Depart the Darkness Read online

  After lunch, while Miles, Xander, and John worked out in our gym, we girls toured the future tearoom. It was coming along beautifully.

  “This is gorgeous!” Jenny exclaimed, as she stepped inside the tower room.

  The feminine, heart-shaped chairs were now joined by those which Miles deemed kinder to the male of the species. The fabric was the same, so they still matched. They were larger though, with a square back. The paired up chairs were actually very cute in my opinion. So were the small antique tables which were conveniently placed to hold coffee, tea, dessert… and that was about it. Our tower wasn’t nearly as large as the one at Stonecastle Inn, but it was cozy, and I loved it.

  “I know where I’m spending my breaks,” Annette said, as she sat in one of the velvety chairs.

  “Who would ever believe this charming space was a haunted tower just a couple of weeks ago,” Jenny said.

  “No kidding,” I agreed. “Isn’t it awesome?”

  “You guys could put on a killer haunted house if you wanted to,” Annette said, then laughed as she imagined it.

  “Yes… yes, we could,” I smiled, then glanced at my watch. “I better go for now. I need to get ready for our interview.”

  “Isn’t it kind of early?” Annette wondered.

  “A little,” I replied. “But, considering I haven’t decided what to wear…”

  “We’re on it,” Jenny said. She linked elbows with me on one side, and Annette did on the other, making me laugh.

  We traveled down the stairs to the large landing, then down the creepy hall, where I did my usual internal dialog. We rode the elevator up to our floor, and I had the rare experience of opening the door myself. It took several tries to figure out how to use the keycard. Annette finally had to show me.

  We went inside, and Chip greeted us cheerfully. We pet him for a minute, and I gave Night a friendly pat. Pandora, I left strictly alone. Miles’ persnickety cat preferred it that way.

  On to the bedroom we went, to my—well, our—closet. We chatted as we sorted through clothes, searching for something intimidating. There really wasn’t anything to fit the bill, since that wasn’t a look I went for. What would that be, anyway? Massive shoulder pads? A loaded shoulder holster? A crowbar? We got pretty silly as we came up with ideas, and suddenly something dawned on me.

  There were no sounds in the bedroom but ours.

  “Stop!” I exclaimed, startling my friends out of their laughter.

  I held up my hand and listened.

  Nothing.

  My heart racing, I flew across the room and threw open the door to the puppy nursery.

  It was empty.

  “Oh no! Oh, no! No, no, no!” I said in a panic. “Oh my goodness, where are they!”

  “The puppies?” Annette exclaimed, likewise panicked now.

  “They’re not here?” Jenny asked in alarm, as she and Annette hurried to join me by the doorway of the empty nursery.

  “No!” I wailed. “Oh my goodness, either they vanished or—someone took them!”

  “The Radcliffes!” Annette said, her eyes snapping fire. “We told them the puppies were all spoken for! They didn’t want to take no for an answer! Can you believe they offered to buy one?”

  “Where’s Trixie?” Jenny wondered suddenly.

  “I don’t know!” I exclaimed. “Oh my goodness, this is going to kill her. This is going to kill Miles!”

  “I’m going to find the Radcliffes, and—” Annette snapped, then Jenny grabbed us both by an arm and gave us her camp counselor look.

  “Girls… no one has been here. Chip isn’t upset.”

  I had to process that for a second.

  “Okay, well… so twelve superpower puppies are appearing who knows where, doing who knows what, and how will we ever find them? I have to call Miles!”

  “I will call Miles,” Jenny said firmly, then pointed toward the open bedroom doors, and the sitting room. “You two sit down. Anika, stop panicking. Annette, stop planning the Radcliffes’ demise.”

  We went to the sitting room and sat, because Jenny used her Mom Voice on us. Chip sat on the floor in front of me and lay his head on my lap. I hugged him, and tried to be calm and think clearly.

  “Hi, Xander,” I heard Jenny say. So much for calling Miles. “We have a little issue here in Miles and Anika’s suite. Anika’s fine, but you guys need to get up here pronto.”

  Oh my goodness, this was going to kill him. Miles loves the puppies as much as I do. Maybe as much as their mother does! I hugged Chip harder and tried to pull myself together, because I might have to be the strong one in a minute.

  The door flew open, and Miles, Xander, and John hurried in.

  “What’s wrong?” Miles asked with concern. He crossed the floor in a few quick steps, and sat beside me.

  “Miles, it’s the puppies! They’re not in the nursery! They’re not here!”

  “What?” he exclaimed. “But I have a force field around the nursery!”

  “What?” the rest of us exclaimed in unison.

  “Oh my goodness—are they invisible?” I said in alarm.

  Without a word, we all leaped to our feet and ran through the double doors of our bedroom to the open door of our closet. Miles released the force field, and all six of us crammed inside, searching the closet on our hands and knees.

  All we found were several half-chewed chew toys, and some more than half-chewed suits, sweaters, and ties.

  We sat back and looked at each other anxiously.

  “Where’s Trix?” Miles asked.

  “I don’t know,” I answered.

  “Chip isn’t upset though, so no one was here,” Jenny said, probably hoping to circumvent a lynching of the Radcliffes.

  “Okay, so… Trix must be with the puppies,” Miles said. He put his arm around me, and I relaxed against his shoulder.

  I was relieved to know I didn’t have to be the strong one this time. I could only handle that role so much. I was already strong once this year. And it was only February!

  “But how did they get past your force field?” Xander asked.

  “I don’t know, I didn’t know anything could,” Miles answered. “I don’t understand that.”

  “Can you call Trixie?” Annette asked.

  “No. Not any differently than the rest of you can,” he replied. “All we can do, is just…wait.”

  “Oh my goodness, how are we going to manage this interview?” I said, horrified at the thought.

  “The same way we do everything else that seems impossible and unbearable,” Miles replied, and my pounding heart began to slow.

  “You’re right,” I said, pulling myself together. “We do what we have to, no matter what.”

  Everyone jumped as twelve golden puppies converged on us, literally, from out of nowhere.

  “Where have you guys been?” Miles asked, as I snatched up Fidget, Xander went for Spaz, and John for Linux.

  Trixie was in semi-transparent form. It was the only way she could fit with all of us in there. Without materializing on top of someone, anyway. Miles looked at her, and she looked back.

  “What did she say?” I wondered.

  “She’s in here?” John asked.

  “Yes,” Miles said. “You and Xander scoot closer to Annette and Jenny, and she’ll materialize.”

  They did, and she did.

  “What happened?” I asked her. “Where were you?”

  She looked at me, then at Miles.

  “The puppies are getting too big for the buggy,” Miles answered. “Trix said from now on, she’ll take them when they need to go out.”

  “Did they take themselves?” I asked. “Do they have that ability?”

  Miles looked at Trixie again.

  “Trix said she took them, the same way she used to take them with her everywhere she went, before they were born.”

  “Oh my goodness!” I said, slapping my forehead. “The seat of Alfred’s pants!”

  That got me some concerned loo
ks.

  “You’re right,” Miles realized. “That’s right. After that much deserved alteration, she chased him off, then appeared in the parlor again. She had that in her mouth.”

  “So she can go through your force fields?” John asked. “And carry things—and puppies—with her, when she disappears and reappears.”

  “Apparently,” Miles said, looking at her again. We watched them watch each other, and waited.

  Meanwhile, all around us and on top of us, puppies rough-housed, played, and cuddled.

  “Yes, Trix can go through my force fields,” Miles said.

  “Then can anything else?” I asked, feeling alarmed at the thought.

  Trixie shook her head, and so did Miles.

  “No. Just her.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief, and so did everyone else. I had no idea, until now, how much I depended on his force fields for a sense of security.

  “Is anything else going to be able to go through them?” I thought to ask.

  We all watched Trixie consider that. She shook her head, and I breathed another sigh of relief.

  “She said I’m her responsibility,” Miles started to say, then stopped as Trixie shook her head. He watched her some more. “I’m… what, your charge?”

  Trixie thought. She didn’t look entirely satisfied, but she nodded.

  “So, she’s different,” Miles said. There was laughter in his eyes over something. “Trix says it’s only natural that she’s more powerful than I am.”

  Was she really? Or did she just think she was? I had no idea! My ability didn’t work on her.

  “At least she’s on our side,” Xander said, which pretty much summed it up.

  “No kidding,” Miles smiled. He had one arm around me, but he put the other around her, as she moved to sit beside him. “Without her guidance, we’d feel lost a lot more often.”

  “She introduced us,” I said. “Sort of.”

  “That’s right,” Miles remembered.

  “So does that change your mind about matchmaking?” I wanted to know.

  “What?” he asked, and looked at me funny.

  “I want to introduce Steve and Lucy.”

  John and Xander amused themselves playing with the puppies. Jenny and Annette looked interested.

  “I see,” Miles replied. “Do you want to do that, instead of make our interview?”

  I grabbed his wrist and looked at his watch, then gave up on scrambling to my feet, considering how tightly we were all packed into the closet.

  “We’ve got to get ready!” I warned our friends, so we climbed, crawled, and made our way out of the puppy nursery however we could.

  Our friends took off, so John, Xander, Miles and I, could prepare. Casual wasn’t the look we were going for, so the guys’ t-shirts and shorts weren’t going to cut it. Plus, it was cold outside.

  I sat at the vanity in our bedroom, touching up my makeup. Miles draped his tie around his neck and began to tie it, and I paused for a moment to admire his reflection in the mirror. We made eye contact and he smiled, then kissed my cheek before getting back to his tying.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked, glancing at me again.

  “Just thinking how glad I am that Phillip, Lorna, and their kids, are free from the weight that’s hung over them ever since they moved here. I was thinking of all the moments they missed. Like just now, when you caught me watching you, and you kissed my cheek. Those moments of connection are what make life worth living.”

  “They appreciate those moments all the more, after being without for so long,” Miles said.

  “It was beautiful to see the Edmunds family restored again,” I commented. I set my makeup aside, and reached for my brush.

  “I’d say last weekend was one of the best we’ve ever spent,” Miles replied. “And that’s saying an awful lot.”

  “I know what you mean,” I agreed, then smiled. “Shall I wear my diamond tiara, and really impress this guy?”

  Miles laughed, and reached for his suit jacket.

  “That would impress him… but in what way, I’m not sure. So tiara, no. But diamonds, definitely.”

  I reached for my jewel case and opened it. I fastened first one diamond cluster earring, then the other. Miles fastened the matching necklace for me. It looked beautiful above the V-neck of my black, long sleeved, fitted dress.

  I struggled with the bracelet, so he fastened it for me, too.

  “That’s great Trixie is taking over taking the puppies out, when they need to go,” I said. “But why did she wait until now to tell us she could do that?”

  I watched in the mirror as Trixie looked at Miles, then he looked at me.

  “She wanted us to feel useful,” he smiled, and I laughed.

  “Well… that’s good of her. It’s a relief to know she’s taking over, though. For all kinds of reasons.”

  I set aside my jewel case, and Miles offered me his hand as I turned in my seat. I stood, and he gave me an admiring look.

  “You, Mrs. Bannerman, are absolutely stunning.”

  “I was going for intimidating,” I said, blushing a little at the melting look in his eyes.

  “You’re intimidating, alright,” Miles replied. “I wouldn’t doubt your father would approve, when my father approached him to arrange a marriage. But you… you’re gorgeous. You could have anyone.”

  “All I ever wanted is you,” I said softly, and kissed him.

  The sound of a dog pawing at Miles’ knee caused us to look down.

  Trixie looked up at us sternly.

  “You’re right,” Miles said to her, then looked at me. “We have a mission to accomplish. If we don’t get out of here, we’re going to be a lot more than a little late.”

  I sighed as I wiped lipstick off of him, and touched up my own again.

  “Fine,” I said, and gave the dog a look. “Mom.”

  Trixie thought that was funny.

  We met John and Xander in the lobby. They both wore dark suits, just like Miles.

  John looked serious and very intelligent. Which was nothing new. Xander managed to combine a serious look, with that of a ten-year-old kid anticipating Christmas. It was an impressive combination, and honestly… kind of intimidating!

  Jenny and Annette wished us well, and promised to pray for success. We thanked them, said goodbye, and headed down the mountain to our office complex.

  We were silent as Miles wove through afternoon traffic on our way downtown. Buildings rose high on both sides of the street, their windows reflecting the light of the sun. Pedestrians walked briskly from one place to another, either in a hurry, or desperate to keep warm. Probably both.

  We passed Memorial Hospital, and the office buildings surrounding it. We followed the gently curving road around the city park, which was white under its blanket of snow. The river was frozen along the banks, but in the center, the water flowed sluggishly. It was never cold enough for long enough, to freeze the moving water entirely. Anyone foolish enough to try skating there would be fortunate if they survived.

  The outdoor skating rink though, was safe. As long as you knew how to skate! I enjoyed watching those who did, as they glided along the surface. One, a young girl, spun and twirled. She made it look effortless.

  I managed to distract myself momentarily, but our office complex came into view and brought me back.

  It was an impressive building, which of course, was what we were going for. It stood overlooking the icy water, its reflective glass windows glittering brilliantly in the sunlight.

  The complex housed our hiring manager and staff, bookkeeping, law firm, public relations guru, and was the official Bannerman Foundation headquarters. The top floor was set aside for Jackson’s team, which he was in the process of assembling. There were several conference and meeting rooms, and our personal office. The rest of the space, we leased to others.

  Miles parked in our spot, and the four of us stepped out into the frosty air. The breeze that came to us from across th
e water was positively frigid, and I shivered in spite of my warm coat, tall leather boots, and gloves. Miles tucked my hand in his arm, and we wasted no time getting inside.

  Warm air greeted us as we stepped inside the spacious lobby.

  A directory was printed on one wall, alongside a row of elevators. Several halls, all labeled, led to various offices. Cat palms sheltered the generous seating area on the other side of the room.

  Across from us stood the information counter. As we crossed the marble floor, the receptionist looked up and smiled.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Bannerman.”

  “Good afternoon, Andrea,” Miles greeted her. “Is the conference room ready?”

  “Yes sir, it is.”

  “Excellent,” Miles said. “When Dillon Graves arrives, please let Leanne know.”

  “Yes, sir,” Andrea replied.

  John and Xander followed Miles and I to the waiting elevator, and he pressed the button for the floor dedicated to the Bannerman Foundation.

  Our plan to show up late to the meeting, didn’t include showing up late to the building. We didn’t want to bump into Dillon on the way in, or appear to be making a special trip here, just so we could interview him. We were, but we didn’t want it to look like we were. In spite of our offer of an interview, we wanted to give him the impression he was very fortunate to be granted a slice of our time.

  It wasn’t at all how we usually treated people, and it went against the grain. But, usually we weren’t using an interview to gain truth to exonerate two men and convict another. The role we were playing was our best chance at getting the information we needed in order to do that.

  We stepped out of the elevator, and into the Bannerman Foundation headquarters.

  It always smelled good in here, like a Hallmark store or something. It was soothing, whatever it was. The walls were a soft tan, like coffee with plenty of cream. Paintings of tranquil landscapes decorated the walls, and the large windows looked out on a stunning view of the river and park. Soft music played, and coming from the offices that lined the halls, softer voices could be heard. One group fielded the requests for help which came in steadily, while another researched the validity of those requests. A third group compiled the data for our consideration. A fourth had the unpleasant task of denying aid to those who didn’t qualify, but the joy of extending it to those who did.