Another Deception

by Pamela Carron

  Cranford’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, as his gut told him something was out of context with his young partner. There was complete silence while they sipped on the hot tea. Somewhere in the small apartment, he could hear a clock ticking. Looking around at the humble surroundings, he certainly could not accuse Frank of living above his means.

  The place was unusually tidy for a young man, the furnishings sparse and simple. The only thing that Cranford could see that made a personal statement was the books scattered across the coffee table, He could see because the kitchen opened up to the small living area. Instead of a sofa, there was a recliner and two other mismatched chairs gracing the room.

  Cranford began feeling much calmer and wondered if it was the tea. It was surprisingly good. Frank told him that it was a special blend he kept for times just like this and with him it was often, for this was not his first time ‘out the gate’.

  “Okay, so I believe you were going to explain to me why we let that kid die back there, instead of trying to save him.”

  Frank sat his cup down and stood.

  “First, let me warm your tea.”

  “No need, I have plenty and it does not need warming, but thank you.”

  “Well, let me warm mine.”

  When he had added to his cup of tea, he remained standing.

  “Promise me you are going to hold your judgment, at least until I finish the whole story.”

  “Alright, but you are not standing over me like this. Sit down!”

  “Yes, sir…”

  He took his seat at the same time sucking in his breath and let it out slowly as he explained.

  “I am a lie. Everything you know about me is a lie. The file you got on me is all made up. I came to your department as an undercover agent of the IAIB.”

  He held up his hand when Cranford would have spoken.

  “It means, the Investigation of Alien Invasion Bureau. I know you have not heard of it, not many people have. It is highly classified. It was not my decision to not include you, but then it was not mine to make. Anyway, we have been working on this particular sect for two years. It is believed within my department that these are people who have been seized as host for aliens. Last year we had a major setback when a man named Jacks got thrown into the equation.”

  At this point, he paused and Cranford mused,

  “He almost got killed by a bunch of…are you saying that these people tonight are some of the same ones who Jacks and his friends claimed were on that rooftop back when?”

  Frank nodded,

  “I am saying that this is bigger than you can ever imagine. Not only that, but it is so dangerous, you have to know you cannot ever breath a word of what I am about to share with you. No matter how great the temptation, swear to me now or I will not go any further. We can stop right here and you can have that desk job, or you can come aboard and we can catch the people who are responsible for Purcell’s death. It is up to you, man.”

  The older man grimaced at the fact the younger man did have experience and apparently a lot of it. He was dead serious when he replied,

  “Bring it on. I am good for it and who wants to retire from behind a desk anyway?”

  After this, a smile brightened both faces and a calmness that had nothing to do with the tea settled over them as Frank continued his story.

  “This thing goes as far back as time, but in the last two hundred years it has been perfected more and more. The ritual we witnessed tonight is an ancient one performed for the god, Moloch, performed secretly once a year… there are others all throughout the year, but this is a special one where only a few are allowed to participate. We call this group the privileged Society of Satan. Their other big one is on Halloween…why not, it makes the whole thing much easier when mixing it in with all the ghost and goblins, wouldn’t you think? You and I are probably the only non-members to ever witness what we did tonight and live to tell. If we are lucky, we have a recording which may identify just one of these creeps!”

  “I still don’t understand what the people we saw tonight have to do with aliens?”

  “Oh, they are aliens alright. But not the kind most people think.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Cranford asked, not understanding.

  “Some say it was a portal opened accidently, some think it was purposely devised by the angels who refused to be born of woman and go through the flesh life. These entities took women to wife and produced giants back in the day….you may know the story of David and Goliath…nevertheless, the offspring of these unions became an infestation, thus the reason for the flood of Noah’s day. It destroyed the bodies but left the spirits of the giants to roam the Earth as demonic beings without flesh bodies. They are constantly looking for bodies to inhabit and they prey upon the weak and sickly. They raise children from infancy using trauma based mind control to make them become the happy little sacrifice, like the one we saw tonight. You saw what they do. Unbelievably, these are the lucky ones. The rest of the poor little bastards are conditioned to become host for these sick beings and rarely put up a fight. Every once in a while, there is one who rebels and usually that life ends quickly. In every great once in a while, one escapes. That one, even though castrated, beaten, and battered, becomes the enemy. It is rare that one escapes unscathed, but it has been known to happen. I believe this Jacks character happens to be one. He carries the mark of one set aside to be a host and from the looks of his mark, he must have been meant for someone with authority. Anyway, like I said, he was one of the lucky ones.”

  He stopped talking and Cranford was not sure what it was he saw in the man’s eyes but it was something that caused him to moan and go stark white as he uttered the words,

  “Oh my God…you! You are talking about you!”

  9

  Jacks answered his phone and listened as one of Sang-mi’s sons informed him of her death. He felt numb as he heard himself responding. He had just talked with her a few days before and she was fine.

  “I understand.” He spoke with sadness. “I am so sorry. Of course, I will be there. I loved her too. I will be there as soon as I can make the arrangements. Thank you for calling me right away.”

  When the voice on the other end was gone, Jacks wiped away a lone tear that trailed down his cheek. Sang-mi was gone, he would never hear her words of wisdom or her sweet voice singing her silly little rhymes again, and he felt desolation and a sick feeling consumed him as he mourned the only mother figure he had ever known.

  Honey immediately started packing for the both of them. She was determined to accompany her husband to Sang-mi’s farewell service. She made the necessary phone calls to her patients and arranged for airfare early the next day. She figured three days would cover the time needed for the funeral and Jacks told her that the family had invited them to stay with them at Sang-mi’s house. From what she gathered that was a real honor.

  Dwight and Sheila returned from their vacation the day before and were over for dinner, as she wanted to catch them up on what was going on since the last in depth conversation at their house when Jacks returned from his last trip to New York. She was hoping this was the last tie to that place for Jacks. With the final deposition done on a lingering old case now turned over to someone new and Sang-mi gone, there was no real reason for him to keep making these trips. She understood his grief over Sang-mi’s death but admittedly, now there was a certain amount of relief. The city held no glamour for her but rather the horrible memories of being kidnapped by Asa’s goons.

  Jacks was the last one to make it that evening to dinner, as he had several things he had to finish up so he could be away the next few days. By the time he made it home, Honey had already updated their friends not only on Sang-mi’s death, but also on the lab report about the DNA match. Dwight and Sheila both commented on Sang-mi’s death and expressed their sorrow to Jacks. When Sheila asked what caused her death, Jacks admitted he had not asked the son of San-Mi but assumed it was natural causes.

/>   “You know, she was in her seventies and as spry as she was she did have complaints with her heart from time to time. I did not pry, for it would be the family’s place to share that sort of information when and if they chose to.”

  It was Sheila, who during dinner, brought up the subject of the DNA.

  “Honey told me the test came back positive and you have decided to leave it alone. So do you think it is just another trick for Asa to come after you again?”

  “There is no reason for me to think otherwise. Asa is a liar, so why should I believe this is nothing more than another attempt to get back at me for all the trouble I caused him? No, I will not let him manipulate me again!”

  Surprisingly, Dwight seemed to agree.

  “Good for you! We have to deal with enough evil as it is. I say stay as far away from that creature as you can!”

  Honey made a face and determined to change the subject to a happier one.

  “Are you still having morning sickness or has it subsided yet?”

  Sheila made a similar face and groaned,

  “Oh, it is definitely still coming and going. I wish I could remember who it was that told me after four months I would not have this any longer!”

  “Was not me, girlfriend! Probably Mildred or Shirley, because I know it was not Jean either…by the way, who I got a beautiful postcard from today!”

  “I bet I got one too! I hope so. I have not even picked our mail up from the Post Office yet, we have been so busy catching up with everything else. What did Jean have to say?”

  Honey had brought a pie to the table and the men were attacking it with gusto, ignoring their girl talk, so she motioned for Sheila to follow her into the other room where she produced the card, which she read.

  “The picture is one I actually took from the top of a peak here in the Pocono’s. I printed it myself. We have had some snow but not nearly as much as usual, or so the locals tell me. The writing is going great and though I have enjoyed being here, I am getting homesick to see you all soon. Hugs to the both of you, Jean.”

  Turning it back over to the picture side, she said,

  “How pretty! She can have the cold and the snow though. I will never live anywhere north of the Dixie line again! However, it sounds like she is getting some work done, anyway. I am glad to hear that she is at least enjoying life a little, even if it is alone.”

  “That is just Jean. She is happy and that is what counts. I miss her though and will be glad when she gets back here!”

  While the women talked merrily, the conversation in the kitchen had turned serious. Dwight was relieved the women left the room and in spite of his earlier agreement with Jacks, he retracted his comment.

  “I don’t want Sheila subject to any dark stuff with the pregnancy and all but Jacks, do you really think you have made the right decision with this DNA thing?”

  “You mean you don’t agree with my decision to not pursue it?”

  “I am just saying, what if your mother is alive and is somewhere, maybe even locked away or like those kids we helped, under his power and can’t help herself?”

  “Hang on.”

  Putting his finger to his lips, Jacks got up and went to the door to see if the women were still in the other room, then turned and went back pulling his chair closer to Dwight’s before sitting back down.

  “No way! I had to tell Honey that I was leaving it alone because I do not want to endanger her either. Those two almost did not make it last time and I will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and far away from Asa. I am glad to see you feel the same for I do have a plan…sort of.”

  10

  Hidey thought he might spot Jean again and looked for her whenever he went into town. When he did not, he thought it just as well since she would be leaving soon anyway. He determined in his heart that the only reason he took notice of her in the first place, was the hair she wore like a bright copper crown, which had beckoned to him through the trees the day he followed her.

  Therefore, when he got home one day from running errands, he was surprised when Romona told him she had a visitor while he was gone. She was excited, for company was scarce and she enjoyed a good visit from almost anyone. He was more surprised when she told him it was Jean.

  “You are joking with me, I know, huh?”

  No way did she show up here after he gave up on seeing her again!

  Romona turned away from him, so he did not see the twinkle in her eyes, busying herself at the kitchen sink while he asked,

  “How did she come to be here? There must be a reason.”

  Romona slung her dishtowel over one shoulder and turned to face him, taking on a stern look.

  “Oh, just why wouldn’t a vibrant young woman like her come calling on an old woman like me? Well I will tell you….”

  Suddenly, she started laughing at the woebegone look on her grandson’s face. Confused, Hidey turned and walked away. He had a big job for the local gold shop downtown and wanted to get started.

  “Wait Hidey, I’m sorry. I won’t tease you anymore, come back.”

  He turned around,

  “Granny, I have work to do. I hope you had a nice time but it really is none of my concern. Obviously though, she took me up on my invitation to visit you.”

  Walking back over to Romona long enough to give her a kiss, he pondered further,

  “I did tell her where the house was and that you loved company.”

  “Well, you can’t blame me for having a little fun with you, but the fact is, her car broke down just down the road and she walked here to wait for Sam to come with the tow truck. We did have a nice visit though and I won’t be surprised if we don’t see her again.”

  Hidey changing his mind about work, instead pulled a chair out from the table, and sat down. His annoyance subsided and curiosity was taking over. “Granny, did you talk about me and tell the truth.” It made him feel funny to know that Jean and his granny had a nice long chat and maybe some of it about him, as his granny did have a habit of telling tales about his childhood.

  Romona turned a burner down on the stove and joined him at the table.

  She brought two cups of coffee with her. Sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and talking about their day was something she used to do with her sweet husband when he was alive and she relished that Hidey always took time to sit and do the same. She was sorry for teasing him about Jean, but old habits were hard to change, as she always was a prankster.

  “We might have mentioned you a time or two…but, it was all good! Well, mostly anyway. I might have told her about the time that bear chased you up a tree, but that was just so she would be careful out in the woods. Some visitors don’t even realize we got bear up here.”

  Hidey sighed. Shaking his head at Romona, he hoped hard she had not told that entire story.

  “Did you know she is a writer?”

  “I think Romona mentioned something about that.”

  “Well, it turns out that I have actually read her very first book! I still have it somewhere. You know I never get rid of a good book. Anyway, when I saw her, she looked so familiar and that was it. Her picture is on the back of her book and who could ever forget that head of hair?”

  Hidey was thinking about the two books he had snitched from her stack to level his bed, making a mental note to himself to check and make sure one was not that book.

  “Right, I see the car is gone, so I guess that means Sam took it to the shop. I suppose he took her home too?”

  “No, I did.”

  “Granny, you have no business behind the wheel of a vehicle! Doc Werner said it was too dangerous! What if you had of had one of your black outs?”

  “Calm down, it was just a mile, more or less, and I am fine, am I not? Okay, I will promise not to drive without you, but then however will I return this book she loaned me, when I finish it?”

  She got up and going out of the room, returned with a book in hand.

  “I am so excited, it is a sequel to
the one I already have. See, the back has her picture.”

  Hidey reached out to take it from her extended hand. Flipping through the pages, he then turned it to the backside and found himself staring into intense blue eyes. The head full of wild curly hair was in a more demure style and she looked very professional, not at all, like when he had seen her. He felt a little intimidated but he also felt the stirring something else. Something he could not pinpoint. He handed the book back to Romona and stood.

  “Where are you going, aren’t you hungry?”

  “Uh, yes ma’am I am, but I need to check my email before dinner.”

  “Okay dear, we will eat whenever you want because I had a snack with Jean and I am not very hungry yet.”

  Hidey headed up the stairs to his room. He was almost sure that he had seen a book with Jean’s picture on it and even more sure it now was under the right leg of his bed doing a good job of solving his wobbling problem. No wonder he felt drawn to her, she was a familiar face to him.

  Pulling the two books out from under the leg of his bed, he moaned.

  “This is crazy bad!”

  There was a dent right in the face of the redheaded author. Of all the books that his granny owned, he just had to pick this one to fix his bed. Instead of going right back downstairs, he lay on his bed and began to read.

  11

  Because Sang-mi’s husband was not of Korean descent, they brought their children up more Western than Eastern. Sang-mi was proud of her heritage but she embraced the laws and traditions of her new country and encouraged her children to do the same.

  Her own country was war torn when she escaped and it was years before she had the desire to return for a visit. At the age of thirteen, she left behind no known living relatives and no good memories. When she had paid her visit to her homeland, she felt no emotional attachment whatsoever. Because of this, hers was not a traditional Korean funeral, with the exception of the procession on foot to the cemetery the last few blocks, led by one select relative who sang in a deep and mournful tone followed by the closest family members, other relatives, and then friends. Jacks’ and Honey placed with the closer relatives and treated with the respect Sang-mi would have wished. Though Jacks entered her life as an older teen and was in and out of it for years, she still thought of him as one of her own.