29 “I’ve never seen you let a case get this complicated,” Wylie said. He pointed over at Alan the Moon’s bartender whistling a tune and engaging his bar guests. “What are we having?” Alan asked. He tapped his fingers on the marble bar top. “Welcome, Artemis’ guest.” “I’ll try a Guinness,” Wylie said. He sat on a solid wooden stool next to Artemis. “This your joint?” “It’s a good, quiet spot,” Artemis said. “I rarely get hit on, mostly local crowd.” Alan had turned, he grabbed a branded Guinness Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 28
28 “Artemis?” The voice said from Artemis’ smartphone speaker.“Yes,” Artemis said. She sat up on her hotel bed with two pillows stuffed behind her back. “Jerome?”“Yes,” Jerome said. His voice was hesitant. “Been dealing with your request. Your statement, connection to the father has been greatly helpful, and I think well received by the court.”“You don’t sound overly confident?” Artemis said. She held the smartphone closer in front of her mouth.“You’re correct,” Jerome said. He coughed to clear Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 27
27 “I’m brilliant, it’s a fact,” Dr. Demetrius said. He glanced over at Artemis as he pulled out a rectangular plastic tray. He shook the tray covered across the top with wobbly mushroom caps. “I guess we all need some self confidence,” Artemis said. “It’s how I manage the humidity, temperature, C02, with just the right environment,” Dr. Demetrius said, proudly. ”Did you know that I can create a structure for human organs.” “Why keep people on life support?” Artemis asked without looking into Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 26
26 “They’re brothers,” Artemis said. She gripped the warm coffee mug. “He was wearing a demonic mask, now it makes sense.”“Well now,” Agent Beaky said. He watched a lady at a nearby table stabbing her fork into her bland breakfast. “How on earth did you find this out?”Artemis pondered the situation for several minutes. She thought about the fact Satan had revealed itself to her. And most importantly, a little girl’s life was in danger. She needed to get Agent Beaky’s help.“You’re right,” Artemis Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 25
25 Artemis foraged deep into the thick forest. She climbed up the steep mountain sides as the darkness was unmasked by her night vision glasses. Her Glock 9mm holstered to her side. A ballistic knife strapped to her right thigh. Her boots splattered with brown mud. After she finally relocated the tall tree, and the ritualistic sight. She knelt down, and allowed her breathing to slow, and her warm skin to accept the cold air. As she appeared to release steam from her body. And as she expected Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 24
24 “You should have hired me, like I told you, too,” Jerome said, angrily. “Or at least another local attorney.”“What can I do now?” Artemis asked. She sat outside the courthouse on a metal park bench. “I thought one of my company firms could handle a simple case.”“Lexington lawyers are not welcome here,” Jerome said. “You should know that, always, always get a local. They know the judges, the staff.”Jerome Jenkins sat down next to her. He stuffed his smartphone into his jacket. They had watched Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 23
23 “Tell me about these death cases.” “I’m not sure what you’re asking me,” Dr. Demetrius said, dismissively. “It’s a hospital, people are born, we heal most, but we have to deal, manage if you will, death.” “Yes,” Gene said. His puffy hands typed on his iPad without looking over at Artemis. “We have the EHR’s all in line, up to date, what’s missing in your mind, Ms. Lamb?” “They appear way to clean,” Artemis said. She stared directly at Gene. “What would a plaintiff lawyer Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 22
22 “I’m not sure how to say this?” “Dear lady,” Agent Beaky said. He glanced over at Jerome Jenkins. “Best way, just say it.” “I’m curious why I’m even here? Or better, why you two are in my office,” Jerome Jenkins asked. He sat behind his office desk staring over at Artemis and then over at Agent Beaky. “What am I to make of you two?” Artemis sucked in a deep, reflective breath. She held the breath for several heart beats and blew it back out down toward the dark red and blue Persian pattern Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 21
21 “What are you really doing?” Artemis asked. Dr. Demetrius stood up from behind the fancy conference room table. He waved over for Gene to remain behind with Loretta.“Have I ever taken you for a tour of my lab?” Dr. Demetrius asked Artemis. “It’s quite remarkable. Even by my standards.”“No,” Artemis said. She glanced over at the despondent Gene and Loretta. “But, I guess I’m about to.”“You sure?” Gene asked. He started to stand up.“You stay, Gene. I’m in charge, after all. Follow me Artemis,” Continue Reading
Amanita – Chapter 20
20 “Is this Ms. Lamb? A Ms. Artemis Lamb?” A voice asked from Artemis’ smartphone speaker. The voice had a heavy southern accent with a slight twangy elongated vibration at the end of the sentence.“Yes,” Artemis said. Her scalp tingled from a dreadful expectation. “Who are you?”“Glad we finally found you, oh heavens me,” the voice said. “I’m Mrs. Thompson with Child Protective Services, here in Kentucky. We received an anonymous inquiry from our hotline, about you.”“Sorry,” Artemis said. She Continue Reading