The Crystal's Curse

by Vicky de Leo

  Seeing that Frank was out cold, Nathan finally pulled Joshua off.

  Shaking with rage Joshua turned on Nathan.

  Nathan stood his ground and said one word, “Sara.”

  Coming to his senses, Joshua turned and rushed in to the next room, and gently picked up Sara. Nathan retrieved the gun keeping an eye on Frank, and then followed Joshua as he carried Sara down the stairs and with her cradled in his arms, and settled into the backseat of Nathan’s car.

  Once outside, Nathan , threw the gun in the bushes, opened the car door, and started the engine. “Where to?”

  “Let’s get her to the hospital. Her breathing seems fine, but I don’t want to take any chances.” Still holding her with one arm, he settled her onto his lap and reached into his pocket with the other hand to pull out his phone to call Lrence. He hesitated when Nathan’s phone rang just as they were pulling out of the driveway. It was Joseph looking for Joshua.

  “He’s here with me, sir. Yes, Sara is here too.” Passing the phone to Joshua he said, “It’s your grandfather, he sounds worried.”

  As soon as Joshua said hello, Joseph said, “Erik is on his way, you need to get to Lrence as soon as possible.”

  “I can’t right now. We’re on our way to the hospital. Sara’s been drugged. Could you call Dr. Whiting and have her meet us there?”

  “Of course, are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I‘ll explain everything later.”

  “Okay, I’ll contact everyone and let them know what is going on, then I’ll meet you at the hospital.” Joseph hung up and phoned Helen’s house. When Sam answered, he explained what he knew. “I found Joshua and Sara. They’re with Joshua’s friend, Nathan.”

  “Did you tell them to go to Lrence’s?” Sam asked.

  “Joshua told me something has happened to Sara. They were on the way to the hospital. Joshua said Sara’s been drugged. He asked me to call Dr. Whiting and have her meet them at the emergency entrance of the hospital.”

  “I’ll call her. Helen and Maria are on their way back to Lrence.”

  “Fine. I’m going to the hospital now. I’ll call you with an update once I get there.”

  When Sam called Helen, Maria turned the car around and dropped Helen off at the hospital. Then she swung back to pick up Sam. Their instinct was to rush back to the hospital to check on Joshua. However, when Sam called Lrence to let him know what was going on, Lrence was adamant that being seen with Joshua right now would only endanger him. Reluctantly they drove back to Lrence’s house. They would have to rely on updates from Joseph.

  Helen was waiting in Emergency when Nathan drove up. Joshua carried Sara directly into the emergency room and laid her gently on a bed in one of the cubicles. Helen pulled the curtain around them. Since Helen was a doctor, they were able to avoid the normal check in procedures. Helen examined Sara‘s eyes and listened to her lungs.” What had happened?”

  Joshua explained, “When I got to your house, she was gone. Nathan got a tip that Sara was at Frank’s house. I think he drugged and kidnapped her. This was how I found her.”

  Helen noticed Joshua‘s knuckles were scrapped and bloody. “I hope you beat him to a pulp,” she said fiercely, leaning down to listen to Sara’s heart.

  “He wasn’t moving when I left, but I’m fairly sure he was still alive.” He looked to Nathan, who had just come in from parking the car, for confirmation.

  Nathan nodded.

  “Do you have any idea what he gave her?” she asked.

  Joshua started to say no, but Nathan pulled two pills from his pocket. “I searched him while you were getting Sara. I found these in his pocket.” He handed the pills to Helen.

  She took them and said, “Rohynol. I thought so, the date rape drug. That B . . . Do you have any idea how long she’s been out?”

  Joshua answered. “Probably not more than a couple of hours. I talked to her about 5:00 p.m. and she was fine and on her way to your house.” Joshua stood on the other side of the bed, holding Sara’s hand in both of his.

  Nathan had moved back against the wall in order to be out of the way.

  Helen nodded. “Her respiration and heart are doing fine. I don’t think she’ll have any lasting effects. I’ll keep her here and monitor her until she comes to. She’ll probably be out for a few hours.” The nurse came in and informed them that Joseph had arrived and was asking to see Joshua. “You should go. I’ll call you when she comes around.”

  Joshua shook his head. “I’ll go talk to my grandfather, but I’m staying until Sara wakes up.”

  Helen nodded. She could tell by the set of his jaw that there was no use arguing with him.

  Nathan followed him out.

  Joshua said, “There’s no point in your staying, Nathan. I’ll get a ride with my grandfather. You better get back to Rachel and let her know you’re all right. Thank you so much. I don’t know what I would have done without you. You’re a good friend. I’ll call you when she wakes up.” They shook hands. Nathan headed for the parking lot.

  Joseph stood up when Joshua came in to the waiting room. Joshua motioned for him to follow him outside where they could have a private conversation. It was dark out. They stood just outside the emergency waiting room doors, the light from the windows illuminating the sidewalk.

  “What happened?” Joseph asked. He looked Joshua over. He seemed unharmed except for his hands, which were scraped and bruised. Joshua closed his eyes, and ran one hand through his hair. The gesture reminded Joseph so much of Sam. For the first time Joseph was able to look past his resemblance to Harry and see Sam in him. The thought warmed him.

  “Frank kidnapped and drugged Sara,” Joshua said simply.

  Confused, Joseph frowned. “Do you mean Frank Olson? Why would he do that?”

  “Yes, Frank has hated me since that first night we met. He felt he had some prior claim on Sara. He resented me for taking her away from him. I think this was his way of getting back at me for beating him up. I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to her.” He hung his head.

  Joseph was truly lost now. “You’ve been fighting with Frank? When did that happen?”

  Joshua raised his eyes to look at Joseph. “My first day of school. Frank, Clay and three of his buddies jumped Nathan and I after school. Frank was livid when Nathan and I won and walked away.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Joshua shrugged his shoulders. “What was there to tell? I thought I’d taken care of it. I didn’t realize his hatred of me would cause him to hurt Sara,” he said bitterly.

  This too was just the way Samuel would have handled things, brave and fiercely independent. He was glad Nathan had turned out to be a friend. “You better start at the beginning. What happened after you left the house today?”

  So Joshua told him about finding Sara gone, Nathan’s picking him up, and their confrontation with Frank, and then rushing to the hospital.

  “That explains your hands.” Joseph said when Joshua had finished.

  Joshua paced back and forth. “This is my fault. Nathan warned me that Frank had a vicious temper. I knew he would retaliate for losing the fight, but I wasn’t worried. I was sure I could handle him, and now Sara is paying for my arrogance.”

  Joseph stopped him. “You can’t blame yourself. How could you have known? The only one to blame here is Frank.”

  The doors opened and Helen came out to join them. They both tensed until she held up both hands and said, “She’s still out, but doing fine. I thought you might want to sit with her while I talk to your grandfather.”

  Joshua nodded and hurried back inside.

  Restless, Helen began walking around the building.

  Falling in step alongside of her Joseph asked, “Have you called the police?”

  “Not yet. I want to wait until she wakes up, and I can find out what happened. It probably won’t do any good. There’s very little chance she’ll have any memory of what happened. That’s the way this drug works. We can�
��t let him get away with this, but I’m afraid we won’t be able to prove he gave her the drugs. He can always say she took them voluntarily. I know that’s not true, but it will be her word against his. I don’t want to put Sara through the embarrassment if some slick lawyer can get him off, and make Sara seem like some kind of slut. That’s why I wanted to speak to you. What do you think?” She stopped and turned to look at him.

  Joseph looked across the parking lot, considering her question. “Unfortunately, I think you’re right. Even if Joshua and Nathan testify that he had the drugs on him, it won’t prove he gave them to her. As for the kidnapping, she was seen walking into his house. He’ll try to use that to prove she was willing. If cornered, I wouldn’t put it past him to file assault and battery charges against Joshua. Given his honesty, Joshua would admit to beating him up.”

  “Oh no! So if we try to file charges against Frank, Sara’s reputation gets shredded, Joshua may go to jail, but there’s a very real chance that Frank gets off scot free?” When Joseph nodded, she ground her teeth, wrapping both arms around herself to control the anger. “That’s just not right.”

  Joseph stopped. Looking down at her, he put his hands on her shoulders. “We may not be able to prosecute him for what he’s done, but I promise you that he will never bother Sara or Joshua again.”

  She looked into his eyes. “How can you be so sure?”

  “Leave that to me.”

  The ruthless determination in his face made her shiver.

  He dropped his hands. After a moment, they continued walking each lost in thought. Once they reached the doors to the waiting room again, she said, “Joshua refuses to leave Sara, but there’s still the threat that Erik could show up anytime.”

  She had enough on her mind, he didn‘t want her to worry about them. “He won’t know to come looking for us at the hospital. Probably just stake out my house. I think Joshua is safe for now.”

  Joshua came out to tell them that Sara was awake and asking for Helen. She followed him back inside. Joseph went back to the waiting room. As Helen had expected, the last thing Sara remembered was Frank coming over to apologize. Once Helen told her what happened, Sara refused to call the police and insisted on being taken home. Ever since her grandmother had come back inside and explained, Sara had refused to look at Joshua. When he tried to hold her hand, she turned over on her side with her back to him. If anyone asked her a question, she responded with one word answers. Helen checked her out of the hospital. Joseph pulled the car around. Joshua pushed the wheelchair with Sara clinging to Helen’s hand.

  Once outside, Sara pulled away when Joshua tried to help her out of the chair. He stood back with his arms at his sides, looking stricken. Sara climbed into the back seat of the car, pulling Helen into the back seat with her, and leaving Joshua to sit up front with his grandfather. Once inside, Sara leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. No one said anything during the entire trip. When they reached home, Joshua held open the door, but didn’t try to touch her. Sara went straight upstairs to her room. She said she was tired and wanted to be left alone.

  The look on Joshua’s face as he watched Sara climb the stairs wrenched Helen’s heart. Sara’s rejection obviously hurt him badly. He looked so lost. She tried to console him, “She’s been through a lot. She just needs time to sort through her feelings.”

  Joshua just nodded. Since it was obvious that Sara didn’t want him around, Joshua got into his car and headed for Lrence’s house.

  Instead of going home, Joseph headed his car toward Harvard. He knocked on Frank’s dorm room door.

  “Leave me alone,” was the shout from inside.

  Finding the door unlocked, Joseph marched inside. Frank was lying on his side on the bed, faced away from the door. He had his shirt off. Joseph could see that his ribs had been taped up.

  “Get out, I told you I’m fine,” Frank mumbled.

  Joseph pulled out the desk chair and sat down. “I’m not leaving. We need to talk.”

  Obviously, surprised it wasn’t one of his roommates, Frank turned over. One eye was swollen shut. There were bruises on his face, arms, and upper torso. “If you came to apologize for your grandson, don’t bother. I’ll be talking to my lawyers tomorrow.”

  Joseph jumped up. “Apologize! You little worm. The only thing I am sorry about is that he didn’t kill you when he had the chance. You are the most miserable excuse for a man I have ever come across. Please go to your lawyers tomorrow. I’m begging you. Give me an excuse to tell the world how you drugged and tried to rape a woman. I’m sure your father will be so proud. I’d like your friends to hear how the mighty Frank, football star, has to drug his women. Even if your lawyers manage to get you off, the scandal will ruin your reputation and any chance you ever had of getting into politics. Trust me. Joshua will come out looking like a hero.”

  Frank flinched, but there was still arrogance in his voice when he asked, “Why are you here?”

  Joseph sat back down now that he had his attention. “I am here to tell you to stay away from Joshua and Sara. I’m here to tell you if you want your father to keep his job, you better learn to keep your nose clean. If I hear you have even spoken to either Joshua or Sara, or that you have bullied or harassed anyone else, I will see to it that your father is fired in disgrace. No money, no big house on the hill, no more Ivy League college, no status or reputation. I have the power to take it all away.” He paused to let the threat set in. Making eye contact with Frank, in a voice full of menace, he said, “Let me make this clear. I will be your judge and jury. I won’t need proof.”

  “You couldn’t,” Frank said.

  In spite of the denial, the fear Joseph saw in his eyes told him Frank believed him. “Oh, yes I could. It would be easy to set your father up to look like an embezzler. He is obviously not as astute as I’ve given him credit for if he can raise something as slimy as you.” He glared at Frank until he looked away beaten. Joseph got up, pushed the chair back, and walked to the door without another word. He drove home knowing that Frank believed him because it was exactly the kind of thing Frank himself would do. Joseph had dealt with men like Frank. They believed that everyone thought just as they did. Joseph did not intend to destroy David Olson, whose only fault was being blind and overindulgent to his only son. However, he would be watching David a little more closely to make sure that he hadn’t missed anything else. Unlike Frank, Joseph was an honest man, who wouldn‘t hurt innocent people like David, but if Frank stepped out of line, Joseph made himself a promise he would crush him like a bug.

  As he turned into the driveway, he had a funny feeling someone was watching him. He looked around. He didn’t see anyone. He parked in the garage, entering the house through a side door. Quickly he ran to the front of the house, and peered through the slats of the blinds in the dining room. There was no one on the street. The only thing out of place was a black car he didn’t recognize parked on the other side of the street three houses down. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Joshua walked into Lrence’s house to find everyone at the table eating pizza. He hesitated in the doorway, almost not recognizing his mom and dad, who now looked so different. “Wow, who are you, and what have you done with my parents?”

  Maria laughed, got up, and hugged him. Looking into his eyes, she sobered. “Your grandpa called and told us what happened. How is Sara?”

  He shrugged. “Still in shock, I think. She didn’t want me to stay, so I came here.” He couldn’t control the anguish and bitterness that slipped out with the words.

  Maria hugged him again. “Give her time.”

  The tension of the past several hours seem to crawl up his spine coiling his muscles into knots. He massaged the back of his neck and tried to force himself to relax. “Yeah, that’s what Dr. Whiting said. So this Erik has tracked me down. I’m hoping you have come up with the cure, because I am not hiding here. I need to get back to school.” He wanted to make it c
lear that this was not up for debate. He watched Maria and Sam exchange worried looks.

  Lrence spoke up. “We don’t have the complete cure yet, but we think we have a way to lower your brain waves, so if Erik scans you, it will read as normal. It worked when we tested it on your folks, but your waves are higher. The problem is even if it does work, we have no way of knowing if the effect will last or for how long. It really would be better if you consented to stay here for a few days so we can make sure.”

  It was a reasonable request, but he couldn’t do it. The only way he would survive Sara’s rejection was to keep busy. His main priority now had to be school. He didn‘t look at them and kept his voice flat. “No. I’m not staying. Just do what you have to do. I’ll come back periodically for a booster if necessary.”

  Sam stood. “Now look here son, if Lrence says you need to stay, then you will stay.”

  Joshua squared his shoulders and faced Sam. “No, Dad, I won’t. This is my life now. You and Mom are already on the run. I’ve already told you I won’t run with you. So, unless you’re prepared to lock me up, as soon as I get the procedure I am going home.”

  Sam visibly bristled. “If I have to lock you up to keep you from being killed, then I will.”

  Before Joshua could say anything more, Maria stepped between them. “Stop it both of you!” Turning to Sam, she said, “Joshua has just had one of the worst days of his life. Now is not the time for ultimatums.” Speaking to Joshua, she said, “How about a compromise? It’s been a long day. Let Lrence do the procedure. Stay here just for tonight. He’ll be able to scan you before you leave in the morning for school. At least that way we’ll be able to assess the danger level and be prepared. I promise that no matter what the scan says, we won’t try to stop you from leaving.” She turned to Sam for confirmation.

  Sam looked at Joshua and saw the pain and determination in his eyes. He realized Maria was right. Now was not the time. Standing firm would only push Joshua to take an even greater risk. He nodded.