Topic: A Call For Help

Rhys Bristol

Date: 2010-10-22 18:18 EST
Chicago, IL May 2010... The phone rang unexpectedly and Kellie picked it up. "Hello?" She had no idea who was calling, as the number was blocked from caller I.D.

"Kel" It's me. Adam," said the voice on the other end.

"Adam West' Like Batman?" She even hummed the tune. "I thought you forgot my number, ass. How are you?"

"Same old Kel. I'm okay. You still in Chicago?"

"Yeah, just got back here not long ago. Straightening shit up, and cleaning up."

"How's your dad?"

"Last I talked to him, he was fine. Out in the boonies of Louisiana."

"Not messing around with that Voodoo shit again, is he?"

"Um..." she paused. "How's the life of a Secret Agentman?"

"That shit is bad news, man. Buried in paperwork, as usual. Listen, I've got a favor to ask."

"You can't tell him that....and paperwork" You need to get a girlfriend."

"You offering?"

"You couldn't handle me." She giggled and was tapping on the keys of the security system. "So what?s this favor?"

He didn't bother to explain that he didn't have time for a girlfriend. It kind of went without saying and he figured she probably felt the same. Anyway, they were total opposites. "Friend of mine is in trouble. At least, I think he's in trouble."

"Friend" You have those, other than me?"

"Yeah, I have two. You and him."

"Nice. You should socialize more. Facebook or something. What kind of trouble is he in?"

He chuckled. "Right, the Bureau wouldn't have any problem with that. You remember that guy I told you about' Rhys?"

"I kinda remember the name."

"He thinks he's being followed. If it was anyone else, I'd say he's being paranoid, but Rhys....He's always had this second sense about things. Saved my ass more than once."

"Someone is following him' What's he got or got into?"

"That's just it. Nothing that I know of. He used to be a hunter, but..." There was silence on the other end while he paused.

"He's a hunter, too, yeah?" She was trying to remember, and he answered that question while she opened her bottle of beer. "But' There's always a but with you, Adam..."

"If I had all the answers, I wouldn't be calling you for help. Look, he's like a brother to me, okay"

She took a pull from her beer and listened. "Yeah, I know." She paused. "What's he look like?"

There was that pause again.

"You know I can still hear you breathing..."

"I can send you his picture, but..." There was that but again. "Six feet one, one seventy-five, hazel eyes, green hair."

She just giggled. "Green hair?"

"Tattoo on the left side of his neck. Green mohawk."

"What kinda weirdo you sending to me?"

"He didn't always look like that." Which kind of went without saying. He sighed. "Look, he's been through a lotta shit..."

"Okay, I'm judgin'. I'm sorry. What's he gone through?"

"He was in an accident. Car wreck. He's an amnesiac. He doesn't remember hunting. He doesn't remember anything."

"No kiddin'" I always wondered what that'd be like." She sat there a moment, drinking her beer. "How's he know you then?"

"Parents were killed by demons." He didn't go into the gory little details about that. "He was taken in by a hunter, friend of my Uncle's."

"Demons, no shit?" She'd heard of them. Her dad had tangled with them, but she never had.

"After the accident, they tried to charge him with murder, Kel. I'm pretty sure it was demons then, too."

She said nothing, she was just listening to what he had to say.

"I know him. I've known him since he was a kid. And I know demons killed my uncle and tried to kill Rhys. But demons don't drive around in Buicks in broad daylight tailing people. They want you dead, you're dead. It's someone or something else, but I'm not sure what yet."

"Hm, so any ideas as to who would be wanting to follow him?"

"He was a hunter, Kel. He's got enemies. Could be anyone."

"Okay, so you already told him to find me, I bet." She was grinning, thinking she was right.

"Yeah....I told him to meet you at the Sunset Grill."

She snickered at the name. She always did. "Henley fans crack me up."

"I'm gonna try and run the car, but I don't have much to go on."

"Don't worry. I'll get him here with me and keep him safe. I guess that means I'll have to go shopping for food."

"Sorry, but you're closest and I trust you."

"If this is some lame-ass attempt at setting me up, I know where you work."

"I need someone who can get him safely to PA. Think you can do that' I can take it from there."

"Yeah, what?s he rolling in" Bus?"

?"68 Chevelle."

"Oh, yeah, that will hide well. I will get him to Pennsylvania, but will he leave the car here?"

"That's your problem."

"My problem' You know the guy!"

"He needs to blend."

She huffed into the phone. "Well, green hair, '68 Chevy....not blending."

"Look, when you meet him....don't judge a book by its cover, okay?"

"I'm not that type, you know that. Except Mark, and I knocked him outta the park."

"This ain't Mark. I owe you one."

"I should hope not. I don't want another restraining order. You owe me more than one."

"He's a good guy, Kel. He's just....He's a little messed up, like the rest of us." He was talking about those who knew the things that went bump in the night were real because they'd met them up close and personal.

"I'm trustin' you here. You ain't let me down yet, and I really doubt you'll start with this guy."

"I'll be in touch in a few days. You know how to reach me if you need me."

"Hi from Hawaii," she chuckled. "Seriously, dude, you gotta get outta that hole and come see a friend sometime, huh' Come to Texas. I'll introduce ya to a nice Texan gal."

"Thanks, but no thanks. Last girl I dated went zombie on me."

"I'll tell Dad you said hi," she said, then her thoughts turned to wondering where exactly her father was. "She was from California. What'd you expect?"

"I expected her to be vegan, not....you know. I gotta go. Be careful and call if you need anything."

"Yeah, okay. I'll be in touch. You be safe, okay?"

"Will do. Later." The phone clicked as he hung up.

She looked at the phone a while, then laid it on the desk,smiling. "This should be interesting."

(Continued in "Hunt or Be Hunted".)