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Chapter Fifty Three
 
 
 

"Miss Richmond?  Miss Richmond can you hear me?"

The man’s voice seemed to be echoing in her head.  She remember flames, and an explosion then suddenly being thrown backwards into the darkness that was all around her.

"Skylar?  It is time to wake up."

There it was again, her head felt like someone was taking a pick to it and chiseling away.  But for some reason this voice would not leave her alone.  All she wanted to do was sleep.

"Rise and shine, time to face a new day."

The incessant voice just would not go away and let her rest.  She groaned and slowly opened her eyes.  At first it was like fighting through a fog but soon the fog was dissipating.  "Owh!"  Skylar mumbled when trying to move.

A gentle hand held her down as the man said,  "Best to not move too quickly."

It wasn’t long before emerald green eyes were staring into the kindly face of Doc. Taylor, though the man’s hair looked a bit whiter as did the goatee on his chin, compared to the last time she had seen him.  His eyeglasses looked right at home as he smiled and said,  "Nice to see those amazing eyes again."

"Doc, where am I?"

"You are in the hospital.  Had a bad fall."

"I can’t stay here.  My friends?"

"A few bruises, aches but luckily they are fine.  They have never left the waiting room.  You have had us all worried."

Sky tried to move and felt her body object mightily.  "Give me something for pain, Doc.  I have things to do."

"Fraid not, young lady.  You need to recuperate.  Now, do you feel like visitors?"

"Yes."

The man walked to the door, turned and said,  "You stay in bed.  If you don’t, we have ways to restrain you."

Sky reached up to touch her forehead and was surprised to find it bandaged.  All she could remember was ‘The Windego’, and the gun in her hand as she pulled the trigger.  The way she felt, it was obvious she did not walk away from this.  Doc Mathews was a good man, he had winked when he mentioned restraining her.  At that moment there wasn’t anyplace she  wanted to go anytime soon.

The door opened as Bobie stuck her head in and smiled.  "Doc said you were awake."

Sky held out her right hand.  "Come here you."

Bobie Parker was by her bedside in seconds.  She grasped Sky’s hand and held it tightly.  "Never want to see you like this again.  You have scared seven years out of me."

The woman’s hand was warm and when she grasped Sky’s it sent a butterfly sensation that had gathered in her stomach to scatter to other areas.  "I’m sorry to have worried you."

Bobie pulled up a chair, never releasing the woman’s hand.  "The gun.  It was indeed light but my darling, it had quite a kick."

"Is that what happened?  I have no memory."

"Doc said you have a slight concussion that if you do have memory problems these will get better and you probably will.   However not sure recalling Trenton and that thing would be something I would want to do."

"The gun, did you retrieve it?"

"Sorry, looked everywhere but it was gone.  I think it may have fallen into the chasm."

"That’s all right, it served its purpose."  Sky raised her left hand and touched her lips with slender fingertips.  "Kiss.  I need a kiss."

Bobie smiled, then lowered her head, lips caressing, lips talking in their special way.   She did not linger long and when she pulled away, Sky pouted,  "More.  I need more of my  special Luvvvve Doctor’s remedy."

Bobie brought the woman’s hand to her lips and kissed lightly.  "I think you are going to be just fine."

"Bobie how long do I have to stay in here?  There are things I need to do."

"Done."

"What?"  Sky seemed surprised.

"The State Police arrived not long after you sent Trenton on his way.  He went off the Mesa like a torpedo trailing a tail of fire."

"Gun worked.  Thank goodness.  We both know how hard it is to take the thing down when it is like that.  Tell me the rest."

"At first they were wanting to know what was going on.  Jeanne, Belle and I explained what was taking place.  We didn't mention the laser gun or The Windego.  No one would believe us anyway.  Mary and her gang can say all they want but there is no evidence of what actually happened.  Besides I think the gun wasn't legal and didn't want to get you into trouble. They rounded up the rest of Trenton’s gang and even found several waiting for them in the passages."  A smile traveled her face as she continued, "The nets, did their work, the men weren’t going anywhere until someone let them out."

"I’m glad they worked.  And hopefully this time Mary Trenton was taken to jail."

"Not only jail but in State Police custody.  No small town jail.  The police also went to the Trenton home and rescued Consuela, her brother and twenty other illegals that were being held in the basement of the home."

"What will happen to them?"

"Probably be sent back.  I am glad to see that Consuela is all right."

Sky raised her right eyebrow and wished she hadn’t because a sharp pain shot through her head.  "Shouldn’t have done that," she muttered.

"Do you want me to ask Doc for pain medication for you?"

"No.  Been out too long, at least if I’m feeling the pain I know I’m alive.  I do need to get out of here as soon as I can.  Still, some things to be cleared up."

"You need to rest.  If you had seen the way you flew backwards, the way your body hit, it was like all the air had been knocked out of you."

"Glad I can’t recall this.  You said something about Greeks . . ."

"You remember this?"

"Yes.  Want to tell me what you and Jeanne were trying to . . ."   She stopped in mid-sentence a look of amazement settled on her face.  "How did this slip past me?   How did she do it?"

Bobie reached out and caressed Sky’s face.  "There is no need to go there now."

"Yes there is.  It was right in front of us all the time.  I know that you nor Jeanne would let anyone get the best of you.  But someone did.  It was Meg Bartlett wasn’t it?  The radio dispatcher and all around office gopher."

Bobie nodded.  "Meg was the brain behind the whole thing.  Everything pointed to the sheriff but she was the mole.  A woman no one suspected.  She abused her position to gather information from official documents, police reports, and even regular townspeople who thought she could be trusted.  She purposely nurtured the growth of her image as the ‘town gossip’ so that folks would give her all the latest juicy rumors and she would seem so harmless.  That’s how she always stayed one step ahead.  She was able to throw Federal Investigators off her scent by using the local police force as a smoke screen and barrier preventing their progress."

"She must have put up a really good smoke screen too,"  Sky remarked with disgust.

"Meg may have manipulated the sheriff, fed him all sorts of lies, and played to his ego.  She could have made him believe that everything was his idea, that he was the ‘big man’ and didn’t have to live under the shadow of my father’s reputation anymore.  Then, she had Trenton and his gang do her dirty work.  In exchange, they got part of the profits, stayed out of jail, and were allowed to continue their other illegal activities.  Littleton was supposed to be a ‘business partner’ who provided needed information regarding artifacts.  However once Littleton told her everything she needed to know, he became dispensable.  Sadly she escaped capture.  They have an APB out for her and for Jim Trenton."

Sky had listened to the woman and was trying to digest what she just revealed.  "You haven’t been idle.  That is really something.  She had me fooled and I’m not one that is easily deceived.  Meg Bartlett probably 'pulled the wool over many people’s eyes'.  She was good, I’ll give her that."  It was apparent Skylar was upset with herself.  "Pete must have been hired to guide Littleton.  When he found out what the man was up to, he wanted out?"

"Right.  Miles Trenton was investigating at this time and while posing undercover he was trying to get into Littleton’s scheme."

"And that would have something to do with Devil’s Mesa, the Kiva?"

"There is a passageway that runs from the Kiva about a quarter of a mile out, they were planning on taking all the artifacts without anyone’s knowledge."

Sky looked at the water pitcher setting near the bed and asked,  "Could you?"

Almost before she got the words out, Bobie was pouring the water and handing it to her.  Sky drank all of it then said,  "More."

Pouring another glass of water, and handing it to the woman, Bobie said,  "Meg was worried Littleton might give them away and had the man killed.  I think the other man we found dead that day was likely another illegal.  The police are digging all around Trenton’s property.  I shudder to think what they might find, but at least other recent murders might be solved and it will be more evidence to keep Mary and her gang locked away forever.  The artifacts will be cared for and put on display in a public museum so that everyone has a chance to appreciate their beauty, and learn more about the ancient Native American’s art and way of life.  They are historical treasures.   If Meg had gotten her way, they would have been sold to a private collector for the highest bid."

"I thought the body might have been that of an illegal but wasn’t sure, now I am.  All this time Sheriff Burgess thought he was in control.  I’m sorry about what happened to the man.  We didn’t get along all that well, but he did have you in his heart.  When you think of him, try not to be too hard on him."  Sky was happy to see Bobie’s police training in full force.  The woman was filled with information and it was evident she had been doing her own sleuthing.

"Still don’t know for sure if Ben had anything to do with any of this.  I have to go, take care of a few things.  You rest and oh yes, Tara Coltrane is waiting to see you and Jeanne and Belle.  By the way Love, when you are feeling better, I think we need to talk about Tara."

Sky watched the blond leave the room and took a deep breath then whispered,  "Where to start."

Tara was the next one that entered the room.  She was dressed in a dark pantsuit, and looked tired as she approached the bed.  "What can I say after that?   I mean, I have seen you fight things, but that monstrous thing . . .   I will have nightmares the rest of my life."

"Thanks Coltrane for helping."

"Wasn’t what I would have done in most cases but there is something about being a prisoner that gets the blood boiling.   Sides, you needed me Richmond, even with your honey and the others by your side.   No one can read you like I can."

"When will you just take a compliment,"  Sky grumbled.

"You’d tire of me if I did.  Face it, you love me.  I’m leaving today.  It is nice to see you awake again before I leave.  Had us all worried."

Sky tried to sit up in the bed but thought better of it.  "Not sure ‘love’ is the word that would describe us.  But thank you anyway."

Tara leaned forward and kissed the woman then pulled back quickly.   "Couldn’t resist.  You are just so adorable laying there."   She handed Sky a sealed envelope.  "Don’t open this until I am gone, see you, Richmond."  The woman turned and left the room.

There wasn’t anything to say, Tara had a way of stirring the air when she appeared and leaving things a mess when she left.  This time however she left in a different state, people were grateful to her for helping and maybe, just maybe, the woman would realize it is much nicer to receive compliments than to receive scorn.

Sky looked at the envelope then opened it.  The land that Bockenheimer purchased on behalf of my company has been given back to the owners.  I may be a lot of things, but I’ve never been the type to take advantage of hardworking people. I have given Bockenheimer orders to set this right immediately.  See Richmond, you do rub off
sometimes.  ‘T’

As Sky recuperated over the next few days, things began to work themselves out.  Jeanne and Belle were almost inseparable and it was a good feeling to know they had found one another.  Sky had convinced the two women into taking the cruise with Bobie and herself.  Bernie Herbella had called and congratulated her on a job well done.  He had filled her hospital room with flowers, which she promptly had the nurses take to other patient’s rooms.  When asked if she would consider coming back with the added incentive of a generous raise and additional perks, Sky left it hanging.  Skylar Richmond was happier than she had ever been.  The case she initially refused to take had changed her life forever.  Bobie Parker was the reason she now looked to a bright future.  With many adventures in the horizon she knew the two of them could face anything as long as they were together.