“For what?” the startled lawyer asked the marshals.
“Mrs. Hadley is now the sole owner of the Hadley Corporation holdings. The company is being placed into receivership for illegal dumping of harmful and toxic materials. You are now responsible for the cleanup of toxic waste in the town site formerly known as Moreno.”
The first attorney opened the warrant and gasped, handing the paper over to Catherine. “Are you insane? The amount is ludicrous. The corporation doesn’t have the assets to cover this. Fifteen point eight billion dollars!”
The U.S. marshal looked around the surrounding hills. “I guess the State of California and the EPA have differing views on how to clean up the land you poisoned with mercury. Thus, the company will be held in receivership until the courts officially rule.” He nodded politely and then started for his car with his partner. “I hear they are rather unforgiving in cases like this. Just ask the power companies. Have a good day.”
Catherine Hadley, who had just signed papers the past week to formally take over all sixteen companies of Hadley Corporation, stormed off to her car, followed by her frantic legal team.
“Well, I guess that’s that,” Harvey said.
“No, not yet,” Gabriel said as he looked at John Lonetree, who moved to each of the old-timers. First to Bob and Linda. He gave them an envelope.
Linda opened it and staggered. “A hundred thousand dollars?” Linda asked as she felt near to fainting.
Then Casper opened his envelope. He felt weak kneed himself as he nodded in thanks for the property and walnut farm he lost. Last was Harvey Leach. He opened his white envelope, and he too smiled and took in the team of Supernaturals. Gabe held up a hand when they all wanted to talk at once.
“We’re the ones responsible for you not being able to accept Catherine Hadley’s settlement money. This is from our own funds. We won’t need it. This was our last investigation as a team. Like you, we have lost too much.”
With hugs and handshakes, the odd pairing of men and women separated, to never see each other again. They smiled as Casper and Peckerwood stopped and nodded, the dog barking a good-bye.
* * *
One month later, they stood in the spot where Newbery’s used to stand. They could picture all the buildings of that long-ago town. Not a word was said by anyone. Even Damian, who had been adamant about not coming back at all, stood and admired the now-flattened land where Moreno used to be.
In the bright winter sunshine, they saw an amazing sight. The buildings from that long-ago place began rising from the earth. Streets pushed aside freshly dug earth, and the houses miraculously appeared. They saw people fill the streets around them. The town from the past was rising once more as they stood stunned, watching in silence. The buildings spiraled as they rose, shaking off the brown earth of the ancient hills. They were once more seeing Moreno as it was in far happier times.
“Wow,” Leonard and Damian said, watching the magic come to life.
“Look!” Julie shouted with glee.
They all turned and looked in the direction she was pointing to. Standing on the sidewalk and looking their way was none other than George Cordero. He was smiling as he stood next to another figure. It was Kelly Delaphoy. The two lost friends had found each other. They were now a part of Moreno, and at least George had found that place he always wanted—his home.
They turned to the right and saw the familiar façade of K-Rave. Freekin’ Rowdy Rhoads stood at the large plate glass window with his ever-present coffee mug in his hand. He raised it in toast to the people staring his way. They heard the music coming out of the building. The volume rose to a higher level as the Supernaturals listened.
Heart and soul … I fell in love with you … heart and soul … the way a fool would do …
They heard the old song by the Cleftones. They smiled as they saw the bright red convertible screaming down the street. It swerved and then centered itself again in the middle of the road. The car once more barely missed the sidewalk and then rebounded into the street. It came to a screeching halt before the startled men and women of the Supernaturals.
Dean shook his head as he smiled at the team. They saw Gloria was learning to drive inside their new world, and as she smiled at them, she mouthed the words thank you.
Dean looked as happy as anyone could ever have been. He nodded in thanks, and then his eyes went wide as the Corvette peeled out and almost smashed into K-Rave and a now-startled Freekin’ Rowdy Rhoads. They heard the Cleftones singing about heart and soul as the Corvette vanished around the corner and disappeared.
The next thing the Supernaturals knew, they were standing on freshly plowed and smoothed-over dirt. The earth was ripe and rich to smell. They each exchanged looks of satisfaction.
* * *
The Supernaturals left each other without saying good-bye. Each man and woman had a decision to make, and that would be made without any help from each other.
After all, as George once told them, “We don’t decide much in life. It has always been dictated to us by a force we will never understand.”
The team known as the Supernaturals walked away knowing they had done the best they could. Perhaps someday they could all come to grips with themselves and decide that maybe the world really did need them.
Until that time came, they would wait.
ALSO BY DAVID L. GOLEMON
Event
Legend
Ancients
Leviathan
Primeval
Legacy
Ripper
Carpathian
Overlord
The Mountain
The Traveler
The Supernaturals
Beyond the Sea
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DAVID L. GOLEMON is the author of The Supernaturals, named one of the Ten Best Haunted House Books of All Time by Riffle Books. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Event Group Thrillers. Legend, the second book in the series, was nominated for a RITA award for paranormal fiction. Golemon learned an early love of reading from his father, who told him that the written word, unlike other forms, allows readers to use their own minds, the greatest special-effects machines of all—an idea Golemon still believes. Golemon grew up in Chino, California, and now makes his home in New York. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Prologue
Part I: The Supernaturals
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Part II: Attendance is Mandatory
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Part III: Homecoming
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Also by David L. Golemon
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT. Copyright © 2017 by David L. Golemon.
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Ervin Serrano
Cover photographs: theatre © Michael Going/Alamy Stock Photo; building © Panther Media GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo; sky © hxdbzxy/Shutterstock.com
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-10310-9 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-10311-6 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250103116
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First Edition: October 2017
In the Still of the Night--The Supernaturals II Page 44