Ripples in the Shadows

by Kathy Dexter

  Hunter’s innards rumbled. The physical work in the courtyard, the heartwarming words in The Sentinel, had temporarily eased the anguish over a lost sister and tamped the anger over the interference which had kept them apart. What could Hunter do? Would yanking away the curtain masking her memories end the turmoil? Maybe she wasn’t strong enough to face the truth about her past, what had happened to her and her sister. Stop it, Hunter. Get over yourself. She should return to the cottage and see if her idea for translating her grandmother’s journal would provide her with the key to breaking the spell.

  Lexa tapped her on the shoulder. “Before you eat, could I tell you my idea for The Sapphire Dragon books?”

  Hunter had almost forgotten. “Sure. What do you have in mind?”

  “Signed copies for the children––your army, as Finn said in his story––who were unable to get your book before the attack.”

  “What a magnificent idea.” Ally jabbed Hunter in the side. “Don’t you agree?”

  “Of course.” Hunter’s voice cracked with unshed tears. She hugged Lexa. “I can’t thank you enough for thinking of this. But how do we get hold of the children’s parents?”

  “They’re on their way.” Lexa’s eyes twinkled with delight.

  “You figured Hunter would be on board?” Ally asked.

  “Not quite. I called the parents last night and asked if they’d bring the kids to lunch today. I didn’t want to promise a signing I might not be able to deliver.”

  “Weren’t the adults afraid coming here would give their children nightmares?” Hunter didn’t like the idea of frightening them again. Hadn’t the children been terrified enough?

  “They did have some hesitation. Until their kids heard you were going to be here. They begged to come.”

  Hunter’s heart swelled with gratitude. “Get me a pen.”

  “Ta-da!” Lexa produced a slim, lavender-colored writing instrument.

  Hunter tucked it into her pocket, then helped Ally and Lexa carry the books from the museum to the end of one of the tables. After signing her name on the cover page of every volume, Hunter grabbed some lunch with the other two. They joined the volunteers as Max gave a brief speech thanking them for all their hard work.

  Fizzy high-pitched voices effervesced into the courtyard ahead of the pitter-patter of young ones scampering ahead of their parents.

  The children had arrived.

  After much whispering and giggling, eyes round with excitement, they found seats at the tables.

  All signs of the destruction from Saturday had been obliterated, the pavers glistening clean, the air fresh. An amiable breeze riffled. The young guests chattered and giggled as though they’d forgotten yesterday’s troubles. They ate with genuine appetites.

  Toward the end of lunch, Lexa spoke. “Welcome, children. We’re delighted you could come. We have a special gift for you today. Hunter Sloane has a signed copy of her book for each one of you.”

  Oohs, excited whispers and murmurings greeted Lexa’s announcement. She brought out a sheet of paper and read one name at a time, providing a little background of each child to help Hunter personalize a message above her signature.

  After most of the children had received their copies, a little girl shuffled forward. Six-year-old Olivia looked around. “Is Henry still taking care of the bad people?”

  “He turned them over to the police.” Hunter squatted down until they were eye to eye. “You won’t have to worry about them anymore.”

  “They weren’t nice.” Olivia patted Hunter’s cheek. “You put the bubble around us. That was fun.”

  You were very brave yesterday, Livvy.” Hunter handed her a book. “I saved this just for you.”

  Olivia’s eyes shone as she hugged the book. “Wait! We brought a gift for you, too.”

  She ran to her mother, gave her the book and received a plate of cookies in return. Olivia gripped the dish firmly to prevent the contents from sliding off, finally depositing her cargo in Hunter’s lap. Olivia jiggled on one foot. “Mommy found out you like chocolate chip cookies. So we made these just for you.”

  Hunter lifted one from the plate and broke it in two. “Will you share with me?” She handed half to the little girl and bit into the remaining chunk. “Mmmm. Wonderful! You and your mom are great cooks.”

  Olivia’s lips stretched wide, cookie crumbs and dots of chocolate scattered along her chin. Her mother arrived with a napkin and a glass of milk. “Why don’t you sit with your friends, Livvy? I want to talk to Miss Sloane.”

  When her daughter skipped away, the woman shook Hunter’s hand. “I’m Marian Tanner. My husband owns The Lucky Horseshoe.”

  “Jake?”

  Marian nodded. “You don't know how much you've done for our daughter. Livvy used to be painfully shy. Then we borrowed your book from a neighbor and together read the adventures of Syrena and Henry. Chapter after chapter Livvy opened up like a flower finally discovering the sun. She and her friends talked nonstop about the warrior princess willing to take chances, to fight for what was right. They've taken the story’s lessons to heart.”

  Hunter wiped her eyes. “Thank you for such kind words. I thought you’d want me gone after I put the children in harm's way.”

  Marian raised her chin, her lips tight. “You didn't do that. Those horrible people did, with their bigotry and hatred. You kept the children safe.” She looked squarely at Hunter. “Mystic Lake came into existence as a haven from the likes of those miserable bullies who frightened our kids.”

  Other parents had gathered and added their voices to Marian’s:

  “We won't be told how to live our lives. Or raise our children.”

  “Didn't know my boy had it in him to fight the bad guys.”

  “Won't be setting foot inside the homes or businesses of some of those numbskulls. Goes for a lot of my friends as well.”

  “We came to Mystic Lake to escape such evil. We can’t let it take hold here.”

  “Reenie Stoner should be ashamed of herself.”

  “What kind of role model is Sylvia West for that wonderful son of hers? Does she realize what she's doing to him?”

  In the midst of the voices rising and mixing in indignation and determination, Riley and Lou entered the courtyard carrying several boxes.

  “A hand here, please,” Riley called. “Before the ice cream melts. And there’s apple pie.”

  As several others helped, Lou eased his load onto one of the tables. “There’s a big slice missing in the top one. I couldn’t resist sampling Clarissa’s handiwork.”

  Riley moved close to Hunter. “When you’re finished here, Clarissa’s waiting at the cottage. To talk about your sister.”

  CHAPTER 33

  L OGAN SCRUBBED A HAND over his face and stalked the hospital room. He’d left several messages on Hunter’s answering machine and cell phone, but she hadn’t returned any of his calls. He should go to the cottage and beg forgiveness. He’d made the mistake of not giving Hunter the facts, the truth. Could she possibly understand he’d been too busy, had forgotten the news story he’d dug up about her sister?

  Foolish man.

  The doctor cleared him to leave the hospital about the same time his father brought him decent clothes.

  Ben stared at his son, then scanned his body. “I can’t believe you survived unscathed.”

  “Hunter fixed me up with her amulet.” Logan saw no reason to detail how seriously he’d been injured. As he dressed, he checked himself in the mirror, downward from his chest––and as much of his back as he could––for any lingering injuries. Looked like the dragon repaired all the damage.

  “When you took the job with the local police department, I was happy you’d be close to home. Mystic Lake seemed risk-free. Not like the big cities.” Dark grooves etched Ben’s forehead and creased his face. “I didn’t expect you to be shattered into pieces by a bomb.”

  “I’m fine, Dad.” The empty-sounding words couldn’t possibly ease his father’s d
iscomfort. Logan had told Hunter his dad would never ask him to quit, to find a less dangerous job. Took a little too much for granted, didn’t you? Never bothered to ask him how he really felt.

  “I know you’ve always wanted to be a detective, Logan. And I would never interfere with your life choices.” Ben blinked away a sudden sheen in his eyes. “Doesn’t mean I won’t worry.”

  Logan wrapped his arms around his father’s shoulders and held him close. “I’ll try to stay safe.”

  “Guess that’ll have to do.” Ben hugged him back. “I’ll give you a ride home.”

  “Let me check on Chief Stoner first.” Logan headed for the door. “He was caught in the explosion as well.”

  “He’s already gone, son.”

  Logan whirled around. “He’s well enough?” Had Hunter used her amulet to fix Stoner’s wounds, too?

  “I passed Clarissa and her granddaughter, Riley Delaney, in the hall,” Ben said. “They told me about how they healed the chief.”

  That’s right. Clarissa said she and Riley had helped Stoner. Riley’s white dragon would have worked as well as Hunter’s blue one. “We have a stop to make on the way home.”

  * * *

  Logan directed his father to the Stoner residence. As they turned into the driveway, Logan spotted the chief climbing out of the passenger side of a patrol car.

  When they approached, the chief clapped Logan on the shoulder. “You look in good shape, boy. I thought for sure we’d be recuperatin’ a long time after that bomb blast.”

  “Pays to reside in Mystic Lake,” Ben said. “Enough people with skills to cure the worst ailments.”

  Stoner wrinkled his nose. “Don’t start that magic tomfoolery, Ben.”

  “We’ve both lived here a long time, Clint. Been friends, too. If it hadn’t been for Clarissa’s and Riley’s particular assets, you’d still be in the hospital. ‘Bout time you accepted your neighbors for who––and what––they are.”

  Stoner looked like he wanted to say something. Instead, he threw up his hands. “No point in arguin’ with someone as stubborn as you. Come in and have a beer.”

  Ben glanced at his watch. “You already had lunch?”

  “At the hospital.”

  “We did, too.” Ben eyed Logan, who gave a quick nod. “Guess we could use a cold one.”

  Inside the house, Stoner directed them to his study. He went to the kitchen and reappeared with several bottles. The three men managed a few swallows before Reenie stumbled into the room.

  “They let you outta the hospital?” Her words slurred together. “Why didn’ you call me, sweetie? I woulda picked you up.”

  Stoner leaped to his feet. “You should be resting, Reenie. Like the doctor said.”

  “We got comp’ny. Not polite to leave.” Reenie plopped next to Ben.

  Everything about her behavior echoed Sylvia’s actions after taking pills. “How about some coffee?” Logan suggested to Stoner. “It might help clear the fog in Reenie’s mind.”

  Reenie clung to Ben. “Blue fog. Everywhere. Couldn’t see.”

  Stoner hesitated. “Don’t talk about that, Reenie. Come with me to the kitchen.”

  “I’ll be fine here.” Reenie waved him away. “You make some coffee. I wanna talk to Ben. Haven’t seen him in lon’ time.”

  A pained expression swept across Stoner’s face before he moved to the kitchen.

  Logan made the most of his absence. “You stole books from the museum and set them on fire.”

  Reenie giggled. “Wha’ fun. Watch everyone scatter.”

  “You didn’t trigger the alarm.” A light bulb flicked on in Logan’s brain. “Like the night of the Masquerade Ball? You turned off the security system so your cousin and his pals could rob the museum.”

  Reenie put her finger to her lips. “Shhh. No one knows what I can do.”

  “With magic?” Ben asked. “You have such a gift?”

  “Jus’ like you and Theo.” She patted Ben’s cheek. “Sylvia wanna rip magic outta Theo. Can’t. Inside. Part of us.” She groaned and clutched her chest. “Tried to tell Clint that.”

  “Yet you protested at the book signing, shouting that magic corrupted the children,” Logan said.

  Reenie peeked at him and winked. “Jus’ a trick.”

  Ben took her hand, his voice grim. “You and Sylvia––the others with you––threw rocks at the children. They could have been injured.”

  “Wouldn’ hurt little ones.” A tear trickled down her cheek. “Davy promised. Shoulda been more careful.”

  Logan crouched in front of her so he could see her face. “He set up the demonstration?”

  She nodded like a puppet whose strings had loosened. “D’version. Get to girl.”

  His heart froze. Reenie had to be talking about Hunter. “To hurt her. With a knife.”

  “Nah. Scare her. Make her leave. Go far, far, far away.” Reenie’s head lolled against the back of the couch.

  “He planned to kill with that knife.” Logan remained unruffled on the outside, but inside the vision of how close Hunter had come to being Jones’ victim made him sweat. His body tensed, and a burning anger swept through him.

  Reenie’s chin dropped, her mouth wide open. “Kill?”

  What kind of memory did she have in her pill-induced haze? “Over twenty years ago, your cousin cut the brakes on a car. People died.”

  “No, Davy wouldn’ do that.” She shook her head until she swayed with dizziness.

  At least, the chief’s wife hadn’t knowingly taken part in attempted murder. She’d been used. For how long? “Did you use your magic on the Spirit Winds Casino’s security system?”

  “Couldn’ do it. Almost got caught by that nasty Indian.”

  “Standing Bear’s magic was stronger than yours. Must’ve made Paul and Dave mad.”

  “At me. Tol’ ‘em I was doin’ best I could,” she wailed.

  “Were there other robberies, Reenie?”

  Cunning glittered in her eyes. She giggled. “Not s’posed to tell. Lotsa fun. Jus’ like when we were young.”

  How many places had been robbed back then? Would they ever find out? Logan stood up and stretched his back.

  “No more, detective.” Stoner stood in the doorway. He put down a tray and kneeled next to his wife. “Here, Reenie. Drink this. You’ll feel better.” He placed a cup against her lips.

  Reenie slurped the coffee. “Awful stuff.” She pushed it away and tried to rise. Her legs wobbled and she sat down, gripping her stomach this time. “I don’ feel well.”

  “I’m taking her to the doctor.” Stoner easily lifted her into his arms. “She’s in no shape to answer your questions.”

  “We need answers.” Logan moved between the chief and the door.

  Stoner’s chin jutted. “Out of my way, boy.”

  A car engine revved.

  Logan ran to the front door and flung it open. Paul Fleming’s cherry-red sports car roared down the driveway to the road and vanished around a corner.

  Ben’s car could never catch up. Logan dashed back to the study, picked up the phone, and dialed the station. He gave details about the car and its owner.

  Stoner lowered his wife to the couch. “Logan’s describing Fleming and his overpriced jalopy. Was he here? In my house? Why?”

  Reenie squirmed. “Paul takes care of me. Said he’d make me feel better.” She grabbed her stomach again. “Ooh, what’d he give me?”

  Arms flailing, she groaned and rolled off the couch onto the floor.

  Stoner knelt by her side and checked her pulse. “It’s thready. Call 911.” He put a hand, then an ear, against her mouth. “She’s not breathing.”

  He gave his wife mouth to mouth, while Ben did CPR and Logan used the phone.

  Before long they heard a siren screaming toward the house. EMTs wasted no time getting Reenie’s vitals and hooking her up to an IV. They loaded her into the ambulance and careened down the driveway, sirens blaring.

  Stoner gr
abbed car keys.

  Logan followed him out the door.

  “Chief––”

  “What is it, man? I’ve got to get to the hospital.”

  “Where does your wife keep her medicine? The stuff Fleming gives her.”

  Dark flashes shot through Stoner’s eyes. He gave directions to a medicine cabinet on the second floor.

  “I’ll get it.” Ben ran inside and soon returned with a couple of brown bottles with no labels. He dropped them in Stoner’s hand.

  Stoner scanned the containers. “I think they’re the ones, but I’m not sure.”

  “When I touched Reenie during CPR, I sensed the poison in her system.” Ben’s voice was firm. “The same poison I sense in these pills.”

  Stoner gasped. “Poison?”

  “Think it through, boss.” Logan tried to reason with the chief. “Jones was blown up in his garage. A dead man can’t talk. You heard Reenie. She was involved in break-ins with her cousin and Fleming. What if Reenie was poisoned to get rid of another accomplice?”

  Stoner’s face blanched. “We have to get these to the hospital lab so they can find an antidote.” He rushed out the door.

  Logan and his father locked up before hurrying to Ben’s car. “For Stoner’s sake, I hope the lab can help his wife in time,” Logan said.

  “You drive.” Ben’s voice was crisp. “I’ll call Riley and Clarissa. See if they can extract the poison.”

  “I must report to the station,” Logan said. “Make sure the men are fully mobilized in hunting down Fleming before he can do any more damage.”

  Logan rolled down the window and drank in the sunshine and warm, fresh breezes. Drastically different from the foul-smelling deeds occurring in Mystic Lake.

  A history of robbery and murder. Where would it all lead?

  CHAPTER 34

  H UNTER TURNED OFF the ignition and sat in the cottage’s driveway, unable to move.

  Back in town, Ally had told her, “Deal with this meeting one on one, my friend. I’ll meet you later at The Lucky Horseshoe for that free dinner from Jake Tanner.” Until then, Ally planned to spend the day with Finn.