That Old Devil Moon

by Anne Logan

  The sickening thud of the metal connecting with bone brought back a flash of memory of another time long ago…the rapist…Michael swinging the baseball bat…It was the same sound, a sound that Maddie knew she would never forget as long as she lived. As the blow reverberated up her arms, Keller cried out, stiffened, then slumped sideways.

  Frozen in horror, Maddie stood there, staring at the unconscious man. Alex struggled to his feet then tried to pull the bookend from her hands. “Maddie, you can let go now,” he said breathlessly, still gasping for air.

  “Is—is he d-dead?” She released the bookend. “Did—did I kill him?”

  Alex knelt and felt for a pulse at Keller’s neck. He looked up at Maddie. “He’s alive.”

  Suddenly, there was a loud crash on the other side of the room. Alex sprang to his feet. On the floor, Terry was moaning as he regained consciousness, and beside him was what had once been the gramophone. Standing above the shattered pieces was Ross Shaw with an almost maniacal smile on his lips.

  At that moment, Casey burst into the room. “Alex!”

  “I hope you brought some backup with you,” Alex said, sparing his partner only a quick glance before returning his gaze to Maddie. She still looked shaken and kept eyeing Keller as if she didn’t believe he was alive. “We’ll need a couple of squad cars to haul—”

  Alex froze. “Carla,” he whispered. He jerked his head around, searching, his expression frantic. “Maddie, where’s Carla?” he shouted.

  “I’m here,” the girl said as she stuck her head around the door from outside.

  As Alex rushed over to his daughter and caught her up in a hug, Terry was stumbling to his feet with the help of Casey.

  “Are you hurt?” Alex asked his daughter, pulling back to look at her. “Did he hurt you?”

  The teenager shook her head, glanced to where Casey was handcuffing Terry, then suddenly threw her arms around her father’s waist and burst into tears. For several minutes, Alex held his sobbing daughter and whispered soothing words as he alternately rubbed and patted her back. When her storm of tears finally abated, he pulled away from her, his hands still gently clasping her arms.

  “Carla.” He looked deep into her eyes and prayed that he would be able to discern the truth. “What were you doing here…with Keller? You were supposed to be at home.”

  Carla tucked her chin and shrugged. “I was mad at you, and I needed to talk to someone who understood.” She sniffed. Then, like the child that she sometimes seemed to be, she turned her head and wiped her nose on the sleeve of her blouse. “The security guard let me through the gate,” she continued, “and I was just sitting here waiting for Maddie and watching TV when those two men broke in.”

  Alex swallowed hard. “So before tonight, you’ve never seen them?”

  Carla shuddered. “No and I hope I never see them again.”

  Alex felt as if a tremendous pressure had been lifted off his chest. He gently squeezed her arms. “Sweetheart, just what is it that you thought Maddie would understand and I wouldn’t?”

  There was distrust in her eyes, a wariness in her expression, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure she was going to answer him. Then, as if coming to a momentous decision, she took a deep breath. “Maddie understands about my music,” she whispered. “About having to practice.”

  Alex shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense. You practice all the time.”

  “Not with the band.”

  “Band? What band?”

  Defiantly, Carla lifted her chin. “It’s a rock band, and they’re doing my music,” she said. “We’ve been practicing together for months. If I had told you about it, you would have made me quit.”

  “You mean to tell me that all of those times you lied, the time you tried to sneak out, you were practicing with a band?”

  Carla nodded.

  Inside Alex, relief warred with guilt. He recalled Maddie’s words. “It must be nice to be so damn perfect, so high up on your righteous pedestal that you can look down on everyone else.”

  He gathered Carla close for another hug. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

  “Hey, Alex,” Casey called out. “What do you want me to do with this scumbag?”

  Reluctantly, Alex released Carla and turned his attention to Keller. Casey had pulled out handcuffs and was dragging the now-conscious but dazed-looking man to his feet.

  “Read him his rights, let the paramedics take a look at him then haul his sorry butt to jail.”

  Keller didn’t flinch. Then he spotted the smashed discs and broken gramophone. His face turned a sickly white, and he began shaking his head slowly from side to side. “Noooo,” he moaned, falling back to his knees and almost dragging Casey down with him.

  “Oh, no, you don’t,” Casey growled as he jerked Keller to his feet.

  Casey snapped handcuffs on him, and as Casey recited the Miranda, Keller continued to moan. He shoved Keller toward a uniformed officer who had just entered the room. “Take him to lockup and book him on—” Casey shot Alex an inquisitive look. “What charges?”

  “Breaking and entering, to begin with,” Alex answered, “aggravated assault, and possibly kidnapping, extortion and murder.”

  The officer gave out a low whistle. “Regular nice guy, ain’t he?” Then he pulled Keller toward the door. It was then that Keller began to chant, an eerie, skincrawling sound that Alex recognized.

  “Whoa, hold up a minute,” Alex called out.

  The officer paused. “Don’t leave him alone in a cell,” Alex instructed. “The last bastard that started chanting that garbage hanged himself. And I want this one to go to trial.”

  The officer nodded. “No problem.”

  Casey walked over to Terry and motioned at another uniformed officer. “Take this one, too. On the same charges,” he added.

  Terry’s eyes grew wide with fear. He shook his head. “But you don’t understand. This wasn’t supposed to happen. You can’t arrest us. We’ve got the power. We—”

  “Not anymore you don’t,” Casey retorted. “All you’ve got now is a cell and the electric chair waiting on you. Be sure and read him his rights,” he told the officer who was pulling Terry toward the door.

  “No,” Terry cried and jerked loose. “This is all wrong. I didn’t kill anyone.” He frantically glanced around the room as if seeking help, but when the officer took a firm hold of his arm and began reading him his rights, Terry hung his head and closed his eyes. As soon as the officer finished, he opened his eyes and looked straight at Alex. “It was all a lie. The Dark Rite, the rituals, all of it was a lie, wasn’t it?”

  Alex nodded. “Afraid so.”

  “Well I’m not going to the chair for him. He’s the one that pulled the trigger.”

  Alex took a menacing step toward him. “Who pulled the trigger on who?”

  “It was Bernie. Bernie shot Michael and the woman. I saw him.”

  “Sorry, pal,” Alex said sarcastically, “but if you helped Keller, then you’re just as guilty as he is.” Alex made a disgusted sound. “Get this piece of dirt out of my sight,” he told the officer.

  He glanced over at Shaw who was staring at the smashed discs. His mouth stretched into a thin line of disapproval. “Thought we’d agreed not to destroy the discs and gramophone,” he said.

  Shaw kicked at the horn, the only part of the gramophone that was still in one piece. “What can I say? I’m a politician—or I was. And everyone knows that politicians twist the truth to suit their purposes, don’t they? So, unless you need me anymore tonight, I should go prepare a press release. When the media gets wind of this, I can kiss my political career goodbye, so I best get prepared.”

  “I’ll need a statement,” Alex said. “But that can wait until morning. And one other thing,” he added. “Just a warning. There will be an official investigation to determine your part in all of this.”

  Shaw nodded. “I figured as much, but thanks for the warning. Now…could someone give me a r
ide home?”

  “I’ll drop you off,” Casey volunteered, then turned to Alex. “I’ll see you at the station,” he said pointedly to Alex. “Vacation or not, you’re not leaving me with all the paperwork on this one.”

  “I’ll be there, but…” Alex turned to face Maddie, and with a determined look on his face, he narrowed his eyes. “I’ve got a couple of things I need to take care of first,” he said. “Starting with a very special lady.”

  When Keller had been choking him and he’d realized that there was a good possibility he was going to die, thoughts of Carla and Maddie and missed opportunities had filled his mind. Alex had told himself, had prayed, that if he could have just one more chance, he wouldn’t waste it this time. Then, like a miracle, his prayer had been answered. Like an avenging angel, Maddie had rescued him, and now he had his chance.

  Closing the door behind Casey and Shaw, Alex turned and held out his hand. “Maddie.”

  Her name on his lips was a whisper of need, and Maddie knew that this time she wasn’t imagining the look of love and longing in his eyes.

  Carla’s presence, the disagreements and differences between her and Alex, and all of her misgivings about his intentions faded. Her name on his lips and his hand extended toward her were all the invitation she needed as she came willingly into his arms.

  “Oh, Maddie,” he said, his voice low and hoarse as he gathered her close and held her so tightly that she could barely breathe. “I love you. These past days without you have been hell, and I don’t want to lose you, ever again.”

  For seconds, Maddie was so overjoyed, she couldn’t think straight. This was what she’d wanted, had hoped for, had prayed for, but…She wedged her hands between them and pushed him back. “Alex? Why now? Why did you wait so long to tell me?”

  Just as Alex opened his mouth, the jarring ring of the phone interrupted. With a sigh of impatience, Maddie glared at it for a moment before returning her gaze to Alex. Whoever was calling could damn well call back, she thought.

  But the phone continued ringing, a second time, a third time “Guess you’d better answer it,” Alex said.

  Maddie shook her head. “Later—”

  “Oh, for Pete’s sake! I’ll answer it.”

  Maddie and Alex both turned in time to see Carla pick up the receiver.

  “Hello,” she said, tilting her head and listening. “Yes,” she answered, “but—” She frowned. “I don’t know.” She glanced at Maddie. “Okay, I’ll see.” With excitement glittering in her eyes, she held out the receiver. “Sorry, Maddie, but it’s Tara, and I think you should talk to her.”

  “Tell her I’ll call back.”

  Carla covered the mouthpiece with her hand and shook her head. “It’s important. Really important.”

  Alex pulled Maddie close for a brief hug. “Go on. Talk to her. I’ll wait. I promise.”

  With one last searching look, Maddie finally nodded.

  Ten minutes later, Maddie, feeling dazed and uncertain, slowly hung up the telephone. Only days ago, she would have been in seventh heaven to hear Tara’s news, but now…

  Taking a deep breath and feeling as if she were treading in water near the edge of a hurricane, Maddie turned to Alex. “I’ve got a job offer. To tour with Bobby Vine.” The expression on Alex’s face stayed the same, and her insides quivered as excitement battled with caution. The job was a dream come true, but at the same time, she didn’t want anything to come between her and Alex. She swallowed hard. “But I don’t have to take it if—if you don’t want me to,” she blurted out before she had time to think of the consequences. “I mean—I—”

  Alex shook his head and crossed the room. “Maddie, it’s okay.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I know how much your music means to you. One thing this whole ordeal has taught me is that I’ve been too narrow-minded and judgmental. I won’t stand in your way—” He glanced at his daughter. “Or Carla’s, from now on. If…if you’re both willing to try to be patient with me, we’ll work it out somehow.”

  Knowing how much this concession was costing Alex, Maddie’s heart melted. “Oh, Alex, I love you so much.”

  “Enough to marry me?” he whispered.

  For an answer, Maddie wrapped her arms around his neck, and with her lips, she tried to show him just how much she cared.

  Neither knew how much time had passed when Carla cleared her throat. “Maybe I should take a walk…or something,” she offered. “That is, if you two need to be alone,” she finished self-consciously.

  With identical sighs, Maddie and Alex reluctantly ended the kiss. “Sorry,” he said softly, his forehead against hers.

  Maddie shrugged. “It’s okay.” Her lips were still tingling and her body humming with need, but Maddie figured that anticipation would only serve to heighten the pleasure of finally being with Alex again. “Besides, I got the feeling that if you don’t show up and help Casey with that paperwork, he might come looking for you.”

  “Yeah. I do need to go…but I don’t want to.”

  “Go and do what you have to do,” she said. “Carla can stay with me tonight, and we’ll both be waiting for you when you finish.” Then she grinned. “But only if you promise that our engagement will be the shortest on record.”

  Alex smiled and whispered, “You’ve got it, sweetheart.”

  ONCE HE WAS in his car and driving away, the euphoria Alex had experienced faded somewhat as he thought about the one other thing he needed to take care of.

  He reached up and gingerly slid his finger along his cheek. It would probably be black and blue by morning and his ribs felt as if he’d been hit by a freight train, but for now, a few bumps and bruises were the least of his worries.

  With a heavy sigh, he reached over and punched out a telephone number on his cell phone. It was answered on the third ring.

  “Jack, this is Alex. I’ll be at your place in fifteen minutes.” Without waiting for Jack to comment one way or the other, Alex disconnected the call.

  Exactly fifteen minutes later, he knocked on the door to his old friend’s apartment.

  The door swung open immediately “Alex, what the hell is going on?” He tilted his head. “Jeez, man, what happened to you? Have you been in a fight?” He motioned for Alex to come inside, then he shut the door.

  “Are you hurt? Here, why don’t you sit down.”

  Alex shook his head. “What I have to say won’t take long.”

  “Sounds serious. But tell me, how does the other guy look?” He laughed, but when Alex didn’t join in, he quickly sobered. “Come on, man, lighten up. What’s this all about? I thought you were supposed to be on vacation.”

  “And I thought that of all the cops in the city, you were the least likely to be dirty.”

  Jack stiffened and narrowed his eyes. “Care to explain that remark?”

  Alex’s insides churned. He owed Jack his life, his career, but he didn’t owe him Carla’s and Maddie’s lives, or the countless lives of others that had been lost because of the Dark Rite. “I’m here as your friend, not a cop,” Alex said tiredly. “Tonight, Casey and I arrested Bernie Keller and Terry Carter for the murders of Michael Johnson and Caroline St. Pierre.” Jack started to speak, but Alex held up his hand. “No! Let me finish. Before you say anything, I think you should know that Terry Carter confessed to having witnessed the murders.”

  Right before his eyes, Jack seemed to crumple. “I knew it would happen sooner or later,” he said hoarsely as he backed up then sank onto the sofa. Slumping forward, he propped his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands. “Oh, God,” he groaned. “I meant to tell you…wanted to tell you so many times, but—” He dropped his hands and raised his head, and in his eyes, Alex could see misery and deep remorse.

  “I couldn’t stand the thought of you finding out.” He groaned again and dropped his gaze to the floor. “Not after all that stuff I’d preached to you about taking care of your job.” He paused then looked up at Alex again. “Not that it will make
a difference,” he said, “but Keller was blackmailing me. I slipped upjust once—about a year ago. I got paid for looking the other way during a drug bust. Just one time, dammit—the only time ever, I swear. But that’s all it took. The dealer was a member of the Dark Rite. He told Keller, and ever since, I’ve been his puppet.”

  Seconds ticked by, minutes, a lifetime of friendship, or so it seemed as Alex and Jack stared at each other. Alex didn’t know what to say, so he chose to say nothing. He finally looked away then turned and walked to the door. Once there, he paused, but he didn’t face his friend again. “One more thing—a warning,” he said. “I’m going after your pal, Arnie Turner, and by the time I get through with him, he’s going to be singing like a nightingale. Internal Affairs will be notified, so, if I were you, I’d have all my T’s crossed and I’s dotted, and I’d get myself a damned good lawyer.”

  Once outside, Alex took a deep breath. When one door closes, another one always opens, he thought, recalling one of his mother’s many sayings about life. He would miss his friendship with Jack, but he had a feeling that Maddie would more than fill that empty place inside him.

  EPILOGUE

  ALEX FOUND his reserved seat in the middle of the front row of the high school auditorium just as the curtains on the stage swished open and cheers broke out and the audience surged to its feet.

  Dressed totally in black and holding a microphone, Carla was standing in the middle of the stage. She held up her arm, gave a signal and the drummer in the tenpiece band behind her let loose with a flurry of syncopated beats just before the rest of the band joined in.

  Pride swelled within him as Alex watched his daughter and her band perform their ear-deafening music.

  His daughter.

  Alex still smiled each time the two words came to mind. She’d always been his daughter, but now she was all his—full custody. Not just on the occasional weekend or holiday—at Joan’s whim—but twentyfour hours, seven days a week, from now on. And victory had never tasted sweeter. Now he could finally be a “real” father to his daughter. A court of law, along with Carla’s testimony, had deemed it so only days ago.