Roger revved the police truck's motor, and it roared to life. As he drove toward Father Reddick's house, the headlights brightened the black street. Cilla, Katina, and Labda sat in the back, searching the area for any signs of trouble.
The residence of Father Reddick was a beautiful and imposing edifice perched on a little hill. The structure was constructed of red bricks with white pillars supporting the porch. The yard was well-kept, with hedges that were well trimmed and beautiful flowers blossoming in the flowerbeds. A stone path led up to the front door, which was a big wooden door carved with complex religious motifs.
Roger knocked on the door as they approached the house, but there was no response. He tried again, but there was still no response. He turned to the Cerberus women and nodded at the door, frustrated.
"Break it down," he stated emphatically.
The three-headed beast charged at the door and slammed into it with all their power. The wood shattered, and the door flew off its hinges, tumbling to the floor inside.
The scent of incense and the sight of religious relics scattered throughout the rooms greeted Roger and his closest friends as they entered the house. The furniture was vintage yet in good condition, and religious paintings decorated the walls. The main area included a huge fireplace with a cross hanging above it. The dining area had a long wooden table and chairs, as well as a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
The bedrooms on the second floor were big and tastefully designed. One room featured a four-poster bed with a religious tapestry hanging behind it, and another featured a little desk with religious books neatly placed on it.
Overall, Father Reddick's home exuded grandeur and piety, reflecting the priest's position as a respected member of the community.
But the house was deserted. There was no trace of Father Reddick, and Roger was about to give up when he heard the priest's voice over the radio.
He approached the radio and paid great attention to it.
"How do you feel about people worshiping gods more than the Christian community?" A lady's voice inquired.
"To be honest, it is tragic," Father Reddick stated. "Since the establishment of New Olympus, the Christian community has shrunk. Even though we were welcomed, no one else was interested in our true God and his wisdom. We needed to remind them of our true Lord of grace. Not those abominations who claimed to be Gods!"
"And how do you plan to save your community from the gods' popularity?"
"By any means necessary!"
Roger turned off the radio. "He's at the radio station," he said, his voice firm and determined. "Let's go."
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The squad piled back into the truck and sped toward the radio station.
*****
Roger could feel his heart beating as they reached the radio station. Father Reddick was inside, and he knew he was the key to solving the case. The three-headed Cerberus woman and Sariel trailed him closely, their eyes scanning the landscape for any indication of danger.
They arrived at the radio station's entrance, and Roger showed the warrant to the security man at the door. The security let them in, and they swiftly made their way to the studio, where Father Reddick was still interviewing the host.
Roger noticed Father Reddick sitting behind a desk in his black robe and white collar as they entered the room. When he looked up, he noticed the cops approaching him.
"Excuse me! We're in the middle of the show!" The lady host yelled as she stood from the desk in front of Reddick.
"Father Reddick, we have a warrant for your arrest," Roger stated emphatically.
The priest rose slowly, his hands extended in front of him. He was a tall man with a lengthy beard and a bald head. His eyes were dark and serious, yet his voice was measured and quiet.
"On what charge?" he asked, nearly whispering.
Roger noticed the priest's hands quivering slightly and wondered if he was trying to conceal something.
"For murder and smuggling," Roger elaborated. "Cuff him, girls."
While Sariel kept guard at the door, the Cerberus ladies approached the priest.
Reddick dug beneath the desk and brought out a little radio. He touched a button, and Roger could hear static emanating from the device.
A swarm of small devils flew out of the radio and began attacking the officers before Roger could respond.
The Cerberus woman tried to fend them off, but they were too fast and many to be defeated. Sariel drew his sword and slashed at them, his face distorted with fury.
The radio host shrieked and hid beneath his desk.
As Father Reddick faded from view, a massive monster appeared in the center of the chamber, a towering mass of red muscle and horns that seemed to fill the entire space.
The creature let forth a loud howl, forcing the walls to quake and the ground beneath their feet to vibrate. Its eyes blazed bright red, and its gigantic fists crackled with black energy.
The Cerberus women charged the demon, flanking it on either side with their combined strength and speed. Labda sprang on the demon's head, teeth bared and ready to tear into its flesh. Katina struck the demon's legs with her powerful foot, pushing it off balance.
Sariel clashed with the demon, his sword glittering in the dark light. The demon swung his big fist at him, but Sariel dived and rolled to one side, slicing through the demon's leg in the process.
Roger shot at the demon, his aim firm and true. The shots impacted the monster in the chest but had no effect.
The savage demon roared again, this time more enraged than before. It swung its big fist towards Labda, but she avoided the hit by ducking to one side. She lunged in and bit the demon's ankle, causing it to stumble.
Sariel struck when the demon was off balance. He jumped upon its back, flashing his sword as he stabbed downward. The demon's thick hide was punctured by the blade, forcing it to scream in pain.
The demon flailed and thrashed, attempting to free Sariel from its back. Meanwhile, the Cerberus women pursued it, biting and clawing at its legs.
Roger kept firing, but his rounds had little effect. He suddenly realized that he had a special grenade that could detonate into a mist of holy water mist. His fellow officers dubbed it the Holy grenade. Effective against vampires and demons.
He quickly took it from his pocket and flung it at the demon.
The grenade detonated against the demon's chest, splattering vapor on its flesh. As the holy water scorched the demon's body, it howled in anguish. It stumbled backward, its movements becoming slower and more disjointed.
Sariel took advantage of the demon's vulnerability and thrust his blade deep into its back. The demon exhaled a final, quivering breath before collapsing to the earth.
For a brief period, the room was silent as the cops caught their breath. Roger and his squad scoured the radio station for any evidence of Father Reddick as the dust cleared after the violent struggle with the ferocious demon. The priest, however, had clearly abandoned the scene, leaving only ruin and pandemonium in his wake.
Katina, Labda, and Cilla inspected the surroundings, making certain there were no further dangers lurking in the shadows. The radio host continued to hide under the desk like a scared cat. Sariel remained motionless, immersed in meditation, plainly shaken by the loss of his sweetheart.
Roger, on the other hand, was not ready to call it quits just yet. He understood they needed to find Reddick and the angel blood if they were to bring the perpetrator to justice. He quickly called Chief Rosetta, who suggested they look into Reddick's church.
"All right, team, let's go. We're leaving the radio station to go to church," Roger stated as he led the way out.
They dashed up to the police car and jumped inside, the engine roaring to life as they sped away towards the church.
The only sounds on the streets were siren wails and tires screeching as they turned.