Innocent Blood

by Linda S. Prather

  She turned, her lovely blue eyes filled with confusion. He’d forgotten how beautiful they were. Like pools of clear blue water where he could see all the way to the bottom of the lake. “Won’t you be late for work?”

  “One day in five years isn’t going to hurt me.”

  She smiled, and a deep ache started low in his belly. “That would be wonderful, Rafe. Would you like some more coffee?”

  Rafe pushed back his chair and stood. A lifetime of regret was pressing down on his shoulders. “Make it to go. I’ll round up the kids and get them moving.” He ruffled Anna’s hair and kissed the top of her head before making his way to the stairs. “Michael, Leesa, let’s go, kids. I’ll give you a ride in the patrol car.”

  “Yay.”

  Feet pounded down the stairs in a rush. “I get shotgun!” Michael yelled, stopping only long enough to grab a piece of toast before he flew out the front door.

  His twin sister was hot on his heels. “Not fair.”

  Ruth came up behind him and wrapped her arms around Rafe’s waist. “You just made their day. They’ll be talking about this for weeks.”

  He turned in her arms and stared into her eyes. That wasn’t what they would be talking about for weeks, but there was no way he could tell her or warn her. Capturing her lips in a soul-searching kiss, he held her tight. “I love you, Ruth. I should have told you that every day, but I didn’t. I’m sorry for that.”

  “Rafe, are you okay?”

  He smiled at her, blinking back tears. “Yeah, I’m fine, honey. Just a little sentimental this morning, that’s all.”

  “Is it about those officers who were killed in Anderson last week?

  “I better go.” He turned away from her. Walk out the door, and don’t look back.

  Ruth followed him. “Have a good day, honey. I’ll fix lasagna for dinner. Maybe we can put the kids to bed early and have a quiet night, just the two of us.”

  Rafe waved a hand, too choked up to answer. She wouldn’t be putting the kids to bed early or eating lasagna tonight.

  “Can I turn the siren on, Dad?” Michael was sitting in the passenger seat, his eyes so much like his mother’s, twinkling with humor.

  “Sure, why not.” He glanced in the rearview mirror at the pouting face of his daughter. “Why don’t you hop up here, honey? You can ride in my lap and help me drive.”

  She was out of the car and in his lap in seconds. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “Flip the siren, Michael.” He held his daughter close. “I love you too, honey.”

  The elementary school was less than three blocks from their house, and Rafe drove slowly, stretching out the ride. He flipped off the siren as they pulled in. “Go on in, Leesa. I want to talk to your brother for a minute.”

  She hugged his neck and ran to catch up with her friends. He could tell Michael was eager to run off too, wanting to brag about turning the siren on. “I need you to do me a favor, Mike.”

  “Sure, Dad.”

  “Give me a hug.”

  “But everybody’s watching. I’m too old for that.”

  Rafe laughed. “You’re eight. I hugged my dad until I was ten.”

  Michael opened his door, walked around the cruiser, and hugged Rafe’s neck for less than a second. “Can I go now?”

  “Yeah, you can go now. I love you, son.”

  Michael was already running to catch up with his best friend, Matt Crane. Rafe wasn’t sure he’d done the right thing for Michael, but he’d needed that one last hug.

  The radio crackled, and Rafe picked up the mike. “Wilson.”

  “You’re late, partner. Everything okay?”

  “Giving Ruth a break by dropping the kids off at school. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

  A deep chuckle issued from the speaker. “Somebody got some last night.”

  “Only in my dreams, partner.”

  Rafe took one last glance at the school and pulled the car into gear. He could make it to the station in three minutes. Reginald Merriweather had been Rafe’s partner and best friend for the last five years since Rafe had left the tribal police and joined the Tunica Police Department. Long hours on the road created a bond similar to marriage. Partners shared everything—the good, the bad, and the painful. Except now. He’d prayed for days for a miracle. Something to undo the mess he was in. Time had passed quickly, and no miracle had appeared to save him. He couldn’t depend on prayer, and he couldn’t stop the events of the day. The one thing he could do was limit some of his partner’s pain and maybe send a message that Reggie would understand when the smoke cleared. He had to make sure Reggie wasn’t at the station when he pulled in. Rafe grabbed the mike and keyed in Reggie’s code.

  “Merriweather.”

  “Hey, I’ve got a flat tire. Can you meet me at the corner of Appaloosa and Cornish?”

  “Sure, pard. Be there in fifteen.”

  Rafe reconnected the microphone and turned it off, watching from a side street until Reggie left. The shift was changing, and officers were milling around the parking lot. He’d been ordered to kill three and only three. He hadn’t needed the second order. After what he was about to do, death was the only option.

  Rafe gunned the motor, scratched off, and headed for the station parking lot. Heads were turning and bodies rushing to get out of the way as he crashed into the brick wall, jerked open his door, and grabbed the rifle at his feet. His first shot clipped an old-timer in the neck, and blood gushed as the man fell to the pavement. Rafe worked the lever, firing again, his heart breaking as another officer fell. Why the hell aren’t they shooting back? Shock. They’re all in shock.

  Working the lever again, he made his third kill before rushing around the cruiser into the open lot. Shoot me, dammit.

  Something burned along his chest as he moved his hand to eject the spent shell and load another one. Screams of “Drop the gun” were coming from all sides. Rafe raised the rifle one last time as bullets pelted his body. “Thank you,” he whispered. The gun slipped from his fingers, and his body crumpled to the ground.

  Loki sat cross-legged on the dirt floor, feeling as if she’d been transported back in time a hundred years. “You should sit down,” she whispered to Dadron, who was standing behind her.

  “I prefer to stand until I know what we’re up against.”

  Although it had to be at least ninety degrees inside the teepee, Loki shivered. “I’d feel better if you sat beside me. To be honest, this whole scene is creepy as hell.”

  Dadron grunted something then flopped beside her. “How long do you plan to wait?”

  “Did you see the guard outside? I think we’re here for the duration.”

  The flap opened, and her grandfather entered, followed by Tim.

  “One of you want to tell me what’s going on? And why all this?” Loki asked, waving her hand at the walls of the teepee.

  “And why is there a guard outside?” Dadron asked.

  “Patience, Lokeah. I will answer all your questions.” Her grandfather sat on the ground, crossing his legs as she had. “Where is Jules? You were ordered to bring him with you.”

  Dadron stiffened beside her and started to rise. She laid a hand on his shoulder. “Jules isn’t coming here, Grandfather. Dadron and I are willing to listen to you, and if there’s some way we can help, we will.”

  Her grandfather eyed her warily. Loki was sure he was remembering the rebellious young woman who had taken her brothers and left the reservation, cutting all ties with family until now. “Why all this?” Loki again waved her hand around the teepee. “You have a nice air-conditioned home we could be sitting in.”

  “I did not want us to be bothered. No one would dare disturb us during prayer. Jules must come, Lokeah.”

  “You can forget that shit.” Dadron rose rapidly and headed for the entrance. Tim stood to block his path.

  “Go with him, Whitefeather. I wish to talk to Lokeah alone.”

  “You can listen to his ancient bullshit if you want, Loki.”
Dadron lifted the flap. “I’ll be outside.”

  Tim nodded to Grandfather and followed Dadron.

  “You have grown into a beautiful young woman, Granddaughter. Much like your mother.”

  “You didn’t ask me here, Grandfather, to comment on my looks, and we both know you hated my mother. What is it you want?”

  “My grandson harbors much anger and hatred toward an old man. You disobeyed my order. Do you feel the same?”

  Loki swallowed hard, a well of emotions roiling just below the surface. “As you said, I’m a grown woman, and I don’t follow your orders anymore.”

  His face twisted, the timeworn wrinkles deepening. “You are still a part of this tribe. My blood flows through your veins. The blood of your people.”

  “And that is why I’m here.” Her voice softened. “I don’t hate you, Grandfather, but my people as you call them ridiculed and taunted us after our parents’ deaths, and you did nothing to stop it. If we hadn’t left, they would have destroyed Jules. I will never allow him to go through that again.”

  “There are things you don’t know, Lokeah. Things that were going on then that I could not tell you. Dark things that shaped our destiny, and our future.”

  The teepee was suddenly ice cold, and a breeze lifted the hairs on her arms. “The spirits were angry then, Grandfather, and they are angry now. What did you do?”

  “I did what was best for the tribe, as you must now do what’s best for the tribe before more innocent blood is shed. You must bring Jules here. The three of you must appease Nalusa Falaya.”

  Her emotions culminated into a burning rage. “Nalusa Falaya is a myth. And just what do you mean by appease?”

  “Your mother angered Nalusa Falaya. That is why my son died. Our family is cursed. Blood must be offered, the blood of innocents, to appease him. The bloodshed has already started with this hunter, and soon there will be more. The Feds will come, and people will die. If we do not appease him, we are all doomed.”

  Loki rose, her rage so strong her body trembled and her hand hovered on the knife at her waist. “Then we are all doomed, Grandfather.”

  3

  “I brought you some water.”

  Jake looked down from the roof of the barn and waved at Grace. He hammered in the last shingle and stored his tools in the pouch attached to his waist. Rain was in the forecast for next week, and heat or no heat, the roof had to be finished. “I’ll be right down.”

  Grace passed him a bucket and dipper when he reached the ground. “One for cooling off”—she held up the half-frozen bottle—“and one for thirst.”

  “Thanks.” Jake used the dipper to douse his head and shoulders before reaching for the bottle. “It’s hot enough to fry eggs up there.”

  “Dinner is almost ready, but you have time for a shower if you want one.”

  “Do you think Jules will be back by dinner?”

  Her head bowed, and she nodded. “I heard the scream of a tortured soul. He will return before nightfall.”

  Jake followed her to the farmhouse in silence, a thousand questions rumbling through his mind. He didn’t understand half of what Grace and Jules went through, but he knew it had to be emotionally devastating to see the dead and hear their voices. “I’ll take a quick shower. Hope asleep?”

  “Yes, but she should be waking soon. That child is always hungry.”

  “She’s starting to crawl. Wait until she starts walking.”

  Grace smiled at him. “The way she crawls, she’s going to run not walk. I forgot to tell you Loki called. They’ll be on their way home soon, but it may be late when they arrive.”

  Relief flooded through him as he made his way to the bathroom and undressed. He’d tried really hard not to worry, but after Jules’s revelations, he’d almost called her and asked her to come home. He chuckled as he stepped under the cool water. That would have gotten my head taken off.

  His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. He lathered up, rinsed off, and grabbed a towel. Grace was turning into a good cook, and something smelled delicious.

  Five minutes later, dressed and feeling refreshed, he peeked into the baby’s room to find her happily playing with her toes. She turned, grinned at him, and held out her arms. “You’re getting heavy, you know that?” Jake hefted her in his arms. “If all goes well, I’ll talk Aunt Loki into a fall wedding, and maybe next year you’ll have a playmate.”

  She cooed, a tiny bubble bursting at the side of her mouth.

  “That’s a secret, so don’t tell anyone.” Jake turned and found Grace standing in the doorway. “She was awake.”

  Grace took the baby from his arms. “She won’t tell anyone, and neither will I. I’ll feed her while you watch the news. You’ll have a visitor soon.”

  “What do you mean I’ll have a visitor soon?”

  “Watch the news, Jake. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be.”

  Jake settled in on the couch and flipped on the TV. He didn’t have to search long to find out what Grace had wanted him to watch. The shooting in Tunica was the top story of the day. The details were similar to the shooting in Anderson three weeks before. A young Choctaw police officer had plowed into the station and opened fire. Three officers had been killed before Rafe Wilson was taken down by fellow officers. Suicide by cop.

  Although the shootings were similar, the outcome of this one had far-reaching consequences for all Choctaw police officers. The governor was calling for layoffs of anyone with Choctaw blood until an investigation into the shootings could be completed. Two Choctaw employees of the local supermarket had been accosted and beaten in the parking lot. Jake’s concern for Loki and Dadron increased as he turned off the set and headed for the kitchen. “What time did Loki call?”

  “About four,” Grace said. “She said they should be home by ten, but it might be later. Dinner is ready.”

  His hunger had dissipated, but he sat at the table and toyed with his food. He’d give Loki until ten, and if she and Dadron weren’t home by then, he’d go looking for them.

  The back door opened, and Jules stumbled in.

  Jake rushed toward him. “Hey, kid, are you okay?”

  The chill in the room deepened, and Jake shuddered as Jules wrapped his arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder.

  Loki knew Dadron was dying to ask her questions, but she was still too angry to talk about it. She’d even made him sit up front with Tim. Her gaze strayed to the rearview mirror. For just a second, she saw sympathy in Tim’s eyes before he looked away. Her anger surged to the surface again. “How could you be part of this, Tim? I understand Grandfather, but you’re not like him. You live in the real world, not his hundred-year-old delusions.”

  “Strange things have been happening on the reservation, Loki.” He made the sharp turn that would take them to the casino where they had parked their car. “The elders are afraid to leave their homes, and the children talk about the thing outside their windows.” He pulled in and parked before turning in the seat to face her. “Your grandfather is scared of something, but I’m asking you to forget what the old man said. I have two missing hunters, and if they’re in the same condition as the first one, they’ll die if we don’t find them soon. Someone is running drugs on the reservation, and the government has shut down all flights over certain sections. I could use your help.” He turned to where Dadron was sitting stiffly, staring out the passenger window. “And I need a tracker with your skills, Dadron. I could use your help too.”

  “Rare for a Choctaw to get lost,” Dadron commented.

  “They aren’t Choctaw, and I’m not sure they were really hunting. We’ve had some digging going on around small mounds. Probably thieves looking for pottery or other artifacts. If we don’t find them soon, others will come looking.” He turned to Loki again. “I may not believe in Nalusa Falaya, but if they ran into the drug runners, they’re either already dead or will be soon. There’s something out there, and the more amateurs we have tr
aipsing around, the more chance we have of someone actually getting killed.”

  “You said you found the third hunter. Can I talk to him?” Loki asked.

  Tim turned toward the front, his shoulders sagging. “He can’t talk, and that’s the only reason I don’t think this is the drug runners. Someone cut out his tongue and his eyes. If I hadn’t run across him, he’d be dead now. I need to find the other two before something happens to them.”

  Loki shivered at the horrifying image. “Where is he?”

  “They transferred him to the hospital in Jackson.” Tim took out a notepad and wrote down the information. “There wasn’t any identification on him, and the doctors aren’t sure he’s mentally competent. He’s not going to be much help to you.”

  Loki opened her door and climbed out. She knew Tim wanted an answer immediately, but she wasn’t prepared to commit herself yet. “We’re going home tonight. I’ll talk to Jake, visit the hospital, and call you tomorrow. Let’s go, Dadron.”

  Dadron followed her to the car, his steps slow and reluctant. “Maybe you should go home, and I should get started with Tim. The quicker we find these guys, the sooner we can put this place behind us.”

  Everything Dadron said made sense, but her maternal instincts were screaming no. Grandfather had mentioned innocent blood and their family. He’d wanted Jules, but Dadron and Jules were twins, and who knew what was going on in Grandfather’s mind. She wasn’t leaving either of the boys there without someone she trusted to watch over them.

  “We’ll talk about it on the way home,” she said. “Don’t you want to know what Grandfather said?”

  Loki didn’t really want to tell him what the old man had said, but it was easier to fight Dadron’s stubbornness with curiosity than simply tell him no. Loki tossed him the keys. “You can drive.”

  4

  Jake finished washing dishes, glanced at the clock, and pulled out his cell phone for the tenth time in the last hour.