CHAPTER 15 Confronting The Priestess
Adam had run about four blocks and had not seen Desiree. He stopped to catch his breath, and when he looked up, he saw her. She smiled at him and he watched her go down an alley. He ran to the alley and down the alley, but it came to a dead end. Adam looked around, he looked up, wondering where she may have gone. When he turned around to exit the alley she stood about six feet from him. She removed the hood, and he was once again mesmerized by her beauty. He stared into her eyes, beautiful eyes, hypnotizing eyes. Without speaking, she stepped toward him, reached under his jacket, removed his weapon and tossed it into a pile of trash. She removed his police ID and tossed it in the pile of trash also. She then took him by the hand and led him out of the alley. At that moment he was totally under her control.
Desiree led Adam to the Freeport Hotel. They walked through the lobby to the stairs and up to the fourth floor, room 402. Desiree unlocked the door. She and Adam entered and he walked over to the bed. He sat down and stared into space as if in a trance.
Mac and Wally were joined at the temple by Chief Atkins, Mayor Ball and several other St. Louis city government officials. Chief Atkins approached Mac.
“We now have nine dead citizens and attempts on several more. Mac, I don’t care what it takes, every resource, every man, bring them in Mac. I want Denise and Colton brought to justice. Find them Mac, I want them, dead or alive.
“We have an officer missing Chief. Mac said.
“Adam thought he saw Desiree out in the street and he went after her. We haven’t seen or heard from him since.”
“Find him!” the Chief said authoritatively. “I am going to see the Sheriff to get additional officers.”
Mac and Wally went out into the street, not knowing where to start. Someone called out to Mac. It was Toney and Mike Kline, a rookie cop. They came up to Mac and Wally.
Wally began to speak to Toney, “You heard about the explosion? We lost two officers.” Toney was shocked. He couldn’t speak. All color faded from Mike’s face. After a few moments, Wally spoke again. “It’s up to us guys. Let’s go find them and bring them to justice.”
Wally took Mike with him, and Toney went with Mac. They began canvassing the streets searching for anyone who saw the officer or the priestess. They had searched a couple of hours when Wally and Mike approached an old woman, a street vendor, who was selling livestock, chickens, ducks, and goats. Most of the animals were used for food, but were some sold for voodoo or black magic sacrifices.
Mike, who spoke some Spanish, asked the old woman if she had seen the officer, and she hesitated answering. Then he asked about the Priestess, and she became very apprehensive, not wanting to talk to him or even look at him. A young girl, kneeled at the rear of the cages of animals spoke up. “She fears Priestess Desiree.”
“She does?” Mike responded. “Do you fear the Priestess also?”
“She is evil. She is Bokor, black magic. My grandmother provides her with sacrifices. I am very afraid.” The young girl spoke, keeping her head covered.
“So, you know Priestess Desiree. Have you seen her today?” Mike asked, anticipating a positive answer.
“Yes,” the young girl answered. “She passed by here awhile ago. She had a young man with her. She met another man at the corner, and they talked for a moment. He went back this direction, and Desiree went down that street with the man.”
“Thank you young lady, and thank your Grandmother also.” Mike said to them. The young girl smiled at him, but the smile disappeared. My Grandmother does not want her to know she saw you. “Come on Wally, she is saying they went down Depot Street.”
After traveling Depot Street for about six blocks they had no further information. They saw Lloyd, the night clerk at the Freeport Hotel. Mike and Wally hurriedly greeted him and asked if he had seen Adam or the Priestess. He replied that he had not. They had began to walk away, when Lloyd called to them. “Desiree and a man rented a room at the Freeport Hotel a couple of years ago, when she first came to St. Louis and she has kept that room and used it off and on. There was some man staying in the room for the last couple of weeks, but I haven’t seen him in the last couple of days.”
Wally became excited, “What room, Lloyd? What number? Mike, I believe we may have found them.”
“Wally, I believe room 401, 402, 403…..Right along there somewhere. Corliss is on the front desk, she can tell you.”
Before he could finish speaking, Wally and Mike started running toward the Freeport, as Lloyd yelled his last few words.
They went into the lobby, stopping long enough to ask Corliss the room number and then they ran up the stairs.
Lloyd continued on down the street when he saw Mac and Toney on the other side of the street. “Mac. Mac.” Lloyd called. Mac and Toney stopped. Lloyd related to them what he had just told Wally and Mike, and they too, ran toward the Freeport.
Wally and Mike stood before the door at room 402, quietly training their weapons on the door. They did not know what was taking place inside, who if anyone was inside or whether there would be any resistance.
Hearing a noise Wally looked back to see Mac come through the door to the stairwell. Mac signaled to them to remain quiet. He whispered to them that Toney was coming up the back stairs.
“Ready?” Mac whispered. Mike and Wally nodded yes. Mike raised his right leg and with a swift forceful kick forced the door open. Desiree was at the foot of the bed and ran toward the head. All three officers had their weapons aimed at her while scanning the room for anyone else.
Adam was lying on the bed. Mac could see he was breathing. Suddenly Desiree raised her arm and in her hand was a voodoo doll. She held it with her fingers on the back and her thumb on the chest. “STOP.” Desiree exclaimed. “Stop, or I will kill him.” The officers looked at each other.
Desiree began to squeeze the doll, and Adam groaned, clutching at his chest. “I will crush his heart.” She threatened.
Reaching over to the dresser, she picked up a basket, dumping its’ contents into the floor. She threw the basket in the direction of the officers. “Put your weapons in the basket, and step away.”
The officers hesitated, and Desiree again squeezed the doll. Adam squirmed clutching his chest.
“Okay.” Mac said, and he dropped his revolver in the basket. Wally and Mike did also.
“Move over next to the window.” Desiree ordered. They all complied, and she picked up the basket and started out the door. The officers stood motionless as she went out.
They heard a loud crash and ran to the door.
Toney was standing there, in the hallway, holding the basket containing the officer’s weapons. Desiree lay on the floor, a broken picture frame around her neck.
Toney looked at Mac and shook his head, “Sarge, she says she’s been framed.”
Toney began to secure his prisoner, Mac grabbed the voodoo doll, and the officers went back into the room to check on Adam.
Adam was semi-conscious. Mac removed a piece of fabric tied around the doll’s head and a pin in the neck portion of the doll. Adam began to come around and sat up on the bed. Mac told him what had taken place, and that Desiree was now in custody. Mac looked at the doll. He raised the arm of the doll and pretended to have the doll hit himself in the face. Adam’s arm raised and struck him in the face.
“Give me that thing.” Adam demanded.
“ No, I think I’ll keep this,” Mac said. “It may become very valuable.”