The Darkness of Shadows by Chris Little

Protector. Capital P.” He leaned closer to the printout.
    Maybe I should be writing this down.
    “Sir, what’s a Protector?”
    He sighed, lifted his head, took off his glasses. “A Protector is one who protects.” Glasses on, back to the paper.
    Glad we cleared that up . “Protects what?”
    “Not what, who.” His head went back down and the mumbling started.
    My cell phone rang: Val’s ringtone.
    “Excuse me please, sir.” I went to the other side of the room to take the call.
    I prepared myself for the diatribe awaiting me. “Hello?”
    “Are you out of your FUCKING mind?” Val said. “Are you there now?”
    “Just fine thanks. How are you? My meeting with Mr. Young is running a little over.”
    A machine whirred in the background.
    “I’ll be right there,” she said.
    “No, we’re almost done. I’ll be a few minutes late for our meeting. I hope that’s all right.” I bit my lip, waited.
    “ Frigging hell !” A door slammed and an engine started.
    I blinked at the phone and pushed the End button. “Okay, where were we?”
    “Where did you get the drawing?”
    “Sir, does that really matter?”
    “Not really. Just curious. Your father’s work is legendary in our community. He and Rita—” His mouth snapped shut like the front door on a Jehovah’s Witness.
    Spidey senses on high alert.
    “My father knew Mrs. Guerrero?”
    “I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s not my place to say. Your mother was a scion.”
    My mother the car? I was getting a little irritated. “You just said she was a Healer.”
    “A scion, child!” He looked like he was getting ready to throw a supernatural dictionary at me. “She was an heir to one of the most talented families in this area! Her parents disowned her when she took up with William.”
    I thought about running, but limping and a cane are not well-matched to a successful escape.
    “Very sad story.” Head bowed, he went back to his notes. “The drink and the drugs took her.”
    No, she took the drink and the drugs.
    Walter sighed. “Anyway, I hope I’ve shed some light on your questions.”
    Oh, yeah, this little meeting cleared everything right up.
    “This is all very interesting. A lot to take in.”
    He nodded. “I understand.”
    A doorbell sounded through the colorless halls.
    Walter shot me a look. “I wonder who that could be?”
    “Whoa! Will you look at the time! Got to get going. Could I get a copy of your notes?” I nipped the folder off the desk.
    Walter frowned and nodded as he moved to the small copier, then handed me the requested papers.
    “May I please have the copies you made while I was on the phone?”
    He turned red against the white of his shirt. He fumbled around the desk, and handed them to me.
    “What do I owe you?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Thank you for your time, sir. Should I show myself out?” I had no clue how to get out of the white abomination, but I knew it was time to leave.
    He recovered his smile in record time. “This way, dear.”
    I walked behind him as we wove through the white maze to the entry hall.
    Walter opened the door, catching the bell midring. There was Val with an attitude big as the state of Alaska. The state of equanimity possessing her face was in direct contrast to the anger storm brewing in her eyes and the tapping of her sandaled foot.
    “Ah, there you are!” She grabbed my arm and tugged me forward. “We are sooooo late. Let’s go! Hello, Mr. Young. Nice shoes.”
    “Valerie, hello, goodbye,” Walter said.
    “What the fuck is wrong with you?” she said as we neared my truck.
    I glanced over my shoulder. Walter was still standing there.
    “I can’t tell you here. You’re not going to believe what he said.”
    “Did he hurt you?” The anger left her voice and was replaced with real concern.
    “No. What’s your problem?” I hopped onto the scorching hot vinyl seat of the truck.
    “We’re going to my house.”
    “I want to go home.” I was in full-whine mode.
    “Look,