“Maybe this is some crazy delusion I’m having and I’m actually in a mental hospital.” Raven said. Lyta punched her in the arm. “OW! Hey, what the hell did you do that for?” Rubbing her arm, she glared at her.. “To prove that this isn’t some delusion, little sister. Want me to kiss it and make it better?” She puckered her lips, leaning towards Raven. “You do and I’ll punch you, Lyta.” Jennie warned with a grin. Raven was sitting there with a thoughtful look on her face. “Lyta, how long do you think that area will be taped off for the investigation?” “Four to six hours. Since the body was dumped there and it is part of the park, county officials will want to get things taken care of as quickly as possible. Why?” She turned to look at her friend. “I want to go there after the police are finished.” Raven said. “Any particular reason why you want to go there? There won’t be anything to see once the body is taken away.” Lyta glanced at the other two, all three wondering what Raven was thinking. “Just, just to look around I guess.” Was the uncertain reply. “I don’t suppose we could go there now, while the body is still there.” Lyta shook her head. “If I were still a detective I could probably help with that, but not now. Sorry, little sister.” “That’s all right.” Raven drained the pop bottle. “Be right back, want to get another.” While she was in the kitchen, Jennie shook her head. “What was that all about? I, for one, am glad you can’t get us into that crime scene. I have no interest in seeing a dead body.” Nicole was frowning. “I wonder if Raven wanted to see what the ring would do near that body. That’s the only reason she would have for wanting to go there.” “Well it’s not going to happen, that’s for sure.” Lyta didn’t like the idea one bit and she was spooked by how the ring fit her like it did Raven. She didn’t like thinking about being shot in the line of duty and learning that she had been clinically dead for four minutes. “So what does all this mean, love?” “I’m not sure, Lyta. But the answers must lie in those journals and the runes.” Nicole glanced over her shoulder towards the kitchen. “Shouldn’t Raven be back by now?” Jennie nodded and got to her feet. “I’ll see what’s taking her so long.” She went to the kitchen, but there was no sign of Raven. There was an unopened bottle of pop on the sink which was unusual. Going to the backdoor, she looked out, but again, no Raven. The sound of something being hit with some force came up from the basement. At least she’s not throwing things. Jennie thought as she put the bottle of pop back in the fridge and returned to the living room. “Raven’s downstairs beating up the punching bag from the sounds I heard.” Lyta put her hands behind her head. “I don’t blame her. This keeps getting stranger and stranger.” She thought for a moment. “I’ll see if I can call in a couple favors, try and get hold of the investigation report. Doubt it will be much use, but who knows?” For half an hour Raven took out her frustration and anger on the bag in the basement. By the time she felt calmer, her clothing was soaked with sweat, and her chest and shoulder were starting to complain. Going back upstairs, she stopped in the kitchen to get a bottle of pop before rejoining the others. Sitting back on the couch, she looked around. “Sorry about that, needed to let off some steam.” “I love my new punching bag.” Lyta said. “All right, I have a question, but I doubt any of us can answer it – Do you think the ring will react to all murders committed or only specific ones?” Raven shrugged, as she drank some pop. “Damned if I know, Lyta. Although with so many murders committed, I have the feeling it will respond to only certain ones. As to what those might be, I have no idea.” “Maybe not the murder itself, but maybe who commits the murder?” Jennie suggested. “That’s an interesting angle to explore,” Nicole said. “There might be more than one involved in the murder.” Lyta quietly said, thinking about the body that had been dumped on the neighbor’s front lawn. Raven sighed. “Could be some sort of cult.” Nicole eyed Raven. “I think Raven might be on to something.” “That’s all we need, Nickie.” Lyta hated the idea of dealing with something along the lines of the Manson family. “Lyta, if it is a cult, it’s been around for a very long time. Read back through Raven’s notes about her dreams and what was told her. “It fits.” “You know, this is turning out to be a rotten day, Nicole.” Lyta mulled over what she said and had no choice but to accept what she said. “Fine. If we are dealing with some who knows how old cult, what do we do next? I have a feeling the body found in Hines is only the beginning.” “So what do we do? Go looking for the cult?” Jennie asked, eyes wide at the thought. Nicole turned her gaze to Raven and the others followed suit. “The only one here who can decide that is Raven.” “Hey, don’t look at me. I have no idea what to do next. How does one go about finding a cult in the first place? Advertise on Craigslist?” Raven’s mood was beginning to deteriorate again. “I don’t think that would be a good idea, Raven. But what if we check and see if there are any similar murders that are unsolved?” Nicole suggested. “I really need to find out the name of that guy with the initials JCM.” Lyta said. “The two detectives I contacted refused to reveal the man’s name. They said they were under orders not to say anything.” “What about the lawyer that called Raven?” Jennie asked. “Seems he’s been retired for the past ten years. Before that, he dealt with Estates and Property Law.” Lyta finished off her bottle of pop. “For now, Raven, you have to go through those journals.Also let us know if that wacky ring glows again and if you have any more of those dreams.” “What fun.” Raven crossed her arms on her chest. “So what do you two have planned for today?” “Running in Hines. But I think we’ll go up by Newburgh Lake and use the trail along that stretch of Hines.” Nicole said. “Would the two of you like to join us?” “No thanks, Nickie. We still have to pick up gifts for the twins before we head to Jason’s and Marie’s.” Jennie told her as she got to her feet. “But before that, Raven and I will work on those runes.” “What if the runes are made up and not in any book?” Lyta asked. “The thought has crossed our mind, Lyta.” Raven said as she got to her feet. “Would all of you excuse me, please. Need to go outside and have a cigarette.” The three watched Raven go into the kitchen, then jumped when the backdoor was slammed shut. Jennie could only sigh. “I think the incident with the ring bothers her more than everything else that’s happened.” “You know what’s really bothering Raven? The fact that she’s being forced into doing something that she knows nothing about. I would feel the same way if it were happening to me.” Lyta pointed out. “You can only push people like me and Raven so far before we decide to push back.” “Are you saying that Raven will end up hurting someone?” Nicole eyed Lyta curiously. “No! What I mean is, she’ll take matters into her own hands and do what she thinks is best. That can get her into shitload of trouble.” Lyta got to her feet and started pacing around the room like a caged tiger. Lyta seemed to have picked up Raven’s uneasiness and needed an outlet. “If she does that, she could end up getting herself killed or worse.” “So what should we do?” Jennie was getting more and more worried about her love. “Watch her like a hawk. Don’t let her go any place alone. If I had my way, I’d hire bodyguards for the two of you. You’re in as much danger as Raven is, Jennie.” Lyta stopped her pacing. “With you and Nickie involved, I’d say the two of you are in the same danger we’re in. Whatever it may be.” Jennie pointed out. Nicole nodded. “She’s right, Lyta. You and I are up to our necks in this too.” While the three of them discussed what to do, Raven sat on the rail of the deck, watching Ebony chase a cabbage moth through the flowerbed. I should never have agreed to accept this burden, she thought as she lit another cigarette. Too many lives are being put at risk and we don’t even know what the stakes are. As she thought things over, Raven decided the only thing she could do was handle things on her own, keep the others out of it as much as possible. The stuff was sent to me, so it’s up to me to handle it. The Ravenwyng Chronicles copyright 2013 Anna M Dobritt
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 23:23:34 +0000
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