A buzzing in her brain made her jump. She felt more than heard Daniel’s voice. “You will stay here as long as we need you. You can pull your blindfold off, but there isn’t much to see. You’re in a cave above the river. Unless you have the agility Garret does as a wolf, you will never make it out of here. Don’t try unless you want to die sooner. I left you water and crackers. Don’t eat them all at once, you have no idea how long you’ll be here.”
His laugh echoed in her head and then he was gone. She pulled the blindfold from his eyes and looked around. Her hands still bound she felt the ground she had laid on. It was cold and hard. Dirt and rocks were all she could feel. The cave was dark as midnight. Filtered moonlight outlined the small opening which led to murky darkness beyond. Annamarie’s tears flowed freely down her cheeks. “Maybe I can tell where I am when the sun rises,” she muttered. Something cold crawled across her bare foot and she screamed. Her scream echoed in the cave and she realized wherever she was, it wasn’t very large.
Sam helped the man to his feet and brought him into the kitchen. Deb called the sheriff’s station and the deputy on duty said he would send Steve to the house immediately. Since Deb told him about the unconscious man, he also sent the hospital’s ambulance to aid the man. Within minutes sirens could be heard racing toward the house.
The ambulance attendants arrived first and called in the front door which had been left open. “In the kitchen,” Sam replied.
One of the attendants began to check the man’s vital signs. The other asked, “Do you need the fire department to put out that fire? It’s spreading in the grass.”
“Damn,” muttered Sam. “I’ll put it out. I need another hose.” He hurried out the back door to finish the task Annamarie started before she was kidnapped. Sam connected the two hoses and did his best to put out the fire. He could smell the gasoline. The giant “W” may smolder for a while, but he made sure the entire area around it was well soaked. He would watch it and spray it down again in an hour.
The ambulance attendants were placing their patient in the ambulance as Steve drove up. He jumped out of his Jeep and ran toward the house. “What’s going on?”
“Deb collapsed in his arms, “Daniel and Garret kidnapped Annamarie.”
He wrapped his arms around her and asked, “How, they’re only spirits.”
Sam who had been pacing back and forth said, “Someone set a giant “W” on fire in our front yard. Annamarie was sure it stood for witch and was meant for her. I ran out to put out the fire, but I needed a hose extension. Annamarie ran out the back door to get an additional hose.”
Deb tried to stop crying, “I saw Annamarie run outside so I was going to follow. When I got to the door, the man the ambulance took away had her tied up and threw her on top of a wolf. The wolf ran and the man collapsed. I’m sure the wolf was one of them and the man was possessed by the other. The wolf went into the woods. How will we find her?” She dropped to the floor and held her head in her hands as she cried.
Lena had been silent. When she spoke, she said, “I can’t feel mom. I don’t know where they took her. Daniel and Garret have a power from that witch that allows them to build a hiding place. I think that is where they hid mom. I don’t know how to help her.” She tried to hide her tears.
Bonnie and Carl woke at the same time. “Did you dream?” Carl asked.
“Yes, Annamarie has been kidnapped.” Bonnie hopped out of bed and began to get dressed.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re going to your sister’s. Get up now.” She tossed his jeans at them.
Lizzy and Emmy ran into their parent’s room. “Aunt Annamarie has been taken away by a wolf. We have to go to her house and help her. We’ll get dressed. Hurry, Daddy.”
The same scenario was taking place in Paula and Theo’s bedroom. They had also shared the warning dream. Theo’s face was red with anger. “How can they just come and take my baby girl. If Daniel wasn’t dead, I’d kill him.”
“Josef said they are doing their best to find her. We need to be together,” Paula said as she pulled her top over her head. “We’re stronger together.”
Steve sat in the parlor with Sam and Lena. “I have to write this up, but I don’t know how. If I say Annamarie was kidnapped, there will be a search party and the FBI could become involved. We can’t do that. We need a plausible reason about what happened tonight. Does the guy you found outside know about Annamarie?”
“I don’t think so. He was acting as if he was drunk and didn’t begin to come around until Annamarie and the wolf disappeared. He was still a bit groggy when the ambulance took him away,” Sam said.
“Okay, since Deb asked for me and didn’t mention Annamarie being kidnaped we can keep that among ourselves. You called to report a strange man passed out in the backyard. I’ll also report the burning letter. Damn, I could lose my job if I don’t report Annamarie’s disappearance, but I’ll be committed if I mention spirits took her and a wolf carried her off. We have to find her ourselves and keep this quiet.”
Everyone agreed when the doorbell rang. Lena opened it and the rest of the family poured into the parlor. Each already knew Annamarie had been kidnapped, but were short on details. Sam filled them in.
The cave was cold and damp. Annamarie shivered in her thin nightgown. Summer’s heat hadn’t helped the atmosphere in the cave. She hoped once the sun rose it would warm up. Something crawled up her left arm. Annamarie tried to shake it loose and yanked her right arm along with her left since her wrists were still bound. She tried to shake both arms at once and hit her elbow on the wall. Pain shot up to her shoulder. She yelled at the pain and couldn’t control her tears. She cried because of pain and fear. Mosquitoes bit her back, arms, and legs. Unable to reach her back, she pushed back with her legs until her back hit the wall. Trying to scratch her back with the wall proved pointless. It was too rough and scraped her back. Afraid to lie down and wiggle on the ground for fear bugs would crawl in her hair, she concentrated on ignoring the itch.
“Please find me,” she yelled as loud as she could. Realizing yelling wasn’t going to help; she did her best to calm herself and began to meditate. She concentrated on where she was and that she needed help.
Annamarie’s family settled into the parlor and all began speaking at once. Steve stood and said, “Okay, enough. One person at a time. I want to hear this, but I need to get back to the station soon. Theo you start.”
Theo gave his description of his dream. Paula, Carl and Bonnie agreed. Emmy and Lizzy repeated the same story in unison, “We were asleep and then standing in the pines. Grandma Magdalena and Grandpa Josef said Aunt Annamarie was in trouble. Daniel and Garret took her. They can’t see where and don’t know what to do. We have to stick together and maybe we can find her.” They sat back down on the floor.
Carl asked, “If we can’t get a search party together, how are we going to find Annamarie?” He slammed his fist onto the arm of the chair.
“Calm down, Carl.” Sam said. “After today we won’t be able to get a search party together. Half the town agreed with Maureen and thinks Annamarie is a witch. When Mrs. Graysbe brought up the dead body which was most likely Daniel’s doing, the rest of the town began to agree. Who besides us would go into the woods to search for her?”
“Quiet, please,” Lena said. “My amulet is getting very warm. I feel something.” She sat quietly for several moments and then said, “Okay, I will.”
“What?” Paula asked.
“Two things,” Lena said. “First, I felt mom, but barely. She’s cold and afraid. It was as if a veil or fog was between us. I think it’s part of the magic that witch gave Daniel. Second, I’m not sure why, but Grandma Magdalena asked me to remove whatever protection I placed on Grandma Maureen years ago. It could be she needs to get to grandma to help mom. I just released the protection from her. I don’t know where mom is. I thought for sure I would know.” Sobs began to wrack Lena’s body and she shook in Paula’s arms.
A small voice could be heard at the parlor door. “Why is Lena crying and where’s mom?” It was Michael.
Maureen woke early with a terrible headache. She reached for her migraine pills and swallowed two with water from the glass on her bedside table. After thirty minutes she didn’t feel any better. That convinced Maureen her spot was back. She shook George’s shoulder, “Wake up, I have to go to the hospital. I need an x-ray. The spot is back. Annamarie cursed me.”
George grumbled and mumbled as he got out of bed. “The spot isn’t back. Annamarie can’t curse anyone.”
The pain was affecting Maureen’s vision as it had in the past. “George, call Dr. Norse. Have him meet us at the hospital. He knows my case. Then we can speak to that neurologist in Oaklin.” She sat on the edge of the bed holding her head. George placed the call while Maureen tried to get up and dress.
“He’ll meet us at the hospital, but he also doubts the spot is back. It’s probably stress.”
Josef said, “Do you think the spot will help or hinder in the search for Annamarie? I still only feel her through a thick fog. She’s alone and I sense the woods.”
“Maureen is trying to turn the town against my granddaughter. I failed to keep her safe. Daniel may be able to hide her, but we need to find her.”
“The only one that has a chance to find her is Lena. Her amulet may be stronger than the witch’s power. Between the amulet and Annamarie’s willpower, they may be able to communicate. We have to be ready.”
“Ready for what? What are you feeling?”
“I am not sure. Strong Evil. We may lose someone we love. Prepare yourself.”
Sam scooped his son up into his arms. “Mom had to take a little trip. She’ll be home soon. That’s why everyone is here. They came to wish her well. She wanted you to get some sleep.”
“Okay,” Michael rubbed his eyes.
Deb popped up off her chair. “Breakfast’s at my place. How about chocolate pancakes?” Michael, Emmy, and Lizzy followed Deb to her apartment.
Theo had been sitting holding his head in his hands. He looked up and said, “What now?”
Lena hugged him. “Leave it to me and Grandpa Josef. We’ll find her. I need some of those pancakes. I’m hungry.” She left and followed the others to Deb’s apartment.
“How can she be so sure?” Paula asked.
Sam said, “Lena has a connection with Magdalena and Josef none of us can understand. The amulet has its own powers. She knows things none of us do. Lena is able to feel Daniel planning evil. I think she will play a large part in finding Annamarie and ridding us of Daniel and Garret forever.” He sighed hoping everyone believed what he had a hard time believing.
Dr. Norse was waiting in the E.R. for George and Maureen. On duty during the picnic, he had heard what happened from several of the interns and nurses. He was sure Maureen’s pain was stress. Even if the spot had returned, he was sure Annamarie hadn’t cursed her. Convincing Maureen would be difficult. He took a deep breath and prepared himself when he saw George pushing Maureen in a wheelchair.
“This is going to be a long day,” he muttered.
George rolled Maureen’s wheelchair through the automatic E.R. doors and waved at Dr. Norse. A nurse hurried over to take Maureen to a room while George filled out the paperwork. Dr. Norse placed his hand on George’s shoulder, “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of her.”
“I know,” George mumbled as he continued to fill out the form the nurse had slid across the desk toward him.
Maureen was complaining to the nurse that she was cursed and needed morphine for her pain as Dr. Norse entered the room.
“Maureen, we need an x-ray before I give you any meds. I don’t want to do more harm than good. If this is stress, I have something better than morphine for you. Please remain calm and the nurse will take you to x-ray. George and I will be here when you return.” He made notes in his chart as George hurried into the room.
“Where is she?”
“X-ray.”
“Okay, what do you think is going on?” George sat rubbing his hands together.
“Maybe stress, we’ll know after the x-ray. A nurse walked in to get Dr. Norse. “I’ll be back when Maureen is through with the x-ray.”
George paced in a circle for what seemed like an hour before Maureen was wheeled back. The nurse helped her into the bed.
“Why are you wearing a hospital gown?” George asked his brow twisted.
Maureen answered, “I had to change for the x-ray.”
George nodded and sat back down.
A nurse arrived with an IV bag for Maureen.
“Why do I need this? What’s wrong with me?” Maureen’s voice rose in pitch.
“All E.R. patients get an I.V. bag. It’s only saline.” She smiled as she pushed the I.V. needle into Maureen’s arm.
The smile didn’t help. Maureen yelled, “That hurt.”
The nurse smiled again and patted her arm before she left the room.
“I don’t like that woman. I bet she’s friends with Annamarie. Bonnie is best friends with Annamarie. She works in pediatrics with the children. They aren’t safe. I need to let people know. Hand me the phone.” Maureen’s hands were shaking and her eyes squinted at George.
“No,” people are still asleep. We’ll wait for the doctor.”
Dr. Norse walked in and pulled a syringe from his pocket and injected it into Maureen’s I.V. “That will help with the pain.”
Maureen felt the pain ease, but her panic rose. “It’s back,” she yelled. “It’s back isn’t it? The black spot is back.”
Dr. Norse nodded and began to explain when Maureen started to shout about being cursed and how Annamarie and Bonnie would kill everyone. Dr. Norse pulled a second syringe from his coat pocket and injected it. Maureen began to calm down and drifted off to sleep.
“That sedative will work for a few hours. I knew she would need it once I told her the spot is back. I’m having the x-ray messengered to the neurologist in Oaklin as we speak. We’ll know more soon.”
“Why did it return?” George dropped his head into his hands.
“I don’t know. I wish I did. The neurologist may know more. We knew this could be a possibility. Why was she upset about Bonnie? I’ve heard the stories about Annamarie and the picnic.”
“Maureen is convinced since they’re friends, Bonnie cursed her, too. She wants to get her fired.”
“That isn’t going to happen. Bonnie Schneider is one of our best pediatric nurses. I’m going to put a stop to this before Maureen gets a chance to start it.”
“Can I stay with her?”
“Yes, she will be calmer if she sees you when she wakes. Since that’ll be several hours, go to Ray’s, get a good breakfast, and have them pack you a sandwich for later. Then you’ll be here. Feel free to nap in the recliner.” The doctor made a few notes in Maureen’s chart and left.
George stood, checked that Maureen was sound asleep and left to find breakfast.
Daniel and Garret could sense what was taking place around town. They knew Annamarie’s family was together because they could see the cars in the drive although they were not able to see or hear what was going on inside the house.
Daniel laughed. “They’ll go crazy trying to find her. They can’t see where she is.”
Garret answered, “Your mom’s at the hospital. The Gypsy woman did something to her. Can’t you help her?”
“No, damn it. My mom was fairly decent to me and I hate to see her hurting this way. Annamarie mentioned a black spot. Something must have gone on while we were gone. Mom always hated Annamarie. I have no power over what the Gypsies do. You know that.”
“The Gypsy woman may think she can hurt your mom in order for you to let Annamarie go.”
“She cursed my mom with the spot before we grabbed Annamarie. It was to make mom stop calling Annamarie a witch. If the spot gets worse, we may have to consider frightening people Annamarie likes. Maybe Greta or one of her other friends wo
uld be good targets. We’ll bide our time.”
Annamarie could see the sun rising. The cave became a bit brighter, but it was still shrouded in fog. She heard the river flowing and crept to the edge of the cave opening. A narrow ledge led to the cave. She shuddered as she wondered how the wolf had carried her to the cave. Looking down, she could see it was a straight drop into the river.
She pushed away from the cave opening and mumbled, “I have lived here all my life and never knew there were caves along the river. Where am I?” Her tears began to fall again.
The sun rose a bit higher and shone in the cave. Annamarie scooted into the sunlight and felt its warmth. I hope the sun warms the cave so I can feel warm. It is so damp in here and chilly. I’m glad it isn’t winter, she thought.
Lena blurted out, “Mom’s okay. She’s warmer, but still scared.”
The young man discovered unconscious in Sam and Annamarie’s back yard was lying on a hospital bed in the Timmus Woods Hospital E.R. He was confused about what happened to him. He told the doctors he had no recollection of arriving in town. He remembers leaving work. They ran blood work and a head x-ray to rule out a concussion and didn’t have any reason to keep him medically. The blood work would also be tested for drugs, but the results would take a few days since it needed to be sent to the Oaklin hospital. If it returned positive, it would become the sheriff’s problem. The young man was released to his brother with instructions to follow up with his family doctor to rule out any underlying disease.
Deb ended up making chocolate pancakes for the entire group. The children finished first and went upstairs with Lena leaving the adults to try to come up with a plan.
Sam and Carl had decided to try and find the path the wolf took when it ran toward the woods with Annamarie. After a small argument, it was agreed Theo would go along. When he said he would take off on his own and search, Paula pleaded with Sam and Carl to take him along. A trucker, Theo was strong and had a great deal of stamina. She knew he wouldn’t slow them down.
Lena (Gypsy Spirits Book 3) Page 17