Rougarou II

by Judith Ann McDowell

  “You gotta hand it to Hindel, though.” Jack pulled the seatbelt across his chest. “At least with him you knew where you stood. Preachers today? Could be anybody’s guess.”

  Chapter Five

  Donavan knocked on the Shrimpton’s door, then waited. “They could still be out. Some families go out to breakfast after church.”

  “If you say so.” Jack stepped forward as they heard someone come to the door.

  The young man who answered wore a dark blue suit, white shirt and dark blue tie. “Naw, we don’t wanna buy anything.” He dismissed them. “‘Side’s this is Sunday. You don’t peddle things in this town on the Lord’s day.”

  Before he could slam the door shut, Jack reached out grabbing hold of the knob. “I been called a lotta things, but never a travelin’ salesman! We’re lookin’ for Todd Shrimpton. That you?”

  The boy pushed a lock of blond hair back from his forehead. “Yeah, I’m Todd Shrimpton. Who are you?”

  Donavan pulled the door open wider. “I’m Detective Donavan Hays and this is Detective Jack Olivier’. Can we come in and talk to you?”

  The young man spread his feet wide barring their entrance. “Could I see some I.D.? You two don’t look like detectives.”

  After checking their badges, Shrimpton stepped back out of their way. “Sorry ‘bout that. Person can’t be too careful these days.” He motioned them to be seated at the kitchen table.

  Donavan came right to the point. “Where did you go last night, Todd?”

  Todd felt a tingle of unease slide into his throat. “Why do you need to know that? I didn’t do nothin’.”

  Jack’s eyes collided with Donavan’s. “No one said you did anything. We’re tryin’ to find out where you went.”

  “I went out with some friends. There ain’t no law against bein’ with friends. Is there?”

  “No,” both men said at once.

  “Who did you go out with? That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Donavan said.

  Jack, sensing Todd’s reluctance to answer their questions, tried to put him at ease. “All we wanna know is who you saw. We don’t care what you did.” His dark brows lifted. “That’s none of our business.”

  Todd’s bravado plummeted. “I went out with Paul Statler, his girl, Tina Crawford and Alex Hampton.” He tried to bring forth who else had been there, but as pictures of drugs and alcohol being passed around drifted into his thoughts, his mind blanked. “I can’t recall who else.”

  “Where did you party at, Todd? At the Hindel Mansion?” Donavan asked.

  In an instant his unease escalated. “Well…yeah…” he stammered, “but we didn’t do anything wrong. We just wanted to be together.”

  Donavan nodded. “Uh huh.”

  “Listen, Todd,” Jack said, giving the hand lying on the table a quick squeeze, “like I said, we don’t care what you did out there. All we want to know is if you saw anyone in the house.”

  The face of Lawrence Hindel flashed into his mind. “Yeah, Lawrence Hindel. He came outside and told us to leave.”

  “Did you leave?” Donavan asked.

  “We left right away!”

  “I notice you’re wearing a cast.” Donavan glanced down at his foot. “What happened?”

  His face reddened and he squirmed in his chair. “When Lawrence Hindel came outside I got so scared I backed off the porch and fell twistin’ my ankle. I was hurtin’ so bad I just wanted to go to the hospital and get something for the pain.”

  Donavan leaned forward. “Now think back to before you went to the emergency Room. Did everyone leave with you?”

  Todd shook his head. “Two people stayed behind. We just left. We figured since Paul and Tina had their own boat they’d be okay. Why?”

  “Todd, I know you and the others didn’t mean to be…uncaring of your friends. And under the circumstances I can see how you needed to leave in a hurry.” Donavan tried to ease any guilt he might be feeling. “The thing is, Paul and Tina are missing. Both parents have talked with us and I have to tell you, they’re pretty worried.” Donavan watched Todd trying to gage how the news about his friends affected him. When he saw the boy’s face go pale, he knew he was getting the truth.

  “Ah…shit,” Todd breathed the words on a long breath.

  “You don’t have any idea where they are, either. Do you?” Jack said.

  “I don’t know where they could be. I haven’t heard from Paul or…’course I wouldn’t hear from Tina. But no, I haven’t heard anything. I thought it strange when I didn’t see him in church this morning. I just figured he might be sick from…” his words died in his throat. “God, I hope they’re all right.”

  “So do we.” Donavan pushed back his chair.

  “One more thing, Todd and I give you my word it’ll be off the record,” Jack said. “Any drinkin’ or smokin’ out last night?”

  Todd nodded then glanced away.

  “Thanks for all your help,” Jack told him. “I’m sure if you happen to hear anything you’ll let us know.”

  As they drove away Donavan couldn’t still the all-too-familiar dread beginning to creep over him.

  “You don’t need to tell me where we’re goin’.”

  “That’s the last place anyone saw them,” Donavan said, then added. “Here we go again.”

  ***

  The voice on the intercom sounded as unfamiliar as the man who answered the door.

  Donavan looked at him. “Who are you?”

  The man stared back, his face devoid of any expression.

  Jack wasted no time. “We’re here to see Lawrence Hindel. You need to get him.”

  “Lawrence hasn’t come down yet. If you would like to come in, though, you can tell me what this is all about.” He moved to the side as Donavan and Jack walked past him. In the living room, he motioned them to be seated, but they declined.

  The man standing before them reminded Donavan of someone. Although try as he may, he couldn’t place him. “As I told you on the intercom, I’m Lieutenant Detective Donavan Hays and this is my partner, Detective Jack Olivier’.”

  The man did not extend his hand. “You may address me as Rafael Hindel.”

  A cold tingle inched its way up Donavan’s spine. “Jesus Christ!” Donavan breathed. “Are you related to Jonathan Hindel?”

  The brief smile disappeared as a spark of anger lit up the steel-gray eyes. “Yes, I am Jonathan’s father.”

  Instinct pushed Jack to reach for the gun he had secreted against the small of his back. As his fingers brushed the cold steel he felt a modicum of calm slide over him then dissipate as Donavan jerked his hand away from his back.

  He felt anxious to have them both away from the house and on their way. “The sooner we can talk to Lawrence the sooner we can get out of here. If you don’t mind, could you bring him downstairs?”

  Rafael remained standing ignoring the man’s request. Then, in a voice so quiet the two detectives had to lean forward to hear, he said, “The loss of Jonathan does not touch those of his blood alone, there are many who mourn his passing from this plane.”

  Jack retorted. “I can guarantee you one goddamn thing they don’t live ‘round here!”

  Donavan sucked in his breath to apologize when he looked up to see Lawrence making his way down the stairs.

  “Lieutenant Hays, Jack,” Lawrence addressed each of them in turn. “I don’t recall inviting you to my home.”

  “They say they have come to ask you some questions,” Rafael told him, moving to stand by Lawrence’s side. He nodded a brief nod to Donavan and Jack. “You may ask your questions, now.”

  “Tell me about the teenagers you told to leave here last night.” Donavan watched Lawrence.

  “Yes.” Lawrence rubbed his thin hands back and forth, then laced them together bringing them upward to his lips. “Some young people came here last night. They partied on my front porch. I came outside and told them to leave.”

  “Then what happened?” Donavan asked.
<
br />   “They left and I went back inside.”

  “No…I don’t think so.” Donavan stepped forward. “You see, we talked with some of the other kids and they said they all left except the one friend and his girl. Where the hell are they, Hindel?”

  In a calm voice Lawrence replied, “I have told you everything I know.”

  “Lawrence,” Jack drew out the name on a silky breath, “have you been a naughty boy, again?”

  At Jack’s words Rafael glared at him. “You will afford the master of this house the respect he is due.”

  “Master!” Jack laughed, ignoring Donavan’s look of warning. “I didn’t even know anyone used that term anymore. At least, not since Honest Abe did his good deed for the century. But then…you’re not like other folks, are you?” The laughter disappeared from Jack’s face.

  Rafael and Lawrence remained silent.

  “You spent a year locked away in a mental institution for slaughterin’ an entire family.” Jack jabbed an accusatory finger in Lawrence’s direction. “And your pa…he liked runnin’ ‘round the countryside eatin’ people. Naw, it’s a safe bet you don’t run with the normal folks. So, I’ll just skip the master and keep on callin’ ya…Lawrence.”

  The anger Jack expected didn’t show itself. “No young people remained on my property last night. I saw to their leaving myself. I don’t know what else I can tell you.” He turned to leave.

  Donavan spoke up, halting him. “Lawrence, if you have harmed these kids,” he spread his hands wide, “maybe in a fit of anger or…whatever, your best bet is to tell me about it.”

  Lawrence started to speak, but Rafael placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. “You have asked your questions. They have been answered. Now, I suggest you leave this house.”

  The direction had been delivered in such a cold and menacing tone Jack whirled on him.

  “And if we don’t?”

  “Jack,” Donavan stepped forward, “he’s right. We’ve asked our questions. They’ve answered them. Let’s go.”

  “Yeah we’ll go. But rest assured we’ll be back. Best thing you can do, Hindel, is produce those kids alive and unharmed.” He turned on his heel, strode to the door.

  Standing outside in the driveway, Donavan tried to slow down his breathing, but the unrelenting fear refused to loosen its hold. “I have a sick feeling those kids are never going to be found. Not alive anyway.”

  Jack looked back at the house they had just vacated and in his heart, he agreed. “This might be a terrible thing to say, but if Hindel did get hold of them I hope they are…at least…safe in the light of home.”

  “So do I. And…since we’re on the subject of Hindel, the big question now is, which one are we talking about?”

  ***

  As soon as the door closed behind the two detectives Lawrence turned, his pale eyes filled with fear. “They know about the kids who stayed behind. Now what are we going to do?”

  For a brief moment Rafael’s eyes closed on the memory of fresh warm blood bathing his tongue. “You must leave everything in my hands, Lawrence. Trust me to take care of you.”

  The confidant tone in Rafael’s voice worked its magic as a feeling of calm washed over him.

  “The men who helped destroy your father and my son must be made to search elsewhere. Their involvement in his death will not go unpunished.”

  For the first time since Jonathan’s death, Lawrence felt his strength flow back in and he walked toward the man reaching out for him.

  Rafael enclosed Lawrence in his arms and in that moment vowed the destruction of the men he held responsible for the death of his son.

  Chapter Six

  As soon as they returned to the station Donavan got busy getting a judge to sign a search warrant. Now that Lawrence and Rafael Hindel knew the police suspected them, they would be moving on destroying any lingering evidence.

  “Jack, get Blain on the phone and have him meet us out at the mansion with his dogs. Tell him to give us about an hour before he heads out there.”

  Jack reached for the phone then grinned. “Sure you don’t wanna check with Captain Sinclair first? You know how he feels ‘bout havin’ his K-9s subjected to danger.”

  Donavan cocked his head, glanced out the window. “Naw, he’ll be all right. He just whines when we need them after sundown.”

  After talking with Blain, Jack hung up the phone.

  “What?” Donavan could feel his anger starting to rise. “He refused to bring the K-9s!”

  Jack looked up. “No. He’s fine with it.”

  “Then what’s wrong?”

  “I can’t believe this shit’s startin’ all over again. I mean…I thought when we got rid of Jonathan…this would all be like a bad memory.” He drew a shaky hand through his hair. “It’s like…we’ve skipped back to square one.”

  Donavan came up beside him, laid a hand on his shoulder. “Put that thought out of your mind. Right now! This is nothing like what we went through with Jonathan Hindel. If it turns out these kids are dead then what we’re dealing with is a killer! Pure and simple.”

  “Are you sure? I mean…hell…we never thought we were dealin’ with anything but a psychopath when we investigated the Rawlins and Stewart killin’s. Look what we ended up fightin’ on those two!”

  “Goddamn it, Jack!” Donavan turned him around. “What we had with Jonathan Hindel is a once-in-a-lifetime nightmare! What we got now is someone who has slipped over the edge!”

  “Lawrence Hindel!”

  “Yes! Lawrence Hindel! Christ! It had to happen sooner or later! I just hoped when he snapped it would be in England where we wouldn’t have to deal with him.”

  “You could be right.” Jack breathed a little easier.

  “You’re damn right I am.” Donavan voiced a slight laugh. Except it fell short. “Look, Jack,” he dropped his hand back to his side, “I have to level with you. I can’t say for certain what we’re dealing with here. But given all the shit Lawrence had to contend with is it so far out of the realm for him to end up being a killer?”

  “I guess when you put it like that, no.”

  “There. You see? Things aren’t as bad as they seem.” Donavan picked up the phone hit the memory dial. “How’s it coming on that search warrant?” He shot a quick glance at Jack. “Good. We’ll be right over to pick it up.” He dropped the receiver back in the cradle. “Now we can get this show on the road in earnest!”

  ***

  Within moments of pulling up to the locked, ornamental gate a four-wheel-drive pickup rolled up along-side them.

  “I guess Sinclair had no problem, this time, with the dogs being brought out,” Donavan said as the driver of the truck walked over to them.

  “Nope. Not even when I told him we had to come out here.” Blain held out his hand.

  “Hey, ain’t that Shadow?” Jack walked over to the truck to stand gazing at the proud head of a beautiful Doberman Pincher painted on the truck’s canopy.

  “Yeah,” Blain replied, turning away.

  Donavan stepped from his jeep. “They did a good job.” He remembered the large Dobie who had been killed during their investigation into the disappearance of a young girl named Margaret Stewart. They found the girl’s body on the Hindel Estate. “They got him down pat that’s for sure!” He ran his hand over the words K-9 Unit emblazoned above the proud head, then glanced over at Blain. “He had to be one of the best in the unit.” Donavan gave Blain’s shoulder a squeeze. “I think it’s damn decent of Sinclair to let you have his picture put on your rig.”

  Blain swiped a hand across his eyes. “So, what are we looking for this time?”

  Jack positioned himself so his back covered the painting of the fallen K-9. “We got two missin’ kids. The last time anyone saw them is last night.”

  Blain’s head swung around. “Jesus Christ, are you tellin’ me they came out here?”

  “We’re afraid so. Jack and I already talked with Lawrence Hindel and his grandfather, earlier
this morning. We didn’t get anywhere. This time we’re going in armed with a warrant and your dogs.”

  “Did you say Hindel’s grandfather?” Blain asked.

  “Yep,” Jack spoke up. “You may wanna brace yourself. He’s ‘bout as out there as his son was.”

  “Aw…shit! You don’t mean we’re gonna be dealin’ with another Jonathan Hindel?”

  “Right now, we’re not sure what we’re up against. Like I told Jack, I think Lawrence Hindel has slipped over the edge. If that’s the case we’re not going to find these kids alive.”

  “I hope you included the cave in the search warrant,” Jack said as Donavan pushed the button on the intercom.

  “I included the cave and I also put down Quigley’s place.” He turned away as a voice broke into the silence.

  “Yeah, this is Detective Hays. We need to come in.”

  “I’m afraid you’ve had all the time we are prepared to give you, Lieutenant Hays,” Rafael Hindel informed him.

  “I don’t think you understand, Mr. Hindel.” Donavan’s deep voice rose in anger. “I’m not asking you to let us in. I’m telling you.”

  “Do you have a warrant to come on these premises?”

  “I do!” Donavan shot back, his patience, at being kept waiting, already wearing thin.

  For a moment nothing happened then the iron gate swung open.

  “I will allow you and your men to come onto the property, but I must insist that you not bring any dogs with you.”

  “Not much you can do about K-9s, Mr. Hindel. They’re included in the warrant.” Donavan pushed the off button.

  “Let’s go!” Jack swung his arm wide.

  “Can you believe the balls of that prick!” Donavan put the jeep in low as they made their way up the wide driveway.

  “I’ve noticed something. The Hindels like to be in control.” Jack tried to close his mind to the images flashing into his mind of another time they had driven up this same driveway to investigate a missing child.