Page 18 of Witch (Gray Wolf Security #24)

“Gaspar! Gaspar! I need your help,” yelled Adele, running toward him. He gripped his little sister’s shoulders, holding her at arm’s length.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“No. No, I got a call from the university. One of my colleagues hasn’t shown up for work for two days now. It’s not like her, Gaspar.”

“Honey, she might be sick or visiting friends or just taking some time off,” he smiled.

“No. Gaspar, she’s a professor of medieval history. A brilliant woman who’s written three books. The last one was titled, Which Witch is a Witch: The History of the Authorized Murder of Women. She debunked witches and witch-hunters, Gaspar.”

“Shit,” he muttered.

“I asked Ace to check the camera footage from the university, and a man followed her to her car. It looked like they argued, and then she left.”

“And this man is our witch-hunter?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Please, Gaspar. Please help me find her. She’s a wonderful woman and a great professor.”

“What’s her name, honey?”

“Professor Linda Xavier. She’s about five-five, maybe one-thirty or one-forty. Brown hair, short, and she has brown eyes, I guess late forties or early fifties.”

“Alright. Let me get to the boys.”

Beside Adele, her sisters comforted her, Rachelle holding her twin’s hand. When they left for the cafeteria, the other women descended upon her, offering their support and comfort.

“We have to find that woman,” said Gaspar to the others.

“Gaspar! After I checked the university footage, I followed the rental car for Hopkins. He’s staying at the Crescent Motel on I-10. Late last night, he went for a drive toward Barataria. There aren’t any traffic cams that way, so I lost him around this point,” Ace said, pointing at the map.

“Damn,” muttered Miller.

“No, it’s good, I mean, as good as it can get. He was only gone from view for twenty-five minutes. Assuming he went to check on something, or someone, he would be in this radius.”

“That’s all the old fishing shacks from the cannery,” said Jean.

“Let’s go. We take several boats, and they will get us there faster,” said Gaspar. Trak approached them and nodded toward his feet.

“I have a better idea.”

As the boats followed the crew of gators, fishermen turned to stare at the strange group. Many knew the Robicheaux family, and they’d wave or offer their condolences.

“Sorry ‘bout your mama and daddy, boys.”

“Thank you,” said Jean.

“Lost some good ones. ‘Dem was good people, fellas.” The men would wave, nod with somber expressions, and continue to follow the congregation of alligators.

When Alvin slowed, Trak touched the back of his head, then turned to Gaspar. Gaspar nodded.

“Alvin says this is where she’s at,” he said. The men smirked at him, and he flipped them off, not wanting to hear their snide comments about his new animal skills.

Stepping lightly on the dock, which was ready to crumble, Kade entered first.

“She’s here!” he called back. Below her feet were two gators swimming in a circle. Both quickly swam away, having been given the signal from Alvin.

“Hold on, hun,” said Kade.

“Kade, those damn boards won’t hold all our weight,” said Nine.

“We can’t leave her like that. If I get wet, I’ll dry off. Just be ready to catch her.”

Grabbing her around her waist, she was wearing nothing more than her t-shirt and underpants. Her waist hit his shoulder, and he used that as an anchor for her to lean against. With his knife, he sliced the rope, and her weight fell against him.

The creaking of the boards and swaying of the shack told him he didn’t have much time. He tossed the woman like a sack of potatoes to Max, who immediately laid her on the grass for Wilson and Cruz to look at.

“Careful, Kade,” said Gaspar.

He leaped from the main center board to the doorway and quickly stepped lightly on the deteriorating dock. When he was safely on the grass, the entire shack shifted left and swayed into the bayou.

“Damn, that was close,” said Miller. “Is she okay?”

“Dehydrated, burns and marks on her wrists, her shoulders are going to hurt like a bitch when we lower her arms,” said Cruz. “Hold on, honey. This will only hurt for a minute.”

She nodded, moaning as they lowered her arms. Wilson tilted her head up, forcing her to take some water.

“Are you Dr. Linda Xavier?” asked Gaspar.

“Y-yes. Who are you?”

“Gaspar Robicheaux. I believe my sister Adele is a fan of yours,” he smiled.

“Oh, God. Adele. I love Adele,” she cried.

“Ma’am, did you see who took you?” asked Nine.

“No. I even taunted him to show himself, but he wouldn’t. He kept accusing me of being a witch. He even asked if I was a Robicheaux.”

“That’s our man,” frowned Miller.

“I think he was the man who approached me at the university and called me a heretic. I honestly just laughed, but he had my book in his hand. I went home and didn’t think anything about it.

I always go for a run early in the morning.

I remember closing my front door, putting the key in the lock, and that was it. When I woke, this is where I was.”

“Did he say anything else to you?” asked Gaspar.

“He said that if I survived the snakes, gators, and rats, I was a witch. If I didn’t survive, then I was innocent. Talk about medieval. Maybe he needs to write a book.” The men all smirked at her, and she shook her head.

“I’m sorry. Did you say that you were all Adele’s brothers?”

“Not all are blood-related, but we are her brothers,” smiled Nine.

“She said she had a houseful, but I never expected you all to look exactly alike or damn near close. My stomach is cramping. I haven’t had water or food for a few days.”

“We’re going to take you to our clinic,” said Wilson. “We’ll get you cleaned up and call the police to take a statement.”

“What about the psycho witch-hunter?” she frowned. Nine smirked, turning to stare at Alvin and Trak. Gaspar nodded at the gator, then Nine turned back to the woman.

“I think we have someone who can help with that.”