Page 11 of Haunted Horror on Halloween

She showed her phone to the woman, aware Jackson had headed down the little hallway, heading to the owner’s office.

They had the video footage from the front of the place; he apparently wanted to talk to the owner about whatever was in it.

Genie Appleby paused awkwardly. “Yeah, sure. She doesn’t live far from here,” the young woman said at last.

“And was she here this morning?” Angela asked.

“Wow. No clue. I told you—”

“Yes, yes, it’s so busy in the morning! So, I guess you’re friends with Darrell Manderley,” Angela told her.

The man had not chosen the best devotee—Genie had no talent at hiding the panic that obviously swept through her when she was called out so blatantly.

“I—I—I—I—” she stuttered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” she managed at last.

“Oh, Genie. You know, down deep, you’re a good person. You really have no idea of how to hide what you know to be truth. Yes, you know Darrell. Did you meet him years ago? Did you live out west then, or, well, he moved around himself through the years. And you know, he killed an ambulance driver to escape prison. Or—”

“You don’t understand!” Genie whispered. “He is the true power. It’s been a fight forever, but only those who follow him and his commands and his leads, and now . . . now you know that I must . . . I must . . .”

“Sacrifice yourself?” Angela asked dryly.

Genie looked as if she was about to cry. She didn’t answer and Angela continued, telling her, “No. That’s the thing. Genie, No. Please, please, listen to me, hear me with your heart, your soul, your mind, and your intelligence. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself, not to the likes of a man who seeks power by finding fears or weaknesses in others and preying upon them. Please. I beg you. He is no true god, demon, or devil. You seem bright. I don’t know how he brain washed you, but I promise you, we stopped him once before and we’ll stop him again. We can keep you safe, and there is absolutely no reason that you should sacrifice yourself. You’re afraid if you don’t, he’ll find someone to do something torturous and horrible to you before you die. But we can—and we will—stop him.”

Angela didn’t know how well her words might work with someone who had obviously been twisted, but she was grateful to see that Genie looked at her with what have been hope.

“I don’t want to die!” the young woman whispered.

“And there’s absolutely no reason that you should,” Angela assured her.

Just in time. A couple of customers were coming into the shop. Jackson was emerging from the hallway after his time in the owner’s office.

And the owner, Charles Martinez, was following him out.

“Genie, these people need some help. You go on and go with them; I’ll take over working out here with service and the cash register for the few hours we’re still open. Please,” he told her. “Some people might really need help and you’re just the one who might give them that help!”

Genie looked a little frightened then, but she saw the sincerity with which her boss was speaking and then she looked at Angela.

Still afraid.

They had been breaking through her delusions and she was frightened; but with his words of encouragement, she nodded slowly.

“What do we need?” she asked.

Jackson gave a nod to Charles Martinez. “Police and techs are coming for the stolen car out there, if they’re not there already. Just if you see the guy again, behave naturally but as soon as you can, call me. I don’t think you’re going to see him again. I’m pretty sure he’s done what he wants to do here, and he’s moved on with whatever his plan might be. But with Genie’s help . . .”

“I was so scared!” Genie said. “But, yes . . . I mean, honestly, I was paying attention to customers but Satan—I mean whoever he really is—left with the pretty young woman and the older woman though the hallway and out the back. But . . .” She paused, wincing. “Where they went from there, I have no idea.”

“They didn’t come around the front,” Charles Martinez told them. “We just went through the footage, Special Agent Crow. You saw how the cameras worked, showing both sides of the place to the roadway. If they went out the back, they went pretty deep into the forest before they went anywhere else.”

“And a group working with K-9s will be here, too. For now . . .” Jackson said. “Genie, I have someone just outside who is going to take you to a hotel and watch over you through the night. No one is going to come after you; and if they should so much as try, they’ll be doing a nice prison stint. Our people are good, I promise you.”

Angela glanced at Jackson and smiled. He couldn’t possibly have heard her talking to Genie from the office, but he’d known she’d managed to speak with the girl.

And discover the truth.

He’d called their headquarters and arranged for agents to come out and escort the young woman to safety.

She was sure he’d also arranged for agents to sit with Charles Martinez until he closed up for the night—and then follow him home as well.