Authors: Marianne Spitzer
Annamarie wished the sheriff would retire, but since he and her dad went to school together, she knew he wouldn’t retire for quite a few years.
To make matters worse, the sheriff was the only person in town the Logan name didn’t impress. Annamarie feared she was going to go along with Daniel’s plan.
Daniel walked into the bedroom with a big smile on his face.
“Morning’ baby, I think I have all the details worked out.”
Too nervous to listen, she told him that she had to shower, or she’d be late for work. He nodded and kept on singing to himself. When Annamarie returned from her shower, Daniel was dressed and said he had some things to write down and disappeared out of the bedroom. She glanced down the hall and could see him at his desk writing.
She knew he was putting his plan to paper. The next step would be for both of them to memorize what he wrote, and then he’d burn the paper in the leaf barrel. This was the same way he treated his ideas for big parties at the cabin, or a midnight swim party down at the river.
“Never leave anything incriminating on paper,” he used to tell her with a laugh.
Now she understood why. She hurried and finished dressing.
On the drive to work, Daniel explained it’d be easy for Nancy to tell Garret’s partner she found the money in his garage apartment, and would like to return it. He’ll believe her because he knows both she and her brother are terrified of him.
“Didn’t you tell me Garret’s place looked as if it had been ransacked?”
“Yeah, but Garret had several safe spots he built into the walls when he added the extension for Bulk to move into. There’s also a safe somewhere in the garage area he welded into place, and hid behind a metal wall of tools.”
“Gee,” Annamarie replied with a surprised look on her face, “what was he planning on hiding?”
“Who knows, but I think Garret had big plans, and he wouldn’t be able to put the money into the bank.”
“Garret was bound to get in trouble.”
Daniel agreed when he pulled into the dairy’s parking lot to drop her off. He kissed her and said she looked pretty except he preferred her in brighter colors. Her navy blue dress matched her mood.
***
Sitting at her desk, Annamarie pulled out the invoices she needed to review and file. She ordered office supplies and nervously took a job application. The large windows made her anxious now. She hoped the unnerving feelings would eventually fade.
The morning went by fairly quickly, and Mr. Hanson spent most of the morning in the plant. At noon, she walked into Mr. Hanson’s
office and asked him if there was anything else he needed. He said no. He’d see her tomorrow morning. Wishing her a nice afternoon, she wished him the same. She knew her afternoon was going to be difficult.
***
Bulk’s psychiatrist said, “Our session’s over. I’m impressed with your progress.” Folding his hands in his lap, he continued, “I heard a good report from the group therapy leader. We’ll meet tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, and if you’re still in the same positive mood, and understand spirits are imaginary I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t go home with your brother.”
Bulk had already learned an extreme emotional reaction, either good or bad, was frowned on so he simply smiled at the doctor, shook his hand and thanked him for his help and understanding. Bulk went back to his room to continue his plan to escape the area and the woods.
***
Daniel was waiting for Annamarie after work. When she settled into the car, he kissed her and asked how her morning was. She enjoyed this new side of Daniel. They were more like newlyweds than they’d been the day they married.
“My morning was good, Mr. Hanson was in the plant all morning, and I didn’t have to lie to him.”
“Dad and mom left me alone, too, but I walked into mom’s office to ask her a question, and guess what I saw in that huge antique curio cabinet she purchased last summer?”
“That’s easy, grandpa’s birds.”
“Yup, and if those birds didn’t have so much meaning to my grandparents, I would have tripped and hit that cabinet full force, and knocked them all over just to watch my mom go crazy. I can’t believe she’s a thief and has them on display where everyone can see them.”
Annamarie giggled at the thought of Maureen trying to save her stolen birds, but she told Daniel someday he would inherit them, and they would put them back where grandpa wanted them.
“You’re an angel. You always say the right thing.”
“The other night you called me your little devil, which am I?”
He smiled and said, “An angel in the sunlight and a devil when the sun goes down.”
“I can’t wait for sunset,” she whispered.
They were enjoying their flirty conversation when they arrived at the bank.
“I called Mr. Townsend and explained we’d like to cash in two of the bonds. He said that wouldn’t be a problem. He would take care of communicating with the power company right away, and call me later with the details.”
It was nice Daniel wanted to share all these decisions with her. A month ago he would’ve
made them all.
They parked near the bank’s front door, and Daniel and Annamarie walked to the receptionist’s desk. She remembered Annamarie and greeted her by name. Annamarie introduced her to Daniel, and she brought out the papers he needed to sign. After he signed them, and she witnessed his signature, Annamarie told her they would need access to the box.
Asking Annamarie if she had her key, Annamarie responded yes. She led them into the vault and took out the box. She left telling them to call her when they were finished. Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes when he actually saw the bonds. He still believed Magdalena helped her find them, and this is what was “hidden and would be found.” Annamarie believed him this time.
They were fortunate the bonds were still good and not part of a defunct company. Daniel removed two bonds and placed them in the pocket of his briefcase. They closed and locked the box, called the receptionist back, and she replaced the box in its slot. She thanked them and said she hoped to see them soon. They thanked her and left. Daniel took the bonds straight to Mr. Townsend’s office. Mr. Townsend put them in his wall safe, gave them a receipt and said he was in communication with the power company and would call Daniel soon.
***
They drove to Oaklin, stopped at
a florist to pay for the flowers, and Daniel said they had some time before the Memorial Service. He thought it would be a smart idea to eat a light lunch before the stress of the service. They saw a small coffee shop across from the flower shop and headed there.
Walker’s funeral home was a few blocks from the coffee shop. They arrived in ample time before Garret’s service. There weren’t a lot of cars in the parking lot. Annamarie thought it was sad not many people would attend, but she knew everyone there loved Garret. Even her heart had softened toward him. It was hard to hate a person who died so young and troubled. Daniel tried to hide the stricken look on his face. She hoped he could be strong. Anxious since she had never set foot in a funeral home before, she wasn’t sure how to help him. They held each other’s
hands and had to be strength for each other.
The funeral home was in a large two story red brick building that was once someone’s home. It still looked like a house except for the carved wooden sign that read “Walker Funeral Home,” and the double glass doors in the center of the building. They walked toward the doors, and a young man in a black suit and tie opened one door and welcomed them.
He asked which service they would be attending, and Daniel said, “Garret Frant,” his voice shaky. She squeezed Daniel’s hand tighter. This was going to be harder than she thought.
The young man said, “follow me,” and led them past a set of large ornately carved double wooden doors to a second set of identical doors, further down the hall. The long hall was exquisitely decorated with plush brown carpeting, deep burgundy chairs, dark oak tables, and serene oil paintings on the wall. The hall was empty except for a man dressed in a dark gray suit sitting near the second set of doors. Annamarie glanced at him and he smiled, but all she noticed was his cold, gray eyes. It made her shudder.
The young man opened one of the doors for them, and Daniel thanked him. Standing at the back of the room Annamarie took in everything around her. It was different than the church services. There was a large wooden cross hanging from the wall at the front of the room with a narrow stained glass panel on either side. They appeared to be lit from behind somehow. It didn’t seem like natural lighting, but they were pretty. A table, at the front of the room, was surrounded by several bouquets of flowers. A deep blue urn that resembled marble sat on the table. It must contain Garret’s ashes. Annamarie thought it was what made Daniel catch his breath. The sadness she felt couldn’t compare to what Daniel must be feeling to see his friend reduced to a jar of ashes. They expected to see an urn at grandpa’s memorial, but Garret was their age. It seemed wrong that he was gone, too.
Ben and grandpa had a church service,
the Frant’s felt they should be secretive. It must be causing them more pain than they should have to endure. Daniel and Annamarie slowly made their way toward the front to offer their condolences to Garret’s parents. Mrs. Frant cried when she hugged Annamarie, and thanked her for coming. It made her feel better at least two of Garret’s friends were there. It appeared as if there were about twenty people attending. One was Garret’s older sister Sue, who had married a young man in the Army, and now lived down south somewhere, Annamarie couldn’t remember. She was there with her seven-year-old daughter. What a horrible family reunion Annamarie thought. Daniel and Annamarie sat in the back pew. It was a small room with only four rows of small pews on either side of the aisle.
Pastor Anders entered the room and saw them and smiled. She thought he was pleased Garret had a friend there, too. The service was brief. Garret’s uncle, who was also his godfather, eulogized him. Garret’s mom, Sue and both of his grandmothers seemed to cry in unison. It was heartbreaking. Pastor Anders said a few words about Garret’s soul being in a better place, offered a lovely prayer, and it was over. Short and sweet, the way Garret would have wanted it, Annamarie thought. They said goodbye to
the Frant’s and Sue, and declined their offer to go out to dinner.
They felt it would be better for the family to be alone for a while. They stopped and said a silent prayer in front of the beautiful blue urn and slowly left the memorial room. Daniel said he thought Garret would like
the blue marble urn, and the service was nice. Annamarie had to agree.
She noticed the man with
the cold, gray eyes was gone. She felt relieved although she didn’t understand why.
“Daniel, what about tomorrow when the news hits the paper? How do we act surprised?”
Daniel explained the paper would be out by six o’clock tomorrow morning. It’s being printed late this afternoon or evening and, word will be out long before it hits the street.
Daniel said, “I promised the
Frants I wouldn’t say I knew, and I have to keep the secret. Since the paper will be out before work, we can say we already know, and not be lying.”
“How do we hide our feelings and shock?”
“We won’t have to act shocked. We went through that at home. If anyone calls us tonight, our faces won’t be seen, and it will be easy to feign shock.”
It was one big lie Annamarie hoped they could get through.
They were fortunate because the only call they received was from Nancy. Daniel felt it was only right to tell her about the service because he knew she would’ve wanted to be there. He said she cried, but understood the family’s need for privacy, and she knew the sheriff wouldn’t let her leave Greta’s. Daniel filled her in on the details of his plan, and she agreed it was a good plan.
Daniel’s only worry about the plan was if the spirits would help or hinder him.
Chapter Eighteen: Plans
Friday morning arrived too quickly. The alarm forced Daniel and Annamarie out of their peaceful world of slumber into reality. Given no choice, the hard facts concerning Garret’s death had to be faced.
“I’ve no idea how I’m going to pretend not to know more than is in the paper,” Annamarie whispered, leaning over to kiss Daniel.
He kissed her back and offered to get the paper while she stayed comfortable under the soft yellow sheet.
Daniel walked back in, paper in hand. “Garret’s obituary is too short.”
“It must have been horrible for the
Frants to think of what to say, even with the help of Walker’s.”