Colton Banyon Mysteries 1-3: Colton Banyon Mysteries (Colton Banyon Mystery Book 20)

by Gerald J Kubicki

  “You are near,” was whispered in his ear.

  The small group turned a corner and suddenly Wesley saw a bright light in the middle of a very dark room. The flood lights in this area of the cave weren’t turned on, but Wesley could clearly see a light near the center of the room.

  His guide said, “Wait here until I turn the lights on. It’s pitch black in here. We don’t want you to get lost.”

  Wesley was suddenly embraced by a terrifying fear. He wanted to run. He wanted to get away from the diamond. Something had changed. The air was thick with sadness, agony, and perverted lust. His heart thumped in his chest.

  “You are here. I now will give you power,” the glow announced as Wesley noticed an ever-increasing pulse of light.

  His feet began to move, even though he hadn’t willed them to step forward. He felt a tremendous pulling sensation in his chest. The hairs on his arms pointed toward the Black Diamond. He seemed powerless against an unstoppable force. With horror, he realized it was going to consume him. Nothing could stop it. He knew he had been duped. It meant to absorb him. It had always meant to absorb his energy. All was lost.

  Just then the lights in the cave came on and jolted Wesley back into reality. His concentration had been broken. It had freed him from the trance. He quickly turned to Jones.

  “Quick, give me the container with the goat’s blood, and make it fast,” he ordered the bewildered Ranger.

  With the open container in hand, he moved toward the source of the light. Immediately sounds of many people crying and screaming filled his mind. Visions of torture and inflicted pain rolled across his eyes. Demons of every kind circled the container. His hand began to shake. Suddenly a vision appeared next to the box where the Black Diamond rested. It was a vision of Anna, naked and welcoming him into her arms. A smile crossed her face, an evil smile.

  But Wesley continued and now stood over the diamond. He began pouring the blood on it. A sound like a whirling wind filled the chamber and attempted to dislodge the container from his hand. He applied all his willpower to continue. As the blood landed on the diamond, the wind stopped, and peace returned to the chamber. Wesley turned his head to find Jones and the guide right behind him with arms outstretched as if to capture him. Their arms now fell to their sides. The blank expressions on their faces turned to wonder.

  “What just happened?” the guide asked. “I was over there when I turned on the lights and next thing I know, I’m here in the middle of the room.”

  “It’s called cave disorientation,” Wesley lied.

  ***

  Before the guide could ask any more questions, Wesley sent him to find some cleaning cloths and an empty box. He told the guide he had accidently spilled some juice on some artifacts and wanted to clean it up. While he was gone, Jones stepped forward and peered at the Black Diamond.

  “Professor, that was scary, even for me. I had this urge to grab you and destroy the container of blood. How does this work?” He pointed to the diamond.

  “I don’t know. That is why we must keep it neutralized. We must also find a way to hide it forever. It changes people.”

  “Oh.”

  Wesley stood over it. He then continued, “I just can’t figure out why it’s here. The last person we know who had control of the diamond was Himmler. He also had learned about the powers of the diamond from Anna, my old friend. So why did he discard it here? I’ll have to think about that. Meanwhile, get this thing crated. We’re heading back to America as soon as we can. You did bring the presidential order with you, didn’t you?

  “Of course.”

  Wesley stepped back to allow Jones to come forward in the cramped area. “It’s all yours,” he said.

  “Watch out!” Jones yelled. But it was too late. Wesley fell backward, his seventy-year-old body unable to stop his fall. He had moved only two steps away from the crate and tripped over debris on the floor. He fell into the pile and was suddenly horrified by his surroundings. Jones quickly grabbed his arm and lifted him like a feather. The two of them stared at the large pile around them.

  “What is it?” Jones asked.

  Wesley replied with great sadness in his voice. “Corporal Jones, I’m afraid these are the remains of many people. These are pieces of humanity. They are gold fillings from teeth. They were probably taken after the people were killed by the Nazis. This pile alone might represent several hundred thousand people. My friend Anna has donated to the pile.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I saw her image beckoning me as I approached the Black Diamond. It has communicated with me in my nightmares. It was protecting her. It appears the diamond protects precious metals and sees them as the entity, not the flesh. No wonder its power was stronger here. It was protecting its friends, other precious metals. We must remove it immediately.”

  Jones produced a sack like the old pouch that had contained the diamond for the past millennia. He reached for it, snatched it from its perch, and dropped it in the goat’s blood-lined sack. He then exhaled the breath he had been holding. He had no idea if the diamond could still be contained and was relieved to find no consequences. He then unceremoniously dropped it into a small crate he had acquired nearby.

  “We’re done here. Let’s get while the getting’s good,” Wesley cheerfully announced.

  “Professor, look,” Jones said as he pointed. “There’s a book under where the diamond was sitting,”

  The book was covered with blood, but the German handwriting on the inside was still legible. A quick scan of the pages told Wesley he needed to take the book with him.

  Part Seven

  Secrets

  Chapter Sixty-Four

  Wesley and Jones immediately left for America. They were anxious get the Black Diamond into the hands of FDR. Their ride was the Liberty ship, Detroit.

  It was April 13, 1945. Everyone on the ship who could sit sat in stunned silence. Wesley and Jones were in the captain’s cramped quarters. The world had changed for Adam Wesley. He no longer felt confident about the future, nor was he happy. It was the saddest day in history for him. FDR had died the day before.

  “Who’s the president now?” Jones inquired as he filled his glass with some nondescript liquid.

  “The vice president, of course,” replied the captain with no enthusiasm. “He’s always next in line.”

  “So who is he?”

  “His name is Harry S. Truman. He’s from Missouri.”

  “Yes,” said Wesley. “And things will change,” he said as he offered his glass to be filled. “Believe me, I know him. FDR only had him on the ticket to get some votes. FDR was flamboyant; Truman is conservative. They are quite different.”

  “How so?” asked Jones

  “Harry is a no nonsense guy. He’s not as devious as FDR was, and frankly he has less political and military experience than FDR. However, his decisions will be final. But he’s our new leader and don’t forget, there’s a war still going on, especially in the Pacific. Also, Harry doesn’t like “Wild Bill;” therefore, he doesn’t like you and me.” Wesley was feeling his drink and being very opinionated.

  Wesley’s concern was well founded. What if Truman refused to see Wesley? Did he know about the secret mission to capture the Black Diamond? Did he know about FDR’s plans for it? When will America win the war? The implications of a change in leadership in America were mind boggling. And these issues were only part of what Wesley wrestled with as their ship slowly crossed the Atlantic.

  Wesley needed to read the book found near the diamond to understand why Himmler had hidden it in the remote cave. He believed the book would fill in the details. The heading told the whole story. It started out with an inscription:

  Property of Fuehrer Heinrich L. Himmler

  Chapter Sixty-Five

  The book was another diary of the history of the Black Diamond, but it was from the viewpoint of a deranged sociopath. It included some of the ancient history of the diamond, but it was written with the occul
t as the main theme. Himmler recorded the use of diamonds in occult ceremonies and projected the use of the Black Diamond in future ceremonies. Himmler was clearly a disciple of the occult—it controlled his everyday life. The dairy outlined his beliefs, and he even included a family tree of his past lives. Himmler actually believed he had been a king. Wesley began to understand the depth of Himmler’s lunacy.

  The diary explained why Himmler hid the diamond in the salt mine. He placed it in the mine only a month before it was found by the American army. The reason was actually quite simple—he didn’t want Hitler to find it.

  According to the diary, Himmler had come to realize its full strength. He understood it could easily kill anyone who touched it for too long. He further understood that small doses paid big dividends and even that holding it in the left hand versus the right produced different results. The diary droned on about Himmler’s plans to develop super spies. He would then send the spies to assassinate the leaders of the Allied forces. His spies would be invincible and produce the necessary chaos to allow German SS troops to break out against the inferior Allies. Himmler also wanted at least one loyal superman to lead the army from each major front. The men could surgically take out key enemy emplacements at will. The diary included an organization chart of the supermen, but only a few names. Himmler was so paranoid that he couldn’t decide who was trustworthy. After all, each superman would have powers equal to Himmler’s. Himmler didn’t like that.

  As Wesley turned to the next section, he discovered the always paranoid Himmler believed that somehow Hitler had found out about the power of the Black Diamond as well. There were spies everywhere in Germany. Himmler had his own spies, but so did Hitler. Since both men were power hungry and extremely paranoid, they had never trusted each other. From the very start of the Nazi party in the 1920s, Himmler had wanted to be the leader. Himmler wrote in his diary that he felt that 1945 was the year for him to take over Germany. It had come to him in an occult ceremony.

  Himmler knew he could not be killed by any ordinary weapon and didn’t want to share that power with Hitler. Himmler had plans for Hitler, and invincibility would ruin them. So Himmler hid the Black Diamond in one of his caves with enough money to take over the government. There were specific instructions to return the diamond to the new fuehrer after Hitler’s demise. Like Hitler, Himmler would be the new fuehrer for life. The culmination of the plan was to take place in Hitler’s bunker in late April of 1945.

  Wesley realized the Allies had put a monkey wrench into Himmler’s plan. They had crossed the Rhine River and were now swarming all over Germany.

  The next section of the diary explained how Himmler had found out about the diamond and how he learned about its history. It included several passages of dialogue. Sadly, Wesley realized, this section was about Anna. He couldn’t bring himself to read it right away. He put the book down and took a nightmare-free nap.

  Chapter Sixty-Six

  When he awoke, Wesley dillydallied with everything he could think of before finally sitting down to read about Anna. He was frightened for her even though he was sure she was dead. He remembered seeing the apparition in the mine and the diamond telling him it was protecting her. Of course, the diamond meant it was protecting her gold teeth. With gritty resolve, he opened the diary. He quickly picked up that Himmler hated Jews—almost every reference to a Jew was prefaced by a slanderous adjective.

  Himmler wrote that he had actually come across the Black Diamond by accident, but he had immediately recognized that it could be the centerpiece for his occult ceremonies and rituals. He further claimed it was the catalyst and good luck charm which molded him into the future fuehrer.

  At the time that he found the Black Diamond, he was a chicken farmer with little future. He called it his “back to the land” time. While farming, he joined the “Artamanen Society,” which consisted of idealistic, racist farmers. It was during his time in the society that he found his real love—white supremacy.

  Himmler claimed in the diary that he had found the Black Diamond in a small jewelry vault in the storefront of a most despicable Jew in Munich. He felt the dirty Jew did not treat him with proper respect when Himmler paid a visit to the store. At that time, Himmler had just joined the police department in Munich. The demanding Jew had tried to haggle with him over the price of a necklace. Himmler could not let the slovenly dressed Jew take advantage of him.

  Using dialogue, the diary continued. He decided to teach the inferior animal he was superior. Himmler almost always carried a riding crop. He slapped the diseased Jew across the face with it. “Bend to my will!” Himmler bellowed.

  The larcenous Jew weathered the blow and did not cower to Himmler. “Leave the store immediately,” the heinous Jew ordered as he pointed his finger at Himmler. “I don’t need your racist money.”

  Himmler was so insulted that the next night he returned with several members of the police department and entered the store just as the idiot Jew was closing. The display cases were empty, and all the jewelry had already been placed in the vault.

  Himmler had thought out his strategy. “You may lock the door now, you insulting Jew,” Himmler told him as he slapped his crop in his hand. “Also remember to post the “closed” sign. We may be here awhile.”

  “I’ll call the police,” the man threatened.

  “My dear fellow, we are the police,” Himmler grinned. “Here’s my badge.” He then described how one of his men produced a piece of rough wood and smacked the Jew across the head. He went down in a heap and crashed into a glass display. The noise brought the demented Jew’s wife and daughter down the stairs and into the first stages of the holocaust.

  Himmler wrote that he told his men to beat the wife and tether the daughter to a pole with her arms tied behind her back. The daughter begged and pleaded with Himmler to make the men stop. She threw herself to the floor and promised them anything if they would stop. She even offered sex, but Himmler felt she was too anxious and too willing to please. He wanted absolute fear from the soulless Jews.

  “We have diamonds. They’re in the vault. I can open it and give you some,” the daughter screamed from the floor of the store.

  “Well then, open the vault,” Himmler ordered. “But we’re taking all of the diamonds we want,” he added.

  When the daughter opened the vault, he grabbed her by her hair and threw her aside like a toy. He dug into the vault and pulled out a pouch. When he opened it, he discovered the Black Diamond. He was stunned by the brilliance and size of it and immediately knew it was a ceremonial occult diamond and would change his life. He completely forgot about anything else.

  “Where did you get this?” he said as the thrill of his future success began to spread through his body.

  Wesley’s heart broke when he read her answer. “It belongs to my lover. You can’t take it, please. It has very dangerous powers. If you don’t use it properly you will die. I promised I would protect it with my life.”

  “So you know of the diamond’s powers?” Himmler asked. “How does a godless Jew know anything about occult diamonds?”

  Reluctantly Anna replied that she did know. Also that she had learned much about the diamond.

  “Well, so be it,” Himmler replied as he made a decision. “I’m still taking the diamond, but I’m also taking you.”

  At this point Wesley was so angry he slammed the book against the wall. He was outraged with Himmler. Despite being seventy years old, he wanted to find Himmler himself and beat him to death, just as Himmler had done to the Van Kleef family. He decided to fortify himself with a drink before he continued reading the diary.

  Wesley eventually decided to get it over with and finish reading about Anna’s death. The ship was due to dock soon, and he wanted to know everything about Himmler’s experience with the diamond. He soon realized that Himmler never mentioned her by name. He just called her the Jew bitch. To him, she was nothing more than an animal to be farmed. He was the farmer.

  Himmle
r wrote that Anna was a feisty one. She kicked and tried to gouge one of the men’s eyes out, but they were stronger. They tied her up like a calf and stuffed her in the trunk of Himmler’s automobile. He then returned to his farm outside the city. Whatever happened to Anna’s parents was not recorded in the diary, but Wesley was sure they were disposed of after signing over their property to Himmler.

  When he opened the trunk, she seemed to be dead, but it was a ploy. As he undid some of the ropes, she attacked with everything she had. Her hands were tied behind her back, and her mouth was gagged, but she had her legs free. It wasn’t much, but Himmler was a small man. He hit her several times and found he enjoyed being brutal. The stimulation of hitting a nearly defenseless woman raised his lust level. He eventually hit her on the chin and she was knocked out cold.

  He dragged the unconscious woman to the back of the barn where he held his ceremonies. His first wife was not allowed to ever enter the barn. He then proceeded to untie her arms and retied them so that he could place her on a meat hook in the middle of the room. It was high enough so she couldn’t touch the ground. She was a slab of meat hanging on a hook.

  Himmler then cut away all her clothes. It was like skinning a deer, something he had often accomplished. When he was done, he realized the woman had once been beautiful and had an attractive body. He stood back and studied the beauty dangling before him. He didn’t want to hurt her too much, at least not until she supplied the information he needed. But a little slapping with the horse crop and a little hand groping never hurt anybody. It also would help to wake her up.

  Soon he was looking into eyes that were filled with loathing and hatred. She couldn’t speak because of the gag, but she could produce a muffled scream. This she did often. He was sure she would try to kill him if he let her free. The problem was that she held information about the diamond. Extracting this information was going to be difficult, but Himmler saw it as a pleasant challenge.