Into The Mist: A LaShaun Rousselle Mystery (LaShaun Rousselle Mysteries Book 4)

by Lynn Emery

  Chase nodded. “Something American law enforcement takes into account, too. But I have to say the men and women I met seem dedicated. Of course the black magic angle doesn’t thrill them.”

  “I’m not saying we’ve confirmed they’re corrupt, but our team decided not to take the chance,” Val said.

  “We’ll clear the outpost first. Ernesto and the others are approaching from the north. We’ll meet up with them there. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find the children there,” Cee-Cee said.

  “Not luck. Prayer,” LaShaun said. She closed her eyes and asked for strength, wisdom, and guidance straight to Ellie.

  Chapter 13

  Ernesto, Jennifer, and Abril stood waiting for them outside a house along a neat but unpaved road. Several other houses were scattered across the mostly flat landscape. Congregación Chivos, according to the team, was a small residential settlement. The employee working on the inside for the TEA lived there with her family. But they didn’t go to her house. Instead they met at the home of a friend a mile away from where she lived.

  “Mariela isn’t here. We can’t afford to blow her cover, too risky. Some of her co-workers might mention she had visitors,” Ernesto explained. “Small town conversation could get her killed.”

  Chase scanned the neighborhood. “Isn’t that true for the guy who lives here?”

  “Everyone knows Reynaldo is in prison. His house is always full of squatters, most of them his buddies. The neighbors are used to it and prefer not to notice who comes and goes,” Abril replied.

  She unlocked the door and led the way inside. Cee-Cee stayed outside. She leaned against the Range Rover drinking a bottle of soda. The others crowded into the compact living room. Sparsely furnished, the interior still managed to look cozy and lived in. Ernesto went to the kitchen and took a cold bottle of cola from the fridge. Val took out her iPhone and a compact projector. She moved with efficiency.

  “And you trust Reynaldo because…” Chase raised an eyebrow.

  “Rey is a member of our team. He grew up around here, had his own gang at one point. We enlisted him about six years ago. Actually he found us,” Ernesto said. He leaned against the counter.

  “But he’s in prison.” Chase frowned at them.

  “Yeah, umm, we set up a crime for him to commit. His ‘victim’ was another TEA operative. That’s all I can say.” Ernesto swallowed more soda. He looked back at Chase with a closed expression.

  “I feel like I’m surrounded by members of the US Army Special Forces. Operating in the black, infiltration, the works.” Chase crossed his arms.

  “Sorry, can’t share details. That’s how it is. Bother you?” Ernesto wore an impassive expression.

  “I’m feeling much better about y’all the more I see and hear,” Chase said with a curt nod. “What we got?”

  Val tapped her phone and the display was projected onto a blank wall. “Here’s the outpost. Now this is supposed to be a community center with bingo night, dances, and other services. It’s also a safe haven for orphaned street kids. Their cover for having living quarters. Notice three guards.”

  “Humph, lots of muscle to guard the bingo kitty,” Jennifer said.

  Chase walked to the wall and pointed to a figure. “And they’re armed. Those look like rifles they’re carrying. I doubt they’re alone, especially if the kids are on site and as valuable to them as we think.”

  “We’re prepared.” Jennifer opened a case she’d brought in with her. She handed out automatic pistols. “But using firepower is a last resort. Let’s get set up.”

  Abril, Ernesto, and Jennifer placed a long thin black box with other items on the table. Val joined them at the table. Ernesto plugged a cable into a USB port on the device and then into a wall socket. A string of blue and green lights blinked on.

  Cee-Cee came in and shut the door gently. “I set up the cameras. Chase, we need you to watch for anyone.”

  “Okay.” He accepted her tablet computer. A gray image showed the area around the house.

  “We’re going to attempt a connection.” Jennifer nodded to LaShaun as she reached out a hand. The other team members joined hands as well.

  LaShaun joined the others around the table. “Good.”

  Chase glanced up from the tablet. “What?”

  “I’ve heard about this, but never been part of one. A psychic circle combines our paranormal energies to increase our reach. The children might be able to feel us and respond.” LaShaun felt a glimmer of hope that they weren’t just stumbling in the dark.

  “LaShaun’s emotional bond with your little girl will help. And if Ellie Broussard is as strong as the reports indicate…” Val whistled.

  “When this is over, we will talk about you folks keeping files on my family,” Chase rumbled.

  “The intel TEA gathered got us close,” Cee-Cee replied with a crooked smile. “Don’t knock it.”

  “Humph.” Chase went back to studying the video display.

  Everyone grew silent. All closed their eyes at some point. A charged atmosphere filled the room. LaShaun got the impression that the team members drew each breath in sync. Her anxiety grew in the void of any kind of psychic vibrations coming from outside their circle. Then Jennifer let go of Cee-Cee and Val’s hands. She pressed palms to the side of her head. Dropping to her knees, Jennifer uttered a muted cry of distress. Then LaShaun heard a voice… Ellie’s voice… and another child’s as well.

  “Take her hands again,” Abril whispered. “Now. Don’t break the circle.”

  Cee-Cee helped Jennifer to her feet. “Come on. It’s okay, chica. We got you.”

  “I hear voices. I…” LaShaun broke off when Ellie called out to her, with another child speaking rapidly. “I can’t make out what they’re saying.

  “Center yourself, LaShaun. Reach out with your thoughts. Try to get details, maybe one of the older kids can answer.”

  “Right, right.”

  LaShaun squeezed her eyes closed tightly as if that might help. She mentally repeated reassurances to Ellie and anyone else who could hear. She let images of Chase and Beau form, things Ellie would recognize.

  “They’re close. At the outpost,” Jennifer blurted out suddenly. Her knees buckled again, but Cee-Cee and Val supported her. “I can see Jonah. He’s in a room with the boys. The girls are in a separate room. Damn it, he cut me off.”

  “Enough. Jennifer can’t take much more. Besides, we’ve got what we need.” Ernesto freed both his hands. He went to the device on the table.

  “What the hell just happened?” Chase whispered to LaShaun.

  “A group of psychics just confirmed that the children are close by. Meaning they’re—”

  “At Legion’s outpost about ten minutes from here. Got that. But how?” Chase glanced at the rest of the team members.

  “There’s a body of science behind the whole phenomena of psychic abilities. One day, under less urgent circumstances, we might explain it. Right now, let’s go.” Ernesto packed away the device on the table. He disappeared to another part of the house. He came back checking his Baretta. “Everybody ready?”

  “Hell yes. Let’s get our daughter,” Chase said to LaShaun.

  The two SUVs drove over paved roads. They arrived at their target in just over fifteen minutes. Even though Chase chafed against their progress, he agreed that speeding would likely attract unwanted attention.

  “So that box on the table amps up supernatural energy or something?” Chase glanced around at the night time landscape as he talked.

  LaShaun placed a hand on his thigh. She could feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through him. His entire body strummed with pent up force. She knew asking questions helped him steady his nerves. Chase put his hand on hers, but kept staring through the vehicle window.

  “Nah, that was a Wi-Fi hotspot. TEA got updates, and they monitored the results of our circle,” Cee-Cee replied. She put her tablet in the center console and locked it. “Ernesto plugged it in only to conserve the battery
life.”

  “Praise the Creator,” Val breathed. She pointed to a lively bar with cars parked around it. “Perfect cover.”

  “Yeah. The Range Rover won’t stick out. Serious party going down. Can we hope the guards neglect their duties to join the fun?” Cee-Cee looked at the crowd standing outside a dilapidated looking juke joint. Booming music from inside leaked out into the night.

  “Not likely,” Val said with a grunt. “Split up once we get out. LaShaun and Chase, look like a couple enjoying a night out. Cee-Cee, we’ll fade into the shadows fast. On the south side of the club is the street that leads to our site. Ernesto just messaged me that it’s all clear. Looks like a lot of people are celebrating.”

  Without any more conversation, they all got out of the Range Rover and started walking toward the night club. Chase looped an arm around LaShaun’s waist. He pretended to nuzzle her neck, his hands roaming over her backside.

  “Let’s go around the side like we want to make out,” he whispered.

  “Good idea.” LaShaun walked beside him. She forced a casual pace even though she wanted to rush the community center.

  They moved fast before anyone could notice they weren’t local. A lack of outdoor lighting helped. Chase pretended to pin LaShaun against the wall and kiss her in case anyone happened by. After a few seconds, they moved on. About six minutes of walking, keeping to the shadows, brought them within twenty yards of the long building owned by Legion. LaShaun gasped as she rubbed her arms.

  Chase stopped. He pulled her against his side. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. I’ve never been so happy to feel those tingly needles before. She’s close, Chase.” LaShaun forced her breathing to slow down. “We can’t charge in though. Keep to the plan.”

  “I…”

  Chase broke off when a shadow moved to their left. He took out his pistol. LaShaun slipped her own gun from the inside pocket of her vest. Both exhaled when a familiar voice whispered.

  Ernesto, flat against the wall of a vacant shack, held up both palms. “I took out two of the guards. They’ll be unconscious for a couple of hours at least.”

  “By yourself? Damn.” Chase glanced around, checking their perimeter.

  “Top of my class in hand to hand combat. Plus, my handy-dandy modified stun gun did most of the work.” Ernesto cupped his hand around his smartphone as he talked. “Jennifer took care of the last guard. But there’s probably at least one adult inside. Okay, they’re in.”

  LaShaun followed, and Chase brought up the rear as they walked to the front entrance. The name of the community center, Los Brazo Abiertos, was painted in orange and green letters spread across one wall. Wide double doors served as the entrance. One stood slightly open. The three of them slipped in. Jennifer and Abril stood speaking rapid Spanish to two terrified women. A short older woman’s head bobbed frantically as she babbled.

  “That one is claiming they don’t know anything about Legion or kidnappings,” Ernesto said. Loud voices cut off his next sentence.

  “Children,” LaShaun said.

  She sprinted away from them in the direction of the sound. A long hallway stretched with two doorways on either side. She went through one. A tall gangly teenage boy confronted her. LaShaun tussled with him.

  “Calm down. We’re here to rescue you and the other children,” LaShaun panted. He almost matched her for strength, but she had the advantage of experience. She twisted his left arm behind his back.

  “Get the hell off me.” The boy grunted and swung at her head with his right hand. He went still when LaShaun pressed the stun gun into his side.

  “Don’t make me use this. Where are the girls?” LaShaun whispered. She pulled him out into the hallway, worried that more boys might surround them.

  “The other dorm. Should’ve done your homework,” the boy snapped.

  “Come on.” LaShaun wrestled with the urge to let him go and race through the rest of the building to find Ellie.

  “Like I have a damn choice. You do know our guardians will kick your ass for this, right?”

  “Just walk, son.” LaShaun’s heart hammered at the sound of girls talking fast, some in Spanish.

  Moments later she pulled him along as more children filled the hallway. Val, Cee-Cee, and Jennifer herded the sleepy brood to the large common area. Ernesto and Abril continued to pepper the two women with questions. Cee-Cee spoke Spanish to calm some of the children.

  “I count seventeen, including the tall one you’ve got,” Val said.

  LaShaun let him go and waded in among the smaller children. “Oh God, I don’t see Ellie. All this way and I haven’t found her.”

  “LaShaun…”

  She spun around and grabbed the teen. “Did they take her somewhere? She’s only three years old. Tell me!” LaShaun shook him hard.

  “Yo no hablo Inglés señora.” He smirked back at her.

  “Don’t play with me, kid.” LaShaun dug her fingers into his flesh.

  He winced, but gave a scornful snort. “Some rescuers alright. Yanks us out of bed, scare little kids half to death, and threaten us. Yeah, I feel so much safer now.”

  Cee-Cee stepped beside LaShaun. She spoke close to her ear. “We’ll figure it out. C’mon now.”

  “Wait a minute.” Abril waved at them. Then she continued speaking gently to a little girl of about ten. “LaShaun, this way.”

  “We’ve got this. Go,” Ernesto said, and stood in front of the teen who looked like the oldest of the group. He gazed at him with a taut expression. The boy studied the brawny man and swallowed hard.

  LaShaun followed Abril down the hallway they’d just exited. “I thought you cleared the rooms. Let’s not waste time. If there’s another location I want to—”

  “The little girl says that a kid named Grace took a baby and hid in a closet,” Abril replied over her shoulder. “You take that end of the room. I’ll check to see if they went out a back door.”

  LaShaun sprinted into the girls’ room. She flipped a switch. Harsh white fluorescent lighting blinked on. She didn’t see a closet, only the unbroken bland light green painted cinder block walls around her. A sob escaped before LaShaun could stop it. Hysteria flooded her entire body until she shook. She’d put a world of hope into the search. The thought of failure dropped despair on her like a bomb.

  “Ellie, it’s mama. Answer me, baby. It’s okay. I don’t see a closet,” LaShaun murmured as she turned in a circle. “I don’t see…”

  Then she noticed handles in the wall. A set of floor to ceiling built-in closets the same shade of green sat to her left. The structures blended in perfectly. Even the handles had been painted. LaShaun held her breath and walked slowly to the doors.

  “You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. Just come out.”

  When she pulled open a door, her heart felt as if it had exploded. A twelve-year-old girl cradled Ellie protectively in her arms. She stared at LaShaun wide-eyed.

  “No, they’ll punish me if I let her go,” the child whimpered. She shrank back as if trying to push through the solid surface to escape.

  Ellie, by contrast, didn’t seem scared at first. Her eyes were squeezed shut. When she opened them and looked at LaShaun, Ellie started to wail, reaching for her. LaShaun took her when the girl released her hold on Ellie. She kissed the mass of brown curls on the top of Ellie’s head that were so like Chase’s. A single tear of joyous relief slipped down one cheek.

  “I’m Ellie’s mama. See? She knows me.”

  Chase entered the room and rushed to them. He wrapped them both in a tight hug, his breathing ragged. The girl pushed farther back into the closet. She clawed the masonry as though trying to dig a way out. When LaShaun glanced at her, her blonde pigtails bounced as she swung her head from side to side. Her small lips mouthing the word “No” repeatedly in English and Spanish.

  Jennifer entered the room and took over. “You two take a minute to soothe the baby and your own nerves. I’ll talk to her. Honey, it’s okay.”


  Chase and LaShaun continued murmuring words of love and comfort to Ellie. They took turns holding her, both planting kisses on her smooth cheeks. After a time, Ellie gave a big yawn and rested her head on her daddy’s chest. They went to the common room again. When the women saw them with Ellie, both looked even more terrified. The taller woman wrung her hands, speaking so fast even Abril appeared baffled. Her companion talked as well. She appeared to be pleading with Ernesto. LaShaun walked over to them.

  “What do we know so far?” LaShaun gave the shorter woman a stony glance, which caused her to shut up.

  Ernesto heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Between the denials and calling on God to save them, not much. These two were hired to look after the children. Val and Cee-Cee have missing kids from our database. The rest are local orphans or staying here because their parents are going through a tough time supporting them.”

  “They masked their agenda with a real center that helps local kids and families. Devious, but effective.” LaShaun squinted at the women. “So it’s possible these ladies are simply employees who don’t know anything.”

  Ernesto put a hand on one hip. “Or they’re putting on a masterful act of innocence. We’ve got ways of finding out which is true.”

  Both women’s eyes got big. The taller one blurted out, “Señor, that’s all I know. I swear. Consuela is the supervisor. Ask her what the leader told her.”

  The short woman shook a fist at her and let loose with a flood of angry Spanish. Ernesto blocked her from slapping the woman who’d tossed her under the bus. “Cortalo!”

  Val marched over to the short woman, named Lupe, and pulled her to the side. “The quicker you answer my questions the easier things will go for you.”

  “Take the children to the dorm rooms. We can pack a few things for each, but move fast.” Cee-Cee nodded to Abril and Jennifer.

  “Okay, here’s the plan. We return kids who have families around here. The others will stay with LaShaun and her little girl,” Jennifer replied. “I suggest… Hey, where the hell is she going?”