Chapter 30: New foe
Three days had passed since the warehouse incident, and the X and O killer’s body count had climbed to seven. The morning news reports had grown increasingly urgent, featuring grim-faced police officials who spoke in careful euphemisms about "ritualistic markings" and "ongoing investigations" while avoiding any mention of supernatural involvement.
Kaine stood on the edge of a fifteen-story apartment building, surveying the city below through the enhanced vision his system provided. Heat signatures moved through the streets in predictable patterns—late-night workers heading home, couples walking hand in hand, the occasional drunk stumbling between bars. Nothing that suggested supernatural activity.
His phone buzzed against his chest. The caller ID showed Gwen’s name, and he answered on the second ring.
"Patricia."
"Kaine." Her voice carried the focused intensity he remembered from their Shadow Guard days. "You must have heard about the recent bloodsucker psycho in town, no? I’ve been tracking the X and O murders. Any leads on your end?"
"Nothing useful. The killer’s smart—no witnesses, no physical evidence beyond the bodies, no pattern to the locations." He moved along the rooftop’s edge, Marcus keeping pace beside him like a pale shadow. "Professional work."
"Professional enough to stay ahead of both Shadow Guard and private hunters," she said. "That’s concerning."
"You calling about the case?"
"Partly." There was a pause, and he could hear the sound of traffic in the background. "I was wondering if you were available tonight. For patrol."
Kaine glanced at Marcus, who tilted his head slightly—the Ghoul’s version of a shrug. They’d been planning to sweep the warehouse district anyway, following up on reports of increased vampire activity near the docks.
"I’m already on patrol," he said. "Private deal."