by CC Dragon
“Thanks,” I said.
Gunner, myself, and Travis climbed into the boat. I navigated by my gift and we came upon the Katrina Marie as they were nearing the spot in my vision.
“Stop!” I shouted.
“Holy cow,” Butch said.
“What’s the problem, officer?” Kev asked.
I shook my head. “I had a vision of your boat flipping over in this area.”
“Flipping over?” Butch laughed.
“Two of you drowned,” I added.
Ken shook his head. “We’re checking out lines. That’s all. It’s legit.”
The officer nodded. “Nothing out of line.”
“One of the lines is rigged,” I said.
Travis moved the boat in and investigated.
“Looks like it’s tripped.” Travis pulled and nearly went over the side. “It’s stuck on something.”
Gunner pulled Travis back in the boat fully. “Rigged.”
“Got any enemies?” I asked.
“Rivals, sure.” Butch shrugged. “It’s not an easy business. Some years the gators are tiny.”
“Maybe you rigged it to prove the banshee threat even more?” I pushed some emotional buttons.
Butch glared at me. “I wouldn’t endanger my own kin for anything.”
“Good,” I said. “Can you get me the names of the competitors who might want to hurt you?
“Yes, ma’am. If they did it, they’ll pay for it,” he said.
It needed to be checked out but did I believe it? I wasn’t sure.
“De, you can’t go confront another bayou family,” Matt said.
“Why not? I’m just asking questions, not making accusations,” I said.
Gunner and Matt exchanged a look.
“What? I can be nice. My father’s side of the family is Cajun,” I defended.
“Let the police talk to them,” Matt advised.
“You? Sure,” I said.
“Me and Travis. You go home now,” Matt negotiated.
I rolled my eyes. “Why? I can wait here.”
My phone beeped.
Frankie: Ivy is tearing up her bedroom and getting ready to destroy some dresses. You might want to talk to her...
I replied: Thx! B right there. Try to keep her from leaving or destroying anything.
“Gotta go. Ivy is melting down,” I said.
“Saved by the drag queen,” Matt teased.
“Nice,” Gunner scolded.
“I thought she was doing better.” I climbed into the car.
Gunner headed for home. At least the traffic was a bit better but my foot bounced against the floor of the car trying to work off the nervous energy.
Once parked, we rushed into the house and found Ivy’s wardrobe all over the floor of the foyer. She’d tossed so many gorgeous gowns from the second-floor landing.
“Ivy,” I called as I headed upstairs.
Frankie and Darla were playing keep away with a lighter.
“De, it’s my stuff. Tell them to give me the lighter,” Ivy said.
“You’re going to burn your gowns? No,” I said.
Ivy stomped her platform heel. “It’s my stuff.”
“It’s my house. You’re not setting a fire. You’re not putting that stuff in the fireplace. It’s toxic,” I replied.
She pouted and folded her arms. “I can’t.”
“You don’t want to dress in drag anymore? Don’t. Donate the gowns or auction them off for charity, I don’t care. But don’t waste things. Destroying them is not going to help you. You’re upset about something else,” I said.
Tears rolled down her face.
I nodded to Frankie and Darla that they could leave. We were in Ivy’s bedroom and now that I could focus on something other than the lighter, I noticed she’d pulled open every drawer and her closet was nearly empty.
“Eli,” she said.
“Did he contact you?” I asked.
She sat on her bed. “No, but he’s still in my head. What would my parents think? What would my kids think? If Brody and I would’ve had kids...I think that’s why I freaked out. It’s hard enough being a child, but with us for parents?”
“Ivy, you and Brody would’ve loved your kids and that’s what’s most important.” I shrugged.
She nodded. “I know, but Brody wanting them and Eli putting all that parent/kid approval stuff in my head...it was too much. Too wrong.”
“Eli is wrong,” I affirmed.
“Brody, too. Brody could block out that stuff. He was strong. I care what people think about me. I want the compliments. I want to be fabulous,” Ivy said.
“Then why would you ever think about torching your clothes?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t think that was me. I’m not possessed but Eli is messing with my head still,” Ivy said.
I nodded. “I’m your best friend. You can tell me anything. But I can’t be your therapist. I’m going to get Paul to recommend someone for you. Promise you’ll go?”
She nodded.
“Is it worse in the house?” I asked.
She nodded.
“Okay. We’re going to call Mary Lou and move you in over there.”
She hugged me tight.
I knew Eli wasn’t going to let go of Ivy or Greg easily, but he was growing stronger. More demons or more reach? I didn’t know but had to find a way to stop him.
Chapter Twelve
Driving over to help with the rehab, I heard a whisper. It sounded female, like the banshee ghost. A vision in my head showed a gator in the boat lunging and chomping a man’s arm off.
Immediately, I turned the car around and headed for the MacLands. I couldn’t drive a boat but I could warn them.
Mary Jo came out and shook her head. “You don’t need to be here now.”
“Whoever is on the boat now is in danger,” I said.
“What?” she asked.
“I had a vision of a gator in the boat, not fully dead. It could kill them. Call them, I can’t get out there. I don’t have a boat. Nothing will get here fast enough,” I said.
She pulled out her cell phone and called her hubby. After she relayed the message, she pointed to the car. “Let’s go.”
“Do we need to call an ambulance?” I asked.
“We’ll see.” She climbed in the passenger side.
I drove as she navigated. In that moment, I missed my honeymoon. I hated this case. I hated feeling like a reality show waiting to happen. I hated helping people who didn’t seem to want my help even though they’d asked for it. I hated not having answers and feeling like Eli was messing with my friends. Hell, he was probably messing with me.
I nearly slammed on the brakes but I focused on the task of helping the MacLands. Eli was messing with me by messing with my case. That had to be it. I thought I could keep things separate and would sense it but Eli was pretty creepy powerful, or the demons he had inside of him. They could travel. They could infect others.
Was the banshee the demon delivery vehicle? A big trick?
“Stop,” Mary Jo ordered.
I pulled over and spotted Kev helping Butch through the trees. There was blood everywhere.
Mary Jo and Kev helped Butch into the backseat and Kev sat next to him, keeping pressure on Butch’s arm.
Once Mary Jo was back in front and all the doors were closed, she yelled, “Drive!”
“We should call an ambulance.” I drove anyway, back toward the main road.
“It’ll take them forever to find us out here,” Kev said.
“Damn gator playing dead,” Butch said.
“De warned us or you’d be dead,” Mary Jo shot back.
Butch cursed and bled in the backseat.
I drove fast and did my best to block out the theories and fear swirling in my head. We arrived at the nearest hospital and I ended up behind an ambulance with its lights and sirens going. I didn’t get too close but I followed. I felt a little warning of something and realized I was goi
ng too fast.
Trying to slow down, I saw a car coming out of the corner of my eye. In a split second, the car was spinning.
My arm hurt and my car had been struck and finally stopped in the ER parking lot. How convenient.
Everything was a blur as we were cut out of the car. Butch needed the most attention but I was on a gurney in no time. My left arm wasn’t working but I grabbed my purse with my right and fished for my phone.
“Relax, miss,” the orderly said.
“I need to call my husband,” I explained.
“We’ll call,” he said.
I shook my head. “I’m okay.”
I texted Paul just in time. The doctor came in and assessed me.
“Butch?” I asked.
“He’s going into surgery right now. Gator got him good. He’s lucky you got him here,” the doctor said.
“What about the police.? Did they show up? That car came out of nowhere,” I said.
“Accidents happen. Don’t worry about it right now. Looks like you bumped your head and broke your arm. We’re going to get some x-rays and scans to be sure.” The doc tapped on the computer in the room.
Paul: I’ll be there ASAP.
“My husband is a doctor. He’s coming,” I said.
“That’s fine, we’ll let him back here. Any meds?”
“No, just vitamins,” I said.
“Any chance you’re pregnant?” he asked.
I laughed. “At my age?”
“We’ll do a test first to be sure,” he replied.
“I haven’t had any symptoms.” A tiny part of me started to freak out but there was always a chance.
“Just have to be sure before we decide what scans and X-rays to do. Standard procedure. I’ll be back,” he said.
A nurse came in and drew blood but I didn’t feel okay until Paul finally showed up.
“That is broken,” Paul said.
I nodded. “My arm hurts like crazy.”
“Scans?” he asked.
“Not yet,” I said.
The nurse walked in. “Good news. You’re not pregnant so we’re going to take you for a lot of scans to be sure you’re all good. They’ll be here in a few minutes to get you.”
“Thanks,” I said.
Paul didn’t blink.
“Guess it’s standard,” I said.
He nodded. “Disappointed?”
I shook my head. “Not right now. I think Eli is part of this banshee mess or making it worse. Being pregnant at my age is crazy. Being that vulnerable with what I do? I don’t know if it’d be fair or safe.”
Paul smiled. “I get that. Let’s get you better right now and worry about it once you’re recovered.”
“Check on the MacLands while I’m gone?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said.
The transport guys showed up and I was off for scans.
A few hours later, I was on the couch resting. Tish pawed at my cast while her tail twitched curiously. Paul was going over the results of all my scans. Gunner and Ivy were making something for dinner and fussing.
“Matt is checking out the report on the accident,” Paul said from the armchair.
“How’s Butch?” I asked.
Paul looked up from his phone. “He’s fine. Made it through surgery. You probably saved his life. He needed quite a bit of blood.”
I shook my head. “Eli is messing with them.”
“They hunt gators. Being bitten is hardly proof of the demonic,” Paul said.
The front door opened and it was Greg.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, just a little accident. Nothing to worry about. Stay for dinner,” I invited.
Greg sat down on the floor next to me and started to pray.
Paul and I shared a look.
“I’m going to let you talk. I’ll go set the table,” Paul said.
I frowned. “Okay.”
Greg kept praying.
“Greg, stop. I appreciate it but I think you need to worry about yourself first.” I looked at him.
“I’m going back,” he murmured.
“Vows and everything?” I asked.
He nodded.
“It didn’t help Eli,” I warned.
“He’s safe. He’s being helped,” Greg said.
“He’s in a straitjacket,” I countered.
Greg’s eyes grew. “We need to document your gifts. Your powers. Your miracles.”
I helped up my good hand. “No, stop. Not a prophet. Not a miracle worker. I can’t do anything.”
“Humility is good,” Greg said.
I rolled my eyes. “The church doesn’t embrace prophetic people. They have their rules about exorcism. If you feel a religious life is for you, fine, but I need to do things the way I’m guided. You’re sure?”
Greg nodded.
“You need to clean out your room. All your stuff. If you don’t want it, I’ll put it in storage under the stairs,” I said.
“With the haunted objects?” Greg frowned.
“Storage. Your stuff. That room won’t be a shrine. I need to clear it and clean it. Eli feels like he’s lurking around. Clinging to you and Ivy. Messing with the MacLands, I think. Maybe he’s bugging me.” I shook my head.
“How is he messing with you?” Greg asked.
I looked at my arm. “Normally, I’d see this coming.”
Greg grabbed my hand. “You got hit, T-boned by a bigger SUV. All you got was a broken arm. That’s a miracle.”
“Greg, speeds and directions...it’s physics,” I argued.
We both knew that wasn’t totally true. My angels probably ran inference a bit but a miracle would be walking away without a scratch.
“You need to believe in your protection,” Greg said.
“I do. You need to figure out what your life will be like now. Ivy is still stressed from Eli. She nearly torched her wardrobe. It’s not all on Eli but he’s messing with people. Be sure he isn’t messing with you, sucking you back into holy orders.”
“I’m not possessed,” Greg said.
I nodded. “I know, but you can’t be the same with us. It changes things.”
He stood up. “I’ll go look at the room.”
“Did you tell Ivy?” I asked.
Greg sighed. “I’ll do that first.”
I wasn’t disappointed in Greg but worried for him. The man I knew wasn’t ever this selfish. If it’s what he needed to be happy, fine, but he was leaving his cousin in a lurch when she needed him. I could handle my cases and my life but if Greg needed to be rescued at some point, or was in danger ever...I didn’t have authority to intervene.
Chapter Thirteen
A couple days later, Greg’s room had been cleared and cleansed so Paul and I could sleep there again without issue. The MacLands were safe and Mrs. Butch had written me a thank you note.
“I get the feeling the MacLands don’t want me around,” I said at breakfast.
Gunner frowned. “You said Eli might be part of it. Trying to keep you apart from them might be Eli’s goal. Or the demons.”
I shrugged. “Eli being locked up or sequestered or whatever isn’t helping. I can’t confront him.”
“Would it help?” Paul asked.
“They were letting him work as a priest while possessed. Do you think they’re doing the right thing now? That they can get those demons off of him?” I asked.
“Not your monkeys, not your circus,” Matt said.
I smiled. “Fine. I still want to help the MacLands.”
Matt nodded. “I think I might’ve found something but I didn’t want to tell you until you were recovered from the accident.”
“What is it?” I asked.
“I ran the MacLand name through some databases. There is an old woman in a nursing home whose maiden name is MacLand. She’s pushing ninety though, not sure she’ll be much help,” Matt explained.
“I can still visit. You have a name and address?” I asked.
“Fine. So many bossy men,” I said with a grin. “Thanks.”
“You can try to help but accidents happen. Death is part of life and the MacLands haven’t had a ton of deaths. I checked. No red flags,” he said.
“Thanks for checking. The banshee part is real so if we can find a way to get her to stop scaring kids, stop haunting the family—that’ll help,” I replied.
“Guess I know my plans for the day.” Gunner filled a travel mug with coffee.
“I can handle it,” I said.
Paul shot me a look.
“Fine, I’m out numbered,” I said.
Gunner smiled. “I’m going. It’s my job and I love it but I was trying to help out with the club.”
“Thanks, Ivy can handle it. Paul has hired new people for the rehab. People like good jobs. You’ve got enough of a job, handling me isn’t easy,” I teased.
“Agreed,” Gunner shot back.
“Half an hour and I’ll be ready to go,” I said.
Walking into the nursing home, I wanted to walk back out. There was a sadness that permeated the area. We got our visitor badges without much fuss.
As we walked the halls to the right room, I paused.
“What’s wrong?” Gunner asked.
I shook my head. “My parents aren’t going anywhere like this. Darla will find a ranch home in a nice area. Get them live-in help,” I said.
Gunner smiled. “Lucky you’ve got the money.”
“I know. I hope they stay active and healthy and I know not everyone has a choice. My parents and I aren’t that close but this is freaking me out,” I whispered so only he could hear.
We got to the room and I saw a very frail, tiny woman sitting in a chair. I knocked softly on the door frame.
“Come in,” she said.
“Hi, I’m Deanna and this is Gunner. You don’t know us but I’ve been trying to help the MacLand family,” I said.
She nodded. “I’m Anna. I see what you do.”
“See?” I asked.
“When you get very near death, the line blurs. I can see my family. After I married, I got away from them. The banshee nonsense and the bayou life.” She shook her head.
“Swamps aren’t for everyone. You believe in the banshee?” I asked.