Chapter 29
Danvers, Massachusetts
2005
Faith was lying on Shawn’s bed, fully dressed, searching for the pack of gum she always kept in her travel bag. Days like this made her wish she had never quit smoking. She understood it was a filthy and disgusting habit, not to mention life-threatening, but all in all, she really enjoyed it.
“You don’t need a cigarette,” Shawn said, reminding Faith yet again that being near a psychic really sucked at times.
She glanced over at Milo, who was sitting on her bed. She smirked at the way he had combed his few strands of hair across his forehead in an effort to conceal the fact that he was balding. “Faith,” Shawn scolded her once again.
Damn, I really must be on edge and vulnerable today. She isn’t missing anything. Faith hoped Shawn had tuned into that thought and would back off.
“So, fat boy,” she said. Milo looked up with an indignant expression on his pudgy face. “What can you tell us about the bauble?”
“Faith.” Shawn handed Milo the bracelet. “You can be such a jerk at times.”
Faith snickered at the comment and curled up behind Shawn. “You should know,” she said, feeling mildly amused with herself. Her amusement faded when Milo began rocking and humming as he clutched the bracelet. “This guy drives me nuts,” she muttered.
“Behave.” Shawn swatted Faith in a playful manner.
“Don’t want to,” Faith grumbled.
“If you can’t play nice, then you’ll have to leave.”
“Fine,” Faith sneered. Milo began chanting in the most disturbing manner.
“‘It needs to mean something,’” he said in a distant tone. “‘I need to tell her that I’m in love with her,’” he rambled on. Faith felt the anger filling her.
“Son of a bitch,” she hissed, noticing that Shawn’s body had stiffened and she was averting her gaze. Faith was furious. It was the truth; she had wanted to give Shawn some token that would express the feelings she was unable to verbalize. It pissed her off that this was the way Shawn discovered the truth. She was hopelessly in love with Shawn; it just would have been nice if she had been the one to tell her.
Feeling the sudden distance that was emanating from Shawn’s body made it clear to Faith that there really wasn’t going to be a second chance for them. At that moment, all she wanted to do was flee from the room and find someplace private where she could wallow in her anguish.
“Stillness.” Milo hummed, rocking. “‘Toss it in the back with the other garbage he brought in. You’d think a rich man would have something better to sell us.’”
Faith was no longer listening to him. She stood up, with the full intention of leaving the room, and Shawn, behind.
“No!” Milo screamed, halting Faith’s retreat. She watched him begin to shake violently. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and he tossed the bracelet at Shawn.
“Why would you make me witness that?” he shrieked. “I never want to see that again. I’m going to be sick.”
“I understand,” Shawn said in a grave tone. “Did the bracelet belong to Anna Stratton?”
“Yes,” Milo said, still trembling. “It was a gift from her sister-in-law. Catherine gave it to her as a promise.” He directed his words towards Faith. “That’s what you felt when you chose it.”
Once again, Faith felt a rush of anger that her private feelings were being bandied about. Just as quickly, the anger slipped away when she felt Shawn’s hand on her arm. She looked down at Shawn and spied a glimmer in her eyes that she hadn’t seen in a very long time. It wasn’t about the passion they once shared; it spoke of something deeper. Faith was filled with renewed hope that the bond between them might be returning.
“I should be going,” Milo grunted. Faith and Shawn were ignoring him, staring at each other.
Milo made his departure, and Faith slumped down next to Shawn. Gently she covered Shawn’s hand with her own. She caressed it tenderly.
“I can’t believe that I’ve been wearing her bracelet,” Shawn said.
“Like you said before, it’s a coincidence.”
“Oh, now you get all reasonable on me.” Shawn snickered lightly. “You know, there’s something else I can’t believe.” Faith held her breath while Shawn seemed to be collecting her thoughts. “I can’t believe how badly I’ve been treating you.”
“Why are you so angry with me?” Faith asked in a hushed tone.
“You left me,” Shawn said, tears filling her eyes. Faith could handle anything except the sight of Shawn crying. Without hesitation, she cradled Shawn in her arms.
“When you just took that job, without discussing it with me, I thought I didn’t matter to you.” She sobbed as she clung to Faith.
Faith finally had the answers she had been seeking. She rocked Shawn in her arms. Finally, she understood why Shawn had lashed out at her. Shawn was afraid for her. Faith had placed her life in danger without thinking twice about how her lover felt about the choice she had made.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I never had to stop and think about how my actions affected someone else. I’m not good at being part of a couple. Before I met you, I never even wanted to try.”
“No, this is my fault.” Shawn sniffed and snuggled closer to Faith. “I got so damn angry. All I could focus on was that I wasn’t important enough to you to be asked how I felt about the job. I might have supported it, but I didn’t even get the chance to make that choice. To me, it said that we weren’t really a couple.”
“But we were.” Faith’s heart sank as she realized how far apart they really were. “We’re not getting back together, are we?”
“Not tonight,” Shawn said.
Shawn’s eyes were swollen from crying, yet the fire in them still burned brightly. Faith was drawn in. She leaned closer, and her gaze drifted down to Shawn’s lips. Shawn shivered in her arms. Just as she was about to capture Shawn in a kiss, Shawn pressed her fingers against Faith’s lips.
“It will just confuse things,” Shawn said.
“I hate it when you’re right.”
“I know.” Shawn smiled. “Will you hold me tonight?”
“Now that’s the best offer I’ve had in months.” Faith guided them both down onto the mattress. She sighed contentedly as they snuggled together.
“You’re going back, aren’t you?” Shawn asked sleepily as she caressed Faith’s stomach. “Whispering Pines. You’re going back.”
“Yes.” Faith sighed. “If the next team asks me to go, I’m going to accept. I don’t understand it, but I feel as if it’s something that I have to do. Any chance you’ll change your mind and join me?”
“I can’t.” Shawn trembled. “I saw it. I saw what he did to them. Every blow of the axe, every drop of blood, I witnessed the whole thing and felt their pain. I can’t live through that again.”
“I understand,” Faith said, and she did. Over the years, she had witnessed things as a reporter that no one should ever have to see. That night she was just happy to be holding Shawn in her arms as they drifted off to sleep. In the morning, they would once again be heading off in different directions.
Chapter 30
Salem, Massachusetts
2005
Shawn shivered as the cool autumn air assaulted her. She had been watching the crew set up for hours. Glancing at her watch, she confirmed that she had more than enough time to slip away and enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee. She could also take the time to call Faith.
Faith had been pulled from the shoot at the Witch House and reassigned to a farmhouse in Kansas. Shawn was looking forward to spending more time with her after what had transpired between them during the shoot at Hammond Castle. At first, each of them feared that Althea had pulled Faith from the project because of their personal relationship. They were relieved when Althea informed them it was only because Faith wasn’t needed this time. For the Salem shoot, they weren’t using what Althea called a tour guide. Instead, some high-priced actor with a great
voice would do the narration after the film was edited. Shawn reached in her pocket and extracted her car keys.
“I’ll be back,” she whispered to Althea before wandering over to the rental car. She drove a short distance until she reached the Dunkin Donuts located near the waterfront.
“I need coffee,” she muttered. She parked the car across the street and went inside.
She ordered and looked around for a place to sit. A tall, dark-haired woman seated at one of the tables motioned for her to join her.
“You’re with the film crew I take it,” the woman, who was poring over a stack of musty old files, warmly greeted her.
“Shawn Williams, and yes I’m with the film crew,” Shawn said as she took a seat. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of familiarity that filled her when she looked into the woman’s hazel eyes. “The locals cringe every time they see us coming. Can’t really blame them.”
“But, it’s the stock-in-trade here,” the brunette said, flashing Shawn a brilliant smile that sent another wave of familiarity through her. “Carey Jessup.” The woman offered her hand.
Shawn accepted Carey’s hand and shook it firmly. “You’re a cop?” she said with a smile.
“Yes. How did you know that?”
“That’s what I do.”
“Oh, so you’re one of those crystal-worshipping psychics?” Carey scoffed. “Was it the donuts that gave you the cop vibe, or did you just look down at the files on the table?” Carey challenged her with a friendly smile.
Shawn peeked at the files for the first time. “You must be here to meet with Althea,” she said.
“Another psychic flash?”
“Nope, this time it was the files.” Shawn laughed, thinking that Carey and Faith were going to work very well together. “I couldn’t help noticing Anna Stratton’s name.”
“You’re familiar with the Whispering Pines case?” Carey asked eagerly.
“You could say that.”
“Wait, Shawn Williams, Dr. Shawn Williams?” Carey asked.
“Yes.”
“Heck, I thought you were a man.”
Shawn looked down at her breasts and frowned.
“I based my conclusions solely on your name,” Carey said. “I’ll be honest, I haven’t read your books or heard a lot about your experiences. Frankly I don’t believe in ghosts.”
“No, you don’t. I take it that Althea brought you on board to investigate the murders? Should make for an interesting sidepiece.”
“We don’t know that there was a murder,” Carey said.
“I do.”
“Sorry, I just can’t take your word on it,” Carey said, effectively dismissing Shawn’s statement. “But I am looking forward to working with you.”
“There isn’t a chance in hell I would ever set foot in that house again,” Shawn said, despite a niggling, troubling thought that whispered that she was going back.
“Interesting,” Carey said. “Well, at least I’ll get to see what one of these circuses is like. That’s why I drove up here, so I could watch and learn how the filming process works.”
“It’s a lot of hurry up and wait.” Shawn smiled, noticing again the sense of familiarity that surrounded this woman.
“So what’s with the Witch House? Lots of scary old hags lurking about?” Carey asked.
“That’s a very narrow-minded view of Wiccans,” Shawn said abruptly. “The Witch House was where most of the interrogations took place during the witch trials. One of the judges lived there, and since there were no real courthouses in those days, they held the so-called trials in what we would nowadays consider the parlor. Some people have claimed to have experienced odd happenings.”
“Oh, come on now,” Carey scoffed.
“It’s true.”
“No offense, I but I think it’s a boatload of crap.” Carey stood.
“I’m not going to argue with you.” Shawn shrugged. “I gave up on trying to convince people that I see what I see.”
“Right, you see things,” Carey said. “I think you sneaked a peek at my files, and that’s how you knew I’m in law enforcement.”
“That isn’t how I knew.” Shawn sighed. “Like I said, I’m not going to argue the point. I would only be wasting my time and yours. Oh, just one more thing. Can you tell me why you changed your name? I can’t quite get a focus on that,” Shawn said, flashing the stunned woman a cocky smirk.
“H-How did you know that?” Carey stammered.
“You and Faith Charles are going to get along just fine.” Shawn chuckled as they headed towards the entrance.
“Wait!” Carey suddenly shouted. “Faith Charles?”
“Yes, she’s working on the Whispering Pines project.” Shawn eyed Carey suspiciously. “The two of you have very similar personalities. I think you’ll really hit it off.”
“I’m nothing like that bitch,” Carey said. “I was told she wasn’t working on the project. I asked before I ever agreed to come on board. I was assured that she wasn’t even in the country.”
Shawn was only mildly stunned by Carey’s reaction; after all, Faith did have a reputation of rubbing people the wrong way.
“She only signed on to work on the project a couple of days ago,” Shawn said.
“There’s no way I’m working with that bitch.” Carey stormed out of the coffee shop.
I wonder what Faith did this time? Shawn followed the angry policewoman.
Chapter 31
Stewart, Massachusetts
1914
Horatio returned to the manor around midday, just as Anna had predicted. Right in time to be home before Richard came back from school, he stormed into the house, startling Anna. He didn’t look at the decorations; he just yanked his wife by her hair and dragged her off. Catherine had been in the kitchen when she heard the ruckus.
“What’s happening?” she demanded from Miranda.
“The captain has returned, miss,” the maid said in a grave tone.
“Where is Mrs. Stratton?” Catherine was in a frenzy.
“She’s with the captain.”
Catherine searched the house frantically and discovered Anna cowering in her room. “Go,” Anna said, trying to hide her bruised body from Catherine.
“No.” Catherine was furious.
“If you don’t, it will only get worse.” Anna’s flat tone and vacant look shocked Catherine. “He’ll take it out on Richard when he returns.”
Catherine remained steadfast until Anna’s pleas finally wore her down. She left Anna’s bedchamber and listened to her wails for mercy all through the evening. She hated her brother and wished him dead. She hated herself even more for not rushing down and stopping Horatio any way that she could.
The next day, Catherine was livid as she listened to her brother berating her lover. She had to restrain herself from leaping across the dining room table and throttling him. Each time she was about to pounce, Anna would flash a warning look.
“I promise to remove the decorations before morning,” Anna wearily said as her husband glared at her.
Catherine jumped in startlement when Horatio’s fist slammed down onto the table.
“It’s too late for that now,” he bellowed. “Half the town complimented me on the festive state of the manor once I stepped off of the train. Leave them,” he snarled. Catherine felt her skin crawling when she caught the hateful stare he cast upon poor Anna.
“I only thought—” Anna whimpered, her body shrinking in fear.
“You are not to think,” Horatio yelled.
Catherine clutched the edges of the table, her knuckles turning white as she restrained herself from intervening. She had heard the horrible sounds last evening.
Now, as she watched the ire growing inside of her brother, she knew that this night was to be another evening of torture.
“Brother.” She strained against the urge to lash out at him.
“You’ll not interfere,” he cautioned her with a wicked gleam in his cold, dark eyes.<
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“This is my doing,” she said. She pressed on in a hurry, seeing that he was listening to her words. “I assumed that as the head of the community, you would insist on decorating the manor for the holiday. Sister protested,” she lied. “I was the one who did this. You do, after all, have an image to uphold.”
“What’s this rubbish you’re spouting?” he asked.
She gasped. “Brother, if the manor isn’t glorified during this season, it might appear unchristian. The townspeople look to you for guidance. What will they think if you scoff at the holiest night of the year? Father always insisted that Collinsworth reflect the Stratton family’s station in the community. I assumed that you would insist, no, demand the same of your family.”
Catherine watched him consider her words. How easy it was to play him, and how sick she felt for not playing to his ego yesterday.
“See, Wife,” he said, waving towards Catherine, who was still clutching the table. “Even this harlot understands the importance of family.”
“Yes, Husband.” Anna sneered at his words. He failed to notice her harsh tone and cold look.
Horatio laughed at them, pushed his chair back, and swaggered into his den. Anna winced painfully as she dutifully began to clear away the remnants of the evening meal.
“You’re in no condition,” Catherine said.
“I must,” Anna muttered. Her eyes and voice were once again devoid of emotion. Knowing that any protests she offered would be refused, Catherine hastily gathered up the heavier items from the table and began cleaning the dishes before Anna could step in.
“Sit,” she instructed Anna as she pulled out a chair. “He’ll not come in here. The kitchen is no place for the man of the house. You’re in no condition to be standing.”
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