by R L Delaney
“And…?” Both Amy and Justin listened with bated breath.
“It didn’t work,” Father Gálvez sighed. Rodeo, or actually the demon, was laughing out loud. A hysterical, cackling laughter and he said, “Jesum novi, et Paulum scio vos autem qui estis?”
“What does that mean?”
“It was a verse of scripture,” Father Gálvez lamented. “He said, Jesus I know, and Paul too, but who are you? Clearly I had no power over the demon. The horrible monster grabbed my cross and ripped it with his claw off my neck.” Father Gálvez bent over and showed the red streak in his neck. “Then he was just about to pounce on me, but I ran. I don’t know from where I got the power to run like that, but I think I must have broken the world record. God must have helped me.” He crossed himself. “That creature laughed so hard as I ran… I think I will never forget that awful, hideous laughter.”
He looked up into Amy’s face, tears now forming in his eyes. “All my life I’ve been telling people about the reality of the spirit world, but I have no power… I-I was so afraid. Why is that?”
Amy curled her lips. “I am hardly qualified to answer that, Father. But maybe earthly strength is not enough to battle such forces. Maybe some greater force is needed.”
Father Gálvez looked up, freely letting his tears flow. “You are a wise girl, Amy Stenson. All my books and all my knowledge didn’t help me a bit when I came face to face with that monster. I thought I had the power, but I clearly have not.”
Amy shrugged her shoulders. “I just don’t like these Shadow Walkers; they are nothing but a bunch of despicable lunatics sowing fear, but there must be something we can do to stop them.” An angry expression flashed over her face as she clenched both of her fists and tightened her jaws.
Justin looked up. “You are convinced then there are actual demons at work?”
Amy scowled. “What more proof do you need, Justin. We need to break out of the little box of our own world and take a deeper look. How else can we explain all this?”
Justin marveled and didn’t dare say a word for fear of appearing dumb. Deep in his heart he knew Amy was right. It was just so… different from everything he had ever believed to be true.
Was there really a spirit world? Were angels and demons a reality, after all? And if there was such a thing as a spirit world, then the devil existed too. And that was not a pleasant thought at all. As Justin thought about it, a shudder shot up through his spine.
But as soon as the thought had struck him, another thought welled up. You don’t have to be afraid of the devil. If he really did exist, then God existed too, and all the stories about prayer and God helping His children would be true as well. Still, the whole thing was somewhat overwhelming.
Father Gálvez let out a moan and raised his hands in the air in desperation. "What are we going to do now?" he sighed.
Justin stared blankly at Amy, and Amy shook her head. “I don’t know, Father. Is there nothing in one of your books that tells us how to get rid of Shadow Walkers?”
“I don’t know,” Father Gálvez answered in a droopy voice. “I thought I knew, but I lacked the power.” He thought for some time and then nodded to himself. “I’ve got a friend. He doesn’t live nearby, but I can contact him. He has a lot more experience with such things, and he may know something.”
“All right, Father,” Amy said. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Let’s stay in touch.”
Father Gálvez nodded. “We surely will, Amy. We surely will.”
Chapter Twelve
That night at the table, Justin did not say much. His mind was overwhelmed with all he had heard and seen that day, and he scarcely knew how to give all these impressions and happenings their proper place.
"You're so quiet, Justin?" Mother asked. She carefully sliced of a piece of the pot roast that was standing steaming hot before them on the table, and delivered it on Justin's plate. "Is everything all right with your girlfriend?"
"Sure, Mom. There's no trouble there."
“What then, Justin? You are never this quiet.”
“I am fine, Mom.” How could he tell his parents that a bunch of demons were about to invade Dewsbury. They would most likely send him immediately to Dr. Saleet Sabswari, the Pakistani man who had settled in Dewsbury as a psychiatrist a few years earlier.
After Mom had served Dad a piece of the roast, she turned her glance back to Justin, and a concerned glance flashed over her face. "I get it,” she said. “It's the chemistry test that's worrying you. But don’t worry, Justin, your Dad and I are fully behind you, Justin. We know you will pass, right Dick?"
Dad did not react, and Justin couldn't help but scowl.
It's not the test, Mother. There's something going on in Dewsbury, but you and Dad do not want to see it. Instead, he shook his head. "I am just very tired, Mom. It's been quite a week."
Just then Balthazar growled. He pushed his white nose against the door, while vehemently sniffing the space between the door and the floor.
"Stop it," Dad let out a guttural roar, hoping to impress Balthazar that this behavior was not acceptable, but it did not seem to have the least effect, as the dog began to growl louder.
"What's his problem," Mom said with a sigh. "Have you taken him out, Justin?"
Justin looked up. He had to admit Balthazar was acting a little strange. "I took him out when I came home, Mom."
"Did he do anything." Father was clearly irritated. "Going out does not help if he doesn't take care of his business."
Justin shook his head. "It's something else… Look, the hair on his back is standing up."
"I don't care if his hair is standing up, or if it's falling out. Make him stop, Justin."
Dad had had a rough day. Even though it was Sunday, he had been called up to fix a problem at the office, and although he would be paid the extra hours, he hated to work on his day off. As a result of his murmuring, he had gotten into an argument with Mom, and he was still sulking in his self-pity.
Justin figured the best thing to do was to take Balthazar out and see what the dog would do.
"I'll take him out, Dad," he said as he pushed his chair away from the table. "I'll eat my roast later."
"Good," Dad grumbled. "Then we can have a bit of peace around here."
Balthazar was pleased and kept on jumping up and down near the back door. They always went out that way, as it brought them quicker to the nearby park.
After Justin had gotten his shoes on and put the leash around his dog’s neck, he opened the back door and was met by sharp wind and a slight drizzle. The stones in the yard glistened in the light of the garden lamp Dad had installed a few months earlier.
Justin shivered. “All right, Balthazar, what’s up?"
The dog continued to growl and began to pull on the leash, but not in the direction of the park. The dog wanted to go to the front.
Justin shrugged his shoulders and decided to let Balthazar have his way. But then, just as they were about to step onto Garden Grove Lane, the street on which Justin and his parents lived, his heart skipped a beat.
There, hidden under the enormous chestnut tree on the other side of the road, and only sparsely lit by the light of the nearby streetlamp, Justin spotted the silhouettes of two men.
That was why Balthazar was growling.
Justin immediately ducked, and pulled Balthazar with him behind the yellow Forsythia bush, Mom’s pride and glory. “Quiet now, Balthazar,” he whispered, as he patted his hairy friend. “You must be very still now.”
Justin’s soothing words seemed to help as the dog calmed down, although he kept standing up, and while peering through the shrub, he refused to take his brown eyes off the strange men on the other side of the street.
Justin’s heart was beating faster. It was clear these men were up to no good. He narrowed his eyes in an attempt to see if he could recognize who these men were, but it was just too dark. One of them was pointing at their house.
Should he call Uncle Harry? Justin
felt in his pocket to see if he had taken his phone along. To his relief, he felt the comforting, silicon casing of his phone. Yes, it was there.
But calling would alert whoever these fellows were. He just had to wait.
As he crouched behind the Forsythia, his leg began to give him trouble. It was a most uncomfortable position but then, to his relief, there was movement under the chestnut tree.
The men were leaving.
He saw how the two men were shaking hands. One of them walked over to a dark Chevrolet that was parked nearby. It was impossible to tell what the color was. It was just too dark.
The other one walked away in the opposite direction.
The motor of the Chevrolet came to life, and seconds later the car drove off. The other man, his head bowed, seemed to move away fast. He was going in the direction of Locust Avenue. That would lead him out of town.
“Come on, Balthazar,” Justin whispered. “We’ll follow that man and see where he’s going.” Justin was too excited to feel the rain that was beginning to soak his coat. He needed his full attention on the creep.
Just as Justin had thought, the man took a right on Locust Avenue. That meant he would have to pass by Enoch Sutter’s Second Hand Paradise. That place was flooded in lights, and maybe there he could get a good look at the man and be able to identify him.
Justin was careful to stay away as far as possible, and yet close enough so he could identify the stranger, and kept stealthily moving forward.
As he had expected, the lights of Enoch Sutter’s place were on.
Good. That scoundrel had to pass through a sea of light.
The man walked fast, and within seconds he was through and entered the darkness again, but Justin had seen enough.
He knew who that man was, and it scared him.
He needed to call Uncle Harry, right away.
Seconds later Uncle Harry’s deep voice came over the phone and echoed in Justin’s ears. “Harrison Ames. Who is speaking?”
“Uncle… it’s me, Justin.”
“Justin,” Harry sounded surprised. “What’s up?”
“I’ve spotted Alfred Rodeo, Uncle… he was in front of our house, but now he’s walking away on Locust Avenue.”
Uncle was quiet for a moment. Then his voice came loud and clear. “Careful, Justin. That man is dangerous. Do you know where he’s going?”
“I am here with Balthazar, and it’s pretty dark, but I still see him. He’s now taking a left.”
“A left? That means he’s going to Bloomfield Boulevard… That leads out of Dewsbury.”
Justin’s breath came in short gasps. On the one hand, he wished he was home again talking to Amy over Skype, but on the other hand… this was so exciting.
“Can you keep an eye on him?” Uncle Harry said. Even though the detective was miles away from the scene, he was now whispering too. “I will get several police cars ready, and we are on our way.”
“I'll do what I can,” Justin whispered back. “Just don’t come too soon, and certainly not with flashing lights and blaring sirens. You don’t want to scare this crooked fellow away again.”
“Good thinking,” Uncle replied, “but if I don’t hear from you in five, I am coming.”
“Keep on the line, uncle,” Justin whispered back. “It makes me feel safe, knowing you are around.”
"Fine Justin. Just be careful."
And so Justin continued to stalk Alfred Rodeo; his iPad in one hand, and the leash with Balthazar in the other.
Bloomfield Boulevard was not a boulevard in the real sense of the word. It was really not more than the end of Dewsbury, leading into the Wintervale Mountains, and there were hardly any houses. While the first few hundred yards was still paved, and thus connecting Richard Wheeler’s chicken farm with the rest of Dewsbury, right after the chicken farm the pavement stopped, and the boulevard turned into a dirt road leading up to nothing…
“Wait,” Justin whispered in the phone to Uncle Harry, while his heart pounded even faster.
“What?” Harry replied, his voice tense and impatient.
“He’s going to Brad Denim’s old place. You know, that place that’s been empty for so long, since Mr. Denim died?”
“Are you sure?” Uncle Harry asked.
“I am sure, Uncle,” Justin replied. “I can see the farm. There’s light shining through the windows. I am certain that’s where he’s going.”
“Thanks, Justin,” Harry said. “I know enough. We’re coming.” He hesitated for a moment and then said, “Listen son… you are to go home. This is getting dangerous. Your Mom and Dad wouldn’t want you to stick around.”
Justin sighed. Was he going to miss the best part now?
“You hear me, son… Do I have to spell it out for you? You’re to go home!”
“What are you going to do, Uncle?”
“We’re going to arrest Alfred Rodeo again and whoever else is hiding out there in Brad Denim’s place. I have an inkling it’s not going to be very pleasant, and it may very well end up in a shoot-out. That’s no place for you…” Uncle stopped for impact, and then whispered, “Justin… your Dad will not forgive me if he knew I allowed you to witness a shoot-out. You need to go home. That's an order.”
Justin swallowed hard, but he understood Uncle Harry was right. “Yes, Uncle. I’ll be going home. I promise.”
“Good, son,” Uncle Harry replied. “Then get the heck out of there.”
At the same time Uncle Harry broke off the connection. Justin could still see asAlfred Rodeo was entering the old farmhouse.
It was then he realized he and Balthazar were soaked. It truly was best to go back home or he would end up sick in bed. He knelt down and patted Balthazar. “Good dog, Balthazar. You truly saved the day.” Then he got up and began his walk back home.
When he was halfway down Locust Avenue, five squad cars roared by. Justin spotted Uncle Harry’s face in the first car. The detective looked tense and had not noticed him and Balthazar. True to Justin's suggestion, the cars were not flashing their lights and the sirens were off. Alfred Rodeo and his creepy Shadow Walkers were in for a surprise.
For a moment the temptation to go back and witness whatever was going to happen, welled up in Justin’s heart, but he pushed the thought aside. A promise was a promise and he should not do anything to harm his relationship with his uncle. He would hear about it tomorrow.
Soon he reached Garden Grove Lane.
There was his house, standing as a bulwark of peace in the midst of a stormy night, illuminated by the streetlights. The chestnut tree, under which Alfred Rodeo and his wicked crony had been hiding, no longer held the fearful spell Justin had felt earlier.
Thank God he had called Uncle Harry. Most likely tomorrow the world would be normal again. Whatever Sternfoot and Principle Rigby’s role had been in all this, surely the end was near, and then he could fully concentrate on his relationship with Amy.
Life was looking up.
The next morning Justin was up before Mom and Dad. He wanted to be the first to read the newspaper, and was eagerly waiting for the delivery boy. As soon as he heard the boy coming and the paper was dropped on the front porch, he opened the front door and picked it up.
Usually he didn't care much about the Dewsbury Clarion, but this morning the newspaper was the first thing on his mind. Surely, there would be a report about the police raid on the old farm on Bloomfield Boulevard.
And he was right. There it was, right smack on the front page of the local newspaper of the town in which nothing ever happened.
Justin's held his breath as he read the report.
Chapter Thirteen
Shoot-out in Dewsbury By Luke Flashman
After an anonymous tip that could possibly lead to the solving of the mystery that surrounds the death of prize-fighter Alvaro Ironbark, the police force of Dewsbury raided an abandoned house on Bloomfield Boulevard late last night. For reasons yet unknown, as soon as the police arrived, someone in the house opened fi
re, instantly killing police officer Brian Ruiz. (25)
"Oh my," Justin's heart skipped a beat. A police man got killed…
Our police retaliated accordingly, which resulted in a shoot-out that lasted well over an hour. Police Captain Bob Devonshire later told your reporter, he figured there must have been at least ten men in the house. Our brave police suffered no further casualties.. One arrest has been made. It appears the others escaped through a tunnel, which was later discovered by the police.
Escaped? Justin shivered. These horrible men were still on the loose. It was not over yet.
He read on.
It now seems reasonable to assume that the local gym is involved as the man that was arrested, Alfred R, is the co-owner of the local gym of Dewsbury. Detective Harrison Ames, who was already investigating the mysterious circumstances in which prize-fighter Alvaro Ironbark had died, refused to tell us if there is a connection between the shoot-out and Ironbark's killing. He told our reporter that for the sake of the investigation no details can be shared.
It seems the evil that has been plaguing the world as a whole, has now settled on our beloved town as well.Justin let out a deep sigh as he pushed the newspaper away and stared blankly into space. What to do now?
Just then Mom appeared, still dressed in her nightgown, and she gave Justin a cheerful good morning greeting. "You are up early, son."
She noticed Justin's sour face and raised her brows. "Still worrying about Chemistry?"
But before Justin could answer there was a heavy thud on the front door. Mom looked at Justin, who shrugged his shoulders.
"It couldn't be the newspaper," Justin said. "I've got the Dewsbury Clarion already here."
"I'll take a look," Mom said, and she stepped out.
Seconds later, Justin heard her let out a scream. Almost immediately after, she stormed back into the living room, her face contorted in fear.
"T-T-Ther-There's…" But she couldn't finish her sentence and pointed with a trembling hand in the direction of the front door.
