“Thanks,” said Steve as he walked out of the five and dime.
It took him less than thirty minutes to get back to the sheriff’s office and his description of the possible suspects made the sheriff laugh. “Old ladies, we’re supposed to believe a group of old ladies wrote all this hate mail. This is something kids would do.”
Steve was well aware that Daniel might be behind this, but he couldn’t explain it to the sheriff. A wild idea hit Steve. “Um, sheriff, I have an idea. It seems crazy, but maybe.”
“What is it? I’m open to anything.”
“The town is aware you’re retiring. They also know I want to run for your office. There are some people like the Logans who still dislike me because they believe you and I didn’t catch the man who killed Daniel in time to save Daniel’s life. Everyone knows Annamarie would be my biggest supporter both personally and financially. Mrs. Logan might do something like this to scare Annamarie out of town.”
The sheriff pushed back in his chair and crossed his hands over his stomach. “That is as weird a theory as any I could come up with, but you might be headed in the right direction. What about the other ‘old ladies?’ Do you think she could convince her friends to do this? Even Maureen must have limits.”
“I agree. When we have the notes dusted for prints, how do we get Maureen’s? I’m not sure the D.A. would be happy about this. He’s been friends with the Logans for years. If Maureen’s friends are involved, you can bet the D.A.’s wife was with them. I need coffee.” Steve left the sheriff to ponder the situation.
Daniel said, “Tonight will be quiet. I want Annamarie to let the fear sink in before the next incident. Let’s go into Oaklin and have some fun.”
“Let’s find some good looking bodies. I would love to taste more food, but I could use a woman. When we turn the clock back and Nancy is back in my life, I’ll be happy. Waiting is driving me crazy. I need a hot blonde on my arm and in a bed.” He let out a low wolf whistle.
“Good idea. Two hot blondes coming up, brunettes remind me of Annamarie. Let’s go. We’ll fill up on some good food first.” Daniel laughed and he followed Garret’s spirit to hitch a ride on a vehicle headed to Oaklin.
Life was returning to normal at the Wescott home. Michael enjoyed his vacation, but was thrilled to be home. The doctors determined Mona’s elbow would heal without surgery. The sheriff received a report on thirteen sets of fingerprints unable to be matched to any in the county’s database. Lena was excited about the upcoming Founder’s Day picnic. There was going to be a play and she had a part as the daughter of one of the town’s first settlers. Annamarie had been busy making her costume. Brian had an on-going disagreement with his mom about the number of hot dogs and cotton candy a boy can eat at one time.
“But Mom…” Brian said.
“No more, ‘but mom.’ I will decide how much you eat at the picnic.” Deb stood with her hands on her hips glaring at him.
“Okay,” Brian pouted.
Annamarie laughed, “We go through this every year with the kids. No matter what, they’ll eat too much ice cream and cotton candy and come home with stomach aches. We were the same way.”
“I remember,” Deb said. “I sound like my mom at times. Steve laughs at me when I do the strict mom routine. He says I’m scary.” She smiled and dropped into a chair.
“I understand. I catch myself saying things to the kids my mom said to me. Guess we’re getting old.”
“Hey, speak for yourself. I can still fit into my miniskirts from high school. As long as I can and Steve doesn’t laugh when I try them on, I’m not old.” She sat back and crossed her legs.
The morning of the Founder’s Day picnic started out beautifully. White wispy clouds blew across the blue sky. The weatherman promised no rain for the event. The sun woke the kids a bit earlier than their parents wished since they knew by the time the fireworks were fired off, they’d be tired and a bit cranky. Lena was the exception; she was bursting with energy and excitement.
Steve was on duty at the picnic grounds. Deb and Brian rode to the picnic with Sam, Annamarie and the kids. Once they parked the car and entered the grounds, Annamarie began to look for her parents. She saw Maureen first. Michael saw her, too.
“Grandma Maureen,” Michael yelled as he ran toward her. Annamarie caught her breath. She worried about Michael being in danger near Daniel’s mother.
Lena touched her mom’s arm. “Don’t worry, I’ll go with him. He’s safest with me.” She ran off to catch up with Michael and Maureen. Brian followed Lena.
Annamarie watched them closely and poked Deb, “Look, we haven’t been here ten minutes and Maureen is buying them cotton candy.” She sighed, “Oh well, let them have fun.”
“I agree, but I’ll send Maureen Brian’s dental bill.” Both young women dissolved into giggles as they had in high school.
Bonnie and the girls walked up, “Hi, what’s so funny?” They laughed harder and Bonnie had no idea why, but she joined in the laughter. The three friends turned back the clock and enjoyed their laughter.
Lizzy looked at Emmy and said, “I think Mommy’s going crazy.”
Carl, Paula, and Theo walked over and asked the girls, “What’s going on?”
“We don’t know, Daddy.” Emmy said. Lizzy added, “Aunt Annamarie and Aunt Deb were laughing real hard. Mommy asked them why and then she began to laugh, too. Is she going crazy?”
“No, she’s having fun with her friends. It’s fun to watch Mommy laugh.” He tried to pull their pigtails and both girls squealed. They saw Michael and Brian and ran off. Maureen bought them cotton candy, too.
Bonnie noticed Maureen feeding cotton candy to her kids before lunch and asked “Is she running for grandmother of the year or something? She usually ignores my kids.”
“No idea,” replied Deb. “She bought it for Brian, too and you know she hates Steve.”
Annamarie stared at Maureen and caught her eye. Their eyes locked for a moment and Maureen looked away. “She’s up to something. I bet she had the notes delivered. We need to watch her closely.”
Daniel and Garret could sense what was happening at the picnic grounds. Both in good moods after their night full of women and food, they were in the mood for diabolical mischief.
“We have the ability to control the elements without being noticed. The witch was generous with her spells. Let’s cause havoc at the picnic. We need to weaken Annamarie and capture Michael soon before the witch comes after us.” Daniel said.
“I am sure she can open the portal as easily as we can. The last thing I want is to run into her on this side.”
“You’re right, let’s put my plan to work. I know my mom will play along without knowing what’s she’s doing. She’s sure Annamarie has cursed her. This’ll be fun,” Daniel’s diabolical laughter scared the woodland animals again and the woods were silent.
Ray had a fire going in the two huge pits he had made from cutting a large barrel in half. The scent of charcoal and smoky wood drifted across the picnic grounds. Daniel and Garret found a spot in a large oak where they could watch. Everyone knew the burgers and hot dogs would soon be ready and busied themselves setting up their picnic tables.
Greta, who was helping Ray with the ice cream and watermelon, called him over. “We’re running a little low on ice cream. Do you want me to go back to the diner for more now or wait until everyone has eaten?”
“Wait until later, they’ll be full soon.” He turned back toward the fires and said, “Greta, get some water, we have fire in the grass.”
A small path of fire had started next to the fire pits and was snaking through the fresh green grass. “It shouldn’t be able to burn like that on the green grass,” Greta said as she dumped a jug of ice water on the fire. The fire sizzled and smoked. It began to burn again and headed straight toward Annamarie’s picnic table. People were screaming when the water didn’t put the fire out a second time.
Annamarie knew Daniel was up to this. Daniel and Garret
laughed from their spot in the tree. Annamarie stood and watched as the stream of fire swirled in circles and wriggled back and forth as it made its way toward her. Her face turned red and she placed her hands on her hips, she was ready to stomp out the fire. The closer it came to Annamarie the higher the flames began to grow.
Lena saw the fire and knew it was Daniel’s evil. She also knew she could stop him. Her powers had grown and she could now control many things with thought alone. She was afraid people would see her powers if she did more than use her mind. She concentrated as hard as she could and just as she let her thoughts loose on the fire, Annamarie yelled, “Stop it now.” The fire immediately went out.
Lena ran to her mom’s side and whispered, “I did it with my thoughts, but people are going to think you did this with your words.”
Before Annamarie could answer, Maureen began to scream, “Witch!”
Annamarie backed away from Maureen.
Maureen walked right up to her and hollered, “You’re a witch, and we all saw you control fire. What will you control next? Us? Leave never come back. Witch! Witch!”
Mrs. Graysbe and Mrs. Loretta joined the front of the group. Mrs. Graysbe shouted, “Are you responsible for my dead neighbor ringing my doorbell in the middle of the night? It must’ve been you. Who else but a witch could control the dead?”
Picnickers who had tried to forget the story of Mrs. Graysbe’s nighttime dead caller couldn’t fight their belief that Annamarie must be responsible.
Maureen’s friends joined the frenzy and began to yell “Witch!” and walked closer to Annamarie with each word. When Maureen walked up to Annamarie to yell in her face, Annamarie glared at her and whispered, “The spot is back and it’s growing bigger each second.” Then she smiled and turned and walked away.
Maureen screeched. “She’s cursed me again. I’ll die from her curse.”
Children were crying, parents were gathering up their picnic supplies, and Ray’s burgers and hot dogs burnt to a crisp. Annamarie’s family was the first to leave hoping the rest of the people would calm down.
Garret and Daniel enjoyed every second.
Maureen stood and continued to scream that Annamarie was a witch. Steve did his best to control the situation. Nothing helped. When the sheriff arrived, Maureen’s behavior began to intensify. She screamed at the sheriff and encouraged her friends to do the same. The sheriff having enough wrote Maureen a ticket for causing a disturbance. She laughed and tossed it into the fire pit.
Steve strode up to the sheriff and said, “What now?”
“I have no idea, they’ll settle down eventually. Annamarie and her entire family have left. Maureen should shut up soon. The only good thing is I gave her a ticket and she tossed it away. She won’t pay the fine or keep the court date. In her frenzy, she won’t even remember getting it. I’ll be able to arrest her and get her fingerprints. I’ll bet you they’ll match a few of the prints on those note cards.”
Steve laughed, “Good idea.”
Daniel and Garret had left when Annamarie did. Daniel had more ideas. He was unaware of the sheriff’s plans. Too far away to hear the sheriff, Daniel’s plans were beginning to crumble.
Picnickers had hurried out of the park. Greta was helping Ray clean up. The only others left were Maureen and her friends still mumbling that Annamarie was a witch and had cursed Annamarie. Their husbands stood in a separate group talking quietly.
Steve whispered to the sheriff. “Did you notice that group of crazy women? There are thirteen of them and we have thirteen different finger prints.”
The sheriff nodded and pushed his hands into his pockets. “I agree they must be our culprits. We might be able to get fingerprints from Maureen, but what about the others? The D.A.’s wife and the Mayor’s wife are in that group.”
Sheriff Richardson went back to the station while Steve waited for the picnic grounds to clear out. Fireworks were rescheduled for the Labor Day picnic.
Sam told the kids they would have their own picnic at home and barbequed hot dogs and hamburgers when they arrived home. Deb and Annamarie set out the bowls of potato salad and fruit salad they had packed for the picnic. The kids ate their late lunch quietly. The fun in their day had been ruined.
Annamarie and Sam put away their picnic supplies and settled in the parlor with Deb to discuss the day’s events. Deb brought two cups of peppermint tea for her and Annamarie. Sam poured a scotch. They sat and tried to relax.
Sam asked, “Did you have any idea Daniel could control fire the way he did?” He downed the scotch and poured another.
“No. The problem is Lena stopped the fire with the help of her amulet and using only thoughts. She did it at the exact moment I yelled at the fire to stop. People saw it. They think I did it. Maureen didn’t help with all the screams about my being a witch. The town will believe her. We may have to move.” She sighed and sipped her tea.
“We’re not moving,” Sam said. “We belong here. When Daniel is gone the town will settle down and forget.”
“Maureen never will,” Deb added. “She blames Annamarie for Daniel’s death. I want to talk to Brian about what happened. I’ll talk to you later.”
Sam said, “You rest, I’ll get Michael ready for a nap.”
Annamarie sat in the parlor with her thoughts. “Even if we get rid of Daniel’s spirit, Maureen will continue her vendetta against me. If she convinces the town I’m a witch, we’ll have to move. I’d hate to leave the house, but the town can have it. I have Sam, Lena, and Michael. It’s all I need and we have enough money. I hope I didn’t make a mistake telling Maureen the spot if back. I’m not sure if Magdalena can put it back since Lena cured her. Even if she can’t maybe the fear will be enough to keep Maureen off my back. I hope so.” She finished her tea, placed the cup in the kitchen, and went upstairs.
Annamarie and Lena walked through the pines following the violin music and seeing the flames from the campfire through the trees. They entered the clearing and found Magdalena and Josef waiting for them. “Sit,” Josef said.
Magdalena took their hands in hers and breathed deeply. “I can see something evil coming, but it is cloudy and I am unable to see through the mist. The witch gave Daniel the ability to hide from us. We knew this, but there is more. We believe that along with possessing bodies he and Garret are able to enter minds for a short time and plant ideas or create thoughts that might cause the person physical difficulties. It is what he did to his father to make him think he was having a heart attack and for his mother to think you are a witch, Annamarie.”
“Are you afraid he will be able to get to us?” Annamarie wrapped her arms around her chest tightly. Lena leaned against her.
“You have taken all the measures to be safe, but Daniel is causing chaos in your life. When you are under stress or distracted he might be able to cause harm. You must be careful. I feel the evil may begin tonight. You must wake up now and keep everyone safe.”
The pines were dark, Annamarie and Lena were wide awake in their beds, and both knew trouble was coming. As they were waking, the husband of Maureen’s friend was placing his wooden project in Annamarie’s front yard. He had drilled holes in the wood to hold as much gasoline as possible. Pouring the gasoline over the large letter “W” he laughed. “’W’ for witch,” he mumbled as he tossed the match and ran to his truck. Beeping his horn as he drove away, he knew he would wake the Wescott family.
Annamarie and Lena immediately jumped out of bed and met in the hall. “Something’s wrong, Mom. We had the same dream. Evil is coming.” She spotted the fire out of the front bedroom window. “Fire, Mom, something in the yard is burning.”
Annamarie yelled for Sam as she ran downstairs and opened the front door. A huge four foot “W” was burning in the front yard. “That’s meant for me,” Annamarie said.
Sam ran past and said, he would get the hose, but wasn’t sure it would reach. Annamarie ran for the back door to get another hose. Lena ran out to help Sam.
As
Annamarie picked up a second hose, a tall man with large muscles stepped out of the dark. He grabbed her and clamped his hand over her mouth. She heard Daniel’s voice, “Not one sound or I’ll break your neck.” Annamarie’s fear consumed her. She couldn’t fight him and he might be able to get to her son. Bile rose in her throat and tears filled her eyes. He removed his hand from her mouth long enough to tie her hands and blindfold her. “Now keep your head down and hold on tight.” She felt herself being lifted and placed on the back of a furry animal. She gripped the fur as she was told and felt herself riding the animal at top speed away from the house.
Deb witnessed the man place Annamarie on the wolf’s back and then collapse in the backyard. Her scream brought Sam and Lena. “That man put Annamarie on a wolf and the wolf headed across the field and into the woods. It had to be Daniel and Garret.”
Sam ran up to the man who was regaining consciousness. Sam could tell by his light brown eyes that he wasn’t possessed any longer. He was also confused about where he was. The last thing he remembered was walking to his car after his shift at a diner in Oaklin.
Chapter Nineteen
Annamarie clung to the wolf’s hair. She laid her head on its back to keep from being hit in the face by the branches she could feel scrape her arms. She didn’t smell the pines and thought they must be headed into the woods of oak trees. She could hear the river in the distance. The longer the wolf ran, the louder the river became. Suddenly, the wolf leaped and stopped. It shook Annamarie off its back and she hit the ground. She was lying in dirt.
Pushing herself into a sitting position, she said, “Daniel, Garret, which one of you is it? Please take me home.” She heard a deep guttural growl. Her heart began to pound hard enough she could hear it. Annamarie knew they would either kill her now or wait until it suited them. She sensed the wolf leave and breathed a sigh of relief.
Lena (Gypsy Spirits Book 3) Page 16