Midnight Liberty League - Part I

by Brock Law

took up the vessel and swore to uphold its defense. We formed a secret order of sorts, and have endured ever since.”

  “Now, I’m sure you can begin to understand our predicament,” Greene said. “We cannot seek outside help because of what storm might follow. Nor can we just disappear the way we used to, because the world has become too connected. In order for it to remain protected, it must be totally denied. In the same token, if someone other than a friend of ours knows about it, they would have discovered that knowledge through extremely criminal methods.”

  “The Grail’s path has been winding, but never accidental,” Franklin added. “It has some aura of fate around it, directing it to particular people. Anywhere it has gone, it has influenced, so far positively. That is why I trust it has some plan for you.”

  “Which is why we think you can help us keep it secure,” Wayne concluded. “Wherever these men came from, they cannot be allowed to release what they know or get any closer to gaining the Grail than they already have. We just need to figure out who they are and how to find them.”

  “Going back to Independence Hall might be a good start,” Greene reasoned. “There’s tight security, and it’s public. Perhaps they’ll think to find you there again, Ben.”

  “Dangerous to sit and wait, but it may be the quickest way to get Vivie back,” said Franklin. “Perhaps we can negotiate somehow.”

  “Or take her back the old fashioned way,” Wayne urged.

  Will thought for a second, and reached into his pocket.

  “I don’t know how to even begin to believe any of that, but maybe I can help a little right now,” Will offered. “I found something last night after they broke into my home.”

  He pulled out the iron cross and lowered it on to the table. As the chain dropped and piled up on the pendant, the three ancients shot forward. Franklin gawked, then yanked off his glasses to wipe them on his shirt. Will witnessed as they shared a condemnatory rejection, which soon ended in a mutual realization.

  “Lafayette,” Wayne whispered into the open air. An angry scowl tethered itself to his recoiling body.

  Greene and Franklin, almost unseated by a forming recognition, distanced themselves from the object. Fear mounted in Will as it became clear that they had begun to formulate some frightful theory.

  “Could it be possible?” Franklin spoke softly. “This is much worse than I thought.”

  Never Trouble Another With What You Can Do Yourself

  Will sat in his dining room with a sauce-smeared plate in front of him at the table. He looked at it blankly, full but unsatisfied. His meeting with the alleged immortals that morning still threatened to violently eject his meal. He couldn’t calm the frenzy of questions and denials that bounced off each other in his brain. Inside, his mind was like a pinball machine, deflecting the realization that was ricocheting around, fighting its inevitable acceptance as long as he could.

  His idle hand reached into his pocket and removed his phone. He rotated it in circles on his palm, anguished over its very presence. He clicked it on, dialed, and gradually raised it to his ear.

  “Yes, hi,” he started. “No it’s not an emergency, I’d like to report a burglary…yes that’s correct…great, thank you.”

  Will hung up and slid the phone into his pocket. He went back to sitting in silence, afraid to even get up. Quietly, he monitored the sounds of the house from the middle of the dining room. He peered into the shadowy archways, heightening his attention on the periphery. Outside, the street was growing dim as the late summer sun fell behind the house. The stony dusk added to the queasiness in Will’s stomach.

  In the empty home, Will announced his paranoia. “I shouldn’t have done that. Now I’ll never find out if this is real, but how else can I keep those things away from me? How else can I save that girl?”

  A few minutes later an official-sounding knock boomed from the front door. Will paused a moment, looking nervous. Just as his lungs were beginning to kick up, he calmed himself with a long exhale and got up from the table. After finally reaching the door he opened it to see a policeman standing on the step. Upon seeing Will, the officer silenced his radio, on which dispatch was squawking wildly.

  “Good evening officer,” Will greeted.

  “Are you William Mith?” the policeman asked. “Calling about a burglary?”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I’d like to come in and inspect the home.”

  “Come on in,” Will managed with slight cordiality.

  The policeman came in, rotating his body to face Will as he passed and went straight into the living room. He pulled out an enlarged notepad and pen, keeping an eye on the young man as he scanned the room. He started writing before saying anything.

  Eventually the policeman asked, “When did this occur?”

  “Sometime after midnight last night,” Will revealed.

  “Anyone in the house?”

  “Just me.”

  “You were home?”

  “Yes.”

  “You were in the house when this occurred?”

  “Yes that’s right.”

  “Did you see anybody?”

  “Ahh…,” Will stuttered, “nnnn…no.”

  The policeman paused and looked at Will.

  “Did you hear anything?” the officer resumed.

  “Something bumping around…woke me up…turned on the lights,” Will faked. “That was it.”

  The policeman began to pace around the living room. He bent over to inspect every surface and crouched to look along the surface of the carpet. The officer stopped at the mantle and looked at the photos and candles resting there, then down at the fire poker and brush.

  “This your family in these photos?”

  “Yes,” Will acknowledged.

  “Where are they?”

  “The beach,” Will said helpfully.

  “Are they aware of the burglary?”

  “Not yet.”

  “You didn’t tell your family about a break in?”

  “Naaa…not yet,” Will stammered.

  The policeman paused again and stared at Will.

  “Anything stolen?”

  “Not sure, don’t think so,” Will answered.

  “So you heard movement downstairs, but to your knowledge nothing was taken.”

  “Correct.”

  “What gave you the impression that someone else had been in the house?”

  “Stuff was moved around.”

  “Moved around? Like what?”

  “Ahh not sure really, things just out of place.” Will was beginning to sweat.

  “You said you saw things had been moved. What specifically?”

  “Like…furniture,” said Will.

  “Which furniture?”

  “The couch, the coffee table.” Will pointed.

  “Were they overturned?”

  “Just…askew,” said Will guiltily, beginning to deviate from his intended discourse.

  “Askew?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It looks like you vacuumed in here recently Mr. Mith,” said the officer.

  “I cleaned up a little this morning,” said Will truthfully for once.

  “You shouldn’t have done that. Were there any small objects out of place? Something that might have been touched by the intruder? Like the fire poker for example?”

  “The fire poker? I don’t know,” Will clamored.

  “There are piles of ash over here on the floor by the fireplace. Do you usually build fires in the summer time Mr. Mith?”

  “No, not usually,” said Will.

  “Did you build one last night?”

  “No.”

  “Was the chimney cleaned recently?”

  “I wouldn’t know, my parents handle that.” Will was beginning to get agitated.

  “You really should be more careful about your fire maintenance Mr. Mith. These old houses are like tinderboxes. You could light the whole block up,” the officer scolded.

  “Sure thing,�
� said Will.

  “You seem a little shaken up, Mr. Mith,” the officer hinted.

  “I do?” Will responded tensely.

  The officer paused and stared at Will again.

  “I know how traumatic a break-in can be. Happened to my sister just last month, she’s been a wreck ever since,” the officer mentioned. “Big guy like you shouldn’t be worried though. It happens. Actually, we got calls from several of your neighbors this morning about similar instances on this block. Bumping around downstairs, but nothing stolen and nothing broken. I would guess it’s just a vagrant looking for a place to stay while half the city is down the shore. In either case we’ll be maintaining a patrol on the surrounding blocks. If something happens and you can’t get to your phone, just head for the street.”

  “I will, thank you,” Will replied with an easier tone.

  “Anything else you want to tell me?” the officer said as he raised his brow.

  As the policeman searched his face, Will blinked and wiped his mouth anxiously a couple times. The officer continued to look intently, waiting for a response. Will’s lips parted for a second, but he shut them again and swallowed his thoughts.

  “Nope,” Will finally said.

  The officer ripped off the top copy of the carbon sheet he’d been writing on. “Here is a copy of your statement. If you need to call again, just reference that number at the top of the page.”

  “I will, thanks,” Will said as he accepted the sheet.

  “You have a good night now,” the policeman wrapped up and headed for the door. “Couldn’t hurt to leave a few lights on downstairs when you go bed.”

  “Good idea, thanks for coming,” said Will as he shut the door behind the exiting officer.

  As soon as the door shut, Will fell against it and sunk to the floor. He gripped his face and hair in his fingers and pulled as hard as he could. He embellished with a swelling roar