Devil's Nightmare (Devil's Nightmare, Book 1)

by Pruneda, Robert

  “Before you leave,” Mr. Hadley said to me, “we have some things we need to discuss.”

  “You think?”

  “Joseph, would you excuse us for a moment?” Mr. Hadley motioned towards the door.

  “Remember, we’re not done here,” I said as the teen left the office. “Don’t stray too far.”

  “Yes, sir,” he answered in a respectful tone of voice.

  I shut the door as Joseph sat on one of the antique chairs.

  “Are you a religious man, Mr. Sanders?” Mr. Hadley asked.

  I lowered my brow and delayed answering until I sat down. “If you’re asking if I believe in God, then yeah, I guess so.”

  “The devil believes in God, Detective.” He leaned back in his chair and interlocked his fingers. “But are you a man of faith? Do you believe in Christ’s salvation and resurrection?”

  “If you’re trying to convert me to whatever religion you practice here, you’re wasting your time.”

  He laughed. “Of course not. I don’t believe God himself could convince you to join our church.”

  “And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

  “Just a simple agreement. You seem to be a man of principle and high-esteem, but not one dedicated to any particular faith.” He unclasped his hands, leaned forward, and lifted his index finger. “However, you do seem to have a great interest in what goes on here at Saint Hedwig. I do understand you had a less than ideal experience during your stay here as a child, but I can assure you that I manage a very reputable facility.”

  “And I’m sure you do a wonderful job,” I said, with just a hint of sarcasm in my voice, “but you have to understand my concern when a kid is assaulted and not one member of your staff was there to stop it.” I pointed towards the door. “You need to discipline that kid out there. And fire someone, if not face charges of neglect that led to Cody’s injuries.”

  “I have already addressed this with my staff and can assure you it will never happen again. As far as Joseph is concerned, I have made the decision to strip him of his duties as head altar boy and—”

  “You call that punishment?”

  “Joseph is a very religious boy, and yes, I do believe denying him his duties as a servant of the Lord is indeed adequate punishment. He holds his duties during Mass with serious conviction. I believe removing him of all responsibilities as an altar boy will have significant emotional and spiritual impact on him. It should help to dissuade him from any future inappropriate behavior.”

  “Yeah, maybe.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “But what other repercussions do you have planned for him? He’s a bully and needs—”

  “Please, Detective, using labels is hardly appropriate. I understand you have a significant interest in Cody’s well-being, but Joseph is not a bad person. He made a series of poor choices that resulted in Cody’s unfortunate injuries. We’ll give them both proper counseling and ensure that they are able to live in harmony with one another.”

  “Live in harmony?” I laughed and rubbed a hand on my forehead. “You make it sound like they’ll be pals after this. Hold hands and sing Kumbaya around a campfire.”

  “I am not suggesting they will bond as friends do, Mr. Sanders, but I do believe there is room for them to live in peaceful harmony as brothers.”

  “I appreciate what you’re saying, and I guess it’s a start,” I said, getting up from the chair. I peeked out the office window and observed Joseph sitting on the chair out in the director’s lobby. “There is something else that I think may help. I’m no expert with kids, but can I make a suggestion?”

  “By all means, please do.”

  “Try spending a little less time in your office and more time out there with the kids.”

  “I don’t understand. What are you implying?”

  “I’m not implying anything. I’m just saying you should interact with them… aside from just the chapel services.” I grabbed hold of the door handle and added, “I think they’ll respect you more and fear you less.”

  “And what makes you believe they don’t respect me.”

  “Call it a hunch, but I did make an observation.” I nodded towards Joseph. “He feared saying the wrong thing in front of you.”

  “Nothing more than a concern for telling the truth.”

  “The truth?” I said, my back towards the director.

  “Yes, the truth.”

  “So, you believe him?” I leaned back against the door. “Even about Cody being in his room the other night?”

  “Joseph has never lied to me before,” Mr. Hadley answered, finishing his coffee. “There is no reason for him to start now.”

  “And what about Cody? Do you believe him?”

  The director avoided answering my question. “Please summon Joseph back in the office,” he requested.

  I reached back and grasped the door handle, but I didn’t twist it. I asked again, “Do you believe Cody or not?”

  “Of course I do. We lock the doors when they are supposed to be in bed. It is impossible for Cody to have been in Joseph’s room.”

  “So, which is it?” I removed my hand from the door handle. “You just said that Joseph has never lied to you and yet you also believe Cody. You can’t have both. One of them is lying.”

  Mr. Hadley moved towards the door and grabbed the handle. The glare from his eyes suggested that I move out of the way. I stepped aside, and after opening the door, Mr. Hadley called Joseph back into the office. The director and I stood on each side of the doorway as Joseph entered the room.

  “Mr. Sanders and I would like to have a few more words with you.” He pointed to the chair. After Joseph sat down, Mr. Hadley returned to his chair and asked Joseph to explain his punishment for hurting Cody.

  “Um… I can’t be an altar boy for three months.”

  “What else?” I asked. Joseph shifted his attention towards Mr. Hadley. I snapped my fingers. “What else, Joseph?”

  Shaken, the boy answered, “Nothing.”

  “No other punishment? No dessert after dinner? No video games? No television? No playing outside for a week? Nothing?”

  Joseph glanced at Mr. Hadley again, but the director said, “Son, answer the man’s questions. In fact, I’ll leave you two alone for a moment while I refill my coffee.”

  Mr. Hadley left the office and shut the door behind him.

  “All right, Joey,” I said while watching Mr. Hadley head towards his private kitchen. “Cut the crap. One of you is lying to me.”

  “I’m not lying to you.”

  I moved behind Joseph and placed both of my hands on the back of his chair. “And why should I believe you?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Let me tell you what’s going to happen here.” I stepped around the chair and hovered over the teen with my hands on both arms of the chair. “You’re going to tell Mr. Hadley that you lied to him about Cody. You and I both know that story is a bunch of crap.”

  “But it’s true! I don’t know how he—”

  “Just stop it!” The boy flinched as I raised my voice. “I’ve dealt with enough delinquent bullies just like you to know when I’m being given a bunch of bullshit. You’re going to tell the truth and you’re not going to lay another finger on Cody or any other kid here. Is that understood?”

  Joseph gazed into my eyes without a response.

  “Is that understood?” I reached behind my back and retrieved a pair of handcuffs. I hung them over the arm of Joseph’s chair and raised my eyebrows. “Or maybe you’d like to spend some time in juvenile detention? You’re damn lucky I haven’t already arrested you for assault.”

  Joseph broke eye contact as tears dropped from his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. In a cracking voice he said, “I’m not lying.”

  I straightened my posture and sighed. Mr. Hadley made his way back to the office with his coffee mug. “All right, if that’s how you want to play it.” I pulled out my phone and hovered a finger over the touch screen. “I’m se
rious, kid. One phone call and you’re going to Juvie.”

  Mr. Hadley entered the office, sipped some coffee from his mug, and took a seat back in the chair behind his desk. “So, have we resolved anything?”

  “That’s up to him.” I nodded towards the youth fidgeting in the chair. “So, what do you think, Joe? You ready to tell him the truth?”

  Flustered, Joseph glared at me and answered, “I am telling the truth.”

  I opened up the contacts list on my phone and shook my head in disappointment. “Have it your way.”

  “What are you doing?” Mr. Hadley asked.

  I lifted the phone to my ear and waited for my call to connect.

  Mr. Hadley stood up and said, “Detective Sanders, I demand you tell me.”

  “Detective Aaron Sanders, badge number seven-five-two-five-three. I’m currently ten-ten and need a uniform ten-ninety-one at Saint Hedwig Youth Home.” I glanced at Mr. Hadley and switched the phone to speaker. With the phone held just under my chin I told Dispatch, “Two-forty. Subject is a minor.”

  “Ten-four. Do you need a bus?”

  “Negative. Just the uniform.”

  “Ten-four. ETA is thirty minutes.”

  “Ten-four. I’ll be waiting.”

  I ended the call and gave Joseph one last chance to change his mind. “You heard her. You have thirty minutes to change your tune.”

  “Detective Sanders, I will not ask you again.” Mr. Hadley stepped around his desk and pressed, “What in Heaven’s name is going on here?”

  “I’m arresting Joseph for assault.”

  “That’s preposterous! What did you tell him, Joseph?”

  ”Nothing!” Joseph cried out, his face flushed.

  “I assumed we had an understanding,” Mr. Hadley said to me. “I told you that I would handle this situation. I promised Joseph and Cody would receive proper counseling in order to prevent any further incidents!”

  I grabbed the handcuffs hanging from the chair and secured the restraints to Joseph’s wrists. Then I grabbed Joseph’s arm and gave it a tug upward. He did not budge. “Don’t make this any worse on yourself, pal. Now get up.”

  Tears flowed down Joseph’s face as he stepped towards the office door with me. Mr. Hadley blocked the doorway and insisted, “Let me handle this, Detective. There is no reason for you to detain this boy. He needs to stay here where he can get proper counseling.”

  “Sometimes jail therapy is what a juvenile delinquent needs, to face reality. Now move out of my way. Or would you like me to file an official report with the District Attorney’s Office about your staff’s neglect to properly supervise the kids here?”

  “You are overreacting.”

  “Am I? Because right now I’m handling this as an isolated incident between Cody and Joseph. But I won’t hesitate to take this further if I have to. Now move out of the way.”

  Mr. Hadley glared into my eyes, huffed through his nose and stepped aside. “You are making a grave mistake, Detective Sanders. Joseph has shown remorse for his actions. You should let me handle this.”

  “I don’t think you’re in a position to warrant any trust, Mr. Hadley.” I stepped through the doorway as Maria entered the main quarters from the hallway. I then told the director, “And make sure you suspend or reassign the staff member in charge of supervising the kids when Cody was hurt.”

  With my hand firmly gripping Joseph’s arm, I met Maria and asked for an update on Cody.

  “He’s sleeping.” She noticed the handcuffs on Joseph’s wrists. “Why is he in restraints?”

  I glanced at the whimpering youth. “Therapy.”

  †

  Maria and I stood in front of the youth home as a Travis County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicle rolled away with Joseph handcuffed in the back seat. I reached in my pocket for my car keys and gazed at the cloudy sky. I exhaled a breath of air and said, “I didn’t want to do this.”

  “I know,” Maria acknowledged. “I’m glad you did, though. Maybe it’s what he needs, and what Cody needs until he recovers.”

  “I’m going to get hellfire and brimstone from the chief for this.” I unlocked my car, and added, “I’m supposed to be off-duty, and here I am, spending my vacation time babysitting a kid I barely know, and arresting another kid for a schoolyard fight.”

  Maria stifled a laugh and then apologized.

  A shot her a confused glance. “That’s funny?”

  “I’m sorry, Aaron. It’s just—”

  “Yeah, I know. I live a pathetic life.” I formed a smile on my face and asked, “Care to join me for dinner? Help me lick my wounds?”

  Maria opened the front door of the youth home. “I’ll call you,” she said.

  “Wait a minute. Is that a yes?”

  She disappeared inside the building without answering me.

  With one side of my lips curled upward, I stepped inside the car and shut the door. I took her silence as a yes.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Delegation

  As expected, when word got around to Chief Hernandez that I had arrested Joseph Michaels while off-duty, I got an earful about insubordination and a bunch of other crap that I mostly ignored. The way I saw it, I set a good example by spending personal time to help out a kid in need. If that included arresting a bully as part of the solution, then I hadn’t done anything wrong. Of course, the chief didn’t see it that way. In his eyes, I’d undermined his authority. Simple as that. He’d accused me of chasing ghosts that weren’t there.

  Chief Hernandez arranged to drop the charges, but since Joseph admitted to hurting Cody, he agreed to hold him in Juvenile Detention for seventy-two hours. Maybe a few days in Juvie would do him some good. I wouldn’t put much confidence in that though.

  After the chief drilled me for my alleged insubordination, he brought up the subject of Jackson Smith. His parents had filed a wrongful death suit against the police department, and as expected, listed me as the main person of interest. The official autopsy report remained inconclusive regarding the actual cause of death. However, the chief assured me that Jackson’s parents would not have a case. They didn’t have any evidence that I had mishandled their son’s arrest.

  While we were on the subject, I informed the chief about the conversation I’d had with Cody regarding Robert Smith’s involvement in Satanism. I highlighted the part about brainwashing the boy into believing summoning demons would give him powers and protection. I further explained how it had led to a prank at Memorial Heights Cemetery, planned by both Cody and Jackson.

  “I know the case is officially closed, but whether we believe this was an actual homicide or a big cat that killed these people, we can’t ignore this new information about Robert Smith. I haven’t told Miss Jimenez about this yet. I want to hear your thoughts.”

  Chief Hernandez rocked in his desk chair. He finally asked me, “Do you believe him? Or do you think he’s just trying to make you feel sorry for him, feeding you fairy tales about three-headed monsters?”

  “Of course I feel sorry for him. Who wouldn’t?”

  “And what about the monster?”

  I responded only with a tilt of my head, eyes upward, and pressed lips. Without actually telling the chief I believed Cody, I hoped my non-verbal facial expressions and body language would be enough to avoid the question directly.

  “And what about this satanic demon nonsense?”

  Demons and monsters. Wouldn’t they pretty much fall into the same category of bat shit craziness? I had to be careful about my response. “I think Cody has gone through a lot of emotional trauma, more than most adults will ever experience. I also believe he trusts me.”

  “That’s not what I asked you.” So much for wiggling past that question. “Do you believe his story? Because, in light of the situation, we have to be very careful about making accusations against a man whose son just died while in our custody.”

  “I believe him, at least about the satanic brainwashing cult stuff. We should at least
look into it.”

  “And what do you suggest?”

  “Put me back on duty. Let me investigate this. It’s my ass on the line. I did everything I could to save Jackson’s life and I have several witnesses that can testify to that.” We also had the photos on Jackson’s phone. Who had taken them? “I think I can place Robert Smith at the cemetery when those boys died.”

  “You are really reaching there, Aaron. You think he killed them? We have no evidence that this was a homicide.” The chief rubbed his forehead and advised, “Let it go, amigo. I know how important this is to you, pero the fact is that even if Robert Smith was there, an animal killed those kids. We have photographic evidence to prove that.”

  “All I need is the phone and Smith’s fingerprints.”

  “And what difference does that make? You’ll probably find his prints, his wife’s prints, and Austin’s fingerprints on the phone too. You want to interrogate them too?”

  I folded my hands behind my neck and sighed. “You’re right. I still think he was there. I may not be able to prove it, but he was there. And if he was there, he’s been lying to us, and he knows what happened that night.” I lowered my hands and scratched my temple. “Come to think of it, maybe I can prove it. Or at least suggest it beyond a reasonable doubt.”

  “And how do plan to do that?”

  “We never dusted the phone.”

  “No need to. It was in Jackson’s home when you arrested him.” He narrowed his eyes and said, “What are you getting at?”

  “If we find his fingerprints on that phone—and no other unidentified prints—then we can assume no one else was there. And that would give me reason to believe that Jackson’s dad was there. Why? Who knows? But I think he was the one taking the photos.” I leaned forward and said, “You have to reopen this case.”

  “Lo siento. I’m not re-opening this case based on a hunch, especially to implicate a man whose son just died in our custody.”

  “Just give me—”

  “No, Aaron. The case is closed, and that’s final.”

  “But why? Aren’t you at least a little curious?”

  “What do I need to do to get it through your thick skull? This was not a homicide. Do I have to show you the photos again? Maybe the autopsy reports?”