by CC Dragon
We pulled in and entered the club. We stood out tonight but that was fine. I took one side and he took the other. Twenty minutes later, I found Lucifer.
“Back so soon?” Luci asked.
“No, a friend came here and I think he might be in over his head,” I said.
Luci smirked. “Hot and uptight with a notepad?”
“Sounds right.” I nodded.
“Back room. I’ll show you.” He extended a hand.
I followed his gesture while texting Gunnar.
I walked in the darker room with shimmering purple and dark green accents along with the black and found Paul and Mary Lou surrounded by a group with pale makeup and dark clothes. The feel was intense. A Goth girl was nearly on Paul’s lap while a man stroked Mary Lou’s hair. The bar back here was staffed by people decked out in full vampire dress. Were there deeper rooms or layers to this club? I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know.
“What’s going on?” I asked Lucifer.
“Deanna, I didn’t expect you.” Paul stood up.
“I thought you needed a hand. Mary Lou, how did you beat me here?” I asked.
“I left right after you. I just went straight to the bartender and asked where Paul was while you were searching.”
Mary Lou looked a little embarrassed.
I took a step back and nearly crushed Gunnar’s toes. “Sorry. I guess everything’s fine. Bye.”
“You’re sure you don’t want to join?” Lucifer asked.
“Very sure.” I nodded and dragged Gunnar toward the door.
“What? Where did she come from? That was beyond bizarre.” he asked.
We got in the car. “Just drive.”
I was embarrassed and livid.
Mary Lou without a man was weirder than I expected. She needed attention, apparently, and Paul would do in a pinch. I wasn’t the jealous type but I didn’t like being dragged around New Orleans chasing friends and acquaintances as they explored life.
“You okay?” Gunnar asked.
“Fine. You know, I had a friend in school, Barb. Barb’s sister was year younger. She was thin, like willowy thin. She ate anything and never gained an ounce. Barb never ate sweets. She wasn’t as delicate. Barb’s sister was prettier. Blonde. And all that stuff men like.”
“Not all men,” Gunnar said.
“No, but gay men aren’t really the attention a straight girl wants deep down,” I replied.
“True,” Gunnar agreed.
I took a deep breath. “I never understood why Barb always felt ugly. Her parents didn’t say anything mean, really. They weren’t comparing the girls all the time. But Barb never felt like the center of attention. Ever. Her sister always found a way to steal the spotlight. Even at birthday parties and other things that should be just Barb’s. Now I get it.”
“You do like Paul,” Gunnar said without inflection.
“I like him but it’s not just him. Matt wants to protect Mary Lou. Greg is punching men out over her. Do straight guys just want women who need them and look like Barbie dolls?” I asked.
“Some are more evolved. Few, but some,” he admitted.
“Very few. I’m done.” I shook my head.
“Done with?” Gunnar prompted.
“Hoping. My grandparent’s marriage broke up because of this gift. Gran had it. Why bother trying to even have anything? That’s why demons are showing up. That’s why I’m off. I’m letting my focus be split too much. I can handle the charity and the other work, but this romantic nonsense? That crap needs to go,” I said.
Gunnar frowned. “That sounds harsh.”
My phone chimed. I turned off the sound and let it buzz in my purse.
“We’re all adults. I can mind my own business with whoever Mary Lou dates. I’ll be like a nun without the poverty or obedience. And with better clothes and I can wear makeup,” I said.
“Ivy won’t like that,” Gunnar said.
“Ivy has Brody. She’s so distracted, she’ll forget about anything else. She doesn’t need to know,” I said.
“It’s your life,” Gunnar said.
I smiled. “Don’t tell the others, but you’re my favorite.”
“Because I’m gay or because I don’t argue?” he asked.
“Yes. I want frozen yogurt, let’s stop for some,” I said.
“You’re the boss.” He put on the blinker.
Chapter Thirteen
Sleeping in Sunday was a good thing. I trimmed Tish’s claws, caught up on social media stuff, and took my time getting ready before I even thought about opening the bedroom door.
Mary Lou had already texted me a few times but I ignored it. I had earbuds in listening to music so if someone knocked on my door, I had no clue. Gunnar knew I was fine but I didn’t want to be disturbed.
After searching for gray hairs, I decided a mani/pedi with Ivy would be more fun. I popped my earbuds out and grabbed my purse when I heard the knocking on my door.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“De, there was a grave opened. Matt wants you to come down there,” Gunnar said.
I groaned. “Sorry. Let’s go.” I opened the door.
We went down the main staircase and out the front door without stopping in the kitchen. Gunnar drove through a coffee place.
“Mary Lou is worried. Greg is confused,” Gunnar said.
“We have bigger issues,” I reminded him.
Parked at the cemetery, I took a long drink of coffee before exiting the car. I spotted Detective Hart around the entrance. He came over and I got out of the vehicle.
“Hi, hope you’ve got a strong stomach,” Hart said.
I nodded. “Skipped breakfast too.”
“Smart. Follow me. Just you.” Hart glanced at Gunnar.
“Wait here,” I said to Gunnar.
I followed Hart and we hiked to the center of the cemetery. Matt was already at the mausoleum in question. The affected door had a hole cut in it.
“Used heat or a blowtorch to cut it open. Pulled out the coffin and cut it open. Had to be more than one person. Probably three.” Matt shook his head.
I saw the Star of David on the basic wooden coffin before I went around to the open side.
The smell made me gag. The flesh of an arm was cut off.
“They took flesh?” I took a step back. “This is insane.”
“Tell me about it. What the hell?” Matt asked.
“Can I touch it?” I asked.
“We’ve done all the dusting and checking.” Matt nodded.
I held my breath and stepped closer. I put my hand on the uncut arm. I got a flash of a group that were desperate to get into the coffin. To get flesh.
“They’re a group. It’s not good,” I said.
“They opened two others apparently after this one. They got another coffin open but nothing was removed. Then they opened a third but didn’t get into the coffin,” he said.
“Was it reported?” I asked.
“Someone phoned in and reported seeing sparks. They thought it was aliens. Probably kids getting high,” Hart added.
Matt smiled. “It wasn’t a priority call. They didn’t see this one.”
Carson jogged up. “News van are starting to arrive.”
Matt looked at me. “I didn’t say anything or call anyone.”
“Gunnar?” Matt asked.
“He wouldn’t. Maybe your stoner friends called the news so you wouldn’t cover up the aliens?” I made the annoying air quotes gesture when I said aliens.
“Who did this? Are they done?” he asked.
“Not likely. Though taking flesh...I don’t see the point. Hate crime? I mean, why? Cannibals? Were valuables stolen from either of the opened graves?” I asked.
“We have to contact the families. This one will be especially hard. They just buried this woman a day ago,” Matt said.
“I want to see the other coffin that got opened,” I said.
Hart led the way.
“Cannibals?” Hart asked.
“Freaky Halloween crap. It’s my best guess. If they were just robbing the coffins for jewelry, why cut up a body? That’s just gross,” I said.
“Revenge?” he asked.
“That little old lady? Please. If it were revenge, they’d beat the body with a bat or something with more rage behind it. That was precision cutting.” I walked up to the other opened coffin.
The man inside wasn’t lying flat but on his side, probably from the work to open the coffin. It was disturbing to see someone at rest not peacefully positioned. His suit coat was torn but nothing damaged on the skin. “Weird.”
“Why wouldn’t they take flesh. If they had time to open another grave, they had time to cut this one. The next one isn’t that far off.” Hart pointed a few rows over.
I saw the rosary dangling from the man’s thumb. On impulse, I touched his face. “I know why.”
“I need to talk to her.” Paul’s voice pulled me away from the coffin.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
He walked up. “I’m sorry about last night.”
I stalked back toward the other crime scene and away from Hart. “I can’t believe Gunnar let you back here.”
‘The cops did. He warned them not to. I’m not sure why you’re upset,” Paul said.
I turned to face him. “I’m not upset. I’m annoyed that I went to check on you and you and Mary Lou were there holding court. If you wanted her there, why call me? I don’t get what happened last night but I have bigger things to deal with.”
He looked around. “Of course, you do. But I didn’t invite her down there.”
“Okay. You two have fun experiencing the world of the lost souls or children of darkness. I have grave robbers and people mutilating dead bodies to deal with.” I stared at the other grave attacked. Another Jewish one.
Two out of three. Was it a pattern? A coincidence? The news would get the names and make a big deal about it.
Hate crime? Random? I wasn’t sure but it was insane to stand here with Paul talking about something so unimportant.
“I was nice to Mary Lou because I wanted your friends to like me,” he explained.
I shrugged. “She does. I’m sure. She’s also just starting through a messy divorce. Be warned.”
“I’m not interested in her,” Paul insisted.
“I have potential cannibals running around New Orleans. I don’t care about your dating life. Got it?” I asked firmly.
Paul leaned back a fraction of an inch but I saw that my message got through. “Yes. Brimlow, Brody and I will handle things. Get Mary Lou on board with what needs to be handled for now. If I need you, I’ll check with Gunnar first. Good?”
“Great,” I said.
“Would you mind if I shadowed you?” he asked.
I turned. “No way. Police stuff.”
“You realize two of these graves are Jewish, right?” he asked.
I glared at him. “You have a medical degree on me. That’s it. Don’t mansplain another thing. Please go,” I said.
“I know but think about the implications,” Paul started on the same jag as he’d been last night with the vampire club. He liked studying the human psyche. No kidding. It was his job.
Hart took a step forward. “I can have you removed.”
Paul backed off. “Going. Sorry.”
I shook my head and walked back toward Matt.
“What’s the good word?” Matt asked.
“Cannibals,” I said.
Matt sighed loudly. “Hell. You’re sure?”
“That or they’re using the human flesh in a dark ritual. There are at least three in this group. I don’t know if there are more. But you need to warn cemeteries, funeral homes, and morgues. Anywhere they store dead bodies even temporarily, like that nursing home false alarm. Someone wants to get dead flesh from people. I don’t know why exactly but I doubt Mrs. Stein’s family was trying to reanimate her.” I looked at the poor dead woman who’d had part of her arm sliced off like a ham.
“Why do you think it’s cannibals and not ritual?” he asked.
“Could be both,” I argued.
Matt looked at me. We’d worked together for years.
“I can’t prove it,” I defended.
“But...” he prompted.
“Two of the graves are Jewish. The one that isn’t, they got into the coffin but didn’t cut up the body. They must’ve realized it was embalmed. If you’re doing a ritual, I’m not sure it matters. If you eat embalmed flesh...the formaldehyde will make you sick. Ingest enough of it and it will kill a person. All that work to pass up taking flesh? They’re eating it. Or they plan to.” I shuddered.
Matt shook his head. “Let’s keep that between you and me right now. Maybe there’s another answer.”
“Sure. Maybe.” I smiled. “Anything else?”
“No, I’ve got to do a news thing but you I don’t need in it. Won’t help. It’s too early for guesstimates.” He gestured for Hart to come over. “Walk her to the entrance. She gets in the car. No talking to news crews.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I scolded Matt.
“No, but the news is getting pushier. They might bully you or Gunnar. I want you protected,” Matt said.
“Thanks. Call if you find anything new,” I said.
The day had passed normally. Mary Lou wanted to talk but Ivy and I did the mani/pedis and I pondered the cannibal angle. Once that hit the news, it was all anyone wanted to talk about.
The pounding on the door coupled with doorbell had all of us out of bed late that night. I had a bat with me. Old Chicago habits die hard. Ivy had high heels on but Brody held her back. It was nice to see her protected. Greg carried a bottle of holy water and a rosary. Gunnar just brought his fists and amazing shirtless body. Was this a test? The guy was gay. Still hot.
Matt had his service gun and Mary Lou...didn’t come out of her room. That was about right.
Missy would be very helpful right about now but I could manage. As I walked down the stairs, my guardian angel decided to show up. She was always there but I could avoid seeing her most of the time. Sometimes she sort of insisted on being visible.
“Well?” I asked.
“Open the door,” Amy said.
I handed the bat to Gunnar and opened the door.
Dr. LeBlanc entered looking like he’d been up all night.
“This looks like something out of ‘American Horror Story’,” Paul said, staring at the group of us on the stairs.
I grabbed the bat back from Gunnar. “What do you want? It’s two in the morning.”
“Sorry, I know it is a bad time. I pulled together some old papers on hate crimes and did some additional research about current groups that fit the profile in New Orleans.” He had a file folder with him.
“Dios mio, you could’ve emailed that. I’m going to bed,” Ivy said.
“She has a point,” I growled.
“I know but you said you were worried about escalation. More graves. What if they move on to a live victim? If it’s ritual in nature, the flesh of a living person might have more power. I thought it might help narrow down the groups for the police to scrutinize.” He walked up the stairs to me.
Behind him emerged a black mass out of thin air.
“Get down!” I shouted.
Greg began with prayers and holy water. I looked at Amy and the other three angels immediately appeared. I closed my eyes, trying to cast a protective barrier over the innocent humans as the angels drove the demon back.
This one was strong. I saw a connection to the doctor and focused on severing that link. That vampire club was definitely bad news.
I sat on the stairs and ignored the rest of the room. Paul staggered toward me. I reached down and touched his hand and felt the snap. The connection between him and the demonic creature was broken. The demon backed off. Paul started coughing and wheezing.
Finally, the doors slammed shut. Gunnar locked them and Greg went down
to reseal our entrance.
“You okay?” Ivy asked as she rushed back.
I nodded. “LeBlanc brought a demon along.”
“What? No, I didn’t.” He shook his head.
“You normally come over to discuss criminal profiles at two in the morning?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, I’d call first thing.” He pulled out his cell phone and seemed shocked by the time.
“That vampire club is dangerous. You’ve heard of touched by an angel? You got touched by a demon. Not nearly as fun as it sounds,” I teased.
“Demon. That’s crazy,” Paul said.
“Angels saved you. Is that crazy?” I asked.
He stood up slowly and handed me the file. “Sorry. I haven’t slept well in a few days. I wanted to help.”
I took the file. It was probably crap from the demon to mess with LeBlanc. “Thanks. We should all get some sleep. I’ll read it in the morning.”
He nodded and turned.
Just then Gran appeared. “Keep him here. Protect him.”
“Gran.” I managed not to whine or sound exasperated but really, I wasn’t eager for that.
“If he’s a target, there is a reason. Keep your assets close, Deanna.” Gran disappeared when her message was done.
“Fine. Ivy, please escort Dr. LeBlanc to a guest room. He can sleep here and we can go over his research at breakfast.” I turned my neck and rotated my shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” Greg asked.
“I hear this jingle. I think that demon might have tried to blast my eardrums or something.” I shrugged.
When I tried to turn and go up the stairs, gravity won. I tried crawling up the stairs but Gunnar scooped me up.
“You’re summoned,” Amy said.
“What? No,” I said.
“Now,” she said.
I watched my body being carried to my room and a second later, I was in Heaven. I chose my Gran’s house. I felt safer there. My angel shook her head.
Suddenly, I was in that other room. That room too near the big guy and his throne. Really scary warmth spread through me.
“I can’t go in there,” I said firmly.
A message flashed in my mind: Keep your friends safe. Stop the demons and cannibals before they open it. Beware the Day of the Dead...
“That’s it?” I asked.
