By Jodi Marie Johnston
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Forever Knight (though if I did, things would have turned out differently!), they are property of Sony/Tri-Star and I am merely borrowing them and promise to put them back relatively unscathed when finished with them. No copyright infringement is meant and I incur no financial gain by the posting of this story. It is merely for entertainment purposes only.
All other characters are my creative works.
Chapter Four
At the police station Nick and Don turned Bell over to booking and reported into Captain Stonetree.
"Where is she?" Stonetree asked.
"In holding room B." Don said.
"Good. About time we found her." Stonetree said.
"I know captain." Nick said.
"Lets go see her." Stonetree said.
The three of them entered into the holding cell. Don had the case files and pictures of the bodies of all the dead witches, which he threw down, in front of Bell. The pictures spilled out and she got an eyeful. Bell sighed and ignored the pictures.
"Why didn't you come give us your statement the other day?" Stonetree asked.
"I was busy."
"That's not good enough." Don said.
"Mrs. Santiago says that you are part of her Coven." Nick said.
"She can say what she wants. I am not a witch and I am not part of any coven. I help them yes, but I am not one of them."
"Then what the hell are you?" Don asked.
Skanky was into his bad cop routine and Bell picked up on it immediately but was not taken in at all.
"Look at these people. Are these the people you promised to help?" Don asked as he pushed the pictures in front of Bell. She looked at the bodies.
"Some. I did not arrive in time." Bell said.
"In time for what Bell?" Nick asked.
"Talk to us Miss Nightshade." Captain Stonetree said. "Let us help you."
Bell suppressed a smile. Skanky saw it.
"You know something. How many more people have to die before you tell us what we need to know?"
"It won't help you." Bell said.
"Let us decide that." Captain Stonetree said.
"We need to know." Nick pleaded. Bell sighed. She looked dead at Nick and held his gaze again.
"Fine you want me to talk, then it will be off the record." Bell said.
"No way." Don said.
"Than arrest me. I can stew in jail but innocent people will both die, on all fronts." Bell said.
"What do you mean?" Nick asked.
"Off the record?" Bell asked.
"Fine. But only if you agree to put down in writing what you know later if we can prove it." Nick said.
"Agreed but I will only talk to Detective Knight. No one else." Bell said.
"No way." Don said.
"Ok." Captain Stonetree said.
"Captain…"Don started to whine.
"Stow it Detective. We will agree to this if you, Miss Nightshade, give us everything and a signed statement."
"Agreed." Bell said.
Then the captain and Skanky left. Bell sat there looking at Nick.
"Whenever you're ready." Nick said.
"First they have to leave." Bell said playing with her fingers.
"Everyone is gone." Nick said.
"No they're not. The good doctor and your boss are standing behind that mirror."
Bell stared at the mirror and on the other side Nat moved over to the right. Bell's gaze followed her.
"Leave." Bell said.
Nick nodded to the mirror. He knew from their heartbeats that Nat and the Captain where there but how had Bell known? He remembered what she did to Jeanette and felt a new caution rise in him.
"We are alone." Bell said.
"Good now tell me what the hell is going on and no more word games."
"I guess I will have to explain it in ways that you might understand."
"Please do." Nick said.
"Where to begin. Why not with the Left Hand of God."
"You know them?"
"They are trying to return earth to the humans in their foolish quest."
"Who is their leader?"
"Have you read the Bible detective?"
"Yes."
"Of course you have, silly me. Anyway, did you ever notice that whenever God wanted a killing he would send an angel?"
"You're saying that angels are at the core of the LHG?"
"No, the zealots hate all non-humans. No, did you ever think about the angels? How they were so close to the divine and yet they always had one wing dipped in blood."
"What's the connection?"
"The LHG believes that they are angels of God born to cleanse the race of all evil. They have no idea what they are really doing but they are powerful none the less."
"Why witches?"
"Come on, have you not heard the miss translation quoted even today? 'Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live'. They are starting small with the humans they deem to be evil or not fully human. Next they will move to half breeds such as yourself and up the ranks even killing angels so that they might replace them in some sort of twisted logic."
"What is your role?"
"I was summoned to help."
"What do you mean summoned?"
"I was called to help. To join those who can make a difference to unite against a common foe, even though this is not my fight."
"But aren't you…"
"A supernatural being? Perhaps, but no more than the good doctor or your partner."
"But I saw you with Jeanette."
"Yes that was a bit odd. I could explain but we have no time. You must make a decision."
"What do you want me to do?"
"We will have one chance to capture the head and if he is put down, than they will disband."
"You know who he is?"
"Only by pattern. I could not draw his face and I do not remember his name, but he has already chosen the place to reveal himself."
"The Raven." Nick said. The feeling of dread that had been growing inside him now sat on his shoulders heavy.
"Yes. His followers attacked those who were your kind's thralls. They know you are here in this world. If they cannot destroy you, they will reveal all to the world and the world is not ready for that."
"If they are human, attacking the club is suicide."
"Perhaps, but you already know how servants to god can be eager and more than ready to die for a cause."
"Yes, I know."
"I know too, you were one of these holy warriors at one time, no?"
"Yes. The crusades."
"Ah. Many have fallen to the shadows once they lose their faith on the battlefield."
"What do you know of it?"
"Still the warrior even now."
"You still haven't told me what I need to do."
"Help me of course."
"How?"
"We all need sanctuary. Let my people mix with yours. We will need each other when they attack."
"We can put them into protective custody."
"That was not the sanctuary I meant."
"Oh. What did you have in mind?"
"The club of course. That is where they will attack. The witches can help with barrier, you just need to let them not be preyed on and allowed to stay there."
"Jeanette will not like it."
"But you will arrange it."
"Yes."
"Good. The other thing is I need to be released."
"That could be harder. You're a suspect."
"I know. That is why I brought this."
Bell withdrew from her shirt some pieces of paper. One was a written signed statement about what happened at the shooting. The rest was a list of phone numbers and documents of the LHG movements.
"Now all these are old but they point to the proof you will need to have the rest tracked down. Note that there is not information about the Raven or vampires. I took the liberty of putting those documents in a safety deposit box."
"Where?"
"Not so fast. First here is the key. You will notice that the number is filed off. I will give it to you after we confront him."
"The leader of the LGH."
"Yes. You will leave him to me."
"Why should I do that?"
"Because if you think I am tough shit, wait till you meet him."
"He's a witch?"
"No he a hell of a lot stronger and he believes he has God on his side."
"Great. How do you know all this?"
"I have my sources."
"I would love to meet them after all this. I could use such contacts."
"Sorry, most won't talk to vampires."
"I guess not. When is this all going down?"
"Tomorrow Night."
"Good Friday. That's fast."
"Yup. So can I go?"
"Let me talk to the Captain but I think so."
Nick stood up and left the room. Bell watched him go. She had given him some good leads but knew better than to trust that he would just let her go. She was too informative and most cops won't let a source go to save their lives. Bell removed her pin and pricked her finger. In blood she wrote. TGIF. Then she vanished without a trace.
Not ten minutes later Nick and Don came back to the empty room. Nick picked up on the blood without a thought.
"How did she get out of the room?" Don asked.
"Maybe it was magic Skanky."
"Yeah right."
"Look we need to find her."
"What does TGIF mean anyway?"
"Come on Skanky. Thank God Its Friday." Captain Stonetree said.
"Jeeze lets just find her." Don said.
"You
do that." Stonetree said in his most threatening voice.
Nick and Don left without much more encouragement.