Prelude of Lies

by Victoria Smith

  “Call if you need anything. If Daisy’s up to it when you get back we can go over the evidence. We’ll probably head out tomorrow. As much fun as I’ve had here, I have to get back to the real world.” Marshal’s expression was unreadable and Sydney couldn’t spend too much time thinking about it or she’d cry again.

  “Okay. Thanks, Marshal.” She gave him a quick hug and rushed to her car.

  Daisy sat on a bench in front of the sheriff’s office when Sydney arrived fifteen minutes later. Daisy gave her a grateful smile.

  “What exactly do you have to do here?” Sydney hugged her as she stood.

  “Give another statement about what she did. I don’t know why. Sign some papers. I’ll probably have to testify at her trial too.”

  “We’ll get through it. I’ll most likely have to testify, too. The important thing is making sure she doesn’t bother you anymore. I know you had high hopes for the future, but I think it’s just too late for Nadine. Her way of life has finally caught up to her.” Sydney didn’t know if she was helping or making Daisy feel worse.

  “I know. I keep trying to remember that she did me a favor by abandoning me. It’s hard, though. All my life I just wanted her to want me, to love me like Mom always does. She doesn’t have it in her though. It’s all about what I can do for her and how I can help support her habits. It’s not fair.” Daisy’s eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t cry.

  “I know, honey. It isn’t fair. You deserve better than that.” She hugged her. As she squeezed, Daisy let go of the control she’d managed, her body shaking as she sobbed.

  “I can’t find someone who loves me no matter where I go. I mean, besides you and Mom and Dad. What is wrong with me?” Daisy sobbed into her shirt.

  “You will. You will. I think you’re trying too hard. Trust me, there’s someone out there perfect for you. Someone who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated and who will love you so deeply it humbles you.” The words caused Sydney to fight her own tears. She might have had that, if Jace hadn’t turned out to be a relative.

  “I’m sorry. I know comforting me when your world has fallen apart isn’t easy. You know exactly what to say to make things better.” Daisy straightened, wiping her nose with a tissue pulled from her pocket. Seemed like they both needed a never-ending supply of tissues these days. “Let’s get this over with. We have a campground to open.”

  Sydney followed Daisy inside, hoping they wouldn’t have to face Nadine. Somehow, she didn’t think that was going to come true.

  Sure enough, Nadine sat in the room where Daisy was ushered. At first they told Sydney she had to wait in the tiny, dank waiting room, but she’d insisted and they finally relented and allowed her to stay with her sister.

  Nadine dabbed her eyes as they entered, her face showing a regret that Sydney couldn’t help believe was fake. “Oh, my baby. I’m so sorry.”

  Daisy ignored her, facing the officer with irritation. “You didn’t tell me she would be here.”

  “She’s not supposed to be. We’re waiting for transport to the county jail. I apologize. You were to be shown to the other room.” He stood, giving Nadine a warning glance and moved to open the door behind Sydney. “If you’ll go across the hall, I’ll be with you shortly.”

  Sydney stepped backward, not taking her eyes from Nadine. Daisy held her head high as she turned to leave the room.

  “I’ve always loved you. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m so sorry,” Nadine wailed.

  Daisy spun, and Sydney caught her arm. “The only loving thing you’ve ever done was dump me off. Trying to use me to support your habit is not love, hurting people I care about is not love. I’m sorry, too, sorry that you’re my mother and that every day I have to fight the idea that I’m going to end up just like you. I’m even afraid to have children because I don’t want to share your genes with innocent children. I don’t want to know you. I have always been nothing to you and now you are nothing to me.”

  Daisy left and Sydney shot Nadine a glare as she followed her to the identical room across the hall. She banged the door shut behind her and gathered Daisy into her arms and held her as she cried.

  Sydney could hear Nadine screeching from the little room. She demanded to be able to talk to Daisy and try to explain why she did the things she did. She screamed to be released, saying she didn’t have any idea why they were treating her like a criminal and that she didn’t do anything wrong. That she’d made sure her daughter was provided for and hadn’t broken any laws. From what Sydney could tell, the officer with her either didn’t say anything or spoke very quietly.

  Obviously, Nadine had gone over the edge. She didn’t seem to remember that she’d kidnapped her own daughter for profit and future income or how she’d purposefully hurt people her daughter loved. Sydney hugged Daisy tighter, not saying anything as she cried out years of pain and frustration.

  Finally, Daisy stepped away and dried her tears. “I don’t hate her as much as I should.”

  “No one said you had to hate her. She’s messed up. Had she not fallen off the wagon she would probably be a different person. None of this is your fault, you know.” Sydney wasn’t sure she was saying any of the right things. She couldn’t seem to find her usual comforting words right now.

  “I know that. She infuriates me and yet, I feel sorry for her. For how she chose to live her life.”

  “Chose is the right word. She made these decisions on her own and they had nothing to do with you. What did you mean when you said you have to fight to not end up like her?” Sydney worried over that last question. Never had she seen any signs that Daisy would end up like her erratic mother.

  “Just an idea I’ve had since I was little. If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, will there be a point in my life where I’ll be faced with the same decisions Nadine made? I wonder if I’ll make the right choices.” Daisy didn’t seem like she wanted to share more than that.

  “You make the choice to not be like her every day. Besides you grew up on a different tree, so I think it doesn’t apply to you. If you had grown up under Nadine’s influence it might be a different story. You’ve already faced and dealt with more than Nadine ever will. She hides from her problems with booze, drugs, and men. You face them head on. I don’t think you have anything to ever worry about.”

  Daisy nodded. “Logically. I know that. It’s just one of those fears that will probably color every decision I ever make. It has so far, ever since I heard that phrase for the first time. The last thing I ever want to do is turn out like my birth mother.”

  “Then you won’t. It’s that simple. You’re aware. I don’t think Nadine ever was. I’m not trying to change your mind about having children, but I think you’d be a great mother. You know exactly what not to do.” Sydney watched Daisy’s control slip back into place.

  Just in time. The door swung open and a different officer entered the room. “Sorry. That should have never happened. She was supposed to be long gone. The transport van got a flat tire. She’ll be on her way before we’re done with this paperwork.”

  He dropped a stack of forms in front of Daisy.

  “Nadine claims you will take full financial responsibility for her.” He pointed to the top page. “If you sign that, she’ll make bail.”

  Daisy shoved the paper back at him. “Not a chance.”

  “Good. I’m required to make sure.” He marked a big X over the page and stuck it in the back of the folder.

  “Am I responsible for her, financially?” Daisy fiddled with the pen.

  “Not if you don’t want to be.”

  “Good. That’s what started this whole thing.”

  The officer’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t been aware of the situation. He shook his head. “I hadn’t made the connection. We have another family dispute going on here. I’m sorry. I
would have never given you that page had I understood the situation.” He reached for the stack of papers, returning only one to Daisy.

  “Protection from abuse order. Just in case. One for each of you.”

  Daisy quickly scribbled her name on the page and handed it back to him as Sydney did the same. “What about the legal stuff?”

  “You’ll be contacted. You don’t need to be there for the preliminary.” He rustled through the papers. “There’s quite a bit to sift through before her trial can be set. She needs to be clean and she’s not. A psych consult to see if she’s even fit to stand trial. There’s a lot to do before we get to that stage. Don’t worry. You’re the victim. So far we have enough on her, without what she did to you, to keep her behind bars for a very long time.”

  “Like?” Daisy leaned forward. Sydney did, too, trying to see what was written on the top page.

  “Illegal drugs, sale, and manufacturing. Prostitution. Attempted murder. That’s the biggies, without the kidnapping. She admitted to trying to kill Kay and Ed. She said they were trying to steal you away.” He shook his head, and Sydney hoped he wasn’t feeling sorry for Daisy. Or Nadine.

  “Ha. She dumps me off at my aunt’s house when I’m tiny and now worries that someone is trying to steal me away. And she signed the adoption papers.” Daisy stood. “I assume I’ll be contacted. My uncle Al will serve as my legal counsel. Thank you for making me come in here. And thank you for screwing up so I had to see her.”

  The officer seemed upset until Daisy smiled.

  “Listen, if the mix up hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t know that I’ve made the right decisions. Nadine abandoning me was the best thing she’s done in her life. I’ll never forgive her for not being stronger than the drugs she loved more than me, but at least she didn’t try to take care of me. Thanks for your help. Let me know if I need to do anything else.” Daisy held her head high as she left the room.

  Sydney followed. Peace settled inside of her. Her sister was going to be just fine.

  Would Sydney?

  Marshal waited for them in the campground office. His van was the only vehicle Sydney could see. She figured Graham had already gone. Daisy didn’t seem to notice and she couldn’t help but wonder how things had been left between them. Sydney didn’t believe there was more than slight attraction between Daisy and Graham, but she couldn’t say for sure. She’d been so wrapped up in her own tragic love life she hadn’t seriously thought about what was going on with her sister’s heart.

  “Guess we’re on our own now.” Daisy commented as they got out of the car.

  “Yep. We’re going to be just fine.” Sydney hoped so. The words felt like a lie.

  Marshal hugged them before moving to the conference room at the back of the office. The only equipment present was a laptop computer. She and Daisy settled themselves around the screen as Marshal dimmed the lights.

  “Graham sends his apologies. His mom was rushed to the hospital this morning. Things don’t look good. He left as soon as his sister called.” Marshal shook his head. “He’s supposed to update me as soon as there’s news.”

  “Crap. I’m so sorry to hear that,” Daisy said, her heart breaking for Graham.

  “Keep us posted, okay? Let us know if there’s anything we can do for him.” Sydney sat at the table.

  There was a few seconds of awkward silence. Marshal checked his phone one more time and moved to the table.

  “You know how much I hate to say there’s no scientific evidence to dispute odd phenomena.” He glanced at Daisy, who nodded.

  “I have to say it here. This place definitely has a lot of paranormal activity. From what we found, there is nothing to be afraid of, mostly memory spirits who don’t interact with the living. There are a few others that seem to want to interact, though. You both have seen evidence of that, I believe.” He hit a few keys and brought up a screen, pressing play as he settled back in his chair.

  “What are we seeing here?” Daisy leaned in and Sydney had to reposition herself so she could see.

  “The woods outside the first bathhouse. The spirits can see and even touch people. There’s no malice. Listen to this.” Marshal opened a smaller screen and paused the first, preparing to start them at the same time. “This is a voice recording done at the same time we taped the figures in the trees.”

  He pressed ‘play’. Sydney stared at the screen as the tape played a scratchy, nighttime recording. Two figures came into view, moving slowly and toward each other. At first she thought they were Marshal’s crew, but soon she realized she could see right through them.

  Whoever manned the recording device asked if there was anyone who would like to speak to them. One of the figures turned toward where the question had been asked.

  She could see the figure nod. Goosebumps rose on her arms but she wasn’t scared.

  “Why are you still here?” the voice on the recording asked.

  “I cannot leave him. He is my one true love. He cannot go yet,” a faint female voice said, sounding like she was speaking directly into the recorder.

  The other stayed put, reaching arms out toward the female figure.

  “Why can’t he go yet?” Marshal’s voice asked.

  “He won’t. He won’t forgive himself so he can go. I must stay with him until he sees that his sins have been forgiven.” The voice sounded sad and resigned. The woman appeared to know Marshal could understand her.

  “Why does he torture himself?”

  “It was such a terrible accident. He had no way to know that I would come through these woods. He knew the traps were here, but didn’t warn me. He blames himself for not making sure. My father was watching me. I had to find another way.”

  Intrigued, Sydney scooted forward on her chair.

  “I must go to him.”

  “Do you see me or just hear me?” Marshal asked.

  “I see you. I see much. I try to help when I can but sometimes I only scare.” The woman leaned close to the camera, her soft features further blurred by the wispy whiteness of her face. “Don’t ever give up on love. The one you desire is not the one for you. She belongs to someone else and always will. Your heart’s love is out there. You will find true happiness.”

  Tears sprang to Sydney’s eyes and she couldn’t believe Marshal had shown them this clip. Especially since the woman obviously spoke about her and Marshal. The video continued to run, showing the woman returning to the male figure and holding him in her arms. Finally the video ended and Sydney couldn’t find a single thing to say.

  “Whoa. That was interesting. What happened?” Daisy leaned forward, looking at the screen where the video stopped showing the lovers entwined in each other’s arms.

  “We didn’t find much. Local lore tells of a young couple from rival families. Kind of a version of Romeo and Juliet. The older brother set a trap. The boy found out, but felt confident the girl wouldn’t come that way. She ended up with a metal spike through her heart. He found her the next morning after being angry all night that she hadn’t shown. They were supposed to elope. She forgave him on her dying breath and he shot himself right there. Sad story. Don’t know how much of it is true.” Marshal clicked out of the video.

  “Interesting. What else?” Daisy bounced with excitement but Sydney could only feel sad.

  “Your Native American travelers. It’s highly possible this was part of the Trail of Tears. They’re just memory spirits. I think the whole journey is done over and over again. Look at this.” He clicked ‘play’ and Sydney watched as several blanket-wrapped figures passed in front of the camera. “Back there.” He pointed to where three figures stood around a child-sized mound of dirt. “Many died on the journey. We have hours of this type of footage. It’s different every time. I’ll leave this with you to go over at your leisure.”

  Daisy pr
actically bounced in her seat. “There’s more, isn’t there? I told you, Syd. We have to use this on our marketing. People will pay to stay here just to see a ghost.”

  Sydney couldn’t find her voice. She nodded in a noncommittal kind of way.

  “This video is of the pond. I think they were ice skating. You’ve both seen this and it seems to happen every week. This was part of an estate at one time. The main house burned down with the entire family inside. And then there’s your bathhouse death.” Marshal pushed a button. “She’s gone now. Thought you’d want the tape. There’s also this.” He pushed another button and Sydney watched as several cats appeared on screen.

  “Ghost cats?”

  “That’s how it appears. I don’t know. I’m leaving you with about thirty hours of clean footage besides the pond and the trail. All of it shows something different and we’ve noticed the activity seems to go in cycles. Nothing appears threatening. If either of you feel like that’s changed, call me right away and we’ll reassess the situation.” Marshal popped out the disc and placed it into a case before handing it to Daisy.

  “Thanks, Marshal.” Daisy hugged him.

  “I’m thanking you. This was the best vacation I ever had. For many reasons.” He shot Sydney a sideways glance and what was left of her heart shriveled up and turned to dust. “We really learned a lot by being here and I think you’ve helped make us an even better investigative team. I wonder if you’ll let us come back in the off-season for training and stuff.”

  “Absolutely. You’re always welcome here. Even if you just want to get away from it all.” Daisy hugged him again, and Sydney wanted to cry.

  “I might take you up on that. That is, unless Sydney minds me hanging around.” Marshal’s need for reassurance poked at the ashes in her chest.

  She nodded. “Anytime.”

  Sadly, Marshal would always be just a very good friend and nothing more. What felt like a cold hand on her shoulder comforted her. Sydney didn’t know if that was Gramps or some other spirit, but it didn’t matter. She whispered a thank you.