by Nan Sampson
She gazed at the tree, remembered the oak tree from her dream, which was the oak tree in the forest preserve where they'd always done their outdoor rituals. It hadn't been a scary tree either, not like in her nightmare. It had had such a comforting presence. A sense of stability and strength. It made her believe, at a time when her world was changing too fast, that some things did indeed endure.
The tree. Verne. They'd named it Verne. Or it had named itself and allowed them to know that. The tree... Something about the tree stuck in her mind. And then she remembered the e-card and the owl hooting in the branches of an old oak tree and that stupid rhyme in Theban script.
Growing excited, she looked around her, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She fully expected to see Lacey standing there, smirking at her. But there was no one.
"Damn you, Lacey. You couldn't have just told me. You had to make some game out of this, didn't you?"
Feeling the adrenaline start to flow, she headed back towards the basement. In the gloom, she almost ran full tilt into Kate, who was rushing down the stairs.
Kate was smiling, and breathless. "Ellie! I know what the card means."
"You... so do I. It's the tree."
"The old oak tree! Verne! That's where she put the documents."
They did a little happy dance around the family room, clutching each other’s forearms. It might have gone on longer if Charlie hadn't come clomping up the basement stairs. "What the hell is going on? You know you're going to wake Dan up. And you know how he gets."
"Oh, he's got to get up in an hour anyway." Kate turned a beaming smile on her brother-in-law. "We did it. We figured out the meaning of the message on the card."
He was still looking grumpy. "I thought you didn't think it meant anything."
"Well, I changed my mind. It's the tree, Charlie. The old oak tree."
Not understanding, he just stood there, waiting for more.
Ellie jumped in. "We used to do our rituals by an old oak tree in a local forest preserve. It was our special spot. Both the picture on the e-card and the message itself talked about a tree. That's got to be it."
"How is that a password?"
"It's not. But I'll be dollars to donuts it's where Lacey hid the documents she talked about hiding."
"But what about the password."
Ellie shrugged. "I don't know. But today, after the memorial service, I'm going to Buckthorn Forest with a shovel. Are either of you coming with me?"
Charlie raised his eyebrows. "I suppose if I come along, you'll want me to do the digging."
Kate patted Charlie on the shoulder. "We'll bring three shovels. We can all dig."
A glimmer of his trademark grin returned. "Well, if you insist. I mean, I wouldn't want to trample on women's rights or anything."
There was a sound from the foyer, and they turned as one to find Dan standing on the stairs. "I hate to interrupt some kind of pre-memorial religious thing, but do you think you could keep it down a little?"
Kate put a hand to her mouth. "Sorry, sweetie."
With a sleepy wave, Dan turned around and headed back up the stairs.
Ellie bit her lip to keep from laughing. "What time does the service end, Kate?"
"There's a visitation from eleven to two and then again from five to seven. The cremation is at seven thirty, but that's private.” She grew sober. “Oh, dear. It’ll be pitch black by then. And the park will be closed. Ellie, this is going to have to wait for tomorrow."
"But..." Ellie pursed her lips. “Wait, couldn’t we go before hand?”
Kate shook her head. "There’s no time – there’s so much to do. We need to be at the funeral home by ten to make sure everything’s set up, and I’ve got to get the kids fed and dressed. And besides, whatever 'it' is, it's not going anywhere. It will keep until tomorrow."
Ellie looked at Charlie. "Come on. If we leave now, we could drive out there, dig it up, and be back here in plenty of time."
If Kate hadn't been there, looking all disapproving, Ellie was sure she could have persuaded Charlie. He looked ready to cave. Kate was frowning at him, however, and he knew which side his bread was buttered on.
"Kate's probably right, Ellie. It'll be just as safe where it is until tomorrow."
Ellie groaned. "Fine. But if we get there and there's a great, gaping hole in the ground, I'm blaming you guys."
"Well. Now that that's settled, I need to get the day started. Anybody hungry?"
Charlie's good humor seemed to be returning. "Starved. What's for breakfast?"
"Frozen waffles for you."
"Aw, gee. Why the prison rations? What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything. But I haven't had the chance to go to the store and there are only two organic eggs left, so Ellie gets those. Don't feel bad, it's what the boys are having too."
"Oh, don't starve the growing lad on my account. I can eat frozen waffles." She patted Charlie's stomach – was that an actual six pack she felt? Did Charlie work out? "I'd hate to be responsible for him passing out at the memorial service for lack of proper nourishment."
"Nope. Eggs for you, Ellie, frozen waffles for Charlie. That's just the way it's going to be."
Charlie gave Ellie a mock glare. At least, she thought it was mock. "Hmph. I liked it better when I was an 'only child'."
"Don't worry. Once we find these documents and hand all the evidence over to the cops, I'll be out of here. I'm afraid to think what's happening at the shop. And my poor dog has probably developed coronary artery disease from all the crap Per is feeding him."
Kate tsked her as she drew them into the kitchen with her. "I'm sure Marg is doing just fine, but you should probably give Per a call, tell him you'll be here at least through Wednesday."
"Tuesday. Late Tuesday. Once we solve this little riddle Lacey has left for us, we can toss it all into the laps of the authorities. Then I'm gone."
Charlie took his usual seat at the kitchen table. "Jeez. You'd think she didn't like us, Katie."
Not wanting to encourage him, Ellie ignored him. "I'm going to hit the shower before the run on the bathroom begins. I'll see you in a bit. Don't bother with my eggs, I'll do them myself when I come down."
"Are you sure, it's no bother, really."
"I'm sure. It'll give me something to do other than brood and worry."
Before Kate could argue with her or Charlie could find another way to goad her, she disappeared up the stairs. In truth she'd be glad to leave for more than one reason. Having Lacey and her inherent mysteries put to rest aside, she was starting to miss her solitude. Seemed like there was someone at her heels no matter where she went, at all hours of the day. She hadn’t realized how much she'd gotten used to spending the majority of her time on her own. Well, when she wasn’t at the shop. It was mostly just her and Erik and he didn’t talk much.
Yes, the idea of going home was looking more appealing by the second.
She pulled out her clothes for the day, her plan being to rely again on Kate’s little black dress for the memorial service. It was now nearly 6:30, according to the clock on the nightstand. A devilish thought occurred to her. If she got dressed quickly, she could be out to Buckthorn Forest in about an hour and a half. The park would be open by then and given the snow, would probably be fairly deserted, especially on a week day. If she hoofed it, she could get to the tree, find what she was looking for – whatever that turned out to be – and be back here by eleven. She’d need to change into her dress, but even so, the funeral home was close. She’d be a little late for the start of the visitation, but Kate didn’t really need her, she had everything under control.
She waffled for only a moment. There was no way she could wait until tomorrow, now that she was sure that Lacey had buried something under the old oak.
Throwing on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, she slipped quietly down the stairs and, grabbing her coat and slipped out the front door before anyone knew the better.
Chapter 36
&nbs
p; The first question that needed answering, as she drove carefully along the snowy streets, was where she was going to get a shovel. Next and closely related became what route would be best to get to Buckthorn. It was on the outskirts of her home town, Crystal Lake, which was a straight shot up I-90. But the route she took to I-90 would be directly impacted on where she thought she be able to buy a shovel – before seven o'clock in the morning.
She stopped at a stop sign and considered. Were there such things as 24-hour hardware stores? She didn't think so.
And then she smiled. If she took 90 north a ways, out towards Huntley, and then got off on Route 47, there was a Farm and Fleet out there. It would mean a bit of a detour, but by the time she got that far, the Farm and Fleet would be open – they opened early for farmers. Then she'd head back south to the toll way and finish the rest of the trip – about another thirty miles.
She hit the gas and pulled out onto the street, fishtailing a little as she went.
There was a thump from the backseat and then a "Shit!"
Startled didn't begin to describe her reaction. She slammed on the brakes, causing the car to spin. Good training from her father allowed her to get things under control before she encountered another vehicle, or the curb. Once she’d straightened the car out, she pulled over to the side of the road, put the car into park and turned around in her seat, the better to smack the damn fool on the head. She'd have smacked his butt if she could have reached it.
"Damn you, Charlie. What the hell are you doing?!"
He sat up slowly, rubbing his head. "Jeez, for someone from the Great White North, you sure can't drive in snow."
"First of all, I drive great in snow. In my van. This little car handles like crap. And second, I don't usually have people hiding in my backseat scaring the life out of me."
"Sorry. Didn't meant to freak you."
She took a couple of deep breaths, until the shuddery feeling subsided. "Now what the hell are you doing back there?"
"You don't think I'm going to miss out on this, do you?"
"Miss out on what?"
"Cut the crap. You're on your way to that forest preserve. And I'm going with you."
"Don't tell me Kate is hidden in the trunk."
"No, Kate thinks I've gone to take a nap. Just like she thinks you've gone up to take a shower."
She sat there, fuming. Not to mention feeling guilty that she was leaving Kate out of the loop. "Damn it, I just couldn't wait until tomorrow."
"I know. Neither could I. So are you going to drive or what?"
"I'm not a bloody chauffeur. Get your ass up here in the front."
"Is it safe? Does this thing come with passenger seat airbags?"
"I don't think they had airbags when this car was made, so you'll just have to take your chances, smart ass."
He climbed out of the back and slid into the passenger's side. "And what are we going to do about a shovel."
"Got it covered."
"You carry a shovel in your trunk? Is that for burying the deer you hit?"
"No. We're going to stop at Farm and Fleet in Woodstock."
"What on earth is a Farm and Fleet?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. Just shut up and let me drive."
"By all means. We wouldn't want you getting startled again."
This time she did haul off and hit him – right in the abs.
She heard him oof, and put his hand over his stomach. At least after that he was quiet.
Chapter 37
It was still snowing when they reached Buckthorn Forest. No one had come from the Park District to open the gates, but neither Ellie nor Charlie were going to let that stop them. They parked the car along the side of the road and hiked in.
There was nearly eight inches of snow on the ground between the snow this past night and the snow that had come before, and Ellie was glad she had her heavy boots with her. Charlie wasn't as prepared, but if his feet were cold and wet, he never said a word.
It was probably a quarter mile from the park entrance to the parking lot where the trails started. Ellie remembered it as though she had walked the route yesterday. Even more eerie was the pale morning light, suffused by the now heavy snow fall, hushing even normal sounds until the whole world might have been muted.
Charlie carried the shovels, as well as the plastic sack that contained two pair of work gloves. He'd had the good sense to buy some waterproof mittens, a hat and a scarf as well, being as he'd left the house without his own – if he even owned any.
He crunched along behind her, as silent as their surroundings for a good mile before muttering something to himself.
"Beg pardon?" She paused, more to catch her own breath than to find out what he'd said.
"I just wondered how bloody far this place was?"
"Maybe another quarter mile. We'll be turning off the trail just around the next bend, though, so it'll probably be a tougher hike."
"Can't be any tougher – no one's cleared these trails in weeks."
"Do you want to take a rest? There should be a bench not too far up the trail. At least there used to be. I haven't been here in..." She thought about it, surprised. "I guess fifteen years. We stopped coming out here for rituals after sophomore year. Goddess, I can't believe it's been that long. I can't believe it still looks pretty much the same."
"It all looks exactly the same. I can't figure out how you can tell where you are."
"You don't get out of the city much, do you?"
"Never had a need to."
She opened her mouth to extol the benefits of the outdoors, then shut it. It was not her place to tell anyone else how to live their life. It was theirs to choose. "Well, if you ever decide you do need to, give me a holler, I can recommend some good places to start." She glanced up the trail. "That bench isn't too much farther."
"Don't need it. Let's just get this done."
Shrugging, she plowed ahead through the snow.
It took them longer than she'd thought it would to get to the old oak. Verne stood in the center of a small bowl valley, a few hundred yards from a small rivulet. All around the tree, left there by the action of some glacier perhaps, were a handful of enormous boulders. In her younger years, Ellie had imagined them to be a sort of Midwestern standing stone circle, and that they might represent a gateway to the Otherworld, the realm of Faerie.
The pang of homecoming was so intense she nearly dropped to her knees and kissed the snow covered earth. Tears sprang to her eyes and she turned away from Charlie, pretending to scan the horizon, until she could get herself under control. When she was sure she could speak without choking up, she turned back to him. "A lot of memories tied up in this place."
He had waited silently for her to face him again, and his expression was, for once, not mocking. "I can imagine." He gestured around him. "No one's been here, at least not since the last snow. Ours are the only footprints for as far as I can see."
"So that's a good thing, right?"
"I'd think so." He handed her a shovel. "Do you know where to dig?"
She faced the old oak tree, hands on hips, and scanned the ground in front of it. "You'd think there'd be some sign of the ground having been disturbed."
"You might. If there wasn't nearly a foot of snow covering everything."
"What if we brushed the snow away?"
He sighed, clearly not crazy about the idea. "We could, but try to think. Where would be the logical place for Lacey to have put something? Try to look at it through her eyes."
Ellie frowned. "This is why we really needed Kate. She understands people. Me, I'm just good with coffee."
When he didn't respond, Ellie crouched down on her haunches and tried to ground and center. Maybe she just needed to get reacquainted with the energy of the place. Ostensibly, that should make finding the spot where someone had recently disturbed that energy easier.
She squatted in the snow until her butt cheeks were numb, but was no closer to a solution than when she started. St
anding, she walked up to the base of the tree and gazed up into the heavy sky. "I give up. Damn it, Lacey, give me a sign!"
A starling that had been sitting in the branches of the tree startled upward, disturbing the snow that rested on the limb. The snow plopped down in great heavy clumps, hitting Ellie square in the face. She sputtered and dropped her head, brushing the stuff out of her hair and eyes, swearing.
As her visions cleared, she found herself staring at the base of the tree's great trunk. Above the line of the snow was a small incision in the bark. A circular incision. Or rather, a spiral.
"Shit."
"What?"
She knelt, then cleared snow away from the base of the tree directly in front of the mark on the tree. "Look. A spiral. Someone cut a spiral into the tree trunk."
He examined it. "That’s fresh. Or, reasonably so. A spiral is a pagan symbol, isn't it?"
"Oh, yeah."
She dug away more snow until she reached ground. Her efforts revealed a small v-shaped hollow, created by the enormous roots of the tree.
"Give me the shovel."
"No, let me. The ground has to be frozen solid."
He was right. She hadn't even considered that.
She backed out of the way, giving him room, and he placed the spade in the spot between the roots then jumped onto it, using his body weight to send the spade into the earth. Surprisingly, it actually sunk in.
He worked for a minute or two, then stepped back. "This ground has definitely been dug up recently, or there’s no way I could have made much of a hole. I think I just hit something. It's either tree root, or something else." He paused, gestured at her and when she just stood there, staring at him, he said. "Well, go on. Get in there. Let's see what's there."
"Thank you." She smiled at him as she scrambled forward on her knees and started digging in the mix of dirt and snow with her work gloves. She wished she'd brought a hand spade, but after another couple of swipes with the shovel and some careful wiggling and yanking, she pulled out a long metal box. A safety deposit box.