by Joan Davis
Risa gave a tearful laugh and nodded. “I guess I can live with that.” But then she pulled away from Samson and looked at her dad. “It wasn’t the same this time, Daddy. I remembered things. The basement, it wasn’t Saren.”
“Honey, what about the basement?” Bill asked concerned. He sat down next to her on the couch.
“I . . .,” Risa started, but then remembered everyone else in the room. She had never spoken to anyone about her ordeal, except for her therapist and the District Attorney of Cloverdale. Just like the drawings she did for her therapy, Risa didn’t want to speak about her experiences to others, for fear of somehow infecting them with her nightmarish experiences.
Seeing Risa’s hesitation Bill finally admitted, “Honey, I know everything that happened to you. I’ve known for a long time. I also told Samson. I thought he had the right to know. I know it’s hard for you to talk about it, but please let us help you,” Bill said, reaching for Risa’s hand and squeezing it gently to reassure her.
Risa closed her eyes in pain for a moment. She had somehow known her father knew about the details of her captivity, but she hated the pain she knew it must have caused him when he found out. She opened her eyes and met Samson’s beautiful turquoise eyes and found quiet acceptance in them.
Jake Knight spoke gently for the first time. “Risa if you would rather Mauve, Selena, and I leave, we’ll understand. But know that we are here for you, just like Sam. I am a retired bounty hunter so I have pretty much seen and heard it all, and Mauve and Mom are tougher than me. Don’t be afraid to say what you need to say. We can take it.”
Risa nodded thankfully and swallowed hard. She started speaking before she lost her nerve. “The whole time they had me, I never saw anyone’s face. They always wore these strange, distorted white face masks. Even during times when I was being fed or taken to the bathroom, they wore them. When they put me in the basement, it was the same. I never saw the face of the man who beat me. I knew it was always the same man. Daddy, he was always in black, even his face. He didn’t use the white mask. He was just like the man in the woods. I think it was the same man.”
“Honey, if you couldn’t see him, how could you know it was the same man?” Bill asked, confused.
“His voice, it was the same. The man in the woods had the same voice as the man in the basement. He blames me for his brother’s death. That’s why he beat me. He said my life was his, that I owed him.” Risa clenched her teeth to stop from gagging at the memory and swallowed several times before continuing. “He would beat me several times, and then he would disappear for a while, and the same woman would treat my back and feed me until my wounds healed. She’d let me sleep on an old couch in the basement, rather than in the cage, but once I was well enough, she put me back in the cage, the man would come back, and the beatings would start again.”
Risa closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. “I remember his voice now. He said the same things in the woods. It wasn’t Saren that kept me down there. I remember now. I never saw or heard from Saren after being put in the basement. It was this man. He wanted revenge for his brother’s death.” Risa sobbed, but tried to finish anyway. “I think this man’s brother was the same man Saren sacrificed.” Risa breathed deep and said, “The man they killed, it wasn’t because he tried to attack me. I remember now. He was trying to help me escape, and Saren found out. That’s why Saren killed him. I tried so hard to stop them. I kept screaming for them to kill me instead. But . . .” Risa gulped air in and couldn’t continue.
Samson’s head felt like it was going to explode. He couldn’t stand seeing Risa in this much pain. Having Bill tell him about what happened to Risa was one thing. The picture Risa now painted of her time in that hell-hole was almost more than Samson could take. He wanted to find the bastard who hurt her and tear him apart until there was nothing left.
Jake saw the struggle his son was having and pulled up a chair and asked, “Was there anything unusual about his voice? Was there something he said that was odd that you could identify?”
Risa moved close and caught Samson’s hand in an unconscious effort to comfort him. She intertwined her fingers with his, but answered Jake’s question. “That’s why I suddenly remembered. He sounds like those people we knew in Cloverdale.” Risa sat back, but didn’t release Samson’s hand, She looked at her dad. “Daddy, do you remember the McCreary’s? He sounded like them.”
Bill nodded at Risa and looked at Samson and Jake to explain. “They are an Appalachian family that moved to Cloverdale about 20 years ago. They have a very distinctive draw to their voices. You always know it’s a McCreary when they speak to you. They own a little mom-and-pop store in town called Mother Earth. Sandy, my wife, loved that place. She shopped there at least once a week. I even worked with them once or twice, I think. They’re hard-working, proud people. They don’t take charity. I think Sandy had a friendship with Mrs. McCreary, but I’m not sure. It wasn’t something I paid much attention to, to be honest,” Bill said a little helplessly.
Samson frowned and asked, “Do you think they would have been involved with Saren?”
“I really don’t know. They’re a pretty superstitious group. It’s hard for me to believe they would go near Saren and witchcraft,” Bill said, but looked thoughtful before adding, “The family was large, maybe ten kids, or more. I didn’t know all of them. Anything is possible.”
Risa nodded at her dad. “The man that tried to help me escape kept saying that he was so sorry. He knew my family was good people, and that he would have stopped them from taking me, had he known about it. I never saw his face, but his accent was definitely like the McCreary’s,” Risa remembered. “He came to my room the night before he was killed and said we had to leave right then. But a bunch of people broke into my room and dragged him out before we could leave. Saren said he was sorry that his follower attempted to abduct me, but all would be set right. The next night they killed him,” Risa whispered hollowly.
Risa bit her lip, trying to find a way to tell her dad what else she remembered. “Daddy . . .?”
Bill turned to fully face his daughter. “I’m right here, Risa.”
Risa swallowed hard and tried again. “Daddy, Mommy recognized him. She recognized the man that killed her. That’s why he did it. She was about to say his name, and he killed her to stop her,” Risa cried. “I didn’t remember before now, daddy, honest. Not until tonight. I’m so sorry.”
Bill grabbed Risa in a fierce hug and held her tight. “Baby girl, you have no need to be sorry. I just hate that all of these memories are still torturing you.”
Jake Knight leaned in and asked, “Risa, in your dream, do you know how your mother recognized the man who killed her?”
Shaking her head Risa said, “No, all I remember is seeing a look of recognition in her eyes and she said the word, ‘you’re’, like she was going to name him. That’s when he killed her. I don’t even remember where Daddy was at that point.
“I must have already been injured and on the floor. Sandy was found lying over my legs,” Bill said tightly. He then stood up and headed for the phone. “We need to contact the sheriff and D.A. Addison about this.”
Samson shook his head. “Wait, Bill. We don’t really know anything yet. You and I both know that the authorities haven’t been very helpful so far, and we don’t know who we can trust at this point. I don’t want to take any more chances. I want to look into this without their interference.”
At Bill’s nod, Samson turned to his dad with a thoughtful look. “Dad, could you call Conner? Find out if Gabriel Ryan has been out here since this whole thing started, or if he had had any contact with the workers at Bill’s place, or even with any of the security or authorities.” Jake Knight got up and walked away towards Samson’s office, but Samson stopped him. “If not, tell Conner to grab Gabriel and meet me at the new construction offices. Tell him to come in the back way and make sure they aren’t followed. I’ll be there in an hour.”
*****
“You look like shit, brother. How are you feeling?” Sam asked Gabriel.
“Love you too, brother,” Gabriel said sardonically. “It is what it is. Recovery always takes time. You’ve been there.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t take three bullets six months ago. I need to know if you’re up for this, buddy. If you aren’t, I’ll certainly understand,” Sam said sincerely.
“I told him the same thing,” Conner said in concern. He knew that Gabriel wasn’t just recovering from physical pain, but emotional pain as well.
“I’m up for whatever you’ve got. I’m going stir crazy just sitting around with nothing to do,” Gabriel said, shrugging.
Sam nodded and said, “Thanks. I need you to head over to Cloverdale as soon as you can. There’s a family there by the name McCreary. They’re originally from the Appalachian mountain area, but they’ve been in Cloverdale for around twenty years. The mother and father own a store in town called Mother Earth. They apparently have a ton of kids. I need to know if any have come up missing in the last five or six years. I also want the history for each of them. Find out if any of them work in construction and have any connection to me or any of my sub-contractors. Also look to see if any of them have military or law enforcement backgrounds.”
Gabriel nodded, already having been filled in on why they were searching for the information. “Got it, I hear your lady is real special, Sam. I can’t wait to meet her. Sorry I’ve been out of touch recently,” he said sincerely, but with sadness behind his eyes.
“Thanks. She is special, and you’ll love her. I know you need time right now. I really appreciate you helping out like this, Gabriel,” Sam said and smiled gratefully.
The meeting broke up as quickly as it began. All of the men left in separate vehicles and made sure they weren’t observed.
*****
The next night was the first chance Samson had to be alone with Risa since his family arrived. He found her in her bedroom, sitting on the bed and towel drying her hair. She smiled as he walked inside her room and threw himself down beside her on the bed.
“I take it everyone, including Daddy, has left the house?” Risa teased, knowing Samson had been very careful about their relationship around their parents. It was important to him to show respect for their feelings. But that didn’t stop the frustration he felt.
“Mom and Dad took everyone out to dinner in town,” Samson grumbled and looked at Risa with a hang-dog expression.
Risa laughed and leaned down to kiss him. “We could have a quick one. Isn’t that what they call them?” Risa asked, trying to be helpful.
I have already been forced to have my own quickies. I feel like I’m fourteen and having to sneak into the bathroom with my mom’s Victoria’s Secret catalog,” Samson groaned in frustration.
Risa put her hands over her mouth to keep from laughing. She reached out and ran her fingers through Samson’s hair sympathetically and stifled another grin.
Samson fell back on the bed. “I’m worried all the damn time that one of them will walk in on us. It’s like they know the moment I even think about coming near you, and then BAM, there they are. If it’s not them, then it’s Conner, or one of the other guys, coming over to check on us. It’s a damned conspiracy. They’re just trying to keep us apart,” Samson grumbled.
Risa giggled at Samson’s obvious disgruntled attitude. “Well, there’s something we could do that involves touching, but will be totally innocent, in case we’re caught,” Risa said temptingly.
“What?” Samson asked, interested.
Risa scrambled off the bed and went over to the desk and picked up the apothecary jar full of the creamy balm that Samson’s grandmother had given her. She turned to Samson and held out the jar. Samson slowly sat up and took the jar, knowing exactly what was in it and what its purpose was. Risa pulled the desk chair out, put it near the bed and straddled it backwards so that she faced the back of the chair. She then undid the tie to her robe and shrugged until it fell off her shoulders to reveal her entire back.
Without speaking, Samson drew himself to the edge of the bed, so that he sat only inches behind Risa. He opened the jar, dipped his fingers in and pulled out a generous amount of the balm. He warmed it between his hands, before gently applying it to Risa’s tender back. He felt her tense at his first touch. He saw her tighten her grip on the back of the chair. Even though they were now intimate, she still found it hard to allow him to touch her back like this.
“My grandmother’s mother was a healer, like grandmother is now. She’d walk into the woods, find plants and herbs, and then dry and store them until she needed them. When someone came to her with complaints of pain or illness, she’d ask them many questions. She’d then go to her supply and prepare a special mixture just for that person,” Samson said soothingly, as he continued to massage the healing balm into Risa’s back.
“So Selena learned how to work with plants and herbs from her mother?” Risa asked softly, slowly relaxing as Samson’s voice and hands lulled her. Samson’s gentle touch soothed her insecurities about her scars.
“Yes, but Grandmother is special. She learned the ways of the earth and her offerings from her mother, but Grandmother also saw the need to learn from others. She studied very hard, and our family was able to send her college. She studied things like Eastern and Western medicines and got degrees in Psychology and Ecology. I’ll take you to her home soon, and you will see how amazing she truly is,” Samson promised.
“I would love that, and I already think she is amazing,” Risa said. “I was so fixated on my art that I didn’t want to think about college. Because of the success I had at the Renaissance Festival that year, Mom and Dad realized I could easily make a living doing what I loved. They were looking into art school for me . . .” Risa stopped, but then slowly continued. “I think Selena was smart enough to know that even when you have a natural talent, you should still have a foundation of knowledge from different sources to stand on when needed,” Risa finished and then laughed softly and shook her head.
“What?” Samson asked.
“I just realized that’s exactly what my mom was always saying to me when I use to argue with her about school,” Risa said, as she remembered the conversation she had with Selena about mothers and daughters.
“I had the same issues, but for different reasons. I turned down going to college because I felt an obligation to help my father with his business. I love what I do, and I feel satisfaction in it, but I sometimes wonder what would have happen if I had gone to college right out of high school,” Samson said, working the balm into Risa’s lower back and fighting the urge to move his hands to more intimate areas of her body.
Risa was quiet for a while, and then said, “I never got to graduate from high school.”
Samson clenched his jaw, thinking that it was just one more thing those monsters had taken away from her. “You can always go back and get your diploma,” Samson said gently, then leaned in close and growled, “I can always tutor you, Miss Landau.”
Risa shivered with awareness and bit her lip to stop a moan, as Samson’s hands slowed and moved more sensually. “Samson . . .” Risa sighed.
Samson finished massaging Risa’s back and reluctantly removed his hands from her skin. “We’re all done.” Samson said regretfully and pulled up Risa’s robe until it covered her back and shoulders.
Risa stood and tu
rned to face Samson. Her robe remained open and gave Samson tantalizing views of her naked body, as the material moved and shifted. “Samson, I miss being with you. Touch me.” she appealed with passion-laden eyes.
Samson raised his hands to reach inside Risa’s robe, but then paused with an odd, silly smile on his face.
“Samson, what’s wrong?” Risa asked, waiting for his touch.
Samson looked at Risa with a crooked smile and said, “Uh . . . I don’t think I can touch you.”
Shocked and a little frustrated, Risa demanded, “Why not?”
Samson held up his hands. “I still have Grandmother’s mixture on my hands.”
Confused, Risa asked, “So what does that have to do with anything?”
Grinning, Samson said, “Well think about it. If Grandmother’s ointment is supposed to fade and shrink the scars on your back, I’m afraid of what might happen if I rub it on your breasts.” Samson made a pitiful expression. “I’d never forgive myself if . . .”
“Samson!” Risa gasp, and slapped at his raised arms, trying not to grin as Samson ducked and started laughing.
They both jumped when there was a loud knocking at the front door, and then they heard a key opening the lock. “Hey, anybody home?” Conner yelled into the house. Samson groaned and fell back onto the bed in surrender.
“It’s a conspiracy, I’m telling you,” he said to Risa.
Risa laughed and quickly tied her robe together. “We’re in here, Conner,” she called out, with humor.
Conner ambled in, looked at Samson’s prone figure on the bed and then turned to Risa. “What’s wrong with him?”
Risa shrugged innocently and said, “I don’t really know, but now that you’re here, maybe you can find some way to help improve his mood.”
Samson just put his arm over his eyes and groaned loudly, before lunging off the bed and walking out of Risa’s room without a word. Risa bit her lip and just shrugged again at Conner’s questioning look. Conner started to follow Samson, but Risa stopped him.
