A shudder ran through Jake, heartbroken by the image of a five-year-old boy huddled in fear next to a dead body and waiting for the snakes to rain down upon him. “Did your father see the dead man?”
Jules nodded. “He told me I must never mention it to anyone. If I did, terrible things would happen to us.” A tear coursed down his cheek, and he swiped at it. “I told Dadron about it the day before my parents died. Father was right. It was my fault they died, and now Loki and Dadron will die.”
Rage flowed through Jake. His tense muscles created a deep pain in the shoulder wound, and he moved his arm. The doctors were wrong. He would use his arm again. He’d just needed the right motivation. “It wasn’t your fault, Jules, and Loki and Dadron aren’t going to die. Harry is finishing up the case we were working on right now, and as soon as he gets back, we’ll head out to the reservation to find them.”
Jules continued, a far-off look in his eyes. “I spent a lot of time in hospitals after that, but we were leaving the reservation. I heard my father arguing with Grandfather. He said horrible things about my mother and threatened to excommunicate us if we left. Father told him he didn’t care. He needed to do what was best for his family. A week later Grandfather took us to the cabin and left us there. When he came back, he told us our parents were dead and we were never to mention them again.”
“The little girl that runs across the road, Jules, who is she?” Jake asked.
“I didn’t know when you took me there, but now I think it’s the spirit of my mother. It doesn’t make sense, though, as she would have had no reason to be on that road.”
Jake digested the information. He wasn’t as sure about spirits as Loki and Jules, but even his culture believed a loved one could return when a family member was in danger. “It would make sense if she was trying to show Loki something. Do the spirits of your people normally return as children?”
Jules shrugged. “Not that I know of. No one on the reservation ever talked about our parents. I think they were afraid of Grandfather. We spent summers with Grandpa Zachery for a while, but one day Loki contacted Harry, and that night she packed our things and we left for Texas. This is the first time any of us have been back to the reservation.”
“The man your grandfather killed, do you know who he was?”
“No, but it had something to do with money. The man said he wasn’t giving Grandfather any more money and he was going to tell someone something. I didn’t hear it all.”
“Find Dr. Coomer. I’d like to be checked out of here when Harry arrives. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Harry could hear the raised voices as soon as he stepped off the elevator. “Looks like Jake is at it again.”
Reggie chuckled. “I’m glad this case is over, but I sure am gonna miss you guys.”
“You too, partner.” Harry walked quickly toward the room, noting Jules and Grace standing just outside the door. The voices inside the room rose again.
“Young man, I was a doctor long before you took your first steps. Mr. Savior wants to leave, and as his doctor, I’m recommending it.”
“He’s still getting antibiotics through the IV, and he still needs therapy. I’m reporting you to the medical board for removing his IV without my permission. You’ve endangered the life of my patient.”
“Is that Dr. Mary Ann Coomer?” Harry asked.
Jules nodded. “They’ve been at it for the last half hour. Jake is dressed and ready to go, but the doctor refuses to release him.”
“Ever seen a doctor chew somebody up and spit them out, Reggie?”
“Not lately.”
Harry pushed on the door. “You’re gonna enjoy this.”
Mary Ann’s eyes had darkened, and her hands clutched the rail of the bed. Harry wouldn’t have been surprised to see her jerk the rail off and beat the doctor to death with it. “I’ve saved more lives than you ever will, Mr. Noble. Holding a patient against their will and against their own doctor’s recommendations is a serious matter. Now get that paperwork, and I’ll sign off, releasing you and the hospital from any liability. That, young man, is all you need. As to reporting me, you do whatever you think you need to do. But you better plan on being at the hearing, because I’ll have a few things to say about you too.”
Dr. Noble glared at her and stomped toward the door. “Good riddance to the bunch of you.”
“Shoo.” Mary Ann lowered herself to the bed beside Jake. “You better not die on me, Jake Savior, or that man is gonna be after my hide.”
“Dying isn’t on my agenda.” Jake nodded to Harry and Reggie. “Did you get them?”
“Benson is dead. Kathryn shot him. Turns out the two of them were married and in this together.”
“Didn’t see that coming,” Jake said. “Mary Ann, I’m sure you remember Harry. This is Reggie Merriweather. He was Rafe Wilson’s partner.”
Mary Ann shook Reggie’s hand and hugged Harry. “You’re a sight for sore old eyes, Harry. I think I’m gonna need you in the next few days. Told him he wasn’t ready to go on a hiking trip, but he won’t listen.”
“What kind of hiking trip?” Harry asked.
“I’m going after Loki and Dadron.” Jake stood up, reached under the pillow, and stuck the Glock in his belt. “I’d appreciate your going with me, but I can tell you right now you’re not gonna stop me.”
“Still got some vacation time if you guys need a third wheel,” Reggie said. “Feel like I owe you one after all you did for Rafe.”
“Dr. Coomer, would you and Reggie mind waiting outside for a minute? I’d like to talk to Jake alone.” Harry waited until the door closed behind them then pulled up a chair. “You know she’s right. You’re not ready for the type of trip it would take to find Loki. Let me and Reggie go. I promise you I’ll bring her and Dadron back safe.”
“I need to do this. She’ll never understand if I don’t come looking for her.”
“She loves you, Jake. She’s loved you for a long time. She’ll never understand or forgive me if I take you out there and something happens to you. Stay at the house, get well, and take care of her family. That’s what Loki would want you to do.”
“I need to tell you what Jules told us earlier. We’ll decide after that.”
“We’ve got a four-hour drive ahead of us to get you home. We’ll take Jules with us and come back for your car later. That will give the three of us plenty of time to discuss whatever we need to.”
A nurse opened the door, her hands full of paperwork, followed closely by Dr. Coomer. “I’ve got your discharge papers, Mr. Savior. As soon as you sign these, we can get you out of here.”
“I’ll take care of that. Mr. Savior may have some trouble signing with his left hand.” Mary Ann took the paperwork and spread it out on the table, quickly scanning the pages. She signed her name and passed them to the nurse. “Looks in order. If you’ll grab a wheelchair, we’ll be on our way.”
“Jake and Jules will be riding with me, Dr. Coomer. We’ll meet you and Grace at the house. I’ll need to gather some supplies before I leave,” Harry said.
“And I need to go by the office and write out some prescriptions and pick up the medical supplies. Much as it pains me to admit it, after looking at Jake’s chart, he will need to continue IV antibiotics for another two days.” She placed a hand on Jake’s left shoulder. “Which means you’re not going anywhere for two more days. I noticed some movement in that arm too. Need to work on that if you want to use it in the future, so we’ll also start therapy first thing in the morning.”
Harry chuckled at Jake’s grimace. “You might as well give in, partner. I’ll have Reggie meet us at the farm.”
26
Neta Blackwell dried her hands and turned with a smile as her father rushed into the kitchen. Something had excited him. Her smile faltered as she studied his face. Although his eyes were bright, his complexion was shallow and gray. “What is it, Papa?”
He waved his hands around as he spoke, his voice tinged with anger.
Neta concentrated to follow his words.
“What’s going on?” Tim Whitefeather asked.
“Someone sent a smoke signal from the area of the ridge this morning,” Neta explained while pouring a glass of water and passing it to her father. “Drink this, Father. You’re too excited.”
“What kind of smoke signal?”
“Distress. Loki and Dadron are in trouble.”
Tim leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “Pack some things for me, and I’ll head up that way.”
“You can’t, Tim. Your body is still weak, and your concentration hasn’t returned to normal. There’s no way you could carry enough water to stay hydrated, and even mild dehydration would be dangerous for you right now.”
“I can’t just sit here. I’ll go into the office and see if I can organize a search team.”
Neta took the empty glass from her father’s hand. “Someone tried to kill you, and until you know who that was, the best thing is for them to think you’re still lost. Besides, the hostility in town has increased. You won’t get any help from the tribal police.”
Tim shook his head. “They would have seen the teepee and known someone helped me, Neta.”
“But they don’t know where you are, or what kind of condition you’re in.” She pulled out a chair and helped lower her father to the seat. “If you go to Tallahaga Ridge, Tim Whitefeather, you will never return. I don’t believe you’re ready to die, or I would not have saved you. Father and I will send a smoke signal and tell them help is on the way.”
“Help from where? You said it yourself, I can’t depend on the tribal police, and their grandfather will never allow anyone else to go after them.”
“Harry Redmond will help.”
Tim frowned. “Harry is in Corpus Christi, Texas. It would probably take him days to get here even if we had a phone and I could call him.”
“I’ll walk into town and call him. I’ll need you to take care of Father while I’m gone. You can help him prepare the fire for the smoke signal if I’m not back by dusk.”
“It will take you half a day to walk to town. Surely somebody around here has a damn cell phone or a car.”
Neta knew Tim’s pride was hurting, but she also knew he was aware of his current physical limits. “I can normally catch a ride about a mile out, and that will only take me thirty minutes if you stop complaining and let me go.” She smiled at him as she grabbed her purse. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. You might want to help Father draw up some maps. Harry will need them when he comes.”
Harry kept his hands on the wheel and his eyes on the road as Jake and Jules filled him in on everything they knew. “This body, Jules, do you think you could find the place where it’s buried again?”
“Maybe. There wouldn’t be anything but bones there now, Harry.”
“I think I know who it is.”
“Who?” Jake asked.
“My father.”
“Why would Grandfather kill his own brother?” Jules asked.
“Once I find him, I’ll ask him. Most of what I heard about what happened to Jules, their parents’ deaths, and my father’s disappearance came through several family members. It had probably been added to and changed before it got to me. According to Uncle Raymond, my father was coming to Texas to visit me. He left the reservation one night, and his car was found in Louisiana a week later. His body was never found.”
“What makes you think it was your father, Harry?” Jake asked.
“The last time I was home, he was upset with Uncle Raymond because of his gambling. Insisted he get help for it before he lost everything or the council found out about his debt.”
Jake unhooked his seat belt and stretched out in the backseat. “He must be doing well. Loki told me he had a nice home and was still quite active in everything on the reservation. That still doesn’t explain what he’s trying to accomplish by getting Loki there.”
Harry glanced in the rearview mirror. “If he’s in debt again, I think we’ll find he’s got life insurance policies on all three of his grandchildren.” He took a deep breath. “And now that Jules is talking, his grandfather probably figured that he would eventually tell someone about what happened that night. The easiest way to protect himself was to get them all on the reservation, kill them, and blame it on some ancient myth.”
“Why the reservation?” Jules shifted in the seat. “He could have had us killed anywhere if it’s about the money.”
Jake groaned as he pulled himself to a sitting position. “It’s not just about the money. It’s about Loki. In his mind, she disrespected him when she took Jules and Dadron and left. Lowered his status in the eyes of the tribe. He wants to break her. Bring her to her knees and make her worship him. He’ll kill her but not until he’s totally destroyed her mentally and emotionally. To do that, he’d have to kill you and Dadron in front of her. That’s the biggest reason you can’t go to the reservation. Once he gets his hands on you, he’ll destroy her.”
Harry took the turnoff to the farm. “The part about the young girl who runs across the road, any idea what that means?”
Jake shook his head and leaned against the headrest. “Maybe it’s not connected.”
“Did you search the ravine?”
“Yeah, Jules says there’s nothing there.”
Harry shot a glance at Jules. “Then what makes you think it’s your mother?”
“I don’t know how to explain it. A feeling inside.”
“Thirteen years is a long time. I think you need to go back and really search that spot for something out of the ordinary. If it was your mother, she was trying to show Loki something.”
The door to the house opened, and Bruiser bounded out. “Looks like you’ve got a welcome committee, Jake.”
Jake opened his door and climbed out carefully. Bruiser stopped just short of pouncing on him and instead rubbed against his legs and whined. “I miss her too, big guy.”
Anna Claire stood in the doorway, holding Hope.
Harry walked around the car and took Jake’s arm to help him inside. “You look pretty good with a baby in your arms, Anna Claire. You and Dadron got any plans?”
She blushed and stepped aside. “Grandma is on the way with the medications. She ordered a hospital bed for Jake and had it set up in the living room.”
Hope gurgled when she saw Jake, and smiled.
“And yes, Harry Redmond, Dadron and I have plans.” Anna Claire’s voice shook with emotion. “Someone needs to go find him and bring him home.”
Harry helped Jake lower himself to the bed. “I’m gonna find him, honey, and I promise you, I’ll bring him home.”
27
Loki woke to the sound of hushed voices directly below her. Her muscles were stiff and cramped, but any movement would alert the men to her presence.
“We’re wasting our time. She either hightailed it out of here, or she’s a freaking ghost.”
“Yeah, Pete’s gone, and Sully needs a doctor. That kid ain’t never gonna talk, no matter what he does to him. I say we head out, kidnap the other kid, then come back and collect our money.”
Loki’s heart began to pound so loud she was sure they would hear it. They’ve got Dadron.
“Let’s head back to camp. It’ll be dark in another hour. After what happened to Sully, if he wants to chase her after dark, he can come out here himself.”
They walked away from the tree, still arguing. Loki retrieved her backpack and carefully made her way down. The thought that they had Dadron scared her, but the idea that they might actually kidnap Jules and bring him here terrified her. Once they had Jules, there was no reason not to kill them all.
She could follow the two and kill them, but her grandfather would just send more. She needed to find the source. Only then would the terror end. Her heart ached as she turned away from the direction of the cabin. She needed water and food, and she needed that lantern she’d seen in the cave with Thompkins. If she worked fast, she could still make it to th
e cabin before dawn.
Smoke billowed in the distance, and Loki stopped to watch. Mr. Blackwell had seen her message and understood it. Help was on the way. All she had to do now was find that lantern, save Dadron, and keep them alive until help arrived.
Even though she jogged most of the way, it was totally dark by the time Loki reached the cliff. The cave entrance was a yawning black hole, and this time, she wouldn’t have the benefit of the flashlight. An owl hooted in a nearby tree, and Loki swallowed hard. Her grandfather’s bedtime stories were always of Nalusa Falaya, Natusa Chito, the devil or devourer of souls, and the Ishkitini, who often took the form of horned owls. They were sinister spiritual entities sent to interfere with good and harm those who angered them or disrespected the elders. Grandfather took great pleasure in making sure their dreams were nightmarish, filled with dark creatures chasing them.
Shaking off the memories, Loki held on to the wall and entered the cave, counting until she thought she’d gone twenty feet inside. She dropped to her knees and moved one hand at a time in front of her, searching the floor as she made her way across, seeking the small room. Some rustling noises in the back made her aware she wasn’t alone, and a loud squeak overhead had her ducking as wings flapped past her face. Bats. Why does it have to be bats? I hate bats. More rustling and squeaking occurred as the bat fought with its prey. Reminding herself that this was for Dadron, she moved forward until she reached the far wall, feeling for the opening to the room. Her hand hit something moist with a ghastly smell, and she bit her lower lip to keep from shrieking. Tim was the only person she’d ever seen frozen from fear, but much more of this, and she might join him.
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