Walks Through Mist

by Kim Murphy

  “What better way to dispose of a body,” Jan muttered. “Dump it in an already occupied grave. Does this sort of thing happen often?”

  “It’s my first,” Lee replied, gesturing the way to a slight rise of the family graveyard.

  As they trekked to the hill, they pulled their rain gear tighter against the heavier rain. Uniformed officers stood upwind of the grave site. Even a heavy piece of plywood covering the hole failed to mask the putrid scent of decomposing human flesh. Nothing equaled the smell of a rotting corpse. A distinct odor that was never forgotten. Lee had seen seasoned investigators turn away and vomit when confronted with the stench. Even his stomach churned, but somehow he got past it. He always did.

  Jan and Mike pulled away the plywood cover, and most of the officers took a quick step away to evade the stink. At the bottom of the hole, about four-feet deep, was a decaying corpse. As Jan went down into the grave pit, Lee saw Indian warriors beside him, covered in black and red warpaint. Crouched low, they crept silently through the dense forest.

  He blinked. A vision—why here? Jan cleared away more mud. She began handing bone and sinew to her assistant, one piece at a time. Mike positioned the decomposing pieces in skeletal order on the plywood.

  Several hours passed.

  Without warning, Lee’s arms were poised on a bow, ready to fire an arrow. In the pouring rain, an unearthly yell filled the air, and the warriors rushed forward with arrows sailing. Shrieks of pain surrounded them as he shoved through the dense underbrush.

  The vision faded.

  Jan climbed from the pit. “You’re looking a little mystified, detective.”

  Lee shook his head to clear it. Where am I? A reconstructed body lay on the plywood. “I’m amazed how you can fit the pieces together.”

  She smiled. “All in a day’s work. Your victim is obviously male, mid- to late twenties, around 180 pounds.”

  A minute passed before he absorbed her words. “How long has he been dead?”

  “I’m getting to that.” With a pocketknife, she cut into what was left of the flesh on the corpse’s thigh. “Around six months to a year.”

  Lee felt a sharp sting in his abdomen. He staggered back. Blood covered him. An armored tassantassas aimed a musket directly at him. He swung his tomahawk. The man went down.

  Another gunshot, and fiery pain spread throughout his body. He fell to the sloshing mire, gasping for breath. What was real?

  A man stood over him. In a challenge, he met the man’s gaze. A musket butt rammed down on his chest. Bones snapped. As his strength ebbed, his mind grew foggy. Death was preferable to following the tassantassas’ rules. What of Walks Through Mist? Part of both worlds, she would adapt.

  He coughed, nearly choking on the blood. Soon. He only wished he could tell her how much he loved her.

  “Detective?”

  Lee blinked, finding himself standing over the corpse and Jan staring up at him in puzzlement. “He was shot twice, in the abdomen and chest. You’ll find broken ribs.”

  She examined the rib cage. “I don’t see any evidence of broken ribs. Let me get him back to the lab and see what I can find out.”

  Lee mumbled his thanks, but his mind was on Lightning Storm’s death. Here—on a similar rainy day in the seventeenth century—Lightning Storm had died on this very ground. He was honored the warrior had trusted him with his final thoughts. Phoebe’s ill omen had been for Lightning Storm, and he now understood her fear of guns.

  * * *

  38

  Phoebe

  In the backyard the following afternoon, Carol aided me in weeding my herb garden. Unlike Meg, she worried not about possessing a green thumb and called it “puttering.” The cohosh already budded with greenish-yellow flowers, whilst most of the herbs would flower later in the season. I checked the comfrey, sarsaparilla, and poppies, but I continued to think of Lee.

  Throughout the night, I had barely slept. Yet I resisted the temptation to call him again, as I didn’t wish him to think of me as a burden. I had learnt such patience from the Arrohateck. The women would go about their daily tasks, comforting each other as the men were oft hunting.

  “He’ll be fine.” Carol said, plucking a weed from the red soil.

  Carol no longer seemed sullen, and I thanked her for her kind words. In turn, she asked me about the herbs and their medicinal uses to distract me.

  “Phoebe,” Meg called from the landing by the back door. “Lee’s here.”

  Delighted that he had chosen to surprise me, I brushed the dirt from my hands onto my work jeans.

  With a smile, Carol squeezed my arm. “I’ll finish here, should you decide to stay the night.”

  I expressed my appreciation and made my way to the house.

  “He’s waiting in the parlor,” Meg said.

  With my anticipation rising, I hurried in that direction. Upon my entrance, Lee stood. He was attired in comfortable trousers and a T-shirt, signaling that he was off duty. Unable to restrain myself, I rushed to him. We kissed, longingly. I ne’er wanted to part from him.

  “Would you like to go for a ride where we can speak in private?” he asked, drawing away.

  “Aye. Allow me a moment to change...”

  “You look fine.”

  His voice had been urgent. I grasped his hand, and he led me to the car. With months behind me, I had grown somewhat accustomed to the strange coaches, especially when I was in Lee’s presence. I climbed in, and as he drove away from Colwell House, I could see the tension on his brow. “What is wrong?”

  Speeding through the streets, he grunted a response but failed to elaborate.

  I feared his ire for having called him whilst at his job. “I beg forgiveness.”

  “You haven’t done anything wrong. I’ll explain, but not here.”

  “Lee...”

  He held up a hand. “Soon. I can’t talk about it while I’m driving.”

  I settled back. With each passing day, I was less astonished by the hoards of people, the stately buildings, and even the planes that flew overhead. I oft dreamt of what it must be like to be a passenger in such a magnificent flying coach. But not today. Troubled by what Lee had to say, I could not get comfortable.

  We passed from the city to a wooded area, where he halted the car. Aft parking, he showed me to a dirt path leading through the oak and sycamore trees. A doe with her spotted fawn bounded across the trail. I patiently waited for Lee to speak, only to continue walking the path in silence.

  Finally, he turned to me and grasped my hands. “He loved you.”

  My throat constricted, and I tightened my grip on his hands.

  “Lightning Storm. He loved you.”

  “Aye,” I managed to utter.

  “Phoebe, I saw him.”

  I could no longer ignore his meaning. “Saw him?”

  “His last thoughts were of you. I saw him, like in the dreaming. He wanted to tell you how much he loved you.”

  My thoughts were in turmoil. I swallowed. “The other warriors told me that he had died bravely, but I was not aware of his final thoughts. Thank you for the message.”

  Lee stroked my cheek in a gentle caress. “I can’t turn my back on the truth anymore. There’s a reason why we can’t find any clues as to where you come from. You are from the seventeenth century.”

  Suddenly, my mind was at ease. I didn’t know whether to laugh that Lee finally believed my tale or to mourn Lightning Storm’s death. But he had died long ago, and I was certain I had already cried my tears over his loss.

  “I’m puzzled though,” he said. “Why are you here? Am I supposed to help you return?”

  His questions struck unexpected terror in my heart. “Return? I cannot return. Pray don’t make me.”

  He embraced me. “Don’t worry, Phoebe. I have no such powers. I thought you knew. I want you to stay here with me—forever. Once you’ve learned all you can at Colwell House, we can find a place in the country. You can have a greyhound and grow an herb garden.
But for now, we need to know the hows and whys in order to make sense of anything else.”

  How different he was from those of my time. People in the twenty-first century followed a clock for every action—to rise, to eat, to sleep. “Are you saying I can return to the seventeenth century?”

  “I don’t know, because we have no idea how you got here.”

  “Then I shall resume my sessions with Shae. Like the dreaming, hypnosis helps me recall what happened.” My arms circled about Lee’s waist, and I lowered my head to his chest. With his and Shae’s help, I would discover why I had been brought to this time. What if I was meant to return? I couldn’t. For I wouldn’t lose Lee as I had Lightning Storm.

  * * *

  Aft Lightning Storm’s death, I grieved. I could not imagine ever loving another as I did him. During that disconsolate time, Little Hummingbird and I traveled downriver to live with Momma and Silver Eagle. Once again, I sought comfort from the woman who had borne me.

  It grieved me further when my moon cycle arrived twenty-eight days from the last. I had hoped that I could preserve Lightning Storm’s memory with another child. Normally, I sought refuge at the moon lodge, but this time, I felt banished.

  Bringing me food and water, Momma came to soothe me. Whilst I had told her about Poppa surviving the Sea Venture, we had ne’er spoken further about him. “Phoebe,” she said in English, “you must be cautious. Your Poppa will not rest ’til he has you married to a proper English gentleman.”

  My appetite had waned upon Lightning Storm’s death. Even now the scent of turkey stew made my stomach churn. “What gentleman would have me? He claimed I was soiled because I had fornicated with an Indian.”

  “Please eat, my child.”

  With a clam shell, I ladled some stew to my mouth.

  Momma smiled in satisfaction. “There are few English women in Virginia. Men are looking for mates and will overlook your past ’til more gentlewomen arrive on these shores. I’m certain you are already aware, but ’tis within their nature. Their rutting rituals bear little difference than that of the deer. They will fight for what they believe they possess.”

  I set the clam shell next to the turtle shell bowl. “And Poppa...?”

  “He can overlook your transgressions because I am the one to have led you astray. You are his daughter, and he means to fulfill his claim.”

  The truth was more unsettling than I could have fathomed. With Lightning Storm dead, Silver Eagle welcomed Little Hummingbird and me into his house, but the women oft gathered food and firewood away from the town. Like afore, my father would lie in wait ’til I was defenseless.

  * * *

  39

  Shae and Lee

  Relieved that Phoebe had rescheduled her appointments and was really talking again, Shae had listened to the progression of her story with interest. “I still think we’ll be able to work out what happened to you in time.”

  “Lee believes my story.”

  Normally, Lee wasn’t the sort to humor a person. God, he must have fallen head over heals for Phoebe. “I’ll see you next week, then?”

  “Aye.”

  Shae exchanged goodbyes and ushered in her next patient. After her last patient, she checked her calendar for the following day, but Phoebe’s case kept intruding on her thoughts. She had no doubt that Phoebe and Lee were dabbling with hypnosis again. She had given them ample warning. There was little else she could do.

  “Knock, knock.”

  With a smile she looked up at Russ, approaching her desk.

  He tapped his watch. “Didn’t we have a date?”

  “Date?”

  “Dinner and the theatre.”

  “Oh my God, I forgot. I even brought in a skirt with me this morning. It’ll only take me a moment to change.”

  “Let me guess, you were thinking about Phoebe.”

  Shae retrieved her long black skirt from the coat rack. After making certain the door was closed, she removed her slacks and slipped on the skirt. “She says Lee believes she’s from the seventeenth century.”

  “Lee may be many things, but gullible doesn’t strike me as one of his traits.”

  The skirt fit a little too tight, and she had difficulty zipping. Her jacket would cover her less-than-lean belly as long as the zipper didn’t burst. She sucked in her breath and got the skirt zipped. “You’re right.” She finished dressing and tickled Russ on the cheek. “I was worrying for nothing. Let’s go and have a relaxing time.”

  He grasped her hand, and they walked out of the office.

  * * *

  After a long day, Lee headed the T-Bird in the direction of Colwell House. He would have preferred returning to his apartment, but he had promised Phoebe to drop by. By the time he arrived, darkness had settled and his watch read 8:04. Visiting hours were over, but he had to let Phoebe know she hadn’t been stood up. He hurried to the door and knocked.

  The porch light went on, and Carol opened the door. Valerie joined her. “I’m sorry, Lee,” Valerie said, “but visiting hours are over. I wish I could make an exception, but—”

  “I understand. Just let Phoebe know I dropped by. I couldn’t get here any earlier.”

  “I’ll tell you what. I’ll have Phoebe meet you outside.”

  Carol stepped outside as Valerie closed the door. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you.”

  “Have you seen Fletcher again?”

  She lowered her gaze to the porch floor.

  He continued, “I realize you think it’s none of my business. It’s not—yet. But you should be aware that stalkers escalate their actions. That’s when it becomes my business. If you really want to thank me, let me escort you downtown to get a protective order against him.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I haven’t seen him.”

  Why did he bother? They never listened. “Carol...” When she looked up, Lee didn’t see the hardened gaze of a streetwise woman—only the naiveté of youth. He handed her his card. “Stalkers don’t change. Feel free to call me if Fletcher bothers you again.”

  “Thanks.”

  Phoebe appeared on the doorstep, and Carol vanished inside. Phoebe’s arms went around his neck. They kissed, and he straightened. “I’m sorry I’m late.”

  “I have yet to fully understand clock time.”

  “If you haven’t already had dinner, I can take you out for a quick bite to eat.”

  “I should like that.”

  He escorted her to the T-Bird. Normally when Phoebe was with him, he’d bypass fast food, but having missed lunch, he was famished and chose the closest place to Colwell House. After collecting their order, they found an empty booth. Phoebe told him about her session with Shae, while he polished off two pieces of crispy fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and a side order of corn.

  “Lee, will you join me in the dreaming tonight?”

  He checked his watch—a little past nine. “Unfortunately, I’m usually regulated by clock time. I have an early morning.”

  “I’ll arrange for Meg or Carol to pick me up so you needn’t drive into the city again.”

  She had only nibbled on her chicken, and he gestured to it. “Are you going to eat that?”

  Phoebe shoved the plastic plate to his side of the table. “I’ve already had dinner.”

  “You should have warned me.” He dug into a drumstick—not his favorite piece—but he was finally beginning to satisfy his hunger. “There’s no need to bother Meg or Carol. I’ll be coming into the city for court.” What had he just agreed to? Under normal circumstances, he got little enough sleep. Oh hell, I’ll do what I always do: dose up on coffee. He was eager to discover how Phoebe had arrived in the twenty-first century.

  * * *

  Lee stared at the candle until the mist surrounded him. Following the flight of the crow, he walked along a riverbank until meeting a man wearing breeches, a slashed-sleeved doublet, and a plumed hat. A sword was at his left hip and a pistol on his right. Lee checked his own hip. His Glock wasn’t
there.

  The man bowed slightly. “Captain Henry Wynne. Phoebe wishes for you to see what was through me.”

  Like Lightning Storm. But how could he identify with an Englishman? “Where’s Phoebe?”

  “Nearby.”

  Henry Wynne had been the man who had abducted Phoebe and taken her to her father in Jamestown. Lee narrowed his eyes. “You’re not afraid of sharing with a savage?”

  Wynne laughed. “Nay, and you shall understand in time, should you decide to continue.”

  Did he have a choice? He had agreed to help Phoebe. “All right.”

  The crow cawed from a branch, and fog engulfed him. When the mist cleared, Phoebe stood across from him, and his hands clamped around her wrists.

  She struggled with a strength uncommon for a woman. “Unhand me!”

  “Phoebe, allow me to bring you to your father. I assure you that you and your child will be unharmed.”

  She spat at him, continuing her fight. “Like Lightning Storm was unscathed.”

  “I was not responsible for your husband’s death. I was in England at the time. Search parties have been sent, unable to find you afore now, but your father will spare naught to see that you are returned to him.” She stopped struggling, and he released his grip. “Run from me as you have afore. Your father will only send someone else. The next man may not concern himself about you or your daughter’s safety.”

  “Why do you care, Captain Wynne?”

  The sword was at Lee’s hip. He wore breeches and the doublet. He was Henry Wynne. The feel of a full beard was an odd sensation. He’d never had much in the way of facial hair.

  “You must continue. You have seen Lightning Storm. You must also come to know Henry Wynne.”

  It had been Phoebe’s voice, but the words hadn’t come from the woman before him. Lightning Storm’s death remained vivid. He had felt the warrior’s love. It was part of them. What would he have in common with Henry Wynne?