by Lynn Emery
“Hmm. Without context it doesn’t look on the surface to be a pattern,” Pauline said.
“Wait, was Dina in that database?” LaShaun asked.
“I just instant messaged Jennifer, one of the team members. She says no.” Miss Rose sat back in her chair.
“I’ve got an idea.”
LaShaun pulled out her cell phone and called MJ. Just then the kids came barreling in, five voices calling out questions and giggling. She went into Miss Rose’s laundry room away from the noise and hustle. Minutes later, she had answers but waited until she and Miss Rose were able to herd the kids to the family room again. With a popular movie playing and fruit for snacks, they settled down.
“You followed a hunch,” Justine said when LaShaun returned to the kitchen.
“Dina is considered a special needs student. She was identified by early screening at the local public health clinic. At first, she developed milestones slowly. Then she rapidly started to advance. When she was five a psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital Clinic in Lafayette gave her a rule out diagnosis of childhood psychosis but also said she might have Asperger’s Syndrome. She seemed obsessed with talking to ghosts. Once she started school, what they called her symptoms went into remission.”
“Hmm, she might not have been discovered by our team for a long time. We don’t have someone in the Vermilion Parish schools since I retired from teaching.” Miss Rose adjusted her eyeglasses.
Pauline focused her keen gaze on LaShaun. “Well we’ll fix that quick, but back to LaShaun. What else did you find out?”
“That’s about it, but sounds like Dina is a medium. Her ‘symptoms’ of so-called mental illness are really her ability to communicate with spirits.” LaShaun sat down. She drummed her fingertips on the green and white stripped table cloth. “Let’s assume Juridicus is involved.”
“Solid assumption if you ask me,” Justine said with a grimace of anger.
“Agreed,” her twin sister replied.
“And assume that they’re involved in the disappearance of the other children. All of whom have psychic abilities. We know that for a fact because they’re in the TEA’s database. For at least five years past, Juridicus tried to use killers who also had paranormal gifts. The plan didn’t work so well. So now they’re improving on it, using children. But why? They haven’t given their lives to evil.” LaShaun squinted as if it would help her see clearly.
Miss Rose sat down heavily. “Children can be molded, influenced. The children have something else in common, weak or non-existent family support.”
“So they’re all from poor homes with troubled families. Awful,” Justine said.
“No, the two oldest are from an upper middle-class background. But apparently his parents were caught up in doing their own thing. The seventeen-year-old mostly raised himself. Same thing for the girl in Florida. Nice well-to-do families on the surface, but there’s serious trouble at home. An older sister reported their mother has been physically abusive and hooked on prescription meds.” Miss Rose looked at her friends. “Cults, like gangs, offer love and support to those who feel emotionally isolated, unloved.”
“…a sense of belonging. Dina didn’t want to go home.” LaShaun looked at Miss Rose.
“But she ran away from her abductors,” Justine replied.
LaShaun took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She blocked out background noises. The muffled sounds from the movie in the next room receded. The chirping of sparrows outside slowly faded away. She called up the mental image of Dina dressed in denim pants, a pink shirt and a matching denim jacket. The child smiled at LaShaun then darted off down a misty path. Objects flashed by as LaShaun followed her. Time slipped away. The sensation of something bumping against LaShaun’s thigh brought her back to Miss Rose’s kitchen.
“Mama, say bye-bye to the pictures.” Satisfied LaShaun was okay, she smiled and raced to the family room.
“Well cut off my legs and call me shorty,” Justine breathed. She gaped at her twin and Miss Rose in turn.
“Did I just see that baby girl come call her mama back from channeling a vision? My Lord. Rose, we should get Ellie tested soon.” Pauline blinked at Miss Rose.
Miss Rose waved at the twins. “Never mind that right now. LaShaun?”
“They didn’t get the chance to send Dina to wherever they’re keeping the other children. I didn’t see it all, but I think Kris and the other two that came to my house are in trouble with their bosses. They didn’t follow orders.” LaShaun rubbed her forehead to order the retro-cognition images and sounds. “Okay, I think Kris was supposed to deliver Dina. But they decided to break into my house first.”
“To find out more information,” Pauline said.
“Or snatch Ellie,” Justine replied in a grim tone. “Think about it. Two high value children in one swoop. I’ll bet she told her bosses that you have a child. It’s no great leap to figure out Ellie would be an extraordinarily gifted child. Her bloodline guaranteed it.”
“But Chase…” LaShaun’s voice trailed off.
Pauline looked around at the other older women then at LaShaun. “Honey, we traced his family history. At least two ancestors had psychic skills.”
LaShaun glared at her. “You’ve been investigating us?”
“Calm down. One of TEA’s functions is to protect us. We can’t do that blindly. You come from an extraordinary lineage. I posited that Chase’s family might have contained some gifts as well,” Miss Rose said, her voice even despite LaShaun’s outrage.
“And she was right,” Justine said.
“LaShaun, you have more than one paranormal ability. That sets you apart from seventy-five percent of us. You have precognition to a limited extent, and retro-cognition. You can generate heat, maybe even electrical current. Some in the TEA feel like you might have even more abilities that are latent.” Pauline spoke with intensity.
“So you can imagine if we’re this interested in your progeny…” Justine’s dark eyebrows went up.
Miss Rose studied LaShaun for several seconds. “Then our opponents have done their homework as well. The TEA can’t be caught sleeping on any possibilities. Not that any of us could have stopped them from researching your genealogies.”
“I’m starting to wonder if the TEA is just as sinister as Juridicus.” LaShaun stood and went to the window. “When did our lives become open season? It’s like we’re lab mice.”
After a few moments, Miss Rose stood and went to her. “The TEA is over a hundred-sixty years old. Odette provided the TEA with information, as did your great-grandmother and great-grandfather. Your family has been on record for at least three generations. As has mine.”
“And ours,” the twins said together. They looked at each other and smiled.
“Trust and believe that the TEA is an instrument of good. They’ve disrupted too many evil plans to count, and saved lives. We live as normally as possible. Look at us. We all have families, jobs and friends. We also have others who understand us and can come to our aid in ways most can’t.”
LaShaun turned to face Miss Rose. The wisdom etched on the seventy-seven-year old’s face proved her words. Monmon Odette would not have made sure LaShaun met her and the twins if they were not to be trusted. No doubt Monmon Odette foresaw her future descendants would need to be safeguarded.
“You’re right. But I won’t tell Chase what the TEA knows about us, his family, just yet. I… he…” LaShaun sighed.
“I understand, of course,” Miss Rose said quietly. She gave LaShaun a brief hug and then sat down again.
“Now we know that at least one cult tied to demonic service is trying to build their own TEA of gifted. But for very different reasons,” Pauline said.
“But what reasons?” Justine picked up the last beignet on a Lazy Susan and munched on it absently, brow furrowed.
“Juridicus is just one arm of the main organization Correct?” LaShaun looked to Miss Rose who nodded.
“Worldwide they’re known as Legio
n, but they’ve been good at keeping it secret. We found out about fifteen years ago with a lot of hard work. There is power in calling the true name of an enemy. A name gives the true meaning and purpose to a thing or person.” Miss Rose’s contralto voice dipped with gravity.
“The TEA knows a lot more about Legion than they like. They’re big,” Justine said.
“We are legion,” Pauline said softly.
“Mark 5:9,” LaShaun added. She remembered one of many lessons her grandmother had taught her. How to survive contact with demons wasn’t typically covered in Sunday school for kids.
“Their mission is to spread chaos, disrupt daily life, and generally cause misery. Great.” Justine gave a snort.
LaShaun gazed at the three older women as they all contemplated the adversary they faced. “More than that. Much more. Legion wants to rule mankind, to bring an end to all hope and faith. They want an apocalyptic war so that evil wins the final victory.”
****
That night, Chase’s somber mood matched how LaShaun felt. She tried to think of ways to explain what her TEA concluded was happening. But she couldn’t find words that would make a feet-planted-firmly-on-the-ground cop take her serious. Yes, Chase was a Cajun Louisiana boy. He knew all of the legends passed down over generations. Despite seeing strange things, even accepting that LaShaun had extra senses, Chase believed in logic.
They went through their evening ritual mostly for Ellie. Keeping to her schedule would give their little girl the security she needed. Chase volunteered to give Ellie her bath after dinner. LaShaun cleaned up the kitchen to the wonderful sounds of splashing water and squeals of joy floating down the hall. An hour later Chase strolled back to join her in the family room. He seemed more relaxed.
“I hope most of the water didn’t end up on the floor,” LaShaun teased. “You look pretty dry.”
Chase grinned as he tugged on the long sleeve olive green T-shirt he wore. “I put on a dry shirt.”
LaShaun went in to give Ellie a goodnight kiss and then returned. Chase came in with two mugs of hot cocoa and sat on the sofa next to her. They watched television in silence and sipped the rich hot liquid. The evening news came on. A pretty young brunette led with the top story, an update on Dina’s kidnapping. Then she moved on to the Tommy Bradford murder investigation. Chase sighed and rubbed his eyes.
“Are you going to…” LaShaun bit her lip and squeezed his muscular thigh.
“We might as well talk about the cases. I can’t shut it off. Can you?”
“Now you’re psychic,” LaShaun quipped. Then she got serious again. “Was Dina molested?”
“Not penetrated. But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t molested in some other way. We examined Tommy Bradford’s Internet activity. He belonged to a group of pedophiles who exchanged pictures. I won’t give you the stomach turning details.” Chase winced as if in pain.
“You don’t have to.” LaShaun didn’t need imagination to fill in the disturbing picture.
“We’ve got the State Police Crime Lab examining trace evidence from Tommy Bradford’s murder scene. I’m betting something from Dylan will show up. If not at the house, then on Tommy’s body. Tommy put up a fight from what the coroner in Lafayette told us. But that will take time.”
“You’re trying to get Dylan to confess.” LaShaun hit the mute button to block out the blaring used car commercial on the television.
“Saves time, and we might not get hard evidence to convince the DA to even charge him. But Dylan’s been around the justice system more than a few times. He asked for his lawyer real quick.”
“Which means you had to stop the interrogation.” LaShaun drank from her mug. “Check the abandoned house where he had Sherry. Maybe he used it to hold Tommy, too.”
“There’s no sign that Tommy’s body was moved though,” Chase replied. He rubbed his jaw. He took out his department issued smart phone. “But I’ll email the lab to test blood samples found and compare them to Tommy. Couldn’t hurt.”
LaShaun sat silent as he worked. Not surprisingly, Chase ended up getting more updates and sending additional instructions to the other investigators. Twenty minutes later, he was still exchanging information with his colleagues. Finally, he put his phone away.
“Seems the Bradford and Menard families did drug business together. Narcotics thinks they supplied drugs brought up from Mexico, supplemented their homegrown meth labs. But they exported some of their product to other states.”
“Which made Tommy’s betrayal even worse. But does Dylan Menard seem like a family type of guy? Not from what I’ve heard about him.” LaShaun looked at Chase.
“In his world, you can’t let people think folks can mess with you or your kin without serious consequences. But honestly, I watched Dylan talk about Dina. The guy was genuinely emotional a couple of times, broke down almost.”
After a time, LaShaun spoke again. “I need to talk to Sherry and Kris Evans, Chase,” LaShaun said.
“I’m not sure Dave will agree given the situation now. I know damn sure Anderson will object, and in some very colorful language.” Chase grunted.
“Sheriff Godchaux will agree, and so will Det. Anderson once they hear what The TEA has found out about Kris Evans.”
“Oh hell,” Chase murmured.
“Something like that,” LaShaun said with no trace of humor at the grim joke.
Chapter 10
The next morning, while Chase continued the murder investigation, LaShaun went to the hospital to interview Sherry and Kris Evans. LaShaun was wrong in her predictions, and Chase was on target. Det. Anderson wasn’t on board with her talking to Sherry or Kris Evans. With great effort he’d kept his temper in check, but only because of their boss. Dave Godchaux could play the good old down home boy when needed, yet when it came to the running of the Sheriff’s Department, he turned tougher than alligator hide. He expected his people to work as a team, even if they had to clench their teeth to do it.
“Sir, I want to once again voice how bad an idea this is. We’ve had enough interference from outside the department to muddy this damn, er, the investigation already.” Det. Anderson’s face went stiff with the effort to restrain himself.
“And once again, I’ll tell you those objections have been noted. Doctor, let’s go.” Dave glanced at the physician for both women.
Dr. Wilkinson gazed back at the sheriff. He seemed to guess his objections wouldn’t be met with any more success. He nodded and led them to Sherry’s room. “Her condition has improved at least. The other patient is also stable.”
“Thank you,” Sheriff Godchaux replied tersely. “Come on, LaShaun.”
“Wait, only two of you should go in. I don’t want her overwhelmed with law enforcement around her hospital bed.” Dr. Wilkinson frowned at the group, which included Chase, Anderson, his partner and MJ. He gestured, and a female nurse stood next to LaShaun.
“Good point. Just me and LaShaun will go in,” Sheriff Godchaux said.
“But boss…” Det. Anderson stopped at the look the sheriff gave him. Then he held both palms up in capitulation
“And Nurse Jackson,” Dr. Wilkinson put in.
Sheriff Godchaux didn’t answer the doctor. He gave Anderson one last scowl before he pushed through the large door. Inside, Sherry Bradford gazed at them wide-eyed, blinking rapidly. Black sutures held together a large cut near her scalp. A neatly shaved section of her bleached blonde hair had been cut away. The sheriff stood looking down at her like a stern father figure. LaShaun decided to let him take the lead for the moment. After a while, Sherry’s bottom lip quivered. A single tear slid down her left cheek.
“Dylan is lying. I didn’t sell my little girl to nobody. You don’t know how hard it is. My car kept breaking down. You know how hard it is with little kids and no car? There’s always something you gotta get from the store, or the social worker bitchin’ about me not takin’ em to some clinic. My rent was two months behind.” Sherry blubbered until she became incoherent.
The sheriff’s glare didn’t soften. “We’re gonna find out about Kris Evans, what her and Tommy got up to. You want us to know your side, then tell me the truth.”
“Kris takes good care of her kids. She understands what’s wrong with Dina, and she… Her little girl is special, too. Dina loved goin’ over there.” Sherry pulled tissues out of a nearby box on the rolling table. She wiped her face hard. When she looked at them again, a defiant frown had replaced the sad face. “You got no right to judge me.”
“Kris Evans blew into town less than a year ago, somebody you didn’t even know. Then you exchanged cash for your child. I’m counting up all the laws you broke right now. Selling a child is bad enough, but selling her into sex slavery is lower than low, girl.” Sheriff Godchaux stabbed a finger at her.
Sherry sat bolt straight away from the pillows. “That’s a lie! I never did, Kris swore to me they wouldn’t touch her that way.”
LaShaun tugged on Sheriff Godchaux’s shirt sleeve. When he gave a slight nod, she moved close to the bed. “Listen, as a new mother, I know how rough it is. Children can be so demanding. I have one. It’s non-stop. They need something every minute. And you have three.”
“Humph, what do you know about it? A big strong husband comes home to you every night. A man you can count on. Dylan talking shit now, but where is he day in and out? Seems like I’m cleaning up baby vomit and diapers twenty-four seven.” Sherry blew her nose and threw the tissues on the floor. She glared when the nurse frowned disapproval.
“Your babies didn’t ask to come into this world. You laid up and got them. Now you complain because they’re here. Well look in the mirror, girl. You’re who’s to blame.” Sheriff Godchaux drew up as if about to go into a full rant, but he stopped when LaShaun raised a palm.
“Maybe you could give us ladies a minute to talk?”
LaShaun gestured to the door. The sheriff glanced at her, at Sherry and then left the room. The nurse said nothing but quietly put on disposable gloves and cleaned up tissues around the bed. Though she continued to frown, the efficient woman said nothing.