Devil's Trap

IX

Jack was much more well rested when he awoke the next morning. He promptly got dressed and went to the station, finding Stella already prepared to leave.

"Good morning!" she said, rather cheerfully. She had plenty of powder on her face, but Jack could see dark circles ringing her eyes. She hadn't slept much last night. Memories were often the most frequent cause of insomnia.

"Morning," he replied, wandering over to the coffee machine. "Do you want some?"

She nodded, squinting her eyes shut and then opening them. "I didn't get much rest last night."

Jack lifted a corner of his mouth. "I can tell," he said. While the coffee pot whirred beside them, they leaned against the counter.

"How'd you sleep?" she asked. Her fingers twisted a lock of hair between them. Her eyes were glassy as she stared off into space.

"Better than usual." He handed her a cup. "So you think we have an exorcist on our hands?"

Stella nodded, pushing herself upright off the counter. "I'd bet my bottom dollar. Not to mention the fact that we have Petrine Crosses etched in our chests. That's a surefire sign that we are looking at educated Catholics," she said. She crossed her arms, still staring. "Do you believe in that baloney?"

"Am I religious, you mean?" he asked. She nodded, scoffing as he let out a sigh. "Yes. I don't exactly go to church every Sunday, but I believe that there is a God somewhere out there."

"Really?" she asked. "I'd always thought you the atheistic type."

Jack clicked his tongue. "What about you? Do you believe yourself when you play a sovereign of Hell?"

Stella shook her head. "I wouldn't say I don't believe, but I'd say that I'm skeptical. I'm an ignostic, I guess. I need a concrete definition of God before I can figure out what I am."

He tilted his head, thinking it over. The coffee pot made a popping sound, and he poured her a cup. "Cream?" he asked.

"No thanks."

"Me neither."

Stella yawned. "Should we get going?"

He nodded. "We're heading out at eleven. The team wants to meet with us."

The two walked in, taking a seat at the table where Healy, Lawrence, and Fitzgerald were all perched. Fitzgerald glared at him as Jack pulled out a chair for Stella.

"All right," Healy boomed. "What's our plan of action for today?"

Claude cleared his throat. "Winona and Augustine are going in again today," he said. He turned to them. "Your goal is to find a member of this cult who we can question and get some answers from."

"How do you want us to do that?" Jack asked.

Fitzgerald glanced at Healy. "I want Augustine to be a demon."

Stella nodded. "How, exactly, do you want me to play a demon?"

"Isn't that a little far fetched?" Claude asked.

Healy shook his head. "No. Winona's best skill is analysis of behavior. If we can put people in an uncomfortable position, he'll be able to pick up on it and give us a list of suspects. By making Stella act like something they consider demonic, we might get some answers."

"Won't she become a target?" Jack asked.

"No," Fitzgerald snapped. "Just a person of interest to one of our people of interest."