“And in a funny sort of way, I’ve found myself, found my freedom. I know it in my heart but can’t fully explain it yet. We have to go through hardships to grow.”
Hardship. Hard to bear. Hard to endure. Carry it all away in a ship. He wished. His job was his hardship and that was the problem. He really could not think about his own hardship because he was so tied up in the hardships of others.
“I agree, but some people don’t react well to hardship. They retreat, seek revenge, seek solace in drugs or alcohol. It becomes a vicious circle and people find it hard to break free. To be honest, some of the hardships I’ve seen, I’d find it hard to be positive. Some people need to be superhuman.”
“Superhuman? Is that possible? You would need some extra power from somewhere. Maybe something supernatural,” Ruby said.
“Just as long as it’s not the creepy things Churchie sees.”
“Weird, isn’t it? But we need people like you and Catherine. Evil needs to be restrained. You two help do that.” Her eyes watered up. “Thank you for all you’ve done to protect me.” Ruby reached over and gave Jack a hug.
Jack placed his hand on Ruby’s arm. He thought of Erica and Johnny. They seemed to have found their way home. Things were going to change, but maybe it was him who needed to change.
A swallow flew past and banked as if indicating its mission was complete. Jack watched it fly off into the sunset. Its metallic colouring reminding Jack of a jet fighter.
“The bird is checking out whether the porch is suitable for a nest.” Catherine said as she joined them. “And I’m just checking Ruby is okay.”
“She seems to be,” Jack said. “And the bird was signing off on its completed mission. A fleet of them attacked a swarm of flies.”
Catherine gave him a puzzled look. “Should it not be ‘flock’?”
“Not in this case.”
She turned to Ruby with a raised eyebrow. “You good?”
“I’m good, Catherine.” Ruby stood up and gave Catherine a hug. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”
“That’s alright. It’s why we do what we do.”
“I told Jack I came here to find closure and I believe I have. I also came here hoping to find Father God as opposed to mother nature,” Ruby hesitated. “I noticed you wear a cross. Could I ask why?”
“You can,” Catherine said with a soft, comforting smile. “I found Father God a few years back.”
63 – Goodbye island
JACK AND CATHERINE had sought the warmth of the enclosed area on the police barge while Ruby chose to stay up top. As the barge reversed out, Jack wondered if he’d be back here again.
Sergeant Phil told Jack the isolation of the island provided both challenges and opportunities. He got to know the island folk well. Jack hoped there weren’t too many Gill Watts types on the island, but he’d been on the island for rehab and it’d been working until a little doll took control. That sounded almost romantic.
Catherine stood there with her arms tucked in and her shoulders shrugged up. She gave Jack a smile. He returned her smile.
“Well, Cath, I wonder if our dealings with the unearthly beings are behind us.” His eyes were on the shoreline. “And I wonder if there’s a big green creature on the shoreline waving us goodbye.”
Catherine looked in the direction of the shoreline. “It must be scary seeing those things but you know what’s even scarier? We’re surrounded by those unearthly beings and they’re listening and watching us all the time. Even right now.”
Jack didn’t quite know how to respond. Churchie could see that world. “I think we might sign Churchie up, get him on our team.”
“Good move, Jack. Maybe we could call our team the ghostbusters.”
“Not sure how original that is. Might have to come up with something different.”
“God’s Squad?” Catherine asked.
“Nope. Already taken. Christian Motorcycle Club.”
“Yep. Just remembered.”
“You a member?” Jack asked, meaning the question to be tongue in cheek.
“Nope, but I’m a Christian.”
“Might get you to explain that to me one day.”
“Will do.”
He saw it in her eyes. So Catherine had found God. Jack had noticed the change in her, and recent events made it even more noticeable. He just couldn’t quite put his finger on it, what finding God was, or even what a Christian was. It puzzled him. Was God hiding somewhere, playing hide and seek? The key was knowing whether you’re lost or just playing a game. Jack knew neither.
They were cruising parallel with the island now, and he could see families were amusing themselves on the shoreline. Parents resting, reading, eating, drinking, and acting as lifeguards over their children who were only dipping their feet in the near wintery bay water. One boy waved at the police barge.
The boy was about Johnny’s age. Jack loved Erica and Johnny, and looked forward to having some days off and spending more time with them. He’d put enough hours into this case but that was the nature of the job. He needed to think about that.
<°)))><
A rush of cold air came in through the open door. Ruby closed it.
“It’s a bit nippy up there.”
“Imagine it would be,” Jack said.
“You still doing okay?” Catherine asked.
“Yep. It’s all behind me. At least, I think it is.”
“It is, Ruby, except for the court proceedings. We’ll do what we can to keep your involvement to a minimum, but you will have to testify.”
“It may take a few years, Ruby, for the committal hearing and then the trial,” Catherine said. “But Mr Toby Watts will be behind layers of razor-sharp fences during that time, and forever after the trial. We’ll have to wait and see with Gill Watts, to determine whether he was an accomplice, but he’ll also be out of harm’s way.”
Ruby nodded and smiled. “Well done, team.” She gave them both a high five. “Sorry, don’t mean to be over the top but I feel good, as though something’s been released from within.”
Jack turned his attention to the deep waters ahead of them. Rulers of the darkness. Who are you? Where are you? Would his world ever be the same again?
<°)))><
A large green frog-like creature sat on the front fence of Churchie’s place.
Churchie walked up to it. Its skin was scaly and semi-transparent, shimmering in the slight breeze. He stared into its beady eyes.
“You lost, mate? You’re seeking rest, but not finding it. There’s nothing for you here. You’re a defeated foe, so be gone with you.”
