Whispers from the Edge of Darkness – Chapter 9
The abrupt end to an evening of necessary work could not dismay Jacob no matter how hard he tried to scold himself for getting distracted. There was hardly a day when Cathy could fail to stir his senses. He long ago accepted that her magic would sometimes reach heights beyond even his imaginings. At such times they were often below in the privacy of the Lower Sanctuary. The previous night was spontaneous and rich with passion. He had to remove the simple talisman of herbs from her neck if he ever hoped to get some sleep.
Even as the sun rose to signal another day, he was still bemused by it all. Jacob hoped that the same reaction would not be unleashed on Kardin. Cathy's powerful aura was a thing of beauty but it represented both her passion and her fury. Jacob was happy to be the recipient of her passion. He hoped that only the deep and abiding anger against a man who used Lena and forced mother and daughter to be separated would lay at the heart of any face to face meetings with Kardin. Until her anger was directed at the source, she could not begin to heal that aspect of her life. His goal was to mitigate any destructive pathway which would jeopardize Holly or her children or the unique relationship of the triad.
Despite his desire for more intimacy, Jacob dragged himself out of bed early to finish what had been left behind the night before. His mother, daughter, and father were on his mind as he filled their sachets. He created a separate blend for Mémé but decided against offering anything for Holly or Brian unless asked. Their relationship with Kardin was entirely different. Satisfied that he was as prepared as ever, Jacob got ready for work despite a great desire to lose himself in his wife's arms again. He tiptoed into the room for a last look and whispered goodbye before grabbing a coffee and muffin from Sue and sailing out the door.
…..
At the office, much of his demeanour was at odds with the seriousness of his work and a current case which had stretched the imagination of the team trying to solve a puzzle.
'What's up with you?' his assistant asked.
'I don't have to be same everyday, Ziggy.'
'That's just it. You usually are! Serious and studious!'
Jacob tried hard to school his features but failed miserably. 'I'm both those things but I'm also just happy today, on a personal level, despite the other bad things afoot.'
Ziggy laughed determined not to probe further. He had seen Jacob's wife. 'Well on a serious note, I have something I thought might interest you. We spent the better part of yesterday looking at any connection between the Mesmer cases.'
'Mesmer?'
'Yeah well the name kind of fits their demeanour. Seems the right way to sum up the cause of their strange behaviour – mesmerized, but I want you to have a look at this.'
Ziggy approached Jacob's desk with a couple of city maps. Jacob inhaled deeply as he looked at the strange but crystal-clear markings. 'How on earth did you work this one out?'
I have spent my whole life looking at the Star of David. The six points are fixed in my mind's eye. Geometrically, on this map, these six dots when connected, form the same pattern. So, we know all the victims were within a kind of circle but if we see it as a pointed star and see where all the lines criss-cross from point to point, there is an intersection which is common to both the perpetrators and victims.'
'You are right! Do we know if there is anything within that intersection that they could have in common?'
'Hard to say. It's a pretty busy area of Brooklyn. We would have to go and have a look.'
'Hmmm…how about a list of the business located there or ask someone from the local police station to give us a head's up.'
'Ok, I'll get the list first.' His face registered an uncharacteristic air of disappointment.
'Our detective work is here Ziggy. I'm not taking any chances with either one of us going out and snooping around.'
Jacob was surprised at just how disappointed his assistant seemed to be. Problem solving did have its rewards but suspects were not always eager to have strangers snooping around. Jacob found that out early on in his career. A vision of his first director, John Civco came to mind. Jacob remembered being called on the carpet for taking things into his own hands. He was reminded that a lot of preliminary work had to be done before hand and it should be a group effort. While he didn't always follow the rules himself, Ziggy's wellbeing was part of his responsibility. Jacob was taking no chances.
Within the hour, Ziggy came back with a list of the local businesses. 'Instead of sending someone, I just did a google live view. Most of what's on the list is verifiable.'
Jacob surveyed the names quickly. His eyes strayed back to the middle of the list, to one place in particular. The name stood out from other more conventional retail businesses. 'Is this a church or some kind of meeting place?'
'It's a registered church, kind of non-denominational with meetings on a regular basis. Serves young people, former drug addicts, ex cons… no history of legal problems. Seems to be a legitimate organization.'
'Check it out. I'm going down to holding. They have one of the perps there. Text me if you come up with anything unusual.'
...
Cathy woke slowly from her deeply satisfying sleep. Memories of the previous night flooded her body. Startled by her retreat from reality and the languorous state which held her spellbound, she jumped up remembering her daughter and hurried to Aislyn´s room. The little girl wasn´t in her bed. Cathy worried for a brief moment till she heard Sue call out from downstairs.
´She´s here having breakfast. Take your time.´
Cathy took a deep breath and stretched her achy body. The muscles felt sore but in a nice way. A head shake was all she could muster to explain away the raw passions of the previous night. A shower helped. Once done, she sat at the side of the bed and picked up the herbal laden talisman, staring at its beauty. Jacob chose well. Cathy felt the power of it just holding the locket. Later she would take it into her meditation room and try to intuit any further insights. She checked her phone for messages from Jacob. There was a lengthy directive about the other talismans. She decided to join her daughter and Sue for breakfast, then deal with it.
It was midday before she could take a few minutes to herself. Aislyn was off to the park with Catherine and Sue before her midday nap. Cathy took all the lockets up to her room. She lay them out one by one seeing in a flash of insight what each might do to support the wearer. She made one small adjustment. To Aislyn's locket, she added a tiny drop of the gold laden amniotic sac fluid. She didn't believe that Kardin would try to take her child, but he had no scruples in the past. His present reformation, if true, was not a guarantee of anything. When she was done Cathy said her final prayers, wrapped each locket individually in cloth, and left her sacred space.
A little later she had an opportunity to sit with Catherine and just talk. It was rare for her mother-in-law not to have some activities outside the home. An uncharacteristically free day meant family time. They shared some of Sue's treats and chatted about many things but at the back of her mind, Cathy knew she had to update Catherine, as Jacob had requested.
'Do you and Jacob really suspect that Kardin will try something so foolish?'
'It's not foolish to him, Mom. You know better than me what lifelong criminals are like. Jacob just wants to ensure your safety, all of us really. Their last encounter ended well for him. We are stronger now but who knows what Kardin has done over the years to enhance himself, one way or another.'
'Do you believe that he will attempt to harm me or Vincent?'
'As a means to an end, yes! He has no scruples. We are Holly's team, her support. We must hold strong together. What Jacob has done is not foolproof, but it sets up an auric barrier which we hope Kardin cannot penetrate. If you and Dad don't feel safe, stay here or go below, but don't wander out unless you are protected.'
'We'll probably stay here. Vincent will not allow you or Jacob to take this on alone. It strikes me that Kardin may be working on a cleverly constructed multi -pronged approach. I am going to ask Diana to do a little digging and see if she can pinpoint any unusual activity. He has so many holdings around the world. I doubt that he could not have left all of his industries to strangers. That man's finger is on a pulse somewhere.'
'Yes of course. I never think about the criminal mind. I can only work in the here and now but as you say It, I can see that he would have to have some pipeline. Whatever Jacob did at that first meeting wasn't necessarily meant to last a lifetime.'
Catherine had been curious about her son's sudden interest in Howard's country estate and the farm next door. It all made sense in context of Cathy explanation. Catherine and Vincent had seen their share of threats by members of the clan. None should ever be taken lightly. She would put her own investigative wheels in motion. Kardin was but one member seeking the secrets and a certain power which belonged solely to Vincent and his offspring, Jacob and Aislyn. However, the clan was large and stretched out to the far corners of the world, each branch protecting its own holdings.
Kardin was a descendant of the second son of the last great Diosa. He had been trying for decades to improve his status but was foiled at every turn. Capturing Lena had been his last hope. Because she gave birth in the tunnels, he assumed that her daughter Cathy belonged to someone outside the clan. Kardin used her unknown status and vulnerability to impregnate her before clearing her mind, taking their newborn daughter and leaving her and Cathy to suffer on the streets.
Holly was raised without the knowledge of her mother but was always aware that she would hold a place of honour in the Lion Clan. It was not a role she cherished. Somehow, she knew there was something else for her to do. Running away and finding Jacob and Cathy was a revelation and an opening to her past and present. Still, her father intervened and tried to separate them. In the end, joining with her half sister and brother-in- law was the catalyst which kept her sane until they could form the triad which enabled all their powers. None of them was ever sure about vulnerabilities except during the pregnancies. They learned that it would be a time for them to band together and support the weaker of the trio.
That Kardin arrived at a time when Holly would be susceptible was suspicious, even if he had every right to want to see his grandsons. It was a conundrum. Kardin could not physically best Vincent in a fight. He could not program Jacob's mind to do his bidding. He could not challenge the present circumstances. He failed with Holly. Only a next generation child would allow him to achieve his ends. Holly was not willing, despite the love for her father, to give into his power grab. However, her new baby was bringing some unusual events into play. As a second son, with the right partner, the growing child could tap into resources not yet known and would have millions of dollars to pick and choose who to challenge. Brian, Holly's husband was a second son, married to the infinity, the source of the eight. Each of their children would be blessed. Taking one would give Kardin a chance. It was a compelling story which Catherine reviewed with her anxious daughter-in-law, each vowing to be on guard, especially if Kardin hoped to remain in New York for any length of time.
Not that far away, in the Manhattan condo, Kardin, who sat observing his beautiful daughter, had thoughts run along similar lines. Part of him was extraordinarily proud of her beauty and the manifestation of almost everything he thought possible. Whatever Cathy had with Jacob did not seem to rise to the level of giving birth to the eight sons. He dismissed them as minor players. In the back of his mind, he fought the urge to think beyond the moment, desperately hoping the natural urges of his own youthful programming would not supersede what should be a happy moment in their lives. Each day he visited with her, watching as she prepared herself mentally and physically for the birth. Each day he took time and patience, sincerely apologizing for the past, expressing his regret of unsavoury actions, praising her work at the center, and promising to make things right. He enjoyed the company of his grandson Hari and acted as if the past few years had never occurred. If it took another 20 years to realize his dream, Kardin was prepared to wait. As he sat humming softly, noting the serene smile on his daughter's face, it came to him in a flash that all he had to do was to bring her back into his fold.
Jacob was surprised by the youthfulness of all the people involved in the minor robberies. The man sitting on the other side of the door was in his mid to late twenties. Like the woman he had seen the previous day, the young man sat at the table, not noticing the guard but finding something which seemed to hold his interest on the bare wall. Jacob also stared, allowing his mind the freedom to absorb any energy or knowledge that might be swirling around his head. Even with the closed door between them he could feel a circular energy that seemed to flow in a loop around the man's head and hands. Jacob remembered that the only real exchange at the crime scenes was some odd hand movements. He entered the room slowly, nodded at the guard and again sat down at a right angle to the young man.
He spoke a few words, repeated some of the hand movements he had seen in the videos but to no avail. There was no change in the demeanour. As much as he hated to acknowledge it, he may have to call in a hypnotist to try and break whatever words held the man spellbound. He muttered something under his breath as he pushed back his chair. To his surprise the man turned to look at him.
'It's done. It's done. It's done.'
The whispered response puzzled Jacob. 'What's done?'
The man turned away. Jacob recognized in a heartbeat that the whisper mattered more than the words. He repeated the question in a softer tone, motioning for the guard, who had leaned in suspiciously, to relax.
'I have taken and I have given. I am blessed.'
Jacob didn't expect to get more out of the suspect, but it did open his mind to the review of the workings of the church/help center which had been on the list. He quickly formulated a plan which would not include Ziggy. Do as I say but not as I do, he thought.
…
'You didn't think I would put together some clothes for Rob to bring you and not be curious about what you're doing…did you?'
'I confess that I did but now that you are here, I am happy to see you.'
Jacob had asked Rob to pick him up at a place away from the building which housed his offices. He had no wish to be seen straying from his usual routine. He left Ziggy with instructions to check deeper and see if there was any more information about the church center and text him if he found anything new. As he jumped into the van his cell phone beeped. Because he was surprised to see his wife sitting in the back, looking as lovely as ever, the phone was forgotten. Powerful feelings washed over him again. He could not resist a loving kiss before stripping down from his suit and putting on the jeans and pullover shirt from the bag. Despite his body needs, he had a job to do. He gave Rob instructions about the destination and sat back to listen to Cathy talk about Aislyn and the lovely day spent in the company of her grandmother.
'I'm really happy. Mama seems so busy lately. She needs to take a day off now and again.'
'We did talk about what's happening as well. She is going to ask Diana to do a bit of discrete digging. What's going on now Jacob? Is this something to do with Kardin?'
'The series of cases I was telling you about, seems to have some common ground with him. There is a site, which Ziggy and I believe, is common to all the perpetrators. I want to pay a visit there myself.'
'Will you be safe? We don't need to add more risk to what we already have.'
'There is no guarantee of safety anywhere. We just have to be vigilant. They won't know me and the premise of their service is welcoming all those who are troubled, to come in and find comfort. Since I have my own sense of comfort in your arms, I can't be seduced into falling for another.'
Cathy laughed. Her husband was very amorous of late. He switched from a man possessed about finding a simple way to protect his family to the passionate lover she desired. Our life truly moves in cycles. We are who we need to be…. different depending on so many circumstances. Cathy did not dwell on thoughts about the adaptability of humans. They had reached their destination.
'I'll wait here for you.'
Cathy watched as Jacob walked towards the entrance to an older building. She couldn't read the sign from her position but looked up information on her phone. She wanted to know what Jacob found fascinating about a community church and how it played into their concern about Kardin and the recent cases disrupting the surrounding community. She knew he would share. Despite her curiosity, she sat still grateful for Rob's protective eye.
Jacob entered the building like a man on a mission. He thought a lot about how to apply himself as a person and decided that honesty and purpose would stand him in good stead. He looked around the foyer and reception before approaching a desk where a young lady, tattooed from head to foot, with more puncture wounds in her ears and nose and lips than Jacob had ever seen.
'Is there someone I could speak to about….'
'For yourself or someone else?'
'A group.'
The young woman clearly did not have patience for dialogue beyond a few words. She picked up her cell phone and sent a message to someone.
'Just wait over there.'
Jacob did as he was told. Within a short period of time a man, perhaps in his mid-forties approached arm extended. Jacob felt comfortable shaking hands. He already sensed an honesty. They introduced themselves.
'I've come here today to get help for my group of young people. They need a place of support once they leave our care.'
'Sounds intriguing. Come with me, if you have time. Let's talk.'
Once Jacob was satisfied that the man, Tom, presented no threat he made the decision to ask Cathy to join him, knowing that she would pick up on any thread of ideas he put forward. They sat at the back of what seemed to be a small auditorium. The lighting was muted and soft music played in the background. Jacob went on to explain about his small community of abandoned children who lived within the confines of a protected area.
'They have no one except each other but at some time in their lives they have to leave and make their way into the world which abandoned them. A place to live is not as important as a place where they can turn if they lose their way, another community which supports them as they are.'
Tom seemed taken aback by the sincerity in Jacob's words. He looked over at Cathy, acknowledged her nod before turning back to Jacob. He went on to outline some of the services which the community center offered before speaking about the Church facilities.
'We have been lucky. The new pastor has brought a sense of peace to our programs. Right now, it seems to serve us well. Previously we had more of a fire and brimstone format, too authoritarian. The change has been quite amazing. A few who don't like it have left but generally there is a calmer air after our services. We have a board of community advocates who determine any new programs we develop or changes to our mandate. I think they made a good move. The pastor is engaging while being quietly effective.'
'Seems to be a good fit. Our group is not religious though. We are more spiritual, focusing on using the golden rule as our guiding force.' Jacob thought of Father and the way he directed the world below for so many years.
'Oh, I get it,' Tom conceded. We are also non-denominational and open to all paths of belief. Pastor Dylan has spent years in Tibet and India, meditating under the direction of Gurus, Swamis, Monks, you name it, but he brings a message of peace and love and of course, the music which cleanses the heart, body and mind. Some of it's playing right now.'
Jacob and Cathy were aware of the softness of the music and had to admit to its calming effect.
'It is compelling,' Jacob conceded, feeling an almost overwhelming urge to just stay put.
'Our golden rule is simple. Give and receive in love and you will be blessed.'
Jacob tried to hide his surprise. Surely this kindly man, who spoke from the heart, could not be involved in a scheme to commit crimes. What he said, echoed the words of the young man in the holding cell. Something was amiss between words and actions. Jacob didn't want to probe further but he did need answers. He asked for details about doing a presentation for the board at some future point. If the organization was legitimate, it could serve a useful purpose helping or mentoring the young children in the tunnels, who would be entering adulthood and wanting to live above. However, the key to some type of false programming of the mind, seemed to rest with the Pastor whose progress through life had much in common with Kardin!
