Shadow in the Pines

by PJ Nunn

  “We?” she asked, following him to refill her coffee mug.

  “Yes, we. You don’t think I’ll leave you to finish the yard alone after what happened last night, do you?”

  Dani felt her eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “I never gave it much thought,” she said.

  “Well, I won’t. Many hands make light work and all that,” he smiled. “But only if you’ll let me have the rest of the day once we’re done.”

  “Deal,” she said before he could change his mind. “Let me get changed then.” With that, she flitted up the stairs, vaguely aware that the morning birds’ songs were playing in her heart.

  Hurriedly, she exchanged her sleeping sweats for a tattered pair of jeans and pulled on her sneakers. Half an hour later, they were busily raking the yard and stuffing garbage bags with Bandit romping around the yard like it was all a big game. A couple of times, Dani looked up from the task at hand to find Noah watching her with an odd expression on his face. He always tried to cover up, or look away before she caught him, but that only made her smile. Maybe she was more ready for a full time relationship than she’d thought.

  “That should do it,” he said, heaving the last bag on the pile. “Looks good, don’t you think?” he scanned the yard with a critical eye.

  “You’re really a big help,” she smiled, her hand on her hip as she squinted into the sunlight that surrounded him.

  “One more thing,” he said, dusting his hands on his jeans. “Let’s take a look in that cellar now that it’s daylight out here.”

  Dani’s smile turned into a grimace. She knew she’d need to go back in there sometime, but she couldn’t think of anything she’d like less right now. Following him to the door, she saw the remnants of the fingerprinting activities from last night. “Did they find anything?” she asked.

  “Not a damn thing,” he said. “Not even your prints, from what I heard. Too rusty I guess,” he pulled the door open in one swift jerk. With all the leaves and branches gone, it lay flat against the ground. “Ladies first?” he gestured toward the stairs.

  “Not even,” she shook her head. “You go.”

  “Chicken shit,” he teased, but there was understanding in his eyes. “Watch my six.”

  “What’s a six?” she asked, watching as he slowly descended the stairs.

  “Six o’clock. My back,” he called from below. “Cop talk.”

  “Gotcha,” she said, not sure she did. “There’s a string on the light,” she called when she couldn’t see him anymore. Instantly, the light came on.

  “Hey, this is pretty damn big!” he called. “Must be an old bomb shelter or something.” She could hear him moving around in there but had no desire to join him. A few minutes later, he shut off the light and came back up.

  “See anything interesting?” she asked, relief flooding her as he closed the door behind him. She’d been worried he’d tell her she had to get back on the horse after she fell or something ridiculous like that.

  “Nah. But it’s a great storage place. Wish I had one of those.”

  “Want mine?” she kidded, walking beside him up the hill.

  Together, they hauled the filled trash bags up to the road for pickup, then headed for their respective homes to clean up before shopping.

  Chapter Five

  Dani was late getting out of class and by the time she arrived at the auditorium for a mandatory staff meeting it was already in progress. Each department head spoke briefly about the planned activities for the upcoming school year and announced their grant applications in progress. Once again, Dani was amazed that the science department as a whole was responsible for such a large amount of grant income. As a Biology lab assistant, she wasn’t privy to the financial details of her department, but she was impressed with the amount of funding they hoped to obtain and delighted with the new equipment they’d secure if the grants were awarded.

  Once the meeting was adjourned, she made her way to the other side of the auditorium where Beth was the center of a small group. As the group broke up and began to move individually toward the exits, Dani approached.

  “Last call! Notes for sale!” Beth announced again, waving a sheaf of papers over her head.

  “Stop that, you idiot!” Dani laughed. She should have known. Beth was always looking for ways to make an extra buck.

  It was the first full lab staff meeting of the year, and she found it stimulating. It was especially interesting to hear Dr. Crane talking about the upcoming projects for Ophidian. The snake colony was founded back in 1989 and it had gone through a series of ups and downs, but it was thriving now, according to his report. She’d hoped to get a chance to talk with him after the meeting, but he ducked out before they were dismissed. The thought of those students disappearing on her property was never far from her conscious mind.

  “Hey, chicky,” a gangly young man in wire rimmed glasses approached Beth. “Burn me a copy of those notes, will ya?”

  “Five bucks,” Beth retorted.

  “Burger,” he negotiated.

  “Deal,” she smiled. “Dani, this is Mike McKay, better known as the snake charmer. Dani’s the one I told you about who bought the old Bailey place,” Beth nudged his arm with an elbow.

  Dani wasn’t sure, but it looked like the smile froze on his face. “Hi, Mike,” she smiled at him.

  “Hey, what’s up?” he said, not quite meeting her eyes.

  “You’ll have to take her over there and show her all your slithering friends,” Beth said, stacking her books and papers. “Wanna go get a burger with us, Dani?”

  “Ooh, I wish I could,” she said. “I’ve got a student working on a research project I promised to help. Another time maybe?” she asked, looking up at Mike, who looked strangely relieved. “I’d love to talk to you about Ophidian.”

  “Sure,” he said, shrugging. But his face said not if he could help it.

  “Okay. Laters, Dano,” Beth waved as they walked away.

  “Bye, guys,” she answered, doubting if they even heard.

  With a sigh, Dani gathered her things and went back to the lab. As it turned out, her student didn’t really need much help, but she had to stay in the lab to lock up when he was through. It was the ideal time for her to get started on a research project of her own, but no matter how hard she tried, concentration avoided her.

  For some reason, the disappearance of those students really bugged her. It was years ago, and there was nothing she could do about it now, but she just couldn’t shake it. Maybe she read too many mystery novels. It seemed like she was suspicious of everything these days.

  “Daydreaming?” Dr. Abraham’s voice broke into her thoughts. She hadn’t even heard him come in.

  “A little, I guess,” she smiled as he perched on the corner of the desk. Even though she hadn’t known him long, she’d become fond of him. His expectations were high, for staff and students alike, but she’d often seen him working with students, one on one, doing everything he could to help them succeed with their projects. It was nice to work with a professor who had a real passion for his work. “Is there something you need me to do?” she asked.

  “No, I just saw you in here and thought I’d stop by,” he said, looking casually around the lab. Dani waited, not sure what to say. It wasn’t like him to have extra time on his hands. “You do good work,” he said after a moment.

  “Thank you,” she said. “So do you.”

  “You’re in master’s classes, aren’t you?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Decided on a project for your thesis yet?”

  “Not really,” she said, wondering if he was leading up to something. “I’d like to do something that would appeal to the Center for Disease Control.”

  “Hmmmmm. I thought I might put in a good word for you with Dr. Crane,” he said. “He’s had trouble getting enough help over there this fall.”

  That caught her attention. “At Ophidian?”

  He nodded, getting up from the desk.
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  “That would be great!” she said without a clue what she’d work on over there. She just knew it might help her get some answers.

  “You’d like that?” he looked surprised.

  “I would, yes,” she nodded enthusiastically.

  “Good, then,” he smiled. “I’ll give him a call this afternoon.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Abraham,” she said as he walked toward the door.

  “I told you to call me Joe,” he smiled again before he stepped through the door.

  Wow. She might have a chance to work at Ophidian! She hadn’t even considered that it would mean being surrounded by snakes, just that she had to have some answers. She looked up to see David, her student, watching her with a knowing look on his face. “What?” she asked.

  “Joe?” he smiled and wiggled his eyebrows.

  Dani smiled back, rolling her eyes. “Get over it!”

  “Uh huh,” he grinned, clearing off the table. “I’m outta here! Thanks for staying late.”

  “No problem,” she waved good-bye as he walked out the door.

  Dani was on her own for the evening since Noah was working late and it gave her some much needed time to get caught up on housework and a paper she was writing for her microbiology class. Spending most of the day at the campus, then weeding her gardens as soon as she got in didn’t leave much time for anything else. Not if she spent her evenings with Noah, anyway. It also gave her some uninterrupted time alone with her thoughts, but she wasn’t at all sure that was a good thing.

  For one thing, it made her much too aware of how much she’d come to enjoy having Noah around. Was it possible she was really falling in love with this man? She’d only known him a little while. Maybe she was just trying to replace what she had with Mark. Or what she thought she had.

  Summoning what little will power she had left, Dani decided to continue the thought process while scrubbing the bathroom. She’d never resolve everything, but at least the bathtub would be clean. When she finished, she carried the broom into the bedroom and started sweeping up the dust bunnies that magically appeared overnight, but a gorgeous sunset called to her through the window. Fighting the urge to run downstairs and watch from the porch swing, she stood in the window, staring until the sun finally dipped below the tops of the trees.

  She was just chiding herself to get back to work when a movement beneath the trees caught her eye. Stepping closer to the window and squinting against the last rays of the sun, she saw a shadow that looked like a man standing between two trees directly across from the house. She stared intently, hardly daring to blink lest it disappear. Was it really someone watching the house? No, it was just a shadow, she told herself. But, when she blinked, it was still there, and it moved! Shadows don’t move. At least not when the trees aren’t moving.

  Realizing she was holding her breath, she inhaled deeply, hoping to slow her increasing heart rate. When it moved again, deeper into the trees, she took a couple of quick steps and grabbed the phone, then went back to the window. She’d already dialed Noah’s number when the shadow vanished.

  When his voice mail message answered the call, she hung up, not knowing what to say. Why would someone be standing over there watching her house? It was a vacant lot with no other houses for miles around. Could Noah be right about someone locking her in the cellar the other day? It didn’t make sense. Just in case she needed it in a hurry, she slipped her cordless phone in the pocket of her sweats and put away the broom. Her cell phone didn’t get any reception out here. Too many trees. Once she’d checked the locks on both doors and all the windows, she fixed a bowl of soup and determined she’d put the shadow out of her mind and get at least some of her paper written.

  It was actually working, too, until she was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. All the fear she’d felt earlier came flooding back. Noah never knocked anymore. Wishing she had a peephole in the front door, Dani tried to peek out the curtain, but couldn’t see anyone there.

  “Who is it?” she asked, keeping her voice low and stern.

  “Joe Abraham,” was the muffled response. Relief flooded through her as she answered the door.

  “Hey, what brings you out here?” she asked, suddenly aware of her house cleaning clothes. The thought of her shabby appearance was followed immediately by the question of whether David was on to something with his teasing. Dr. Abraham wasn’t interested in her socially, was he? “I’m sorry,” she realized she was staring as he shuffled his feet on the porch. “Come in.” She held the door open wide.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call first,” he said, looking like he felt a bit uncomfortable.

  “Oh, no problem, I just wasn’t expecting anyone,” she said. “I’ve been cleaning. Would you like some coffee?”

  “That would be nice, thank you,” he smiled politely. She left him wandering aimlessly in the living room, glad she already had a pot made. In the kitchen, she ran fingers through her hair and tried to check for runaway makeup in her reflection on the side of the toaster. Running a finger under each eye to clean any stray smudges of mascara, she grabbed two mugs and called, “How do you take yours?” She still couldn’t bring herself to call him Joe.

  “Black is fine,” he called, sounding pleasant but a little tense.

  Dani filled two mugs and joined him in the living room. Since he’d seated himself on the overstuffed couch, Dani handed him a mug and took a seat in the tattered armchair nearby.

  “So, what brings you out here?” she asked again. He hardly ever came in her lab, so it seemed totally out of character for him to show up at her front door unannounced.

  “Well, I was out this way and thought maybe I’d drop by…”

  Surely he was kidding. In the neighborhood? Dani coughed to cover a laugh that threatened to escape. “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say.

  He laughed nervously. “That’s not true,” he admitted. Dani was amused to see a blush creeping into his pale cheeks. “I wanted to ask you about something.”

  “Okay,” she said, crossing her legs and trying to look pleasant while Bandit sniffed curiously around the legs of their visitor.

  He sat nervously on the edge of the couch, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’ve heard you’ve been asking questions about the students that disappeared six years ago.”

  This was an unexpected development. It hadn’t even occurred to her to ask him about it. Dani shifted, leaning forward slightly to get a better look at his face. “Do you know about that? Were you here then?”

  “I started at the lab the year before it happened,” he said, fidgeting in his seat. “You seem like a nice person…”

  Never one to beat around the bush, she couldn’t help herself. “Joe, just say it - tell me what’s on your mind,” she said bluntly, smiling a little to take the edge off.

  “I’m probably making way too much of this,” he said, “I just…” He pulled at his tie like it was choking him. “After those kids disappeared, there was another kid, a lab assistant…he reminded me a little of you,” he smiled apprehensively. “He worked over in Ophidian, and he was a little older than the others and took his work very seriously. The whole thing bothered him a lot, and he kept asking questions.”

  “You mean about the students that disappeared?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Just wouldn’t leave it alone. He said the police weren’t doing enough to try to find them. Anyway, the last I heard, he said he was going to comb these woods himself until he found something.”

  “That sounds logical,” she said, her mind working overtime. She’d had the same thought.

  “The best I remember, that was a Friday. Monday he wasn’t there. By the middle of the week, I heard he’d moved away suddenly,” he stared down into his coffee mug.

  “I take it you don’t believe that,” she said solemnly, aware of a tightening in her chest. He looked genuinely distressed.

  “I don’t know what to believe,” he shook his head. “I had a bad feeling about it way back the
n, but I never said anything. But now………I just didn’t want to risk the same thing happening to you.”

  Dani was touched by his concern, but didn’t like the feelings it evoked. Pictures flashed in her mind of the shadow between the trees this afternoon, and being locked in the cellar last week. “Wow!” she sighed deeply. “So you think I should just stop asking questions and leave it all alone?”

  Somehow, being here in her living room, talking like this, Joe seemed much more human, more real. At work he was almost like an automaton, never tiring, rarely making a mistake. Sitting here now, he obviously had feelings and concerns like everyone else.

  “I don’t know,” he looked up at her, his blue eyes filled with concern. “Sometimes I wish I knew what happened, too. Those poor kids,” he said. “And I understand the University wanting to keep everything quiet, but……… what are the chances of three students who all worked for Ophidian disappearing without a trace in a couple weeks’ time and it wasn’t related to the University somehow?”

  “Didn’t I hear that Dr. Atkinson left not long after?” she suddenly remembered something Beth had said.

  “Yes, he did,” Joe said, nodding. “That seemed a little abrupt, too, but I didn’t have much contact with anyone over there,” he shrugged.

  “What about Dr. Crane? Was he there then?” she persisted.

  He nodded again. “They were partners.”

  “Well, you know him. Couldn’t you ask him about it?”

  “No. I don’t know him that well, and he made it plain back then that he didn’t want to talk about it at all. In fact,” he rubbed his chin, “seems like there was some kind of problem with him even talking to the police when it happened.”

  Already, the wheels were turning in her mind. Noah could get access to all those records, she was sure of it. Glancing up at the clock on the wall, she wondered what time he’d get home. It was already after nine.

  “I better get going,” he got to his feet. “I’m sorry to intrude. I hope you don’t think I’m being too nosy,” he smiled.

  “Not at all,” she said, standing. “I’m glad you told me. I’ll be careful,” she assured him.