The Future Scrolls

by Fern Michaels

  “No, Stash, I’m not in any kind of trouble. Please believe me,” Dani pleaded as she crossed her fingers childishly. “It must have been some kind of burglar or some kids. I’ve been lucky so far. What I mean is, I’ve lived there for five years and I guess I was overdue for a ransacking. How much damage did they do? Is my furniture ruined?”

  “Well they did a job, I’ll say that for them. To my inexperienced eye, I would say they were looking for something. Forget your furniture. There isn’t anything left but the stuffing. Even your mattress was slashed to ribbons. All the closets were emptied out and everything was strewn on the floor. They even had a go at your flowerpots. They just dumped the dirt on the floor. What do you want me to do?”

  “Do you mean there isn’t anything to come back to? All my beautiful things. Stash, you are telling me the truth, aren’t you? Do you know how long it took me to save the eight hundred dollars to buy my sofa? Three miserable years,” Dani wailed. “Can it be reupholstered?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Stash answered gruffly. “There isn’t anything left but the frame. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. It was such a thorough job that whoever did it must have been looking for something. Something that could be hidden in the stuffing. Are you sure, Dani, that you aren’t in some kind of trouble?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Do you want me to report this to the police?” He waited for her answer.

  God. If she said no, he would know for sure that something was wrong. If she said yes, the police would come here and then what would Alex say? Tough! It was her furniture and her savings that bought it. When she entered into this deal with the smooth-talking Latin, she hadn’t bargained on having her possessions ruined. God damn it! She had loved that deep-chocolate sofa.

  “By all means call them.” Dani almost smiled to herself when she heard Stash’s sigh of relief. “But do me a favor and tell them I’m out of town and can’t be reached. I don’t want them coming up here. The neighbors frown on having the police on your doorstep. Just tell them I asked you to check the apartment from time to time. And, no, you don’t know when I’ll be back. Will you do it?”

  “Of course I’ll do it. What a dumb thing to say. I’ll do the best I can. Anything else?”

  “Can’t think of a thing. If I do, I’ll give you a call. By the way, did you have the phone disconnected?”

  “I took care of it yesterday. You have to give them three days’ notice when you want it back on. Remember that.”

  “I will. And Stash, thanks for everything. I owe you one for this.”

  “Sure you do. The Super Bowl game, remember? We have a date.”

  “The only thing that would make me break that date would be my wedding, and then I’m not sure I wouldn’t cancel the wedding. It’s a date. January 23, 2000. I wrote down the date. Be sure to call me if there is any more news, like the police finding out who did it or if the insurance company wants to pay me a fortune. Thanks again, Stash.”

  Dani sat down on the maple chair with a thump. “Now what, Danielle Arnold, private citizen?” she muttered. And, Danielle Arnold, what happens to private citizens? They get it in the neck every time, she thought cynically. I wonder how much money I actually have tied up in the furniture. “A couple of years’ salary,” she snorted. “Did you hear that, Bismarck? We have been rendered homeless as of this day, or was it last night? I bet they even had a go at your wicker bed.” Bismarck sprang from his resting place under the kitchen table and started to spit and snarl. “I didn’t say they ruined it; I just said I wouldn’t be surprised if they did.”

  “My God! I must be cracking up. I never thought I would see the day that I would apologize to a cat.”

  “What do you think, Bismarck? Should I call Alex and tell him what’s happened? Or should I forget it and pretend it was a bunch of kids out for a night of fun? Well?” she demanded. “I’ve had it,” Dani screeched, as she banged her fist on the smooth surface of the round wooden table. “Enough is enough. I loved that sofa. I’m going to tell him to pay up and cancel our . . . arrangement. Let him take care of his own daughter. First he wants my life and then it’s my furniture.”

  Bismarck tilted his head at an angle and stared at the irate girl. In a flash, he was in her lap purring contentedly.

  “Do you know something, Bismarck? I have come to the conclusion that you, too, are a male chauvinist. So hit the road,” Dani said in a decidedly miffed tone.

  The big tom sniffed and walked disdainfully over to the corner and lowered himself gracefully into a round ball. He licked his whiskers nonchalantly and immediately closed his eyes.

  “That’s it; cop out. You and every other male in this whole damn universe. That’s your answer. Take the easy way out and let women run the world.” Tears smarted Dani’s eyes at the thought.

  Should I call Alex or not? she wondered nastily. No, but the next time I see him, I’ll tell him. “Do you hear that, Bismarck?” Bismarck, busy grooming himself, ignored her question.

  What did it all mean? Fear crept up Dani’s spine, forcing her to grip the table edge to stop the trembling in her hands and arms. What if she and the child had been in the apartment? What would have happened? The oily, unctuous voice on the phone was all too clear in her mind. Would they, whoever they were, realize that the apartment was no longer inhabited? Would they find some way to follow her here? Was the child safe here in her parents’ house? The house that always seemed like an impregnable fortress? Would she herself be safe?

  Terror cloaked her slender body as she paced the kitchen. Up one side and down the other. Should she get a gun? It was a thought that often plagued her back in the city. With her luck, she would end up shooting herself in the leg. She had to do something. She needed some kind of defense against them. Them! If I ever get my hands on them, I’ll kill the lot of them. There was no reason on this whole earth why anyone should have to live in fear and dread as she was doing. And the child. How long could she keep her feelings under wraps? Would she notice? Of course she would. She was intelligent beyond her years. Perhaps I should ask Stash to come up here and stay with us. He would come in a minute if I asked him.

  I refuse to be intimidated, Dani thought. There is no way that some oily, deadly voice is going to make me cringe and be afraid to go outside the door. Alex will have to do something. He will have to do it for his child, not for me. I can take care of myself. But Maria is only a child. She has to be taken care of. And Alex, as her father, will have to see to it.

  The question was: would he?

  Eleven

  Dani was idly snipping dried fronds from her drooping asparagus fern when Maria catapulted into the kitchen screaming, “Papa’s here!”

  Dani emerged from the kitchen, scissors in one hand and a watering can in the other. Nodding slightly and smiling at Maria’s obvious joy, she acknowledged Alex’s presence.

  “Ladies,” Alex smiled, seeing Maria thrilled at having him refer to her as a lady, “I have come to take you to the zoo. Will that be agreeable to both of you? You didn’t have anything planned for the day, did you?”

  Dani noticed how explicity he had stipulated “both of you” and smiled even brighter.

  “No, Papa,” Maria assured him, “We were just going to sit around today. Weren’t we, Dani?” she gurgled.

  “Yes, that’s what we were going to do, just sit around,” Dani laughed, waving the scissors and watering can significantly. “Well, whatever I was going to do in the kitchen can wait. I’m sure of that! Just give me a few minutes to straighten up and get dressed.”

  “Maria can do the kitchen while you get dressed,” Alex said, urging Maria with a wink. He looked at his watch. “Ten minutes,” he ordered.

  Dani’s heart raced at the thought of an outing with the tall, handsome Latin. Hours, just to be with him. Quickly, she changed into an attractive dark blue pantsuit. The delicate white hand-stitching on the collar and cuffs brought out the dull sheen on the carved ivory buttons. She nod
ded approvingly as she sketchily applied some makeup.

  Fastening wide ivory hoops in her ears, she cast a last anxious look into the mirror. There should be no complaints. She hadn’t realized how the sooty air of the city had affected her complexion. But since moving here to the country her skin positively glowed. Or was it just the expectation of an outing with Alex and Maria?

  Still, what did the man like? Perhaps he liked his women with more sophistication, dripping with jewelry and sleek, tight hairdos. Tough, that wasn’t her style and he would have to like her the way she was.

  As Dani emerged from the bedroom, she caught Alex glancing at his watch. “Right on time, Dani,” he smiled. “I have never known a woman as punctual as you.”

  Dani smiled her expression of thanks, but her mind was still hearing the way he said her name, softly, endearingly, or was it only that subtly attractive accent that made her pulse race?

  “Papa, that is not true. I am always on time. I have never made you wait for me,” Maria shouted.

  “True, little one, but you did not hear me. I said ‘woman’ and you have a way to go till you can qualify for that title.”

  “You’re right, Papa,” Maria said happily. “Where did you say you were taking us?”

  “To the Bronx Zoo, where else?” He laughed into Dani’s eyes.

  “Will we have peanuts to feed the elephants and can we have as many treats as we want?” the jubilant child asked.

  “Why not? Consider it ‘Ladies’ Day.’ Anything your heart desires, Maria. You also, Dani,” Alex said meaningfully, as he watched the color rise in Dani’s face. “Anything,” he repeated.

  Furious at the feelings that swept through her and at the telltale blush that suffused her cheeks, she blurted, “Then I guess I want to see the monkey cage first, have two jellied apples, one cotton candy and three hot dogs. In that order, please,” she laughed, hoping her silly demands had given her enough time to recover her emotions.

  Maria, never still for a moment, popped up over the backseat to kiss her father’s ear from time to time and gush her happiness during the ride.

  “Have you ever been to the zoo, Dani?” There it was again, her name on his lips.

  “Many times,” Dani answered. “However, I never went there with such dignified escorts.”

  “She means us, Papa! We are dignified, are we not?”

  “I think so, little one,” Alex answered fondly.

  “But that’s good! Perhaps they will roll out a red carpet for us. What do you think, Dani?”

  “I wouldn’t count on it, honey,” she laughed. “You’re just another person when you get to the zoo. Only the animals are important there.”

  Ninety minutes later, Alex maneuvered the long, low car into a parking space. He paid the attendant and the trio strolled into the zoo grounds.

  They walked for hours, exclaiming and oohing and aahing at the animals and their antics. Maria was ecstatic at the cleverness of the chimpanzees. Munching on a candy apple, she stood in rapt admiration at their talents.

  “Truthfully, Dani, I do not think they are half as intelligent as Bismarck. Did I tell you that, Papa?”

  Alex smiled and acquiesced that Bismarck was, far and above, the most intelligent animal he had ever seen. “Maria, why don’t you walk around for a while? Dani and I are getting tired. We’ll be over here on the bench. Here is some money to buy souvenirs so that you remember your trip.” Maria scampered away as Alex and Dani sat down.

  Dani watched Maria, a look of anxiety on her face. Alex, noticing, soothed her. “Don’t worry so much, Dani. The child needs some freedom; she needs to feel a bit independent. Nothing bad will happen—no one knows we’re here.”

  Thoughts of the ransacked apartment flashed through Dani’s mind for the tenth time. She was tempted to tell Alex about the break-in but changed her mind. Her eyes quickly scanned the tanned, handsome features, the face that was beginning to mean more and more to her. It was clear that Alex was enjoying this outing to the zoo. Surely, if she told him what Stash had found in her New York apartment that narrow line would reappear between his heavy arched brows. Today, for the first time he had seemed genuinely happy and relaxed. Not for anything would Dani destroy that easy, contented expression. No, this wasn’t the time to tell him; there would be another time. She would have to bear the burden for both of them—for today anyway—and Alex was right after all: no one knew of their plans to come to the zoo. Maria would be perfectly safe.

  “She is tireless,” Alex apologized for Maria. “At times, I feel sorry for you, Dani. However in the world do you manage with her?”

  Dani tilted her head to the left and laughed. “But you see, that’s the whole thing. I don’t manage her. She manages me! After the third day, I had to give up. We manage quite well together, as you can see.”

  Alex nodded solemnly. “It is good that you were able to become friends. Maria has not had a happy life, as you know. The fact that she manages as well as she does has never ceased to amaze me.

  “There was a time,” he said soberly, “when I thought I might lose her. Valerie has me over a barrel at the moment. I am not proud that I gave in to her demands. There was just no other way. It was a question of survival for Maria.”

  Almost absently, he continued to speak. “Valerie had come to me in my study and told me what she had done to Maria. Actually, she did nothing physical . . . that time; it was what she did to Maria mentally. Val couldn’t wait to tell me how she cowed the child. I swear to you, Dani, you will not believe me when I tell you what Valerie did.”

  “Tell me, Alex,” Dani said softly.

  “Yes, I think it is time you know these things. What I am about to tell you is information Valerie herself told me, and the rest . . . Maria was very ill; she was running a fever of one hundred and five. She was delirious when she rambled about these things. It was the eve of Maria’s sixth birthday and the child was outside on the patio reading a book, Winnie the Pooh, I believe,” Alex said almost absently, his eyes staring off into the distance. “Any other mother would have been proud if their child could read at the age of six. Not Valerie. She taunted the child and called her names. Then she threatened the child with boarding school. She told her she would be sent to Buenos Aires and would only come home on holidays. The child was terrified at the mere thought of being sent away. Valerie told her if she didn’t willingly agree to go with her, she would divorce me and ask for custody of the child. It was all a threat on Valerie’s part. She wanted her own way in all things. Her threats to Maria were just that, threats. She never had any interest in the child from the day she was born. She knew that if she did sue me for divorce, the judge in Argentina would give her custody of the child. I couldn’t let that happen. So, I gave in,” Alex said wearily. “I gave her everything she wanted. I think at that point I would have sold my soul to the devil to be rid of her.”

  “What . . . what did she want?” Dani quavered.

  “She wanted an unlimited checking account, her own charge accounts in all the New York stores. With the bills sent to me. She wanted to be free. Free but not divorced. I was never to ask questions. She would come and go as she pleased. I gave her everything she asked for. I paid the rent on a luxurious apartment in New York where she told me she entertained her lovers. I did everything she asked; for Maria. Now do you see why Valerie must never get her hands on the child? She only wants Maria now so she can bargain. And to hurt me. She knows how much I love the child.”

  “Alex, you said she didn’t hurt Maria that time. Did she physically hurt her at some other time?” Dani asked hesitantly.

  “Dear God, yes,” Alex said in an agonized voice. “She hit her on the ear. The child had to be taken to the hospital. The surgeon said it was a miracle that she saved her hearing. The surgeon himself told me that Maria talked in her delirium. That is how I found out. Maria herself was afraid to tell me for fear of the threats that Valerie made to her. Please Dani, I do not want to talk about it.” Dani nodded u
nderstandingly.

  Alex’s voice had turned so soft at the end of his remembrance that Dani had to strain to hear him. “That’s terrible!” Dani said, shocked beyond belief. “It isn’t that I don’t believe you, Alex; I do, I . . . I just can’t comprehend a mother reacting that way over her own child. It . . . it’s unholy! That poor child. And to look at her you’d think she’d never had one unhappy day in her life.”

  “Thanks to you, Dani, Maria has never been so happy. She is completely different. She says she loves you more than Anna, and that is quite a lot,” Alex laughed.

  “Alex, I want your promise that none of this . . . this thing with Valerie will ever affect Maria.” She looked into Alex’s eyes and found no answer there.

  “Well?” Dani repeated.

  “I will do whatever has to be done, Dani. You may call it fate, destiny, whatever. I can change nothing at this time. I must do what I have to do. Say no more, querida; I do not want this day to be marred with your anger. I know what I am doing; you will have to trust me.”

  Maria scampered back to them, her arms full of small packages. “I almost bought out the store. And I have sixty-four cents left,” she announced proudly.

  “You are a most astute shopper, Maria,” Alex laughed. “Let us hope that the recipients will be overjoyed with these tantalizing gifts.”

  “I think we should be getting back, don’t you, Dani?” There it was again, the sound of her name on his lips causing her to tingle. It was her name; she had heard it a thousand times, written it a million. But there was something in his tone when he said “Dani.” Something of a caress.

  “Yes, it’s getting late and Maria has been up till all hours every night this week.”

  “Would you like to stop for dinner on the way home?”

  “Heavens no! I couldn’t eat a thing. Besides,” Dani said, holding her stomach, “three chili dogs and cotton candy don’t go together very well.”

  “But Dani, I ate the same thing and I also had pizza and a jellied apple and there is nothing wrong with my stomach!” Maria giggled.