The Paladin's Message

by Richard Crofton

  The formula was simple to him. The more lives he sacrificed, the more power he would obtain. Once permitted to enter one of the more privileged Circles, the sacrifices would then advance his skills by leaps and bounds, as they were more formal and concentrated through the combined focus of five agents. In the meantime, he would maintain what he knew through his own rituals.

  His superiors did not condone his assault on the pre-teens, but they never officially forbade it. Besides, he decided, what they didn’t know… They only avoided children because, William Biddle had once explained that targeting someone so young risked drawing the attention and intervention from those he referred to as the Keepers of White, a self-righteous group of goodie-two-shoes. They had their own powers, though they used them to protect humanity. Sentimental bullshit. What good would it be to have power if not for self-gain?

  When he sacrificed those runaway brats, he was not bothered by anyone. No Keepers of White tracking him down. From what he knew, they’ve been perpetually hunted down for centuries. Very few remained scattered and disorganized throughout the earth. The last recorded encounter of their kind was over ten years ago, when a small group of young “wannabes” interfered with the last Dark Year. They were dealt with mercilessly once they were discovered. He remembered playing his own part in teaching a lesson to the last one they found, about three years prior, when he was newly recruited to the Agency. He wanted to impress those who took an interest in him, and he pleased them well by the time he was through with his work.

  Since then, there had been no issues with any possible remaining members of that dying order. He suspected it was already dead, and his suspicions were further supported when no potentially remaining Keepers intruded on him and attempted to prevent him from sacrificing those two kids, for protecting children was apparently a high priority for them, according to Senior Arnett and William Biddle. And if anyone had come to stop him, he would welcome it. Even though he lacked the power that elder agents mastered, he was strong and fast. He spent a good deal of his days perfecting his physical abilities; he got high on violence, and shaping his body into an ultimate killing machine was his own high priority. The peaceful ways of any pussy Keepers would be no match for his vile ruthlessness. Regardless, no one had come.

  He considered informing his superiors of what he had done, to possibly ease their hesitations to target younger sacrifices and to gain their favor. But then, what advantage would he have over them? It would be better for him to reveal this information once he was part of the Primary Circle, not before. Perhaps he would soon tell Diana, if he found her as useful as she promised to be. Until then, he would keep the secret for himself, and tonight was a perfect opportunity to see if his powers had grown by his own efforts over the years.

  Sonny arrived at the apartment complex in what seemed like a short while. His drifting thoughts killed the passing time for him, and he was almost quivering at the sudden anticipation of the little test he would perform. He entered the complex and climbed the side stairwell to the third floor. He then opened a glass door that led into a short hallway, and slowed his pace as he neared the door that was his destination.

  Standing in front of the door, he took several deep breaths to calm his excitement and focus on what he hoped to accomplish. Then he knocked.

  An attractive young woman, not so attractive as Megan but still nice to look at, opened the door. “Sonny!” the woman said with surprise and concern. “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Hey Ryleigh,” Sonny spoke humbly, with a lack of sureness, succeeding well at playing the role he had taken on for the last three months. “Sorry for bothering you…”

  “No, it’s okay,” Ryleigh interrupted. “Come in.”

  “I just wasn’t sure where else to go,” he continued as he walked into the apartment.

  “Really,” Ryleigh assured him, “it’s okay. I’ve been worried sick about you. Please, sit.” She led him to a quaint little sofa in her living room area. “Would you like a drink?” she offered as she quickly went to her kitchen fridge and pulled out two bottled waters.

  “No, I’m good. I just thought being in the company of friends would help me right now. Is Ben here?”

  Ryleigh returned and set one of the bottles on the coffee table in front of him. “Here,” she said. “Just in case you change your mind.”

  “Thanks,” he smiled with a sad look on his face.

  “Ben’s still at work. He won’t be home till late. It’s Saturday, and you know…”

  “Oh. Right. Bartending and all. Probably makes good money on the weekends. Gee, I probably should have just stopped by McDougal’s and talked to him while he worked, but it’s probably crowded. I’m sure he’s busy.”

  “If you want to wait around for him, you’re more than welcome.” She smiled warmly and put her hand on his. “I know you’re going through a lot.”

  “Yeah,” Sonny replied, his voice cracking. “I can just come back later. What time do you think he’ll be home?”

  “Sonny,” Ryleigh spoke softly, squeezing his hand, “why don’t you stay for just a little bit? Ben won’t be home until after one in the morning. It’ll be really late, and you look exhausted.”

  Sonny forced a tired laugh. “Not like I’m getting much sleep anyway.”

  “I understand. I’m so sorry, Sonny.”

  “Thanks,” he tried to smile at her. “Anyway, I don’t want to impose so…”

  “Listen Sonny,” she cut him off. “I know you and Ben have started to become buddies, but Megan’s my friend. I’m worried about her too. I’d like for you to stay and talk for a little bit. Maybe we’ll both feel better.”

  Sonny shrugged. “Well, I guess you’re right. After all, I met you and Ben through Megan. I’m sure this isn’t easy for you either.”

  Ryleigh nodded. “So, no word huh?”

  Sonny shook his head. “Nothing. I guess no one at Maybel’s has heard anything either then.”

  She shook her head. “I wish. We all miss her at work. I think even Mrs. Arenson is having a hard time coping without her assistant manager.”

  “You mean ‘Butch?’” Sonny smirked.

  Ryleigh laughed a sad laugh. “Yeah. I’ll bet she realizes just how hard of a worker Megan is now that she’s got to carry the load herself. Though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  “Me too,” Sonny said despondently. Silence for a moment, then his eyes began to tear up. “I should have gone to the Bible Study with her, Ryleigh. This never would’ve happened. I should’ve been…”

  Ryleigh cut him off. “Don’t do that. It wasn’t your fault.” Her hand squeezed his again, and she placed her other hand gently on the side of his face. “Sonny, look at me.” He allowed his puppy-dog, dark brown eyes to meet her gentle blues. “You couldn’t have known. No one could have. And there was nothing you could do.”

  Sonny looked away from her.

  “Sonny,” she said softly, “you’re being the best boyfriend you can be right now. I know you’re doing everything you can think of to find her. I know how much you love her. Ben and I both agreed that she’s never been happier since you came into her life. Believe me, you’ve done nothing wrong, and you’re the last person to blame for this.”

  Sonny looked at her again and produced another pathetic smile. “Thanks Ry. I guess you’re right. It’s just so hard right now.”

  “I know. It’s hard for everyone. We’ve just gotta hang in there and pray she’s okay, that the police find her. Sonny, we’ve just need to have faith.”

  Sonny sniffled, and let out a sigh. Finally, he nodded. “You’re a good friend, Ry. To Megan… and to me.”

  She smiled again. “Megan has been wonderful, taking me under her wing at work. Best assistant manager I’ve worked with. She and I became close. Keeping her boyfriend from falling apart is the least I can do.”

  Sonny forced a short laugh. “We’ve had some good times, the four of us.”

  “Yes, we have. And we’re go
nna have a lot more. You’ll see.”

  “You remember when we went camping last month?”

  “Yeah,” she laughed.

  Sonny laughed too. “Ben almost had a heart attack when that snake slithered up next to him.”

  Ryleigh chuckled even harder. “He’s scared to death of them. He must have jumped ten feet in the air.”

  “Yeah. Then Megan calmly walked over and picked it up. Tossed it into the woods like it was nothing but a stick.”

  “Told him to stop being such a baby.”

  Sonny’s laugh grew louder, “Yeah, she said ‘You sure don’t handle yourself like a former Marine. Weren’t you in Special Forces?’ I thought he was gonna blow his top when she said that!”

  “Then she turned to you and said, ‘And what about you, Mr. All-State linebacker?’ You were as pale as a ghost too!” Ryleigh’s laughter matched his own.

  “Hey, they didn’t have anything in the playbook about snake handling.”

  Sonny and Ryleigh laughed until they almost cried.

  When their laughter died down, and an awkward silence filled the room, Sonny took a drink from the bottled water on the coffee table.

  “You gonna be alright?” Ryleigh asked quietly.

  Sonny grunted. “Not really, but what can you do?”

  “Maybe,” she suggested, “you could go see a counselor or something. It could help.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “I did go to Counseling Services at the university yesterday. The lady there helped me out a bit.”

  “That’s good, Sonny. Did she offer any advice that might help you cope?”

  “Well,” Sonny revealed, “she did show me this weird meditation technique that kinda works. She said it would help center me when I’m upset. The problem is she did it with me. See, it helps if you have a partner. Doesn’t help me out when I’m alone at night and worried to death about Megan. And Counseling Services doesn’t stay open past four.” He tried to offer a cynical, short laugh.

  Ryleigh was intrigued. “How does it work? You can try it with me if you want.”

  Sonny looked at her. “I suppose. I think I can remember what she did.”

  “Well why don’t you give it a shot?” she offered. “We could both use some centering with all that’s happened. Is it complicated?”

  He shook his head as he took another sip from his water. “No. Pretty basic really. Just a breathing technique. A few simple prompts to try to clear your head. It’s just easier with a partner.”

  “Well, I’m game if you are, pal,” she smiled. “At least it may help us both get some sleep tonight.”

  Sonny smiled back. “Ok,” he said with a lowered voice. “First, give me your hands.”

  She did so.

  “Now,” he continued, “close your eyes…”

  Chapter VII

  Jim Panco hunched over the bathroom sink of his quaint room, splashing cold water against his rough, haggard face. He hadn’t shaved since he left for Lancaster yesterday morning, and he could feel the stubble of his thickening facial hair grind against his hands like sandpaper as he rubbed his cheeks. Slight dizziness and numbness was upon him, having a few more beers over his usual, personal limit at a local bar, across the highway from the Super 8 Motel, where he decided to stay for the weekend. He hoped the alcohol would relieve some of the anguish he had been feeling. It didn’t help much. The cold water was a little more effective.

  Now brushing his teeth, as he prepared to attempt at least a mediocre night’s rest, he gazed at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He saw the same broken, defeated man he had become accustomed to looking at when confronting mirrors. If he could have switched his image to resemble his face merely five years ago, he would not have recognized himself. Hell, not even two years ago, he thought. So much has happened since then… so much loss. The things gone wrong in his life, he was powerless to prevent. A dead wife, a daughter distancing herself from him (and he knew the fault was his own), there’s no fixing it: pure torture for a man who was always good at repairing things.

  So far, he felt his stay had been less productive than he had hoped. After meeting with Detective Harrison the day before, he had been escorted through Megan’s apartment. The police gave him the option of taking a few of her personal belongings that they felt were not needed for the investigation, in case he wanted to hold them for safe keeping, but he had said that he’d prefer to leave everything as is. Despite his usual despondent mood, he wanted to remain hopeful that she would soon be back safe and sound, and thought she would like to come back to her place the way she had left it. Instead, he just looked around, as if just by being there he would feel more connected to his only daughter who had been slowly fading from his life.

  He had picked up a framed picture from her bedroom nightstand; He recognized it immediately: a happy couple with their beautiful girl, not yet ten years of age, standing under Mount Rushmore. Jim, Cheryl, and Megan vacationed in South Dakota, what seemed like ages ago. He didn’t even notice himself in the photo; he was too preoccupied enjoying the phenomenon of his wife’s and daughter’s smiles; they matched perfectly. Though it was something he had always observed, he never once told Megan, “You have your mother’s smile.” Now he regretted never having said those words to her.

  Remembering where he was, and why he was there, Jim had gently set the picture frame back onto the nightstand. He had begun to scan the room. On the mirror attached to her dresser, he saw similar family pictures of the past taped around the edges. He had also noticed that there were a few empty spaces in between the pictures, where his fingers felt spots that were slightly sticky, as if scotch tape had once been on those spots. All around the mirror was the residue of what he knew the police had used to dust for prints.

  “You say Megan has a boyfriend? Sonny, you said his name was?” he had asked Detective Harrison, who was in the room with him.

  “Yes,” Harrison had answered. “He’s the one who initially reported her missing.”

  “Did he mention whether or not he and my daughter had a fight?”

  “Not that I know of, though I haven’t spoken to him… or met him yet. According to the report he had come in to make his statement when I was off duty.”

  Jim stared at the spots in the mirror where he was certain pictures had recently been taped, but were no longer there. He was quiet for a moment, as if studying a puzzle.

  Harrison watched him. “You ever a badge before, Jim?” he asked.

  “Was an MP in the Army, back before the Gulf War. Mostly dealt with domestic disturbances among family members of personnel who lived in on-base housing. Why do you ask?”

  “You were pretty quick to notice the same thing I had when I first examined the place earlier today. A lot of pictures around the room and on that mirror, but…”

  “None of them have her boyfriend in them,” Jim finished Harrison’s sentence. “So, I was wondering if they had a fight and she maybe took them down.”

  “Could be,” Harrison admitted, “but if there were pictures on that mirror before, and it looks like there were, we haven’t found them in this apartment. We’ve checked everywhere.”

  “I’d sure like to have a word with the kid,” Jim mentioned.

  “Well, I’m not allowed to give you his number, or any personal information, but I can tell you he’s a student at Millersville University. I tried to get in touch with him after I observed Megan’s apartment, for further questioning, but he wasn’t answering his phone. My partner said he had no luck either, but he hasn’t been able to look further into it. He’s been working the streets looking for our suspect. As soon as I get the free time, I’ll be visiting Sonny’s place near campus.”

  “I guess it would be a breach of protocol if you let me tag along when you go,” Jim stated, knowing he would be denied his request.

  “Afraid so,” Harrison confirmed. “But as soon as I get ahold of him, if you’d like to talk to him too, with your permission, I’ll give him your cell and ha
ve him call you.”

  “Please do,” Jim said, still puzzling over the mirror with the missing photographs. “Who’s this?” he asked, pointing to another picture of Megan and another young woman. The setting in the photo suggested a table at a restaurant. Both girls were posing with funny faces for the camera.

  “Friend of Megan’s,” Harrison mentioned after stepping closer to look at the picture at which Jim was pointing. “Name’s Ryleigh Darlington. They work together at Maybel’s in the main Outlets. We spoke to her and most of Megan’s other coworkers at the store today. She was crying when we informed her that Megan’s gone missing.”

  “One more question if you don’t mind.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Did you find any prints? Other than Megan’s… anywhere?”

  Harrison hesitated. “No,” he had finally admitted.

  “Strange,” Jim had commented. “You’d think her boyfriend would’ve hung out with her here once in a while.”

  “It’s a mystery, no doubt about it,” Harrison had agreed. “Listen Jim, we’re gonna get to the bottom of all this, we will. But I think it would be best if you find yourself a hotel and get some rest. As soon as I know anything, I’ll call you, okay?”