In Darkness Transformed

by Alexis Morgan

  He walked slowly in the most likely direction, scanning the ground for any sign of tracks. His patience was finally rewarded just past the first cluster of trees where someone had tripped over a root jutting up from the ground and gone down hard. The footprints were easier to pick out after that, mainly because the guy who’d made them was limping and the right prints were deeper than the left.

  As Eli moved over the next rise, a few broken branches clearly marked the man’s route. It looked as if he’d been in a real hurry to get someplace. But where? As far as Eli knew, there wasn’t a town, road, or even another cabin for miles in any direction.

  It didn’t help that the clouds were rolling back in. Maybe he should give up and try again tomorrow. He was about to turn back when he realized the trail led directly toward a rocky outcropping a short distance ahead. Might as well check it out since he’d come that far. It would serve as a handy landmark when he resumed his search in the morning.

  He followed the curve of the rock around to the right only to discover the tracks disappeared into a cave. Keeping a wary eye on the entrance, Eli studied the surrounding area for any sign of recent activity. He knelt to get a closer look at the ground, hoping to make better sense of what he was seeing. It appeared someone had been going in and out of the cave with some degree of frequency.

  Not only that, he could pick out bits and pieces of several different sizes of prints. There was a heel print that came from a man’s boot and another might’ve been made by an athletic shoe. The other tracks were harder to read because the soles of the shoes were completely smooth. Some kind of moccasin?

  After he’d learned all he could from studying the ground, it was time to venture inside the cave itself, not that he was going to go barging in helter-skelter. He got the flashlight out of his pocket and checked his pistol one last time. Pausing at the entrance, he listened hard. Nothing but silence. If the crazy guy was living in the cave, it didn’t appear he was home right now. Regardless, the bastard could be waiting just inside with his sword drawn.

  Taking a deep breath, Eli ducked under the low arch of the entrance and paused just inside to sweep the flashlight from side to side. The cave was about twelve feet wide and went straight back for about twenty feet before curving off to the left. He was about to venture farther into the interior when a strange flash of light came from around the bend in the cave. He froze in position, his grip tightening on his gun as he waited to see what happened next.

  A second later, the silence was broken by the sound of shuffling footsteps. He held his position until an older man stumbled into sight, his white shirt soaked through with blood. Eli shoved the flashlight into his jacket pocket as he charged across the short distance to grab the badly wounded man by the arm. There was enough light coming from the entrance behind him to maneuver in the cave, but he wasn’t about to let go of his gun until he knew for sure the two of them were alone.

  “Let’s get you out of here.”

  He supported the injured man with his free hand until they’d left the cave behind. Once outside, Eli slipped the pistol back into his pocket. “How badly are you hurt?”

  “Bad enough,” the man grunted. He wheezed, and his face turned a worrisome shade of gray.

  He tried to take another step just as his legs gave out on him. If not for Eli, he would’ve face-planted in the rocky mud. The time for caution was long past. He settled the man on the ground and pulled up his shirt to assess the damage. Damn, it looked bad. Eli peeled off his flannel shirt to get to his T-shirt. He used his pocketknife to cut a large square of the soft cotton fabric to use as a makeshift bandage. He secured it in place with more strips cut from his T-shirt and then checked the man for other injuries. There were a couple of shallow cuts on his arms and another deeper one on his lower leg. Those weren’t life threatening, but the severity of the stomach wound combined with his age definitely were.

  “Look, mister, my name is Eli Jervain, and I live a short distance from here. I could hustle home and call the authorities, but it would be faster if I drive you to the hospital myself. If you can’t walk, I can carry you to my truck. It’ll probably hurt like hell, though. Is that okay?”

  The man’s faded gray eyes were hazy with pain when they fluttered opened long enough for him to meet Eli’s gaze. He whispered, “Halder Dennell. Let’s do it.”

  “Dennell? Are you related to Safara?”

  “Granddaughter,” Halder said as he struggled to stand up.

  Another member of Safara’s family up here on the mountain? Couldn’t be a coincidence, but now wasn’t the time to poke at that piece of the puzzle. He lifted Halder to his feet and then half dragged and half carried him back to the cabin. Eli was breathing hard by the time he reached his truck, while his companion was either unconscious or stoic as hell, because he hadn’t made a single complaint since they’d started down the mountain.

  Eli tucked Halder in the front seat and fastened the seat belt for him. He was relieved to see the man was still breathing. He ran into the house long enough to ditch the broadsword and to grab an old blanket to help keep the old man warm until they reached the small community hospital down in Ridgewick.

  On the way, he tried calling Safara’s cell phone several times. No answer. It was frustrating, but maybe she was out on a call or something and couldn’t respond. Finally, he gave up on reaching her and left her a message. “Safara, it’s Eli. Your grandfather was injured up here on the mountain. I’m taking him directly to the hospital. Meet us there.”

  He tried to avoid the worst of the ruts on the way down the mountainside, but right now time was more important than comfort for either of them. When he reached the highway, he gunned the engine, not all that worried about the speed limit. If the cops stopped him for speeding, they could just provide escort to the hospital. Twenty minutes later, he pulled up in front of the emergency entrance of the small hospital and shut off the engine.

  “Mr. Dennell, hold on for a few minutes longer. We’re at the hospital now. I’m going to run inside and get help.”

  The old man may have nodded or maybe he’d just drawn a deep breath. He was so still now that there was no way to know for sure. Eli slammed out of the truck and hit the ground running. Inside, he caught the attention of a man wearing scrubs. “I have an injured man outside. He’s bleeding pretty badly.”

  The man didn’t waste time with questions. He ran out of sight but was back within seconds with a stretcher and two more people following hot on his heels. The three of them eased Halder out of the truck and lifted him onto the gurney. As they wheeled him back into the hospital, Eli parked his truck and returned to the waiting room. There wasn’t anything more he could do for Halder himself, but the police were going to want a statement from him at some point.

  Besides, he wanted to be there for Safara. He’d barely sat down in one of the plastic chairs when she came running through the door. He waved his hand to draw her attention in his direction. She charged across the short distance to where he sat.

  “Where is my grandfather? Is he okay?”

  “They just took him back to one of the examination rooms. He was still hanging in there when we got here. More than that I don’t know.”

  He patted the chair next to him. “Sit down and catch your breath. I’m sure they’ll send someone out when they’ve had a chance to check him over.”

  She shook her head and started toward the ER door. “No, I need to know now.”

  Eli lurched up out of his chair to stop her. When she tried to dodge around him, he caught her in his arms. “I know you’re worried about Halder, but let them do their job.”

  “He needs me.”

  She fought hard to get free, but he held on tight. “Please, Safara. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Finally, the fight went out of her. She collapsed against his chest and held on for dear life. “How bad is it? And what happened? How did you happen to find him?”

  “Sit down while I get each of us a cup of coffee f
rom the vending machine, and I’ll tell you everything I know.”

  Safara let him settle her into a nearby chair. She leaned forward, her elbows on her knees and her face buried in her hands. He hurt for her, but there wasn’t anything either of them could do for her grandfather right now but sit and wait.

  He got two cups of black coffee. It might taste terrible, but they both needed the hit of caffeine and heat right now. “Can I call anyone to come sit with you?”

  She accepted the cup but made no effort to drink it. “Dad was out of town at a meeting. I called him after I got your message. He’s already started back, but he’s picking my aunt up on the way. She lives down closer to Puget Sound near Bellingham, so they should be here in a couple of hours.”

  She looked at him with eyes bruised with pain. “I’ll be all right by myself if you need to leave.”

  He wasn’t going anywhere and said so. Before he could launch into the details about how he came to be the one to bring her grandfather down off the mountain, a woman wearing a bloodstained gown over her scrubs came into the room.

  “I’m Dr. Kraus. Are you the man who brought in Mr. Dennell?”

  Eli stood and offered his hand to Safara and tugged her back up to her feet. “I am, and this is his granddaughter, Safara Dennell.”

  “That answers my next question, which would’ve been if you knew if he had any family in the area.” She smiled at Safara. “Sorry, I just started working here this past week, so I’m new in town. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, but let’s talk about your grandfather.”

  “How is he?”

  The doctor studied the chart in her hand. “He has multiple lacerations—on his arms, leg, and a really deep one across his abdomen. We’ll be taking him to surgery to repair the damage. Right now we’re giving him fluids while we wait on his lab work.”

  When she looked up again, her smile looked a bit tight. “He’s holding his own for now, especially considering his age.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “Probably not until after he’s out of recovery. Right now, he’s being prepped for surgery. I’m sure someone will be out soon with the usual paperwork for you to fill out.”

  She gave Safara’s uniform a pointed look. “I was also going to say that we need to report this to police, but it appears they’re already here.”

  “I’m a deputy here in Ridgewick, and my father is the chief of police.” Safara stood taller. “However, from what Mr. Jervain here has told me, the injuries occurred in the county sheriff’s jurisdiction. I’ll give them a call.”

  “All right, then. We’ll keep you posted as much as we can.”

  “We’ll be right here, Doctor.” Eli threaded his fingers through Safara’s and gave her hand a soft squeeze, hoping the small skin-to-skin contact would be of some comfort. “Unless there’s a cafeteria close by. I could use a sandwich about now, and I’m guessing Safara could, too.”

  “It’s to the left down that hall. I’ll let the nurses know that’s where you’ll be.”

  When she disappeared back through the double doors to the ER just as abruptly as she’d appeared, Eli said, “Let’s get something to eat, Safara.”

  She shook her head. “You go. I need to be here.”

  “Nope, I’m not leaving you alone. Besides, you’re going to need all your strength to help your grandfather. While we eat, I’ll tell you what happened.”

  Not that she was going to like what he had to say. He tugged her along in his wake into the small cafeteria. She sat down at a table and made several phone calls while he grabbed sandwiches and drinks. Eating would give Safara something else to concentrate on until someone from the sheriff’s office arrived to take his report.

  When he put the tray down in front of her, Safara picked up one of the sandwiches and began to unwrap it. But instead of eating it, she set it back down. “So, what happened to my grandfather? What kind of accident was he involved in?”

  It was time to play hardball before the sheriff’s deputy arrived. By then it would be too late to come up with an alternative but plausible story that fit the facts. “We both know he wasn’t in an accident, Safara. I found him in a cave up on the ridge where you were attacked. Someone had carved him up pretty good, and I’m guessing it was the same bastard I fought with.”

  He let his anger come to a rolling boil. “So do you want to tell me what’s really going on around here, or do I tell the county sheriff that you and your father are covering for a serial killer who’s been active in the state for the past four years?”

  7

  Safara bit back the urge to curse long and loud. For the moment they had the room to themselves, but that could change at any time. The most she could do was glare at Eli for several seconds before speaking.

  Finally, she forced her hands to unclench and laid them flat on the table as she leaned in to meet Eli’s gaze head-on. “I am a sworn officer of the law. I have not and will not ever protect a felon from facing justice. You don’t know my father very well, but he’s the most honorable man I’ve ever met.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do.”

  When he didn’t immediately respond, she sat back in her chair and reached for her sandwich. Maybe if she pretended the matter was settled, they could concentrate on their meal.

  No such luck.

  “I take it that when the deputy from the sheriff’s department gets here, you would prefer that I not mention what happened to you when I give my statement about your grandfather. You know, how he stumbled out of a cave all sliced, diced, and dripping blood only a short distance from where you were attacked with a sword just the other night.”

  She winced at the graphic description of her grandfather’s injuries. “We don’t know the two incidents are connected.”

  Eli, the big jerk, actually snickered and rolled his eyes. “Well, it’s either that or we have multiple crazies running loose up there all armed with swords. And if the deputy searches the department database for any similar cases, what do you think he’ll find? Think Martin’s death might pop up, too?”

  Darn, darn, double darn.

  What could she say to that? She really wished her father were there to field these questions. He might not have any better answers, but it wouldn’t bother him to lie to Eli. In contrast, it made her sick. She not only owed him for saving both her and her grandfather, she liked him far too much to want to deceive him like this.

  Finally, she slumped back in her chair and sighed. “I know I don’t have the right to ask this of you, but please don’t mention the attack on me and don’t bring up Martin’s name unless the deputy does.”

  Eli picked up his sandwich and took a big bite. This wasn’t the first occasion where he’d used food to buy himself time before answering one of her questions. She hoped he didn’t make a habit of it, but she had no reason to complain. It wasn’t as if she was rushing to tell him the truth, either. He finally washed the bite down with a swig of his drink.

  “Fine. I’ll tell them I was out hiking on the mountain when I crossed paths with your grandfather. He could barely breathe and lost consciousness right after he told me his name. I performed rudimentary first aid and then carried him to where my truck was parked. It was faster to bring him to the hospital myself than to call for help.”

  He paused to take another bite. Gosh, she was really starting to hate that sandwich. After another drink, he continued with his new narrative. “I recognized his last name and figured in a town this size that you and he had to be related. I called you on the way here, which is why you arrived right after we did. Halder was unconscious when we got here, and the doctor said they would need to take him straight to surgery. Since he wasn’t able to talk, we don’t know anything about what happened before I found him, and I didn’t see anyone else up on the mountain. End of story. Short, sweet, and even mostly true.”

  “Thank you, Eli.”

  He shrugged and went back to eating. His reaction had her cop senses
tingling. The man was definitely up to something, most likely something she wouldn’t like. Before she could call him on it, a young woman poked her head into the room and looked around. As soon as she spotted them, she pasted on a bright smile and headed straight for them. She was pushing a mobile stand that held a computer screen and keyboard.

  “Hi, I’m Angelica from Admissions. Are you Mr. Dennell’s granddaughter?”

  “I am.”

  “Great! I have a few questions for you.”

  While the two of them dealt with all the requisite paperwork, the deputy from the sheriff’s office arrived. The knot in Safara’s chest eased up when she spotted Will Dayson. Not only was he a familiar face, he was married to one of her distant cousins.

  He grabbed a cup of coffee and waited patiently while Safara and Angelica finished up the last few questions. As the younger woman wheeled her cart back out the door, Will joined her and Eli at the table. He glanced at Eli before turning his attention to her. “Sorry to hear about your grandfather, Safara. What the hell happened?”

  She performed the necessary introductions first. “Deputy Will Dayson, this is Eli Jervain. He’s the one who found Granddad and brought him to the hospital. He moved into Martin Jervain’s cabin up on the mountain about a month ago.”

  “Glad you stuck around, Mr. Jervain. I’ll need to get your statement.” Will opened his laptop and set it on the table. While it booted up, he said, “I met old Martin a time or two. I take it you two were related?”

  Eli nodded. “We were, although it’d been years since I’d seen him. That coffee smells good. I’m going to get a cup. Safara, can I get you anything while I’m up?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  While Eli’s back was turned to them, Will mouthed, “How much does he know?”

  She responded in kind. “Nothing for sure, but he’s seen enough to have questions.”

  Eli was already on his way back, cutting off any chance for more communication. Regardless, Will would tread carefully with Eli. He would do his job, but he’d do it without putting her people at any unnecessary risk.