Catherine Spangler - [Sentinel 02] - Touched By Fire (v5.0) (html) (21 page)

“All right,” Adam said. “Why don’t we do a quick walk around while we’re here, in case the Belian might also be scoping out this one?”

So they did, but it wasn’t quick. The place was huge. Julia was flagging and didn’t even snap at Adam when he made her sit and rest. Marla and Luke got through most of the place, which even had bookstores and restaurants, and a huge amphitheater-style sanctuary, but neither sensed anything.

“That was something,” Marla commented as they drove away. “They obviously have a lot of members.”

“But it doesn’t appear to be a Belian target,” Adam said. “Julia, you’re certain you’d recognize the church in your vision if you saw it?”

“Yes. The image is very vivid in my mind.”

“All right then. We won’t do any more walking through churches for now. Instead, we’ll drive by as many as we can to get a visual. After it gets dark, we’ll go online and look at the ones that have websites and hopefully photos.”

They drove past churches until it was too dark to see clearly, and they were tired and hungry—except for Adam, who ate very little, and seemed to never tire. They got take-out Chinese, and went to Luke’s house.

There, they ate and used both Luke and Adam’s laptops. But Julia didn’t see the church from her vision. “That doesn’t mean anything,” Luke said, “because there are still dozens of churches we haven’t looked at.”

“He’s right,” Adam said. “We’ll start again tomorrow. Damien and Kara will be here in the afternoon, so we’ll utilize them as well.”

“Hey! I’m home!” Barrie called out from the foyer.

“The Dallas PD interview went really—” She halted as soon as she came around the corner and saw them. “Oh, you’re not alone.”

Adam stood. “Barrie.”

Her eyes were wide and she had an “oh, shit” expression, but she lowered her head respectfully. “Sir.”

He held out his hand. “Come here to me.”

She flashed a look at Luke, whose expression was neutral. Wiping her hand on her uniform pants, she walked to Adam and placed it in his. They stared at each other several moments. Marla could have sworn she saw energy sparking around them.

Adam nodded, released her hand. “We will talk while I’m here.”

Barrie stepped back. “Okay. I mean, yes, sir.” She headed into the kitchen. “Any food left?”

Adam shook his head, his mouth tilting up at the corners, and Marla felt the tension easing. “I’m ready to call it a night. Julia, shall we go?”

“I’ll be very happy to see my room at the hotel, even if it’s way too hoity-toity for me.” Julia pushed up to her feet and gave Adam a challenging look. “And you’re not paying for it.”

He shrugged, and Marla suspected he would win that battle. He had probably already paid for their suites. She went to Julia and gave her a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she murmured. “But be careful, okay?” She leaned close to whisper, “
No conductions!
”

“Trust me, I wasn’t planning on it.” Julia picked up her cane. “Good night, everyone.”

After they left, Marla started toward the stairs, Bryony on her heels. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.” Halfway there, she turned to took at Luke.

He closed the distance between them, and her heart stuttered. He had taken the tie off his hair, and it looked like golden silk against his shoulders. He stopped a foot away, but didn’t touch her. Not that he needed to; he was close enough that the energy hummed between them.

“You’ll sleep well tonight. I’ll see to it,” he said. “But if anything happens, I’ll be right across the hall. I expect you to get me. Okay?”

“Sure.” She really wasn’t hero material. She was terrified of further contact with the Belial, especially when she was asleep and might say the wrong thing. For once, she would welcome the woo-woo stuff. “Good night, Luke.” She was aware of his gaze on her as she went up the stairs.

She didn’t know what was emotionally worse—dealing with the Belian, or with her growing infatuation with Luke.

 

 

HE was very satisfied with the day’s accomplishments. He’d been successful, but then he never failed. They thought they could outsmart him, but they had no idea who they were up against. Oh, yes, he knew they were looking for him. He’d felt the power of a sexual conduction on Wednesday. Stupid Sentinels. They were no match for him. He was far too clever.

The only person worthy of his attention was Marla. No one else had ever been able to breach his shields. Her touch had been like fire chasing away the darkness. She wasn’t involved in the conduction he’d felt—that had been another female. A good thing, because if his Marla was fucking someone else, or involved with Sentinels, he’d have to punish her. All sinners had to be punished. And Belial demanded blood.

But he didn’t think that was the case with Marla. Hadn’t she reached out to him on her own? She admired him, wanted to see him. While he didn’t approve of her being so forward, he could be forgiving, as long as she learned the error of her ways and deferred to him in all things. He sat on the bed in his cheap hotel room, looked at his tools and materials precisely lined up on the Formica table. She would be very impressed with his latest diversion tactics.

And those cursed Sentinels would be surprised at what was coming.

FIFTEEN

IT was a grim group that met at Luke’s early Saturday morning to come up with a game plan. Barrie, insistent on helping with the tracking, was closeted with Adam in the back den. Marla, Julia, and Luke drank a second cup of coffee as they looked at churches on the laptop.

Marla wasn’t at all happy that Julia had been drawn further into the Sentinel world. She was afraid the next step would be a conduction, and feared Julia’s psyche was still too fragile to handle it.

But Adam was calling the shots. Marla knew Luke would defer to him, and she was certainly no match for Adam. Besides, she had to admit that any new information, no matter how bad, was better than none.

“I don’t see the church,” Julia said as picture after picture flashed on the screen.

“Then we’ll have to drive by the ones that aren’t online.” Luke looked up as the den door opened and Barrie walked out, followed by Adam.

Barrie looked subdued; Adam had that effect on people. He had his usual enigmatic expression, so Marla had no idea what had transpired during their meeting. He strode over to Luke. “I’ve agreed to let Barrie assist us, on the condition that she works with me.”

“That sounds reasonable.” Luke looked at Barrie. “I think it’s safe to say you’ll follow Adam’s instructions.”

It was also probably safe to say that disobeying Adam could have dire consequences, but there was no need to state the obvious. A brief rebellious expression crossed Barrie’s face, but she said, “Of course. When are we leaving?”

“Now.” Luke powered down the laptop and stood. “Julia didn’t see the church on the Internet,” he told Adam. “The only thing we can do is drive by as many as possible.”

“Agreed. But I think we should split up. Julia described the church to me in great detail. Barrie and I will take part of the list and check those churches. If we see anything that looks like the description, I’ll call you.”

“All right.” Luke picked up his leather jacket. “Let’s go, ladies.”

The day was cool and overcast with gray clouds that fit the bleak mood. Marla shivered, grateful for her heavy sweater. They chose churches in central and northern Dallas, because they were older, like the one in Julia’s visions. Even after yesterday, Marla still couldn’t believe how many churches Dallas had. So many of them, yet people continued to be immoral and cruel to one another. It was sad.

They looked at churches for two hours, and it was now late morning. They were in one of the old-money sections of Dallas, and turned on a narrow street. Sitting in the front with Luke, Julia went rigid. “That’s it!” she said, pointing. “That’s the church I saw!”

Marla’s heart sped up, and she studied the building as Luke called Adam. It was a stately dark brick structure, with an interesting bow front, just as Julia had described. A huge arched window crowned the square windows in the bowed section, and farther back, a squared turret probably held bells.

Luke snapped his phone shut. “Okay, we’re going to check it out, but from the outside. If the Belian was here, we should be able to tell. I don’t want either of you going in. There may already be bombs planted.”

“I think that’s a good plan,” Marla said. She’d seen firsthand the carnage this Belian’s bombs could inflict. She got out behind Julia. “Since I can sense the Belian, why don’t I take one side, and you take another?” she said to Luke.

He considered. “The Belian could be nearby, but you’ll probably know if that’s the case. Got your cell phone?”

“Yes.” Marla dug it out.

“Call me on my phone, and we’ll maintain contact as we go around the building.”

“Agreed.” Dialing his number, Marla went to the right side of the building, Julia moving slowly behind her. She waited until Luke answered and said, “Can we do heavy breathing now?”

“Smart-ass.” But there was a trace of humor in his voice. “Be careful.”

“You, too.” Her nerves jittering, she walked alongside the church.

She’d only gone a few steps when she felt it. Dark, insidious, a lingering presence of depravity. Her chest tightened and her legs went weak. She pressed a hand against the brick to keep her balance. “Luke. It’s been here.”

“Yeah, it’s been on this side, too. I need to spend a minute and work the energy.”

She was battling to push back the darkness and the ensuing panic. She
had
to learn to cope with the residual Belian energy and emotions, or she was no good to anyone.

“Marla? You okay?” Luke asked.

She forced herself to speak coherently. “I’m getting there.”

“You need me to come around?”

“No.” She drew a deep breath, imagined light infiltrating the darkness. “I think I’m on top of it now.”

“That’s my girl.”

Julia caught up with her. “What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Marla turned the phone away from her mouth. “The Belian was here. Can’t you feel it?”

Julia looked around. “I don’t know. It might be a little colder over here, but I’m not sure.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Marla spoke into the phone. “What do you want us to do?”

“There’s really nothing you can do. Go back to the truck. I’ll check that side when I’m finished here.”

She could feel the darkness still pressing on her, despite her efforts. “Fine by me. Do you want to maintain contact?”

“Yeah. No telling where that thing might be.”

Holding the phone against her ear, she motioned to Julia to start back and they moved slowly toward the front of the church. “There’s something bothering me,” Julia said. “Something I must have seen in the vision, but can’t remember.”

“Keep looking around. It might come to you.”

They reached the front lawn and walked toward the truck, Julia scanning the area. “Oh, God,” she said suddenly.

“What is it?”

“Tell me what’s going on,” Luke said in Marla’s ear.

“I don’t know yet.” She watched Julia staring at a man riding a lawn mower around the church sign.

“That man,” Julia said. “He was in the vision yesterday. He was wearing the same straw hat and blue jumpsuit. And he was going down the left side of the church. Just as he reached the end past the church, the church exploded.” She turned toward the parking lot. “And that van! That gold van was parked in the first handicapped slot, like it is now. This was the exact scene I saw.”

As she said that, the man drove the lawnmower to the lawn on the left side and started cutting the grass there. “Not good, Luke,” Marla said into the phone. “Julia thinks we’re at the point in her vision where the church is going to explode. Like right now!”

“Get away from there! Get across the street and as far away as you can.”

“There are people in the church.” Horror swept through Marla at the realization.

“Marla, I said get away fro—”

She didn’t wait for him to finish. She shoved the phone at Julia. “Keep talking to Luke. See if he wants you to call the police. I’m going inside to warn everyone.”

“No, you can’t!” Julia tried to grab her, but Marla side stepped.

“I have to. You can’t help, because you’re too slow. Just go. Get away. Please.”

“Don’t do this, Marla. For God’s sake, don’t go in there!”

But Marla knew with absolute certainty it was something she had to do. “I don’t have time to argue, Jules. I’m going.” She pressed the phone into her sister’s hand.

Julia’s face crumpled. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Go!” She turned and ran toward the church.

“The explosion will be in the front, in the bowed out area,” Julia yelled after her. “Tell everyone to go out the back.”

“Sure,” Marla muttered. “Piece of cake.” A part of her was terrified, yet it all seemed surreal, as if she were standing outside herself and watching. As if another part of herself, one with a strength she’d never known she possessed, was taking over and doing what had to be done. There was no time to be afraid.

She raced into the foyer, glanced through double wooden doors. The front of the church was indeed the sanctuary, and appeared to be deserted. “If anyone’s in here, get out! There could be a bomb!” she shouted.

She whirled and headed down a corridor toward what appeared to be offices. She saw two ladies coming toward her and yelled. “There might be a bomb! Get out!” She flashed past their startled faces, and kept yelling. “There might be a bomb in the building. Go out the back way!”

She kept shouting her warning. She saw about a dozen people, and while they all looked shocked, no one tried to stop her. Ahead on her left, she saw one of those fire alarm boxes. She ran to it and yanked the handle. The loud wail of an alarm blared through the hallway. “Everyone get out!” she shouted, her voice now hoarse.

She turned to go on, but hard arms came around her from behind. “You’re getting out of here
now
,” Luke said, his tone brooking no argument.

“Then you’re coming, too.”

“Out,” he ordered, pointing toward the rear of the building and giving her a shove. His phone rang, and he snapped it open. “Yeah, Julia.” He grabbed Marla’s arm and started hustling her down the hall. “Shit.”

He swept her off her feet and ran like a demon was after them—which in a way, it was. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tight, amazed by his super speed. They reached the rear double doors, and Luke slammed against the release bar just as she heard an explosion. Then they were flying through the air, hitting the ground with a bone-jarring thud.

He immediately rolled on top of her. His weight pressed her into the ground and she could barely breathe. She heard another explosion. She also heard sirens in the distance.

Luke rolled off her. “We’ve got to get out of here. We don’t want to be questioned by the police, or for anyone to take a picture of us. Think you can get up?”

“I don’t know.” She pulled up on all fours, groaned. She felt much like she had when Bennett beat her, but since she could move, she took that as a sign there were no broken bones.

Before she could struggle to her feet, Luke picked her up again and traveled rapidly around the church. He was limping, but still moved faster than a normal human. Marla gasped when they reached the front of the building and she saw the blown-out windows of the church front and the smoke.

She gapped at it, too shocked and stunned to process it all, as Luke took her across the street to where Julia waited by the truck. He opened his door, flipped the seat and slid her into the back. She tried not to groan as her bruised body protested.

“Get in,” he told Julia as he slid inside. “There’s nothing more we can do here. We have to leave.” He reached over and helped Julia in, then started the truck. He was pulling away before her door was fully closed.

He didn’t speak until they were a few blocks away and stopped at a traffic light. “Damn it!” He pounded the steering wheel with his fist. He flipped open his phone—Marla was surprised he still had it—tried to dial, without success.

He threw it down. “That one’s toast.” He looked at Julia. “Have you got a phone? Good. Call Adam for me.” He recited the number.

Marla sank back, hurting all over, and sick to her soul. She still couldn’t believe what had happened. She watched Julia hand her cell phone to Luke. She thought of the burning structure they’d left, a beautiful old church destroyed, and prayed fervently no one had been seriously injured.

Worst of all, the Belian was still out there.

 

 

MARLA barely remembered the drive back to Luke’s. Everything was a blur, except for the image of the smoldering church, and the lingering taint of evil. By the time they reached the house, she was numb and cold. She stumbled getting out of the truck. As she grabbed the door frame to steady herself, she saw her sweater arm was ripped and blood was oozing through. “I’m bleeding.”

“Yeah, you are. In several places,” Luke informed her.

She took a step, winced as her body protested. It felt like she was one big bruise. With her body stiffening up, she suspected she’d feel even worse tomorrow. She gripped Luke’s arm so she wouldn’t fall flat on her face.

Julia followed them inside. She lowered herself to the couch and set her cane to the side. With a groan, Marla sank down beside her.

Luke’s expression was fierce as he shrugged out of his ruined leather jacket, snagged a portable phone, and punched in a number. He looked as bad as Marla felt—cuts on his face and hands and his hair a tangled mess. “Hey Adam. Still at the scene? Yeah, you won’t have much longer. Okay. See you back here.”

He tossed the phone on the coffee table. “I’ll be right back.” He went down the hall to the bathroom.

Julia gave Marla her severe professor look. “You’re an idiot. And you took ten years off my life today.”

“I’m sorry. I think I took years off my own life.” Marla gripped Julia’s hand. “But Jules, I couldn’t stand by and let this monster take more lives. I just . . . couldn’t.”

“I agree with your sister,” Luke said, returning with first aid supplies. He pushed the coffee table back far enough so that he could ease in front of Marla and sit on the table. His hard gaze pinned her like a bug to a board. “What the hell did you think you were doing, going into a building that was about to explode?”

She could see the anger in his eyes, feel it simmering just beneath his controlled facade, but she was beyond caring. “What do you think I was doing?”

His lips thinned. He wet a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide. “Something incredibly stupid. It was gutsy, I’ll give you that, but it was rash and foolish. I told you to go back to the truck, and you ignored my order.”

Her own anger flared. “I don’t take orders from you.”

His gaze turned arctic. “You’d better start, babe. If you ever pull a stunt like that again, you will be
very
sorry.”

That really steamed her. “I’m not afraid of you!”