Gathering Shadows

by Nancy Mehl

  “You can take him with us, if it will help,” Paul said. “He can stay in the car.”

  “Don’t be silly,” I said. “I’ll take him to Rae’s. It’s better than sitting around here doing nothing.”

  “Maybe we could do some interviews while they’re gone,” Zac said.

  I nodded. “You’re right. With everything going on, I almost forgot about our story. After Ed’s warning, we’ve got to finish this assignment. It just might save our jobs.”

  Zac grunted. “I’m all for that.”

  “We’ll take Lazarus with us,” I said. “Maybe folks will open up more with him around.”

  “I appreciate this, Wynter,” Reuben said.

  I sighed. “I think you’re using Lazarus to distract me, but I’ll do it. He’s a great dog.”

  Reuben smiled. “Yes, he is. He’ll love spending time with you.”

  “We need to get going,” Paul said.

  I went over and gave my dad a hug.

  “If it’s him, I’ll bring him back to you,” he said.

  Overcome by emotion, all I could do was nod.

  I watched as Dad followed Paul outside to the car.

  “Here are the keys to my truck,” Reuben said. “Thanks for taking care of Lazarus. I know he already loves you.”

  I smiled at Reuben. “I love him too.”

  He put his hands on each side of my face and gazed into my eyes. “When I get back, we need to talk. Seriously. Lazarus isn’t the only one with deep feelings about you.”

  He kissed me quickly and left, the door slamming behind him.

  “Wow,” Zac said. “Things are moving pretty fast, aren’t they?”

  I nodded. “Yes, and I’m not sure what to do.”

  “What do you want to do?”

  I stared at Zac for a moment, trying to come up with an answer. Finally I said, “I don’t know. I have these strong feelings in my heart, but my head keeps telling me we’re from two different worlds. My life is in St. Louis. His is on his family’s farm.”

  “I’m certainly not an expert on relationships, but I’ve heard that love always finds a way.” Zac smiled. “You know, you’re not the same person who drove us into Sanctuary. You’ve changed.”

  “In what way?”

  “It was like you had all these walls around you, protecting yourself. It was almost impossible to get around them. Now those walls are coming down. I would say this place has had a great effect on you.”

  “And you. You’re not the same smart aleck you were when we first got here.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Does that mean I’m just a different kind of smart aleck?”

  I laughed. “That’s exactly what it means.”

  Zac chuckled. “You know, my mother says God doesn’t lead us through our heads. He leads through our hearts. So I guess you should follow your heart.”

  I sighed. “I know my heart is saying something, but I haven’t sorted it all out yet. Guess I’ll keep trying.” I glanced at my watch. “It’s almost ten. I should take Lazarus to his appointment. Will you be okay on your own?”

  He nodded. “I’ll help Esther clean up from breakfast, and then I’ll get my equipment ready so we can tape some interviews when you get back. Do I need to make any calls?”

  “I don’t think so. We’ll just do the best we can. Anyone we can’t see today, we’ll schedule for tomorrow.”

  “And then?”

  I shrugged. “And then we’ll see. If nothing comes of the meeting with the Fishers, if Elijah isn’t Ryan, we’ll leave tomorrow afternoon.”

  “And if he is?”

  I shook my head. “I can’t think past that, Zac. I really can’t.”

  “I understand.” He stood up. “I’m going to start clearing the table, then I’ll locate Esther and see what else I can do to help her.”

  “Okay.” I started for the door but stopped halfway there. “Uh, it might help if I know how to find Rae’s office.”

  “I’ll ask Esther. Hang on.”

  He disappeared into the kitchen and was only gone a few seconds before returning. “Go one block past The Whistle Stop and turn right. Keep going about a mile. The vet’s office is on the right side of the road. There’s a big sign that says ‘Pet Sanctuary’ out front.”

  “Wonder why Rae doesn’t have an office closer to town.”

  “Esther says her office is on the same property as her house. Guess she likes it that way.”

  “Okay. Well, I’m off. Be back in a while.”

  Zac nodded and trotted back toward the kitchen while I went out the front door. Sam and Frances were lying on the porch. I took a moment to pet them. Maizie and Clyde were probably roaming around somewhere.

  It was a brisk spring morning, and the air was invigorating. Reuben’s truck was parked right in front of the house, and Lazarus sat in the driver’s seat, looking as if he was ready to put the truck in gear and take off. He smiled when he saw me and scooted over to the passenger side, no doubt anticipating our ride together. Little did he know he was getting ready for shots. I wondered if that knowledge would change his happy expression.

  I opened the door and got in. Before I could start the engine, I was immediately greeted with a sloppy doggy kiss on the cheek.

  “Why, thank you,” I said. “Hope you still want to kiss me after your appointment.”

  Lazarus responded with another wet kiss. When I started the truck, he turned toward the window. I rolled it down so he could hang his head out.

  After leaving town, I watched the speedometer. Just about the time we’d reached a mile, I spotted Rae’s office. Sure enough, there was a large red wooden sign next to the road that read “Pet Sanctuary.” Below those words was an arrow pointing to the right. I turned and followed a dirt road all the way down to the office. It was obvious it had once been a barn, but it had been completely renovated into an attractive facility.

  After parking the truck, I got out and looked around for a leash. I finally found it stuck between the seats, pulled it out, and attached it to Lazarus’s collar. He gave me an offended look, but I had no idea if he’d actually follow me once I let him out of the truck. The last thing I wanted was for him to take off. Better safe than sorry.

  As we walked toward the office, I noticed a large house about a quarter mile down the road. Two stories, white with black shutters—it was beautiful. If Rae owned the vet’s office, the house and all this land, she was wealthier than I would have guessed.

  The front door was unlocked, so we walked in. No one was in the waiting area. The office was rustic but clean. Pictures of dogs, cats, horses, and even cows covered the walls. There were padded benches across from the front counter, so I sat down to wait. Lazarus jumped up next to me and put his head on my lap. I stroked his soft head, hoping Rae would show up soon. I’d just decided to go looking for her when she came into the room.

  “Well, there you are, Lazarus,” she exclaimed. “Wondered when you were going to show up.”

  Instead of cowering from her, Lazarus jumped off the bench before I could grab his leash and ran over to Rae. They greeted each other like old friends.

  “Guess he’s not afraid of coming here,” I said. “You must be a very special veterinarian to get that kind of reaction from your patients.”

  She laughed. “I have some scaredy-cats. They’re not all like this guy.” She gave the dog a big hug. “I think he knows I saved his life. I can’t explain it, but I’m as sure of it as I can be. He’s always acted this way toward me.”

  “He’s a great dog, isn’t he?”

  She nodded. “Very special. I’m glad he’s got such a wonderful owner.” She looked around and frowned. “Where is Reuben today?”

  “He had an errand, so I volunteered to bring Lazarus in to see you.”

  “Glad you did. Do you want to come back to the exam room? You can stay with him if you’d like.”

  “Sure. Sounds good.”

  I followed her through a door behind the front counter
and into a hallway with three different rooms. Rae ushered us into the first one we came to.

  “You can have a seat,” she said, pointing to a chair in the corner. “I’ll be back in a minute with his shots.”

  I nodded and sat down, holding on to Lazarus’s leash.

  “He doesn’t really need the leash,” Rae said. “I’ve never known him to run off.”

  “Thanks. I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to have to explain to Reuben why I lost his dog.”

  Rae grinned. “You don’t need to worry about that. This dog is joined to Reuben at the hip. Never seen a man and a dog as close as these two. Does my heart good.”

  “Makes me wish I had a dog.”

  “I’ve got two strays in the back looking for homes,” she said. “Just say the word.”

  “Sorry. I live in an apartment, and sometimes I work up to twelve hours a day. I’m afraid it will be a while before I can actually take care of a dog. Mr. Henderson is enough company for me right now.”

  “Okay, but if you change your mind, let me know.”

  I bent down and looked Lazarus in the face after she left the room. “It’s not going to hurt you to keep this leash on until I’m convinced you’ll be good,” I whispered. “I’m not taking any chances, buddy.”

  Another lick revealed he wasn’t too concerned about my declaration. Tired of sitting, I got up and checked out the room. A diploma mounted on the wall declared that Mady Rae Buettner had completed a degree in Veterinarian Medicine from Jefferson College in Missouri. It was an impressive piece of paper, but something about it caught my eye. It was a real diploma, but the area with her name looked odd. I’d done some research into faked documents for a story once, and something was definitely wrong with the certificate. Rae’s name had been typed on something else and then added on later. Strange.

  I’d just started to sit down again when I noticed some boxes on the counter next to me. They looked familiar, but I couldn’t remember where I’d seen them before. I picked one up. It was plain and white, but there was a sticker on the side that said Syringes. Without thinking about it, I peeled back the sticker. Then I opened the box. It held syringes, but the last time I’d seen a box like this, it had contained several pieces of fudge.

  As I tried to understand what I was seeing, my eyes went back to the diploma. Mady Rae Buettner.

  “Oh no. It can’t be.”

  A noise from behind startled me, and I dropped the box.

  Rae stood there with another syringe in her hand, staring at me. “It can’t be what?” she asked softly.

  “Mady Rae Buettner. The initials. You’re Marian Rose Belker.”

  Chapter

  Twenty-Five

  Rae slowly closed the door behind her and put the syringe on the counter. “Well, I guess denying it won’t do any good, will it? I was hoping you’d never find out.”

  “I . . . I can barely believe it.”

  She gave me an odd smile. “I was at the hospital the night you were born, you know. I gave you to a good home and kept you from a life lived in and out of foster homes. The same kind of life I had.”

  “I don’t understand. What are you doing here?”

  She sighed. “I originally came here to make sure your brother was safe. But then I decided to stay. Sanctuary is a place where someone like me can start over. A safe place.” She glowered at me. “Until you came here, that is.”

  I glanced toward the other door. The one we’d come through. Rae opened a nearby drawer and pulled out a handgun. “Get back over there by Lazarus.”

  When I didn’t move, she yelled, “Now!”

  I scurried back to the chair and sat down. Lazarus looked back and forth between us as if trying to figure out what was going on.

  “I don’t understand,” I said. “Did you kill August?”

  “It was an accident. When I found out you were coming to town, I told him the truth about everything. I thought he’d understand, but it was a mistake. The day he died we were fighting about it. He wanted me to tell you everything. I got mad and pushed him. He fell and hit his head on that exam table. I tried to save him, but I couldn’t.”

  “So you just dumped him off by the side of the road?”

  She sighed. “I was going to bury him, but someone found him before I had the chance. He was so heavy, I couldn’t drag him far enough into the woods. If I’d buried him faster, everyone would have believed he’d left town.”

  My mind raced, trying to figure out what to do next. Was killing August really an accident? Was she planning to kill me too? I was painfully aware there wasn’t anyone who could help me. Reuben, my dad, and Paul were on their way to confront the Fishers. Zac knew where I was, but there wasn’t any reason for him to come after me. Somehow I had to keep Rae talking while I figured out what to do next.

  “You said August wanted to tell me everything. What do you mean?”

  “No questions,” she said angrily. “I’ve got to decide what to do with you.”

  “Listen, Rae or Marian, whatever your name is, I think you owe me an explanation. I want to know what August wanted to tell me.”

  She pointed to the examination table. “Get on the table. Now.”

  She waved the gun around, and I prayed it wouldn’t go off accidentally—or on purpose. Leaving Lazarus, I climbed up on the table, trying not to think about this being the place where August died. The table wasn’t very long, so my legs dangled off the end.

  “Lie down,” she barked.

  “That’s ridiculous. The table’s too small.”

  She took a step closer, keeping the gun trained on me. “Let your legs hang off.”

  I did what she asked. She opened a drawer in a cabinet next to the table and pulled out some kind of heavy strap.

  “Now put your arms over the sides.”

  She tied one end of the strap around one wrist and then reached under the table for the other one. She tied my hands together and then wrapped the end of the strap around the pole that held the table up in the middle. I pulled against my bonds, but there was no way I could get my hands free. The position of my arms strained my shoulders, and every time I moved, it caused pain.

  “I use these to hold animals to the table while I operate. They’re strong. You won’t be able to break them.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I . . . I don’t know. I need to think.”

  “Rae, you did something nice for me when I was a baby. You’re obviously not a bad woman. You say you didn’t mean to kill August. It’s not too late to turn yourself in. You might get off with a light sentence. Please think about what you’re doing.”

  She made a noise that sounded like a strangled sob. “No, they’ll send me away.”

  “I don’t think—”

  “I killed my husband,” she said, her voice breaking. “I made the mistake of telling him what happened the night you were born, and he decided to blackmail your father. I begged him not to, but he wouldn’t listen. Then he decided we could make money by stealing babies out of hospitals. No one would suspect a nurse. He made me take them, and then he sold them. Fake adoptions to people who would have a hard time adopting, like your parents.”

  “And how did he make you do that, Rae? You didn’t have to listen. You could have said no. Turned him in.”

  She slumped against the counter, defeat etched into her face. “You don’t understand. He was all I had. All I would ever have. He . . .” She shook her head. “I can’t explain it. He had the power to make me believe he was right and I was wrong. Even after all these years, I still feel it.” She took a deep breath. “He finally stopped for several years. I thought everything would be okay. We could live a normal life. But then he said we needed more money. He was going to start again. That’s why I had to kill him. There wasn’t any other way to stop him.”

  Although I could have pointed out that a long prison sentence would have brought his activities to an end, I thought better of upsetting her now. Maybe her regret
would keep me alive. Still, I had to ask one thing. I couldn’t help myself.

  “Why did he take Ryan? He couldn’t have gotten much money for him.”

  “Revenge. To punish your father for stopping the payments. It made Joe furious. A friend of his knew the Fishers. Their son had died, so Joe met with them. Told them Ryan was in an abusive home and needed to be placed somewhere safe. Joe told them it was a legal adoption but that Ryan’s parents might come looking for him to do the boy harm. He warned them to take Ryan someplace where no one would ever find him. So they came to Sanctuary. After Joe died, I came here too. I was so relieved to find out Ryan was okay. Happy. And he is, Wynter.” She gave me a small smile. “And I kept tabs on you too. Watched you grow into a fine young woman. When you changed your name and started working at the news station, I knew I’d done the right thing.”

  I wanted to scream at her. Tell her that she and her husband had destroyed our family. But I fought to control my anger. Rae was obviously crazy. The only way I could protect myself was to keep her calm.

  “If you cared so much about Ryan, why didn’t you tell the Fishers the truth? Why didn’t you help him to get home?”

  She shrugged and stared off into space. After a few moments, she said, “I was afraid. Joe was gone; I was safe. And Ryan was happy with the Fishers.” She glared at me. “They’re good parents. Why can’t you leave him alone?”

  I had to bite my tongue. Making her angry wouldn’t help me now. I tried to gather my thoughts. “What about the other children?” I asked. “The babies you took. Do you know where they are?”

  “No. Joe never let me know where they went. After he died, I searched through all his papers, but I never found any information. I assume the new parents still think their children were legally adopted, but I don’t know that for sure. Each time Joe got their money, we moved away. Joe told them he was retiring and they accepted that. I have no idea if any of them ever figured out there was something wrong with their adoptions, but if they did, they probably kept it to themselves. By that time, they loved that baby like it was their own.” She shook her head. “That was Joe’s biggest insurance policy. He knew love would keep him safe. And he was right.”