"I'm going to say goodbye to the band" Jeremy said. "You coming along?"
"Might as well" I replied. And we made our way over to the stage.
When they finished the song they were doing, Gordon Deering came over to the edge of the stage to meet me.
"What is happening Quiet Flower? I feel a strange sadness in the air." He took a whiff of the air. "I sense grandfather's presence as well." He took a long look at Jeremy.
By then he was joined by the bandleader Jess. "Feels more like a short gig to me. Bet they close us down before eleven at this rate."
While Jeremy was speaking with Harper, Gordon leaned down and whispered to me. "Best you be careful, I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen tonight. It's usually that way when I sense the presence of Silent Runner. Watch yourself." then he picked up his guitar and went back to work.
"He's the superstitious one isn't he" the voice commented from behind me. I heard a clunk from the floor and the chair squeaking as he reached down to retrieve whatever he had just dropped. Probably his watch again, he has got to be the clumsiest…! Then it occurred to me, the clumsiest what? I should know who he is but he won't tell me.
Chapter 23: Disaster
Our double date had already left so there was just the two of us left when the dance ended a few minutes later. We left the gym and headed for Jeremy's car. As we pulled out of the school parking lot Jeremy asked "What do you want to do now? We've still got a couple of hours before you're supposed to be home?"
I didn't answer so he headed up into the mountains. A few minutes later he pulled off onto a dirt road then into an open area where you could see the whole valley below us.
"Is this a dead end road?" I asked.
"Pretty much, it curves around and up to another parking lot behind here, but the view is better here." He got out of the car. "Come on, I want to show you something."
I climbed out of the car and we walked over to the fence. It was a little cool so he put his arm around me. I started to shiver more.
"Some day I want to build a house with a view just like this." Then he wrapped his other arm around me." How about a kiss for luck?" he asked, turning to face me.
Now what do I do? I don't dislike him. We're barely friends even though we go out together. Is this all there is?
I was saved from further speculation as another car was coming up the road. It drove right by where we were and continued up the road to the upper parking lot. We heard a couple of doors slam followed by loud talking. Whatever they were talking about got very heated as they started arguing.
"Lets leave right now" I said, breaking away and heading to the car. Jeremy stood by the fence. I was wondering what he was going to do; that was when we heard the first gunshot. There were three more in rapid succession and car lights came on from the upper parking lot.
Next thing I knew he was turning the car around and heading back to the highway. By the time we got to the highway the other car was right behind us with its lights on high.
"Jeremy, they're after us" I screamed. I hadn't even had time to put my seat belt on. I quickly did as we careened around the next corner and down the next hill. At the bottom was another corner going back around the other way. At the top of that hill I could see a truck coming our way. It looked like we'd meet at the curve at the bottom of the hill. "Jeremy, slow down, there's a truck coming!" I yelled.
I could see him take a quick look at the oncoming truck before checking the mirror. I didn't expect him to speed up. "What are you doing?" I screamed.
"Getting to the corner before he does, we won't make it if I don't." he screamed back.
As we got closer to the corner I could see we would get there first. We were probably a hundred feet closer as the truck was slowing down. Jeremy slowed down as best he could without sliding and cut the corner almost to the guard rails before swinging back into our own lane as we passed by the truck. The car behind us had slipped back a ways as the truck entered the corner squeezing them to the edge of the road. Just before we disappeared around the corner at the top of the hill I could see they were still coming.
Down the next stretch there were some buildings with cars parked in front. "If we can get into that parking lot down there they might lose us" as Jeremy speeded up again. I watched the road behind while he quickly pulled the car into a parking spot between two others and turned off the lights.
Just then their car went by, no longer speeding.
"We've lost them." Jeremy whooped.
I wasn't convinced and we were still a long way from home. "I want to go home now Jeremy, now!"
He got a dark look on his face but I could see his resistance dropping. Several people were coming out of the building in front of us and getting into their cars. "Let's stay with this group of cars and we should be fine" he said; I silently nodded, still shivering from the cold and the car chase.
Only one of the cars was heading in our direction, the other three headed back the way we had just come. It was slow going as the car ahead of us was slowly drifting back and forth across the lane in front of us. At the next intersection Jeremy managed to get in front of them and we soon left them behind.
We were passing through town and almost to the turn off to 160 and up to my house. I was supposed to be home by eleven thirty and now it was nearly midnight. I had just managed to regain my composure and relax when a set of headlights appeared behind us. They were nearly to us when Jeremy turned up my road. The car behind us followed along and as we reached my house he turned on his red and blue lights. It was an unmarked police car.
Jeremy turned off the car and waited while the officer got out of his car and strolled up and knocked on the driver's window. As Jeremy rolled down the window I noticed that there were lights on in the kitchen.
"Was I speeding officer?" Jeremy asked when he was asked for his license and registration. The officer didn't say anything as he looked over the papers that Jeremy gave him.
Just then there was a beeping sound and he backed away from the car while he talked on his radio. From the house I could see Aunt Margaret coming outside and closing the door behind her. She didn't say anything until she stood beside the officer. He put the radio back and was startled to see her standing there staring at him.
"I trust I can take my daughter inside now?" In a tone of voice that would send most men running. She'd never called me that before.
"In a moment, Ma'am. There have been some incidents this evening involving both of these two that need to be investigated."
"And what would they be" she inquired in an icy voice. "I've already called the Durango police and they're sending someone out here right now."
"Yes, I know. I just spoke with Dispatch and told them I was already here."
Before he could continue though she swung around from behind her a shotgun pointed right at his gut. "I don't know who you think you are, but you aren't with the police" she said as she pulled the hammer back. "I shoot skeet for fun" she told him with a steely glint in her eye, "You want to start running now?"
He was half looking at her and the gun undecided as to what he should do.
"Anne! Get in the house!" In the distance I could hear a siren coming. "Jeremy, climb over to the other side and go with her; and take the car keys with you. When you get inside, lock the door behind you."
We scrambled into the house and watched from the windows. By then two more sets of lights were coming up the driveway. Two officers with guns drawn came up behind him took his weapons and handcuffed him. He was then led him away by one of the officers while the other talked with Aunt Margaret. After several minutes they came inside and sat down at the kitchen table.
Chapter 24: Officer Mellon
"Nice of you to come out and visit us tonight Officer Mellon" Aunt Margaret said to him as she made some coffee. "You mentioned that there are more of them?"
"Well, it looks like there's at least two of them and they're operating from somewhere around here. You're
the first one to fight back. You know, I should arrest you for assaulting a police officer" he joked. "Seriously, we've been after this guy for several weeks now. He's been pulling over and harassing people, then fining them, demanding cash on the spot." They sat down at the kitchen table and he explained how the gang worked.
"You mean there's more than one?" I asked. Jeremy, "tell them what happened to us."
Officer Mellon looked at Jeremy. "Aunt Margaret perhaps the young lady should be off to bed, I'll take this one home. If you don't mind we'll let his father pick up his car tomorrow unless we decide to impound it instead." Jeremy didn't look like he wanted to say anything.
"I'll have a tow truck come pick up the vehicle in the morning. Come on young man, we can talk on the way." Officer Mellon took Jeremy back to his car and put him in the back seat.
"Aunt Margaret?" I started.
"We'll talk in the morning, off to bed with you now." I dejectedly went up the stairs to bed.
The phone rang right after Breakfast the next morning; I let aunt Margaret answer it. She spoke with whoever it was for sometime before hanging up.
"I can see it wasn't a very enjoyable night for you" she said mysteriously.
From the blank look on my face she could see that I didn't understand her remark. "That was the principal, Mr. Watkins. He said the dance was marred by a fight in the girl's bathroom between you and one of the senior girls. Is that what happened?" Her tone was frosty.
It took an hour for me to tell her all that had happened from feeling kind of lost and out of place right up to when we pulled into the yard with that fake police car behind us.
"Was it the same car that was following you?" she asked a little milder.
"I couldn't tell for sure, but it might have been" I conceded.
Just then the phone rang again. Aunt Margaret got up to answer it while I gazed out the kitchen window. Down the road I could see a tow truck coming.
"Yes officer Mellon, the tow truck is here now." she listened for a minute. "Just a moment and I'll check. Ann? Can you see the name on the side of the tow truck?"
I looked as the truck backed into our driveway from the other end. The sign on the driver's door was plainly visible. "It says Ben's Towing Service" I told her. "Can't make out the phone number though" I replied squinting through the glass.
"Did you hear her?" she said into the phone. "Uh huh, I'll be sure to tell her. Yes we'll see you then" as she hung up the phone. "Officer Mellon says the truck checks out, and he'll be here shortly to take your statement."
I watched as the driver hooked up to the fake police car then proceeded to pull it out of our yard and down the road. Wow I thought, and Brenda had to miss it all. They were spending the weekend in Farmington visiting her father's brother and his family and wouldn't be back until late this afternoon.
Shortly after the tow truck left another car drove into our driveway, it was Jeremy with his father. "Aunt Margaret, Mr. Buxton is here. Did you want to talk with him?"
"I'll be right there, just haven't decided if I need the shotgun or not. Close your mouth dear, it's not ladylike" as she went out the door.
"Oh well, might just as well talk to Jeremy" and I followed her out.
"Mr. Buxton, have the police released the car? I thought they were going to impound it?" she demanded.
I've known that they knew each other, but not why they were so at odds all the time. Jeremy had unlocked his car and was just opening the door when I caught up with him. "You leaving without saying hello?" I chided him.
"No, just didn't think you'd want to talk to me after last night" he replied.
"Because of how the dance turned out, or what happened afterwards."
"No, it's about Julie. I've been trying to break up with her for months, but she kept after me to take her out. She even bought that stupid ring and said I gave it to her. One moment she's fun and sweet, the next she's about ready to slit my throat." He shivered. "Just so you know, I never asked her to the dance and I didn't know she was going to be there either."
I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "That's not exactly what she told me, but I know what you mean about her actions. She was fine and then she got this scared look on her face and she started screaming at me." Aunt Margaret was still talking at Mr. Buxton so I asked Jeremy what he had told Officer Mellon on the ride home.
"He was good, I mentioned about the problems at the dance and why we left early. He was a little concerned about what happened up at the lookout where we were parked. He didn't say what was going on, but it was a confrontation that erupted into a gun battle. He didn't tell me any more about it than that. Would you like to go to a movie next Friday night?"
The change in subject caught me off guard. "I'll check and let you know. We're supposed to meet with the principal Monday morning."
"Who told you that" he asked surprised.
"Mr. Watkins told me that right after they took Julie away in the ambulance."
"Dad will talk to him about that, I wasn't involved and I've a must attend meeting to attend too."
I heard a door slam as Mr. Buxton started his car and pulled out of the driveway. As he went by where we were standing he motioned for Jeremy to follow him. I waved goodbye to him as they left, then went back into the house.
Right after lunch Officer Mellon stopped by to take my statement. As we sat around the kitchen table Aunt Margaret asked about the gun fight at lookout point.
"I don't want to frighten you, but we think that the fake officer and the incident at lookout point are related. But I can't tell you anymore than that." he closed his notebook and stood up to go. "Thank you Ann for your help and I'm sorry about the incident at the dance. Hopefully her parents will get her the medical help that she needs." With that he left.
Chapter 25: Principals office
First period on Monday was a study hall. When I arrived, Mr. Flanagan, the study hall teacher, told me that Mr. Watkins wanted to see me and wrote me a hall pass.
The halls were empty and quiet as I made my way down the hall to the principal's office. When I stepped inside Mrs. Horton the receptionist gave me the oddest look but Mr. Watkins was at his door and motioned me to come in.
After several minutes of questioning he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry this marred your evening at the dance Miss Lyndes, yours and everyone else as well. But you're young, you'll get over it." He really didn't have a clue how I felt. "Do you have any questions?"
"Mr. Watkins?" I asked timidly.
"Yes Miss Lyndes?"
"How is Julie? Is she going to be alright?"
"I don't know" he sighed as he tossed his glasses on the desk, "that depends on how she responds to treatment."
"What made her go over the edge like that?"
"Says she saw an old Indian staring at her from behind you" he replied giving me a strange look. Then "Are you alright?" he seemed concerned.
"Why?" I stuttered.
"You look like you've seen a ghost. Shall I call the school nurse?"
"No, I'll be fine" I said. "Is there anything else sir, I've Spanish next period."
"No, that will be all" as he shuffled some papers on his desk.
As I closed the door behind me I saw Esther and Emily sitting on the bench beside the door. I gave them a slight smile and quickly left under the frosty glare of Mrs. Horton.
"I'm confused" the voice said from behind me. "Here I thought that we were right on top of it and you managed to slip it right by me. Naughty girl, you."
I had no idea what he was referring too and was about to tell him what I thought of him and his Freudian methods but he beat me to it.
"No we don't use those old cliché' Freudian methods any more; way to archaic."
I turned around to see what he was doing.
"I think I've gotten to know a little bit about how you tick. You're not the naïve soft spoken high school girl anymore, but a cunning…"
"You're just as bad as Jeremy!" That broug
ht him up short.
"Now we're getting to it. What really happened up at the lookout?"
His eyes bored into my skull as I slowly sank back through the years to that incident at the lookout. I felt shackled in place as though watching as two young teenagers got out of the car and walked over to the fence overlooking the valley below.
"NO!" I shouted, "I can't do it!"
"Calm down Ann. The only way you're going to get through this is to face it head on. Look it right in the eye and laugh at it. Then, and only then, can you walk away from it and never be bothered by it anymore." The chair squeaked as he leaned back and put his feet up on his desk again. He started mumbling something I couldn't quite hear and I felt a hazy calmness come over me again. I began to feel like I was wrapped in a warm blanket.
"You were telling me about Silent Runner. How does he fit into all of this?"
I was standing in the same parking lot again, a pale moon shining down on the valley below. "It's a beautiful view from up here" I breathed, but my thoughts were far away. I had put my jacket on as the temperature would be getting colder. Jeremy had his arm around me and he was whispering something in my ear but I wasn't listening.
"Are you alive in there?" he asked. "I've been talking to you but you act like you didn't even know I was here."
"Sorry, just thinking about Julie. Was she always like that?"
"No. She was a sweet kid when we were freshman but I didn't know her that well back then." He turned me around to face him. "We shouldn't be talking about her anyway. Here we are all alone; we should be talking about us."
"And what about us?" I replied stubbornly; I wasn't going to be mollified that easy. "Next year you'll be off to college and I'll still be just me and still here."
"Ann? Don't you have any feelings for me at all?" He sounded a little frustrated. "After all of this time I have been taking you here and there? Don't you appreciate me at all?" By now he had grabbed both of my arms and was shaking me.
"Jeremy! Stop, you're hurting me." He was much stronger than I was and I couldn't break free.
"But I want you! Can't you tell?" He sounded almost hysterical. The look in his eyes was scary, almost like Julie's before she went berserk.
Little Ann Page 6
