The Watcher: A Tony Hunter Novel

by H. Leslie Simmons

  At about midnight he went back to the porch with another J. & B and water. Finished that, he went upstairs to the master bedroom and tried to sleep. He finally did drop off and knew nothing until Maria came home just shortly after three A.M.

  She tried to be quiet but he woke anyway. “Hi honey, sorry I woke you.” She undressed and climbed into bed with him. He turned toward her and they kissed briefly, but they were both too tired for anything else.

  Chapter 16

  The next morning, they woke late, both having forgotten to set a clock, jammed down an English muffin laced with Philadelphia cream cheese and coffee breakfast before Maria hurried off to work skipping their usual ritual of coffee on the porch.

  A half hour later Tony was having his second cup of coffee on the swing watching the activity on the lake. He enjoyed this time of day at the lake perhaps more than any other time. He missed having Maria with him to watch Bass rolling in the shallows hunting for the minnows squirming there. The early morning fishermen were out in their small boats trying to catch some of them. Everything seemed so alive then. Birds teemed in the trees and bushes along the lake front searching for their breakfasts. He was about to go get himself another cup of coffee when the front door gong sounded. He was surprised that someone would be there that early. Maybe Maria had forgotten something including her keys.

  Instead it was Thad. He was dressed in his wear around the house clothes, jeans and a flannel shirt. “Good morning neighbor mind if I come in for a few minutes?”

  “Come on in. Cup of coffee?”

  “Don’t mind if I do. Missed my second cup this morning. Helen was off to a store in Richmond with a friend and we missed our morning time together.”

  “Tell me about it. We slept in too late and Maria had to rush off to the station so we missed our morning time as well. It’s a shame too, because she didn’t get home until three this morning. She’s back to work with just four hours sleep.”

  “I guess they are pretty busy with the kids showing up missing.”

  Tony put a container in the coffee maker, and poured in a bottle of water. “I suppose they are busy, but wouldn’t you think that somebody else could spell them. Maria is working double and maybe even triple shifts. How can they be alert with no rest?” The coffee maker sounded and deposited steaming brew into the cup on the holder. He handed Thad the cup, removed the old packet from the maker, poured another bottle of water in, dumped another packet of powder into the holder, and placed his cup on the holder. The maker perked away and fairly quickly squirted steaming water through the container with the coffee into Tony’s now empty cup beneath the dispenser.

  Steaming cup in hand, Tony started toward the sliding door to the porch. “Have a seat on the swing.”

  He did and Tony sat on the rocker “What is it you wanted to talk about, Thad?”

  “I’ve been thinking about what is happening now and how it might relate to what happened thirty years ago. As unlikely as it seems, perhaps it could be the same perp. I have been wondering if it could be something else. I am well aware of the situation we ran into with Belikosie, and while I share Maria’s opinion that it is highly unlikely that another such creature exists, it is not as unlikely that something equally bizarre might be at work here. I would like for you to refresh my memory of the events when you were twelve years old as best you can remember them. I know that you told me some things yesterday, but I sensed that you left out some details that may be very important. Could it be that you didn’t tell me everything because you are embarrassed and think that I would believe you to be a victim of childhood imagination? I assure you that I have no such thoughts. I have known you for quite a few years, Tony, and I have never known you to have such flights of fancy, outside, of course, your novels.”

  “You won’t believe me.”

  “I didn’t believe you about Belikosie at first and learned then that it is not valid to jump to early conclusions and that sometimes things are weirder than one would ordinarily imagine. Now tell me what it was that you saw in the cemetery that day when you also saw Lisa and Brown at the river.”

  Still somewhat afraid that his learned friend would believe him to be guilty of an overactive childhood imagination, Tony told him in as much detail as he could remember about the civil war soldier.

  “And do you still feel that all of it actually happened.”

  “There is no question in my mind that it did.”

  “And you never told anyone about it.”

  “You are the first.”

  “Did you experience any similar incidents back then?”

  “Yes. Similar. But I never saw the soldier again. The second incident was when a Samurai warrior chased me. I reported that to the police and they searched the area but they never found anyone.”

  “Tell me about that incident in detail.”

  Tony told him everything he could remember about the incident including the flyer at the movie house.

  “And were there any other similar incidents?”

  “There was one, and the guys were there when that one happened. We were at the river and I was sure that I saw an Indian up on the canal bank. The other guys saw it too but it quickly disappeared into the shadows when we waved our arms in that direction and pointed it out to the other kids at the swimming hole.”

  “What did the Indian look like”

  “Just like you see in the old movies. He was dark skinned and bare chested. He wore what looked like a leather loin cloth around his waist. He had a head band with a feather in it. We only saw him for a very short time and he was maybe fifty yards away so we couldn’t see much detail. We pretty much agreed with what we saw.”

  “Did you ever see any of these apparitions again?”

  “Not yet. But I wouldn’t be surprised if one or more of them show up again.”

  “You know what. Tony, neither would I. please tell me the names of all the people involved in your sightings.” He took a small notebook from his back pocket and a pencil from his shirt pocket.

  “My friends were Ralph Withers, Ned Jansons, and Eric Stone. The missing girl I saw at the river was Lisa Demarco. Her friend that was also murdered was named Mary Roberts. The kids I was with at the river were Craig Cook, Brett Yeatts, and Lee Sanders. The black boy who was killed along with Lisa was Joquan Brown. The state cop’s name was Bacon. I don’t know his first name. I don’t remember the names of the rest of the police that were involved. Of course, you know the names of all my family at that time. Why do you want all these names?”

  “I’m going to do some research about all this. I may not need all their names but then again, I may. Thanks for giving them to me.”

  “Sure.”

  “I’m also going to see what I can finds out about Indians around here that I don’t already know. I’ll let you know if I discover anything significant. Right now, I’m going to excuse myself and get down to the University. Their computers are much more sophisticated than mine at home. And if you hear anything more, please let me know.”

  “I’ll be sure to do that.”

  As he was going out the door, Thad turned back and took a step toward Tony. “Tony, I would advise you to be very careful about this. If it’s what I suspect, it could be very dangerous and especially since you may be one of the few people still around here who has actually seen it.”

  Chapter 17

  Using the university’s computer, Thad searched newspaper contents about similar incidents in the past and zeroed in on those events of 1986. He found pretty much what Tony had already told him. There were three additional killings that Tony had not mentioned, but they all happened after the Lisa Demarco incident. Authorities did not believe that anything other than a sick serial killer was responsible. Reports of shape shifting creature s were dismissed as hysteria and youthful imagination since no adult had reported similar sightings.

  Thad searched for similar incidents that happened for twenty years earlier and later up to the present but found none s
uch. On a hunch, he searched further back and found reference to a similar incident that happen in1956. The reports were very similar to the 1986 incident except in that case an adult had seen an Indian around and called the Sheriff’s office because the man was acting suspiciously, but when the sheriff’s deputies arrived they saw nothing more than a large bear and dismissed the report. They tried to shoot the bear but it went into the woods and when they followed all they saw was a large dog. In the 1956 case five young people were slaughtered with their heads removed and never found and they bodies slashed and organs removed. The killer was never found and the incidents ceased after about two years, just as they had in the 1986 incident.

  Thad then turned his search to local Indians. He found the names of the tribes and subtribes that existed locally. He searched for stories about Indians who had killed people by beheading and removing their hearts and the like, but found nothing helpful.

  He found the current telephone number for a representative of the Powhatan tribe and called to ask if there were stories about such incidents. He was surprised when a woman answered the phone.

  “Good morning. May I help you?”

  “Hello. My name is Thadus Goodfellow. I am a professor at the Powhatan University in Potaucac. May I ask to whom I am speaking.”

  “I am Shirley James.”

  “I called this number because it is listed for a representative of the Powhatan tribe.”

  “You have the correct number Professor Goodfellow. How may I assist you?”

  “Would you mind telling me what your position is with the tribe?”

  “I am called the tribe’s current Medicine Woman.”

  “I am almost totally ignorant as to what the title means. Would you explain?”

  “I am very busy here Professor. Please tell me what you want to talk to me about.”

  “I’m sorry. I was so surprised to hear your tile that I have lost my manners. I was hoping to have some information about tribal legends.”

  “Again, you have come to the right place. I probably know as much about Algonquin legends as anybody does. Please proceed.”

  “Some of my friends and I have been concerned with recent events down here. There have been at least two young people murdered in the last few weeks and another has disappeared without a trace. These events are very similar to a series of incidents that happened around 1986 and even earlier in 1956. Several witnesses have reported to have seen a figure dressed like an old west movie Indian in the vicinity. Can you offer any possible explanation for these incidents?”

  “I would help if I could do so, Professor, but it sounds almost like you are implying that a reanimated dead Indian maybe involved and that sounds like black magic to me and nobody believes that stuff anymore.”

  “Is there a tribal representative who could tell me more about the old legends?’

  “Probably not. As the tribe’s current Medicine Woman, I probably know as much about our legends as anyone else.”

  “As I am ignorant on the subject would you mind telling me what that title means?”

  “In earlier days medicine men and women were regarded as having magical powers to control the weather, ward off evil spirts, and cure illnesses. Today, the title is mostly ceremonial. I conduct the spiritual side of tribal affairs, chair meetings on the subject, and the like. As I stated earlier, few tribal, members believe in black magic anymore, so there is nothing for me to do in that regard. Contrary to what you might read in the periodicals, modern Native Americans are mostly educated modern people. Some of us still cling to the old beliefs about our oneness with nature and the like but I don’t know of any who still believe that magic will cure illnesses, or ward of a hurricane’s effects.”

  “Are there legends about earlier Native Americans who might perpetrate such incidents as we have had. These young people have been beheaded and disemboweled. In no case yet has a head been found for a single one of them.”

  “There are legends of several such creatures. There is one notable legend about a Medicine Man who took it upon himself to rid the world of what he considered evil people by beheading them. If you would like I will look up this legend and get back to you with more details. I am very busy here at the firm but I will call you back in a few days when I have had time to research the legends that might be of interest. Perhaps we could meet in person later to discuss this further.”

  “I thank you very Much Ms. James. Before I go, may I ask one more quick question? Is there a chance that a current tribe member might believe the old stories and choose to act them out?”

  “That certainly might be possible. There are deranged Native Americans as there are deranged people throughout the population but, I doubt that the same individual could do this in 1956, 1986, and again today.”

  “And one more question if I may. Are you a principle in the firm?”

  “I am a junior partner. I will call you when I have more information to give you. Goodbye Professor.”

  Thad decided to discuss this conversation with Tony and Maria. The Medicine woman had told him nothing useful, but maybe when she called him back she might help more.”

  Chapter 18

  The man followed as seventeen-year-old Bobby Martin went with his current girlfriend, Maria’s sister’s daughter, Ana Sanchez, to MacDonald’s after school for a coke and fries. The man knew that the Martin boy was one of the evil ones. He had watched the boy with several young girls, twice in compromising positions with them. The boy had no sense of honor and did not obey the tribal rules. The boy would stick his wand into any female who was willing. He had seen the hook up with an older woman who he had given money to before the event. There was no love involved in anything the young one did, just lust. It was of no consequences that Martin was not of the tribe. He was still subject to the rules of nature and the moral code of nature as well. His head would make a fine addition to the collection right next to the red haired one. There would be time for the Sanchez girl later. Her sin was not as pronounced as the Martin boys but she was guilty of being associating with him. The man did not know if the relationship ever had led to sex but that did not matter. Her association with the evil one was sufficient grounds to add her head to the collection.

  The teens sat for a while talking to some other kids who were there for the same reason. Afterwards he walked Ana home and sat on her porch until her mother Ramona, called her in for supper. Then he went to a buddy’s house who had already had an early supper and they sat out under a tree and drank beers his buddy had stolen from his dad’s cooler. As it was just beginning to get dark, Bobby started toward home. He didn’t worry about getting home late. His mother would have gone to work at four o’clock and his dad was working the late shift that day, so he was on his own.

  When he was about half way home he saw Ana up ahead walking toward him. When she was about twenty yards away he spoke to her. ‘Well hello, Baby. How did you get out here in front of me?”

  There was no answer. When she was much closer her image faded away and in her stead stood a tall dark man in a loincloth that looked like something from a late night western. Bobby backed up, decided he should get out of there quick and took a step to run. The man was quicker and grabbed Bobby by the arm and spun him around. The last thing Bobby saw was what looked like some kind of club or ax coming toward his face.

  When he the lights came on again, he was being carried along over a man’s shoulder on a sandy beach. He was groggy and had trouble focusing his eyes but it looked like the beach down from Clay Barker’s house. He tried to wiggle his way off the man’s shoulders but the man held him tight. Oh my God, he thought, it’s the nut that’s been killing kids. He tried more desperately to get loose. The man threw him to the ground. As he got almost to his feet the man struck him on the side of the head with something and he was out again.

  Chapter 19

  After eating a can of tuna and some chips, Tony pulled on a light jacket retired to the porch with an old fashion glass with J&B a
nd water. The sun had set and it was getting dark and chilly as clouds rolled in ahead of the storm the TV weatherman had said would arrive later that night. Tony sat on the swing with his drink and saw down on the beach a hundred yards away a dark form moving up the beach. He walked to the edge of the porch to see what it was. When the figure was about fifty yards away he could see that the figure was a man carrying something. He reached inside the sliding doors and took his binoculars from the hook there. With them he could see that the man was carrying what looked like another man. He went into the house and grabbed his long flashlight and stuck his 38-caliber short barrel revolver in his pocket. The man looked like he could use some help but Tony had learned that you could never be too careful at least until you found out what was really going on.

  He went down the outside stair and climbed over the fallen oak tree that still lay there from the hurricane a year earlier. The man apparently saw him coming and dropped his burden on the beach. From this distance Tony could see the man more clearly. He shined his bright light on the figure from about thirty yards away. The man looked like an Indian in native dress. He wore only a loin cloth apparently made of animal skin. On his head was a band of dark fabric and sticking out of it was a long black and white eagle feather. As Tony approached he asked if he could help. The man stood straighter than he had been and reached to his waist behind him. He drew out a long stone knife that looked like something out of a museum display of native weapons.

  Tony stopped and removed his revolver from his pocket and pointed it at the man. “I have a gun. Don’t come any closer.”

  The man hesitated and as Tony watched in amazement the Indian faded away and what stood there in his place was the civil war soldier Tony had seen in the cemetery when he was twelve. The soldier stepped slowly toward him. Tony wanted to run as he had done back then but would not act the coward again. He faced the soldier and raised his revolver. “Whoever you are, stop right there or I will fire.”