Drew D'Amato:Bloodlines:02 (19 page)

“You don’t have his Vlad.  If you let him keep the Blood, you would have killed him yourself.”

“What?”

“We’re assuming now that the blood you got in Geneva was not the real Blood.  So take it a step further.  What would have happened if you decided to keep it?”

“Michael probably doesn’t betray me, Radu is probably dead, and Jericho is alive.”

“No, first like I said, we don’t even know if you’d have made it out of Radu’s house alive, nonetheless killing him.  But let’s say you did, the mission went according to plan, then what?  Then you come home, we do the exorcism and then Jericho drinks the blood.  Hell maybe you let all three of them drink the blood, thinking it is the real blood.  But they won’t be vampires yet.  Not until they die…”

Vlad looked at Pacami with understanding.  Pacami continued.  “You kill them, but then they are not reborn.  Your decision for no more vampires didn’t kill Jericho, it actually saved his life.  Radu killed Jericho, don’t forget that.”

Vlad rode on and for the first time since on the boat this morning, he stopped regretting all of his decisions.

4

T
he coroner was happy to see them. 

“I wasn’t sure if anyone would come.  A one Jack Bearfield, who is an only child, and whose mother and father died of cancer, 9 and 12 years ago respectively, didn’t leave us with anyone to inform.”

A dead end, just the way Vlad wanted all of their aliases to be.

“I am his cousin, Raoul Wellington.” Vlad showed him the same identification he showed at the hospital.  There was no reason to put a fly in the ointment if the coroner happened to speak to anyone at the hospital.

“Good, I am Mark Slegde.  Well, since you are the next of kin, would you mind officially identifying the body first?”  The coroner asked with sympathetic eyes.  He was a balding, grey bearded, African-American who has seen too many people have one of the most horrible moments of their lives right in front of him.  That moment they identify that loved one that can’t be replaced.  He knew it was never a good thing.  He didn’t question why a priest was with Vlad.  He might need the support, spiritually and physically.  He has also seen his share of people faint when that sheet is pulled back.

The coroner explained what he knew as they walked through the building to eventually the large blue filing cabinet where Jericho’s earthly body remained.  

“He died from two gunshot wounds to his lungs.  The bullets were painted silver.  Probably a bunch of copy-cat punks after what happened in Europe a few days ago.  But I’m curious if your cousin had any enemies?”

“No, none that would aim to harm him.”

“Well I would expect the police will have some questions for you anyway.  You should be hearing from them soon enough.  They were waiting to see who would pick up this body.  Tragically, it was probably just another mugging.”  The coroner put his hand on the door for the drawer.  “Can I ask if you have seen a dead body before?  Not one after it has been cleaned up at a funeral home.  This can be pretty traumatic for some people.”

“Yes, I have.”

“And you, Father?” Sledge asked.

“I served in Vietnam,” Pacami said.

“Well, okay then.”

In one swift move the coroner opened the door and pulled the slab back.  He gripped the corner of the blue sheet covering Jericho’s body.  “Are you ready?” he asked again.

Vlad nodded.  The coroner pulled the corner away.  Vlad was stuck in shock.  He had seen more than enough dead bodies and his share of gore, but this was his best friend.  Jericho.  He had been through so much with this man.  His only true friend in his almost six-hundred year existence, and now he was gone.  The tears starting to build up. 
He didn’t deserve this, how can I ever complain of my fate? 
Jericho was cheated the victory he had fought so hard for.  Now there was no more life in those blue eyes.  Vlad could not stop looking at those eyes.

“Is this him?”  Sledge noticed Vlad’s staring, and knew in his gut it was.

A combination of the words of the coroner and the cold air coming out of the negative temperature cold chamber snapped him out of it.

“Yes, that’s…Jack.”

“Okay, well have you considered what to do with the body?”

“Yes, cremation.  He wants his ashes scattered over a hill in Ireland.”

“I thought your cousin was an American citizen?”

“He is, but some of his family is from Ireland, and he told me that was what he wanted.  I feel I should honor it.  I am his only real family left.”

“The other man who was attacked, was he related to the two of you?”

“Yes, he is my cousin too.”

“How is he doing?”

“He’ll make it, but he won’t be able to travel to Europe anytime soon.”

“But he’ll be able to travel there someday, that is a blessing.  Well, let me get the paperwork for you.”  The coroner closed the drawer and started to walk away.  “Oh and there is a $200 dollar charge for claiming a body.” Sledge then turned and walked away.

“They get you paying anyway they can,” Pacami said.

“But that’s not his decision, he’s a nice man,” Vlad said to Pacami now that they were alone. 

“He is.  But Vlad, vampires don’t leave bodies, so did Jericho ever really say anything about wanting his ashes spread?”

“No, we never talked about it.  But I know how he wants to be buried.”

“Well, if a burial is what he wants, they can transfer caskets to Ireland.  He can still be buried.”

“No, not where he wants to be buried.  I’m going to have to do this on my own.”

Pacami didn’t push it, but he had no idea what Vlad was thinking.  It didn’t matter.  Vlad had no doubt Jericho would want what he had in mind.

5

T
he coroner told Vlad there was a 24-hour “waiting period” before the cremation could be performed, but since he was not dealing with any funeral services and transporting it to another country there was no need for a delay.  The cremation would happen tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon Vlad could pick it up.  They would even keep the remains in a plastic temporary container.  The coroner told them a horrendous story of someone trying to take an urn on an airplane, and when the metal of the urn set off the metal detector they were asked to
open the urn for a visual inspection.  The temporary plastic container had no metal and was more durable.  He told them the death certificate should be enough to get him through security.

Vlad was going to have to travel commercial.  His pilot was dead, and his plane was in Interpol’s possession. 
Another alias scrapped. 
He didn’t have the time to get a private flight starting from square one. 

He pulled the Mulsanne up to the rectory of the Divine Saviour.

“So Father, you ever travel VIP before?”

“Vlad, I don’t know if I can tell them I have to leave tomorrow.  My actions have been suspicious enough lately.  Now, I’m going to go away for a few days.  How can I explain it?”

“Father, this plan doesn’t work without you.”

Pacami saw the strength in Vlad’s plan with them both going, than if he went alone.  He also saw another thing—fear in Vlad’s eyes.  He couldn’t refuse to go.  Vlad needed him to come along, and in essence the world needed him to go, too.  But that didn’t change the fact that he would have to explain his absence.

“I know Vlad.  I have been trying all day to think of a way, but I can’t see me pulling anything over on them.  I don’t like the idea of lying to them
about where
I am going.  What if something should happen, what memory would I leave them with?”

“Nothing will happen to you.”

“Vlad, I am prepared to pay the ultimate price for victory.  I have been in war before.”

“Yes, you have.”

“I have seen people die, I have killed people to survive, and I am ready to die for what is right.  But if I am found riddled with bulletholes in Europe, and I told people I was visiting
somewhere upstate, well…I don’t like the thought of leaving those closest to me with that enigma.”

“Father, I need you.  Otherwise I need a whole different plan.  Three days ago I would have come in guns blazing, but I don’t have that power anymore.  I have to be crafty, smooth, and that requires our story.  You can’t possibly stay behind.”

“Well use your wit to think of a way to explain my absence.  That’s all I ask Vlad, before I go inside and present what we got now.”

“Anything can be bought,” Vlad said under his breath and then got out of the car.

Pacami hurried after him.  “Vlad, what are you going to do?”

“Just play along.  Remember I am Raoul Wellington.  Who is the best person to speak too?”  Vlad almost knocked on the door, but decided to wait for Pacami to catch up instead.

“Father Montes, he is the only priest senior to me.”

“Good, let me speak to him.”

Pacami opened the door and Vlad followed in after him.  The first room had a reception desk, for people who came in during the day for the purpose of weddings or baptisms.  Pacami led him to the back of the place, to the parlor where Father Montes and Father Rios sat on the couches watching the news.

“Father Montes, I have someone here who wants to meet you,” Pacami said.

Montes’s eyes were shocked.  This was most unusual.  Montes noticed Vlad behind Pacami, and did not make an issue of it in front of this stranger.  He got up and led the two of them to his bedroom.

“Yes, Father Pacami, how may I help you?” Montes asked curiously once they got inside his room.

“I am Raoul Wellington, Father,” Vlad stuck his hand out and it was shook.  “I’m sure you have noticed Father Pacami visiting a parishioner on his deathbed.  That is my father.  He had met Pacami at a bookstore, and had a conversation.  My Father was very upset with the Lord after being diagnosed with terminal cancer a year ago.  I know our faces are not familiar around your church, but the words of Father Pacami have given faith to my father, and he asked to see him before any other priest.  I would like to thank your parish for allowing Father Pacami time with my father.”

“You’re welcome, but I think Father Pacami deserves all the gratitude.”

“Yes, well I wanted to tell those he works with personally.”

“Well, I’m glad Father Pacami was able to help your father with his faith at such a dark time.”

Montes thought this sign of appreciation was all that warranted this visit.  He started to sit back down.

“Well, my father would like to travel back to his homeland England for his last few days.  He would also like Father Pacami to accompany him on this trip.”

Montes was taken back by this request.  “Father Pacami, while valuable to your father, is also valuable to his other followers here at Divine Saviour.  He is needed here.  I don’t think he can stay away in Europe until your father passes on, if that is your wish.”

“No, my father understands that, and he is not asking for that.  He would just like the Father to
escort
him on his trip.  He has a huge fear of flying.  He has his own private jet, and still does not feel comfortable up in the air.  I would only ask for his company for a few days.  He feels safe around Pacami, what can I say?  But with the condition of his health the way it is, I would like to do anything to make his voyage most comfortable.”

Montes rubbed his forehead.  “When do you plan to leave?”

“Tomorrow night.”

Montes rubbed his head harder.  “That would involve this weekend.  That is too soon, we will need him.  Can the trip wait?”

“My father is terminal, he does not have much time.  I understand the time is short, and inconvenient.  But what Christian would I be anyway if I only asked and not gave?  Has Father Pacami showed you my latest contribution?”

“Contribution?” 

Vlad looked at Pacami.  “
Vlah
—Raoul that is too much money.  I couldn’t accept it.”

“It is nothing.  What you did for my father was priceless.  Do you still have that check on you?” 

“It’s in my room.”

Pacami briefly left to go to his bedroom.  Vlad continued to talk to Montes.  “My family is well off, maybe you noticed our limos in the church parking lot on some Sundays, or that I said we would be traveling by a private jet.”

Montes smiled nicely.  Then Pacami walked back into the room and handed Montes the check.  Montes’s eyes widened. 
5 MILLION DOLLARS,
made out to cash from a Raoul Welington. 

“That was my donation before I asked for this favor.  Allow this favor and I will write a second check for the same amount.”

Intially Montes wanted to deny Vlad.  What would this say about his church that his priests could be bought by a personal whim of a dying rich man?  But then the practical side kicked in.  There was a lot of good this money could do for the church and for his people.  How
could he deny them the chance to have that much money?  It was only a weekend, it was not like they were asking for Pacami’s life.