Chapter 7 Alaric
CHAPTER SEVEN
ALARIC
"A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool." - Willian Shakespeare
After the new information we received, we spent the rest of the day trying to find as much information on Ollie that we could.
It was a little difficult considering the church didn’t keep records of their community, and if they did, it was the old-fashioned paper and pen.
It appears the community is stuck in the old pilgrimage ways, or they have something to hide.
My gut believes the latter. The way they reacted to us appears to be out of fear.
The only person we found close to Ollie was Oliver Stetson.
Forty-four years old, lives alone and has no known living family.
He’s originally from North Carolina, son of a preacher.
Was never married nor had any children. Was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Obsessive Disorder which is treated with medication.
His background is clean with no priors. What we don’t know is why he moved here, where he’s living, or where he works.
It appears he may be living under the safe haven of this very tight-knit community.
There’s no reason to believe he would be our suspect solely based on his diagnosis as there are many people who live normal lives with what he has.
Our concern is the community which is very secretive and the woman who brought him to our attention.
It’s the only lead we have and doesn’t hurt to look into him.
“Ah, Solace? You need to see this!” Beckett yells from his desk.
“What is it?” Getting up from my desk quickly, I walk up behind him, peering over his shoulder. “Where’s Monroe?”
Looking around, I notice she’s nowhere in sight. She doesn’t take lunch, so I find it weird, not that I really give a shit.
“She had to run an errand but this video just came in from an unknown source. It’s addressed to us.” He moves his mouse over the play button and clicks to start.
“Agent Solace and Beckett, now that I have your attention, your time is running out. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. The demon inside this girl has yet to make its departure. It won’t allow her to repent for the sins she’s made.
You see, it’s a sin to sell your body and give yourself to men who are not your spouse.
The demon uses her body as a temptation to men, seducing them to sin. ”
What the fuck! How does he know who’s on his case?
His voice is disguised and his face is covered by a burlap sack with holes for the eyes but over those holes are a black mesh to shield any indication of eye color or shape.
He’s much more disturbing than his last video.
He appears to be more agitated and becoming impatient.
He moves out of the shot presenting the same girl we saw in the earlier video.
She’s tied up at the wrist and ankles. Even from the view of the camera, they look raw from the ropes.
She’s naked, trembling on the floor with matted hair, and a cloth is tied in between her teeth.
“As we are men of God, we must rid this demon at all necessary costs. It’s our job to protect the people. You must understand as you wear that badge. Help me, brothers, clean up this city. I’m not the one you should be looking for. You should be expanding my work.”
He cackles through the computer causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand up.
“I need you to hack this video and get the location. He’s losing it and we need to get to him before he destroys her.” I’m white knuckling the seat at this point.
I will never understand how sick people can be. They dangle people's lives like some sort of puppet, teasing them through pain and violence.
“I’m already on it, but this guy is intelligent. He must have a tech background because I can’t get past the walls. He has it down lock and key.” Beckett types furiously with codes that keep getting a kick back.
“Beckett, you will not find me. No matter the amount or type of code you click on your keyboard.”
We both stop dead in our tracks as he addresses Beckett.
This is not just a video but it’s live and he’s watching us.
He’s in our system. This makes us wonder if he knows every step we take, research we do, and calls we make.
This is disturbing and we’ve been compromised.
“FUCK!” I yell, causing everyone to look up.
“What’s going on?” Director Stevens walks out of his office with knitted brows.
“We’ve been compromised. We need to get the tech team to build a wall now. The assailant has hacked into our systems. He’s live now, addressing us as we tried to get his location. He’s blocked us out while also monitoring our moves.” I gesture toward the screen.
He takes out his phone and dials to the tech team, barking orders to get a fire wall up.
“Everyone, stop what you’re doing. Stay off your computers!
” he yells throughout the office. “Logan, Xavier, I need you to get to the other levels now. Get them off the damn computers. No communications on the phones as well. Now!”
“May I resume? I have a ritual to complete.”
The assailant brings our attention back to the screen.
The girl is thrashing and now going hysterical.
Her eyes are red-rimmed and wide as she’s looking past the camera to the evil man in front of her.
Something is thrown at her that looks like liquid and she screams loudly.
Sizzling can be heard as her skin begins to blister.
“Shame. Shame. Shame. Demon, leave this body and give it back to the girl. You are not welcome. Submit yourselves, then, to God, resist the devil and he will flee you. Stay strong, girl. Resist the urge. You see her skin melting, proving that demons have taken over. As her skin burns, the devil keeps his claws in her. There’s nothing left to save. ”
The girl's body seizes and goes limp as the last breath leaves her body. He killed her. She’s gone and we’re too late.
Another life taken with a brutal torture.
My shoulders slump in defeat and bile peaks my throat.
I run to the nearest trash can before vomit spews out.
I can normally stomach this kind of stuff, but at this moment, seeing the girl being tortured, I couldn’t hold it back.
“Her body will be released. You will find it in two days. Give this poor girl a proper burial. Do better and help cleanse this city before it falls.”
The feed is cut and the whole room goes silent.
Shock, sorrow, and defeat can be heard loudly from every single person in this office.
They didn’t need to see the video to know it was as tragic as it sounded.
Heading to the bathroom, turning on the faucet, I cup my hand to collect water and bring it to my lips to wash out the vomit.
Once rinsed out, I splash water on my face, trying to cool myself down.
My demons start to surface as images flash from the disturbing events I’ve seen from when I served.
Gunshots amplify all around me. Bullets whiz past my ears as I duck, trying to get to the building holding the hostages.
But I’m too late. The building is on fire and before I know it, I’m making my way through to try to save them but the smell of flesh and silence bulldozes into me.
Crackling of the flame and falling timber surround me.
Getting to the room they were held in has nothing but two skeletons holding each other.
Coming back to the present, my hand shakes, and before thinking, my fist flies into the mirror causing glass to shatter onto the countertop.
My hand has glass embedded in it and blood covers my knuckles.
I’ve had the flashbacks under control and why, of all times, do they have to come to surface now?
Director is not going to be happy about the mess I just made.
After getting cleaned up at the infirmary we have on site, I head out to get some fresh air.
I’m going to be taken off this case, I can feel it.
After my outburst, he has to. I’ve been triggered and it would be seen as a weakness that could slow us down.
God, I sure hope not. I need to find this guy and make him pay for what he’s done to these women.
Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I dial Monroe to check on her.
She’s been gone a while and missed everything that happened.
The line rings several times before going to her voicemail.
Weird, she always answers. I send her a quick text to make sure she’s okay as it’s not like her to be silent.
The times we wish she was silent, she could blabber on and on giving us the finger as she finished her stories or whatever the hell was on her mind.
Times like this, though, we need her to be vocal, and it’s not like her to not answer her phone.
I take to the sidewalk to clear my mind, not realizing my feet took me to the coffee shop where I met the beautiful, green-eyed, mystery woman.
The thought of her brings a smile to my face.
I can’t wait for Wednesday to get here so I can see her gorgeous face again.
Opening the door, I walk up to the counter and grab myself a coffee and take a seat at the table by the window.
My phone chimes, alerting me of a text, and I quickly take it out to see if it’s Monroe.
Celeste: You know, I didn’t think drinking a cup of coffee would remind me of you. At least I won’t have coffee stains on my blouse.
It’s like she knows where I am and that she’s in fact on my mind too. I smile as my thumbs hover over my phone trying to figure out how to respond to her without sounding like an idiot.
Me: Funny, because I’m at our coffee shop. You stalking me, Celeste?
Celeste: Oh, our coffee shop? I love that we have a place now. Unfortunately, I'm still out of town. Not able to stalk you today, Agent Solace.
How is it that she's able to wash everything away with a single text? Not like it was anything special but to know she’s thinking about me?
I can imagine the sparkle in her eyes, the seductive grin she flashes me, and her soft hands against my chest. The way she says my name, or texts, makes my cock stir. Ah, shit, I’m in trouble.
Me: Damn, I was hoping you would come out of your hiding spot and grace me with your gorgeous face. Where are you, anyhow?
Celeste: Italy. It’s so gorgeous here. Are we still on for our date on Wednesday? A nice stiff drink and good company sounds so good right now.
Me: I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to go there. Wish my job would send me to fancy places. Yes, of course! Counting down the days to see you.
Celeste: Perks of being a boss ;) See you soon!
Pocketing my phone, I finish off my coffee realizing that the shop is closing up and it’s two o’clock already.
Fuck, I better get back to the office and bear the consequences of the mirror I shattered.
Getting up from the table, I place a five-dollar bill on the table before waving at the barista.
She gives me a wave before going back to putting the chairs on the tables.
Once back in the office, I’m greeted by Director Stevens signaling me to his office. Goddamn it, here it comes. Following him inside, I shut the door pinching my nose.
“Look, I’ll pay for the mirror. I don’t know what came over me.” Before I can explain more, he holds his hand up to stop me.
My eyebrows cinch together with his sudden gesture. His hands glide down his face looking just as exhausted as I feel.
“I’m not worried about the mirror. Something like that would make any rational man upset.
I brought you in here because we need to get this case moving.
We need to catch this guy and higher ups are breathing down my neck more and more the longer this sick ass is on the streets.
” He sits in his chair behind his desk, leaning back twirling his pen.
A sigh of relief leaves my body. Just a reminder that I need to get my sudden outbursts in check before they’re forced to write me up.
“So, I’m not off the case? We’re going to go back to that church outside the city. We have a possible suspect that was brought to our attention. We’re hoping to get more information.”
Walking further into the office, not that it's safe from backlash, I take a seat in front of him.
“Why the hell would I have you off the case? You’re the best and I would be stupid to remove you. What I’m saying is, this case has been open far too long and we need to catch this fucker before more women are in his hands. And get your anger in check.” He gives me a pointed look.
I throw my hands up in surrender before giving him a salute. That earns me an eyeroll and a shake of the head.
“Got it. Have you heard from Monroe? Beckett mentioned she was off doing an errand but she hasn’t answered my calls.” She’s making me nervous; she hasn’t been back in hours and hasn’t reached out. Something seems off.
“Yeah, she sent me a message saying she was heading home, not feeling well. There’s a bug going around so I told her to take a day or two and get some rest. We need her mind clear and well so we can get this case closed. In the meantime, take Beckett with you in the field.”
Monroe is one of the sharpest profilers in the agency and just as good with a gun.
I agree, we need her head cleared and ready to go.
Not only does she work under me on my team, but her and Beckett became my only friends here.
Should probably swing by and check in on her before I head in for the night.
Beckett is going to be thrilled to get out from behind the screen of codes.
He’s one of the best hackers in the agency and is well versed in the field as well, that’s why I don’t mind him stepping in.
I would much rather him at my side, than throw someone in that I’m not acquainted with and would most likely annoy the shit out of me.
When Monroe comes back, I might have to break up a fight between the two. Better yet, I’ll let them have at it and see who would win at the sparring mat.