Lucille Pfiffer Mystery Series (Books 4 - 6)

by Tanya R. Taylor

  “What are you doing up so early, Mira?” I sat down next to them. “Have you had your coffee yet?”

  “Anthony offered, but I wasn’t ready.”

  “Not ready for coffee first thing in the morning? That’s strange.”

  She shifted in her seat. “The reason I came down here is because I felt compelled to just sit here...on this couch. Is this where Merlene usually sat when she came over for a visit?”

  “Yes!” I nodded. “She acted as if there were no other chairs in the room. Funny you picked up on that.”

  Then a frightening thought hit me. “Does this mean you sense Merlene’s spirit, which means she’s...dead?”

  She quickly shook her head. “No. It’s not Merlene that led me here. Somebody else did. Lucille, Merlene has been taken somewhere by those men and they’ve left her there, but she’s not alone.”

  I was perplexed. “You said the people that abducted her left her, but then somebody else is with her? Did that person find her and if so, why haven’t they brought her to safety or contacted the police? What exactly are you saying, Mira?”

  “As you were speaking, I saw a dense forest—tall trees that formed a thick canopy, shrubs, animals. I saw Merlene sitting there, barely conscious. We have to go find her, Lucille, before it’s too late!”

  I picked up the phone and told David to come over right away.

  “Are you girls ready for coffee?” Anthony asked.

  “We have to get ready; David’s coming over,” I replied. “Mira said Merlene’s in the forest somewhere barely clinging to life.”

  “Oh, my God! Do you know exactly where we can find her?” He asked Mira.

  “I can only see where she is and a small portion of the surrounding area at this point. Once we get to where the forest is, whomever is with her will likely be the compass that will lead us right to her. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.”

  “Who’s with her? You mean the people that took her?” he asked.

  “No. Someone else. When her abductors left her there, they didn’t know she wasn’t alone,” Mira replied.

  “Come on. We have to get ready now,” I said. “It won’t take long for David to get here.”

  By the time I woke up most mornings, Theodore had already left for work and that day was no exception. Anthony phoned him from his cell as we were heading upstairs and informed him of the new development.

  “I’m coming too!” Anthony hollered up from the living room.

  At the landing, I approached the rail. “Don’t you have to work today?”

  “Screw work! It’s not like they appreciate me anyway. Besides, Merlene’s more important.”

  “That-a-boy!” I smiled. It was about time Anthony realized the truth about those scrooges he worked for. “But wait—if we find Merlene, how’s everyone going to fit in David’s car?”

  “We’ll take my jeep. There’s more than enough room,” he said.

  I thought it was a great idea.

  We were all ready and anxiously waiting when David arrived less than twenty minutes later. It was a few minutes before eight o’clock and seeing the morning dew, I wondered how my friend had been coping if she’d been exposed to the elements.

  “How long do you think Merlene has been in the forest?” I asked Mira as Anthony drove toward the only forest any of us knew around these parts. David was sitting up front in the passenger seat as Mira and I sat in the back. “Was she there all this time?”

  “I don’t feel she was,” she spoke almost at a whisper. “I believe they tried to kill her at a different spot, then moved her to the forest. I sense she was there for almost a week though. Still quite a long time.”

  That disturbed me. Why would anyone want to kill Merlene if Mira was right about her abduction having absolutely nothing to do with Judge Simon and that evil conspiracy he was a part of? Merlene was mouthy, yes, but folks around here were used to that—just as they were used to me, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around the idea that anyone we knew would’ve wanted to kill us. Maybe they hoped we’d end up dead, but I highly doubt they’d try to make it happen. I didn’t understand a lot of what Mira suspected, but in my gut I had to believe for sanity’s sake that she knew what she was talking about.

  David and Anthony were discussing theories relating to what part of the forest they thought Merlene would be in. But I knew they were grasping at straws because the area was vast.

  As we got closer to the forest, my heart started to race. Being told she was there and not knowing where to look or even what condition she might be in was worrying. Inwardly, I struggled to calm myself down, but I knew I had to if I was going to be of any use to the others in helping to find my friend.

  Anthony parked alongside the road as per Mira’s instruction, then we all exited the jeep. I’d brought along my cane, feeling it may have come in handy for knocking away some branches or defending us against beasts that might not have been so friendly. I noticed the sky was becoming a bit overcast and that added another concern to my already long list. Was nature now working against us too? I hated the thought.

  Anthony walked over to me as Mira stood facing the forest. She waited there for a few minutes before going any further. “Follow closely behind me,” she told us.

  As we walked among the trees for what seemed like hours, I could hear insects buzzing around, frogs croaking; the sounds of a busy stream and birds chirping in the distance. Amazing how peaceful those sounds were in a place where such cruelty allegedly happened. It didn’t seem to make sense. Since I was child I viewed the forest as an enchanting, magical place filled with wonder for the senses. When I was a teenager, Johnny Baker, a childhood friend who lived in the house next door to where I grew up used to hitch-hike with me all the way out to the forest where we’d ‘explore new dimensions’. We were silly kids who probably watched too many sci-fi movies and were convinced there was another world within the structure of the forest. We never found that ‘other world’ after hours and hours of explorations and scores of visits. Nevertheless, we couldn’t deny the fun we had trying to accomplish the mission. Our so-called explorations went on for a couple of years until Johnny’s dad landed a job in a neighboring city and the family moved away. Being back there in the forest after many years brought back so many memories, intermingled with the fear and apprehension of my current reality.

  The deeper we got into the forest, I was beginning to feel more and more like I was losing my bearings. Although it was like a second home for Johnny and me, we never ventured too deeply as we were afraid we might not be able to find our way out. That was the feeling I was getting the farther we went. The entire time, Mira did not speak. She proceeded at a moderate to slow pace and we had no trouble keeping up with her. No one asked her anything. At least my reason for not doing so—although I wanted to—was because I didn’t want to interrupt her flow. I suppose the others felt the same way.

  Soon, we came upon a stream that was one of the most beautiful sites of nature that I’d ever seen. Mira stopped and looked, as if studying it.

  “She was in here,” she uttered softly.

  “Was?” Anthony asked.

  “Right. She’s not anymore. Somehow, she got out.”

  David hung his head in relief. “Do you see where she is now?” he asked.

  Mira nodded. “She’s very close by here, near a tree. It’s in this very vicinity.”

  “How about we split up?” Anthony proposed? Lucille and I will stay together and take one direction within a small radius and the rest of you do the same thing.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Mira said as if she’d just become privy to something that dodged the rest of us. “Stay close to me.”

  We collectively concurred.

  10

  _________________

  We walked for a few more minutes until we heard David yell, “There she is!” He ran toward what appeared to be a body lying on the ground under the canopy of several tall trees knotted together at the limbs.<
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  As I eagerly made my way over there with Anthony’s help, I was shocked at who I saw standing nearby. Sir Clement Tucker was standing literally inches away from Merlene’s body. He was the one Mira had seen with Merlene, thus the reason for her saying that Merlene was not alone. My heart was full as I hurried to get there; I’d never been happier to see Merlene or Sir Clement. To think he hadn’t abandoned me after all, but was busy helping my best friend, brought tears to my eyes.

  The others arrived before Anthony and I could get there and Mira was already checking Merlene’s neck for a pulse. David was kneeling next to his mother speaking passionately to her, but she was unresponsive. Mira used her skills as a physician as best she could and I noticed she’d glanced at Sir Clement a couple times, while tending to Merlene.

  “Is she alive?” I asked, catching my breath.

  “She’s alive!” David announced after Mira gave the nod. “Her pulse is weak, but at least she’s alive.”

  Just as Mira had envisioned, Merlene was barely clinging to life. From the obvious bruises on her face, we could tell that she’d been severely beaten. As David carefully attempted to scoop her into his arms, we all noticed something that we hadn’t seen before. There was a blood stain on her upper back, and the white cloth that had obviously covered it had dropped to the ground.

  Anthony and I both gasped as we realized she’d been stabbed as well.

  “We must get her to the hospital right away,” Mira said. “Time is running out!”

  David carried his mother through the forest back towards the jeep. Mira was still leading the way.

  I prayed that Merlene would survive; that our finding her would not mean we were meant to bury her. I couldn’t restrain the tears that flowed down my cheeks as I hurried as quickly as I could to get the help Merlene desperately needed. Calling an ambulance was out of the question. We knew if Merlene had any chance of survival, we’d have to be the ones to get her to the hospital.

  The drive to the hospital was supposed to take at least a half-hour considering the distance, but Anthony drove so fast, I wondered if any of us would make it to the ER alive. He didn’t appear to even slow down when approaching a curb and I was certain the jeep would’ve toppled over at some point. The half-hour drive to the hospital turned out to be a mere twelve minutes and by the time the vehicle stopped, it was smoking furiously from the hood.

  A stretcher was wheeled outside immediately as David ran with his mother toward the ER entrance. He laid her onto the stretcher, then the medical attendants took over and a doctor summoned to the scene. Mira quickly briefed the ER physician and offered her help, which was politely declined, and Merlene was wheeled to the back. David was allowed to accompany them.

  The rest of us sat in the waiting area, holding hands and praying that Merlene would be all right. We must’ve waited there for hours before David rejoined us. He looked as though he’d gone through a hundred years of emotional stress.

  I stood up. “How is she?”

  He slid his hand over the nape of his neck. “She just came out of surgery; resting now. Been stabbed, as you know, beaten up pretty bad; a couple of cracked ribs, but the doctor feels she’ll pull through all right.”

  We all made a collective sigh of relief.

  “Is she awake?” I asked.

  “She was barely conscious when they gave her a shot that looked like it put her back under.”

  “It would’ve prepped her for surgery,” Mira said. “I’m sure she’ll be fine in spite of her injuries.”

  I hugged David so tightly and cried tears of joy. Mira and Anthony stood up as well and we had a group hug. David obviously liberated the remainder of the tears that had built up over the period of time his mother had been missing. We must’ve stood there for a good five minutes, so very grateful that the ordeal was finally over. At least, we thought it was until we’d all sat down again and Mira revealed something so disturbing that it incited a fury within all of us.

  “There was a man with Merlene in the forest who was the one who protected her and brought her to safety.”

  “I didn’t see anyone,” Anthony said.

  “Neither did I,” David remarked.

  “He couldn’t be seen with the naked eye,” Mira explained, “because he’s a ghost.”

  David and Anthony glanced at each other as the news settled in.

  “Somehow, he got her out of the water…” Mira continued.

  “The stream you were looking at,” Anthony mentioned.

  “Yes, the stream,” she said. “And he’d placed the white rag against her wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Otherwise, she would’ve bled out. The man actually saved her life.”

  I was so proud of Sir Clement and felt indebted to him for his heart of kindness and compassion towards Merlene. I also felt guilty for thinking we’d helped him and he upped and left without even saying goodbye when the truth was—he’d never actually left. He was with Merlene the whole while and did all he could to save her.

  It was what Mira went on to say that infuriated us. “This man also knew who it was that wanted Merlene dead.”

  “Who was it?” David asked eagerly.

  She had everyone’s complete attention.

  “David...it was your mom’s ex-husband—your father.”

  He grimaced. “My father? Why would he possibly want Mom dead? They haven’t communicated for years. He’s remarried and completely out of our lives.”

  I could tell she was hesitant to go on, but knew she had to. “Insurance money, David. Your father still has your mother insured. He never canceled the policy he had on her while they were married.”

  “You’ve gotta be kidding.”

  “But why now?” Anthony chimed in. “If his motive was money, why didn’t he attempt this sooner?”

  “Because his money finally ran out,” she replied. “He’s broke and fearing his new wife will leave him.”

  David was quiet, and I knew he was enraged.

  “So, the three guys in the sedan were hired hitmen who took care of Merlene on her ex’s orders? That’s what you’re saying?” I wanted to be clear.

  “Exactly.” Mira nodded.

  David suddenly got up and ran out of the ER through the main doors.

  “Where’s he going?” Mira asked.

  “His dad lives down the street from here,” I said. “I’m pretty sure he’s headed there. If we don’t stop him, this time David might truly be guilty of murder.”

  “Let’s go!” Anthony said.

  As we hurried toward the jeep, Mira pulled out her cell phone. “I’m calling the police.”

  “Good idea!” I replied.

  After we turned the corner from the hospital’s entrance onto the main road, we spotted David running way up the street. I never realized the young man could run so fast, but with a good dose of anger even if he wasn’t a regular sprinter, he was then.

  “Hurry, Anthony!” I exclaimed. “He’s almost at the house.”

  Mira had the police on the phone and I gave them the directions to Roy Bostwick—David’s father’s house, and told them he had conspired to murder his ex-wife. Our main concern right then was being able to prevent David from hurting his father even though the jerk deserved to die, as far as I was concerned. The nerve he had – to use Merlene’s life as a means to end his own financial struggles.

  Anthony pulled up right after David had turned into the yard. Some traffic on the road had prevented Anthony from getting there sooner.

  After the tires screeched onto the carport and the vehicle came to a complete halt, Anthony hopped out of the jeep and headed into the house behind David. David had already broken down the front door.

  Mira and I hurried behind them, and moments later, we heard loud yelling and what sounded like tussling inside a back room.

  “Stop, David! He’s not worth it!” I cried when I arrived at the door of the bedroom. He was involved in a scuffle with his idiot father and Anthony was trying with all his
might to separate them. David was well-built and much stronger than Anthony was, so there was only so much Anthony could do. David had the upper hand over his father and soon had him in a firm headlock. “I should break your damn neck!” He shouted at the man who seemed stunned by the entire scene; probably thought he’d gotten away with murder. I wondered where the wife was because it appeared he was alone in the house.

  “David, listen to me…” Mira started. “Lucille’s right—he’s not worth it. You need to be here for your mom who needs you now more than ever. You’re all she has.”

  Still enraged, David’s face and arms dripped with sweat, yet those muscular arms had a tight enough grip around his father’s neck that the much older man had no means of escape. Police sirens could be heard in the distance and Mira and I kept trying to convince David to do the right thing. Nevertheless, he seemingly couldn’t bring himself to release the man who had it in his heart to kill the person David loved more than anything in the world.

  Soon, I heard the sound of boots rushing through the house toward us.

  “David!” I pleaded again. “Let him go! Listen to me, boy! Enough of asking you. I’m telling you! Release him now!”

  He was looking at me the entire time as his father struggled to breathe and seconds before the officers swarmed inside the room, David freed his father from his grip. “You’re lucky I didn’t get to do to you what you did to Mom,” he told him with pure hatred in his eyes. I ran up to David and held onto him.

  Sheriff Cooke appeared on the scene and I explained everything to him without mentioning a word about Mira being a psychic and her involvement in the case. I figured the truth could come out at the appropriate time.

  “We need proof, Lucille, to arrest this guy!” Cooke said. “I can’t just go by what you’ve said. It’s called speculation.”

  Mira leaned in and said to me: “Tell him to look over there in the top drawer of the nightstand under the directory.”

  I told Cooke right away and he headed for the nightstand. I saw when he slid something from beneath the phone directory and studied it for a while.