Malevolent

by S. Peters Davis

  “Yes, I agree with the same layout, but not so sure there were teens on both. It might actually be only one. It would be easier to cover up only one,” Jenna said. She pinched her lips together and her eyes narrowed. “But, both ships went missing at the same time, which implies a different direction of thinking. Like guilty for children on both ships.” She paced back and forth across the wide tile floor. “Where would they go with those ships? Out of the United States is my guess. I wonder where those children originated?”

  “They were trucked here in a sealed container. All of them are Hispanic, but none were fit to talk before Buster stole their souls. Tressa might have gotten some info on the sealed crate by now though.”

  A knock on the door stopped the conversation. “Kendra, you all right?” Derek.

  I opened the door and he walked inside.

  “I’m guilty of eavesdropping, but I’m only hearing one side of the conversation. Jenna, thanks for being on the case.” Derek glanced around the room until I pointed to where she stood. He nodded in that direction. “Now everyone knows about you, and I think we can all benefit from your thoughts. Can we take this conversation into the other room?”

  Jenna looked at me and then grinned. “I am a verified-certified criminal analyst, after all. Are you going to be all right with being the translator, Sparky?”

  “Haven’t I proven by now that I’d do anything for you?” I looked at Derek and told him what she had asked me.

  “You make the perfect translator. Let’s go. We’ve got some good discussion going on a plan. Thought I should let you know that Jackson just arrived, also.”

  * * *

  Derek

  I waved Kendra through the doorway and followed her into the meeting room. The unsteady anxiety jumping around in my thoughts relaxed when I discovered she was in the bathroom talking with Jenna about the case. We needed Kendra for so many reasons, and the more I shadowed her, the more I understood how much she meant to me personally. I realized part of my job would be to keep her thoughts positive, and that wouldn’t be an easy task when dealing with innocent young victims.

  “Kendra, dear, I understand we have a new team here.” Jackson walked over and gave her a bear hug. “Tressa informed me that now everyone knows of Jenna, and the critical part you play in translations.”

  Kendra smiled and pointed. “There’s Jenna, and she mentioned the fact that we need a new task force name. She thinks it should be something that identifies the paranormal or supernatural aspect.”

  Tressa smiled and rose from her chair. “I’ve got one. FBI VC and SIU Task Force. VC for the Violent Crimes and the SIU some may consider meaning Sensitive Investigations Unit and they wouldn’t be wrong, but we’ll all know that it means Supernatural Investigations Unit. So, what do you think?”

  “I think Jenna was looking for something more profound, but she realizes that most everyone wouldn’t jump on board with a paranormal-supernatural task force, let alone it being inside the FBI,” Kendra said. “She likes it, and wonders if everyone else does.”

  Jackson sat, and then everyone who was standing around the table settled in a chair. “We all have heavy hearts knowing those ships escaped during the night with abused young girls aboard. We believe the ships have been spotted, headed for the Gulf of Mexico. There are Coast Guard Units being dispatched as we speak, also two Navy Seal units, knowing how many armed men were on board one ship helped make that decision for both ships. Thank you all for following up with that information early this morning.” Jackson glanced at Tressa. “Good work.”

  And then he glanced around the whole table, and said, “I’m excited that you all know my daughter, Jenna, is still part of the team. We will need to be vigilant on covering that knowledge as if she is an undercover agent because in essence, she is. Not many would understand, nor take the idea of her still being here as serious, in fact, it could very well ruin every one of your reputations as a special task force agent and as a viable sane person.”

  He took a moment, cleared his throat, and again looked at each agent around the table. “Knowing what I’ve just told you is true, I’m going to ask who would like to leave this team? We will all understand if you’d rather not take the risk. Is there anyone here who would like to find another task force position. I can definitely make it happen.”

  I looked around the table also and couldn’t picture any one of the team leaving. We worked well together, looked out for each other, trusted one another. “Are you all willing to put your reputations on the line to stay?”

  A unanimous “yes” resonated in the room, and my chest thickened. These agents just accepted a paranormal pill and decided to swallow it whole.

  “It’s an honor and a privilege to have you as agents on the FBI Special SI Task Force,” Jackson stated. “Welcome to the new age of agenthood.”

  Everyone raised their coffee cups. “Cheers to the SI,” I said as a toast and we all drank in unison.

  Jackson patted Kendra’s shoulder. “Do you have some things about this case you’d like to share with us? I know you and Jenna have been dealing with events none of us mere mortals have had any knowledge of nor abilities to remedy. At least, not yet. Can you share?”

  Kendra looked at me, her eyes widened. “I’m not sure what should be shared…not that I want to keep secrets by any means. But, it might be too big a dose of the supernatural for agents just getting used to the idea that are things unseen by most people on the earth plane.”

  I nodded in understanding, recalling how hard it had been for me to accept…and the fact I still might not have all of the information. “Would you mind telling them what’s happening to the girls? The soul part…I’ve mentioned it but coming from you might send it home better than it coming from me.”

  Kendra gazed around the table, and then glanced back at me, maybe for more direction.

  “Tell them about Buster, what he is and what he can do, and maybe the part Bertellia is playing in all of this. Who knows, maybe someone will have an idea of ‘why’ or ‘what’ Bertellia is hoping to gain from Buster, from you, and from Jenna.” Saying that last part spooked the others around the table, especially Jackson. “Remember, I’ve also shared a lot about your ability, Kendra.”

  When Kendra still hesitated, Jackson picked it up, and asked, “What’s happening that we all should know, Kendra? I want you to be honest and straightforward. We need to know what we’re dealing with or our task force means nothing to any of us. No secrets, none.” Jackson scanned the room, above everyone’s head. “Jenna, keep her on the straight and skinny of it, nothing left behind…not one bit of information.”

  Kendra shared everything that she’d told me about Buster and Bertellia, some of it I had shared, but it came across much clearer from her. Luke, Ray, Tressa, and Jackson sat opened mouthed or wide-eyed through most of it. No one made a sound, other than a gasp of most likely shock.

  She even mentioned the comments Bertellia made about not being done using Kendra and how the Queen B wanted to abuse Jenna. My thought about using Jenna was most likely for leverage. None of the agents questioned anything, they simply listened.

  Kendra also shared the last thing that Buster said through the last dead girl, ‘This is only the beginning, bitches.’

  Everyone appeared stunned, tough to sit back and relax after hearing there was something out there that had the ability to eat souls.

  “Tressa, want to make another pot of coffee?” I figured something hot would help break the frozen faces around the table.

  Kendra left the room, maybe the dead silence drove her into the next room, or maybe she needed to talk with Jenna alone again. I let her go so the rest of us would have a chance to acknowledge and accept what she shared. Tressa appeared fully on board, but Jackson, Luke, and Ray were going to be hard sells for some of the information Kendra shared.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kendra

  “Sparky, come on. Let’s give these people some time to absorb and consu
me. I have something I want to ask you about anyway. Bathroom, now.” Jenna stood at the doorway waving for me to follow.

  Sadness consumed me as I looked around the table, knowing Jackson, Luke, and Ray would never think of me the same again. I had dealt with it forever, people thinking of me as something too different to actually respect. Tressa, bless her heart, went to fix another pot of coffee for the silent bunch. Derek gave me a nod with his lips pressed together, and I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant if all that I shared was a good thing or not.

  “Sparky, come on. You’re spooking me out right now and I’m the only spook in the room. Hurry up.” Jenna stomped a silent foot. Her dramatic reaction spread a smile across my face, and if anyone witnessed it, well, that would surely add to my oddness.

  I left the room at a steady pace, intending not to draw any more attention. The shuffle of chairs and murmur of voices as I entered the bathroom confirmed what they thought of me now. I clicked the door closed and slid my backside down to the floor.

  “Geesh, you look like you just lost your best friend.” Jenna settled beside me, tapping into my memory of moments from our college days. “Well, in a way, I guess you did.” She grinned.

  I chuckled, mostly because I might cry otherwise.

  “I’m so proud of you right now. And, I’m so sorry I never acted interested in your ghost sightings when I was alive. Gods, you must have hated me back then.” Jenna’s gaze wandered as if she might be thought-filled.

  “I never hated you. Actually, you were my only friend…at least the one that knew me best and accepted me with all of my oddities.” Now, what to do? “At some point, Derek will come looking for me, and I’ll need to go back and face the nay-sayers. Why are we in here?”

  “I think it’s time to get back to D.C. and see that voodoo priestess. Dad and the team have a handle on those ships, now we need to get a handle on Buster. Call Lisa.”

  “And say what?” My moments shared with Jenna’s significant other, Lisa, indicated she knew about the paranormal. She knew that I saw ghosts, in particular, Jenna. “The supernatural, what I label the dark stuff, like Buster, is a whole different thing than seeing ghosts.”

  “I’m telling you, she’s got a voodoo priestess, an aunt, who she adores. I believe Lisa knows a lot more about voodoo than she’s shared with me. Sort of like your grandmother with you.” Jenna tilted her chin up. “You hear me. Get your phone and give Lisa a heads up so she knows to tell her aunt. Preparation might be everything like it was for you with grounding me to the earth plane.”

  I snuck into the bedroom to find my purse and dig out my cell phone. There was a text message from Clare, my literary agent, asking how my novel was coming along. I squeezed my eyes closed for a beat, and when I opened them, Derek leaned against the wall next to me.

  “Are you doing all right?” He stepped closer and kissed my forehead. “You handled the team discussion like a true pro. Self-assured. Authentic.” He wrapped his arms around me and drew my body into his. “I’m impressed, and so are the others. I think that’s why they were so speechless because they knew deep down that everything you told them was the truth. And honestly, it’s tough having your worst nightmare be something that’s actually real. I know how tough it was for me to swallow.”

  My cell phone slipped to the floor with a thud. I slid out of his arms to retrieve it.

  “You’re calling someone?” His eyes narrowed.

  “Jenna thinks it’s time for us to get back to D.C. and that I should give Lisa a call about the voodoo priestess. This woman is Lisa’s aunt. If she has a heads up that we’re coming and why she’ll be able to gather the supplies needed to take care of Buster. Hopefully.” I glanced over his shoulder, where Jenna hovered.

  She dropped down to her feet and eased around Derek. “Hmmm, I wondered what was detaining you. Maybe Derek should be the one to tell Dad about you heading back to D.C. and why.”

  I arched a brow and mentioned Jenna’s thoughts to Derek. “Will you make the arrangements?”

  “Of course. I actually was thinking the same thing about getting you back to D.C.” He strode toward the door and stopped before reaching it. “Jackson just heard from the Navy Seal Commander, and both ships have been under siege and now designated as a controlled capture. We’ve got the ball rolling on Vinny Merretti and his Midnight Bliss activity. We’ve got another team coming in from the North Carolina field office to take over.”

  “Oh, I’m so glad those girls are saved.” I held my breath, he’d never mentioned anything about the girls. “They found them, right?”

  “They found them, and I believe they will be taken to the D.C. facility for rehabilitation like the other girls.”

  Relief swept through me. Now, if I only knew what would happen to the girls’ souls and the prostitutes’ souls once we destroyed Buster.

  Derek stepped back to me, his lips captured mine, and we melted into each other. Then he broke away, showing his dimple with a big grin. “Remember what a big part you played with this case, Kendra. And, Jenna, two thumbs up to you, babe.” He hugged me again, and then said, “Jackson is determined to speak with Gimbel. I should probably be with him as a second set of ears, plus I’m curious about what he has to say in regards to Tory. Shall we leave right after that meeting?”

  “Sounds perfect,” I said.

  He hurried out and was already talking with Jackson and the others.

  Jenna’s smile lit her whole face.

  “I’m proud of you too, for staying on the earth plane,” I said. “Your intel on that ship was priceless.” I narrowed my eyes as I studied her. “Jenna, because of you, we know the girls are on that ship.”

  “And, because of you, the others know what I saw. We make a solid team, Kendra. Think about what your grandmother said in regards to your calling. We’re meant to do this together.”

  I inhaled a deep breath, knowing she was right. What would my agent say if I asked for an extended leave of absence, one with no commitments or promises? She’d probably kick me to the curb. But maybe that wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things that did matter. I parked myself on the edge of the bed.

  Jenna rattled off Lisa’s cell phone number and I tapped the numbers in to save, and then called her.

  “Put it on speaker, please.” Jenna sat on the bed beside me.

  “Uptown High Steppin’ Dance Studio, Lisa speaking. How may I help you?” Music filled her phone, probably a morning class in session.

  “Hello, Lisa. It’s Kendra. We met last week.”

  “Jenna’s life-long friend. Of course, I remember you. How are you doing? And Jenna?”

  “She’s still part of the team. Both of us are doing okay. I hope you are too. Sounds like you might have a class in session, so I’ll make this fast. Jenna asked me to give you a call.”

  Her breath caught, and the music faded as if she’d gone into another room. “Yes, please go ahead. What does she need?”

  I quickly filled her in on Buster. How he had marked our souls and those of the teen girls. That he’d already stolen a number of them and hungered for more. I explained how prostitute souls had replaced those of the girls, using the girls’ bodies as vessels. Then I asked her about the voodoo priestess Jenna had mentioned.

  “Oh, yes, she’s my aunt, NaNa Rosa. She knows what to do. I can fill her in on what you’ve shared. When do you think you’ll be available to meet her?” Her immediate acceptance of what I’d told her surprised me, but her belief that her aunt could actually help astounded me.

  I glanced at Jenna.

  She had a huge smile on her face, even the corners of her eyes crinkled. “Told ya, she can help.”

  “We will hopefully be flying back to D.C. sometime today, so either tonight or tomorrow, if she can work us into her schedule.”

  “Kendra, from what you’ve shared, NaNa Rosa would clear her schedule to help destroy Buster. We know of soul-suckers. They are all about power, the more souls they absorb, the more power th
ey wield. I’ll be helping also. In fact, there will be a number of us helping.”

  “Thank you, Lisa. That gives me hope.”

  “Call when you get back in town. She’ll want to see you right away, I know she will. Bless you, Kendra. Give my love to Jenna.” She clicked off.

  Jenna stared at the blank screen on the phone, and then glanced up and caught me watching her.

  “Of course, you miss her, as I’m sure she is missing you.”

  “Maybe, when we get back to D.C., you can translate a conversation from me to her?”

  “Yes, I’d be happy to do that for both of you.” And, I wanted to get to know Lisa better. She might be able to fill in some blank areas regarding the dark side. “Jenna, I’m feeling a lot more secure knowing there’s someone with experience to help us. They know about soul-suckers, as in having experienced them in the past.”

  Right then the bedroom door slammed shut. The temperature dropped so much that my breath fogged in front of my face. A turbulent wind stirred everything not pinned down and darkness doused out any sunlight filtering through the windows.

  Jenna stared at me, wide-eyed. Then she grabbed at her chest. “It’s burning. That son-of-a-bitch is here.”

  The inside of my chest blazed like an inferno also. Damn. We’d never used the burning mix from the holistic store to hide our marks.

  Bertellia and Buster stood only a few feet from us. Buster’s mouth elongated into a grotesquely large black hole. His stench pilfered around us, sucking the oxygen from the air and making me light-headed. I dropped backward on the bed, unable to move. That hadn’t happened before. I wondered if it meant Buster’s power increased from the young souls he’d consumed at the FBI children’s facility.