Page 20 of Haunted Horror on Halloween

“We know he was here; let’s figure out what trail he’s been using,” Jackson said.

Sargeant Valiente shook his head. “Finding a trail in this forest . . .”

“It’s doable,” Jackson assured him. “But I have a feeling Angela is right; he’s going to try to trick her into being exactly where he wants her to be.”

“But . . . well, again, I’m not a forest ranger myself, but we have a heck of a lot of really good ones in this area, not to mention the dogs. What does this man think he’s doing . . . killing not only those who get in his way, but those who help him? How does he keep getting people to do his bidding?” Valiente asked.

“Mind games, more than anything else. There are two ways; threaten a man’s or a woman’s children, or other loved ones, and you have incredible leverage. And since he has managed so many horrific things in the past, people believe he has the power. If you can’t twist one mind, you twist the next. And then there are the true believers; he has convinced those--usually those who are struggling in life and desperately need something to believe in—that he is an immortal being in human form and eternity extends so far beyond anything here on earth that obeying him in his darkness is their only chance,” Angela explained. “And I believe he’s especially out for me because I tricked him before into believing I was his greatest fan, willing to do anything, and, of course, when it came to it, we had the area surrounded by agents and Jackson was at my back. His main talent is that he is a master manipulator. And he wants revenge. Always, for any slight.”

Valiente looked at Jackson worriedly.

“I have the best partner in the world; he’ll have my back,” Angela said, smiling. “And we need to get moving because lives are at stake.”

“Do you think he’s already killed the women?” Valiente asked worriedly.

“I don’t. They’re going to be used as bait, I believe. Or . . .”

Angela paused, looking over at Jackson. The man was planning his own Halloween park, apparently.

And the women . . .

Halloween decorations.

And that was a truly terrifying concept, but . . .

They knew the man, the monster.

In one way or another, he planned to use them as decorations.

“I know what you’re thinking, and I know you’re worried,” Jackson said. “But maybe that can give us a little hope.”

“You mean that—” Valiente began.

“They’ll be injured, yes. Bleeding—maybe dressed up as bloody witches. But they could still be alive and EMTs and hospitals and doctors across the expanse of the area are on an alert, so we’ll have help for them the minute we find them,” Jackson said.

“If they are alive,” Valiente said, his tone grim and weary. He winced and added, “There are many homes along the road here, too, homes that have the forest as their backyard and, of course, some tracts of the forest behind the homes are privately owned. You may have a problem with that . . . well, every home along the road just about is decked out for Halloween. This is a major area for trick-or-treaters. Some of the folks with kids have candy out—and little tables with wine or sodas or juice for the parents taking the kids around. It’s a big deal and like I said, people go all out. I guess my question is this—is he somewhere deep in the forest decorating and thinking he can trick Angela into his web that way—or would he be more obvious?”

“Well, we have a bit of a trail here. It could lead to a house or the property behind a house,” Jackson said. “Thanks for letting us know about the homes—maybe we’ll start at the base of the woods, have agents check with every household. It’s not Halloween until tomorrow night, so they won’t be out with candy and refreshments of any kind,” Valiente said.

“But hopefully they’ll be home and we’ll be able to determine if they’re all right—or if someone has been adding on some decorations for them,” Angela said.

Valiente nodded grimly. “I’m going to get my officers on it,” he said. “They know the folks around here, most of them, anyway, and they can keep people assured while giving them a warning at the same time.”

Angela saw Jackson was looking her way, and she knew his thoughts exactly.

They didn’t need to just worry about the women who had been taken.

Anyone along this forest road might be in danger.

Including children.

“We’ll get agents starting from the other direction,” Jackon told him. He had his phone out; Angela knew he was calling Bruce and that every available Krewe agent would soon be out on the road.

“I’ll lead the charge on my end,” Valiente said.

“We’re heading in, trying to see where Darrell Manderley was dragging his kidnap victims—before he killed the man who helped him escape,” Jackson said.

“So, we all move!” Angela said, nodding to the men.