Doctor Frankenstein Read online

  “Thank you, Liam. Let me give you the address and directions to their home. Also, their contact information.”

  He didn’t write it down, not needing to. It stuck in his mind easily enough.

  “I have it. I’ll call you tomorrow night, if I can get there in time. I’ll speak with you then.”

  “Until then, Mr. Frankenstein.” The phone clicked softly, being hung up as soon as her words of parting were spoken.

  Liam pulled a map out of the glove compartment, which was what was kept there, not having gloves with him. Even in the cold, such coverings weren’t going to be needed. He mentally traced a route in the dim light and then got back on the road. Carefully.

  He drove the speed limit, which was slower than most on the road were trying to go at the moment. It was foolish of them, since the road conditions were iffy along the road he traveled. Every four hours he had to stop, in order to fill the tank again. The gas mileage wasn’t the best possible in the large vehicle. The yellow thing needed to be washed as well, grime from the road having built up.

  It gave him something to do when he got to the city, at four in the morning. Driving around the empty streets of the city allowed him to gain a sense of what the map was really telling him. It wasn’t exactly accurate. It was, instead, a guideline to navigating in a populated area. Not that he had a local map of the city. Portland wasn’t the largest such place in the country. It was, however, the biggest that he’d ever been near, physically.

  At five he refilled the tank, already near his destination. There was a washing station nearby, which allowed him to pay for the privilege of using their facilities with his bank card. The account was in his own name, so would be easily tracked, if anyone wanted to know where he was. At least those in the government. So far, that sort, the enemy in the potential war, hadn’t cared about him much at all. One of them had even tried to save his life, once.

  They had their goals and he wasn’t one of them. Not yet.

  Liam took his time, making certain that the SUV was very clean before pulling out of the facility. The white and blue building was well enough lit. The whole city was, even though the cold was bitter enough that he saw very few people out and about. The ones he noticed all had heavy winter coats on. Gloves and stocking caps as well.

  Liam was wearing a thin button up shirt. It was a light blue, because he enjoyed that color. His tan slacks weren’t that heavy either. His shoes were nice, though specially handmade, since he had size nineteen feet. It was nearly impossible to find shoes in that range, so he’d made his own. These were dress shoes, with intricate work done to decorate the artificial leather material he’d made them out of. They weren’t shiny or anything. They looked fancy though. Not that most people bothered to notice such things. He’d made his clothing as well, since he’d wanted things that would fit his body, while leaving room for his huge hands.

  If he bought off the rack, he’d have to get hugely baggy clothing for that to work. At least seven sizes up. So he’d learned to make his own. It wasn’t as if it was all that hard. Oddly, it was cheaper as well, in the end. Even after purchasing the machines for it, the cloth and thread. The tools lasted a long time, making it worthwhile, as long as he used them.

  He had dentistry gear in the back of the vehicle, as well as some medical tools and supplies. After all, even if self-taught, he’d learned to do both things at a level that was as good as any human doctor. He’d been tested on it, going through the same boards that were needed for professionals in those fields. Technically he could practice medicine and dentistry in several states. Most of them, in fact. It was officially on the record. Legal, even if the road he’d used to get to the licenses for such things was definitely not the same one most would have used.

  Out of boredom he’d also become a lawyer. All in the last six months. It wasn’t as if he’d gone to school for such things, but everyone at home felt that he was up to the task. When he was back from his trip Liam was planning to look into genetics as well as chemistry. There were other, more practical skills that he wanted to have as well. Learning to work on cars, for instance. He could drive them, so it made sense to truly gain the skills of saving them when they were sick or broken.

  Liam found the correct apartment complex easily enough, and parked out front, the small digital camera that Agent Brenner, his friend, had given him for the trip sitting next to him. So that he could look like a tourist. It was fine enough quality, though lacked a good telephoto lens. For most pictures that wouldn’t be needed. If he were going to hide away and watch from a distance that kind of thing would have been useful, increasing the clarity of the pictures.

  No one seemed to be hanging around out front of the complex in the pre-dawn hours. Except for Liam, the idea making him smile. He was there a lot earlier than he’d figured on, the trip taking six hours, instead of seven. Nothing happened, since most people weren’t traveling in the extreme cold. He just waited, since most people didn’t wake for the day as early as all that. He knew that most people didn’t make phone calls until after nine in the morning, having looked it up a while before, just to know what people did. That was considered almost rude, amongst most of the people that he knew. Except the vampires. They called all night long, since they were dead during the daylight hours.

  Liam figured that the police would be called on him, if someone didn’t come to confront him personally soon. His very presence being odd. No one did more than look at him as they passed. Then, when they did that he smiled and waved, as if he knew them. Not everyone did it back but about half did. There weren’t a lot of them. It picked up as the day went on. Finally, about ten in the morning, Liam pulled his cell out and tapped the screen carefully. Calling for Lewis Sinclair. The phone rang three times, picking up at the end of the last bit of musical buzzing.

  “Lew here, what’s up?” The voice lacked polish, seeming friendly instead of cultured. As if the only person that might be calling him, the only type, would be one he already knew.

  “Hello. I’m Liam Frankenstein. Sondra couldn’t come to see to your difficulties, so she asked me to start an investigation, instead. Would it be all right to set up a meeting with you? It would help to get a description of the man you are concerned about, or pictures, if you have them. Also, where you’ve noticed him.” That last could be done over the phone, of course. Really, that was probably safer for him, if either of the men or even the little girl, was going to be sensitive to him.

  So far no children had been angered by his presence for some reason. Only adults. They had all tended to be mentally closed off as well, when he thought about it. People with low imagination ability. Oaks thought that they were people who had limited psychic powers, compared to the others, though Liam hadn’t noticed that being truth. They seemed to be closed minded, when he thought about it. Not lacking in any innate way as far as powers went.

  The alternate communities never had problems that way at all. Including the Satanists, who were often as not fairly angry human beings to start with. They were all more or less fine with him, however. As much as they were with anyone. Not all of them were gifted psychically or magically either. In fact, most of them weren’t particularly. The magic they did was, very obviously to him, actually done by about thirty percent of the people involved in their endeavors. The rest were just there for moral support and to bring the snacks.

  A thing that they probably wouldn’t want to admit, even if it was true. Not that they were powerful as far as magic went. A few humans could, supposedly, pull that kind of thing off. Perhaps one in a thousand. Liam had to think that most of those were either incredibly dedicated to their tasks or were actually linked to other groups. Elves were actually very good at that kind of thing and while short, they could pass as human well enough to live in regular human society. That meant they could date and marry vanilla humans, so their children or grandchildren could easily have more ability with energies than normal.

  Elementals looked like regular human people, a
nd that had to mean they didn't know where their powers came from, at least part of the time. Not that he’d asked any of them how that worked.

  Lewis coughed a bit, stalling for time while he thought.

  “That was quick! I only called her last night. Um, sure? When are you available? I’m working from home right now, so that Kent doesn’t have to stay here alone.” There was a reticent tone to the words about his husband for some reason.

  What that meant, if anything, he couldn’t tell yet. It was another reason to interview the men, if he was allowed that kind of thing. Possibly the child as well. Emily. It sounded as if she were the one being stalked, after all. She might have thoughts as to why that would be happening.

  “I’m out front, right now. I’ve been watching for several hours, in case your friend comes back. It’s why I need to know what he looks like. So far no one seemed very suspicious, but I’m here, in case they get any ideas.” He smiled, since it was a weird thing to say. The kind of thing that would get most people to seem uneasy.

  Lewis just laughed.

  “Yeah, that sounds like someone that would work with Sondra. You aren’t… Um, you know what she is, right?” There was a hushed sense to the words, indicating the man had put his hand up, to soften the sound. He didn't whisper though, which would have been more effective.

  “Yes. I’m not like that. Hence being up during the day. I’m… different than that. Not strictly normal. I can explain that later, if you like? I’d rather not do that over the phone.” Just as a general rule he tried not to do that kind of thing, in case he was being listened to by the NSA.

  There was a pause then.

  “Okay. Come on up then? Fourth floor, apartment four-oh-five. I’ll ring you up with the doorman.”

  That, the man who guarded them, was inside the front door. How he hadn’t noticed Liam in a bright yellow vehicle sitting there for hours, he didn’t know. The man had a blue uniform on, which seemed like something from a marching band, instead of like a would-be police officer. He was old as well. Enough so that his face was lined with wrinkles. There was a chair for him to sit in, just inside the front doors. In a little booth to the side.

  That was trimmed in wood paneling that looked nice, without truly being refined. The whole building was like that. It was a medium rent place, at a guess. Things weren’t rough looking, just a little run down. Top end places were always kept up to an incredible level.

  The man in blue looked at him, the color reminding Liam a bit of the sky when the clouds weren’t in the way. After a second Lew’s voice spoke, after a buzzing.

  “Neville? There should be someone there for us. Liam… For four-oh-five. Could you be a dear and let him in?”

  The old man made a face then, one that seemed a bit disgusted. For a moment Liam thought he was responding to him but the man buried the look and glanced at the speaker, as if that would allow him to see the man behind it.

  Leaning in, he touched a button.

  “There is someone here, Mr. Sinclair. I need to check to see if it’s for you. One moment.” The man turned again, the slowness of it indicating pain in the lower back. Instead of making him get up, Liam moved to the counter, and pulled his identification from his back pocket. He had his driver’s license, as well as the card that showed he was cleared to practice medicine. Those were passed to the man, while he sat. After a few moments, reading everything visible, it was passed back.

  Then the old man tapped the same numbered button again, to speak to Lewis. It lit up when he did it. Then, it had when the other man had spoken as well.

  “Doctor Frankenstein is here, sir. I’ll send him up.” There was a tap of a button, that made the inner doors click.

  The man waved, gently.

  “Elevators to the right. Fourth floor. Have a great day.” If the man meant it, Liam honestly couldn’t tell at all. Then, he didn’t really have to, as long as he let him get to his meeting.

  Chapter two

  The two men and their little girl looked very little like one another. The men were both different enough in appearance that they would have gotten glares on the street for simply being together. Lewis Sinclair was Asian. Probably Japanese in ancestry from the shape of his face. Kent Sinclair was curly haired and so pale that some would have asked if he was an albino. That wasn’t the case, since he had dark brown hair that didn’t seem to be dyed, as well as gray eyes.

  Emily, the child, was blonde and also light skinned. Then, no one had claimed she was the biological offspring of either man. That was possible, of course. If one of them had been a sperm donor, that might have worked. That wasn’t the case. It was too obvious that this little girl had nothing to do that way with either man.

  Then, Liam wasn’t related to either of his parents that way at all, either, so he wasn’t going to judge the girl on that point. Not that he would have anyway. It wasn’t her role in things to see to being related to those who cared for her. If the men had cared that way, they could have done other things with their lives to make that happen. They hadn’t, meaning the lack of biological relation was probably fine.

  Their home was small, compared to most of the places that Liam had been inside of so far. It was untidy as well. Nothing smelled bad, there were simply toys and the accoutrements of work being done strewn about the place. Each of them had made a point of shaking his hand, the tiny girl going last, not getting the move exactly right. She used her left hand for it, making it a little awkward. The men seemed to think it was cute, rather than incorrect for the four-year-old.

  She was a bit larger than Liam would have thought she should be, which probably meant she was going to be tall, when she finished her full growth. Pushing into six feet, or that neighborhood. Her eyes were a light green and she pointed at his face, looking at his own that way, after he settled on the sofa.

  “You have funny eyes.” Her words were clear enough, so he nodded, agreeing with her. They weren’t outside of what was possible for a human, but they were going to be noticed.

  The men both seemed nervous about her stating an obvious truth like that.

  For his part he smiled and locked eyes with her.

  “True. It’s an abnormal coloration. My voice is also a bit funny.” There was more to him that was different as well. He didn't list those things off, though the next obvious portion would be his large hands and feet.

  The girl simply nodded, smiling back.

  “It’s okay. Everyone is special.” It had the ring of something she was told often enough that it simply seemed true to her.

  Honestly, he could make that kind of case. Not everyone special was good or as worthy as others, but they were unique in their own way.

  Looking at both men, one after the other, then directed his attention toward Lewis, since he was the one that had spoken on the phone.

  “Sondra sent me to see what I could find out about the issue here, with the stalker. What do you have so far?” The answer might be very little or nothing. Most people, regardless of type, didn’t really tend to collect information in the same way that he did.

  Lew hopped up from the sofa, where he was sitting next to his husband. They weren’t holding hands or anything like that. In fact, the two men had been well separated, leaning away from one another, as if they might be fighting. Their facial expressions weren’t bad or off that way, so Liam noticed it, without attempting to place what was going on there into a category at all.

  After a few moments, Lewis came back with a cell phone, the screen showing a man. The fellow was balding, and about the same age as the two sitting with him, by appearance. His face was lean, however, as was the body underneath the long trench coat he had on. The street behind him appeared to be wet, instead of covered in snow or ice. It didn't take a brilliant mind to work out that it had to have been taken in the past. Probably by several months.

  The face of the man seemed hard. Questing, rather than questioning. He was aware the picture was being taken and didn’t seem to care as far
as the one frame went. When Lew gestured, he was able to move to the next picture. It was of the same man, dressed differently this time, inside the lobby of the building. Looking directly at the camera. The next few pictures were variations of that theme. He stared in about half of them. His clothing was always different, and decently high end, without being top shelf that way.

  There wasn’t a lot of information in the pictures, save for the fact that each scene was in a different location. Some of them were ones that Liam recognized. That meant they’d been taken in front of the building or just inside of it. Which, of course led to one obvious conclusion.

  “Does he live in the building?” It could explain a lot of what was happening, if that was the case. Not that it meant the man was innocent of wrong doing, if that was what was happening. He could be on another floor and still stalking the neighbor girl.

  Lewis shook his head, looking sidelong at Kent.

  “I don’t know. We’ve asked around and he’s been in the building several times. No one will tell us anything, though. I’m not…” He shook his head, as if negating something that he didn’t want to say out loud. There was a glance at his husband though, the other man seeming slightly guilty. Liam could feel that coming off of him. It wasn’t a huge thing, but it was certainly there.

  Kent started to breath a bit faster. More shallowly as well. It was fearful behavior. Nerves could do that as well. As Liam looked at him, staring more than was polite, he looked away, seeming as if he were trying to hide something. There were definitely secrets being kept.

  Liam wasn’t exactly worldly when it came to things like relationships and marriage, not real ones. In books and even the odd movie or television show, he’d seen a few such things, however. If the situation had been one of those, he would have suspected that Kent was having an affair, or at least some kind of connection he didn't want to be known, with the man in the picture.

  The thing there was that the bald man wasn’t exactly attractive looking. He seemed a bit fierce, actually. Intense on a level that seemed almost predatory. After a moment, he nodded, still locking eyes with Kent.