Darkwater Truth

by Robin Caroll

  The skeleton. Of course. It all started with that.

  The car turned again. Dimitri glanced out the window into the darkness. They’d gone far into the warehouse district. Near the run-down area, and were on the back end. They had to be getting close to the cult’s headquarters…their home.

  He sat up straight. “So hold me accountable for releasing the demon. I accept responsibility for that. But let Zoey and Sam go. They’re innocent in my actions.”

  Jacob snorted again. “She’s not innocent, and neither is her child. His father was another woman’s husband.” He flashed her a look of utter disgust.

  Zoey spoke up. “You don’t know who his father is. For all you know, he could have been a single man I loved who died before we could get married.”

  Dimitri cocked his head. He’d never asked Zoey who Sam’s father was, assuming it was none of his business, which it wasn’t.

  But Jacob smiled. “That’s a lie, you fornicator. His father is Matthew Scordamaglia, who was married to another woman at the time of your bastard’s conception.”

  Zoey’s face went ghost white, and Dimitri knew Jacob was right. The fact that the cult knew such private details frightened him.

  “Ahh, you realize I speak the truth. I’ve not lied to you at all. It’s not in me to lie. My father would not tolerate it because God does not.”

  The car came to a stop. Moses killed the engine and got out.

  “We’re here. You’ll soon allow Matthew to meet his offspring.” Jacob lifted the gun pointed at Dimitri.

  Moses opened Zoey’s door and grabbed Sam out of her arms. The child stirred, but stayed asleep. Zoey reached to snatch him back, but Jacob put the end of the gun’s barrel against her chest. “No.”

  Moses shut the door. Zoey reached for the handle.

  “You go out the other door.” Jacob dug the gun harder into her chest. “Or you’ll leave this earth without ever seeing your son again.”

  She sagged against Dimitri, who reached for the other door handle and spoke firmly. “Let them go. She has nothing to do with me releasing the demon.” He was careful not to use the word innocent again.

  Jacob shook his head. “We cannot let her and her son go because they’re important parts of the ritual tonight. The one that will finally rid the world of the demon once and for all.” He pulled the gun from Zoey and pointed it at Dimitri. “Open the door and get out. Slowly.”

  — Addy

  “What is it?” Addy stepped into the security office to a tight fit. Geoff and Tracey were crammed in there with Sully and Hixson. “Well, hi, everyone.”

  “Hope you don’t mind. I stopped by to check on things on the way to the party and Hixson brought me up to speed.” Geoff gave her a half-smile.

  “He’s the one who told me to check all the side entrance video recordings to see if we could see someone coming in who wasn’t supposed to come in one of the employee or private entrances. That’s when we found it.”

  “What?”

  Tracey reached out and took hold of Addy’s hand. The warmth of her bestie’s touch reassured her, but also made her realize how cold she felt.

  Geoff nodded at Hixson. “Replay it.”

  Hixson tapped the big monitor, whose screen displayed a still screen of an alley. A second passed, then movement filled the side entrance alley. The car that she’d seen Dimitri and Zoey climb into filled the screen. Two men got out of the car.

  One climbed into the back seat, but faced the back seat. The car was like a limo, but not. It had one reverse seat in the back that faced the actual back seat. That’s where the man sat. There was a flash of a glint before the other man shut the door and headed toward the door to the Darkwater Inn.

  “Was that a gun he had?” Addy’s heart pounded. It had flashed so quickly, she couldn’t be sure, but it sure looked like the shiny metal of a handgun.

  “We think so, but can’t be sure.” Geoff nodded to Hixson. “Fast forward it to the next frame with people.”

  The monitor filled with static, then slowed as Dimitri, Zoey, and the driver who now carried Sam in his carrier filled the screen.

  “I saw this.”

  “Pause.” Geoff gripped Hixson’s shoulder and looked at Addy. “What?”

  “Daddy needed some fresh air, so we stepped outside. We were at the corner, near the front of the hotel so we could be under the lights. I saw them from the corner of my eye get into the car. I thought it was weird, but they drove off so fast, then my dad needed to go back to his room.”

  “Just watch.” Geoff let go of Hixson.

  On the screen, Zoey slid in, then Dimitri. While they weren’t clearly in focus, an image of the man in the back moved. Again, a flash of metal in his hand.

  It had to be a gun.

  It looked like Zoey sat in the middle of the seat, turning her knees toward the open door like she didn’t want to be near the guy in the back seat. Very un-Zoey-like. She was usually comfortable with all men, and Addy didn’t mean that in a rude way. Zoey just had an overdose of self-confidence and always seemed very sure of herself.

  Dimitri reached into his pocket and tossed something at the man, it looked like.

  Geoff tapped the monitor. “We think that’s his cell phone.”

  Which would explain why he hadn’t answered any of her calls.

  Dimitri’s hand came out of the car, reaching for the door bar. He turned his face slowly toward the camera and mouthed two words. Then he withdrew into the back seat, shut the door, and the car sped away.

  “What did he say?” He’d deliberately looked at the camera, knowing it was recording, and mouthed something. It had to be important.

  “We don’t know.” Geoff took her other hand in his. “I called a friend of a friend who has a deaf son, and he’s agreed to look at the video. I need your permission to send it to him.”

  “Yes, yes. Of course. Send it.”

  Geoff nodded to Hixson, who clicked a button. “It’s sent.”

  “How long will it take?” This was so unbelievable. How could this even be happening? Addy couldn’t even think straight.

  “Just a few minutes. Long enough for it to download and for him to watch it. He said he’d call as soon as he did.”

  She pressed her hand against her forehead and closed her eyes. Oh, Lord, please. She didn’t even know what to pray for.

  “Have you checked on your dad?” Tracey smoothed Addy’s hair behind her ear.

  “No. I really haven’t had time. I need to.” The tears threatened to spill out.

  “Call him now. While we’re waiting. Just a quick check-in.” As usual, Tracey was right.

  She pulled out her cell phone—blast it, she’d forgotten to charge it! At least she still had eight percent. Addy called Vincent’s number.

  “Hey, honey.” He answered on the first ring. Thank goodness somebody was answering her calls.

  “How’re you feeling, Daddy?”

  “A little better. I got sick as soon as I got to the room, but I ate some of that fruit—yes, a banana, and then some of the peanut butter crackers you gave me. I’m feeling better now. About to clean up and head back downstairs. How’s the party?”

  Geoff’s cell rang and he answered.

  “I’ve got to go, Daddy. I’ll see you soon. Love you.” She ended the call and pocketed her phone, then listened to Geoff.

  “Got it. Are you sure?”

  A pause. Tracey wove her fingers through Addy’s.

  “Yep. Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” Geoff looked at Addy.

  “Was he able to read his lips? Did he know what Dimitri said?”

  Geoff nodded. “We need to call the police, Addy.”

  Her heart was going to beat out of her chest. “Why? What did he say?”

  “Dimitri mouthed the words help and cult.”

  22

  — Beau

  Beau flipped through his notebook, a little shaken. He hadn’t expected to find the William Lowe he’d read so much about. To be ho
nest, he’d thought the man had to be dead. He did the quick math. The man was one hundred and one years old. He cleared his throat. “So, um, Harold was never part of the—of Cretum Deus?”

  Will raised his head, sitting up straight on the old couch, and looking down his beakish nose at him. “No. Harold was adopted before we left St. Mary’s. He was never part of Cretum Deus.”

  “Oh. I thought you guys were inseparable. That’s what we were told.”

  “We were, up until he left St. Mary’s. He was adopted. I’m sure there are records regarding that.”

  Something about the way the man spoke down to them. All of Beau’s training in the art of microexpression and deception detection seemed to scream at him. “Do you know who adopted him?”

  A car’s light shined in the window, only for a moment, as it turned down the side alley that ran alongside the building.

  Will waved away the question like he was swatting at pesky mosquitos. “I was a teenager at the time. Why would anyone have given me such information?”

  Marcel inched to the edge of his chair. “Harold didn’t tell you? Maybe when he said goodbye?”

  Will shook his head and smiled, as if they were silly, stupid children. “In an orphanage, most aren’t given the option to say goodbye. They are just there one day, gone the next. That’s how it was with Harold. We woke up one day and he was gone. One of the sisters told us to celebrate as he had been adopted.”

  The man was very good at redirection and evasion. Not very productive for the investigation. Beau flipped the page in his notebook, but before he could speak, Will shoved to his feet.

  The old man stood straight, as if to defy his own age. “If you have no more questions, I really need to see to some items as I do have plans for the evening.” He stared directly into Beau’s eyes, like he could make them submit to his power.

  Marcel bounced to his feet and took a step toward Youngblood, almost invading his personal space. “How is your son Solomon? We heard he was in an accident and was in the hospital.”

  A brief flash of annoyance lit in his eyes before a smirk tugged at his lips. “He’s resting now. He will be fine soon, with the care and prayers of his family. Thank you for your concern.” He waved toward the door. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I really must—”

  Beau stood and popped his notebook against his hand. “I do have one more question for you, Mr. Youngblood.” He struggled to keep the respect in his voice. Every time he looked at the man, the statements of so many women raced through his mind and turned Beau’s stomach. “Some music devices were placed in the elevator shafts at the Darkwater Inn hotel. Would you know anything about that?”

  He slapped away the question. “What does an old man like myself care about music devices?”

  But Beau recognized the deflection as Youngblood didn’t answer the question. Beau pressed on, refusing to accept the non-reply. “One of the electronics specialists on the hotel’s security team was able to trace the origin of remote back to this address.”

  Youngblood stared at him, almost through him. “There are many people here at our home of refuge.”

  Cult or no, if this guy was a religious freak, he would tell the truth, or at least not out-and-out lie. Beau hoped not anyway. “I’m asking what do you know about those music players?”

  Will Youngblood’s brows drew together until they almost formed a perfect V over his bent and oversized nose. He held his mouth slightly open, his lips forming a square and revealing his teeth. Or rather, a good pair of dentures. His lower jaw thrust forward. “I don’t care for your tone, Officer.”

  “It’s Detective, and I simply asked what you knew about the music players placed illegally at the Darkwater Inn that are remotely controlled by someone at this address.” Beau held his pen over his notebook and raised a brow at the old man.

  “Illegally, huh?”

  A second passed. Two. Three.

  Youngblood lifted his chin. “I’m afraid our conversation must end now, Detective.” He opened the door and in seconds, Levi Youngblood was at his father’s side. “These policemen are leaving now. They won’t be back without a warrant.”

  The old man gave a final glare to Beau and Marcel. “Gentlemen, I bid you good evening.” He turned and disappeared down the hall.

  Marcel took a step to follow, but Levi stepped in his way. “This way.” He blocked the hallway and gestured toward the front door.

  Not having another choice, Beau and Marcel headed out the front door.

  “If you come back, officers, please do have that warrant my father mentioned. Good night.” He shut the door.

  Beau led the way down the stairs to the cruiser. “I want to know who is killing any investigation into these people.” He pulled out his cell. Still no service.

  “Has to be somebody high up in order to stop us at every turn.” Marcel slipped into the passenger’s seat. “To have our request for a warrant so quickly dismissed and denied…well, you know it’s got to be somebody with power. Someone who has some serious sway over the legal system.”

  Beau shoved the keys into the ignition and turned over the engine. “All the complaints that had been filed against the cult and Youngblood himself…all buried or disregarded. Somebody’s controlling the police department, too.” Without more to go on, they couldn’t go back and ask for a warrant.

  Backing out of the driveway, Beau steered just a few feet past the building, then slammed the car into park on the street, just out of view of the cult’s place. “We need a warrant.”

  That didn’t seem very likely. Not if someone high on the food chain was set on protecting them. The whole thing made Beau angry. Not only were countless women over the decades subjected to sick perversions, but people had to have been brainwashed out of their wages and savings.

  But if the cult was being protected, they’d never get a warrant.

  “Nah, man, we need to figure out a way to get around the warrant.” It was as if Marcel was reading Beau’s mind. He pulled out his cell. “Still no service.”

  Beau thought out loud. “We don’t have time to send someone in undercover.” To get in and get into a position where the undercover could access useful information could take months…years even.

  Marcel nodded. “Well, if someone’s life was in danger…”

  “That’s the problem—none of these people think they’re in danger. They think everything’s hunky dory. Like Youngblood in there is saving them.” Beau shook his head. “These people need to go to a real church and hear the real gospel, not some man’s twisted version of the truth, bent to support whatever craziness is filtering through his mind.”

  “What about the kid, Solomon? According to what Addy said, Zoey was told he was in a serious accident and taken to a hospital, which he wasn’t. Youngblood said he was okay. Maybe we could go in to check on him?”

  Beau shook his head. “Youngblood was very careful in how he answered my questions about Solomon. He never said he was here, only we know he probably is. We don’t know if the son is involved in whatever is happening over at the Darkwater. That’s not enough for us to move without a warrant.” He snorted. “At least not if someone is protecting the cult.”

  “Well, we need to think of something.”

  Beau nodded. What, though? He didn’t want to leave. His gut screamed at him not to leave, that he needed to be close. Something was going to happen. Even the ominous way Youngblood said he had plans tonight sent shivers—

  “What the—?” Marcel jumped out of the car.

  Levi loomed down toward the car. “You officers having car trouble?”

  “No.” Marcel’s hand rested on the butt of his service handgun.

  Levi held up his hands. “I’m just being a Good Samaritan and checking on you. Because if my father thought you were surveilling our home, well, that might be considered harassment, and we wouldn’t want that, now would we?”

  The threat was barely veiled.

  Beau sighed. “Come on, Marc
el. It’s not worth it,” he said in a low voice so Levi couldn’t hear.

  Marcel gave a jerk of his head. “You have a nice night, Mr. Youngblood.” He got into the passenger’s seat and slammed the door.

  Beau put the car in drive and eased away from the curb. He glanced in his rearview mirror. Levi stood on the street, staring at the car.

  “We could’ve stayed, man. Public street. He has no right to imply we can’t be there.” Marcel clicked his seatbelt into place.

  “Yeah, but we don’t need a hassle. If they do have someone that powerful in their pocket who says we’re harassing them, it’ll roll onto Captain’s shoulders and then you know we’ll get a chewing.” He came to the stop sign and put on his blinker. Through the flashing light, he could make out Levi’s silhouette easing back from the curb. He still had that feeling that he shouldn’t leave. “We’ll just make a block or two, then circle back. Unless you have a better idea?”

  “I’m good with staying. Anything that’ll bring these guys down.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” Beau went down another block before making another right turn. If only he could get in that commune. They were hiding something.

  Beau just knew.

  — Addy

  “Yes, call the police immediately and tell them. Send the video if needed,” Addy instructed Geoff. She looked at Hixson. “Can you send that video to my phone?” She pulled it out of her pocket and handed it to him.

  “Your battery is almost dead, but, yes, ma’am.” Hixson plugged it into one of the computers and began working.

  Addy turned to Tracey. “Can I use your cell for a minute?”

  Tracey bit her bottom lip. “Ads, I’m sorry. I made a rule for myself that I’d stop carrying my cell on dates where I know the person well. So I’m not tempted to send a gazillion selfies or not pay my date due attention.”