Sweaty Nights & Gator Bites (Twisted Sisters Midlife Maelstrom #12)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

DANIELLE

W e were walking through the back door of the plantation when there was a buzz from my phone. I picked it up and my eyes widened as I read the message. “Woah,” I muttered and lifted my gaze to my sisters. “Guys, we’ve got an anonymous tip.”

Everyone’s attention snapped to me. I read the message aloud: “‘Garrick’s next target is closer than you think. Time is running out. Look to the past to save the future’.”

Dea frowned as if the cryptic nature of the message gnawed at her just as much. “What does that even mean? ‘Look to the past to save the future’?”

Dre leaned over and read my phone. “It sounds like a clue. Maybe something in our past investigations or in the history of the bayou.”

Adèle strolled into view down the hall near the ladies’ parlor. “ There’s a pattern in the language. The way they phrase it—‘ look to the past’—it could be referencing something historical. Perhaps a place or event we’ve overlooked.”

Lia nodded as she headed toward our familiar. “We need to figure this out quickly. If Garrick’s planning another attack, we don’t have much time.” We followed Lia and entered the parlor to see Cami on the couch watching TV. The books and papers were still on the coffee table.

Phi pulled her laptop to her and her fingers flew over the keys. Reading over her shoulder, I noted she was searching for any historical events or locations that might fit the tip. “There’s got to be something here,” she muttered as she read the screen.

Kota spread out a map of the bayou on the table. “We should look for any sites of historical significance. Maybe there’s a pattern in the places Garrick has attacked before.”

Lia pointed to several locations marked with red dots. “These are the spots where there were attacks. And there’s the place where Melanie was killed. We’ve found evidence of Garrick’s presence in these locations.” She grabbed a red marker and added a dot. “Here is the new guy. They’re all near significant landmarks.”

Dea and I exchanged a glance. “We need to narrow it down,” I said. “What’s the common thread?”

Adèle rubbed her side against Dre’s leg as she said, “ The language in the tip might be a key. ‘Look to the past’—could it be referencing a specific historical figure or event?”

“Marie Leveau,” I said suddenly as an idea hit me. “The history of Voodoo in New Orleans. Could Garrick’s attacks have been centered around places connected to her and her legacy?”

Phi’s eyes widened with realization. “Of course! The ritual sites are connected to the gator shifters, but before that, they were old Voodoo grounds. I remember reading about it earlier.” Her fingers flew over the keyboard again. “ There’s an old Voodoo temple deep in the bayou that’s connected to Marie Leveau. It’s been abandoned for years, but it’s a place of significant power.”

“That’s something we will need to look into,” Dre replied. “If Garrick and his friends are after that power, they might need to deplete the swamp before they can reach it. What else do we know?”

“Melanie's murder, the symbols we've found, and the recent victim are all connected. We just need to find out how,” I pointed. There was more, but my brain was not functioning at top speed at the moment. There was this fog I couldn’t shake.

“Can you load the images on the computer, Phi? I want to see them again,” Lia said as she leaned forward. “We know the symbols we've seen at the crime scenes are part of a larger ritual. Is there a way we can disrupt the power grab?”

“The other attacks were also near a place of power,” Dea pointed out as she looked over Lia’s map. I believed her because she’d read those books from Marie. “We should ask the gators about other sacred sites in the bayou that hold significant magical energy.”

Dre frowned, tapping her fingers on the table. “But why target these places? What's the end goal? Just to get more power? I guess I don’t understand people who have to have more because I don’t get it.”

Adèle jumped onto the couch. “ You have to crave more to understand the motivation to kill for it. Thankfully, none of you have that problem. Consider the magical residue left behind. It's unique, suggesting a ritual that draws power from these sites. Garrick might be trying to amplify his strength or open a gateway to something far worse. ”

Dea made a humming noise. “And the victims... they were all involved in protecting the bayou. I was right. Garrick is targeting those who are connected to the land, those who would stand against him.”

“So, he's eliminating obstacles and using their deaths to fuel his magic. It's a dark, twisted cycle,” Phi added as she continued typing.

Kota's eyes narrowed as she examined the maps and reports. “So, we need to find a way to disrupt whatever he is doing. The easiest way to do that would be to see if there is a pattern that can help us predict his next move.”

I looked at the evidence again with this new sense of clarity. “Adèle mentioned something about the language in the tipster's message. There was a pattern there too, something we might have overlooked.”

“The phrasing was deliberate and pointed toward history.” Adèle's voice echoed in our minds.

Lia’s phone buzzed this time making us all look in her direction. “What is it?” I asked.

Lia pursed her lips and shook her head, “It’s Terrance. He wants us to go down to the new office. They just got the body back, and they have questions.”

“We should have gone right there,” Kota grumbled as we stood and headed for the door.

“Where would the fun be in that,” Lia teased her.

It wasn’t even three in the afternoon and I was exhausted already. We’d worked two full-time shifts since the night before. Dea and I were used to working the night shift and had been up sorting the balloon colors we would use for the arches we were planning for the family reunion. Every one of our stands would be used for this one given the space we planned to utilize. It wasn’t often that we had events set up on the patio, the lawn, and in the gazebo.

“You ready to go in, Dani?” Lia prodded as she looked at me in the backseat.

Holy crap, I hadn’t realized we were already there. I was so busy thinking about balloons and lack of sleep. “Oh, yeah. I was thinking about balloon arches.”

Lia laughed, and we caught up with the others waiting for us at the entrance. The building looked like any of the others surrounding it in the warehouse district. It was set a block over from the trendy restaurants and hotels. There were three plastic chairs and a desk where a woman sat reading her cell phone when we entered. The secretary barely glanced up when the bell over the door chimed.

Terrance stuck his head out of an office down the hall. “In here,” he called out to us.

We stepped into the austere meeting room of the magical law enforcement headquarters in New Orleans. The fluorescent lights cast a harsh glare on the sterile, white walls. I noted the faint hum of magical wards buzzing in the background.

“Thanks for coming so fast,” Terrance began. “Given how much activity happens here, I got the approval to hire additional staff. That’s Inspector Harris. We wanted to discuss the recent string of murders in the bayou. We know there's a significant supernatural element involved that needs immediate attention, and I felt bad after the fact of putting it all on you six. I realized this might not be your area of expertise since you aren’t the targets of these attacks.”

I glanced at my sisters and each of us reflected the same caution. “We appreciate the offer, Terrance,” I began, choosing my words carefully. “But we’ve already invested a significant amount of time and resources into this investigation. We’ve gathered evidence and identified patterns that we’re actively working on.”

Inspector Harris leaned forward with sharp eyes. “What kind of patterns are we talking about...?” He was clearly addressing us and silently asking for an introduction .

“It’s Dani,” I answered his unasked question. “And that’s Dea, Lia, Dre, Kota, and Phi.”

Lia pulled out her notebook and began summarizing our findings. “We’ve identified symbols and magical residues at each crime scene that correspond with the grab for power. These rituals are designed to funnel magical power from the land. It seems as if each victim was strategically chosen and killed in places of power within the bayou. We aren’t sure if it is related to the old Voodoo temple or not. That’s on our list to investigate.”

Terrance nodded thoughtfully. “That matches some of the initial findings we’ve been hearing about. What else do you have?”

“We’ve also discovered that Melanie's murder wasn’t random," Dea added. “She was chosen for her connection to the bayou. She steadfastly fought to keep pollution out of the swamp.”

Harris raised an eyebrow. “There’s a correlation between toxins and depleting magic. Her death makes more sense now. Do you have any idea who is behind this?”

I exchanged a glance with Dre before answering. “We’ve encountered this entity before. It calls itself Garrick. He’s incredibly dangerous, and we believe he’s using these rituals to increase his power.”

Dre lifted her hands with her palms up. “We cannot provide information beyond that except to say we found other leads that suggest there is more than one involved.”

Kota nodded in agreement. “We’ve had a confrontation with Garrick. He’s not going to stop unless we find a way to neutralize him.”

Terrance sighed, rubbing his temples. “I see. This is more complex than I initially thought. Inspector Harris and I were prepared to take over the case, but it seems you’re already deeply involved. ”

Harris crossed his arms, looking between us. “We can’t afford any more lives lost. Are you sure you can handle this on your own?”

Dre’s voice was firm. “We’re not on our own. We have each other. And an entire shifter pack. Not to mention a new alliance with the gator shifters.” She flexed her fingers allowing them to shift into talons. “And we’ve faced worse before. This is our city and we’re committed to protecting it.”

Phi added, “Plus, we have insights and connections that could be crucial in stopping Garrick. We know the bayou, the people, and the supernatural elements at play here.”

I took a deep breath and pinned the cop with a glare. “We’re keeping the case, Inspector Harris. But we welcome any support you can provide. Sharing resources and information will only strengthen our efforts.”

Harris nodded slowly, a hint of respect in his eyes. “Fair enough. We’ll provide you with access to our resources, and we’ll coordinate with you as needed. Just know that we’re here to help if things get out of hand.”

“We’re also getting a supernatural coroner soon,” Terrance added, “that should help with understanding the nature of these attacks better.”

Phi smiled at him. “Thank the gods! It’s about damn time. It’ll be nice to have that resource available.”

We answered a few questions about the reunion and then the office. Dre broke the silence as we walked to Lia’s car. “Harris and Terrance didn’t know more than we did. I don’t know what I was thinking but we’re way better equipped to solve this case.”

“That was a given,” Kota said as Lia drove down the highway to the bayou to meet up with Remy as we agreed the night before. “There’s a reason the fates chose us for this job. We make this shit look easy.”

Laughter rang out in the car as we all added our two cents. The drive from the police office to the bayou was farther than from Willowberry but didn’t take too long. Lia parked and we approached the agreed-upon rendezvous point with the elder, Remy. It was deep in the bayou where the air grew thick with the scent of damp earth and the whispers of ancient trees. The sun had set by then and the moonlight filtered through the canopy.

“Watch for Garrick," Kota whispered, her eyes scanning the dense foliage around us. “I don’t want to lead that asshole to the shifters. I’d rather keep them safe."

I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. “Agreed. I doubt Remy would like that very much.”

We reached the clearing where Remy stood waiting. His reptilian eyes reflected the moonlight. His posture was tense, and his wariness was palpable. "You're on time," he said, his voice a low rumble.

"Good to see you, Remy," I greeted him with a small smile. “Were your people able to track any of Garrick’s movements? I’m sure you heard about the second death.”

Remy glanced around nervously before speaking. “That was no ordinary death. We’ve been patrolling the bayou more frequently since the first incident, and what we’ve found is disturbing. Garrick’s movements are erratic. We aren’t sure he’s the only one out here. Several reported smelling something different. Our noses aren’t as strong as other shifters, but they’re better than yours. Regardless, the same thing still applies. They’re targeting areas rich in spiritual energy.”

Dre’s brow furrowed. “The last murder was in a place of power?”

Remy nodded and started pacing a short circuit. “Yes. It’s one that is popular with the pixies in the bayou. My people found traces of malevolent energy near old ritual sites and places that our ancestors used to honor the spirits of the swamp. They are definitely feeding off the energy there. And becoming stronger with each attack.”

Kota’s eyes narrowed. “And the second victim? What do you know about him?”

Remy sighed, his shoulders slumping. “One of our younger males found the body before anyone else did. The scene was… brutal. He came running home and all he told us was that there were symbols carved into the body. It was gone by the time I got there with others. I assume that was you guys?”

We all nodded. Phi explained, “We had Terrance pick him up. Do you know who was behind the second death?”

Remy shook his head. “Our scouts saw Garrick in the area just before the attack, but he vanished before they could confront him. I don’t think it was him. The energy felt different. And the runes weren’t identical. It made me think of different handwriting.”

Adèle’s voice echoed in our minds as she said, “ These runes are crucial. They could reveal more about how many are involved. We must analyze them. ”

I wished we had more. It wasn’t enough to catch the asshole. “Thank you, Remy. This information is invaluable. Can you and your people continue looking for clues?”

Remy’s expression softened slightly. “We already planned on it. We’re all in this together. The bayou is our home. We’ll alert you if we find anything else.”

Dani placed a reassuring hand on Remy’s arm. “We appreciate it. Stay safe out here, and keep us informed.”

As we turned to leave, Remy called after us. “One more thing. There’s an old legend among our people about a talisman that can protect against dark magic. It’s said to be hidden deep in the bayou. We’re looking for it in the hopes it’s real and can give us an edge.”

Dre lifted a finger. “That reminds me. We’ve asked our brother, who has connections, to help move the purchase of the land along so you guys won’t have to worry about guys like Bouvier.”

We thanked him and made plans to meet up again and then headed back through the dense underbrush. Our minds raced with the new information. Thankfully, the drive didn’t take long. It was nice to be back home with Noah. He was the icing on the cake in life. I had everything I’d ever dreamed of. I never imagined I would call an old plantation home. Or have a venue and thriving business.

Noah sank onto the couch next to me and everyone else filled the chairs and other sofas in the ladies’ parlor. We all had plates of food in hand. No one felt like sitting at the kitchen table to eat. We were too tired. I would have showered and gone to bed, but we still needed to decompress and process what we’d learned.

“How the hell are going to figure out Garrick's next move? Remy’s intel supports our theory that they are targeting powerful spots. We need to pinpoint other targets,” Dre said between bites of Cajun chicken and rice.

Lia pointed to the map where she had marked the locations of previous attacks. “We will have to ask around for places of power and focus on ones he hasn’t hit yet. They don’t need to go back where they’ve already gotten a foothold.”

Dre quirked an eyebrow and shook her head. “Unless we disrupt his connection in those locations. We could get rid of that and put a crimp in their plans.”

I pointed to the first few locations. “I was wondering if we could do that. We know nothing about the magic they are using.”

“ You would need to be careful. The enchantment is designed to attach to power. You six are lightning rods of it, ” Adèle interjected .

Lucas straightened and shot Lia a look. “I don’t like the idea of you guys going out there and pissing off people who have already murdered two and attacked more.”

Lia cupped his cheek. “We have no choice. We won’t take unnecessary risks, but we have to do something. We can’t allow them to keep killing and taking power. They’ll kill everything in the bayou eventually.”

Adèle discussed ways we could disrupt the flow of their spell without putting our magic out there. The methods were mundane and not something I would have considered. We were used to using magic now.