Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter

by David Raymond II

  On the way to 'Gibbins Voodoo Trinkets' on main street Chris presses for a bit more information from Jocasta, “So it seems you already did research on this place, co-owned by a lawyer?”

  “Yes. A lot of times these stores are owned at least partially by some business man or some young risk taker who thinks that such a strange shop would draw attention and earn them money. Normally when someone like Anton Rast at owns a shop it is a sign that the store is clearly fake.”

  “Anton Rast?” The name rings no bells to Chris who does not know Rast from Adam and would not know the lawyers ties to his mother in that final day. “Now you said co-owned? I figure the second owner is a bit more legitimate, to give the shop a bit of authenticity. I doubt most tourists would buy voodoo trinkets from a lawyer.”

  “Especially not a white lawyer. Anyway Chris you're dead on, Theodore Gibbins adds a bit more credibility to the store. He fits the character typr of a Voodoo Shaman to a tee. Though he follow voodoo like a religion he does not have any real powers.” Jocasta knowing what Chris will ask next closes his eyes and shakes his head.

  “Oh and no there is no connection between Gibbins and Tarque, at least none that I can find. Not every Voodoo practitioner knows each other. They don't have their own labor union, not that I know of anyway.” That was Jocasta's attempt at a joke, it fell flat. “Gibbins is a native of Jamaica, in his fifties with very dark skin and green eyes. He has no criminal record and seems to be a nice guy. He looks like your average charlatan.” Jocasta sighs feeling disappointed in what he's doing.

  Cole whispers to Chris, “This really is not the type of work the Professor wants to do. He spent most of his life trying to revel to the world that demons, spirits and monsters exist in the world around us. He believed that knowledge was the best way to battle them. He has never given up thinking that way.”

  Chris knows that about the old man. Jocasta even told him a few times that he actually believed in these creatures back when his father was doing fake shows. The Yosif Jocasta back then seemed like a defeated man forced to contribute to the very lie he hated out of spite for his exile from the church and scientific communities. Now there is a sense of pride in Jicasta that was not there before. The defeated man is gone replaced by someone who feels vindicated.

  The driver parks the car in the parking lot to the small strip mall where the shop resides. There are six shops connected as part of this two story building. All the shows are on the first floor with the second floor looking like the living quarters for the shop owners. In the strip mall there are two restaurants, a name brand sub joint and a Chinese Food restaurant, a barber shop, a small corner liquor store, and an occult book store in the other corner. Placed between the two small restaurants is the voodoo shop, 'Gibbin's Voodoo trinkets.' As they walk toward the shop Chris notices something strange about the store, the outside's design, the type used, the was the words look it looks very similar to 'Tarque's Charms and potions.' While it might just be a coincidence Chris snaps a photo with his cell phone.

  “What was that about?” Charlotte asks from the door.

  “This place reminds me of something else. I figured I would send this to my friends Jason and Ric later.”

  “Gotcha.” Charlotte smiles, “Let me in on it okay?”

  Might as well trust someone and why not her. “I will think about it.” Chris smiles. He and Charlotte then catch up to Jocasta and Cole who are already inside.

  Jocasta is shaking hands with a young Caucasian gentleman who seems to be on the bit on the nervous side. He is slightly sweating and his eyes are darting around the room. He is wearing a polo shirt and blue jeans that seem to be worse for ware. “Thank you for showing up Mr. Jocasta, and these three are?” He looks quickly at Cole, Chris and Charlotte never really getting a good look.

  “Ah yes, this is Cole Labrone, one of the interns for the Sharp Experience.” Jocasta knew calling Cole an intern would get on his nerves since the professor often tells Cole that he should go to college before joining the Sharp show, or at very least make it a part time job during college. “And this here is Charlotte Luminare and Christian Sharp. They are my assistants for today.”

  Charlotte moves closer to Chris, “I love the way Yosif talks assistant. It sounds so professional.”

  Chris smiles, “He's always been like that.

  “Hhello I am Ann... Anton Rast.” He looks at Chris then looks away. “So your here to look around. Mr. Jo.Jocasta, Theo would like to see you.”

  “He's here? I figured Mr. Gibbins would be gone like always.” Jocasta looks at Cole, “You know what to look for Cole, so your in charge, Chris, Charlotte if anything looks strange bring it to Cole.” Jocasta then follows Rast back to the employee only area.

  Cole starts looking though some potions and looking at them closely, “You heard him you to, anything that looks strange let me know.”

  Chris starts with some strange dolls made of straw with strange human skulls made of some kind of rock painted white and black. These things Chris recognizes as Voodoo dolls and really does not know where to start to look if one of them is strange or different, they all look strange. Still in this strange display nothing stands out. “Nothing nothing.”

  Chris looks over at Charlotte who is looking over at charms and shaking her head clearly having as much luck as he is. Chris continues looking though the dolls with no luck when he almost bumps into Mr. Rast, “Excuse me.”

  “Chris Sharp.” The clearly frightened assistant owner says to him.

  “What's your deal?”

  “My, my deal?” Rast asks.

  “You're a lawyer or were anyway. So what did you suck at it?”

  “Straight forward I see. Nnno I was great at it, a hit shot young lawyer on his way to being partner for a big named law firm. I was going to make it big. I. I make a bad choice with a client and it cost my job, and... and why am I telling you this?” Rast seems to gain some of his composure, “Don't you have something better to do.”

  “Honestly no, I'm not going to find anything here am I?” But Chris gets the point so he turns away from Rast.

  Rast walks away but says something vague to Chris, “Remember to heed my warning Chris, it will save your life.”

  “WHAT.” Chris turns to Rast who has scurried to the employee door where a older Jamaican man has just walked out with Jocasta. Clearly Chris can't confront Rast with that. What did he mean heed his warning when could Rast ever given Chris a warning? Chris has never seen or heard of Rast before and never got a message from him before. Wait there is one way he could have, could it be? “The letter?” Chris says under his breath.

  Jocasta shakes Gibbin's hand, the dark black man of two hundred and thirty plus pounds, with a friendly smile laughs, “Sorry I am so elusive, mon” He says with a slight Jamaican accent. “I just got a new shipment so I have been in the back. Rast can deal with the front of the house for now. He is the one who made this whole thing happen mon. I have no, how do you say it, business sense so Rast did most of that.”

  “Understood.” Jocasta clearly seems shaken by Gibbins even though the man seemed normal enough and clearly has no magic abilities and clearly knows no real supernatural knowledge. There is just something about him just seems off to Jocasta. All Jocasta knows is he must get away from this man, not in the sense that he's a monster or supernatural in any way but that maybe he's capable of great evil. Jocasta has a good sixth sense about these things. Going over to Cole who seems to be done doing his research he keeps looking at Gibbins because something feels wrong, “So anything out of the ordinary Cole?”

  “Nope, not only are all the items fake but they are top of the line and even get this, under priced. That's the only strange thing here.” Cole chuckles a little.

  “I hope that’s true, we should get going. Chris, Charlotte.” Jocasta starts walking out of the store taking one step after another slowly leaving the place. He keeps looking back at Gibbins and Rast. Eventually the four of them make it to the car
and the driver drives them away while Gibbins and Rast are watching from the doorway.

  Gibbins turns to Rast who refuses to look at the man's face, “So so did you fool him?”

  “I think so.” A faint light surrounds Gibbins and his form changes. The form of Theodore Gibbins fades away and is replaced with Gabriel Tarque. “That old man could not be controlled, not by me anyway. He has been around the block too many times, knows too many tricks. Still I don't believe he thought anything was wrong.”

  “Good sir.” Rast says slowly, “I was... I was hoping he would see though your glimmer.”

  Tarque smiles, honest predictable Rast, “Of course you were. You know I love that I allow you to speak your mind. If I didn’t allow it I think I would get bored. This makes things interesting. Anything happen with the kids?”

  “No sir, as far as they know this is a clearly fake magic shop.””

  “Meh a minor detail, one that means little to me. Soon the main event will happen. Can I control a werewolf and have him complete a complex plan of my own creation? Lets see shale we?” Rast trembles at Tarque's words but is pleased he was able to fool his master about his incident with Chris. Had he been asked directly he would have been compelled by a spell to answer truthfully.

  Later that day Chris is on the computer while he could have just called Ric and Jason on his cell he wanted to talk to them both at the same time as well as put up the image. He already imported the file onto his computer and looked at the sign, he wishes he took a picture of the sign of 'Tarque's charms and potions' so that he could compare the two. Chris gets on instant messenger and starts a private chat room, one for SharpSon1 (Chris), Monst3rm4st3r (Ric), and The 9th Doctor (Jason) “Hey guys you on?”

  *Monst3rm4st3r joins* “Hey Chris.”

  SharpSon1: “Glad you got the message, but lets wait for Jason.”

  Monst3rm4st3r: “Gotcha”

  *The 9th Doctor joins* “I'm here. Hey can I invite Sam? This is about the shop right? She can help.”

  Chris had forgotten about Sam, yeah she would be very helpful right now. He starts typing “Sure send the invite.”

  Monst3rm4st3r: “Ah man this changes the whole group dynamic.”

  SharpSon1: “Deal with it, I need all the help I can get.”