“Let’s start at the beginning about last night,” said the sheriff as he sat down with an old wooden table between them.
Garret told the sheriff the same story he’d heard from Daniel, almost word for word. He knew the boys had come up with the story after they left the cabin. They were misguided troublemakers who drank too much and drove too fast, but murder didn’t fit. He couldn’t imagine any of them killing Ben. Starring at Garret, he told him to stay put for a while, he’d be back.
About to complain, Garret thought better of it. The door closed behind the sheriff leaving Garret to wonder what Bulk would say. He and Bulk had gone over the story so often Bulk knew it by heart. What worried Garret was Bulk’s idea “they” might be responsible. Garret knew Bulk only had an inkling of his dealings in Oaklin, but even a little knowledge can be dangerous in Bulk’s mind. If he begins to ramble again about how “they” might be responsible, the sheriff could get more information out of Bulk than Garret wanted anyone to know.
Bulk followed the sheriff into his office and settled in a chair across from the desk.
“Okay. Let’s hear your story, what happened at the cabin?”
Bulk began to ramble and told his story in one long sentence. “We decided to go to the cabin to drink and play cards and after Ben had a couple of drinks he began to get upset with Daniel and told him he should treat Annamarie better because Annamarie was a nice girl and we had the idea Ben liked her too much and Daniel got that idea, too so they got in a fight and Ben tried to punch Daniel and Daniel said he was going home and Ben could stay at the cabin and get over his problem and me and Garret didn’t want to be left there with Ben so we left with Daniel and the last time I saw Ben he was standing in the doorway of the cabin and I think it was the spirits that killed Ben or them.” Bulk finished his statement with a deep sigh.
“Aha, then which one of you killed Ben?”
“What?” Bulk sounded nearly hysterical.
“Who killed Ben and who is ‘them’?” the sheriff yelled hitting the desk.
“No one, because we don’t even know if Ben is dead, and if he is then its the spirits like Daniel said. No one else could do that to Ben. It was awful,” Bulk mumbled through tears.
“Do what?”
Bulk sobbed, “I didn’t do anything. Ask Garret. He knows more. He knows I didn’t do anything.”
Nothing Sheriff Richardson said helped. Walking over to Bulk, he patted him on the shoulder.
“Take a deep breath. I’ll be back in a minute, and bring you some water.”
The sheriff hoped if Bulk calmed down, he would talk more. The sheriff was curious who “them” were, and why Bulk thought they could be responsible. When he came back with the water, Bulk was rocking back and forth in his chair moaning, “I didn’t do it. Ask Garret he knows I didn’t do it.”
***
Sheriff Richardson realized he wasn’t going to get any more answers out of Bulk. He picked up the phone and called Dr. Norse. Timmus Woods was fortunate to have one doctor living in the town, in case of emergencies. This was an emergency, and the sheriff was relieved when the doctor answered. Dr. Norse had seen Bulk several times when his anger had gotten out of control. However, this was the first time Bulk seemed to be having a breakdown.
“I’m on my way,” Dr. Norse said.
Bulk was still crying, and Garret could be heard shouting, “What’s going on?”
As the minutes passed, Garret sounded more frantic. When the doctor arrived, the sheriff helped him get Bulk in the car. Dr. Norse was taking Bulk to the hospital. The sheriff said he’d stop by later to check on him.
***
Back in the station, Sheriff Richardson could hear Garret shouting from the back room. He ignored him. Picking up the phone again, he called Steve. He asked him to go to the Logan’s, pick up Daniel, and bring him to the station. Watching the clock, he mulled over the facts he knew. Hopefully, he was about to add to those facts.
After five minutes, he picked up the phone a third time and dialed the Logan’s number. Daniel hurried to answer the phone. He expected a call from Garret or Bulk.
“Hello.” Daniel heard the sheriff’s voice.
“I’m sending Steve to pick you up for some questioning and to get a formal statement about last night. He should be there any minute. I’ll see you soon,” the sheriff hung up leaving Daniel staring at his phone.
Daniel heard Steve’s vehicle pull in the drive, and he screamed, “Annamarie, they’re coming for me.”
For the first time, she thought she saw Daniel’s fear turn into madness. Shaking, he looked like another person standing in front of her.
The doorbell rang, and Daniel jumped whispering, “It’s Steve. He’s supposed to take me to talk with the sheriff, and I have to go. Call my father and tell him the spirits must have gotten to the sheriff because there’s no way I should have to go back to the station. Please Annamarie help me.”
When Daniel left with Steve, she stood there scared and confused. Reaching for the phone, she dialed George’s number.
When he answered, Annamarie explained the situation. George said, “I’ll head over to the sheriff’s station at once.”
She could hear the worry in his voice. He continued, “The sheriff is trying to intimidate Daniel. I knew this wouldn’t be over quickly.”
Steve drove back to the station slowly, hoping he could talk to Daniel.
Steve began. “Daniel, you and I used to be great friends, and I’d still like to be friends. Because I became a deputy sheriff, shouldn’t make a difference in our friendship. I’m not out to get you. I only want to help. Don’t forget Ben was my friend, too, and I remember we all hung out together since grade school. I’ll be honest with you. If you had anything to do with Ben’s death, I’ll do everything I can to make you pay for it. However, if you didn’t, I’ll also work just as hard to help you prove your innocence.”
Daniel began to feel the friendship he used to have with Steve rekindling.
“I know you’re not my enemy, Steve. It’s hard for us to have a friendship and for me to still stay friends with Garret and Bulk. Bulk wouldn’t be much of a problem. He still likes you. Garret is another story though. I know people say I shouldn’t hang out with Garret, but he’s never done anything to me.”
“What if he’s responsible for what happened to Ben?” countered Steve.
“I know Garret didn’t do anything. Ben was okay when the three of us left. Garret went home with Bulk, and I went home to Annamarie.”
“If none of you had anything to do with what happened at the cabin, do you have any idea what might have occurred?”
Daniel was about to bring up the spirits. He decided he should keep that to himself.
“I’ve no idea. Ben was standing in the doorway when I last saw him. I heard Chief Cornett tell my father he figured the fire was only burning for about an hour before it was discovered. At that time, Annamarie and I were getting dressed to head to Ray’s for breakfast. I’m as confused as everyone else.”
Before they pulled into the sheriff’s station parking lot, Steve smiled. “Deb and I miss having dinner and playing cards with you and Annamarie.”
“Me, too,” Daniel said.
“Let’s try and be friends when all of this is over. I’m fairly certain you didn’t hurt Ben.”
“I know I didn’t. Being friends again sounds good.”
Seeing Garret was still inside, Steve pulled his vehicle around back and parked. With the sheriff still involved with Garret, he hoped to buy him time by casually chatting with Daniel about old times.
Sheriff Richardson walked slowly into the room where Garret waited. Unsmiling, he took a chair across from Garret and leaned back. “So, tell me again what happened last night.”
Garret repeated the same story the sheriff heard from Bulk with little variance, almost verbatim from the first time he questioned Garret. Sheriff Richardson knew the boys had made up most, if not all of the story.
“Bulk mentioned someone he called ‘them.' Who’s he talking about?”
“You know Bulk. He’s always mumbling about nothing.”
“Bulk also said what happened to Ben was awful and he didn’t do it, but you know more. What do you know you’re not telling me?”
“Bulk’s nuts, I don’t know anything about this. Ben was fine when we left.”
The sheriff didn’t believe Garret for a second but decided to let him go and keep an eye on him. One of them was going to make a mistake.
“Okay”, but stay in town, so I can reach you. Now get out of here before I change my mind, and lock you up solely because you aggravate me.”
Garret took off as fast as he could before the sheriff changed his mind about that cell which was exactly what the sheriff wanted. He didn’t want Garret to see Daniel when he and Steve arrived. Separating the boys was the best way to get to the truth, and he swore he was going to do that.
Spotting Garret leave, Steve said Daniel should go talk to the sheriff, and get home to Annamarie. When they got out of the car, they shook hands. It was the closest they’d been in years, and both men wondered if they could rekindle their friendship.
***
After Annamarie had spoken to George, she called her mom.
“Annamarie, thank goodness you called. I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’m okay, Mom,” she lied.
Ben had been her friend and Daniel’s best friend. Not only was she grieving, she was terrified Daniel was losing his mind.
“Mom,” she confided, “Daniel has been blaming me for what happened, saying he thinks I summoned some spirits with my Gypsy curse.”
“I told you he’d bring trouble with his crazy ideas of spirits in the woods and wild ways. I’m going to send your dad over right now. I want you to come home.”
“I am home, Mom, and I’m not leaving. The question is what if he’s right? Remember when Great Uncle Andreas said I reminded him of his grandmother? Maybe it’s more than my dark hair and green eyes,” she said with a twinge of fear in her voice.
“I still think it’s all in Daniel’s mind, but to ease your concerns, I’ll call my cousin Joe.”
She hoped Joe might know more. Uncle Andreas was Joe’s father. He’d often heard his father tell colorful stories about the past and the family’s carnival. Paula hung up after promising to call Annamarie later.
***
Mulling the entire situation over without much success, Annamarie heard Steve’s vehicle pull up outside. A visibly shaken and angry Daniel came in and flopped down next to Annamarie.
“That damn sheriff’s a real jerk.” The words spewed out of Daniel like poison. “He truly thinks I hurt Ben. No matter what, I’d never hurt Ben. If I had my rifle, I would’ve blown the sheriff’s head right off. That would show him what type of person he’s dealing with.”
“Daniel,” Annamarie stared at him eyes wide with shock.
“He said my emotional problems might’ve contributed to whatever went on.”
“Everyone in town knows you talk about spirits. I’m sure that’s what the sheriff meant. You have to stop talking about them.”
Daniel continued to rant. “It was fortunate my father was there, and told the sheriff to shut up and let me go, or there would be trouble. Knowing my father he’d keep his word and try to have the sheriff recalled.”
Daniel was scaring Annamarie, but she knew when Daniel was this upset it was best to let him talk until his anger cooled. She was surprised when he mentioned the heart-to-heart talk with Steve. Happy to know they might be friends again, she also missed their time with Steve and Deb. Having Garret around might make it impossible. She never understood why Garret hated Steve except for the fact Steve was a deputy and Garret a probable criminal.
***
Daniel finally calmed down. He left the room to lie in bed. His violent mood swings worried her more than ever. She leaned back on the sofa, feeling drained. Eyes closed, she hoped the horror of today was over, and her husband wasn’t going insane.
Annamarie nearly jumped out of her skin when the phone rang. As promised, it was her mom.
“Hi, Mom, yes, we’re fine. The sheriff is about to drive all of us crazy. He ordered Daniel down to his office for more questioning. Daniel was angrier than I have ever seen him. It isn’t fair to think Daniel could’ve hurt Ben.”
“I think the sheriff is considering all possibilities.”
“Maybe, why are you calling back so late, is everything okay?”
“Yes, after speaking to my cousin Joe, I think I can straighten out all of this ‘Gypsy’ nonsense. Joe knows a little more than I do. It’s enough, I think, to explain things.”
“I’m listening.”
“As Uncle Andreas grew older, his stories about the past became more intense and detailed. They were always changing. Joe and his mom believe the stories they heard years ago. When Uncle Andreas’ mind was clearer, they were more factual.”
“So all those stories were made up?”
“Not entirely, our ancestors traveled as a circus occasionally, but they were also farmers. Once or twice a year, they’d go to neighboring towns and put on the circus. It helped with finances.”
“That doesn’t sound all that ominous.”
“No, it doesn’t. If it had been a productive year for farming, they would only go once a year during Oktoberfest. The word ‘Gypsy’ was used loosely because they did travel to the towns in their horse-drawn wagons. Travelers were often called Gypsies in lieu of a better term. The wagons carried fruits and vegetables for sale. Joe never heard any talk about crystal balls or palm readings.”
“That’s wonderful. Maybe Daniel will stop thinking I have a spirit.”
“Also, Joe never heard that our grandmother or great-grandmother danced around a campfire for entertainment. He said possibly they all danced for fun, but nothing mysterious.”
“That’s a relief.”
She finally had a family history explaining she didn’t have a spirit. She felt more relieved than she had in the past forty-eight hours. Farmers, that’s great.
“It saves my sanity, Mom,” she said. “Now maybe Daniel will forget the mystic side of Gypsies.”
She was ready to hang up when her mom said. “Oh, there’s one more bit of information for you to add to our family tree.”
“What Mom?” she asked, too tired to care.
“Joe said he found the names of our grandparents, and you can add them to the family tree you started in high school.”
Her mom sounded as if she was doing Annamarie a large favor. Annamarie didn’t remember where the project was, but she asked, “What are the names, Mom?”
“Josef and Magdalena,” her mom replied.
“Oh, my goodness, Mom, it makes matters worse, not better,” she moaned, an odd chill creeping over her. “Don’t you remember the ballerina doll you gave me with the pink hair and matching tutu? I told you dancers don’t have pink hair. I used my paints to change her hair to dark brown and old scraps of your sewing cloth to make her a new dress.”
“Oh yes,” her mom laughed. “It made me angry at the time since it was an expensive doll, but now it seems so funny.”
“Mom, it’s not funny. It’s strange. Don’t you remember I named her Magdalena, and you asked me where I’d heard such an old-fashioned name?”
“I do now that you mentioned it, but you don’t think …” her mom hesitated.
“I don’t know what to think. I know I want to go to bed, I’m so tired.”
Saying good night, Annamarie joined Daniel in bed.
***
Feeling uneasy relating what her mom had told her, she tried to think of something positive. It would send him further over the edge if he knew what she and her mom had discussed. At this point, she thought she might end up joining him.
Daniel asked, “Who was on the phone?”
“My mom, she wanted to be sure we were all right with everything that’s going on.”
He laughed and said, “I bet your dad wanted to come and rescue you from your crazy husband.”
She was able to convince him that her dad wasn’t coming and he wasn’t crazy, even if he believed there were spirits in the woods. She added whatever was in the woods that killed Ben wouldn’t hurt them. They would be safe. That seemed to be enough for Daniel. Turning over, he fell into a deep sleep.
***
Lying awake she decided she was sane, normal, level-headed, and all of this had an explanation. Annamarie convinced herself of that while she drifted off to sleep. Sleeping soundly most of the night, her dreams returned to the young woman dancing around the firelight.
She noticed the scent of pine. It encircled her. This time she was alone in a clearing deep in the woods. The firelight slowly brightened the area. The beautiful woman walked out of the shadows. The wagon and the old man sitting on the barrel were gone, although she still heard violin music. The music was lively, and the young woman danced and twirled to each note. Her hair fell in soft curls past her shoulders as she pulled the ribbons from her hair. She turned to look at Annamarie. It was like looking into a mirror. She stared directly at Annamarie and said, “Double trouble will suddenly appear. You have no need to fear. It will not harm you. It will disappear in the sea of red and you will be safe.” The firelight dimmed and Annamarie drifted more deeply asleep.
***
While Daniel and Annamarie slept, Sheriff Richardson closed the station. Steve was asleep in the back room in case a call came in overnight. Timmus Woods was a perfect, sleepy little town until today, when all hell broke loose. Sheriff Richardson knew those boys had the answer, and he was going to find it. Tonight he needed some sleep, but first he had to stop at the hospital to check on Bulk.
The sheriff saw Dr. Norse inside the emergency room doors as he parked his squad car.
Gypsy Spirits Page 7
