Chapter 19

Still Thursday, August 22nd, 1985


"Someone has been sending me threatening letters, thinking they can scare me to be silent. I can't help but to find it rather amusing, that someone would be so childish but yet so frightened themselves. I just don't understand it, why wouldn't whoever the sender is come straight to me and talk to me instead of sending letters? Do they really find me that scary? Yet the letter is rather disturbing, the sender telling me how they'd burn me like the witch I am. Who is this person? How sick is that person?"

Kamili put Ava's diary away for a moment as she found a lose paper when turning the page. Pulling it off the paper clip it was attached to, she unfolded it, reading it through. It was just a short message but straight to the point.

"Close your big mouth and stop talking to the unenlightened people on the street. They have no business knowing our stories and secrets. We had it with your lack of manners and if you do not stop you might just burn like the witch you are."

Kamili swallowed hard, just imagining getting that kind of letter herself. The handwriting was sloppy but she put the note away anyway, thinking that it would perhaps be used as evidence if needed be. Making sure it was secure in a plastic folder she turned back to the diary.

"Someone think they can stop me by a letter. But I don't feel that I'm doing anything wrong, all I've done is talk to the people who ask questions. I don't fly around City Hall on my broom shouting enchantments to the people. That might be fun though… Never mind. I try to keep to my little farm and my animals but whenever strangers come by they are always welcome. And why wouldn't they be? And why should everything be a secret, we don't have illegal activities or something that could hurt someone else, at least not as far as I know. So trying to shut me up is a waste of time. I wasn't born to fall in line with everyone else, I do my own thing and I am good at it. I have no plans on changing. Go ahead, sender. Burn me."

Kamili could feel the chills run down her spine as she had a feeling that Ava had met just that fate and she couldn't even imagine the pain and fear Ava, and the others, had lived through the last minutes of their life.

Sighing, Kamili leaned back towards the couch, sitting on the floor with pictures, files and magazines spread out all over the floor, having been reading ever since she arrived here after a quick stop at home to have a change of clothes and to get her car. Now she sat still, staring att all the papers in front of her, wondering if they would make her any wiser. It felt like they had gone through all of it so many times, listened to so many hours of tape, read so many articles and diary entries. But she was really getting nowhere. Stretching a bit, she reached up to the table to drink some of her water, putting the glass back just as the phone called over by Kelly's desk. Groaning as she had to get her stiff body up from the floor, she moved over to the desk, picked up the phone, immediately hearing her younger co-worker's distraught voice.

"Madison?" Kamili said down the phone, frowning, wondering what had happened to make Madison's voice go so high.

"Yeah, it's me. We have a problem."

"What is it?"

"Sandra was supposed to meet up with Martin at lunch, so I decided to sneak around Martin a bit, to see what he was doing… He met up with his secretary and she then took off a while ago, and it just dawned upon me… His secretary is Josie."

"What?" Kamili said, instantly dropping the notebook she was reading as she could hear how upset Madison was just from the sound of her voice.

"I thought something looked familiar about the secretary before, Sandra said too that there was something about her and then it suddenly dawned on me at a point where I mumbled 'typical Sagittarius' to myself – which is how I described her to Sandra the first time we met her. She just looks so different from when she's in her witch's outfit that we didn't recognize her."

"You do need to know that the words 'typical Sagittarius' don't actually describe anyone." Kamili grinned. "To us, I mean. It could still be anyone."

"Yeah I know. But I'm sure it's her. I didn't know she worked at the Prospect."

"I didn't know that either." Kamili said, clicking Madison onto the speaker phone before sitting down on the floor again, surrounded by notes, copies, pictures and readouts, beginning to scramble through them. "I'm sure Sandra said her name was Ellen."

"Yes, she did and that's the name she goes by here, but Sandra also introduces herself as Rosie and I called myself Rachel. Josie could just as well be using a fake name."

"True." Kamili said, finding the picture of the secretary amongst the massive about of pictures on her table, then rummaging on until she found the picture of Josie. Looking at the both of them, she could absolutely see the resemblance even though they looked very different due to the different hair, makeup, clothes, jewelry and so on. Flipping their photos to read the backside, she instantly sighed loudly.

"What?"

Madison's voice came over the phone, impatient, having heard Kamili sigh.

"We never did find any information on Josie, figuring it was a nickname for something."

"Yeah?"

"And the secretary is called Ellen Josephine Hart."

"Josephine?"

"Josie could absolutely be short for Josephine. I'll do a more thorough check on her and-"

"Kam, she knows that Sandra is a detective, she's known that from the start. And Ellen Josephine Hart – EJH. Those letters are the 5th, 10th and 8th letters of the alphabet. Ring a bell?"

"5108. 5-10-8. Alicia's last diary entry."

"Yes! I think that makes it one coincidence too many."

"Well, Sandra is supposed to meet up with Martin about now so she should be alright at the moment."

"Yeah but that's just it. I don't think she will. That's why I followed Martin, but I'm still watching him, I can see him through the window. He's sitting by his desk, and he is not on his way to meet up with her. Josie, Ellen or whatever you want to call her, took off. I went down to the restaurant where Sandra said they would go but they are not there. The waitress said that two women ate and then left, one of them looked as if she wasn't feeling well, being supported by the other. They had asked if they could help but been told no."

"Shit. Do you know where they would be heading?"

"No but considering what happened to Alicia and probably all the others I am instantly thinking the ceremonial area. I think we need to go there."

"I think so too. You page Kelly and meet me there; she was to meet up with Charlie for lunch. Unless things seem to be going down the drain, stay back so we don't scare her into doing something stupid. Just be careful, stay back if you feel unsecure and definitely stay back if you beat me or Kelly there. You don't have to jump into a dangerous situation. I don't want to save two people."

"See you there. You be careful too."

Kamili hung up the phone and hurried out of the office. Getting down the stairs and into her Quattro, she sat back and took a deep breath, a hand going up to rub her chest slightly, feeling rather lightheaded after running down the stairs. Taking a few moments to collect herself, her mind wandered to Sandra and she opened her eyes with determination in them, allowing the engine to roar to life and quickly pulling out into traffic.


Arriving to the ceremonial ground, Kamili parked the Audi on quite the distance as she knew that her engine was not really discreet. Turning the engine off she double checked her gun, sticking it down at the small of her back, cursing herself for leaving the gun holster at home, before getting out of her car, also grabbing a pair of handcuffs, stuffing them down into her back pocket before hurrying towards the glade. She had a look around, not seeing any other cars, figuring she was the first there. She knew she should wait for Kelly and Madison, but the image of Sandra being burned on the stakes made her push onwards, walking down a small path towards the area, happy that she had been here before. Walking quietly, sticking to the tree line she, she moved around the lake towards the ceremonial ground where Alicia's remains had been found. She had to get there, she had to make sure Sandra was alright. At least there was no smoke, no screams, no nothing. Everything was eerily quiet.

A bad feeling hit her stomach – what if Sandra wasn't here? What would she do then? She had no idea where Josie would take her if not here. Or what if she was too late?

Worry spurred her forward, and it didn't take that long before she could see the glade and the ceremonial area. And she could see Sandra, she was here. Standing up on the same platform, arms tied behind her back, head hanging limply forwards. She was still at a very far distance away, but at least she wasn't on fire.

Stay positive.

Kamili snuck closer, her eyes looking around as she tried to locate Josie. She had to be here somewhere. Kamili could see her a pickup, parked not far away, and the whole area was lit up by candles and torches in various sizes and forms, which made Kamili extremely uneasy.

The sound of a snapping stick made Kamili twirl around and just managed to throw herself out of the way of Josie who came swinging with a tree branch, missing her head with an inch to spare. Kamili stumbled backwards out into the glade, slipping on a root and fell backwards, never taking her eyes off Josie, seeing the madness in her eyes. Her eyes were wide, crazy, pupils dilated. Josie seized the moment as Kamili fell, throwing herself at Kamili, but Kamili was faster and managed to tuck her legs in, pushing her hard boots up towards Josie's hip, and by using Josie's own momentum she sent her flying out into the glade while rolling herself up onto her feet.

Kamili ran out into the glade, moving in Sandra's direction while Josie recovered from being thrown. While hurrying towards her friend, Kamili felt towards her back for the gun, cussing loudly as she realized she had dropped it, probably as she had fallen backwards. Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She knew better than to make mistakes like that. But there was no time right now for beating herself up. She had to stop Josie, and she had to get Sandra to safety, not knowing what kind of shape Sandra was in.

Kamili could feel a stone of worry lift off her chest as she came closer to her friend up on the platform, tied to the massive pole. She looked wet, as if she had fallen into the lake, her blonde hair sticking to her face, her thin, pink dress stuck to her body. As Sandra heard the rumble, she looked up and saw Kamili, their eyes meeting.

"Sandra! Are you alright?" Kamili shouted to Sandra as she got a second to catch her breath, one eye on Sandra and one eye on Josie who was getting to her feet.

"Yes, but I'm stuck in these ropes and drenched in gasoline so watch the candles!" Sandra shouted back as she tried to wriggle out of the ropes holding her tied to the pole, having gotten new energy as she had realized the cavalry had arrived in the form of her friend, the awesome Mrs. Diallo.

"And beware about Josie, I don't know what she took but she's certainly high on something, she's been hallucinating." Sandra shouted, a word of warning.

Kamili didn't like the sound of that, way too much could go south way too fast. But Sandra would have to wait for a moment, as Josie came running, sprinting at Kamili with her hands clenched into fists, waving them through the air while screaming out a roar. Kamili swerved as a right-hook came swinging and Josie lost her balance for a second as she missed her intended target. As she fell slightly forwards, Kamili took the opportunity to kick up a knee into Josie stomach, then she instantly threw down an elbow between her shoulder blades when Josie bent over, sending Josie to one knee, Kamili kicking her sideways.

Josie stumbled but rolled up on her feet, and she swirled around faster than Kamili was prepared for, looking as if she was to come in low Kamili protected her abdomen, instead earning a fist to the face as Josie suddenly changed direction. Kamili did manage to stay on her feet, and she had just a second to collect herself as Josie came at her again. Kamili was stronger, faster and a better fighter than Josie but Josie was in a frenzy while Kamili was getting tired, her stamina running out. Kamili could feel the strain in her chest as the thumping got louder and faster and she cussed under her breath as she wondered where the backup was, not sure for how long she could hold out, having passed out twice already the last week she recognized the symptoms.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she focused on Josie in front, taking a second to look around to where the candles were located to make sure she threw Josie in the right direction. 'Don't lose focus Diallo. Just take her out already.' If Josie won, both Kamili and Sandra would most likely die, and she could not let that happen.

As the two of them collided again, Josie aiming towards her chest, Kamili slid down low to protect her chest from what would've been a rough impact, and instead she smacked her heel hard right onto Josie's knee. She fell forward and the plan had been that she was to hit the ground. Instead she fell right across Kamili who got pinned down jumped up, faster than Kamili, angry now, and before Kamili had time to move, Josie landed a hard steel kick towards her lower back. Then another. And another. The sound began to disappear around her, everything growing quiet as she stopped counting the kicks, the only sound coming through to her was her own pulse shooting off.

But somewhere back in her head, a voice was fighting its way past the thumping of her heart and the kicks towards her lower back, even making its way past Josie's mad laughter. It was the voice of an Angel, standing on a platform, screaming Kamili's name. The voice was deafening everything else and it spurred Kamili on. Using the last of her energy she twisted around, managing to grab Josie's foot, forcefully pulling it sideways to make fall Josie over. Kamili instantly shoved her onto her stomach, placed her knee between the shoulder blades to pin her down as Josie was thrashing like a maniac. Pulling out the pair of handcuffs from her back pocket, she put them on Josie while hearing Sandra giving off a hurray in the background, cheering her on.

Not liking how close to all the candles they were, Kamili took a deep breath before getting to her feet, grabbing Josie by her feet and forcefully dragged her out of reach of the candles. It was easier said than done considering how much Josie was thrashing, kicking towards her and doing her best to get out of the grip Kamili had around her feet, and Kamili could definitely feel how her own body was protesting loudly, moving forwards only by the help of adrenaline. Getting Josie out of reach of all the candles, she could feel her head beginning to swim, the world tilting and black spots appearing in front of her eyes. She was running out of adrenaline and her heart was revolting angrily.

She could hear people running towards her and twirling around she could see Kelly and Madison in full sprint, guns drawn. Kamili dropped Josie to the ground, holding out a hand of desperation for Kelly, and she could see both Madison and Kelly holstering their gun while running, Kelly grabbing a firm hold of Kamili's outstretched arm and catching her around her lower back as Kamili's legs finally gave in, knowing she, and Sandra, were safe in Kelly's presence.

"I got you, I got you." Kelly said quietly, repeating herself while gently laying the unconscious Kamili down into the soft grass. "Madison, get Sandra to safety and then call for help straight away."

Madison nodded, looking worriedly at Kamili before, hurrying over to Sandra, climbing up onto the platform where Sandra was standing, beginning to get the ropes off her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Drenched in gasoline though."

"The waitress at the restaurant where you ate said you weren't feeling well." Madison said, still worried.

"Yeah I think she drugged me but it wore off, I feel alright, a bit lightheaded and body is rather weak but I'm alright."

"These ropes are really tight." Madison said, having trouble getting them off, fingers slipping on the soaked ropes.

"Remind me to get you pocketknife Mads." Sandra smiled, winking a bit. "You can't always conceal a gun, but you can conceal a knife."

"Do you have yours on you?"

"Of course."

"Where do you keep yours?" Madison asked, looking Sandra up and down, her thin dress wet and clinging to her body, her bare legs and heels. Madison couldn't for her life see a knife attached to Sandra.

"In my bra." Sandra grinned, turning her head towards Madison.

"Deadly." Madison chuckled.

"Always. Come on, reach in and grab it, left side by the armpit."

Sandra couldn't help but to laugh at the way Madison blushed, but she did still reach in and fish the knife out, finally managing to cut Sandra free, handing the knife back as Sandra twisted her arms and flexing her bad hand, wincing slightly while examining her wrists a bit, chafed from the ropes.

"Thank you." Sandra said, looking up to Madison.

"No problem. I'm glad you're alright. Let's get you to the car, we can call the cops and an ambulance from there."

"Yeah, I need to check on Kam though." Sandra said, looking over towards her friends while she and Madison made their way down from the platform, Madison giving Sandra a hand as she noticed her stumble a bit, both of them taking a wide circle around all the candles, coming up to Kelly who had forcefully rolled the angry and wriggling Josie onto her stomach and was now sitting on top of her. Kelly was observing Kamili who was lying on her side in the grass in front of her, Kelly having rolled her into recovery position and Sandra was relieved to see Kamili's chestnut brown eyes open but unfocused, her breathing strained but appearing to be slowing down.

"Is she alright?" Sandra said, reaching Kelly and Kamili, Sandra hunching down but not wanting to touch her as she herself were so sticky.

"Yeah, I think so, but her pulse is sky high." Kelly said, two fingers against Kamili's wrist, moving her eyes away for just a second to meet Sandra's blue eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, just drenched in gasoline so I'm going to walk away from the candles, I'll go to the cars and call for help. Does she need an ambulance?" Sandra answered, looking between Kelly and Kamili.

"Yeah, I think so." Kelly said. "I want her checked over at least. You too for that matter."

Sandra nodded, turning her attention back to Kamili again, her pinky finger poking Kamili's arm. "Can you hear me Kammy?"

Kamili just breathed, coughing a bit, not looking as if she heard Sandra at all.

"You'll be okay." Sandra said quietly, looking up to Kelly. "I'll be back in a bit."

Kelly put her hand in her pocket, fishing out her car keys, giving them to Sandra. "Here, sit down in my car. Madison, will you start putting out the candles?"

"Sure." Madison said, beginning to move around to put out all the fires as Sandra took the keys and walked towards the cars, leaving a long trail of gasoline behind her.

Josie still wriggled underneath Kelly, angry as she watched Sandra get away. If she could just… The woman on top of her was paying attention to the black woman on the ground and Josie readied herself for a moment, waiting. As she felt the weight on her back slightly shift as the woman on top leaned down towards the other, she pushed off as hard as she could, throwing the woman off her, leaping to her feet and kicking several torches over into the trail of gasoline. She was violently tackled to the ground a moment later, but the fire was already spreading fast and she laughed out loud for a moment before earning a powerful right hook to the face, knocking her out cold.

Sandra never saw the fire coming towards her, but Madison did. It was moving in rapid pace and not having the time to plan it better, Madison twirled 180 degrees and ran as fast as she could, tackling Sandra into the lake, pushing her out of the way of the fire, falling down through the surface along with her as she lost her own balance.

Sandra flailed as she went through the surface of the water, but quickly recovered, swimming back up to see Madison's head popping up next to her, twirling her head Sandra looked up towards where they had just been, seeing the long trail of fire. Looking back towards Madison, Sandra couldn't help but to giggle as Madison smiled apologetically.

"There might've been better ways to handle that situation but at least you're not on fire." Madison smiled and Sandra laughed while splashing some water her direction.

"This is fine Mads, thank you so much."

"My pleasure." Madison grinned before she suddenly groaned. "Oh no, please tell me you still got the car keys?"

Sandra looked at her with a horrified expression for about 5 seconds before she cracked, showing off the keys in her hand proudly, making Madison laugh. Madison and Sandra then looked over towards Kelly and Kamili, Kelly moving to Kamili's side as Kamili forced herself up on one of her elbows. Josie, on the ground next to Kelly, had finally calmed down, which might have to do with the fact that Kelly had knocked her unconscious. Madison and Sandra begun swimming towards the shore, Sandra heading in the direction of the car and called for help while Madison moved towards Kelly, reaching their side.

"Why did you hit her Kelly?" Madison asked, already knowing the answer.

"She was being annoying. If Charlie asks, she ran into a tree."