Chapter 11 : Hell's brigade

"Whoever calls upon the name of the lord shall be saved".

- Joel 2 : 32a.

Saint Roman Cemetery

10: 30 am

A priest stood by two coffins, holding a bible. A black umbrella shielding him from the sun.

"in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground, for out of it was thou taken, for dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return", The priest slapped the pages of the Bible shut and left the premises with his menservants.

Everyone began to throw flowers on the coffins. Chioma watched as they put them in the ground. Aaron stood next to her.

"To comfort those who mourn

To console those who mourn in Zion".

Murdock Davies, director of the Happy psychiatric hospital acknowledged the presence of the police and thanked his supporters. He extended his regrets and wishes and hoped to be a person Erica would be proud of.

"They must've been close", Ria looked at the picture of Erica on a separate platform.

"Yeah. You can see how miserable Davies looks right now", Choi shook his head in pity, "I almost regret not going to Suresh's".

"We all can't go to India. Besides Russell and a team went in our stead", Ria replied.

They were at a gathering in Mr Davie's house.

Aaron looked at Chioma who sipped on a strawberry smoothie.

She noticed and asked, "You've been staring at me for a while now. Is anything wrong?".

"Nothing serious", He turns away hurriedly.

"Hey, if anything is bothering you, you can tell me", She smiles at him.

"I'll be right back", He excused himself.

Abby sat next to Chioma, "How's my baby brother?".

Chioma put her airpod to her ears, pretending to be on a call, "Brother? How do you know its a boy?".

"I can tell", Abby smiled, "Where's dad?".

"He went out", Chioma kept the glass she held on the table in front of her.

"Does he still smoke?", asked Abby.

"No", Chioma said quietly, "But he drinks when he's upset".

"Its gonna be fine, mom", Abby patted her mother's hand.

"Thanks, love", She removed her airpod when Aaron walked in.

"Hey", He smiled.

"Where'd you run off to?", She asked.

"To take a leak if you wanna know", He laughed.

Janice came in with an unfamiliar person.

"Are you Kingsley Chioma?", the man asked.

"I am. Any problem?", Chioma noticed the man wasn't an officer but he looked skilled enough to be respected.

"You need to come with me quietly", He said.

"Why?", Aaron stood by his wife.

"The name's Palmore Andrew, MS", He shows his badge and they checked its authenticity.

"Call me paranoid but I don't trust easily", Chioma tells Andrew.

Andrew chuckled, "I knew you would say that", He shows them the video footage of Josie asking for detective Chioma, "First Disciple seeks your attention alone".

"I'll go see what this is about", Chioma stood up.

Aaron was worried, "What if she hurts you? Think of the baby".

"I'll be fine. I promise", She put her forehead to his, "I'll be back".

She followed Andrew and his team to a black site underground. The iron steps made sounds as they descended to the floor. This place was actually a prison for criminals condemned by the government. Leading her towards a cell, Andrew made her wear a bulletproof vest and a wire for communication.

"Goodluck and Godspeed", He told her as the door opened and closed.

***********

"Where's your wife?", Pete joined Aaron. The others followed.

"Out. Apparently, First Disciple wanted an audience", Aaron opened a can of coke and sipped it.

"You upset?", Choi puffed cigarette smoke out on the porch.

"No. I'm just terrified", Aaron admitted. The guys looked at each other.

"Well, from what I've seen, it takes guts not to quit after what happened 5 years ago. Chioma is much stronger than you give her credit for. So worry about yourself because I'll deal with you if you don't pass me some beer", Pete smiles at him.

They all laugh.

Hannah came out snorting "Kids are the worst".

"Then why do you have one?", Pete laughed.

She snatched Choir's cigar, sitting down on a recliner, she pit the cigar to her lips, "That happened from sex".

They all laughed again.

"When is Diana coming?", Ria asked.

"She sent up to 15 thousand dollars on behalf of her precinct. They're too busy on the case to show up", Wysa announced.

Hannah puffed another smoke, "Now, that's what I call responsible".

The doors flew open. it was Janice.

"Hannah, your kid's crying again".

Hannah rushed from the chair, "Shit. Mommy's coming". She goes inside.

The gang laughed again.

Black site underground

02 : 16 noon

Standing far from the cell, Chioma looked at Josie cuffed in chains around her hands and legs.

"Why did you summon me here?", She asked with spite.

Josie smiled, "Good afternoon to you too".

"Don't stall. I have things to do", Chioma replied.

"Like a funeral to attend?", Josie laughed.

Chioma got so upset, she marched towards her but Andrew instructed her not to from her ear piece.

"Oh, you still listen to authority. I miss the old you. She would've marched here and stab me if she wanted to".

"Things change".

Josie scoffed, "Liar".

"It's weird that nothing's happened since you were caught. Only the wise would understand", Chioma asked, "What's your plan, Josie?".

Josie smacks her lips, "I'm not gonna tell".

"I'm leaving", Chioma turned to the door.

Josie sing songed, "You who laid the foundations of the earth, so that it should not be moved forever. You have set a boundary that they may not pass over. That they may not return to cover the earth".

"What?", Chioma was confused.

Josie continued, "There the ships sail about. There is that Leviathan which you have made to play there".

Chioma yelled, "Shut up".

"You hide your face, you are troubled. You take away their breath, they die and return to dust. You send forth your spirit, they are created. And you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of God endure forever", She laughed at the end.

Chioma looked at her with widened eyes, "Only the wise will understand".

"You understand now, don't you?", Josie smiled slyly.

"No. Ships sail about....HPD. Leviathan.... is you? You're Leviathan?", Chioma understood what Josie was saying. They were clues to her next murder, "Oh, God".

"Yes. I'm His disciple. What do you need?", Josie asks.

"Fuck. Andrew, open the door. Contact HPD", Chioma rushed to the exit. The door opened and she ran out.

"What is it?", he asked.

"We gotta head to the cemetery now. Josie fucked with us. Erica's body wasn't buried there. Its Diana's".

Cemetery

3: 45 noon.

Running across the raining field, Chioma and a few other officers held onto shovels.

"You who laid foundations --- Diana caught her --- setting a boundary ---- Josie's arrest. You take away their breath. Shit", She put her hand to her head.

They began to dig.

"Come on", She yelled at them.

They dug for a long time and hit something. Pulling out the coffin, Chioma opened it. Her hand covered her mouth immediately.

Vegan was terrified, "Jesus".

Kneeling down, Chioma grabbed the thin grass so hard, they cut her skin.

"Meshach wasn't meant to die. It was all a distraction. Diana's been dead since 11 am. its all my fault", Chioma screamed in the pouring shower.