Secrets of Thunder Valley- The Locket

by Shelly Von West

  Amber and Scott having already left, Ellen feels freer to be bold. She places her wool coat around her shoulders and walks with Benjamin and Franny to their car despite his suggestion that she stay inside.

  “Nonsense, I am fine.” She insists.

  Once Franny is secure in her seat, Benjamin makes his way against the force of the wind gusts to the driver’s side where Ellen waits for him.

  “I’m glad you invited us. It was a great day.”

  She tilts her head to the right to avoid her hair from covering her face, “I’m so glad you finally accepted. You know, back in the day you wouldn’t have played so hard to get.” She laughs.

  “Back in the day you wouldn’t have had me quaking in my boots.”

  With that, he places his strong hand firmly behind her head as he pulls her into him, crashing his firm lips down on her mouth for a sensual, lingering kiss.

  Pulling away after a few moments of embracing, Ellen feels chills running down her back but not the kind one feels after having been kissed passionately. The source of her unease is from the distinct feeling that they are being watched.

  He leans down for another lip-lock when she says emphatically, “Stop!”

  Surprised, he releases his hand and pulls away but not before she reaches out with her good arm and stops him from getting in the car. “Wait!”

  “Which is it? Stop or wait or what?” He says with a wounded look on his handsome face, lit only by the faint light from the front porch, Ellen leans into him, “We are being watched.” She whispers.

  He chuckles, “Yes, I am sure we are. Your parents are peering none-to-discreetly through the window.” He says while pointing at the curtain that has two sets of eyes peering past the white lace. He leans down to look in the back seat of the car and notes that the little girl is fast asleep in her booster seat.

  “No! It’s not them. I swear it’s someone in that direction.” She says pointing toward the lake where there is no light other than the moonlight filtering through the cloud cover casting shadows dancing on the water’s surface.

  Taking a few steps toward the direction she pointed he strains to see something… anything. Turning back to Ellen he confesses to not being able to see a thing.

  “Look if you regret letting me kiss you, fair enough. I’ll go home now. Thank you again for a great holiday.”

  Letting out a loud sigh, “Benjamin! I am not the person the magazines make me out to be. Nor am I some rash young girl who can’t be in control of herself or decisions I make. I am glad you kissed me and under the right circumstances, I should like you to do a lot more. But, now, I have the strong sense that someone is lurking in the shadows—watching.”

  Her body trembling as another chill takes a trip down her spine and back up to the nape of her neck.

  “Sorry. I’m just not sure what we are doing and where we are heading with this. I have no right to make any demands or place any expectations on you right now.” He looks over her shoulder then back toward the lake. “If you feel like someone is watching us, with all that has happened, I believe you. You should go in the house, make sure someone locks the windows and doors with the alarm system on.”

  She nods quickly while fighting back the tears that threaten.

  “Go in now and we will talk tomorrow. Okay?”

  Standing on her toes, she places a soft but brief kiss on his lips then turns to head back up the steps. Turning for a moment to wave she notes that he has not moved, he is watching—waiting.

  Once inside the house, her parents make no excuses for their blatant snooping.

  As the red from the tail lights of Benjamin’s car disappear down the driveway, Ellen turns to her parents catching Tim in an exaggerated yawn. “Further to our conversation earlier, I think it’s time we discuss when I’m going to leave. I can’t take any more of this and you guys need to get on with your life.”

  “Honey, we encourage you stay here as long as you want to be here. Our main concern is for your safety, our worry is not about ourselves. The problem is that if we can’t protect you here, you need to go somewhere that you will be safe.” Tim assures her.

  “I agree you should probably seek security and that means returning home. But what about Ben?” Kathy boldly asks.

  Ellen scoffs, “What about Ben? I’ll admit that I’m feeling conflicted about leaving because of developments with Ben and I’m scared of what might wait for me back home. But I also realize that if I were to go any further with Ben, I will have stepped right back into the same situation that I was in with Miles. Ben is still married and I just can’t get involved.”

  Suppressing another yawn Tim responds, “You have a good point. I think maybe you should let him know how you feel, but don’t get any further involved until he has his marital situation resolved.”

  “That’s what I think I will do. Anyway, we should probably get to bed, I am so wiped out and surely you are ready to drop too.” She says while matching Tim’s yawn.

  “Agreed.” Tim stretches. “We should discuss your plans in the morning over breakfast. You can hardly drive with that cast and there’s the matter of hiring a bodyguard to consider.”

  After they give each other hugs, they part ways as Tim and Kathy see to locking down the house. As she heads straight up the grand staircase to banish herself to bed, she hears the distinct beeping of the alarm being set.

  As her head hits the pillow, she hears the haunting sounds of the wind blowing and the lonely cry of an owl somewhere off in the distance.

  Chapter Ten

  Nearly levitating out of bed, Ellen sits up quickly in response to the wailing howls of the dog. Feeling delirious and panicked, she glances around the dark room for something to grab for a weapon. She runs into the walk-in closet and slips on a pair of UGG boots and pulls on the first sweater her hands encounter. Desperate for a weapon, she lays her eyes on a can of aerosol air freshener and runs into the hallway to the top of the stairs and stops to listen.

  Butch sounds as if he is straight out the hounds from hell. Her skin is a virtual collage of goose bumps, with each one pulsing with fear. Frozen at her perch, she considers the list of scenarios through her head, deliberating what her next move should be. Sneaking back into her room, she carefully shuts the door, locking the flimsy knob behind her, she takes her phone off the charger and without hesitation; she calls the Sherriff.

  Almost ready to hang up after too many rings, he finally answers in a groggy voice, which is entirely to be expected, “Sherriff speaking”, he sputters as he clears his throat. “Hello?” He demands.

  “Uncle Bill… it’s Ellen….” she whispers.

  Before she continues, a dark figure emerges out of the shadows reaching out to her with freakishly bony fingers and a laugh so sinister and cruel that Ellen can feel her veins turning into ice.

  Her own muffled cries are the last thing she hears before the dark figure forcefully places something over her mouth and nose causing consciousness to elude her.

  The darkness is all enveloping. She struggles against the dank smelling confines of the space in which she was carefully discarded. Ellen knows this because when she was coming out of the drugged stupor, her assailant was taking time to arrange her on an old ripped blanket on the floor of a basement or root cellar of some sort. As she reached out to the dark figure, begging for mercy, a strong forceful hand once again covers her mouth and nose with a rough cloth. Causing the dark void to abscond her again.

  Waking once again to the unwelcoming sooty bleakness, she knows little of how long she has been there lying there but the damp chill running through her skin straight to her shivering bones causes her an immense amount of pain in her already damaged arm. Her feet are bound by what she assumes to be zip ties while her good hand is free. Feeling the binding around her ankles she confirms that they are in fact being held together by a zip tie that is digging into her flesh.

  Laying on the rough floor, the thread bare blanket serves as little relief from the co
ld. Careful not to cause herself more pain, she wiggles herself into a sitting position which proved to be no small fete despite her slight frame. Feeling more like a turtle stuck on its back, she finally manages a sitting position while trying to force her eyes to adjust to the complete blackout she curses as her eyes can make out nothing. Not having any way of estimating the time she gives up on seeing and works on hearing something… anything.

  At first, she thinks that she hears someone talking but the longer she strains, she realizes it’s only the wind causing the old structure to creak in protest. Uncertain whether it is a house, barn, or simply an old root cellar, she is certain of one thing, whoever put her here does not intend her any fatal harm, at least not yet.

  She runs the possibilities while a lump the size of Manhattan is forming in her throat… this could be about money. All this time, it had not occurred to her until this moment that this is likely to be a kidnapping for ransom.

  She shivers as another more sobering thought occurs to her, “Nobody but me and my estate manager has access to my money… he is on a safari in Kenya until...” Her voice drops as her body shakes uncontrollably with tears flowing out of her eyes. Helpless and desperate, she finds no relief from the barrage of horrible scenarios flashing through her head much like a psychedelic montage.

  After hours of drifting in and out of fitful sleep laden with disturbing nightmares, she wills herself to stay awake. To stave off the panic that is threatening to overcome her, she recites her lines for the film that is to resume after the break.

  As her voice shakes, her mind keeps wandering back to her predicament… one which is now resembling the crappy script that Vincent kept thrusting on her.

  She gasps while feeling paralyzed with a new thought, is this somehow linked to the new script? Is this someone’s sick way of forcing her into that role?

  As she continues to lament over the possibilities, she fails to notice that the sun is now coming up as weak streams of light are filtering through the floor boards of the structure above, highlighting the thick particles of dust floating in the stagnant air.

  Before daylight arrives, an all-out manhunt is already under way.

  “Searching for missing actress Ellen Jackson will be no small fete in this densely wooded wilderness. As you can see behind me, local and federal law enforcement agencies have joined forces to locate the missing star. We are at the home of Tim and Kathy Jackson, Ellen Jackson’s father and stepmother.” The heavily made-up news anchor reports, “Missing since around midnight last night, there is no word yet if a ransom has been demanded or if they suspect foul play. So far law enforcement has little to go on and have released no information. We will report back once new developments occur. Now back to you at the studio Carrie and Peter.”

  “Thank you, Donna.” Replies Peter. “The irony of this story is that twenty-three years ago, to the day, her own mother Melody Jackson went missing. It remains as a cold case because they never found the missing woman.”

  “Yes, and amid the recent scandal involving the actress and director on-again, off-again love interest Miles Sinclair, it would seem her trying to escape from the spotlight has been thwarted. Sources show she spent the Christmas holiday lying low with family and friends.” Carrie says in a typical anchorwoman matter-of-fact voice.

  Peter adds, “A local source interviewed early this morning confirms that there has been suspicious activity involving the two-decade old disappearance of the actress’s mother. This source says that the resurgence of interest in the case is likely to be related to the recent attempts on her life, including a hit and run just weeks ago. Officials believe it is all linked.”

  “As the story breaks, we will keep you informed. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.” Carrie finishes.

  “Tim!” Benjamin yells from the other side of the yellow police tape. “Tim!”

  Whirling around, Tim motions for Benjamin to come through the tape. Nodding at the policeman guarding the entrance, he lifts the tape for Benjamin allowing him entry. Rushing to the front porch, he joins Tim and Kathy and a gaggle of people wearing official jackets and protective vests underneath.

  The scene is straight out of a movie, except this is not a movie, this is real. All too real for Tim as he is reliving the same nightmare as he did twenty-three years ago. Except this time, the stakes seem even higher, this is his own flesh and blood missing. It was a horrible nightmare when his wife went missing without so much as a trace and to think the same thing could happen again all these years later, is more than he can bear.

  Benjamin shakes Tim’s hand while shaking his head, “I came as soon as I could. The town folks are assembling as I speak but we aren’t sure where we are needed for the search.”

  “Thanks for coming.” Tim chokes. Taking a moment to regain his composure he turns his back to him. Clearing his throat before turning back to face Benjamin, “They have little to go on so far. They can’t search until they find evidence that points them in a direction.”

  “I figured as much. What do they know so far?”

  “Nothing. A forensic team is in a ‘copter from Sacramento. I overheard that they are running into severe weather conditions that may cause difficulty for landing. I told them they could land in my field over there.” He points to an opening in the trees covered in a pristine fresh blanket of snow.

  The sun is trying to peek through the snow filled clouds filtering light on the powdery flakes causing the sky to glisten, while the wind is whipping resulting in the air burning.

  “Come inside, it’s cold enough out here for these responders. Touch nothing though. I’ve been thoroughly lectured that until the investigators print everything that we shouldn’t even be here, but Sheriff knows I won’t leave yet.”

  Once inside the warmth of the house, Tim leads the way to the kitchen where Kathy is standing in the window with her hands wrapped around a lukewarm coffee mug.

  Turning around slowly the dark circles under her eyes show her state of mind.

  “It’s been seven hours Tim. Why haven’t we heard anything and what could take the forensic team so long to get here? You said they were coming by air, right?”

  Wrapping his arms around her, he brings her close as her body visibly shudders against his strong embrace.

  Benjamin realizes that he is an interloper, so he ducks through the doorway to the mudroom just as a gruff looking man with two other equally serious looking men are following him up the river bank. He is obviously heading to the porch. Ben opens the mudroom door intercepting the man before he goes to the kitchen door.

  “Hi. Can I help you?”

  The gruff man looks past Benjamin toward the house. “I don’t think so. I need to speak to the Jacksons. We now have a development.”

  Ben’s heart skips a beat, “Oh.” He says quietly. “I’ll just get them. Did you get a lead on Ellen?”

  Shaking his head, “I’m sorry but I cannot say.”

  Benjamin opens the door and peeks his head inside and calls out for Tim and Kathy.

  Rushing to the door, the pair are wearing matching looks of despair.

  “What is it Agent Lowens?” Tim asks anxiously.

  In a low, confidential tone he replies with a stoic look on his face. “They have found a body.”

  Kathy’s legs go numb under her as she collapses, “No!” She shouts as Tim’s quick reflexes alert him to catch his wife.

  Quickly putting his hand up, “Hold up! It’s not Ellen. But, we believe it’s the man who attacked you last month. Your Sherriff reported that they never apprehended the assailant after he escaped custody. Our early assessment is that the man we found in a grove of cattails is in fact that man. We will have to transport his body to Sacramento and have it autopsied by the medical examiner and fingerprinted to confirm.”

  Nodding quickly, Tim feels only the slightest amount relieved. At least the body was not Ellie and they may have the man who beat them, but still no news about Ellie.

  �
�I suppose that’s progress, but I wonder why they didn’t find him when they searched for him when he escaped and why would he return here? One would have thought he would want to get as far from here as possible.” Tim laments.

  “He might have returned to finish the job. He probably would not get a payday otherwise. My best guess is that he was hiding in the cattails while they searched. We’ll know his manner of death soon enough, though my guess is he drowned.” The agent responds.

  Feeling sick to her stomach she swallows at the bile threatening to rise, “Well it would serve him right. He nearly killed my family and to think he might have come back to finish the job as you say.” Kathy gushes with not a trace of remorse for gloating.

  Wrapping his arm around her again, they head back to the kitchen island. “Sit here. You need to eat something to keep your strength up, I’ll make you some toast.”

  She shakes her head murmuring something about not being hungry, but he ignores her protest and sets about making a fresh pot of coffee and toast.

  Tim motions with his head for Ben to sit next to Kathy. Taking her hand, he looks at her with sympathy, “I know this is hard. They will find her. I just know she will be okay.”

  “How can you know, how can any of us? Someone took her in the middle of the night under the cloak of darkness. What if this is the same way that Melody disappeared? Could it be the same people?” She says with increasing intensity to her voice. “And this hair clip, it was hers… I found it near the front door this morning… just tossed aside.” She says while clasping the antique in her hand, holding back the tears.

  “Slow down Kath, you will make yourself even more sick! I am every bit as worried as you are, but we can’t do this.” Tim tries to reassure in the best soothing voice he can conjure considering the situation.

  Placing a fresh and aromatic mug of coffee in front of Ben he then tops off Kathy’s. “What I don’t understand is why we haven’t received a ransom yet. Isn’t that what this is all about?”