Heart of Shadows

by Joyce

  Every noise was a possible threat as the time dragged on. Was Duke still looking for them? At any moment, the brush could be torn away and they could be exposed. There hadn't been any gunfire for a long time. Rae didn't know if that meant they were safe. She was afraid to poke her head out and look around.

  She was exhausted but she didn't dare go to sleep. Bryce moaned and shivered in her coat beside her. Rae wrapped her arms a little closer about the girl and held on to her.

  She heard someone call her name. Was she asleep? Was she dreaming? Lying still, not breathing, she heard it again. A bright light filled the darkness around her.

  "Rae?"

  "Lessie? Is that you?"

  "You just hold on, sweet pea. Help is on its way."

  Rae jerked herself awake. She listened intently to the swish of the pines and the moaning of the wind around them.

  "Rae? Bryce?” It was Steve.

  "Bryce!” She tried to wake the little girl. “Bryce! Wake up! It's Uncle Steve!"

  Bryce stirred a little. There was frost on her eyebrows and in her hair. “Uncle Steve?"

  "Yes, honey. He's here for us! We have to get out now."

  Rae tried to throw back the brush but her arms were asleep, or frozen. She didn't know which. She didn't know if she could lift Bryce to carry her out of the forest. She didn't know if she could move.

  "Rae? Bryce?” Steve called again.

  Rae could hear people walking through the woods. They were calling her name. “Steve!” Her voice was a hoarse croak. “Steve!"

  "I heard something this way."

  "Rae?” Steve yelled again. “Where are you?"

  "Under some brush.” Her voice cracked as she tried to yell back at him. “My arms are frozen. I'm not sure I can move them."

  "Is Bryce with you?"

  "Yes!"

  The sounds of tramping feet and anxious voices filled the forest. Rae used her legs to kick at the brush across them. “Steve!"

  "Uncle Steve!” Bryce picked up on the idea and started yelling and crying.

  It was only a matter of minutes before the brush was moved away and strong hands were lifting Rae and Bryce from the hiding place.

  "What happened?” Rae asked as Lynn put a blanket around her shoulders. Her teeth were chattering from the cold.

  "We got Barneby,” she told her. “He and his lady friend were trying to hike out of here."

  "How did you know we were out here?"

  "Mr. Williams called us from the radio in Duke's car."

  Steve held Bryce and hugged her close to him. They cried and laughed together. He touched her face, kissed the frost in her hair.

  Rae walked slowly away from them with Lynn at her side. “Did you find Sharin Williams?"

  "We found her body.” Lynn shook her head. “The other woman is okay. Barneby took a bullet from Mr. Williams but kept going after you two. Apparently, he gave up at some point and decided to try to get away."

  Rae shrugged, looking back again at Bryce and Steve. “I feel pretty good right now."

  Lynn cleared her throat. “Mr. Williams tells us you're his girlfriend? And that you accompanied him out here to try to find his niece?"

  Rae smiled at the term. “That's exactly what happened."

  "I thought so.” Lynn leaned close and whispered, “Lucky for you he's got some serious money and knows a lot of people or you and your boyfriend would still be in hot water!"

  "I've got something you should check,” Rae told her. “I think Duke Barneby might have been involved with the kidnapping and murder of Denise Little ten years ago in Maryland."

  "Are you sure?” Lynn asked her, writing it down.

  "No.” Rae scuffed her foot on the ground and smiled. “But I have a feeling it might be true."

  Lynn made a face as she put away her notebook. “I'll check it out. Anything else?"

  "I think Sharin might be the one who arranged David Williams’ death last year."

  "One step ahead of you there, my friend.” Lynn laughed. “Their mechanic confessed to tampering with the brakes. He said Steve Williams had done a lot for him but that Sharin Williams paid him a lot of money to do the job. He did it when he took out the airbags."

  "Of course you offered him immunity?"

  "For a murderer? Of course! Too late now though.” Lynn wrapped an arm around Rae's shoulder. “You know, even though you can't be in the Bureau again, you could help me out when you get those feelings about certain cases."

  "I don't think so. I'm definitely retiring after this."

  Lynn shrugged. “You know where to reach me if you change your mind. Your hocus-pocus gets the job done."

  Steve and Bryce caught up with them when they reached the backyard. A vehicle was there from the morgue taking Sharin away in a black bag. Duke was being led away in handcuffs. He had an ugly bruise that covered most of one side of his face.

  "Where's Mommy?” Bryce asked in a tiny voice.

  "She went on ahead,” Steve told her. “We'll talk about it later. Okay? First of all, we want to get you checked out and make sure you're in good shape. These men are going to take us to the hospital."

  "Are you going, too?” Bryce asked him.

  "You better believe it.” He reached out a hand to Rae. “Are you all right?"

  "I'm fine.” She smiled at Bryce. “Just a little cold."

  "You saved Bryce. This should banish all those phantoms that haunt you about the other cases."

  "It should. I'm glad it worked out this way. You did a heck of a job as a hero, too."

  "I'm sorry it took so long.” He moved his wounded arm painfully around Bryce. “The man wouldn't stay down."

  Rae laughed. “I think you need to see a doctor too."

  "What about you?” He glanced down at her side.

  "Just a scratch. Lessie will have smelly ointment on it for a week."

  They stood together uncomfortably for a long moment in the frozen night, surrounded by strangers and blaring radios. Not sure what to say to each other now that it was over.

  "Mr. Williams?” the ambulance driver called out.

  Rae cleared her throat. “You should go."

  "I guess I should. I'll see you later, though, right?"

  "Of course.” She leaned down close to Bryce. “Bye, Bryce. See you later, too."

  "Thank you, Angel. Thank you for saving me."

  "You're welcome, honey. Take care of you and your Uncle Steve."

  "I will. The bad guys told me he was bad, too. I didn't believe them. I knew he'd come for me."

  "Don't leave yet, Rae,” Steve urged her quietly. “Let me get put back together again before you go. Will you wait?"

  "I'll try.” She looked at the impatient ambulance driver. “You better go."

  "She's my angel,” Bryce explained to Steve as they were getting into the ambulance. “She saved me from the bad people."

  Rae watched the ambulance attendants close the doors on them. Mary was glaring at her from the back of a patrol car. They already took Duke away in another ambulance bound for the Atlanta jail. All in all, it wasn't a bad start to the new day.

  The police came later and took endless statements but they also gave her plenty of hot coffee and a good breakfast. They politely ignored the stolen car in the drive and had it towed back to its owner. It seemed to her like there was nothing else to do. She accomplished everything that she set out to do when she first agreed to come to Atlanta with Steve. She was smugly satisfied.

  But she was unsure what to do next. She stood in front of the police station and held her bag in one hand. She watched the traffic go by for a few minutes.

  Rae didn't want to impose on Steve's reunion with Bryce. They had plenty to talk about without her muddying the water. She and Steve had no real commitment of any kind. It was like every other case. An emotional bond happened because of being so closely and personally tied to the people involved. But when it was over, it was over.

  True, she didn't normally sleep with
a man involved in a case. She never fell in love with one before. But she was sure about her gift again. Steve loved Bryce. He didn't arrange to have her kidnapped. Sharin arranged it and was responsible for David's death. The two events were both personal and interrelated. Her visions didn't let her down.

  Rae sighed. The world was still a good place to be. Knowing Steve was in it with her made it better. Whether they were together or not. She loved him. For the first time in her life, she had faith that if it was meant to be, it would happen.

  So, she went back home. She climbed wearily on an express bus to Charleston and slept all the way. Then she hopped a city bus to take her out on the island across the big bridge. The day was warm and the sun was hot on her head. The tang of salt air and the wind off the ocean made her feel like she was home. Seabirds wheeled in the sky and called her name, welcoming her back.

  Sullivan's Island never changed very much. Rae walked through the tiny downtown with its single beach shop and its candy store. There were no hotels here or big condos looking for a spot on the beach to perch. The sand blew under her feet. Seashells rolled along the edges of Main Street.

  Her grandmother was out in front of the house, tending her winter garden, when Rae walked into the drive.

  "Lessie!” Dr. Salter yelled for her. “Look what the wind blew in!"

  The elder Harris laughed and cried at once, wiping her hands on her apron. Rae ran to her and was engulfed in her arms and her love.

  "You look fine. Just a little hurt.” Her grandmother picked out her sore side unerringly.

  "She needs some strong sassafras tea with a touch of lemon,” Dr. Salter diagnosed. “Am I right?"

  Lessie and Rae laughed and held each other.

  Rae kissed her grandmother's cheek. “You finally converted him."

  "You know the water and the wind. Harris women are just as elemental and just as likely to get their way."

  "How are you?” Rae asked her. “You look good."

  "I feel good, honey. Sit down now and let's talk about things."

  The tea was boiling. The aroma of herbs and salty beach air assured Rae that she was truly home. She began to unwind. She told them everything while they nodded at the tale. Her grandmother made the tea while Dr. Salter went for the molasses cookies. In the end, they were all crying and the tea and cookies were gone.

  "He was a good guy.” Her grandmother wiped her eyes with a worn handkerchief.

  "He was.” Rae held back her tears.

  "So, where is he?” Dr. Salter wondered practically. “Why aren't he and that baby here with you?"

  Rae smiled sadly and drank the last of her tea. “It might not be like that."

  "What do you mean?” both elders asked at once then glared at one another.

  "We'll have to wait and see,” Rae told them.

  * * * *

  Rae spent the rest of that day with her grandmother, harvesting the last of the winter herbs. She let her body relax and listen to the island rhythms of life. It was clear from the first that Dr. Salter was living with her grandmother as more than her physician. Rae was happy for them. It took them a lifetime to realize that it was right for them to be together.

  She moved into the little apartment that was above the store. She didn't want to be in the way. They both assured her that she wouldn't be. She ignored them. She walked down to the corner every day and bought the newspaper as the kidnapping and murder case came to light.

  It was good to see Lynn's face in the paper taking credit for the whole thing. It was even better to see that Duke was taken to Maryland to answer questions about Denise Little's kidnapping and murder.

  Rae re-opened her shop. That was another kind of rhythm. Her body had to get used to that all over again. She'd missed her little shop and her customers. Everyone was full of questions that she couldn't answer. Her apartment felt good with a little work but it was strangely empty. Life changed when she wasn't looking. She'd changed.

  She was surprised to receive a document from the mortgage company telling her that they were sending her the deed to her building. An anonymous donor paid off her balance in full. The building was hers.

  It was Steve, of course. He was saying thank you in the only way that she wouldn't object to or throw it back in his face. It showed her that he understood where her heart was. But she would have traded the mortgage for a glimpse of his face.

  She read about the Solutions/Nurvin Technology merger in the financial pages. Steve was retained as a consultant. She was hungry for a picture of him or more information but that was all the company disclosed to the press.

  Rae closed her shop on Christmas Eve and went to her grandmother's house. The island was festive with lights. Christmas trees vied with palmettos in the sandy yards. She was grating lemon and orange rind for the traditional hot punch they made every year.

  There was a knock at the door. She answered it in her long, green cotton skirt and a voluminous white apron that belonged to her mother. Steve and Bryce were on the front step.

  "Merry Christmas!” Bryce called out, running and throwing herself into Rae's arms.

  "Merry Christmas!” Rae returned, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. “What are you doing here?"

  "Can we come in?” Steve asked in a deep voice.

  Rae held the door open wider as Bryce skipped into the house. Steve ducked his head to make it through the doorway.

  "I thought I heard the door.” Lessie came around the corner. “Who is it, Rae?"

  "Is that someone at the door?” Dr. Salter called from the other end of the house.

  "Lessie, Doc.” Rae coughed to cover the tremor in her voice. “This is Steve Williams and his daughter, Bryce. Steve, this is my grandmother, Lessie Harris and Dr. Ful Salter."

  "Pleased to meet you.” Dr. Salter shook Steve's hand after he wiped the flour from his own.

  From around Steve's shoulder, her grandmother was fanning herself with her hand and miming the word hot to her.

  "I think we've met, Mrs. Harris.” Steve took Lessie's hand.

  "Mrs. Harris? No, son, you call me Lessie like everyone else. And this is Ful. We don't stand on formalities here."

  "That's right,” Ful chimed in, “I'm thinking about buying a new computer. Maybe you could help me out."

  Steve smiled. “I'd be glad to give you a hand with that."

  "Really? That would be wonderful. I was thinking about something easy to use but powerful. I'm going to put every last one of Lessie's cures into it whether she likes it or not."

  Lessie looked at her granddaughter. Rae was staring at Steve who was looking right back at her while Ful chattered on about computers. “Why don't we just go and find us some cookies, Miss Bryce?"

  "And some Christmas punch,” Ful suggested as they shepherded the girl from the room.

  "That's a surprise,” Steve told Rae when they were alone. “Bryce hasn't left my side since we found her. I can't believe she went with them."

  Rae laughed. “They're very good with children."

  "I can see that.” He glanced around the parlor. “So, this is the famous house of the Harris root women?"

  "Yes.” Now that he was there, Rae didn't know what to say to him. “You look different. Younger."

  "It must be the weight of the world being on someone else's shoulders. The last few weeks were hard but they were a good start."

  Rae motioned for him to sit down on the chair. She sat opposite him on the sofa. “I've been following everything in the paper."

  He grimaced “That's something I won't miss. My life isn't newsworthy anymore."

  "So, what are you doing now?"

  "I'm working for the Nurvins, although technically, I'm still working for myself. They let me keep some of the stock in the company, which was fine with me. I didn't want control or responsibility anymore."

  "So, you're back to writing software.” She memorized everything he said, parched for the sound of his voice.

  "Yes. And spending lots of
time with Bryce. I'm working from home so we can be together all the time. I've decided to legally adopt her."

  "Did you find out if you're her birth father?"

  "No. I thought about it. But I don't care. We're together. The rest doesn't matter."

  "That's great.” She was happy for him. Why are you here?

  Steve touched the tiny seashells on the table and looked at the pale green curtains and the driftwood. “Aren't you going to ask me the big question, Rae?"

  She smiled awkwardly. Her heart was starting to beat a rapid tattoo against her chest. She pretended not to understand him in case she was wrong. “The big question?"

  "You know.” He moved easily from the chair to the sofa beside her. “What took me so long?"

  "I-uh-I'm not sure what you mean.” She was beginning to remember the full effect of his presence on her system.

  "I told you that Bryce and I would come for you. I'm sorry it took so long."

  She was overwhelmed. She couldn't find any words to express what she was feeling.

  "Too much talk?” He moved closer still. “You are so beautiful. I've missed the wonderful color of your eyes and the texture of your skin. I've missed all of you so much."

  "I've missed you, too."

  He kissed her deeply, passionately, until they were both fighting for breath. “I want you to marry me."

  "I-I can't.” She tried to find any measure of control against the random images that brought a blush to her cheeks. There was no defense against them.

  "Why?” He kissed her neck and traced her ears with his lips. “I love you."

  "I love you. But it never works out for Harris women. The men all die young or disappear. I wouldn't want that to happen to you."

  He pulled back slightly and looked at her. “What?"

  "I doubted for so long but now I know that things are the way they seem. That's what going with you taught me. There's truth in the world. I can see it. And I have to live by it."