Lena (Gypsy Spirits Book 3)

by Marianne Spitzer

  Steve took some notes and helped Loretta into his Jeep. Doris followed in her car. When he delivered Mrs. Loretta safely to the E.R. and made sure Doris arrived to take her home, he wished them a nice day and headed home.

  Steve ate a quick breakfast while he told Deb about the accident. She and Annamarie had graduated with Trent. He didn’t want her to hear about it on the news. Knowing what Mrs. Graysbe and Mrs. Loretta had seen was real, he also confided in Deb. He wanted her to be careful of anything and everything unless she knew she was protected. She promised and Steve went to sleep.

  “Brian, let’s go visit Annamarie and Lena while your dad sleeps,” she smiled at her son. Unable to have more children due to complications during his birth, she was overprotective. Brian understood and did his best to please his mom.

  “Okay, Lena has some cool games.” He stood and hugged his mom. She ruffled his hair and they knocked on the double doors that led to the main house.

  Lena opened the doors. “Hi, come in. I know mom wants to talk with you, Aunt Deb. Brian, would you like to play with Michael’s train set? I helped him add more track before he left on vacation.”

  “Yeah, sure, let’s go.”

  Deb watched them run upstairs and she wandered to the kitchen to find Annamarie.

  “Hi, Lena let me in.”

  Annamarie turned and smiled broadly. “I was making tea, would you like some?”

  “Sure,” Deb found the cups and saucers. When they were settled at the table, Deb confided in Annamarie what Steve had told her. She began with what happened with the butterflies and bats.

  “That certainly sounds like something Daniel and Garret would do. I don’t know why they are tormenting those women except Mrs. Graysbe is convincing the town I’m a witch. Daniel is enjoying that, I’m sure.” She sipped her tea.

  “There’s something else and it’s really bad.” Tears formed in the corners of Deb’s eyes.

  Annamarie’s face changed. Her eyes grew large and she set her cup into the saucer causing it to clatter as it settled. Her hands covered her mouth as she said, “Tell me, I know Daniel and Garret are capable of the most horrendous things.”

  “There was an accident at the edge of town at the corner of Prairie Road and the service road for the cemetery. A truck flipped over and burned. Two people were killed.” Tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “I knew about the accident. Is it someone we know? It can’t be family. I talked to my mom this morning.”

  “No, but the plates are registered to Trent Wallace. You know he always hangs out with Travis.” Deb tried to take a sip of tea, but her hand shook too hard and she placed the cup back in its saucer.

  Annamarie’s tears matched Deb’s. “I used to date Trent before I met Daniel. Are they sure?”

  “Steve said the corner is getting dental records from Dr. Z. Then we’ll know for sure. Who else could it be? They possessed their bodies didn’t they? Steve said there was no reason for a vehicle to turn onto the service road. There were skid marks like the truck started to skid, turned, and flipped. Would Daniel and Garret do that and then leave the bodies so they would die. Oh my God, Annamarie, what is happening? Are they going to kill all of us?”

  “No, I dreamed and knew about the accident, but not that it was Travis and Trent. You’re right about Daniel and Garret possessing the bodies.” Annamarie filled Deb in on the rest of her dream. “At least they’re in heaven, but Daniel and Garret are still loose. Mom and Dad are coming for dinner tonight. You and Steve come, too and we’ll discuss all of this. Maybe we’ll know more by then.”

  Deb nodded and finally stopped shaking enough to sip her tea.

  Annamarie answered the ringing phone. “Hi, hon. Yes, we heard. Steve is home and told Deb. Yes, we’ll be careful. Don’t forget my folks are coming for dinner. Love you, too.”

  “I don’t have to ask who that was,” Deb managed a smile.

  “The garage picked up the wreck and Sam spoke to the sheriff. He wanted to be sure we were safe.” Annamarie settled back into her chair and poured more tea.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Around noon the sheriff’s office was quiet. The phone rang for the first time all day. Jeannie answered and asked Dr. Webster to wait while she woke the sheriff.

  The groggy sheriff said, “Hey, Doc, what do you have for me?”

  “Doc Z. sent over the Wallace boys dental records. They matched. It was Trent and Travis in the truck.”

  “Thanks, Doc. I’ll notify the family.” The sheriff walked into the bathroom and threw water on his face. He looked into the mirror and ran his hands down his face.

  “This job is making you old. It’s time you retire.” He reached for his razor to clean up the black stubble showing on his face.

  Before he left, he asked Jeannie to call Ray’s and ask them to get him a ham and cheese sandwich and a cola to go. He’d be right there to pick it up. She nodded and he left the station.

  Lydia Wallace opened the front door before the sheriff was able to stop his cruiser in front of her house. Her husband, Bernie, stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders. The sheriff could see Lydia’s sister, Gail, standing at the window. She was the mother of the coroner’s assistant. “I wonder if he told them anything,” he murmured to himself as he walked up the front walk.

  “It’s true, it was my boys,” Lydia cried before the sheriff could get to the porch. She pushed past Bernie and ran into the house.

  Bernie stood stiff and silent in the doorway. “I’m sorry Bernie. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

  Bernie nodded and let the sheriff into the house. Gail and Lydia were sitting on the sofa. Gail did her best to comfort her sister. The sheriff stood near the front door watching Bernie walk back and forth in front of him.

  “What happened?” Bernie asked.

  “We don’t know. There weren’t any witnesses. There were skid marks on the road. They were traveling fast and for some reason tried to turn onto the cemetery service road. They turned wide, hit the ditch alongside the road, and flipped the truck. It burst into flame. Dr. Webster assured me the initial accident caused their deaths. Their necks were broken from the crash. They died instantly before the fire.” The sheriff turned his hat around over and over in his hands. He watched the Wallace family sink into their grief.

  Sheriff Richardson asked, “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “I want to see my boys,” Lydia jumped up from the sofa.

  “No, Lydia, you don’t. Believe me, I was there last night. Dr. Webster said he’ll release them to the funeral home whenever you send them. I suggest you let them take care of your boys now.” Lydia collapsed in Bernie’s arms.

  Bernie said, “Thank you for coming, sheriff.”

  Gail followed the sheriff to his cruiser. “My son told me about this last night. Bernie and Lydia knew something was wrong when Trent and Travis didn’t answer their phones. Bernie said no one was home at their apartment. I had to let them know. I also know how bad it was. I’ll be sure Lydia stays away from the coroner’s office.”

  “That’s the best thing to do. Let the funeral home pick up their bodies. Try and convince Lydia it is going to have to be a closed casket funeral or they could have them cremated. Her last memories of her sons can’t be what I saw last night.” The sheriff placed his hat back on his head. He glanced at the ground then back at Gail, “If Bernie will listen to you, convince him not to view the bodies. They’re unrecognizable and Doc Webster used dental records to identify them. He’s sure he’s right.”

  Tears flowed down Gail’s cheeks. “I’ll do my very best. I think Bernie will also listen to my son. He was there last night and saw what you did. He told me. I agree no one should see the boys. Thanks sheriff.” She patted his arm, wiped the tears from her face, and hurried back to the house.

  The sheriff climbed back into the cruiser and leaned his head onto the headrest. “Damn, I hate this job more and more.”

  By the tim
e the sheriff returned to the station, his stress level had grown. “I’ve had enough of this,” he mumbled. He walked into his office and dialed the mayor’s number.

  “Is he in?” the sheriff’s voice could be heard in the front office. “Tell him it’s Sheriff Richardson.”

  The sheriff walked in a small circle in his office and kicked his chair.

  “Yes, mayor. We have had this conversation before, but I’m not asking this time. I’m telling you. I’m sure you heard about the crash last night. Yes, Trent and Travis Wallace are dead.”

  Jeannie listening caught her breath. She knew both young men well. Tears filled her eyes for the family and the town.

  The sheriff continued. “Steve, Greta, and I were up all night. We can’t pull twenty-four hour shifts all the time. Get us the financing for an overnight 10 hour shift deputy and for Jeannie to man the phones during that time.”

  He glanced out the door at Jeannie and she nodded.

  “Of course she agrees to work. If you don’t get us the help, not only will I go to our paper, but I’ll call the Oaklin paper and TV station. We can’t be at our best when we’re sleep deprived and this town deserves the best. Do you agree? Good. I want it to start today. I don’t care what you have to say to the city council. I’m calling and getting that part time deputy we use when Steve’s on vacation and hire him for the overnight shift. It’s a done deal, sir. I’m not running for reelection, but you are. I’ll kick up a fuss that you’ll have to clean up. Call me when you know.” He threw the phone back into its cradle and sat in his chair. He was rummaging for his aspirin when Jeannie brought in a cup of coffee.

  “Remind me never to get on your bad side,” she smiled as she placed the coffee on his desk.

  The sheriff smiled back. “I only do this when I’m pushed and this town needs more than the mayor and city council are willing to give. I just pushed them a little.”

  Deb helped Annamarie prepare dinner for their expected guests. Annamarie decided to invite Carl, Bonnie, and the girls along with her parents. It was a beautiful day and they could have a nice barbeque out back. Deb made potato salad while Annamarie made her family’s favorite blueberry pie. Both women were busy when Lena and Brian walked into the kitchen.

  “We’re hungry, when’s lunch?” Brian asked.

  Deb laughed, “I forgot about lunch.”

  “No problem, Aunt Deb, I’ll make mac and cheese for us.”

  “Yum,” Brian said as pulled out a kitchen chair to wait.

  Lena loved to cook and made her mac and cheese from scratch. She set a pot on the stove to boil water while Brian grated the cheese. In less than thirty minutes both of them were enjoying plates of steaming mac and cheese.

  At the same time they were enjoying lunch, Bernie placed a call to Logan Insurance. He needed to notify someone that his boys wouldn’t be at work. The secretary listened, took the message, mumbled her condolences to Bernie, and said she would contact Mr. Logan. She set the phone back down and broke into tears. She dropped her head onto her desk and let her sobs engulf her. In his grief, Bernie had forgotten that the secretary at Logan’s Insurance was also Travis’ girlfriend. What no one knew was that Travis had asked Shelly to marry him only two days earlier.

  Shelly wasn’t sure how long she had sat there crying, but she didn’t have any tears left. She was sure her tears would return, but right now she had to call Mr. Logan. Saying a silent prayer she could get through the conversation, she dialed the number.

  “I’m sorry to bother you on vacation, Mr. Logan, but we have a crisis here. Last night Trent and Travis were killed in an accident.” She fought the tears she felt forming in her eyes.

  “Shelly, I’m so sorry. I know you and Travis were very close. I want you to go home. The office will survive until I can get back to town.”

  “Yes, sir, but if you need me please call. I’m going to my mom’s. I don’t want to be alone.”

  “I understand, take care of yourself.” He hung up the phone and turned to face a fuming Maureen.

  Maureen’s face was red and her fists were balled tightly. “Have you lost your mind? We aren’t going back to that place as long as Annamarie’s there. She’s a witch. She’ll kill me. Whatever is going on, Travis or Trent can handle it. They’re very capable young men. It’s why you hired them.”

  George dropped down onto the bed. He looked at Maureen and said, “They were both killed in an accident last night.”

  She threw her arms around her husband, “I’m so sorry. Of course, we’ll go home. I’ll find a way to manage Annamarie. Poor Shelly, she must be devastated. We need to be there for Bernie and Lydia, too. I’m sure they’ll have some sort of Memorial Service. We have to attend.”

  The news of the tragedy didn’t take long to travel around the small town. When Annamarie’s parents, her brother, and his family arrived for dinner everyone was aware of what had happened. Steve was relieved everyone knew. He had slept well all afternoon and the last thing he wanted to do was explain what he had seen.

  After filling up with more food than any of them usually ate, they sat and talked while Lena watched the younger kids play.

  Carl said, “I wonder if they will bury them separately or together. Maybe they’ll cremate them. It might be best.”

  “That’s up to the family,” Theo said.

  Paula shuddered, “The thought of cremation always gets to me?”

  “Why, Mom? We cremated Grandpa Logan.”

  “I know and I did my best to hide my apprehension back then because you were younger.”

  Carl said, “Okay, Mom. You can tell us now.”

  “No, it’ll scare you.”

  The six young adults looked at Paula and laughed. Steve said, “After what we’ve been through, your story can’t be that bad.”

  Theo said, “Tell them. If they get scared or have nightmares, they asked for it.”

  Paula took a deep breath. “I was six and had never known anyone who had passed away. It was several months before I lost my dad so I never even thought about death. That is until my Great-aunt Annie passed away. It was 1930 and we lived in Germany. I’m not sure how popular cremation was, but my aunt was cremated. I didn’t understand where we were going. No one explained anything to me. It wasn’t Sunday, but I was dressed in my church clothes.”

  “Wow, Mom,” Annamarie said. “Shouldn’t they have explained this to you before you left or let you stay home?”

  “Back then, we weren’t told much, but we did what we were told with little argument. My brother was ten and he must have understood because he held my hand tightly when we arrived at the funeral home. We were ushered into a room with a large glass window. The curtains were drawn closed. We sat down and I was in the front row between my mom and brother. She had my little brother on her lap. He was four and oblivious to everything except the cracker my mom had given him.”

  Paula poured a glass of water and took a sip. Her face showed stress as if the memory was too much for her.

  “Mom,” Carl said, “if this is too hard. Don’t tell us.”

  “I’ve told you this much. If I don’t finish, you’ll bug me to finish at some other time. I was sitting there wondering what we were going to see. A priest was there and he prayed and read from the bible and we prayed with him. Then a strange man pulled open the curtain. I saw my Aunt Annie sitting in a chair. A burgundy colored fancy parlor chair and she looked as if she had fallen asleep reading. Then I saw flames leap up behind her.”

  “No coffin?” Annamarie threw her hands up over her face.

  Paula shook her head and continued, “The flames slowly moved around the side of the room until they were close to her chair. I am sure the room was hot and knowing now what happens to body gasses, I understand the heat can make them expand. I didn’t back then. Something went wrong. Whatever was holding my aunt in her chair broke and gasses made her body rise. I saw her try to stand and topple over out of the chair.”

  Deb let out a little squeal,
jumped, and sent her glass of lemonade spilling and spewing cold liquid across the table. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I made a mess. What a horrible thing to put a child through. I’m sorry, Mrs. Schneider, I don’t mean to be rude.”

  Annamarie cleaned up the spilled lemonade and Paula finished her story.

  “I began to scream. They closed the curtain, but I ran up to the window and pounded on it. My dad picked me up, but I was kicking and screaming they were burning her alive. My uncle helped my dad get me out of the room. I screamed all the way out of the funeral home. I’m sure I scared many people screaming that my aunt was being burned alive. I finally settled down outside and my uncle returned to the service. My dad bought me some ice cream and did his best to explain that my aunt was in heaven and when her body was burned it could blow in the wind and she would be free like the birds she loved so much. I’m not sure if it was the ice cream or the thought my aunt was a bird, but I understood as well as a six year old could.” A single tear ran down her cheek.

  “Gee, Mom, no wonder you never told us that before,” Annamarie said as she stared at her mom.

  “It isn’t something you discuss over Sunday dinner and I later learned the flames are higher near the window and you can’t see through. They also close the curtains once the flames encircle the room and the service is over before the cremation process begins as the chair is lowered into the actual cremation chamber.” Paula sighed, let’s have dessert. I need something good right now.

  Lena shuddered, but stood and said, “Mom made blueberry pie and we have cupcakes for the kids. I’ll get them.”

  Annamarie hugged her mom. She needed a hug after that story as much as her mom did.

  Deb and Bonnie settled Brian and the girls on a blanket under the shade of a large oak with their cupcakes and fresh glasses of lemonade. They were busy eating, talking, and laughing.