Chapter 6
The woman lay on her side, curled up in the fetal position. Even though Bobie Parker was feeling totally out of it, and pain shot through every pore in her body, she still heard the key in the door and within seconds the turn of the knob. Feeling a pain shoot through her body she tried to move, she wanted to stand and face these creatures of the devil, instead all she could do was roll onto her back. She stared, waiting for them to come and take her to that room again.
Expecting the man or the woman in black wearing a black hood, instead she saw a young woman standing in the opening looking in. Something was amiss, for this person was dressed in blue jeans, a tan sweatshirt and there was nothing covering her face. Willing her body to move she began to scoot backwards, doing her best to get away from this new person.
Closing the door, the woman spoke, "You don't need to run from me. I will not hurt you, like the others. Please, save what strength you have."
Bobie stopped, squinted her eyes, doing her best to see the woman that was approaching.
She had full pink lips, wide eyes and wore little makeup, her hair hung loosely about her
head, it was light brown and had been cut in an uneven pattern. Her skin was tan, like she had been outdoors a lot. "Who are you?"
"My name is Sarah but it is not important who I am. I know what has been happening to you and it is wrong. The least I can do is bring you water and something to eat."
"Why would you do this, if you know what has been happening, then you know these people are evil. What you are doing will put you in the same place I am."
"I will take my chances. Can't see them doing this to you without helping in some way."
"Want to help? Then get a message to Skylar Richmond, tell her what is going on and where . . ."
The woman shook her head before Bobie finished the last words. "Can't. Only one phone here and it is with someone that would not let me get near it. They won't let me leave the place. If I could, I would have contacted someone way before now." She dropped to her knees and continued, "Try to sit up, use the wall for your back to help support you. Drink some water, eat the sandwich, it's not much but more than they have been giving you."
It was an effort but with Sarah's help she did sit. "I am so thirsty, if there is something in this water, I hope it takes me away from this place."
"I promise that it is just water. Unlike the drink you had at the airport. Drink. Eat, it is only a baloney sandwich but it will help, I hope. I will sit, and when you feel like it, we can talk."
When Bobie had finished the sandwich and the small bottle of water, she leaned back against the wall. "Thank you. I am not sure why you are doing this but thank you."
"My father was Jake Clemens, he knew your father. There was a time when they were
close."
"I don't recall the name."
"You may not have, they were school chums and when your father became the sheriff, they were on different sides of the law. Still, your father, saved mine from a very iffy situation at one time."
"Where is your dad now? Is he one of the people here?"
The woman's eyes became wider than usual as she exclaimed, "Oh no! He would never have had anything to do with this."
"Then where is he? Isn't someone worried about you?"
She looked down before speaking, "No. He died in a tragic car accident last year, and my mother passed a year before. I have no one. I am sure you are wondering how I got involved with the people here."
Bobie nodded, "Yes, I am wondering. You don't fit the profile."
"Well, I saw this add in the newspaper for a receptionist, I needed a job and I applied. I got more than I bargained for though. They wanted someone to do their bidding and I
have no way out."
"Tell them you changed your mind, and it is not what you applied for."
"I tried and was shown the body of the woman that had applied before me. And so here I sit, a prisoner but not like you, yet anyway."
"Sorry. There are some horrible people in the world. Can you tell me where we
are?"
She shook her head. "Brought me here at night and I had a blindfold on. All I know is the building, well parts of the building. They do let me roam the halls pretty much, as long as I don't bother people or ask too many questions."
Sighing, Bobie laid her head back, feeling the coolness of the wall, she closed her eyes. "I will not last too much longer. If I don't make it, will you . . ."
She reached out and grasped Bobie's right hand in hers. "Tell Skylar Richmond that you love her. I will. But she already knows this. And you will get out of here. The woman will come for you."
A frightened look crossed Bobie's face as she uttered, "No. Sky can never come looking for me."
"If she loves you, like you love her, she will. I know I would."
"You don't understand. I am like this because I won't do what they want. They want me to call Sky, give her an address where she can find me and when she does they will capture her."
"They have beat you up, they have used many interrogation methods, even the water board but you have stayed strong. I feel so bad for you. Why do these people want Skylar Richmond?"
"I have no idea who they are but if I was to make a guess, it may have something to do with the incident at the Kiva. Someone is trying to get back at us, not sure why but I can't think of anything else. Sky has done her thing, I have done mine but to have both of us involved somehow in this, it all points back to the Kiva."
Sarah ran her tongue over her bottom lip before she spoke, "At times I hear bits and pieces. I have no idea why they are doing this. Have never heard the word, kiva."
Bobie gazed down at her bare feet and said, "They even took my boots. It is not the warmest here. They took my clothes and put me in this terrible blue smock and matching pants. I never know one day to the next what I will be wearing. Do you know where my boots are?"
"No."
"Clothes?"
"No. I'm sorry. They must be in the part of the building I am not allowed to go. I think they probably took your boots to keep you from escaping. Kinda hard walking barefooted
in unknown territory, it's just a guess."
"Then they don't know be very well, because boots or not, if I got the chance I would leave."
"I have to go before someone comes and finds me here. If I can figure out a way, I will try to contact Skylar Richmond for you."
Bobie reached out and grasped the woman's right arm. "Don't do anything that will put you in here with me or worse. Thanks again for the water and sandwich."
Sarah attempted to smile as she stood and said, "You're welcome. Hang in."
Bobie watched the woman as she left the room and closed the door, once it was shut and everything was quiet again, she laid her head back against the wall and murmured, "Sky, you can't help me, stay in California, be safe."
Sky was looking down the path and it wasn't long before she spotted Tara Coltrane sitting, doing what looked like drawing in the dirt with a stick. Didn't take long to make it down the path and soon approach the woman.
"What are you drawing?"
Tara looked up to see the tall redhead approach. "Good to see you are up and ready to go. I was just trying to draw out a plan."
Sky gazed down at the marks in the dirt before she asked, "Do you really think playing with a stick in the dirt, making lines is a plan?"
"Well, it's a start. Tell me what do you have planned?"
Sky plopped down on the ground, picked up a stick and crossed out Tara's proposed plan.
"Making signs in the dirt will not get Bobie back. I do agree it is a good diversion, keep the mind occupied. I have to admit, I am no closer to finding Bobie than I was when it happened. There has to be a connection I am missing."
Tara stood, reached out and pushed Sky back, it was hard enough to cause the woman to fall backwards and land fully on the ground. Within seconds, Tara sit straddling her stomach, while holding a sharp knife to Sky's throat. "What's the matter Richmond, cat got your tongue?"
Sky stared up into the cool looking eyes of the woman she had come to trust. "What are you doing? Some werewolf bite you out here? Get off of me Coltrane!"
"See how easily I just surprised you? My knife at your throat has you at my beck and call."
Sky glared at the woman at the same time she felt the blade near her throat. "All right, you got me. This is what I get for trusting you. Has all this been an act? You played me and now you are . . ."
Tara stood and said, "Now I am doing
nothing. Get up."
Scrambling to her feet the woman stood face to face with Tara Coltrane, her eyes were filled with fire and the way she moved her body, any second she was going to go off on the woman like a volcano on Maui.
Tara slipped the knife into the sheath in her right boot then said, "Just wanted you to see what falling in love has done to you."
Sky reached out and grabbed the woman by her left shoulder. "Always a snake. I am fully aware of you, now. What's love got to do with it?"
Tara eyed the fingers that were digging into her shoulder and said, "Before you go off and cold-cock me or worse, it was a test and you flunked. If hitting me will get you Bobie back, then go for it."
Sky held a questioning look on her face and said, "Punching you silly at the moment would give me good feeling, but I know there had to be madness in what you just did. I also know taking out my wrath on you would not do you any good, though I might feel a whole lot better. What do you mean I flunked your test? Didn't know there was some sort of right and wrong when it came to trust."
"You are soft, Richmond. Not sure you could even take the
wendigo at this moment. Guess the saying is true, take someone's love away and they become weaker."
"I could finish you off in a fair fight any day. But that was not fair."
Tara's eyes met Sky's as if they were going to go to battle themselves as she replied, "Do you think whoever took Bobie was playing fair? Do you think they will fight you openly?
If you do, you are under a very wrong assumption and that would make you the beginning of the word."
Sky took a small step back, she mulled over the woman's words then said, "All right! Have to admit it, when you are dead center, you are right. I do love Bobie, never thought it would ever happen, we have shared some. . ."
Tara held up a hand and said, "Enough. I don't need to hear the sordid details. Now could you take your hand off my shoulder, I think you have dug in enough."
Sky's nostril's flared as she released the hold she had and at the same time she gave a very hard shove that send Tara Coltrane falling backwards, and before she could get her
balance she found herself in Willow Lake.
Sky's face twisted up into a very wicked smile as she said, "I wasn't going to go into
detail. You only wish it were you. Now when you cool off, come in, get changed, and we can put our heads together for real. I got your message loud and clear and no one will ever get the jump on me again, this I can promise." She turned and walked away with a very confident stride, leaving Tara sputtering and looking like a drowned rat.
Sky didn't take long to get to the phone and call the receptionist at Global, when Barbara
Answered she asked, "How are things there?"
Immediately Barbara replied, "So good to hear your voice, I was getting worried, you seemed to drop off the radar. What's up?"
"A few unexpected things have come up. Like, Tara Coltrane, do you know whatever possessed Bern to hire the woman to help me? Never mind. Tell me, I need to know has there been any more digging into the profile of the man at the airport?"
"Actually when you called just now, I was getting ready to call you. Yes, we now know who the man is, I sent all the information to you and you can pick this up at the sheriff's office."
"Sheriff's office, why in the world would you do that?"
"Wasn't my doing but this has to go through a police department and the one there is the closest."
"When was this sent?"
"Yesterday, why?"
"Just wondering. You saw it, so tell me who is the man?"
"Nope, never saw it. This was for your eyes only."
Sky muttered a few unrecognizable words before she thanked the woman and hung up the phone. She had just done this when Tara Coltrane stomped into the room, she walked past her and said, "I owe you one. Give me a few minutes to shower, change and we can be on our way."
Sky smiled as she watched the woman disappear into the bedroom. She knew she had to be on her guard, for when Tara said,
I owe you one, it usually happened and when least
expected. She walked to the doorway and said, "I think you already got me and real good, so can't see you owe me anything, we are even Coltrane."
There was no reply so she turned her attention back to the telephone. Didn't take long to dial the sheriff's office and talk to one of the deputy's. She asked about the file that had been sent to Skylar Richmond and was told, she would have to talk to the sheriff. Sky asked to do just that and was then told the sheriff was out of the office and would be out the rest of the day.
Fuming, Skylar then asked to speak to the next person in charge and was given the runaround. When she hung up the phone, she was not happy. Finally something concrete was within grasp and she could not get it. Gazing toward the bedroom, she scribbled a note to Tara, grabbed the keys to her rental and left.
The drive into town was slow. More traffic than usual as well as some cowboys herding cattle and at times taking the entire roadway. The stopping and going, then stopping gave her time to think about the encounter with Tara at the lake.
When she pulled into town, there were few people out and about. Didn't take long to make it to the police station and park the pickup. She was sure they already knew she was on her way, Ol Yella stuck out like a sore thumb. In a way she was glad, this way they knew why she was there.
Several deputies looked up when the tall, Amazonian woman walked into the office. Her dress, the way she moved, was mesmerizing. When she approached the dispatch desk the
man dropped a file and before he could pick it up, Sky had it in her hands, they both had bent over and now were staring into one another's eyes. She handed the file to the man then said, "I have come to pick up the file that was sent here for me."
"Like you were told on the phone, this has to go through the sheriff."
"Well, the file was for me, Skylar Richmond not the sheriff. And I want it now."
Perspiration was breaking out on his face and he began to walk backwards, finally hitting a file cabinet, he stuttered, "I am only doing my job."
"And I am doing mine. So if the file is here, I suggest you give it to me, before I make mincemeat of this office." It was at this time, Sky felt the end of a gun barrel touching
her back.
"You may scare some people but not everyone is awed by your performance. We know you are law abiding and would never make as you say, 'mincemeat of the office'. Deputy
Taylor has told you, we have no authority to give you the file, even if we did, it is not here."
Sky didn't move but said, "No need for the gun. What do you mean the file is not here?"
The woman answered, "Because the sheriff had it sent back. Said she was not going to be doing the bidding of Global. This was a law office not some sort of messenger service."
Sky turned to stare into the face of a very pleasant looking woman of about thirty. She had brown eyes, short bobbed brown hair and was almost as tall as her. "This was all legal and this is important. Did anyone get a look at the files?"
"No. Sheriff said she would take care of it. I'm sure she did."
Sky knew she had run into a brick wall but had to ask, "Where can I find Sheriff Burgess?"
The woman shrugged then said, "Have no idea. She is out on rounds and doing other
things. We don't ask, we do our jobs and when we need her we just call."
"How about calling now?"
"Can't do that, when we radio the sheriff, has to be important and not sure she would think your wanting a file as that. Guess you need to contact your office and get the info
you want."
Feeling let down, Sky thanked the woman and apologized to the man if she upset him, turned and left the station. When she walked outside, she was sure that there would be eyes peeking out to see what she was going to do. So she headed to Belle's place to get a drink of hot coffee and find out if anyone had heard from Belle. With each step she felt like screaming to the rooftops but knew it would do little good. To have come so far and to be stopped by Deanna Burgess was insane. The woman had Tara upset with her and now after what sheriff Burgess did with the file, she was on her to do list also.
Entering, she headed straight for the bar, didn't take long to sit and wait for the woman in charge to turn her attention to her. Sky smiled as Penny White approached, the woman was pleasingly plump, she had bight blue eyes, dimples that reached out as if saying, howdy. There was a bounce to her step and the crisp white apron she wore fit her attire perfectly. Penny was an asset to the tavern.
"Always good to see one of Belle's friends in here. Especially you, Miss. Richmond." Penny reached up to brush back wisps of blond hair that had fallen onto her forehead.
"Thank you. But not Miss. Richmond. Call me Sky."
"What can I do you for, Sky?" The woman chuckled in merriment, then added, "A little early for alkie."
"Just want coffee and some information."
She turned to go get the coffee but stopped and asked, "What kind of information?"
"Have you heard from Belle? Do you know when she will be returning?"
"No and no. Now I'll go get the coffee."
Sky watched the woman disappear only to return within minutes with a steaming cup of the best made coffee she had ever tasted.
It was relaxing to chat with Penny, except when she brought up the disappearance of Bobie. Sky tried to get away from this conversation by talking about the sheriff and other things in the area but Penny kept coming back to Bobie.
She assured the woman they were doing all they could to find Bobie and hoped she would be back with friends soon. When she left, Penny told her not to be a stranger and she hoped that Bobie was
back in the nest soon. Stepping outside, Sky mulled the woman's words, 'back in the nest', these people had a strange way of talking sometimes. She shook her head, then started to make her way around back of the tavern.
Sky also found out where there were a few patrol cars from Penny, and now was on her way to find them. She kept her eyes out for anyone lurking about and soon spied the two cars. Penny had said the two deputies that ran them were always at a poker game this day, thus leaving the cars in this alley. Thankful for a poker game that pulled them away from the office and duty, she quickly made her way into one of the cars.
The radio was screeching, there was an all point bulletin for . . . of all people, her. Seems her visit to the sheriff's office caused a bit of a stir. Smiling she opened the door, moved some items off the seat then sit. Before long she was on the radio calling Sheriff Burgess, just as the deputy had said, the woman answered.
Sky did her best to stay in form, hoping her courses paid off. The Sheriff had no idea it was not a deputy. "You say Richmond was in the office. Did she give you any trouble?"
After satisfying the woman, Sky asked where she was, it was at this time Sheriff Burgess
Signed off saying she had an urgent call. Sighing, Sky assumed the woman realized it was not one of the deputy's she was talking with. Not one to give up, Sky then called the dispatcher using the Deputy's info by the radio conversation to get information.
"I was just talking with Sheriff Burgess, can you trace the call for me as I lost communication and think something has happened?"
Before long she had been given the area. Signing off she left the car and headed back to the lot to get Ol Yella. When she neared the pickup, it was the flat tires that stopped her in her tracks. Hands on hips she walked around and checked the tires. Dumbfounded and once again mad she glanced up the street. Now she would have to find an auto shop, get someone out to change the tires. That is after she purchased four new ones. Someone really had it in for her and was doing all they could to keep her from going anywhere.
It was at this time, Tara Coltrane pulled in the lot, stopped her car and looked at Sky then said, "Need a ride, Richmond? Looks like Ol Yella has been put down."
"Very funny. Yes, I need a ride."
"Hop in."
Sky locked the pickup and after getting into the car she said, "Need to go to the auto station, see if I can get some new tires put on the truck and also get it moved."
"Sure. I was surprised to come out and find you gone, did you find out anything from the sheriff?"
"Yeah, like you said, the woman is a witch."
"Well those are not exactly my words."
"Well, close enough. We have places to go, things to do, so let's get cracking. "
Tara smiled, then saluted Sky and said, "Aye aye, auto shop, then . . ."
"Then we go find Sheriff Burgess."
When the two women saw the patrol car at Mary Trenton's home, they felt the time had come to confront the woman. Sky still was not convinced Deanna Burgess was the mastermind behind Bobie's disappearance but Tara was so sure she made a very large bet with the woman.
Sky tapped Tara on the shoulder, then said, "Might as well go straight in, talk to her, get it over."
"And if she tries to arrest us for some god forsaken reason?"
"Then we get physical?"
Tara thought for a second then replied, "I like the way you think. However . . ."
Sky pressed a finger to Tara's lips replying, "Shh, there is no however. Now lets go do this."
Deanna Burgess was going through some file cabinets when the two women entered the house. Sky went one way and Tara the other, they wanted to surprise the woman and if she tried to escape, one or the other would catch her. Well that was the plan but some times the best laid plans do not always go off as one might think.
"Hello Sheriff Burgess," Skylar Richmond's voice rang out behind the woman.
She dropped what she was doing quickly turning, gun in hand. A very surprised look on her face when she saw Sky. "You! Might have known. You people just can't leave well enough alone. What business do you have out here, snooping?"
Sky kept her eye on the revolver in the sheriff's hand as she said, "Looking for you?"
Deanna glared at the woman asking, "Why me?"
"Need my file and want to know why you sent it back, if indeed you did?"
"You know, you are just too nosey for your own good Richmond. I don't have the file, it came and it went back. What was in it, is not my business. I am sure one of my deputies already told you we are not your messenger service."
"Did. I do not expect you to be my messenger service but this was on the up and up, it was legal and done legally. I need to know why you really sent it back?"
The woman was waving the gun back and forth as she spoke, "You know I could shoot you and no one would question it."
"Maybe not here but my office would and so would some top level law enforcement people. I would advise against it. Tell me Burgess, are you really such a hard case or is this all an act?"
"I'm not my uncle if that is what you mean. He kept Bobie on after her father died always seemed to have a soft spot for the damsel in distress, well I don't. But I don't think about my being a hard case. I do dot every sentence and cross every t though. You
or anyone else get in the way of the law and I have not qualms about arresting."
Sky was trying to spy Tara as she said, "That is quite obvious. No need for the gun, I just needed to hear it from your mouth. That you did send the file back."
"Well you heard it, now do I have to arrest you for trespassing or are you going to go willingly?"
There was a squeaking sound of a floorboard being stepped on as the woman whirled, her gun went off and within seconds Tara took her down, immediately disarming her she found the woman's handcuffs and cuffed her to a file cabinet. Then she stood and smiled, "Well, what now?" It was then she saw Sky laying on the floor. "Oh my God!" In a quick stride she had dropped to her knees and was cradling the woman in her arms. "Sky, Sky --"
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Continued