by Sue Clifton
The Maglite gave several weak flickers before dying, but in the quick spurts of light, she saw the most horrific sight of her eighteen years. Deep-socketed eyes set in drying, dark flesh stared at her as if still begging for help, and Billie knew she had found Lisa. She gasped, and her own eyes rolled back in her head as darkness and loss of hope engulfed her.
****
As Harri followed Charlie, he led her around a curve that seemed to be taking them back in the opposite direction.
This must be a side tunnel. I hope Charlie knows where we’re going.
Harri heard cracking and popping and realized the old timbers in the mine were not sturdy in this section. She hoped they would not need to be rescued—or worse, recovered. She trembled and then put her fears out of her mind, ready to concentrate on the young girl, Billie. Charlie slowed, and Harri felt many loose rocks in their path, fallen from the walls of the tunnel.
Soon, she saw a faint light up ahead. Charlie slowed to a creep and put his arms out as if to prevent Harri from running past him, something highly unlikely as she breathed deeply, recovering from Charlie’s speed.
If I get out of here, I’m starting a whole new fitness regime, a tougher one than I did before. I will get back in shape like I was a year ago…or maybe more fit! No more chocolate pie and brownies for you, Harri. Well, maybe just a little piece of pie every once in a while.
Charlie stopped and reached for Harri’s flashlight. She knew the light was for her benefit; Charlie could see like Jezzie with his cat eyes.
He turned the flashlight on and shined it at the ground in front of him, and Harri saw a hole four or five feet in diameter just in front of them. Charlie seemed reluctant to move to the side of the hole, so Harri took the flashlight from his hand and moved to the edge, being careful not to get too close.
“The pit,” she whispered, and Charlie moved carefully to her side, still refusing to look into the hole. Harri turned the beam downward—and wanted to scream, but restrained herself. At the bottom of the deep pit, she could see two bodies—one that was partly skeletal, and the other that looked much fresher, in an early process of decomposition. But what Harri was most intent on was the body lying partially on top of the others. She thought she heard a sound, a soft moan.
“Billie! Billie!” Harri called.
Charlie looked in the hole now and called down. “Billie! Charlie bring friend!”
Slowly, the girl lifted her head and followed the beam of light upward.
“Help…me!” She begged in a soft, weak voice, and then closed her eyes again.
Before Harri had time to figure out how to get to Billie, she heard voices in the tunnel behind them. There was nowhere to run. The hole consumed the passageway. The only way out was back through the tunnel.
“Charlie, you have to get help!” she whispered. “Can you jump across the pit?”
Harri could see Charlie nodding his head. Charlie pushed Harri gently to the side and backed up several feet. Then he took off in a sprint. Harri held the beam where he could see better, or so she could see if he made it.
Harri could not believe how fast the little man’s legs moved. When he reached the pit, he never faltered as he sailed across the opening like a wild buck jumping a fence. Harri held her breath until Charlie cleared the hole, landing on the other side with a foot or two to spare.
“Run, Charlie! Run!” Harri whispered as loud as she dared, and run he did. Harri’s heart was racing, and she turned her flashlight off. She headed back through the tunnel to find an indentation where she might hide, but knew it was a long shot. She held tight to the big, heavy, metal flashlight, her only possible weapon. The voices were close, and her only choice now was to melt herself against the tunnel wall and wait.
I may go down, but I’m taking at least one of them with me with this big flashlight…if I can reach the top of those big monsters, that is.
****
Charlie heard voices ahead, but he did not stop. He hoped the bad people were behind him. But regardless, he had to get to the tunnel entrance he knew was close to the summer cabin where he and his dad had lived until his dad died. The cabin had burned a few years ago when lightning struck a tree nearby, and Charlie only visited the cabin now, living full time up the valley from Bar None in the old log winter cabin his dad had built before Charlie was born.
As Charlie got closer to the voices, he recognized them as more of his friends. His legs moved faster, and he began to call.
“Zach! Hank! Billie need help!”
All four friends heard Charlie’s voice at the same time. Hank and Zach left Cayce and Piper behind as they sprinted in the direction of Charlie’s panic-filled voice.
“Harri and Billie need help!” Charlie yelled as he took off running back the way he’d come.
Chapter Thirty-Two
A large helicopter landed in front of the hotel, kicking up so much dust Teesh had to hurry inside and shut the door. Before the propellers had stopped, several cars pulled up, filled with law enforcement agents. Teesh stepped back out but had to shield her eyes from the glaring lights of the helicopter. She motioned for the sheriff and one of his deputies to come inside. Soon, two FBI agents in full SWAT gear entered also.
The sheriff had a map spread out on the table by the time the FBI got inside.
“This is a map of the Duluth mine. I grabbed it out of the archives, knowing we’d need it. That old mine is extremely dangerous, more so the farther in you get, and any of the timbers could go at any time.”
The FBI team began studying the map. Soon, four more agents joined them, including the helicopter pilot. The head agent pointed to different entrances to the mine and directed teams to different locations.
“Tell me what my deputies and I can do to help.”
Once informed, the sheriff ordered his deputies to the entrance behind the antique shop and to another entry farther back in the mountain, accessible by a logging road. The FBI divvied up the entrances in the wilderness areas, and two of them headed toward Peg’s entrance. In just minutes, the helicopter took off again.
Teesh watched it all in the darkness that had fallen and hoped everything would be all right and the girl Billie would be found alive and safe. She also prayed Charlie and Harri would not be harmed. She felt guilty for not having told what she knew about Janie and Lester and hoped it would not have been helpful information that could have prevented some of this. Knowing it was now just a matter of time before she would have to disclose the whole story, she went back inside and got her big black purse off the sofa. She reached inside and pulled out a very old journal, took it to the table, and began reading it after she had prayed silently for her friends.
****
Harri held her breath. The voices were close. She had the element of surprise on her side and could at least knock out one of her opponents. Deep down, though, she knew she was no match for the two big men, one of whom was Steve.
My first impression of him was right on. I should have trusted my instincts. I hope he’s in the front so I can get in one good lick on him.
Harri stood still, her weapon held high, ready to hit whoever came first. She’d aim as close to between the eyes as possible. Then out of nowhere, a thick, black shadow covered her like a black drape, pinning Harri against the black tunnel wall and camouflaging her from the beam of the men’s flashlight. The drape smelled of tobacco and whiskey, and an overwhelming scent of expensive perfume. Harri thought this was definitely not the Reverend Abel Mather. She listened as the two men passed right by without seeing her.
Only when the men were out of sight and hearing did the shadow move. Harri turned her flashlight on and shined it back down the tunnel, away from the Keeper and Steve. The shadow moved in front of her beam and headed around the corner.
Harri chose to follow the shadow rather than the men, feeling it a better option—especially since the shadow had saved her from capture. She kept the light on low beam and close to the ground and continued back thr
ough the tunnel. The timbers creaked and groaned, causing her to pick up her pace.
When she reached a juncture and did not know which tunnel to take, the shadow appeared briefly, and Harri obediently followed. She heard a sound up ahead, like scurrying, and wondered whether a bear or a cougar had found its way into the tunnel.
So which do I prefer? Being brutalized by the Keeper and Steve? Falling into the pit to decompose with the others? Or being eaten by a bear?
Her mental images were interrupted by the appearance of two men—or were they monsters?—moving fast in her direction. Too late she realized they had long guns aimed at her.
Harri started to scream, but something moved toward the men. Her friendly neighborhood shadow knocked the guns out of their hands.
“What the hell?” the leader yelled.
“Stop! FBI!” The man had pulled his handgun from his side holster.
“No! Don’t shoot! My name is Harriet Wellington, and I come in peace!”
I come in peace? I sound like I’m addressing aliens. I’ll take the Keeper over aliens any day…I think.
Harri dropped her flashlight and held up her hands.
The two agents ran to her. “Are you Harri?”
“Yes. My friend Charlie is up ahead, trying to get help. There’s a young lady trapped in a deep pit in the tunnel, and two very bad guys are heading toward her.”
“Keep going straight ahead. You’ll come to the entrance. Other agents will be waiting for you there.” The agent picked up the flashlight and handed it to Harri as they gathered the assault weapons that had been mysteriously knocked out of their hands. Then the two took off toward the pit.
Harri felt some relief, but she would not feel totally at ease until she saw Charlie and Billie safely outside the pit and the tunnel. She also hoped the agents kicked some serious butt when they reached the Keeper and Steve.
Harri saw the shadow a couple more times and smiled, knowing the shadow had made the men drop their weapons. It seemed to be protecting her.
She reached the cellblock first. A wide, heavy door had been propped open, and she could see a lighted room full of people up ahead. She hoped the men she’d met had a radio and had told these agents she “came in peace.”
Before she went through the doors, she looked behind her. The shadow was gone, but just down the tunnel she heard a female laugh, a familiar cackle that was not mean-spirited.
“Thank you, Peg!” Harri whispered. “Remember, if you want some fashion advice, come see me at the hotel before I leave. Our little secret.” Peg gave her biggest laugh, showed herself for a second, and limped off down the tunnel.
****
Charlie led Hank and the others straight to the pit. Hank shined his flashlight down and saw Billie, but the girl was still.
Piper was first to join him. “She’s alive, Hank. I know she’s alive. Get me down to her, and I’ll give her CPR. It’s what I’m supposed to do!” Piper looked to her mom for support.
“As much as I hate to see my daughter in that pit, I think she’s right. Piper is trained in CPR, and she was shown.”
“I’ll go with you, Piper.”
“No. Denise is down there, too, Zach.”
“I know. But I can’t help Denise. My concern is you, Piper. Please let me be with you.”
“I don’t know how we’ll get either of you down there.” Hank looked around, but did not see a rope or anything that would reach to the bottom.
“Charlie help!” Charlie pulled everyone back away from the pit, backed up, and ran toward the pit, leaping over it easily. In seconds, he had disappeared. When he returned a few minutes later, he had a rope curled over his shoulder.
“Forest ranger rope.” Charlie pulled his old hat down tighter, threw the rope across the pit to Hank, but stayed on the other side. Charlie beamed with pride and puffed out his chest, and his friends knew that, in his mind, he was a forest ranger like his dad.
Hank tied the rope around his waist and gave the other end to Zach. “Are you two sure you want to do this?”
“Yes. I need to go first, Zach, and start CPR on Billie as soon as possible.”
Zach knew not to argue. He helped Piper tie the rope around her waist, then held it tight and let Piper gradually down into the hole. As soon as she reached the bottom, she untied the rope, knelt beside Billie, and felt her pulse.
“I can’t feel anything, but it could just be weak. I’m starting CPR.” Piper turned Billie over on her back, and just like in her dream, the Maglite rolled out of the girl’s hand.
Zach was by her side in no time, and Hank and Cayce watched from above. Cayce shone the flashlight on Billie.
Zach watched for any sign of life, focusing on the living and not the dead around him, keeping his back to Denise. He did not want to look at her.
He put his fingers on Billie’s wrist, hoping to get a pulse, and looked up and smiled at Piper when she gave him a quick glance. “I’m getting a pulse, Piper. Keep going.”
Billie coughed and opened her eyes. She looked up and saw a beautiful young woman with golden curls and light eyes smiling down at her. Rays of amber light surrounded the young woman as if she were heaven sent.
“Are you an angel?” Billie asked. “Am I in heaven? I see the light. Is my baby here with me?”
“You’re alive, Billie. You and your baby are alive. We’re going to get you out of here and take you home.” Piper reached for Zach’s hand while holding Billie’s head in her lap.
But before the three could be helped from the pit, voices were heard in the tunnel. Hank and Cayce motioned for Charlie to jump back across, but he shook his head and headed in the direction of the voices.
“The pit is right up here. If Billie’s still alive, I’ll shoot her, Steve. If you have a problem with that, go back now. We can’t risk her talking. When we leave, we’ll explode the mine and they’ll never find her or the others. The lambs and the Fold will be safe.”
The Keeper began whistling his battle song.
Billie scared! Charlie help!
The little man stopped at one of the oldest, weakest timbers and put his back to it, keeping his face toward the voices. He pushed against the timber, using all the strength in his little body. He could feel the timber shaking loose. Rocks, small rocks, pelted him, and he put his hands over his head to protect his old hat while continuing to push on the timber. As the voices got closer, Charlie pushed harder. A black shadow moved to his side, but he was not afraid. Charlie pushed, and the shadow helped. The timber swayed, and the rocks plummeted down. The tunnel rumbled. The Keeper and Steve saw Charlie and ran toward the pit and safety.
“Billie scared! Charlie not scared!” Charlie screamed at the men as he ran head-on toward them. He beat his chest and gave a deep-throated yell like Tarzan and charged into the big men, head-butting them, knocking them both into a heap on the mine floor.
The tunnel shook violently, the old timber gave way, and Charlie, the hero, and the two bad men were buried under an avalanche of timbers, rocks, and boulders.
Tears streamed down Cayce’s face as she realized what had happened. Hank took her hand and squeezed it, but only briefly.
“Mom, what’s going on? What was that noise? Where’s Charlie?”
Cayce couldn’t answer for a few seconds as she swallowed to prevent her voice from shaking. There was more to do. “It’s okay, Piper. We’re going to get you and Billie out. Are you ready, Zach?”
Cayce heard noises behind them and turned to see several men in SWAT gear racing through the tunnel.
“FBI!” the leader yelled.
Piper heard the FBI agent and squeezed Zach’s hand tighter. Holding tightly to Piper’s hand, Zach turned to face Denise, his eyes full of tears and compassion.
“I’m taking you home, Denise, to your parents. And then I’m going to find our baby.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cole Springs Hotel was a somber scene in the days following the mine disaster and the horrors lef
t by the Keeper and his fold. Charlie was gone, but he’d left a hero’s legacy and stories to be told for years to come.
Teesh visited Cayce, Harri, and Piper often during those days. She was not dealing well with Charlie’s death. On the fourth day, the day the emergency crew had said they should be able to reach Charlie’s body in the mine cave-in, Teesh arrived early, wanting to be there when the little man she had loved so dearly would be brought home to Bar None. An ambulance, a respectful formality, and a hearse were both waiting.
Harri had made iced tea and served them all in the parlor. In the middle of the tray was a big plate of Chocolate Factory Brownies, in honor of Charlie. Hank and Zach were not helping the emergency crew today, thinking they needed to be with Teesh, Piper, Cayce, and Harri when Charlie was brought out.
Everyone ate a brownie in his honor. Harri had cut them in bite-size squares, knowing it would be hard for any of them to eat. When they finished, Teesh took out the journal she had brought on the day of the catastrophe, meaning to share it at that time. No one in the group knew what Teesh wanted to share with them, but they were all eager to hear.
“It’s story time, my friends. But before I tell you a story, I have something for Zach. This is a journal given to Grandmother by Marissa. Marissa was the daughter of Reverend Mather. Marissa worked for Belle and was also my grandmother’s best friend, even after she went to work for Belle as a cook, not a prostitute.
“I’m not going to ruin the surprises you will find in this journal, Zach. You should read it for yourself, and it will add to your history of Bar None. Marissa gives you quite a bit of information about Belle and Absalom, as well. You can share it with the group once you’ve read it. My mother passed it on to me and said I was sworn to secrecy like she had been. I swore I wouldn’t tell what is in here, but I didn’t promise her no one else would. I think it will help some of the spirits to reach peace.” Teesh handed the journal to Zach, who thanked her by giving her a kiss on the cheek and promising to take good care of it.
