Return of the Devil's Spawn

by John Moore

  “Who the hell is he?” Jess asked.

  “He is the manager Charlotte and I hired for the stevia company. We thought his name was Michael Keeson and he was a Yale graduate. Nowwe are sure Victor Ivanovich and Bart Rogan sent him to us. All of his credentials were faked by Victor’s hacking farm in Russia. We were duped, and I believe he brought the fleas with the plague into our condo. Victor and Rogan’s plan was to knock Piper out of the picture so Victor’s hacking farm could disable my website and keep me from fighting back.”

  “If I weren’t in the hospital bed I’d march right into that paper and we’d straighten all of this out,” she said. “I’m feeling better, but my doctors tell me I’ll be here for another five days at least. I should be able to get out of bed soon. I’ve been watching the television coverage of Hurricane Miguela. It looks like we are going to see some bad weather. Some of the nurses are talking about evacuation plans for the hospital.”

  “Yeah, it’s all over the news, but I can’t think about anything but Piper and these devils attacking me. The storm is going to go where it wants to go no matter what I do. Do you think they will evacuate you and Piper to another hospital?”

  Jess cleared her throat and said, “The nurses told me that many of the hospitals are evacuating patients to safer locations. They asked me what I wanted to do and I told them that this old lady wasn’t going anywhere. If the Lord wants to take me, he knows where to find me. As far as Piper goes, I asked them about that too. They say she’ll have to stay here because the other hospitals in the region can’t quarantine her like Tulane can.”

  “Looks like we’ll all be riding it out together then, because I’m not going anywhere without Piper,” I said.

  My phone rang and my caller ID displayed Detective Baker’s name. He’d called to tell me his connection at the Department of Health had retrieved my laptop and I could pick it up at the precinct. That was welcome news, and I agreed to head there right away. Besides needing my laptop, I wanted his help in finding Burak. I called Sophia and asked her to join me at Baker’s office.

  Sophia and I sat in Detective Baker’s office with competing agendas and responsibilities. The way I saw it, she had to catch Victor in criminal activity. Baker had to catch the serial killer and Bob Broussard if the two weren’t the same. I had to find Burak to expedite Piper’s treatment, keeping Victor and Rogan at bay, save my business, and restore my good name. The question was how could we work together to get what we all wanted.

  Detective Baker gave me the computer and said, “I’m sure the CDC has been through the computer collecting evidence. I thought you should know.”

  I was losing my patience with the array of problems facing me, and snapped, “I don’t give a shit what they did. I think Arkady Burak, a.k.a. Michael Keeson, put the fleas infected with bubonic plague in my condo. They should be looking for him and not messing with me. I’ve brought you both together because I can trust you, and I need your help. I need to find out the strain of plague Burak used. Piper’s health depends on it. Will you help me find him?”

  Sophia was the first to speak. “Alexandra, you know I’d do anything to help you and Piper, but my hands are tied. They will not let me access the NSA database, and Interpol doesn’t know where he is.”

  Baker let a sly smile cross his face.“Maybe you can’t find Burak, but I’ll bet you know where Victor is. My guess is they aren’t far from each other. The war between the Dixie Mafia and Victor’s men is still underway. Victor needs Burak close to him as long as the killing is going on.”

  Sophia smiled for the first time since she was put on this case. “That’s exactly right. They’ll be communicating with each other. Maybe I can get one of the NSA guys to tell me what telephone numbers Victor is calling. Then we can use the GPS on the phone to track down the owner. The problem is that I can’t arrest him without alerting Victor.”

  “Maybe not,” Baker said. “But I can find a reason to arrest him. I may not be able to hold him long, but maybe we’ll find out what you need to know, Alexandra.”

  Charlotte texted me that the CDC was at her house asking for me. They wanted to talk to me immediately.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight:

  Lab Work

  I left Jess and sped to Charlotte’s place, my mind spinning in dizzy circles wondering why the CDC wanted to speak with me. Maybe they wanted to know where I’d been and who I’d been in contact with before the flea infestation at my condo, or maybe something worse. It really didn’t matter because I had to talk to them.

  As I walked into Charlotte’s place my phone rang. Tom called to tell me Jason Crawford had arrived in New Orleans. Tom was picking him up at the airport, and they were going to the farm in LaPlace. Tom asked me to meet him in LaPlace after I finished with the CDC. How the hell was I going to find time to go to the farm and meet with Jason? The CDC might take me away, or Bart Rogan or one of the other demons may kidnap me and kill me for all I knew. I couldn’t plan anything because circumstances were in control of my life and not me. Tom said Daniel Lopez, the lab guy I’d met at the crawfish boil, was joining us at the farm to discuss soil conditions. I think Tom wanted to keep me busy so I wouldn’t stay at the hospital fretting about Piper when I couldn’t do anything about her condition. His intentions were admirable but misguided, unintentionally adding to my stress. Then again maybe getting out of town for a couple of hours was exactly what I needed. The drive to LaPlace would give me quiet time to think.

  Charlotte spoke as I walked into her place. “Alexandra, I’d like you to meet Suzy Morgan and Dana Nathan from the CDC.”

  Dana opened what looked like a Gucci carrying bag and pulled out a mountain of a laptop. While Dana fired up her laptop, Suzy said, “Alexandra Lee. That is your full name, isn’t it?” After she saw me nod she continued, “We have a series of questions we will need answered to determine the nature of the biological threat.”

  Holy shit, biological threat. Were they treating this like a terrorist threat? Did they suspect I had something to do with bringing the plague into my home?

  “Where have you been in the last year? Please include in your answer all cities, states, and countries,” Suzy said as Dana prepared to type.

  “I’ve been to Silbee, Indiana; Las Vegas, Nevada; Baltimore; Maryland; Colombia; Red Bluff, California; and Los Angeles, California. I think that’s all,” I said. I looked at Charlotte and lifted my shoulders as if I didn’t understand why they were asking me and not her.

  “They’ve already asked me all of these questions,” Charlotte said.

  I felt a little relieved knowing they weren’t singling me out. Suzy continued with the questions, asking me if I’d associated with any groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, and a laundry list of others. Both of their ears perked up when I told them about the Dixie Mafia and the Russian group I’d been forced to deal with.

  “Oh, I forgot to mention,” Dana said,“Ms. Butler for the Louisiana Department of Child Services will be joining us in a minute. She is interested in Constance Rawlins’s condition. We thought it would be convenient for us all to ask our questions at one time. Do you have any problem with that?”

  Holy shit. I know the blood left my face for a minute before it flushed. Hearing her name was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. These two women from Atlanta had no idea the history Ms. Theresa Butler and I had. She’d tried to take Piper from me, and I knew she’d try again. She was on Victor’s payroll, but I couldn’t prove it. I tried to maintain my composure, but that woman was evil and she got under my skin.

  I wondered if I should kidnap her and force her at gunpoint to take me to Victor, but she probably didn’t know where he was. Like all of his other lackeys, she’d get her instructions by phone.

  Before I could answer Dana, she said, “Oh look, I have a text from her, and she can’t make it because of the hurricane. That’s odd because she really wanted to be here.”

&nbs
p; Charlotte knew my feelings about Ms. Butler and jumped in the conversation. “Yes, I’ve been following the storm closely,” she said. “Most of the tracking models are predicting the hurricane will make landfall somewhere between Mobile, Alabama, and Cameron, Louisiana. That path puts New Orleans in the middle of its path.”

  “Dana, we need to wrap this up and get to the airport. Flights will be getting crowded, and I’d rather not be trapped here if the storm is coming anywhere near,” Suzy said.

  “We have what we need for now,” Dana said. “We have both of your email addresses and other contact information. We’ll be in touch if we need anything further. We hope Constance gets better.”

  They ran to their rental car, their heels clattering on the walkway. No doubt they had visions of a Katrina-type disaster in their minds, and they wanted no part of it. Their comments about Ms. Butler sent my mind into overdrive wondering what she was up to. She had access to all of Piper’s medical records if she wanted them, and I’m sure she would get a copy of the CDC’s report as well. So, why did she need to visit me personally? The answer didn’t come.

  “Thanks, Charlotte, for getting them out of here,” I said. “Smooth of you to give them the bad news about the hurricane. They ran like scalded dogs, and I don’t blame them. Is the hurricane really on the path you told them?”

  She gave me a worried smile. “Yes, it is. I wish I had been making it up.It’s strengthening, too. Some are saying it could be a Category 5 hurricane when it makes landfall.”

  “Oh no. Katrina was only a Category 3 when it hit New Orleans,” I said. “Are they predicting a large storm surge along with the winds?”

  “Yes, they say it may be the same as Katrina,” Charlotte answered. “I hope all the work done fortifying the levees protects us. The news media is advising everyone to evacuate before the roads get too crowded.”

  What was the hospital going to do with Piper? They had nowhere else to take her, so they had to keep her in New Orleans. That meant I wasn’t going anywhere, because as long as she was in New Orleans, I’d be here too. I wanted to go back to the hospital, but I’d promised Tom I’d go to LaPlace. I was getting a little overwhelmed by the attacks coming at me, but that inner voice kept me going.

  Charlotte studied me for a few seconds trying to conceal her concern. She was always the cool one. The only time I saw Charlotte lose it was when Mr. Morris died. Even in the face of our company being sabotaged and ruined she was still composed. “Alexandra, I need to get out of here for a while,” she said. “Do you mind if I ride with you to LaPlace? I’d love to see your farm.”

  “Oh my God, Charlotte, you must be a mind reader. I’d love for you to come with me.”

  I wasn’t surprised to see the traffic was thick leaving the city. Many didn’t want to risk getting trapped in New Orleans if Hurricane Miguela even threatened to hit. New Orleans used to laugh at the storms. Katrina changed that attitude in a big way, and now the city evacuates.

  It was great spending time with Charlotte. We hadn’t been able to hang out since that day we met with Mandy Morris. Pressure and stress leaked from my body with every mile we logged. My mother always told me that family and friends were the keys to happiness.

  “So what’s up with the wedding?” Charlotte asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” I said. “We had to cancel our plans to have the ceremony at the Aquarium of the Americas. There is too much going on now, and besides, Hurricane Miguela invited herself to the ceremony. She’s a wedding crasher we can’t ignore. I don’t care about having a ceremony, but I am anxious to get married. I love Tom, and I want him, Piper, and me to be a regular family with homework to do, dishes to wash, and family outings.”

  “Alexandra Lee. I can’t believe you are the same girl who went to the Cat’s Meow with Mandy Morris to drink and sing karaoke. I am proud of you, and I’ll bet your mother and Sarah are looking down at you right now saying the same thing. But I must admit, I’m a little jealous too.”

  “Don’t worry, Charlotte. Look at you! You are gorgeous, smart, and classy. Some Prince Charming will see you and snap you up. I only hope he doesn’t take you away. I need you with me always.”

  We both giggled like we’d done so many times together. I’d barely noticed the time passing as we pulled up to our farm in LaPlace. Tom, Zach, Maddy, Daniel, and Jason were standing in front the farmhouse as we parked. Charlotte’s jaw dropped to the ground when she laid eyes on Jason. He was handsome in a boy-next-door kind of way, but I didn’t think he was her type. He was earthy, approachable, and anything but urban, but I knew Charlotte well enough to recognize that look in her eyes. She was smitten.

  As we walked closer to the group, Jason didn’t take his eyes off of Charlotte either. Maybe he was just wondering who she was and where she fit in our group. But that wasn’t the vibe I was getting from him. He looked smitten too.

  After the introductions were made, Jason was the first to speak. “Daniel brought some good news with him. The soil is rich Mississippi Delta soil that has not been contaminated with pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. It is perfect for organic farming.”

  “That’s great news,” I said. “So, we don’t have to do anything to prepare the soil for farming. Thank you for doing the soil test for us, Daniel.”

  He nodded but quickly averted his eyes from mine. That was weird, I thought. Maybe he’s shy and doesn’t like to be the center of attention. I remembered him from the crawfish boil, and he didn’t seem as shy then as now. Then he said he had to go get his mother and leave New Orleans before the storm hit. No wonder he didn’t want to talk, he was petrified of the hurricane. Without much of a farewell he bolted back to New Orleans. Charlotte walked closer to Jason and asked him questions about his past and how long he planned on staying in New Orleans. She doesn’t waste any time, I thought. Good for her.

  “What types of crops should they plant?” Charlotte asked Jason. I was certain I saw her bat her eyelashes at him.

  That was Jason’s cue to show off a bit. “The soil is rich and will support any crops you want to plant. I’d research what is needed in this market and plant those crops. I would stay away from corn because America already produces too much of it.”

  “We were thinking about vegetables,” Zach said. “What do you think?”

  “Absolutely,” Jason said. “You can grow a variety of warm weather vegetables and herbs in this soil. You will want to rotate your crops from year to year to make certain you don’t deplete the soil, but I’ll develop a crop rotation plan once you decide what you want to grow.”

  Maddy spoke up from behind Charlotte, who had moved closer to Jason, “Can we graze cattle?”

  “Yes, and you should,” Jason answered. “You want to make sure you plant grass and have plenty of pasture for the cows to graze. Don’t feed them corn or other feeds. Grass-fed beef is richer in omega-3 acids than corn-fed and, therefore, better for your body’s health. Cow manure is a wonderful fertilizer as well.”

  Tom and I took a walk down the winding road leading from the highway to the farmhouse. I told him about Ms. Butler’s inquiry into Piper’s health. He didn’t seem too concerned. He reassured me that we had nothing to hide and we’d be fine if she wanted to make waves. I wasn’t so sure, because the state had enormous power over children’s welfare and an unlimited budget. They could spin my current troubles into a different type of storm than the one threatening New Orleans at the moment.

  As we walked back to the farmhouse, Tom said, “The hurricane has taken a turn toward New Orleans. I think it is going to hit the city. We need to make some preparations. Zach and Maddy want to stay here on the farm and ride it out. We can’t stay in the condo since the CDC has it quarantined, so we need to talk to Charlotte to see what her plans are.”

  “As long as Piper is in the hospital, that’s where I’m going to be,” I said. “When I drop Charlotte off at her place, I�
�m going to the hospital to make arrangement to stay.”

  Tom looked at the sky and said, “It’s clear now, but soon the outer bands of the storm will start hitting the city. I’m leaving here and heading to the hospital also. We will just have to ride it out there unless they throw us out. We can ask Charlotte if we can stay at her place if they do.”

  When we got back to the farmhouse, Jason and Charlotte were sitting on the porch steps locked in a conversation. They didn’t even stop to acknowledge me when I approached. They looked like a couple who’d been together for a long time and just seemed to go together.

  “Charlotte, are you ready to go?” I asked. “I need to get back to the hospital.”

  “I guess so,” she said.

  Jason stood up and said, “Charlotte, I can give you a ride back to New Orleans if you’d like. That way you and I can get to know each other better over dinner tonight. I’d like to hear more about your stevia company.”

  Of course, I agreed to let her stay with Jason. The romantic tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife. It looked to me like she wanted to do a lot more than pick his brain. I was pleased to see her happy again. Maybe she was ready to start living again. Charlotte deserved a good man, and Jason appeared to be wonderful. He was good looking and smart, plus he was an organic farmer.

  There was a steady stream of traffic leaving New Orleans as I headed back to town. I turned on the radio to hear the latest predictions of where Hurricane Miguela might make landfall. The only topic being discussed was the hurricane. The National Weather Service was predicting the hurricane would hit the coast very close to New Orleans. The exact land fall didn’t matter that much because it was such a huge storm. Miguela was predicted to hit New Orleans with stronger winds and more rain than Katrina. I stepped on the gas, racing at eighty-five miles per hour to the hospital. I knew we were in for a horrible time.