“I’m here, but I’m also working a case,” I said.

  “Oh, yes,” Leticia said. “I heard. If you need some help when all is said and done with that, I know a fair and friendly judge in the area as well as a few honest police officers.”

  “You do have your sources, don’t you?” I said.

  Leticia sat next to Miss Lucy before she answered. “This area is a hotbed of activity. The types of activities the organization needs to keep a constant eye on. It helps to know the people we can count on and those we need to be wary of.”

  “That makes sense,” Alex said.

  “It does,” I said. “Why is there so much activity in this area? Someone did mention that the city of Aurora and all the psychic or spiritual energy—what have you, there is what’s having an affect on the area.”

  “It’ hard to imagine, but that is the truth,” Leticia said. “Psychic and supernatural energies tend to draw similar elements.”

  “They would draw in people—legitimate psychics and shysters,” I said. “Is there something big fixing to go down here?”

  “That’s the same thing I’d like to know,” Miss Lucy said.

  “I don’t think anything big is going to happen here,” Leticia said. “But several things have come to light recently… some of which are highly disturbing.”

  “Spit it out, girlfriend,” Miss Lucy said. “I’m not one for twenty questions and you know that.”

  ‘Yes, I know that,” Leticia said.

  Brother Thomas had washed his face and removed his wig and it made quite a dramatic difference. He had short wavy black hair under the wig and looked Greek or at least Mediterranean.

  “Now he I would remember,” I said, earning myself a slight kick from Alex.

  “It’s a better look for him, I think,” Leticia said. “Brother Thomas, you should probably join Norris and his mother. We’ll be in touch, later. I’ve booked a room here at The Mt. Ore Inn for a few days.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Vargas said. “It was nice meeting all of you.”

  “Likewise,” Alex said.

  “Have fun with whatever secret project you’re working on,” I said. “By the way, you wouldn’t be headed to Shiloh Key anytime soon, would you?”

  “Sorry, Layton,” Vargas said. “I haven’t even heard of Shiloh Key.”

  Mis Lucy picked up the container of bacon and passed it to Leticia.

  “Mmm, bacon, what a treat,” Leticia said.

  “Take what you want then give the box to Vargas, so he can give it to Norris and his mother,” Miss Lucy said.

  Leticia took two slices of bacon, then handed the container to Vargas who thanked her and walked away. As soon as he was gone, Leticia gave us her full attention.

  “Something worrisome is going on, but the organization doesn’t know what it is yet. There is one thing we suspect—Sandoval Marchand is involved.”

  “Oh, shit,” Miss Lucy said. “He’s no slouch in the supernatural game.”

  “And the problem is that he’s still setting up the pieces,” Leticia said. “We know that much, but we don’t even know what ‘game’ he’s playing.”

  “And what aren’t you telling us,” I said.

  “Am I that obvious?” Leticia said.

  “You’re concerned about something,” I said. “And it is obvious which is unusual for you.”

  “Layton’s right,” Miss Lucy said. “What’s going on, Leticia?”

  “I haven’t heard from Noelle this week. She should’ve contacted me two days ago.”

  “Is that out of the ordinary for your daughter?” Alex said.

  “It is,” Miss Lucy said, answering for Leticia. “It might not be for someone else, but Noelle is good about staying in contact, especially when she’s working.”

  “Is she still doing research at that monastery?” I said.

  “Yes,” Leticia said. “The organization knows very little about the place, not even its location. They’re shrouded in mystery. We were extremely surprised they even allowed Noelle to go there with a small team of people. I was shocked enough that at the time I wondered why they did allow it.”

  “But it wasn’t an opportunity to be missed from what Noelle told me,” I said.

  “No, it wasn’t,” Leticia said, then took a bite of her bacon.

  “Sheee-it!” Miss Lucy said. “It’s gonna take us a while to get a team together to go to the monastery, and time to find out where the hell it is.”

  “You let me worry about that,” Leticia said. “I may be overly concerned because my daughter’s involved. Lucy, I have another mission for you before then, and Layton and Alex have things to deal with first.”

  “The blue cure,” I said.

  “Yes, I’m sorry to say,” Leticia said. “It won’t be much fun for either of you or Officer Hanson.”

  “How do the cards figure into all of this?” Miss Lucy said. “Why’d you have me bring them?”

  “You’ll see as soon as our last guest arrives,” Leticia said.

  “First, Miss Lucy surprises us, then you,” I said. “And there’s a mystery guest yet to come—surprises do come in threes.”

  “From what I hear, that’s no problem for you these days, boy,” Miss Lucy said.

  “It is what it is,” I said. “I won’t deny that the number three has had a significant impact on my life lately.”

  “More than you could ever even guess,” Leticia said. “But, the time of enlightenment is at hand.”

  “What in the hell is going on?” Miss Lucy said. “And why the hell am I here?”

  Chapter 19

  Answers

  “AND WHY THE HELL are we being so cryptic today?” I said.

  “There’s our last guest,” Leticia said. “And he’s right on time.”

  Alex and I looked to see who Leticia was talking about and saw Forrest, in uniform, being pointed our way by Melinda. Shit! I thought. That was all I needed; Melinda or Jack Baker seeing me talking to a cop. Oh well, maybe things would be coming to a head soon then regarding that case. As I watched Forrest walking in his tight uniform that emphasized his physique, my cock began to stir and it took major concentration for me to keep from getting hard. I looked away and saw Leticia watching me.

  “You and Alex both seem to have a very strong reaction to the officer walking toward us,” Leticia said.

  “Hell, the man’s a total stud,” Miss Lucy said. “Those damned Diony sure know how to pick ‘em.”

  “You two must be immune to Forrest’s supernatural charms or you wouldn’t be here,” I said to Leticia and Miss Lucy.

  “The supernatural ones that’s for damn sure,” Miss Lucy said.

  “Once you’ve taken the blue cure it makes you immune to the Diony, their consorts, and the nymphettes,” Leticia said.

  “Buck mentioned the nymphettes to us briefly,” I said.

  “Layton, neither you nor Alex should feel bad about how you feel,” Leticia said. “It’s impossible for a person not to react to those people. The blue cure will give you control over the heightened feelings by eliminating the majority of them.”

  “Hi, Forrest,” Alex said, when Forrest arrived at our table.

  “Hello,” Forrest said. “I guess I did make it to Mt. Ore after all.”

  He didn’t look happy and the reflective sunglasses he wore accented that even more.

  Leticia stood and held her hand out to Forrest, who shook it. “It’s nice to meet you Officer Hanson, I’m Leticia Carter.”

  “I’m here because you supposedly have information that can help me,” Forrest said. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not in the mood to be chummy.”

  “I’d hate to be near you when you do mean to be rude,” Miss Lucy said. “I guess because you’re so big and strong and you’ve got some gray in your hair you think you know everything. Maybe you’re just a gray-haired boy.”

  “Hardly,” Forrest said, then took off his glasses and gave Miss Lucy a stern look. “I’m nobody’s boy, Ma’am.”

  “Let’s all relax a moment, shall we,” Leticia said, then sat down.

  Forrest continued standing, then finally looked at me and I answered the question I knew was on his mind.

  “Alex and I are as much in the dark as you, buddy. More so, since this visit was sprung on us and you were clearly invited.”

  That prompted Forrest to sit. Leticia dug into her bag and produced a medium-sized bottle which she handed to Forrest.

  “I’m not here playing games, Officer Hanson,” Leticia said. “In that bottle is what we refer to as the blue cure. Drink every drop of it. I can’t say it will get rid of one-hundred-percent of what the Diony did to you, but it will reduce the effects significantly—by at least eighty-five to ninety percent. Our formula’s been improved.” She smiled.

  “I heard this thing comes with some bad side effects—Shannon Henry told my brother and me that but no specifics,” Forrest said. “She did give us a more detailed account of the Diony, per your instructions, which was nice. But, I don’t like being kept in the dark, Mrs. Carter, so what do I have to look forward to when I take this cure?”

  “You’ll be vomiting violently and sitting on the toilet for most of the night,” Leticia said.

  “Between the puking and the shitting, you won’t be good for much,” Miss Lucy said. “The cure cleans your body of as much of that Diony gunk as it can.”

  “Even if you don’t want Layton and me there, make sure at least Rory is with you when you take it,” Alex said.

  I saw Forrest seem to soften at Alex’s words. That’s why I loved the man so damn much… Alex had the same effect on him as he did on me. He could make us stern, and jaded men melt around him. A smile formed on my lips and I actually saw Forrest wink at me.

  “Don’t worry about me, Alex,” Forrest said. “If you and Layton don’t mind I think I’ll wait until you’re both around. This kind of thing makes me nervous.”

  “Smart man,” Miss Lucy said. “And they won’t mind. They need to take the same cure. Only, I don’t suggest all of you taking it at the same time.”

  “That wouldn’t be a good thing,” Leticia said. “You’re free to go now, Officer Hanson. Unless you’d like to stay and hear the real reason that you, Layton, Alex, and even Miss Lucy have been brought together.”

  Chapter 20

  More Revelations

  “I’M HERE, BUT I’m a busy man so can we get on with things,” Forrest said.

  Forrest was being direct and strong—two qualities that I had to admit were turning me on immensely at the moment.

  “Alright,” Leticia said. “Lucy, read the cards for us please.”

  “For everyone?” Miss Lucy said.

  “Yes, I have a feeling about this, and I want to see if it comes to pass. The cards do seem to be laid out perfectly.”

  “I don’t believe in messing with this voodoo stuff,” Forrest said.

  “It’s not voodoo,” Leticia said. “Do as I said please, Lucy.”

  Miss Lucy turned the first card which had a picture of a woman dressed in flowing robes with stars above her. “The prophetess—that would be me,” Miss Lucy said, then went to the row of three cards below it. The second card in the row had a card lying horizontally across it.

  “Shit,” I said when I saw Miss Lucy turn the first card over—it was the dog on a leash. She’d pulled that card out the first time I’d met her and she had read the cards for me. “Am I still the dog?”

  “Looks that way,” Miss Lucy said. Alex and Forrest laughed but Miss Lucy hushed them, then flipped up the next card after moving the horizontal card out of the way. It was the golden crown representing Alex—it had appeared in my first reading with Miss Lucy too. She didn’t wait before moving on to the horizontal card that featured a black book with a golden sun above it—that was new. The book was turning to ashes on one side.

  “What’s that represent?” I said.

  “The heretic redeemed,” Miss Lucy said. “Alex’s family belonged to a cult of heretics and so did Alex by association, even though he didn’t know it. This card shows he’s redeemed now and on a golden and true path.”

  “I’m relieved to hear that,” Alex said.

  The last card in the row had a knight carrying a sword and shield on it. Miss Lucy held it up and showed it to Forrest. “The warrior knight—impressive.”

  “Is that supposed to represent me?” Forrest said.

  “Yes,” Miss Lucy said then went to the next row of cards. The first card was of a seated woman holding a baby. A flame was painted over the woman’s head. “That’s the mother and truthsayer, and I have no doubt the card represents my old friend Charity since we know she can detect a lie in anyone.” The card next to it had a naked man wearing a hat and holding a book. “The lover, intellectual guide, magician, and teacher. I’m not sure who that is.”

  “Charity’s fiancé Linus fits the bill,” Alex said.

  Miss Lucy turned the last card in the row over, and there was a picture of a naked warrior holding both a sword and a cross. “The warrior priest or spiritualist. He’s in tune with the sensual or fleshly world and can navigate it better than others.”

  “If it has to be someone we know then it must be Rory Hanson,” I said. “He’s a massage therapist with a healing way about him.”

  “If what I’m beginning to think is going on is true, then I’m not happy, Leticia,” Miss Lucy said, then turned over the final card in front of her. It was of a faceless character next to a pile of books. “The faceless scholar. That means the position is fluid and open to anyone who is needed for the job at hand.” She ran her hand above the cards without touching them, then stopped and looked at Leticia. “A Triad Group in this region—and you didn’t feel the need to tell me before now! The cards I just turned over only appear together when a Triad Group is revealed or being revealed.”

  “I don’t handle that sort of thing, Lucy. It gets ‘revealed’ to the organization in its own time. And this timing got very screwed up because of the Diony involvement.”

  She was angry, I could sense it. So was Miss Lucy. “OK, ladies,” I said. “You two are not being yourselves today and I want to know why… now.”

  “I’m sorry,” Leticia said. “There’s a lot of tension within the organization at present. Something is coming and our sources don’t know what it is yet, except like I said earlier it may or may not involve Sandoval Marchand. We’re not sure if whatever he’s planning is what’s causing a problem in the supernatural realm.”

  “Exactly what problem?” I said.

  “The organization hasn’t informed me of what the problem is as of yet,” Leticia said. “That’s worrying, as is the situation with Noelle. I don’t like not knowing how to reach my daughter if she’s in danger… and my instincts tell me she is.”

  “When you find out something concrete, I’ll be there to help at a moment’s notice,” I said.

  “Thank you, Layton,” Leticia said. “I have a feeling it will come down to exactly that—acting at a moment’s notice.”

  “I’m sorry, Leticia,” Miss Lucy said. “You know I don’t like it when the organization hides things from me. I don’t blame you. How long has the organization suspected this triad?”

  “I was just informed that General Keene always suspected or believed Layton would be the head of a North American Triad Group,” Leticia said.

  “I’m completely lost,” Forrest said. “I knew General Keene and trusted him, so can we start around that point.”

  “You’d better go farther back than that, Leticia,” Miss Lucy said.

  “We can trace the first Triad Group back to ancient Greece,” Leticia said. “In fact the history of the Triad Group and the organization are one and the same. The Triad Group did essentially the same job you’re doing for us, Layton, only as a group. At times when supernatural forces were at their strongest and most threatening, a Triad Group would instinctually form and band together to come against the darkness. Historically, every region of the world has had a Triad Group working in their area. The most recent Triad Group came together on the African continent—two brothers and a woman.”

  “In the past, the organization has noticed that each member of the Triad Group has fit a particular character description—” Miss Lucy said.

  “Such as dog on a leash, uncrowned golden prince, or warrior knight,” I said. “And their associates would fit the descriptions on the other cards.”

  “Precisely,” Leticia said. “The prophet or prophetess often has a hand in bringing the group together or revealing the members in various ways such as reading the cards. Since Miss Lucy likes to play around with the cards I was curious to see if they’d reveal things today… and they did.”

  “Yes they did, but the head of the group in Africa is a lion on a leash,” Miss Lucy said. “The dog’s cuter.” She smiled at me. “I’ve been told the Triad Group’s leader in Africa hates the number three almost as much as you do, boy.”

  “It’s a sign, isn’t it?” I said. “The number tends to follow the leader around because he’ll eventually form a core group of three people. Then the others will find themselves being naturally added to the group.”

  “You catch on quick,” Miss Lucy said. “Quicker than me.”

  “Lucy, you should’ve known you were the prophetess,” Leticia said. “Your mother had the gift.”

  “And you have the personality of a prophet—they’re usually hard to get along with pains in the butt.” I said, then laughed.

  “Just wait till I get up from here, Layton Shayne,” Miss Lucy said. “If you weren’t so cute I’d slap that grin right off your face.”

  Everyone laughed except Forrest who spoke in a serious tone. “How was General Keene involved and what did he know?”

  “He was very involved,” Leticia said. “But I was only informed of all the details days ago when I was told about the Diony problem.”

  “Shit,” Miss Lucy said. “They hid it all from even you?”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27