Cursed Blessing (Trilogy of the Chosen Book 1)

by J. M. LeDuc

  “Maddie, how about you?”

  “I’m good, Captain.”

  “Enough talking! Lower your weapons and slide them over to me or she’s dead!”

  Seven looked at Brent who nodded to do as Thomas told them. “Do you remember the fifth squad recruit?” Brent asked Seven as they slowly lowered their weapons.

  “Yeah, what a pompous jerk.”

  “Doesn’t he remind you of that guy?”

  Seven caught on to what Brent meant. “He sure does,” he said. They squatted down to put their guns onto the floor.

  “Now slide them to me and slowly stand back up.”

  In unison, Brent and Seven slowly slid their guns across the floor. For a split second, Thomas looked at the guns coming toward him, and as he did, Seven slid his arm up his side, feeling for his knife. He threw it as Thomas watched it sail over his head. He opened his mouth to laugh at Seven’s inept throw when he heard a loud snap. He looked up in time to see the chandelier falling directly above him. Instinctively, Thomas brought his free arm up over his head. Lightning fast, Brent pulled his knife and threw it, catching Thomas between the eyes. The blow caused him to drop his knife and his arms fell to his side, freeing Chloe from his grip. She barely had enough time to cover her head before the chandelier crashed down on both of them.

  Brent, Seven and Maddie ran to Chloe and gently lifted the chandelier off her. They helped her get to her feet as Seven checked Thomas for a pulse. Brent carefully peeled the duct tape from Chloe’s mouth and asked if she was all right. She wrapped her arms around him in response, softly saying, “Thank you, dear Jesus, thank you.”

  “Nice throw, Captain. You split the Lymie’s skull right down the middle.”

  “I see you’ve been practicing yourself. That was beautiful.”

  While compliments and introductions flew all over the place, they had temporarily forgotten about Ferric. They all assumed that since he was confined to his wheelchair, he was harmless. But they’d underestimated Ferric’s resolve. He had slid out of his chair in all the commotion, and slithered his way to Maddie’s purse where he found the small vial full of thick, black formula. Just as he brought it to his lips, Maddie yelled to stop him.

  “No, Mr. Ferric, don’t do it.”

  He turned to look at her, and in that split second, she felt as though Satan himself stared back at her. His eyes, glazed over, seemed to turn from brown to fiery red. He smiled an evil grin that chilled her to her bones.

  “Once I’m young again,” he said as he drank the liquid, “I’ll be invincible!”

  “Maddie, please tell me that’s not the real formula,” Brent said.

  “I’m pretty sure it’s not, but we are about to see something pretty amazing,” she replied. “The chemical makeup doesn’t appear to have any real genetic changing qualities, but he won’t believe it. If my chemistry isn’t too rusty, the formula he just swallowed, the one Joseph gave me, is about to change Ferric’s life forever.”

  With anticipation, they all watched the old man lying on the ground.

  “I can feel it! It’s running through my veins, and it’s incredible!” Ferric said, wide-eyed, pumping his fists. He watched as his skin began to look younger, his age spots disappeared before his eyes. The muscles in his forearms increased in size and vascularity. “My pain; it’s gone! My breathing is back. I knew Joseph had the secret of life! Oh, this makes killing him so worth it,” he screamed.

  The four continued to stare, mouths agape, at Ferric.

  “What in heaven’s name is he talking about?” Seven asked. “That old man is crackers.”

  “Not in his mind he isn’t,” Maddie said. “The formula Joseph gave me is for a mind-altering drug. It will make you believe whatever you want to believe.”

  Brent walked over to Ferric. “Seven, help me put him back in his chair.” Carefully, they held him under his arms and lifted him back into his wheelchair. “Let’s tie him up so he won’t be able to get out again. The next time, he’s sure to break something.”

  “When will the formula wear off?”

  “It’s not going to, Chloe. The alteration to the brain is permanent. That’s why I was originally confused when I combined the chemicals. Not until the last step did I know it wasn’t the true formula.”

  “What will happen to him?”

  “He’ll slowly go mad and live his final days in a hell on earth.”

  “He might as well get used to it now,” Seven added.

  Brent waved at them, asking that they be quiet while he talked on the phone. “Sergeant Owens, please.”

  “This is Owens, who is this?”

  “A friend,” Brent replied. “You need to get your partner, Sullivan, and a paddy wagon and go to One Banyan Trace. There you’ll find nine men, cuffed and sedated. Upstairs, on the third floor, you’ll find the man, Donavan Ferric, who ordered the hit on the woman in the hospital and…”

  “Ferric—I’ve heard that name before.”

  “As a law enforcement officer, you should have. He’s number three on the ten-most-wanted list. He’s also responsible for beating up my aunt.”

  “Venturi! Is this you? You’d better stay just where you are.”

  “Sorry, Sarge. I can’t do that. When you get here, you’ll find two casualties. The one in the basement was killed by Ferric’s men, and the one on the third floor was our responsibility. It couldn’t be avoided.”

  “Who the hell do you think you are? Do you think you’re above the law? I’ll have you booked for murder one, you son of a—”

  “Call Dupree if you have any problems, Lieutenant.”

  “Call who? And I’m not a lieutenant, smart a—”

  “Easy with the language, Owens. You might not be now, but you will be as soon as you bring in this collar. By the way, two of the guys you’re going to find are the two personally responsible for shooting the corpse mistaken for Lucille Conklin. They’re two of your own…they were cops on the take.”

  He ended the call.

  “All right, everyone, let’s get out of here before they show up. Follow me.” Brent led them down the back staircase to the basement where Jefferson and Fitz were waiting. While Brent made introductions, they heard police sirens.

  “I take it you don’t want to visit with your friend Owens,” Seven said, “so what’s our exit strategy, Cap?”

  Brent smiled and walked over the air-conditioning vent. “Welcome to the world of the Endowment, boys.”

  CHAPTER 52

  Later that afternoon, after they had all showered and changed, the Phantom Squad, Maddie and Chloe all met in Brent’s office at the library. Joan had ordered food from the deli nearby and Lucille was feeling well enough to join them.

  “You’re looking so much better,” Chloe said as she hugged her.

  “I feel a lot better, especially now that you’re all safe.”

  Jefferson, Fitzpatrick and Brent were sharing a laugh about something that had happened years earlier when Maddie and Seven walked in.

  “Well, it’s about time. Where have you two been?” Brent asked.

  “I brought Albert back to my place to take a hot shower. We started talking and lost track of time,” Maddie said.

  Brent looked at the other two, trying hard not to laugh, but failed. They all laughed so hard, they each hurt.

  “Albert—are you kidding me? That’s your first name?”

  “Shut up! It’s not that funny.”

  “Oh yes, it is,” Jefferson said.

  “Hey, do you mind? This is a library, ya know.” They tried to stop laughing and looked over at Joan who had just walked through the door. “Now that I have your attention, your food’s here.”

  “Great, how much is it?” Brent asked.

  “It’s all paid for.”

  “By whom?”

  “A note
came stapled to the bag. It says, ‘Thanks for the collar.’ Whatever that means.”

  Brent smiled. Owens, he thought, as Susan and Chloe brought the food into the office.

  “All right, I’m starving,” Seven said and reached for a sandwich.

  “Hold on, Albert,” Brent said. “We need to give our Lord thanks for not only this food, but for bringing us home safely.”

  They all stood in a circle, held each other’s hands and bowed their heads.

  “Holy Father,” Brent began, “how do I thank you for all you continually do for us? Your grace and mercy are truly humbling. I thank you for bringing Chloe back to me. I thank you for such good friends, old and new, and I thank you for my family.”

  He looked up at Lucille who was looking at him. Brent winked at her. She returned the gesture. Maddie looked up and witnessed the interaction between the two. Again bowing his head, Brent continued, “Most of all, Father, I thank you for your sacrifice. For allowing your Son to die for our sins so that one day we may live with you in heaven forever. And it’s in his holy name we pray. Amen.”

  “Amen.”

  As everyone ate, Maddie strolled over to where Lucille was seated and sat down beside her. She kissed her softly on the cheek and whispered, “I saw that little exchange between you and Brent. Do you think he knows?”

  “I’m not sure, but if he doesn’t know yet, he soon will.”

  “Go over and tell him. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

  “God will let me know when the time is right. We need to have patience, Maddie.”

  The door to the office opened just then, and Joan stood in the doorway again, not saying a word. For the first time in her life, she was speechless.

  “This is the first time I’ve seen her and not been afraid,” Maddie whispered to Chloe, who broke into a laugh.

  “What is it, Joan? Are you all right?” Brent asked.

  “You have a phone call, line one.”

  “So, take a message.”

  Joan shook her head. “It’s the president.”

  “Dupree? President Dupree?”

  Joan nodded. “Who are you people?” she asked as she walked out.

  Brent wiped his mouth with a paper napkin and picked up the phone. “Hello, Mr. President. Brent speaking.”

  “Hello, Brent, it’s nice to hear your voice. Do me a favor and put me on speaker, please.”

  “Sure,” he said, and held down the speaker button, then hung up the phone. “Okay, sir, you’re on speaker.”

  “Thank you, and enough of the formality. We’ve been through too much together for you to call me anything but John.”

  “Yes, sir…I mean, John.”

  “That’s better. Is the entire squad with you?”

  “They’re all here.”

  “And Miss Adler?”

  “Yes, sir, I’m here,” Chloe said.

  “How about my dear friend?”

  “I’m right here, John,” Lucille said. “And I appreciate you’re not saying old.”

  The president chuckled. “I’m glad you’ve retained your sense of humor. How are you, sweetie?”

  “Better, thank you.”

  “Miss Collins, I suspect you’re present also?”

  “I am, sir,” Susan answered timidly.

  “My deepest thanks for all of your help. You’ll make a valuable addition to the team.”

  “And how about Miss Smith? Is she also present?”

  “I am, sir,” Maddie said. Her voice lacked her usual confidence because she thought she knew what the president thought of her. “Good. All right, let’s get started. First of all, I’m glad to hear that you’re all safe. The astonishing sequence of events that occurred over the past week was brought to my attention by my dear friend. What you were able to accomplish was no small task. It was certainly worthy of the Phantom Squad and the S.I.A. But that doesn’t change the fact that this was an unauthorized mission. I assume that it’s safe to say this won’t happen again. Am I correct to assume that, Captain?”

  “Yes, sir, that would be an accurate assumption.”

  “Thank you. Now, for current business. I just finished an emergency meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the head of the Justice Department. We came to the following decisions.

  “First, the Phantom Squad’s status is again active. Second, the members of the squad will relocate their families to Palm Cove. This is to be done because the squad will now be under the jurisdiction of the Justice Department, more specifically, the S.I.A. The squad will still take all their orders from the captain and will answer to no one but Captain Venturi.”

  Brent glanced over at Maddie who had hung her head when she heard that Brent would be in charge.

  “The last decision we came to was that Brent will take his orders from the new director of the S.I.A., Miss Smith. That is, if you’ll accept the position, Maddie.”

  Her eyes brightened when she heard the news. Thank you, God, was the first thing that crossed her mind. “It would be my honor, Mr. President.”

  “The honor is all mine, Maddie. On a more personal note, I would like to extend my apologies for the way I, and the rest of my administration, have treated you. I hope you can forgive us.”

  Maddie looked at Lucille who gave her a knowing look and a wink. Maddie smiled back at her and mouthed the words ‘thank you.’ Addressing the president, Maddie said, “Your apologies aren’t necessary, sir. You and the administration were just doing your jobs. I can appreciate the position you were all in, and I hope that if I’m ever in the same predicament, I can be as objective.”

  “Well, that certainly was diplomatic. Thank you for your understanding and your forgiveness. I’ll be in touch to discuss the details of your assignment of office,” he said.

  Everyone said their goodbyes and settled back down when Brent noticed that Maddie still wore a concerned look. He walked over to her and asked, “I thought you’d be a little happier than this, with the news. What’s eating at you?”

  “I am happy, Brent, and very thankful. But I’m a little frightened that Ferric sent that fax.”

  “That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about ever again,” Brent said. He pointed to the folder on his desk.

  Maddie looked at it in disbelief. “How could you have? When did you—?”

  “I made a little detour in Ferric’s house before going to the third floor. It’s all there.”

  Maddie threw her arms around Brent and hugged him as hard as she could. “How can I ever thank you?” she asked.

  “You already did. If it weren’t for you, I don’t even want to think what might have happened to Chloe. It’s me who should be thanking you.”

  “That’s what family is for,” she said, smiling. “Let’s just call it even.”

  Chloe walked over to join them just as Joan walked back in with a stack of papers. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need your signature on these contracts.”

  “Just put them on the credenza, and I’ll get to them tomorrow, Joan.”

  “I don’t think so. I mean, hey, I’m sorry to interrupt the party, but this place doesn’t run on its own power. You have until four o’clock today to sign these papers and fax them back to the governor, or they’re pulling the historical status they granted the library building.”

  “Calm down, Attila. I’ll sign them now.”

  “You don’t mind if I have a bite to eat while I wait, do you?” Before he could answer, she piped in, “I didn’t think so.”

  “I would not tangle with that one,” whispered Maddie.

  “I’ve known her for almost two years, and she still scares me sometimes,” Chloe whispered back.

  Lucille got between them and said, “It seems to me that she’d make a great administrative assistant for the S.I.A.”

  They all looked at each
other and smiled.

  Brent walked over to the coat rack and fished out his fountain pen from his sport coat pocket. Just as he was about to sign the papers, Lucille spoke, “Brent, where did you get that pen?”

  “My grandfather gave it to me for my twelfth birthday, why?”

  “May I see it?”

  “Sure,” Brent screwed the cap back on and handed it to Lucille.

  “It’s quite unusual in its design. I’ve only seen one other like it.”

  “You must have seen my grandfather’s. He told me it was a custom-made, limited edition pen.”

  “I was unaware that Jacob had the same pen. The one I’m referring to belonged to Joseph. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure your grandfather gave it to him.”

  “That’s odd. I always figured we had the only two. You don’t think—”

  “Could be,” Lucille said.

  Brent unscrewed the barrel from the nib and ink bladder. He looked at the empty barrel under his desk light. He didn’t notice anything unusual at first glance, so he turned the barrel to look down into it. “Well, I’ll be,” he said, then took out his magnifying glass to look more closely at the inside of the barrel.

  Chloe, who had walked up behind him, nudged him to get his attention. “What do you see?”

  “Here, take a look.”

  She looked through the magnifying glass, then smiled. “I guess this answers the final three clues, doesn’t it?”

  “I’d say so. The pen is mightier than the sword, both can kill you, and use them wisely. That covers all three.”

  “You mean to tell me that the formula is etched inside the barrel of your fountain pen?” Maddie said. “The one you’ve had since you were twelve?”

  “Come see.”

  Chloe handed the pen and glass to Maddie so that she could look at it under the light. “Unbelievable! The formula is written inside the barrel of the pen. You’ve had the formula all along.”

  “Yeah, but now we have more than just a formula, don’t we? We have a family, a family with an incredible gift and responsibility. Now we’re all part of the Endowment.”