Lucky Thirteen (20 page)

24

Homecoming

W
hile
Latrice was unceremoniously shoved into the back of a squad car and the other twelve women were herded into two police vans, Ray helped Larkin stand and held onto her protectively. “Can you stand? Do I need to carry you? An ambulance is on the way to take you to the hospital.’

“I don’t wa
nt to go to the hoshpital,” she argued in a weak voice. “I jusht want to go home.”

“And home you’ll go as soon as a doctor pronounces you fit.”

“I’m fine. You and Raif have taken very good care of me. I’ve probably gained ten poundsh from all the food and no exerchishe. Pleashe, take me home.”

“Larkin, that nut job injected you with something
. Listen to yourself. You’re slurring your words. Let’s get you checked out. Then, I will personally take you home. Humor me. After all, I’m the reason you let yourself get put in this situation.”

Brian Baker jerked Mikayla Pickett past his former partner to get her into the police van. The woman balked beside the twins. “Two of you?” She laughed. “Latrice thought not to use Gem
inis, but you’re actual twins. Who knew?”

Ray glared at the woman who worked for the mayor. “Baker, get her out of my sight.”

“Gladly.”

Ray signaled to Patrick Swift to check out the open panel. The FBI agent took the two patrolmen who had been watching the monastery with him through the opening.

Ray turned to Chris, “Will you take care of Raif? Get him home, and I’ll be by later.”

“Not a problem.”

Ray looked at his brother. “
Fooyay
! What were you thinking? You put yourself in a dangerous position. It’s bad enough you were even here. Don’t ever do something like that again.”

“Sorry, bro, but I had to unload on that crazy bat, or I would’ve exploded.”

“Well, I hope it was cathartic. I have to say it felt good hearing you put her in her place. Now, go home.” He jerked his head toward the exit. “I’ll come by later.”

“By the time you get there, it’ll be time for breakfast,” Raif joked
. “Bring something delectable.”

“You know it.”

With a gentle push on his shoulder and a stern look, Chris prodded Raif out the door to her waiting car, and Ray insisted Larkin go to the hospital.

♣♣♣

Raif unlocked the door to his townhouse about one thirty in the morning
. He stopped in the middle of the living room and breathed deeply. “God! It feels good to be home.”

Chris said nothing for a moment
. She just looked around. “It’s very…um…manly. Neat, but manly,” she said.

“Are you saying it needs a woman’s touch?”

“It’s just so plain, so sparse.”

“Leave it to a woman to want to
clutter up with little doodads.” He laughed.

“
Knickknacks make it homier.”

“I suppose
my space is rather functional,” he admitted. “And needs a good cleaning. I barely had time to wash the dishes when I came by. This dust has to go.”

“You apparently got rid of the rotted meat in the fridge.”

“You went in my refrigerator?”

She nodded.

He walked around his home as Chris followed. “Where’s my computer?” he asked.

“We took it
. I’ll get it back to you tomorrow. I promise.”

“Please do
. I'll function better with all my tools.”

She inclined her head toward the drafting table
. “I saw some of your work. Who are you designing that fabulous house for?”

“The love of my life,”
Raif replied.

“And who is that?”

“I don’t know, but that house will be my wedding gift to my wife. I have forty acres to build on about twenty miles out into the boonies toward the old train trestle.”

“Wow
! That’ll be one lucky lady. She’ll get the house
and
you.”

With a slight frown he said, “That last part might
make the house just a drawing.”

“Na
. You still have to see a neurologist. Remember?”

Raif nodded.
“You promised to hold my hand.”

“Indeed, I did.”

He yawned behind his hand. “Well, Chris, would it be possible to consider all this after a good night’s sleep in my
own
bed?”

“Yes, of course
. I’ll leave you for my wonderful hotel.”

“You can stay.”

“Excuse me?”

Unaffected, Raif explained, “I have a lot of things in common with my brother
. The sofa is a sleeper. Stay and eat breakfast with Ray and me. I’ve kind of gotten used to having you around. Don’t cut the apron strings just yet.”

“All right,” agreed Chris
. “Let’s get some rest. Maybe we’ll actually sleep tonight.”

As Raif and Chris made up the sleeper, he
thought,
I’d rather have you beside me, but I’m scared of offending you. You think I have walls? You are a goddess if only you’d lower yours. No—you remain the consummate professional, even in your attire
. He sighed, but said not a word. Raif slept alone and dreamed about Chris beside him.

♣♣♣

Meanwhile
in the emergency room at the hospital, the attending physician drew Larkin’s blood and checked her from head to foot while Ray waited patiently. Finally, she was pronounced quite fit despite a massive, unwanted dose of valium. The doctor scowled though. “You say she pushed this directly into your vein?”

Larkin nodded.

“You’re one lucky lady. If she had gone too fast, your heart would have stopped. The best thing you can do is go home and sleep it off.”

She looked a
t Ray with an impish, sideways grin. “May I
pleashe
go home now?”

“After a quick stop at my place.”

She rolled her eyes. “There’s something there I think you might want,” he said

“
Shyclopsh!” She brightened as she remembered Ray had her cat.

“I’
m gonna miss him,” admitted Ray. “But now he has become attached to my brother. That poor little guy won’t know what to do.”

“He’s
h a trooper,” she bragged. “He’ll know eshxactly what to do. He’ll come to hish momma. Uncle Ray can vishit.”

They had very little conversation in the car.
Larkin leaned her head against the window and dozed. Once they got to Ray’s apartment, the two were greeted with enthusiastic meowing, and just as Larkin had predicted, Cyclops leapt straight into her arms.

“Let’s
go home,” she said rubbing her cheek against his head. “I want to sleep in my own bed.” She yawned drowsily and held Cyclops closer.

“Hey, I understood what you said there.”
Ray grabbed the cat’s food, and the trip continued to Larkin’s house.

♣♣♣

Larkin stood on her porch a minute
in the pre-dawn. She took a deep breath of the crisp autumn air and listened to the tinkling of her wind chimes as the gentle fall breeze blew them. “That helps clear my head,” she said. She inhaled the fragrance of the fall flowers. “Oh, it smells so clean and fresh. I thought I might never smell fresh air again.”

Ray touched her shoulder after he unlocked her door
. She stepped through. Inside her home, Larkin was suddenly overcome with tears as the tension of the last several weeks found release. Ray steered her to the sofa, put an arm around her, and offered comfort, letting her cry. “Now, now. It’s over. You’re home safe and sound.”

Cyclops bumped his nose into Larkin’s cheek
. She wiped her eyes as she sniffled. “I feel so silly.”

“Nonsense,” snorted Ray
. “You needed to let it all out. But now you’re safe in this wonderful old house.” He looked around. “You know, Raif could probably help with your restoration.”

“That’s a good idea
.” She nodded. “It’s on the historical register, so I’m limited in what I can change. I want to stay as original as possible though. The place housed captured Union spies before they were hanged. One was extremely interesting. His name was Baxter Pryor. After two failed attempts to hang him, the people around here thought he had some kind of magical powers, and he was kept prisoner here until the war was over.”

“Fascinating
. Did he have magical powers?”

She shrugged. “After what we witnessed tonight, I don’t know.”

“Do you tell your students these things?”

“Sometimes
. I’m sure they’ll have a thousand questions on Monday.”

“You’re going back so soon?”

“Absolutely.” Her voice was soft but determined. “I’m sure you’ll be at your desk tomorrow.”

“Yes, but I have loads of paper work to do to make sure that lunatic doesn’t get off on some technicality
. I really should get going. I need some sleep, too.”

Her mouth dry, her throat tight,
Larkin hesitantly asked, “Ray…do you think you could stay here tonight?”

“I think it would be better if I called Chris to come and stay with you.”

“Why?” she said, suddenly affronted.

“It’s just not ethical for me to be this close to you.”

“Ethical?” Larkin said shrilly. “Is this because you
kissed
me?”

“I shouldn’t have let that happen.”

She pushed herself from Ray and glowered at him. “Do you regret it?”

“Larkin, please
.” He patted her arm. “You have to understand my position.”

“Oh, I
do
!” She stood, walked to the door, and opened it. “You hide behind that stone wall of ethical conduct.” Her legs wobbly, she grasped the doorknob to steady herself. “Out! Go home! See how much comfort and love your ethics can give you. Maybe you should hire a
hooker
.”

“Larkin!”
Ray said as he stopped in the doorway.

She shoved him out the door
, slammed the heavy wood in his face, and turned the deadbolt hard enough to wrench her wrist. A loud, “Meow!” that sounded like scolding brought her attention to her feet.

She picked up Cyclops and cradled him in her arms
. “Come on, buddy. I know I can count on you.”

Larkin headed to her bed but san
k onto the stairs, head spinning. Staring at the door, she chastised herself for ever being tempted by Ray’s presence. She buried her face in Cyclops’s fur and wept, emotions in complete disarray. In addition to captivity and valium, it was time for her cycle, and the added stress just made her feel worse. “What should I do?” she sobbed.

On the other side of the door, Ray’s fingertips touched the
wood lightly before he sighed, got in his car, and drove away.

25

The Accused

A
fte
r
only a couple hours sleep, Ray was awakened by his phone ringing. “Reynolds,” he answered sluggishly.

“My office, thirty minutes.” The mayor’s voice made the detective bolt from his bed.

“Oh, on my way, sir.”
Oh, shit. There goes my job.

Ray walked into the mayor’s office to find Chief Gerard waiting also. His stomach was in knots.

“Sit,” said the mayor sternly.

Ray sat in the chair beside the chief of police and began, “Let me explain.”

“Explain what,
Detective
?” the mayor demanded. “That you had my full knowledge and approval for an unorthodox undercover operation?” An age-spotted hand slid a folder across his desk. “Open it and sign, but if anyone ever finds out you did this bullshit without proper authorization, I’ll bury you.”

Ray read over the documents quickly.
He looked from the chief to the mayor. The chief looked away and grunted, “I can’t believe you didn’t trust me enough to give me details. Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve objected, but you would’ve convinced me.” The chief’s eye twitched as he looked at his detective.

The head official, furrowed bushy gray eyebrows and turned his lips down beneath a neatly trimmed mustache. Ray signed without
comment. The mayor reiterated, “That crazy bitch best go away forever, not to mention my assistant. Damn it, Ray! I’m covering
all
our asses and hoping for under-the-table justice. Now get out of here.”

Mid-morning found Ray, clean-shaven and with a
haircut, ringing his brother’s doorbell. When he entered, he dropped a box of assorted Krispy Kreme doughnuts on the dining table and plopped himself into one of the chairs.

Raif cackled.
“Leave it to the cop to think a box of doughnuts would make a scrumptious breakfast.”

“Oh, shut up!” snapped Ray.

Raif and Chris looked at each other warily before Chris prodded, “Sounds like somebody woke up on the wrong side of Larkin’s bed this morning.”

Ray
snarled in reply, “I’ll have you know I didn’t wake up on either side of Larkin’s bed.”

“Oh, for God’s sake!” hissed Chris
. “What did you do to offend her?”

“Nothing
. I was a perfect gentleman,” sulked the younger twin.

“Let me guess,” continued Chris
. “Honor and ethics. You idiot! You colossal fool!”

“Never mind!” griped
Ray. He stood. “We have a lot of paperwork ahead of us to ensure Latrice goes away for a long time—and her coven.” With a head shake and a snort he went on, “Who’d’ve thought there were practicing witches—not some Voodoo practitioners, not true Wiccans, but witches—in Eau Bouease trying to summon a demon no less. Let’s go.”

The agent sighed. “Ray,
witches
have nothing to do with demons or Satan. That’s TV and movie hocus-pocus.” Chris patted Raif’s shoulder. “Enjoy the doughnuts while I go deal with Attila the Hun.”

Raif sniggered and squeezed Chris’s hand as they all walked toward the door
. “Thanks for last night.”

“Any
time. You have my number.”

Opening the door to leave the townhouse, they were greeted by a shrill squeal
. “Mr. Ray! Momma, there are two of them.”

Raif chuckled and held out his arms. “Come give me a hug.”

Sheena Johnson hugged Raif. Picking up the little girl, he felt her face. He asked, “Are you sick, honey? You’re very hot.”

Carol Johnson unlocked their door as she answered, “She has strep
. We just came from the doctor.”

“Well,
I have some doughnuts in my house to share with you and I’ll get you some ice cream later.” Raif furrowed his brow. “What flavor do you want?”

“Double Dutch chocolate,” the child answered
. “Did you forget? Are you the right Ray?” She pointed at Ray. “His name is Ray, too.”

“Yes
.” Raif hesitated. “Little Miss Sheena, this is my twin brother, and his name is
Ray
. I have decided to call myself
Raif
. Can you remember that?”

“You know I can
.” Her voice had a foot-stomp sound to it.

“Yes, I do.” Raif let the child down
. “You’re just too smart.”

Carol Johnson smiled
. “It’s good to have you home. It appears all the trouble is over.” She looked toward Ray who nodded. “Terry is gonna like you. He’ll be home from Iraq before Christmas, maybe by Thanksgiving. Thank you again for last Christmas.”

“It was my pleasure
. Maybe one day soon, I can do that for my own.”

“You’ll make a great father,” affirmed Carol Johnson
. “Well, let me get this little bit in bed. It was good to see you again, detectives.”

Ray and Chris exchanged pleasantries
. They headed for the police station after Ray told his brother he would call later and that he would have his car and computer delivered after midday. On the way to the cars, Ray’s frown looked like a grimace. He asked, “What happened last night?”

“Get your mind out of the gutter
. I merely stayed the night like you should’ve done.” Chris gave him a crooked grin. “Not that I would have said, ‘No.’” She slid behind the steering wheel. “Ray, Larkin didn’t want you to sleep with her last night. She just wanted you there. You should’ve stayed.”

“Chris, I wasn’t thinking about what she wanted
. I was thinking about myself. That woman is more tempting than the fruit Eve gave to Adam, and she doesn’t even mean to be. She just is. Besides, this case is open. It isn’t ethical. I’ve already bent so many rules and been reprimanded before I could wake up this morning. I have to have
some
principles.” He snorted. “I’ll tell you all about it sometime.”

“Even if
those principles mean losing something you so desperately desire? Honestly, I wish Raif had asked. Damn ethics!” She drove off before Ray could speak.

♣♣♣

Ray and Chris spent the next several hours completing paperwork
. He leaned over her shoulder close to her ear, whispering. “Listen up. The mayor called me in early this morning. He had bogus documents saying our undercover operation was approved. Thought you should know.”

“Told you that you might get fired.”

“Yeah, well, I still have a job—though I probably shouldn’t. I should’ve pulled Latrice in long before.”

“Yeah, but then we wouldn’t have the other twelve. Stop sweating it. You’re secret’s safe with me.”

“Speaking of the devils…”

Then
they began interviewing the women from the night before.

Although it was the weekend, Judge LeVigne slipped into his robe, determined to see an end to the horror that had been taking place
. By three in the afternoon, the thirteen women had been arraigned and denied bail. The interrogations began in earnest. Over several days, the detectives and the FBI agents gathered information and questioned the women.

The twelve coven
members ranged in age from fifteen to forty and came from many walks of life and backgrounds. Some were professionals while others were unemployed. All seemed to think their practices were protected by their Constitutional freedom of religion. The most disturbing information to the interrogators was these women did not see the deaths of twelve women as murder.

“Gotta be the strangest damned thing I’ve ever heard,” Chris said, rubbing her head as if she had one of Ray’s headaches. “For them, the deaths were sacrifices—
their way of consecrating their temple and purifying America. That’s a new one. It’s not as if they were chopping off chicken heads.”

All
twelve confessed complete ignorance in the deaths of any men.

At the end of a long week, psychologists who evaluated the accused
determined the women were experiencing the same thought patterns as many cult members. They handed their assessments to the taskforce.

The task
force made up of Ray, Brian Baker, and the same FBI agents reviewed the files and discussed their findings. Chris plopped down the first file as she came in last to sit around a conference table. “Maureen Pope, forty, is a certified public accountant who’s frustrated with the nation’s economy. She felt pulled to Latrice to set the country on the right course. Do you believe this crock of crap, Ray? She’s an accountant, for God’s sake! Did she seriously believe pennies would fall from Heaven?”

“Or spring from Hell?” muttered Dantzler.
“Maybe that’s what the rumbling was.”

Baker barely whispered, “That had to have been a train that forgot to blow its whistle.”

Patrick asked, “How does that explain the drop in temp?”

“Why didn’t it get hotter if something was coming from Hell?” argued Baker.

Journey interrupted, “I won’t pretend to understand the weirdness, but all kinds can be lured into a cult. A lot has to do with their emotional well being, not IQ or social status. Latrice found a need or a fear and preyed upon it.”

“For both the men and the women she recruited.”
Ray opened another file. “It seems Lilah Steen was in an abusive relationship and thought Latrice offered her an escape. She filed more than one report with the force, but she always dropped the charges.” Ray rubbed his head.

Journey commented again, “Normal behavior for an abused person. So often, they die before anything is actually done.”

“Listen to this.” Dantzler read a summary. “Michelle Knowles is a burnt-out stripper looking for something other than a life in the gutter. She seems to think Latrice could provide security for her future. She said Latrice took care of all her bills. What is this witch—a sugar momma?” He opened another file. “Sydney LeRoc has been unemployed for over a year. Latrice promised her financial stability. She paid for an apartment for the woman. Where’d she get all this money?”

“Good question. I
t could not be from military retirement.” Baker read a file. “Mikayla Pickett works for the city in the mayor’s office. Latrice promised her advancement and success.”

“
Jeez Louise!” Ray exclaimed. “Thank God she didn’t know about the investigation into Latrice’s holdings. If she’d found out, this whole scheme would’ve backfired. When I saw her at the monastery, my heart almost stopped.”

“Yeah,
mine, too,” agreed Baker. “She commented during her interrogation that she didn’t think the youngest coven member would stay and she had been trying to recruit a friend who worked in the Hall of Records.” He lifted an eyebrow toward Ray.

Raising a cup of coffee to his lips,
Ray almost choked as he surmised which employee it had to have been. His palms began to sweat and his stomach churned as he realized how close his plan had come to disaster. “That crazy woman that Chris hates?”

“That’s who my money would be on,” affirmed Baker.

“Thank God you didn’t let her research with you.” Ray flipped open another file. “Sabrina Hatch is an educator at a local community college. She’s teaching our kids, folks. She reports being intrigued by Latrice’s approach to religion. I think the woman a cretin to be duped by Latrice. She has never been diagnosed with a mental condition. She obviously doesn’t have the intellectual capacity of Larkin Sloan.”

Dantzler winked at Chris; she rolled her eyes at him and
mumbled, “Yeah, Raif has a problem the bitch exploited. But she got Larkin to talk to her in the doctor’s office. She has some form of charisma.”

Journey nodded and
reiterated, “I’ve already said a person’s mental capacity has no bearing on their need for safety or the need to feel loved. Hatch must’ve needed some sort of affirmation. She has admitted letting Latrice borrow her SUV and reporting it stolen as Latrice requested.” He read from the interrogation he had conducted. “Valerie DuBose worked as an entertainer at a gentleman’s club. Her sexual preference drew her to Latrice. They apparently had a little tryst going on. She even said Hatch participated with them. Love is a powerful motivator.”

“Ah,” Ray gloated. “Dr. Sullivan said he thought Latrice might have been gay.”

Journey shrugged. “People will grasp at straws to feel safe and loved. It’s in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Cults in general prey on people’s fear and need to be accepted.”

Patrick Swift, said, “Raif’
s a nice man. He’s intelligent, but he had a need that Latrice exploited. Once he got control of himself, he certainly fooled all of us.” He sniggered. “Especially Lawrence. When he told
Ray
all about the time he dated Chris, I saw steam coming from Raif’s ears. Lawrence thought he was laying the bullshit on thick for
Ray
.”

“Oh, shut up
!” snapped Dantzler. “Raif was convincing. He fooled the press, too.”

Patrick nodded. “That’s the day I realized who he really was. He’s nicer.”