An Apple for Zoë: Book One ~ The Forsaken

by Thomas Amo

  "Twin brother and sister from New Zealand who murdered their entire family and buried their dead bodies in the garden path of their country home in late 1950's."

  James didn't want to see anymore. "This is insane Commander. You really expect me to believe these two don't possess their own fingerprints. That the fingerprints they do have belong to twins who have been dead. Some over a 100 years?"

  "If you don't believe me, print them yourself and find out. But I warn you, they never come out the same twice. After the incident with the nanny, the Soviets were frightened and locked them away in Vladimir Central Prison. They remained there until their escape in 2000 when they seduced a guard and dismembered him into nine pieces."

  James realized Stasya was right. It was pointless. After all that she had told him, why would she lie now? Stasya sensed that James believed her.

  "Trust me Inspector, I know what I'm talking about. I have been hunting them nearly 13 years. You understand now why I told you that you must be prepared before you speak to them?" asked Stasya. James agreed. "So then are you ready to translate for me?" he asked. Stasya shook her head and backed up.

  "I can't go inside Inspector. My presence will only serve to complicate matters. You said you had a translator?"

  James nodded.

  "Then it would be better for all concerned if you called on this person."

  James turned to Shelton. "Cap, call Agent Summers, tell her I'm going to need her help."

  Shelton made her way to a phone and placed the call. "Summers? It's Shelton. Inspector James needs you to interpret the interview." From the expression on her face, James could tell there was no reluctance on Summers part. Shelton hung up the phone. "She'll be here in two minutes. You sure you want to go in there after everything Commander Gusarov just told us?"

  "I have to Cap. If I don't then Kirkland's death is meaningless," said James as his thoughts went back to the voicemail on his cell phone—the voice that sounded like Julie telling him Kirkland wasn't dead. He hoped it was true. And what of the voice? Could it have been Julie? If so, then the message would have been delivered before she was murdered. His thoughts were suddenly broken by Summer's voice.

  "You ready, Tom?" she asked as entered the room. James looked up at her and was actually glad to see her. After everything they had been through, he felt he could trust Summers with his life.

  "I'm ready," he said as he noticed Summers looking at Stasya.

  "Agent Summers, this is Commander Stasya Gusarov former KGB.

  "How we gonna play this Tommy?"

  James turned to Shelton and looked past her shoulder at the Baranova Sisters. As he expected they were watching him intently. He wondered if they could hear him. "Agent Summers and I will start with Devonia."

  Stasya interjected. "Only ask them questions that pertain to your investigation. Do not let either of them break your focus, it's too dangerous."

  "Cap, you keep a watch on Tarista and take notes to her demeanor while we speak with Devonia. If you catch anything that Summers or I need to be made aware of you have my permission to terminate the interview. Commander, you're going to be my extra set of ears. I need you to listen for things Agent Summers may miss."

  Stasya and Shelton agreed. James looked at Summers and she nodded she was ready. As they began to make their way to the room, Stasya called out, stopping them.

  "Wait, give me your hands," she said reaching for James and Summers hands. "Yours too," she said to Shelton. James reluctantly took Stasya's hand. "What are we doing?"

  "We're going to pray."

  Chapter Thirty

  Pray

  The four of them linked hands, forming a circle. Stasya gripped James and Summers' hands tightly as Shelton completed the circle.

  "Close your eyes everyone and clear your mind of all thoughts. God is listening," she said as she began to prepare her thoughts for prayer. Without warning a blinding flash filled her mind. Stasya found herself standing in the interrogation room only she wasn't with Devonia or Tarista, she was with Clem. The room smelt of sulfur and burnt skin. Clem looked at Stasya and spoke with no effort.

  "He's coming Stasya, he wants her. I tried to warn her," he said as he raised his melted hand up to her face. Stasya could see imprinted into his palm the words, Because your family.

  Stasya screamed and broke the prayer chain. Her eyes were wild as she stared at Summers. Her breathing was panicked and labored.

  "What's wrong? What happened?" asked Summers. Stasya only backed away from the three of them. Moments later, Paige Collins entered the room followed by Jessalee.

  Paige could immediately sense something was very wrong with Stasya. "What's going on?"

  Angrily, Stasya confronted the director. "Why did you not tell her?" she said pointing at Summers.

  Paige calmly scanned the reaction of the others before she replied to Stasya. "It wasn't the right time," she remarked coldly.

  Stasya grabbed Paige by the collar of her blouse and slammed her into the wall. Nose to nose the two women glared at one another.

  "Stop it! The director and I have news!" shouted Jessalee. Paige held her eye locked to Stasya's.

  "So maybe you could back off," Paige ordered Stasya.

  "Not until you tell that girl the truth!" shouted Stasya as she tightened her grip on Paige's shirt.

  "Tell me what?" asked Summers, as she moved closer to Stasya.

  Stasya glared at Paige with bitterness in her eyes. "She was going to let you go into that room with those fiends. She knows if they get you alone it will take them no time to get inside your head. Believe me you don't want that. Five minutes alone with Tarista and Devonia Baranova are long enough for them to unhinge your mind."

  "They can't touch her or you Stasya, I guarantee it!" shouted Paige. It was the first time James had seen the director not in control of her emotions.

  Stasya angrily barked back, "You have had me hunting them for 13 years. I have seen the trail of blood they leave wherever they go. Don't tell me they can't get to us! Their seductions have no boundaries. No chains or walls can protect us from them, so how dare you lie..."

  "They're in a Faraday Cage!" screamed Paige. Jessalee and Summers looked confused as the standoff continued.

  "What the fuck is a Faraday Cage?" asked Shelton.

  Stasya instantly fell silent, she and Paige locked eyes. "It's a stronghold designed to contain extreme levels of telekinetic or psychic power," said Stasya, never taking her eyes away from the director.

  Paige held her gaze. "You're not the only one who knows what they're capable of," said the director as she pulled the hem of her blouse up and exposed her stomach. There were several odd shaped symbols and marks that were cut and seared into her skin. Paige gave everyone a clear view of the grotesque marks.

  "What the hell?" asked Summers.

  "Devonia did this to me 13 years ago," said Paige. Stasya looked closely. "Do those marks spell something?" she asked.

  "Yes, it's the witches alphabet, it spells Judas," said Paige with no emotion.

  "Why Judas?" asked Shelton.

  "Because I had just had an ab ... I had a miscarriage and somehow Devonia knew it."

  Summers and Shelton gasped at what Paige had just said. James tried to be sympathetic to the conversation. "Why don't we all sit down a moment," he said as he pulled a chair for the director. Everyone else took a place at the conference table. James sat next to Paige. "How did it happen?"

  "13 years ago in Hollywood it was my misfortune to investigate the death of Charles Cargill Mondurge."

  "Wait I remember that case. Wasn't he the studio executive who committed suicide? His daughters claimed he said that demons or something like that were trying to kill him?" stated Shelton.

  "They weren't his daughters and it wasn't suicide, it was murder, I just couldn't prove it," she said.

  "What happened?" asked James.

  "Mondurge inherited Weirlech Film Studios from his mother the French silent film actress, Lisalet
te Mondurge. The studio had amassed such a vast fortune during the twenties, she built herself this enormous 275 room gothic fortress that overlooked Hollywood. She hid away from the public for decades and everyone basically forgot about her until 1966, when she burned the studio to the ground. She claimed the devil lived there. Needless to say she was committed and her son Charles took over the estate. Three years later the Manson Family murdered five people on the very site where the studio once was."

  "Jesus, is that really true?" asked Jessalee.

  "You haven't heard anything yet. Charles Mondurge had used the fortune his mother gained from the studio and by the late '90s he had multiplied the amount ten times what it was in the '20s. He was easily one of the most powerful of people in the world of show business. You knew he had a hand in everything, but never saw him. Someone who always seemed to be working in the shadows yet never fails."

  "Yeah, I remember this guy now, he had a real thing for 'bad girls' anytime you ever did see him, it was with women like Evelyn Nesbit, Louise Brooks, Nita Naldi. In fact, he used to be host to some of Jack Nicholson's famous parties. Nicholson once said of Mondurge, 'He's the only guy I know who has a better deal with the devil than I do,' " said James.

  "Like Hugh Hefner, he has an army of young girls willing to give into any of his wildest desires. He lives the typical Hollywood life that consists of a never-ending supply of money, sex and power. In late 2000, he gets involved with two mysterious girls and he tells the world he's going to make them more famous than Jesus. Thirty-one days later on Halloween night he's found hanging naked in his shower. A hangman's noose, knotted 13 times around his neck, he's blindfolded and his hands are handcuffed behind his back. He has the words Babylon's Whore written on his ass in red lipstick. The police rule it a suicide," she said.

  "Suicide? You've got to be kidding? If that's a suicide then I'm Mother-Fucking-Theresa," joked Jessalee.

  "Exactly, although you gotta admit that is similar to Kritzler's death. I mean with the exception of barbed wire for handcuffs" Shelton joined in.

  "And the lipstick covered asshole," smirked Jessalee. Everyone but Paige laughed. It was the first time there had been any levity in the room all day.

  Sorry director, I didn't mean to interrupt, please continue," said Jessalee.

  "The Hollywood police closed the file, but the LA bureau weren't satisfied especially since there wasn't any note and the only other people in the house with him at the time of the event were still living there. So I was ordered by my director to do a follow-up interview.

  I drove alone up into the oldest part of the Hollywood Hills to where this massive stone manor sits looming over the city. I was met at the gate by this stunningly beautiful girl who, as, it turned out I later learned was Tarista. She led me up a marble staircase outside the mansion to a veranda. That's where I met Devonia. She spoke with voice of an angel and invited me inside. She escorted me through a series of oaken hallways that were covered in frescos and paintings from another time.

  I followed her into a large hall where a massive fireplace lay against the wall in the center of the room. Above the fireplace was the painting of the Vatican, in flames. I couldn't stop staring at it. Devonia asked me, 'You like what you see?' but I couldn't answer. She walked up behind me and put one hand on my shoulder and took my other hand in hers as she pointed to the center of the painting. 'There, do you see it?' I didn't know what she was talking about and said 'no' as if I were lost in a trance. She interlaced her fingers with mine and pointed them together. 'Right there, do you see it now?' To my horror I saw what she was pointing at."

  The group sat breathless listening to Paige tell the story.

  "What was it?" asked Stasya.

  Paige remained silent a moment. She looked up at everyone and remembered the moment as if it were yesterday. "I felt her velvet cheek pressing next to mine as she spoke softly. 'It's your baby. The one you killed, don't you see it there in the fire burning along with you?' she said as she kissed my cheek and backed away from me with her arms outstretched. I walked to the hearth of the fireplace and there she had laid out for me five branding irons."

  Stasya felt the tears stinging her face as she listened. "I couldn't stop myself. I reached without hesitation and took each one and burned it into my skin until I had atoned for my sin of abortion."

  No one spoke. No words seemed to be right in view of what everyone had just learned.

  "The next time anyone saw me, I was found half naked walking along the shore of the Santa Monica beach. It took me a year to recover. The bureau charged them with attempted murder of a federal officer, but by then the Baranova Sisters were long gone. Charles Mondurge had left them his entire fortune. They were rich beyond measure. The only way we were ever going to capture them was if they let us and that is why they are in a Faraday Cage," she said somberly.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The Faraday Cage

  The six of them all stared at different parts of the room. No one seemed to be able to look the others in the eyes, but the feeling in the room had changed from one of anxiety and mistrust to understanding and mutual dedication. They were all here for a common purpose the only way they were going to accomplish it was to trust each other and work together.

  "Let's go to work," said James. The request seemed to be exactly the words everyone needed to hear. Taking the initiative, Jessalee, opened a file and pulled several photocopied reports and passed them around the table.

  "What you're looking at everyone is the blood analysis taken from Tarista and Devonia while they were unconscious. Judging from their appearance when we booked them, we weren't taking any chances. Point one. There are four different blood specimens on them and none of it belongs to them."

  "You said earlier you knew one of the specimens belonged to your sister," stated James.

  "That's right," replied Jessalee.

  "How did you know that? All the evidence from her crime scene was destroyed in the fire."

  "I understand, but she is my sister. I swabbed myself and ran a DNA test. It matches me. It's Valerie. The other three belong to, Amanda Carlyle, Hermann Kritzler, and Julie Jackson."

  Hearing Julie's name suddenly made all of it real for James. She really was dead. Now he would never have a last chance to tell her that he never stopped loving her. James swallowed and tried to put thoughts of Julie out of his mind for the moment. "But no evidence of Kirkland's blood?"

  "None," said Jessalee as Shelton and Summers breathed a sigh of relief.

  "Since we are laying all of our cards here on the table. I have to tell you guys, I don't know what's true and what I might have imagined for the last two days. But when Agent Summers and I went to Kirkland's house, we found someone had ransacked it, obviously looking for something. We found writing on the wall in blood in one room and an occult painting in his living room. It also had writing on it."

  Stasya looked up from her report. "What was the painting Inspector?"

  "The Witches Sabbath by Goya," said Summers. "On the back of it there was writing in Russian, that read, 'The place where Angels will not tread' and the writing in the bedroom was also in Russian it said 'Julie Jackson burns in hell,' so I think we can safely assume that it was Tarista and Devonia who trashed Kirkland's house and murdered Julie," said Summers.

  "Any idea what they could have been looking for Stasya?" asked Paige.

  Stasya considered all that she had heard and shook her head. None of it seemed to make any sense.

  "Anything else, Tom?" asked Shelton.

  "Yes, I got a missed call on my cell phone. It came from Kirkland's house phone. It was a girl who left a message."

  "What did she say?"

  "She said, 'Kirkland isn't dead' and then hung up."

  "Was it one of them?" asked Paige, referring to Tarista and Devonia.

  James thought for a moment and said no. "I don't think so. To be honest, I thought it was Julie."

  "Why would you think that?" asked Stasya.<
br />
  "Because it sounded identical to her."

  "Do you still have this recording?" asked Stasya.

  James nodded as he clutched his cell phone tightly in his pocket, just to reassure himself he still had it.

  "May I listen to it?" asked Stasya looking directly into James' eyes. "What do you fear Inspector? That it was her last phone call before she was brutally murdered?"

  "That's a bit excessive don't you think?" Summers said, showing her irritation towards Stasya's lack of consideration for James' feelings.

  "Forgive me if I am too blunt, Agent Summers, but no one can help the Inspector understand what truly happened to Julie except for me. Only I know the true voice of Tarista or Devonia."

  Paige looked up directly at Stasya. "That's not true. I will never forget the sound of their voices, ever."

  Shelton reached over and patted James on the shoulder. "Come on Tommy, we gotta know for sure. If those two are the ones who killed Julie, then at least we have them in custody already. You won't have to wonder anymore."

  James returned her affection with his own pat on her shoulder and retrieved the phone from his pocket.

  Stasya stood up and crossed to him. "Stand up Inspector and give me your hands a moment." James did as she requested and rose from his chair.

  Slowly he placed his hands inside Stasya's hands. She smiled at him and told him it would be okay. She closed her eyes and nodded several times. The others watched her with James quietly from their seats.

  "Very good, now please let me hear the message," she said as James handed her the phone.

  His hands shook, as he suddenly felt nervous. "You have to press one and it will automatically go to my voicemail."

  "It's okay Inspector James, I have a cell phone myself," she said smiling as she pressed the number 1 and listened to the dial. Pressing the phone to her ear, Stasya could hear the sound of the voice on the other end. Her eyes squinted as she replayed the message again. She then became very quiet as she pressed the stop button and handed James back the phone.