by J. D. Shaw
“It was the least I could do. How are you feeling?”
Vivienne stopped at a traffic light and watched a group of children carrying sleds cross the intersection toward the school playground. “I’m back to normal, thank goodness.”
“I must say, when Kathy told me how you fell into an old grave I was quite shocked.”
“It’s not as uncommon as you think.” Vivienne felt a little twinge of terror, recalling the feeling as the ground gave out beneath her. “Just my dumb luck, I suppose.”
“Well, I hope you stay out of old cemeteries for some time.” Samantha joked.
“Oh, that’s something I plan on doing.” Vivienne accelerated as the light turned green.
“Oh, Vivienne.” Samantha chuckled. “I miss our chats.”
“You’re a busy executive now. Your time is gold.”
“I miss Cayuga Cove and the quiet peace that you all take for granted. The city is just mobbed with tourists this time of year.” Samantha’s voice lowered. “I actually thought of taking a little holiday getaway there and checking on the progress at the house.”
“I’ve seen the renovations crew working. They’re really doing an amazing job.”
“Hey, that’s part the reason I wanted to check in with you.” Samantha interrupted. “Has the Rothwell mansion been purchased from the town yet?”
“What?”
“I’ll take that as a no.” Samantha sounded relived. “Good, because I didn’t want to be neighbors with that smarmy Robert Rothwell. He’s going to ruin the town with his gas fracking plans.”
“Back up a second. When was he supposed to buy the mansion?”
“Oh, quite some time ago. I saw him at a fundraiser and he kept trying to impress me with talking about his old family home in Cayuga Cove and how he was going to buy it back to show his father how he was going to take their family fortune into the future with natural gas fracking.”
“Samantha, I need to know the exact day that fundraiser was held.” Vivienne turned onto Meier Drive.
“I have it in my phone, let me pull it up.” Samantha went silent for a moment. “It was on June 7th, over six months ago.”
“That was when he must have met Tristan in New York.” Vivienne pulled her car into the driveway of her home.
“Who’s Tristan?” Samantha asked.
“He runs an antique store here in town.” Vivienne answered. “There was a bit of scandal with him having an affair with Robert around the time of that fundraiser.”
“So he is bisexual.” Samantha added. “I had a feeling he had to be.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh Vivienne, he has a girlfriend, but let me tell you she was such an obvious prop. Plain and just so mousy. I can’t even fathom why he would have looked at her twice.”
“Did you get her name?” Vivienne asked.
“Um, she didn’t say much. Just sort of hid by the potted plants. I think a few people assumed she was the help and gave her their empty glasses.” Samantha recalled. “I think her name was Natalie.”
“Oh my Goddess.” Vivienne put her hands up to her mouth. “Short stature, dark hair pulled up in a bun. Pale complexion.”
“Yes.” Samantha confirmed. “You know her?”
“Oh, I know her.” Vivienne could barely get the words out of her mouth. “Have you seen her lately?”
“No, in fact I was going to say that she and Robert disappeared from the scene right after that.”
“What does Robert look like?” Vivienne asked.
“He’s tall, athletic-type of build. Very easy on the eyes. Of course, when he opens his mouth it all falls apart.” Samantha sighed. “The very definition of narcissism.”
“Can you email me a picture?”
“Sure.” Samantha confirmed. “I have some right here on my phone, one with him and Natalie actually. I’m so glad he hasn’t had a chance to buy property in town yet.”
“Yes, you mentioned that earlier.”
“He’s tied in with one of those shady companies fracking for gas deposits.” Samantha explained. “I’m sure he wanted to get cozy with the locals so he could throw gobs of money at them until they sold their mineral rights.”
“We’ve had some debates here about it.” Vivienne recalled. “I hate to say it, but money would win out over ecological safety issues for most working families around here.”
“This isn’t a reputable company, Vivienne. This is a get rich quick scheme by Robert to fleece Cayuga Cove. They don’t drill safely. They poison the water supply. If they get their claws into the town, they will turn it into a poisoned wasteland.” Samantha’s voice took in a tone of urgency. “I’ve had a legal team putting a case together to use against them when Robert makes his move on the town council.”
“Thank you for looking out for us.” Vivienne’s head was spinning. “I think you just saved the entire town by telling me what I needed to know.”
“Really?” Samantha asked. “I’m going to send you all the information on that bogus company that I have.”
“Thank you so much.” Vivienne finished. “I have some very important errands to take care of.”
“Let me know how things turn out. Miss you Vivienne.” Samantha hung up.
Vivienne turned the car off and sat inside, letting the silence clear her head. She had to see the picture of Robert and Natalie and then she had to find Joshua.
Once her computer booted up, she opened the email that Samantha had sent. The picture confirmed that Natalie was indeed the woman who haunted Cayuga Cove. There was a hollow darkness to her eyes, a deep sadness that reached out from the confines of the digital photograph. But it was the picture of Robert that disturbed her more. His face was so familiar, yet so alien. She was transfixed by the image of the robust and healthy man before her. She could see why Tristan had been attracted to him. But as she squinted and the image blurred, the answer came. “Oh, no she didn’t.” Vivienne gasped. “How could I miss something so obvious?” She had found the thread that pulled the whole tapestry of tragedy together and it was a bigger threat than either of them could have imagined.
It was nearly an hour later after reading what Samantha had sent about the gas drilling that the picture became clear. She combed over the emails, pulling out what she needed to explain in the most logical order.
Her fingers dialed Joshua’s work number. “Honey, it’s me. I’ve got one hell of a bombshell to tell you.”
“I was just about to call you.” Joshua’s voice was uncertain. “Tristan and Nathaniel have been admitted to Cayuga Memorial. It looks pretty bad, Vivienne.”
CHAPTER 21
As they sat in the waiting room in the emergency room at Cayuga Memorial Hospital, Vivienne and Joshua held hands. The trauma team was working somewhere behind the automatic doors, trying to bring them back to health.
“This isn’t right.” Vivienne shook her head.
“They were targeted by the Bad Santa note like everyone else.” Joshua gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“We’re so close to solving this.” Vivienne felt tears well up in her eyes. “This town is falling apart at the seams.”
“They’re still sorting out the details of what happened, but apparently Nathaniel confronted the protestors outside of their store and someone threw a punch.” Joshua shook his head. “It turned into a free-for-all fight right afterwards.”
“Did you round up all the protestors?” Vivienne sniffed.
“Most of them took off when the first cruiser arrived on the scene.” Joshua explained as he used his free hand to gently rub her back. “But we’ve got a pretty clear statement about who started it.”
“Who was it?”
“His name is Neil Carter and he’s a gas worker from a company called R.N.G incorporated.” Joshua sighed. “He doesn’t even live here. He’s just one of the workers that’s driving those big equipment trucks up and down Route 90 to the different drilling sites.”
“R.N.G.” Vivienne repe
ated. “Rothwell Natural Gas.”
“That’s right.”
Vivienne stood up from the uncomfortable chair. “We need to go somewhere private where we can talk.”
Joshua joined her. “The cafeteria?”
“The chapel.” Vivienne answered.
“This is a surprise.”
“I think it’s off limits for her.” Vivienne explained as she guided him into the hallway. “At least, I hope so.”
Joshua simply nodded and followed her down the mostly empty hallway.
As they entered the small chapel that was decorated with a few red and white poinsettias, they nearly ran into Pastor Seamus Kilpatrick. “Oh, pardon me.” He apologized, his grip on a small bible tight in his right hand.
“Pastor Kilpatrick?” Vivienne blinked in surprise.“Yes. Have we met?” He asked her.
Vivienne looked at Joshua and shook her head. “Not in person. I’m Vivienne Finch, I run the Sweet Dreams Bakery downtown.”
Seamus winked at her. “Oh, I’ve heard quite a bit of good things about your baked goods.”
Vivienne gave him a little smile. “Thank you. How is Eunice?”
“My sister is doing better each day, praise the Lord.” He smiled. “Are you two friends?”
“We know each other, but just casually.” Vivienne answered. She gestured to Joshua. “This is Deputy Arkins.”
“Deputy, it’s always a pleasure to meet a man of the law.” Seamus passed the bible to his left hand and offered his right hand. “We must keep the flame of the righteous burning bright against the darkness.”
Joshua gripped it tight and gave him a vigorous shake. “Thank you, Pastor.”
“Are you here to say a prayer for a sick friend?” Seamus asked them.
Vivienne nodded. “Two friends, actually.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Nathaniel Schroeder and Tristan Carr.” Vivienne revealed.
Seamus’ face paled. “I see.”
“What’s the matter, Pastor Kilpatrick?” Vivienne pressed. “Are you troubled by the fruit that your seeds have wrought?”
“I beg your pardon.” Seamus straightened his posture.
“You were the one responsible for organizing the protestors after the Bad Santa note hit town, were you not?” Vivienne asked matter-of-factly.
“Vivienne, this isn’t the place.” Joshua gently put his hand on her shoulder.
“Cayuga Cove is a small town, Pastor. I suggest not talking about how you intend to clean up the sin in this town in such a public place. The walls have ears, you know.” Vivienne finished.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, my child. But I will pray that the anger inside you goes away.”
“Why don’t you go down to the emergency room and pray that those two gentlemen down there don’t die from being beaten to within an inch of their lives by a bunch of moral cowards?” Vivienne brushed past him and stepped into the chapel.
“She’s an angry woman.” Seamus whispered to Joshua.
“Hell hath no fury.” Joshua replied as he followed Vivienne into the chapel.
Vivienne took a seat on the front bench. “I’m sorry.” She took a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to go off on him like that.”
“Oh, he deserved every word you gave him.” Joshua sat down next to her. “I’m proud of you.”
“Well, he’s not going to be very happy with me after that.”
“I don’t think he’s happy with many people living here in Cayuga Cove.” Joshua added. “But, he’s not our problem.”
“No.” Vivienne positioned herself to face Joshua. “I’ve figured out what’s going on and I’ve only got three days to stop it before I die.”
“What?” Joshua leaned forward. “Did someone threaten your life?”
She nodded. “Natalie.”
“You saw here again?” Joshua asked.
“No.” Vivienne had to choose her explanation carefully. She would tell him everything she knew, while keeping Miss Octavia’s secret. It wasn’t going to be easy, but she had no other choice.
* * *
It was well after eleven in the evening when Vivienne and Joshua returned to her home. The trauma team managed to stabilize both Nathaniel and Tristan, but their recovery was going to be rough. More importantly, she had been able to explain the entire plan to Joshua and although she could sense that he was edgy about the threat to her life, he remained rational and in control.
Vivienne pulled up the email photograph of Robert and Natalie. “It’s impossible for a non-witch to see through magic of a glamor spell.”
“I don’t see it.” Joshua admitted.
“Robert Edward Rothwell is Eddie Robertson, and vice versa.” Vivienne pulled up the newspaper obituary picture from online and placed the two together on the screen.
“But why did Natalie do that?”
“She needed to bring him to Cayuga Cove in order to carry out her plan, but he was far too visible as Robert Rothwell.” Vivienne explained as best she could. “As Eddie, he was just some low life creep that no one would pay much attention to. Except, to feel sympathy for her as the abused girlfriend and mother.”
“So, Robert Rothwell was going to bring in his R.G.E. company to set up shop drilling gas and inflating his family fortune?”
“Right.” Vivienne clicked on a separate email and brought it up on the screen.
“How the heck did the two of them hook up in the first place?” Joshua asked.
Vivienne pulled up the email from Samantha Charles with the information that her legal team had collected over the past few months. “Well, it was an unfortunate twist of fate that did it. He was in town over a year ago setting up a survey team to look at gas deposit prospects under Cayuga Cove, starting at the most promising location.”
“The Cayuga Union Cemetery.” Joshua caught on.
“Exactly.” Vivienne pointed to the screen. “This is a funding query a team of geologists sent out about two years ago. In the fall of 2011, they detected a large pocket of gas in the farmlands surrounding the cemetery while conducting a geographic survey for a now defunct energy company. Lacking the monetary capital to explore drilling options, they had no choice but to shelve the project until additional funding could be secured.” Vivienne pulled up another email on the screen. “Well, at some point these geologists approached Robert Rothwell while cold calling various wealthy individuals and when they mentioned his family’s hometown, he couldn’t get his checkbook out fast enough.”
‘’So he buys the survey information and creates an new company to explore these drilling options.” Joshua followed along. “Eventually, he makes a personal visit here to see how things are going.”
Vivienne nodded back. “When I traveled into Tristan’s memory, I remember Robert telling him he had traveled to Cayuga Cove about a year ago which would work out to be around the summer of 2012.”
Joshua pulled a pillow behind his neck as he sat on the sofa staring at the monitor. “So, Robert was visiting the fields out here and comes across the cemetery.”
“John Pagano told me stories of how he used to see the black widow, that’s what he called Natalie, out by the old civil war cannons. It’s not a stretch to think that Robert had an encounter with her as well at some point.”
“You’re positive that the black widow is Natalie?”
Vivienne opened a drawer on her computer desk and pulled out the silver brooch that John had given her. “John found this near the cannons. It’s engraved.” She handed it to Joshua.
Joshua turned it over. “Never a time apart, love is eternal.” He handed it back to her unimpressed. “I don’t get where you find a link to Natalie.”
Vivienne turned the brooch inscription toward him. “Look at the first letter of each word.”
“N-A-T-A-L-I-E”. Joshua blinked. “Vivienne, you’re brilliant.”
“Old Edgar couldn’t go out and have her name engraved, not for a secret mistress in a small town.”
Joshua smiled. “So, Natalie finds Robert visiting the cemetery and must have sensed that he was a Rothwell family member. From that moment, she at last had a chance to take revenge.”
“How could she not? She’d been trapped out in the cemetery for over a century, unable to seek vengeance against the man who murdered her and her child. Now, all during this time this is going on we had Missy Collins working her dark magic in her plot to take down Mona Clarke.” Vivienne placed the brooch back in the desk drawer. “Unbeknownst to her, she was opening dark portals which fed new energy to Natalie and allowed her to do so much more than simply kill Robert Rothwell for his family sins. She would be able to seek vengeance against the entire town of Cayuga Cove for celebrating the life of Edgar Rothwell and his family’s charitable donations over the years.”
“So, she casts a spell on him and controls his mind?” Joshua asked.
“We know she can glamor, so my guess is that he only saw a knockout beauty who made his heart skip a beat. He tells her about his soon to be big fortune, because as Samantha Charles told me, he loves to brag to everyone about it.”
“They both travel back to New York to secure the plan to harvest the gas from Cayuga Cove and make his family richer than they ever had been.”
Vivienne nodded back. “So, after getting the funding in place, it’s time for Natalie to seek her vengeance. I also guess that the time away from the dark portals was taking a toll, so she has to return to Cayuga Cove to boost her power in keeping all the magic spells she cast in place.” Vivienne pointed to her grimoire resting by the computer. “In order to do that, she combines a glamor spell with a mind alteration spell, changing Robert physically into Eddie, while blocking all memory of his former life.”
“Whoa.” Joshua stopped her. “How did you figure that out?”
“It’s in my spell book.” Vivienne opened her grimoire to the proper page. “An individual with a mind block spell will become more agitated and aggressive with each passing day as the mind fights the spell to restore balance. Sounds like the Eddie we encountered, doesn’t it?”