Excerpt:
George said, “In the case of Dioson, he is a bounty hunter who himself is a witch who the Witches Council uses but other people use him as well. An honest Witch Hunter is a witch who goes after other witches who have broken the rules. Dioson himself plays fast and loose with the rules but the Witches Council looks the other way.”
Nat asked, “Are you a witch?”
George said, “I guess technically but no more so than you are.”
Hearthville Serial 4
Book 4
A Paranormal Suspense Gangster Horror
By Charles Peters
Copyright 2019
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 7
Arthur Ramsey led the way to his helicopter. Daniel followed walking across the green grass and looking up toward the blue sky. He felt confused to what was happening. As he walked, he got on his phone and called Officer Ellie May.
Daniel said, “We have a situation. It has been reported to me that the name of the fake Jess is a man by the name of Dioson. I don’t know the last name. I have reason to believe that he has kidnapped Paulstir McCluskey and has him held in the back of a red van. He was previously being held at the mausoleum on my family’s property.”
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Officer Ellie said, “I will put a bulletin out for red vans and I will reissue the picture of the fake Jess that we have in connection with the red van.”
Daniel asked, “Billy, do you know what area we should pin point our search.”
“Sorry. I can’t focus right now.”
“That is okay. Ellie, assume roads leading from the Bare Family Mausoleum. I am going to be in the air with Arthur Ramsey. Don’t commit a police helicopter to the search right now but have one ready for backup if needed.”
“Okay.”
“In your bulletin make sure that everyone knows that the suspect is dangerous and has a hostage. Do not approach. Just observe and report.”
“Yes sir. I will keep my backup phone clear for calls from you. Keep me up to date and I will call if we have any new information.”
“Thanks. Bye.”
“Roger. And out.”
Nat followed behind Daniel with his mom at his side.
Natalina said, “This helicopter does not look like much. It looks like a military surplus reject.”
Arthur said, “It flies. It would not have been my first choice but it was the one I happened to be using when I got the tip.”
Billy asked, “How many people will it hold?”
Arthur said, “It can lift an entire 11-man, fully-equipped, infantry squad.”
Nat said, “Fuck.”
Natalina pulled on Nat’s earlobe. “Watch your language.”
“Sure.” Nat swatted his mom’s hand away from his ear.
Billy jumped up in the helicopter. George followed. They both looked around. Billy said, “I thought you said it can carry 11 men. The way I figure it, there are only enough seats for four people.”
Arthur said, “Daniel and I will sit up front with the pilot. Natalina, Nat, you and Victor will sit in the back.”
Nat climbed up into the helicopter and looked at the seats cramped together in a cubby area off from the front. “My thinking I should come with Billy was a really bad idea. Just the thought of sitting in those seats is causing my claustrophobia to make me uncomfortable.”
George said, “You and I can sit at the door.” George looked about. He stared at the rope ladders still connected to thick metal hooks in the floor. He looked toward the ceiling. There were many hooks in the roof of the helicopter. Between each pair of hooks there were storage bays. George pulled a couple of harnesses down from two of the bays. He handed one to Nat. He began putting the other one on himself.
Daniel asked, “What are you doing?”
“Nat and I will sit at the door so we can see out.”
Daniel said, “I think that is a really bad idea.”
Natalina asked, “Are the harnesses safe?”
Arthur said, “Sure. They will be okay.”
“Okay. I know when I am overruled.”
Natalina whispered to Daniel. “You have no idea how bad his claustrophobia can be.”
“Okay. I understand.”
Billy smiled at his Aunt Natalina. He didn’t say anything. He ran and sat down. “Come on. Let us get this show in the air before Dioson gets to the Florida line.”
Arthur asked, “So that is the direction we should go.”
“Maybe. I am not sure.”
Everyone fastened themselves and the helicopter began to rise into the air. Nat patted George on the back. “I like sitting here.”
The helicopter leaned severely into a turn. The harnesses tightened to lift both George and Nat into the air as they moved toward the opening of the helicopter. In horror, Natalina screamed, “They are flying out of the helicopter.”
As the helicopter flight pattern flattened they settled back to the floor. Nat looked back at his mom. “That was scary. But cool.”
Natalina blew air through her lips. “Gave me a fright.”
The pilot, a young man who was twenty but looked like he should still be in High School, said, “Sorry.”
Arthur joked. “Do it again and I am going to fire you?”
“Please don’t sir. That would be the fifth time this week.”
Daniel nodded. He asked, “And for what were the other firings?”
The pilot, Karl Borloft, said, “Coffee too hot. Coffee too cold. Stop flirting with Tabitha.”
George called up to the pilot. “Well. He should have fired you for flirting with Tabitha. Man. I’ve got my own crush on that girl.”
Karl said, “She is special but you don’t have to worry about me. I prefer my women older and with money.”
Arthur flipped the cameras and monitors on. He opened up a keyboard to operate the cameras and the computer system. Daniel watched what Arthur was doing and what was on the monitors. “No sign.”
Karl said, “Sir, going higher to increase the search range.”
Arthur said, “Do.”
The helicopter practically lay on its back as Karl raced higher. George and Nat again flew into the air. Karl then flattened the flight pattern out. Arthur made some readjustments. Arthur screamed, “Three red vans. Which is the correct one.”
Billy unfastened himself and walked to where he could see what Arthur was doing. Billy put his finger on the screen. “I am pretty sure it is this one turning down the dirt road. He is going to the rock quarry.” Billy looked toward Victor. “Or the back of the Smith Junkyard.”
Arthur turned from the monitor and looked at George. Then he looked at Daniel. Arthur whispered, “He is probably planning on putting Paulstir in the boot of one of the cars.”
It was a whisper but still George heard Arthur. George said, “That son of a bitch. He is planning on luring me there to rescue Paulster.”
Daniel looked at Victor. “I don’t understand. Why would that be a place where he would want to lure you.”
George wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t think to consider that Victor was good friends with Sally and Sam Smith and worked on cars at the junkyard a good bit. Instead of mentioning Sally and Sam, George sat silent with somewhat of an angry and suspicious look on his face.
Daniel said, “So you were Arthur’s tip. Even though Donny was older than you, you were good friends with Donny Maxtone, weren’t you?”
“We liked to shoot hoops together and talk about our girlfriends. Clean talk. Nothing dirty. We talked about our dreams. I told you that I went to the cemetery to visit Donny’s grave.” George lied, “But I wasn’t Arthur’s tip.”
Daniel said, “Sure you were. And you knew who Dioson is. You know who Dioson is.”
Arthur said, “Daniel. Please don’t. Don’t do this.”
“Why? Why not? I need to understand what this is about.”
Arthur felt angry. But he wasn’t angry at Daniel. He was angry at the situation.
Karl asked, “Should I close in on Dioson and risk him realizing that he is being followed?”
Daniel said, “No. Hold back. Our best chance at rescuing Paulstir is if Dioson thinks he is hiding Paulstir and then leaves the scene.”
Arthur said, “Yes. Follow Daniel’s orders.”
Daniel looked back at Victor. “Tell me what this is about.”
George said, “You want to know what this is about? Well. I do not know what this is about. I can tell you how I first came into contact with the witch hunters Hannibal and Dioson Claws.”
“Witch hunters?” Daniel knew that Billy had called them that. But now George was confirming what Billy had said by using that same term. And Daniel knew what Earl had said. Was the truth about to become more clear to Daniel and was it a truth that Daniel wanted to hear.
Nat wrinkled his nose and brow. “Witch hunters? What exactly is a witch hunter? I am not clear on that.”
George said, “In the case of Dioson, he is a bounty hunter who himself is a witch who the Witches Council uses but other people use him as well. An honest Witch Hunter is a witch who goes after other witches who have broken the rules. Dioson himself plays fast and loose with the rules but the Witches Council looks the other way.”
Nat asked, “Are you a witch?”
George said, “I guess technically but no more so than you are.”
Nat said, “I am not a witch.”
George smiled. He didn’t argue with Nat.
Daniel had listened to what Victor had told Nat. Daniel again considered what Earl had told him. Sure it sounded crazy but then here was that same crazy talk again. And Billy had called Hannibal and Dioson Witch Hunters.
Daniel’s expression became that of anger as he watched Victor smiling at Nat. Behind that smile, Daniel wondered, what was Victor thinking? What did Victor know. For a moment Daniel turned with a questioning look at Arthur. Daniel wished to God he had not allowed Billy, Nat, and Natalina to get into that helicopter with Arthur and Victor.
“Victor. Okay. Tell me what your involvement in this is about.”
“I am not involved.”
Daniel screamed, “Damn it. You son of bitch be honest. Tell me what your involvement in this is about.”
George felt Victor trying to emerge. Fighting Victor down, George had trouble concentrating. George said, ” “My involvement. I guess I am involved because I am a broken person,” George said. He then sat silent. Again, George’s silence made him appear to be hiding something and Daniel wondered what.
Daniel said, “That doesn’t tell me much.”
George took a deep breath. “You want me to tell you as much as I can about what this is about.”
“Right.”
“Oh. Shit. Hell,” George said. Then George thought a moment as he also fought against Victor attempting to wake himself. George considered that he should be careful and tell Daniel as little as possible. But at the same he had a strange urge to want to just start screaming out stuff.
Daniel said, “I guess oh, shit, hell is as good of starting place as any.” Danie’s voice became stern. “But continue!”
There was sadness in George’s voice. “Well, Billy told you some of it. Jossette and I were in love.”
Daniel said, “I know.”
George said, “Jossette and I were thinking about having sex. We had come close. But even before we were discovered in the attic of the Ramsey Mansion where we were thinking about being as one, we had decided to wait. Still, we were discovered naked in the attic.”
George looked at Billy and Nat. “They probably should not be hearing this.”
Billy said, “In my vision I saw what happened.”
Nat said, “I am old enough.”
Natalina said, “You can continue talking.”
George said, “Rachel Ramsey and Rita Angster, under some kind of supernatural influence, found Jossette and me together, naked.” George threw his back and looked up toward the sky and then down toward the red van that looked small from the height and the distance of where George was looking from the helicopter. George’s voice grew less sad and more resolute. “There in the attic, Rachel and Rita found Jossette and me together and they were crazy. Just crazy. I will not give the gruesome details but they tried to kill me.” George thought about the ride in the boot of the car. He thought about the awful pain that he was in from Rachel’s attack on him. “With me in pain they put me in the boot of my car and they drove me to the Smith Junkyard where Dioson is taking Paulstir. They moved me from the boot of my car to a different car in the junkyard and they left me in the boot of the car to die and I did die. I died. I died a fucking awful death. And magic was used to bring back to life. Only the Witches Council didn’t approve of me being brought back to life. They sent the witch hunters Dioson and Hannibal Claws to again make me dead. But there was a way for me to go back in time and rescue myself from the boot before I died so that I didn’t die. That cancelled the orders that Dioson and Hannibal had been given but they didn’t much like that.”
Daniel said, “So you were caught raping Jossette and…”
George said, “No. I would never have hurt Jossette. I loved Jossette.”
“Yeah, well, some love is sick and twisted. Jossette would have explained to her Aunt that nothing had happened. Jossette would not have stopped loving you if it was all as innocent as you are trying to say.”
“Jossette didn’t stop loving me!”
“I wondered why the two of you had broken up. I now know. You raped Jossette and now hitmen have been hired to kill your sorry ass.”
Arthur said, “Daniel. You are talking crazy. You are barking up the wrong tree.”
Daniel said, “Yeah. I don’t think so. Maybe the hitmen are working for Steed and you, only Hannibal was giving you problems so you had to kill him. Maybe your plan is to fly Victor down into the clutches of Dioson and you will look all so innocent when Dioson kills Victor.”
Arthur said, “Victor did not hurt Jossette. Rachel and Rita were crazy that night. And later Rachel convinced Victor’s mom that he and Jossette were too young and should be kept apart. They didn’t see one another until Jossette lay dying. Their love was real until the end; until Jossette died.”
Daniel questioned, “Jossette is dead?”
Emotion swept over George. He couldn’t control it. George screamed in tears. “Donny is dead. Jossette is dead. They both died in my arms and I could not save them. I can’t do shit. I am useless as a witch. I am even more useless as a man.”
Nat turned and looked back at his mom with his teary eyes opened as wide as possible. He mouthed the words, “What the fuck.”
Natalina shrugged her shoulders with a befuddled expression.
George reached up to undo the harness.
Natalina saw Victor undoing the harness and feared Victor was about to jump. “No. Victor. I know you are upset but you don’t want to undo that harness.”
George looked at Nat and then at Billy standing with Arthur. George positioned from a sitting pose to kneeling on his knees. He undid his harness and stood up. He walked to where Daniel was seated. He leaned into Daniel’s face. “Paulstir McCluskey is my friend though we haven’t been too close lately. I have no idea why Hannibal and Dioson were after Paulstir and broke into Steed’s home. I don’t know why Dioson has now kidnapped Paulstir. I don’t know whether Dioson is working under a private contract or is working for the Witches Council.”
Daniel shoved Victor back. “Get the hell out of my face. All of you Duddley’s think you are special. Well, you aren’t special.” Daniel undid his seatbelt and stood up. He pushed George back against a steel cage that was behind the pilot’s seat. “So maybe you didn’t rape Jossette. Maybe that theory was wrong but I have a bad feeling about you. Here is another theory. Do you still have the gypsy artifact that I have reason to believe Hannibal and Dioson were after? Have you and Paulstir been using the relic for time traveling? Is that what this is about?” Daniel considered what he had just said. He had just accused Victor of time traveling. To Daniel, the words sounded crazy even as he was saying them.
George spit in Daniel’s face. It was sloppy spit. Some of the spit rolled off Daniel’s lips. George then then punched Daniel in the face and then quickly reached for Daniel’s legs and tripped Daniel to the floor. George put his foot to Daniel’s neck. George fought the urge to want to kill Daniel for having accused him of raping Jossette. “You are one stupid piece of shit.”
Daniel said, “So make me less stupid. Explain things to me.”
“This world is digital. Time is simply computer code. Time travel is simply a goto statement in the computer code. The relic helped Donny and me to find the goto statement. I now know where the goto statement is. I don’t need the fucking relic you pompous piece of rich shit, just like I don’t need a badge to make me feel like a real man. And for your information my family is special and don’t you forget it.”
“Yeah. You just earlier confessed you feel useless as a man.” Daniel grabbed Victor by his foot that Victor had pressed against Daniel’s neck. He then grabbed Victor’s other leg. Daniel then twisted and partially sat up. George fell on top of Daniel and shoved Daniel back hard against the floor. George clutched both of Daniel’s wrist to the floor.
Feeling Victor on top of him Daniel felt somewhat helpless. Then he looked into Victor’s face. Daniel whispered, “This has to be about the relic.”
George said, “Donny hid the relic. Unless someone has accidentally found it, no one knows where the relic is. Donny took the information of where the relic is hidden to his grave.”
Daniel said, “But you know where the goto statement or portal or whatever the fuck you want to call it is. So you are the next best thing to the relic.”
“But Dioson was going to kill me. He made that clear. And until now the method of my time travel was a secret. I don’t think this is about me.”
Karl said, “Arthur, please do not have me killed.”
Arthur asked, “Why would I have you killed?”
“I left your earlier communication channel with Alice Malokey open.” Karl pointed to the pink light that indicated that someone was listening through the channel. “I am so sorry. Someone has been listening to all of this.”
“Alice, is that you listening.”
“Yeah. I’ve been listening to your soap opera in the air. Luckily the device is mine and the Witches Council isn’t privy.”
Arthur asked, “So is there anything you can tell us so Daniel will stop trying to figure this out with crazy theories.”
Alice said, “Sorry, I have not been able to find out with whom Hannibal and Dioson were in the employee when they kidnapped Paulster McCluskey. Madison swears they were not working for her. She sometimes does things off the grid but I think she is telling the truth. They definitely were not working in any official capacity for the Witches Council. Whether they were working unofficially for one of the council members, I don’t know.”
George rolled off of Daniel. With neither looking too happy, they stood up.
George said, “So, you don’t know what the heck this is about?”
Alice said, “I wish I did. But listen. Don’t go around telling people how this world works or that you know how to time travel. I am going to have to erase some memories.”
George said, “The son of a bitch made me angry.”
Alice said, “Yeah, he deserved to have his lights punched out. But why give him the secrets of the universe. I don’t understand.”
George said, “I am sorry. Honest. I am.”
“I am sorry also, but I am going to have to erase some memories.”
Arthur said, “Please don’t.”
“Time travel in the physical world is not allowed. People should not be told how it works”
George said, “You can not erase my memory like you can other people. You know that. The only way you can erase my memory is to kill me and put my soul in a cage.”
Alice said, “Don’t be stupid. I would not do that to you. I know that you have not time traveled since you rescued yourself from the boot of the car. I know you have been following the rules. And just to be clear, I have not betrayed your confidence to the Witches Council. Don’t you betray my confidence.”
George said, “Sorry. I know I should have remained quiet and ignored Daniel’s questioning.”
“I understand why you got upset.”
Natalina stepped into the pilot area. “I’ve been thinking. What if someone has become afraid that George will time travel in the future. Or maybe in the future Victor helped Paulstir McCluskey to travel into the future to do something. This could be about time travel even if it is not about some artifact. What if it is about the future and not the past?”
Alice knew who Natalina was but still she asked, “And you are?”
“I am Natalina Wilkins. I am the girlfriend of Daniel Bare.”
Alice said, “And the sister of Maureen Bingo and the aunt of Billy Bingo.”
“So you know who I am?”
“I don’t know your full life story but I know a little about you. And your theory could be right. I will have one of my people who I can trust to investigate things from that angle.”
It was Billy’s mouth moving but it was the Legman talking. “Hey Alice. So are you going to give Dioson orders to release Paulstir McCluskey.”
“I have. He is not listening. I’ve tried to get permission to send a team in to rescue Paulstir McCluskey and kill Dioson but I can’t get permission. So Arthur, sorry. It is up to you and the Legman.”
Arthur asked, “Who is the Legman?”
There was some surprise from Daniel and Nat when Billy transformed to look more like a young adult than a ten year old. Arthur took the transformation in stride. Natalina felt somewhat faint but quickly gathered herself. She leaned against Daniel.
The transformed Billy said, “I am the Legman.”
Daniel said, “This day just keeps getting more weird. Someone pinch me because I am pretty sure I am dreaming.”
George said, “No. This world is real. You are not dreaming. . Understand, even though this world is digital, everything we do has consequences.”
The Legman said, “Yes. Consequences.”
Alice said, “Yeah. Consequences. Victor. Shhhh.”
The Legman said, “Here is the thing. If I go in to rescue Paulstir, then Dioson will have his powers turned on to full force. Alice, can you stop that from happening?”
“No, that is not allowed. Witch hunters are always allowed to fight with a force equal to their opponent if that is within their ability. But Legman, Dioson is not as powerful as you.”
The Legman said, “I could kill and cage Dioson with very little effort but with magic flying Paulstir and other people might get killed in the process.”
Daniel said, “Our best bet is to hope that Dioson will not realize we are following him and that he moves Paulstir to a hiding place and then leaves Paulstir there. Then we can rescue Paulstir and then go after Dioson.”
George nodded. “I think that is the best plan.”
The Legman said, “I agree.”
Alice said, “Arthur, keep me informed.”
Arthur said, “Will do, but this time we are cutting communications. I mean for real.”
Alice laughed. “Sure. Like that will work.”
Arthur laughed, “My dude thought he had left the channel open.”
Alice said, “Karl is a dude but I like him. I may try to hire him away from you.”
Arthur said, “Yeah. I am not totally sure he doesn’t already work for you but that is okay. You two talk can talk all that you want. I have nothing to hide from you. I will keep you informed.”
“Good. Thank you. Bye.”
“Bye.”
The channel was closed.
Natalina asked, “So, at some point, will our memories be erased.”
The Legman said, “Something is telling me that I should not allow that to happen. But you can’t tell people what you have learned today. Understand that.”
Still harnessed and looking out the door to the helicopter, Nat said, “Like anyone would believe us.”
Natalina said, “But what about Maureen? Can I tell her?”
“Not even mom. Not now. Maybe in the future but not now.”
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