CHAPTER 11
The glass front doors of the Camp ground office were open. Something crumpled up on the threshold between them preventing the doors from closing. The doors slid open then back partially closed again. Macha gingerly stepped over the desiccated body. A glance had shown her that the victim had been drained dry. The blatant display did not bode well. There was definitely a fly in their collective ointment.
There were no RVs or sign of campers in the campground. Nemain had gone into the back office to see if the security cameras had caught anything. There was a monitor over turned on the small desk. No sign of the tower. Someone had taken the computer, with it, the security video. Nemain rummaged about, checking for pass words, names, web site info. She hit the jackpot finding the training manuals for new employees.
Macha Searched the log book. No one had checked in after Michael. She tore the page with Michaels info out , then changed her mind taking the entire log book. The Three wolhounds ran to and fro stopping to pee then back to sniffing the ground, standing up on their back legs to peer into windows or over walls.
Michael had gone to check out the pool area. There were two more bodies in the shower room. Their throats had been brutally torn out. Blood was splattered all over the tile walls. Runic Designs were scrawled on the inside face of the door. Michael took pictures and video of the scene. Careful to touch nothing, he left the shower room. Pausing to wipe down the door handles and any surface he had touched. Uncle Sam did have his particulars from his hitch in the Army. No need to advertise his presence.
Returning to the office entrance Michael found Nemain and Macha tossing the ledger and manuals into the back seat. Macha climbed into the back. With the wolfhounds, Michael took shotgun without any words. With Nemain at the wheel, they left the campground. Nemain drove north to Alligator alley, retracing Michaels route. Macha kept her focus on Michael. He could feel her eyes trying to burn through the back of his head. ” Did you?” Macha asked. Michael turned to face her. ” No, that man and his family were alive when I left.” Macha grunted. Then began rapid fire texting. Michael assumed it was to Badb. Nemain turned on the radio and cranked it up loud. The Who blasted out,
" Who are you? Who who? Who are you? Tell me who the fuck are you?” Synchronicity. Sometimes the universe lets you know you are on track. On track for what is the question.
Michael contemplated the situation. What would have happened had he still been there at the campground when the carnage took place. Was someone looking for him? Nemain , seeing clear highway ahead, pressed the accelerator down. A steady pressure pressed Michael back into the seat.
Keeping a steady rate at high speed, they arrived in Ft Lauderdale just under two and a half hours Later. Badb had texted for them to meet up at Holiday park, by the playground.
Michael was feeling a bit antsy. He wanted to check up on his R.V. They pulled into the back parking lot at the old sears town, everything looked normal. Which was good He hoped.
No city of Ft Lauderdale or Broward county warning tags pasted on the bus, that was a good sign. They parked next to the converted school bus. Nemain and Macha looked it over with an sceptical eye. Their attitude changed upon stepping up into the R.V.
Nemain , nodding her head ” Well, this was unexpected! ” Macha ran her hand across the well crafted wood work. ” Very nice. Is this your work?” Michael , opening the hidden gunsafe in the pantry wall, replied ” I held boards, did some sanding, helping as a child. This was all my grandfathers work.” Macha nodded in approval. Nemain quirked an eyebow as Michael passed rifles to her. ” I was thinking these may come in handy.” Macha, taking an A.R. from Nemain, cleared the chamber, inspecting the well cared for immaculate rifle. Michael watched her , Macha knew her way around the rifle. Nemain was laying out the rest Michael had retrieved on the table while he gathered up loaded magazies.
" So, will bullets stop one of us?” Michael asked. ” It depends on where the bullet strikes” Nemain replied. “Yes, if it is a head shot, otherwise it would only anger us.” Macha finished. “Thats good to know!” Michael stated as he sat down , having selected his Socom M1A, checking it over, clearing and working the bolt. Nemain had chosen the Thompson. ” watch it, the Tommy gun and the AR have binary triggers. ” Michael warned as Nemain inserted a 30 round magazine. ” Nice!” The pair chorused.
Michael gathered up a soft guitar case, leaving the guitar laying on his bed. Stashing his rifle and magazines in the case, he extended the case towards Nemain, ” Why advertise ” he asked. Smiling the ladies put their fire arms into the case. ” Maybe he isn’t so slow after all” Macha quiped.
Closing up the safe, and pantry, Michael followed them back out to the car. He dropped the case in the back seat, Macha declared “Shot gun” and Michael climbed in to the back. Morgan made a final trip into the camper, the trunk opened and closed. Morgan got behind the wheel once more. They were off to meet up with Badb.
As they pulled away, Michael exclaimed, ” Hey, what about Badb? Won’t she want one!” While he patted the guitar case. ” She has it covered already ” Nemain answered. They left the parking lot. Cruising Sunrise they drove past the park entrance. Turned around and headed back. They did this twice more before turning into the park. There was no sign of being followed. Of course, that meant nothing.
Badb was swinging on the swing set. As they parked, she let go on the high point of the swing, landing gracefully, took a bow, and walked over to the car. Badb shook her head no, touched her left eyebrow. Nemain looked to her right. There was no one in sight. Badb opened the passenger door just as Macha climbed over the front seat into the back. Without a word spoken, Nemain backed out and they headed for the back entrance to the park. Macha was trying to look everywhere at once. ” Where are they? Could you ID them?” Badb shook her head no. ” Where to?” Nemain asked. Back to the house in Lakeland.” Badb answered. ” The Boca place is gone.” ” “What?” Macha and Nemain chorused. ” “The House was burned. ” was Badbs reply. Nemain cursed with exquisite mastery. Michael listened closely, taking note. Nemain could teach old school army drill instructors a thing or three. How exactly could that be done with a porcupine? Nemain paused with her expletive laden tirade. ” With a lot of lube, perseverance and good gloves.” She replied. Michael realized he had spoken out loud. He looked up, he could see Nemain looking back at him in the rear view mirror. Michael could not stop himself, grinning he asked ” Isn’t the rabid squirrel enema a bit excessive?” Nemain blinked. Macha glared at him, Badb twisted about to scowl at him. Nemain began to chuckle, her laughter grew as Michael lost it, Macha and Badb began to giggle as well. The tension released. After a few minutes of shared hysteria, the three of them began chattering and cawing in their odd way.
The Three Wolfhounds bayed. Morgans hound snorted and licked Michaels face, sitting up between Morgan and his self.
Something was definitely wrong. Someone had invaded their cozy little garden. The realization that they had been under surveillance set this murder of Morrigans into a cold rage. Some one in hiding, not announcing presence or intention to visit could only have the worst intententions. Confirmed by the burning of the safe house. Michael could feel the temperature drop from their anger. The rear window began fogging over. He sat back and listened to their crow like conversation. When he focussed closely, he had begun to understand their speech. Closing his eyes and pretending to nap, Michael listened closely to what they said in their round and round round about way. Apparently someone is in for a very unpleasant visit once they caught up with them. Knitting with intestines, weaving with flesh, bathing in blood, the list extended with increasingly horrific inspirations. The glee with which the twisted trio conceived vengeance that would scare hell out of the devil himself was in itself oddly comforting and amusing.