When he got to the door, he cracked it just enough to stick his head out and look both ways. No one was around, but he was at the end of the hall. He’d have to sneak past the parents’ room to get to the stairs. That sucked big time. He crept along, keeping close to the far wall. He’d learned that from Gator, if you walk in the middle there was a better chance that the floor would creak.
He arrived at the top of the stairs without incident. With his free hand, he grabbed the banister for his descent. The third step moaned under his weight, he was too large to walk down the side of the staircase so he continued on. Several more stairs complained, but he ignored them. The front door was in view so he decided just to hurry and get out of there.
Murmuring voices stopped him dead in his tracks mere feet from his destination. He heard footsteps and rushed forward to disengage the locks. He threw the door open.
“Hey!” A deep baritone sounded from above. Piggee raced out into the night. He took a shortcut across the lawn, but the man was quick. Something hard hit him behind the knees and he went down, dropping the kid to brace his fall. Piggee twisted around, ready to fight, but the man dropped the bat he’d been carrying to catch his son.
Piggee scrambled to his feet and ran as fast as he could before the man recovered. He kept to the shadows, turning every now and then to make sure he’d evaded capture. Blocks away he finally slowed. No one was following him. He was mighty thankful he’d escaped, but now he had another problem. He still needed a kid. He couldn’t show up empty handed. He thought long and hard while he traipsed through the quiet streets.
Finally, he got a brilliant idea. He and Gator had snatched a kid from a house that had a second child sleeping in the room. He’d just go back and get him. Better yet, the house was only one story. No climbing involved. He glanced at his watch, he had forty-five minutes before he had to meet the guys and catch a ride to the swamp.
Relieved and proud of his brilliant plan, Piggee set out for the other house. But when he got there, the window was closed. He pushed on it and found it locked. Fuck! He peered in and saw the kid sleeping. He’d just have to try the other windows and doors for a way in. He walked the perimeter of the dwelling and found it locked up tight. Dammit!
Since the bedrooms were in the front of the house, he decided to break a window in the back. He searched the ground for a rock, but couldn’t find one. After checking the heft of a garden gnome, he decided it was heavy enough and hit the window until it shattered. The noise it made was a hell of a lot louder than he expected. He hunkered down and waited to see what happened.
When nothing did, he brushed the glass shards away and stepped over the edge of the windowsill into the family room. A loud snort made him jump and spin around. A man lay on the couch snoring, an empty bottle of Jack Daniels on the ground beside him.
Passed out cold.
Piggee had a boost of confidence and strode through the house without worrying about being quiet. He made his way through the dining room toward a small light in the kitchen. He’d just passed the fridge when he noticed movement to his left. He turned in time to see a cast iron frying pan heading straight for his face.
The second it hit his broken nose, a sharp pain shot through his head and he thought it would explode. He screamed and fell on his ass, blood spurted in all directions. His hands flew to the gusher while he got a look at his assailant. A child of about eight stood there holding the handle with both hands, as he wound up to lift the heavy pan over his head a second time, Piggee punched him in the gut.
The kid dropped the weapon and doubled over. Piggee kicked the boy’s feet out from under him, got up on his knees and reached for the chloroform in his back pocket. “Fuck!” His hand came out bloody and full of cuts. The bottle had shattered and the glass lodged deep into his butt. The throbbing in his head was so great he hadn’t noticed, but he was well aware of the agony now.
He didn’t have time to dwell on his injuries, he had to retrieve the rag and put the kid out. With two fingers, he gently fished around inside the pocket while trying to avoid the sharp edges lodged into his flesh. He’d just gotten hold of a corner when the kid tried to get off the floor. Piggee placed his other hand on the boy’s chest and applied pressure.
The child kicked, but Piggee ignored him. “I…can’t…breathe.”
“Then quit squirming and I’ll ease up.” Piggee got the damp rag out of his pocket and put it up to the kid’s nose. Just then he heard a shotgun cock behind him.
“You take your hands off my boy before I blow your brains all over this kitchen.”
Piggee raised his hands over his head.
“I want to see you kissing that floor. Now!”
Piggee laid facedown and locked his hands behind his head. As he stared at the cracked linoleum, he was actually relieved. After all the shit he’d endured to avoid a fate worse than death, he realized the only safe place for him was jail.
TWENTY-FIVE
Detective Dubois was roused from sleep and told they had the kidnapper in custody. So when he entered the ER and found a fat slob lying on his side handcuffed to the bed sobbing, he had serious doubts. All he’d been told so far was that the intended victim was the one who clocked him with the frying pan that broke his nose. As soon as Dubois was done here he had to meet this kid, he deserved a medal.
“Look, Detective, this man needs a CT right away,” the doctor said.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass. He’s healthy enough to talk and that works for me.”
The doctor crossed her arms. “My responsibility is to the patient, not NOPD. Now get out of the way.”
“Not going to happen. Look, doc, there were three children abducted tonight and I have to find out what this weasel did with them. At the very least, what he knows. They could still be alive and I want to keep it that way. Once that’s done, he’s all yours.”
“You have five minutes. After that I’m calling security and having you escorted out,” she huffed.
“Good luck with that,” Dubois fired back.
After they were alone, Dubois focused on the blubbering idiot. “Okay, asswipe, where are the other children?”
“I need drugs. I’m in a world of hurt, man.” The guy sounded like he had a serious cold.
“You’re breaking my heart here. Tell me what I need to know and I’ll see what I can do.”
“I don’t know nothin’ about any kids. I just broke into that house to steal some food and got the shit kicked out of me.”
“By a kid no less.” Dubois chuckled sarcastically. “Now quit fucking around and tell me what I need to know.”
“I don’t know nothin’.”
Dubois flicked the guy’s nose and he let out the highest pitched scream he’d ever heard from a man. “Where are the fucking kids? If you don’t tell me, I’ll do it again.”
The perp put his free arm in front of his face. “I can’t say nothin’. She’ll kill me.” He started crying harder if that was at all possible.
That had Dubois’s mind reeling. “Who the fuck is she?”
“The most evil woman I ever did see. You wouldn’t believe the shit she can do, man.” The terror in his eyes was real.
Brown’s murder instantly flashed through his head and sent a jolt through his system. He snatched the bed railing to keep upright. “Try me,” Dubois said slowly because he really wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it.
Was it possible that monster was at the root of his case? Just the idea of facing her again had him seriously considering handing in his badge and having someone else take over the case.
Only when the perp sucked in his snot did Dubois remember he was there. “She’s the devil, man, I swear. You don’t want to have anything to do with her. Believe me.”
“I do. I’ve seen some crazy shit recently that had me questioning my own sanity. Just tell me where she’s holding the kids and I promise I’ll get you a deal.” In the end, Dubois knew he had to save those kids at all cost.
“Are yo
u fucking crazy, man? She can probably hear me right now. If I tell you anything, I’m toast.”
“Okay, I’ll ask you some questions and all you need to do is nod or shake your head. How does that sound?”
The perp stared at him a bit before he nodded his head.
“Great. Is she keeping the kids out off the Ruddock exit?”
He shook his head.
“Are you certain?”
He nodded.
“Crap. Then where the hell could they be?”
Suddenly the guy’s eyes got really big and he began to wail.
Dubois stared at him. “What is it?”
His body started going through convulsions.
“Doctor!” Dubois yelled in a panic.
The doctor and her staff ran in. “Someone help me hold him down.” People surrounded the bed and wrestled with the guy, but he was huge. Somewhere around three hundred and fifty pounds on a five-foot-eight frame. His head violently shook from side to side.
The room was absolute pandemonium, but all Dubois could do was watch the guy. His eyes rolled back in his head and blood ran from them like tears. Blood began oozing from his ears and mouth as well. All the while he let out an animal-like yowl so loud more and more staff entered the cubicle.
Soon his head was whipping back and forth faster than humanly possible. Dubois couldn’t understand why the damn thing didn’t just fly off. The room and everyone in it were getting spattered with red like a Jackson Pollock painting. Then suddenly he collapsed on the bed. All movement ceased, his mouth and eyes remained wide open. His body lay in a lake of its own blood. He’d bled to death right in front of them.
“What just happened?” Dubois asked, but the room remained quiet. All eyes glued to the patient.
A nurse felt for a pulse. “He’s gone, doctor.”
The doctor called time of death and the nurse covered him with the sheet.
“Doctor, please, tell me what he died of,” Dubois pleaded.
The doctor glared at him fiercely. “My guess would be that the injury to his brain was more severe than I thought. I shouldn’t have given you that time with him. In essence, you and I both killed him.” She took off her gloves and tossed them on the floor. “I hope it was worth it, Detective.” She stormed out of the cubicle.
After everyone left, Dubois remained, staring at the covered lump. Blooms of deep crimson grew as the sheet absorbed the victim’s blood. He watched as bright red circles appeared where his eyes and mouth would be. Soon the spot for the nose became a bloody blob. It unnerved him to see the gruesome death mask staring back at him from the stark white material.
Dubois didn’t know if the doctor actually believed her own explanation or not, but what he’d just witnessed was beyond human capability. Actually, when he thought about it, everything regarding this case was off the charts bizarre. His beeper sounded and he jumped before he pulled it from his belt to view the screen. 911. He made his way to the nurses’ station and called the precinct.
“This is Detective Dubois, you paged me?”
“Yes, sir. You have a message from a Luc Boudreaux who says he has some information about the child abductions.”
Dubois grabbed his pad and pen. “Give me his number.”
“Are you still at the hospital?”
“Yes.”
“He’s there now. Room 227.”
“He’s in this hospital?”
“That’s what his friend Jake said.”
“Thanks.”
Dubois hung up and headed for the elevator.
*
The women had returned to Luc’s room. Clara sat on a chair at his right and Celestine lay on the bed next to him, holding his hand.
“Luc, please let da others handle dis. I am afraid fur chew,” Clara pleaded.
Luc held out his hand to her and she grasped it. “I know you’re frightened and I would be a fool not to be as well. If I could figure out another way, I would do it, but I just can’t take the chance that the police could get lost in that swamp and don’t get to the children in time.”
A tear slipped from Clara’s eye.
It broke Luc’s heart.
“I’m going with you,” Celestine said.
Luc’s head whipped toward her. “Like hell you are. These guys are dangerous.”
“So is that demon. Her powers are stronger than any mortal. I must go to protect you,” Celestine said calmly.
Luc picked up the gris gris hanging around his neck. “I thought that’s what this was for.”
Celestine placed her hand over it on his chest. “It is strong magick, yes, but not strong enough if you are to confront her in person. I must go to combat her dark magick. You will not survive another curse. You are in a very vulnerable state and I do not recommend you face her right now, but if you insist, I must go along.”
“Mama Arelia, talk some sense into her. Please,” Luc said.
“Sorry, Jon-Luc, but she right. Ma girl here make formidable opponent, bested only by me. If I chose someone ta go in my stead, it would be her.”
Luc was stunned. “But aren’t you worried she could get hurt?”
“Course, but like chew say, ders no other way. If chew insist ta go, Iee insist shee look out for chew,” Mama Arelia answered.
Luc shook his head and closed his eyes. He had to find a way to convince Celestine to stay back. If something happened to her… oh hell. The room was too damn quiet.
He opened his eyes and addressed Jake. “What’s taking them so long to find Dubois?”
“Maybe he was asleep. It is the middle of the night,” Jake answered.
“If that was the case, then why didn’t the desk sergeant just say so? Instead he said he wasn’t available,” Luc countered.
The door flew open and Dubois walked in. “What the hell’s going on?”
Luc sat up. “I know where they have the kids.” He threw his feet over the side of the bed and anchored his hands on either side of himself. His head was spinning.
“Whoa there. Why are you in this hospital?” Dubois came over to his side of the bed.
“He just had major surgery. He shouldn’t be going anywhere,” Jake blurted.
“I have no choice. I’m the only one who knows where they are and I have to show you,” Luc countered for the umpteenth time.
Luc started to stand, but Dubois put his hands on his shoulders and stayed his progress. “Can’t Jake just take me?”
“No. I’ve been there and only I know my way back.”
“When were you there?” Dubois asked.
“Tonight.”
Dubois looked at him dubiously. “Is that what landed you in the hospital?”
“No. That was something else. Come on, we have to hurry.”
Dubois turned toward Jake, his brows knit in question.
“Luc called you because you know what’s going on. You’ve witnessed it,” Jake explained.
“So that thing that killed Brown is responsible for the abductions.” It wasn’t a question.
“In a way,” Luc interrupted. “She has guys helping her, and I know them.”
Dubois zeroed in on Luc. “You know who they are?”
“They’re the crew I used to run with. Except they have a new guy with them I don’t know. Anyway, I saw three of them dragging big burlap bags in Devils Swamp. They said Piggee was late. They can’t start the ritual until all four children are present. That’s why we have to hurry. Piggee could have arrived while we were waiting for you.”
“This Piggee, I take it he’s large, as in three hundred and fifty pounds of flesh that’s covered in tattoos?”
Luc couldn’t contain his excitement. “Yes, has he been arrested?”
“He was picked up earlier this evening on suspicion of kidnapping. He just died downstairs in the ER.” Dubois stated.
“Shit.” Luc stared at the floor. “No doubt the demon knows. She could be attempting to acquire another child as we speak.”
“Okay kid, let�
��s go.” Dubois took off toward the door.
“You remember what happened last time, aren’t you going to get a SWAT team together?” Jake asked.
Dubois stopped and turned around. “I’ll call for back-up on the way, but it sounds like we have no time to waste.”
“You need gris gris.” Mama Arelia walked over to the detective and placed a bag around his neck.
Dubois picked it up and stared at it. “What is this foul-smelling thing?”
“It protect chew,” Mama Arelia said.
Dubois glanced at them, he and Jake raised the bags that hung around their own necks.
“How come Luc’s has a skeleton head on his?”
“He need extra protection. He been marked,” Clara said.
“Right. Whatever that means. Let’s go,” Dubois headed out of the room and the three of them followed him to the elevators. A nurse ran after Luc. “You can’t leave!”
“I’m sorry, but I have to. I promise I’ll be back.” Luc hoped that would appease her.
“You have to sign the AMA forms.”
“What’s that?” Luc asked.
“It says that you’re leaving against medical advice.”
“Clara, can you do that for me?”
“All right,” Clara said with resignation.
The nurse disappeared.
Luc walked back and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks.”
When the nurse reappeared, she was holding a pair of crutches. “Take these to help you walk. You are weak and need to lean on something. Don’t you dare open up that incision.”
“I’ll do my best.” Luc took the crutches and placed them under his arms. He rested against them and found they really did help. “Thank you for these.” He glanced at her nametag. “Tanesha.”
Tanesha smiled.
Luc entered the elevator and turned around. “Chew be careful, Jon-Luc.” The doors closed on Clara’s worried face.
TWENTY-SIX
Spirits of the Bayou Page 17