The Blood Eagle in the Big Easy Read Free

sounded familiar but I couldn’t quite place it. Curious I leaned over and turned on the lamp next to the bed causing me to wince as light flooded the room. “Yeah, who’s this?”
    “This is U.S. Deputy Marshal Gregory Aaron.” He cleared his throat. “Not sure if you remember me or not but we worked a case together back in ‘92.”
    Crap! That was a case I could hardly forget no matter how much I would have liked to. Gregory was one of the survivors of that painful endeavor. Rubbing my eyes I tried to shake off the dream to give the man my full attention. “Yeah, I remember you.” Swinging my legs off the bed I leaned forward allowing the cold hardwood floor to cement me in the here and now. “I’m guessing something bad has happened.”
    “That would be putting it rather mildly.” He covered the phone as he barked a few orders. “The Fenrir Cult has come back to bite me in the ass.”
    Rubbing my neck with my free hand I stood as I winced as several of my joints cracked. “Since you’re calling from a local number I can assume you’re in town?”
    “As a matter of fact I am.” He covered the phone again as I heard him asked someone for the name of the place. “We’re at Popp Fountain. Do you know the place?”
    Grabbing my watch off the nightstand I was about to head for the bath when I stopped in my tracks. “I’m familiar with the place.” This could hardly be a coincidence. “Is there a body?”
    “What’s left of one anyway.” He coughed and cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. I have some sinus issues today, and I’m not used to this damned weather. It’s Helena Summers. Well, like I mentioned, most of her anyway.”
    I swallowed hard. “She didn’t stay in Alabama I take it.”
    “Doesn’t appear she did. I am getting the details now.” He took a deep breath as he yawned into the phone. “How long do you think it will take you to get here?”
    “I should be able to get there within the hour.” Quickly making my way through the bedroom to the bath I looked at my watch which read 3:35. “Can you clear me?”
    “Consider it done. See you shortly.” Gregory said as he hung up the phone.
    Bracing myself against the bathroom counter I recalled the case. The Marshals service contracted my firm to assist in building a case against what they referred to as a group of radicals who were a perceived danger to the locals in Maine. Their original contact was a young woman who had supplied the federal government with the information they needed to shut the ‘cult’ down permanently. Several months prior to my involvement she had stopped communicating with them. While the Marshal’s believed she was still alive somewhere on the compound they had no idea where or for how much longer. I infiltrated the compound where I found Helena being held captive in a remote building. With her testimony secure Gregory and I were able to protect her and her young son from any reprisals her former constituents might try.
    Talk about bad omens! Every time that horrid dream returns to haunt me I am almost always in for a very bad day (or ten). Today certainly would not turn into the exception to the rule. The victim, Ms. Helena Summers, had originally contacted Gregory, who at the time was the low man on the totem pole, about some dangerous people she found herself involved with.
    According to Helena she’d joined the 'Church of Fenrir' back when it was all sunshine and poesies. She’d said that in her last few years as a member of the church a darker element had crept in and taken over. She first told us of tax evasion charges, which were the least of our problems. They were now practicing human sacrifices and blood magic. She had been a full fledge member of the church for nearly ten years. It was our understanding that during the final three years she was held against her will.
    With her help we were able to track down and jail or kill all but five ranking members of the church. She and her nine year