Chapter 4
“If I’m the one, he’s really after, then he’s going to find a way to trick me into being where he wants me to be,” Angela told Jackson, and of course, Trent Fielding since he was determined that he was going to help bring the case to a close.
And it was good that he was there.
Such a spirit could go from place to place where she and Jackson—or others of their agents, as he had done as well—were split up, trying to find a suspect or even an area where the suspect might be.
And, of course, Darrell Manderley had killed the very man who had been the main help in his escape.
The manipulated and twisted guard who had helped arrange it.
He had either told the man he had to sacrifice his mortal life for the power that must be wielded immediately or he had taken him by surprise, shooting him coldly in the back of the head.
“We know he was here; let’s figure out what trail he’s been using,” Jackson said.
Sargeant Valiente shook his head. “Finding a trail in this forest . . .”
“It’s doable,” Jackson assured him. “But I have a feeling Angela is right; he’s going to try to trick her into being exactly where he wants her to be.”
“But . . . well, again, I’m not a forest ranger myself, but we have a heck of a lot of really good ones in this area, not to mention the dogs.
What does this man think he’s doing . . .
killing not only those who get in his way, but those who help him?
How does he keep getting people to do his bidding? ” Valiente asked.
“Mind games, more than anything else. There are two ways; threaten a man’s or a woman’s children, or other loved ones, and you have incredible leverage.
And since he has managed so many horrific things in the past, people believe he has the power.
If you can’t twist one mind, you twist the next.
And then there are the true believers; he has convinced those--usually those who are struggling in life and desperately need something to believe in—that he is an immortal being in human form and eternity extends so far beyond anything here on earth that obeying him in his darkness is their only chance,” Angela explained.
“And I believe he’s especially out for me because I tricked him before into believing I was his greatest fan, willing to do anything, and, of course, when it came to it, we had the area surrounded by agents and Jackson was at my back.
His main talent is that he is a master manipulator.
And he wants revenge. Always, for any slight. ”
Valiente looked at Jackson worriedly.
“I have the best partner in the world; he’ll have my back,” Angela said, smiling. “And we need to get moving because lives are at stake.”
“Do you think he’s already killed the women?” Valiente asked worriedly.
“I don’t. They’re going to be used as bait, I believe. Or . . .”
Angela paused, looking over at Jackson. The man was planning his own Halloween park, apparently.
And the women . . .
Halloween decorations.
And that was a truly terrifying concept, but . . .
They knew the man, the monster.
In one way or another, he planned to use them as decorations.
“I know what you’re thinking, and I know you’re worried,” Jackson said. “But maybe that can give us a little hope.”
“You mean that—” Valiente began.
“They’ll be injured, yes. Bleeding—maybe dressed up as bloody witches. But they could still be alive and EMTs and hospitals and doctors across the expanse of the area are on an alert, so we’ll have help for them the minute we find them,” Jackson said.
“If they are alive,” Valiente said, his tone grim and weary.
He winced and added, “There are many homes along the road here, too, homes that have the forest as their backyard and, of course, some tracts of the forest behind the homes are privately owned. You may have a problem with that . . . well, every home along the road just about is decked out for Halloween. This is a major area for trick-or-treaters. Some of the folks with kids have candy out—and little tables with wine or sodas or juice for the parents taking the kids around. It’s a big deal and like I said, people go all out.
I guess my question is this—is he somewhere deep in the forest decorating and thinking he can trick Angela into his web that way—or would he be more obvious? ”
“Well, we have a bit of a trail here. It could lead to a house or the property behind a house,” Jackson said.
“Thanks for letting us know about the homes—maybe we’ll start at the base of the woods, have agents check with every household.
It’s not Halloween until tomorrow night, so they won’t be out with candy and refreshments of any kind,” Valiente said.
“But hopefully they’ll be home and we’ll be able to determine if they’re all right—or if someone has been adding on some decorations for them,” Angela said.
Valiente nodded grimly. “I’m going to get my officers on it,” he said. “They know the folks around here, most of them, anyway, and they can keep people assured while giving them a warning at the same time.”
Angela saw Jackson was looking her way, and she knew his thoughts exactly.
They didn’t need to just worry about the women who had been taken.
Anyone along this forest road might be in danger.
Including children.
“We’ll get agents starting from the other direction,” Jackon told him. He had his phone out; Angela knew he was calling Bruce and that every available Krewe agent would soon be out on the road.
“I’ll lead the charge on my end,” Valiente said.
“We’re heading in, trying to see where Darrell Manderley was dragging his kidnap victims—before he killed the man who helped him escape,” Jackson said.
“So, we all move!” Angela said, nodding to the men.
Valiente nodded in turn and started to head to his patrol car; Jackson glanced at her.
And started into the forest.
Trent Fielding followed them in his spirit form, telling them, “I’m going to go back and see if . . . well, if I can find anyone out there who might be one of my own kind to help, and see what else I can see.”
Jackson nodded to him. “We’re looking for a needle in a haystack. No, the proverbial piece of hay in the haystack! See what you can find out—we’ll be forever grateful!”
“I know you guys,” Trent said, smiling. “And I’m just as grateful when we can get something right together.”
He headed off along the road.
Angela looked into the dark woods, shaking her head.
“Not sure we’re the best for this—maybe we need to call one of the K-9 pups and his officer,” Angela murmured.
Jackson laughed. “Hey, we wind up running around in the dark all the time—dark woods, dark swamps, you name it. And we’re good at what we do.” he reminded her softly.
“But dogs have a great ability when it comes to smelling creepy people.” she reminded him.
“Well, they’re out here—they were right behind us. And because of that I think our man had yet another car. He isn’t traveling far, I don’t believe, just moving and moving to keep us all going in circles,” Jackson said. He had moved through a very narrow pathway through the trees.
A branch slapped back, catching Angela on the side of the head.
“Ouch!”
“Oh, man, I’m sorry—”
She laughed. “No biggie. I like the taste of leaf at night,” she teased.
“What matters is that I believe you’re going the right way—there’s a fall of leaves just ahead that makes me think that a person dragged someone in that direction, see .
. . there’s a bend in the branch and the leaves are all over the ground. ”
“So, you think you’re as good as a K-9, eh?” he teased.
“No, I think it’s so obvious a five-year-old might have figured it out,” Angela assured him.
“Hey, we’ve followed trails before and been through worse,” he murmured, stepping ahead and surveying the area. “That way,” he said pointing. “Another little footpath—with footprints.”
“And drag marks, it appears.” Angela agreed.
They headed deeper into the woods.
And then, as they had somewhat expected, the path took a turn.
“He headed into the woods to head back out of the woods. How the hell did the man pull this all off? Getting out of prison—he had help. And then, of course, being him, he killed his helper. But he carried off a robbery, carried off two kidnappings—that we know about—and somehow stole and abandoned several cars—”
“And turned someone’s yard or the forest itself into a Halloween Hell,” Jackson said. “So, through the woods and back to the road. And Valiente’s men are checking the houses, our Krewe guys are starting at the other end, but we need to get to those closest to where we come out of the woods now.”
“If we come out of the woods.” Angela said.
She’d had to crawl around in nature many times in the past; she was accustomed to looking out for snakes or other dangerous creatures; she knew to listen for every rustle in the trees and the grass—and, unlike some of the ridiculous actions she’d read about—she knew better than to want her picture with a bear, a wolf, or an alligator.
But when darkness fell as it had done now.
It made it all a great deal harder. Not to mention she’d heard that coyotes were more prevalent in the area than ever.
She wished all wildlife well.
She just hoped she didn’t run into any of it!
And, despite herself, she jerked slightly as an owl let out its call in the night.
She hoped Jackson didn’t see her reaction—heck, it was dark.
“Just an owl,” he said, his flashlight not wavering from the twisting, narrow, almost path they were on.
“Okay, in all honesty, it’s a beautiful night,” she told him. “Stars shining bright above us—”
“You ready to burst into song?” he asked her. Then a branch snapped back at him, and he let out an “Ouch!”
“Only a branch.” she told him.
He stopped suddenly and she almost plowed into his back.
“What is it?”
“Look,” he said, directing the flashlight a bit higher.
With the powerful light aimed in a higher direction, they could see through the heavy branches; they were coming back up to the road again.
“Come on, come on, come on.” he told her.