from somewhere to their right.  They were off Columbus and 116th, chasing a dog, or a hound, or something that had killed two people already.  You’d never know it because Newt was still—after two years—deeply, madly, and passionately in love.  Duke didn’t know whether to be sick, flattered, or jealous.

“But you had kids,” Newt went on.

“Shocking, isn’t it?”

“And you’ve been married for almost thirty years.  Right?”

“Thirty-two years, April second,” Duke said.

“Thirty-two years.  Wow!  That’s something, Duke.  That really is.  Congratulations.  I hope me and Amelia get to say that someday.”

“Do you really rub her feet?”

“She giggles because it tickles.”

“Giggles because it tickles.  If Macky were here, he’d turn that into a song.”

“You might be right,” Newt said.  “I hope they’re doing okay.”

“We'll check on them soon.  Keep your eyes peeled.  You’re distracted.”

“I ain’t, though, Duke.  I’m just thinking about how nice it is.  It feels good.  It makes the time go by, gives you something pleasant to think about.  Even now.  I know we’re out here chasing some creature and all, and it’s killed a police officer already, but I’m not letting it get me down.”

“Maybe you should.  This is serious.”

“Sure, it’s serious.  I know it’s serious.  Portals opening.  Gates.  Gomory.  Or whatever he is.  The orbs in Macky’s office.  How can you not