Hiraeth

ix

Shinedown- Second Chance

"This is a hell of a theory," Kaleb said listening to the intel Carter has gathered. "What did you find?" 

"It's not him. He doesn't want to spread death, he wants to spread awareness of what he believes in. His interpretations are different than those of a Christian man's. He wants to show the world that some evils are necessary but not the way this girl was murdered," 

"Kind of sounds like you're on the satanist's side," Kaleb smirked. 

"The only side I'm on is on this dead girl's," 

"You think it was a good idea to tell Cooke you're a cop?" Carter nodded. 

"Cooke is trying to build something. It's outside the norms of what the rest of us deem moral. He's not going to want us making him out to be killer. We shouldn't point the finger at him just because he's a Satanist," 

"Then we have no leads?" she shook her head. 

"Not with the girl. Just because Cooke isn't who we're looking for. It doesn't mean that what he's spreading isn't toxic. People look for a higher power to guide them. To make them feel like they matter. Do you have faith?" she asked him. 

"I do. I was raised Catholic," he said pulling out a cross from inside his sweater.

"You have faith in the scriptures? Redemption, forgiveness, and all that?" 

"Yeah," 

"This man believes in that as well. He believes Satan will save him just like Jesus paid for your sins when he was nailed to the cross. How many times have the people who believe in what you do, taken what they believe in and twisted it to fit what they want?" 

"That's basically what our history is based on," he answered. 

"This can get out of hand. Cooke might follow his own rules but it doesn't mean others will. We have to keep an eye on these people without harassing them. I don't want to push anyone too far," 

"What do we do then?" 

"No one knows who you are. You have blue eyes. The blonde hair. The tattoos. You look good tailored. We can clean you up and you can blend in," she said sitting back. 

"You want me to go undercover as a Satanist?" 

"I know everything you need to know about this. I can teach you how to talk like them give you the tools you're going to need," 

"What about my kid? I have so much to lose out there," 

"Helena is safe. She will always be safe. She has you, she has me, and her babysitter is the mother of a well trained Marine. It'll just be for intel nothing too out of the ordinary. We need to find two big guys who are willing to share everything," 

"Do we run this by the chief?" she nodded. 

"Yeah, we have to. Both our asses depend on it," he laughed. "I just want you to be on board. If you're not okay with this, I can request for a transfer to do it. We have like eight new ones," 

"You two make me nervous," the two of them looked up at the chief who had just gotten out of a meeting. He opened his door motioning them both inside. "I know you have something for me. I can see it in your eyes," 

"I do," 

"Before you start, I just want to let you know that I just came from a meeting with the commissioner and the mayor. They are both worried about this new gang slipping into the hierarchy on the streets. It can start a war and that is the last thing we need right now,"