"I'm not sure," I said, dodging Jardeep's question. "We came to find Petaluma."
He gave me an appraising stare and I held his gaze. Something along the lines of a compulsion pushed at my tongue, but I resisted. Jardeep certainly had power, but I wasn't about to give away information that might endanger Lace or Petaluma. He broke eye contact and grinned, nodding his head slightly in acknowledgement of the exchange.
"Agent Anderson, I believe the room is clear enough that we might allow the forensics team entry," Jardeep said.
"Send them down," she said quietly, kneeling next to her partner. "I want David's body taken out first."
"You can trust me, Felix," Jardeep said as we walked up the ramp, out of the cathedral.
"It's not that I don't trust you. It's that I don't know you, Agent Farha," I said.
"I am not an agent," he said. "I'm a civilian contractor. A specialist. Problem solver, as it were."
"Specializing in what?"
"Well, this," he said, spreading his arms to indicate the scene in front of us.
I raised my eyebrows. "Dead bodies? Caves? Mass murder?"
"I'd be willing to bet most of these people led ordinary lives and died ordinary deaths," he said. "This is far from the place for us to discuss such matters. What say we get out of here, go somewhere less … awful?"
I agreed. "If I never come back to this cave, it will be too soon."
"When forensics is done, no one will be coming back in this cave," he said.
"They'll bury the bodies in here?" I asked.
"No. The FBI is setting up a field morgue," he said. "They’ll gather the biological material they need, document it and match it to records of the dead and missing. Most families won't be notified and the bodies will end up in unmarked graves in a special cemetery the government controls. The only record of who they once were will be stored as GPS coordinates and tissue samples in a big vault."
"Why won't families be notified?" I grunted as we crawled on hands and knees back under the shelf, the smell of fresh air welcome.
"Nobody knows they're missing," he said. "Felix, necromancers usually work with the already dead. The act of murder is just as abhorrent to them as it is to us. Those corpses were liberated from their graves long after family members have put them to rest."
"Not all of them," I said, gulping the clean forest air as we reached the mouth of the cave.
"Agent Anderson requests that you begin your work," Jardeep said to a technician. "There is an agent's body below and she would like it extracted first."
"String it up," the technician said to her team. "I want fresh air and lights in thirty minutes. Bolten, tell the morgue we need a bag and special handling for an agent."
"Do you have a vehicle?" Jardeep asked. "I came with Anderson."
"It's near the main entrance," I said. "I won’t leave without my friends."
"I'll see what I can do."
We walked in relative silence, passing workers carrying heavy supplies, all going the other way.
"How long will they be here?" I asked, idle curiosity getting the better of me.
"With that many bodies, I'd guess ten days minimum," he said.
"Felix!" Gabriella pushed her way through the crowded clearing and embraced me. I held her tightly, soaking in the warmth she exuded.
"Where are Lace and Petaluma?" I asked.
"We're just over here," she said. "I think the agents are scared of us."
"They're under orders," Jardeep said.
"I tried calling Judy to let her know we'd found Petaluma, but I can't get a signal," Gabriella said. We found Lace and Petaluma sitting in folding chairs, each holding a bottle of water.
"Uncle Felix." Petaluma ran up to me and grabbed on desperately.
"Cell phones won't work," Jardeep explained. "We're jamming signals in the valley."
Promise is a Promise
"We should adjourn to a location more conducive to private conversation," Jardeep said, glancing warily at the growing horde of law enforcement.
"Lace and Petaluma are in no condition to walk out," I said. "And my truck is over a mile away."
"I'll find an agent to stay with them," Jardeep said.
Lace caught my eye, brushing bangs from in front of her face. Her eyes pled with me not to leave her behind, but she didn't give voice to the request.
"I can walk, Uncle Felix, please don't leave me here." Petaluma wasn't willing to leave anything to chance – or unsaid.
Gabriella looked askance at both of us. "I'm not talking to anyone without a shower."
"Well, Mr. Problem Solver," I said. "There you have it."
"Fine," he sighed, pushing away from the tree he'd leaned against and stalking off.
"I don't trust him," Lace whispered.
"Neither do I," I answered. "But if he can get us out of here, it would be worth something."
A moment later Jardeep appeared, driving a four-person ATV. "Get in. Hurry," he said.
The five of us piled in. Gabriella took the seat next to Jardeep, allowing me to keep Petaluma on my lap. As soon as we were in, he started the machine forward, bouncing over the rough terrain.
"Let me guess, the vehicle has been repurposed," Gabriella said.
"Some problems are more difficult than others." He gunned the accelerator and the narrow vehicle climbed the side of the ditch.
At the end of the dirt track, where a chain had once denied entry, we found a state trooper's cruiser and a saw-horse barricade. A tall trooper flagged us down, stepping around the fender and into the glare of the cruiser's headlights.
"Identification?" he asked.
He handed his ID to the trooper. "Jardeep Farha. I'm taking this group to the station for questioning."
"I'll need to call it in," he answered, returning Jardeep's wallet.
"No need for that," Jardeep said. "I have authorization."
The trooper squinted and then smiled affably. "Right. That's all I need then. Carry on."
"These aren't the droids you're looking for?" Gabriella challenged when he drove off.
"Something like that," he agreed, pulling up to my parked Suburban. "What happened to this?" He'd parked so the ATV's headlights were illuminating the deep scratches in the Suburban's paint.
"My sister had a run-in with a fence," I said.
"Cawwk." Maggie's cry was high up in an overhead tree. I smiled as a generous dollop of poo hit my windshield.
"We'll get in the back," Gabriella offered, opening the side door and releasing the middle seat so it slid forward. Petaluma dutifully climbed into the back of my Burb and smiled for the first time that night when Gabriella climbed in after her.
I started the truck and drove out onto the paved road, turning toward Crabtree Valley. I didn't know what felt weirder, surviving a zombie apocalypse or simply driving away afterwards as if everything were normal.
Twenty minutes later Jardeep's phone rang. "Farha," he answered. The conversation he had was relatively one-sided, but I was able to get the gist. Dana Anderson was pissed he'd facilitated our removal from the scene and wanted us to come back. Jardeep, while contrite, wasn't interested in returning and believed we'd have a more interesting conversation away from the ears of curious agents who weren't allowed a full narrative of the events.
"Problems?" I asked once he'd hung up.
"Nothing unexpected," he replied.
"Don't forget showers," Gabriella called from the back seat.
"Crabtree Valley Inn," he said. "We have a bank of rooms and it's within walking distance of an all-night diner."
"Know it well," I said. "I'll need to call Judy to pick up Petaluma."
"I don't think that's smart," Jardeep said. "We have it on good authority she was part of this."
"If she was, it was because she was a victim of Thea Sanders," I said.
"She's a minor, Farha," Gabriella said. "You can't question her without her guardian present and I'll be advising them to say nothing."
&
nbsp; He wasn’t having it. "What happens when she does this again?"
"She didn't do this," I said. "Someone used a very confused and frightened girl and you'll get no cooperation from me if you go after her."
"If we have your cooperation, we should be able to keep the girl out of it. For now," he replied, not quite hiding his smugness.
I slowed the truck and pulled over to the side of the road. "Mr. Farha, you need to remove yourself from my vehicle."
"You don't want to do this. Let's just keep going," he said, once again using a persuasive magic. This time the push was significant and I almost did exactly what he requested.
"You're leveraging a twelve-year-old girl," I said, gritting my teeth and rebuffing his attack. "We'll take our chances."
For a moment the two of us sat there, locked in a battle of wills as he mounted heavier and heavier assaults. For the first time since I'd met Gabriella, I found myself pushed to the point of no return; where the darkness I'd once used to burn down my school's gymnasium threatened to overtake me. It was something I feared.
"You're right, of course," he said finally, as if we were having a minor disagreement. "There is no reason for threats. We want the same things – to have a mass murderer behind bars and the good folks of Eppy Faire and Crabtree Valley once again safe from harm."
"Felix?" Lace asked worriedly. "Your eyes."
I tilted down the rearview mirror. My eyes looked almost totally black, like my pupils had filled in the entirety of my eyes. They also glowed faintly in the dark of the vehicle. I sighed, closing my eyelids and concentrated on putting away my anger, calming myself. When I reopened them, my normal blue-gray gaze had returned.
"Your mother does not like to be pushed, either," Jardeep said.
"What do you know of my mother?"
"Anderson said you might be interested in Atronia Baltazoss," he said. "I say we get cleaned up and have some breakfast. I hear the diner's waffles are to die for." I had to hand it to him, he certainly enjoyed pushing buttons.
I fished in my backpack for Judy's phone and dialed her new number.
"What are you doing?" Jardeep asked.
I ignored him.
"Felix?" Judy answered the phone on the first ring.
"We have Petaluma and Lace, both," I said. "I need to get Petaluma somewhere safe. Can you help?"
"Of course," Judy said. "Where are you."
"We're just rolling into town. Headed to the Crabtree Valley Inn," I said.
"Divert to the United Methodist parsonage, just down from the shop on Jefferson," she said.
"Parsonage? The priest's house?" I asked.
"Not a priest," she said. "But otherwise, yes."
I hung up and pulled back onto the highway. A few minutes later, I slowed as we approached the stately old church and stopped in front of the old white two-story residence. The parsonage was nestled cozily into a corner formed by the church's main building and a much newer addition.
"What's going on?" Jardeep asked.
Before I could answer, the whoop whoop of a police siren sounded as Sheriff Merritt's vehicle slid in behind us.
"Sheriff is a friend of Judy's," I said.
"You can't get him involved. This is need-to-know only," he replied.
I shrugged a shoulder." Sheriff Merritt only knows that Judy is eccentric and a little girl needs help. Stay cool and you've got nothing to worry about," I said.
Petaluma climbed over Lace, pushed the door open, and ran for Judy, grabbing on as if the older woman were her only lifeline. Judy raised her eyebrows on my approach.
"Why here?" Jardeep asked.
"I have no idea," I said, although I had an inkling.
"What happened to her?" Judy asked, looking at a limping Lace being helped out of the vehicle by Gabriella.
"Not sure. Nothing good, though."
"Were you a part of all that hubbub out at Julian's Peak?" Merritt asked.
"Yes. When I figured out Thea Sanders had kidnapped Petaluma, I decided to check out some places I thought she might go," I said. "I dated her back when I lived here. I guess we got lucky. Not sure what all is going on, but Mr. Farha escorted us out of there pretty quickly." I felt uncomfortable lying to the sheriff, especially under the scrutiny of four witches who understood my deception.
"They've locked that mountain down tight. Staties won't let local law back in there. Must be something big," he said.
"Do you mind if I have a quick word with Judy?" I asked.
He nodded and walked over to talk with Jardeep.
"What's really going on, Felix," Judy asked.
"We found Lace in an underground cathedral," I said. "She was in a cage, ready to be sacrificed, probably later tonight. Thea and a handful of necromancers showed up and made trouble."
Judy looked from me to Petaluma, standing next to her in the pale moonlight. "What aren't you telling me?" she asked.
"Petaluma was convinced that Willum Gordon was going to hurt her if she didn't help."
"You were helping them?"
"Willum said he'd hurt my family if I didn't help him," Petaluma said and even I could pick up on the shading of the truth.
"And?" Judy pushed.
"And I liked it," Petaluma said, with a hint of defiance. "Willum said I was powerful, that I should be a queen. He wanted to help me."
"You can't trust him," Judy said.
"Aye, Willum was bad enough before," Lace said, with a slight Scottish accent I hadn't previously picked up on. "But the demon crossed his circle nigh-unto five years ago. I witnessed it and have been running ever since."
"That was the night you escaped the barn on a draft horse," I said.
Lace looked at me questioningly. "How could yeh know this?"
"Took a train into Charlotte? I know because I saw it in a vision a few weeks back. Judy, if Willum Gordon is possessed and comes for Petaluma … Wait. Is this consecrated ground?"
"This is Aaron's church and Pastor Clyde and his wife, Leona, are Aaron's friends," she said.
"I didn't think … you know … witches and the church," I said hesitantly.
"We're about to find out," she said glancing over my shoulder to the house. When I turned, a woman about my age stood on the front porch, obviously pregnant. Her husband had already advanced down the sidewalk and was approaching Merritt and Jardeep.
"Not to play devil's advocate, but are you sure the pastor can help?" Gabriella whispered.
The whole concept of churches and blessings was a conversation we'd had a number of times and was frankly, something I felt needed more investigation. While the faithful had no specific magic, many had very recognizable auras and their places of worship lit up like Christmas trees with residual energy. On the other hand, there were many churches that bore little residual energy from their parishioners and Gabriella was wise to ask. A demon would have no trouble entering a church such as that.
"I've always left demons to the clergy," Judy smiled. "There is little a demon can do to the faithful. And a more adorable couple you'll never meet. Would you believe she keeps mini goats in her back yard?"
"Aye, this is all well and good, but you need to be certain. Willum Gordon will not leave behind one as powerful as your beautiful child," Lace said.
"Altum Visu," I incanted, running my hands across my eyes. My worry for Petaluma drained away as I inspected the wavy-haired preacher whose entire body glowed a pale yellow. Daring a glance onto the porch, I saw that his wife's aura was much the same, although with streaks of orange. A thick swirl of color around her abdomen announced the presence of a new member of their family. Strong chords of the same yellow-white energy crisscrossed the property and into the church. I should have known Judy wouldn't take a chance.
"Finis."
"Satisfied?" Judy asked.
"It's beautiful."
"Pastor Clyde, you know Judy Babcock. Her stepson, Felix, and … well maybe you could finish the introductions." The sheriff looked to Judy who continued seaml
essly.
My initial hesitation in shaking the man's hand gave way to surprise that it was simply a warm, friendly shake.
"Please. Call me John," he said. "Aaron says you've a problem you need our help with?" The man's smile was friendly, albeit confused.
"Would you mind if we speak in private?" Judy asked.
"I get it," Merritt said. "I'll be in the car."
"Thank you, Aaron," she said, running a hand down his arm. "Felix, I believe I've got it from here. Please be careful." She reached up and kissed me on the cheek.
"We will," I said, hugging her and then Petaluma.
"Before I forget," Judy said, pulling two phones from her purse. "They're just prepaids, but at least you'll have something until you can replace yours."
I handed back her smartphone and gratefully accepted the new devices.
"Felix, I'm not sure what you're mixed up in, but there's a lot of weight in town. The kind of weight that can swallow people's lives. Be careful, son," Sheriff Merritt said. For some reason, I didn't mind it when he called me son.
"Now can we talk?" Jardeep asked as we loaded back into the Suburban.
"Showers first," Gabriella reminded him.
"Great," he replied sarcastically as we headed toward the hotel.
"Grab my blue bag?" Gabriella asked as we stopped in front of the hotel. She positioned herself under Lace's arm and helped the girl limp across the slate entryway and through the automated doors.
"Anderson isn't going to like that you allowed the Applebaum girl to leave," Jardeep said after he talked to the night manager.
I accepted two room keys from him. He wasn’t going to let up and I wasn’t going to get into it with him. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"Meet me in the lobby in forty-five minutes," he said. "And don't pull a disappearing act. Believe me, there's nothing Anderson won't do at this point to get to the bottom of these murders."
The rooms he'd given us were nothing fancy; two queen beds in each room, a TV and a bathroom, but at least they adjoined.
I helped Gabriella prop Lace up on the bed, stacking pillows behind her so she could relax. She'd been hobbling around without complaint for several hours and until we sat her down on the bed, I hadn't realized just how beat up she really was. Her left cheek was black and blue with a dark purple center and her skin abraded in multiple locations. The dress she wore was in tatters.
Wicked Folk (Witchy World Book 2) Page 17
