The Belial Children

by R. D. Brady

  “What? Who are you thinking of?” Henry demanded.

  Northgram shook his head. “No one. I mean, I don’t know.”

  “Don’t know what?” Henry asked.

  Northgram shook his head again. “I can’t.”

  Jen reached over and grabbed the front of his shirt. “Oh, yes, you can.”

  Northgram tried to push Jen’s hand away. It was a useless effort. “You don’t understand. He’s dangerous.”

  “What do you think I am?” Jen countered.

  Northgram blanched.

  “Now,” Jen ordered.

  “Okay, okay.” Northgram swatted at Jen’s hand again. She shoved him away.

  Henry towered over him, his arms crossed. “Who?”

  “I’m not really sure.”

  Jen stormed forward. “Oh, for the love of—”

  Northgram put up his hands. “No, no. I’m talking. It’s just that I don’t know his name. No one does. I’m not even sure if it’s a man or a woman.”

  Henry looked at him, remembering what Laney had told him about her conversation with Clark. “The real head of the Council.”

  Northgram nodded. “But I don’t know who he or she is. And it doesn’t pay to look. Some have tried in the past, and, well… at least their funerals were well attended.”

  “God, you’re cold.” Jen said.

  “No, I’m a businessman. And messing with the Council is bad for business.”

  Jen glared at Northgram, and Henry had the distinct impression she was trying to keep herself from pummeling the guy. He gave Jen’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Jen.”

  She stared up at him and Henry was surprised by the fear that flashed in her eyes. And it hit him: why she was taking this so personally. She identified with the kids. Twenty years ago, she would have been one of the kids rounded up. He spoke gently. “Why don’t you get some fresh air? Maybe call Laney.”

  She nodded. “Yeah. The air in here is getting a little rank.” She turned around and walked through the doorway Henry had destroyed earlier. Henry watched her go.

  “Good job,” Northgram said. “She really doesn’t—”

  Henry’s head whipped around. “Understand this. If you don’t tell me something I can use to find your son and these children, I will happily let her unleash some of the disgust she has for you. And I’ll unleash a little of my own.”

  Northgram paled. “I—but—”

  Henry stared him down, and Northgram shut his mouth with a nod.

  Henry took his seat again in front of Northgram. “Now. Let’s start back at the beginning. Tell me everything you know about your son.”

  CHAPTER 60

  After speaking with Jen, Laney turned off her phone and stared out the window. So, Linda had blackmailed Northgram into giving her custody of their son. But more frightening, Northgram suspected that the unknown head of the Council was really behind the abductions.

  Was this just a red herring to throw them off the trail of his son? Laney shook her head. She didn’t think so. From what Jen said, father and son didn’t seem to have much of a bond.

  But why would the head of the Council target the kids?

  Crap. More puzzle pieces that don’t fit. Nathaniel was leading a doomsday cult. What did he want the children for? Were they some sort of new generation? Indoctrinate them early? Or were they some sort of sacrifice?

  Are we even on the right track? Laney thought as she glanced back to where Jake and Maddox were deep in discussion. No doubt debating what weapons to take on the raid.

  Laney turned back around. Clark had said the head of the Council had been shrouded in mystery since its inception. And that anyone who tried to find out who it was met a quick and decisive end. Was it possible that the same person was somehow behind any of this? Was it just a wild goose chase?

  Perhaps it didn’t matter. She needed all her people tracking down information on Nathaniel right now; she couldn’t afford to pull any of them to start looking into the mystery leader. And even if she did, whoever she assigned to the new investigation would have to watch their back.

  Laney rubbed her hands over her face. God, this sucked. She needed the information, but she didn’t want to risk anyone’s lives.

  Victoria flashed through her mind. Mysterious, enigmatic, and infuriating as hell with her secrets, but she was also really good at ferreting out details people wanted to keep hidden. If anyone could uncover the Council head’s identity, it was probably her. But would she be able to do it without getting killed?

  Laney pulled out her phone and dialed. Victoria’s voicemail picked up immediately, as Laney had known it would. She waited for the beep. “Victoria, it’s Laney. I need your help. Call me.”

  There was one other thing she could do that she knew would increase their odds—but it meant going back on her word. I guess that’s what being a leader is all about. Doing what’s best for the group at the expense of the individual.

  She dialed and waited.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Danny. There’s something I need to tell you.”

  CHAPTER 61

  Baltimore, Maryland

  Danny hung up the phone and stared out the window. Max. His heart ached and he felt the tears threatening to break. How could someone take Max?

  He’d known that something was up. He’d gotten into the system and saw that Henry was calling everyone up. He thought they were just going after the kids without him, which he understood. But it was far more than that.

  His heart lurched again. Max.

  There was a knock on the doorframe behind him. “Hey, we’re going to—” Lou cut off as Danny turned around.

  Rolly stepped forward. “Danny, what’s wrong?”

  Danny wiped at his eyes. “Somebody grabbed Max.”

  Lou’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Rolly rolled a chair over to sit next to Danny. “Do they think it’s the same guys who grabbed the other kids?”

  Danny nodded.

  “When did it happen?”

  “Yesterday,” Danny said, feeling hollow.

  “Yesterday?” Lou asked, coming to lean against the table. “Did you just find out?”

  Danny nodded. “Henry didn’t want me to worry.”

  “So that’s why they sent you here. And that’s where the rest of them disappeared to,” Lou said.

  Danny nodded numbly.

  “Do they have any clues?” she asked.

  Danny cleared his throat. “They, um, they know who the reverend is.”

  “The reverend?” Rolly asked.

  Danny looked over at him. “He’s the one they think grabbed them. They’re heading to his place right now.”

  “So it’s a religious thing?” Rolly asked.

  Danny shook his head. “No, not really. From what Laney said, it’s more of a ‘pick and choose your favorite parts of the Bible to justify your cause’ thing.”

  “But they know where he is,” Lou said. “Which means they’ll get the kids back. They’ll get Max back.”

  Danny shook his head. “They don’t even know if the kids will be there. Laney didn’t say that, but I could read between the lines.”

  “Do they think…” Lou paused, her eyes meeting Danny’s. “Do they think the kids are still alive?”

  “Laney didn’t say. But I…” He broke off. The thought of Max being dead was too painful to bear. “And it gets worse. When they grabbed Max, they shot Kati. She’s in the hospital.”

  Lou sank down heavily in a chair. “That’s horrible.”

  “Actually, it’s not,” Rolly said.

  Both Lou and Danny stared at him in disbelief.

  Rolly put up his hands. “No, I don’t mean it that way. I mean, yes, it’s horrible that Kati was shot. But they didn’t shoot Max. They took him. That must mean they want him for something. Which means there’s a good chance he’s still alive.”

  “He’s right.” Lou gave Rolly a smile before turning to Danny. “Can you help? I mean, you’re like a sup
er-genius, right? Is there something you can do to find him?”

  Danny looked at the two of them. His thoughts were slow, his horror getting in the way of ability to think—just like in the alleyway. And then he stopped. Stupid. The alleyway. When he’d gotten back home, he’d promised himself he’d keep Max safe. And he did—the only way he could.

  Hope began to build inside him. “Actually, there is. In fact, I’m pretty sure I can find him. But I need to get out there.”

  “Out there? Out where?” Lou asked.

  Danny shook his head. “Not sure yet. Somewhere west.”

  Rolly and Lou exchanged a look before Lou spoke. “Great. I’ve never seen the west coast. We’ll come with you.”

  “What?” Danny asked.

  “Look, Danny, we’ve all been talking,” Lou said. “We all know what it feels like to be ripped away from your life. We want to help.”

  “We?” Danny asked. “Who’s we?”

  Rolly gestured toward the door. “Me, Lou, some of the other guys.”

  Danny shook his head. “I don’t know…”

  Lou stood up, her hands on her waist. “Look, when they find the kids, they’re going to need help. Rolly and I can be that help. Maybe a few of the other students with abilities, too.”

  Danny shook his head. “No way. Henry would kill me. Jen would kill you.”

  “Maybe. But they don’t need to know until after the kids are back. They’re just kids, Danny. We want to help. What’s the point of being super-powered if you can’t use your powers for good? You know what they say, with great power comes…” She let her words dwindle off.

  Danny bit his lip, his gaze shifting from Rolly to Lou. He thought of Max. He was such a good kid. He didn’t deserve this. None of those kids did.

  Then he realized something else. He knew Henry was behind the attempt to keep Max’s abduction from him. Yet for the first time, he wasn’t mad. He understood what Henry was trying to do. But what Henry had to realize was that he wasn’t just a kid. He was someone who could help.

  And he hadn’t yet done all he could. He felt a little guilty. Because he had kept something from Henry, too—something that could help them find Max and maybe all the other kids.

  Lou and Rolly were watching him expectantly. At last Danny nodded. “Okay, but you need to do exactly as I say.”

  He waited until Lou and Rolly both nodded back at him, then he looked at his watch. “And we need to go now. There’s not much time. And first things first: do either of you know where Yoni is?”

  CHAPTER 62

  Sacramento, California

  Laney’s phone rang just as the plane was preparing to land. She glanced at the unfamiliar number before she answered. “Hello?”

  “Laney? It’s Victoria.”

  Laney breathed deeply. Thank God. “Hi.”

  “Hi. How are you?”

  “I’ve been better.”

  “I can imagine. I’m sorry about Max. What can I do to help?”

  “I was hoping you’d offer. And there is something I need you to do.” She chewed her lip. Could she even ask Victoria this?

  “Laney, talk.”

  “It could be dangerous.”

  “Is it important?”

  Laney thought about the missing kids, the resources needed to identify them, and the stakes. And the fact that this one unknown player kept being mentioned. “Yes. It is.”

  “Then tell me what you need.”

  Laney blew out a breath. “Okay.” She explained to Victoria about the High Council, the mysterious leader, and the fate of those who had gone digging. “No one knows who he or she is. It might not be related, but it just feels like it’s important.”

  “It’s a hole, and you want it filled.”

  Laney nodded. “Exactly.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out.”

  “Victoria, it could be dangerous. Apparently tracking down this person is not good for one’s health.”

  “I’ll take precautions.”

  Laney wanted to say more but didn’t. She’d warned Victoria; now it was up to her. Laney tried to lighten the mood. “I’m surprised you don’t already know who it is.”

  Victoria remained silent.

  Laney gasped. “You do know? I was just joking.”

  “I don’t know for sure. Let’s just say I suspect.”

  “Who? Who is it?”

  Laney could picture Victoria shaking her head. “Let me verify it first. And if it’s who I think it is, we’ll talk.”

  “Well, this person you suspect, would they target the potentials?”

  Victoria was silent for a moment. “Yes, if it’s him. Yes, he would.”

  “But why?”

  “For fun. He gets bored easily.”

  Laney gaped at the phone. For fun? Over a dozen children’s lives hung in the balance because someone was having fun? “You’re kidding.”

  “Sadly, I’m not.”

  “But—” Laney’s mind whirled. “So do you think it’s possible this guy could have given the list to Grayston?”

  “Oh, that would definitely amuse him. He likes being a puppet master.”

  Laney stared around the cabin, knowing her mouth was gaping but unable to close it just yet. She realized there was actually a sick sort of continuity in the Council leader’s behavior. He had used emissaries to attend meetings, had treated them like puppets—just like Nathaniel. He got them to do his bidding and then disposed of them. But now his bidding included the lives of children. “That’s sick.”

  “Yes, it is. But we don’t yet know it’s him. So let me see what I can find out and I’ll get back to you. Is there anything else?”

  Laney stared at the phone as she tried to collect her thoughts. Anything else? There was so much. She tried to pull her mind back to the immediate issues. “Um, yeah. We’re trying to get a handle on Grayston’s finances.”

  “Following the money to all his followers and hidey holes.”

  “Exactly. And you tend to be pretty good at finding the unfindable. Can you run down that angle?”

  “Of course.” Victoria paused. “You sound like you think there’s something to find.”

  “I’m not sure. We know someone donated the land that Nathaniel built his church on. But it was done anonymously, and we haven’t been able to find anything on them.”

  “And you think it’s important.”

  “I don’t know.” Frustration rolled through Laney. “But kids’ lives are at stake. I don’t want to overlook anything. It could just be some rich donor who supports the church but for public image reasons doesn’t want his association known.”

  “But right now it’s an unknown, and you’d rather not have any of those.”

  Victoria’s words hit her like a slap. “You don’t think—I mean, it’s not possible that the land donor and the Council head are one and the same?”

  “I’ll find out.”

  And Laney had no doubt that she would. Victoria went silent but Laney was okay with that. It was a comfort just having the connection. Finally, Victoria spoke again. “How are you doing with all of this?”

  Laney slumped down in her seat a little more. “I’m okay.”

  “Really?” Victoria asked.

  “Well, maybe ‘okay’ is stretching it. I’m getting by.”

  “You’ll get to them in time, Laney. You’re the ring bearer. And there’s a reason you are—you’ll do whatever needs to be done to protect the innocent. It’s your blessing and your curse.”

  “Uncle Patrick said pretty much the same thing. But sometimes I worry…” She broke off.

  “Sometimes you worry what?” Victoria prodded gently.

  “Sometimes I worry I’m not up to the task. Everyone keeps looking to me with all these expectations. And I worry I’m going to let everyone down, which means…” Laney couldn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t want to voice the fears aloud.

  “Which means people die. And in this case, children.”

&
nbsp; Laney nodded and her voice shook. “Yeah.”

  “Laney, you didn’t create this evil. Evil was around in this world long before you. But you can fight it. And you will. You need to stop putting all this pressure on yourself. You will do everything in your power to save these kids. But if you can’t, that blame is not yours to shoulder. It’s Grayston’s.”

  Laney nodded, knowing Victoria was right, but also knowing she would blame herself regardless.

  “And Laney, people’s faith in you isn’t misplaced. You can do this. You will do this.”

  Laney looked around the cabin. Most people were sleeping. She sighed, feeling the mantle of responsibility settle on her shoulders. “Yes, Mother.”

  CHAPTER 63

  Laney looked at the three building complex. The church was hidden behind the two newer buildings, which looked more like warehouses than places of religious worship. As for the church, all she could see was a white steeple in need of a paint job.

  There were no adornments and no religious iconography identifying the location. Just a handmade sign planted in the ground in front of the main building: The Feast of the Lamb. Members Only. In fact, unless you knew what you were looking for, you’d drive right by and never guess there was a church here.

  From what they’d found out online and through a conversation with the local police department, they knew that about three dozen church members lived here, including the minister, his wife, and son. But there were no people in sight at the moment, although there were a few cars in the parking lot.

  Jake gestured toward the warehouse-like buildings. “I’m guessing one of those is the residences and the other the administrative office.”

  Laney nodded, a thought striking her. She quickly dialed her uncle and put him on speakerphone. “Has Grayston ever posted a sermon from his church?”

  There was a note of surprise in Patrick’s voice. “Actually, no. They’re always from the tent, when he’s on the road.”

  “But he does have sermons here, right?” Maddox asked from over Laney’s shoulder.