“I hope you get your brains beat out, Rawlins.” Sandy leaped away from the table as Joanie went for her.
Denny caught Joanie before she got past the table. “Mike can take care of himself, Joanie. We don’t want a fight to blow our cover story here. Let’s finish with this.”
“I forgot the Coach saw what happened with the Haunts possessing Ira and his girlfriend.” Mike acted as if he hadn’t heard what Sandy said. He continued staring in the direction Jenkins had left. “I have a feeling what happened Saturday affected Coach Jenkins more than him needing a fill in for Ted. I wonder if he knows someone having Haunt trouble.”
“Let me go!” Joanie struggled in Denny’s arms. “I’m going to bitch-slap her weasel face off.”
“Calm down, Sis,” Mike urged. “You about finished, Denny?”
“Ten more minutes to make Satanic Sandy prepared for class tomorrow. You’re through with your homework, Joan. Why not go keep Laura company? I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
“You called me Joan.” She kissed Denny lightly. “I like that. Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow. Take my advice, Mike, and juice her before you drop Sandy off. Either that or put a command performance date in her head for ‘naked barking dog’ in the cafeteria at lunchtime.”
Even Demon snorted in amusement at that suggestion. Joanie walked past Sandy without a glance. Sandy glared after her. “You need to control your little sister before she gets hurt.”
Mike shook his head. “Best if you finish your homework before you say anything else. That ‘naked barking dog’ image is starting to grow on me.”
* * *
“There’s the Demon Inc equipment van Stossle described to me,” Ruiz pointed ahead as Jack Tobian eased their car behind it. “This street is really quiet. The van their informant says they all arrive in is backed into the driveway already, just like Stossle said it would be. I guess this spook show is on then.”
“You don’t sound very enthused anymore, Manny.” Tobian shut off the engine. “I thought you really believed in this Haunt dimension invasion.”
Ruiz grinned over at Tobian in the darkness. “It’s 11:30 on a Wednesday night. We’re here to witness a portal opening by Satanists to a world of creatures called Haunts, with a bunch of teenagers and a dog supposedly standing between earth and doom.”
Tobian laughed. “Well sure… when you blurt it all out together like that it doesn’t sound good. You forgot two federal agents witnessing the illegal break-in and use of a sealed house in foreclosure. Is there an upside to this X-Files adventure?”
“That’s where the teens have this shit wired. They have video and audio on the informant so they’re able to tell the moment the Devil dolts start chanting their way to the apocalypse.”
“You’re fading again, Manny.”
“I know,” Ruiz admitted. “Once I get past the state of the art surveillance my mind starts wandering. I’ve seen the videos. The video clips they sent in uncensored are incredible. Rawlins got that scar on his face from one of those Haunts. I saw it happen on the video. I-”
Ruiz’s cell-phone vibrated. “Ruiz. Okay, we’ll let you bunch do what you need to and we’ll cover the rear as agreed. Right, Stossle, we’ll stay quiet until your team is in position.”
Ruiz disconnected and chuckled. “I have my instructions. We stay in the car until their team moves across the street into position. Here they come, Jack. I feel safer already.”
The Demon Inc van opened. Demon leaped out first, immediately running across the street and vaulting the fence. Denny emerged next, fully outfitted in pack, armor, helmet and gloves. He checked each team member as they exited the van to jog across the street. Once crouched near the bushes surrounding the fence gate, they were nearly invisible from the street. Ruiz nodded in admiration.
“Stossle says Rawlins is already in position at the rear in case their informant gets made. They move like they know what they’re doing.”
“They look a little too much like the Ghostbusters to me, but after what Rawlins and his dog did for us, we owe him one. Who knows how many of us would be dead if we’d walked into Navarone’s ambush.”
“No need pulling the scab off that one, Jack.” Ruiz pointed to the left. That’s Rawlins coming out toward us.”
Mike had taken off his helmet as he jogged toward the FBI car. Tobian opened his window. It was the first time, even counting the gun battle in the woods, he had seen a harried look on Rawlins’ face. “We were on our way over, Mike. Is something wrong?”
“We’ve got trouble. That nitwit informant, Sandy Albertson, and her cult leader, Clarissa Adams came on Tuesday night. They opened the portal while using a spirit board. I’d told Sandy we closed the past portals with holy water, so after four of the Haunts passed through, she closed it up. The idiots thought they could play with them. They got possessed. The fact we sealed the house on Monday night with holy water mixed with Colloidal Silver kept this contained. Only the two Haunts possessing Sandy and Clarissa could pass out of the house. For some reason they weren’t able to reopen the portal last night or we’d have thousands in there.”
“What do you want from us, and what are they doing now?” Ruiz asked.
“If you come along with me, you’ll be able to see me expel the things. We can’t let them open a portal for long though, even for you guys to see. Luckily, when Sandy closed the portal last night, it screwed things up in combination with our sealing actions around the perimeter of the house and inside. They’ve been trying to use their book and the spirit board to open the portal again without success. The only thing they’ve managed to do is get two more of their group possessed by the remaining Haunts from Tuesday night.”
“And?” Tobian prompted.
“It’s tricky doing this without endangering the host. I didn’t know if you’d want to be around if something went wrong.”
“Like what?” Ruiz asked.
Mike hesitated. “Look, forget what I said. There’s no time to-” Mike straightened and turned toward the house. “Come or not. Denny says the portal’s forming.”
Tobian and Ruiz traded questioning looks. Ruiz exited the car. “I’m going, Jack.”
“Right behind you.”
* * *
Denny met Mike at the back sliding glass doors. He had his notebook computer open on the patio table showing the scene inside the house. “Gail, Stan, and Jerry are at the front, ready to go, Mike. You stay back while Demon takes us in. If you accidentally discharge one amongst them, that will be bad.”
Mike looked at Janis and Connie. Their hands were clutching the Haunt weapons with grim looks. “I see by the way you two are acting Denny probably told you we can’t just hose the kids down without sealing the Haunts inside them. D will herd them the way we want. I’ll rip the Haunt out of each one individually. We need to let the portal form while the FBI witnesses it.”
“We’re down with this, Dempsey,” Janis said. “We need the FBI. This ain’t no game anymore.”
“I promise not to scream,” Connie added as Ruiz and Tobian joined them.
Denny had been watching his computer screen while Mike spoke. “It’s time. They nearly have a fully formed portal.”
Mike put his hand on the sliding glass door handle. Demon, who had been watching him, nodded. Mike opened the sliding glass door, and threw open the curtains. Demon shot into the room amongst the now screaming and yelling semi-nude devil disciples. He quickly nipped and head butted the teens into the arms of Demon Inc’s team, with Stan and Jerry taking charge of them, roughly shoving the teens into a corner.
“Get your clothes on now!” Stan commanded.
“The moment you do, get your asses on the floor, backs against the wall with your hands clasped behind your heads!” Jerry followed Stan in jarring the shocked teens into action, while Gail watched their backs. The teens scrambled into their discarded clothing and jammed against the wall with their hands clasped as ordered. By prior arrangement, Stan and Jerry carried shotgun
s. It added a grim flavor to their intimidation tactics. If they did have to fire on any of the teens, the blessed salt would not seal the Haunt inside their target.
With the FBI agents observing from the side of the room, Connie and Janis crouched with weapons ready, positioned in front of them.
“We’ve got guns, girls. We’ll be okay,” Ruiz told them.
“Stay quiet, sweetie,” Janis said, trading knowing looks with Connie. “You’ll see how okay you’d be without us in front of you. Haunts are not impressed when you point a gun at them. Be patient. Things are going to get a lot clearer for you.”
Mike and Demon positioned themselves in front of the almost completed portal. Mike drew his coated iron spike out. Gail knelt at the portal’s side, ready to fire in case Mike and Demon were overwhelmed before the demonstration was over. The rift completed as the Haunt world shimmered into view beyond the opening. A Haunt flitted by the other side, glancing in, its ghoulish countenance eyeing the other side with slavering anticipation.
“Good God Almighty!” Ruiz reached for his gun, but Janis reached back to pat his wrist reassuringly.
“Don’t bother. You can’t hurt it. Just watch. Mike and Demon will take care of the scouts.”
“So they can pass through in numbers? Those videos you sent us of killing hundreds of those things on Saturday was real? All of it?” Tobian had halted the reach for his own weapon, but still kept his hand on it.
“You’re getting the picture.” Connie giggled, while glancing at Janis. “I’m not afraid anymore, girlfriend.”
“Don’t go mental on me, Con,” Janis replied. “Why the hell ain’t you scared anymore?”
Connie pointed at Mike and Demon. “I decided I’d get scared when they do.”
Janis grinned at her friend appreciatively. “Oh yeah!”
“These kids are nuts,” Tobian whispered to his partner.
Ruiz, who had been staring at the nightmarish world beyond the flitting Haunts scouting the portal, shook his head. “I’ve been reciting prayers I haven’t said in twenty years, Jack. If they’re nuts, I’m right behind them.”
Two attacked the portal without warning, but Mike and Demon were ready. Demon leaped across, ripping the first ones head off at the neck. The second Haunt slipped halfway through before Mike impaled its head with his spike in a vicious upward thrust. Both creatures dissolved. The teens not possessed screamed at their first look into what they had attempted to conjure. Stan and Jerry, who had been watching them, grinned at each other. They separated the three teens not carrying a Haunt away from their brethren.
“Why are you separating us?” Clarissa demanded.
“We may need to help, so Stan and I have to make sure of who we’re guarding,” Jerry explained. “I have a stun-gun right here if you have any objections.”
Clarissa stared at the stun-gun Jerry drew out of his belt pouch for a moment and then relaxed against the wall. “We’re going to sue your asses off.”
“Think again, bitch!” Gail moved over laterally, still watching the action at the gate. “You don’t ever speak of this after tonight, baby. Take my word for it. Zap her, Jer! Give her a little tingle.”
“She’s carrying a Casper, HG. Mike will set her right.”
Gail stared down at Clarissa with malice. “I don’t like this spoiled brat. I’m thinking of adjusting her after Mike clears out the Haunt.”
“Bring it, skank,” Clarissa said, starting to stand up.
Jerry fired off an arc. “Move again, and I will light you up.”
* * *
Ruiz watched Mike and Demon killing Haunt scouts and the Haunt world becoming clearer beyond the portal with stomach churning terror. “Jack, we have to move on this! Jesus… this is incredible!”
“Now I wish we would have kidnapped Navarone and brought her along.”
“Oh yeah, that would have been something. There’s no turning back. We take this all the way. I don’t give a crap what Navarone says, I-”
One of the Haunts came through between two others Mike and Demon engaged, streaking directly at Ruiz and Tobian. Its fangs and claws extending for a killing or maiming foray. The two FBI agents scrambled backwards, reaching again for their weapons. Connie and Janis fired a short burst into the Haunt. It screamed in agony as the holy water/Colloidal Silver mix vaporized it.
Janis glanced back. She gave Ruiz a little wave. “I learned my lesson when we wiped out the Haunt nest on the Hornet. Short bursts or you end up with a Haunt in your face and an empty Haunt killer.”
Ruiz nodded. “Good point. Short bursts… got it. Thanks.”
“Hey Mike! I think we’ve seen enough!” Tobian yelled out.
Mike held up his hand without losing sight of the portal, where a Haunt pack gathered in numbers at the rift. “Okay Den, we’ll clear out, and you all seal it up.”
Denny knelt, taking aim at the portal, directing Gail, Connie, and Janis to his sides. “On three, Mike!”
Mike counted out to three loudly. At three, he and Demon leaped off to the sides. The teens fired their Haunt killers at the portal, vaporizing the Haunts caught in the opening, and instantly sealing the rift. Denny checked each team member out, making sure their equipment had not been raked inadvertently by a Haunt.
“We’re all good, Mike. We do this one at a time for the Casper carriers, right?”
“Yep. Janis and Connie keep the FBI with them. You and HG watch the possessed while Stan and Jerry reinforce D and I while we extract the Caspers.”
“Tell the Toad Brothers to be careful with the shotguns, CD.”
Mike chuckled. “D says he’d appreciate not eating a barrage of salt.”
Jerry and Stan, who had been bringing over a struggling Clarissa to an empty part of the room, both glared down at Demon, who gave them a one paw wave off.
“That hurt, Farfel,” Stan said. “To think you don’t trust us not to shoot you.”
“You do know when you put it in our heads not to aim at you, it’s like when someone tells somebody not to think of beer – then it’s all the person can think about is beer,” Jerry added, grinning over at Stan.
Demon growled as the rest of Demon Inc laughed and the FBI agents looked on in confusion. “Tell HG if I get hit to light ‘em up, Cap.”
Mike repeated Demon’s directive, causing more hilarity, with Stan and Jerry laughing the loudest. “Don’t worry, guys. These Haunts are toast now, because thanks to Jerry, all D can think about is getting home to the beer bowl.”
Demon snorted with amusement. “You got that right, Cap. Let’s do this.”
Chapter Nine
Down To Business
The FBI agents had moved over with Janis and Connie near where Gail and Denny watched Clarissa’s followers. The three teens from the group who had not been possessed huddled in horror away from the other three watching sullenly with no emotion. Denny and Gail had their stun guns out in case the possessed three tried to interfere. The other three were so terrified, Ruiz could tell they no longer wanted any part of what was going on. He tapped Janis on the shoulder. She didn’t turn fully away from her guard posture, but indicated she was listening.
“Who was Mike talking to, the dog?”
“It’s a long story,” Janis replied. “I’ll let Mike give you the highlights. Demon is a lot more than just a dog.”
“Are these the three besides the girl Mike has that are possessed?” Tobian pointed at Ed Brandt, Sandy Albertson, and Aaron Loza.
“They didn’t even cringe when the Haunts started through the portal,” Connie replied. “Sandy there, between the two guys was our informant, but the idiot went with Clarissa and got herself a hitchhiker.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about those other three,” Ruiz said, seeing the other teens, Lynn Neto, Chas Thadani, and Katy Reynoso, were very nearly in shock.
Connie giggled, glancing over at the other three mentioned. “Yeah, they learned that devil worship ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. Th
ey did find hell though.”
Ed Brandt started to lurch to his feet. “Shut your pie hole, you-”
Denny zapped him until Brandt dropped twitching to the floor. When Aaron Loza took his hands down to make a move, Gail fired an arc off near his face.
“Come get some, Tweety.”
Loza dropped back down, putting his hands behind his head again.
“You kids are pretty impressive,” Ruiz said.
“We stopped being kids when we figured out our chances of living were dropping like a stone, but thanks,” Janis replied. “Maybe now, you guys can help us out with this.”
“Count on it,” Tobian promised.
* * *
“Ready, D?” Mike held Clarissa with his gloved left hand on her right shoulder as Stan and Jerry angled around on each side of Mike and Demon, shotguns at the ready.
“Kick it free, Cap, and back the hell up.”
Mike reached down and gripped Clarissa’s bare left wrist. She pitched backwards to the floor. The Haunt streaked out of her, but Demon timed its escape nearly perfectly, latching on long enough to give Mike a chance to drive his spike through its head. The teens not possessed began screaming. Gail fired off another arc, silencing them.
“Shut the hell up!” Gail moved back as Jerry and Stan helped the sobbing Clarissa over. Gail looked her over. “Damn, I guess this means I don’t get to smack her around a little, huh?”
“Chill, HG,” Stan said. “What’s with you?”
“It’s that cool new initial nickname you guys have been texting me with since Saturday.” Gail gave Denny a head slap as he had turned fully to face the kids he was guarding, his shoulders shaking as he swallowed laughter.
Jerry shrugged as he eased Clarissa down next to Katy Reynoso, who put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s in the wind, HG. Me and Stan are the Toad brothers, Connie is Aunty Em, Janis is Brandy, Mike is Captain Darkness, Denny is Frodo, Laura is Moby Preggo, and you’re the Holy Grail – HG for short.”
Demon at War (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 3) Page 12