Gypsy Spirits

by Marianne Spitzer

  Looking at the card, she noticed Mr. Townsend had written his home number on the back of the card.

  “Grandfather covered everything. Mr. Townsend will never let you down,” Daniel said.

  ***

  Maureen and George argued all the way home. Fortunately, it was a quick five minute drive with George behind the wheel.

  Swearing she would fight that crazy old man’s will, Maureen said, “Do you know when your father made the will? It had to be recent since he mentioned Annamarie. Couldn’t we say we think your father was senile because of his age and health? We could get the house. I’m sure he left it to us in a previous will.”

  Her words angered George, but he was too tired to argue any longer and let her rant.

  ***

  Daniel and Annamarie arrived home shortly after seven-thirty. Both were hungry. Before they got out of the car, Daniel backed it out of the drive and said, “We’re going to Ray’s. It’s too late to cook.”

  ***

  Elaine finished the kitchen cleaning at the Logan house. There wasn’t much else to do. She walked through the house to be sure everything was in place, and checked the lock on every door and window. She left, locked the door behind her and wondered if she would ever be back. Her heart was breaking while she drove home.

  ***

  By the time Daniel and Annamarie were served the burgers and fries they had ordered, the sun was setting. At the same time, Garret was contemplating what he thought was a great idea.

  “Nancy, the funeral’s over and it’s getting dark. The house is empty. I’m tired of sleeping on the ground and eating canned food. We can get into the house, eat some decent food and sleep in a bed.”

  Nancy wasn’t as sure as Garret but agreed to follow him.

  Slowly making their way up the hill between the outbuilding and the big house, they saw the house was completely dark and ran toward it hoping a marvelous meal awaited them. Garret managed to break into the back door and walked boldly to the kitchen. Nancy followed slowly and nervously.

  “This is great,” said Garret when he flipped on a light switch and opened the refrigerator door. Inside was sliced roast beef, cooked potatoes, fresh fruit and half of a cherry pie.

  Elaine hadn’t known what to do with the food, and decided to leave it for Annamarie. Her decision elated Garret and Nancy, who lost no time filling their plates.

  ***

  At the same time, Elaine felt one of her sick headaches coming on. “Where’d I put those pills Dr. Norse gave me? Oh yes, in my purse so I’d have them with me today,” she said to herself.

  Her purse wasn’t where she normally kept it when she arrived home. She looked around the house and thought she must have left it in the car. She didn’t find it there either and realized it must still be at the Logan house.

  “Where is my mind today?” she said. If it weren’t for the headache, she wouldn’t have decided to return. I still have the keys, she thought, and no one will be upset if I just get my purse.

  Grabbing her keys, she locked up her home and drove to the Logan house. When she pulled into the drive, she saw a faint light in the house. It appeared to be coming from the kitchen. She spoke out loud, “Elaine, you’re losing your mind today, but that’s a good thing because now you can turn off the light you left burning.”

  Garret and Nancy were eating, talking, laughing and never heard a car pull up. Their first realization they were no longer alone was when they heard the heavy front door close. Alarmed, they ran out of the house as fast as they could, back to the safety of the outbuilding.

  ***

  Elaine saw two figures run through the back hall and leave the house. She quickly dialed the sheriff’s office. Steve had just come in for his shift when Greta answered Elaine’s frantic call.

  Greta looked at Steve, “Break-in at Michael Logan’s.”

  “On my way, let them know.”

  “I’ll phone the sheriff,” Greta called after him.

  Greta reassured Elaine that Steve was on his way. “Stay safe in the house. I’m going to call the sheriff.”

  It took a few minutes to calm Elaine down before Greta could inform the sheriff. By then Steve was at the front door of the Logan home. Elaine let him in. She told him that she saw two figures run out the back door and head up the hill.

  “Lock the door, keep all the lights on and watch the door with the broken lock so you’ll know if anyone tries to come back in,” Steve said. He went out the back door in the direction of the hill.

  There was enough moonlight for him to walk through the field without stumbling. He crept up the hill seeing the outbuilding in the distance. Edging sideways toward the pines, he kept close to them so he wouldn’t be seen until he was near the outbuilding. Unsure if anyone was there, he wasn’t taking any chances.

  Meanwhile, Garret and Nancy were packing their things for a get-away. “Someone will know we were there. If it gets around town, your brother will find out too. I’m not getting caught by the sheriff or killed by your brother,” Garret said.

  Stuffing the last of her things into a bag, Nancy heard a sound near the door. Garret heard it, too and told her to get down.

  Steve slowly pushed the outbuilding’s door open and saw a person’s shadow. Just as he was going to yell, “Sheriff’s Department,” he caught the glint of a gun in the moonlight. Steve fired. A woman’s scream broke the night's quiet.

  Steve shouted, “Sheriff’s Department. Get down.”

  All Steve could hear was a woman sobbing and he turned on his flashlight. He had been here many times as a boy and knew there was a light switch inside the doorway. Hoping the lights were still connected, he found the switch and flipped it on. A single bulb in the middle of the room illuminated a dreadful scene. The man’s body lay motionless, and a blonde woman kneeled next to it, sobbing and wailing.

  Steve slowly approached them, kicked the man’s gun out of reach, handcuffed the woman, and made her sit in a corner where he could watch her. Returning to the man’s body, he rolled him over. Jumping back at what he saw, Steve’s mind tried to comprehend he had shot one of his childhood friends. His mind was reeling. Relief flooded over him when he saw the sheriff appear.

  Sheriff Richardson stood at the door and surveyed the scene. “Is he dead?”

  Steve’s shocked voice answered, “I don’t know.”

  “Yeah, he’s dead,” the sheriff said after a quick examination.

  Nancy screamed again. “Who the hell is that?” said the sheriff.

  “She was with Garret when I came in.”

  “Okay, go back to the house and call the coroner. We need the hearse to remove Garret’s body. I need to talk to this young woman.”

  “All right,” Steve sighed.

  “Steady, Steve. Try to calm Elaine too. The poor woman looked as if she was going to have a breakdown. Stay there until the hearse arrives and direct them up here.”

  Steve nodded when he holstered his weapon, and walked back down the hill.

  “Okay, young lady,” Sheriff Richardson said. “Let’s hear your story.”

  Terrified that her only protector lay dead on the floor in front of her, Nancy decided to tell the sheriff what she knew.

  She poured out the story through her tears letting the sheriff know about her brother, Ben’s death and Garret’s involvement in the car parts ring.

  “Yeah,” said the sheriff, “anything else?”

  “My brother Chuck wanted to teach Garret a lesson. I was in hiding and got word to Garret about where I was. He said it wasn’t safe, and had a better idea. We came here.”

  Nancy decided a small lie was necessary. She had to do what she could to save Daniel since he helped them.

  “Garret would sneak into town to get food. He heard the old man who lived here died, and thought we could get some real food and a bed to sleep in, but someone came home and we ran. The next thing I know we heard movement outside and Garret pulled his gun, but I guess the deputy was quicker. There wa
s a loud bang. Garret fell.”

  Nancy dropped her head and began to sob again. Her story seemed credible and matched most of the facts the sheriff already knew. It finally answered the question of who killed Ben Hanson and why.

  “Do you know which of the two men killed Ben?”

  “It was my brother. He’s fast with a knife. He bragged about it.”

  The sheriff questioned her more and asked where Chuck could be located. He knew he’d have to call the Oaklin police and coordinate with them to have Nancy’s brother arrested.

  The sheriff said, “You aren’t under arrest, but I want to keep you safe until your brother can be arrested. I doubt the owners will press charges of trespassing against you.”

  Considering everything that has gone on this week, and now with Garret’s death, it would be another blow to the Logan family. Maureen and George might not care, but Daniel would.

  The sheriff removed Nancy’s handcuffs. “We’ll leave when they come for Garret.”

  Nancy stood and looked out the door. “I see lights coming over the hill.”

  The sheriff motioned to the men walking in their direction. Dr. Webster’s young assistant was in the lead. The sheriff couldn’t believe he had to deal with the young man again. He watched them wrap Garret in a body bag and carry it back down the hill to their hearse. He signed the form Dr. Webster’s assistant handed him, and the three men left with Garret’s body.

  Nancy shadowed the sheriff back to the Logan house. She sat down on a kitchen chair while the sheriff talked to Steve. Elaine gave her a cup of the coffee she’d brewed for Steve and herself.

  Steve told the sheriff his story again.

  “Go back to the station and write up your report. I have some things to take care of before I head back to the station,” the sheriff said.

  He walked back to the kitchen and asked Elaine if he could use the phone. The first number he dialed was George’s to tell him what happened at the house. A sleepy Maureen answered saying, “If it concerns the house call Daniel,” and hung up.

  The sheriff then called Greta. “Would you mind keeping a material witness at your house until we find a better place for her?”

  After Greta had agreed, the sheriff told Nancy, “Grab your bag. I have a safe place for you to stay until your brother’s arrested.”

  He secured the back door and they left.

  ***

  Elaine refused to stay alone in the house and grabbed her purse. She followed the sheriff and Nancy out to her car. This time she was happy to be leaving the house.

  Once the sheriff had Nancy settled in with Greta, he returned to the station to file his own report, and call the Oaklin police. He hoped the county DA could get an arrest warrant signed so the police could serve it quickly before Nancy’s brother left town forever.

  Finishing his call to Oaklin, the sheriff pondered the idea of contacting Daniel Logan.

  He tried Garret’s parents first. There was no answer. He’d drop by a little later with the sad news and leave a note for them to call him if they still weren’t home.

  Three deaths in ten days were unthinkable in Timmus Woods. The sheriff hoped it was finally over. Not sure why a grumpy Maureen would tell him to call Daniel about the Logan home, he had to notify someone. He dialed Daniel’s number.

  The phone rang waking both Daniel and Annamarie from a sound sleep. It was well after eleven o’clock, and Daniel mumbled, “Who the hell’s calling at this hour.”

  Sighing, Annamarie thought it must be Garret. Definitely going to get a bedroom extension phone she thought as she began to drift back to sleep when Daniel appeared in the doorway. Face pale, his expression was a mix of confusion and pain.

  “Oh dear, what’s happened now?” she said wide awake.

  Daniel dropped down on the edge of the bed. “Garret and Nancy broke into grandfather’s house for food and a bed. Elaine came back unexpectedly, and they ran. She called the sheriff, and Steve went to investigate. He found them in the outbuilding. Before he could tell them he was a deputy, Garret pulled a gun and Steve shot him. Garret’s dead.”

  “Oh my Lord,” Annamarie said. “This can’t be real.”

  Daniel looked at her with tears streaming down his face saying, “I know Garret was trouble, but we’ve been friends since we were kids. I have lost two of my best friends in a week. At least Bulk is safe in the Oaklin psychiatric hospital. Maybe he’ll survive. The only good thing is the sheriff told me they know who killed Ben, but to be careful until he’s caught. He lives in Oaklin, so we’d better be wary of strangers.”

  “Daniel, we’ll get through this and anything else as long as we’re together.” She wrapped her arms around him, holding her husband tight.

  Daniel hugged her briefly and stood up. “I have to call my parents. The sheriff tried to call mom, but she said to call me and hung up on him.”

  “Your mom sounds angry.”

  “I’m sure she’s furious over the house. We haven’t heard the last about it. Have to let dad know what happened at grandfather’s …umm… ‘our house’ tonight so he’s not blind-sided by the news in the morning.”

  Annamarie stayed in bed while Daniel made his call. This time she could hear him talking because his voice was raised and knew he was arguing with his dad. From what she could hear, his dad blamed Daniel. It was going to add a black mark to the name Logan. Daniel did his best to defend himself, but it seemed like Maureen got on the phone and was arguing with him, too.

  Finally, she heard Daniel explode in anger. “Regardless of what you think, I was courteous, so you wouldn’t hear it from someone else tomorrow. Besides, I didn’t have to call at all about what happened at my home. Goodnight.”

  Annamarie knew the war was underway.

  Daniel returned to the bedroom, shoulders slumped. “Don’t ask. Let’s try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be crazy.”

  “I have to work until noon tomorrow.”

  “We could have lunch together and plan the rest of the day. I don’t think I can work more than half a day either.”

  ***

  This time the lights were on when the sheriff pulled up in front of the Frant home. He knocked on the front door.

  “Sheriff Richardson, it’s late,” said Mr. Frant opening the door. His face changed to concern as if he knew, “It’s about Garret and bad, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, afraid so,” replied the sheriff. “May I come in?”

  He explained to Mr. and Mrs. Frant about the evening’s events, and that Garret passed away from a gunshot wound. Mrs. Frant couldn’t do anything except cry.

  Mr. Frant said, “I was always worried something like this would happen.”

  The sheriff gave them the number of the coroner’s office in Oaklin so they could inquire when Garret’s body would be released. He offered his deepest condolences again and left.

  “Sometimes I hate this job,” he muttered driving back to the office.

  Chapter Sixteen: Hidden

  “Soft violin music seemed to come from the trees themselves. I saw a shadow pass the campfire before I saw her, a beautiful woman with the long dark hair. Her dress with its many colors flowed freely while she danced around the fire. She twirled and twirled while she smiled at me. She stopped dancing and walked up to me, and I could see her green eyes clearly when she told me, ‘Do not worry. As long as you are near her and do not hurt her, you will be safe.’ She looked just like you.” Daniel took a deep breath when he finished telling Annamarie about his dream. “I saw your spirit.”

  She wanted him to remain calm, but had to tell him she had the same dream.

  “In my dream, she told me that you would be safe as long as you are close to my heart. Daniel I’ll always love you, so don’t worry. You’re safe.”

  Having the same dream made her nervous even though it made sense. Since so much had gone on, maybe they didn't remember the dream exactly the same.

  “We had the same dream, which means she does exist. I knew it. Sh
e’s keeping you safe, and now will watch over me. Baby, things are going to work out.”

  “Maybe we had a similar dream hoping things are better.”

  “Oh,” Daniel said “I forgot this part. She said something important is hidden that will be found.”

  Annamarie stopped him. “But what is hidden that will cause pain will never be found.”

  Daniel’s eyes widened, “How do you know what she said to me?”

  “Because,” Annamarie answered, “she said the same exact thing to me.”

  Daniel fell back onto his pillow. “Now do you believe in the spirits?”

  Her hands were shaking. “I’m not sure about your spirit in the woods, but I do think we’re being guarded by a power we can’t explain. I’ll call mom later. Maybe she can uncover more detail with her dream cards.”

  “You know, she doesn’t frighten me like the other spirits in the woods. I feel she’s here for good.”

  “That might be, but what do you suppose is hidden?”

  “I’ve no idea, but we both have to go to work. We need to get ready, even if Garret is gone and the spirits are here,” Daniel said.

  “I feel so sorry for the Frants, and I wonder where Nancy is.”

  “I feel for them too. I think if the sheriff found Nancy she hasn’t mentioned us, or we’d be at the sheriff’s station.”

  Annamarie agreed and hoped it would stay that way.

  Daniel hugged and kissed her before they drove off in their separate vehicles. It was her first day back, and she had no idea how Mr. Hanson was dealing with his grief, or if he knew about Garret. Even though he died on their property, Daniel and Annamarie agreed not to say anything until the sheriff made some sort of announcement about Garret and Ben.

  ***

  When she entered the office, Mr. Hanson waved from his desk like every other morning, but this didn’t feel like any other morning. Mr. Hanson had been right about things never being the same again. She began finishing the paperwork that was left from the Friday before all hell broke loose in their little town. The phone rang. It was Daniel.