The Returned

by Bishop O'Connell

  “And has access to magic—a special military unit no less?” Caitlin added. “Yeah, just a little.”

  Everyone went quiet for a long moment.

  “We should probably focus on the more immediate concerns,” Caitlin said.

  Wraith nodded. “Why the hell would the government want the body and the files?”

  “Probably something in them that would tell us,” Caitlin said. “Too bad they took everything. Including John’s memory of the case.”

  “So we think,” Wraith said. “We could go back and talk to him, see if he remembers anything. I’m sort of living proof that that kind of thing doesn’t always take.”

  Edward shook his head, then looked at Henry. “We’ve brought enough innocent people into this.”

  Henry took a drink. “I appreciate your concern,” he said. “And I do apologize for, uh, shall we say—?”

  “Losing your shit?” Wraith asked.

  Henry chuckled. “More colorful than I’d say, but not wrong. That being said, I’m not a child, and I understand the risks.” He shrugged. “Honestly, as much as this is all blowing my mind, I’m glad to know the truth.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to tell Hannah?” Caitlin asked.

  “It does,” Henry said. “And she might even believe me. Her family has been in New Orleans for a long time. Word is one of her great-great-grandmas was a voodoo queen. She might take this better than me.” He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, the single large ice cube clinking the sides. “What I was going to say though, before we digressed, is that they don’t have everything.”

  Everyone looked at him.

  “When John first asked me to look this case over, he sent me a copy of the police report and his findings.” Henry stared at his glass. “He never recorded that he did it, which is technically illegal, but we’re old friends, and he didn’t think it was problem.”

  “Where are they?” Edward asked.

  “I have the flash drive he gave me at home,” Henry said. “In my safe. I intentionally didn’t save it on my home computer.” He looked up from his drink. “But if they are who they say they are, should we even get involved?”

  No one said anything.

  “Don’t get me wrong,” Henry said. “I don’t approve of their methods, but they had a legal warrant. And the warning was pretty clear. Admittedly, I know nothing of this world that has apparently existed right under my nose, so I don’t know; would the government spend time and money pursuing a gang murder if there wasn’t more to it?”

  “I can tell you they felt entitled to screw with the memories of homeless kids,” Wraith said. “I don’t care what made them feel that way; I’m not letting that go. If you all want out, that’s fine. I won’t hold it against you. I’ll go it alone.”

  “You’re not going at it alone,” Caitlin said.

  “No, you’re not,” Edward said.

  Wraith opened her mouth to protest.

  “Something’s bothering you,” Caitlin said to Edward. “What is it?”

  “I don’t think the person behind all this is doing it intentionally,” Edward said.

  “You mentioned that you recognized the magic,” Caitlin said. “What did you mean?”

  “You remember what I told you?” Edward asked. “What happened when I tried to find Fiona?”

  Caitlin nodded.

  Edward turned to Wraith and Henry. “I botched a spell, and somehow I let, well, ‘something’ in.”

  “In?” Henry asked.

  “Something?” asked Wraith.

  “Something bad,” Edward said. “Into my mind. I don’t know for sure, but I think it was some kind of demon.”

  “Demon?” Henry asked. “As in . . . ”

  Edward shook his head. “I don’t think it was a biblical demon, like a fallen angel. Dante called it a Hellspawned. I didn’t ask a lot of details.” He took a drink. It wasn’t easy to share this. He’d almost kept it from Caitlin, but in the end he’d decided it was best for her to know. Especially with all the guilt she was feeling after coming back from Tír na nÓg. “Anyway, it got in and gave me power, lots of it, but it also started warping my mind and how I thought.”

  “And you think this same demon is manipulating whoever is doing this?” Henry asked.

  Edward shrugged. “I don’t know if it’s the exact same one,” he said. “But I definitely think it’s the same magic. If someone else is being influenced by it, they’re not really in control of what they’re doing.”

  “And neither One or his group strike me as the kind that would accept the ‘I was corrupted by the dark side’ defense,” Wraith said.

  Caitlin shook her head. “They’ll probably wind up in Guantanamo,” she said, then looked at Wraith. “Or worse, they’ll just do something to their heads.”

  “But you’re right,” Edward said to Henry. “You’ve been involved too much already. This isn’t your fight.”

  “We should call Dante,” Caitlin said. “At the very least he needs to know the government knows about him and the court.”

  Edward nodded. “That’s a good idea. I’d feel better with some backup.”

  “Yeah, about that,” Wraith said. “He’s, um, not going to be able to send help.”

  Everyone looked at her.

  “You didn’t wonder why they asked me to keep an eye on you instead of a team of marshals?” Wraith asked.

  “Now that you mention it,” Caitlin said, “I’ve got to talk to Brigid about sending a teenager to—”

  “Wow, that’s not condescending at all,” Wraith said.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Caitlin said, then shook her head. “No, I did. But why are they sending you to do their job for them? It’s not right to put you at risk—”

  “If I hadn’t been here,” Wraith said, “you’d likely be none the wiser about what’s going on.” She moved her head side to side. “Which admittedly wouldn’t be entirely bad, but they probably would’ve gotten into your heads too, and you wouldn’t know. There’s no telling what they might’ve done with the elves sent to protect you.”

  “You have protection from elves?” Henry asked Caitlin.

  “Actually, it’s Fiona,” Caitlin said.

  “We have a lot to talk about,” Edward said.

  “Apparently.”

  “Anyway,” Wraith said. “Brigid has been really good to me, and you two helped out my friends when they needed it. I don’t consider it an imposition to pay back some of that kindness. Besides, I wouldn’t have known about Ovation otherwise.”

  “Well, thank you,” Caitlin said. “But I still don’t like it.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Edward agreed. “And neither do I.”

  Wraith took a drink of her soda. “It’s cool. You both totally owe me now.”

  Edward laughed softly. “But you haven’t said why Dante can’t send in the cavalry.”

  Wraith explained what Brigid had told her about the Cruinnigh, the five houses, and the territories.

  “Angels?” Henry asked.

  “Santa Claus?” Caitlin asked.

  “I know, right?” Wraith said to Caitlin, then turned to Henry. “And yeah, I’m still a little blown away about that one myself, though not as much as about Santa.”

  “Okay,” Edward said. “Then we’re on our own. We should still call Dante and let him know what we’ve learned.”

  “He’s going to tell us to stay out of it,” Caitlin said.

  “You could tell him after the fact,” Wraith said.

  Edward nodded. “I don’t like it, but that’s probably best. Ask for forgiveness rather than permission.”

  “What’s the plan, then?” Caitlin asked.

  “Can you get me a copy of those files?” Edward asked Henry.

  Henry shook his head. “No, they’re encrypted, and I’m not giving you the key,” he said. “I will, however, look through them for anything of note.”

  “You won’t really know what to look for,” Wraith said
. “No offense.”

  “None taken,” Henry said. “And you’re right. I don’t know what to look for, but I know what not to look for.”

  “Huh?” Wraith said.

  “I’ve worked on enough investigations to know what normal looks like,” Henry said. “Even with abnormal crimes. I’ll just look for anything that doesn’t fit the norm.”

  “Good enough,” Edward said. “But be discreet. I don’t want you going on trial for treason.”

  “That makes two of us,” Henry said.

  “We can ask around, see if anyone knows anything,” Caitlin said.

  “I’ve made some contacts with the local slingers and fifties,” Wraith said.

  “And fifties are?” Henry asked.

  “Usually half-fae, half-mortal,” Wraith said. “Fifty-fifty. These are half First House though.” She scrunched up her brow. “What did they call themselves? It was hard to tell with the accent. Rooaroo maybe?”

  Henry almost did a spit take. “Rugarou?”

  Wraith nodded. “Yep, that’s it.”

  Henry coughed, then took a drink of water.

  “What’s a rugarou?” Caitlin asked.

  “It’s the Acadian version of loupgarou,” Henry said. “French for—”

  “Werewolves?” Edward asked.

  Henry nodded.

  “You’re making friends with werewolves?” Caitlin asked.

  Wraith shook her head. “I don’t think they’re all wolves,” she said. “Benji probably is, but I’m pretty sure the others aren’t.”

  “A werewolf named Benji?” Edward asked with a grin.

  Wraith gave him a blank look.

  Edward suddenly felt very old.

  “You keep interesting company, young lady,” Henry said.

  Wraith shrugged. “I make no apologies for my awesomeness. Anyway, Benji and his group said there was some bad hoodoo going around and that one of the voodoo queens is giving out gris-gris to anyone who knows enough to want it.”

  “What’s gris-gris?” Caitlin asked.

  “A voodoo protective charm,” Henry said, then smiled. “Kind of nice being the one to know something for a change.”

  “They grow up so fast,” Wraith said and smiled at Henry. “Anyway, earlier today I met some slingers who said there was a gang war recently.”

  Henry nodded. “It was nasty,” he said. “About six months ago three of them went after each other. Turned some parts of the city terribly bloody.”

  Wraith nodded. “That’s what they said. But they also said there were rumors that someone in one of the losing gangs, Royal Skeleton Brigade—which I only remember because, well, Royal Skeleton Brigade—got their hands on some dark voodoo and is making zombies out of their dead rivals.”

  “Zombies?” Edward asked.

  “What else would you call someone brought back from the dead?” Caitlin asked.

  “Well, there was this one guy,” Edward said.

  “Don’t go there,” Henry said. “My faith is about all I have left.”

  “Sorry,” Edward said.

  “Anyhoo,” Wraith said. “I guess voodoo zombies are different from brain-eating Walking Dead–type zombies.”

  “They are,” Henry said. “It’s an old Haitian legend. A bokor—a magician—would curse someone and bring them back to life as a servant.”

  “I remember reading something about that,” Edward said.

  “You would,” Caitlin said and gave him a playful smile.

  “A doctor went to Haiti and found tetrodotoxin from the pufferfish was the cause of the legend,” Edward said. “It caused a death-like state, so if and when someone recovered, it looked like they came back from the dead.”

  “Could be,” Wraith said. “Or some inventive person who couldn’t do real magic figured out how to fake it.”

  “That’s quite a bit more disturbing,” Edward said.

  “So we start by talking to those voodoo queens?” Caitlin asked.

  “The slingers mentioned one named Mama Toups,” Wraith said. “And I saw their gris-gris. It’s the real deal. Nothing superpowerful, just makes people overlook you, but good quality and it works.”

  “Do you know who she is?” Edward asked Henry.

  “I’ve heard of her,” he said. “She’s got a shop in the Quarter, if you can believe it. Sells trinkets and such to the tourists.”

  “Hide in plain sight,” Caitlin said. “Pretty smart. No one would think a French Quarter voodoo maven was the real deal.”

  “You’d be surprised,” Henry said. “Some traditions run deep here. Lots of good, God-fearing people also have altars at home to different loa, the voodoo spirits.”

  “I think I’m going to see what I can find out about Four and One,” Wraith said.

  Edward shook his head. “Bad idea.”

  “That’ll be a first for me,” Wraith said.

  “I’m not joking,” Edward said. “We need to tread carefully.” He looked at everyone at the table in turn. “They told us not to step on their toes or interfere with the investigation. I take them at their word and believe the threats they made.”

  “Well, for me it’s personal,” Wraith said. “And I plan on finding out who they are and what they want.” She lifted her hands. “But don’t worry, Dad, I’ll start by asking around town. You’d be surprised the kind of information you can get from street kids and homeless people.”

  “Just be careful,” Caitlin said to Wraith, then winked. “Don’t make us ground you.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Wraith said. “I’ll call you if I find anything.”

  “Let me give you my cell number,” Edward said.

  “Got it already,” Wraith said as she got to her feet.

  “Yep,” Caitlin said. “Really going to have a talk with Brigid.”

  “Let’s plan to meet back here around . . . ” Edward checked his watch. “It’s eleven now. Say, four?”

  “You two stay out of trouble,” Wraith said to Caitlin and Edward. Then she turned to Henry. “And don’t worry. If the bad guys lock you up, I’ll bust you out.”

  “Thank you,” Henry said. “But I’d prefer that not be necessary.”

  “Wuss.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Wraith stepped through the door of the women’s room at Edward and Caitlin’s hotel and out the door to the janitorial closet in the Louisiana Law Library. She got more than a few curious looks as she made her way to the exit. After stepping out of the building, she made her way up Royal Street. She wandered up and down side streets and well-trafficked corners, hoping to come across Benji. After a brief pause for something to eat—and deeming shrimp po-boys possibly the greatest sandwich ever—she came across a couple of musicians, both girls. Wraith didn’t know the violin player, but she did recognize the one playing the mandolin. When they paused between songs, Wraith walked over and dropped a five into the hat.

  “Hey, Joker,” she said.

  “Wraith,” Joker said and gave a wry smile. “You want to go get a drink?”

  “Not on your life,” Wraith said. “You guys are insane or have superhuman livers.”

  Joker laughed.

  “I’m looking for Benji,” Wraith said.

  “He’s not gonna be around for a while,” Joker said. “In fact, he’s probably just waking up. What’s up?”

  Wraith glanced around to make sure no one was listening in. The other girl was, but Wraith could see she was a slinger. “I’m trying to find out some information. I figure since you all are local, you’d be the best place to start.”

  “What kind of information, darling?”

  “Do you know anything about some suited slingers?” Wraith asked. “Call each other numbers instead of names—”

  Joker’s face went a little pale.

  “So that’s a yes.”

  Joker took her arm and led her around a corner and into a small alcove. “Yeah, we call them number men,” she said.

  Wraith didn’t think it was the most orig
inal name, but who was she to judge?

  “We don’t see them often,” Joker said. “But more so in the last few months. And when we do, we make sure to get scarce, right quick.”

  “Are they like cops?” Wraith asked.

  Joker shook her head. “Nah, they don’t harass. Those with enough stones to stand their ground hardly even get a look.”

  “Then why bail when you see them?” Wraith asked.

  “Because of Ellie,” Joker said.

  “Who’s Ellie?”

  “She’s a slinger,” Joker said. “Showed up in town a year or so ago. Girl has the voice of an angel, and made friends right quick because of it. We all wanted her with our crews because that voice meant serious cash.”

  “What happened?”

  “She got snatched,” Joker said. “Twice. And not by the same people.”

  Wraith’s blood went a little cold. “Twice?”

  Joker nodded. “First time was down on Poydras, behind the casino. She’d scoped out a spot out of the way to sleep. Someone saw her get grabbed and dragged into a shadow. Quick and quiet with no trace left behind.”

  Wraith knew an Order-snatching story when she heard one.

  “A couple weeks later, she shows up again,” Joker said. “No idea that it had been a couple weeks.” She leaned in close. “But she was packing a hell of a lot more power and didn’t have much control over it.”

  Wraith felt a sudden kinship with Ellie. She was almost afraid to hear the rest of the story, lest it match up even more with her own.

  “Go on,” she said, despite her reluctance.

  “As if that wasn’t bad enough,” Joker continued, “not even a full week after that, she’s walking down Madison, minding her own.” Joker’s face twisted a little. “Out of nowhere three number men come up on her, box her in. This dark van comes rolling up, and it’s like in a movie. Door opens, they toss her in, and then jump in themselves. Then they were gone, tearing down the street.”

  “Damn,” Wraith said. This just made her wonder all the more about her own memories of that van and what it meant. It was becoming clear though that Ovation and his crew weren’t part of the Order. She wasn’t sure if that was better or worse.