Chapter 10: Monday Morning. Coming Down

Mondays are always a pain. Todays was a greater than normal one. I had to go back to at least show up at school. I had to get through the week and get to the next weekend. I had to get my sister a Christmas gift. One which will make up for the ones that mom and dad couldn’t give her. I wondered if I could get Christmas decorations here in Augusta. Get her and Carrie and Lynn and (I guess) Cindy out here to celebrate the holiday.

I didn’t know how Cindy was going to be. I hadn’t seen her even at the memorial service. I hope that she wasn’t pissed at me for dropping her. Still, I couldn’t be upset if she was. There was a lot on my mind last week.

I knew that the next two weeks were going to be a major effort. This coming weekend with Christmas, next weekend with New Years and the Conclave. All of it added up to a massive load of work. And all of the glad handing and entertaining that went with it. Plus, I am sure I will have visits from the European Over Council and those two French fries who tried to kidnap me.

I probably should tell Ogernaut that the Gnomes should be aware of these folks. And ask Peter and Jeffery to provide some support in case Ogrenaut needs it. And maybe this week I can sneak in every night and look at ways to make his amulet capable of stronger shields. And maybe give him a few Fireballs too. He certainly did work to protect me last month from the FBI redaction team. In thinking about it, I wonder if I could add a rune to attach the amulet to just Ogrenaut. Not to Ogre’s in general but him specifically. Like I did with the stones for the Mages. It would make a great gift and tell him how much I appreciated him. Maybe add a few additional stones to add capability. He deserves it. He’s been a friend.

I wonder if I can get Pat to spring for an amulet. Get him and Paula together to design one. Yea. I like that.

Breakfast was coffee, orange juice (low acid) and oatmeal. And toast. Not a really exciting meal. Still, it was quiet and I had time to think. I grabbed a shower, put on fresh clothes, and picked up my phone and called Bernie.

Second Ring. Third Ring. Voice Mail. “Hey, Bernie, pick up. Getting ready to come get my car.”

Ten minutes. Ok. Call Lynn. See what’s happening. First Ring. Second Ring. Third Ring. Answer.

“Lynn Ablrs Line. Ms. Stephenson here, how can I help you?”

“Ms. Stephenson, Is Lynn available?”

“No, she is not. Who can I say is calling”?

“Hank Lambert”

“Mr. Lambert, you are on the no contact list. You will not be able to contact either Ms. Ablirs or Ms. Taylor except through the courts.”

And then she hung up.

I counted to three. Then to ten. I was working on twenty, when the phone rang.

“Hank. This is detective Merris of the Sheriff’s department. Are you in Augusta?”

“Yes. I’ve been here since late Friday. Is there an issue?”

“Sir, we would like you to come in and answer a few questions”.

“Detective, I believe that you know my standard answer. What does this relate to, and

What are the specific questions you feel you need answered.”

“Sir, I have been instructed to bring you into the station for some questioning. This is a formal

Interview as part of a criminal investigation.”

“Ok. For what timeframe is this period of criminal activity supposed to be committed.”

“Approximately Noon Saturday, thru Noon Sunday”

“OK. My lawyer and I will be there presently with affidavits for that general time frame. If you can provide a more exact time it would help to retrieve the more specific information as to my whereabouts.”

“I kind of figured you would. Tell me, kid. Did you rape and put these two women in a coma?”

“What two women?

“A Lynn Albris and a Bernie Philips. I have been told you know both of them, but they were not with you at the memorial service. Was there a conflict?”

I was shocked. It was a few moments before I could answer. This was one step too many to absorb.

“No, Detective, there was not. Was Cindy Taylor with them? She was staying with Lynn since her father threw her out.”

“There is no sign of Cindy Taylor. Both of these two girls were found in a ditch, next to their car which was off of the road.”

“I know that you have to keep the investigation confidential, but I appreciate it if you keep Peter informed. He’s also looking into my parents death.”

“And I appreciate you coming in to answer some questions. Any information flows have to be approved through channels.” And with that, Detective Merris terminated the call.

I woke up Natalie. There was no possibility of me doing a “Step” to get to the sheriff’s office. I was going to have to ride it. I gave her what information I had. “Gee, Hank. At least you waited until Monday to drop your next crime on my desk”

Then I called Mattie. I asked her if she had gotten back to college and what time. “Stay there. There is someone hunting people close to me. I want you to be very careful.”

My next call was to Peter.

“Peter. I hate to disturb you, but apparently, I have to go to the Sheriff’s department for another inquiry. This time for Rape and assault. The only hole I have is to explain how I stepped to here and left my car there.”

“Simple kid. You came home with Grace and me. We drove. Get Natalie and we can put paperwork together.”

“Already did. I talked to the detective too. He’s almost as pissed as I am.”

“That may be a show. Be careful what you say.”

“I asked him to keep you informed, since you were also investigating my parent’s death and would keep him informed without compromising his investigation.

“Yea, I would say something like that.”

The trip for the three of us was about an hour. And when we showed up, it was almost a comedy skit. We had contact information from my business manager for time up to noon, for Peter and Jeffery until eight pm, Information as to who from nine am on for the same Business Manager and a FBI investigator.

Oh, and by the way, my car was still parked at Bernie’s and my parents’ cars were destroyed in the fire. So, I wasn’t doing a lot of midnight driving.

“Its pretty hard to be in two places, fifty miles apart, at the same time.” Detective Merris said. “Hank. Who’s doing this?”

“I don’t know. But I am worried for my sister and my other friends. First my parents, now this. Can I see Bernie and Lynn?”

“I don’t have any problem with that. But you may have some resistance from the family”. Merris corrected me. “Also, Cindy Taylor is listed as missing.”

My stomach did a lurch. “What happened?”

“Yes. She and Lynn and Cindy Taylor were all three going out to get Pizza. They were on the way back to Lynn’s house when they pulled over for some reason. They were attacked, the two girls were beaten, and I assume that Cindy was taken. The car was set on fire, which is why the fire department was called. The two girls were found and police were called. I got called in after that, and after the Pizza shop opened up, the clerk remembered seeing a Blonde with them, and it turned out that was Cindy.”

I felt sick to my stomach. Bernie and Lynn were among my oldest and best friends. This was a nightmare. Cindy was missing.

The drive to the hospital was quiet. Natalie and Peter and I were all lost in thought, and I was doing some careful thinking. Thinking about who.

Cindy’s Father and the deacon? Need information. What would they do and who to do it to? Blind rage? Calculated rage? Politics in the Church.

Mage Over council? No. I don’t think they would take these actions. Besides, Reggie, Sir David and Peter were talking with them before this happened. I don’t think they would jump after my parents and friends.

Unknown assailants. From where? Fae? European Council? Who knew enough about me personally to find and attack my father, my mother, my friends?

When we pulled into the parking lot of Markland Memorial, we noticed a lot of cameras. And Misses Albris, Lynns mother was standing on the steps talking to a small group of people. She waved to me to come over.

“Hank, I’m so sorry about your parents, where have you been?”

“Augusta. That’s the only place I have left.”

“Well, I guess I understand. You could hardly stay with the girls while in this town. Bernie’s Mother is inside with her. I’m just talking with the reporters. Hank, who would do this?”

“That’s what we will find out. Who is Misses Stephenson?”

“She’s a woman from Cindy’s church. She volunteered to sit at the house while I was here with Lynn and Bernie.”

“What happened to Cindy?”

“She’s disappeared. She was with Bernie and Lynn when the attack happened.”

“What happened?” I asked, beginning to feel sick.

“The girls were attacked, beaten, and left for dead. They had a girl’s night out, the three of them. Cindy is the only one missing. Bernie and Lynn were both beaten, raped, and left. Hank, could Cindy have anything to do with this?”

I felt sick. And suddenly stone cold. “I need to see both. And I promise you, we will find who did this.”

Peter and Natalie had been hanging in back, and when they heard what Bernie’s mom told me, they were both in shock. I could see the wheels turning in Peter’s mind. And the stony expression on Natalie’s face.

We went inside, and Peter walked me toward the corner. “Hank. Reach out to them.”

I had been so upset with everything that had gone on that I had forgotten to be able to talk to my “batteries”. Looking in my mind, I saw the three strings going toward the girls. Two were bright gold. One was dark. Not fragmented, but it was dark.

I reached out on the first and felt Lynn come alive at the end of it.

I reached out the second gold and could feel energy. But no life. No thought. No answer.

“We need to check on Bernie.”

The nurses station told us Bernie was not able to see visitors, as she was in a coma. With no neural activity. Her mother was sitting outside of her room, with Pastor Taylor. Who looked at me with absolute fury.

“Are you happy, child? My daughter is gone, and this woman’s child is in a coma. What have you done?”

“Pastor, the Police called me in Augusta. Where I was since the end of the memorial services for my family. I’ve been there in morning. Now. What has happened?”

Bernie’s mom looked at me. “You weren’t here. They went to get some pizza and were coming back and they were attacked. My daughter is brain dead, Lynn is in a coma, and Cindy is missing.”

“Ms. Philips. You know me. I will find who did this to us. Is there anything I can do for you? For Bernie?”

“The doctors want to turn off the respirator, and the pastor says it’s God’s Will that we let them. I can’t do that.”

“My child” Thomas started.

“Pastor. I think advice from a non-medical partially trained clergy is not necessarily the best for a woman in grief.” Peter said. “I think that she deserves peace to contemplate this without interference from any interested parties. Her husband is coming home soon, and he has to be involved.”

“God works his will in many ways. This could be the sign from him calling her home for a reckoning of her evil ways.” Taylor replied.

“Get away from me” Ms. Philips said. “Get away from me now.”

Looking at Peter and me, Taylor felt suddenly that discretion was the better part of valor. And left.

Sitting next to Ms. Philips, I put my arm around her and said, “Let’s both just sit here for a while.”

And I reached down the golden thread in my mind and nudged the space at the end. I could feel the nerves going to Bernie’s heart and Lungs, and the feel of the nerves going down her body. It was all there. Thinking about Pat’s condition, I wandered up to Bernie’s brain. I reached out and found a large ugly black mass. It was blood. It was a block to the brain. Bernie’s mind was extinguished. Her body was here, but she was permanently gone. Not coming back. It was then that I realized that the threads went to the power of the batteries, and not to their minds. Their minds were able to hear. But only really respond when asked.

Peter and Natalie left us there. Telling us to call them if anything changed, but that they were going back to the building, and working the case. I sat with Ms. Philips for a long time, and we talked. About her husband. About past boyfriends. About her trips to visit me and to go to Augusta. About how happy she was when she was with me. About how she was sad over the breakup of her mom and father. Her Drinking. His running around. Day turned to evening, and I got her to go with me to the cafeteria to get something. Lynn’s mother came to sit with us and said that Lynn’s brain activity was improved. She had been hit in the same place as Bernie, but evidently not as hard. The police thought it was some kind of collapsible baton. “Like the English Bobbies use”. There was some belief that she would recover.

Toward morning, the monitors in Bernie’s room began to alarm. I reached out and saw that the centers of the brain that managed Bernie’s heart and other functions were being invaded by the ugly black mass. Shortly, those centers also went dark. And the line to Bernie went dark.

She was gone.

Toward morning, Lynn’s condition seemed to be improving, and her mom agreed to drive Ms. Philips home and take me to pick up my truck. When we got there, there was a note on the door. Social services were asking Ms. Philips to call them about her daughter’s reported truancy. Her reaction was predictable. She collapsed on the floor, crying.

“I’ll call them. Ms. Philips, is there anyone else you want me to call?”

“No, Hank. My ex-husband will be here this afternoon. We will have to work on the arrangements. Please leave me alone for a while. I have some things to do. I need to think.”

So. At this point I was in a town that was now strange to me, with no one to talk with, and no place to stay. What do I do?

Sitting in the jeep, I called Natalie. I figured she would be in the office, and I was right.

“Hey there my lovely eagle. I have a question. I have no place to stay, and no reason to stay here except Lynn. What can I do regarding school?

“Hardship withdrawal. Your grades are high enough that you can satisfy the school board by remote learning for the last six months. I’ll make the arrangements. You are coming home?”

“I want to check on Lynn first, and then yes, I am on the way back.”

“How’s Ms. Philips?”

“Distraught. Someone reported that her daughter was truant to the Social Services, and they left a note on her door.”

“I’ll reach out to find out who kicked that bucket over. Come Home, Hank.”

“Yes, mother.”

“I wish. Drive carefully” Natalie said, and then ended the conversation.

Going back to the hospital I was blocked from seeing Lynn. HIPPA laws. I was told that she was in intensive care, and that she was breathing. Her mother had gone home and would be back later. Visiting hours were from noon to seven pm.

Fighting to keep awake, I started out to drive to Augusta. I remember my dad saying “don’t make any decisions when you are tired or drunk. If you do, then the ones you make will be the ones you regret.” He never did tell me why he felt that was important.

I had just gotten home to Augusta, and was parking my Jeep, when I heard the mental scream of anguish. Then, one of agony, shortly followed by a cold wave of angry. And I recognized the projection of pure power from a senior Mage in a concentrated fireball.

The Gnome that was at the rear door scurried around to get a look and saw me coming across the street from the garage. He opened the door to grant me access to the rear of 1030.

I walked into an image of a bloody slaughterhouse. Paula was on the floor hugging Jeffery, who was lying face up with his head in her lap. And the entire foyer was covered with what looked like an exploded can of tomato paste. Smoking tomato paste. (I’ll never feel the same way about spaghetti and meatballs again)

Paula’s sobbing was over the burn marks on Jeffery’s shirt. He appeared to be in shock.

“Paula, let me see him. Please?”

Getting down, I saw his eyes flutter open. Looking down, I saw his skin closing under the burn mark on his chest. I remembered that sort of injury happening to me. “I guess you have been taking lessons seriously” I said to him.

“What happened to those guys? They came in waving their hands and shooting bolts toward me.”

I looked at Paula, who was beginning to shake and quiver, and I said “Good Girl. Magnificent woman. Expertly done. My only critique is that we must wash the tomato paste off of the walls and ceiling. The floor scrubbers we already have.”

She looked at me, gave a feint smile. “I couldn’t help it. I saw him get hit and I just reacted.”

“Make a note of this. Put a shield around them first. It makes cleanup easier.” I said.

Sitting up, Jeffery asked “What are you talking about.” He looked around and said “Oh. I guess this is what’s left?”.

“Ok. What happened?” I asked.

“Two guys stepped into the foyer and started throwing bolts at me. I stopped the first couple, but the second fellow threw something that was different. It slowly sank in and struck me.” Jeffery said.

“I saw them and tried to stop the bolts. Then Jeffery got hit. I kind of blanked and looked at them and wanted to blow them up. I guess I did.” Paula said.

“Ok. Paula, we need to get a crystal recording of this incident. So, we can figure out what you did and use it in training in the future. You instinctively took an action that was effective. Listen to me. You Did exactly what I would have asked you to do. Tell me you understand.” I said firmly to her.

Paula smiled and nodded. “Exactly what you would have asked. I understand.”

“Jeffery let’s get you into the Lounge and let you get some energy back. Paula, we need a project to build a amulet that is a shield for both of you. I don’t want to take any chances from now on. This is the third attack so far. I don’t want any more of my people hurt.” I spoke.

“And I’m going to bed. I need to sleep for a week.”

Which is exactly what we did. I left Jeffery in the Lounge, growing stronger by the fireplace, with a totally enraptured Paula holding his head in her lap. “Don’t you dare fuck this up, Jeffery” I thought to myself.

Tuesday Morning. A week to Christmas.

What’s Going On?

Tuesday Afternoon

I woke up. I felt like my mouth was sour. And I had to pee. And I had sweated a lot in bed because it was wet. And my head hurt. And someone was in my bedroom. And living room.

I looked around and saw Natalie sitting in the easy chair that was in the Master Bedroom. Where I usually sat to put on my socks and shoes. She was looking down at one of her many notepads.

“Hey, Angel. Aren’t you supposed to be in your office? Not that I mind having a good-looking woman in my bedroom, but you are not the usual one.”

It was then I saw tears in her eyes. “Hank, I have some bad news. Lynn died this morning. Her brain activity showed she was awake and then suddenly stopped. They tried to revive her, but nothing worked. She’s gone too.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. That detective called, verified that you were here, and said he was going to demand a formal autopsy to find out what happened. And that he would share the results with us. He’s really relating to Peter right now because this is five homicides in his area in two weeks. HE wants to know what’s going on and he will accept all the help he can get.”

“Jeffery’”

“Jeffery is ok. But he says he’s not much for homicide. He’s a bank fraud and robbery trace person. He feels that Peter is the best resource to track this. Besides, Paula won’t let him out of bed. Her Bed. Not yet. She’s still worried about this morning.”

“That’s what I meant. He’s all right. Who’s in the living room?”

“Victoria and Pat. Pat came down as soon as he heard of what happened to the girls. Victoria is here as his doctor. Do you feel up to some visitors?”

“Sure. But I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Ok. I’ll get out. We’re waiting for you”

I looked at the clock. Five pm. Seventeen hundred. I had slept almost the entire day. Of course, I was up all night the night before. My God. Ms. Albris. She’s going to be devastated. And Carrie. Shit. This was unbelievable.

It took a while to clean up. Getting the taste out of my mouth was a good sign. I walked out and smelled bacon and eggs.

“Always is a good time for a good breakfast” Pat said from the kitchen. “Especially after a hangover day”.

“I’m not hungover. I didn’t drink”

“Some experiences are worse than being drunk” Pat said.

I couldn’t argue with that. “Pat, I appreciate you being here. But you didn’t have to.”

“I know. But I wanted to. Hank, I know what a lot of shocks are like. You weren’t crippled and, in the hospital, but you were hit worse. If there is anything you want me to help you with doing, say it.”

“Pat, I appreciate it. I can’t help but feel that someone or something is behind this. My Parents. My three girls, plus this attack downstairs. This is all a massive pile of shit in just two weeks. I don’t want to know what is next. This is not a Merry Christmas.”

“You have had a lot drop on you. I wish I could say I know how you feel, but that’s not possible. I do say I will help you all I can.”

“I know. Pat, the eggs need turning.”

So, my Mentor, Master, Leader, Teacher and Mage and I ate breakfast. Along with Victoria and Natalie. And Natalie and I caught him up on the events that were non tragic from the last two weeks. I told him about Paula’s experiments and her ability to hold up shields. I also told him on the sly that she had gotten a book of runes from the Dwarves.

“SHIT. Those are priceless. They make artifacts that are without comparison. I am pretty good with some objects, but their rune knowledge is unbelievable. Can I steal a copy?”

“NO, but you can ask Paula to show you some. And maybe give you some pointers on linking runes and shields. She does more than I do.” I said.

“Shit. I guess I got competition. Oh well. I have to say you have really done a lot with this place.

Ogernaut passed me through the Lounge when I got here. Classy place to sit and drink and I could feel the energy from the entrance to the Foyer. I liked the three gnomes looking like street people sitting outside. I hear they have a rotation. Ogernaut told me about the massive cleanup in the foyer. Kid, people attacking you have bad results. People attacking and hurting someone you like have worse ones.”