“You are safe, my darling and I am going to do all in my power to keep you that way.”
She finished drying off, then, slipped on a robe to walk into the bedroom.
“Seelah.”
She stopped just inside the door as she saw her visitor. “Ron.” Surprise flittered across her face at the sight of her deceased husband. “Why are you here?”
“Have you forgotten my promise? I told you, if you ever need me, I’ll be here for you. I’m keeping my word.”
“But, I didn’t call you to come to me.” Feeling her strength ebbing, she sat down on the bed.
“No, you didn’t. However, that still doesn’t mean you don’t need me.”
“Now, you are scaring me, Ron. If I wasn’t in danger you would not be here.”
“You are about to bring a new life onto this plane, Seelah.” He ran a tender hand down the side of her face. “This should be a happy and special time in your life and in the life of your son and husband.”
“You are worried about the threat Jonathan Hindel has made about the safety of our child.”
“I fear not only for your child, Seelah. I fear for all children on this plane.”
Seelah’s heart fluttered in fear as she recalled Jonathan Hindel telling her, her child is but a small part of the plan. “What do the children on this plane have to do with a threat against my child?”
“Jonathan Hindel is not the only dark entity on this earth, Seelah. He is but one of many.”
“What are you trying to say, Ron?” Her small hand covered her mouth.
“The dark side is gathering to wreak havoc on this plane. Their strength grows stronger each day.”
“No, you will never make me believe the dark side is stronger than the light.” For the first time since they met, Seelah wished Ron would go away. His words made her feel uneasy.
A light tap on her door drew her attention. “Come in,” she called out.
“Seelah, I thought I heard you talking to someone,” Barbara said. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine. I have a visitor is all.”
“Oh, okay.” She looked around. Not seeing anyone, she backed out of the room. “I’ll come back later.”
“No, Barbara, you don’t have to go.” She turned towards Ron. “He must leave now.”
Ron took Seelah’s hand in his. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I know how important it is for you to remain calm at this time. But, I want you to know, I will never be far away from you until this matter is settled.” With that said, he turned and was gone.
“Seelah, what is going on? Who were you talking to?”
“Ron.” She sat down on the bed. “He came to warn me about all the chaos the dark side has planned for this plane.”
Barbara walked over to sit beside her. “It never ends does it?”
“For the first time, I am worried about this world. A battle is coming that will leave us all in peril. But I will tell you right now, no matter what happens my faith in the Holy Ones and the Light of the Holy Spirit, will never waver.”
Needing to get off the subject of evil, she replied, “I see Jack got an early start on the day. Did he say if he would be stopping by the hospital to see Donavan?”
“Jack received a call earlier this morning, from the sheriff’s department, about a missing girl.”
“Oh no! Not another one. Did he say who the girl is?”
“Yes. Her name is Melinda Sayers…” her voice drew to a halt at the sick look crossing Barbara’s face.
“Oh my god, no!” Barbara leapt to her feet. “Melinda Sayers is Jenny’s best friend!”
“Jack was afraid the girls would be aquatinted due to the closeness in ages.” Seelah grasped Barbara’s hand. “He suggested we keep Jenny away from the TV today, in case they run the girl’s picture on a news break.
A shrill scream from the living room had both women moving to the bedroom door.
“Mama!” Jenny screamed. “Come quick!”
“Jenny, what in the world is wrong?” Barbara ran into the room.
“A news bulletin just broke in on my show to say a girl in the parish is missing and they showed a picture of a girl who looks like Melinda!”
“We know,” Barbara said. “We thought it best to keep it from you until we can find out more about what’s going on, but I guess that’s not going to happen now.”
“Then the girl who’s missing, is Melinda?” Jenny sobbed.
Barbara nodded, pulling Jenny against her chest.
“Let me get a local news channel. See if we can learn anything more.” Seelah grabbed the remote control off the end table. “Yes, it looks like they are getting ready to have a news conference.
“Oh my god! I don’t believe it!” Barbara cried as Donavan stepped up to the podium, Jack right beside him.
“When did they let Daddy out of the hospital?” Jenny turned, staring at the TV. “And why didn’t he come here so we can take care of him?”
“I seriously doubt anyone let your dad leave the hospital. It would be my guess he left on his own accord!” Barbara told her, then grew silent so as to listen to what Donavan had to say.
“Good morning. I’m Lieutenant Donavan Hays of the Saint Anthony Parish Sheriff’s Department. Earlier this morning, our department received a call from the father of Melinda Sayers, saying she has disappeared from the family home. According to Mr. Sayers, Melinda was not in her bed when he and Mrs. Sayers went to check on her earlier this morning. Their frantic calls to family have not turned up any leads on where Melinda could be. As soon as we are through here, Detective Olivier’,” he nodded towards Jack, “myself and deputies will be conducting a thorough search of the Sayers’ property in hopes of finding a lead that can tell us what has happened to their daughter. In the meantime, if anyone has any information on this disappearance, please call the Saint Anthony Parish Sheriff’s Department at 555-0431.” Donavan put up his hands as cameras clicked and microphones were shoved forward. “No questions at this time. Thank you.”
Seelah clicked off the TV, then reached to answer the phone. “Hello.”
“Hi, sweetheart, I only have a moment, but I wanted to tell you that Donavan checked himself outta the hospital and just finished giving a news conference on the Sayers girl. You need to be sure and keep Jenny away from the TV.” Jack said. “We’ll talk when we get home tonight.”
“You’re too late with your warning, darling. We all three just finished watching the news conference.
“Ah shit! We figured since it’s still so early she wouldn’t be up yet. Is Jenny all right?”
“She’s pretty upset. But then that is to be expected.” Seelah stretched the phone cord around the corner so as to talk without being heard. “Do either of you have any idea what has happened to the girl, yet?”
“No, not yet.”
“Why did the family wait until this morning to report the child missing? I would think they would have been screaming for help the moment they discovered her gone.”
“I guess, according to the police report, the parents had an older friend staying with Melinda while they were out partying with friends. When they came home, after going to breakfast, they found the friend asleep on the couch and Melinda missing. Listen, Babe, I gotta go. I’ll see you this evening.”
***
Jack pulled up to the address on the note pad and switched off the motor. “Do you know these people personally?”
“Yeah. The girls being best friends and all, we’ve had barbecues and get-togethers.” He rubbed a hand across his eyes.
“Donavan, are you sure you’re up to this? These people are friends of yours and we don’t have any idea what the hell we’re gonna find.”
“I’m hoping against hope, Hindel isn’t involved in this disappearance, but I have to tell you, I got a strong feeling he is.”
“Seelah wanted to see what she could find out, but I told her to not even think about it.
“She wouldn’t
try if she thought it was going to hurt her.”
“I can’t take that chance…” He clipped his words, snatched the ringing cell phone from off the seat. “Yeah, what?” He listened to the voice on the other line then blew out his breath. “Okay, Jamison. We’re on our way.”
“Why the hell did you tell him that? We’re about to go talk with the Sayers.”
Jack continued to sit behind the wheel, the phone clutched in his hand.
“What the hell’s wrong with you?” Donavan smacked him, smartly, on the arm.
“Seems Melinda Sayers ain’t the only child missin’, Donavan.” Jack turned to look at him. “Jamison said the station’s bein’ flooded with calls on missin’ kids.”
“Oh my god.” Donavan’s stomach rolled into a hard knot of fear. “Let’s get the hell outta here. If that sick son-of-a-bitch is hell-bent on destroying kids, you can bet your ass my daughter is going to be at the top of his list.”
***
Rolan Lybbert, pushed the doorbell on the Hays’ front door, then stood back to wait. As the minutes slid by, he pushed the doorbell again. Turning to leave, he saw a truck slide to a stop in the driveway.
Jack slammed the door before making his way up the walk.
Donavan slid from the pickup. “Who is it you’re looking for?”
Deciding on the lesser of the two least volatile, the man held out his hand to Donavan. “We haven’t met. My name is Rolan Lybbert. I’m Jenny’s teacher.”
Jack swung, his fist catching Lybbert in the side of his jaw dropping the man to the ground. Before he could react, Jack yanked him to his feet, his fist connecting once more with the man’s already, bleeding face. “You just made your last pretense of bein’ a teacher, motherfucker!”
Lybbert gained his footing to stand staring at the man who had just laid him low. “I think you have this all wrong.” He wiped blood from his nose on the sleeve of his shirt. “I am Jenny’s teacher. Jenny herself introduced me to her mother.”
“Your bullshit ain’t acceptable here, asshole! We already know you’re related to Hindel!”
Donavan got right in Lybbert’s face. “If you come creeping around here again, I will shoot you. And you can tell the other evil sons-ah-bitches the same goes for them!”
Lybbert stumbled backwards away from the man who never dropped his gaze.
“Now, get the fuck out of here, or I won’t wait.”
Lybbert took off across the lawn, got into his truck.
“They’re already lookin’ for Jenny.” Donavan watched the man pull in behind Jack’s truck then back up to drive away. “We can’t let anyone in our family out of our sight until all this is over,” Donavan quickened his steps as they moved towards the truck.
“It won’t take them long to figure out if Jenny ain’t at your house, she’ll be at mine.” Jack aimed the truck down the street.
“I wanted to shoot that son-of-a-bitch so bad.” Donavan rubbed the back of his neck. “Hell I don’t even have my gun with me.”
Jack pulled in behind Seelah’s green, Mustang convertible. “At least everyone’s still here.” He switched off the truck, but remained seated. “I don’t have the foggiest notion how we’re gonna swing keepin’ everyone together and still do our job.”
“I don’t either, Jack. We’re already expected at the Sayers’ house and the station.” Donavan laid his head against the back of the seat.
“Why don’t you go on inside? I’ll go to the station. Maybe you could give the Sayers’ family a call and explain what we’re up against. That way at least one of us can be here with the family.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Donavan breathed the words on a long breath. “I am feeling a little tired.”
“Naw, I’ll handle it. You go on inside and let everyone make over you. It’ll take their minds off of what’s goin’ on. `Specially Jenny.” When Donavan remained where he was, Jack tried not to become anxious. “Do you think maybe I should run you back up to the hospital?”
“Hell no!” He popped the belt from across his chest, opened the door. “At least here I can have a smoke.”
Jack pulled his gun from the back of his belt, “You better take this. I’ll grab yours from the station. Now ain’t a good time to be unarmed.”
Donavan palmed the 38, then laughed. “I’ll bet you all the bills in my wallet, Barb has her loaded-38 in her purse.” He stepped from the truck, shut the door. “Be careful, Jack. This whole damn parish is in the eye of a hurricane right now.”
“Jack walked into the station and almost retraced his steps. The place crawled with people sobbing and moaning and all trying to be heard at once.
“Jack,” Jamison yelled, his face lighting up at the sight of the detective, “you need to get over here! Jack!” He jumped up on a chair, trying to wave Jack forward. “I need you over here!”
Jack ignored him to continue walking towards Donavan’s office. Once inside, he pulled open a desk drawer to remove a manila envelope and a loaded 44 Magnum Donavan always kept secreted in his desk. With both in tow he walked back out of the office to almost collide with a pale Jamison standing right outside the door.
“Jack, I need help over here! These people are out of control! I can’t even hear myself think! You need to do something! Please! Help me!”
The deafening sounds of gunshots along with chunks of plaster falling on their heads had everyone in a frozen state of shock. “Okay, now that you have their attention, tell them to file their concerns in an orderly fashion if they want you to help them,” Jack told him.
All Jamison and the other deputies could do is look from Jack to the gaping holes the Magnum had left in the ceiling.
“Oh yeah, don’t forget to fill out an incident report on Donavan’s gun accidentally, goin’ off,” he advised over his shoulder as he continued on his way out of the station.
***
A disheveled Christina Crawford made her way down the hall to answer the persistent ringing of the doorbell. When she opened the front door her anger, at being disturbed, only intensified when she saw who stood on her front step.
“Detective Olivier’’, what in the world are you doing here this morning?” She pulled her robe into place stepped forward to block the entrance.
“We need to talk.” He brushed past her into the house. “But first you need to go get some clothes on, because as soon as we’re through talkin’, you and I are gonna take a little ride.”
“I am not going anywhere, except back to bed.” She turned away, walked down the hall. “You can let yourself out.”
Before she could close the bedroom door, Jack pushed it all the way open. Without a word he grabbed her hand to lead her out into the living room. “Why don’t you make us some coffee while I fill you in on why I’m here.”
Christina walked into the kitchen, flipped the button on the coffee pot. Crossing her arms across her chest she waited for him to enlighten her.
“Let’s come over here to the table I have some pictures I need to spread out for you.”
She backed up, one hand going to her throat. “I thought you said there weren’t any crime-scene pictures of Tina and Paul’s murder.”
For a moment he glanced up at her, then returned his attention to the pictures he had already pulled from the envelope. “These ain’t pictures of Tina and Paul, Christina. These are from another crime scene.” He finished laying them out, then turned to look at her. “I would never spring something like that without letting you know, first, what I had planned.”
Without taking her eyes from his she moved over to the table, then looked down. “Oh my god!” she screamed. “These are pictures of Rolonda!” Her gaze sprung upward. “Why in God’s name would you want to show me these? I knew this woman.”
“I want you to take a close look at this one.” Jack tapped a finger on one of the pictures. “Do you know what a pentagram is, Christina?”
“Yes.” Her voice was low and fearful.
“A pentagram, on
someone’s person, means that person is gonna be the next one to be attacked by a werewolf. Whoever killed Rolonda and shaved this pentagram onto her privates, might just as well signed his name to the murder.”
“But…I still don’t see why you are showing this to me.” Her stomach recoiled at the gruesome sight in front of her.
“We know who did this murder, Christina.”
“Who?”
“Rafael Hindel.”
For a long moment the expression on her face remained one of sick fear then changed to one of out and out anger. “Are you out of your mind? Why in the world would you want to blame something this sickening on a fine man like Rafael?”
“I take it then, your relationship with Hindel has evolved into something more than hand holding?” The repulsive frown on his face voiced his feelings.
“Not that it’s any of your business,” her green eyes flashed her anger, “but yes, Rafael and I are lovers!”
“You better sit down for this next shocker.” He yanked a chair out from the table, shoved her into it. “I didn’t come here to tell you everything I know `bout the Hindel’s, but now that you’ve dropped this little surprise, I see I’m gonna have to.”
Christina jumped up from her chair. “I think I have heard all I need to hear from you, Detective Olivier’. I want you out of my house! Now!”
“Not yet. You’re gonna hear why when I leave here, you’re gonna be with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere. And I certainly am not going anywhere with you.”
“Christina, we have every reason to believe Rafael Hindel is responsible for the deaths of Tina and Paul Statler.”
“Now I know you’ve lost your mind.” Her words no longer carried the heat of anger, but fear of the man standing over her. “What makes you think this, Detective?”
“Because of the fact his son was a werewolf.”
The blood drained from her face as she inched from her chair. “I think I’ll get us that coffee now.”
“You don’t need to be afraid,” he placed a hand on her shoulder, “I’m not the one out to do you harm. The one you need to fear is the man you’ve been takin’ to your bed.”
Rougarou II Page 24