The sheriff replaced the receiver deciding Bulk was going to be a total loss in his case. Once he learns about Garret, Bulk will shut down completely.
***
Daniel and Annamarie were hoping for a quiet evening, but the phone call from Nancy changed that. She called a little after six o’clock. Nancy said she found their number mixed in with her things. Telling Daniel she was sorry she was bothering them, but she was going crazy hiding out. She decided to call one of her old friends.
“My friend told me Garret’s partner called looking for me. He told my friend he knew either Garret or my friends will know what he wants. I’m terrified he’ll find me.”
Daniel began pacing, but told her, “I think you’ll be safe at Greta’s. No one knows where you are.”
“As soon as I get enough money together, I’m heading to New England. I have family there and would feel safe.”
He told her to keep in touch because he was going to try and think of a plan to make sure everyone would be safe. He was mumbling to himself when he hung up the phone, and Annamarie asked what he was thinking.
“Annamarie, we have enough money now to pay off Garret’s partner, but I have a feeling he would come around again and ask for more. Nancy said her brother is so afraid for her and himself he refuses to name the partner, and Nancy doesn’t know his name either. The sheriff would be useless without a name. The only thing we can do is set a trap.”
“A trap Daniel, are you crazy?” She tossed down the magazine she was thumbing through and rose from her chair suddenly. “I’m not getting involved in another one of your crazy schemes. They never work.”
“It’ll work. Listen,” he walked closer to her so she wouldn’t miss a word of what he said.
***
Bulk’s brother signed in at the psychiatric unit and received his visitor’s badge. It read “Visitor, Sanstun, and Room 243.” He dreaded having to tell Bulk what happened to Garret. He worried Bulk would break down again. The doctor thought Bulk would be well enough to leave Friday morning if he could stay with his brother again. They didn’t want Bulk to be alone.
Bulk was waiting in the activity room. His brother always wondered how anyone could heal in a place as stark as the hospital ward. The whitewashed walls were barren of any pictures or color except where someone had scribbled with a red crayon. Four white plastic tables with matching chairs were scattered around the room. Games, puzzles and books were strewn everywhere. It reminded Bulk’s brother of an unmanaged kindergarten class.
Bulk jumped up and hugged his brother. Bulk told him about his sessions with the doctor, and the group therapy he had each day. He said he found out there are people who have real things in life to be afraid of and not silly, made up spirits in the woods. Bulk told his brother he didn’t believe in Daniel’s spirits, and he knew it couldn’t have been spirits that killed Ben. They had to be human.
Bulk told his brother what he needed to hear to believe he was better. It was all part of Bulk’s plan.
Bulk’s brother was relieved to hear him sound so sane, but he still carefully chose his words.
“Let’s sit down Bulk; I have some sad news to tell you.”
Bulk stared at him when he pulled up one of the white plastic chairs.
“It’s about Garret.”
Bulk’s facial expression became more concerned.
“Garret has died, Bulk. I’m terribly sorry.”
A tear ran down Bulk’s cheek and he asked, “What happened?”
His brother explained the event as simply as possible, hoping it would be easier for Bulk to grasp.
“I understand sometimes bad things happen. I’ll say a prayer for Garret’s family. May I go to the funeral?”
His brother said he hadn’t heard of any plans yet. He handed Bulk a candy bar he brought him, the two of them changed the subject, and talked about happier things.
Bulk said, “I hope I can come home on Friday, it’ll be nice to go outside again.”
“I hope you’ll be able to come home, too Bulk. The doctor says you’re doing much better.”
His brother left with a feeling of relief Bulk was improving.
Sitting alone in his room, Bulk began to plot his way out of town, and away from the spirits that killed Ben and Garret. He knew he had to pretend to understand why Garret was killed. He had to let everyone know he was sad not frightened. He could fool them. He had fooled them thus far. He was supposed to go home on Friday, and he wasn’t going to mess that up. Once he was home and his brother left for work, Bulk would go to the bank and take out the money left in trust for him when his parents died. When he had the money, he was going west to California or Arizona where there is more sand than trees and no spirits. Bulk was slowly sinking into madness.
***
Daniel said, “We may not know the identity of Garret’s partner, but we do have a connection through Nancy. He’ll try to call her again looking for the money, and this time we can be ready.”
“Ready for what, tell me what you’re thinking?” Annamarie said.
“Tomorrow we have to stop by the bank so I can sign the safe deposit box papers, and then we call Mr. Townsend and let him know we want to turn in a couple of the bonds. We’re going to need money to fix grandfather’s house the way we want, and a few thousand more won’t appear suspicious to Mr. Townsend.”
“I’m not sure. More lies and trying to trick a killer may be more than you can handle.”
“This’ll work. I want to be sure Nancy has money when she meets up with that guy, so he doesn’t get suspicious. Then we should let her keep it, and she can settle in New England. Garret would like that and we can afford it.”
“Giving Nancy some money because she was special to Garret is one thing, but how in the world do you set up this plan. What happens when the guy wants his cash and doesn’t get it, or takes it from Nancy, kills her and disappears?”
“We kill him first. Or rather let the spirits take care of it.”
“You’ve lost your mind. We can’t kill someone and spirits won’t help you.”
She was sure Daniel had lost his grip on reality from all the grief he was going through.
“I’m serious, Annamarie, your spirit is strong and won’t let anything happen to either of us, and while my grandmother’s spirit is gone, there may be others in the woods. Your spirit can get them to follow her. Magdalena is strong.”
“Magdalena was my great-grandmother,” she shouted at him, “she’s not a spirit.”
“Then why did we both have the same dream about her?”
He had her there. She didn’t have an answer. “I don’t know,” she said, nearly in tears. This plan of Daniel’s terrified her.
She said, “Why can’t you tell the sheriff about this and let him work with Nancy?”
“The sheriff will do everything legally and according to the book. We can’t do that if we want it to work. This man helped to kill Ben, and if he hadn’t threatened Garret then Steve wouldn’t have shot him. That’s another thing I need to take care of, and that’s to get some justice for Garret and Steve. I tried to call Steve, but Deb said he wasn’t talking to anyone. She’s worried about him.”
“I know, Deb said he feels it’s his fault Garret is dead. I spoke with her today. It must be hard on him.”
“Can you imagine how he feels? He and Garret used to be close friends. Steve and I were going to try to rebuild our friendship. That evil man is responsible for two of my friends being dead, and another may have a breakdown or he could quit the sheriff’s department. We need people like Steve out there,” he said while he sat and sipped his glass of bourbon.
His reasoning had merit, but his plan still scared her. They needed help--real help, and not only a bag of money and Garret’s girlfriend. Annamarie didn’t believe they had any spirits on their side.
“Daniel,” she said, “it’s getting late, let’s get some sleep, and we can discuss this more tomorrow on our drive to Oaklin.”
Daniel agreed since they both had to work tomorrow morning, and then go the bank and Garret’s Memorial Service in the afternoon. They had a busy day, and they had to be clandestine about most of it.
Daniel downed his drink and said, “I’ll call Mr. Townsend, in the morning, and ask about the bonds. You should go to work and not worry about anything. I’ll drop you off at work, and pick you up at noon. It will save time because you won’t have to drive your car home before we head to Oaklin.”
That sounded perfect to Annamarie, and she was hoping Daniel would change his mind after a decent night’s sleep.
Daniel, awake before the alarm, was singing in the shower. That could only mean one thing. He was still planning on getting to Garret’s partner, and was honing the details. This frightened her more than his losing his mind. If something went wrong, he could lose his life along with Nancy’s and quite possibly her own. Their lives were barely beginning, they had turned their marriage around, and they now had money and the best house in town.
It didn’t seem fair, and since she no longer trusted the sheriff after he threw her in jail, she wasn’t sure what to do. She doubted if Steve would talk to her, and she would never impose on Deb to ask him as a favor to her. Steve would tell the sheriff anyway. Daniel would probably be arrested for interfering with a police investigation, and the sheriff would grab her and toss her back into a cell with the claim she was a material witness again or worse.
Annamarie wished the sheriff would retire, but since he and her dad went to school together, she knew he wouldn’t retire for quite a few years.
To make matters worse, the sheriff was the only person in town the Logan name didn’t impress. Annamarie feared she was going to go along with Daniel’s plan.
Daniel walked into the bedroom with a big smile on his face.
“Morning’ baby, I think I have all the details worked out.”
Too nervous to listen, she told him that she had to shower, or she’d be late for work. He nodded and kept on singing to himself. When Annamarie returned from her shower, Daniel was dressed and said he had some things to write down and disappeared out of the bedroom. She glanced down the hall and could see him at his desk writing.
She knew he was putting his plan to paper. The next step would be for both of them to memorize what he wrote, and then he’d burn the paper in the leaf barrel. This was the same way he treated his ideas for big parties at the cabin, or a midnight swim party down at the river.
“Never leave anything incriminating on paper,” he used to tell her with a laugh.
Now she understood why. She hurried and finished dressing.
On the drive to work, Daniel explained it’d be easy for Nancy to tell Garret’s partner she found the money in his garage apartment, and would like to return it. He’ll believe her because he knows both she and her brother are terrified of him.
“Didn’t you tell me Garret’s place looked as if it had been ransacked?”
“Yeah, but Garret had several safe spots he built into the walls when he added the extension for Bulk to move into. There’s also a safe somewhere in the garage area he welded into place, and hid behind a metal wall of tools.”
“Gee,” Annamarie replied with a surprised look on her face, “what was he planning on hiding?”
“Who knows, but I think Garret had big plans, and he wouldn’t be able to put the money into the bank.”
“Garret was bound to get in trouble.”
Daniel agreed when he pulled into the dairy’s parking lot to drop her off. He kissed her and said she looked pretty except he preferred her in brighter colors. Her navy blue dress matched her mood.
***
Sitting at her desk, Annamarie pulled out the invoices she needed to review and file. She ordered office supplies and nervously took a job application. The large windows made her anxious now. She hoped the unnerving feelings would eventually fade.
The morning went by fairly quickly, and Mr. Hanson spent most of the morning in the plant. At noon, she walked into Mr. Hanson’s office and asked him if there was anything else he needed. He said no. He’d see her tomorrow morning. Wishing her a nice afternoon, she wished him the same. She knew her afternoon was going to be difficult.
***
Bulk’s psychiatrist said, “Our session’s over. I’m impressed with your progress.” Folding his hands in his lap, he continued, “I heard a good report from the group therapy leader. We’ll meet tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, and if you’re still in the same positive mood, and understand spirits are imaginary I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t go home with your brother.”
Bulk had already learned an extreme emotional reaction, either good or bad, was frowned on so he simply smiled at the doctor, shook his hand and thanked him for his help and understanding. Bulk went back to his room to continue his plan to escape the area and the woods.
***
Daniel was waiting for Annamarie after work. When she settled into the car, he kissed her and asked how her morning was. She enjoyed this new side of Daniel. They were more like newlyweds than they’d been the day they married.
“My morning was good, Mr. Hanson was in the plant all morning, and I didn’t have to lie to him.”
“Dad and mom left me alone, too, but I walked into mom’s office to ask her a question, and guess what I saw in that huge antique curio cabinet she purchased last summer?”
“That’s easy, grandpa’s birds.”
“Yup, and if those birds didn’t have so much meaning to my grandparents, I would have tripped and hit that cabinet full force, and knocked them all over just to watch my mom go crazy. I can’t believe she’s a thief and has them on display where everyone can see them.”
Annamarie giggled at the thought of Maureen trying to save her stolen birds, but she told Daniel someday he would inherit them, and they would put them back where grandpa wanted them.
“You’re an angel. You always say the right thing.”
“The other night you called me your little devil, which am I?”
He smiled and said, “An angel in the sunlight and a devil when the sun goes down.”
“I can’t wait for sunset,” she whispered.
They were enjoying their flirty conversation when they arrived at the bank.
“I called Mr. Townsend and explained we’d like to cash in two of the bonds. He said that wouldn’t be a problem. He would take care of communicating with the power company right away, and call me later with the details.”
It was nice Daniel wanted to share all these decisions with her. A month ago he would’ve made them all.
They parked near the bank’s front door, and Daniel and Annamarie walked to the receptionist’s desk. She remembered Annamarie and greeted her by name. Annamarie introduced her to Daniel, and she brought out the papers he needed to sign. After he signed them, and she witnessed his signature, Annamarie told her they would need access to the box.
Asking Annamarie if she had her key, Annamarie responded yes. She led them into the vault and took out the box. She left telling them to call her when they were finished. Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes when he actually saw the bonds. He still believed Magdalena helped her find them, and this is what was “hidden and would be found.” Annamarie believed him this time.
They were fortunate the bonds were still good and not part of a defunct company. Daniel removed two bonds and placed them in the pocket of his briefcase. They closed and locked the box, called the receptionist back, and she replaced the box in its slot. She thanked them and said she hoped to see them soon. They thanked her and left. Daniel took the bonds straight to Mr. Townsend’s office. Mr. Townsend put them in his wall safe, gave them a receipt and said he was in communication with the power company and would call Daniel soon.
***
They drove to Oaklin, stopped at a florist to pay for the flowers, and Daniel said they had some time before the Memorial Service. He thought it would be a smart idea to eat a light lunch before the stress of
the service. They saw a small coffee shop across from the flower shop and headed there.
Walker’s funeral home was a few blocks from the coffee shop. They arrived in ample time before Garret’s service. There weren’t a lot of cars in the parking lot. Annamarie thought it was sad not many people would attend, but she knew everyone there loved Garret. Even her heart had softened toward him. It was hard to hate a person who died so young and troubled. Daniel tried to hide the stricken look on his face. She hoped he could be strong. Anxious since she had never set foot in a funeral home before, she wasn’t sure how to help him. They held each other’s hands and had to be strength for each other.
The funeral home was in a large two story red brick building that was once someone’s home. It still looked like a house except for the carved wooden sign that read “Walker Funeral Home,” and the double glass doors in the center of the building. They walked toward the doors, and a young man in a black suit and tie opened one door and welcomed them.
He asked which service they would be attending, and Daniel said, “Garret Frant,” his voice shaky. She squeezed Daniel’s hand tighter. This was going to be harder than she thought.
The young man said, “follow me,” and led them past a set of large ornately carved double wooden doors to a second set of identical doors, further down the hall. The long hall was exquisitely decorated with plush brown carpeting, deep burgundy chairs, dark oak tables, and serene oil paintings on the wall. The hall was empty except for a man dressed in a dark gray suit sitting near the second set of doors. Annamarie glanced at him and he smiled, but all she noticed was his cold, gray eyes. It made her shudder.
The young man opened one of the doors for them, and Daniel thanked him. Standing at the back of the room Annamarie took in everything around her. It was different than the church services. There was a large wooden cross hanging from the wall at the front of the room with a narrow stained glass panel on either side. They appeared to be lit from behind somehow. It didn’t seem like natural lighting, but they were pretty. A table, at the front of the room, was surrounded by several bouquets of flowers. A deep blue urn that resembled marble sat on the table. It must contain Garret’s ashes. Annamarie thought it was what made Daniel catch his breath. The sadness she felt couldn’t compare to what Daniel must be feeling to see his friend reduced to a jar of ashes. They expected to see an urn at grandpa’s memorial, but Garret was their age. It seemed wrong that he was gone, too.
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