Depart the Darkness Read online

  Dillon Graves would pay for what he did to this family.

  I felt my blood boil, and did a quick darkness check in the reflection of one of the windows. There was none.

  After all, it wasn’t like I was planning to murder the guy. Although, snapping him like a twig wouldn’t improve his chances of longevity any.

  The guys arranged a game for the next day, then Miles continued the tour. It concluded in the hall outside the Edmunds’ suite, where we declared free time until dinner.

  We assured them we would come back for them. It wasn’t necessary to try and remember how to get to the dining room on their own.

  The rest of us adjourned to another hall. After a quick “no, he didn’t tell any lies,” we separated for the time being. Jenny declared she was too excited about cooking dinner to rest, so she and Xander went to the kitchen. The rest of us didn’t feel that way, so John and Annette went to their suite, and we went to ours.

  At the appointed time, we dressed for dinner. Miles wore a dark suit, and I wore my lacy, ivory top and long flowing skirt. I wore the highest heels I had, and still the skirt skimmed the floor.

  We met the Edmunds family in the hall by their door, then proceeded to the parlor, where Grandma Polly, John, and Annette waited.

  Xander was in the kitchen with Jenny. They ate together beforehand, and he helped to serve. This also gave John another opportunity to bring up his major and what he was currently studying. When he wasn’t interning, anyway. He talked about the opportunity he had working at the Lodge, and Miles mentioned he was anxious for John to graduate so we could hire him full-time. We have more positions of that sort, than we do people to fill them.

  Phillip looked thoughtful, and Lorna gave him a hopeful look.

  And, at that point we changed the subject. Because what we didn’t want, was for Phillip to think about it long enough to decide it was impossible to leave Intersect. If he did, every suggestion in that direction would result in him holding more tenaciously to that belief. Instead, we wanted him to be aware of the opportunities out there. To be intrigued by them. To be tempted. At the appropriate time, Miles would then offer him a job.

  Of course I needed to get some truth from Phillip, first. And this evening wasn’t about doing that. It was about strengthening their family.

  So we had an amazing dinner. Chef would be proud to know what his protégé pulled off. Afterward, Polly led the way to the ballroom, Jenny and Xander met the rest of us there, and we spent the remainder of the evening dancing and enjoying coffee, dessert, and the music played by the pianist we hired.

  Phillip and Lorna danced, and it was wonderful to see. Then the whole family held hands and danced together. The kids were laughing, their dad was joking around with them, and if those people didn’t drive me to tears before the weekend was over, it would be a miracle! But as long as they were happy tears like these, I could live with that.

  “We should open a marriage and family restoration clinic or something,” I whispered to Miles as we waltzed together.

  “In our spare time,” he smiled.

  “I was sort of serious,” I replied.

  “So was I,” he said. “Not about opening a clinic. But about making a difference whenever, and wherever we can.”

  “I’m so glad I wanted to pick up my other boots that night,” I commented.

  “Because we stopped by our apartment building? Me too,” Miles agreed. “Imagine if you didn’t see Steve when you did.”

  I watched Phillip and his family for a moment, and felt a chill.

  “It would be the worst,” I said. “That family would never have a chance to be restored. Steve would be guilty of murder… if he ever realized how wrong he was about everything, the guilt would kill him.”

  “You did want your boots though, and you did see. With the help of Grandma Polly and our friends, we’re fixing this.”

  “The Super Squad strikes again,” I said. Miles laughed, as I knew he would.

  “No. Just no!”

  “It was Xander’s idea, not mine,” I smiled.

  “I’m thankful everyone else voted against it.”

  “Or did they?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “I did not influence the vote by supernatural means,” he smiled. “But thanks for the idea. I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

  ***

  The next morning we had breakfast together, then led our guests on a tour of the underground tunnels and cave. Everyone loved that, but especially Zane. He was fascinated by the bats, who we were careful not to disturb. Not because we were terrified of them swarming us on their way out… actually, quite a few of us were. But, we didn’t disturb them because they needed to save all their energy to live off of until spring.

  Our cave has the most amazing formations, untouched by vandals. The gate Miles installed at the outside entrance, ensured it would stay that way.

  Probably.

  The possibility did exist that the gate, and the vault-like door that separated the cave from our home, weren’t the only entrances. It would be a very long time before we succeeded in mapping the entire thing. There were narrow passages that only I could crawl through, and I wasn’t going to investigate on my own. We were both adamant about that!

  After our spelunking adventure, we introduced the kids to the game room. We counted on them loving it, and they did. Then a horse-drawn carriage arrived, for Phillip and Lorna. Grandma Polly assured them she would watch the children, they could stay right there in the game room and continue playing. They looked at tiny Grandma Polly, who rapidly switched from sharp to eccentric, as the situation called for, then at Annette who mouthed I’ll help. John nodded. Then Phillip and Lorna looked at each other, and decided to go for a ride.

  So they rode away in the back of the carriage, piled with blankets. The driver took them into town, where they shopped and took advantage of the vouchers for fudge, coffee and dessert, a romantic movie at the old fashioned theater, and lunch.

  The kids and Grandma Polly played games, watched a movie, played games, ate lunch, played games, and fell asleep playing a game.

  The horse-drawn carriage returned Phillip and Lorna to the estate by mid-afternoon. They looked happy, in love, and as though they hadn’t a care in the world. I hoped that wouldn’t change when Miles and I began asking questions.

  It was a risk we had to take if we wanted to truly take their cares away, and we did. We’d be as low-key as possible about it, and crafty in our questioning. We’d have to be, or Phillip would clam up and be in worse shape than he was when his family was being watched round the clock. This was going to be hard.

  This was going to have to wait, too.

  It was still free-time. Our next scheduled event wouldn’t take place until half past five, so Lorna and Phillip left their sleeping kids in the care of sleeping Grandma Polly, and went to their suite. I have no idea what our friends decided to do, but we fed and played with the puppies, then took them to the large puppy litter box Nate’s guys set up for us in the garage. It consisted of a heavy plastic liner, retaining wall stones, and potting soil.

  It was either that, or take them out in the snow! Or encourage them to use puppy pads, and sentence our throw rugs to an untimely demise.

  So Nate’s guys built us a litter box in the garage.

  We settled the pups back in the nursery, and I commented that I was relieved they only ended up downstairs the one time. We speculated over how they got out, and Miles asked Trixie if she knew.

  She said yes.

  And that was all.

  So we resigned ourselves to wonder just how extra-special the pups were at this point.

  I had no way to know how much darkness would be contained in any truths I gained from Phillip. It could be a little, or it could be a lot. It depended on what he knew. Since darkness wore me out, as a proactive measure, we spent the next couple of hours in rest.

  I did fall asleep, but it wasn’t easy. Sleep contended with excitement, becaus
e I knew the next time we saw Phillip… it would be time to ask him some questions.

  I just hoped our carefully orchestrated weekend wouldn’t go horribly awry when we did.

  ***

  Miles and I sat on the loveseat near the fireplace in Mission Control. The cats would be here too, if they had any idea there was a fire burning brightly. Although they might already be baking in front of the one in the parlor, where Grandma Polly was teaching Alana and Annette how to knit.

  How fortunate we were to have Grandma Polly! She was the glue that held our little operation together. The rest of us were participants in the weekend’s events, so even though Miles is her grandson and the actual owner of the estate, it put us on more of an even footing with the Edmundses. They were comfortable with us. That was good.

  Xander was teaching Zane to rollerblade in one of the ballrooms, just like he did Tryon. Thank goodness Mom insists that Tryon’s blades live at the estate when not in use. She doesn’t have a problem with rollerblading in the ballroom, but she does have a problem with the thought of my impulsive, five-year-old brother taking off on a pair anywhere near a street! His blades fit Zane, so… he was having a blast, and our fitness instructor was glad to put his teaching skills to good use.

  Jenny was in the kitchen, cooking up who knew what. What we did know, was that it would be great.

  John was chatting with Phillip and Lorna, mostly Phillip, about their chosen field of education and work. He conveniently passed by Mission Control, and saw us sitting there.

  “Hey, guys,” John said.

  “Hi, John,” Miles replied. “Phillip, Lorna, how has your day been?”

  “Wonderful!” Lorna enthused. “I’m so glad Steve passed along this opportunity to us!”

  “I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself,” I smiled, and motioned for them to have a seat.

  “We’re having a great time,” Phillip said, as they sat on the loveseat across from us. “We all are.”

  John started to sit down, then stopped.

  “I just remembered something I’ve got to take care of, if you’ll excuse me…”

  “See you at dinner, if not before,” Miles replied, and John took himself elsewhere.

  “Do you spend much of your time here?” Lorna asked.

  “During the summer,” Miles answered. “Not as much, when classes are in session.”

  “You need to visit when the roses are in bloom,” I suggested. “They’re unbelievable.”

  “Cedar Oaks has a lot to offer in the summer,” Miles said. “There are several festivals and fairs. It would be a great time to use your hotel vouchers.”

  “It sounds wonderful,” Lorna replied, and glanced at Phillip.

  “It does,” he agreed. “Maybe we’ll do that.”

  “Good,” Lorna beamed, taking that as a yes. “It will be almost as good as living in Cedar Oaks. I can just imagine what that would be like, the town is idyllic.”

  “It’s great,” Phillip agreed. “Everyone is so friendly.”

  “We should move here,” Lorna said impulsively.

  Phillip found that amusing. He didn’t look stressed at the thought, like I expected him to.

  “I’d have a hefty commute if we lived here.”

  “Actually…” Miles replied, taking advantage of that opening. “I meant it when I said we don’t have enough experts in your field to fill the positions we currently have available. There’s one in Glen Haven, but if you’re willing to relocate, we have another here in Cedar Oaks.”

  Lorna’s face lit with hope, and she gave Phillip a quick look. His eyes were thoughtful.

  “You’re able to carry on a conversation with John that confuses the socks off the rest of us,” I said. “It’s obvious you know your stuff.”

  “You keep current on your certifications as well,” Miles added. “That’s admirable, and says a lot. I can guarantee salary and benefits will significantly exceed what you’re making working for Intersect.”

  “First though, what do you like best about your current job?” I asked.

  That sudden change in direction threw Phillip for a second.

  “Um… the technology, I guess,” he answered.

  Wrong. Leaving at the end of the day, is the truth.

  “What do you like least about it?” I asked.

  Phillip sighed, and thought, and I held my breath.

  “I guess… that my job is contingent upon the continuation of the contract.”

  Whoosh. Images, scenes, words, flooded me and then were locked away. But I knew enough to know that what Phillip knew… I now had access to.

  I squeezed Miles’ hand and pressed my cheek against his shoulder to signal that I had what we needed.

  “Think about our offer,” I said. “Give it some time and consideration. Know that a generous relocation package is included, and we want you to start immediately. We’ll provide the first three months’ lodging while you look for a permanent home, and send our people to pack up your things and settle your affairs in Glen Haven. There’s no need for you to go back at all. Two weeks’ notice may be standard, but you’re a contractor with no job stability for goodness’ sake, and if Intersect expects consideration from their employees, they should treat them with consideration. They don’t. So consider yourself hired, effective now.”

  The Edmunds stared at me. Stunned. As happened so often lately.

  “Let me suggest you don’t try and argue with her,” Miles said. “Resistance is futile.”

  I laughed at that, and Phillip did too, a little. He’s a Star Trek fan. He still looked stunned, and so did Lorna.

  “Are you… serious?” he asked. I saw his wheels beginning to turn, more and more rapidly by the second as he considered the possible benefits and ramifications.

  “I trust Anika’s judgment,” Miles said. “And yes, resistance is futile. So welcome aboard. I’ll have the official offer letter in your hands this evening.”

  Lorna’s eyes were filled with hope, and fear that hope would be snatched away. She clutched Phillip’s arm so hard, he finally winced.

  “Phillip, please…” she pleaded softly.

  I could practically see the thoughts racing through Phillip’s mind. I knew what he was thinking.

  “You’ll be working for the Bannerman Foundation, which is philanthropic in nature,” I said. “You’re free to tell people that. You’ll have to, if you want anyone to know what happened, and where you are. Otherwise, they’ll think you vanished into thin air.”

  They both gave me a funny look.

  “Vanished?” Lorna asked, as confused as she was surprised. Maybe a little concerned.

  “What do you mean by that?” Phillip wondered. “And… is that even possible?”

  The answer to this question was as critical as getting him to ask it in the first place.

  “Of course,” Miles promptly replied. “The Bannerman Foundation is philanthropic in nature, as Anika said. We take that mission very seriously. The Foundation has a variety of programs, each designed to fill a specific need. The Service Dog Training Center is one example. It isn’t possible to create a program for every need we encounter, however. It isn’t possible to meet every need we encounter either, some things are beyond us.”

  “Like what?” I wanted to know.

  “Terminal illness,” Miles replied.

  “Oh,” I said. “Okay, fine. We can’t cure what’s incurable.”

  “There’s a lot we can do, though,” Miles continued. “During the past several months we’ve been made aware of a number of individuals who need a fresh start, and who will put it to good use if they get one. We see that they get one.”

  “Maybe it’s hard to imagine,” I jumped in, “but sometimes the past needs to be left behind.”

  “Yes, but… that’s hard to do,” Phillip said. He looked doubtful, and a little worried.

  “It depends on who your employer is,” I replied. “We have people whose lives depend on it. We take that very serio
usly.”

  Phillip and Lorna both looked properly stunned to hear it.

  “You do that? But how?” Phillip asked. We had his full attention. “Short of the witness protection program, it’s next to impossible not to be found, no matter how bad you don’t want to be.”

  “That’s one reason why a restraining order against a psychopathic stalker may sound great, but it’s of no use until after the fact,” Miles said.

  “By then, it’s too late,” I added. “A new name, social security number, and place to live, though… that’s a different matter.”

  “There are many other situations in which a person’s very life depends on barring the door to the past and starting over again,” Miles continued. “In some instances people require time in which to be proven innocent of a crime. Anika and I trust each other’s judgment. If we believe a person is innocent, we assist them in proving it with the aid of our investigative team, while giving them the anonymity they need in the meantime.”

  “You’ve done this?” Phillip asked in surprise. Lorna looked surprised too. She was probably thinking that didn’t exactly sound legal.

  “Past, and present,” I replied. “So you see, when we say we take employee privacy seriously, we mean it. Even if a person has nothing to hide from, we treat their name and other personal information as seriously as if they do.”

  Phillip looked at us searchingly, then glanced at Lorna, then back at us.

  “Uh… I, uh… You live in Glen Haven, right?”

  “Part of the time,” Miles said.

  “There was a guy at Intersect. He died, and I was hired to replace him. His name was Elliott Reams.”

  “We’re familiar with Elliott,” Miles replied.

  “We’re currently investigating his death,” I said.

  “You—you are?” Phillip asked in surprise. Lorna was surprised too, all this was news to her. The poor woman looked so confused.