Lost

by Vivi Anna

  Kirsten patted him on the back. “You’re not in trouble, Tory, just got caught in the middle of a family feud.”

  “You’ll get your boat off the lake, son,” Samuel said.

  “Wait, you can’t do that,” Kirsten protested. “You can’t punish him for helping me.”

  “I can and I will.”

  Tory looked at Grant, who was already packing up their gear. “We weren’t doing anything wrong, Sir.”

  “You’re aiding this woman in an illegal search.”

  “It’s not illegal,” Kirsten sputtered. She looked at Tory. “Don’t listen to him, he’s being obstinate on purpose.”

  “Please pack up your gear, and we will escort you to the dock.”

  Tory, Grant and Kari scrambled about the boat, putting stuff together and stowing it away.

  Kirsten shook her head, as she stripped off the wetsuit. “I can’t believe you. Are you that scared of being wrong?”

  “I’m not wrong.”

  “You are!” she shouted. “She’s dead, Dad. She is dead and in this lake!”

  Everyone froze and looked at her. The three young people visibly paled.

  “Trust me. For once, listen to what I am saying to you. I was right about the Baker boy. I have been right on every case I’ve worked around the world. I am right about this.”

  “Kirsten, I will not…”

  “Stop blaming me for Mom’s death and LISTEN TO ME!”

  He looked at her as if she’d just slapped him across the face. Maybe in a way she just had. She was shaking and she knew it wasn’t because of the cold water.

  He looked at the other people on the boats. “This isn’t the time or place to talk about this.”

  “No, it never is, is it?” she sighed angrily.

  “Let’s get back to shore.”

  Without another word everyone drove their respective boats back to the dock. Adam helped the kids get their boat out of the water and onto their trailer. Once they were gone, he also tied up Henry’s old boat, leaving Kirsten and Samuel alone.

  Her father looked at her, his face drawn and filled with worry. “I’ve… I’ve never blamed you for your mother’s death. How could I?”

  “Ever since she died you’ve been looking at me like I’d kept her illness a secret. Like I knew she was going to die and I didn’t tell you. Like I prevented you from saving her.”

  He took off his hat and wiped at his brow. “Kirsten, I’ve never felt that way. Never. I’m so sorry if you’ve thought that.”

  “You’ve just been so adverse about my gifts, never once wanting to believe me, I just thought it was because if I didn’t know about Mom’s cancer, how could I know about all this other stuff?”

  He sighed, and shook his head. “I just don’t know how. How to believe that you can ‘see’ things that seem impossible. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”

  “I know it doesn’t, Dad. But, that doesn’t make it not real. It doesn’t stop the dreams and visions from happening. They happen. I see people’s deaths, I see what happens to them. Believe me, if I could turn it off I would. Life would be so much easier if I could. Believe me. This is so not the life I wanted for myself.”

  He put his hat back on, then glanced out at the water.

  “How far did you dive down?”

  “Ten feet, to the bottom of the shoreline.”

  He nodded, then picked up his radio from his belt. “We’ll get the trolley out here. We’ll have to drag the whole lake.”

  She sighed. “Thank you.”

  “We’ll see.”

  Chapter 9

  Kirsten stood on the shore and watched the police boat in the distance drag the lake for the body. She’d been standing on edge of the water for the past three hours. She could’ve moved, she supposed, at least gone inside Henry’s and waited where it was warm, but she couldn’t bring herself to walk away.

  The wind had picked up and it pulled at the hair in her ponytail. Some strands had come loose and were now blowing around her head obscuring her vision every once in a while. She pulled her jacket tighter about herself and shivered. A storm was definitely coming. Grey clouds from the north were blowing in.

  Adam came to stand beside her, handing her a hot steaming cup of coffee. “Here.” Then he draped a thick wool jacket over her shoulders.

  She took the coffee gratefully and sipped. “Thanks.”

  He’d been out on the boat for the past two hours, then came in to switch shifts. He’d yet to leave as well. Except to go to Henry’s and get hot coffee and a jacket for her.

  “You should go back to your room, Kirsten, and get some rest. I’ll call you if anything comes up.”

  “No, I can’t leave until it’s done one way or the other.”

  “What if we don’t find her?”

  She shrugged. “Then I’ll leave town and Dad doesn’t have to worry about his precious reputation anymore.”

  “That’s not fair, Kirsten. He’s out there ain’t he? Doing what you asked him to do?”

  “Yeah. You’re right.” She shivered again.

  Adam put his arm around her and pulled her to him.

  She eyed him warily. “Just because I’m letting you comfort me doesn’t mean we’re an item again.”

  “Relax woman, I’m just consoling a friend. A friend I like to have sex with, mind you, but a friend nonetheless.”

  She laughed. It was good to laugh. She had to admit reluctantly, it was good to have Adam’s arm around her. She didn’t often allow people close to her, so it was nice to be able to let down her guard.

  “Do you think Henry could fix us up something? I’m starving.”

  Adam chuckled. “Oh I’m sure he could. You know how much he loves that damn BBQ of his.”

  She let him turn her and steer her toward Henry’s dive shop. Right now, she let herself be comforted, let her guard down a little. Because she knew that regardless of what her dad found or didn’t find, she was going to need all the strength she could muster to do what needed to be done.

  After another three hours, it was apparent there was no body to drag up. At least not in the coming storm. Her dad had trolled the entire lake’s edges and then some. She knew it was possible that the body made it out deeper into the lake, where it was still unknown how deep it really went. She didn’t think so. That wasn’t how bodies worked. Physics and all dictated they would only sink so far before coming to the surface again.

  She waited at the dock as the sheriff tied the boat off and disembarked. His face was hard as he approached her.

  “Nothing. There’s nothing out there, Kirsten. We have to call it a day on account of the storm coming.”

  She nodded. “Thanks for trying.”

  “Maybe your dream was just a dream, Kirsten. Ever thought of that?”

  “They’re never just dreams, Dad. I haven’t had a normal dream since I was ten.” She turned and walked back to the dive shop where her car was parked. The urge to flee was strong. She didn’t want to face his accusing looks any more. His or any of the others. She knew what she knew, and no one could tell her different. In all her years of helping people, helping the police solve cases, she’d never doubted herself. Until now. Her father had that innate ability to do that to her.

  “Kirsten,” he called after her.

  She stopped but didn’t turn around. She waited until he caught up to her.

  “I was thinking that since you’re here, that we could have dinner or something together.”

  She searched his face, not sure exactly what she was looking for. He’d never been an affectionate man, was not one for hugs or soft words, but she could still see the love there in his eyes.

  “Talk about those things we should’ve talked about before,” he continued.

  “Yeah, that would nice. I’m going to leave tomorrow afternoon. So, how about breakfast before I go?” Despite the plaguing dreams, she had to get out of town. She couldn’t do any more for Renee. And not destroy herself.

 
“I’ll meet you at Ma’s.”

  She nodded, then continued on her way back to her car. She handed Adam the wool jacket as she passed Henry’s.

  “Do you want to have dinner later?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m leaving tomorrow. Let’s just say our goodbyes now.”

  His face fell and she knew she’d hurt him. She just wasn’t in any condition to be pleasant. If she spent any more time with him, she’d hurt him even worse.

  “I didn’t know you were so cold.”

  “Then I suppose you don’t really know me at all.”

  “All right then. Goodbye, Kirsten.”

  “See you, Adam. Take care of yourself.” She opened the car door and slid in. She didn’t look in the rear-view mirror as she drove away, although it took everything she had not to.

  Mrs. Turnbull brought Kirsten’s supper up to her room that night. She knew not to ask any questions, just set the tray down on the quaint table near the veranda, then left just as quickly and silently.

  Kirsten picked at her food, her appetite long gone. She did manage to down a third of the bottle of red wine that accompanied the meal. Pushing her plate away, she filled up her glass again, then took it out onto the balcony to stare at the turbulent waters.

  The storm had settled in.

  Wind whipped at her hair and her jacket as she leaned over the railing. Droplets of rain spattered her face and dotted her clothes. She wiped at them but the cold and rain didn’t force her back inside. She needed to confront the lake. Ask it why it had lied to her. Why it had called her home for no reason?

  “Why?” she screamed. “Why am I here?”

  The wind whipped around her, yanking on her hair and her clothes. Rain pelted her hard across the cheek leaving stinging marks in its wake. The waves on the lake crashed up against the shore. Sounds, like rocks being smashed together, reverberated around her and caused her skin to prickle.

  It was as if the lake was screaming back at her.

  And it was louder and angrier.

  The wind picked up, violently pushing her back from the railing. Her hand bumped against the metal and it sent her wineglass tumbling over. Kirsten watched as red wine splashed on the beach, creating crimson lines in the sand trickling toward the lake.

  Rain assailed her harder, making it damn near impossible to see beyond the deluge. She wiped at her face, but it proved to be too much. Retreating to the sanctuary of her room, Kirsten shut the balcony doors behind her and leaned on them to catch her breath. She hadn’t seen a storm like that in years.

  Best thing for her to do now was to hunker in for the night. She suspected the power would be going soon so she searched the room for candles. After a short perusal she found some in the night table drawer. She took them out, as well as the lighter that she’d discovered as well.

  As soon as she found them, the lights flickered. Kirsten lit two, just as the lights flickered again, and then went out. She set one candle down on the night table and one on the table by the balcony.

  Then came a knock at her door. “Kirsten? Are you okay in there?” It was Mrs. Turnbull. She opened the door and came in, carrying an old kerosene lamp.

  “I’m fine, thank you, Mrs. Turnbull.”

  “Oh yes, I see you found the candles.” She smiled. “Okay, well, I’ll leave you be, then. Call me if you need anything.”

  “I will, thank you.”

  Once she was gone, Kirsten collapsed on the bed on her back, her arms flung out. She was exhausted just dealing with her emotions, let alone battling with nature. The sound of the whistling wind and the constant patter of the rain on the window lulled her. Her eyes were heavy and at last she closed them. Maybe she could sleep through the storm and have a new perspective on the situation when she woke.

  Or maybe, she would dream of an answer.

  Chapter 10

  Kirsten.

  She twitched in her sleep, brushing at her right ear.

  Kirsten.

  Was someone calling her name? Was it her dad calling to her?

  Kirsten. I am waiting for you. Come and find me.

  She bolted upright on the bed and looked toward the window. It was still raining. Although it was dark now, she could hear it pinging against the glass.

  Stretching, Kirsten walked to the balcony door and pulled it open. She walked out onto the balcony, leaning over the railing and looked at the lake.

  In the dark, she could barely make out the rolling water but she could hear it crashing against the shore. The lake was still angry. She had to console it.

  Silently, she left her room, crept down the stairs and out the door to the beach. She didn’t bother with shoes or a jacket. She couldn’t really feel the cold rain drumming against her skin or the wind that slashed at her body. She couldn’t feel anything but the pull of the water.

  The sand sucked at her bare feet as she crossed the beach, trying to stop her from reaching the water’s edge. Every step she took was laborious. By the time the waves lapped at her toes she was tired, bone-weary. But, she had to heed the call of the lake. Nothing else mattered.

  At the lake’s edge, she peered out across the water and listened. The whispers were getting louder. She could almost make out what they were saying, what they were trying to tell her. Maybe if she got closer to the water she could hear.

  Dropping to her hands and knees, Kirsten closed her eyes and allowed her face to be battered by the waves. Water got up her nose and in her mouth, but she stayed, fearing that if she moved she would miss something important, something vital.

  Still the whispered words were muddled. The sound of the crashing waves interfered with the message. She needed to be in the water, under it, if she was going to hear them properly.

  Kirsten crawled forward, into the water. The swells tried to push her back, tried to keep her away, but she pushed on, determined.

  “What are you doing?”

  Kirsten heard the words over the howling wind but they didn’t come from the water. They came from behind her on the shore. She swung around to see who was calling to her.

  Debbie March stood there, her soaked hair plastered to her wet face. Her jacket whipped against her in the violent wind.

  “Debbie?” Kirsten struggled to her feet.

  “Why did you have to come back here?”

  “What do you mean? To the house?”

  “To Bandit Creek.”

  It was then that Kirsten noticed how agitated Debbie looked. Even in the darkness, she could see the woman’s hands fisting at her sides. Open. Close. Open. Close. As if they were breathing hard on their own.

  “Let’s go inside,” Kirsten suggested. “Have some hot tea and catch up on old times.”

  “Everything was okay before you showed up. I had everything under control. Until you started asking questions. Stirring up trouble. Just like you always have.”

  “What trouble is that, Debbie?”

  Debbie shook her head back and forth. “Why?” She yelled as she slammed her fist against her leg. “You should have stayed away, bitch. You should have never come back to Bandit Creek.”

  “Renee told me to come, Debbie. She told me what you did to her.”

  Debbie sneered at her. “That little whore should’ve kept away from my Billy.”

  “She wasn’t a whore, Debbie. She was a confused vulnerable girl with a whole future in front of her.”

  “She was a whore! She kept coming around the office, flaunting herself in front of my husband. She took him from me. He didn’t want me anymore after having her.” She was crying now. Her tears mixing in with the rain pelting them.

  “She didn’t have to die, Debbie. You didn’t have to kill her.”

  “Yes I did! Just like I have to kill you!” She launched at Kirsten, her hands curled into claws reaching for her neck.

  As Kirsten tried to get out of the way, she stumbled in the wet sand sucking at her feet and collided with Debbie. They both tumbled to the be
ach. Kirsten landed hard on her side, knocking the air out of her lungs. She didn’t have time to take in a breath before Debbie was on her squeezing her throat.

  Soon, the waves surged over her. Soon, she was under the water, taking tiny breaths when she could. Closing her eyes, she called out for help in her mind.

  Renee. Help me.