He walked into the station to hear Greta desperately trying to calm someone down on the phone. She hung up and looked at the sheriff, “Mrs. Graysbe says something killed both of her dogs. She let them out into the fenced yard just before dawn and called for them, but they didn’t come. She waited for the sun to come up and looked for them. They weren’t in the yard. Investigating the field behind her house, she found both of them—dead. There’s no way they could get out of the yard. Something bad happened over there.”
“I’ll head over there right now. That woman has been through enough.” The sheriff rushed to his cruiser.
Mrs. Graysbe was hysterical when the sheriff arrived. He found her sitting in the middle of her back yard holding her tiny dogs. She looked up at him tears running down her face. “Who would do this?”
He coaxed her into a lawn chair so he could examine the dogs. He didn’t find any blood, but both dogs had broken necks. He looked back at Mrs. Graysbe to ask a question to see her lying on the grass. He radioed for an ambulance. She was responsive, but babbling. The elderly woman was sure the Martians had killed her dogs. As they were sliding the gurney into the ambulance, she grabbed the sheriff’s arm. “Let the vet take my dogs. I have to know how they were killed and then I want to bury them. Don’t let animal control dispose of them.”
“I promise,” he patted her hand and the ambulance doors closed.
Garret laughed, “That was fun. I’m glad you let me do it on my own. It was easy to possess the guy who lives next door to old lady Graysbe. He was on his way to work. The dogs knew him and never barked. One snap and they were dead and I tossed them into the field. On my way back here, I could hear her call the dogs. She must be going crazy by now.”
Garret’s description of what he did pleased Daniel. It was the beginning of their revenge. Not everyone would know spirits inhabited their town, but Annamarie would. She’d be terrified and the rest of the town would feel the horror of the unknown.
“Mrs. Graysbe isn’t the only person in town who’ll think the place is being attacked by Martians or is haunted. She used to be friends with that awful librarian. If she’s still alive, I’ll start with her.”
“How?”
“I’ll haunt her dreams.” Daniel snickered. “I can haunt anyone’s dreams.”
The sheriff walked into the E.R. again thinking too many of the town’s people were ending up there. He told the nurse he was there to check on Mrs. Graysbe. “Please be seated, I’ll let the doctor know you’re here.”
He turned to sit when he saw Loretta, the town’s head librarian, rush in. She hurried to the nurse’s desk. “I’m here for Doris Graysbe. Someone called me and said she was here.” The nurse also asked her to wait.
Loretta saw the sheriff and sat next to him. “Do you know what happened to Doris? Since she doesn’t have any family, I am her emergency contact.”
“I was at her home this morning and she collapsed. I called the ambulance. I think she’s in shock. Hopefully she’ll be fine.”
“Shock, why would she be in shock?” Loretta gripped the handles of her purse tightly enough to turn her knuckles white.
“Please calm down. Has she said anything about someone bothering her lately?” the sheriff watched for Loretta’s response.
“No,” her head moved slowly side to side as she said it. “Why?”
“Someone killed her dogs this morning.”
Loretta gasped her hand flying to her mouth. “Oh, no, they’re like her children.” Tears began to form in her eyes. “Who would do such a thing?”
“I don’t know,” Sherriff Richardson answered sinking into his chair.
Paula woke to see Theo dressing for work. “Where do you think you’re going? You can’t leave this house without protection.”
“I’m not.” He flipped his silver coin in the air, caught it, and placed it in his pocket. “Your grandfather is an understanding man.” He kissed her on the forehead and said, “See ya later.”
The doctor allowed Loretta to visit with Doris. He told her she was fine physically, but they had given her a mild sedative to help with her hysteria and fragile emotional state.
Loretta nodded, “I’ll be quiet.”
Doris heard someone enter her room and opened her eyes. “Loretta, I’m so happy it’s you. No one will believe me. Who would kill my dogs? It had to be the Martians. You know something strange has happened here in town before.”
Loretta sat next to Doris and held her hand. “Heaven only knows who would hurt your dogs. I’m not sure about the Martians. You saw the red lightening and I believe you that something odd is going on. We’ll figure out what it is.”
Doris sighed and drifted off to sleep.
Loretta found a comfy spot in the chair and began to read. She drifted off into a light sleep listening to the soft beeping of Doris’ heart monitor.
Daniel, aware of what was happening at the hospital told Garret, “I’ll be back soon.”
He flew to the hospital and entered Loretta’s dream. He left a few moments later and flew back to the cabin.
He laughed as he told Garret, “I planted the information in her dreams. Those two old broads will have the town in a panic. It may be difficult to deal with, but we’ll possess them and help bring this town to its knees.”
Loretta was startled awake, “Doris, Doris, are you awake? I think I know what’s going on.”
Steve called Deb to warn her about the incident with the dogs. “I don’t know what’s going on. There was no way any animal attacked those dogs and dragged them over the fence. There wasn’t a drop of blood on them. It has to be Daniel and Garret. They have advanced to a new level of cruelty. Be careful and I’ll be home when I get there, but I’ll call later. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Please be careful,” Deb said. She stood staring at the phone before dropping it back into its cradle. She hurried into the main house to share the horrible news with Annamarie.
Annamarie ready to enjoy a cup of tea stopped midway between the plate and her lips when she listened to Deb. She set the cup back on the saucer quickly causing the saucer to rattle and wobble on the table. She covered the cup with her hand to stop the clattering.
“Daniel’s raised the bar in this battle. He and Garret have the ability to possess anyone and anything. They had to use a human body to kill the dogs since they were not bitten. For all we know they could have had Mrs. Graysbe kill her own dogs and never know it.”
Deb dropped into the chair across from Annamarie, “That is a horrible thought, but you may be right. Look what they did to Colleen and me.” Tears began to fill her eyes and she wiped them quickly. “No, no more tears, I’m angry. Brian was home when they took me. They could have hurt him. We have to fight back. How do we do it? Does Lena have any ideas? She seems to have powers from her amulet. Can we ask her?”
“I don’t see why not. She should be awake soon. She’s going to my mom’s for a couple of hours to work with the twins. Bonnie and Carl are still shocked by what the girls can do, but they have more to learn.” Annamarie picked up her cup and sipped her tea.
“Yeah, I’m awake, what’s up, Loretta?” Doris mumbled as she tried to push the control button to get her hospital bed into a sitting position.
“I just had a dream. I know who killed your dogs.” She leaned close to Doris so others wouldn’t hear her.
“Who?” Doris finally got into a sitting position.
“It was Annamarie Wescott and the spirits of Daniel and Garret.”
“Are you nuts? There are no spirits.”
“But you think there are Martians.” Loretta gritted her teeth,
“Maybe the spirits are helping the Martians. You said you had a dream. Why do you believe it?”
“Because,” she took Doris’ hands in hers and tried to stop her tears, “I saw Annamarie in your yard. It was dark. She had on a black robe. She picked up each dog, mumbled some odd words, and threw them over the fence. They landed right next to the crook
ed telephone pole in the field behind your house. One was lying on top of the other.”
Doris inhaled quickly, “I didn’t tell anyone how or where I found them. I only said ‘in the field.’ When the sheriff got there I was back in my yard holding them in my lap, but you’re right, they were laying on top of each other. Annamarie’s a witch. A real witch, my poor dogs were her sacrifice. Why my babies. Why couldn’t she kill a squirrel?”
“Maybe she has and now needs bigger animals. Didn’t you see the lightening near the pines by her house? It wasn’t Martians, it was Annamarie practicing witchcraft. I think she has Daniel and Garret’s spirits helping her. Daniel always believed in spirits. They were married when he died.” Loretta sat back down after pulling the chair close to Doris’ bed side.
“I think you’re right. The entire town was looking for Deb Dunley and she and Colleen were kidnapped. No one gets kidnapped here. No one kills dogs. Only a witch with evil spirits to help her could do this. She’s a witch, we need help.”
“Who’s a witch?” asked Steve as he walked in the door. He arrived to question Doris about the incident that morning.
Loretta and Doris looked at each other. “It’s nothing, what can I do for you, Steve?”
“I dropped by to see if you remembered anything else, Mrs. Graysbe.” His eyes moved back and forth between the two women.
“Nothing I didn’t tell the sheriff.”
“Okay, take care.” Steve smiled as he left the room.
Doris hit the call button, “I have to get out of here. Tell them you’re staying with me, Loretta. They’ll let me go home sooner.”
Steve walked out of the hospital shaking his head. He climbed into his Jeep and radioed the sheriff. “Seems Mrs. Graysbe has decided a witch killed her dogs. I’m not sure if the witch is working alone or with the Martians. I did hear her mention spirits before I walked into the room.”
“Spirits! Not again,” yelled the sheriff. “I don’t want to deal with spirits again. I thought the spirit talk died with Daniel Logan.”
“She was talking with Mrs. Loretta. I’m not sure what’s going on.”
“Heaven help the town if those two old women begin spreading rumors. People tend to believe them. Drop by the station before you go home.”
“Will do,” Steve signed off.
Sheriff Richardson dropped his head onto his desk. “I need to retire,” he mumbled. Rummaging through his desk drawer for aspirin, he felt another headache coming.
Steve found a pay phone to call Deb and let her know what was going on. He was confused why Mrs. Graysbe was talking about spirits. Maybe Annamarie would know.
Chapter Twelve
The doctor walked into Doris’ room to find the two elderly women deep in a discreet conversation. He watched them over the top of her chart before he cleared his throat. Both women jumped.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to alarm you. Are you feeling better, Doris?” He read the chart and checked the monitors near her bed.
“Yes, I’m still a bit upset because my dogs are gone, but I feel okay physically. I want to go home. I don’t like hospitals.” She dropped her shoulders and looked up at the doctor.
“You do live alone. I’m concerned if you should faint again.” He jotted a note on the chart.
“Loretta is going to stay with me until I feel better,” Doris smiled.
“Okay, if she’s going to stay with you, I don’t see any reason why you can’t go home. If you have any other problems with stress call your doctor. He’ll be able to prescribe something. I’ll send the nurse in. Have a better day.” The doctor nodded as he left the room.
After her IV was removed and she signed the release papers, Doris was so pleased to get out of the hospital she didn’t complain about the wheelchair. Loretta was waiting outside the exit. The nurse made sure Doris was safely in the car and waved.
“Let’s get out of here, Loretta.” Doris leaned back in her seat and sighed.
“Where to?”
“Ray’s, if I don’t eat something I’ll get sick. I can’t go home right now and I have to call the vet about my babies.”
“Ray’s it is,” the car lurched forward when Loretta hit the gas pedal.
Lena came running down the stairs, “Good morning everyone.” Her bright eyes were shining. “Why do you all look so glum? What did Daniel do now?”
“Sit down, we need to talk,” said Annamarie. “Maybe you have some ideas about what’s going on.”
“Okay,” said Lena as she reached for a bowl and the cereal. “Can I eat while we talk, I’m hungry.”
Annamarie explained to Lena what had happened at Mrs. Graysbe’s. Lena didn’t try to hide her tears. She was one of the few people in town that the two Pomeranians liked and didn’t bark or snap at. “Who would do something so cruel? Never mind, don’t bother answering. It was Daniel and Garret.”
“You sound so positive, why?” Deb asked.
“Mrs. Graysbe has had those dogs for as long as I can remember. People may have complained, but no one would hurt them. The entire town knows how much they meant to her. It has to be Daniel. Who else would be cruel enough to do this?” She wiped her tears and finished her cereal.
“She’s right,” Annamarie agreed. She poured another cup of tea and stirred the sugar into it for nearly minute while she stared out the window.
“What’s on your mind, Mom?”
“We know they can possess animals and people. The only clue is the eyes will turn black so I have a feeling they’re out at night more than daytime. Their eyes would be too noticeable during the day. We have to find a way to know what they’re doing. It’ll most likely be at night.”
Lena added, “We need to find a way to warn people to stay home after dark. Daniel and Garret may still try to possess bodies, but if no one is out they will be limited in what they can do. We have to start a rumor.”
Deb laughed, “Right, what do we say, we have vampires?”
“No,” giggled Lena, “but wolves, giant frightening wolves. They killed the dogs and we could have Magdalena and Josef run through a few places as wolves to make it believable.”
“It might work,” Deb said, “If they run down the middle of Prairie Road at dinner time right past Ray’s. Greta would let the entire town know.”
Annamarie took another sip of tea and said, “Maybe it would work, but we have to fine tune every detail first. This could go very wrong. People might decide to hunt them down and everyone would be running around at night. Daniel and Garret would have the townspeople shooting each other.”
“Then what do we do,” asked Deb.
“I might have an idea,” Annamarie said. “Here’s what I think.”
Doris and Loretta settled into a booth at Ray’s and ordered breakfast. Patrons who had heard about the dogs offered their condolences. Doris forced herself to eat. She knew she needed the strength. After breakfast she spoke to the vet.
“He said their necks were broken the way the sheriff thought, but no bite marks or other broken bones. The vet didn’t think it was an animal, he suggested a person did this. You may be right about Annamarie.” She leaned across the table to get closer to Loretta. “I think she got power from my dogs like you see in movies when vampires drink blood. Who knows what will happen next?”
“I don’t think you should stay at your house. Come home with me. I have so much room in the house and it’ll be safer until we find out about her.” Loretta mopped up the rest of her egg with a piece of toast and asked, “Ready to go?”
“Yes, but we have to stay at my house for a couple of hours. The vet’s assistant is going into Oaklin to buy a nice wooden box big enough for both dogs. The vet will place them in the box properly. The assistant will bring the box to the house, and help me bury them if I need it. I think I can dig a nice hole near my Peony bushes. It’ll be a nice resting place, don’t you think?” She crumbled her napkin and tossed it on her plate. “People are staring, let’s leave.”
“Going t
o your place for a while is a good idea. We’ll dig the hole and I can help you pack everything you’ll need to stay for a while.”
They smiled at each other. Loretta dropped some bills on the table and they walked out to the whispers of the remaining patrons.
Daniel was pleased that Loretta believed her dream and had convinced Doris that Annamarie was a witch. “We need to scare those two old ladies until they convince the town Annamarie is a witch.”
“How can we do that?”
“Possess the old ladies, call Annamarie, and make sure people know she was there. Then we possess someone else and make the old ladies think Annamarie is responsible. It’ll be a piece of cake.”
“I can’t wait. The sooner we get rid of her family, the sooner we’ll be human again. If they think she’s in danger, they’ll come out of the pines. We’ll have to fight, but we’ll win.”
“I have a better idea,” Daniel laughed. “Listen, this’ll work.”
Loretta and Doris packed a small suitcase and an overnight bag. Doris made sure she had her medications and her address book. They made tea and waited for the vet’s assistant.
The doorbell rang about an hour later. Rob, the vet’s assistant, stood on the porch holding a small carved wooden box.
“Hi, Mrs. Graysbe. Doc Williams sent me to help you bury your Pomeranians. I’m sorry about what happened. They are in this box. Do you have a spot picked out?”
“Yes, follow me; we dug a nice hole out by my peony bushes.”
Rob followed Doris and Loretta into the corner of her backyard. “I’d like to bury them here, is there enough room,” asked Doris.
“Yes, would you like to see them before I place the box?”
Lena (Gypsy Spirits Book 3) Page 10