Gorgon

by Mary Ann Poll

  “Not this one! Leave her where she can be found. Make sure she brings men here so I can have my fill. Then you can have yours.” Lilith flew out from under the bridge and planted herself in front of Nihilist.

  Nihilist backed up and bowed again. “It is done! He dragged the corpse into the woods.

  Please, God, give me strength—and a little patience if You don’t mind. Bart looked at his visitor.

  Annie Scofland sat ruler-straight across Bart’s polished oak desk. So far, she had opined on the people of Ravens Cove, the price of antiques, and the negligent landlord who hadn’t fixed the water leak plaguing her store.

  The stack of memos and phone messages on Bart’s desk yelled for him to get back to work. He contemplated the best way to end Annie’s visit.

  “Do you understand why? I sure don’t.”

  “I’m sorry… a lot on my mind. Understand what?”

  Annie Scofland’s full lips straightened into a thin line. “I was saying I don’t understand why someone would break in and steal a birch wood bowl and cane. There was so much of more value.”

  Bart leaned toward her. “You’re sure the items haven’t been misplaced?”

  “Yes, I’m sure! I specifically put the bowl and cane behind the counter right before closing up for the night. They belonged in the window, but it had been a long day. I just wanted to get home. So, putting them away was my first order of business this morning.”

  “Right.” Bart stood up hoping Annie would follow suit. “Well, as you probably know, I’m filling two jobs right now. I have a few calls to make before I can break away from the mayor’s role. In the meantime, would you do me a favor and go through your shop again—just to make sure?

  “I told you they aren’t there.”

  Bart held up his hand. “And they probably aren’t. Would you just humor me? While you’re checking the shop, I’ll interview your neighbors to see if they saw anyone hanging around.”

  Annie relaxed and extended her hand. “Thanks, mayor. I’ll check the store again. I know I sound silly, but I’m a bit nervous to be there by myself after this.”

  “Not silly. I just wish I had someone to send over. There is only one police officer under normal circumstances.”

  Concern darkened Annie Scofland’s bright features. “I understand.”

  “Jo and Horace aren’t very far from your store. They’d be happy to keep an eye out. Want me to talk to them?”

  Annie nodded and smiled. “Thanks so much. I sure didn’t expect to have to worry about a burglary in Ravens Cove—one of the main reasons I moved here. Guess crime happens everywhere.”

  “Ravens Cove has its share. Sorry you had to experience this side in the short time you’ve called it home.” Bart shook her hand. “I’ll be there soon.”

  The demanding buzz of the intercom finished the meeting. Bart pushed the black dot of a button. “Yes?”

  “Your next appointment is here, Mayor Andersen.”

  “Bart, call me Bart, Jenny.” Silence. Bart took a resigned breath. Jenny, the all-business assistant, refused to drop the title of mayor. It had been an ongoing battle since Bart took the position. Guess she may be gonna win this one. Bart looked at the brown leather appointment calendar. The page was blank.

  “I don’t see any appointments for today.”

  “This one just came up.”

  “Be right there.” Bart stared at the hill of pink messages. “Don’t guess you’re going anywhere in the next few minutes.” He rounded the desk as Ken walked in from the reception area.

  “Where’d you come from?” Bart gripped Ken Melbourne’s hand and yanked him into a bear hug.

  Ken pulled himself free and patted Bart on the shoulder. “Glad to see you too, Andersen.”

  Kat giggled. “Isn’t it great?”

  “I’m confused. Last we talked you were banished to LA for an indefinite length of time. What changed your chief’s mind?”

  “Was banished—may be again. For now, though, I am on an extended leave and have permission to offer my assistance to the town of Ravens Cove—as a consultant.”

  Bart and Kat reminded Ken of twins when their eyebrows shot up in response to Ken’s monotone dialogue. “What’d I say?”

  “Not what. How.”

  “Don’t know what you mean.”

  “Never mind,” Kat said.

  Bart cleared his throat.“Okay, then. How would you like to join me at the new antique store for your first assignment?”

  “Not another murder.”

  “No. Petty thievery.”

  Ken relaxed. “Sure thing. I’m on it. Why don’t you stay here and do whatever important business you have as mayor? Think I can handle this one on my own.”

  “I’d say you could handle it on your own anywhere else. This is the Cove. You aren’t trusted here yet. You need me, just for a while, so they’ll get used to you.”

  “Forgot. Small town 101.”

  “Don’t start, FBI. Bart’s right. On the bright side, you already have office help.” Kat grinned up at him.

  “Oh, stutters. I’m gonna have to run Kat’s position by the town council now. They have to be made aware of any ‘relationships’ working together.”

  “What!”

  “Had to do the same thing when you came to work for me.”

  “They are so weird. This whole town is related somehow—almost.”

  “Rules are rules. Until I get an answer, steer clear of the station.”

  “Senseless policy, but okay. “I need to get unpacked—and find the cat.

  “BC?”

  “He took off.”

  “And you’re surprised—why?”

  “Nothing he does should surprise me, I guess. He’s an independent little cuss and always has been.”

  Bart poked her in the arm.“Takes one to know one.”

  “Funny. Just let me know when I can come back to work.” Kat looked at Ken. “And don’t you even think about trying to talk Bart out of it. I won’t be in danger, and neither will you.” She flashed him a knowing smile.

  “Wouldn’t dream of it. Kind of like the thought of having you around. I can keep a close eye on you while I’m doing important police—I mean consulting—stuff for the Cove.”

  “Only part-time, FBI. You only have me part-time.” Kat turned on her heel and almost body-slammed Wendy Hareling.

  Wendy’s mouth turned downward into a pout. “Oh, I guess he’s already heard.”

  “Guess so.”

  Wendy brightened. “Well, then I’m off to get Mandy to Clayton, then settled at the old cabin.” She waved and was gone.

  “She sure can move fast when she wants.”

  “That was a red herring if I’ve ever seen one. Bet she’s making a stop at Gram’s beforehand. I’ll give her a call.” Bart headed back into his office.

  “Off to home sweet home.” Kat tiptoed and gave Ken a hard, fast kiss. “See you later, FBI.”

  Ken scanned the light oak paneling of the reception area.

  “Can I help you, Agent Melbourne?”

  Ken smiled at Jenny. “No.”

  Jenny responded with a disapproving stare, then turned back to her work. The ticky-tap of Jenny’s computer keys filled the tomb-silence of the room.

  Bart came out of his office, pulling a black, lightweight raincoat over his shirt-and-tie-clad body. “Josiah and Gram have been notified. All is right in our world.”He jerked his head toward the door. “Let’s go find us a thief.”

  Kat strolled down Main drinking in the summer light like a sun-starved rosebud. She took a deep breath of the warm salt air and grinned.

  “What’s so wonderful, child of my heart?” Gramma Bricken asked.

  “All is right with my world today. Summer, birds, the smell of all the wildflowers…”

  “And Kenneth Melbourne is in town.” Josiah’s sharp blue eyes twinkled with humor.

  “Yes, he is.”

  “Where are you off to?”

  “Home.
I’ve been asked to delay going to work until Bart can clear it with the town council.”

  “So you find yourself with time on your hands.”

  “Indeed.”

  “Why don’t you come home with us?”

  “I would, Gram, but I want to get to the cabin and see if BC’s come back. I’d be lost without him.” Kat gave her grandmother a sheepish grin.

  “Don’t have to explain to me. His loyalty to you knows no bounds. Come by later—and bring Kenneth.”

  “If the little rascal’s back at the house, I’ll come right over.” Kat brushed her grandmother’s brown cheek with a quick kiss. She threw her arms around Josiah and held him close. “Love you, old man,” she whispered.

  “How can you call me old and make me feel so young at the same time?”

  “Talent.”

  “How about we walk with you a bit.”

  “I’d enjoy the company.” Kat stopped at the antique store. The teal-green door shouted an elegant invitation to enter. “Maybe I should check on the owner. She had a break-in last night.”

  “What a shame. So unusual for the Cove even with the influx of summer visitors,” Alese Bricken said.

  “What’s more unusual is the thief took some old bowl and a cane. She has some spendy stuff in there.” Kat jiggled the door handle. It held firm. She peeked through the window but didn’t see movement. “Odd behavior for the middle of a workday.” Kat shrugged. “Guess I’ve procrastinated long enough. I’d better get home. I’ll be over as soon as I can, Gram.”

  Kat headed south at a fast clip. The sun played hide-and-seek in storm-gray clouds. Ravens soared high on the light winds, becoming almost invisible against the deep-gray background. One of the inky dots broke away. It plummeted toward Kat, then swooped up and back into the sky. You are the joker of this world, raven.

  Kat made her way up the gentle incline leading to the top of Ravens Ravine. She threw a guarded glance to the hag tree standing watch over the alder and birch lined entrance. The very tree which came to life anytime Iconoclast and his demon army came to the Cove.

  “What in the world!” Kat scrambled up the hill. The severed trunk rested in a bed of moss and wood shavings. The tree’s dismembered shaft revealed an ashen interior. Kat picked a claret-red piece of wax out of the moss. Kat crouched and pressed on the rotted wood.

  “Ick!” She snapped her hand backwards to avoid the tar-colored fluid gushing out of the spongy wood. The smell of rotten cabbage assaulted her senses. She threw one hand over her nose, used the other to rifle through her windbreaker pocket, and pulled out a tattered Kleenex. She swiped at the putrid-smelling substance.

  Several IV bags littered the ground. Kat examined the sticky red fluid seeping from puncture marks in the bags. The smell of iron laced with a sickening sweet scent filled the air.

  Kat caught a flash of white from the corner of her eye. She marched to a stand of alders and parted the gnarled branches. Red toenails gave way to a petite ankle. Kat’s eyes scanned the calf and stopped at jagged red tendons shivering in a light wind. Kat threw her hand over her mouth and choked back the bile.

  Bart picked up on the first ring. “Slow down.”

  Kat took a deep breath. “I said the hag tree has been destroyed.” Tell him the real reason you called. No! she argued to herself. Then the horror of what I saw will be real.

  “What do you mean destroyed?”

  “It’s in pieces. Looks like someone took an axe to it.”

  “Well, good riddance to bad rubbish, is what I say.” Relief tinged Bart’s words. “It’s good to know at least one hallmark of Iconoclast and his army is gone. Now if we could just figure out what to do with Old Town.” Memories of the skull-like boulder sitting in the courtyard of the ill-fated tourist attraction drifted into his mind’s eye. He hadn’t told anyone his sleep was filled with nightmares of demons swallowing the inhabitants of his town.

  Tell him! she told herself. “Ummm, there’s something else—a leg.”

  “Okay… what kind of leg?”

  “A human one.”

  “Why didn’t you say that in the first place! On my way.” Bart hit end and motioned to Ken.

  “Thanks.” Ken said to Horace Stoddard, the proud owner of the only hardware store in town.

  “Got a problem.” Bart explained to Ken on the way up Main. Both were unaware of the black mist observing them from the shadows of the antique store. A look of loathing and murder contorted its features. “Soon, we will meet. This time, you die!”

  Kat made a beeline down the path. “Thank goodness. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stand being here alone. Oh, I found this in the hag tree.” She shoved the red wax to Bart.

  Ken walked over to pull her into his arms. Kat backed away. “Not right now.” She trudged up the hill.

  “What’d I do?” Ken asked.

  “Not a thing, friend.” Bart caught Kat’s arm and pulled her to a stop. “Where?”

  “There.”Kat pointed a shaky finger to the alders.

  A stiff white calf lay on a skinny trunk, toes pointed skyward in a morbid dance step.

  “Not again.” Bart speed-dialed Doctor Billings, the town’s physician and ME when the need arose. “Yep—at the ravine. Thanks, Doc.”

  “How’d he take it?” Kat asked.

  “Like I’d expect. Upset and worried Iconoclast is back.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Why would he take out the tree? It’s his servant. Nope, this wasn’t Iconoclast,” Bart said.

  “Bart. Tell me what this is.” Ken pointed to light depressions in the tall grass.

  “They’re tracks. No way to tell if the indentations are human or animal.”

  Ken whirled around and pointed his gun in the direction of a loud crack. He lowered it when he recognized Doc Billings.

  Billings gave the gun a nonchalant once-over and turned his attention to the leg. He looked at Ken. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Agent Melbourne, but when you come to town, death either precedes or follows you. Can you tell me why?”

  “You don’t seriously blame him?” Kat said.

  Billings smiled. “I can, but I’m sure there must be another explanation.” Billings gloved his hands and walked to the alders.

  “He can be a real jerk,” Kat grumbled.

  Ken turned a stern face to Kat. “He has a point. It does seem I show up at the worst times.”

  Kat touched his arm. “You show up at the best times.”

  Ken patted her hand. “Thanks, KittyKat.”

  “Hey, come over here a minute,” Billings yelled.

  “Bart pointed at Kat. “Stay.”

  Kat stopped in her tracks. “Fine. I’ve seen enough gore for one day anyway.”

  “Was this here?” Doc Billings pointed to a fragment of beige fabric fluttering in the afternoon breeze.

  “Can’t say as it was. Hey, Kat can you come here for a minute?”

  “Seriously?” she yelled back.

  “Yes.”

  Kat tromped up the hill. “What?”

  “Was this here before?” Bart asked.

  “I don’t remember seeing it. All I could think about was that,” Kat nodded to the macabre limb, “so I might have missed it.”

  A sharp laugh escaped Billings. He grimaced. “Sorry. You guys might want to bag it. I’ll be back in a jiff.” Doc disappeared down the path and returned with a body bag.

  “Don’t see any need for the mortuary boys.” Billings placed the leg in the bag and zipped it shut. “I’m counting on you two to find the rest of the body. Without it, our chances of an ID are slim to none.”

  “We still have quite a bit of ground to cover here. With any luck, it’ll show up,” Ken said.

  “With any luck, the owner had a bad accident and is in the Clayton hospital.”

  “It’d be a miracle if someone survived losing a leg. They’d bleed out in minutes.”

  “One can hope,” Bart replied.

  “Sorry about the ear
lier comment, Ken. It was uncalled for,” Billings said.

  “Nothing to be sorry about. It is a baffling coincidence.”

  Billings nodded. “I’ll clean the leg up and do what I can to tell you how it got separated from its owner. I’ll be hard pressed to give you much more, though.”

  “Anything you can find will be more than we have now. Call me when you have anything, anything at all,” Ken said.

  “Will do.” Doc Billings disappeared back down the path.

  Ken gripped Kat’s arm. “Let’s get you home.

  “I feel fine. I’d like to stay.” Kat headed down the ravine pathway, wobbled, and collapsed to the ground.

  “Ah, man! I didn’t see that coming. Think you can get her home by yourself?” Bart looked first at his unconscious cousin and then back at Ken.

  “Weight training was one of my few pastimes in LA. Besides, she isn’t very big.” Ken walked over and scooped Kat into his arms. A small “umph” escaped Ken. Kat’s petite size belied her muscular frame.

  Bart grinned. “Yep, weight training paid off for ya.”

  Ken steadied himself and Kat. “I’ll be back in a flash.” He returned twenty minutes later.

  “All settled in. She came around right after I got her into the house.”

  “How is she?”

  “Physically, good. Mentally? Think this discovery took a toll. She still had enough gumption to tell me to get out, though.”

  “A good sign.”

  “I guess.”

  “What’d we do before cell phones?” Bart punched in a number and waited. “Gram, Kat’s had a real scare. Can you get a ride down and watch after her for a while?… I’ll let her tell you. Thanks. Yes, Josiah can come too. Thanks again.”

  “How are she and Josiah supposed to get here?”

  “Pastor Paul told her to call anytime she needed a ride. If that doesn’t work—it’ll work.”

  “Maybe I should go back to the cabin. She shouldn’t be alone.”

  “Take it from me, brother, Kat doesn’t want you there right now. If she’s conscious, if she’s talking, you’re better off here. When she feels vulnerable, she comes out fighting.”

  “She did look and sound good. Just pale.”

  Bart smiled. “Let her lick her pride-wounds in private—and with Grandma Bricken. And let’s you and me get to work.” Bart scoured the bright green foliage dotted with white and purple wildflowers that lined the pathway. He stopped at the heavy boulder barricading the entrance to the high-walled gorge.