“Jason! It’s Kate.”
“Hey! Are you alright? I waited for your call half an hour ago. Did you find out anything from that waitress?”
“Yes, I believe I have! She said a meeting is to be held tomorrow night.”
“Did she say where?” He asked.
“Yes! On some remote beach. Jason I know it’s not much to go on, but she said the other meetings are nothing compared to this one. I think we will find what we’re looking for,” explained Kate.
“Okay then. I will contact Danny, and sort something out. Go home now Kate, and thanks for your help,” said Jason.
Kate started her car ready to pull out of the parking lot. As she looked into her rearview mirror, she saw the figure of a woman standing behind her.
She rolled down her window calling out, “Lisa! Is that you?”
It was too dark to see, so she stepped out of her vehicle and approached the woman.
“Lisa! What are you doing here? What’s wrong?”
As Lisa stepped into view, Kate could see tears in her eyes.
“I couldn’t let you leave without warning you,” said the girl.
“Warn me about what? What is it? Why are you crying?”
“Don’t go looking for that group! He is dangerous, and he will find you one way or another.”
Lisa began to back away.
“So you know this person? You know his name then?” Asked Kate.
The next instant Lisa turned around and ran.
“Wait! come back! What is his name?”
Kate shouted out in vain as the young girl disappeared into the night.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
The next morning Jason and Danny meet up at the office. He explained what Kate had told him last night, and Danny agrees for a search to be held later in the evening. They consult with Chief Berks informing him what they have found out so far. Matt also agrees for a search to be held, but wants to leave Kate out of it for her own safety. Matt also advises for both agents to split up, having each one covering different stretches of beach. He also insists they have another FBI agent present with them during the search. Danny agrees to Matt’s request, but Jason prefers to work alone. After a few arguments, Jason gets his way, and Danny has a rookie assigned to him as backup. They fix a time and a place to meet and both Jason and Danny go their separate ways in preparation for the evening search.
Over at the Barrette residence, Tony was also preparing for tonight’s ritual. Having Helen along with them made it all the more exciting. He has plans for her and is going to use her as his own of Guinea pig. He also needs Carlos to tag along as protection, and to guard Helen if she tries to escape. This night Travis refused to participate after what happened the last time on the beach. Tony was considering this ritual as a sort of trial run before the actual gathering takes place which is to be very soon. He had contacted the usual participants who had agreed to bring a friend along after being promised some cash for tonight’s efforts.
Jason arrived home at around four in the afternoon to find Sally in the kitchen talking to someone on the phone.
“Sally! you’re home. How did it go over at Jackie’s house? You haven’t called me all day. Is everything okay?”
She ended her conversation on the phone and said, “I’m fine dad. Stop worrying will you.”
She went over and kissed him on the cheek.
“Who was that on the phone?” He suspiciously asked.
Sally thought it best to tell the truth.
“It was Travis. A friend of mine. We met at the university during that overnight stay.”
Jason puts down his cup of coffee.
“What did he want this friend of yours?”
Sally felt as if a piece of apple got stuck in her throat.
“He has invited us to watch a basketball match taking place the day after tomorrow.”
“You mean Jackie and yourself?”
“Yes, Jackie and I. It’s okay for us to go is it?” She asked.
“Yes, as long as you keep together. I will be working late this week, so I hope to find you asleep in bed by the time I get back.”
At around ten in the evening, Jason and Danny were to meet at the beach where they found the dead girl. Danny arrived first, making small talk with the new rookie assigned to work with him tonight.
Mike Conners joined the agency at a young age of twenty-three. He didn’t talk much, but was eager to get some action after completing his training which ended last month. Danny instructed him to keep an eye out for anything suspicious happening on their search. He didn’t give him all the details as it was a bizarre enough case as it is. Danny himself could not answer all his questions since they had so little to go on.
The night was quiet as they waited for Jason’s arrival. The sky was lit up by the full moon’s reflections.
Mike gazed up at the night sky and said, “I hope we’re not searching for werewolfs tonight!”
“What!” Said Danny.
“Werewolfs! I didn’t bring any silver bullets with me,” said Mike laughing.
Just then a car was approaching them at high speed, its headlights blinded their view. Tires were heard screeching as the driver shifted gears. The powerful roar of the engine approached them closer and closer by the second. Danny jumped out of his vehicle taking cover behind the car door. Mike did the same, drawing his weapon, ready to fire at the slightest threat. Thinking quickly, Danny switched on his headlights in an effort to distract the oncoming car. But to his surprise the oncoming vehicle dipped its headlights and eased down on the throttle, bringing the car to a sudden stop just a few yards in front of them.
“Sorry I’m late guys! Did I startle you or something?” Said Jason with his hands help up high.
Mike wiped away the beads of sweat from his forehead, saying, “who the hell is this guy? Is this a joke?”
Danny stepped out in front of Mike, quite sure what he had in mind.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you!” said Danny.
Jason smiled on seeing the young rookies angry face.
“Wow there cowboy! I don’t want to hurt you now!”
Danny jumped between both agents. He gestured for Mike to get back into the car.
“Jason, are you nuts? He could have taken a shot at you!”
“Well, lucky for him he didn’t,” was Jason’s reply.
It was Danny who took control of the situation. He took out a map of the area and placed it on the car hood. Jason agreed to take the northern route while Danny and Mike took the south.
“We have miles of sandy beach both ways. We keep in touch every ten minutes, and if one of us spots anything out of the ordinary, you call for backup and wait until either of us arrives.”
The search was on. Danny turned his vehicle around and drove off at a slow pace carefully looking out into the dark for any suspicious group of people on the beach. Jason did the complete opposite. He didn’t need to drive at the same speed as Danny. His vision was as clear as day.
Ten minutes passed and the stretch of beach Danny was driving along seemed deserted except for a few beach fishermen seen spinning their line out to sea. Young lovers holding hands also strolled by the shoreline enjoying the fresh breeze sweeping in from the ocean. Everything seemed normal to Danny. He wondered if they started the search too early or maybe they were too late.
As for Jason, he had already covered twice the distance. He knew he was looking out for a group of people, and didn’t take notice of the loners and couples as he passed them by. What ever this group of fanatics were about to do, they would do it where no one could see them.
One by one the girls arrived at the house. Carlos loaded the BMW with the necessary things. Two cars are needed for tonight. Helen was to ride with Carlos while the girls jumped into the BMW. All were set to go. Tony went up to Helen’s room and gently knocked on the door before entering. She was standing by the window looking out onto the garden.