The Hunter
by Karen Goldrick
“I’m going to tell you something, and you’ve got to promise not to tell anybody.”
Karen looked up at Scott. She’d been crouched down on her heels, stacking books on the bottom shelf, and the act of looking up caused her to overbalance.
Damn high heels.
Scott extended his hand to help her up, and she brushed the grime of the Myer Book department floor from her skirt.
“I’m kind of busy right now,” she said.
“This won’t take long, but you’ve got to promise. Got to swear on your own flesh and blood.”
Scott still held her hand, and before she could remove it he’d pricked her finger with an old staple.
“Shit Scott. That hurt!” she hissed, not wanting to draw too much attention from the floor supervisor.
“If you tell anybody, I could be killed.”
” If you do that again you will be.” Karen licked the blood from her finger. Scott was nice looking, but he was kind of weird “Are you sure this is the right place and time.” she added, “Walls have ears and all that.”
“That’s why I’ve got to whisper in your ear.”
Karen could see there was no stopping him, so she dragged him behind one of the mirrored pillars, hopefully out of sight of the boys in menswear.
Scott cupped his hand over her ear. His breath smelled of mint. “I’m a Hunter,” he whispered. The overhead fluorescent lights flickered.
“Beg pardon?”
“A Supernatural Hunter.”
“As in ghosts?”
“Yeah. Ghosts. Demons…”
“Vampires?” she added.
“There’s no such things as Vampires. At least, not around here.”
“Oh…OK then” she said, and started back to her books.
“Wait Karen, there’s more.”
“Look Scott, I’ve got to unpack all these boxes before close.”
He followed her back to the books, still whispering.
“I’ll help… I’ll help OK” he knelt down and began to stack books haphazard on the shelf. Karen sighed and removed them as fast as he stacked.
“Come out with me,”he said.
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“On a hunt. Come with me.”
“I thought this was some big secret.”
“It is. Will you come?”
Karen glanced over at the cash register. A small impatient crowd waited to be served. She ducked down before any made eye contact with her.
“What are we hunting?”
‘I don’t know yet. I’ve been sent the co-ordinates. The rest I find out later. Need to know and all that. Will you come?”
“Will I get paid?”
“Umm….in kind.” he replied.
“I’m a CV . Catholic virgin. I want money. Not kind.”
He shrugged.
“OK. No pay then. Will I be safe?”
“Not really.”
The lights dimmed yet again.
Karen shook her head. “I must be mad,” she replied.
“Great. meet me in Chatswood Railway tunnel. Midnight.”
Karen watched him head back towards Electrical, then turned to the service phone perched behind the the pillar. Again avoiding any eye contact with those pesky customers, Karen picked up the receiver and dialled the number for David Jones book department, across the mall.
“Pil,” she said, “You’ll never guess what…”