Down On The Bayou Detective Agency - Case Files

Chapter 19

An ending. A beginning.

~o0o~

Previously:

Suddenly, the house seemed to explode into flames.

"And so passes Ahote Tewanima with no one who'll sing a death chant for him." With those words, Spider Woman vanished.

~o0o~

A Hopi distraction.

A devil on walkabout

a mother bereft

an angel on guard

twin hearts on test

breathe well

pray much and gird your sword

heaven grants fury

to a father bestirred

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Edward POV:

Sam and I suddenly found ourselves sitting in the hotel suite in the same places we'd been before Grandmother Spider took us to Ahote Tewanima's house. We just stared at each other for a beat before Sam asked, "Beer?"

"Yes, please." I laughed.

"Does that happen to you often, Edward?" Sam asked as he handed me the beer.

"Yep. Michael has done that to me ever since he appeared in my life. One minute I'm in one place, and the next somewhere else. You'd think I'd be use to it by now."

"I don't see how anyone could ever get used to that." Sam took a long pull on his beer and then asked, "Why did he want me to see that again?"

I thought for a moment then remembered that Michael had said to Sam. "You'll not remember the conversation I'm about to have with Edward, but you'll have an unshakable knowledge that Edward is even more special than you've always suspected."

"I believe it had to do with our personal evolution, expanding our knowledge of how the universe works."

Sam shook his head. "Michael sure has a way of teaching, doesn't he." A statement, not a question.

"You have no idea." Edward smiled to himself. "Now, I think we need to contact McDonald and ask him to go check on our Skinwalker for confirmation. Then after that, we need to see if we can contact Doli Yázhe to make sure she's okay."

~o0o~

Three hours later, McDonald Rominger, AIC, Agent In Charge, for the Northern Arizona FBI office, was knocking on the door to our suite.

"Edward, I don't know how you knew, nor do I want to, but Ahote Tewanima's house was burned to the ground, and it looks as though he was inside at the time. We won't know for sure until the coroner does the post and checks dental records. There's not much left but ash," McDonald paused. he's the one right? The one you were looking for?"

"Yes, he's the one. Of course, you really won't know until there are no more deaths by fire will you."

"Correct. The case file will go into the unsolvedcase files like every other one of yours." McDonald chuckled. "I know a lot of agents who'd be afraid of you Cullen. However, as long as you get results, which you do, I don't care. You're a good agent, and even though your methods aren't exactly standard, you clear cases, sorta."

'Were you able to contact Doli Yázhe? Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine and said to tell you thank you. She's an interesting individual too. You know? She told me that you are very special, and it is a privilege to know you."

"Thank you, McDonald. So we are done here then? Can we can get back to our beautiful swamp?" Sam asked.

"Yes, that's why I'm here. I need you both to sign these forms. If anything else comes up we'll be in touch." McDonald opened the folder he'd been holding and handed them each several forms to sign and date.

After the forms were signed, I called the airlines and confirmed our return flight to Baton Rouge for the early afternoon tomorrow.

Both Sam and I called home to tell our wives we would be on our way home the next day.

When Bella's phone was answered, it wasn't my wife who said hello. It was my father.

"Dad, where's Bella?"

"She's in the hospital, son."

"What! Which one? Why?" My world seemed to spin and crash down around me. Bella was my rock, my children my joy.

"We don't know for sure, but, son, the twins are missing."

I exploded into the phone, "What?" How is that possible?"

"Son, if I knew, I'd tell you. When are you coming back?"

"We can't get out until early tomorrow afternoon." I was shaking and was really losing it when Sam touched my shoulder to get my attention.

"What?" I asked Sam a little more harshly than I really meant to.

"I have an idea. Tell your father you'll call back."

"Dad Sam has an idea. I'll call you back."

"Ok son. Please hurry. Bella's not doing too well."

I disconnected the call. "Alright, Sam, what's your idea?"

"Can Michael get you there?"

Then, with his usual ability to appear out of thin air, Michael was there. "I just heard about your family Edward. I can have you there before you can blink, if that's what you need."

"Yes, of course. Sam?"

"Go, Edward! I'll take care of everything here. I'll see you when I get home."

Next thing I knew, I was cold, then I was standing outside a door to a room I knew Bella was in what I knew was Baton Rouge Medical Center.

I pushed the door open to find my mother softly crying. She was sitting in a chair next to my wife's bed.

"Mom?"

She jumped and then flew into my arms, sobbing.

"Mom? How's Bella doing?"

"I don't know son. She's so weak. I don't think she's gonna make it."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. I called her this morning about 8:30 and all was fine. We made a date for lunch. I made it to the restaurant, but Bella didn't show, so I called her. There was no answer, and I panicked and called your father. He was closer to your house than me. I arrived at your house only minutes after he got there. Bella's car was in the garage, so we let ourselves in only to find her laying on the floor unconscious. We searched for the children and waited for the ambulance to come get Bella. I left with Bella, and Carlisle stayed to look for the children. He's still there."

I went to Bella's side and grasped her hand and then put a hand on her forehead and listened. She was barely there.

"Mom, call dad and tell him I'm here and to call the police and tell them about the children. I'm going to see if I can get into Bella's mind, and I'll need privacy to accomplish this."

"He already has son. They've posted a BOLO about them." My mother sobbed.

She was so used to my doing something like that, she just left the room. I knew she'd positioned herself in front of the door to make sure I wasn't disturbed.

~o0o~

I dropped into a meditative state and called to Bella.

Bella Love, it's Edward.

Ed...Edward?

Yes, Love. I'm here. Please come back to me.

I could see her faintly in my mind sitting on a hill amidst daisies. Sitting beside her were the twins, and a very dark presence was standing behind them.

The vision resolved itself further. Bella and the twins became clearer as did the figure standing behind them. He spoke directly to me.

"Hello Edward. Your children are very strong with psychic energy. They shall feed me for a very long time. Then, after I consume them, I'll come find you and your friends."

Then they were gone.

BELLA!

~o0o~