Chapter 9 Cover Story
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Diana with purple glowing eyes stormed towards firing position. She was within arm's reach in so short time, that Jeffrey Esselt recognized her only in moment, when she snatched sniper rifle from his hands and started push him with that rifle to nearest tree, broking his ribbons as well as stabbing broken branches from that tree into his back. She slowly and painfully pressed life from his body. He tried to fight back, but he was unable to catch Diana's astral projection and to make any harm on it…
Both Brandon Esselt and Txema Ramirez shot from their shotguns into, what they considered to be girl's body, but without slightest effect. Diana ignored them and even did not turn to them.
"Run, you fool!" recommended Txema, who, shotgun still in convulsive clamp, ran to car, just to get hit from Nick's scout rifle.
Pieces of his brain left his smashed skull, however his legs made three more steps, before he fall on ground, dead like a local economy.
Brandon, recognizing, he became last of his pack, started to rave, in kind of berserk madness he ran towards escapees in order to kill at least somebody of them. He never reached effective firing range, as both Wu and Hank hit him by several shots.
XXXXXXX
Kelly, kneeling on ground, tried to place tourniquet to Máiréad's wounds in her chest under her T-shirt. She was still alive, however he perfectly knew, her wound is so devastating, that she had no chance to reach hospital alive. Even with emergency surgeon team her chance to survive was pretty close to zero.
Felix kneeled to him, helping Kelly to lift unconscious girl, his sister. They both knew, she needs a miracle or so, to stay alieve. The only chance was evident for them – either Diana, or Adalind, with possible some support of Rosalee.
Forest was known for them, so they could allow to hurry to trailer.
"What is that girl?" asked Laura to Frederick, accompanying her in quick rush.
"That's Kelly's older sister, Diana," explained Frederick, paying fearful glimpse to his wounded sister. "She is Hexenbiest. Rather Hexenbiest on Hellish testosterones."
"Grimm's sister is Hexenbiest?" Laura was totally confused. "How's that possible?"
"Their mother is Hexenbiest," explained Frederick. "Well, they have two different fathers, but I guess, for girl from Coyotl pack it's not so shocking, I believe, no offense."
Laura wished to snort in scorn, but she had no extra power to do so. Even shaking her head she did only in mental form…
They finally reached small grassy clearing in forest, where Airstream Globetrotter trailer from 1963 was parked, with three cars near. Laura did not recognize model nor year of production of trailer off course, but she was able to recognize, it must be pretty old…
Kelly, embracing Máiréad in hug fell down on knees in both sorrow as well as killing exhaustion.
From trailer moved Diana, now herself, not her astral projection, with Adalind and Rosalee on her heels. All three looked pretty scared.
From forest reached Nick, scout rifle still ready to use, as well as Wu and Hank, who both holstered their guns. Monroe was a bit aside, still in full woge.
"Do something!" demanded Kelly. "She's dying! She can't stay till we reach hospital!"
"Yes," answered his father. "There's something, what should be done. I believe you should."
All them stared on father Grimm, who enter the trailer to reappear few moments later without rifle, but with strange staff, Kelly always remembered it to be in weaponry in trailer. Staff looked like it was broken into many pieces and restored again into one piece.
Nick came to Kelly and handed him the staff:
"Take it!"
Kelly slowly laid Máiréad on ground and accepted that wooden nonsense.
"WHAT?!"
"Kelly," Adalind's voice was extremely serious. "You simply MUST trust us now. This staff is extremely powerful. Your father, as well as I, trust, you should be the one, who will use it in future. Nick did his best to raise you to be fair enough to control power of this staff. Now use that power to heal Máiréad."
Kelly was uncertain, so Monroe added:
"Now there is no time for doubts or uncertainty. Do what you, deep in your heart, wish to do, using this staff. For sake of my daughter, please…"
Kelly nodded and subtly touched Máiréad's chest by that staff. He said no word, just for a few seconds he closed his eyes and wished girl to be alive and healthy, like if she was never wounded. Kelly felt like if he kept living strong python in his hands. But a second later he felt extreme exhaustion, even bigger, than he felt any moment before this time, like all his powers were removed during outflow. In next second he on other hand felt strange energy, streaming in his body as well as in his mind. But this energy was something, what was not his own, just bestowed…
"Kelly, we did it!" Máiréad's voice was enthusiastic. "What is that?" asked girl, seeing Kelly with strange staff in his hands.
In that moment she recognized hole in her T-shirt, flooded in blood, with tourniquet under it.
"I was shot," she said in slightly shocked voice. "Was I dead?"
"Honestly say," answered Kelly. "I'm not sure and I better will never ask."
"WHAT?!" Máiréad was confused.
Kelly lifted staff in his hands a bit:
"This returned you into life. I was pretty sure, without an miracle you will die and my dad passed me that miracle and asked me to do it."
"Seriously?" asked Máiréad. "How's that possible?!"
"Better do not ask too much questions," answered her father, coming closer to them. "Nick, with help of his family, gained it from somebody, or rather to say, something, monster that I can name only as Devil walking on the face of Earth."
"Don't be so dramatic, Monroe," asked Nick. "One day later I will explain you more. But for now it's enough, I believe."
"Máiréad," remembered Adalind something. "If you one day would dream about being shot and feel like the bullet just came through your body…"
"Mom," interrupted her Diana. "That staff is powerful enough to keep Jack or any other evil spirit far away from who is saved by its power."
"Anyway," nodded Adalind, frowning on Diana. "Máiréad, if you feel anything strange, come to me as quickly as it's possible."
"What Jack?" asked Máiréad.
"The Ripper," answered Diana. "Nick believes, he's an evil spirit able to posses somebody to make him kill women, especially professionals."
"Professionals?!" asked Laura.
"Working girls, you know, prostitutes," explained Diana. "And that's no way joke."
"What will we do with bodies of those three idiots?" asked Wo, who was always practical, changing subject of debate. "I guess, Sheriff Reck will miss his Deputy soon."
"I have one idea," said Kelly. "Show me their bodies."
They all moved to place, where three dead bodies were on ground. On way Nick observed Máiréad's T-shirt with holes and blood, he thought a bit and whispered to Kelly:
"Next time you use it, remember also about reparation of clothes," then he laughed in relief.
Kelly shot him an ugly look. But they soon came to place with three dead bodies. Kelly pointed to each of them by staff and all bodies disappeared. Wu pulled his tablet from his handbag. He dabbled something on it and afterwards told:
"You will never believe it!"
"With this stuff I'd believe anything," growled Hank. "What's up?!
"These three idiots, according official D-base, died this night during traffic accident, being drunken, each of them with at least one per mille of spirit in blood."
"Good, but to whom we had shot that way?" asked Nick.
"I guess, into some kind of spectre," answered Monroe.
"Laura," said Diana. "Would you wish to remember everything? If no, I could erase part of your memory, so you'd know, you escaped from your uncles, but you'd not be involved with Grimms and similar dangerous issues."
"No, I want be a part of it," shook Laura her head. "Now I'll be owner of Farm soon, you guys could have there one training base camp. My farm would be protected by Grimms that way…"
"That's perfect," laughed Wu. "Now we must just call to Sheriff Recks to report him about attempt to rape you avoided. As all suspects are dead, I'll recommend Sheriff to close the case and seal the file as case with underage victim. That way probably nobody will ever open it to check that file and make troubles to any of us. We must explain him, that in another case he would face problems himself, once his subordinate was leader of rapist group, what a shame! By the way, are your aunt Margaret Batoulis and her daughter also Coyotles?"
"Yea, they are," nodded Laura. "Should I call her to ask her for help?"
"Better not," answered Wu. "Now we must convince Sheriff Recks, you're no way involved in death of your relatives and we'll not say him anything about Grimms, Wesens and other similar problems, you'd better tell him, they wanted to rape you in order to make you pregnant, so you'll be forced to give a birth and you'd not expel father of your kid from Farm."
"That's exactly, what Jeffrey Esselt told me, once tied me in barn," nodded Laura again.
"Right, that way it could work, but we must show him all the group, so you'll need to change you T-shirt, Máiréad," Nick started preparing plot.
"You can have one of my spare from rucksack," said Kelly. "By the way, dad, I have my first Grimm's Trophy."
"What kind of trophy?" asked Nick.
"Her white robe for Aseveración ritual, I guess, you don't have one in your trailer," smiled Kelly.
Adalind laughed. When Nick looked on her she explained him:
"Don't even dare about thinking to purchase your own. One is enough and he, as single yet, can collect such kind of trophies. If you'd do so, you'd go sleep without dinner and without you-know-what."
They returned to trailer. Diana levitated Kelly's rucksack into, when Kelly decided to follow his rucksack, Diana stopped him:
"No boys allowed."
She pointed on Laura, ordering her that way to go inside. Máiréad did not need any invitation, she was used to spend her time inside, reading in Grimm books.
"So, here Grimms study us," said Laura, observing plenty of books, as well as computer equipment.
"Sure," nodded Máiréad, looked for proper book and opened in on page with illustration of quite embarrassingly known Aseveración ritual.
Laura shook herself a bit and covered her arms by hands, feeling cold…
Máiréad opened Kelly's rucksack and rake it over.
"This one!" she decided and showed T-shirt to other girls.
"Definitely this one," nodded Laura, seeing transfer where pit-bull with baseball bat looked with angry facial expression and by big letters there was written 'ANY QUESTION?'.
Máiréad dressed out her T-shirt and removed tourniquet, as well as blood from her skin, using cold water and paper tissue.
"Not even scar," nodded with satisfaction.
They all three left trailer and Máiréad's choice provoked laughing.
Kelly wordlessly returned staff into weaponry in trailer.
"OK, Laura, get prepared please, calling to Sheriff Recks right now," said Wu, running Skype…
XXXXXXX
Sheriff Recks was angry. He just finished phone call with Margaret Batoulis, who denied that Laura Cledments was this weekend at her place. He did not see reason, why his Deputy lied him, as well he did not see that reason for Ms Batoulis.
Demand for Skype connection from Portland Police was strange, Sheriff hoped for no more cock-up. Well, this hope was not fulfilled.
"It's Lieutenant Drew Wu, Portland Police, speaking," said Wu, showing his badge to camera sightline. "I have here somebody, who wishes to take legal action against some persons in your jurisdiction. There is a bit problem, all these persons are dead."
"Who's that person?" asked Sheriff with suspicion, he already knew the right answer.
"It's me, Laura Cledments. I want to make accusation against your Deputy Jeffrey Esselt, his son Bill, his brother Brandon, as well as against both Txema and Pedro Ramirezes. They prepared gang rape, in order to make me pregnant, so I would not expel them from my Farm, once being in age of majority. Jeffrey told me that, when they chained me in barn. They said, it's our family rite of passage."
Sheriff Recks remembered, how strange was that barn decorated. He shook his head, but he had a 'flash of memory', when he remembered strange feeling, like his Deputy is making ready to kill him. In fact, that impression was lost, once Jeffrey Esselt observed, ropes are empty, nobody is tied in them.
"That's serious accusation, they're all death, so they can't defend themselves."
Sheriff looked on Laura and on Lieutenant Wu for several moments.
"You're not in your office, Lieutenant, it seems looks like an forest."
"Yup, Sheriff, we are in forest, eastward from Portland," answered Wu. "Son of my colleague in work, Kelly Burkhardt, informed me, he thwarted gang raping and asked me to block Deputy Esselt's access to search system. I decided to trust his judgment and I did so."
"Really?" asked Sheriff in disbelief. "Son of your colleague in work…"
"It's me, Kelly Burkhardt, I was with my friends on forest hiking, but we decided to buy some apples or other fruits in Cledments Farm," explained Kelly. "I heard screaming for help, so we came to barn and released there Laura Cledments. When we asked her, she told us horror story about her relatives wanted to violate her, so we decided to flee to place I considered safe."
"Really?" Sheriff somehow took a fancy to use that word.
"Really," nodded Kelly. "We decided, you'd probably rather trust your Deputy, than group of teenagers, so we made and circle to go walking from Cledments Farm here, into middle of forest, where we met our friends as support. As we had no weapon with us, we had to flee, according Miss Cledments, Jeffrey Esselt would kill us, if being confronted with this his intention."
Kelly smiled a bit:
"I also thought, this would make no harm. If this accusation is false, an independent court authority would sweep it aside. And any legal action could be done from safe distance from Deputy Esselt."
"Did you really believe such a wild story?" Sheriff Recks was not convinced.
"Sheriff Recks," entered Nick discussion. "I'm Detective-Lieutenant Nicholas Burkhardt. I solved years ago case, when Hayden Walker with sons kidnapped daughter of his sister and wanted to do the same brutal gang rape, like Jeffrey Esselt now. You can read papers of that case. I guess, ancestors of these two families came from same perverted sect or cult. There was same decoration, like copy-cat in both cases. That seems to me as no coincidence, there's at least same M.O.. So I guess, my son was right in his judgment and decisions."
"Sending pictures," said Wu and sent to Sheriff's address photos Kelly and Máiréad made.
"OK, OK," said Sheriff, seeing pictures. "Mr. Burkhardt junior, you said, you were there together with a group of your friends. Could they confirm your testimony?"
"Sure," all three triplets showed in camera sightline. "Máiréad Calvert." "Frederick Calvert." "Felix Calvert."
"So you were with Kelly Burkhardt at Cledments Farm, right?"
"Yea," nodded Máiréad. "I was in barn and together with Kelly we released Laura. My brothers were on rearguard to inform us, if somebody would try to attack us. That screaming for help could be just bait to attract us into a trap."
"Laura, you was in white robe, according these photos, so how is it possible, you are in normal clothes," Sheriff tried to find mistakes in strange story.
"I borrowed her my spare clothes," explained Máiréad.
"I decided to throw that robe, when we were on run," said Laura, deciding left it as Kelly's trophy. "Uncle Jeff and others forced me to wear it and I hate even the idea of keeping it."
Sheriff Recks stared in disbelief. For him it was like his entire world broke apart. His Deputy was possibly perverted criminal, as well as rest of male members of his family. Group of teenagers decided to legal self-help, rather than inform hiss office, that sucks…
"I understand your disbelief and disappointment," said Wu. "Jeffrey Esselt worked for you as your Deputy for more, than five years. But, there is fact, that should not be ignored. Both Jeffrey Esselt and Txema Rodriguez were widowers, but Brandon Esselt's ex-wife is still alive and you can ask her, whether this story is based on truth, or not. Just tell her, Laura Cledments is suspect, as story she reports to you is simply impossible to be believed. I believe, Margaret Batoulis came through same ritual gang rape. Her daughter is less, than eighteen years younger, than her mother."
"That doesn't prove anything," objected Sheriff Recks. "A lot of girls become pregnant before being eighteen. And even if it's truth, she may refuse to testify, either because of being ashamed, or she could simply refuse to remember it again."
Sheriff for a moment paused.
"And there is possibility, it was conspiracy between Laura Cledments and Margaret Batoulis, in order to free themselves from Brandon, as well as Jeff and Txema," he added.
"Last time I spoke with aunt Margaret was more, than three months ago," blurted Laura. "Even when my parents died, she only sent me a letter of sympathy."
"OK, what is your suggestion to do, Detective Burkhardt and Lieutenant Wu?" asked Sheriff.
"Call Margaret Batoulis and ask her about her seventeen," recommended Nick. "If Laura's story gets confirmed, you could close the case, as there's nobody to be charged with anything. As victim is of young age, file could be sealed, to avoid public discussing of that shame. Whoever would wish to open that case again would be sworn to secrecy."
"OK," nodded Sheriff. "If CSI reports would not contain anything suspicious, I'll close the file as you recommended me. I guess, you have contacts for Margaret Batoulis, so give me half of an hour, before you'll call her. Laura could ask her to be her curator till her eighteen."
"So, good bye, Sheriff," nodded Wu.
"Sorry for mess we made, but it was not our fault," said Kelly.
-You could hardly imagine the mess Deputy Esselt could made with sniper rifle,- thought silently Sheriff Recks. That wild story could explain a mystery, why Esselts had sniper rifle and shotguns in their car in time of car crush. It would be terrible shame, if his Deputy succeeded to kill any of those teenagers. Sheriff was sure, in such a case he would face charge for incompetence…
"Good bye, Lieutenant," answered Sheriff Recks and finished transmission.
XXXXXXX
Margaret Batoulis was surprised, Sheriff Recks contacted her again:
"Sheriff, what can I do for you?"
"I suspect Laura to be involved somehow in death of Bill Esselt and Pedro Rodriguez. She told me such a wild story about my Deputy. She said, he, together with other relatives of her family, wanted to rape her. They also wanted to embezzle her property. She said me, you were raped same way as they wanted to rape her. According her also in age of seventeen."
"You really don't expect me to answer that question," brusquely answered Margaret Batoulis.
"In such a case, I have no other way, but to accuse Laura for manslaughter, maybe even murder."
"OK," answered Margaret. "Yes, it was in my age of seventeen."
"Was Brandon Esselt somehow involved in that gang rape?"
"Yea, as well as his brother Jeff," said Margaret. "When I delivered Lilly, I asked DNA paternity test to be made. According that test Brandon was her father, so I asked him to merry me to help me with ensuring our daughter. Brandon was not so bad man. If only his brother Jeff wouldn't come more and more often. Brandon always did, what Jeff told him to do. I'd better decided to divorce, to protect my daughter from same destiny."
"Why didn't you protect also Laura?" questioned Sheriff.
"Jeffrey told me, if somebody is after him, we with Lilly would get killed. He said – 'even anonymous snitch could come only from you'. I'm not she-hero. So I sacrificed Laura in order to use that time for making funds for escape with Lilly."
"Does death of any of those men anyhow affect your situation?" asked Sheriff.
"In fact yes," answered Margaret. "I do not need to flee anymore. I could make a deal with Laura, she will need a curator, at least for this next year. So I could maneuver her into assuring me and my daughter. I could work as administrator on Cledments' Farm."
"OK," said Sheriff. "Was that rape somehow strange? According one police detective, there was a very strange decoration and it had ritualized form."
"That detective was right," said Margaret. "They told me, that's family tradition, so they chained me between two trees and over my head they placed banner with picture of Fertility Goddess…" depicted old case with pain in voice.
As her description answered to photos Lieutenant Wu sent to him, Sheriff decided:
"I'll close this case as attempt of rape, with all suspects dead. As victim is of young age, file will be sealed. I'll recommend you as Laura's curator, as it's a question of one last year, authorities would probably do no problems, I believe. Good bye and good luck."
"Good bye, Sheriff, see you later," said Margaret.
XXXXXXX
Wu called to Margaret Batoulis to inform her.
"Sheriff Recks just informed me," answered Laura's aunt. "I could come to pick Laura up and drive her home."
Rosalee gesticulated on Wu to give her phone.
"Ms Batoulis, I'm Rosalee Calvert. My children with their friend found your nephew and decided to free her. Laura is with us now, we can meet in our shop. It's 'Exotic Spice and Tea', 402 North Western Fulton Street in Portland."
"I could be there in five hours," said Margaret. "Does it comply for you?"
"We're good with that," Rosalee smiled. "See you soon."
Wu asked for his phone again:
"It's Lieutenant Wu again. Will you agree if Laura stays till you pick her up with her saviors? I'll have to return to precinct to finish paperwork regarding this case."
"I guess, it's OK," answered Margaret. "Thank you all for helping my nephew."
XXXXXXX
On the way to 'Spice and Tea' Nick handed to Kelly his schoolbag.
"You better use that time to finish your homework, tomorrow you should go normally to school. It's time for you to get used, that Grimm work doesn't usually include vacation or bonus reward."
Adalind laughed.
"Darling, you're no way bonus," smiled Nick. "I'm really happy to have you here with me. But it was pretty far from normal understanding of, what bonus is."
XXXXXXX
Sheriff Recks reviewed Detective Nicholas Burkhardt's cases. It was pretty impressive, but after brief reading he understood, how it was possible, Kelly Burkhardt solved that case that way. He evidently intended to 'grow up to his father's boots' and he inherited his father's mind, both analytic and unconventional. Detective Burkhardt solved a lot of crimes. In many times there were either feigned animal or even monster attacks, or attackers worn in animal or creepy masks. It almost looked like his specialization was weird and likely unnatural cases, rather than usual 'Jack killed Jill because of Jim', however cases in many times resulted in such kind of explanation. With his partner they acted like kind of adult version of Scooby Gang.
"Good luck, Burkhardts," whispered Sheriff, closing file about Diamond Lake monster with head shake. "Good to have you here, but I hope, I'll need you never more…"
XXXXXXX
When Margaret Batoulis entered 'Spice and Tea', she felt the strange atmosphere of place. Lilly looked around, charmed by strange magic of place.
"Auntie Maggie, nice to have you here," invited her Laura. "Meet my new friends."
"Nice to meet you, Ms Batoulis," said Rosalee and woged.
Her husband, as well as their children and Adalind woged too. Diana let her eyes shine and Nick with Kelly simply observed incomers.
Lilly kept Margaret's hand in shock.
"Mom, they are…"
"Grimms," whispered Margaret.
"Yup, auntie, Grimms," said Laura with smile. "This young Grimm and his friends saved me. So I decided, they are always welcomed on my Farm. We'll have to arrange our living together. For authorities you could be my curator, but in Farm, I'm the leader. Farm will need administrator, as family member you're welcomed on that position. I believe, you can ensure current functioning of Farm far better, than uncle Jeff and Txema. But do never forget, I'm the head. Or would you wish to duel for it?"
"No, I think, we with Lilly could easily accept your rules," nodded Margaret. "Will it mean, we have protection by Grimms?"
"I believe so," nodded Laura. "As there is nothing gratis, we should offer them place for training their special abilities."
"Grimm drill camp?" asked Lilly. "Sounds cool."
Everybody starred on younger girl, who out of the blue without any fear and with smile looked for worst wesen nightmare.
"Is that Grimm single?" asked Lilly.
"He's of mine, puppy," growled Máiréad and bared her teeth.
"And this one?" questioned Lilly without fear, pointing on Felix.
"WHAT?" sound of disbelief was noisy.
"What does that mean?" asked Margaret her daughter.
"Mum, you told, somebody saved Laura from Aseveración without need to left everything on her back. So I decided to arrange my personal savior on my own in advance."
Margaret stared at her wordlessly for a moment.
"So, it will be the arrangement. Everything upside down?" asked.
"Get used," recommended her Rosalee. "My husband is Blutbad, I'm Fuchsbau. World is changing and these very special Grimms work on it."
"OK," nodded finally Margaret. "So almost nothing will be, as it was…"
XXXXXXX
Kelly was yawning almost whole Monday. Leaving school he almost collided with wesen girls trio.
"So, our Big Bad Grimm is tired," smiled Dona. "Hard weekend?"
"You have no idea," answered Kelly with involuntary smile. "You have no idea."
Outside of school building group of his friends invited him. For his surprise, even Laura Cledments and Lilly Batoulis were there too.
"It's her?" asked Máiréad, pointing on Dona. "She smells like Klaustreich. Hi, kitten!"
Dona stared in shock for Máiréad's small woge, but second later she woged back. Kelly hoped, it's only small woge. Hannah and Francine woged too.
"So Grimm has his own hunting dogs pack," grimaced Musai. "But they are only puppies yet."
"Don't try to get me pissed," recommended Kelly. "Never more. You could be successful."
With these words he accepted being surrounded by 'his pack' and left for Spice and Tea…
XXXXXXX
"You owe me the story of that staff," said Kelly a few months later, when there remained some free time and his father seemed to be in talkative mood.
Nick looked on him and nodded.
"Everything started in thirteen century, during Fourth Crusade, when Constantinople was plundered by crusaders. Amongst them were our ancestors, Grimms like we are…" he started to narrate the story…
THE END
Author's Postscript:
On this place story ends, as it could continue, how we know it from "The End" of Series 6.
I am glad, that I succeed to write it before Christmas time, so I can wish to all readers have a blessed time, when our western Christian churches celebrate time, when Jesus was born. So, merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all, Grimmsters!
I perfectly know, my English is far from being perfect, so if anybody feels himself or herself in need to rewrite this story or any other story I wrote and place here or on other website, feel free to do it. I would only wish the plot to be preserved…
Good Bye and Good Luck to you all!