Puzzle (Haunted Series)

by Alexie Aaron

  “My ma’s been working these early shifts so I can go to college. How do I tell her I can’t?

  “You’re going.”

  “Hey, you’re not listening.”

  “You’re going,” Mia insisted. “If I have to sit next to you and hold your hand, you’re going.”

  “You’re surviving,” he argued.

  “I had a grandmother that left me some money, two godfathers that are loaded, and a fiancé that is a genius. I think I’ve been damn lucky. College is the only way to survive these days. Even Patrick thinks Mason should go.”

  He groaned.

  “Tell you what. This summer, you can earn some money working with me or maybe Cid. We do odd jobs and remodels. While you’re with us, I’ll teach you all I know, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to go to class and concentrate.”

  “So I can earn money for school, and you’ll teach me to survive…” he hedged.

  “Only if you arrive with a college acceptance letter and your mother and I have a little talk.”

  Dave’s face clouded over.

  “I know you were getting ready to con me.” Mia hit him lightly on the shoulder. “Go home, get some rest, go to school, and hopefully by the time you’re done with your day, I will be in St. Louie with Ira.” She got up and walked over to the truck.

  Dave followed her. “Okay, I’ll give it a try. What if I fail?”

  “You won’t. I won’t let you fail.” Dave looked at her, and she glared at him. “If you let yourself fail, then shame on you!”

  “I’ll sleep on it,” he promised and got in his car and drove away.

  Mia climbed in the truck and reset the console.

  “Shame on you!” Ted mimicked her from the lawn chair. “Is that how you’re going to talk to our kids?”

  “Oh no, you’re going to give them the college talk,” she said, bending over and kissing him.

  “K,” he said and kissed her back.

  “How much did you hear?”

  “Just the stuff about not letting him fail. I bought it.”

  “I hope he does. I hate to see another sensitive go the way of the carnival circuit.”

  “You can’t save everyone, Mia,” Ted warned her. “Sometimes you have to let them fail.”

  “I know, but he doesn’t have to know that yet,” Mia said. She rose and went back to the console and sat down. “Back to sleep. I’m not going to be comfortable with a zombie driving my undead body to St. Louie.”

  “Well since you put it that way, night, sweetheart.”

  “Night Ted,” Mia said as she continued to watch the video feeds.

  ~

  Audrey and Burt headed to the diner for a very late meal. The diner’s owner told Burt he would be very sad when they left the area. He had to bring on additional staff just to fill the petite woman’s order.

  Audrey liked that it was just the two of them. She liked Burt; he had so many layers. He was honest about his faults and that he was working on them. He shared with her a small amount of his personal history, and she did the same. It was almost a date. When Mike and Cid breezed in and sat down, the date ended. Once again PEEPs was the focus, and the next day’s events were discussed.

  “We’re going to use Ted as bait,” Mike said.

  “How does Mia feel about it?” Audrey asked.

  “Oh, I imagine she’s not happy, but since she’s been bait a number of times, she’s not going to forbid the boy,” Mike answered.

  “To be fair, a number of times Mia wasn’t exactly aware she was bait,” Burt pointed out.

  “Yes, but no one knows better than Mia the risks involved when you deal with entities,” Mike said.

  “I think that would explain why she isn’t happy you’re using Ted,” Audrey said and then let the subject drop.

  The following morning, Audrey found herself at the diner again. This time, she was waiting in the car for Burt to pick up their breakfast order. She thought about the previous evening as she waited.

  This group cared about each other, but there were some egos afoot. She knew that she had some tiptoeing to do if she was going to be accepted into the fold. Her eye caught a movement, waking her from her musings. She rushed to help Burt with the bags and boxes of take-away.

  ~

  “Let us go over this one more time,” Mia said, holding both Ted’s hands. “You have to close all the entrances to the bat cave when Deville comes after you. Visualize and shut every opening. He can’t get in if you’re prepared.”

  “I don’t get why he wants me,” Ted said as he turned his hat around and tugged it low over his eyes.

  “You’re handsome…”

  “Mike and Cid are better looking,” he corrected.

  “No they’re not,” Mia argued. “So you think they’re good looking. Am I going to have to worry about bisexuality along with your dolls?”

  “Action figures! And no, I’m just stating facts as I see them.”

  “Let me continue. You are the smartest of the bunch. You are physically amazing for a…”

  “Watch it,” Ted warned.

  “Let’s just leave it that you are physically amazing. You must have gone to the head of your class. Deville picked you.”

  “I wish that made me feel better, but it doesn’t. I’m going to lure Deville away from the school. I’m basically bait,” he said. “A worm, a fly, chum.”

  “How does it make you feel, being me?” Mia asked.

  “Busty,” he replied and laughed.

  “Why do I feel I was just elaborately set up?” Mia said, pulling Ted’s head down to her level.

  “Because you were,” he said and kissed her.

  The approach of the PEEPs van broke up their embrace.

  “Showtime,” Ted said. “Remember, I love you.”

  “I love you too,” Mia said, holding his eyes with hers for a moment longer. “I always will.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Homely arrived with Mason in tow. Mason’s healing bruises of green and brown gave the Irish lad an interesting if not alarming look. “I figure I would put off the teacher’s tea so I took another day off,” he explained. “Plus I want to be around when you get this fucker.”

  Homely lifted his hands in surrender. “I’m just the driver. Mason’s procuring the motor craft. Don’t worry he’s not stealing it. Cid, make sure you’re at the meet on time. Patrick’s well…”

  “My brother’s an impatient asshole,” Mason filled in. “Never known him to be different. Now point me to my job,” he requested of Mike.

  “I’d like you to man the console. We are going to be on ear coms, but I don’t expect they will work inside.”

  Mason nodded. “Ted will be where?”

  “He’s our bait,” Mike informed him.

  Mason looked over at Mia who didn’t look too pleased but yet was resigned to the plan.

  “Murphy is going to bring Shelby’s forces to Mia outside the east door. She’ll give them the engergon cubes, and once they are powered up, they will run interference and protect Ted the best they can. Homer, you and Burt will go after the bones in room 252. I’ll grab the watch and back up Cid who is going to do a high wire act in the gym. Once we have the items out of the building, Mia will be able to OOB in and get Ira out and on his way home to his body. This is the plan.”

  “What’s the pit for?” Mason pointed to the trench-like hole a few yards from the parking lot.

  “That’s for Deville’s bones,” Burt said. “We can isolate the watch and the whistle in the lead box, but the bones…”

  “Will need to be burned,” Mia filled in. “Mason, we would like to not condemn Deville to nothingness - it isn’t our first choice - but he is a danger to the living. He has killed in life and killed in death.”

  Mason nodded in understanding. “The dude’s got to go.”

  ~

  Deville moved to the middle of the gym floor. “I call upon the north where my bones rest, give me power.” He made a quarter turn.
“I call upon the east where my watch ticks, marking time.” He felt the familiar strength flow into him. He turned to face where he had sacrificed Stewart King. “I call upon the south to where my conquest was made.” He smiled as the power flowed to him. He made his last turn. “I call upon the west where my rifle is laid to rest.” He waited. Soon Andrew would be there. He repeated the enchantment again, turning to face where Andrew said it was hidden and repeated the words again and again until his brother was successful.

  Mia heard a sound behind them. She turned to see the latch lifted on the lead box. “The box!” she screamed as she ran to stop the mist that was wrapped around the lid. The top of the box blew backwards and the glowing rifle sent a shock wave towards the school. Andrew Morgan appeared and took the full blast of the power surge. He turned to Mia and laughed before launching himself at her.

  Mia twisted to one side and fell on the box. She felt the burning of electricity but ignored the pain. She managed to close the lid before Andrew had her by throat.

  “Interfering little bitch!” he said as he pressed his thumbs into her soft skin, shaking her as if she were a ragdoll.

  Mia pushed out of her body, turned, concentrated on her density, and slammed her OOBed form into his back.

  Surprised, Andrew let Mia’s body fall and twisted to see a dragon rise behind him.

  “What in the name of hell are you?” he said, backing away. He heard a click and screamed as a blast sent hundreds of salt particles through his body from the side. He bore the pain; the power he had taken was great. Turning, he saw the body Deville wanted squeezing the trigger of the shotgun again. This time he stepped aside and let the salt pass by him. He laughed and moved towards the man. The dragon moved between them and blew a stream of blue fire at him. This too he sidestepped. He was all powerful, he was mighty, he was a god!

  A strange sound of metal slicing through bread assaulted his senses. He turned around to see that damn farmer recovering from a swing of his axe. Andrew shook his head in triumph, and it fell off. The last thing he felt was his head bounce once then twice on the ground and then nothing.

  Mia returned to her body and crawled over to secure the box. She accepted the rosary that Audrey brought with her. Mia wrapped the blessed beads through and around the hasp of the box before she threw up.

  Mike was stunned at what had just happened. The team, however, mobilized quickly. Burt and Cid had run for the iron rods Mia kept in the back of her truck, but by the time they returned, it was over. Audrey’s quick thinking of grabbing the shotgun and tossing it to Ted was the turning point in the battle. Andrew may have survived the blasts, but it distracted him so he didn’t see Murphy arrive.

  Ted held Mia’s hair back as she threw up again. “Go ahead, let it out,” he cooed.

  Mia regained her composure and let Ted take her in his arms. She focused in on Audrey who was handing her a wet napkin. Above her were Cid and Burt. Burt had glasses on. “Take those off. If you filmed me throwing up, Hicks, I swear I’m going to …”

  Burt snatched the glasses off his face as the string of nonstop curses and threats rolled off Mia’s tongue. “Okay, I only put them on to see my target,” he explained. “I saw you too. Impressive dragon, Mia, very World of Warcraft.”

  “Not too Disney?” Mia asked, forgetting why she was mad at him.

  “I almost pissed myself,” Mason’s voice came over her ear com.

  Mia smiled. She felt horrible. Her neck was sore but intact. She turned and looked up at Ted and said, “Nice shooting, Tex. How in the devil’s name did you aim it? I take it you couldn’t see anything?”

  “Murphy grabbed the thing, and all I did was pull the trigger.”

  “Thanks, Murphy, once again I owe you. We are so going to have to get him that television,” Mia said. “HD,” she added.

  Murphy smiled down at her. He pulled out his watch and tapped it. Then he offered her a hand up.

  “Ted, we need to feed the other ghosts. Deville has gotten more powerful. I fear we are outgunned at the moment.”

  Mike shook off his shock and went into management mode. “Audrey, how would you like to take a drive? I’d like to get that rifle as far away from here as possible.”

  “St. Louis far enough?” she asked.

  “Yes, good, wonderful. Homely, give Cid a hand, that box is heavy.” He watched as the two carried the box to Audrey’s car. Cid returned and waited for more instructions. Mike looked at Mia and asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Living.”

  “Good, feed the ghosts. Ted, get your ass ready. We are going into the building to extract the other power items at the top of the hour. Mason, do you hear me? Good. Be prepared to coordinate a shitload of audio.”

  “Jawohl, mein Kommadant!”

  Mike glared at Ted who had burst out laughing and asked, “Did you teach him that?”

  “Nein, he’s a natural,” Ted said, looking at Cid who nodded proudly.

  “Mason, please refrain from expressing yourself on air, thank you,” Mike requested.

  “Yes, sir,” Mason answered.

  “That’s better,” Mike said.

  Burt hid his smile under his hand. He looked around and spotted Homely. He was carrying a canvas military satchel.

  “For bones,” Homely explained.

  Burt put the glasses back on. He started to leave.

  “Hold on there, Big Bee,” Cid said, rushing over, carrying a jangling mass. “Put this on first.”

  Burt looked at the netlike garment suspiciously. “What is it?”

  “Mail, chainmail to be exact. Here let me,” Cid said. “Just put your arms out.”

  Burt did as he was told. Cid pulled Burt’s arm through one hole and wrapped it around his body and assisted him with the other arm. He then buttoned the front and stood back admiring the fit. “Is it too heavy?”

  Burt looked down at the vest, moved around and said, “Not too bad. What’s it supposed to do?”

  “Murphy, poke him in the stomach, please,” Cid asked.

  Murphy looked over at Mia, and she nodded. He moved over and with his axe handle prodded Burt. Murph’s axe met with resistance. He set the axe down and tried to push the man. He couldn’t do it.

  Mia whistled. “Hey, it may be the ugliest thing… No wait… There’s that Hawaiian shirt and the Christmas sweater. Anyway, it’s ugly, but Murphy couldn’t make contact to the areas the vest covers.”

  Burt reached out his hand to Cid, who grasped it. “Thank you, I appreciate you looking out for me.”

  Cid smiled. “Next, I’ll work on a curtain for the truck.”

  “You do that. Homely, let’s go and collect some bones,” he invited. They left to position themselves at the front of the building.

  “This is how we’re are going to proceed,” Mike began. “After each task is completed, call into Mason. When we have the watch and whistle, get them to Audrey who is going to drive away with them secured in the box. The bones and Deville, we will have to deal with. Mia, you just get your OOBed self in there and get Ira out. Let Murphy know when you’re clear. Good luck.”

  Mia turned and gave Ted a hug, whispering something private in his ear. He smiled and kissed her. He pulled out the five cubes and handed them to her.

  “Five?” she questioned.

  “One for Murphy, although I think he, like you, got a blast from the box. I don’t think being supercharged will hurt the old feller.”

  Murphy dropped his axe, insulted by the old feller comment. The crack reverberated through the surrounding trees and off the building.

  “Careful, Teddy Bear, Murph’s a little touchy. His 151st birthday is coming up,” Mia explained.

  Ted smiled and shook his head.

  Murphy tapped his watch.

  Mia turned around, telling him, “I’m coming, keep your pants on.” She tossed him a cube which he held a moment until the glow stopped. Mia picked up the spent cube and tucked it in her pocket.

  Mia touched her ear. “
Mia and Murphy, moving into position, over.”

  “Noted, over,” Mason answered.

  Ted filled his pockets with the gadgets he had set out on the table prior to Andrew’s attack and stretched his arms and legs. He tapped his com. “Bait is heading for the south entrance, over.”

  “Ted moving into position, over,” Mason confirmed.

  Cid picked up the coil of rope and nodded to Mike. “Be there as soon as you extract the watch.” He touched his com and reported, “Superman moving into position, over.”

  “Cid’s en route, over.”

  “I’m heading towards the east door. Let me know when Mia and gang have cleared the area, over,” Mike instructed.

  “Yes, sir, over and out.”

  Audrey walked over to the truck to wait with Mason.

  Murphy scratched on the metal door with his axe. Vane poked his head out through the door, acknowledged Murphy and Mia and withdrew. Within seconds, Shelby, Ernest, Edwin, and finally Vane moved out of the building. Mia placed four lit cubes on the ground in front of them. The ghosts moved over them and fed on the power. Vane became whole, and the soldiers seemed so real that Mia reached out to touch one of them. She felt a thickness in the air where Edwin stood.

  “Thank you. We will do our best,” Captain Shelby told her. “You will find Inky lurking in the first floor girls’ washroom. We figured that that’s the last place the coach would think the boy would go.”

  “I think you’re right,” Mia admitted. She looked at her watch and nodded when the minute hand hit the top of the hour. “Go!”

  The ghosts reentered the building.

  “Ghosts are fed and on their way, over,” she said and willed all her luck to Ted.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Deville laughed as the coach tried to pull away from him. “Too late, you spineless maggot. You’re mine until I cast you away to wither on this poisonous ground you chose to play on,” he taunted. “You dare think that you could use me, Trevor Deville, for those pieces of metal and glory.” He laughed as he shattered the trophy case with a kick of his foot.