FIVE

"Don't go around tonight,
Well, it's bound to take your life" - CCR

Sean was shaking me awake around three in the morning. I swatted at his face, mumbling for him to go away. Sure it was his bed and I had invaded it with Sasha, but it was sleepy time.

“Samantha, get up!” His panicked voice was what finally pulled me up from the warm embrace of sleep. “Did you hear anything?”

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. I turned on the light on the nightstand. My eyes screamed to be closed, so I put my hand over my face. “What?”

“Did you hear anything?” I blinked. Sean looked haggard. He pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tight.

“Sasha was crying about an hour ago, but she stopped after a few minutes after she jumped into bed.” Sean hadn't come home from work yet, so I broke his rule and let the little dog onto the bed.

“Come see this.” Sean took me by the hand.

I normally didn't have any interest in the front door to his apartment, but today he seemed adamant. One look at the door and I understood completely. Something had mauled the door. Splinters of wood littered the ground. I touched the gauges in the wood.

Sean had his cellphone out making calls. I had an idea of who was going to be on their way.

Half an hour later the CPD with CJ and Joseph were in tow. The police asked me some questions. Had I heard anything and so on. Joseph asked me the same sort of questions while CJ ate a hot dog. She elbowed in. “Can I search your purse?”

“No! Why do you want to look in there?”

“I have a theory and I want to search the belongings you have here.”

Sean put an arm around me. “Let her look.”

“Fine.” I retrieved my purse and handed it to CJ. She upended it onto the counter. My wallet, lipstick, sunglasses, and the weird coin fell out.

CJ snatched up the coin, inspecting it. The first time I saw her she was mad at me. The most expression I had seen on her face since then was pleasant regard. Since dealing with her all afternoon I'd decided she was just a weirdo. Now she looked concerned.

“Where did you get this?”

“Goldberg's brother came into the bar and gave it to me. I was going to ask Bridget about it, but I'd forgotten about it.”

CJ flipped the coin to Joseph. He took a look at it and frowned. “What is that?” Sean asked. The police officers gathered around.

“Goldberg's brother came into the bar?” CJ stepped close to me, inspecting my face. Did she think I was going to lie to her or something?

“Is that a problem?”

“We've been trying to contact him. He's off the grid and we want to question him. You're sure it was him?”

“He said his name was Joshua Goldberg. He looked like Eric.”

CJ blew out a sigh. “Those marks on the door were caused by a demon, or so we believe. Probably the same one that took out Eric. Samantha, you're coming with us tonight.”

Sean swatted CJ's hand away when she tried to take me by the wrist. Presumably to drag me out. “What's going on?”

“For some reason, Goldberg tagged her. She's not safe here without only you and little dog to protect her.” CJ opened her jacket revealing her piece. “We'll keep her safe, Mr. Benson. Come along, Miss Dunmore.”