by Becky Durfee
“Well, now you have a ringer on your team,” Zack proclaimed.
“I guess I do,” Delilah agreed happily. “But let me ask you something…you say the ability to communicate with spirits runs in the family. Does that mean your baby might be born with it?”
Jenny placed her hand on her belly. “She might.”
“I’m pretty sure he does have it,” Zack added.
Delilah had already learned to ignore their debate. “How will you know if the baby has it? Do you just have to wait until the child has their first contact…or doesn’t have one?”
“I’ll be able to tell,” Jenny said. “As soon as I hold her, I’ll know if she has the ability.”
“That’s fascinating,” Delilah declared sincerely. “I have never heard of anything like this in my life.”
“I hadn’t either,” Jenny confessed. “Not until it happened to me.”
Delilah returned into the house to give Jenny and Zack some privacy in hopes that the quiet would elicit a contact. As the couple strolled along the grounds, they collected their thoughts. “Delilah and Winding River seem to think Jove is innocent, but Troy is equally convinced he was guilty.” Jenny stated. “I’m honestly not sure what to believe.”
“Well, you have to consider the sources. Winding River died while he was still under Jove’s spell, so to speak, and Delilah is related to the man. She’s also basing her opinion on stories that have been passed down in her family, and you know how that goes. The story starts out with a guy who caught a two-pound trout, and after being told a few times by a few different people, it ends up being that he caught a forty-foot, man-eating shark with eight sets of teeth and fins the size of a small car.”
Jenny giggled at his analogy.
“So all of that needs to be taken with a grain of salt,” Zack concluded. “Honestly, I would imagine Troy’s assessment is the most accurate—he’s got no allegiance to Jove, and he was there.”
Jenny nodded as she considered Zack’s assessment. “Hopefully, Winding River will give me something to work with.” She looked around, once again hoping the spirit was listening. “A little more information might do the trick.”
“Well, after dinner, I can head down to the police station again and see what I can find out about Sheriff Babson. Once we get out of here and get cell phone service again, you can call Kyle Buchanan and ask him to find out everything he can about Jove, now that we know his real name. What was it again?”
“Roger Hillerman.”
“Oh, yeah. Roger Hillerman. Is it just me, or does that sound more like a lawyer than a hippie?” Zack stuck out his lower jaw into an under bite and spoke pretentiously. “Hi, I’m Roger Hillerman, attorney at law, PhD, LLC, MD…”
“You are out of your mind.”
The under bite remained. “Yes, but am I wrong?”
“Right or wrong, you’re steering us off topic.” Jenny said as she forced a fist into her belly. The baby had worked its way into an uncomfortable position, and she needed it to move. She felt the child wriggle, and with it came relief, so she continued. “I’m hoping that Dr. Wilson has called me to tell me he’s arranged a meeting with Addy. Again, I won’t be able to know that until we get back into civilization and I get some reception.”
“Do you know what I hope?” Zack asked. “I hope this dinner we’re about to eat isn’t scary.”
Jenny bit her lip. “I know; I’ve thought about that. The way I see it, though, is that they are most likely vegetarians, so it can’t be too disgusting. It’s not like we’re going to be served…” She couldn’t think of any animals that would have been especially gross to eat.
“Bat?” Zack suggested.
Somehow, Jenny knew he wouldn’t disappoint. “Yes, bat. I doubt we’ll be eating bat for dinner.”
“But it could be alfalfa sprouts soaked in goat’s milk with curds on the side.”
Jenny closed her eyes. “I know, but I’m trying not to think about that.”
Dinner proved to be spaghetti with marinara sauce and a delicious salad made from fresh greens from the garden. This was followed by a horrible case of heartburn for Jenny, which prompted her and Zack to excuse themselves shortly after the meal was over. Despite the fact that Jenny preferred to drive in case she became led somewhere, she handed the keys over to Zack and plopped into the passenger seat, wincing with pain. She had already gobbled a few pregnancy-approved antacids, but they hadn’t worked their magic yet.
Zack tried to remain positive. “At least it wasn’t bat…or curds.”
“Dinner was great,” she agreed. “I just think I need to cross pasta sauce off my list of acceptable foods for the next few months. Seriously, I’m dying over here.” At that point she remembered what it had felt like when she vicariously experienced typhoid-like symptoms through a contact, and she realized her heartburn was minor in comparison. She also considered what she would be experiencing while giving birth, and she decided not to complain any more.
Slipping her phone out of her purse, she watched it until some bars appeared. The phone buzzed and vibrated, indicating several missed calls and texts during their stay in the middle of nowhere. With a silent wince from the heartburn, she worked her way through her messages, giving Zack the summary when she was done.
“Kayla let me know that they made it home safely, and Dr. Wilson did arrange a meeting with Addy’s family for ten o’clock tomorrow morning. I guess he’s eager to get his answers.” She refrained from saying anything nasty about him. “I think I’ll go ahead and call Kyle now…once we get a hotel I’m going to want to go straight to bed.”
Zack patted her leg. “Hang in there, champ. Just remember, you’re doing this for our son.”
She didn’t have the energy to argue about the gender, so as she dialed the phone, she simply said, “I’ve heard that heartburn means the baby will have hair. If tonight is any indication, I’m going to give birth to an ape.”
Kyle picked up after the second ring. “Hey, Jenny. What’s going on?”
“Lots and lots,” she began. “First of all, thanks again for getting me in touch with Troy; he was very helpful.”
“Well, that’s my job.”
“And you do it well…so well, in fact, that I have more for you.”
“Okay, let me get something to write with.” After some shuffling in the background, Kyle said, “Shoot.”
“I was wondering what you can tell me about Roger Hillerman prior to, and during, his days here at Eden. He seemed to be the guy in charge of it all, and I am still trying to determine if he was capable of poisoning these people or not. I’d also like some information about the arrest records of the members of The Family; Zack can send you a link that has the names of all the people who died that day.”
Kyle sounded like he was writing on the other end of the phone. “I think I can do that.”
“And one other thing,” Jenny said. “I want you to dig up as much dirt as you can on a sheriff named Babson.”
Chapter 15
Jenny was admittedly nervous, but she realized her anxiety must have paled in comparison to that of Addy Roth’s mother, Cheryl. Just as Kayla had expressed about Matthew, Cheryl must have been ecstatic when Winding River’s spirit finally went away, and she was probably not all that happy about bringing the topic back into her life. In fact, Jenny wouldn’t have blamed her if she had declined the meeting altogether, but instead she had graciously welcomed Dr. Wilson and two strangers into her home to discuss it. Jenny felt like that spoke volumes about her character.
The Roth’s house was a shade of brownish-gray that would have been difficult to describe with a name. It was a nice house, average in just about every way, but definitely indicative that the people inside had reached the American Dream. That was, of course, until their world got rocked by a series of unwanted visits from a spirit with an ax to grind.
Jenny and Zack got out of their rental car as Dr. Wilson emerged from his own. He looked much more professional than either
of the Larrabees did, sporting a blazer while Jenny wore a casual outfit she could have easily worn around her own house. Although, Wilson’s personality was so stiff, Jenny wondered if blazers were his version of casual wear. She could even picture him sleeping in one.
They rang the doorbell, waiting only a short time before a tall woman with a blond ponytail greeted them with a smile. “Cheryl,” Dr. Wilson stated. That was his only greeting.
“Dr. Wilson, please some in,” she replied with a sweeping gesture of her arm. “And you must be the Larrabees.”
“Hi, I’m Jenny,” she stated with an outstretched hand.
Zack simply stated his name and shook her hand as well.
Three steps into the house, Jenny realized there was a problem. She could feel her lungs tighten and her eyes begin to water, and a tickle began somewhere inside her nose. “Uh-oh,” she said apologetically, “I think I may be allergic to your house.”
“Oh, dear,” Cheryl replied. “Is it the cats?”
Cats. Plural. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“Well, we can meet outside on the screen porch if you’d like. The cats never go out there, and it’s a nice day.”
“That would be great,” Jenny said as Cheryl began to lead them through the house. “Sorry to be such a pain.”
“It’s no trouble. Besides, you have allergies; you certainly can’t help that.”
The tickle in Jenny’s nose grew more noticeable, and she feared she might experience the sneeze-n-pee that Kayla had warned her about. She sniffed deeply and quickened her pace, trying to get out of the house before something embarrassing happened.
They arrived at the sliding door to the screen porch, which looked like it had once been a deck that was covered as an afterthought. It was still lovely, in Jenny’s opinion, and she was more than happy to put her swollen feet up on the wicker ottoman in front of her chair. She felt like she could have fallen asleep there, although she knew she had other things to accomplish.
“I’m anxious for Jenny to meet Addy,” Dr. Wilson began. “She claims that she will be able to tell if Addy has psychic ability, just by greeting the child.”
“I’m eager to find that out, too,” Cheryl confessed. “I have to say, I’m not sure whether I want her to have it or not.”
“I completely understand that,” Jenny said honestly. “I feel the same way about my own baby.”
Cheryl smiled at Jenny. “There’s a chance your baby can have it?”
“I’m not sure what the odds are, but yes, it is possible.”
“I guess you feel my pain, then. Well, let me go get Addy; she’s in her room, playing.”
Uncomfortable silence ensued while Cheryl was gone, during which time Jenny interlaced her fingers over her belly and looked around. “This is a nice porch.”
The men simply grunted in agreement; they certainly weren’t helping Jenny’s attempt to curb the awkwardness. She racked her brain for something else to say, but nothing came to mind.
Mercifully, Cheryl arrived from within the house, escorted by a girl who looked to be about nine or ten, but should have been younger according to Dr. Wilson’s accounts. Maybe she was just tall like her mother. “Addy, you remember Dr. Wilson, right?” Cheryl began.
Addy nodded shyly.
“And this is Mr. and Mrs. Larrabee. Why don’t you go shake their hands?”
Addy did as she was told, although she looked uncomfortable with the request. Jenny eagerly took the young girl’s hand, giving it a delicate shake, immediately knowing the answer to everybody’s question.
“Thank you, Addy,” Cheryl said. “You can go back to playing if you’d like. I just wanted you to come out and say hi.”
Without a word, the young girl turned around and went back into the house. Cheryl closed the door behind her and looked eagerly at Jenny. “Did you find anything out?”
“I did,” Jenny replied. “That girl definitely does not have psychic ability.”
“I knew it,” Dr. Wilson declared triumphantly. “There is just something about a child’s brain that makes them susceptible to contact.”
Jenny looked over at Cheryl, who released a breath and lowered her shoulders. She imagined that reaction was one part disappointment, one part relief. “Well, the good news is that it looks like those days are behind her,” Jenny noted.
With an emphatic nod, Cheryl said, “Yes, it does.”
“That’s good news for Addy,” Jenny concluded, “but not necessarily for Winding River. His issue still isn’t resolved.”
Cheryl had obviously not been brought up to speed, based on the expression she wore. “Winding River is the name of the person who had been visiting Addy…well, Winding River is what he called himself. As for his real name, we may never know for sure.” Jenny told Cheryl about everything she’d learned regarding Eden, mentioning that Kyle Buchanan was working on filling in some gaps. “I was wondering, though, if Addy may have said something at some point that will ultimately prove to be helpful— maybe something that may not have made sense at the time?”
“I kept a record, if you’d like to see it,” Cheryl replied. “I documented everything unusual that she said or did, along with the date and the circumstance.”
Jenny was shocked; she had no idea such a list existed. “I would love to see it.”
“I’ve got to warn you,” Cheryl declared as she stood up, “a lot of it doesn’t make any sense.” She had ventured into the house only a minute before returning with a spiral notebook, adding, “It’s like reading Jim Morrison’s diary on an exceptionally bizarre day.” She handed the book over to Jenny.
Opening to the first page, Jenny read out loud. “September fourth, Addy spit at the police and said…” She didn’t want to read the foul words that were written there. “We know about this one; this was the first sign of trouble, right?”
“Yeah,” Cheryl said with a phony smile, “and it was a big one. She went straight for the gusto.”
Deciding to skip the dates, Jenny just read the quotes. “This one says, The man has it in for us. He’s out to get us.” Jenny winced. “That must have been scary before you figured out that the man meant authority.”
“Horrifying is a good word, I think,” Cheryl clarified.
Jenny continued to read. “The pigs just won’t leave us alone.
“The pigs were behind this, you know. I guarantee it.
“Golden one and innocence are waiting for me, I know, but I can’t go to them without justice.” Jenny looked up with wide eyes. “I understand that one.”
“You do?” Cheryl was awestruck.
Jenny recounted the story of how Golden One died during childbirth, assuming that Innocence was the name given to the baby. “Winding River must know that they’ve crossed over and that he could, too, if he wanted, but this unresolved issue is causing him to linger.”
“There were a few other references to Golden One,” Cheryl said. “I never understood what she was talking about.” Her voice softened. “I guess it makes sense now. My gosh, that’s just terrible.”
Jenny referred back to the notebook. “Love and nature’s betrayal has to have consequences.” She thought for a moment. “I imagine Troy and Sabrina could have been Love and Nature, although I didn’t ask when I talked to Troy.” Shaking her head, she added, “I should have—I don’t know what I was thinking. Why wouldn’t I want to know what their names were while they were at Eden?” She mentally punched herself a few times.
“Troy and Sabrina?”
Jenny once again filled Cheryl in on what she knew, this time conveying the story of how the couple left just a few weeks before the tragedy. “Troy seems to think that the consequence of their exit was to kill the remaining members, just to make sure nobody else tried to leave.”
“Wow, that’s frightening,” Cheryl noted.
“And now the story might be substantiated,” Jenny added, although she continued to read further. “Okay, this one says, the fucking pigs need to police themse
lves, man, and just leave us the hell alone.”
Cheryl displayed another fake smile as the sarcasm rolled off her tongue. “That was one of my favorites.”
“I can see why,” Jenny replied in an equally biting tone. “How old was she when she said that?”
“Four or five.”
“Oh,” Jenny declared, “how lovely.”
“I was proud.”
Jenny was glad that Cheryl could at least have a sense of humor about this. Referring back to the notebook, Jenny said, “The pigs would see golden one as proof that we are in the wrong, but it really demonstrates the flaws in society.
“The masses are slaves to the dollar.
“If you believe the man works in your best interest, then you are part of the problem.”
Cheryl interjected, “That one was directed at me when I tried to tell her to trust the police.”
Jenny nodded and continued to read. “Even golden one and innocence couldn’t protect us from the man.
“The predictor did not see this as our future. The man has fucked with the natural balance.” Despite the lowercase first letter in print, Jenny assumed The Predictor was most likely a member of The Family.
“The man has no regard for life. We appreciate all life, and the man hates us for it.
“Great seer knows the truth. The family will be revered.
“Joe couldn’t go there and kill all those people. That’s why he had to disappear.” Jenny looked up at the others, asking, “Who is Joe?”
Cheryl shook her head. “I don’t know, but it’s the only name she used.”
“Actually, it is and it isn’t,” Jenny said. “She said plenty of names, but she used their Family names. This sounds like the only time she used a birth-name.”
“I wonder who it is,” Zack asked.
“I don’t know, but I can ask Kyle to find out.” Jenny returned to the list. “Gentle giant bears the brunt of the man’s wrath. The most loving pays the highest price. Fucking pigs.” She winced again at the language coming from such a small child. However, she realized she had a means to help translate the cryptic messages. “I can call Troy back and see who The Predictor, Gentle Giant, and The Great Seer were...and maybe even Joe. If we know who they are, this stuff might make sense.”
