CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

It seemed to Griffin that it took a couple of hours for him to reach into his pocket and get his cell. He was glad Decamp’s number was programmed in because he was reasonably sure that punching the number was beyond his current capabilities.

Decamp picked up on the second ring and Griffin said, “It’s Griffin. Cotton showed up at Carl’s place. He’s dead or re-dead or whatever, but I figure you might want to get over here and do some damage control before we call an ambulance.”

“I’m on my way,” Decamp said. “How badly are you two injured? Griffin? Griffin?”

But Griffin had finally given up on his mantra. Okay, he’d told himself. Now you can pass out.

* * *

“He’s awake,” Griffin heard Charon say. He got his eyes all the way open and there she was, leaning over him. Her dark eyes were red rimmed and her mascara was smeared. She still looked beautiful to him.

“Hey, wild man,” she said.

“Hey kiddo,” Griffin said. Or rather he croaked. His voice sounded as raw as his throat felt. “How long was I out?”

“About six hours.” That voice belonged to Carter Decamp. “The doctors said you weren’t in a coma, but just exhausted. How do you feel?” Decamp’s features swam into view as he stepped up to the bed.

“Probably about as good as I look. How’s Carl? He took a serious beating.”

“Ask him yourself,” Decamp said, pointing to Griffin’s right.

Griffin turned his head slowly, about all he could manage. Carl Price was in another bed just a few feet away. “I can’t even get rid of you in the hospital.”

“I’m the proverbial fucking bad penny,” said Carl.

“You look terrible,” Griffin said.

“Wait until you see yourself, Wade. Docs say you have two broken ribs and three cracked ones. Your arm’s broken and you got a couple of other bones fractured.”

“I believe it. What’s your score?”

“I win the bones broken category. Wrist. Ribs. One ankle. Bunch of fingers. Got some torn ligaments and various contusions.”

Charon said, “Is everything a contest with the two of you?”

“Pretty much, yeah,” said Griffin.

“We should call the doctor in now that you’re awake,” Charon said. “Make sure you don’t have a concussion.”

“Let me give them a few bits of information first, my dear,” Decamp said. “I did damage control as you suggested, Griffin. Kharrn’s weapons are safely stored away again. Some of the Sheriff ’s more, um, questionable weapons are at my place until you two are released.”

“Thanks for that,” Carl said.

Decamp nodded. “I’m afraid I couldn’t give the various authorities much information about what happened to you two. There will be a lot of questions.”

Carl said, “Par for the course.”

Griffin said, “Do you think that’s the end of it, Decamp?”

“I would think so. Cotton and his Deacons are gone and I doubt any other old followers of his are likely to come around. I plan to do a little digging into his movements over the past few years and see if there’s anything I can do about any other congregations Cotton might have left behind.”

“So what are you, Decamp?” Carl said. “Some sort of monster hunter?”

Decamp smiled. “I’m a retired English Lit professor, Sheriff. Now, you gentlemen need your rest. I’ll be in touch.” Decamp limped out of the room.

Carl said, “That guy makes you look like Mister Forthcoming, Wade.”

“He does,” Griffin said.

Charon said, “Okay, I’m getting the doctor.” She leaned over and kissed Griffin on the jaw, then hurried out of the room.

Griffin said, “Any idea what you’re going to tell the authorities, Carl?”

“Tell them to go fuck themselves if it comes to it.”

“How do you keep getting re-elected?”

“Nobody else wants the job.”

“I can see that.”

Carl took a long breath. “You think we’re really done with vampires, Wade?”

“Decamp seemed to think so. I’d sure as hell like to think so too. Maybe we’re done with the supernatural.”

“The Blackbournes are still out there. They let me know they weren’t done with me. With you either.”

“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” said Griffin. “Don’t really know what else we can do.”

Carl nodded.

Both men were quiet for a long time.