by Alexie Aaron
Mia beamed a smile. “Let’s get your groceries put away. I’m sure the three of you have lots to talk about.” She walked over to Julie’s vehicle and opened the door. Together they carried in the supplies, and once they were put away, Mia offered to play dolls with Gwen so the two older women could discuss things.
Mia climbed the stairs, staring into the dark corners where the wood met. She willed whatever could be there to stay. Let her get the child to safety then she would challenge the DTDs. Find out what they wanted from Gwen, and if she could, convince them to look elsewhere until Angelo arrived. She needed his counsel and his strength.
Gwen was waiting for her in the old nursery. She had Lizzie’s old Barbie and Bratz dolls clustered around a snazzy pink convertible. Mia had seen Barbie dolls before. Ralph had gotten her one when she was in grade school. He explained that the joy of these dolls was that you could dress them and they could go to parties. Mia was never invited to any parties as a child so she instead had her doll go to school. Soon she lost interest and concentrated on things she could make with her hands. Mia sat on the floor next to Gwen and picked up a few dolls and looked them over.
“This doll looks like you,” Gwen said holding up a blonde Bratz doll with bangs. The Bratz dolls had big heads with giant-sized eyes.
“Thank you, I think this doll looks like you.” Mia grabbed a dark haired little girl doll from the Barbie set.
“Her name is Chelsea,” Gwen explained. “Do you know who I would rather be?” Gwen asked in hushed tones.
Mia leaned in and asked, “Who?”
Gwen dug in the pocket of her pants and pulled out a Princess Leia figure from Star Wars. “It’s Henry’s.”
“My friend Ted says Princess Leia is cool.”
“Does he have one of these dolls?” Gwen inquired.
“It wouldn’t surprise me. I think the boys like to call them action figures. They think dolls are for little girls,” Mia said with a giggle. “But we know better.”
“Yes, Lizzie said Henry has to sack up.”
Mia reared back in surprise and almost fell over. “Do you know what ‘sack up’ means?”
“No.”
“It is something that polite little girls don’t say.”
“What does it mean?”
“It means that Lizzie wants Henry to grow up and be a man.”
“Why doesn’t she just say it like that?” Gwen questioned.
“Teenagers and some adults like to use colorful phrases to express themselves.”
“Oh.”
“Cool beans, is one I use. It means fantastic and wonderful,” Mia explained.
“Cool beans,” Gwen repeated. “Let’s play. Princess Leia just defeated the Jell-O monster and is going shopping with her new friend.”
Mia allowed herself to be swept along in Gwen’s imaginative play. She took in all the references to the DTDs and learned by play that there had been quite a few attacks that Gwen herself had fought off. She marveled at how much children hide from their parents, even loving parents like Julie and Richard. Even at this young age, Gwen wanted to protect her family from the ugliness of the world, or in this case, the paranormal world.
“I have a friend named Angelo,” Mia started and waited for Gwen to give Mia her full attention. “He is very mysterious. He is tall as a giant, handsome and speaks with an accent. He can read minds and is very smart. People don’t think he is smart because he has to translate everything he says before he can talk back. Even though he is big, he is very gentle.”
“A gentle giant,” Gwen said.
“Yes. He wants to talk to you before you go on a trip with your family. It will help us to get Beanie, Bubba and Blast to leave you and your family alone.”
“I’m going on a trip?” Gwen said, her face lighting up. “Where?”
“I’ll let your mommy tell you. Will you talk to my friend?”
“Will you hold my hand?”
“Yes, I will stay with you. Angelo won’t mind. You can have your mommy and daddy there too.”
Gwen sat and thought for a moment. “Yes. I’ll talk to him.”
“Thank you. I think you will like him. I would love to know what you think of him after,” Mia said honestly. “I value your opinion.”
“Cool beans,” Gwen said and began playing again.
~
Angelo smiled as he spied Mike Dupree walking away from the baggage area. He thought it would be funny to hold up a sign like the limo drivers that stood around him. He was dressed in a similar dark suit and white shirt. He didn’t worry that Mike wouldn’t see him as Angelo towered over the other gentlemen and ladies.
Mike felt someone’s eyes upon him, and he looked around and saw Angelo. It had been a few months, but there was no mistaking the tall Italian associate of Father Santos. When Burt said he would have a ride from the airport, Mike didn’t expect Angelo.
The auction went far better than he or his mother could have hoped for. They sold the rare book set the PEEPs team found in Glenda Dupree’s family home at a record high price. Glenda was heading home to Kansas having no problem traveling first class by herself. Mike worried about her, but she reminded him that she was a big girl and wouldn’t talk to any strangers unless they were handsome. He laughed at the lightness of step she had acquired since they left Lund, Illinois.
He approached Angelo, put down his suitcase and held out his hand. “Angelo, what a surprise.”
Angelo griped his hand firmly but aware that he could crush the man’s bones if he applied too much pressure. “Michael Dupree, it is good to have happy surprises, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Your mother, she is well?”
“She is healthy and happy.”
“Good. Time for us to go. Mister Hicks says there has been an attack. I fear we have little time.”
Mike nodded and picked up his bag and followed Angelo out to a black sedan. A driver got out and secured Mike’s bag in the trunk. He opened the back doors and Mike and Angelo got in.
Angelo explained, “I don’t drive. In Italy I have driver. Here I have driver too.”
Mike nodded. He wished he could let go of the feeling that he somehow jumped genres and ended up in a Mafia novel.
Angelo laughed. “I’m not a don, my friend. Godfather indeed. I am a member of the brotherhood of ALL.”
Mike winced. He forgot that Mia suspected that Angelo read minds. “Sorry, fanciful imagination.”
“Imagination is good.”
“What does ALL stand for?” Mike asked seriously.
“The translation is too hard. Let us say that I belong to a group of individuals that want for the good of all.”
“Very cagey,” Mike said and let the subject drop. “Can you fill me in on what has happened so far? Burt’s message was brief.”
“It would be my pleasure. Perhaps you would join me in an afternoon drink as we ride.” Angelo pushed a button and opened a panel displaying several bottles of single malts and crystal glasses. “I find it relaxes me after a flight.”
Mike nodded and accepted the expensive glass of amber liquid. He sipped it slowly, enjoying the warmth that moved through his body.
Angelo began his tale as they made their way westward towards Mia, Burt and something he called ATzxe.
Chapter Ten
Richard put down the handset of the office phone. He had called Julie to let her know he had two weeks off starting tomorrow. She had forwarded Mia’s suggestion of going to Florida now and the reasons behind it. He questioned the feasibility of getting Lizzie and Henry out of school, but people did it all the time, especially when there was a family emergency.
He practiced his spiel before picking up the phone again and dialing Lizzie’s high school. After a juggle of holds, he was put through to the principal. “Yes, classes would have to be made up, sorry to hear about your loss, we understand, we will have her waiting at the front of the school in twenty minutes.”
He couldn’t believe how ea
sy that was. Henry next. Similar results but an added request of a parent teacher conference when Henry returned, something to do with florescent dye in the liquid hand soap in the boys bathroom. How many boys were affected? Two. How long was the die in the containers? Four days. Well that was par for the course. Boys didn’t wash after bathroom activities. Henry would have done better to sneak into the girl’s john.
Richard, pleased with himself, packed up his desk and left instructions for the office manager on how to get a hold of him. He was headed for Lizzie’s high school. He would be a bit late, but she would be in an iPod coma and wouldn’t notice the passage of time. Henry would be cooling his heels in the assistant principal’s office until he could get to him. It would do him some good.
~
Ted pulled the PEEPs command vehicle around back, taking care not to block in the Kowalskis’ vehicles. Cid idled until Ted got out. He followed Ted’s hand signals until he parked the van.
Cid noticed a tiny hooded figure standing on the back porch watching them. Clothed in cargo pants and boots, it was difficult to determine the gender of the person until she turned in profile and was unmistakably female. Cid nudged Ted and pointed out the girl. “Who’s the pinup with the big green eyes?”
“That’s Mia, hands off. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s going to be the mother of my children.”
“She the reason you’re moving to Illinois?”
“Who told you?
“My ma and your ma go to the same hairdresser.”
“Actually there are a couple of reasons, but you don’t need to mention the first to Mia, understand?”
Cid raised his hands in surrender. “Won’t come from me, bud.”
“Teddy bear!” Mia called, jogging over to the two of them. “Burt wants to see you pronto. He’s inside. I’ve got to run out to April’s before dark. Who’s the redshirt?”
Cid’s eyes opened wide. He watched Star Trek, and he knew only the redshirted, recently added crew members got killed on a mission. He glared at Ted.
“Mia, this is Cid, my neighbor. He’s leaving tomorrow. I hired him to ferry the van here.”
The attractive blonde pulled off her glove and reached for Cid’s chilled hand. “Nice to meet you.”
He grasped the warm hand and felt a jolt of electricity. It warmed him. He could tell the young woman was surprised also. He was struck for words.
Mia said without thinking, “Seems to me you have hidden depths, Cid.”
Ted colored and disengaged the hands from each other. “Mia can read with her hands, be careful of what you are thinking.”
“Ah, Ted, you’re no fun. Come on you two. Hot coffee and pie awaits the tired travelers.” She put on her glove and walked quickly to the house.
~
The shape shifter moved slowly, crawling in the high grass. She became the grass until it ran out. Then with skill she became the ground. She slid over pebble and rock until she had made the house. She had her orders. She was to maintain a visual on the occupants of the house. In order to do so in the daylight she had to become part of the house. Her abilities honed over the last century made her the best to carry out this mission. Still cloaked as dirt, she moved up the steps.
Mia stamped her boots on the rug at the back door. She noticed to her dismay that she and the boys tracked in some dirt. She grabbed the large straw broom and began to clean up the back foyer. She opened the back door and tossed the dirt out into the yard. She was surprised to see so much dirt on the cement steps. Mia didn’t remember it being covered with soil. No wonder they tracked so much of it in. She began to sweep the mound of dirt off the top steps. She met with resistance. Had it frozen? She tried again and pushed harder, kicking at the pile with one foot.
Mia looked in amazement as the dirt grabbed her foot. “Help!” she screamed and jabbed at the dirt hand with the broom. It quickly began to form into a human shape comprised of the stiff straw of the broom. It pulled her foot, causing her to lose her balance and sending her sprawling down into the thing. It wrapped its arms around her and pulled her into its core.
Ted reached the backdoor in time to see Mia being engulfed in the twisting straw that grew around her.
“Here take this!” a small girl called, handing him a light saber.
Ted charged out of the house, swinging the lit toy at the straw monster. He took care to connect where Mia was not, in order to not hurt her with the unyielding plastic. He jabbed and thrust until he had shaved the outer edges off the thing. As soon as he did, it grew back. He wished Murphy was there with his axe. He would have made kindling of this thing. But no Murphy appeared and it was just him, so he kept on fighting, trying to save Mia.
A sudden flash of fire moved past him into the straw. It landed on the side of the creature before going out. The straw man shuddered as if in pain. His arms fell immediately away from Mia. She pushed backwards hard, freeing herself. The flash was repeated, and this time the straw caught fire. Mia ran into Ted’s arms and watched as Cid flicked lit matches into the quivering mass of straw. Small patches of fire caught hold, and the straw demon began to burn. It morphed quickly to become dirt, but it had been injured. The three of them watched as the DTD moved towards the empty shell where the barn once stood. It was black as shadow but still tried to camouflage itself as it moved over the ground. Ash dropped off where Cid had injured it.
“What the hell was that?” Cid said, pocketing the box of matches.
“For lack of a better name, it’s a darker-than-dark, DTD. This one seems to be able to morph into its surroundings. I think it’s the same one that attacked Martha. I thought it was a pile of dirt. I swept at it, and it didn’t budge. Then I kicked it. Bad move.”
“So it took on the straw of the broom?” Ted asked incredulously.
“Yep, I didn’t stand a chance. I don’t know how to explain it, but it seemed to eat me. All I knew is that I was face first into a moving pile of straw. I couldn’t release myself. I could breathe, but I couldn’t get away.”
“Mia,” Gwen called from inside the house. “Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
“Good thinking on the light saber, kid,” Ted said. “It stopped it for a while.”
“Gwen used the toy to get it to let go of Martha. It had morphed into grape jelly by their accounts. Martha couldn’t breathe as the gel held no air pockets. She saved her grandmother. I think that these things learn. Otherwise the light saber would have been more effective,” Mia explained.
“What made you think of fire?” Ted asked his friend.
“Oh, you know, Wizard of Oz, camping, laws of nature,” he listed sarcastically. “I aimed at the outside of the mass, so if I was wrong, I could put out the fire before it hurt Mia.”
“Do we follow it?” Ted asked.
“I know where it lurks, and frankly, cornering a hurt entity in its lair isn’t my idea of a smart move,” Mia said shivering. “I’m cold. Let’s go inside.” Mia waited for Ted to let her go. He didn’t. He did however open the door and walked inside with his protective arm around her.
“Come on, redshirt, seems that you have a few seasons ahead of you,” Mia teased before saying, “Thank you, Cid.”
Cid walked inside and smiled as a little girl he assumed was named Gwen handed him a frosted cupcake with an H etched into the top. “What’s the H stand for?” he asked her, squatting down to talk to her face to face.
“Hero,” she said simply and reached out and hugged him.
His glasses fogged up a little, but he didn’t mind.
~
Beth pulled her rental car into the driveway of the farm, right behind an SUV. She had been following it since she left the county road. She eased back and waited for the vehicle to park before moving her car towards the PEEPs truck. In her rearview mirror she noted the handsome man and the two children that were alighting from the SUV. They must be the Kowalskis or at least three of them. She waited until they entered the house before turning off her ca
r. Beth had moments of shyness that came across her without warning. Normally she would be able to walk right up to strangers and introduce herself. But if the stranger was male and good looking, she lost her nerve.
A light tap on her window made Beth jump in her seat. She looked over and saw Burt standing there.
Beth unlocked the door, and Burt opened it for her.
“You must be exhausted. You made great time.”
“I see Ted beat me here though. Damn,” she swore. “Am I the last to arrive?”
“No, Angelo and Mike are a few minutes away. This is a difficult case. Mia was just attacked fifteen minutes ago. We need to get a handle on this pronto.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yes, more embarrassed about being duped by the entity than physically hurt,” Burt told her. “Cid, Ted’s friend, tossed some matches at it and well… I’ll let them explain it. Might as well wait for Angelo and Mike.”
“Angelo being here is a big deal. What are we dealing with?” Beth questioned warily.
“I’m hoping he can tell us. Let’s get in where it’s warm. Martha, the owner of this farm, makes a pie to rival Glenda Dupree’s.”
“Really. I wouldn’t mention it to Mike though,” Beth cautioned him.
“I’m not stupid,” Burt said as he steered her towards the front of the house.
“Any particular reason we are going the long way?”
“Seems that the back porch is a hot spot for attacks.”
Beth nodded and looked over her shoulder. “What exactly should I be on the lookout for?”
“Oh anything from dirt to straw to grape jelly,” Burt listed.
“I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting case,” Beth mused, walking up the wood steps to the wide, covered front porch.
The front door opened, and a bored teenage girl mumbled, “Come on in. Can I take your coat?”
Beth smiled, thinking that the teen couldn’t have sounded more mechanical if she actually tried to. She wore earbuds attached to an iPod she wore on her upper arm.