Annja swam slowly through the blackness of her mind. It was as if she simply couldn't move her arms and legs fast enough to generate any kind of momentum and she was stuck.
Her body drifted aimlessly, slowly spinning over and over but not fast enough to make her feel ill. She had no real sensation of which way was up, anyhow. Her limbs felt numb. She couldn't hear anything. She couldn't see anything.
It was almost like being in some sort of sensory deprivation tank.
My eyes are open, she thought. And yet I can't see anything around me. There's no way to penetrate the inky black darkness that surrounds me.
She tried stopping herself and spinning in the opposite direction, but it didn't work. In some ways, she thought she was like an orbiting planet, powered by the gravitational force of some unseen sun far off in the outer reaches of her galactic mind.
Is this what I did to myself?
she
wondered. Had she taxed her system so far and to such a great extent that she had just switched off? The truck explosion, the day of trekking, being ambushed, nearly being drowned and having to swim both herself and Jenny to safety prior to another long hike. Had it all simply been too much?
One thing felt certain, wherever she was, she didn't feel tired any longer. This place, this quiet refuge, may have been some sort of resting point for her to come to when things got truly bad.
Annja smiled, or at least she thought she smiled. It's good to know I at least have this.
She wondered how long it would take to fully recuperate her strength. How long had she been floating here? Had she been gone for hours or, when she woke up, would she find that only minutes had passed since she fell to the ground back on the side trail by the hotel?
A thought occurred to her and she didn't like it. What if she didn't wake up? What if she was like the
sword,
trapped beyond the reach of normal life in some weird other dimension? What if no one could get her back?
Was it possible that she was dead?
She took a breath and felt her lungs expand and then contract.
So far so good.
She tried flexing her limbs, but they were so numb she couldn't tell if they were moving or not.
This is weird, she thought. And then she quickly mocked herself for being a master of the understatement.
If I'm supposed to stay here until I'm rested, then what in the world are Jenny and Joey thinking right now? She imagined Jenny freaking, trying to figure out what was wrong. Annja felt a small measure of relief that both of them had seen the sword. If they hadn't, they might just think Annja was dead and have her carted off to the morgue for an autopsy.
This is probably the only time it was good they saw the sword, she thought. Any other time, pulling it out for the world to see isn't.
"Annja!"
From somewhere off in the distance, Annja heard the voice. And then something jolted her awake and it sounded like a huge roar in her ears. She winced and clamped her eyes shut. When she opened them again—
Jenny's face hovered over hers.
"Annja!"
"
All right, all right, take it easy, will you?" Annja tried to sit up but found her body was still somewhat like jelly.
"Easy, Annja."
Joey's voice sounded in her ear, but much softer than Jenny's. She felt his arms under her back and then she was propped up into a sitting position. Joey looked at her. "You okay?"
"I think so."
"Jesus," Jenny said, "you scared the hell out of us."
"Out of you," Joey corrected. "I knew she'd be okay."
"Oh, sure you did, you big liar." Jenny stooped closer to Annja. "What happened to you?"
Annja shook her head. "I don't know. I was looking at the hotel and then I tried to take another step and I just couldn't do it. I went down and kept going straight into…I don't know where."
Joey nodded. "You were beyond exhausted. Your physical body had been taxed to its limits and your spirit took over to protect you.
Very interesting."
Jenny frowned. "I thought we'd lost you, Annja."
"I didn't do it deliberately, Jenny." She looked around. "Where are we?"
"Still on the trail behind the hotel," Joey said. "You want some water?"
Annja nodded. "That would be great." Joey offered her a small cup of water and she drank it down, tasting the cold against the back of her throat. She gulped a few sips and then paused. "Thanks."
Joey glanced at his watch. "We should get going."
"How long was I out?"
"
A few minutes."
Annja stretched. She felt as if she'd spent a long day napping in her apartment in
Joey eyed her. "You look…rested."
Annja nodded. "I actually feel pretty amazing."
Jenny frowned. "Nice you could take a nap and all. I'm certainly tired, too, but you don't see me lying down on the job."
"Well, after I had to save your butt from certain death, I figured I deserved it," Annja said. "Help me up, will you?"
Jenny pulled her to her feet and Annja brushed her pants off. "Thanks."
Jenny smiled. "Glad you're okay."
"
You and me both.
For a while there, I didn't know what was happening to me."
"Where were you?"
Annja shook her head. "It was completely and utterly black. I couldn't see anything.
Couldn't feel anything, either.
It wasn't until I heard you shouting that I suddenly felt something snap me back to life."
"Yeah," Joey said, "Jenny slapped you across the face pretty hard."
Annja put a hand to her face and felt the tender area by her cheek. "Hey."
Jenny held up her hands. "I was worried. And besides, you know you would have done the exact same thing to me if you were in my position."
"I don't know," Annja said. "Let's test that theory out, shall we?"
"Ladies," Joey said. "Can we just get to the hotel? The sooner we hook up with Sheila, the better."
Annja eyed Jenny. "I'm not forgetting about that, slap happy."
Jenny tried to grin. "Yeah, I know you won't."
Joey led them closer to the hotel. Annja felt much stronger. Her muscles responded well. She could feel the energy coursing through her veins now like liquid heat.
Joey paused. "This is it. We follow this path up and there's a back door we can access that leads right into the kitchen. If Tom's in there, we can get his attention and he'll bring Sheila to us."
Annja nodded. "Okay. Let's do it."
Jenny followed Joey up the slope and Annja came next. As she scampered up the slope, she glanced left and then right but their approach was well concealed. She smiled. Joey would never have used a trail that would potentially expose them to observers. That would betray everything his grandfather had taught him over the years.
They scurried up to the back door and then paused. Jenny was out of breath but Annja felt fine. Joey looked at them. "Give me a second to get in there and check things out."
"How are you going to do that without Tom seeing you?" Jenny asked.
Joey smirked. "Jenny, no one sees me if I don't want them to. Tom won't notice me until I'm ready."
"Are you sure?"
"
Of course."
Joey nodded at Annja and then eased himself through the screened back door. It opened without a sound and Joey vanished inside.
Jenny glanced at Annja. "What do you think?"
Annja shrugged. "He'll do fine."
"Not that, about you? Are you really okay now? You don't have to be brave in front of me. Just tell me the truth."
Annja smiled. Despite their differences and the confusion of this entire trip, Jenny was still a friend. "I'm actually feeling great. Wherever I was, it really gave me some of my strength back."
Jenny slumped against her. "Thank God for that. The way things are going, we're going to need it."
"I'm going to need it," Annja said. "If things go bad, you take care of Joey and let me handle the bad guys, okay?"
"You won't get an argument from me on that one," Jenny said with a grin. "I don't know the first thing about fighting, anyway."
"Unfortunately, I do," Annja said. "Sometimes I wish I didn't, but there you go."
Jenny watched the back door. "What's taking him so long?"
Annja looked up. "He's probably just checking things out, is all. Give him another minute and then we'll take a closer look."
"I don't like it. What if David was in there and grabbed him? They could be waiting for us right now. Or they could be coming around the back here."
"Calm down. There's no way Joey would give us up."
"
Unless he happened to be one of them."
Jenny frowned. "I mean, we have to consider it, right?"
"No," Annja said. "We don't. Joey's not with anyone but himself.
And maybe the forest."
The screen door slid open and Joey's face appeared. He came down the steps and squatted next to them. "Tom's in the kitchen, but just as I was going to say something to him, someone came in. I waited but didn't get a chance."
Annja frowned.
"So what now?"
Joey shrugged. "I guess we take a chance and head on inside."
"
Just like that?"
Jenny asked. "We're not even going to see if it's all clear?"
"I did the best I could," Joey said. "We'll just have to risk it."
Annja nodded. "Okay. I'll lead the way this time." She rose on her haunches and stalked up the back steps. The screen door opened easily and she was glad it didn't squeak.
Inside the back pantry, shelves lined with all sorts of foodstuffs loomed over them as they kept close to the ground. Annja could hear voices ahead of them in the main kitchen area.
She recognized Tom's deep voice. But whose voice was the other one? It seemed somewhat familiar but then she couldn't be sure.
She peered around the stainless steel cabinet and spotted Sheila. A wave of relief washed over her. All she had to do was stand and call to her.
Annja held her hand out behind her to signal Joey and Jenny to hold their positions. Something strange was going on.
She heard Sheila speaking clearly. But the tone of her voice was very different. And she wasn't addressing Tom as if he was her husband at all, more like he was her slave.
"I don't care if you don't want to make it, I said just do it!" And then she spun and marched out of the kitchen through the swinging door that led to the dining room.
That exchange didn't sound like the Sheila she'd met, Annja thought. What was that all about?
She peeked around the corner, but Tom's back was to her.
Good.
She darted out from her hiding spot and raced to the swinging doors. Small porthole windows were cut into each door. Annja rose and looked through one of them.
Out in the dining room, she saw a surprising scene.
Sheila sat at a table nursing a cup of coffee.
Across from her, holding her
hand,
was David.
Annja pulled back from the window. What in the world was going on? David was with Sheila?
But how?
And why?
"Hey."
She wheeled around and found herself staring at Tom. He looked her up and down and frowned. "Aren't you one of the girls who came in here yesterday?"
"
Annja, yes."
He nodded. "What are you doing here in the kitchen? You look like you're sneaking around."
Annja smiled. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you."
"Try me."
Annja gestured outside to the dining room. "I thought you were married to Sheila."
"Unfortunately, yes. That's true. What about it?"
Annja shrugged. "Aren't you a bit upset that the sheriff is holding her hand right now?"
Tom grimaced. "Is that all he's doing? Then it's a pleasant change from the way things normally are."
"What do you mean?"
He turned and went back to working the grill. "Those two can't keep their hands off each other. Ever since they hooked up, it's as if I haven't existed except to fulfill whatever demands they make on me."
"What kinds of demands?"
"Usually has to do with what Dave wants to eat. Apparently the items on the menu aren't good enough for him anymore. Now Sheila wants me to make things I haven't cooked in years.
All that foo-foo stuff that has no place being served in a joint like this."
"
David's got expensive tastes?" Annja asked.
Tom nodded.
"Ever since he started traveling.
He became a bit of a globe hopper a few years back. Never seemed right to most of us in town, how he came into all that money to take those trips, but the town's bookkeeper can't find any money gone missing, so we don't think he's robbing us blind."
"So where's he getting it all, then?"
"Don't know. I do know that ever since he gave Sheila a little gift one time, she hasn't been able to stop falling all over him.
Literally.
They spend so many nights together, it's a wonder she even remembers that this place is her real home."
"You haven't divorced her yet?"
Tom didn't say anything for a minute and then he cleared his throat. "Guess I'm a damn fool romantic. Maybe I keep thinking she's going to wake up and come to her senses, see that he's not the guy for her and that she ought to be with me, instead.
Like it used to be."
Annja frowned. Seeing the way David held Sheila's hands out there, that didn't seem likely. "You might just be better off without her. Did you ever think of that?"
"Yeah. Sure. I guess. But who's going to want a guy like me? I'm a grill jockey at a backwater hotel in the middle of nowhere. No wonder Sheila fell for Dave. Even though he lives here, he travels and can take her places and give her stuff I never could."
"There's more than stuff to making a marriage work."
Tom glared at her. "You think I don't know that?"
"When did they start hooking up?"
"About a year back. Right after he came back from someplace abroad. He said Europe, but I thought he went north to
"Why?"
"Kinda slipped one time and mentioned he'd once seen parts of
Seemed odd to me since I'd never heard him talk about
But I think he's been there.
A lot."
Annja frowned. If David was getting money from somewhere other than the town, then he had to either have something of value or be doing something that made him money.
But what?
"Annja!"
The harsh whisper broke her concentration. She turned and saw Jenny waving her over. Tom noticed.
"You got more friends back there?"
"Yeah, this is Jenny."
Tom smiled. "Hi."
Jenny smiled back. "Hi." She turned to Annja. "What's going on?"
Annja thumbed toward the door. "Sheila and David are in the dining room, huddling like lovers." She blanched and looked at Tom. "Sorry."
He shrugged.
"No matter.
I know it as much as anyone in town. It just took longer to admit it to myself."
Jenny looked sad. "Poor thing, to have a wife do that to you."
"They're here for lunch," Tom said. "Want some of that nouveau cuisine I was telling you about. She says if it's not good, Dave will shoot me."
"He can't threaten to do that," Jenny said.
Tom shrugged.
"Why not?
Everyone in town knows that something's going on. They don't like messing with him at all. Nice guy on the exterior, but if you cross him he's a dangerous snake."
"You don't say." Annja shook her head. "Looks like your sheriff might just need to be replaced."
Tom sighed. "No one around here has the guts to run against him. Last guy who did went missing and that was about the last brave hurrah we ever had. Now most folks have either moved away or stay up in their homes unless there's no choice but to come down for supplies or something."
"This is crazy," Annja said. "We've got to do something."
Joey snuck over to the door. "Wow, that's quite a kiss."
Annja groaned. "Joey."
Tom caught his breath. "Oh, hell, I have to face facts. And I know that kissing's about the least of it, anyway, so no harm done.
At least not by young Joey there."
He bowed his head. "Nice to see you again, Joe."
"
You, too, Tom.
Sorry we had to sneak in like this."
Tom shrugged.
"No matter.
I'm glad for the company. But what brings you in this way, anyhow?"
"Dave tried to kill us last night," Joey said.
Tom leaned against the grill. "All of you?
How so?"
"
Shot us with tranquilizer darts and then stowed us in the underground cavern up by the river."
Tom's face grew stern. "They flushed the dam earlier today."
Joey nodded. "We found out."
"Rather abruptly," said Annja.
Tom shook his head. "Killing an adult is one thing. But a kid's another.
Don't that guy
have any kind of morals?"
"Pretty sure he doesn't," Joey said. "But he's got to be working with somebody. Someone else pulled the trigger last night, not him."
Annja moved closer to Tom. "Does Sheila know how to shoot?"
"Most women in these parts do. It's always good to know how to use a shotgun in case a bear gets too nosy."
"
And Sheila?"
"
Better than most, I'd say," Tom said. "She grew up in the Southwest before coming north with her mom a long time back. She told me her daddy used to teach her how to handle a gun when she was a kid."
Annja glanced at Jenny. "I think we just found our triggerman."
"
Agreed.
But what's she helping him with? What's the goal in David's whole enterprise?"
Annja looked back at Tom. "You said she's been gone a lot lately?"
"
Been gone a lot ever since the two of them started carrying on together.
I don't know whether she's at his house or just out somewhere else with him. She doesn't exactly come home and regale me with tales of their relationship, if you get my meaning."
"Probably better that way," Annja said.
"I'd say so," Tom said.
"Bad enough that my wife is shacking up with some other man.
I don't need updates about it."
"I wonder what they're up to," Jenny said. "It's got to be something that has the potential for a lot of money."
"We could just stroll out there and ask them," Annja said. "After all, they're sitting right there."
"And risk Dave shooting us on sight?" Joey said.
"No, thanks.
I'm not really looking to see my life ended before I even get to date a girl."
"You could stay here," Annja said. "That way, in case we get into trouble, you come in with the cavalry."
Joey frowned.
"Great choice of words."
Annja blanched. "Sorry."
"Forget it. But if that's how you two want to play this, be my guest. Tom and I will stay here and watch from a distance."
Annja glanced at Jenny. "What do you think?"
Jenny took a deep breath. "At this point, I'm honestly so confused about everything, I don't really care what we do provided we have a fair chance of going home safe and sound when this is all done."
Annja looked at Joey and Tom. "I don't think that will be a problem now."
"Then let's do it."
Annja pushed through the swinging doors and headed straight for the table. Sheila and David turned at almost the same time, the shock of seeing her clearly registering on both their faces.
Sheila started to sputter something.
David reached for his gun.
Annja covered the distance fast and slammed the side of her hand down on David's wrist, hearing a snap as she did so.
David shrieked and grabbed his wounded wrist. "What the hell!"
Jenny slapped Sheila across the face. "That's for lying to us."
David cradled his gun hand and frowned. "You're supposed to be dead."
"They would be if you did it properly," Sheila said.
"I tied those ropes tighter than anyone could have gotten loose. They must have had help," David said.
Did
we
ever, Annja thought. "You're a real piece of work, David. Not only are you a loathsome scumbag, but you'd kill a child as easily as draw a breath. Real nice, aren't you?"
"Joey would have told someone. I couldn't take the chance. He had to go just like you two."
Annja leaned forward and put her face inches from David's. "And all that sweet
talk
last night on your porch?
About how you lured me out here through Jenny?
What was that all about?"
"Whatever it takes to achieve the goal," he said.
But Annja could see her comment had hit the mark. Sheila didn't look happy. Annja saw her face darken momentarily. "Your man here has a bit of a libido problem, doesn't he?" she said pressing the point.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sheila snapped.
"Don't you? You think you're the only woman he's led astray? He's probably got a dozen more dumb chicks like you in
Sheila looked at Dave. "Tell her that's not true."
"It's not. There's only you, babe."
Annja laughed. "I'll bet."
David frowned. "Don't listen to her. She's just trying to get you upset so you'll turn on me."
Annja pulled up a chair and sat down. "Do you mind telling me what this is all about in the first place? We're all a bit tired of guessing and you clearing up some of this would be greatly appreciated."
David smirked. "You haven't figured it out?"
"There hasn't been much to figure out. We've got you contacting Jenny, but for what reason I can't fathom. Simpson and Baker are intent on capturing big foot. And then there's you two running some kind of illegal operation here and trying to get us all killed. I can't connect the dots, so why don't you do it for me?"
"Why would I make your life any easier?" David said.
Annja smiled and then leaned forward to grab his hand. He yelped as she did so. Annja held his wrist. "I think the bone's broken here."
"Which one," David said. "You nailed it good."
Annja twisted the wrist a little and David screamed. "Wow, you're right. Maybe I did get a couple of them. I guess I just don't know my own strength sometimes, huh?"
David's face paled. "Stop it. You're killing me!"
Annja shook her head.
"Not yet, sweetheart.
But I will if you don't start talking about what you two are cooking up around here."
David looked at Sheila. "Ask her."
"Why would I do that?" Annja asked.
"Because she's in charge of the entire thing, that's why!"
Annja frowned. Sheila shook her head. "He's delusional from the pain of his broken wrist. I don't know what he's talking about."
"She does! You have to believe me. I'm not the one who knows everything. She is.
They
are!"
"
They?"
David nodded furiously.
"Of course.
I couldn't pull this off without their help. You've got to believe me."
"Who are
they
?"
David eyed Annja. "God, are you really so stupid? Tom!
Him
and Sheila are running this show, not me."
Jenny started to speak. "But Tom just told us—"
The sound of a ratcheted shotgun behind them made both Annja and Jenny turn around. Tom stood there, leveling the mean-looking Mossberg pump action on them. "I guess you might as well stop torturing that poor man," Tom said.
"You sure don't look brokenhearted anymore," Annja said.
Tom smiled. "Time heals all wounds. Isn't that what they say?"
"Some people say that, yeah."
"Wise folks, those people," Tom said. "Now, slowly get on up and stand over by that wall on the far side of the room. I think it's about time we all had ourselves a nice little chat."