Temple: A New Journey Begins
Please see the disclaimer on the Synopsis page.
Heads turned once again as the tall, thin, gray haired man with dark glasses entered the Sheriff's office. They eyed him suspiciously, then turned back to the task at hand. They did their best to ignore the stranger, but it wasn't long before that became impossible.
"Hey, I need to speak to your Sheriff."
"He's busy."
"This can't wait."
The officer in charge eyed the stranger. He was deciding whether this guy was going to be trouble for his town or was simply just trying to be annoying.
"Look, the Sheriff isn't here. You want to speak to him you'll have to come back later."
"I said, this can't wait," then the stranger with the dark green shades pulled out a wallet and handed it to the officer.
"What's the CIA doing in Braniff?"
"A friend of mine reported that there were some mysterious deaths happening in this part of the country. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, Officer Benson"
"If you mean about the two monks out at the Lowery farm, I think your friend exaggerated, Mr. Griffin. The two deaths were from natural causes."
"Are you aware that there were two more?" Kermit stated as a matter of fact.
"No. Why weren't they reported?" Officer Benson asked.
"Maybe because someone did not believe my friend when he said that the first two deaths were not natural."
"Are you implying that we would ignore something like a possible serial killer running around in our town?"
Kermit didn't answer the question but asked one of his own. "Are you so sure that every death that has happened so far happened through a natural cause?"
"And I'm asking you one more time," Benson argued. "Why is the CIA interested in this?"
"That's national security and on a need to know basis."
Officer Benson eyed Kermit Griffin. It was obvious he did not like the man and knew he was going to be trouble. He hated the idea of having two more mysterious deaths in Braniff. There have been too many over the years,, not to mention a disappearance or two. Still, as an officer of the law he was obligated to protect innocent lives.
"Look, I'll inform the Sheriff that you came by. I still don't understand why the CIA would be interested in a bunch of priests worshipping at a shrine."
"Let's just say I happen to be familiar with the Shaolin," Kermit stated. "And when it comes to them, I know a few people who would not be happy to hear about their deaths." Kermit Griffin pulled out a card from his wallet. "You can have the Sheriff reach me on my cell phone. I'm also staying at the Lowery place. By the way, you wouldn't happen to know where I might buy some white paint?"
"Why?"
"Someone left a very nice message on Mr. Lowery's barn. You wouldn't happen to know of any gang activity going on around here?"
"Gang activity? That sort of thing only happens in large cities like Los Angeles," Benson replied though his curiosity was now piqued. "What kind of message was left?"
"Oh the usual type of warning, 'Go home or there will be more deaths,' that sort of thing."
Kermit watched Benson's eyes narrow. "If you're saying someone left a death threat, then sure, I'll certainly let the Sheriff know when he comes back."
"You do that."
****
The graying blond haired woman adopted an air of innocence, dressing as plainly as possible, even though she was still considered a striking woman. It was going to be hard to convince others that she was a small town girl. People in this community knew that someone had bought the old Holmes estate three months ago, but she had not allowed anyone to see her. She had gone out into the community cloaked and hidden from view, seeking information wherever she could about the Caine clan ever since she learned that Peter Caine and his father had come from this part of the country.
It wasn't hard to acquire the information. She heard all the stories, how the temple had been destroyed, how Caine had saved the life of Rachel Lowery. There were conflicting views as to whether the monks at the temple had been good members of the community while others saw them as freaks. To this very day, there were some who still believed that the monks visiting a certain shrine on the Lowery property should not be allowed anywhere near "decent people" as one person put it while others held that the monks were kind and peace loving human beings. Others still harassed those who spoke in favor of the monks. It was that small group who did the harassing that she wanted to find, believing that she could help their cause. So, rather than search clandestinely, she decided to do it openly, as a new concerned citizen of the community.
Continues with Part 13
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2004.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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