Destiny's Wrath (Destiny Series - Book 3) by Straight, Nancy (manga ereader txt) 📕

on this earth for, to make you doubt your choices. The only thing she was correct about was there is nothing that can be done to undo this situation. Go home to your happy lives. You have both earned them.” Renny, too, walked away.

We stood beside Max’s truck. He was the first to recover. “So the kid is possessed, Dakota says we are responsible, but there’s nothing for us to do about it now. Renny says we’re not responsible, to go home, and to have a happy life. Did you notice neither one of them was the slightest bit concerned about the kid?”

“Yeah, they were so concerned when Samael was in you that they sent a ‘hit squad’ to our house, but now that Samael’s been involved in a series of murders, they’re both telling us to get outta’ here.”

“Let’s go to the jail and try to talk to the kid.”

“What about Samael? Aren’t you concerned that he’ll somehow leap out of the kid and into you?”

“I’ve been giving that some thought. I need to run an idea past you.”

Chapter 11

We drove past the kid’s house. I felt terrible for Jimmy’s mother. There were reporters, news vans, massive satellite dishes, and a media frenzy waiting for any potential movement from the house. I asked Max, “So, what do you think, maybe we can just walk up the front steps?”

“Looking to make the regional news again?”

“No, thanks.”

We went to the local library and Googled Jimmy Jacob’s family. He lived with his mother, a single parent who worked for the local telephone company. We were able to find his home phone number, but not surprisingly, it seemed to be off the hook. I saw the library had postage stamps and envelopes available to purchase. I decided to pen a letter, knowing it would take a full day to reach Ms. Jacobs, but absent any other ideas, this was the best I had.

Dear Ms. Jacobs,

My name is Lauren Davis. I met your son several months ago. I cannot imagine the pain you are going through. I would like to help, if I can, but am unable to contact you any way other than the mail. I’d rather not brave the media circus outside your home without your consent to visit. Please call me if you will meet with me.

Kind regards,

Lauren.

I wrote my cell phone number at the bottom of the note. Max and I stopped at the local post office. I ran in and handed the letter to the postman just as he was ready to lock the door for the evening. He looked like he’d had a pretty rough day and seemed happy to just accept a letter rather than trying to tell someone they were closed for the day.

I got back into the truck, and Max and I looked for a motel for the night. We found an Econo Lodge. Max checked us in while I grabbed the bags. We made our way to a room halfway down the hallway and put our things in. The sun was beginning to set when we decided to go for a drive.

“If we can’t get in touch with Jimmy’s mom, what’s our next move?” Max shrugged his shoulders but said nothing. I thought we were looking for a place to eat, but it looked like Max just wanted to drive, as we made our way onto a lonely county road. “Dakota was a different person today, huh?”

“I don’t know her that well. Randy doesn’t talk about her that much.” Randy was Max’s boss and Dakota’s husband. She was a member of the Cabinet, which, from what I understood, had some sort of paranormal powers. Dakota’s power was to insert “doubt” in people’s heads, making them question their decisions and actions. It didn’t seem like such a formidable force to be reckoned with, and she once told me that she is the reason that people make good decisions. Basically when she’s around, they ask themselves: Do I look okay in this outfit? Am I prepared for this test? Do I have the right qualifications for the job?

Rewsna, a.k.a. Renny, is a member of the Council, and her big power is Confidence. Needless to say, Renny and Dakota are universal opposites, so they completely hate each other. Renny can also communicate telepathically with anyone she chooses. I guess I’ve always wondered if Dakota could do the same thing, but I have never had the courage to ask her, and she’s never responded to me when I’ve asked her a question silently. Neither of these two seem supernatural to me, but the Council and Cabinet are made up of more than just confidence and doubt. I know a few of the Council members, but Dakota is the only person I’ve ever met, that I know of, from the Cabinet.

“She seemed a little less than helpful earlier today. You don’t think she knew this would happen, do you?”

Max shrugged his shoulders again. “She did tell us that Jimmy had bad intentions. Maybe we should have tried to keep in contact with the kid.”

“Yeah, right! Maybe you forgot that day that all the SUVs pulled up in the driveway? They had to decoy the kid just to get him safely out of the yard. I’m sure if we had tried to contact him, we would have just blown his cover to the Council and signed his death warrant.”

Somberly, “And one kid would be dead instead of nine people.”

I looked at Max and could see that guilt still engulfed him. I stretched my hand across the seat and answered quietly, “Better nine strangers than you.”

It was a good thing we were on a country road in rural South Carolina because Max slammed on the brakes. When the truck stopped and the rubber smoke from the wheels evaporated, he said, “You don’t get to decide.” Max’s voice was on the verge of hateful.

Surprised at his response, but knowing he needed to think