“Make the trip, but keep it quiet. Tell no one and I mean no one,” Marie said.
Rose reached over and patted Bud’s hand.
“We need to go. Tell Jett I’ll see him tonight. And remember what we told you,” she said.
“And we’ll be watching,” Marie said.
With those words, Bud awoke from his nap. He checked his wristwatch and saw that he had been asleep for only a couple of minutes.
He climbed to his feet, dusting off the seat of his pants and legs. Bud felt as refreshed as he ordinarily did after a night’s sleep.
He walked down the hill and started walking back toward the newspaper building.
***
Matt waited on the concrete steps of the Stonecipher Performing Arts Center. Linda Sue had a drama class and he wanted to see her as soon as the class ended. The account of her dream and her reaction worried him. He didn’t know why but he just had a feeling in the pit of his stomach that she needed to be protected – or at least she needed to feel that way.
Matt had no doubt that her father – for all of his easygoing mannerisms - was more than capable of protecting his daughter. Even though they weren’t yet married – and he hoped they would be someday soon – he felt responsible for Linda Sue. It was a duty he took seriously.
Maybe that was another trait he learned from his dad. He had no doubt his dad would have given his life for his mom if the occasion had ever called for it. Matt also knew that his dad would have switched places with his mom at any point during her illness. He loved her that much.
The memories of those terrible times flooded his mind from time to time. As he nodded to a familiar face passing by from time to time, he thought back to the day his parents sat him and Dan down to talk to them. Matt never remembered seeing his dad cry before or hear his voice break when he tried to tell them their mother was sick.
And yet, there sat his mom looking a little pale, sporting her bright smile. She had tears in her eyes too but she kept telling them everything would be okay. She hugged and kissed both he and Dan in an attempt to reassure them. Matt remembered catching a glimpse of how hard she squeezed his dad’s left hand. Their fingertips were nearly purple as they spoke to their sons.
“I’ll have to have surgery and take medicine. It’s called chemotherapy,” his mom explained as her twin nine-year old sons tried to understand.
“Boys, your mom will have to spend some time in the hospital. But you’ll get to visit her. I’ll take you as much as I can,” his dad said.
“Your Aunt Violet’s going to come and spend some time with you while I’m in the hospital because your dad will be at the hospital with me a lot,” his mom said.
“And your Uncle Bud’s promised to come up too and spend a few days,” his dad said.
At the time he and Dan had the same thought – after she came home from the hospital she would be okay again. They had no concept of what the word cancer meant or how fast it could spread. In time they came to understand that she wouldn’t have chemotherapy after all as doctors determined her illness was too far advanced following an unsuccessful surgery.
As much as he and Dan suffered and grieved, they knew their dad suffered as much if not more. At the time they couldn’t fully appreciate what the loss of their mom meant to him or how it would change his life.
With the passing of time, the two of them understood what the term “single parent” meant and what it entailed. Now that he and Linda Sue were together, he was coming to understand the type of grief his dad still felt.
“Matt! What are you doing here?” Linda Sue said as she approached him.
He was so distracted he didn’t notice her walking through one of the eight double-glass doors.
“I thought maybe I could follow you home,” Matt said.
“That’s a nice surprise but you don’t have to do that. It was just a silly dream. I’ll be okay,” she said with a reassuring smile.
It reminded him of the same smile his mom had when she told him and Dan she was sick.
“I know. But it would make me feel better,” he said.
Linda Sue grinned before leaning in and giving him a quick peck on the lips.
“Suit yourself. But if you’re going to do that then you can stick around for supper,” she said.
“Sounds great,” Matt said.
“You don’t even know what we’re having,” she said.
“I don’t care if it’s cardboard chicken as long as I’m with you,” he said.
“I’ll tell mom to use extra seasoning,” Linda Sue said as they walked off hand in hand toward the building parking lot.
A few minutes later they were pulling up near her parents’ house in Crystal Heights. Actually, Linda parked in the driveway in front of the double-door garage while Matt parked on the street in front of the house.
After they got inside, Susan was more than happy to have a guest for supper.
“Your dad has to work a little later tonight. Would you two mind running to the grocery store for me?” She asked.
“Certainly, glad to do it,” Matt said.
“What do you need?” Linda Sue asked.
“Potatoes. Get a five pound bag,” Mrs. Banks said.
“Anything else?” Linda Sue asked.
“No, that should do it,” her mom said.
“We’ll be back soon,” Matt said.
***
Jett sat in his office for several hours after Pastor Rodgers left. He reviewed his notes dealing with Marie Atkins. Though he had no actual written list, both Edna and Bill – and perhaps to a lesser extent Earl – headed the list of suspects.
There was no doubt in his mind that Marie had been murdered. Jett also knew that a massive cover up had been perpetrated. He had no idea how far reaching it would be before they pieced everything together but he feared the fallout would shake the community to its core.
As he sat studying the papers in front of him, the simultaneous knock and movement of his office door caused him to look up.
Bud walked in looking somewhat agitated.
“I had a talk with Bill,” he said in a near whisper as he closed the door.
“So did I,” Jett said.
Bud gave him a surprised look as he took a seat.
“He apparently was on his way back from his meeting with you. I was sitting on the bench in front of the courthouse,” Jett said.
“What did he say?” Bud asked.
“In his own sweet way he said that you suffer from borderline dementia, you’re perpetually horny, a possible threat to any young lady on staff - particularly Maggie, and you had a fling with Marie Atkins back in the day,” Jett said.
Bud grunted.
“About what I’d expect. He’s trying to set the groundwork to discredit me. Bill’s a politician to the bone,” he said.
“What did he tell you?” Jett asked.
“That I’m ‘chasing ghosts.’ He basically said Marie killed herself, end of discussion. But he’s hiding something. All those years, I believed him. I took him at his word. He’s been lying,” Bud said as he shook his head.
“I also had a talk with Alvin. It seems the file on Marie’s death is not only incomplete, it’s also suspect by what isn’t there,” Jett said as he handed the manila folder to Bud, who opened it immediately.
“That’s it? This is all there was?” He asked.
“That’s all. Alvin and I are going up to Frankfort Friday to try to find the full file – including the autopsy report,” Jett said.
“Uh, listen, there’s something else I need to tell you. I had another conversation after I talked to Bill,” Bud said as he then relayed the conversation with Rose and Marie.
“I hate to even ask this, but how sure are you that we can even trust Alvin?” Bud asked.
“C’mon. It’s Alvin. Of course we can trust him. He was in high school in Harlan when Marie died,” Jett said with a half chuckle.
“Yeah but his wife is from here. And if I’m not mistake
n, she’s the niece of Bill’s secretary,” Bud said.
Jett looked at his mentor as if to argue.
“Listen to me. We cannot trust anyone. Both Rose and Marie were very clear. They specifically said we don’t have as many friends as we think we have. If I’m wrong, then his feelings will be hurt and life will go on. That beats the alternative,” Bud said.
“But he’s already part of this. The horse is out of the barn,” Jett said.
“You could always call him and tell him you’re not going to pursue it. Tell him you just humoring me,” Bud said.
“I don’t think he’d buy it. I think our best option might be to just chance it. We’re on alert. We can keep an eye on him just like he can keep an eye on us. And it wouldn’t rouse any suspicion,” Jett said.
Bud nodded thoughtfully.
“You might be right,” he said.
“We need to talk to Malone and the lady that helped raise Mallorie, Mrs. Stone, and we need to do as soon as possible,” Jett said.
“And I repeat, they warned me not to let anyone know about visiting Malone. I need to drive over to Williamsburg in the morning and find Bertha,” Bud said.
“Do you need some company?” Jett asked.
“No, let me go alone. If we’re both gone it might attract unwanted attention,” Bud said.
“We need to get to Malone,” Jett said.
“Williamsburg is not that far from the state prison in Chenoa. I can swing by there before coming home,” Bud said.
“I want to be there to talk to him,” Jett said.
“I know, but we’re at a point where we have to do what we can, not what we want. Time is going to be tight. You know I’m right. You’re going to have to trust me on this one,” Bud said.
Jett looked defeated and defiant at the same time.
“It’s the only way,” Bud said.
***
Matt and Linda Sue joked with each other as they left Roe’s Supermarket with the bag of potatoes. The cracked and faded asphalt of the parking lot radiated the heat of the late spring sunshine. Their revelry was shattered by the shriek of an elderly lady who backed away from her shopping cart of bagged groceries.
The woman was short and on the heavy side. She white hair and dark eyes. She wore a navy blue dress and a large locket encased her neck.
The horrified woman backed away in disbelief and trembled as a small man with thinning black hair and a closely cropped matching goatee hurriedly placed his arms around her. He looked at Matt and Linda Sue wildly.
“You’re dead! Why are you here? You’re supposed to be dead! They promised me you’d die! Rex! She’s dead! Why is she here?” The elderly lady shrieked wildly.
Matt stood wide-eyed and looked at Linda Sue who had turned pale. She was shaking visibly. She opened her mouth to speak but the words wouldn’t come.
“I’m so terribly sorry. My aunt suffers from dementia and is very confused,” said the man named Rex who led her away with one hand and pulled the shopping cart with the other.
“Come Aunt Edna,” he said gently.
Tears flowed slowly down Linda Sue’s cheeks.
“That’s h-her,” she said with a trembling voice.
Matt placed his massive right arm around her shoulders and squeezed as he watched the woman being hurriedly placed in a later model black Lincoln sedan.
“Who?” He asked.
“The c-crazy w-woman in my d-dream,” she said as she looked up at Matt.
He looked and saw the Lincoln back up quickly and speed out of the parking lot. Bewildered he turned his attention back Linda Sue who continued to sob and tremble.
Matt looked down and saw a puddle at her feet. He looked at the cloudless sky. It wasn’t rain on the ground.
Chapter Fifteen
Jett started to put the key in his front door when he noticed it was unlocked. Given the dire warnings he had heard from Bud earlier he hesitated before opening the door. As he walked in, Dan stepped out of the kitchen with an apple.
“Hope you didn’t mind me leaving the front door unlocked,” he said.
“Not at all son,” Jett said, hoping the relief wasn’t evident in his voice.
“Tough day?” Dan asked as he took a bite of the apple.
Jett offered a small grin.
“What gave you that idea?” He asked.
“You look tired,” Dan said.
“It has been a busy day,” Jett said as he sat down in his recliner.
“I thought so. Did you eat lunch today?” Dan asked as he sat down on the end of the couch.
“I had a quick bite,” Jett said.
“Why do I not believe you?” Dan asked as he took another bite.
Jett chuckled. The expression on his face and tone of his voice reminded him so much of Rose. Like his mother, Dan could see through a smokescreen.
“Okay, okay. I’ll have some supper in a bit,” Jett said as Dan nodded.
“I can put something together real quick if you want. I don’t mind. Grilled cheese and tomato soup sound okay?” Dan asked.
“Yeah son, that sounds good. C’mon, I’ll give you a hand,” Jett said as he walked toward the kitchen.
As he started getting items from the refrigerator, Dan pulled a non-stick skillet and a small pot from under the stove.
“There is something I want to talk to you about,” Dan said. “Maggie and I both have had...strange dreams lately.”
Jett pulled a loaf of wheat bread out of the cabinet.
“How so?” he asked as he started opening the twist tie on the bread.
“Maggie had a dream this afternoon. She said in the dream she was unpacking in the apartment at Uncle Bud’s. She said a woman appeared from out of nowhere claiming to be a friend of Uncle Bud’s and said she knew you. Maggie said she looked a little like Mallorie,” Dan said.
He could tell he had his dad’s full attention.
“Did this mystery woman give Maggie her name?” Jett asked.
“No, but she said that you are going to count a great deal on Maggie because you can trust her,” Dan said.
Jett smiled.
“Son, that’s no great revelation. Of course I trust her and I’ve told her myself I’m counting on her – and you,” he said.
“That’s not what shook Maggie up,” Dan said as he started spreading butter on the slices of bread.
Jett started putting slices of both American and pepper jack cheese on the bread.
“Don’t leave me hanging son. What disturbed her so much?” He asked.
“She said that you’re going to be busy but Maggie shouldn’t worry because she has a built-in bodyguard or guardian angel,” Dan said.
Jett paused and listened intently.
“Well, again, I am going to be busy – that’s no great secret,” he said.
“What about the bodyguard-guardian angel thing?” Dan asked.
“Son, it was a dream. Maybe that was in reference to you, maybe even Bud, or me. It was in her mind. Maybe it’s her subconscious way of dealing with a case of not just pre-job jitters, but a big change in her life,” Jett said, hoping he sounded convincing.
He hated himself for not being totally forthcoming, but he hoped to delay talking to his sons about the real purpose of the journals until – he realized that not even he knew when would be the proper time to have such a talk.
Dan placed a couple of sandwiches in the skillet as he mulled over his dad’s explanation.
“Sounds rational enough,” he said.
“Gee thanks,” Jett said sarcastically.
“That explains her dream but mine...it...was really...well, disturbing,” Dan said.
“Want to tell me about it?” Jett asked.
Dan looked over his shoulder away from the stove.
“Actually, I would rather you read my notes. I wrote it all in the dream journal – it’s more comprehensive than me trying remember everything now. It’s on the table,” he said, gesturing with his head. “I wrote everything d
own as quickly as I could to get as many details as possible.”
“You’re thinking like a journalist,” Jett said as he stepped over to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “Part of my DNA,” Dan answered.
“Take care of the soup too?” Jett asked as he glanced away from flipping through the white pages of the blue bound journal.
Dan smiled softly. The expression reminded Jett so much of Rose.
“You got it dad,” he said.
Jett slowly turned to the most recent recorded pages of Dan’s journal. He carefully read over the words. Dan noticed as his dad’s eyes widened as he read various parts of the text. Jett’s brow furrowed.
Dan realized that he and Maggie weren’t the only ones concerned.
***
It took a few minutes to get Linda Sue calmed down enough to speak.
“I’m here baby. It’s going to be okay. It was just some harmless, weird old lady,” Matt said, as a chill went down his own spine.
Pale and shaken, Linda Sue looked up at Matt and shook her head.
“No...Not harmless. Didn’t you feel it? It was...pure evil. I could feel it in my heart. And it was so much like my dream. It’s the same woman Matt – I swear it is,” she said through sobs.
“I believe you,” he said as he embraced her more tightly.
“What does it mean Matt?” Linda Sue asked.
“I wish I knew. But until we find out, I don’t want you out of my sight,” he said.
They stood silently by the car for a few minutes, neither moving other than to squeeze the other a little harder.
“We need to get home. Mom’s expecting us and I...I need to change clothes,” Linda Sue said as wiped her eyes with a tissue from her purse.
Matt nodded wordlessly as he gave her a final squeeze before opening the car door and helping her into the passenger seat.
After Matt slid behind the wheel and buckled up, Linda Sue looked over to him.
“What am I going to tell mom?” She asked, her voice still shaky.
“We’ll tell her the truth,” he said firmly.
Linda Sue gave him a wide-eyed look as she said, “She’ll think I’m losing my mind.”
“The truth is an old woman suffering from dementia had a frightening breakdown right in front of you and appeared ready to get violent before being led away. That’s pretty much what happened, right?” Matt asked.
Only When I Dream Page 32