Devil Hunters (Tales of the Crypto-Hunter Book 2)

by Rick Gualtieri

  Eventually, after walking for what seemed like blocks, they came to another elevator. This one took them up a few floors to an office building of sorts.

  “Please wait here for a moment.” Eric stepped away and pulled a cell phone from his jacket pocket. A few moments later, he rejoined the group. “We’re right on time. The governor will appreciate that.”

  “Right on time for what?” Mitchell asked, but the security director ignored him. Turning again, he beckoned the group to follow.

  Derek gave each of them a quick glance and then shrugged. The meaning was hopefully clear: what else were they going to do? They followed Zeist out into the lobby of the building. Suited men lined the room – obviously more security.

  Derek looked beyond them to the doors leading outside and stopped in his tracks. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

  A small crowd was gathered at the bottom of the steps. Judging from the cameras and notepads present, it wasn’t hard to guess their purpose. At the top of the stairs, behind an ornate podium, a stout man stood facing the reporters.

  Derek turned to the security director. “Is this what I think it is?”

  Eric simply replied, “This way, please, and be sure to smile for the cameras.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “As fellow New Jerseyan, we should take pride in our great state. Pride in its people, its resources, and especially in its storied history,” the man – Governor Yarlberg, based on photos the group had seen of him – said into the microphones atop the podium. “That history includes the legends passed down from our Native American brothers to the first settlers of this fine land. While some might argue that these legends are little more than silly superstition...” Chuckles and guffaws could be heard from the crowd. “There are those who take these things seriously. Who are we to judge? If these tall tales are true, though, then my guests today will be the ones to drag them kicking and screaming into the limelight. I am pleased to welcome to our great state the cast of The Crypto Hunters!”

  “Idiot can’t even get the name of the show right,” Francis mumbled.

  “Not now,” Derek warned, trying to keep a smile on his face as they were herded out in front of the press.

  There came a mix of cheers, mingled with some more laughter, as they made their way to Yarlberg. Flashbulbs went off and a few catcalls could be heard as Danni appeared by Derek’s side.

  Yarlberg sandwiched himself between them for a photo op, taking the opportunity to put one meaty arm around Danni. Derek wondered for a moment whether she would slug him. A part of him hoped she did. At least that way they could end this charade and get to work. Unfortunately, punching out elected officials probably wouldn’t endear them to the folks in Washington.

  Playing along, at least until they could get the governor alone to explain himself, the group smiled and waved as pictures were taken. Eventually, Yarlberg peeled himself off of Danni and stepped back to the podium. Derek had a sneaking suspicion of what was coming next.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I present esteemed cryptozoologist...” A few snickers were heard from the crowd. “...and host of The Crypto Hunters, Dr. Derek...” He paused for a moment to look down at his notes. “Jenner!”

  Derek inwardly sighed, but stepped forward anyway. If they had to play this game, so be it. Over the past several seasons, he had gotten used to both being in the spotlight and adlibbing for the camera. As leader of the team, it was sometimes his job to play the part of the dancing monkey.

  Time to dance. “Good afternoon, everyone. How are you doing on this fine day? I know I speak for my team and the wonderful folks at the Adventure Channel when I say I hope nobody ran into any Chupacabras on the way over.”

  That elicited a few laughs, as Derek knew it would. Nothing like a softball joke to win the crowd over. “I’m happy to take any questions you might have.”

  A woman near the front raised her hand. She was a tall brunette with intense eyes. Derek nodded in acknowledgement and she said, “So, Mr. Jenner, why exactly are you here in the Garden State?”

  He ignored the bait. Most people tended to assume his title was bullshit, added to make his credentials seem more legitimate. Of course, five minutes of actual research would have proven that assumption wrong, but then, Derek had never known the mainstream press to bother with details when good old-fashioned muckraking was so much easier. Instead, he replied, “We’re here searching for the most elusive creature of them all ... an honest politician.”

  That brought the desired result, including some decisively overplayed guffaws from Yarlberg himself.

  “Seriously, folks, we’re here to do our job, which is searching for the truth.”

  “So you’re telling us that the Jersey Devil is real?” the same woman asked.

  “I’m telling you that my team and I keep open minds. We’re here to evaluate the evidence, conduct an investigation, and form conclusions based upon them.”

  “You don’t have any preconceived notions?”

  “Just one ... avoid the parkway at rush hour.”

  More laughter ensued, except from the reporter. She kept at it, straight-faced.

  “Is there any truth to allegations that you’re here at the request of the governor to investigate alleged victims of the beast?”

  So much for winning over the crowd. “And you are again?”

  “Julia Wilhelm, WGXP News.”

  “Well, Miss Wilhelm, I wouldn’t know anything about that or who might be making those allegations. I would expect the authorities to deal with any missing persons so as to conduct a proper investigation. My team and I are here to do some research with perhaps a little entertainment value thrown in.”

  “What about the rumors that your so-called research led to several deaths last year in Colorado?”

  Shit! “Excuse me?”

  “I have a sworn affidavit from one Katherine Barrows that you were directly involved in a series of events...”

  Derek cut her off before she could continue. “I’m aware of Miss Barrows and her claims. Sadly, she is a troubled woman. I feel bad for her, but her accusations are nothing more than the delusions of a disturbed mind. If I recall correctly, her claims include mention of a pack of sasquatches invading her town.”

  People laughed again, this time not kindly. The reporter, Julia Wilhelm, narrowed her eyes at Derek. She knew she had lost any credibility with the crowd.

  Wishing to both spare her any undue ridicule, as well as change the subject, Derek quickly asked, “How about any other questions?”

  “Yeah!” a male voice from the back yelled. “When is Danni’s new calendar coming out?”

  The crowd, once again, responded with laughter.

  CHAPTER 9

  Yarlberg was spirited away at the conclusion of the press conference. Derek and his team eventually found themselves in the antechamber of his office where they were informed that he would speak with them shortly.

  That was fine. They had more than enough to talk about.

  “She actually spoke with Kate?” Danni asked.

  Derek had to give her and the others credit – they’d kept their cool earlier when the question was asked. If any of them had reacted the wrong way, it wouldn’t have been disastrous per se, but some of the more intrepid members of the audience might have taken it upon themselves to dig deeper.

  “It would seem so,” he replied after a moment.

  Mitchell nodded. “That poor woman.”

  “She didn’t deserve what she got,” Francis added.

  Following the events of the Bonanza Creek massacre, during which her father and many of her friends were killed, Kate Barrows had been taken to a psychiatric hospital in Denver for observation. Unfortunately, she’d been driven over the edge by the ordeal. Derek had tried to intervene on her behalf, but had been ordered to stand down by his superiors and disavow any knowledge of her. With no one willing or able to come forward and back up her claims, she was declared mentally unstable and committed. />
  But apparently word of her story had leaked and at least some were willing to hear her out. That Wilhelm woman had done her homework and, in doing so, come dangerously close to the truth. Derek added that to the growing list of items he was going to have to talk with Norah about.

  Danni momentarily averted her eyes from the rest of the group. “Nobody at Bonanza Creek did.”

  Derek stepped over and put a hand on her shoulder. She had suffered every bit as much as Kate Barrows had, but he knew that, in the end, Danni had been made of sterner stuff. Where others had crumbled, she had risen to the occasion. Without her, Derek – and most likely the others, too – wouldn’t have made it out alive.

  He gave the group a moment to mull that over, then pulled them back to the present. “What’s done is done. For now, it would seem we have at least one nosy reporter who hopefully isn’t smart enough to realize just how close she is to the real story.”

  “I’d say we have more pressing concerns, pardon the pun,” Francis replied, indicating the door to the governor’s office. It was open and Eric Zeist was standing in the doorway, looking expectantly at them all.

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  “I ask this with all due respect to your office and title, governor, but are you out of your mind?”

  “Watch your tone,” Eric snapped.

  “Or what?” Francis shot back. “Anytime you want to go, buddy...”

  “Relax, Frank.” Derek said before turning back to Yarlberg. “I take it you’re unaware that what we do is best done without announcing it to the world.”

  Yarlberg merely stared back at him, an arrogant grin on his wide face. “I am well aware of everything you do, Dr. Jenner.” He reached into his desk and produced a thick file. “You’ve had a number of fascinating adventures, if I might say so.”

  Derek didn’t take the bait. He already knew Yarlberg had cronies in the fed. Responding with threats or histrionics would only give the man the reaction he obviously wanted. “As I am well aware. However, if you’ve read through that file, you’ll know that we typically don’t announce our presence beforehand.”

  “This situation is somewhat different than those others.”

  “I’ll say,” Mitchell muttered under his breath.

  “Let me see if I can summarize,” Derek said, his attention on the governor. “You see, I read a lot, too. I know you’re up for reelection this fall. I also know that your approval ratings have been ... how do I say it ... less than stellar.”

  Yarlberg’s face reddened, but he quickly composed himself. “It’s been a difficult few years here in the Garden State. We all do the best with what we have to work with.”

  “Of course.”

  “Fortunately, my main opponent in this year’s campaign isn’t exactly universally beloved. Still, I’m looking at a close race. I would prefer to not make it any closer.”

  “We’re listening.”

  “I’m sitting atop a potentially embarrassing situation. Not fatal in itself, but combined with all the smear campaigns being aimed at me...” Derek raised an eyebrow, but Yarlberg ignored it. “...It could have a snowball effect.”

  “The disappearances?”

  “Hardly,” Yarlberg replied, catching Derek by surprise.

  “But I thought...”

  “People disappear all the time, Dr. Jenner. That by itself is of little consequence. What concerns me is where it’s happening and the unwanted attention it could bring my administration.”

  Derek turned and surveyed his team. They appeared as confused as he was.

  Yarlberg paused for a moment. He seemed pleased to have his guests at a disadvantage. Derek had come into this with a preconceived notion of dislike for the man. He was almost relieved to find it being confirmed in spades. It saved him from having to spare any thoughts toward rethinking his position.

  “I think it’s safe to say, governor, that you have our rapt attention. Do go on.”

  “What do you know about the Pine Barrens?”

  “We did our homework. We know the layout of the land, the fauna and flora to be expected, the...”

  “Fascinating, I’m sure, but what do you know of the history of the Barrens?”

  “The history of the sightings?”

  “Forget the bloody devil!” Yarlberg snapped. “I’m talking real issues here, not fairy tales.”

  Derek remained silent, which the governor seemed to take as a sign to continue. “People have been trying to develop the Barrens all the way back to before the American Revolution. At first it was just farmers, but that didn’t pan out. Damn soil is too acidic to support most food crops. Then the industries started moving in: lumber, paper, gristmills, steel...”

  “Steel?” Danni asked.

  Yarlberg glanced toward her, taking far too eager of a look in Derek’s opinion. “Yes, bog iron to be precise. Actually managed to get a decent toehold before the boom in Pittsburgh killed it.”

  “So what happened?”

  “They all failed, is what happened. Hell, the only business still going strong out there are the cranberry farmers, thanks to all the damn marshes.”

  “If I’m not mistaken,” Mitchell said, “all of those industries, minus the cranberries of course, were renowned for being major sources of pollution.”

  “I see at least one of you reads up on things other than what bigfoot shit smells like,” Yarlberg replied.

  “I think I get where you’re going,” Francis said. “You think the Jersey Devil is some sort of east coast Toxic Avenger. Some kind of mutant running around who...”

  “Tell me something, son,” Yarlberg commented. “When you’re not lugging around that camera, do they keep you locked in a dog crate?”

  “What?! Listen, you pork rind eating son of a...”

  “Frank,” Derek warned, cutting him off. “Let’s save the political discussion for later please.”

  Francis glared at him for a moment, but then gave a quick nod.

  Derek once more turned to Yarlberg. “Thank you for the history lesson, governor. Your point, though?”

  “My point was, all of those industries shut down years ago, in some cases well over a century. It didn’t take the forest nearly that long to reclaim most of it. There’s just one problem.” He pushed a button on the intercom. “Myra, please send Mr. Krychech in.”

  ♦ ♦ ♦

  Donald Krychech could have been the Stan Laurel to Yarlberg’s Oliver Hardy. Where the governor was large, dark haired, and had an aggressive attitude, Donald was thin, balding, and of seemingly nervous demeanor.

  Upon introduction, he gave each of the team a limp handshake before moving to an empty seat.

  “Mr. Krychech is the current director of the NJAEP.”

  “Agency for Environmental Protection,” Donald clarified before going quiet again.

  “I assumed as such,” Derek replied. “And does Mr. Krychech...”

  “Yes, he knows all about what you and your lot do.”

  “Wonderful. And, if I may ask, who else have you told?”

  “Whoever I thought needed to know,” Yarlberg said, locking eyes with Derek – the two in a standoff of wills, each practically daring the other to say the wrong thing.