Lethal Influence

by Susan Bohnet

  The Strangler had their little city in a panic. Evil the world over had to be stopped but what about evil that stalked your home one person at a time? Kai struggled with the parameters of his choices. How many lives did a human need to threaten before he could be added to the rebel’s list? How could he ignore his own neighbors while protecting foreigners? If the man who killed hundreds with a bomb was evil enough to warrant Kai’s lethal Influence then what about the man who stalked and killed at a more leisurely pace? All of this, of course, was moot if they didn’t know who was doing the killing. Without knowing his identity, Kai couldn’t even think of doing anything to him.

  They did have some information. He was at least six feet tall, strong and either quite smart or just painfully lucky. All his victims were from the same area so the police thought he probably lived or worked around there. He tortured his victims somewhere else before killing them and bringing them back to the places they were found. And he staged their final resting places. It was The Strangler who carefully placed the book beside the bag when Sherry was laid out on the grass of the local university. And it was The Strangler who made sure Maria had her name tag prominently showing where she lay in the middle of the loading ramp. He wanted to make a statement. He thought he was above the law and he was taunting them.

  Kai closed the folder, placed it in a filing cabinet in the corner, and went to the door. Leo looked up from what he was doing and waved to Kai on his way out. Kai was feeling restless. His thoughts had been tumbling over each other for days now as he waited for the next rebel mission to be found.

  Half an hour later, Kai arrived at the grocery store where Maria had so recently worked. He felt a pull toward this place … this was where The Strangler had left his last victim. He walked the aisles slowly, studying each employee. Kai reached out with his mind to each man and woman he met. Did The Strangler know his victims or did he randomly choose them along the way, letting fate decide who would be next on his list? Was the killer someone who worked here, or just a passing stranger who found a way to isolate Maria long enough to break her legs and kill her.

  Kai noted two young males hanging out by the fruit. They both wore the signature green apron that told the public they were employees. One looked like a young Professor Snape with greasy black hair. His name tag said “Lester.” He was tall and wiry with a scowl on his face. The second was a solid fellow who seemed to carry a chip on his shoulder and exude tension wherever he went. He wasn’t wearing his name tag –perhaps a small act of rebellion.

  Kai followed the nameless man to the back of the store and watched as he paused to sneer at another teen in the dairy department. “I suppose you don’t have anything.”

  “No,” the boy stuttered back, his face drained of color. “I can’t give you what I don’t have.”

  “You can tell your brother that you need your stuff.”

  The boy nodded. Kai continued to follow as he went in the back room and popped a pill. He looked startled for a second when he saw Kai standing behind him.

  “You’re not supposed to be back here. This is for employees only,” he grunted.

  “Just wondering if you have any fresher bean sprouts. The ones out there look a little old.”

  “Just what’s out there,” the boy said without even pretending to look.

  Kai reached out with his mind. This youth was dissatisfied and high on drugs, but more insecure than a real threat. He went back to the front where Lester was bagging groceries. The tall youth wore a superior expression on his face. The girl at the cash register said to him, “You put the cans in the same bag with the buns. The buns are going to get squashed.”

  “The packing police has arrived,” Lester shot back at the girl.

  “Why do you have to fight about it? Just do it right next time.”

  Kai stepped back behind the shelves of gum and glanced around the grocery store. To his shock he found himself looking straight into the dark brown eyes of Anthony. The other Trebladore stood in line at the next cashier. Surprise was evident in the other man’s face and Kai knew he had to take advantage of it or he would lose his chance. Darting out into the aisle, Kai swung around the counter and dashed past the customer who was having her buns so rudely squashed by a grumpy young boy named Lester. He ran along the front of the store, hearing Anthony call his name as he ran.

  He didn’t stop but kept running until he reached his truck. Wrenching open the door he climbed in and started the engine, breathing a sigh of relief when it roared to life. He saw Anthony standing on the sidewalk, his groceries obviously abandoned inside. He had one hand raised as if to hail Kai, but when he saw Kai’s truck speed past he let it drop to his side, rejection and bewilderment clear on his face.

  Kai felt the familiar wrenching in his gut. Anthony was a friend, a roommate at boarding school, a young man who had been instrumental in teaching Kai how to Influence. Only Lincoln had been more involved in Kai’s training. With surprise Kai realized he missed Anthony; missed his easy, carefree attitude, his sick jokes, and the way he left a trail of open cupboard doors wherever he went. He missed the easy camaraderie the Trebladores enjoyed when together, too. The rebels were definitely a tight-knit group, but they were together as much out of fear of discovery as anything else. Sure, they all believed that what they were doing was necessary to aid the humans in their evolution. But they were brothers in a war, not family working together for the greater good. There was a subtle difference in the way the two groups interacted and he wondered, not for the first time, if he was doing the right thing.

  He drove past the house the rebels were using, just in case Anthony had stopped by. Everything seemed to be quiet so he drove past again and then parked further up the road, choosing a parking spot that allowed him to watch the house from a distance.

  As he waited his thoughts returned to The Strangler. Not knowing frustrated Kai and he wished the rebels would put all their efforts into finding the perpetrator so Kai could go out and stop him. But the rebels thought they had other, more important, prey to watch and, although they looked briefly at The Strangler, Lincoln wanted bigger prizes. The world was full of those who killed one at a time, he said, and they would leave those to the Society. Besides, people like The Strangler kept the Trebladore Society distracted and that helped the rebels.

  Kai wasn’t convinced. This was a man who was doing evil things. Killing innocent people for his own dark reasons. He needed to be stopped and Kai was going to do it. He just needed to know who it was.

  It was clear now that Anthony was not coming to the rebel house. Everything seemed to be quiet. Kai slid out of the truck and walked the short distance to the house, entering by the side door and pausing to listen. He could hear voices in the kitchen but they were normal in tone so he continued in. Lincoln and Harrison stood at the stove, grilled cheese sandwiches heating in a pan.

  “Hey, Kai,” Harrison said. “You hungry? We’re just grabbing some lunch … do you want one?”

  Kai smiled. “No thanks,” he said. “I had a big breakfast. Not hungry yet.” Kai glanced around the room and then met Lincoln’s eyes. “I just ran into Anthony at the grocery store on 45th. I think I should make myself scarce for a couple of days. He seemed pretty shook up when I lit out of there like a cat on fire.”

  Lincoln slapped his palm on the counter. “Did he see where you were headed?”

  “No. I jumped in the truck and drove in the opposite direction. I still think he may come by to check and see if any of you have been in contact with me since he saw me in the area. It would be safer if I weren’t here. I’ll just grab some supplies and head out.”

  “Where are you gonna go?” Harrison asked. He looked worried, and Kai felt a wave of guilt roll over him. His need to explore had possibly exposed the rebels. He needed to be more careful.

  “I’ll find somewhere, a hotel for a couple of days. Just till the heat cools off.” Kai grinn
ed at Harrison. “Don’t worry. I’ll lay low, then come back when the coast is clear. I could use the chance to get some extra sleep anyway.”

  It took Kai only moments to throw some clothes into a duffel bag. He paused long enough to retrieve the file on The Strangler and stash it in his bag as well, before he went upstairs to get the food Harrison had put together for him, and then he was back in his truck, headed to the cheapest hotel he could find. He couldn’t go too far, but he needed a place that would provide a parking spot that would hide his truck. The Sunnyside Motel on 3rd Street had rooms that faced out from both sides of the long building and their parking spots were more secluded. He would start there.

  Two days later Kai was again prowling around the grocery store, watching Lester annoy the cashiers and growl at the management. It was early evening and the store would be closing soon. Most of the employees had left; the only ones still there were two cashiers, the unnamed pill-popper from the other day, the manager … and Lester. The pill-popper fit the description of the perpetrator the police were after–except Kai knew he had been interviewed and had an airtight alibi. For some reason, Kai just felt that the grocery store was an important piece of the puzzle and he couldn’t figure out why. Dillon had never set foot in the place, and Sherry was kidnapped and returned dead to the university she had been attending. The fact that it was within walking distance of the grocery store didn’t mean there was any connection.

  Lester was arguing with the cashier again and the raised voices caught Kai’s attention. Kai was standing at the tomato stand, pretending to be inspecting the red fruit for freshness. He glanced around the store, making sure there weren’t any Trebladores lurking around, and then he stepped quietly up to the counter.

  “Can I help?” Kai said. Lester’s voice came to a screeching halt and he turned angry brown eyes on Kai, glaring. Kai met his gaze and took a quick second to look at what the young man had going on in his mind. It wasn’t pretty. A lot of emotions swirled around, anger, hurt, and a powerful need to enact some kind of revenge on those he felt had slighted him. Kai could sense a certain amount of sly knowledge too; this young man was not stupid.

  “What do you want?” Lester sneered. “You ready to buy something, or what?”

  The cashier waved a feminine wrist at Lester and stepped between them. “I’m sorry. Do you need help with anything?”

  Kai glanced down at the girl and met her eyes. She was young, not innocent in the ways of the world, but not cynical either. She genuinely wanted to help him and Kai could sense her frustration with Lester.

  “No, I wondered if I could help you,” he said. He raised his eyes again to Lester and tried a little Influencing. That was when he sensed that there was very little that he could do with the angry young man. Lester had hidden his feelings of love so deep that they were almost completely masked. This was the beginning, Kai knew. If Lester continued as he was going, he would be so deeply scarred he would be beyond help.

  Kai stepped back, breaking his eye contact with Lester, letting the air back into his lungs. This was a dangerous young man … could he be a murderer? If he wasn’t already, he might be well on his way. And wasn’t it a coincident that he lived and worked in an area currently being terrorized by The Strangler. It struck Kai that there was the possibility that there was more than one of them. Could this young man be merely an accomplice?

  “No,” he said, glancing once more at Lester. “I guess I can’t help you.” He saw the confused look that crossed Lester’s face, but he didn’t stay to hear what the boy had to say. Without further hesitation, Kai left the store, a feeling of heaviness overwhelming him as he did so. This young man was in his early twenties and he had been so badly scarred he could not be helped. It saddened Kai to think there were souls out there that hurt so much.

  Kai went to his truck, found a parking spot half hidden between some trees, and backed in. A short time later he saw Lester exit the store, his arms filled with grocery bags. Lester walked to the small blue Honda that was parked furthest from the store and got in, literally throwing his bags into the back seat first. Kai turned the key in the ignition and slowly pulled out, following Lester as he drove out of the parking lot.

  Fifteen minutes later, Kai found himself parked in front of a small, blue house. It was nestled between two large trees, its yard filled with flowers and a tall, wooden fence closing off the backyard. There was a detached garage around the side of the house and it was there that Lester went. Kai could hear the music blaring from it when Lester opened the door and disappeared inside. Kai settled down for what he thought would be another long wait, but was surprised when the door opened after only ten minutes and Lester reappeared. He was alone and had changed his clothes to black jeans and a black t-shirt, covered by a black hoodie. He had the hood pulled up over his head and, with eyes downcast, he slipped back into his car and drove off.

  Kai followed.

  Lester drove, slowing at times and then speeding up again. He seemed to be randomly turning without a specific destination in mind. Kai knew he had to be careful now or Lester would notice that the same truck was following him. He backed off, letting the Honda get further ahead of him.

  Then Lester’s car took a sudden turn to the right and Kai had to speed up to keep him in sight. The little Honda was suddenly driving with more purpose and Kai knew something was up. The car slowed and Kai saw that the cashier from the grocery store was walking down the sidewalk. It was a quiet street, with little traffic. The cashier continued on her way, her head down and her purse swaying with her strides. She was walking faster now and Kai could tell she was aware of the little Honda on her heels.

  Lester suddenly sped up and pulled over beside her. Kai saw him reach over and roll down the window. Kai parked and lowered his windows, too. The cashier stopped walking and turned when Lester spoke. Kai could hear Lester’s deep voice but he couldn’t make out what he said. Lester spoke again. The cashier smiled and nodded and climbed into the car. Kai felt a tightening in his gut, his hands on the steering wheel white at the knuckles. The Honda pulled out again and picked up speed. After a couple of blocks, Lester swerved to the left and pulled onto the busier road, mingling with the other cars. Kai was able to keep him in his sights, but barely.

  When the Honda turned again, this time entering a parking lot that swept around behind a mall, Kai followed. He lost sight of the Honda momentarily as it disappeared around the corner of the mall and Kai slowed. There were no cars in sight; the place was closed up tight. As Kai eased the truck slowly around the corner he saw trees lining the boulevard at the edge of the parking lot and a dip in the ground that Kai thought was probably a ditch. The Honda was parked near the trees, its motor off and the passenger door open. There was no one in sight.

  Kai pulled the truck to a stop and turned off the engine. He could hear sounds coming from the trees as he slipped out of the truck. He sprinted in that direction. As he neared the trees, he heard a grunt followed by a higher pitched wail. Then there was scraping against the ground as though kicking and struggling were digging up ground cover and sending pebbles flying. His stomach dropped. Would he be too late?

  He slid down the ditch, finding that there was water at the bottom and he was wet to mid-calf. He didn’t stop, continuing up the other side of the ditch and entering the trees. He crouched, not sure what he would find, but hoping he wasn’t too late to help the poor girl. It didn’t take long to find them. The cashier was sitting on the ground, bound to a tree with duct tape wrapped around her wrists and she had been silenced with more tape over her mouth. Eyes wide, she stared at Lester as he walked up and down in front of her, a crowbar in his hands. He was swinging it back and forth.

  “Now you know why I’m doing this, don’t you?” Lester said, pausing to face the girl. She shook her head. “You’re ragging on me all the time. ‘Go for carts! Stock the sugar that’s on sale!’ It never stops with you. And today you went ove
r the line. You knew it, too, didn’t you? I saw you wince but you didn’t stop. You felt it necessary to correct me in front of a customer. You had no right to do that. If I put the bag of sugar on top of the bread, you don’t say nothin’. Got it?” Then he laughed, a deep and hollow sound. “Oh, don’t worry, Caroline. You won’t have to remember. You’re not going to live to tell me anything again.”

  Lester smiled at her and Kai felt a shiver run through him at the sight.

  “Now,” Lester said, moving away from the girl and the tree, “I need some nice big logs or rocks or something.” He moved further away and Kai started forward. He had only taken a few steps when Lester returned, a large log about two feet long in his arms. Kai kept to the shadows, his features hidden by the darkness of the encroaching trees, and tried to Influence him. Lester walked over to the girl and, setting the crowbar down, he placed the log under her ankles. She kicked him twice, but he straddled her legs and pulled out the duct tape. When her ankles were taped securely to the log, he picked up the crowbar again and glared at the girl. She was crying and shaking her head, pleading with her eyes. Lester watched her for a second and then laughed again, raising the crowbar and holding it over her legs as if he was getting ready to chop firewood.

  Kai stepped forward and the girl’s gaze swiveled to him. Lester, who had been watching the girl’s face, turned and met Kai’s eyes. He straightened. “Who are you?” he sneered. “What the…”

  Kai let the anger he had been holding back rise through him and when his eyes met Lester’s he thrust out with his mind. The now familiar tingle ran down his spine, the scene before him shifted, and he saw Lester slump forward, the crowbar landing with a thud on the girl’s legs. And then darkness rose up and Kai saw nothing else.

  ——<>——

  The first thing Kai felt when he regained consciousness was the cold, damp ground under him. He turned his head and saw that he had fallen backward and he still lay in the darkness of the forest floor, hidden from the wild-eyed searching of the young girl tied to the tree. He shifted and she stilled, whether in fear or relief, he wasn’t sure. He shifted again, sitting up and pulling himself back, careful to keep to the deepest shadows so she couldn’t see his face.