-Meet me at the Lake-
Brenda was waiting for Jonathan on a bench overlooking Saudade Lake. The wind combed its chilly finger through the tight locks of Brenda's hair. He sat beside her wordlessly. He waited for her an "I told you so." but none came. She puffed on her cigarette, and with the wind howling at their backs, the toxic smoke was taken away from Jonathan.
"Vernon Giles." Said Brenda. She dud out the cigarette and faced him. "Used to be a big name around here once upon of time. But now the only thing he'll be remembered for is being some old coot who worked too hard he didn't notice his wife was unhappy and his son wasn't his at all." She looked at him. "Pathetic isn't it?"
"I find it a bit tragic." Said, Jonathan. "Given he's died before he's redeemed himself. But the life of Vernon is not why I'm here." Another cigarette went up in flames and smoke. It danced on her lips as she spoke.
"I'm waiting on you to tell me what you think." Jonathan sat with his back flat on the back of the bench and watched the waves. The rest of the world was no more here. The hustle and bustle of small-time life have been put on a halt.
"Whoever killed Thomas and Vernon want us to know they were targeted." Brenda inhaled deeply, she watched Jonathan from the corner of her eye.
"Is there anything else?" Jonathan couldn't forget about the call. The voice of the woman didn't sound young or old. She spoke to him like she could see directly into his mind. After the call ended, there was no record of her ever calling him. It was during her call that he missed a call from his ex.
"I don't think they're human." It was silly. He felt downright stupid for even saying something like that. If his father was alive, he would slap Jonathan right across the face. When he finally met Brenda's gaze, she was giving him a knowing look. It made sense now. Everything. The reason he's here, the reason she won't go back to the police.
"How- uh- long did you know?"
"Since we met. Well, it was feeling at first. But, Thomas would always marvel about how you cracked another case with no help from your colleagues, sealed it for me."
"Couldn't talk about it with the others without them calling me insane or thinking I had something to do with the case. People still thought the latter though."
"Because you can do something they can't comprehend. In a perfect world, your colleagues would be happy another psychopath is off the streets. But it all boils down to glory and being a hero. And there can only be one and it seemed like that hero was you." Jonathan chuckled dryly.
"Was." He said.
"And don't you miss that glory?" Miss it? He dreams about those days. He was everyone's hero, and the only person he wants to be a hero for it his daughter. Whenever Milla got a nightmare it was Jonathan who she would call for in the middle of the night. Crossing the street, it was his hand she reached for. Jonathan came out here to pay his respects, regroup and figure out a plan to get his daughter back. He owed it to Thomas to get justice, yes. But he owed it to Milla to be there for her.
"I miss my daughter." He said, "Being a detective is why I can't see her. If I stay out here and do this, then who knows when it would be the next time I would see her again. I'm sorry. Whatever it is you want me to do, I can't." Jonathan got to his feet. Brenda remained seated.
"What it I told you I know a way to guarantee that you'll get your daughter back." Jonathan stopped in his tracks. "I know you're in pain, Jon, I can see it on you... I can feel it. All I want to do is relieve you of that pain. But, I need you to do this for me. I need to find Thomas's killer and put an end to this before they target someone else... what if the next person they target is Milla?" Jonathan looked back at her. Brenda was plagued with desperation. "Please, Jon."
"How can you help me get my daughter back? Do you have a lawyer?"
"We have something better. Come with me and I'll show you."
Brenda called for someone to pick them up. An older man, a personal driver? The old man didn't say much. Only greeted them when they got in the car, and said his goodbyes when they got out of the car.
"This is as far we allow the cars." Brenda's family estate was outside of Little Cove, situated amongst luscious pines and oaks on the other side of Saudade Lake. The estate seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. One moment there is a wall of trees, and then suddenly, the dreary tan and brown bricked exterior came into view. It was magnificent to behold and grand in a way that didn't suit Thomas. When it came to Brenda, that was a different story.
Jonathan had assumed Brenda's immediate family call this a home. Perhaps once in her life, this is the place her mind wanders when she's in need of an escape. Now, it is home to many women and girls, and it appears from every corner of the world too. Little girls played about the garden. When they saw him, their games paused momentarily as they greeted him with waves and big snaggle-toothed grins.
Some of the women in the garden were keeping an eye on the younger girls. One of these supervisors had long curly red hair barely contained in a ponytail, and thin circle-rimmed glasses. Now and then she'd glance up from her leather-bound journal to scold one of the little ones for playing too rough or going too far out of sight. She waved at Brenda but watched Jonathan closely.
Everywhere he turned, more women seemed to be appearing, occupying the garden, or relaxing on one of the many balconies the estate has to offer. A large group of teens is running the perimeter of the property, guided by an older woman with impossibly long white dreads and muscular physic.
Most of the young women who were roaming about, picking flowers, reading, mowing the lawn- stopped and watched. Him. He studied most of their faces and got a mixed reception. Too many stared him down like a lion watching a gazelle in the wild. He's an intruder, unwanted prey... but prey nonetheless.
"Brenda said as she led him into the cool air of the estate. "If you do this for me, Milla would be staying here. You wouldn't worry about her, she will be taken good care of. Like all of our girls. How old is Milla?"
"4, she'll be five in November."
"We have many girls her age here. We like to keep the little ones on the first floor-"
"You're saying 'we' a lot," Jonathan said. "What is this place?" Brenda turned to him.
"This is Levana Manor, home to all women and young girls with special talents." Jonathan took in her words his eyes went to the woman wandering and staring.
"A coven." He said looking back at her to catch an impressed smile.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because my mother was a part of one." Jonathan watched as that smile slipped from Brenda's lips. "And there's no way in hell I'm letting my daughter join one."