Sirens fill the streets as SWAT trucks and police vehicles storm down the streets. Cars move off to the side giving us space to avoid slowing down. Exiting out of the city limits, we emerge into the countryside speeding like our lives depend on it. Part of the team splits off towards the church and the rest of us head towards the cabin Oliver resides at.
Once we arrive at our destination, the SWAT team bursts out the back of the trucks with their weapons raised. We exit out of my car and quickly suit up, ready for whatever could come our way. A bullet proof vest hugs my chest with a walkie talkie hooked to the shoulder, pistol in the holster at my hip, helmet securing my head, and an AR ready in my hands. We have no idea what we’re walking into or what he has planned for us.
The first set of men surround the cottage making sure every single exit is covered. The next set climb up the stepswith a battering ram in their hands. Once in place, we all raise our guns, pointing toward the door, ready to defend if he’s on the other side armed. Within a blink of an eye, they plow right into the door, causing the door to crash down off its hinges. Rushing inside, we clear the cabin quickly with no sign of life.
When you first walk in, there's a small couch up against the wall with a wooden coffee table in the middle. Next to it, there's a two-seater table and chairs against the window and the small kitchen follows. Down the hall, there’s a small bathroom and bedroom with a bed that’s made and appears not to have been used for some time. There are no weapons, computers, nothing tracing him to these murders. As I’m about to walk back to the front of the house, I notice the small rug disheveled and a latch in the wood floor.
“I found something,” I call out, grabbing the attention of my partners and some of the other officers searching the place.
Beckett comes to my back with a gun raised as I bend down and pull the latch revealing a door and a set of steps going down. Before I can descend, one of the officers goes before me with a light shining down leading our way. We slowly step down the staircase, keeping alert for any sudden sound or movement. Once we get to the bottom, we find a switch and flip it on.
There’s a bed in the corner with a scratchy blanket and a stained pillow. Chains are hooked to the bottom leg posts and a cut rope at the headboard. The area smells of mold, pee and mildew and there are no windows to be seen. Circling around, there’s a metal table against the wall with a piece of paper laid upon it.
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:15 NIV
The devil disguises in the mask of a woman who seduces men. He uses their bodies to draw them to commit sin but they hold on tight as he blinds them with promises of riches. The prophecy says only I can save them.
You shouldn’t have entered my home, Agent Solace, because now, I’ll have to capture another and make them both beg for forgiveness. You should have let me save them instead of trying to stop me.
Chills run down my spine at the words that stare back at me. He knew we were coming for him and he moved to another location that we have no leads to. Not only that, he’s planning on taking another victim into his custody. How was he able to see us coming? We had our systems reworked and secured to avoid any hackers intruding without notification. He had to have moved after our first encounter at the church but still showed his face to prove his alibi.
“What is it?” Monroe comes up from behind me.
I hand her the piece of paper to read. Her eyes go wide from the contents.
“He knew we were coming and he’s now crossing the line of seeking out another victim. We need to speak with the pastor.” I turn away, climbing the steps two at a time.
We head back to the front of the property to the church, leaving the rest of the team to continue searching the property for any hidden shelters. Some of the residents are peeking out of their windows, trying to see what's going on as others stand outside with their arms crossed over their chests with fear displayed. As we walk up towards the church, the pastor spots us and storms toward us.
“What’s the meaning of this disruption? This is a place ofpeace and now you’re causing turmoil." He points his finger towards us.
If he wasn’t a holy man and I an agent, I would snap that damn finger in half.
“A place of peace, yet you have a serial killer living amongst you. Tell me, pastor, do you approve of his actions of killing innocent women?” I challenge him.
“What monster do you speak of? There’s no one here who would cause such a heinous act.” His eyes narrow at me.
Does he really think that we’re idiots? There’s no way in hell he didn’t know or suspect something was off with the man who randomly appeared at their little community. He’s housing the actual devil he swears to protect his people from.
“Ah, but there is. Oliver, the one you spoke so highly about, is in fact not the man you claim he is. He uses your religion as an excuse to kill innocents. Your church isn’t the safe space you claim. Where is he? I would think long and hard unless you want to be arrested for harboring a killer.” I step towards him, causing him to stumble back.
Beckett’s hand is instantly at my shoulder, pulling me back as a warning to keep my cool.
“How dare you accuse me of this? I would never do such a thing. We had no idea of any acts he had committed. He presented himself as a hard worker who keeps to himself. He loves the Lord and attends every service, not missing one, except…” He stops mid-sentence as if something just came to light.
He hesitates as if he didn’t mean to let the last part come out. Got you, buddy.
“Except what? If you have something, you better say it. We have to catch him before he murders others.”
“He missed service two days ago and we haven’t seen him around the last couple days. We figured he may havefallen ill and he’ll attend once he feels better. We never suspected he would be harmful. Are you telling me that we have a murderer living amongst us?” He gasps as his hand cliches his chest.
His acting is as fake as the toupee on his head. Although I question his knowledge of the man; he might actually not have known the newcomer's intentions.
“Considering I’ve said it a couple times, yes. He’s known as The Jawbreaker. He commits these acts as if attempting to drive the devil from these women. I can’t get into more detail but I’m sure you’ve seen it in the papers.”
His hands start to shake with fear and he looks around at his little community with worry. Okay, maybe I was a little too rough.
“I have but I never put it together when you visited the last two times. I failed my Lord. I didn’t mean to allow this to happen,” he cries out and falls to his knees.
