by T S Paul
“We are aware of Moon and his influences. In December 1862, General Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry brigade destroyed the railroad system here by ripping out the rails both to the north and south of the town. Any and all rail cars and engines were destroyed in the process. General Grant, the Union commander, changed his plans of invading Mississippi and went after Vicksburg instead. Attached to Forrest’s command was a local militia group made up of riders from the eastern part of Tennessee under the command of a Lieutenant Adam Moon. When Forrest’s raiders returned to the area in 1864 to establish a base of operations, Moon and his people came with them. He’s been here ever since,” I informed Bowen.
With both his eyes wide, the sheriff leaned back in his chair. “Well, shit. You know more about him than I do.”
Cat spoke up. “He’s been careful. More careful than others might have been in his situation. The pack is smaller than others, and he rules it with an iron fist. Moon and his sister have been hiding in plain sight for years.”
“If you know all this, why act now? Why didn’t you go after him all those years ago?” The sheriff asked.
“Probably because he wasn’t breaking any laws and the people of this town never reported it. Besides, we aren’t here for him this time. As I told you on the phone, he’s harboring a serial killer,” I answered.
“The Ripper that’s been in the news?” Bowen asked.
“Yes. The regular FBI, in conjunction with the BAU, were tracking the deaths along Highway Forty. Once they realized the subject was a Were, they called us in. We specialize in all things paranormal. The deaths form a straight line directly toward Jackson. We at the Bureau think that Jackson is either the Unsub’s destination or the site of his next victim,” I told him, grimly.
“Oh, lord. We don’t need that sort of thing around here. How sure are you that he’s here?” Bowen asked.
“Not totally. We know that Moon’s pack gained a new enforcer a week ago, but not who or how. Taking in stragglers isn’t the pack way. Rogues and lone wolves are pretty common in some areas. Our Unsub is either someone well connected or a total badass to be able to worm his way into an established pack. We know he is here because the attacks have stopped. It’s simple math. Jackson has the closest pack and we,” l motioned to Cat, “have experience with Moon and his people. We can see how they might like this person.”
Sheriff Bowen cocked his head to one side and grunted. “How do you know Moon?”
I cursed under my breath and only slightly turned my head. I really shouldn’t have said that. From the corner of my eye, I could see Cat tense up. I took a deep breath and let it out. “My team and I passed through here last year. One of our agents…,” pausing, I thought of Bill.
“Sorry. The agent in question was assassinated just yesterday while convalescing. As I was saying. One of our agents liked to stay at the RV park here. We stopped to have dinner at the Blood Moon.” I smiled a sad sort of smile at the sheriff.
“They recognized Bill, but he’d never told them he was a cop. Some members of my team aren’t human. There were territorial objections, and things got a little tense. We left and moved on to our assignment in Arkansas,” I told him.
“Territorial? What does that mean?” Bowen asked.
Cat answered. “Weres are a bit like street gangs. Once we establish our den, we claim the surrounding area. Our turf. That can mean anything from someone’s backyard to half the country. If you take it, you have to hold it and protect it. There are rules. One basic one is that anyone passing through has to ask for leave to do so. Law enforcement and government workers are supposed to be neutral. We are all allowed to pass without notification.”
“Wait, wait, wait. So if you weren’t a cop, you would have to stop at every little town along the way and ask to travel through?” Bowen asked.
Cat smiled, “Sort of. The packs are regulated, so the laws only work for registered packs, but there are some indies out there that claim a chunk of land and try to enforce it. But essentially yes. Traveling anywhere is a bitch.”
The sheriff nodded. “That makes a certain amount of sense. We are used to the wolves here, but I wondered why we didn’t have any other paranormals.”
“Others don’t have to ask for passage. You might have others here. We checked the registry for Vampires, and there aren’t any. But that’s not unusual. They only like New York and L.A.” I replied.
“So, there could be others here?” he asked.
“There might be, but I doubt it. Adam Moon is very jealous and possessive about his position and power. He wouldn’t stand for any competition around here.” I informed him.
“I’ve known Adam Moon all my life, and that is a pretty good description of the man. When did you pass through here?” Sheriff Bowen gave us both a funny look.
“From the look on your face, I think you already know the answer to that one. Mr. Moon had personal issues with our crossing of his territory and refused to uphold the rules about law enforcement,” I explained.
Sheriff Bowen snorted. “So threatening to burn his place down was your reaction to his dissatisfaction?”
I smiled at the sheriff. “I did a bit more than threaten. The scorch marks I left inside will attest to that. At the time, he had a poorly constructed ward surrounding the building. Using my Magick, I dropped it and threatened to charge him and his pack with terrorism and being rogue. As Federal Agents, we can do that legally. Obviously, I didn’t burn it down. We were on our way to a huge mess in Arkansas and couldn’t take the time to deal with Moon.”
“Arkansas? We all heard about the big pack war that went down out there. Were ya’ll involved in that?” Bowen asked.
“Pretty much. It was a three-way war that didn’t end well for anyone. We went looking for lost children and found madness.” I briefly filled the sheriff in on the Jaeger, Pepin, and Petrov Packs.
The sheriff looked shocked. “So, this Reverend created the whole mess and then tried to kill everyone to take over?”
I nodded. “Pretty much. They killed one another.'Plans within plans' is how my director termed it. Very nasty. The Pack Council broke what was left up and spread them around to other areas. Or that’s what they told us they did. Something you have to understand about paranormals. They’re self-policing. Very few simple crimes are reported to us. If we hadn’t been there searching for those children, we might not have ever heard about a pack war.”
“Self-policing? They kill their own people?” he asked.
“If they have to. There are a few jails here in Tennessee that can hold a shifter for a few days at a time. But months? Years? Most humans have no real idea how strong some Weres really are. We have no facilities anywhere to hold Vampires safely. It’s an automatic death sentence for an offender. Our policy is in most cases to turn the offender over to their respective councils. A strong enough Alpha can practically read the mind of a lesser Were during the change,” I informed him.
“So, if they police their own why is this person killing people? Couldn’t they stop him at home?” Sheriff Bowen wanted to know.
“We don’t know. According to the Pack Council, no criminals have escaped. The Unsub is either someone who has a new condition or was sheltered by his Alpha for some reason. It’s an issue that our home office is researching. We are here to track the killer down and arrest them. To us, it’s now a rogue hunt,” Cat answered.
Sheriff Bowen pursed his lips. “My county is almost fifty square miles. What help do you need from me?”
Cat glanced my way. “Not much at the moment. Out of courtesy, we’re telling you about our hunt and the interactions we may or may not have with the Moons, but we have jurisdiction over the case. If the Unsub kills here… We will, of course, include you in the cast. But we are the leading law enforcement agency.”
The sheriff jumped up out of his desk chair. “Now see here! If it happens in my county, I sure as hell will be involved. What give you the right to come in here and dictate to me?”
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br /> I made calming motions with my hands. “The Magical Security Act of 1959 in case you wondered.”
Bowen’s eyes shot sparks, and he stared at me. “What?”
“Congress passed it, and the President signed it. My division was created by it. Crowley Prison owes their foundation to it as well. The main point of the law was to give Federal Agents amnesty during the commission of their duties in pursuit of paranormal criminals. Taking that into account, I could have burned the Blood Moon to the ground and killed all their members last year. There wouldn't have been a thing you could have done about it.” I informed the sheriff.
“You’re the one. Adam has this story of a Witch who threatened him and who he claims he and his boys scared off. He points to a burned and scorched wall in the bar.” Sheriff Bowen sat back down in his chair. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling for just a moment.
“You being here is a problem, Agent Blackmore. This town has something of a deal with the Moon family. Before you say anything, let me explain. It goes back to the very beginning of things. Only the mayor knows the whole story, and I doubt he knows some of the backgrounds you’ve shared with me. A treaty of sorts was enacted giving him free will and total control over that end of town. The local law rarely goes there in any sort of official capacity. I have lunch at the Moon all the time, but I don’t stay after dark.” The sheriff rubbed his hands together. “It was a deal with the devil, but it saved the town. Adam and his goons stopped trying to dictate terms to the town elders, and we left him alone.”
“Sorry to hear about that Sheriff. Washington knew about your deal, by the way. I was informed by our intelligence unit. This is a rogue hunt. If he’s guilty of harboring a fugitive, he will be punished. But the killer is who we really want. Once we have him, you and Moon can go back to whatever you have here. We just want the murders to stop,” I looked him in the eye as I spoke.
Sheriff Bowen blew out a breath and bowed his head. “What do you need from me?”
“Nothing other than introductions and support if we need it. I just needed a lay of the land. May we park next door in that field or would you like us to find another location?” I asked.
“Well, the land belongs to a local realtor. I can give him a call and clear it. He’s already letting us use it for exercises as long as we cut the grass. Since you told me you have jurisdiction and I can’t stop you, feel free to use it. Anywhere else in town just makes us both look bad. Better to be close. Will you need our lab?” He hooked his thumb over to one side.
“There’s one on the bus. Agent Winthrop is our forensics tech this trip. Because this is a rogue hunt, we pretty much just run-and-gun it. Forensics is just to be sure of who we’re after, but thank you. Here are our numbers if you need to speak to us.” I handed the man my card. Standing up we turned to leave.
“Thank you for your time, Sheriff Bowen.” I smiled at the man.
Sheriff Bowen nodded but looked a bit distressed by it all.
Cat and I stepped out of his office, walking down the short hall to the main lobby. Many of the office workers popped up to watch us. It really did remind me of a bunch of prairie dogs.
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Sheriff Bowen sat and watched as we left his office for just a moment. He flipped the FBI card I gave him over and over in his hand. “Shoot.”
Shaking his head, he picked up the office phone and dialed a number from memory. “Gundi? Find your brother. We have a big problem that just rolled into town.”
Chapter 9
Gundi Moon hung up the phone hard enough to break the receiver. Looking around the restaurant and bar, she didn’t see any attention being directed at her. Cursing to herself she pulled out another phone from the half dozen or so in a box under the counter. Crushing phones normally happened more in tourist season.
The place was almost full of locals with a few obvious RVers. Building that RV stop-over park was one of her better ideas.
It was incredibly hard for a woman, especially a Were, to command any sort of presence in a male-dominated society. The 1800s were way worse than today. Looking up at the Confederate flag in a glass case behind the bar Gundi remembered what it was like in 1863. Just getting to Jackson was hard.
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“Gundi, we’re going to join up. This is our chance to get out from under daddy and start our own Pack!” Adam Moon pleaded with his sister.
“If he doesn’t kill you, the humans will! You know what happens when our kind gets involved with them. Stay here where it’s safe.” Gundi pulled on her brother’s arm as he tried to stand up and leave.
“This is our only chance I tell you. Me and the boys formed our own militia. We can shoot and ride better than half the humans upriver. Besides, General Forrest is supposed to be near here. We’re gonna join up with him as scouts. I have a plan, Gundi. It will work. We just have to find the right place to set up. We can finally be free,” Adam Moon told his sister.
“Why do you keep saying ‘we’? The army doesn’t take women, silly. I’ll be stuck here while you go off adventuring,” Gundi replied.
Adam smiled and pulled his hat off. Sitting it on Gundi’s head, he remarked, “put a pair of my pants on and a hat, and you’re my little brother. None of the boys will tell. If they do… they’re out. We can form the pack together. Nobody messes with the Moon’s!”
Gundi thought about it for a moment. “Who’s this Forrest guy?”
“General Nathan Bedford Forrest. He’s a big-time rebel general. Remember last month when cousin John brought those newspapers to daddy?” Adam asked.
Gundi nodded remembering the visitor. Their pack was hidden pretty well from most of the humans in the area. They were in a small valley just off the south fork of the Cumberland River. Kentucky was less than ten miles away. Usually, visitors were killed. Outside news was scarce which is why she suspected her brother’s plan.
“They gave details about the war and mentioned the General. He was the hero of Fort Donaldson, and it was his command that held the blue bellies off at Shiloh. Word in town is he’s coming here on his way towards Vicksburg.” Adam paused to look around to make sure they were alone.
“Town? Adam, you didn't… Please, tell me you didn’t,” Gundi asked.
Adam hung his head. “It was just a dare, Gundi. Me and a couple of the boys snuck into Rivertown yesterday just to look around.”
“Did anyone see you? If you were caught, Father wouldn’t just banish you, he’ll kill you for endangering us all! You know better than that!” Gundi all but yelled at her brother.
“We had to know. Come with us. It’s time, and you know it. He’s getting ready to marry you off to stinky old Davis Kessler. Do you really want to have pups with a guy that smells like old cheese all the time?” Adam asked.
Gundi shook her head and looked at her brother. He had that gleam in his eye that he always got when he was about to start an adventure. “How many of the others are coming?”
“Alright! You’re coming along. I knew I could convince you.” Adam excitedly hugged his sister.
Gundi shook her head. “I never said yes. How many boys and what sort of supplies do you have?”
Adam began to spell out the boys' plans including what they had prepared in advance.
Frowning, Gundi punched Adam in the arm and waved at the forest surrounding their small compound. “That’s not near enough to live on. Have you ever cooked out there while hunting?”
“We don’t need much. There’s always deer around,” Adam protested.
“Deer. With two human armies stomping around and driving them off? Sure there is. Do you know what roots are safe to eat?” Gundi glared at Adam and punched him again. “Well, do you?”
“Uh, no. One of the other guys might though.” Adam frowned and started rubbing his now throbbing arm. Girls punch hard.
“Not good enough.” Gundi patted the pockets of her rough linen dress and pulled out a scrap of paper and a nub of a pencil.
“I’m going to
make you a list, and you will try to fill it before we leave, understood?” Gundi pointed the pencil at her brother.
Adam could only nod. When Gundi got this way, only Father could slow her down.
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Gundi remembered that first year with a shudder. They were too young and way too innocent. Even for Were’s, they were young. War was not something you can talk about until you witness it for real. She ended up acting as both quartermaster and strategist for their little militia group. Women weren’t supposed to serve in any manner during the war, but she managed to anyway. That time period was so different. Everyone wore bulky clothes and barely bathed. Even the latrines were private in those days. Who could tell if you were a girl or a boy with short hair and a hat? Most of Forrest’s men thought she was Adam’s younger brother just as they planned.
Stripping farmers of their crops and scouting better and faster routes wasn’t the same as fighting real soldiers. The first attack on Jackson that winter in 1863 was the first real battle their militia had ever been in.
“Lieutenant Moon, I’m attaching you to the 4th Company. Your company along with the 5th, 6th, and 7th will sortie and keep the blue bellies pinned down at this point here.” General Forrest pointed to a spot on the map. “Here at Old Salem Cemetery. Hold them as long as you can and then retreat. You and your men are to feint an attack while we destroy the railroad to the north and to the south of town. Understood?”
Adam saluted the General and hot-footed it to his small group of militia riders. “We’re joining the battle with a quarter of the brigade. He’s put me in charge of four companies of regulars. Gundi, I want you and the boys to scout and watch our rear. Can you do it?”
“Of course. Where are we attacking at?” Gundi asked.
“Jackson.” Adam filled her in as they rode to join up with the cavalry companies. There were almost four thousand men in Forrest’s brigade. More people in one spot than any of the youngsters had ever seen before.
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