And Then Came A Lion (Lions and Lambs Book 1)

by Cecilia Marie Pulliam

***

  The dream took place in a park. Susannah sat on a bench watching a young girl playing alone on the swings. An old Indian man appeared next to her and pointed toward a grove of trees a few yards behind the playground. A man stood in the deep shadows, but Susannah could clearly see his face.

  After a few moments, he sauntered close to the swings, and then lunged for the girl. He clamped a hand over her mouth, lifted her off her feet, and carried her over to his car. He shoved her into the front seat and peeled away from the curb.

  The pedophile drove to a secluded place a few minutes out of town. He dragged the poor girl into the brush, tortured her, and then choked her to death.

  Susannah gasped and opened her eyes. She could still hear the girl’s screams.

  Pushing the covers aside, she slipped out of bed. Mark stirred, but didn’t wake. She picked up her robe and went downstairs.

  Neither her book nor the TV could dislodge the dream from her mind. She went into the living room. Maybe a little furniture rearranging would push the horrific images out of her mind, or the very least, make her tired enough to sleep.

  How would the couch look over on the opposite wall, and maybe the big ficus in the corner? She eyed the seven-foot tree. Even with the plant dolly, it would be awkward to move. Good.

  After several minutes of effort, she managed to jostle the tree into the corner, and then moved the couch. She stood back and analyzed the placement. Not quite right.

  She moved pieces around the room for another hour before collapsing onto the couch, her brain finally in a fog of exhaustion. The room was a mess with furniture jumbled in the center, plants and side tables half in and out of the room, but she was finally tired enough to sleep.

  Susannah climbed the stairs to the bedroom and slipped into bed. Mark’s even breathing indicated he was still in deep sleep. Buddy lay curled in his favorite corner with his blanket neatly arranged around him. Mark said it was a nesting instinct within the breed. Whatever.

  Her tired brain could not conjure up any more images of predators brutalizing little girls, and mercifully allowed her to sleep.

  Chapter Two

  After pouring her second cup of coffee, Susannah settled into the breakfast nook. She’d have to scuttle in a half an hour, but for the moment, she could enjoy her coffee and take in the gorgeous day emerging outside ― if her inner turmoil would allow her. The images from last night’s dream were still vivid, burned in her memory like a photograph.

  A cold wet nose nudged her leg. She reached down and ruffled Buddy’s downy ears. At a year, he was still a pup, but at least the super active Psycho Puppy stage was over – mostly. There were still the occasional moments when he would fly into the room, spin, and dash around like a crazed jackrabbit, but those moments were finally fewer and fewer.

  The wet nose poked her bare leg harder. “What is it, Buddy? You’ve had one treat this morning. I don’t think you need another.”

  Another push with the nose.

  She gave him a gentle push back. “No.”

  The mantle clocked chimed the half hour. She sighed. Already? Work was definitely going to be a challenge.

  ***

  Mid-morning, Susannah glanced over at Rachel. She still pored over the reams of paper strewn about her desk. Aaron, their boss, was on the phone, intensely pre-occupied with a difficult conversation.

  Susannah took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Her stomach rolled and threatened to do more. She took deep breaths and let them out slowly. The queasiness eased, but not the tension in her shoulders.

  How could she concentrate with those images invading every thought? A dream had never bothered her like this one.

  She hurried down the hall to the restroom, shut, and locked the door. She leaned against it and tried a few more deep breaths. Her stomach settled a little. She stepped over to the sink, dampened a paper towel, and patted her face and neck. The coolness helped.

  Rachel looked up as Susannah sat back down at her desk. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. Just had a bad dream that I can’t seem to get rid of.”

  “I was going for a cup of tea. I’ll bring you some.”

  “Thanks, Rachel.”

  A few minutes later, Rachel was back with two steaming cups of English breakfast tea. “I hate nightmares, especially the ones that won’t leave you alone.”

  “This one was so different, Rachel. The details ―” She shook her head. “It was unlike anything I have ever experienced.”

  “Wow, that sounds scary.”

  “It was ― is.” Susannah sipped her tea. “But, that’s not all of it. Mark is upset with me. Well, frustrated might be a better word. I was rearranging furniture last night because I was afraid I’d dream again. So, when I finally got tired, I just went to bed and left the mess. Mark thought we’d been robbed.”

  Rachel laughed.

  “It isn’t funny.”

  “I’m sorry, but it is funny.”

  A smile touched the corners of Susannah’s mouth. “Well, I guess it is kind of funny.”

  “The dream was that bad?”

  Susannah glanced down the hall toward Aaron’s office. “It was, but I guess we’d better get back to work.”

  “Lunch?”

  Susannah nodded.

  ***

  At noon, Susannah pushed back from the keyboard and looked over at Rachel. She was on the phone with Frank. Sounded like a surprise lunch engagement. She slipped Rachel a note: Rain check accepted. Have fun!

  Susannah started toward the lunchroom, changed her mind, and went out to her car. She drove to a nearby park and sat on an empty bench under a large shade tree. She glanced over at the playground. Her heart stopped beating. She recognized the playground and girl playing alone on the swings. Holding her breath, she looked over at the thick copse of trees. The man was there.

  She glanced around the park. No other adults were anywhere near. She let out a long breath. If she didn’t act, would the scenes from the dream come true? She couldn’t take that chance.

  Taking another deep breath and praying for courage, Susannah stood and walked toward the swings. At the same moment, the pedophile emerged from the trees. He spotted Susannah and hesitated. She stared back. He angled away toward the restrooms, but not before making eye contact. Susannah shuddered. She had never seen eyes like his.

  Rubbing her arms, she approached the girl and smiled. “Is your mom close by?”

  The girl nodded.

  “Here in the park?”

  “No she’s home.” The girl pointed to a house across the street. Her eyes flickered in the direction the man had gone and then back to Susannah.

  Susannah said. “I think it would be a good idea if I walked you home, don’t you?”

  The girl nodded and slid off the swing. After a few steps, the girl slipped her hand into Susannah’s. Susannah gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  They paused at the street to look for traffic. Susannah noticed an older model sedan parked next to the curb. The pedophile sat in the driver’s seat, his eyes boring into them.

  They hurried across the street. The girl ran up the walk and into the house. Susannah followed as far as the front porch, keeping the pedophile in sight. The car pulled away from the curb, turned north at the intersection, and disappeared.

  The front door opened behind Susannah.

  A woman she presumed to be the girl’s mother, stepped out, and looked up and down the street. “Megan tells me there was a scary man in the park. Is that true?”

  “Yes, but he’s gone now.”

  “Thank you for walking Megan home. I’ve called the police and an officer should be here soon. Won’t you please come in?”

  Susannah followed the woman into the house. She gestured to a chair opposite the couch. The woman sat next to Megan, holding the girl close and stroking her hair. Susannah perched on the edge of the cushion, hands clenched in her lap.

  This wasn’t real. How could she dream an event before it actually
happened? Was it a premonition? She had heard about people having them, but didn’t really believe in them ― until now.

  The doorbell rang. Megan clutched her mother’s arm, her eyes pleading with her not to go. Susannah gestured for her to stay and answered the door.

  A burly man in a city police uniform stood on the porch. “I’m Officer Bidwell.”

  Susannah stood back, giving him room to step in, and led him back to the living room.

  He introduced himself to Megan’s mother and sat in the chair Susannah had vacated. Susannah balanced on the edge of the couch at the opposite end from Megan and her mother.

  Over the course of several minutes, they each related their version of what happened.

  Officer Bidwell snapped his notebook shut. “We will put his description and that of the car out immediately. We’ll do a thorough search of the area. I really doubt he’s anywhere close, but we’ll take precautions just in case.” He stood. “In the meantime both the city and the Sheriff’s office will keep patrols on watch. We will notify you as soon as we have him in custody.”

  Megan’s mother extracted herself from her child’s grasp and walked Officer Bidwell to the door.

  After the officer left, Susannah stood. “I need to be going as well.”

  Megan’s mother hugged her. “Thank you so much.”

  “I am happy I just happened to be there at the right time.” Happened? Who was she kidding?

  She stepped out the door and crossed the street, retracing her steps back to her car. Her heart stopped beating for a second time that day. Near the park entrance was a rock monument dedicated to Chief Garry Spokane. The picture mounted in the center was the exact image of the old Indian in her dream.

  ***

  Back at her car, Susannah called the office and explained to her boss about the emergency.

  Aaron sounded genuinely concerned. “You sure you’re all right to drive Susannah? Rachel can drive you home.”

  “No, I can manage. I do appreciate the afternoon off. I don’t think I could concentrate at the moment but I’ll definitely see you in the morning.”

  “You can take tomorrow off too, if you need.”

  “I think I’ll be fine, but I’ll call you in the morning if anything changes.”

  She hung up, dropped her phone in her purse, and drove home.

  Buddy flew through the doggie door, his entire back end wagging with his tail.

  Susannah reached down and rubbed his ears. “Hey, Buddy. Glad I’m home? Me too. I tell you, I had quite the afternoon.”

  She took a glass from the cupboard, filled it with water, and sat in the breakfast nook. How much dare she tell anyone? She hadn’t mentioned the dream to the officer or to Megan’s mother. Intuition told her that would be a mistake. How could she explain something she didn’t understand? Had she really saved that girl’s life?

  After draining the glass, she carried it over to the counter, washed her hands, and opened the refrigerator. Pizza sounded good. She was too tired to cook and that usually denoted a disaster in the kitchen. She picked up her phone and called in an order. It may not be as healthy a dinner as what she’d originally planned, but at least it would be edible.

  ***

  Brian Falun turned the corner and pulled over into a nearby alleyway. He pounded the steering wheel and cursed. A police cruiser passed by and he cursed again. The woman seemed to know exactly what he intended to do. How was that possible?

  Thanks to her meddling, he not only lost his opportunity with the girl, but also had to dump the car as well ― and find some way to get out of the immediate area. He cursed again, resisting the urge to hit something, anything, to relieve his frustration.

  He slid out of the car, dumped the keys on the seat, and walked in the opposite direction. With luck, he’d have another ride before the cops could muster a full search, but that was not what he wanted. He wanted to follow the witch home.

  At the next corner, he spotted a small red compact car parked close to a thick hedge. He strolled over and glanced inside. After a careful assessment of both sides of the street, he tried the door. It was unlocked. Within seconds, the car was running.

  ***

  Mark took two slices of pizza and laid them on his plate. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Yes! That’s the hundredth time you’ve asked that.”

  Mark flinched.

  “I’m sorry, Mark. I didn’t mean to snap.”

  “Just concerned, Susannah.”

  “I know.” She shoved her plate away and leaned her elbows on the table. “So, how was your day?”

  “Not nearly as interesting as yours…”

  They talked a bit about his clients, the weather, and made tentative plans for the weekend. Mark helped with the little bit of kitchen clean up and then retired to the den. Seconds later Susannah heard the TV.

  After she finished in the kitchen, she joined Mark, but didn’t feel like watching TV and instead picked up her book. She read until the pages blurred.

  Although tired, sleep proved elusive, and after several minutes, she gave up and slipped out of bed.

  Mark rolled over. “Are you okay?”

  “I can’t sleep. I think I’ll go downstairs for a while.”

  “You want some company?”

  “No, I’ll be fine. You sleep. I’ll read, or play Solitaire, or something.”

  “Okay, just don’t do any more furniture moving.”

  “I won’t!”

  She grabbed her robe, stomped out of the room and down the stairs to the den. She curled up in her chair and stared out the window. A full moon illuminated the back yard, casting long shadows across the lawn. Susannah didn’t notice. Neither did she see the trees dancing in the wind, or a few loose leaves fluttering past. She didn’t hear the plaintive howl of the neighbor’s dog or the yowl of a stray cat. She saw a terrified girl and the cold eyes of a monster.

  Chapter Three

  Rachel had coffee waiting when Susannah walked into the break room.

  “How did you know I’d need another cup about now?”

  “I just had a feeling. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be involved in something like that.”

  Susannah accepted the mug. “Scary. Exciting. Terrifying.”

  “Ah. Not fun, I gather. Any news about whether they caught him?”

  Susannah shook her head. “No. It’s like he disappeared. Mark thinks the guy left town. I don’t think so.” She shivered. “I have this strange feeling he’s still here and still prowling the parks.”

  Rachel shook her head. “I sure hope not.”

  “I know.” Susannah gestured toward Aaron’s office. “Was he upset over my sudden disappearance?”

  “At first, when it looked like you were just running late, but after an hour we both knew something bad had happened. I was about to call Mark when you phoned.”

  “I’m sorry I worried you, but I called as soon as I could.”

  “Oh, we know that, now. But, I wouldn’t make it a habit of playing heroine every afternoon.”

  “I didn’t plan on being a heroine yesterday, and I’m sure I will never be in that situation again ― I hope.”

  Rachel nodded and glanced at the clock. “Well, guess it’s that time.”

  ***

  At noon, they drove to the park and chose a bench near the entrance, out of sight of the playground, but within sight of the memorial.

  Rachel pointed toward the picture. “So, that’s how the old Indian in your dream looked?”

  Susannah nodded.

  “How odd.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “You know, there are stories in the Bible where angels take on the form of men in order to deliver messages. Do you think the old Indian might be an angel?”

  Susannah shrugged. “I don’t have a clue. But, if that’s the case, why that particular persona?”

  It was Rachel’s turn to shrug. “I suppose God knows what’s best for each person.” />
  “I suppose.”

  Rachel unwrapped her sandwich. “Aren’t you eating?”

  Susannah looked down at her container of yogurt. “I’m not really hungry, at least not for this.”

  “Would you rather go to the café?”

  Susannah shook her head. “No, I just don’t have much of an appetite.” She put her yogurt back in her lunch sack.

  “Wish I could help.”

  “You do help, Rachel. It helps to talk. And at least you don’t look at me like I’m some sort of lunatic.”

  “I’ve known you far too long for that, Susannah.”

  ***

  At five o’clock Susannah turned off her computer.

  Rachel looked up. “Thank goodness.”

  Susannah turned off the interior lights and met Rachel at the door.

  “Do you plan to tell Mark about the dream?”

  Susannah shook her head. “I don’t think he’d like the implications.”

  “You mean he might think you’re crazy?”

  “Not so much crazy. Silly is the word he uses. He doesn’t believe in anything that goes bump in the night.”

  “Well, this is a little different.”

  “Maybe, but I don’t think it really matters. I probably won’t have another dream, so why bother. I am sure it was just a onetime deal.”

  “You keep saying that, Susannah. Who are you really trying to convince?”

  ***

  Mark shoved his plate away and leaned back in his chair. “Anything interesting happen today?”

  Susannah shook her head. “Nope. All was quiet. No one needed rescuing, except Rachel with her end of the month stuff. How about you? Anything interesting?”

  He shook his head. “No. All pretty boring.”

  “Boring is good.”

  Mark laughed. “Yes, it can, especially compared to your excitement the other day. I take it you don’t plan on being the next superhero ― heroine.”

  “Nope, sure don’t plan on repeating that. I mean, I am glad that the little girl ― Megan ― is alright, but my nerves are shot.”

  Susannah picked up her plate and carried it to the sink.

  Mark gathered the rest of the dishes and set them on the counter. “This has really upset you, hasn’t it?”