Demon at War (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 3)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “I get it. Man, you and Conterro really nailed that big sucker from Concord,” Dan commented, while Jenny comically examined Mike as if she were a nurse in the emergency room. “Did D tell you about the 7/11 milk run? How did you know?”

  “I didn’t know for sure. I found out at school from three guys in my Spanish class that some drug dealer named Juri Glinka wanted payback for his loss of product and people in the bust D and I helped Tom Huang out of last night. The three guys in my Spanish class were supposed to deliver me out to Glinka. I delivered myself after adjusting my classmates. I then showed Glinka and his henchmen the error of their ways. They decided to turn themselves into the police. I figured Glinka would have a plan B. He’s out of the picture now.”

  Mike looked around with some annoyance at the open mouthed stares he was getting. “Look. I could have told you some fairytale. We were in danger. I had the power to do something about it. Would you rather I let them kill me, and then all of you?”

  Demon walked over and sat down next to Mike.

  “It… I mean we just need a little time to adjust to something like that, kid,” Dan said. “I don’t give a crap about a bunch of drug dealin’ killers. I know you’re on the right side of this. That kind of power is amazing… and frightening.”

  “You’re getting stronger, I guess, huh?”

  “Yeah, Mom, I’m developing more power, focus, and control. You may as well know this too. That news guy out there took it into his head to threaten us with a media anal exam. I showed him the error of his ways too. Where’s Laura?”

  “She’s staying with her folks tonight,” Jenny replied. “She said to tell you nice game, and she’d see you in the morning for the move. If you’re hungry, I have a plate warming in the oven for you.”

  “I’m starving. Thanks, Mom. I’ll let you digest what I’ve explained. There’s nothing any of us can do about it. I have the power, and I’m not going to ignore the chance to save my own family. That Glinka guy was a stone killer, and when I say was, I mean was. Can I give D a beer, Dad?”

  “Sure. He’s been off the drink until you came home because of the news flock outside. Go eat and have whatever you want too. You’ve earned it. I think your Mom and I are going to go watch some fiction on TV, and forget our reality for a couple more hours.”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Mike said as he hugged Jenny.

  “I finished my homework in between school and the game with Denny and his harem,” Joanie said. “Can I watch TV with you guys? I’d rather not be around the evil mutant until I get my brainwave helmet.”

  Mike watched the laughing three other members of his family head for the living room. “C’mon, D, I’ll get you your beer. I think I’ll have one with you. Shots will have to be imbibed tonight too.”

  “A wise decision, Cap.” Demon followed Mike into the kitchen, where Mike poured Demon a shot and beer before getting himself the same. Demon lapped up a little with gusto. “So, you managed an upgrade without getting raked by a Haunt. How’d you pull that off?”

  Mike gulped his shot, and chased it with his beer before answering. “It’s mutating, D, just like Joanie was kidding about. I communicated with Sandy like we do. I’m not sure if it’s because I got inside her head a couple times or not. I haven’t tried it with anyone else, because I’m afraid I’d zap them in some way. If I can control it, I might be able to do something with it on missions if we lose audio in a jam. I’m definitely going to zap a Haunt or try to.”

  “It would be nice for you to develop my invulnerability to them, but I’d hate for you to get raked as many times as I did to get it. Don’t ever get me shaved. I look like a jigsaw puzzle underneath the fur. You’ve already heard the lecture on how habit forming your new wind warp capabilities can be - but if you’re thinking I’ll be second guessing everything you do, forget it. The more power, the better, and don’t even get me imagining you being able to zap Haunts. That’s one I’ll pray for. We’d rock their damn world.”

  Mike poured another shot and sipped it. “I’m getting obsessed with ending the Haunts. I keep seeing visions of a future without worrying about portals to hell. Making our videos, saving kids, and doing some paranormal investigation cases would be just fine. If the FBI would be open to it, we could even do more consulting with them.”

  Demon finished his bowl, and nudged it in Mike’s direction. Mike refilled it and sat down again. “How do you like this move to Demon Inc, Cap?”

  “Relieved. I don’t want my folks dodging cameras and press people because of me. How about you?”

  “I’m good with the change. It’s a hell of a lot safer for your folks without the main target around. You’ve probably already considered that with your increasing mind meld power we’re going to end up alone, right?”

  Mike nodded, standing to take his food out of the oven. “That’s how I have it figured too. Denny might stick around for a while until he moves on, but I think the rest of the gang will probably keep contact with me down to a couple get-togethers outside of missions.”

  “Life will be exciting if not short.”

  “I’m glad you don’t have a shortened life span, D. I thought for sure that FBI Agent Navarone would be flitting around today, but she must be busy soaking up the limelight from the hostage gig. Maybe I won’t have to worry about her like I thought. She did agree to help us last night without getting zapped.”

  “Yeah, but you did a lot of attitude altering on Navarone already after we met her,” Demon reminded him. “Should HG be worried about the new girl moving in on you?”

  “Nope. Sandy’s a believer. She wants me to experiment on her with my power. She called it the hand of God today. That freaked out everyone, and made Joanie and Denny sure that I’d zapped her. Sandy made a point in that I am never going to do anything to any of our crew. She said since I’ve already done it to her, it wouldn’t matter, but it matters to me. It’s one thing to zap her when she was trying to let in a horde of monsters. It’s another thing since I know she’s sincere to start zipping around in her head. It was freaky communicating with her by thought though. I could even tell when she was following us.”

  “I don’t know, CD. You may have to explore that possibility. Since control is an issue, you can’t really practice without someone to practice on. It’s not like you’re hurting her, right?”

  “I don’t think so,” Mike replied. “How do I know though? I may have already altered her to some extent.”

  “Hey, if we ever get short of money, we could do one of those magic acts with you guessing what I pluck from somebody in a crowd blindfolded.”

  “I’d rather get the Demon puppy franchise going.”

  “You prick!”

  Chapter Sixteen

  New Team Member

  Mike and Denny emptied the last of their personal items out of the Demon Inc equipment van at Demon Inc headquarters. It had been a fun, relaxing morning with Sandy arriving on time, leading to a humorous gang-up on Mike by Laura, Sandy, and Joanie, joking about Mike’s mental mutant status. He’d taken it good naturedly, relieved at Sandy’s obvious easy going manner as she reconnected with her rival, Laura. They had knitted together with Joanie in a seamless, sarcastic send up of Mike, that even had Demon expressing his snorting amusement.

  “How’d you like the way Sandy and Laura got along this morning?”

  “I guess you got to relive all the high points when they picked you up, huh?”

  Denny nodded with a grin as he dropped the last box in the room he’d picked out. “They really increased the entertainment value of my ride over to your house. Your idea about sending them worked out pretty well. Did you think the construction company did okay with the fence?”

  “That fence is the bomb, Den. With the security cards and remotes, it’s like being at the Pentagon. The only thing those media muffins will be able to do is stand on the perimeter with their faces pressed into the links. I’m not sure I feel comfortable with Laura, Sandy, and Joanie deciding to hang
out at the house together when we took this last trip over. Laura could have stayed at her house after we moved the last of her belongings, but no… she had to rejoin her fellow ‘Sisters of the Traveling Pants’ at my house to hold me up to more ridicule I’ll bet.”

  Denny laughed, clapping his hands halfway through Mike’s dialogue. “At least you don’t have to worry so much about Sandy’s mental wellbeing. She seemed great today, although she did kind of defer to you when I was there to observe some of the Mike verbal slams.”

  “That was just good sense on her part. She wanted to make sure I wouldn’t turn her brain into mush if she ragged on me,” Mike joked. “At least with D on guard duty at the house, I’ll get a full report on what was said.”

  “I’m glad D likes the idea of staying here.”

  “As long as we have beer and booze on hand for his nightcap, he’s happy,” Mike replied. “Your folks didn’t look too happy.”

  Denny shrugged. “They know it’s for the best. It’s not like I won’t be seeing them. I’ll have my license soon and-”

  Mike’s iPad announced an incoming call. “It’s Navarone. She’s out at the gate.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  Outside the building, both teens came to a surprised stop. Navarone was at the gate, but so was a huge tanker truck. They jogged to the gate with Denny hitting the remote to open it up. The eight foot gate churned open smoothly on its tracks. Navarone signaled the driver, and he eased the tanker in through the gate, parking it over on the far right of the huge Demon Inc parking lot.

  Navarone gestured at the fence. “I like it. An eight foot double reinforced fence – very nice. I was wondering if I’d need to leave a guard on the truck. I know your Father helped you get a heavy duty license, so I figured you wouldn’t have any trouble with this rig, Mike. I heard on the grapevine you two are moved in over here. That also works out well for us.”

  “We rigged this with everything you had on your spec sheet, Stossle, along with extras. It has two hundred and fifty feet of armored hose, utilizing space age shielding even those Haunts can’t slice into. There’s a pumping station on the back of the truck that goes inside next to the portal. The extra hosing is fed from there with a hydraulic feed and beam extension to bear the weight. The tanks filled are to capacity, mixed with the percentage of Colloidal Silver you specified would wipe out the things on contact. You only need to get your priest over to bless it. It’s a go for tomorrow.”

  “Holy crap!” Denny had been moving around the truck as Navarone and Mike followed. He examined the pumping station which was self contained with its own backup power supply. “This is awesome! What made them decide to go so quickly?”

  “Your videos and the eye witness testimony of three FBI agents attesting to their accuracy scared the right people at Homeland Security. That clip of you holding the Haunt after expelling it sealed the deal, Mike. A few of the powers that be stuck their necks out far enough to outfit this tanker in a hurry. What time can we go at this tomorrow? I’d like this incursion filmed, and with your crew running it. They only want me on hand to witness it with a live feed back to them. No agents in sight, so if this thing blows up in our faces or something goes wrong, there won’t be any fallout on the department. Is that going to be acceptable?”

  “We can have everything ready by noon tomorrow. What you’ve outlined will be fine for a trial run,” Mike answered. “They do plan on more of a commitment once we show them the other side, right?”

  “I figure they won’t have any choice,” Navarone answered. “I’ll be back at noon then.”

  The driver had exited the tanker and was standing next to Navarone. When she gave him the go ahead, he handed a DVD to Mike. “This has everything on the tanker and pumping system. My phone number is on the case if you have a question. I tested the systems out myself. Everything works but I expect you’ll do a dry run to get the hang of it. I wish we didn’t have to leave you to operate this cold.”

  “Thank you,” Mike replied, taking the DVD. “We’ll test it out, and study the DVD. After tomorrow, your bosses will be on board all the way, because we’re going to have videos going through the portal and on the other side for them. They’ll get to see hell.”

  “We’ll leave you to it. See you tomorrow.”

  Mike and Denny stood watching silently as Navarone and the driver walked out the gate to her car. Mike spoke only after she had driven away. “I’m glad the media wasn’t on hand for that delivery.”

  Denny could not contain the excitement as he took the DVD from Mike. “Let’s you and I study this puppy while our colleagues see to Stan and Jerry’s football game, and rake you over the coals behind your back.”

  “You get started. I have to go get D and Sandy. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’s going to open a portal today for a moment while I try another experiment before tomorrow.”

  Denny laughed until he saw the grim look on Mike’s face. “Oh hell… you’re serious? I guess you’ll let me know what this is all about when you get back.”

  “Count on it, Denny. It has to be done though, brother. I’ll be back shortly.”

  “I’ll get out the spell books for Sandy. I’ve studied the films from when we broke into their little portal party the other night. I can help her with the conjuring.”

  “Thanks, Den. See you in a few.”

  * * *

  “You’re going to what?”

  “Look, Laura, I just explained we’re going for a full blown excursion into Haunt land under Navarone’s watchful eye. We’ll need the whole crew then. We’re already having a pizza fest tonight so I’ll be going over everything then. You get rested up, and I’ll see you tonight at Demon Inc. Come at around six. Is it still okay for you to bring Joanie and take her home?”

  “That’s fine. What I want to know is what you need Sandy for.”

  “She’s going to help Denny and I understand the spell necessary for opening a portal, which we will have to do tomorrow to launch the attack. Sandy, do you have any objections to coming over to our place?”

  “No… I’d be glad to help. Should I follow you over?”

  “Yeah, that would be best.”

  “I don’t like this,” Laura said, her lips in a tight grimace. “You’re up to something.”

  “I am indeed – an attack into hell with very little prep time.” Not for the first time did Mike have to rein in the impulse to nudge Laura.

  Joanie came over and put a restraining hand on Laura’s arm. “Mike’s right. This isn’t a game, Laura. They need to go over the portal opening in detail. The FBI’s forced them into this tight timeline. We’re going over there at six. It’s not like we’re being left out.”

  Laura’s features eased slightly as she nodded in acquiescence. “Maybe you’re right, Mike. I need a nap I guess.”

  Mike hugged her, when what he really wanted to do was zap her. “We’ll see everyone at six tonight. I don’t want to bother the gang with an earlier time since Stan and Jerry played football today with Connie and Jan attending. Can you let them know a little later?”

  “Sure. I’ll text them when the game’s over.” Laura turned to Sandy. “I’m glad you’re around Sandy. Thanks for your help today.”

  “You bet. I had a great time with you and Joanie today.” Sandy clasped Laura’s hand for a moment. “I’ll keep an eye on ‘The Hand of God’. I won’t let him do anything bad.”

  Laura sighed, patting Sandy’s hand. “When he does, it won’t be your fault. See you a little later… I hope.”

  * * *

  “Did you have a good time today with the shrews?”

  Demon looked away from the window to Mike. “Sandy hung tough, Cap. She laughed at the appropriate cheap shots, but I could tell it’s like you told me: she’s a believer. No matter what you have to do, she’ll cover for you as long as she doesn’t ever have to share a body with a Haunt. I know you have more in mind than practicing spells. Lay it on me.”

  “I want her an
d Denny to open a portal so I can get a Haunt through to try out a mind zap on. Then we seal it and play with our guest if it works. We’ll fill in the others when they come over for our pizza fest.”

  “Do we draw straws to see who gets to rip its throat out after?”

  Mike was silent for a moment before answering. “What if I can turn them on their own?”

  “Well, they’re not real good at deception yet. If you can control the one you let through, it stands to reason you can send it back on its own kind.”

  “That’s my take on it too. The unknown is if I can zap them permanently or not.” Mike glanced over at Demon, but he was again staring out the front windshield.

  They rode in silence for a few moments with Mike wondering if maybe he had gone too far with this.

  “I don’t see a downside, Cap,” Demon told him finally. “On the offensive is where we need to be. If it doesn’t work, we’ll vaporize our guest, and go full bore in on a conventional attack, which we have planned anyway. It’s a win/win.”

  “Thanks, D.”

  “We’re having beer and shots tonight, right?”

  “Dad came through with a case and a bottle of Jack Daniels. My Mom is never to know. I’ll have our captive Haunt serve it.”

  That statement brought on a full blown bout of hilarity, Mike had to pull over in order to prevent an accident. When Demon could finally reply, he held up his left paw for a high five.

  “If you can pull that off, you will indeed be Captain Darkness for all time.”

  “It will give me a chance to go full bore with no restraint. Uh oh. Sandy followed us over.” Mike waved and continued on, but he felt the tendrils of Sandy’s consciousness in a questioning manner. “Oh man, D, I can actually sense Sandy’s thoughts in a vague way.”

  “You monster!”

  Mike had to wait for a moment before he could go on.

  * * *