by R. D. Brady
“I don’t see how,” Abe said. “I mean, yes, we did purification rituals. But no one is ever harmed. In fact, it’s for the good of the individual that the ritual is performed. Through it, an individual’s sins are cleansed. They rejoin the group as if the sins had never occurred. I don’t see how death could be part of that ritual. There must be some mistake.”
“We’ve found evidence that ties members of the Honu Keiki group to the crimes.”
Abe shook his head. “No. Obviously you don’t know our history—”
“You mean the Children of the Law of One?” Jake asked.
Abe looked surprised but relieved. “Yes, exactly. We don’t believe in violence. It’s just not what we do.”
“And you’re sure you’ve never run into any exiles since you left?” Jake asked.
“Unfortunately, no.”
Laney glanced at Jake, who shook his head. She stood. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Hanley.”
Jake extended a business card. “If you can think of anything else, please give us a call.”
“Of course. I’ll call you immediately,” Abe said, slipping the card into the breast pocket of his shirt.
A few minutes later, Laney and Jake were back in the car. Laney pulled on her seat belt as Jake started the car. A light drizzle had begun while they were inside with Abe.
Laney turned to Jake. “What do you think?”
“I think he’s hiding something.”
Laney was surprised. “Really?”
Jake nodded. “He wasn’t as surprised at the murders as he should have been. Hold on a sec.” Jake pulled out his phone and dialed. “Hey, Frank.” Laney knew Frank was Frank Culkin, a member of Jake’s research team. “Can you check Hanley’s phone records? See if he makes any phone calls?” He paused. “Okay, thanks.”
“I thought he was sincere,” Laney said.
Jake smiled. “That’s because you always believe the best in people. I tend to take a more cynical approach.”
Laney sighed. “He did seem heartbroken about leaving.”
“That I agree with. I just don’t agree that he hasn’t been in contact with any exiles.”
“Do you think he has anything to do with these murders?”
“I don’t know, but part of me hopes he does, because if he doesn’t, I don’t know where we go from here.”
CHAPTER 53
Malama Island, Hawaii
Noriko smiled as she helped five-year-old Skye place her painting on the shelf.
Skye looked up at her with big eyes. “I can bring it home tomorrow?”
Noriko ran a hand through Skye’s hair. “Yes. It will be dry by then.”
Skye looked past Noriko and let out a squeal. She ran for Jamal, who had just appeared at the school door. “Jamal!” she cried happily. Jamal picked her up and swung her around.
All Noriko could think was that Hanale would never have the opportunity to do the same with his daughter. But she shoved those feelings down. “She did great today,” she said.
“Of course she did.” Jamal smiled, holding Skye in his arms. The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck, a giant smile on her face. “Thank you,” Jamal said to Noriko.
Noriko held the door open. “You’re welcome.”
“Bye, Noriko!” Skye called as they headed down the path, waving furiously.
Jamal had to duck to avoid getting hit by an elbow. He lowered Skye to the ground and took her hand. Skye skipped happily next to him.
Noriko watched the two walk hand in hand down the path. She knew that, more often than not, families like Skye’s worked. In fact, Noriko wouldn’t change her upbringing for anything in the world. But she still couldn’t understand why those who wanted to stay with their own child were prevented from doing so. It hadn’t always been that way; the priestess had initiated the change only eleven years ago. Before that, it had been the mother’s choice.
Noriko felt the weight of the unfairness pressing down on her as she tidied up the classroom. She had just closed the supply cabinet door when she felt dizzy. She reached out a hand to the wall to steady herself.
A vision of a man popped into her mind. He was of average height, with light brown hair and a pear shape. He was walking down a busy street in some city Noriko had never seen. He turned into a parking lot. A man in black slipped out of a car behind him and aimed a weapon.
Noriko gasped, wanting to call out to the man. But there was nothing she could do. Two prongs shot out of the weapon and attached themselves to the brown-haired man. He began to shake, then collapsed to the ground.
The vision shifted. The man was now lying on a stone slab. His eyes were closed. Unmoving. His clothes were soaked and his chest didn’t rise. A different man stepped up from behind, a knife in his hand. He raised the knife high… and plunged it into the man’s chest.
Noriko screamed and fell to the ground.
The vision disappeared. Once again she was alone in the classroom, crouched on the floor. Her breaths came out in pants. She stayed there for a few minutes until she was sure her shaking legs would not fail her.
She quickly finished tidying up the school, then slipped out the back door. She kept her head down as she made her way to her home. She prayed no one stopped her. With relief, she saw her home ahead. She ran up the path and threw open the door. “Aaliyah?”
No answer. The Naacal meeting. She’s at the temple.
Noriko stepped out onto the lanai. She sat on a chair and pulled her knees up to her chin. She wasn’t sure how long she stayed there, the image playing over and over in her mind. The sun had begun to dip to the horizon.
“Noriko?” Aaliyah called from the front room.
Noriko jerked her head up and wiped at the tears on her cheeks. She stumbled from her chair, nearly turning it over, and hurried into the house. “Aaliyah, thank goodness. I need to speak with you.”
Aaliyah frowned. “You’re upset. What’s wrong?”
“Something horrible.”
Aaliyah shook her head as Noriko opened her mouth to explain. “You’re too worked up. Breathe with me first.”
Noriko was anxious to tell Aaliyah everything, but she knew Aaliyah was right. She needed to calm. She nodded and closed her eyes. She focused on her breathing—the breath coming in, the breath going out. With each successive breath, she felt more calm, more centered.
“Open your eyes, Noriko.”
Noriko did, feeling calmer than before.
Aaliyah took Noriko’s hand and led her over to the table. “Now, tell me what’s happened.”
Noriko took strength in Aaliyah’s unwavering love. “I believe I have the gift of sight.”
Aaliyah paused. Then a smile spread across her face. “That’s wonderful. And rare. You are blessed.”
Noriko nodded, knowing it was true. Only a few dozen people had developed abilities. Seers were held in high regard for their ability to foretell what was coming. But after her vision, she was not feeling particularly lucky. “It doesn’t feel like a blessing. It was so violent.”
Concern etched Aaliyah’s face. “Tell me.”
Noriko recounted what she had seen. Aaliyah’s facial expression grew more concerned as Noriko spoke. When Noriko was done, she felt better at being able to share the burden, but guilty for the concern she had caused Aaliyah.
Aaliyah took her hand. “It is right you told me.”
“But what should I do? I cannot let this poor man die.”
Aaliyah studied Noriko for a moment, then she stood and pulled the bolt across the door. She walked around and pulled all the shutters closed, and even closed the doors to the balcony. Noriko couldn’t remember ever having those doors shut, except during storms.
“Aaliyah?”
Aaliyah held up her hand and resumed her seat. She studied the tabletop for moment without speaking. Then she raised her eyes to Noriko. “You have been a wonderful blessing for me. I have been privileged to help guide you through this life.”
“And
I have been doubly blessed with you.” Noriko meant it. She couldn’t imagine having a more loving person in her life.
Aaliyah gave her a smile. “You know that in Honu we are of two minds. Some of us believe the old ways are the best for our people.”
Noriko nodded. It was not discussed openly, but she knew that a schism had been growing within the group. Aaliyah believed in the old way: pacifism, respect for the world, and a Naacal that guided the people. But the rules had become so much stricter lately, and banishments had become more commonplace. People were being sent away for even the mildest infractions. It was unsettling.
And then there was the Guard, and the guns they carried. Never before in the history of the Guard had guns been used.
“What you do not know,” Aaliyah said, “is that we have learned that some of those who have left us have found one another in the outside world.”
Noriko wondered where Aaliyah was going with this and what it had to do with her vision. She spoke slowly. “Well, it is good that they are not alone.”
Aaliyah nodded. “It should have been. But I am not sure it is.”
“I do not understand what this has to do with my vision. I’ve never seen the man before. He is not from Malama.”
“What about the people who hurt him? Have you seen them before?”
“I—they weren’t clear. But you can’t think—I mean, it was too horrible.”
Aaliyah licked her lips. “We have learned that some of those who have left us may have taken it upon themselves to punish the ones they see as being responsible for the downfall of the larger world. I wonder if your vision is part of that.”
Noriko rebelled at the thought. “Our people are responsible for what I saw?”
Aaliyah’s eyes were troubled. “It’s possible.”
Noriko gaped, trying to imagine how someone could come to that. “There must be something we can do.”
Aaliyah nodded. “With your help, there very well may be. Do you know who this person is? The one who is to be harmed?”
Noriko shook her head. “No. But I can draw his likeness. And I know where they will be. I can draw that as well.”
“Good. You do that.” Aaliyah stood up. “But let’s keep this just between us for right now, all right?”
“Why?”
“It’s safer that way.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Find some allies.”
CHAPTER 54
Baltimore, Maryland
Laney opened the front door of Henry’s house just as he stepped out of his office. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” Henry replied. “How’d it go?”
“I’m not sure,” Laney said. She followed Henry to the kitchen. Henry grabbed a plate of muffins from the counter as Laney took a seat at the table. He placed them in front of her. “Hungry?”
Laney reached for one. “Starving.” Using a napkin for a plate, she ate while trying to figure out how everything was connected. They knew someone was attacking companions of the Fallen, and someone was attacking the Fallen themselves. Gerard claimed both attacks were by the same group, but they had no proof of that. They had a link to Honu Keiki, but it was tenuous at best, and it didn’t look like Honu Keiki was to going to be helping them out. They needed a break—one simple thing that would make at least part of this insanity clear.
“How’d it go with the bookseller?” Henry asked.
Laney shrugged. “He didn’t really tell us much. Just painted a fairytale picture of his childhood.”
“What’s he like?”
Laney paused, picturing the bookseller. “Lonely. I think he really misses the group. He says he has friends and that he’s content, but if given the chance I think he’d go back there in a heartbeat. He says he hasn’t been in contact with any other exiles. I believed him, but Jake doesn’t.”
Henry raised an eyebrow. “And how are you and Jake?”
Laney hesitated. “Actually, it was nice. It was, normal, you know?”
Henry smiled. “Good. Where is he, by the way?”
Laney waved back toward the front door. “He got a call as we were walking in.”
Just then Laney heard the front door. Jake appeared in the doorway to the kitchen and took a seat next to Laney. “Ah, muffins.” He pulled one over and Laney handed him a napkin to use as a plate.
“Thanks,” he said with a grin. He took a bite before speaking. “That was Frank who called. Abe didn’t make any calls after we left.”
Laney felt her shoulders drop. “So we have nothing.”
“Not exactly. Because Karen made a call right after we left.”
Laney looked up in surprise. “Really?”
“Who’s Karen?” Henry asked.
“She’s the former owner of Hanley’s bookstore,” Laney said. “She still works there.”
“Who’d she call?” Henry asked.
“A couple from Taiwan—Derek and Maura Katz. I have one of the analysts running a background check on them right now.” Jake’s phone beeped. “And that should be them.” He scrolled through the message, then looked up. “Maura and Derek Katz were members of Honu Keiki before being exiled ten years ago.”
“Son of a bitch. He lied,” Laney said, feeling indignant. “I believed him.”
Henry laughed. “After everything, I love that you’re still surprised when people are dishonest.”
“It’s just—I felt bad for the guy.” She let out a breath. Goddamn it. “So what do we know about them?”
Jake scrolled through the information on his phone. “Maura and Derek Katz became residents of Taiwan eight years ago and had one daughter. She was killed in the tsunami in Japan when they were on vacation.”
“Oh my God,” Laney said. The tsunami that had hit Japan had resulted in nearly twenty thousand deaths. Two hundred and thirty thousand people were still displaced. “That’s horrible.”
That kind of loss—what did it do to a parent? Laney couldn’t imagine it. She was having enough trouble dealing with Max being gone, and he was still alive, just out of reach. The idea of losing him permanently… She sucked in a breath. Even the idea of it was too painful to visit for more than a second or two.
“Well, the good thing is now we have a direction,” Jake said.
Henry nodded. “I’ll pull a handful of analysts. I’ll make sure we find everything there is to know about the Katzes.”
Laney only nodded. She was still thinking about what the loss of a child could do to someone. Would it be enough to push them to murder?
Her phone buzzed, and she looked at it with a frown.
“What is it?” Henry asked.
“An email marked urgent—for the ring bearer. But I don’t recognize the sender.” It was sent from a TOR account, which meant someone wanted to keep their identity under wraps.
Laney immediately dialed one of the people in the IT department. “Hey, Cathy, I just got an email. Can you check and make sure there are no viruses or anything attached?”
“Yup, give me a second,” Cathy said.
Laney drummed her fingers on the table while she waited. Finally Cathy got back on the line. “You’re clear, Laney. There is an attachment, but there are no viruses attached that I can see.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Laney hung up. Well, here goes nothing. She opened the email.
Dear Ring Bearer,
You do not know me, but I hope you receive this email in the intent with which it was sent—to help. I have attached a picture of a man who I believe will be the next target of the group you are seeking. I could not think of any other way to help him. I hope you can find him in time.
Laney frowned and opened the attachment. It contained photos of several drawings; they appeared to have been done with colored pencil, by someone with a skilled hand.
In the first drawing, a man with brown hair and light green eyes stared back at her. She clicked on the next picture; the same man was walking down a street. The next drawing showed
him in a parking lot. In the final shot he was on a stone slab.
She felt her jaw fall open. “You guys need to see this.”
“What is it?” Jake asked.
“I think it’s a chance.”
CHAPTER 55
By what Laney could only describe as a small miracle, they had been able to find the man in the picture. In the first drawing, there was an emblem for a company on his shirt. They were able to trace it back to a plumbing company, Knight Brothers, based outside Charlotte, North Carolina. A quick search of his employer’s computer had revealed a name: Brian Hansen, age thirty-eight. Brian was married with one child on the way and had been with Knight Brothers for nearly twenty years.
Laney and Jen had immediately hopped on a plane. Now they sat in a car across from the plumbing headquarters. They had been trailing Brian all day, but all they knew so far was that he was not a Fallen or nephilim, and he really liked donuts.
Jen stretched her back. “You know, there’s a reason I never became a cop. Stakeouts are boring.”
Laney laughed. “Yes they are.”
Brian stepped out of the Knight Brothers offices. He was of medium height and carried a lot of weight around his stomach—no doubt due to his donut habit. The brown coveralls he was wearing did nothing to help his pear shape.
Jen nudged her chin toward him. “Heads up—here comes our friend.”
Brian headed down the street to the right. His wife worked at a diner a few blocks in that direction.
“Let’s go,” Laney said, getting out of the car.
“You go. I’ll drive ahead to the parking lot from the drawing.”
Laney nodded. They had already scoped out the landmarks they’d seen in the drawings. The parking lot was only three blocks away, right on the way to Brian’s wife’s diner.
Laney fell in step behind Brian. She had her ring on, but she wasn’t sensing anything. She scanned the street, but no one was paying any particular attention to Brian.
When Brian reached the parking lot, he turned in. Laney quickly picked up her pace so as to close the distance between them. She scanned the parking lot, but still didn’t see anyone. Where were they?
