Primacy of Darkness Read Free

empty blood bag clenched in my hand. Some of it had squeezed out and dribbled over my hand onto the floor. I toss the bag into my incinerator, wipe my hands and the floor clean with a paper towel, and pull out my phone.
    “Leo, you really need to work on getting proper business hours,” Dr. Morison grumbles into the phone.
    “My business hours are the least of my problems.”
    “What’s the matter, as if I need to ask?”
    “I’m coming to see you tomorrow.”
    Dr. M sighs. “Leo, we have been over this time and again.”
    “And yet you bring it up every time I call.”
    “You need to establish boundaries, and that begins with making and keeping an appointment instead of simply barging in demanding immediate attention and gratification for your problems.”
    “You’re right, Doc. We can talk about that too when I come see you tomorrow.”
    Stanley groans. “Fine. I will fit you in at noon, but I am eating my lunch while we talk.”
    “That’s fine. I can bring mine with me too. We’ll make it a lunch date.”
    “Not even funny, Leo.”
    “Which part? If it’s bringing my lunch, I’m more than happy to swap out for that old shrew you call a secretary, despite how sour she is.”
    “Good night, Leo.”
    “Night, Doc.”
     
     
     
     

 
    CHAPTER 3
    “My name’s Steven. What’s your name?” he asked, shouting above the thumping, squealing music blaring through the club.
    “Trinh,” the woman he was dancing with shouted back.
    “Great accent. Are you from China?”
    Trinh smiled and shook her head. “Vietnam. Not all Asians are Chinese.”
    Steven grinned back. “Sorry, I just figured that if I’m going to guess I may as well play the odds.”
    “You’re cute enough that I’ll let the first one go, but only this one time.”
    He was cute too. He was athletic and confident just bordering on slightly arrogant, which was how she liked them. She was a few years older than the average girl in a club full of mostly barely drinking-age men and women, but her delicate Asian features and forgiving genetics helped mask her real age.
    She was sure that Steven was also older than he looked. His mannerisms and the way he talked indicated a maturity a bit more established than your average well-under thirty crowd. He was probably a college graduate with a few years invested in a good job somewhere downtown. Maybe Wall Street or some big law firm. He was obviously doing his best to dress down and match the kids hopping and gyrating about the dance floor, and almost succeeded.
    Another young woman, who blended perfectly with the scene in her black clothing and makeup, bumped into them but managed to hold onto her drink. “Hey you two, how’s it going?”
    Trinh rolled her eyes at the intruder. “Steven, this is my roommate, Carol.”
    “I told you, when we’re out, I’m Circe.”
    Steven nodded his head in greeting. “Hi, Circe.”
    “Is this place great or what?” Circe asked.
    “It’s certainly loud,” Trinh replied.
    “Yeah, it’s totally awesome!”
    “If you say so, but I’m not really feeling it. It’s getting late and the music is giving me a headache. I think I’ll head back to the apartment.”
    Circe grabbed onto Trinh’s arm and tried to coax her to dance once more. “Aw, come on. It’s not that late.”
    “Not for you, but I actually have a day life.”
    “You are so boring!”
    “Boring pays the rent, but you wouldn’t know about that.”
    “Bitch.”
    “Takes one to know one.” Trinh smiled, leaned in, and gave her roommate a peck on the cheek.
    Circe returned the show of affection. “Watch out for creeps, snooty bitch.”             
    “I can drive you home if you like,” Steven offered.
    “That’s all right. We only live a few blocks from here.”
    “Let me walk you then. There’s a lunatic running around cutting up women. The cops think it might be a serial killer.”
    Circe playfully punched Trinh in the shoulder. “Yeah, for once in your