THE ONLY EASY DAY IS YESTERDAY
"The Journey of Jeremy Keller"
By OldScout
Part 24Agent Ropper stood at the edge of the clearing. Around her the
woods were full of people. The detectives from the State Police were
carefully searching every inch of the site. Around them squads from
search and rescue units combed the woods with tracking dogs looking
for some sign of the killers. Forensics carefully checked and cataloged
each body before they allowed anything to be moved.
The lead detective came up and stood silently next to Anita for
several minutes then spoke. "I think your right." he finally said "The
hand wound on the woman is a couple of days old and does match the
knife in the bar. "
Anita turned and looked up at the man "And the rest?"
"Well, it was a motorcycle gang that attacked the Wilmont farm,
but it will be a day or so before we can properly run these prints.
"What about the witness?"
"He's worse off then the guy from the diner." the detective said
"All he keeps saying is 'Links will get them in Seattle.'"
"He said Seattle?"
"He's been mumbling a lot of stuff, but I'm sure I heard Seattle."
Anita turned to go.
"Agent Ropper, where are you going?"
Antia turned to the detective "First to talk to some men from
Seattle, then I think I'll pay a visit to that fine city."
When it came down to it, Joe and Adam didn't have much to do
at the Jordan house. They really didn't know the lady that well. Adam
actually took the lead in taking care of business, he had known Ethal
better then Joe.
They had just finished arranging with locals to sell and distribute
the estate as described in Mrs. Jordan's will when a car pulled into the
driveway. It was Agent Ropper, and she appeared to be on a mission.
"I wonder if they've broken the codes." Adam thought aloud.
Joe looked out the window and replied "We're about to find out."
Anita let herself into the house and was greeted by the two men.
"I have some news for you." she said as her greeting.
As usual Adam was hanging back, leaning against a wall across
the room from Anita. "And what may that be?"
Anita turned to Joe, still trying pretend he really was Mrs.
Jordan's nephew. "We think we found your Aunt's killers."
"So quickly?" Joe said surprised "Good work, how did you track
them down?"
A strange look came over Agent Ropper "Well actually, someone
else got to them first. They were ambushed last night in their campsite."
The look in Ropper's eyes put Dawson on the defensive. "Whoa,
your not thinking we had anything to do with this, are you?"
"No, Mr. Dawson, but I do think you know who did and may be
able to tell me something about them."
"What could we possibly tell you."
Anita pointed out the window at the Wilmont house. "Mrs.
Jordan died over there. So did Henry Wilmont and apparently Mandy
Wilmont, but we can't find her body. Now you know some of the
troopers think she got up and just walked away." she forced a smile "But
we all know nobody could survive what ever happened in that bed room,
or could they?"
Joe turned to Adam and forced a laugh "She's talking about her
cult of immortals again."
Adam had a slightly sick look in his eyes "Agent Ropper, could
you tell me how those people died, what kind of weapons were used?"
Anita approached Adam "Some where shot, mostly with a shot
gun." she said "But many were stabbed." She turned and looked at the
handle of Adam's sword sticking out from under his overcoat. "Stabbed,
like with a sword. We figure that Keller must have followed them after
discovering what they did at the Wilmont's. A bunch of drunks against
a man like Jeremy Keller wouldn't have much of a chance."
"What kind of man is this Keller?" Adam asked.
"He's an ex-Navy Seal."
"There's something I have to tell you, Agent Ropper." Adam
said, "But you must promise me it stays totally off the record."
"Adam," Joe spoke up, "What are you doing."
"Mr. Pierson, I'm only looking for the truth."
Adam turned to Joe first "Joe, we must warn her, she has no idea
what she's up against. Lets at least give her a chance." He then turned
to Anita "Your right about the cult of immortals. They have been around
for a very long time and can be very dangerous. We are part of an
organization that watches their activity. We must remain anonymous
because if they ever found out about us we would be in great danger.
Since their laws require they kill each other, life becomes very cheap to
them. Our hope is to try to stop them from recruiting new people, or
maybe get people out of the cult. In order to do that, we sometimes have
to deal with them."
Anita turned and looked at the sword again. "Hence the swords."
"That's right," Adam replied "Since they think they're immortal,
guns don't frighten them. In order to get their respect, we must be able
to face them head on. The only way to do that and get anywhere is to do
it with sword in hand."
"So Gattlin was telling the truth." Anita said and paced around
the room as she thought about the implications.
Joe leaned toward his friend and whispered. "Where did you
come up with this line of crap?"
"I read it in a journal once." Adam replied "When she kept
referring to the Cult of Immortals it reminded me of the journal."
"So who's Gattlin?" Joe asked Ropper.
"He's an agent investigating the Cult." Anita said without
elaborating.
"Now," Anita said "what was it you wanted to warn me about?"
"It's about Mandy Wilmont." Adam relied. "I don't know about
Keller, but I do know about Mandy. She is part of this Cult and if she
were to catch up with the people who did this to her family, it wouldn't
be a pretty sight."
"Your telling me that Mandy Wilmont may have been involved
with these killings last night?"
"Tell me, were any of the bodies more then just killed?" Adam
said trying to be delicate.
"Just what are you trying to say?"
Joe spoke up "Was anybody tortured?"
A sickened look came across Agent Ropper's face "It looked like
a woman had been hung by her hands from a tree then ...." Anita trailed
off thinking about what was done to the poor girl.
"It's not Keller's MO is it?" Joe said.
"No."
"But it is Mandy's." Adam said "Once she was pulled into the
cult, the killing changed her. She gets a kind of blood lust that is hard to
stop. If you catch up with her, don't put ANYTHING past her or it could
mean your life."
Ropper looked at the two men. "You think Mandy Wilmont, the
farmer from across the street, killed all of those people last night."
"From what you've told us about Keller, and what we know
about Wilmont, it sounds like a team effort." Joe replied.
"If this Keller IS running with Mandy Wilmont." Adam added
"He had better watch his back. As soon as she no longer needs him
she'll go after him too."
"You guys are insane." Ropper said. "Mandy Wilmont is a well
know respected citizen. Everybody I've talked to says she's one of the
nicest people they've ever met."
"She may be." Joe said in total agreement. "But they've never
seen her pushed over the edge like this. She can become blood thirsty
and very dangerous."
After considering what the two men had to say, Anita looked at
her watch. "I've got a plane to catch, but rest assured this conversation
is not over." she then left the house and drove away.
Joe looked at his own watch "You know, old friend, it looks like
we have a plane to catch too."
to be continued...............