Free The Innsmouth Syndrome by Philip Hemplow Page A

I do.”
     
    “That is what I am investigating.”
     
    “I see.  And have you been successful, doctor?” 
     
    Esgrith produced a crumpled packet of cigarettes from his desk drawer and reached for a lighter.  It took him the use of both hands to guide the quivering flame to his mouth.
     
    “Somewhat, yes.  Reverend, it seems to be possible that your church is significant.  Epidemiologically speaking.”
     
    “What?”  Esgrith spat the word around his cigarette.
     
    Carla was damned if she was going to start speculating about the priest’s congregation, their potential for consanguinity or their lifestyles to his face.  It was enough that he know she had to search the church.  He didn’t need the details of her investigation.
     
    “It’s one of the places that all four of the children were exposed to regularly, somewhere they could have acquired their condition.  With your permission, I’d like to search the premises for possible vectors or contamina-“
     
    “The hell you do!”  Esgrith rose from his chair, the cigarette falling from his fingers.  “This is a place of worship!”
     
    “I know that, Reverend, but –“
     
    “D’you even know what you’re searching for?”
     
    “Not precisely, but –“
     
    “Then you can get the hell out!  Now!”
     
    Carla cursed inwardly.  She’d been expecting indignation and obstruction, but hoping to be surprised.  She tried a new tack.
     
    “Look, if need be I can come back with an entire team of investigators and the State police.  Probably the media as well.  Wouldn’t you prefer to handle this quietly between the two of us?”
     
    “The hell I would!” sneered Esgrith.  “You think you can threaten me, Doctor?  There’s such a thing as freedom of religion in this country!”
     
    “Oh, give it up.  I’m not threatening your religion Mr Esgrith.”  Carla was beginning to lose her patience.  “Perhaps a little more concern for the well-being of your flock would be in order.”
     
    Esgrith leveled an accusing finger at her.  “You leave my flock to me!  D’ya hear?  It just so happens that Senator Dalton is mighty supportive of the churches in this state – and he don’t like the federal government overmuch either!  Just you wait `til I phone him!”
     
    “Please, Reverend, would you let me –“
     
    “Go!”  His pointing finger swung to the door.  “Get the hell out of our temple!  Get the hell out of our town, you nigger bitch!”
     
    The word hit her like a bucket of iced water, driving the rest of her argument from her mind.  Esgrith sat back down, smirking.  Waiting to see if she would react in kind, give him some new complaint to take to the mighty Senator Dalton.  Bitterly, Carla fought her rising indignation and got to her feet.
     
    “Well, if that’s the way you’re going to behave you leave me no choice.  I’ll be back, of course, with a team of technicians.  And the police.  Oh, and be in no doubt” - she leaned down until her face was inches from his - “we will take this place to fucking pieces until we find what we’re looking for.”
     
    Carla swept from the room and began down the rickety steps.  Esgrith hobbled to the door of his office and shouted after her.
     
    “That’s harassment, right there!  You’ll be sorry, you black bitch!  No-one messes with the children of Dagon, ya hear me?  No-one!  Oh, you’ll be sorry alright!”
     
    Carla ignored him and crossed to the door.  Before leaving, she turned back to the irate Reverend, standing at the top of the stairs wreathed in cigarette smoke.  “See you soon” she promised, and stepped out into the daylight.
     
     
     
    *****
     
     
     
    She was furious all the way back to the hotel.  With Esgrith, obviously, and with herself for letting him push her buttons so easily.  There was no way Terry Whitehead was going to let her put together a team and turn over a church.  Esgrith had called it a temple.