The Farmer's Daughter: The Dragon Dream: Book One

by Robin Janney

  44

  W hile Craig and Philip were eating their breakfast, Trooper Erica Stevens was knocking on Angela’s door. She waited a moment and just when she was ready to knock again, the door opened.

  Looking down at the petite woman who answered, she gave a nod of her head. “Morning ma’am. I’m looking for Angela Carman. She filed a report about…”

  “About her phone calls. Yes, please, come in.” Stepping aside, the older woman waved her in.

  The apartment was longer than it was wide, and it felt claustrophobic to the policewoman as she stepped into the kitchen.

  “Angela’s in the living room. I’ll get her.”

  Erica watched as the woman scurried through the arched passage way and bent over the figure laying on the couch. From what Maggie had told her, the Carman girl had been deathly ill and was still recovering. The older woman helped the weaker one to her feet and kept her hands on her the entire way to the kitchen.

  “I’m Angela.” Holding her hand out for Erica to shake it, Angela looked half asleep still. “This is my grandmother.”

  “I gathered as much,” she replied, giving the other woman’s hand a quick shake. “Shall we sit?”

  At Angela’s nod, the three women sat around the kitchen table.

  “I’m here regarding the harassing phone calls you’ve been receiving.” Pulling her notepad and pen out, Erica considered which formality to begin with. Why Crane was calling in favors and pulling strings for this young woman, no one knew. They all knew better than to ask. “Can you tell me when they started?”

  Angela’s forehead furrowed, her hand pushing at long hair pulled back from her face bound in a braid. “Sometime after Cori and Susan were fired from the store. Maybe early October? I was so busy with school and work, I didn’t really notice at first.”

  Nodding, she wrote the women’s names down. There was already an APB out for a Derek Foster regarding this case, but perhaps it would be a good idea to investigate these troublemakers again as well. “I remember that. I was one of the arresting officers. What can you tell me about the calls? How frequent, what the caller says? Those kinds of things.”

  Shrugging, Angela seemed embarrassed. “It started out with just heavy breathing. I’m not certain how often it was in the beginning. It got worse after Thanksgiving. He started talking to me then. It’s an altered voice, but he says things a random stranger wouldn’t know. He asks if I’m sleeping with my boyfriend yet, cursing me for not giving him any action back when we dated. He’s been calling every time Craig visits, right after he leaves. He…the caller, likes to taunt me about how he tried to rape me the night of our senior prom. It’s caused some unpleasant flashbacks.”

  Erica nodded as she wrote. Maggie had told her of the one she’d heard. Still, she had to ask the questions and play her part. “I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Carman. Who do you think it is?”

  “My ex-boyfriend, Derek Foster.” Angela winced, her fingers tapping on her table in front of her. “He showed up at my dorm a few times when I lived on campus. I’m not sure why I thought I’d be safer here in town. I just knew…”

  “Knew what?” That explained the all-points bulletin.

  “I just knew that if I needed to call my Dad for anything, he’d be able to get here quicker.” She smiled as she mentioned her father, and Erica envied the young woman. Her own father had disowned her years ago.

  Giving the women a brief, neutral smile, Erica continued to ask her questions. “When was the last time you saw this Derek?”

  “August. I don’t think he saw me though. He brought one of his father’s dogs into the vet clinic. I had a hard time explaining to Doc Maynard why I wouldn’t help. I never told him how my relationship with Derek ended. The only ones who knew other than us, were my dad and my best friend Michelle.” Angela coughed. “And Maeve.”

  “Has anyone else heard these calls? Do you have any saved on an answering machine?” She had enough to start wrapping this interview up.

  Angela shook her head, but her grandmother’s hand came down on her shoulder.

  “I answered one, shortly after we brought Angela home from the hospital. She may have forgotten. It was altered, like my granddaughter said…but the cadence says male. Said something along the lines of ‘welcome home, bitch’. When I started to give him a piece of my mind, he hung up on me.”

  “I believe you,” Erica said. “And your name, ma’am?”

  “Pearl Johnson. Also, Craig Moore – Angela’s boyfriend, answered one last night. Angela had fallen asleep on us, and Craig answered the phone on his way out the door. I don’t know what was said to him, and I won’t repeat what Craig replied, just that I approved.”

  “I didn’t know Craig answered one,” whispered Angela. Her eyes were confused. “Why don’t you guys tell me this stuff?”

  “Two reasons, Angela. You’ve been ill, and we don’t want to worry you.” Pearl patted the younger woman’s hand.

  Sighing, Angela turned her gaze back to Erica. “I don’t think there’s anything on the answering machine. I was pretty angry after New Year’s and erased everything on my machine.”

  “I think I have enough to get started anyway,” she said. Closing her notepad, the policewoman stood.

  “There’s more,” Angela said. Her words began to rush together. “The caller talks like he can see me. He’s commented on my clothing, where I’m standing. Those kinds of things. And there were times when things didn’t feel right here, like someone had come in and turned lights off or moved stuff. My dad said there are footprints outside my window.”

  “I’ll look for myself, and talk to the neighbors. Find out if they’ve seen anyone hanging around.” Erica pulled a business card out of her uniform pocket and sat it on the table in front of the other. “Feel free to call if you think of anything else. My cellphone is written on the back. Any time.”

  Angela nodded and touched the card with a finger. “Thank you.”

  “Just doing my job, ma’am.” Still, Erica allowed herself a smile. “If you don’t mind my saying so, back when I responded to the store about the women framing you – I thought then that Craig was sweet on you. I hope it works out.”

  Angela blushed but didn’t comment.

  “I’ll be in touch.” Erica nodded to the women and let herself out, tucking her notepad and pen away. Standing on the building’s porch, she surveyed the parking lot and street. She’d been patrolling through here for a few weeks now, and nothing looked any different from it ever did. But she knew looks could be deceiving. Intent on knocking on Maggie’s door first, even though she knew the other woman was at work, she walked the few yards to the door. If this character was watching, there was no way to be certain he wasn’t watching now, and she had to act like she didn’t know anyone in the building. There was no need to put anyone else in danger.

  45

  T he seven men sat around one of the church’s folding tables in the basement. They varied as much in appearance as their stations in life. Like Philip, Nelson Barry was a farmer with a farmer’s slim build. Hal Eubanks was a bank teller in Sawyersville, his waistline as wide as his shoulders. Ron McEllen and Josh Barnett lived in Tyler’s Grove and were retired, one tall and round, the other short and slim. Aaron Billings owned a car dealership in Jordan even though he lived in Sawyersville. The oldest of the group, who often acted as their leader, Marcus Freeman used to own the Four Horse Saloon when he was younger and was now retired.

  Not for the first time, Philip wondered why this church felt the need to have such a large group of leaders. Surely five would have been sufficient. Even three. All you needed was an odd number so there’d be a tie-breaker during votes on matters. At least they had agreed to keep it amongst themselves and not in the hands of the congregation.

  “Philip, you do realize you can’t vote on this issue?” Freeman pushed his glasses up as he spoke. “Your daughter’s at the center of this and if the vote’s tied, it will be considered a deadlock and Mark
will remain pastor of this church. At which time we can take it to the congregation if you still feel strongly about it.”

  Philip managed to answer with a civil voice. “That doesn’t mean I can’t voice my opinion. Pastor Mark’s behavior towards my daughter while she was in the hospital was not Christlike and is reprehensible! She almost died, and he goes in there demanding she breakup with her boyfriend? Who, by the way, likely saved her life. And Mark raised his voice to her after she asked him to leave! The nurses claimed he was hostile in the things he was saying towards her.”

  “I’m sure you’re aware Pastor Mark is telling a different story.” Billings shifted his weight uncomfortably in the folding chair he sat in.

  “Are you saying the nurses I spoke with were lying?” Nelson Barry asked angrily. Philip knew his neighbor would be voting for removal, and not just because of their friendship.

  Ron McEllen sniffed, his long nose in the air. “Women tend to stick together even if they’re wrong. Angela’s been playing hard to get for years with our Pastor.”

  “Playing hard to get?” Philip felt his anger growing. “She has been trying to get him to leave her alone! I’ve told him myself she’s not interested.”

  McEllen rolled his eyes. “She’s been coy, and deceitful to our pastor. I’ve heard her lie to him about her plans for the day. Claiming there was nothing going on between her boss and herself. No doubt trying to get the two to fight over her. Your daughter’s promiscuity is well known, Philip.”

  Freeman cleared his throat. “That’s enough, Ronnie. Angela’s behavior in high school isn’t pertinent. When she recommitted her life to Christ, her behavior changed.” Two of the others nodded their heads in agreement. “While it’s possible Craig Moore has tempted her and pulled her away from Christ, there’s no reason to be bringing up the past.”

  “I think it shows her character,” McEllen replied. “Once a…immoral woman, always an immoral woman.”

  In this moment, Philip decided it didn’t matter how these men voted, he was going to follow his daughter’s lead and leave. Saying so now, would get him an invitation to leave the meeting. The room was silent, the other men no doubt waiting to see his reaction.

  “I’m not going to apologize for believing my daughter when she says she’s a virgin. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did things to get some teen boys off so they’d leave her alone, but that doesn’t make her a slut.” His calm gaze rested on McEllen. “I know you got Nina pregnant before you were married. How dare you slander my daughter?”

  There was another uncomfortable silence as the Elders exchanged glances.

  “I spoke with Craig Moore’s therapist,” Nelson said, his hooded eyes looking from man to man. “I don’t think you need to know all the details, but according to him Craig called him very upset New Year’s Eve. He believes that while the two may have gone too far with their kiss, they didn’t do anything more. Furthermore,” the farmer glared across the table at McEllen, “I believe Philip when he says Craig gave his life back to Christ. Not just because he was there, but I’ve seen a change in Craig myself.”

  There was an outburst from different men. Expressing disbelief. Voicing agreement. There was even some name calling.

  “Knock it off!” Freeman said, rapping his knuckles on the table sharply. He rubbed his dark mustache in aggravation. When the men had quieted, he looked over at Philip. “Bet you didn’t think it was going to be this noisy, did you?”

  Philip shook his head. “I would have expected the men of this church to stand up for a woman who has gone here since she was a child, far longer than Mark has been pastor. You know her, you know what she witnessed.” He pointed his finger at McEllen. “You were there, damn you! You were one of the first responders when my son was hit and killed. You saw what it did to Angela. How can any of you hold her teen years against her? She was hurting, she was grieving, she was blaming herself.”

  McEllen had to good grace to look ashamed of himself.

  Josh Barnett cleared his throat. “I’m ready to cast votes.”

  “I’m not,” piped up Freeman. He picked at his ear. “I’d like to know what your motive is Philip. We’re all aware how Craig’s bailed you out financially. While I’m sure we’d all appreciate his tithe should he start attending our church, I feel like you’re using it as a bartering chip to remove Mark. Who hasn’t bothered anyone else.”

  “My finances have nothing to do with this! Nor do Craig’s! He’s not going to come to a church where the pastor is harassing his girlfriend!” Were these men blind?

  “I know if I was a young girl, I’d be grateful enough to Craig to choose him too. I doubt love has anything to do with it,” said Aaron Billings.

  “My daughter isn’t even aware of Craig’s help! I don’t even think she knows he’s a man of wealth!” They hadn’t told her about their deal with the farm yet.

  “How can she not know?” Billings shook his head. “Your daughter isn’t stupid. Craig may not flaunt how well his store does, but neither does he appear to be hurting. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s been her motive all along.”

  “You know nothing about her motive! I will not sit here any longer and listen to men I called friends slander my daughter to my face. I don’t care what you think she’s done, or what you think her motive is. She deserves better than this.” He stood and slid his chair noisily. He looked at Nelson. “I’ll be down to my daughter’s apartment. I’d appreciate it if you brought the vote results to me.”

  “Of course,” his neighbor said.

  Freeman cleared his throat. “Are you trying to tear the church apart, Philip? After all you’ve done to help build it?”

  “I’m not the one tearing the church apart. Mark is. The moment he first lied to me about my daughter.” Turning away, Philip left them behind.

  He sat in front of his daughter’s apartment building long enough to calm himself down before going in. She needed to see her father’s cool head right now, not the ‘angry father’ as she referred to it. Even though he knew seeing that side of him secretly pleased her.

  Waiting for his mother-in-law to answer the door, he wasn’t surprised to see Nelson’s truck pulling in beside his. He walked back down the steps and the other farmer rolled his window down. “That didn’t take long.”

  Nelson nodded. “It went about as well as you’d expect. Split vote. They were talking about whether to have Mark come down here and apologize for any ‘perceived offense’. I gave my two cents and left before they could come to a decision.”

  Nodding, Philip saw his mother-in-law standing in the doorway and gave her a motion to go back inside. Amazingly, she did just that. “I’ll stick around for a while, just in case they do send him. Her decision to leave was made before she left the hospital. At least we tried to right it for her anyway.”

  “When was your decision to leave made?” Nelson asked as he put a chew of loose tobacco in his bottom lip.

  “Probably right around the time they called my daughter a slut to my face.”

  The other man nodded as he put his tobacco away. “You’d think they’d remember how we did everything we could to get into a girl’s panties when we were teens and settle for whatever she’d give to cool us down. I don’t know what Babs will want to do. About church I mean. She was pretty hot about things when I told her.”

  “Thanks for your support, Nelson. It’ll mean a lot to Angela too.” He held his hand into the cab for his friend to shake.

  “Let her know Josh and Hal were on our side too.” Releasing Philip’s hand, he put his beat-up farm truck into gear. “I’ll see you around neighbor.”

  “Thanks again.” Watching the other back out of the parking lot and drive away, back tires spinning on the slick parking lot, Philip wished he was able to strong-arm the landlord into taking better care of his property. But like Angela said, there were reasons why the rent was low here.

  A n hour later, Mark Robinson was knocking on Angela’s apartment door. Elders Freema
n and Barnett at his side. He knocked again and when the door opened a crack, was greeted by Angela’s father.

  “I can’t say I’m surprised,” the other man said, not opening the door any further.

  “Peace,” Freeman said. “He’s here to apologize, Philip. I know it’s not what you wanted, but he’s admitted to lying about it and is here in good conscious.”

  “Did he now?”

  The pastor could see the disbelief in the older man’s eyes and felt a new wave of shame. “I did. I swear to you, Philip, I took a good look at myself in the mirror this afternoon and asked myself who I was kidding. Can I come in? It’s cold out here.”

  Philip grunted, but grudgingly opened the door and allowed the trio of men into his daughter’s apartment. He led them through the high archway into the living room where Angela sat in a narrow armchair.

  It irritated Mark to think she sat there like a queen preparing to pardon a criminal. But as he stood before her, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim indoor light, he saw beyond her proper hairstyle and modest dress. He saw the slump of her shoulders, the hollowness of her cheeks, how her skin was pale and how her hands twitched nervously in her lap.

  “I’m sorry, Angela.” The speech he’d memorized vanished. “I’m an idiot. I admit I have strong feelings for you but standing here right now, I realize how selfish I’ve been. How wrong I’ve been. If you want to put a restraining order on me, I’ll have no problem and will abide by it.”

  Freeman coughed politely behind him.

  But the pastor’s eyes were on Angela as he waited nervously for her to say something. Anything. Her fingers interlaced in her lap.

  “That’s not what they thought you were going to say, is it?” she asked. She almost sounded amused.

  “Not in the least.” He managed a small self-deprecating laugh. “I did have a speech prepared, but it’s like a lightning bolt hit me just now. I feel like I’m seeing clearly for the first time in months. I hope you can forgive me.”