THE ONLY EASY DAY IS YESTERDAY
"The Journey of Jeremy Keller"
by OldScout
While Jeremy and Mandy sat in the old diner waiting for night
fall, Joe Dawson and Adam Pierson were trying not to explain
themselves to Agent Ropper. Anita paced the old house's sitting room
examining Adam's sword. "The first time I saw that tattoo was on a
man who claimed he was in a cult who thought they were immortal."
Anita said to her guests. "He said that they believe the only way to kill
someone in the cult is to cut off their head." She turned and looked at
Joe and Adam. "Do you guys think your immortal too? Did Mrs.
Jordan think she was?"
As she asked the questions Anita watched the two men very
carefully. Did they show signs of recognition, of fear or just
cluelessness? She saw something in the older one, Dawson, but not
quite what she expected. The best way she could describe his look was
one of irony. They knew what was going on but didn't seem to be what
she was accusing them of. She knew they were her best link yet, but
were just another piece in a much larger puzzle.
"Agent Ropper, I have no idea what your talking about." Joe
replied. "I've never heard of a cult like you describe."
"What about you." Anita said to Adam.
"A cult of immortals?" Adam repeated. "Never heard of such a
thing."
Ropper didn't say anything else, just turned and walked out of
the room, taking Adam's sword with her.
As soon as Anita stepped out Joe turned to Adam. "What the
hell did you bring the sword for?"
Adam shrugged "Old habits. Besides what's with the cane?"
"Bunch of old Army buddies gave it to me a long time ago. I
always forget the damn sword is there."
Agent Ropper came back opening a can of Diet Coke. "You
know," she said "Since I started investigating these beheadings, I've
gotten to know swords quite well." she held up Adam's sword for all to
see. "And my new background tells me that this is a very expensive
weapon and it is not something you carry around on a lark"
"Listen, Agent Ropper." Joe finally said. "I don't know what you
want from us but we'll be around for a couple of days while I get Aunt
Ethal's affairs in order. Your more then welcome to stop by any time
and chat."
"What I want." Anita said "Is to figure out why a bunch of sane
respectable people are running around chopping each other's heads off.
In my whole life I had never seen a real sword outside of a museum until
six months ago. Now every time I turn around everybody and his cousin
is carrying one." Anita turned to the state trooper "Lets go."
"What about them?" the young man asked.
"They said they're going be here a few days, besides, I've got
their home addresses." then she stopped for a second and smiled "I'm
impounding the computer and all related items. Anything that may look
like it has anything to do with this cult of their's. Lets get your people
out here to catalogue it."
Four hours later the office area of the front room was stripped.
Every book, computer disk and tape, and every other piece of
information had been boxed, inventoried and carted away by the state
police and the FBI. Joe and Adam sat in the empty room looking at each
other.
"Do you think they'll find anything?" Adam asked his friend.
"If they do," Joe replied "Agent Ropper's people will think its
just the ramblings of a crazy old woman."
"Agent Ropper won't, she's looking for the truth were ever it may
take her." Adam looked out the window at the house across the street.
He could barely make out the yellow police tape flapping in the evening
breeze. "Do you have any idea what is going on here?"
"You mean who attacked Mandy and who that guy Hank found
in the barn was?"
Adam nodded "That about sums it up."
"Haven't got a clue."
Joe pulled himself up and leaned on the cane Agent Ropper had
returned. He turned to Adam and thumbed at the sword leaning against
the wall. "Next time we're going be talking to the cops, please leave that
thing in the car."
Adam shrugged and smiled "I'll try to remember."
At her hotel, Anita was trying to coordinate surveillance of Joe
Dawson and Adam Pierson when they got back to Seattle. "Look," she
said into her cellular "I want someone who we can depend on to just
watch and do some simple background checking. I don't want Pierson
and Dawson approached or interrogated." she listened for a second then
said "No this isn't their kind of case, just assign someone from the local
office, the last thing I need is Spooky asking them if they've recently
experienced any missing time, or if they've ever seen any strange lights
in the sky or something." she listened again then said "Fine, thank you."
Then turned off the phone and threw at the bed.
Turning toward her mirror, Anita thought aloud "God, the last
thing I need is those amateurs confusing the issue."
to be continued......