The Immortal Coil by J. Armand

the main area of the airport. I was relieved to be with living people again, even if they were all staring at me for looking and smelling like a homeless person.
    “Ya know, I thought you bailed on me when I didn’t hear from you, but the airport told me you never even got on the plane.”
    “I was kidnapped,” I said as we left. “You were right about the sergeant and the men at the docks, but it’s over now. The sword guy I told you about, his name is Noah. He was actually sent from France to help me.”
    I looked around to make sure no one was listening while we stood out on the sidewalk.
    “My … uh, specialty, if you want to call it that — well, someone in New York found out about it and wanted me abducted,” I explained. “Whoever it was used to be business partners with the people in France that rescued me.”
    “If there’s one thing I learned as a cop, it’s that there are always witnesses. So, the French just let you go even after knowing your secret?” Lyle asked.
    “I don’t know. I guess they didn’t want to be responsible for keeping me around.” I was scared to admit that I had become a liability now that I had been bitten. It was also a little embarrassing that even with special powers I wasn’t able to take care of myself. Lyle had been understanding about everything, but I couldn’t take the chance of him going into cop-mode if I told him. He might want to quarantine me, or worse, put me down to stop me from turning.
    “We need to find evidence that the French knew about you being kidnapped.”
    “What? Why?”
    “You said this guy Noah killed their former business partners on our docks. He also killed the sergeant of those dirty cops. That’s not justice, it’s murder. We’re dealing with dangerous people and from what it sounds like, the only business they’re in is crime.
    “There weren’t any bodies left, but I'm sure the crime scene unit found at least a fingerprint from the car door that was ripped off. Maybe even a hair or drop of blood if we’re real lucky. That will help to prove others were involved so we don't sound crazy.
    “Did you find out anything having to do with Noah being supernatural while you were there? Did they say anything at all when they let you go?”
    “No, not really,” I lied. “They were hosting some big party and didn’t seem to want me around once they were satisfied their ex-partner wasn’t a problem anymore. I guess they just wanted to make sure he was done drawing attention to them.” Getting into the Archios would only complicate things more. I wanted to tell him everything, but I also wanted to put this all behind me.
    “Then why would they let you live if you’re the last witness to all of this?”
    “I, uh —”
    “Are you working for them now? Is that it?”
    “No!”
    “Then why are you lying to me, man? I put my ass on the line for you.”
    “I’m not. I don’t know how to explain it any better right now. All I want to do is see my parents. We can talk after. I promise I'm not going anywhere.”
    “Come on, I’ll take you home so you can get washed up and see your family,” Lyle offered.
    We got into one of the cabs lined up along the curb and finally headed home. The ride was quiet until my wound started to hurt under the makeshift bandage.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked when he noticed me grab my arm in pain.
    “Nothing. I got cut, but I’m fine. It’s a long story.”
    We made it to my neighborhood in good time. The houses around here were all spaced far apart and secluded within the woods, with long driveways for privacy. If we actually had neighbors to speak of, my parents would be the type to worry that they might see me looking like I had gone through a war.
    “You can let us off here,” I instructed the driver as he pulled up to the end of the driveway. I was hoping the short walk up to my house would buy me more time to think of what I would tell my parents and get rid of the knot in my