by M. Z. Kelly
Joe Dawson must have seen my despair. “Buck up. At least we know we’re on the right track.”
“I understand why Graham brought her here,” I said. “This is where his compound is located, but where do you think he would take her?”
Dawson brushed a hand through his sandy-gray hair. He regarded me and said something that sent a wave of fear crashing through me. “Maybe a cave or a tunnel.”
I was barely able to hold back the dam of tears threatening to burst from my eyes. Lexi’s mother had been murdered by her boyfriend, leaving her homeless. She was finally beginning to find her way again after her grandparents had agreed to take her in. She was also starting to fit in at school and even had plans to go to her winter formal. Now all that had been taken away in an instant.
My thoughts then drifted to Brie and the unfairness of life seemed to overwhelm me. Why do bad things happen to good people? I didn’t have an answer. All I had were unanswered questions about life and death and faith.
I decided to push the questions out of my mind. I blinked back my tears and looked out the window. I remembered how Lucas Caufield had told me that The Prophet was forming a chrysalis, that he was transforming and being reborn into the world. I then thought about Jenna Collins’ pastor, how Joshua Graham had told me that he’d lost his faith because of what happened to Jenna. Was that just idle talk, a way to throw me off track at the time? I wasn’t sure, but something about the way he’d said it made me believe him.
“Resurrected,” I said, turning to Dawson as we entered the mountain village.
“What?”
“Your brother said The Prophet wants to be resurrected or reborn. That’s part of the reason he uses wasps in his killings. They represent a rebirth through death.”
Dawson answered, using the same terminology as the profilers. “And, in his mind, they represent evil, the opposite of everything that’s good.”
“That’s where I think the profilers got it right. He is evil, the wasp that’s being reborn into the world by consuming the white spider—innocence in the form of a defenseless child.”
“I hate to admit it, but I have to agree.”
“After Jenna Collins was murdered, Joshua Graham said something to me about losing his faith. I think he was telling me the truth.” I found Dawson’s pale blue eyes. “Something must have happened to Graham that turned him against God and everything that’s good in this world.”
Dawson slowed down as we entered the town. “So where does that lead us?”
“To a church. I think in his twisted, sick mind Graham believes that he needs to be reborn in a church. He needs to be in the most sacred site available, a place where faith, love, and belief flourishes.”
Even as I said the words, I wondered about my own faith, whether I’d ever have faith again after everything that had happened in my life and to those around me.
“A town this size must have a dozen churches,” Dawson said. “Why don’t you check the Internet?”
I pulled out my phone, thinking that we were running out of time as I tried doing a search. “Damn, I’m not getting any service.”
Dawson slammed on his brakes and we skidded to a stop at the curb. “What are you doing?” I said, as Bernie came forward and slammed into the back of my seat.
“We’re going to the library, Buttercup.”
FIFTY EIGHT
Lexi opens her eyes. The sky is gray and dark. Snowflakes are drifting down, covering her face. She moans and turns her head. The pain from her fall registers in her shoulder and leg. Then she thinks about the man, the one named Joshua.
“Stay right where you are.”
It’s Joshua. He’s coming down the cliff for her. Despite the pain in her arm and leg, she manages to sit up. Maybe she can find a way to hide in the trees. She leans over, trying to get to her feet, but it’s too late. She sees that Joshua has already made his way down the bluff to her.
“You have defied me,” Joshua screams. “This is unacceptable.” His fists rain down on her. Lexi turns away, trying to find cover from the blows.
When Joshua finally stops, he grabs her by the shirt and drags her back up the cliff. When they get to the car he hits her again and shoves her into the trunk.
“The others are waiting,” she hears him shout as the slams the lid closed. “We have to hurry.”
FIFTY NINE
We ran from the car and scrambled through the double doors into the Lake Arrowhead Public Library. I saw there was a scattering of people milling about as we went over to the counter where a clerk, whose named tag read Mildred was reading a book.
“We need a computer with access to the Internet, Mildred,” Dawson barked at the clerk.
“I’m sorry, but they’re all occupied,” the elderly woman said. “You’ll have to sign up and wait your turn.”
Dawson showed her his FBI creds. “Guess what? I’m taking cuts.”
She shook her head. “Rules are rules. You’ll simply have to wait.”
Dawson turned away from her and walked over to a middle-aged guy who was sitting in front of one of the terminals. He grabbed the man’s chair, pulling him away from the workstation. “Out of the way, Stanley. Debbie will have to do Dallas later.”
“What’s going on?” the man demanded. “I have a right…”
I’d seen what was on the computer’s monitor and cut him off. “Your right to watch porn in public was just revoked. Get lost.”
The man went over to the elderly clerk and began complaining, at the same time I saw that Dawson was already working the keyboard, doing a search.
“What have you got?” I asked, looking over his shoulder.
“A couple of threesomes, a little bondage, and some kinky fetishes.” He looked at me, seeing that I wasn’t amused. “Just kidding. It looks like there are a total of nine churches in the area. It’s going to take us all day to clear them.”
I exhaled and brushed the hair out of my eyes as the clerk started to come over with her porn customer. I said to Dawson, “We’re running out of time.”
“You need to relinquish that computer terminal immediately or I’m calling the police,” Mildred announced when she was at our side.
“You’re violating…my rights,” her customer stammered. “I won’t stand for this.”
Dawson stood up, grabbed the man by the back of his collar, and escorted him out of the library.
“I’m calling the police,” the clerk said, swiveling back toward her desk.
I went over and cut her off. “In case you haven’t realized, we are the police.” I took her by the arm and turned her back toward the computer’s monitor. “Take a look at these churches. What can you tell me about them?”
She shot me a death stare and then glanced at the monitor. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Are any of them vacant or closed down?”
She studied the list for a moment and then pointed to the monitor. “I think this one, over on Highway 173 is boarded up. It’s been closed for a number of years.” She pulled away from me and moved back toward the counter. “I’m still calling the police.”
I quickly jotted down the address for the First Creekside Church and met Dawson as he came back through the doors. “I’ve got something. Let’s go.”
Dawson called over to the clerk as we were leaving, “Save me a spot at the next available computer, Mildred. I’ll even let you watch. I heard they’ve got a porn site for senior citizens.”
SIXTY
It’s cold and dark. The car’s engine drones as they wind their way up the highway. Lexi thinks they’re still in the mountains but she has no idea where. Her shoulder and leg still throb from her fall. She wishes she could see her grandmother again, or even Kate.
What did Joshua mean when he said the others are waiting for them? Maybe this is all some kind of crazy game and when it’s over Joshua will let her go. She releases a long breath, knowing in her heart that’s never going to happen. Joshua’s going to do something
bad to her, she just doesn’t know what.
After what seems like a long time, the car slows down and then stops. Lexi’s heart races as she hears the car door open and then close. In a moment she’s blinded by the dull gray light of the sky as the trunk swings open.
“Let’s go,” Joshua commands. He grabs her by the arm, the one she injured in the fall. She screams in pain but he doesn’t care. He pulls her to her feet and screams, “Get going.”
Lexi now realizes that she’s in a parking lot that’s covered with snow. It’s colder here and she thinks maybe they’re higher up in the mountains. In the distance she sees there’s a building. It’s big and she thinks it’s deserted. Then she realizes it’s a church. For some reason Joshua is taking her to a church.
“Why are we here?” she asks, turning to her captor.
Joshua pushes her toward the building. “You’ll know soon enough.”
Lexi now realizes that the church is empty and in disrepair. On one side of the building the windows are broken out and there’s graffiti. When they reach the back of the church, Joshua unlocks a door and pushes her inside. It’s dark and cold here. Lexi’s gaze moves upward, noticing that the ceiling soars above them. It reminds her of a church where her mother once took her.
“Keep moving,” Joshua says, pushing her toward the altar. In a moment, Lexi sees there’s a stairway at the back of the church. They wind their way down the steps and then stop. It’s dark at the bottom of the stairs. Lexi can’t see anything in front of her.
A light comes on and she realizes that Joshua has a small flashlight. He pushes her forward and she stumbles through the darkness. A moment later, when she sees the pit, all the air is expelled from her lungs. Lexi suddenly understands what Joshua’s going to do with her.
She turns to him, “Please don’t…”
It’s too late. Joshua pushes her hard and she loses her balance. The terror of falling into the cold, dark pit fills up her consciousness. Lexi then feels a sharp pain and her world collapses again into a place without light or sound or hope.
SIXTY ONE
Dawson threw the car into gear and jammed down on the gas pedal. We hit a patch of black ice and skidded onto the highway where he spun around before regaining control.
“I finally got some reception,” I said, looking at my phone. The church is about twenty minutes away.”
“I’m going to cut that in half.”
The weather conditions were growing worse by the minute. A freezing rain had started to fall as we rounded a curve and our car started to skid again. Dawson slowed for a moment and made the correction.
“It looks like you’ve had some practice getting around in bad weather,” I said.
“I was stationed out of St. Paul for a while when my daughter was little. Had a lot of practice.”
What he’d said made me again wonder about his daughter and their relationship. “What’s she like—your daughter?”
He regarded me for an instant before giving his attention back to the frozen road. “Something about her reminds me of you, Buttercup.”
I laughed. “She must take after your ex then.”
He snickered. “Thank God for small favors.”
I focused on the road in front of us and then said, “How come you don’t stay in touch with her?” I glanced back at him. “You mentioned before that you haven’t talked to your daughter in a couple of years.”
He rubbed his jaw but didn’t look at me. “Long story involving a hard-headed old man who was all work and no play when she was growing up.” After a beat he glanced at me. “Something I regret now.”
“It’s never too late. Why don’t you give her a call when this is over?”
He found my eyes for an instant. “I’ve been thinking about that. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life’s too short to burn bridges.”
I nuzzled Bernie, who poked his nose up from the backseat, and said, “Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks.”
As we drove my thoughts drifted to Lexi again. Was she going to end up like all the other girls, violated, and then murdered? I shuddered, just thinking about the horror she was facing. I said a silent prayer, ending with, “Hold on baby, we’re coming.”
I glanced at Dawson. “We’re about five minutes out. When we get there let’s not waste a second.”
He cut his eyes over to me for a moment. “You and the dog follow me in.”
As it turned out, the First Creekside Church was located at a bend in the road. Dawson was going too fast and turned off the highway at the last second, plowing through the snow covered parking lot before coming to a stop. He sprang out of the car and ran toward the church while I got Bernie from the backseat.
“Wait up,” I yelled.
It was too late. Dawson had already disappeared around the back of the church. When Bernie and I ran through the parking lot and came around the corner, I saw that a door leading inside the church was already open.
“Joe,” I called out as I entered the darkened building.
There was no answer. The church appeared to have been deserted for a number of years. The paint was peeling and several of the stained glass windows had been broken out. There was graffiti everywhere and a wet, musty odor filled the air, like the roof might have leaked.
Bernie and I continued to move through the church until we stopped a few feet from the altar, not seeing anyone. I again called out Dawson’s name with no response.
“Damn,” I said to Bernie. “Where the hell is he?”
I moved forward and saw that there was an open door leading down into a stairway behind the altar. “Let’s go, buddy,” I said, letting my big dog lead the way into what I decided must be the basement.
The stairway turned as we neared the bottom landing and then became pitch black. I cursed the fact that I hadn’t brought a flashlight. Up ahead, I thought I saw the soft glow of a light but didn’t hear a sound. Where in the hell was Dawson?
As we neared the bottom of the stairway there was a sudden movement behind me. I started to turn but felt a sharp blow to my head. The last thing I heard was the sound of Bernie barking. Then, I was alone, drifting through a darkness that had swallowed me alive.
SIXTY TWO
The sharp pain in my head and a numbing cold seeped into my bones as I regained consciousness. I moaned, reached out, and felt warmth. It was a hand. In the blackness of where I lay, I couldn’t see anything but I realized another human being was beside me holding my hand.
Then I heard Lexi’s voice. “Are you okay?”
I moaned again and managed to sit up. “I think so.” I reached over and hugged her. “Where…where are we?”
Lexi’s voice was wary and fragile. “Some kind of hole, I think. It’s in a church.”
The images now came tumbling back to me. Joe Dawson skidding to a stop in the parking lot. The dilapidated, empty church. Me going downstairs with Bernie.
“Bernie…have you seen him?” I asked.
Her voice came out of the darkness again, but I couldn’t make out her features. “I heard some barking, but it stopped a while ago.”
“What about a big man with sandy gray hair?”
“No, just Joshua. He took me from Mr. Walker and brought me here.”
What she said now confirmed for me that Joshua Graham was The Prophet. I realized that he must be somewhere nearby, maybe with his apostle, whoever that was, preparing for…God knows what.
It took me a couple of tries, but I managed to get to my feet. I felt my way around the walls of where we were being held and realized it was some kind of earthen pit that was about six feet wide. I couldn’t reach the top and there was nothing to grab ahold of to lift myself higher. I was about to suggest to Lexi that I boost her up to see if she could get out when I heard a voice above me and a light came on.
“Nice of you to drop in, Detective.” I looked up and saw the smiling face of Joshua Graham, illuminated by his flashlight. “Too bad you can’t hang around.” He laug
hed.
“Why are you doing this?” I demanded.
“Because…it is prophesized.”
I thought about asking him what he meant, but I was more concerned about Dawson and Bernie. “Where’s the other officer and my dog?”
“Dead. They’re both quite dead.”
His words were like a knife that pierced the center of my heart. I sighed and slumped back, as tears streamed down my cheeks. Whatever hope I’d felt earlier had been crushed by his words.
“Why the sad face, Detective? Have you given up already? The festivities are just beginning.”
“What are you talking about?” I spat, at the same time holding onto Lexi who was trembling.
Somewhere above us a blinding light was switched on. It was so bright that I couldn’t see anything above me. I shielded my face with my hand and said, “What’s going on?”
I heard Graham’s voice again but couldn’t make out his features because of the glare from the light that shone down like a sun. “It’s time for you to finally meet the one that you’ve been seeking.”
“Who are you talking about?”
Graham’s voice was full of derisive laughter. “I’m talking about The Prophet.”
SIXTY THREE
From somewhere above the earthen pit where Lexi and I were held prisoner, I heard footsteps. I had the impression that someone had come over and had stopped to look down at us, but the light was so bright that I couldn’t make out any features.
Seconds later, the light was dimmed, maybe partially turned away. In that moment everything was instantly clear to me.
“Hello, Detective,” Janice Taylor said.
I stumbled back against the walls of the pit, stunned by what I was seeing. “You…you’re the…”
“The Prophet, of course. Didn’t you ever suspect that a woman might be behind these killings?” She laughed. “I’m disappointed. I really expected more of you.”