“When a guy takes a girl home to meet his mom it’s usually not so...what’s the word Dan?” He asked.
“Complicated. Very complicated,” Dan said nodding.
***
Maggie drifted off to sleep stretched out on the blue sofa in the living room while watching the eleven o’clock news. Alicia placed a green and blue SKU throw across her daughter and sat back in the recliner. She turned the television off as the weather forecast was winding down.
Part of her wanted to stay awake to see if Maggie gave any notable reaction while she slept, such as talking. But the greater part of her wanted to participate the reunion with J.D.
Alicia wanted her family to be whole once more if only for a few hours.
Maggie shifted to get more comfortable and realized she had fallen asleep on the sofa. She started to get up and go to her bedroom when a familiar figure in a mauve-colored living room chair.
The smile was unmistakable as was the twinkle in his eyes.
“I was wondering how long it would take. You’re like your mother – always making me wait,” he said.
“Dad?” Maggie asked as she shook head as if trying to free her mind of the cobwebs.
“In the flesh – so to speak,” J.D. said. “How about a hug for the old man?”
Maggie looked at him again. He looked to be about thirty-five years old with dark brown thinning hair. He wore khakis and a medium-gray knit golf shirt with white high-top sneakers.
“Yes honey, it really is your dad,” Alicia said as Maggie looked to her and back to her father. She almost leaped off of the couch and to the chair where he sat. J.D. barely had time to get to his feet before she embraced him. Her momentum almost knocked him off of his feet.
She squeezed hard and he patted her back with his right hand as he returned the hug – the way he did when she was a little girl.
Maggie happened to be looking at the floor and realized they were standing in the room in which he died. And yet, here she was in his arms sharing an embrace.
“How? How is this even possible?” Maggie asked as she stepped back and looked into her father’s face.
J.D. smiled.
“It’s not important right now. We have the rest of the night for that stuff. Let me look at what a beautiful woman my little girl has become,” he said.
Alicia stepped over and embraced both of them.
“He’s right - just enjoy the moment dear,” Alicia said.
“Daddy...I’ve missed you so much. You have no idea,” Maggie said through watery eyes.
J.D. chuckled.
“Why do people always say that? I believe I have some idea sweetie. It’s so good to hold my little girl,” he added, “And my big girl again.”
As Alicia stepped back Maggie did the same.
“Oh dad, you look so...so...you have hair now! And you look so much younger,” Maggie exclaimed as Alicia laughed.
“Yes I do. Like it? Sure, it’s a little thin but it’s hair,” J.D. said as he turned his head from side to side to show it off.
“It looks great! And you look great!” She answered as she stepped in to hug him one more time.
“You know we have a lot to talk about,” he said he led his wife and daughter to the couch.
“Yes we do. I’m getting ready to start a new job and –” J.D. cut her off.
“And you’ve abandoned the study of law to work as a journalist and you’re in love with one of your own kind,” he said with a scowl.
“You’re disappointed?” Maggie asked.
The scowl quickly changed to a hearty laugh as Alicia just shook her head.
“Far from it! I am so proud of you Maggie. You’ll be great at anything you choose to do. If you’re happy, I’m happy. As for being in love, I don’t like sharing my little girl with anyone but you couldn’t have picked a better guy. I’m happy for both of you,” J.D. said.
“You said we had a lot to talk about. I’m guessing it isn’t just catching up,” Alicia said.
“You’re right. I’d love for us to spend the rest of the night talking and laughing. But there’ll be time for that later. Things are about to get...a little intense and possibly dangerous in Crystal Springs,” he said.
“Dangerous?” Alicia asked.
“How...why?” Maggie asked.
“The dream you had today – the one with the unknown woman in the apartment at Bud’s? That was a warning. You’re not in danger from her but you could be because of her – at least indirectly,” he said.
“What are you talking about? Who is this woman?” Alicia asked.
“Her name is Marie Atkins. Her daughter is Mallorie Afton,” J.D. said.
“Mallorie? That works at the paper?” Maggie asked.
“One and the same,” he said.
“How does this Atkins woman figure into any of this?” Alicia asked.
“Years ago, her death was ruled a suicide but she was murdered. Rose and I got to come back in our current, uh, state, because our love for our families and our families’ love for each of us was so strong. Maria came back to seek justice,” J.D. explained.
“Mallorie. This is the woman that Bud is...involved with,” Alicia said.
J.D. smiled.
“Heh. Uh, yeah that’s putting it diplomatically. Bud and Jett are investigating the circumstances surrounding Maria’s death. They’re trying to get enough evidence to get the case reopened and bring those responsible to justice,” he said.
“And how does that put me in danger?” Maggie asked.
“Collateral damage. You and Dan both work – or will be working at the paper. If someone comes after either Jett or Bud, you could be in the way,” Alicia said.
J.D. nodded.
“And you as well as Dan are also a way to get to the two of them – and that makes you potential targets as well,” he said.
“Then it’s simple. You’re not going back to Crystal Springs until this mess is sorted out,” Alicia said with a concerned face.
“Mom! I’m an adult now! I can take care of myself. Besides, I’m not leaving Dan to face this alone,” Maggie said, her cheeks reddening.
“If you think I’m going to let you walk into danger you’ve got another thing coming – adult or not,” Alicia said as her blood pressure started to rise.
“If I’m in danger, I’m in danger. It doesn’t matter if I’m there or here. For that matter mom it means you’re a potential target too,” Maggie argued with her voice rising.
“I’m afraid she’s right Alicia. The people we’re talking about have a far reach,” J.D. said.
“How far?” Alicia asked, her face twisted with dread.
He offered both of them a somber expression.
“To this side,” he said as Alicia gasped out loud.
“But...how?” Maggie asked.
“They have a connection...a very evil supernatural connection. And I cannot emphasize the word evil enough. Where Rose and I were allowed a presence in this world, Maria was drawn back by following that connection. Listen to me – both of you. I can protect you but you have to be smart. You have to listen to me,” J.D. said.
“And it would be easier if we were together,” Maggie said.
Alicia eyed both of them warily.
“She’s right Ali, it would be,” he said.
Slowly Alicia nodded.
“Okay, we’ll both go,” she said as Maggie slowly smiled.
“What possible reason could you have for smiling right now?” Alicia asked.
“It’s been a long time since me and dad won an argument with you,” she said.
***
“Bill’s talking to Edna? What are they saying?” Bud asked.
“I...I don’t know. I can’t make out all of their words; just bits and pieces,” Mallorie said.
Bud started to speak again but stopped himself. He knew she needed all of her attention focused on what she saw in her mind. Bud watched as she completely zoned everything out. Her eyes were open but had
a glazed look and though it appeared she still maintained control of her body, her muscles seemed to relax and her breathing slowed.
Mallorie concentrated hard. At different times in her life she what could be best described as out of body experiences. Partly due to not wanting to believe the ravings of her grandmother, Mallorie dismissed those episodes as an overactive imagination or possibly even some type of seizures.
Over the years she tried to block those episodes from her mind – always afraid of what they might actually be, she preferred not knowing.
And now she knew.
Suddenly, it was as though she was in the room with Bill and her grandmother Edna, who she could tell from a lifetime of experience, was not happy. Mallorie looked around the room. They were in what Edna called her private study. It was a small room, maybe 15x15, with a small round table and four chairs. There was no window but one wall was covered by a bookshelf filled with various books on the occult. On the opposite wall was a framed picture of a symbol Mallorie did not recognize.
As a child she was never allowed to enter the room or even to peek inside. More than once, curiosity had gotten the better of her and she attempted unsuccessfully to gain entrance to the room to see what great mystery it held for her grandmother and the strange people that she associated with over the years.
And now she knew not only what her gift was, she knew what the room looked like as well.
“I saw her with my own eyes Bill. I’m telling you she’s back and she looks even younger than she did before her illness,” Edna said bitterly.
Bill listened as he gave her a skeptical look.
“Did she have the gift? Remember, we talked about this when you ordered her eliminated. It can’t be her. She’s not one of us and never was. It’s impossible,” he said.
“Don’t talk to me about impossible! I know what I saw!” Edna shrieked.
“Calm down Edna. It could have been simply someone that looked like her,” Bill said dismissively.
“Are you even listening to me? Have you forgotten who I am or the power that I wield?” She asked.
“All I’m saying is you need to calm down. We’ve got a problem and it’s not some kid in a grocery store parking lot,” he said.
Edna’s eyes widened and her nostrils flared. She spoke calmly but firmly.
“Can’t you see? That’s the problem. It wasn’t just how she looked. I’m telling you Bill I felt her presence. It was the same life force patterns and the same aura from 30 years ago inside this very house. No, it was her and she’s part or this thing with Marie.”
Bill looked at her for a moment and then cocked his head.
“Then how did she get back? I mean the whole point in killing her was to block a potential portal that Marie could have used,” he said.
“I don’t know,” Edna said her anger gradually sliding into concern as the redness of her face ebbed slightly.
“Marie is not strong enough to bring her back. Again, her value to Marie was on this side, where she could have possibly served as a portal – and we were not even sure of that,” Bill said.
“Then how do you explain the life force patterns and the aura?” Edna asked.
His expression became thoughtful.
“Is it possible that you could have picked up on someone with a similar life force and aura? Wouldn’t that create a...false positive so to speak?” He asked.
Edna crossed her arms and bent her head to the side slightly. “Perhaps. But who would it have been?” She asked.
“Wasn’t Bud her uncle?” Bill asked.
“He was. So what?” She asked.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Bud met with me today. He had a lot of questions about Marie’s death – questions he hasn’t asked before. And he seemed intent on answers. He even wanted to come and talk to Earl,” Bill said.
Edna dropped her arms to her side with fists clinched.
“Marie got to him. Somehow, some way she got to him and he’s using his dead niece in an attempt to torment me. We should have killed him a long time ago. I hope you told him there’s no way he’ll see Earl,” she said.
“I did. You won’t have to worry about that,” Bill said.
“Good. It’s bad enough I have to keep him drugged now to keep from hearing him snivel and talk to Marie. We’re lucky he can’t be used as a portal. He would’ve brought her back immediately regardless of the consequences,” Edna said.
“It’s a pity he can’t accept his role for what it was or what it meant,” Bill said.
“He never understood that’s how it had to be,” she said.
“I hate to bring up more troublesome news but I got a report today that Jett Bradley is digging into the investigation into Marie’s suicide as well,” Bill said.
Without turning her head, Edna shifted her eyes to him.
“What do you mean ‘digging into’?” She asked.
“Specifically he wants the complete autopsy, not what I put in the file,” Bill answered.
“So the little bitch drew her widowed husband into this as well. What are you going to do about it?” Edna asked.
“I’ve arranged for him to have an accident. Nothing supernatural but it will be effective. He’ll never see the actual report,” Bill said.
The answer seemed to partially satisfy her.
“And what about Bud?” Edna asked.
“I’m thinking heart attack. Hey, you gave his niece cancer – a heart attack in a man his age shouldn’t be a problem,” Bill said.
Edna sighed in disgust.
“That’s why you’ve advanced at such a slow pace. You do not understand the spirit-draining energy something like requires. In order to send the cancer into her body it required the work of two us with enhanced powers. Plus we had access to her medical records to know where to target specifically so we wouldn’t miss. It left us so drained that our defenses were down for two weeks in the aftermath. Now it’s only me with the power and we can’t afford to give up any defenses right now. It’s going to have to be the old fashioned way,” Edna said.
Bill looked her in the eye.
“How old fashioned?” He asked.
“Blow his damn brains out. Make sure he can’t recover. We need to end this once and for all,” she said.
All at once Edna shivered as if an Arctic blast filled the room.
“What’s wrong?” Bill asked with alarm.
“There’s a presence with us,” she said as she started to concentrate.
***
Mallorie loudly gasped for air as if she was coming up from under water.
Her body trembled as Bud quickly knelt by her chair.
“She almost caught me!” Mallorie wailed.
Bud took each of her hands into his.
“Slow down. Take deep breaths,” he said knowing she was close to hyperventilating.
She listened to him and nodded.
The trembling eased somewhat and her breathing steadied.
“I heard it all. I know what they’re planning. You’re not safe and neither is Jett,” Mallorie said.
Bud nodded calmly.
“No offense honey but we already knew that,” Bud said.
“But I know how and pretty close to when. We’ve got to warn Jett! Now! We have to do it now!” She exclaimed as she leaped up from her chair almost knocking Bud over in the process.
As he made his way to his feet and gained some sense of balance Mallorie looked his way again.
“Before we leave, go get your pistol,” she said hurriedly.
Bud eyed her carefully.
“Is it that bad?” He asked.
Mallorie could only nod. Bud ushered her inside.
“Give me a minute,” he said.
Three minutes later he appeared with his .38 special holstered and clipped on his belt on his right hip. He also wore a shoulder holster with a standard Army-issue Colt model 1911A .45 semi-automatic safely tucked inside. Two spare clips were attached to the back strap
of the shoulder holster. In his right hand he carried a Colt Mustang .380 revolver, which he handed her.
“If we need a gun, I want to be more than ready,” Bud said as dug the car keys from his pocket.
***
Jett sat upright in bed when he heard the knocking at the front door. It brought him out of his sleep and though his heart pounded he realized it wasn’t out of fear but more frustration. His wife had not visited yet and he looked forward to her visits more and more each night.
He slid out of bed and grabbed a pair of navy sweat pants and a gray t-shirt. As he stepped toward the bedroom door Jett stopped and walked to the nightstand. He opened the drawer and retrieved his nickel-plated Colt Desert Eagle .45 semi-automatic pistol. Jett checked to make sure he had a bullet chambered and hurried down the steps and the knocking persisted urgently.
He hurried over with his pistol raised and checked the peephole. With his left hand he unlocked the dead bolt and the lock on the doorknob. He opened the door and stepped back as he let the firearm loosely rest at his side.
Shaking his head to clear the cobwebs, he said, “Come on in. I hope this is important.”
Jett noticed Bud push Mallorie through the door first before he hurried inside. He noticed the shoulder holster and the .38 on Bud’s right hip as he closed the door. That was enough to tell him of the urgency of the visit.
“Needless to say this couldn’t wait,” Bud huffed as he looked around the dark living room.
“Let me turn on a light,” Jett said.
“No! Close the blinds first,” Mallorie said.
“I think she’s right,” Bud said.
Jett looked to the stairs and back to the two figures in the dark room as he closed the blinds on each window.
“I’m surprised the knocking didn’t wake anybody else up. Do I need to get them?” He asked as he flipped the light switch.
Bud thought for a moment, looking to the stairway and back to Jett and Mallorie.
“I think the three of us should talk first,” he said as he settled down on the couch with Mallorie settling in close to him.
***
Linda Sue found herself sitting on a park bench overlooking the tennis courts and city pool at Riverfront Park. It was a beautiful and warm sunny day without a cloud in an endless blue sky.
She watched both adults and children splashing in the pool as a pair of what appeared to be guys from the college playing tennis. Neither were very good but they were laughing and enjoying the day.
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