by Mark Tufo
“Data?” Scott repeated suspiciously.
“Yes, sir,” Eckerson said, standing. “Data that applied to the murder cases we’re working.”
Scott’s eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest. “What kind of data?”
Calvin stood and prepared to repeat his spiel for the umpteenth time when Justin interrupted him, “Scott, we need to talk. There was another murder last night.”
That statement got his attention immediately. “Where? And why aren’t you on the scene now?”
Justin hung his head slightly and shook it. “We’ve already worked it. It was here at the lockup.”
“What?!” His eyes shot between his two senior officers, then at the civilians at the table. “You two, in my office. Now!”
“Sheriff, I might can illuminate—” Calvin began.
“Not now!” Scott barked.
Sheryn stepped over by the researchers and nodded to Calvin. “Don’t worry. He grows on you,” she said after the door to his office slammed.
“Like a foot fungus?” Quinn asked softly.
“Something like that.” Jon slipped in next to Ginger. “You okay?” he asked, running his arm around the small of her back.
“Yeah. I’ve handled worse than him before.”
“Sorry. He’s not an easy one to deal with.” Jon took a seat next to her and waited for the other two deputies to return, hopefully with their asses intact. He picked up one of the devices that Ginger had sent him into the lockup with and flipped it on. “I’m sure I did this right.”
“I know you did, too,” she replied quietly, avoiding Calvin’s hard stare.
Jon adjusted the needle sensitivity at the top and the meter pegged out. “Oops. Sorry. Didn’t mean to do that.”
“No. It’s okay…” Ginger reached for the device. “It shouldn’t have done that.” Jon handed it to her and Ginger adjusted the sensitivity again, watching the needle peg out.
“What’s it doing?” he asked her.
“It’s picking up ectoplasmic residue. Only, it shouldn’t be.”
“Where’s it picking it up at?” he asked.
“In here,” she replied. “Somewhere.”
Ginger stood up and slowly moved the meter across the room. She pointed it towards the front of the room and began slowly walking toward the barrier between the bullpen and civilian foyer. As she got closer, she turned slightly and ended up facing the bullet-proof barrier to the dispatch station. She lifted her eyes and saw Amber moving slowly inside.
“Who’s that?”
“Deputy Meeks. She’s kind of odd. Always knows when something is about to happen before it happens. Scott used to call her ‘Radar’ like the little guy on the old TV show MASH?”
Amber stood up and went to the back of the dispatch station and put something in a file cabinet. Ginger followed her with the meter and watched the ebb and flow of the readings. “Can we get inside there?”
“Sure. I mean…I need to ask her. Hold on.” He went to the half door and opened it. “Hey, Amber?” He waited a second for her to react and she seemed to be moving through a thick syrup. She turned to him slowly and gave him a tired look. “Do you mind if I bring Ginger in for a minute? She wants to take a reading.”
Amber shrugged and turned back to her station. Jon waved Ginger in and she slowly approached the deputy slumped over the console. She stared at the meter on the small box, the needle pegging out with each step as she got closer, and the sensitivity having to be adjusted. Ginger shot Jon a worried look and shook her head.
Calvin and Quinn approached the door and watched as Ginger slowly approached the deputy. By the time she got within three feet of her, she had to turn the unit off. “Um, Deputy Meeks?”
Amber turned slowly and stared at her. “Yes?”
“Have you noticed anything…strange lately?”
Amber sighed heavily and stared past her. “I woke up feeling like hell today. May be a touch of the flu.” She turned back to her station, ignoring the researcher.
Ginger gave Jon a wide-eyed look and shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear that. We’ll leave you to your work then.” She motioned for Jon to leave.
When they got back to the table she was trembling. “I think she’s been possessed.”
“What?” Jon couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “There’s no way we can get Scott to accept—”
“I don’t care what he’ll accept!” Ginger said. “Her readings are off the charts.”
Jon glanced back at her and shook his head. “She is acting awfully strange.”
“She needs to be relieved. If she’s been possessed once, she can be possessed much more easily a second time. You’d never know it, AND she carries a gun.”
Jon thought for a moment then turned and headed to Scott’s office. “This isn’t going to be pretty,” he muttered as he rapped on the door.
*****
Ben returned with the doughnuts and found Scott waiting for him. The night shift deputies and the Ranger were waiting as well and none of them looked very happy. Ben sighed as he dropped the box of doughnuts on the table. He paused long enough to open it and pull out the bag with Amber’s bagel for her then made his way into the bullpen.
“Yeah, we’ve been waiting for you to get back so we can clear this up all at once,” Scott said.
“Joy,” Ben muttered.
“You’ll think joy, before I’m done,” Scott said. Ben noticed the vein in his forehead sticking out, so he knew he wasn’t going to enjoy this ass-chewing. “Have a seat.”
“Think I’ll stand for this one, thank you. Make it a little easier for you to sink your teeth into my ass,” Ben said defiantly.
“Suit yourself, Constable.” Scott purposely emphasized his title in order to belittle him, but Ben Gregory was proud of his job. No elected official would ever belittle him by reminding him that he wasn’t in his club.
“Let’s get something out in the open right now,” Scott began. “I don’t want to hear any more about ghosts, goblins, spooks, ghouls, witches or anything else that even remotely sounds supernatural. Got it?”
“Fine. We won’t tell you then.”
“Don’t fuck with me, Bennie!”
“Then pull your head out of your ass!”
“What did you say?” Scott turned, advancing on him.
“You heard me. First off, you’re not my boss. As you are so fast to point out, I’m a constable, not a deputy. So I can continue with whatever investigations I deem necessary, with or without your assistance or permission.”
Scott paused and his eyes bulged out at the arrogance of the man.
“Second off, if you are so goddam stupid that you can’t see the writing on the wall, then you deserve to have each and every one of these killings pinned on you and your department.”
“How dare you!”
“How dare me? How dare you! Your own men AND a Texas Ranger have bought in to the EVIDENCE, and yet you refuse to believe it. Just because it doesn’t fit into a box that you like, you dismiss it. Well fine. Then you deserve the ramifications of never solving these crimes.
“But as for me? I’m going to keep following the evidence and I intend to figure out how to stop this son of a bitch. And when I do, I’ll be sure and let the people of my district know that it was done without YOUR help!”
“Why you insubordinate piece of shit…”
“I’m not being insubordinate because I don’t work for you, remember?!” Ben reminded him. “You think that just because a bunch of people bought into the bullshit you promised them when you ran for office that they’re going to keep electing you? How many murders in how many days, Scott? And how far have you got?”
“You shouldn’t even be here!”
“The only reason you have the evidence you have is because of me, you fucking hypocrite! And now these people over here are offering help and I bet you’re threatening to throw them out as well! And why is that, Scott? Could it be because you don’t und
erstand the big words they’re using or is it because you don’t believe in ghosts?”
“Fuck you!” Scott bellowed.
“Well, doesn’t that sound professional?”
“Get the hell out of my office!”
“Gladly. But when I do, I’m taking the only REAL evidence with me.”
“I’m going too,” Eckerson said, standing.
“Me, too,” Justin said.
Jon sighed. “Aw, fuck it. I guess I only thought I needed to eat. I’m going, too.”
“What the hell is this?” Scott shouted.
“Count me in,” Denise said.
“I’m coming,” Ginger said. Calvin grabbed her arm and pulled her back down into the seat and shook his head at her. “What? Everybody else is quitting to go with him, I just thought—”
“Look, Scott…” Justin began, “…we all believe that there is more than just a chance he’s right.”
“The only evidence we have is pointing in this direction.” Jeff said. “I’ve trusted my gut for too many years not to follow it. You told me yourself that if you can’t trust your gut, you shouldn’t be a cop.”
“I can’t believe this.” Scott nearly fell onto the corner of the table.
“Boss, there’s something to this,” Jon said quietly.
“If I may?” Sanders offered, stepping forward. “Sheriff, as of right now, your men have nothing else to go on, correct?” Scott stared at her, his mind racing in circles. “Let them follow up on this. If it turns out that it’s nothing, the public will never know and no harm will be done.”
“But when it proves to be bullshit, it’s time wasted chasing shadows when it could be time spent finding the REAL killer.”
Sanders hiked a brow at him. “Do you truly believe that, sir? After all of these deaths without a single shred of physical evidence? What possible lead could they be following up on that could lead them to a ‘real’ killer?”
Scott sighed and shook his head. “It can’t be a ghost.”
“Actually, sir, it can be, and it is,” Quinn offered softly.
“And one of your deputies has been possessed by it,” Ginger added.
“What the hell did she just say?” Scott asked, getting to his feet again.
Ginger’s eyes slowly turned toward Amber moving slowly in the dispatch station. “Her readings are off the charts, Sheriff. And everyone who had interacted with her today say that she’s acting ‘off’ or that she’s not herself. It fits.”
Scott’s eyes widened. “Call in a relief for Deputy Meeks. She’s on paid leave until this is resolved.”
Justin nodded and headed to the phone. Scott pulled him aside and whispered in his ear, “And schedule a drug test for her, just to be sure.” Justin gave him a dirty look but nodded before turning away, shaking his head.
He turned to Calvin. “Fine. Assuming you’re right, what else do you need?”
31
Colonel Murphey slammed the door of his car and opened the trunk with shaky hands. He continued to fumble with the keys until he dropped them and stood trembling at the trunk of his Cadillac, one hand braced against the trunk and the other shaking as he stared at the metal objects lying on the ground as if they were so foreign, his brain couldn’t identify them. His mind flashed to the night before and he physically winced.
He still wasn’t positive that it wasn’t a case of alcohol poisoning, but he was sure of one thing…the image burned into his brain was not one that he would soon forget. The female figure standing over him, her eyes burning like hellfire, laughing at him as he wet himself on his own floor, screaming like a little girl. He shuddered again at the thought and shook his head to rid the image from his memories.
“Alex, are you okay?” Guffey asked.
Murphey was so startled back into the moment that he nearly wet himself again. His free hand went to his chest automatically. “Sweet Jesus, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Holy shit, Murph, you look like hell,” Doc said as he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Do you need to sit down?”
“No,” Murphey responded almost too quickly. “I need to get these files back to you.” He reached down for his dropped keys. “I just…my keys slipped out of my hand and…”
“Here, let me help you.” Guffey retrieved the keys and popped the trunk. He grabbed one pile of the files and handed them to the colonel, then took the other stack himself. He handed Murphey back his keys and shut the trunk. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look awfully pale.”
“I was up all night. Trying to get through these.”
In truth, after his encounter with his mysterious intruder, he couldn’t sleep no matter how much alcohol he had ingested, although he had quit drinking shortly after she had left.
“Did you find what you were looking for?”
The two had walked into the building and Murphey punched the elevator button. “Honestly, no.” He shot the doctor a sheepish look. “I owe you an apology.”
Doctor Guffey was surprised by his demeanor.
“I know I came across rather…”
“Like an ass?” Guffey smiled.
“Yes, I suppose I did,” he agreed, lowering his eyes as the doors opened. “I hope you’ll understand the political pressure I’m under. That doesn’t make it right, of course.”
“If that’s your way of apologizing, then I’ll accept it.” Guffey stepped in and pressed the button for the basement.
“Thanks, Doc.” Murphey shifted the pile of files in his arms.
As the two stepped off the elevator and into the M.E.’s office, Guffey set the pile of files down on his desk, “Just lay them anywhere,” he offered. “Want a cup of joe to start your day?”
Alex nodded. “Sure. I’m sure I could use one right about now.”
“Have a seat.” Guffey flipped on the coffee maker and pulled down a couple of mugs. “So, care to tell me what’s eating at you? What has you looking like something the cat dragged in? Woman problems?”
Alex chuckled. “No, if it were woman problems, I could handle that. No…this is…”
“What?” he asked as he took a seat behind his desk. He had an uncanny knack at reading people, and he knew something was really troubling the man. “It’s okay, Alex. You can tell me. If you want, I’ll keep it confidential.”
Alex sat back and glanced over his shoulder nervously, checking the door. “Have you ever seen something that you couldn’t explain?”
“I’ve been seeing a lot of that lately.”
“No, I mean, something really…weird that you couldn’t explain?”
Guffey sat forward in his chair and studied him. “Like what?”
Alex sighed and rubbed at his eyes. “I don’t know. Maybe I just drank too much. Or maybe I was reading too much from out of your files. Or maybe…”
“What did you see?”
Alex sighed again and stared at his friends eyes. “I think I saw a demon.”
*****
“If we’re doing this, we’re doing it by the book,” Scott said. “Eckerson, take Foo. Comb that graveyard. Find that grave. If you can’t find one that is marked with his name, flag every unmarked grave.”
“Got it,” Eckerson said, making notes in his pad.
“Sir, I think we should take the prisoner with us,” Foo offered. “He was the one that was out there digging up everything. Maybe some memories can be triggered that will assist us.”
“Watch him like a hawk,” Scott ordered. “He’s in your custody.” Scott turned to Justin. “Take Sgt. Sanders, get back out to Miller’s place and seize the stolen property that Culley and Wineguard claim to have dug up out there. If what the good doctors from UCLA are telling us is true, we’re going to need it. ALL of it.”
“Got it, boss,” Justin said.
Sheryn shook her head. “I wish that Wineguard fellow could be in two places at the same time. I’d feel a lot more comfortable if he were with us to ID the stuff he sold this guy,” she told Justin a
s they headed toward the door.
“You don’t trust Miller?” The sarcasm in his voice wasn’t missed.
“About as far as I can throw him.”
“Ben, take the UCLA folks here and get over to Ms. Mattox’s house. I want them going through that same research that you went through. If there’s anything pertinent in there that you boys might have missed…”
“I don’t think we did,” Ben began.
“No offense, Constable. But this supernatural stuff is a little more up our alley,” Quinn said as she patted his shoulder. “You were looking for ties between your victims. We’re looking for more of the history on the ghost.”
Ben nodded. “Okay. Let’s load up then.”
Ginger stepped forward, “Actually, if it’s all the same, I think I’ll go with them and the prisoner out to the graveyard. I’d like to get some readings out there and see if there are any residuals. Besides, if the ghost happens to be going back out to the graveyard, it might be nice to know.”
Calvin gave her a knowing look. “And the fact that Deputy Foo is going that direction has nothing to do with it?”
Ginger’s face reddened, but she held her ground. “I’m not denying the fact that I might have other motives as well, but you have to admit, it would be good to know if our specter is returning home.”
Quinn poked Calvin in the ribs and he jumped jerkily. “Okay! You’re right, you’re right. Go. Just…don’t forget to actually get readings.”
Ginger winked at him as she snatched up her duffle and ran after the two officers and the man in the orange jumpsuit.
Scott watched his people start to disperse and barked, “Okay people. Get after it. I think it’s a wild goose chase, but there’s no sense in wasting time. The sooner you get this out of your blood, the sooner you can get back to real police work.” He turned to Denise. “I have a special project for you.”
“What’s that?”
“No, not here. This one is completely under the radar.”