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    Black Forest
    Black Forest
    Black Forest
    Ebook518 pages7 hours

    Black Forest

    By Claudia Hall Christian

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    About this ebook

    Skeletons entwined in the chapel and a simple admission, "I have this same Saint Jude pendant," send the Denver Cereal into the wild pursuit of the child killer, Saint Jude. Danger lurks and evil's host threatens to destroy the lives of those we love. After tapping all of Jacob and Delphie’s unworldly skills, they are unable to overcome the essence of an ancient evil and the mysterious Saint Jude serial killer continues his rampage against the children of Denver.

    When all hope is gone, love and friendship shine like rays of light on a cloudy day. Ultimately, the bond between the women and children of the Denver Cereal triumphs over the killer and the evil that drives him.

    Come along for the sweet and crunchy ride that is Denver Cereal. Black Forest is the fifth installment of the Denver Cereal. An Internet sensation, Denver Cereal is a serial fiction grounded in Uptown Denver, Colorado

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCook Street Publishing
    Release dateFeb 1, 2012
    ISBN9781938057687
    Black Forest
    Author

    Claudia Hall Christian

    Claudia Hall Christian writes stories about good people caught in difficult situations. Her stories are addictive, heart pounding, and intense. She is the author of the Alex the Fey thriller series, the Queen of Cool, the Seth and Ava Mysteries, Suffer a Witch, Abee Normal Paranormal Investigations, and the longest consecutive serial fiction ever written, Denver Cereal. She lives in Denver where she keeps bees, gardens, hangs out with her Plott Hounds, and husband

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      Book preview

      Black Forest - Claudia Hall Christian

      cover.jpg

      Black Forest

      Denver Cereal, Volume Five

      Claudia Hall Christian

      img1.jpg

      Cook Street Publishing

      Denver, CO

      Also by Claudia Hall Christian

      StoriesbyClaudia.com

      Abee Normal, Paranormal Investigations

      The Casebook of Abee Normal, Paranormal Investigations, Volume 1

      The Casebook of Abee Normal, Paranormal Investigations, Volume 2

      The Denver Cereal

      The Denver Cereal Fort Lupton

      Celia’s Puppies Fort Morgan

      Cascade Fort Collins

      Cimarron Olney Springs

      Black Forest Manitou Springs

      Fairplay Idaho Springs

      Gold Hill Poncha Springs

      Silt Hot Sulfur Springs

      Larkspur Glenwood Springs

      Firestone Pagosa Springs

      Alex the Fey Thrillers

      The Fey

      Learning to Stand

      Who I am

      Lean on Me

      In the Grey

      Finding North

      About Face

      In Deep

      The Queen of Cool

      The Queen of Cool

      Seth and Ava Mysteries

      Tax Assassin

      Carving Knife

      Friendly Fire

      Cigarette Killer

      Little Girl Blue

      Billie’s Bounce

      Footprints

      Suffer a Witch

      Suffer a Witch

      Copyright © Claudia Hall Christian

      ISNI: 0000 0003 6726 170X

      Originally published:

      October 2010 — June 2011

      at DenverCereal.com

      Licensed under the Creative Commons License:

      Attribution — NonCommercial — Share Alike 3.0

      img2.png

      ISBN-13 : 978-1-938057-90-8 (print)

        978-1-938057-89-2 (digital)

      PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

      img3.jpg

      Second edition © May 2021

      Cook Street Publishing

      ISNI: 0000 0004 1443 6403

      PO Box 7247

      Denver, CO 80207

      What’s happened so far

      Denver Cereal is an addicting, fun, sweet and crunchy serial fiction filled with the tension, drama, and love of urban life.

      The best way to catch up is to read Grand Junction, Denver Cereal Volume 1-10 and Fort Garland, Denver Cereal V11-13. They are very affordable and available wherever you buy eBooks. You can also read Denver Cereal chapters online at DenverCereal.com

      We used to write a section here that gave a synopsis of all of the previous books. Frankly, the synopsis wasn’t very good. More than anything, they deprived you of the chance to hang out in Denver Cereal for a while. We were only be spoiling your fun

      You deserve a chance to read all the crazy twists and turns, mischief, and wild adventures of Denver Cereal. These aren’t books to be accomplished or checked off a list. They are stories to be savored and enjoys.

      Get to it.

      We’ll be here when you get back.

      ~~~~~~~~~~~~

      Denver Cereal is provided free online due to

      the generous support of our patrons and you, the book buyer.

      This book was created because of your support.

      Thank you to you, and

      all of our patrons

      Author’s note

      There are a number of stories that go with the Saint Jude storyline. Of course, finding the bones of the Lovers under the Castle Chapel came to me the usual way – from the ether. I didn’t think a lot about it. After all, Delphie has always said she felt a press of souls when she was in the coal tunnels nearby. In some ways, finding the bones made great sense. And truthfully, it’s not uncommon to find the bodies of expired vagrants and runaways in the basements and cellars of the old dilapidated mansions near Race and Colfax, where the Castle is situated. Plus, Denver Cereal has always had a Denver Police detective (Seth).

      I was having dinner with the Silent Partner and some friends around the time when Jacob found the bones. They wanted to know where the bones came from. What was the mystery behind them? I’d planned to let Seth deal with all of that somewhere off-screen. After all, Denver Cereal is a romantic serial, not a murder-mystery serial. But they were insistent, and the ether spoke. A murder mystery was born.

      Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Five is another story. This chapter was published the week of Halloween, 2010. In some ways, this chapter is the Halloween Special of Denver Cereal. Once this chapter existed, the story continued along the pathway of good vs. evil, demonic creatures, and other other-worldly events.

      For the record, I had planned to capture Saint Jude and put him on trial. I felt the families deserved that kind of closure. I was the only one who felt that way. The editorial team argued with me so much that I put it out to the Denver Cereal community at DenverCereal.com. I was out voted. Readers not only wanted Saint Jude to die, but they also wanted him to die in some horrible, paranormal way befitting his crimes. You’ll have to let me know if what I came up with soothed your blood lust for this evil man.

      Once again, Brion Sausser did a bang-up job with the cover.

      Thank you, Denver Cereal reader! Without you, Denver Cereal would not exist. I always say, that Denver Cereal is a labor of love. Thank you for sharing yours with us.

      img4.jpg

      January, 2012

      Table of Contents

      Author’s note

      Table of Contents

      Chapter One Hundred & Twenty-four

      Chapter One Hundred & Twenty-five

      Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-six

      Chapter One Hundred & Twenty-seven

      Chapter One Hundred & Twenty-eight

      Chapter One Hundred & Twenty-nine

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-one

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-two

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-three

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-five

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-six

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-seven

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-eight

      Chapter One Hundred & Thirty-nine

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty-one

      Chapter One Hundred and Forty-two

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty-four

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty-five

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty-six

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty-seven

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty-eight

      Chapter One Hundred & Forty-nine

      Chapter One Hundred & Fifty

      Chapter One Hundred & Fifty-one

      Chapter One Hundred & Fifty-two

      Chapter One Hundred & Fifty-three

      Chapter One Hundred & Fifty-four

      Chapter One Hundred & Fifty-five

      Chapter One Hundred & Fifty-six

      Glossary of Characters

      Chapter One Hundred & Twenty-four

      Gilmore

      Sunday evening — 6:45 p.m.

      I have this same Saint Jude pendant, Aden Norsen said.

      It seemed as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of Sandy’s hospital room. Without thinking, Aden had just admitted to being connected to the serial child murderer, Saint Jude. Aden gasped for a breath.

      His children, Nash and Noelle, gawked at him. Sandy’s half-brother and sister, Charlie and Sissy, looked away as if they were embarrassed. Teddy Jakkman, Nash’s best friend, pretended not to hear. Still sick with the infection that threatened her life, Sandy’s eyebrows furrowed with concern. The man who never liked him, Detective Seth O’Malley, his only in-law, looked as if he was going to arrest him.

      What do you mean? Seth’s voice was cop-trick neutral to cover his interest.

      I have this same pendant, Aden repeated. I wore it every day. Never took it off. I used to say it was why I survived everything.

      Jeffy used to say the same thing, Charlie said.

      Is this your pendant? Seth asked in the same eerie voice.

      I don’t know how, Aden said. I saw the boy only that one time at the Castle. I was in meetings all day when he worked for us. He stopped by my office for his wages. I checked in with accounting to see how he’d done and then paid him. I saw him like . . . one minute. Two maximum.

      Jeffy wore that necklace since I first met him, Charlie said.

      Where is your necklace? Seth asked.

      I don’t have any idea. Our stuff is everywhere, Aden said. I sold the house when I was incarcerated, in case the kids or Sandy needed the money. Sandy moved everything into storage. It must be there.

      Turning to Sandy, Seth asked, Do you remember this necklace?

      Sandy took the package from him. She turned it over in her hand, played with the chain, and held it away from her.

      He used to wear something on a chain around his neck, Sandy said. I would see it when we worked out. I was never close enough to it to see what it was. The chain looks the same, and the medallion is about the same size as what he used to wear.

      I stopped wearing it when Sandy and I started dating, Aden said. I took it off after seeing her at the hospital. You know, when Jake was in there. I figured if I was going to have a chance at having Sandy in my life, I wasn’t such a lost cause anymore. Or something like that. Jake said something about it . . . he told me to take it off or something. And . . . I took it off. I put it in a wooden box Nash and Noelle made for me. It has my pocket watches and . . .

      That box is at the Castle, Sandy said. Downstairs, in the storage room. We tried to put all the personal items where we’d be able to find them. Sorry — I forgot to tell you. Noelle and Nash know where it is. They remember making the box for you.

      We can go get it right now. Nervous, Aden jumped to his feet.

      That’s alright, Aden. Seth tried to reassure him with a smile. We can go when you’re done here. I don’t mean to break up the party.

      Blane’s coming at seven, Sandy said. The nurse will be in to shoo everyone out.

      Seth smiled to reassure Sandy.

      I’m not hauling your husband off to prison, Seth said.

      She lay back against the pillows. Her hands plucked at the blanket with worry.

      I guess I’m wondering, Aden, Seth said. Where did you get it?

      Aden opened his mouth and closed it. He shook his head slightly.

      What happened? Nash asked.

      I don’t remember, Aden said. But you’re right. That’s the question, isn’t it? Where did I get it? I . . .

      His eyes drifted to the ceiling tiles. He jerked, shook his head, and looked around. Everyone in the room was looking at him. The nurse stuck her head in.

      Time to go, the nurse said.

      Come on, kids, Aden said. I’ll take you back.

      But, Dad, Noelle said. We want to see the necklace.

      You remember my necklace, Aden said to Noelle. You used to chew on the chain when you were a baby.

      I remember it. You always had it. All my life, Nash said.

      This is . . . big. Noelle’s eyes were round with interest. We have a clue to a murder investigation!

      It’s a mystery, Teddy said.

      We want to help, Sissy said.

      Why don’t you take the gang to the Castle? Sandy asked. I’m sure Seth will want the necklace for forensics or whatever. You can take them back after that.

      You’ll be alright? Aden asked.

      I’d like to see Rachel before we sleep, Sandy said. You and I can go when you get back.

      Aden nodded.

      We’ll drop by the nursery on our way, Charlie said. I think she’d like that.

      You’re talking for Rachel now? Sissy asked.

      Yeah, she likes me, Charlie said.

      "She loves me," Noelle said.

      The children began arguing all at once. Looking over their heads, Aden raised an eyebrow at Seth. He would tell him when they were alone. Seth nodded in understanding.

      Let’s go, Aden said. Kiss Sandy goodbye.

      One at a time, the children hugged and kissed Sandy. Uncomfortable, Teddy went last. He gave her a quick hug, and she kissed his cheek. Still arguing over who Rachel loved the most, the kids made their noisy way out of the room. Aden kissed Sandy and followed them.

      Well . . . Seth said.

      Seth, there’s no way he’s involved in these murders, Sandy said. He’s been in prison or working or . . .

      I know, Seth said. But it’s a lead. My gut says Aden’s going to help crack this case.

      You may have to get Delphie to get it out of him, Sandy said. He’s deeply ashamed of that time of his life. Doesn’t talk about it at all. Ever.

      I’ve had plenty of years like that, Seth nodded.

      Blane stuck his head into Sandy’s room to see if it was clear. Seth waved him in.

      I’ll see you, Sandy. Seth hugged her and kissed her cheek.

      Love you, Seth, Sandy said.

      Blushing, he smiled, gave a little wave, and left the room. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked down the hall.

      For the first time, he felt like he had a real chance at solving this thing. The thought made him smile. He dropped by the cafeteria to pick up his forensics technician, Ava. She hugged him hello.

      The cookies were a big hit, Seth said. Thanks for making them.

      You bet, Ava said. Rachel is adorable. Tiny.

      Thanks for waiting for me, Seth smiled. I’m not ashamed of you — it’s just . . . new.

      I understand, Ava said.

      Putting his arm over her shoulder, they walked out of the hospital.

      You seem oddly happy, Ava said. Are we . . .?

      His phone rang.

      O’Malley, Seth said. I’ll meet you at the station, Norsen. Yes, call me when you’re on your way.

      He clicked off his phone.

      We’re working, she said.

      He nodded.

      Got a lead?

      He nodded.

      Can I come?

      Sure, Seth said. But you’ll want to work, too.

      Why? Ava asked.

      We have another pendant, Seth said.

      Ooohh, I like that! She gave him a big smile. With a chain?

      Seth nodded, and Ava clapped her hands like an excited child.

      I have an interview, Seth said.

      I have a pendant, Ava said. When we’re done?

      Your choice.

      I really like this! Ava smiled.

      Thought you would, he said.

      Smiling, they walked to his car.

      ~~~~~~~~

      Sunday night — 8:15 p.m.

      Seth turned the corner to find the elderly man whose presence had called him to the front of the downtown Denver Police station. The man’s deep chocolate-colored skin contrasted with his cream-colored cardigan sweater. He was tall and fit, and had the look of someone who was well cared for. Seth spied a weathered gold band on the man’s left hand.

      Can I help you? Seth asked the man.

      I’m looking for Aden Norsen, the man said.

      Why would that name mean anything to me? Close to the man, Seth looked into his face. Have we met before?

      I used to be a probation officer, the man said as he held his hand out for Seth to shake. Bob Proctor. We met a few times when you were a street cop, Detective O’Malley. You were always with your partner . . . What was his name?

      I remember now. Nodding, Seth shook Bob’s hand. What do you want with this Norsen person?

      I’m his sponsor, Bob said.

      AA? Seth’s eyebrows went up with surprise.

      Bob nodded.

      Norsen’s not here yet, Seth said. He’s on his way from the hospital. He stopped off to see his daughter before helping his wife to bed. Norsen’s a good man?

      He’s a very good man, Bob said.

      How did you . . .?

      I was his probation officer, Bob said. I’ve been his sponsor for almost twenty years. I’ve known him since he was fifteen or sixteen.

      Seth nodded.

      Well, you may as well come back, Seth said. Would you like some coffee? Tea?

      No, thank you.

      Sir? The desk Sergeant yelled after them.

      Seth turned around to look at him.

      Aden Norsen, sir.

      Seth walked with Bob back to the front to get Aden. He stood back to watch the men greet each other. Bob hugged Aden. Each man spoke a few words into the other’s ear as they embraced. When they broke apart, Seth thought he saw the flash of a father-and-son bond between them. Then it was gone. Seth walked them through the police station to his office.

      Do you have the necklace with you? Seth asked Aden.

      Aden flushed, nodded, and pulled it from his pocket. Seth took an evidence bag from his desk and held it open. Aden set the chain and pendant into the bag. Seth sealed the bag. He took a Sharpie from his pocket and filled out the evidence label. He walked into the main room, where Ava signed for the envelope. She looked at the chain and pendant through the plastic envelope.

      Give me an hour, maybe more, she said. Then we wait for DNA.

      Is this the same pendant? Seth asked.

      It looks identical, she said. But looks can deceive.

      Seth nodded. She smiled and walked away from him. He turned toward his office and stopped.

      I’m sorry, but we’ll need to go into an interview room, Seth said. It’s not warm or friendly. But I need this recorded for evidence.

      Aden nodded. The men walked out into the hall toward the interview room.

      I’ve arranged for you to get immunity from any crime you bring up, mention, or otherwise disclose — with the exception of murder, Seth said. I have that in writing.

      He held an envelope out to Aden. Aden opened it, read the letter, and stuffed it into his pocket.

      When is Ms. Hargreaves coming to join us? Seth asked.

      She’s right behind you, Samantha Hargreaves said. She thanked the Sergeant who’d escorted her to the interview room. May I see that?

      Aden gave Samantha the letter. She read it and nodded.

      I must protest your interview with my client, Samantha said.

      I agree, Ms. Hargreaves, Seth said. Aden, I can’t interview you. I’m too close to you, and this is too big a case to make any mistakes. I have two very capable Sergeants waiting to speak with you. I will be behind the glass the entire time. If you get into any trouble, I’ll interrupt the interview. I’m willing to allow you to have Bob with you during the interview, if that helps.

      Aden nodded.

      Ms. Hargreaves? Seth asked.

      That will be fine, Samantha said.

      Seth opened an interview room, where two police detectives were waiting for them. The younger detective was blond and seemed unsure of himself. The older detective had a muscular body and the tan skin and sharp nose of the Cheyenne. Nervous, Aden looked at Seth and into the room.

      Come on, Bob said. Let’s get this over with.

      Aden followed Bob into the room. The police detectives stood to introduce themselves.

      I’ll be right there, Samantha said. She closed the door to the interview room. What do you hope to get from him?

      Answers, Seth said. We need someone who was there twenty years ago. Thirty would be better, but we don’t have that.

      He’s a good man, Seth, Samantha said. He’s had a hell of a year. With the baby and Sandy, he’s . . .

      I’m hoping that good man will be able to help me find the trail of a monster, Seth said. We have nothing, Samantha — nothing to identify this guy. Anything Norsen says or knows will be one hundred percent more than we know right now.

      Samantha nodded. She opened the door and went into the room. Seth went around to the other side of the glass. He wasn’t surprised to find the head of CBI, the Chief of Police, and his Captain waiting for him there.

      You’re sure, the Chief of Police said.

      Seth nodded. They settled in for what was bound to be a long night.

      ~~~~~~~~

      Sunday night — 8:40 p.m.

      Sir, we have a copy of a detailed background check done by Detective O’Malley last year, the young blond detective said. The background goes back to 1987 and stops.

      Aden nodded.

      Detective O’Malley found no record of you prior to 1987, the older detective said. Why is that?

      I took the name Aden Norsen in 1987, Aden said.

      What is your birth name? the blonde detective asked.

      Gary Gilmore, Jr.

      The detectives flinched.

      "Gary Gilmore? As in the Gary Gilmore? the older detective said. Utah. Firing Squad."

      Gary Gilmore was my father’s favorite cousin, Aden said. He was executed in 1977. January. I was five.

      How . . .? the young detective started. The older man cleared his throat.

      Maybe you should tell us your story. The older detective leaned back in his chair, as if he were waiting for a long story. We have time. Start at the beginning. We’ll interrupt if we need to.

      Aden looked at Bob and then at Samantha. She smiled at him. He looked back at Bob, who nodded.

      I don’t know where I was born, Aden started. He swallowed hard.

      We’ve looked, but we’ve never been able to find a birth certificate for him, Bob said.

      After Gary’s . . . trouble, my parents changed their name every six months or so, Aden said. I was enrolled in school under a lot of different names. The last name I used was ‘Mark Smith.’ We moved all over the West. I wasn’t their oldest or youngest child. I was somewhere in the middle, but I’m not really sure where.

      Your parents had a lot of kids? the older detective said.

      I guess so, Aden said. They had adult kids and little kids like me. Or something like that. I never knew if some of them were their kids or cousins or just around. There were a lot of people around all the time.

      Okay. Go on, the older detective said.

      I tell people that I came home from school one day and my family had moved, Aden said. That’s not exactly true.

      What is true? the young detective asked. The older man gave him a stern look, and the young detective shrugged.

      I was released from juvie.

      For?

      Breaking and entering. Robbery. Bob was my probation officer, Aden said. Bob was going downtown, so he agreed to take me to my parents’ apartment. They were gone.

      Had that happened before? the older man asked.

      Sure, Aden said. "But I always knew where to catch up with them. I didn’t this time. Or maybe I didn’t want to. That last time in juvie, I . . . got interested in other things. I read Tom Sawyer and The Hobbit. I had some therapy. I had the sense that life could be . . . different from the way we lived. I . . . let myself drift away from my family."

      We arrived at their last residence, and they weren’t there, Bob said. I let him stay on my couch that night and then set him up at a halfway house.

      I changed my name to Aden Norsen, he said. ‘Aden’ means ‘fire.’ I wanted to burn up the past, my past. Norsen . . . well, it seemed to fit.

      Since there were no records, it was pretty easy to enter him into the system as Aden Norsen, Bob said. His last conviction was under the name ‘Mark Smith.’ ‘Mark Smith’ was listed as an alias for Aden.

      It’s not here now, the young detective said.

      I have a copy of the file at home if you need it.

      We may, the young detective said. Please continue, Mr. Gilmore.

      Please, Aden said. My name is Aden Norsen.

      There was a tap on the glass of the window, and the Sergeants looked at the glass.

      Norsen, sorry, the young man said.

      Now you know who he is, Samantha said. Why don’t you cut to the chase? It’s late, and the man has a lot of other things on his mind.

      Where did you get the pendant and necklace? the older detective asked.

      After I stayed with Bob, I was placed in foster care, Aden said. I didn’t like my first house, so I left. I had enough experience being homeless as a kid, and it wasn’t that big of a deal. I stayed out a couple of years until one January.

      One January? the older detective said.

      I don’t remember the year. I had a bunch of friends, Aden said. We stayed under the Speer Bridge mostly. Did drugs, drank, begged for spare change, stuff like that. It wasn’t bad until January, maybe two or three years after I’d been out.

      What happened? the older detective asked.

      One of the guys got really drunk and froze to death, Aden said. We were all picked up and locked up for a while. I saw Bob again. He reminded me about the new life I’d said I wanted. And he was right. I got a new placement and a job at a grocery store. I stayed there until I got my GED.

      How does this relate to the pendant? the younger detective asked.

      When we were under the Speer Bridge, a guy would come and bring us food, Aden said. He’d bring pots of soup, sandwiches, stuff like that. Sometimes, when the guys weren’t doing well, he’d take one of us with him.

      Did they make it back? the older detective asked.

      Aden nodded.

      But?

      The guy had regulars, favorites, Aden said. They never talked about what happened while they were with him. They just said he was weird but gave them money and drugs. Sometimes we’d pressure a guy to go with him so we could have more drugs.

      Flushing, Aden dropped his head in his hand. Bob put a hand on his back for support.

      It wasn’t my finest moment, Aden said.

      Did you ever go with the guy? the older detective asked.

      No, Aden said. He seemed to know I was a Gilmore. He called me Gilmore, in fact. He was terrified of my family. Rightly so. I was terrified of my family.

      How did you get the necklace? the older detective asked.

      The guy who froze to death? Aden asked. He was my best friend. I met him in juvie. I took the pendant from him after he died.

      Why? the younger detective asked.

      I wanted to remember my friend, Aden said. He was the only family I’d really ever had.

      This friend — did he have a name? the younger detective asked.

      I called him ‘Daf’ because he did a great Daffy Duck impression, Aden said. He was one of Bob’s, too.

      He looked at Bob.

      His name was Wilson Zacarian, Bob said. He was found dead in January 1990. Froze outside on one of those record-cold days. The police rousted all the bridges to get the homeless out of the cold. They picked up about ten homeless boys. They were high and drunk, so they put them in lockup.

      Family? the young detective asked.

      His family picked up his body, Bob said.

      Did they ask about the pendant? the older detective asked.

      The necklaces were given out by the creepy guy, Aden said. All of his favorites had one. If the necklaces were gone, the guys got in trouble. Bad. Daf lost his one time, and we looked for it for days. We finally found it under a rock or something. He’d put it there when he was high.

      Did this guy know you had one?

      No. I don’t think the guy ever knew I had a pendant.

      Does the creepy guy have a name? the older detective asked.

      Not that I remember, Aden shook his head.

      You boys didn’t call him anything? the young detective asked.

      Jude, Aden said. "We called him Saint Jude."

      Chapter One Hundred & Twenty-five

      The Entity

      This ‘Saint Jude,’ the older detective said and paused for effect. You’d recognize him if you saw him again?

      I’ve seen him off and on through the years, Aden said.

      When was the last time? the older detective asked.

      Aden fell silent. He rubbed his forehead and then his face.

      Sir? the younger detective asked.

      Sorry. I’m sure you think I’m stalling, Aden said. I got knocked around in prison. I’m mostly alright but, sometimes, my brain kind of seizes when I’m anxious or upset. Saint Jude is not my favorite topic.

      You have in your records that Mr. Norsen received a brutal beating from his brother, a violent serial felon who was mistakenly assigned to the minimum-security facility where Mr. Norsen was sentenced, Samantha said. Give the man a minute to think.

      I don’t think time will help, Aden said. I don’t know when I saw him last or where. I’m sorry. I never like seeing him. If I saw him yesterday, I’d forget it.

      Did you see him yesterday? the older detective asked.

      No. I was at the hospital all day yesterday, Aden smiled. "That, I’m sure of."

      But you’d recognize him if you saw him again, the older detective said.

      Aden nodded.

      I need you to speak, the older detective said. For the record.

      Yes, Aden said.

      Would you be willing to go on record with this information? the younger detective asked.

      Yes, Aden said.

      Let’s move on, the older detective said. Did he ever take you anywhere?

      Aden shook his head. He dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his eyes.

      Sorry. I haven’t had a lot of sleep lately, and I need to get back to my wife, Aden said. You said something about going somewhere?

      The younger detective looked at his partner. The older detective nodded, and the younger man left the room.

      You’ve heard that Detective O’Malley found Jeffy before he died, the older detective said.

      I’m sorry. I haven’t heard anything, Aden said. My wife was in and out of the hospital all last week. She had our daughter almost two months early on Friday. I’ve either been at the hospital or taking care of my kids, her siblings . . .

      Aden’s been out of the loop, Detective, Samantha said.

      The younger Detective returned with a stack of photographs. He laid out a picture of the large house on the barn’s property.

      Have you ever seen this house? the young detective asked.

      May I? Aden asked.

      He picked up the photo to get a closer look.

      Sure, I’ve been there, Aden said. I lived there for a while. I moved out around the time I met Nuala. My band used to practice there.

      Would you mind going there tonight? the younger detective asked.

      Tonight? Aden asked. He shifted uncomfortably. Not sure what to say, he repeated, Tonight?

      We need to move fast, the older detective said. According to the coroner, the serial killer will pick another victim in the new few hours. We think the house plays an integral role in the killer’s rituals.

      Did you check the crypt? Aden asked.

      Crypt? the younger detective said.

      In the basement chapel, Aden said.

      The killer won’t be able to use the barn . . . the older detective started.

      The barn? Aden’s eyebrows shot up with anxiety.

      What is it, son? Bob asked.

      The house . . . that barn . . . They’re haunted. Aden stumbled on his words. Horrifying. Especially at night.

      But you lived there . . . the young detective said.

      Doesn’t mean I want to go back, Aden said. Ever.

      ~~~~~~~~

      Sunday night — 9:40 p.m.

      Seth looked up when Ava came into the room. He instinctively smiled at her. She flushed a little. The Chief of Police cleared his throat.

      Technician Alvin, he said. We’re in the middle of . . .

      Detective O’Malley asked me to inform him when we’ve finished our analysis of the pendant. Ava said as she walked toward Seth. The pendants are similar enough to be made by the same company but different enough to have been made decades apart.

      So, Norsen’s story fits, Seth’s Captain said.

      Yes, sir, Ava said. The Jeffy pendant is newer and made out of pewter. It has ‘Made in China’ stamped on the back. The pewter is consistent with Asian pewter, with a higher percentage of tin. Say, ninety-seven percent or so. The Norsen pendant is also pewter, but it was made in the US. The pewter is consistent with European pewter, with less tin, say between ninety-two and ninety-four percent. The Jeffy pendant is a little softer, more malleable, so it bears a few wear marks. Norsen’s pendant is undamaged after all these years.

      Different factories, same pendant? Or different pendants? Seth asked.

      The pendants were made on, if not the same mold, a similar mold, Ava said. You can’t see it in this light, but there’s a small defect in the mold — a crack or possibly some design flaw. We believe the mold is either exactly the same mold that made the Norsen pendant or a mold made from the original mold.

      We’re looking at the same company making similar products? Seth asked.

      Right, Ava said. We believe it’s the same company making the same product. They are now produced offshore in China. We looked online and found these pendants, with these same steel chains. for nine dollars.

      Cheap pendants, the head of CBI said. I wonder how many he bought.

      We have a person working on that, sir, Ava said. We were able to contact the factory in China. They’re sending us information about the company they make these pendants for. We’ll know tomorrow who sells them in Denver.

      Good work, Seth said.

      Ava blushed in response to his praise.

      We were able to collect DNA from both chains, Ava said. It sounds gross, but these chains are very hard to clean. They’re collectors of DNA. If we’re lucky, we’ll get DNA from the killer on both chains.

      You sent the DNA to us? the head of CBI asked.

      Yes, sir, Ava said.

      I’ll personally expedite this, the head of CBI said.

      Surprised that the cash-strapped CBI would take on the expense, the men looked at him.

      You have to ask yourself: How did this Saint Jude know Norsen was a Gilmore? the head of CBI said.

      Gary Gilmore was incarcerated eighteen of his last twenty years, Seth said. I wondered about that, too.

      What? his Captain asked.

      The killer must have met Gary Gilmore, Sr. in prison, the head of CBI said. Must have known him well enough to know how volatile he was.

      The killer’s got to have a record somewhere. CBI has a better chance of finding it than we do, Seth said.

      If we’re lucky, we’ll have his DNA on file, the head of CBI said.

      We can only hope, the Captain said.

      You could find the killer’s DNA on the chain even though Norsen has had for twenty years? the Police Chief asked.

      Yes, sir, Ava said. It’s crazy how little DNA we need and how much is caught in these chains.

      That’s disgusting, the head of CBI said.

      Yes sir, Ava said. You’ll never see a forensics person wearing a chain. Too gross, sir.

      But for our purposes . . . Seth looked through the window at Aden. Looks like we’re going back to the property. Can you get a team of your folks together?

      Of course, Ava said.

      Great work, Seth said.

      Ava smiled and left the room.

      Special service? the Police Chief asked.

      Sir? Seth asked.

      Shaking his head at Seth, the Police Chief turned back to the interview room.

      You’re going out there tonight? his Captain asked.

      I don’t see any way around it, sir, Seth said. We’re running out of time.

      Take a team of uniform police. The Police Chief looked at the head of CBI. Are you coming, too?

      Of course. We’ll bring a team of forensic people to back you up. I’ll go with you.

      What are we going to do about these ghosts? The Captain grinned as if he’d made a joke.

      Good question, the head of CBI said. I’ve had more than one experience I’d rather forget.

      Peabury Mansion? the Police Chief asked.

      The Peabury. Croke Patterson, the head of CBI said. Molly Brown. Every one of those god damned mansions connected to the coal tunnels. They’re all filled with . . . ‘unexplained phenomena.’

      I’ll make some calls, Seth said.

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