[Charlie Rhodes 06.0] The Incubus Impasse

by Amanda M. Lee

  “We won’t take any money,” Jack promised, waiting until she disappeared to point at various places in the room. “There’s not much here. It won’t take long to go through things. We need to split up and check everything. There has to be a clue here.”

  “Good idea,” Laura said. “I’ll take the bedroom with you.”

  Jack looked as if he was going to argue, but I was too worried about the fact that Liam was apparently on the run to care if Laura wanted to make a fool of herself. “Fine,” he said when I immediately moved into the living room with Casey. “Don’t do anything annoying.”

  “I think you have me confused with your girlfriend.”

  “That will never happen.”

  I tried to tune out the sound of their muted sniping and focused on the living room. It was barebones: a coffee table, ratty couch and an entertainment stand. “There’s not much here to go on.”

  “No, but we should still look.” Casey immediately went to the couch and started removing cushions. “I know I just met you, but can I ask you a question?”

  I was expecting this. He couldn’t possibly think Laura’s behavior was normal. “Yes, she’s always like this. No, I don’t know why.”

  He let loose a low chuckle. “Not that. I know that Laura is ... well ... Laura. She can’t seem to help herself. I think it stems from a place of insecurity. Some people turn inward when they feel inadequate. She turns outward and attacks anyone in her general vicinity. You probably shouldn’t take it to heart. She simply can’t help herself.”

  That was an interesting observation, and it was one I’d come to believe myself. I was hardly a psychology student, but I took a few classes in college to round out my requirements. Laura was a textbook case. “How long have you known her?”

  “About two months.”

  “Are you dating?”

  “We ... spend time together socially.”

  Well, that was a very diplomatic answer. Reading between the lines, it meant they were getting busy but leaving emotions out of it. From his point of view, maybe that was the smart move. Laura’s brain had to be a minefield. But if that was true, I felt a bit sad for Laura. No wonder she was panting after Jack.

  “You said you had a question and it didn’t turn out to be about Laura,” I said, changing the subject. “What’s your question?”

  “It’s about you.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Laura doesn’t seem to like you at all,” he offered. “I expected you to be evil, but you’re enthusiastic and fairly nice. Laura is definitely jealous of you, but I think that goes back to her feeling inadequate. What I want to know is how you put up with her? If I were in your position, I would get her fired.”

  Hmm. That smelled like a trap. Could Laura sense that Chris was trying to amass enough information to have her removed from her position? Did she realize he was almost there? Did she bring this guy in to get confirmation? If so, it was smart to send him after me first. I have an absolutely huge mouth and don’t know when to shut it.

  “I don’t really think that way,” I replied after a moment. I decided to opt for the truth. “I feel more sorry for Laura than vindictive.”

  “Jack doesn’t feel that way.”

  “In Jack’s mind she’s attacked us – both of us – so many times she’s a legitimate threat. If she would just back off ... well, they wouldn’t be friends but he wouldn’t be so agitated all the time. She purposely pushes him. It’s as if she thinks she’s going to be able to turn him to her way of thinking, but if she believes that she doesn’t know him at all.”

  “You read people well, too,” Casey said as he went back to his search. “You seem to fit in well with the group. It’s obvious Laura is the odd one out.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “No. I plan to make a name for myself separate from her. I am curious about you, though. She mentioned you were an orphan, abandoned by your parents and then adopted. You grew up in the Midwest and then put yourself through school. Do you know anything about your real parents?”

  “The Rhodes were my real parents.” My gaze fell on something familiar on the small table by the door and I immediately started walking toward it. “The people who abandoned me aren’t real to me. I don’t really care about them. They didn’t want me, so I don’t see why I should care about them.”

  “You’re not even a little curious? If I found out I was adopted all I would think about was the real family I was separated from. I would be obsessed with it.”

  “Well ... I don’t think that. I don’t think of the people who left me as my real anything. They’re just the people who decided they didn’t want me.” I picked up the book on the table and frowned when I flipped it over. I definitely recognized it. “Jack!” I called out his name. The space was so small he was back in two seconds.

  “What’s wrong?” He was instantly alert.

  “Look at this.” I held up the Bible.

  He narrowed his eyes when he saw it. “That’s the same Bible Savannah Billings had in her apartment. Does it have the same stamp inside?”

  I opened it to check and found a business card inside. “It does have the same stamp. It’s definitely from the same church.”

  “What’s that?” Jack asked, moving closer when he saw the card. “Is that from the church, too?”

  I studied the card and shook my head. “No. It’s from something called the Down & Dirty. It’s a bar by the docks and it apparently prides itself on having places in the dirt to pass out if you drink too much.”

  Jack pursed his lips. “Another bar. Maybe it’s another hunting ground.”

  “Maybe,” I agreed. “It’s probably not open yet. We need to check out the church first.”

  “I’m right there with you. It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore.”

  Twenty-Six

  The church was cool and quiet when we entered a second time. The stillness was shattered by Laura, who let out a huge exclamation of dismay when she saw the ornate crucifix on the wall. It really was ostentatious ... and a little bloody for my taste.

  “Well ... that’s just all kinds of wrong,” she complained. “Good God, who chose that ugly thing?”

  The only person in the vestibule was Gretchen and she didn’t look happy to see us. “Back again I see,” she noted, her gaze bouncing between us. “And this time you brought sinners with you.”

  The statement would’ve been hilarious if I didn’t think she meant it to her very core. “Just one sinner. She desperately wants to repent.”

  Confusion etched itself in Laura’s features. “Are you referring to me? Am I supposed to be the sinner? You’re the one practically living in sin with Jack. I mean ... the way you two carry on.”

  “Shut it,” Jack ordered, his tone no-nonsense. When he turned back to Gretchen he had a pleasant expression on his face, but it didn’t make it all the way to his eyes. He was clearly starting to feel the strain of having Laura along on this excursion. I had to wonder what happened in Liam’s bedroom when my back was turned. Ah, well, it didn’t really matter. I trusted Jack implicitly, just as I trusted Laura wanted to cause trouble however she could.

  “Hey, Gretchen,” Jack offered. “I was wondering if Reverend Rodriguez might have a few moments for us. It’s important.”

  I noticed he didn’t ask to see the older reverend. Alexander was just a bit too curmudgeonly for even him to handle.

  “He’s very busy,” Gretchen replied. “I’m not sure he has time for you.”

  “We’re investigating multiple murders,” Jack reminded her. “Perhaps that’s more important than whatever he’s doing. I think he would want to help. I would appreciate it if you would at least ask him if he can spare a few minutes.”

  Gretchen’s face was a mask of unidentifiable emotions. She heaved out a dramatic sigh and nodded. “I’ll check with him. You’re to wait here.” She started toward the back offices and then stilled before turning back. “Don’t touch anything. And, remember, God
is watching.” She gestured toward the crucifix on the wall before disappearing.

  “Well, she’s great,” Laura said when she was gone. “I don’t know why every church doesn’t have one of her. I mean ... she’s a real people pleaser, a party person for the new millennium.”

  “Shut up, Laura,” Jack snapped. “We need a favor from these people. Deriding them won’t get it.”

  “Oh, like you weren’t thinking it,” she shot back.

  We spent the next three minutes in absolute silence. When Gretchen returned, she didn’t look happy. “He asked that I bring you back.” It was clear what she thought of that request, but she was, if anything, subservient to the two reverends ... perhaps one more than the other.

  Samuel had tea ready when we joined him. He looked apologetic. “I’m sorry you had to wait. I don’t think Gretchen understands how important your work is.”

  “It’s fine,” Jack replied, sitting in one of the free chairs, which left me to share the couch with Laura and Casey. He clearly didn’t want to risk Laura playing games in a house of worship. “We don’t want to take up much of your time, but we have a situation. He proceeded to lay things out in a concise manner, but he left out certain things that he probably felt the reverend didn’t need to know about. He ended with a description of Liam. “Does that individual sound familiar?”

  “I don’t know.” Samuel looked perplexed. “That could be any number of people. Do you have a photograph?”

  “I’m sorry but we don’t. At the time we first interacted with him it didn’t feel necessary and the second time ... well ... he wasn’t exactly open to the suggestion of posing for photographs.”

  “No, I imagine not.” Samuel leaned back in his chair. “I don’t want to infringe on your privacy — I know how important that is for individuals in your line of work — but after you left, I did a little research on the Legacy Foundation. What I found was ... intriguing.”

  I sensed trouble. For a man of religious persuasion, chasing ghosts and hobgoblins might seem like blasphemy. I assumed Jack recognized the potential trouble, but it wasn’t as if I could warn him of what might come next. He was the leader of our little group. He would have to tread carefully on his own.

  “You did research or Gretchen did?” Jack queried, perhaps to buy himself time.

  Samuel’s chuckle was low and throaty. “It’s true that she initiated the research. She was ... perplexed ... following your first visit. I can’t say I blame her. Your friend’s interaction with Alexander set off a few warning bells.” He inclined his head toward me.

  “What did you do?” Laura’s tone was accusatory when she slid her eyes to me. “This is why you shouldn’t be allowed to question people. You’re bad at it.”

  “On the contrary, Charlie was forthcoming and honest, two things I greatly appreciate,” Samuel countered. “It’s obvious you’re looking for something outside the realm of the normal. Savannah was a regular parishioner, and we’re interested in making sure she gets justice.

  “The thing is, what I’ve learned about your group is ... difficult to wrap my head around,” he continued. “I think, simply to put all our minds at ease, it would be nice if we could be honest with one another.”

  “No more lies,” Gretchen yelled from the hallway, causing me to swivel in that direction. Sure enough, the door remained open. Apparently she was loitering in the darkness. There was nothing wrong with her hearing, but her personality and observation skills left much to be desired.

  “Gretchen, either come in and join us or go back to your duties,” Samuel ordered. “I don’t appreciate being eavesdropped on. We’ve had this discussion before.”

  There was nothing sheepish about Gretchen’s expression when she entered the room. She didn’t look as if she felt guilty in the least about getting caught. I had to admire her moxie. “I wasn’t eavesdropping,” she countered. “I was cleaning and happened to overhear part of your conversation.”

  “There’s nothing to clean in that hallway,” Samuel argued.

  “I was washing the floor.”

  “With what?” I asked, ignoring the dark look she shot in my direction. “I don’t see a mop or anything. What were you cleaning with?”

  “The power of prayer.”

  Oh, well ... . “I’ll have to look into that since I can’t afford a maid,” I offered lamely. When I risked a glance at Jack I found him shaking his head.

  “Charlie is enthusiastic,” Jack offered. “She wants to believe in everything. She has a curious mind. If she offended you, I’m sorry. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”

  “You misunderstand.” The look Samuel shot me was apologetic. “I have no problem with Charlie’s enthusiasm. It’s more that I’m ... intrigued. She mentioned a demon. My fellow reverend assumed she was talking about demons as a metaphor for aberrant human behavior. I think she was talking about something specific.”

  Jack hesitated, his gaze shooting to me. He looked caught. Because I didn’t want this falling on his shoulders, however strong, I decided to take control.

  “I’m talking about an incubus,” I announced, causing Laura to groan and Casey to sit up straighter. “Do you know what that is?”

  If Samuel was surprised by my answer, he didn’t show it. His expression remained flat. “Only in very academic terms. I know it’s a demon that seduces women and feeds on their souls.”

  “That’s pretty much it in a nutshell,” I agreed.

  “That’s blasphemous,” Gretchen announced, her eyes flashing. “You can’t talk about creatures from another world in the house of God.”

  “Actually, that’s not true in the least,” Samuel countered. “She’s talking about demons, which have strong ties to God. Remember, the angels fell for a reason.” He pinned Gretchen with a pointed look. “According to the Bible, what happens to angels when they fall?”

  Gretchen was taken aback. “They ... become demons.”

  “Exactly.” Samuel nodded once. “If it is a demon, we must be involved. God is involved. He banished the demons in the first place, didn’t he?”

  Well, that was a unique way of looking at it. “So ... you believe me?” I had trouble wrapping my head around the notion that he wasn’t at least going to put up token resistance.

  “I don’t know that I believe incubi are real,” Samuel cautioned. “I’m simply not as prone to denying the possibility outright. I find the possibility intriguing. May I ask what has caused you to come to this conclusion?”

  “Multiple things,” Jack answered for me. He proceeded to lay out our case in a precise manner, no embellishments. He didn’t catch my gaze while he was talking, which made me wonder if he was angry about me blurting out the big secret. It would hardly be the first time my mouth got ahead of my brain. I would have to wait until later for the fallout. He wouldn’t chastise me in front of an audience, especially when that audience included Laura. He didn’t want to give her any ammunition.

  “I tend to straddle a line when it comes to believing these things,” Jack continued, earning a snort from Laura.

  “Since when?” she challenged. “You’re always the one who doesn’t believe, even until the bitter end. And you’re almost always right.”

  Jack ignored her. “I don’t think we’re dealing with a human monster in this particular case.” He obviously couldn’t mention the ghosts. Nobody but Jack and I — and, well, Harley — knew about them. “I think this thing has to be a monster. Charlie believes with her whole heart. This time, so do I. I’m not asking you to believe if it’s too much of a leap. We just need to find this man. Even if he’s not a demon, he knows something.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you,” Samuel replied after a moment’s contemplation. “Your description could apply to multiple members of my congregation, but nobody goes by that name here. I’m reticent to point you in the direction of potentially innocent individuals. I’m sorry.”

  Jack shook his head. “I understand.” He motioned for me to s
tand with him. “We apologize for taking up your time. We’ll show ourselves out.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help.” He shadowed us to the hallway. “If you manage to get your hands on a photograph, please return. I’ll make sure Gretchen knows to show you back to my office immediately.”

  “We’ll do that,” Jack promised.

  I was the first to enter the hallway and I almost came out of my skin when I realized Alexander was standing directly on the other side of the door. His expression was dark, as if something terrible had happened and he was about to deliver some bad news. His eyes were directly on me as we filed out.

  “Good afternoon, reverend,” I offered. I felt awkward, as if I should say something, even if it was all kinds of lame. “How are you today?”

  “Fighting sinners, as always,” he replied. “I received word that you were here for another interview. I see you’re already finished. That means you’re leaving?”

  The way he phrased it made me think Gretchen wasn’t the only one with an eavesdropping problem. She probably wasn’t even in the hallway alone. He was most likely with her because she couldn’t wait to tattle on us. She took the fall when Samuel called out because Alexander had to be protected and she served as his shield.

  “We’re leaving,” I reassured him. The man made me feel distinctly uncomfortable. There was something off about him ... and not just because religion always made me itchy. I grew up with genuine fear that I would be struck dead if I entered a church because I was somehow an abomination. That fear had dissipated some with age, but remnants remained. Alexander’s countenance was doing little to ease my fear. “We’ll try not to come back unless we absolutely have to.”

  “That’s probably for the best,” he agreed. “You might want to pray in front of our savior on your way out. It couldn’t possibly hurt.”

  He wasn’t wrong, but that felt hypocritical so I simply smiled and nodded. “I’ll consider it. Have a nice day.”

  “Goodbye.”

  WE RETURNED TO THE VILLA BECAUSE we needed to strategize. Plus, I think part of Jack believed that we might be able to dump Laura and Casey if they became distracted by something else. He returned to Chris’s map and fetched a different colored marker so he could start working on my multiple pentagrams idea.