Curse of the Painted Lady (The Anlon Cully Chronicles Book 3)

by K Patrick Donoghue

  He thought of Christian, and Margaret, and the dozens that had preceded them in his service. Of their sacrifice, their loyalty. He recalled the great moments of his life and the simple pleasures he’d enjoyed most. Stargazing, Carignan, the spray of the ocean and the beauty of Munuoria through Mereau’s memories.

  Motion from the flowers caught his eye. Looking up, he spied a small butterfly flitting around the florets. A few inches away, a hummingbird hovered. He watched the two pollinators dance around each other until the butterfly conceded the flowers to the hummingbird and flew away. After one last drag of the cigarette, Foucault waved good-bye to the butterfly and rose to go back inside. “Au revoir.”

  Anlon returned to his seat and placed Malinyah’s Sinethal and a Naetir on the patio table. He pointed at the Stones and said to Li, “These were made by a civilization that lived ten thousand years ago, a civilization called the Munuorians. They lived at a time when much of the human race was quite primitive, yet the Munuorians were anything but. They had an extra sense. An ability to detect and interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. The Stones on the table might look like simple pieces of art, but they’re actually sophisticated tools.”

  He picked up the Naetir. “This one is a key. It’s magnetic, and when held against some of the other Stones in the right way, it activates the magnetic properties of the other Stones.”

  Lowering the Naetir, he lifted the Sinethal and flipped it to show Li the back side. “For example, if you place the key in the notch here, this Stone turns into a computer, of sorts. You put your fingers in these slots, and your brain receives electrical signals from the Stone, allowing you to access the data stored on the Stone.”

  Li listened, a serious expression on her face. As Anlon paused, she said, “Detective Emerson told me it contains the memories of a woman from the civilization, this Malinyah that our Muran-slash-Aja wants in exchange for Miss McCarver.”

  “That’s right,” Jennifer said.

  “Malinyah,” Anlon said, “was a contemporary of Muran’s. They were part of the Munuorian leadership, ten thousand years ago.”

  Li didn’t flinch. Anlon continued. “Muran and Malinyah had a falling out. Muran took revenge by killing one of Malinyah’s children. Well, to be accurate, Muran erased the child’s mind. Wiped out her memories. Then she did something against every law, every belief the Munuorians held sacred.”

  He pointed to the Sinethal. “This is called a Sinethal. Muran took one of these, and using some of the other Stones, transferred her memories from her brain into the Sinethal, and then transferred the memories from the Sinethal into the body of Malinyah’s daughter. When she tired of the girl’s body, she moved her mind to another body. And then another. And so on. For thousands of years, she’s moved her mind from one body to another.”

  The frown on Li’s face turned from skeptical to incredulous, as Anlon continued to speak. “So, you ask what’s this all about?” Anlon asked. “Muran wants this Stone back. She wants Malinyah’s memories back. I don’t know why. She also wants a gold disc that holds the memories of a man named Omereau. He was the brilliant mind behind the creation of all these Stones. She also wants a medallion that Pebbles was given by Foucault. Muran calls it the lyktyl.”

  Anlon lowered Malinyah’s Sinethal and picked up the Naetir again. “The lyktyl is a key, like this. It activates the gold disc with Omereau’s memories. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that Muran wants to make more of these Stones but doesn’t know how. She needs Omereau’s memories to make them. She can’t interact with his memories unless she has the key.”

  When he finished speaking, Li glared at him and then at Jennifer. “You really expect me to believe all that? Changing bodies? Moving minds onto stone and back?”

  Anlon started to answer but was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. He turned to Jennifer and asked, “What time is it?”

  “Noon.”

  “Perfect timing. Jacques Foucault is here. Don’t believe me? Ask him. You’ll get the same answers,” Anlon said.

  Chapter 18 – Captain Courageous

  La Quinta, California

  September 29

  When the door opened, Anlon was greeted by Henri de la Roche, who introduced himself as Count Foucault’s pilot and longtime associate.

  “Yes, I recall meeting you at Indio Maiz,” Anlon said. He then turned his attention to Foucault, who was standing next to Henri wearing sunglasses and holding onto his pilot’s arm. To Anlon, Foucault looked unsteady, as if dizzy or drunk. Anlon said hello to him and offered his hand, but the Frenchman did not respond.

  Henri said, “The Count is not feeling well. Perhaps we could go inside? Out of the sun?”

  “Uh, sure. Of course. Follow me,” Anlon said. He turned and walked toward the door of the cottage suite inside the courtyard. Henri followed behind, his arm wrapped around Foucault, guiding the man toward the cottage. Anlon directed his gaze to Jennifer and Agent Li, and said, “We’re heading inside.”

  Jennifer grabbed the Sinethal and Naetir, leaving the shopping bag from Katie by the table. Li put the pictures of Muran in her satchel and followed Jennifer to the suite. Once inside, Henri lowered Foucault onto the living room sofa and then stood back in the corner of the room with his hands folded in front of him.

  Jennifer sat beside Foucault, balancing Malinyah’s Sinethal on her knees with the Naetir in her hand. Agent Li and Anlon carried chairs from the small dining table behind the sofa and brought them around to face Foucault. Anlon suggested Henri use the armchair in the corner of the room, but Henri indicated he preferred to stand.

  Once all were settled, Henri cleared his throat. “Docteur Cully, Count Foucault asked that I give you this. He requested you read it before speaking.”

  Anlon received the envelope from a bowing Henri and then exchanged bewildered looks with Jennifer and Li. The envelope was embossed with gold initials, JMF. There was a letter inside with the same embossed initials at its top. Anlon opened the letter and read its contents.

  Dear Anlon,

  I am very sorry for the trouble I have caused you and your companion, Miss McCarver. Please know that my intentions were honorable, though my execution was poor. If it is any consolation, and I doubt it is, I have suffered great loss as well.

  You seem, to me, a man of integrity, one who understands and appreciates the priceless nature of the gifts left by the Munuorians, and I don’t mean the Lifintyls. I mean you, me and those fortunate to be here today thanks to the selfless acts of the people who gave their lives so that humanity might survive and begin anew.

  The greatest of whom sits in your presence now. I have given my life for his, so that he might aid in ridding the world of the accursed Betrayer, once and for all. I bid you a fond adieu, and know that together with the courageous captain, you shall defeat Muran and preserve the precious history of the star-watchers. If anyone can save your friend, it is Mereau.

  Bon Courage,

  Jacques Mathieu Foucault

  Anlon read through the letter twice, looking up at Foucault several times as he read. When he finished, he handed the letter to Jennifer and turned to Henri. The pilot nodded his head and wiped the corners of his eyes.

  After the Sinethal session with Malinyah aboard Antonio’s plane, Anlon had been ready to strangle Foucault. He believed the Frenchman had deceived them all in a greed-induced play to acquire Omereau’s Sinethal himself, using Pebbles and the fake lyktyl as the bait to lure Muran to whatever trap he had set. While Anlon still believed Foucault purposely put Pebbles at risk, the letter now seemed to suggest a more gallant motive.

  When Jennifer finished the note, she handed it to Li and said, “Wow.”

  Li quickly scanned the note and frowned. “I don’t understand. What does this mean?”

  “It means Jacques Foucault is dead,” Anlon said.

  “What are you talking about? He’s sitting right in front of you,” Li said, pointing at Foucault.

  “It’s Foucaul
t’s body, but his mind has been erased,” Jennifer explained. She held up Malinyah’s Sinethal. “Foucault had one of these. It held the memories of a man named Mereau. Foucault allowed Mereau to transfer his memories and consciousness into Foucault’s body.”

  The FBI agent stood up, looked at Anlon and tossed the letter to the floor. “Okay, enough of this nonsense. I listened to your cockamamie story outside. People living hundreds, thousands of years. People moving their minds from one body to another. It’s all horseshit!”

  “No, it’s not!” Anlon said, rising to confront Li. “I grant you, it sounds unbeliev—”

  “Not sounds unbelievable, it is unbelievable,” Li said.

  “Excuse me,” Mereau said, raising a hand. His voice was feeble, and it carried an accent, but Anlon noticed it wasn’t Foucault’s French accent.

  “Quiet!” Li snapped.

  “God damn it, Agent!” Anlon roared. “What’s your explanation then? Explain the pictures you showed us. Explain how the same woman appears in pictures spread over, what, one hundred seventy-five years? Really good family genes? Plastic surgery? Smoke and—”

  Jennifer interrupted Anlon’s tirade and pointed to Malinyah’s Sinethal. “Anlon, let her meet Malinyah. Let her see for herself.”

  “I agree,” Mereau said. “I will join her, we can meet Malinyah together. Though, I will need someone to place the Tyls in my hands. I cannot see them.”

  “What?” Li asked.

  Henri stepped forward and addressed the group. “I’m afraid Capitaine Mereau is blind. At least, for the time being. The overtae, the transfer, is not complete. The brain, it takes time to reestablish all the connections.”

  “Yeah, right. Save the hocus-pocus for someone else. You all are under arrest,” Li announced.

  “Oh, please,” Jennifer said, popping up off the sofa. “On what charge?”

  “Obstruction, making false statements,” Li said.

  “Good luck making those stick,” Jennifer said. “Come on, Elizabeth! Get real! Pebbles is our friend, why would we put her life at risk by making false statements? Face it, you’re just afraid.”

  “Of what?” Li asked.

  “Look, all you have to do is hold the Stone like this, put your fingers in these notches. I’ll hook up the other Stone, and you’ll have all the proof you want…and then some,” Jennifer said.

  With arms crossed and foot tapping, Li watched Jennifer pick up the Naetir and move it toward the center notch. Jennifer said, “I’ll do it with you. I’ve never met her. It’ll be a first for both of us.”

  “What, exactly, will happen?” Li asked.

  Anlon came up beside her and said in a softer tone, “You’ll have a vision. You’ll see Malinyah, the woman whose mind is stored on the Stone. Jennifer will be there, too. You’ll be able to see and communicate with both of them. They’ll be able to communicate with you.”

  He recalled trying to pry Pebbles’ hands from the Sinethal during an earlier, turbulent session with Malinyah. As he struggled to pull the Stone away, his fingers had gripped the Stone’s handholds at the same time as Pebbles’, and he instantaneously had joined Pebbles’ vision. Anlon turned to Mereau and asked, “All they have to do is have both sets of their fingers in the side holds, right?”

  “Yes, that’s right,” Mereau said. “One of them should make the connection first. Then have the other join. I can do it with her if you wish.”

  “No offense, Mereau,” Jennifer said, “this is a trust issue. Agent Li knows me better than she knows you. Come on, Elizabeth. What do you have to lose? If you’re not convinced afterward, arrest us, then. What’s a few minutes’ difference going to make?”

  “Fine. Let’s get this over with,” Li said.

  Jennifer made room for Li on the sofa. Patting the cushions, she said, “Sit next to me. You don’t want to stand for this.”

  “Jen, remember, it’s intense at first. Try to keep your cool, don’t freak out like I did,” Anlon said.

  “Oh, believe me, I remember!” she said. Without further delay, Jennifer snapped the Naetir into place. Almost immediately, her body stiffened and she gasped.

  Anlon watched Li’s stupefied facial expressions as Jennifer began to moan unintelligibly, her closed eyes darting back and forth. Sensing Li’s resolve was beginning to wane, Anlon pushed her to take hold of the Stone. “Okay, Agent, you’re up. When you’re done, make sure to say Kaeto to Malinyah.”

  “What?”

  “Kaeto. It means ‘thank you’ in Malinyah’s language.”

  The first sensation Jennifer experienced was moisture on her feet. She wiggled her toes and felt something grainy between them. Then she became conscious of the sound of waves, followed by a spray of warm water that splashed her bare legs and arms. Behind her, she heard a woman’s voice softly singing. A breeze whistled by, causing Jennifer’s ponytail to flap against her shoulders.

  At first, she saw only fuzzy colors, a mix of blues, greens and white. Attracted by the singing voice, Jennifer turned her head in the direction of the sound. Soon, the rough outline of shapes began to form. A sandy beach bordered by a thick stand of palm trees, a Caribbean blue ocean and two figures collecting seashells that had washed up in the surf — a tall blond woman and a little girl whose blond hair was nearly white.

  Jennifer heard a gasp behind her and turned to see Agent Li. She reached out for the frightened woman’s hand. “Hey there, it’s all right. Come here. Hold my hand.”

  Li took a step and gasped again. “I can feel sand on my feet!”

  “I know! Wicked cool, right?” Jennifer said.

  “What am I wearing?” Li asked. Her navy pinstriped pantsuit had been replaced by a pinkish tunic. “Where did my clothes go? Where are yours?”

  Jennifer looked down to observe her own tunic. It was tan and sleeveless and extended halfway down her thighs. From the effects of the breeze and the water splashing against her body, she could tell that was all she had on. She shrugged and said to Li, “Better than nothing, I guess.”

  Pointing ahead at the woman and child, Jennifer said, “I’m pretty sure the woman is Malinyah. I don’t know who the little girl is, but I’m guessing it’s Alynioria, one of her daughters. The one Muran killed.”

  Jennifer saw Malinyah look up. Her face was expressionless. She leaned over and whispered to the little girl, stroking her hair as she spoke. The child nodded and continued to hunt for seashells while Malinyah stood and walked through the surf toward Jennifer and Li. When she reached them, she spoke. The only word Jennifer understood was “Malinyah.”

  She held out a hand and touched Jennifer on the shoulder, then Li. The gesture caused the FBI agent to gasp again. “Jesus. She just touched me. I felt it.”

  Malinyah looked at her and smiled. “Jesus?”

  Jennifer began to laugh.

  “What’s so funny?” Li asked.

  “She thinks your name is Jesus,” Jennifer said. “Let me handle this.”

  Pointing at herself, Jennifer said to Malinyah, “Jennifer.”

  The Munuorian’s face lit up. “Ah! Eleanor, Anlon, Jennifer?”

  “Yes, that’s right!” Jennifer said, nodding. She reached out and touched Malinyah’s arm. Her skin was soft and warm. Unreal, thought Jennifer. She turned and pointed to Li. “Elizabeth.”

  As Malinyah greeted Li, a large wave crashed on shore. Jennifer heard the child yelp just as the wave unceremoniously drenched the three women. Jennifer looked down and then at Malinyah and Li. If she had harbored any doubts before, the sight of their thin tunics plastered against their bodies confirmed Jennifer’s earlier assumption about the simplicity of their attire. Li glanced at Jennifer with a shocked expression as the agent processed the same revelation. A second later, however, they both burst out laughing. The small child, soaked too, came running up and latched onto Malinyah’s thigh. Malinyah spoke soothingly to the girl and began to laugh as well. Closing her eyes, she whispered something, and then, boom, the child was gone, the th
ree women were in a marble hall, and they were perfectly dry.

  “What the hell just happened?” Li asked, looking around the hall and then down at her dry tunic.

  “We are in her memories. Pebbles said she can move between memories in an instant. She can show you objects, places, events. We must have intruded on a memory of a day at the beach.”

  The mention of Pebbles’ nickname caused Malinyah to ask, “Eleanor?”

  “Muran has Eleanor. She’s taken her prisoner,” Jennifer said, using her hand to clutch her own throat.

  Although Jennifer was certain Malinyah didn’t understand the words, she could tell the Munuorian understood the meaning. Her face twitched and she spat, “Sikaer!”

  “What did she say?” Li asked.

  “Don’t know, but if I had to guess I’d say she said their word for ‘betrayer.’ It’s sort of Muran’s nickname,” Jennifer said. “Let me try something.”

  She turned to Malinyah and said, “Mereau is here with me. With Elizabeth.”

  Malinyah frowned. “Mereau?”

  “Yes, Mereau,” Jennifer said. Turning to Li, she said, “Step away a little bit.”

  Once Li stepped aside, Jennifer pointed at herself, then the vacant spot between her and Li, and then lastly to Li. “Jennifer, Mereau, Elizabeth. Mereau is here. He’s with us.”

  Confused, Malinyah asked again, “Mereau?”

  Jennifer took Malinyah by the hand, gesturing for Malinyah to follow. “Come with me. Come meet Mereau.”

  Malinyah’s eyes opened wide. “Mereau!”

  “Yes, he’s here!” Jennifer said. She looked to Li and asked, “Are you satisfied? Do you believe us now?”

  “I…I…,” stuttered a bewildered Li.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Jennifer said. She looked back to Malinyah and held up her hand. “Wait here! We’ll get Mereau.”

  Malinyah pulled her hand away and used it to cup her mouth. She backed away a step, whispering the great captain’s name. Jennifer said to Li, “Come on, we’re done here.”