Chapter 34

“Why would an almost dead guy be running around with the guy that tried to make him dead?” Tom’s question hung in the air.

Kyle chimed in. “He looks fairly healthy to me.”

Phineas turned to Suzi, his eyes probing. “Are you sure?”

“One hundred percent,” Suzi replied. “I sat across from him once a week for the last two-and-a-half years. This guy might not be the shooter, but there’s a sense of familiarity. That’s where I remember him.”

Phineas nodded. “Well, that’s something. We can use your orb to locate both of the men who took Aiden and find the good doctor.”

Ricky stood, revealing a holstered gun—an odd sight on him. “What are we waiting for, then? Let’s do it.”

Suzi’s honesty surfaced. “I don’t actually know how long it will take.”

Tom urged, “No time like the present.”

Outside, Suzi summoned the golden orb, her breath visible in the cold air. She visualized Jose Alventez, her intent clear: locate, not harm. With a powerful throw, the orb streaked westward, leaving the group in awe.

“Cool!” Kyle exclaimed.

Phineas asked the crucial question. “How long before we know anything?”

Suzi hesitated. “I don’t know. I guess it—”

“Incoming!” Tom’s shout cut through the moment.

A melon-sized lead ball plunged toward her. Phineas and Ricky tackled her, shielding her from the impact. The orb hovered, then veered back into her hand, shrinking to its original size.

“Thanks, guys,” Suzi said, as the men rolled off her and helped her up.

Phineas brushed himself off. “So, where are they?”

“I don’t know yet. I have to ask the man in the orb.”

“Now, I know you are fucking with us,” Tom said with a huge, goofy smile.

Everyone stared at her, disbelief etching their faces. Suzi felt the weight of her truth. “No. It’s the remaining essence of the angel who designed it.”

Alanna and Becca exchanged glances—doubt and curiosity warring within them.

Ricky broke the silence. “We’ll give you some time and privacy. Right, everyone?”

“Yeahs” and “Okays” echoed as they retreated into the store. Suzi stood alone, the golden ball pulsing in her palm.

“Miraleth?” she whispered.

“I’m here, child.” The voice seemed to come from behind her, yet no one stood there.

Suzi closed her eyes, picturing the old man. “Can you tell me where Jose Alventez is?”

“Yes. I could have taken you to him without you throwing the orb. He’s here.”

An image of a building materialized in Suzi’s mind. “Can you give me an address?”

“No. I cannot.”

Frustration bubbled up. “How far away is he?”

“Seven kilometers due West.”

Suzi mentally converted kilometers to miles. “Not too far.”

The spirit’s voice warned her, “Now that he knows he’s targeted, he could be on the move.”

“How does he know he’s targeted?”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“If a large lead ball tapped you on the head, then flew away, wouldn’t you think you were targeted?” Miraleth asked.

“Fuck. Can you tell me if Jasper Berry was with him?”

“Do you know what Jasper Berry looks like?”

“Yes.” Suzi mentally recalled the other man's image from the police photo Phineas showed the team.

“That man was with him, yes.”

“Guys! We gotta go!” Suzi’s urgency echoed through the morning air.

In an instant, everyone burst out of the store. She tossed the keys to Phineas.

“You drive, and I’ll give you directions.”

Tom stepped up. “Becca and I will follow in our car. Kyle and Rick, take the back of her truck. Alanna, you’re manning Central, and we’ll radio in. Follow Poodle’s phone for our location.”

Suzi marveled at the seamless transition. No one questioned Tom’s leadership; they simply fell into their assigned roles. Ricky and Kyle scrambled into the truck’s back seat as Suzi settled into the passenger side. Tom, surprisingly, slid into the passenger seat of a purple Dodge Charger parked nearby—an auto parts store’s lot. Suzi had always assumed it belonged to an employee. But even more surprising was Becca taking the driver’s seat.

The truck roared to life, its engine hungry for revenge. Phineas shifted into drive before Ricky and Kyle had fully closed the doors. The hunt was on, and Suzi’s heart raced. Revenge was a dish best served with horsepower and determination.

“Where are we going?” Phineas demanded, gripping the wheel.

“Seven kilometers west of here,” Suzi replied, clutching the orb.

“What?” Phineas swerved left.

Ricky guided them, “Five miles.”

They tore through traffic, Becca’s car tailing them. Phineas accelerated, ignoring red lights and curbs. Becca mirrored his every move, a synchronized dance of pursuit.

Kyle’s phone rang, and he activated the speaker. Tom’s voice crackled through. “Do we know where the hell we’re going?”

“Hell is not a destination one can reach by vehicle on this plane,” Miraleth’s voice echoed from the orb.

“Who the fuck was that?” The chorus of disbelief filled the truck.

Suzi grinned. “That’s Miraleth—the orb’s creator.”

“The ORB talks? You’ve got to be kidding me,” Tom scoffed.

“Miraleth,” Suzi addressed the orb. “Where are Jose and Jasper now?”

The orb hummed. “They’re in a vehicle, fleeing the building I showed you earlier.”

“How far?” Phineas demanded.

“Three kilometers west, north-west,” Miraleth replied.

“English?” Phineas requested.

Ricky translated. “Two miles, Phin. Keep going. We’ll need to turn or veer right.”

Tom’s voice crackled over the phone. “What are they driving?”

“They are currently in a vehicle very similar to this one,” Miraleth said.

“A truck? Really? Great.” Phineas said as he tapped the brakes and swerved to avoid a car that decided to turn at the last second. “Tell me it's black; you’d be my favorite person.”

“It IS black,” Miraleth replied excitedly, “although I’m not a person, but thank you for thinking highly of me.”

Suzi chuckled. Sarcasm from an ancient spirit—unexpected.

“Alanna,” Tom spoke into the phone. “We’re pursuing a black truck northwest of our location.”

“Affirmative. That would be in Lemont. I’ll find Santa Claus for you, too,” Alanna quipped.

“I will take McCarthy Road and see if we can intercept. It runs northwest right through Lemont,” Becca said as Suzi heard screeching tires as the purple Charger took a hard right turn. “Anything else about the truck?”

“It’s large, emits heavy black smoke, and has two green stripes down each side,” Miraleth revealed.

An idea occurred to Suzi, “Miraleth, can you show me what the truck looks like?”

The image of the pickup materialized in her mind.

“Are they near any other vehicles?” she asked.

“No,” Miraleth replied. “They’re alone on the road, headed north. They seem to be on a bridge, crossing some waterway.”

“They’re over the Des Plaines River,” Ricky confirmed.

“We’re gaining,” Phineas said. “But this road turns south, and they’re going north.”

Suzi had a plan. She rolled down the window, squeezing the orb. Focusing on the truck’s rear axle, she hurled the orb into the cold morning air.

“Becca,” Phineas smiled, “get to the river north of Lemont. There’ll be reports of an accident.”

“10-4,” Becca acknowledged.

Suzi pulled her hand back inside, the orb secure. Phineas accelerated onto the four-lane expressway.

Alanna chimed in. “First emergency call: someone said it was a meteor strike on the bridge.”

Closing in on the wreckage, smoke billowed from the bridge, and the sight that greeted them left Kyle exclaiming, “God damn!”

A gaping hole—three feet wide—was punched through the truck’s bed, immobilizing the vehicle. Diesel fuel leaked freely from ruptured hoses.

Phineas displayed his badge, maneuvering through onlookers.

An older couple pointed. “Two guys got out and ran that way, officer,” the woman said.

“Okay,” Phineas replied. “We’ll go look for them. Stay clear of the wreckage and wait for first responders.”

As they sped north, Suzi spotted the two men running toward a large truck repair shop. Phineas relayed their location, and they pulled into the shop.

Suzi reminded the team, “They’re innocent. I want the demons within them, not the men themselves.”

“Not sure how all that works, but we’ll do our best,” Kyle told her.

Ricky nodded in agreement.

Kyle and Ricky jumped out, sidearms drawn, circling the building. Armed with his pistol, Phineas entered the entrance where the men had disappeared. Suzi followed, the orb pulsing in her hand.

The shop, luckily empty on Sundays, smelled of oil, diesel fuel, and old grease. Phineas and Suzi stood in a dingy reception area. A slowly closing door hinted at recent passage. Phineas signaled Suzi to stay low, then pushed the door open, peeking around the jam. The room beyond was dark, but Suzi trusted Phineas’ instincts.

He entered, and Suzi heard a commotion from further back. A single gunshot echoed. Ricky or Kyle must have cornered the men. She stood thinking the confrontation was over. She then felt something hard hit the back of her head and the floor rushing up as everything went black.