“You looked like you needed the sleep. I think you look worse than I do!”
“That’s not saying much, you always look better than I do. How are you feeling?”
“Sore, but lucky.”
“What happened?”
“Rob Corbin and I were serving a search warrant when a guy opened fire from behind the door…” She stopped to slowly suck in a breath. “I was hit and Rob returned fire. It was over in thirty seconds.”
I took her hand and kissed it. “I was freaking out.”
“How did you hear?”
“Mom called me; she saw it on the news.”
“Weren’t you on a chase?”
“Yes.”
“Did you get him?”
“Not yet.”
She pushed herself a little more upright, wincing from the pain, and fixed me with her classic ‘Mandy glare.’
“You should have stayed until you got him.”
For the third time in twenty-four hours, I was taken by surprise. “I was worried about you... I didn’t know if you were alive or dead.”
Her face softened and the glare disappeared. “I understand, Jack. Do you remember the conversation I had with Brother Edwards?”
I nodded.
“The thing he wanted me to understand more than anything else…” Again, she stopped to breath. “…was that loving a Chaser meant being second in that man’s life. The calling had to always come first because the consequences were life and death.”
“But…”
She shook her head, again wincing from the pain. “No buts, Jack. I love you, and I told Brother Edwards that, and promised I would not make you choose between me and your ministry.”
She sat back and closed her eyes, exhausted from the effort.
I was stunned. It never occurred to me that Mandy would not be glad to see me. “You didn’t make me choose, Mandy.”
Her eyes opened again, this time glowing with gentle warmth.
“It’s a good thing to; I can’t have you turning me into a liar.”
“I just wanted to see you and know you were alright.”
A smile, like the sun coming from behind a cloud, crossed her face. “I’m glad to see you, Jack. You have no idea how much, but I made the same commitment as you, to serve the Lord first.”
I loved her more at that moment than I thought possible. God had given me a partner, someone who could fulfill the biblical description of marriage. And I knew what I had to do.
“Are you going to be okay?”
She didn’t answer, just took my hand, and kissed it. “Go.”
I leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “I love you, and I’ll be back soon.”
*******
On the way over to pick up Bear, I called Mom. I think she was more relieved than I was that Mandy was going to be okay.
“I haven’t stopped praying since I heard.”
“I appreciate that, Mom, and I know Mandy does too.”
I said goodbye and hung up as I pulled in front of Buddy’s house.
Bear was sitting by the front door, waiting for me to show up. I let myself in and hugged her. She was as happy to see me as I was her.
My mood matched the bright yellow of Sarah’s kitchen curtains. A load had been removed from my shoulders, and a new appreciation for the life before me was lifting my spirits.
“Buddy?”
“Out back!”
I walked through the kitchen and out the backdoor. It should not have come as a surprise when I visited their house for the first time that it backed up on a cemetery, but sure enough, it did. I’d come to appreciate the beauty and quiet afforded by their unusual neighbors.
Buddy and Sarah sat in chairs, each with a section of the newspaper. Buddy liked to do the crossword while Sarah read the obituaries. When she saw me, she folded the paper and went inside. “I’ll let you two talk.”
I took her seat as Buddy watched me through knowing eyes. “Mandy set you straight, didn’t she?”
I was no longer surprised at the insight shown by my mentor, but it was still creepy. “Yes.”
“Like I told you before, she’s a special one.”
“She is indeed.”
“When do you head back to Springfield?”
“As soon as we’re done here. So, Douglas was gone when I got to the house. Bear still picked up the aura, and after some searching, I was able to find it also. If I could sense it, he couldn’t have been gone more than a day.”
“So, he knew you were coming.”
“It appears so. How do you think I should set a trap for the informant now?”
“I’m not sure, but you’ll think of something. Just be careful to tell your plan to exactly the same group of people. No need expanding the possibilities by including new names.”
“Makes sense. That’s the Council and Rachel. At least, that’s all I was aware of.”
My phone started to vibrate. “Hello?”
“Jack?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Rachel. Where are you?”
“Oh, Rachel, I was going to call…”
“Jack, where are you?”
“At Buddy’s house.”
“In St. Louis?”
“Yes, Mandy was…”
“You need to come back to Council Headquarters immediately.”
This was not the warm Rachel I was used to. “Okay, I’ll leave in a few minutes. What’s up?”
“It’ll wait until you get here, but hurry, and Jack…”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure you’re not followed.”
The line went dead and I stared at the phone, then at Buddy. “That’s weird.”
“What?”
“She said to get to Council Headquarters as fast as possible and to make sure I’m not followed.”
Buddy’s face turned dark. “Sounds ominous.”
“I guess I’d better go. Thanks for taking care of Bear.”
As I went back through the house, Sarah handed me a bag. “Something for you, something for Bear.”
I kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Sarah.”
Ten minutes later, Bear and I were loaded up and headed south toward the Ozarks. I had no idea what awaited me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t good.
Chapter 7
As I exited the highway and turned on to the dirt road that would lead to the portal, I was very careful to make sure I wasn’t being followed. For a P.I. like myself, this should be easy, but Rachel told me to be extra cautious.
Stopping several times, around multiple bends in the road, I didn’t find anyone tracking me. Reassured, I found the portal and entered. Bear still didn’t like the disappearing forest and whined as we entered.
When I reached the open parking area, I found it nearly empty, just a few cars sitting up by the entrance. I parked next to them and let Bear out. “Stay!”
She lay down in the shade and watched me walk away. The door opened before I could knock, and Rachel reached for my arm, looking nervously around and dragging me inside.
“What’s going on?”
“You’ll see. Follow me.”
We walked across the meeting hall, completely empty again, and up to the door leading to the room where I’d first met Paul, Matthew, and John. This time, Rachel didn’t knock but opened the door in stride, and held it open for me. I went in and she followed, closing it behind us.
Paul sat in the same seat as before, but he was alone. “Please sit, Jack.”
I took the seat he offered, placing myself directly across from him, while Rachel continued to stand. The warmth of Paul was gone.
“I understand you have been in St. Louis. Is that correct?”
“Yes. A very close friend, Amanda Myers, was shot three days ago. I went to check on her.”
He considered this for a minute, his eyes seeming to penetrate my very soul. “Did you find the Serpent?”
“I found his boyhood home, and upon inspection, I discovere
d the remnant of his aura. I guessed him to be gone not more than a day.”
Again, he stared at me, and I realized he was measuring his words carefully. “And were you able to track him?”
I could see where he was going.
Go ahead, tell him Jack. Tell him you abandoned the chase for personal reasons. Tell him how you turned your back on the Lord’s mission even though you knew not to.
I opted to play dumb. “I was not. I returned to St. Louis.”
At this, Paul stood up and walked to a table near the back of the small room. He poured some himself some water, sipped it, and then asked me if I wanted some. I shook my head.
He carried the glass back over and stood above me.
“Jack, we’ve had something happen that has never occurred before…”
I had no idea what was coming, but the mood in the room told me I wasn’t going to like it.
“Brother John was murdered yesterday.”
I reacted as if he’d reached out and slapped me. My head jerked back and my eyes closed. I fought to gather myself. “Murdered?”
Paul sat back down across from me.
“He was ambushed near his home, and we believe it was the Serpent.”
No, oh no, please Lord, no.
“Are you sure?”
“I went to the scene myself. The residue aura was still strong and left no doubt.”
I looked over at Rachel, who had remained silent, and found her face blank. If she wanted to say something, she was keeping it inside.
“How was he killed?”
“He was shot three times.”
“Douglas used a gun? That’s against the Runner code.”
“Indeed, but as you know, this Runner ignores the rules.”
I bent over and put my hands in my face, partly to hide my tears and partly to hide my humiliation. I had left the Council vulnerable, by not following what I knew was right, and it had cost a Councilman his life.
“I’m so sorry, Brother Paul...so sorry.”
I felt his hand on my shoulder. He let it lie there, comforting me, as I wept.
After several minutes, he stood again and got me some tissue.
“Jack, you know our God is a forgiving God, and I have not brought you here to condemn you. Our God is also a redeeming God, and He wants you to have an opportunity to be redeemed.”
I looked at him with bloodshot eyes. “How?”
“We want you to finish your mission.”
My first reaction was ‘you’re kidding me.’ How could he trust me to get the job done now that I had failed so miserably? Then, in an instant, I understood.
I left the Lord’s plan to go to St. Louis, but the Lord never left me. I was still his servant, despite my failure, and He would still help me stop the Serpent.
“Thank you, Brother.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m just like you, Jack, here to do His will. This is His will.”
He sat back down. “I need you to formulate a plan, come back here, and brief the Council.”
The thought of standing before the whole Council again terrified me. “Oh, I don’t know…”
“Jack, they will not condemn you. They are looking to you to deliver them from this menace.”
I paused, but there was no option, and I wouldn’t turn my back again. “Very well. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
For the first time, Paul smiled. “Good. Rachel has prepared a safe place for you to stay, and she will take you there.”
Rachel stepped out of the shadows. “It’s not far, Jack, and Bear can stay with you.”
I stood and Paul stood with me. He kissed me on the right cheek, then the left, before turning to go. Rachel opened the door and waited for me to follow her.
Feeling restored, I marched through the door, giving Rachel a determined look. “Let’s go!”
*******
It turned out the safe place was not far at all. In fact, it was a separate small apartment, not far from the main hall. It had a portable fridge, a microwave oven, and a two-chair dinette. The couch was old and green, which struck me as a bit redundant, and folded out into a bed. Rachel handed me the key with a smile.
“I know you can do it, Jack.”
“Thanks, Rachel. I’m determined not to fail the Lord again.”
“I know. There’s food in the cabinets, and even some dog food under the sink. You can call me if you need anything else.”
There was a moment of awkward silence.
“Well, I better get started. I need a plan and soon.”
She turned to leave. “Okay. I’ll see you later.”
I closed the door behind her. The feelings I’d had for Rachel were long gone. She was a dear friend and a trusted co-fighter, but my feelings for Mandy had taken control of my heart, and I would never betray her.
I made some soup for myself and fed Bear the Alpo left for her. She turned her nose up at it, but eventually gave in to hunger. I sat on the floor, my back leaning on the couch, and Bear lay down next to me with her back against my leg.
I needed a plan, but not just any plan. It had to be perfect.
I began to pray.
*******
The next morning, I was up early and taking a walk with Bear. I’d prayed most of the night, pacing the small room, until I finally hit on the solution. I wanted a way to bring the Serpent to me, rather than me trying to hunt him down, and the answer was fairly simple.
First, I had to prepare the right circumstances for setting my plan into action. After our walk, I went back to the room and called Rachel.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, Rachel.”
“Same to you, Jack. What’s up?”
“Are you in the Council Hall?”
“Yes, why?”
“I need to get a message to Brother Paul.”
“I can do that. What is it?”
“Is Brother Paul around?”
There was a hesitation, then I heard a door open. Some muffled words and Rachel came back on. “He’s in his study.”
“Can I speak to him?”
“Hold on.”
Again, I listened to rustling, a door opening, then closing.
“This is Paul.”
“Brother Paul, this is Jack Carter.”
“Yes, Jack, how can I help you?”
I involuntarily lowered my voice. “Can you talk?”
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
“Can you talk?”
“Yes.”
“I have a plan to draw out the Serpent, but I need your help.”
“Of course.”
“I need you to call a meeting of the Council, one in which they can expect to be briefed by me.”
“That’s no problem. When?”
“One this afternoon?”
“I’ll do it immediately. Anything else?”
“Yes. I need you to make sure that only those who attended my last briefing are present for this one.”
Brother Paul didn’t answer immediately, and I thought I’d crossed some sort of invisible line. “Brother Paul?”
“Yes, Jack. I’m trying to remember who was there. I believe it was just the twelve Councilmen and Miss Tanner.”
“That sounds right to me.”
“I’ll arrange it, but can you tell me why?”
“If my hunch is correct, we’re going to be removing two cancers with one surgery.”
“Then, I hope you’re correct. I’ll see you at one.”
I hung up before Rachel came back on. I had more work to do before the briefing.
Chapter 8
By one that day, I had lined up my location and rehearsed my briefing. It was time to make amends for the death of John, even if it wouldn’t bring him back, and to make sure it didn’t happen again.
A member of the Council had never been directly targeted and murdered before. Several members had died from chase-related activities, but never in their capacity as Councilmen, and I held myself responsibl
e.
Rachel met me at the door and escorted me through the empty hall to the now-familiar table in front of the Council’s marble stage. She was quiet, not her normal self, but I didn’t know why.
“Everything okay, Rachel?”
She gave me a sad smile. “These are scary times around here, Jack. Sad times, too. I hope you can put an end to this.”
“Me, too.”
I took my seat, no folder with me this time, and waited as she notified the Council. They filed in, none of them looking at me, until they were seated. An empty chair to Paul’s right was the only reminder I needed of what was at stake here.
Paul spoke without standing. “Chaser Carter, the Council is assembled and ready to hear from you.”
This time, I found I wasn’t nervous. The guilt and anger I felt for what had happened to John removed any focus on myself. I had only one concern.
“Thank you, Brother Paul. Firstly, I wish to extend to the entire Council my sincere regret for the events of the last few days. It is my intention to make sure these events do not repeat themselves.”
A few heads nodded, but there was mostly very little reaction.
“To that point, I wish to brief the Council of a breakthrough in my investigation. As you know, it is suspected that someone who conducts business here in the Council Hall may be feeding information to one or more Runners. I asked Brother Paul to exclude all unnecessary people from this meeting in order to protect the information I am about to reveal.”
Some murmuring went back and forth between members, and I waited until they were again focused on me.
“I have been contacted by someone who claims to know who this insider is. I’ve made plans to meet this individual at first light tomorrow morning. I’ve chosen the secluded spot of Oak Forest Cemetery, and with your permission, I’ll brief the Council at this time tomorrow on what I learned.”
I waited, longer this time, as the Council discussed. Eventually, Paul stood. “Thank you, Chaser Carter, and God’s speed. We will see you tomorrow.”
Rachel came out from behind the door and gestured to me. I rose from my seat and we walked toward the exit. I could feel the eyes of the Council on us as we crossed the hall, and we didn’t speak until we were out in the sunshine.
INNER DEMONS (THE CHASER CHRONICLES Book 4) Page 5