This had to stop.
Men never lasted long in my life, and that wasn’t something I could forget oh so easily.
Chapter Fifteen
Hard as it was, I tried to analyze the case from all angles as we drove towards the farmhouse. No fresh leads came to my mind. Maybe it was time to give up – and yet, I couldn’t. The car came to a stop and we walked inside.
It was time to face the music.
Augusta stopped filing papers. Her hair was a mess, a sure sign that she was agitated, and her eyes were blood-shot. She hadn’t slept the night before. Oh no! Augusta, with lack of sleep, was deadly. “Finally, the prodigal daughter returns.”
I tried to look innocent and contrite. “Sorry. We got caught up in something.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I hope it wasn’t the Mayan Thieves case because you’re not meant to be on it.” Since I didn’t want to lie to her again and again, I didn’t say anything. “Cleo!”
“I’m here, aren’t I? And I am not doing anything.”
“Good. You can help me search for that damn file. I’m tired and exhausted. Maybe I missed a place.”
“You want me to search this whole farmhouse for the file?”
If this wasn’t a ploy to keep me busy, I didn’t know what was. Surely, she could search for a file herself, but then I was running out of excuses, and there was a look in her eyes – a certain, crazed gleam that told me she was at her wit’s end. It didn’t happen often to Augusta, but when it did and the steam wasn’t allowed to blow, there was a great chance of an explosion that might engulf us all.
For the greater good of the commune, I had to do it.
With a loud snap, she closed the file that sat on the reception. “Yes, I do.”
Easy.
Easy.
I didn’t want to rile the tiger.
“Sure, no problem,” I said in my best serene voice. “Let me start with the library. Maybe he tucked it inside some of the books.”
“I’ve checked there twice already, but be my guest. God Forbid, if we don’t find that file…” She shuddered. “I don’t want to think about that possibility. We’ve to find it. It’s green in color and has a handwritten hand attached to it.”
The desperation in her voice startled me. Maybe it was time to start taking this more seriously. “Alright, Augusta. We’ll find it. Don’t worry. Really, don’t.”
“Easy for you to say.” She turned her attention to Bryan. “What are you doing here, young man?”
“He is just going to hang around with me until he is assigned a new case,” I said hastily before Bryan said something that might alert Augusta. “If you don’t mind…”
She wouldn’t ever object if she thought I was romantically inclined towards someone. Augusta would love to see me with someone in a serious relationship.
Not that I was thinking about Agent Bryan in that manner.
Of course, not!
He was just someone I liked, was sort of attracted to, and maybe…
Her gaze shifted from me to him, and perhaps she saw more than I wanted her to see.
“Well, get on with it,” she said in a brisk voice.
“Sure, we’re off and away.” I grabbed Bryan’s hand and walked towards the library before we were stopped by anyone else. “We’ve to look for that file.”
“What is it?”
“Just…something important for the commune. You heard the woman; it’s green in color. A regular file. You take that end of the bookshelves and I will take this one.”
We both got busy. It was mind-numbing and tedious work, but Augusta wouldn’t have put me on it if she didn’t think it was important. Losing the commune wasn’t an option I was willing to consider. It was my home. It was the only place where I felt safe, where I belonged. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. If we didn’t find that file, we could lose the case. And if we lost the case, we wouldn’t have a roof over our head.
That reminded me; I never asked her as to who had gumption enough to file a case over our land. Everyone in the community liked us. We kept our distance, remained quiet (mostly), and we did our best to blend in. And yet, someone had picked a battle with us.
Now wasn’t the time to question her.
She would probably eat me alive if I questioned her.
Still, the questions bubbled in my mind. “Who could have claimed this place as theirs? We’ve been settled here for decades,” I said as I pulled out a number of books and then put them back.
“It’s Aaron Fine.” Jeremy walked in. “He is the one behind it. I found out yesterday that he is the main guy behind all this hoopla.”
“What?”
Jeremy took a chair at the conference table and opened his laptop. “Yep! You heard me.”
“But…he is the developer who made that mall in the town.”
“Yes, and I bet that is what he wants to do here. This is prime property after all. We’re close to three major towns, and we’re on the highway. If he gets this land, he could really build something big here.”
Aaron Fine had a history with the commune. We were the supporters of the people who didn’t want him to develop this area and make it into an urban jungle. I guess he realized this was the best way to keep us busy so that he could go ahead with his developmental plans, and of course, if he did get our land, it would give him a bounty far beyond his imagination. “I’m going to teach that guy a lesson one day.”
“Well, right now, we need to concentrate on other issues. Anything on the Scott Fallon’s case?”
“We’re off it.”
He laughed. “Since when have you ever given up mid-chase? Tell me what happened?”
I gave him the details as I checked all the books. The file wasn’t here. If it were, Augusta would have found it. Maybe I needed to do a spell check. It would take time and effort but I could locate any secret, hiding places. Of course, it might upset quite a few people in the commune. Hmm. I would have to think about it. My phone beeped, and I took it out. “Hey, there is an email from Professor Desmond…he has three more lines.”
Jeremy sat straighter. Excitement gleamed in his eyes. Bryan walked over. “Three more lines?”
I just knew that this was the main lead. This was what we were looking for. “Draw the power of the sun into the black ball, Use the gift of many to channel the force of life, Rip the fabric of that which makes reality.” Startled, I nearly dropped the phone. “Damn it, I hate this shit.”
“What?” said Bryan. “How did he get them?”
“Apparently the pictures on the tablet meant something.” My heart pounded, and there was an acidic, metallic taste in my mouth. It was fear. Walking over, I sat on the chair. “I mean…this just proves that they are trying to rip open a portal to another universe. This has to be it. Rip open the fabric of reality, it just can’t mean anything else.”
“I’ve to admit that you’re right. Does he have the year? We only have the date,” asked Jeremy.
“No, there were no numbers.” I put the phone on the table, grabbed my head, and breathed. A storm of uncertainty tore through me. I’d been fighting for it all along, but now that I had some hardcore evidence, the audacity of these people shook me up. “I…can’t believe it. I was right.”
“There have been few times when you’ve been wrong, but yeah…” Jeremy sighed. “This time you are right. So what’s this black ball they need to use? Maybe they don’t have it.”
Images flickered through my mind. “All those yoga exercises…they have been an attempt to get enough people together to use the force he wants. This black ball…whatever it is…he is going to channel their energy through it and use it to open the portal.”
“The black ball could be anything. The lost ball of Zeus, the orb of Santali, the dark eye of the vengeful god…I mean, there have been enough references in old literature to indicate that there is something that can be used to channel a lot of energy for various purposes. What if he is already in possession of such a thing?”
“Please, Jeremy. I might get a heart attack. If he has it, we don’t have much time to waste. We’ve three days.”
“What if it isn’t this year?” said Bryan.
Would Scott risk involving the FBI in a mega case if he wasn’t on some kind of deadline? I didn’t think so. He might have possessed the orb but he wouldn’t have collected the spell until he was sure that he didn’t have much time. It was going to be this year. “Can you see why 8th February might be an important date? Maybe it increases the power of this mythical orb or some such thing? We’ve to go back to that temple and I…” I stopped. Augusta was at the door and seeing that fierce expression on her face, I could tell she’d heard me. “We’ve decoded some more lines. Professor Desmond…”
“I don’t want to hear it.” She strode forward and put her hands on the conference table. I could all but see her power vibrate around her as she faced me. “You’ve flouted rules many times, Cleo, but this time I won’t allow it. You’re off the case, and you’re helping me look for that cursed file. That’s it. You’re not going anywhere. If there is some trouble, pass on this information to the new team, and you’re done.”
I thought about Graham. He wouldn’t be able to handle this with the speed that was needed. He would need evidence, proof, and by the time anyone got it, it might be too late. “It’s not something I can leave to others.”
The look she gave me spoke volumes. As a child, it was enough to drive me into my room for hours and ponder over my mortality.
But I was an adult.
Yes, I was. And I would stand my ground.
“Yes, you can leave it to others. You’re not the only talented person in this world. There are others who are just as capable, and FBI can hire them. You’re staying right here and looking for that damned file. And that’s my last word on this, Cleo.”
Were there others who could do a good job?
Honestly, maybe, yes.
But would they respond with the speed that was required? I wasn’t sure. No way, they wouldn’t. The FBI’s Paranormal Defense Intelligence Unit certainly didn’t move fast because too often that resulted in too much chaos. If you managed to surprise a wayward mage or a coven, they were likely to blast their way out of trouble – and that always led to a lot of lying, evasive tactics to avoid and confound media, and a fall out that made a few heads roll.
So yes, I could expect delays.
And that’s what I didn’t want. Scott was ready, and if we wanted to catch him, we had to be ready too.
“Augusta, I have to do this. We should all…”
Her face hardened. “No, Cleo, you can’t go. And if you do so…accept that there will be consequences.”
She meant it. Never before did I deliberately and bluntly flout her. Sure, I chomped at the bits often enough, but we never were on such opposite ends of a dilemma ever before. She practically raised me. I couldn’t simply walk away and not follow her orders – and yet I didn’t think there was much choice. This was a matter of life and death, and perhaps the survival of this world and all those who lived on it.
I loved her.
And that love compelled me to do everything to protect her and all the other people who depended on me.
Stepping away from the table, I picked up my phone. “I’m really, really sorry, Augusta, but I must go. We have to stop them and no one else can do it.”
Her expression worried me. She was pissed. Worse, she was disappointed. I didn’t want her to feel like that about me, but once again, I was forced to do what I thought was right. She’d taught me to follow my heart, and I had to do it.
“If you step out of this place, Cleo, you won’t ever come back. This sanctuary will not be yours anymore.” Her voice was grave, low.
And she meant every word.
Jeremy slid back his chair, shocked.
The pain that stabbed through my heart was sharp, piercingly so. “You don’t…you can’t…”
“I do and I can.” She nodded. Were there tears in her eyes? “If you walk away, you’ll pay the price. I’ll have to do it, and I have the authority to make it happen. Also, I’ll call Jones and tell him that you’re still pursuing this case, and he will take necessary action as he sees fit.”
How could she do this to me?
I was like her own child.
And yet I wasn’t.
No. I couldn’t blame her.
I wouldn’t blame her.
Augusta was a woman of principles. She was doing what she thought was needed.
And I would have to do what I thought was needed.
My breath was stuck somewhere in my throat. After forcing it out, I steadied myself. This was big, huge. I was about to lose my home and also my job. It would be stupid to take a stand on this when I had so much to lose.
And yet, what choice did I have?
“It’s hard to fight your friends,” I said. “I don’t want to do it.”
“Then don’t do it,” said Augusta in a clipped voice. “We want you to stay here. You’ll be safe, you’ll be fine, and you will be around to catch some other thief. Right now, that’s all I want you to do. Let someone else take care of this problem. It’s not yours, anymore. It’s not ours.”
I was too young when my family was murdered. Nothing could have been done, or perhaps I didn’t do anything because I didn’t know any better. No one told me how to fight for justice, and maybe I left it too late – and because I did that, the killers were still free, still out there, mocking me, perhaps laughing at me. The FBI was my only chance to find those bastards. Somehow, somewhere, I would catch a clue and then I would chase them right to hell.
If I lost my job, I wouldn’t be able to do it. The FBI and I were in a symbiotic marriage; they needed my talent and I required their flow of information to eventually find the killers of my parents. I also liked my job. I liked catching bad guys. In a way, every solved case took me a step closer to finding those who murdered my parents.
Without the FBI, I had no hope.
And the commune was my home. It was my only sanctuary. I couldn’t leave it. It wasn’t just that I didn’t have another place to go, but rather I didn’t want to be anywhere else. These people were my friends, my family.
“She isn’t leaving,” said Jeremy. “You don’t need to deliver such threats, Augusta, because she knows what is best for her.”
A memory flashed through my mind; my father talking to me when I was thirteen. It was right after he’d caught me sneaking out after dinner. I’d a new boyfriend and I wanted to see him. He was disappointed, and yet he didn’t yell. Instead, he put a hand on my shoulder. “You have to always do that which your heart tell you is right, Cleo. Sometimes you won’t know what’s good or what’s bad, but if you listen to your heart, it will not lead you astray. If you really want to meet this boy and you think it’s the right thing to do, then you can break the rules, but rule breaking has consequences – and you better be prepared to take the consequences in the pursuit of that which you think is right.”
What was my heart telling me to do?
I stood to lose too much.
Was an open rebellion the right thing to do?
Was it necessary for me to investigate this further?
The dangers of not doing what I thought was right were too great. If I didn’t do anything, and if the FBI failed to move in time, Scott would unleash a storm that would engulf everyone in the country. If he managed to make the portal, the destruction he would leave behind promised to be great.
The right thing might lead to my personal destruction, but my heart told me that I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try it. Yes, the damned consequences were too great, too harsh. I didn’t get justice for my parents, but I wasn’t going to back away from a battle just because it got too hard all too damn soon.
“It’s still my battle, Augusta. I’ve to find the answers, and I have to stop that man.”
My words rang with a finality that seemed to freeze everyone.
Augusta stared at me. “If you do, the doors of this commune will be closed to you.”
I would be cast out like a homeless person. Everyone I held dear was here, and yet she would deny me a place. She’d never done it before, and even though Augusta loved me, I knew that she would do it. She’d to do what she felt was right, and I had to do that which was right in my heart.
This wasn’t an empty threat; she never went back on her word, and it was important for her to establish this authority or else no one would ever obey the rules. Rules were important.
Yes, they were.
Under ordinary circumstances, I would have been happy to go along with what she wanted. I didn’t want to lose my only home, the only people I called family. But these were exceptional circumstances, and I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror if I didn’t see this through.
“Don’t do this, Augusta. It’s not fair,” Jeremy pleaded.
“Don’t talk to me about fairness. I’ve given her enough chances, and she has made a fool out of us by telling us lies. She has been working on this when there are other important issues at stakes. We need that file, and I need everyone who is capable of helping here doing that with me.”
The way she spoke, the ramrod posture, told me that she was series. Was I prepared to lose my home for something that wasn’t even confirmed? What if I was wrong about Scott? Or what if I was too hell-bent on satisfying my ego that I was unable to look at the bigger picture? What if we were wrong about the spell? What if the date was wrong? Maybe this wasn’t even the right year? Or perhaps he didn’t have that black orb that he needed.
It could be a number of things.
And yet, every instinct in my body told me that I was on the right path. Stopping Scott was way more crucial than anything else right now. If he didn’t halt his plans, the world as we knew it would finish. While I didn’t have much proof, I’d spent years fighting evil and all that experience was telling me that I couldn’t delay any longer.
I steeled my heart against the pain. “I’m sorry, Augusta. I’ve to go.”
Pain flickered in her eyes. I could tell she didn’t expect me to be so openly defiant after the threat she gave me. Well, not threat. She meant it. And she would see it through even though it would hurt her as much as it would hurt me. And yet, I couldn’t stop or try and explain anything else.
00 Mayan Thief (The FBI Paranormal Casefiles) Page 15