The Greening: a novel of romantic suspense...with a touch of magic (The Green Man Series Book 1)

by Sharon Brubaker

  It seemed only a moment when they were hovering above the park and the Bay Days celebration. The world was crystal clear and the bay was sparkling. The sailboats looked like toys and the park full of colorful small moving bodies. She tried to pick out the Thurmont tent and thought she had spotted it when the helicopter turned and buzzed away towards the plant.

  Sylvia could see the trees pulsing with energy as they flew. In her imagination, she thought she could feel their energy as she flew above them. She was mesmerized and couldn’t stop looking all around. When they got above Thurmont, Sylvia did a double take and gasped at what she saw. In the woods where they had found Anna’s body, there were marks on the land that looked like a spreading stain. Her skin prickled and she could feel the hairs standing up on her arms. The stain had a pulsing aura. It was muddied, and difficult to see against the dark landscape, but it was totally different from the light filled auras of the vegetation on either side of the woods. She knew it was something horrible, but didn’t have a clue as to what it was.

  “What’s wrong?” Jim asked, slightly concerned noticing her change from elation of the experience of the helicopter flight to one of concern.

  “Down there,” Sylvia said pointing. “What is it?” she asked.

  “What is what?” Jim asked unconcerned. “I see Thurmont and the surrounding trees. It’s a lovely bit of property with the wild open space down to the stream.”

  “Does Thurmont own the stream area as well?” Jim asked turning to Headley.

  Headley turned his attentions away from Natalie and talked to Jim. He pointed out the boundaries of the property promising to drive them over later that day. Sylvia stared down at the ground. She saw the stain of brown, pulsing with life and knew that was growing—slowly—but it was growing and moving all the same. It seemed to be centralized in the wooded area where they had found Anna’s body, but snaky tendrils were moving away from the company grounds. It was clear now that she was the only one who was able to see whatever it was. She thought it must be part of the new vision the Green Man spoke about. They started to fly south towards town again, and now Sylvia craned her neck to see outside to follow the snaky tendrils of brown. It went towards town and down towards the bay. Looking at it gave her a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  “Are you okay?” Jim asked her, noticing her paled expression.

  “Yes,” she said. “I think I drank one too many beers,” she lied quickly.

  He nodded with understanding. “Wonderful lunch,” he said, “but, I’m not sure this roller coaster ride was such a good idea right after a meal,” he said quietly.

  They were heading back to the park to land. As disturbed as she was by what she saw at the Thurmont plant, she couldn’t help by smile to the pilot.

  “Thank you, the ride was fantastic,” she told him warmly, “I can understand why you love to do this. If I had your job, I don’t think I would ever want to land!”

  The pilot grinned at her. “That’s the idea,” he replied.

  The pilot helped her out of the copter and she wobbled a bit as she got her land legs back.

  “Thank you,” she said a little shakily to Mr. Headley.

  He nodded, barely acknowledging her now that Natalie was in sight. He was extremely attentive to her, taking her hand.

  “What’s next?” Jim asked quietly.

  “Umm, sailing, I think,” she murmured back to him.

  Behind Headley’s back she saw him grimace and stifled a laugh. Looking for something to divert her attention she glanced around the park. Somewhere near the Thurmont booth were flashing red lights.

  “I wonder what’s going on?” she asked the group.

  “Where?” Headley asked.

  “Looks like the Thurmont booth,” Jim said without a doubt.

  Concerned, Sylvia ignored Headley and started towards the booth. Jim followed her quick pace while Headley and Natalie came up behind. The red lights proved to be an ambulance and a separate paramedic truck. Paramedics had Mr. Carter on a gurney, with an oxygen mask over his face, checking his vitals.

  “What’s wrong?” Sylvia cried when she saw her boss with a pasty looking face looking still as death.

  “You a relative?” the paramedic asked.

  “No,” Sylvia said, “but, as close to one as you could get at the moment,” she told him, trying not to sound belligerent. “I’m not sure he has any family left. I’m a good friend,” she said.

  Carol and Owen, standing nearby nodded in her direction, confirming what she said to the paramedics.

  “Possible heart attack,” he stated.

  “Oh, no!” Sylvia gasped. “He hasn’t looked well for a couple of days, now,” She told them.

  “Are you able to come to the hospital to fill out some paperwork?” he asked her.

  “Sure,” Sylvia said, “Whatever you need.”

  She looked at Carol and Owen. “Okay?” she asked, knowing it wasn’t a problem before she said anything. She looked at Headley too who nodded.

  Jim piped up, “Look,” he said, “if it’s a matter of handing out brochures and stuff, I can help with that.” He turned to Natalie and Headley. “You two don’t mind if I stay and help out, do you?” he asked. “Honestly, I don’t think you’ll find me to be a very good sailor.”

  Natalie sort of glared at him, but covered it up when Headley glanced at her for confirmation. Sylvia went off in the ambulance with Mr. Carter and made a hand gesture to Owen and Carol of “I’ll call you.” Headley and Natalie turned to go towards the boat slip and Jim turned to introduce himself to Owen and Carol.

  Sylvia had never ridden in an ambulance. She was in a jump seat of sorts and it was a very bumpy and uncomfortable ride. The paramedics were working on Mr. Carter, communicating to the hospital and trying to stabilize him. One of the paramedics told her they would be arriving at the hospital in a few minutes. He told her they would check Mr. Carter over in the ER. Then, likely, he would be admitted and send him to the heart unit on the second floor. Before she knew it, Sylvia was handed a stack of forms to fill out for Mr. Carter. She did the best she could, putting down the particulars and called Carol regarding health plans and policies on the cell phone. She wracked her brain to think if he had any other relatives. There were none in the immediate area, but Sylvia thought he had said one time that he had a sister in California.

  She handed the forms back to the receptionist and hoped for the best, giving them a weak smile and lamely trying to explain her position and knowledge. They told her it would be a while until he was transferred to the heart unit and suggested she wait in the waiting room. Sylvia sat and leaned back, closing her eyes. What a day! Her mind was racing. She was so relieved Natalie Browne drew off Headley’s attentions. Then she remembered the brown spreading stain starting from Thurmont and spreading down the peninsula and wondered what it was. Opening her eyes, she looked around surveying the waiting room. One woman was waiting for treatment and moaning, holding her stomach. There were people in shorts over bathing suits pacing up and down and a young woman holding a small baby. She looked around the sterile waiting room area. A few old magazines were lying on end tables. Sylvia got up and paced along with the others. She had never been a patient person. She started to think of Gran and thought that her Mother must have waited patiently or impatiently when Gran had chemotherapy and other appointments and treatments. Her respect for her mother grew at that moment. She sat down again and leafed through an old news magazine, not reading and then through an old woman’s magazine, looking at Christmas cookie recipes and snowman crafts. Just when she thought she could stand it no longer she heard her name being called by the receptionist. They told her that Mr. Carter was being transferred to the Coronary Care unit and that she could go up to see him in a few minutes.

  The receptionist looked at her pale face and said, “It will take them at least a half an hour to get him set up and situated. Why don’t you go to the cafeteria and get a snack?” she asked sympathetically. />
  “Thanks,” Sylvia replied and then asked, “Can you give me directions?”

  Sylvia purchased a soda, chocolate and some crackers. At that point she felt like she could main line chocolate without a problem. She sat at a table. The cafeteria was quite empty with the exception of some tired interns that were downing large quantities of coffee and having a rather heated discussion of some sort of procedure. At least that’s what she could make out. Finishing her snack, she headed up to coronary care. The nurse told her she could see Mr. Carter for fifteen minutes.

  Sylvia took a deep breath and walked into the ward. Mr. Carter was awake and hooked up to an amazing amount of machines. He tried to give her a wan smile and she sat down and patted his hand.

  “You know you didn’t have to go to these lengths to keep me out of Headley’s clutches,” she said lightly.

  “Don’t make me laugh,” he croaked hoarsely and tried to smile again. “You okay?” he asked.

  Sylvia nodded. “Actually, I am,” she said, “Except I’m a little worried about you.” She looked at him and noticed that his aura was a little brighter and she knew he would be okay. She gave him a better smile and filled Mr. Carter in on the fact that she had filled out the paperwork for him and wasn’t sure if everything is correct. She told him about the last few hours with Headley and Co. and that Natalie had drawn Headley’s attentions away from her and how nice a guy Jim was.

  “How about you?” she asked.

  “Heart attack,” he stated bluntly and hoarsely.

  “I think you were lucky,” Sylvia said. “Is there anything I can get you?” she asked, seeing the nurse about to come in and kick her out.

  “No,” he said.

  “I’m going back to Bay Days and help them clean up and then I’ll be back,” she told him.

  She leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek and turned to go. When she was outside his room she realized that she didn’t have a car.

  “Don’t panic,” she told herself, “Think.” Sylvia hoped Marian would be home as she dialed. Briefly she stated to Marian what had happened and Marian said she would be happy to pick her up and to sit tight.

  The heat was intense outside. Sylvia went back into the hospital to look for a vending machine for a cold soda and went to wait by the large plate glass window and keep an eye out for Marian.

  Thankfully Marian pulled up a short time later. Sylvia climbed into the car and was nearly blown away with the air conditioning on full blast.

  “Thanks for picking me up,” Sylvia told her.

  “No problem,” Marian said, “Sounds as though you’ve had quite the day.”

  Sylvia nodded. “Not one I would like to repeat, actually,” she said, “although it wasn’t terrible, just…” she was at a loss for words.

  They were both silent for a few minutes and Marian asked how Mr. Carter was doing. Sylvia filled her in as much as she could and told her she would be going back that night.

  By the time they got to Bay Days, the crowds had thinned out in the heat and Jim, Carol and Owen had started to pack up things that were left. They were surprised to see her and she gave them a report on Mr. Carter.

  “Thanks for pitching in, everyone,” she said wearily and leaned against Owen with a huge sigh. Sylvia thought if she closed her eyes she would be asleep in an instant. Instead she tried to glance around as Owen started to rub her neck and shoulders. She groaned in pleasure and pain. “Can I hire you?” she whispered to him.

  “Free of charge,” he said smiling and paused a moment before he said, “today.”

  “What happens with the tent and all of this stuff?” Owen asked.

  “Ed or one of the other guys is to be coming with the truck soon,” she told them.

  “Have you seen Natalie or Mr. Headley?” she asked Jim.

  “Nope,” Jim said, “and I don’t expect we will. Can someone give me a ride to the hotel?”

  “Sure,” Carol said. “I could do that. Okay if I go boss?” she said jokingly to Sylvia.

  Sylvia smacked playfully at her. “Go!” she ordered. “Go and have a cold beer for me,” she said.

  “And a cool shower, I think,” Carol said. “To think last week I was at the beach…” she sighed.

  “It was nice meeting you Jim,” Sylvia said sincerely. “I hope your kids like the stuff. Thanks for helping out,” she said again.

  Jim shook her hand and Owen’s too. “Nice meeting you,” he said to Owen. “Good luck.”

  Sylvia sat down on the stack of boxes and watched Carol and Jim go.

  “I would love to get a shower and something to eat before I head back to the hospital,” Sylvia told Owen.

  “Mind if I tag along?” he asked.

  “I was hoping you would say that,” she sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m pooped!”

  Ed came rattling up with the truck. He was surprised to see Owen and asked him how things were going. Owen shrugged.

  “Any word on the murder investigation?” he asked Ed.

  “No,” Owen said carefully. “I know I’m innocent, but I’m not out of the woods yet,” he said.

  “What happened to your arm?” Owen asked Ed, noticing the bandage.

  Sylvia leaned closer.

  “Some sort of skin infection,” he told Owen. “Thought it was poison ivy, thought it was this, that and the other thing. Now they’re telling me it’s a form of cellulitis. I feel like crap,” he said. “You don’t want to see what’s under the bandage. It’s gross. My Mom has it too,” he said.

  They worked together to take down the tent and load up the truck. Sylvia was thoughtful and Owen asked her a couple of times to hand him things.

  “Sorry,” she said, “I think I’m tired”

  “Me too,” Owen said. “I’m looking forward to a cold beer.”

  “Sounds good to me too,” Ed said.

  Sylvia was hoping Owen wouldn’t ask Ed to go out for a beer or to come back to her house for one.

  Instead Owen said, “Yeah, but we’ll have to wait on that. We need to get to the hospital,” he said and gave Ed a brief account of what occurred that afternoon.

  “Mr. Carter’s an okay kind of guy,” Ed said, “I’m sorry he’s feeling poorly. Give him my best, okay?”

  “I’ll do that,” Sylvia told Ed. “Thanks for transporting the stuff.”

  “No problem!” Ed said, “I love the overtime!”

  They waved him off and went to Sylvia’s car. She was thankful it was only a couple of miles to her house.

  “How about a quick swim before a shower?” Owen asked her.

  “Sounds great,” Sylvia said.

  They both waded out into the water that was almost as warm as a bathtub that night. Sylvia walked around until she found the updraft from a cool natural spring and floated.

  “Thanks for helping out today,” she said again to Owen.

  “No problem,” Owen said. “Maybe it will earn me brownie points to get back to work sooner.”

  “If it were up to Mr. Carter and Carol, I’m sure that wouldn’t be a problem,” she said.

  She floated on her back and looked at a wisp of a cloud that floated slowly across the clear sky. It floated and slowly dissipated as it traveled from west to east. Finally she put into words what had been bugging her.

  “I guess Ed is no longer a suspect,” she said tiredly.

  “What do you mean?” Owen asked.

  “I thought that stuff on his arm was like the tracks on Anna. I’ve been dying to look under that bandage!” she said.

  “Maybe you should leave detective playing up to the police,” Owen advised.

  Sylvia shot him a pissy look. “Look,” she said, “do you have any better theories?”

  “No,” Owen said, “but I think your lead on Ed is a bit thin.”

  “I guess so,” Sylvia said, “But, I felt so sure…” she trailed off.

  “But if his mother has it too, it’s probably not that stuff on Anna,” Owen confirmed.


  “You’re right, you’re right,” Sylvia said petulantly. “Let’s get a shower.”

  They waded into shore and washed the bay water off of them. Owen wanted to go to Marian’s for clean clothes and they headed back to her house. Jon’s car was in the parking area.

  They entered through the kitchen door calling out “hello!”

  “In here,” they heard Marian call from the living room.

  They walked to the front of the house where Marian seemed surprised to see them. They greeted Jon.

  “I’m surprised you’re here,” Marian said.

  “Just to get some clothes,” Owen said.

  “Do you need dinner?” Marian asked.

  “No thanks,” Sylvia said, “We’re headed out again,” she told Marian and Jon. “I’d like to get back to the hospital to see Mr. Carter before visiting hours are over.”

  Marian nodded in understanding. Owen came down in clean shorts and shirt and was ready to go.

  When they got out to Sylvia’s car she said, “Is Jon pursuing Marian?”

  “I think so,” Owen said, starting up the car and turning on the air and turning down the CD they had listened to on the way over. “He’s tried a couple of times since Bran has died, but Marian hasn’t been ready,” he told her. “I think she’s now giving it consideration,” he said.

  “Wow,” Sylvia said softly. “Who would have guessed?”

  “He’s a decent guy,” Owen said, “But he’ll never be Bran,” Owen told her.

  “You were close to Bran, weren’t you?” Sylvia asked.

  Owen nodded, “He was like a grandfather to me,” he said to her. “But,” he changed the subject, “Marian seems to be happy. That’s what’s important and I think it’s good for her.”

  “Absolutely,” Sylvia said. She took his hand and squeezed it. She was happy for Marian, but didn’t think anyone could feel the way she and Owen felt about one another. It felt so singularly wonderful that she didn’t think anyone else could feel this way. They drove to the hospital to check on Mr. Carter stopping first at a large grocery store for a floral arrangement. He had definitely been diagnosed with a heart attack was him scheduled for an angioplasty and possible heart catheterization the next day. He thought he would be going home in a few days.