The Shadows Trilogy (Box Set: Edge of Shadows, Shadows Deep, Veiled Shadows) (20 page)

A few minutes later Kevin returned carrying two pillows and two folded-up blankets. “Found these in the hallway closet upstairs,” he said. “It was stocked like a hotel.”

Ellie got up and helped Kevin make up the two couches, and then lay down as Kevin threw a few more pieces of wood into the fire. “That’ll burn for a little bit longer anyway,” he said. Then he lay down too, facing her. They talked quietly.

“Thanks, Kevin. You’ve been a real friend to me today,” she said.

“You don’t need to thank me, Ellie,” he said. “I know you’d do the same for me. I am really sorry about everything that happened with Jake.”

“Thanks,” she said softly. “I’m going to try to sleep now.”

Kevin nodded and then rolled over.

Ellie lay facing him still. She was still awake when his even breathing said that he was asleep. She envied how fast men always seemed to fall asleep. Her brain was working a million miles a minute, but she knew that she was physically and mentally exhausted. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Sometime later, she finally drifted off.

Ellie woke in her dream. She knew that her body was still on the couch in Linda’s library, but that didn’t deter from the realistic quality of the dream. She was standing in the corner of a small room. The girl from her previous dream, Emma, sat off to her left at a dressing table looking into a mirror and brushing her hair, which was longer than the last time Ellie had seen her. The man that Linda had called Henry paced the length of the room and back again. She was amazed again how much he resembled David.

“Are you all right, dear?” Emma said.

It was obvious to Ellie that Henry was anxious, but she had the advantage of being able to see his bright orange aura tinged with just a bit of purple. He was worried about something.

“Things are getting too damn close for comfort,” he answered.

“It will all turn out okay,” Emma assured him. “I can feel it, Henry. This is just what we needed to get us back on track.”

He looked up from his pacing and Ellie watched their eyes meet in the mirror. Henry came up behind Emma and put his hands on her shoulders.

“How did I ever get so lucky as to have such a beautiful wife?” he asked.

“I have no idea,” she laughed.

He kissed the top of her head. “You had better hurry up. Your sister is expecting us soon.”

“Yes, Lillian hates it when people are late,” she agreed.

Ellie was shocked to hear the name. Could they be talking about Lillian Bradford? Was David right that she was creating a reality in her dreams based on the Bradford story? The scene grew fuzzy, and she had the sense that time had shifted.

Now she was standing in the foyer of Linda’s house but everything was different. The house had that new feeling of a home just recently completed. People were everywhere, laughing and drinking. Emma and Henry were ushered through the door. A butler arrived at Henry’s shoulder, and Ellie saw that he looked a lot like Jeffrey.

Henry helped Emma out of her jacket and handed it along with his jacket to the man, who promptly disappeared.

“Emma!” she heard a familiar voice say. She turned and there was young Linda coming toward them.

“Lillian,” Emma replied. They kissed each other’s cheeks, and then Lillian greeted Henry.

“You are looking as dashingly handsome as ever,” Lillian said to him.

Ellie decided that since it was a dream, it was easier to stop struggling and watch and observe. It was just a dream after all. It didn’t surprise her then when Randall appeared at Linda’s side, and she heard Emma say, “Joseph. It is good to see you again.”

Ellie shifted uncomfortably as she saw Randall embrace Emma and hold her just a few seconds longer than Ellie thought was appropriate. Then he released her and clasped Henry’s hand. Ellie watched Emma’s face and saw that her smile was strained and it didn’t reach her eyes. Her aura was tinged pink with alarm. Emma didn’t like Randall any more than Ellie did.

“Should I be jealous, old man?” Randall winked at Henry.

Henry laughed. “No more so than I should be of you. Your house is lovely.”

As the two couples moved deeper into the house, Ellie felt time shifting again. Then they were in the library, and Joseph and Lillian were speaking in hushed tones in the corner. Henry and Emma were standing next to the fireplace watching them. Henry took Emma’s hand and Ellie moved closer to hear their conversation.

“It will be all right, dear. There is nothing to worry about,” he said.

Emma nodded and sat down, turning toward Ellie. The awkwardness of her movement caused Ellie to look down. She saw that Emma’s stomach was swollen. She was very pregnant.

“Do you feel all right?” Henry asked with a concerned expression on his face.

“Yes, I’m fine. Little Henry Junior is just kicking up a storm,” Emma replied with a smile.

Henry looked delighted. Even though she was on the outside, Ellie could feel the warmth and love that passed between them.

“I promise I won’t be gone long,” he said, touching Emma’s stomach. “I’m sure that Joseph and Lillian will take very good care of you and Henry Jr.”

“Of course,” Emma answered. They looked up as the other couple approached them.

“The arrangements have been made,” Joseph said to Henry. Lillian moved to Emma’s side as the men started to talk in hushed tones.

“How are you feeling, dear sister?” Lillian asked.

“I feel good,” Emma said, and Ellie could tell that she did. “It shouldn’t be long now. I hope that Henry gets back before the baby comes.”

“I’m sure that he will. Joseph would go himself, but with the authorities keeping such a close eye on things, we can’t risk it now,” Lillian said. Ellie watched Lillian look at Emma’s stomach with longing.

“I know that things have been difficult for you,” Emma said. “Are you sure it is okay for me to stay here?”

“We’ll just have to keep you out of the public eye. That’s all. We’ve come too far in our plans to let anything slip now,” Lillian answered.

“I can’t believe that anyone would accuse Joseph of something so horrible,” Emma said.

Ellie, the silent observer, wondered what that meant.

“It is all rumor and speculation. No one can prove anything,” Lillian said.

This time Emma remained silent. The men had turned their attention to the women again.

“It is all settled. Henry is leaving immediately,” Joseph told them.

Ellie saw tears welling up in Emma’s eyes, but the woman refused to let them fall. Ellie admired her strength.

Time shifted again, and Ellie saw that there was a telegram in Emma’s hands. This time the tears were falling freely, and Joseph was holding her up as her heavy body sagged.

“It can’t be true,” she cried.

Lillian’s anguished face came into view.

“Joseph, help Emma upstairs. I’m afraid this news may send her into labor.”

Joseph picked her up and carried her up the stairs.

Ellie woke up. The tears still streamed down her face from her dream. She wiped them away. The vividness of her dream refused to fade. She still felt the immense sadness weighing on her, threatening to pull her underneath its heavy tow. She had seen the words on the telegram right before the dream had faded away. The final sentence read: HENRY MISSING. PRESUMED DEAD.

“Kevin,” she said urgently to the softly snoring figure on the other couch. Kevin didn’t stir.

“Kevin!” she said a bit louder.

Kevin shifted and turned toward her. “Ellie?” he said. His voice was thick with sleep. “What’s the matter?”

“Did you find anything in that box that said Joseph and Lillian had family here?” she asked.

“What are you talking about, Ellie?” he asked, wiping the sleep from his eyes.

“I had that strange dream again. It wasn’t the same dream, but it was the same people,” she said. She quickly went over the highlights of her dream.

Kevin’s look told her that he thought she might have drunk too much wine.

“I’m not crazy, and I swear this doesn’t feel like a projection of my grief or any other psychobabble like that,” she said.

“Aren’t you the one who was telling me earlier that you don’t believe in this kind of stuff?’ Kevin asked.

“Yes,” Ellie said reluctantly. “Maybe I am just dreaming all of it. But Kevin, it just felt so real. I can’t explain it. But I have this feeling in my gut that whatever happened to the Bradfords, this Emma was part of it.”

“So you are seeing ghosts and reliving memories in your dreams?”

Ellie could tell that he didn’t believe her. “Let’s just go with the hypothesis for now that I am getting information somehow in a way that isn’t immediately explainable, and see what we can find out,” she said.

“How do you suggest we do that?” Kevin asked.

Ellie paused. “That newspaper article came from the paper. We can start there. Dig up some old newspapers and see what we can find. If Lillian did have a pregnant sister and she gave birth here, then there would be a birth notice or something, right?”

“I would guess so,” Kevin said reluctantly.

“We might find some other articles on what actually happened to the Bradfords too,” Ellie said.

“Going all Nancy Drew after all, huh?” Kevin said with a wry smile.

“Hey, you’re the one who said that I should find something to distract me from what’s been happening,” Ellie said.

“I just didn’t know that would mean your attention would be focused on something you’re literally dreaming up,” Kevin replied.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” she argued. “I didn’t mean to wake you, by the way. I just couldn't wait to tell you about this.”

“That’s okay. Crazy lady.” he winked at her.

“Let’s get some sleep. I’m going to keep the coffee shop closed for the next few days,” she said. “Out of respect for Jake.”

“I wonder if this makes me a Hardy boy,” Kevin joked.

Ellie lay back down and closed her eyes. She wondered if her dreams would take her back to that time long ago. Thankfully, they did not.

The next morning found Ellie and Kevin at the downtown branch of the Hennepin County Library.

“How does this work again?” Ellie asked Kevin for the third time.

Kevin rolled his eyes. “Ellie, I don’t know how you’ve managed all this time without figuring out how to use modern technology.”

Ellie shrugged. “I have told you that I prefer the regular old forms of communication.”

“Here, let me do it,” Kevin sighed.

Ellie switched chairs with him so that he was facing the computer terminal instead. Kevin pulled up a search engine and typed “Joseph Bradford.” Instantly there were several hits, and they scrolled through them.

“These all look like they have to do with his business dealings,” Ellie commented.

“Nothing newer than the early 1900s it looks like,” Kevin added. “These are all historical references to the companies that ran the iron mines up north.”

“Wait, go back,” Ellie said, catching a glimpse of a word that got her excited. “What’s that one?”

Kevin clicked on the link, and it took them to a genealogy page. A family tree ran down the page, and ended with Joseph Bradford.

“Looks like the agent was right that kids didn’t happen in that relationship,” Kevin commented. “You see how Lillian’s name is underlined?” He pointed to Lillian’s name.

“Yes,” Ellie said.

“That means we can click on that and there is more information,” Kevin said.

Ellie felt like Kevin was talking to a four-year-old by his tone. “So what does that show?” she said, ignoring it. It wasn’t her fault that she had never had any use for the Internet before.

Kevin clicked on the link, and it pulled up another family tree. “Lillian’s maiden name was Kellogg. Okay, this is weird.”

Ellie saw what he was looking at. Another branch led from Lillian’s name to another name: Emma Decatur.

“She did have a sister named Emma.” Ellie felt vindicated.

“Ellie, you are seriously creeping me out,” Kevin said.

“Emma’s name is underlined too. Can you click on that?” Ellie asked.

Kevin did as she asked.

“She was married to Henry Decatur. That’s odd.” She frowned.

“What?” Kevin asked.

“I don’t see any children. In my dream, Emma was definitely pregnant, and quite far along.”

“That really may have been a dream,” Kevin offered.

“Why would the rest of it have been true, but that wouldn’t be?” Ellie asked.

“I don’t know, Ellie. Maybe it could be the fact that you were dreaming about seeing people who lived a hundred years ago?” Kevin said as he crossed his arms.

Ellie drummed her fingers on the desk. “Do a search on Henry Decatur,” she said after a few moments.

Kevin sighed, but typed the name into the search engine. A few seconds later they found a reference to a page that was obviously done by someone who had an interest in the Decatur family.

“The Decatur family was a well-to-do family from the South. The family’s fortunes went downhill in the early 1900s when they lost all their money in some bad business investments,” Kevin summarized after a quick scan.

“That would make sense,” Ellie said. “It seemed like the Bradfords were helping Henry and Emma out financially. If they were expecting a baby, I would guess that they were looking for all the help they could get.”

“The family heir, Henry, disappeared a few years later. Nothing here says what happened to him. And the plot thickens,” Kevin said slowly.

“What?” Ellie asked, craning to read the words on the screen.

“It says that Henry and his wife had originally relocated to try to get back on their feet, but it doesn’t say where. Then they basically disappeared.”

“So the Bradfords and the Decaturs were both here. Joseph was in some kind of trouble and asked Henry for help. Then within what, weeks of each other, all four of them disappeared?” Ellie said, looking at Kevin.

“I think that we have indulged your morbid curiosity enough for one day,” Kevin said.

Ellie didn’t answer.

“Do you even know when the funeral is?” Kevin asked.

“What?” Ellie was still deep in thought. The images of Emma and Henry from her dream filled her head.

“Jake’s funeral,” he repeated. “Do you even know when it is?”

“No,” she said. “I’m not calling Jenny either.”

“The Internet to the rescue again,” Kevin said. He pulled up the
Star Tribune
webpage and typed in Jake’s name. Immediately a link was pulled up under the obituary section.

“I can’t look,” Ellie said, turning her face away.

Kevin read the short story quickly. “It’s tomorrow at the Hillwood Funeral Home in Apple Valley.”

“I can’t go to that,” Ellie said.

“Ellie, you said yourself that it would look weird if you didn’t. Don’t you kind of owe it to Jake? Especially considering how you left things? You said you guys had a reconciliation of sorts, right?” Kevin pushed.

“Yes,” Ellie admitted.

“Then why wouldn’t you want to go?” he said.

“Because I feel responsible for what happened and Jenny Marks hates me,” she said, looking down at her hands.

“Maybe she does, but there’s really no love lost there, is there?”

“I did like her once. But after what happened with Jake, there was no way I would have continued being friends with her.”

“Let me ask you this then.” Kevin turned in his chair and swung her chair so that it was facing him. She was forced to look at his face. “Would you be able to live with yourself if you didn’t go, despite how the new queen bee feels about you?”

Ellie knew the answer to the question, and knew that Kevin knew it as well. “Will you go with me?” she asked.

“Anything you need, Ellie.” He squeezed her knee. “But maybe you should ask David. I will definitely go with you if he can’t make it, but I need to start paying attention to my boyfriend soon. He’s going to start thinking that I went straight on him at this rate.”

Ellie smiled. “That’s a good idea. Thanks, Kevin. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She gave him a quick hug.

“Duh, you’d be sinking into a hole of despair,” he said, flipping her hair out of her face.

“No doubt,” Ellie agreed.

“Shhhh,” a woman at the next computer terminal said with a finger to her mouth looking at them.

Kevin flung his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get out of here.”