DRAGONJULS' Storybook
~ All Our Tomorrows ~
J M Dragon
Part Six
© February 2001
e-mail: jmdragon1@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: See
Part One
Chapter Twelve
Grace swatted a mosquito as she looked around the small bay. The sunrise was making its way across the sky, making the place look peaceful and welcoming. Glancing at the back of the woman she had travelled with, she marvelled at her stamina. They had been up for the best part of twenty-four hours, yet, Jace looked ready for anything, and anything was what they might find!
Walking over to Jace’s position, she inclined her head smiling wearily at the friendly countenance she saw there.
“Are you tired Grace?” Jace asked, her voice filled with concern over her friend’s rather pale complexion.
Grace weakly nodded her head as she waited along side the small blonde. They had been expecting to be met at the ferry terminal, but so far there was no evidence of that.
“I don’t know what’s happened to our welcoming committee. However, if they don’t arrive in the next five minutes we’ll hail a cab and go directly to the villa ourselves.” Jace’s tone mildly angry at the absence of the person who was to meet them.
It wasn’t bad enough that her call to Catherine had been nothing but static, numerous attempts at connection had thwarted their attempts to talk. All she did know for sure was that Lisa wasn’t home yet, beyond that she had no detail. Her heart was now very heavy, although outwardly you could never tell.
“Perhaps they have the wrong time. It happens.” Grace supplied, although she was less than convinced of that, bearing in mind that this was a regular ferry and the next one wasn’t due until midday.
A screeching of tires on the worn surface of the road that led to the ferry entrance made both women look towards the vehicle that had stopped abruptly.
There were several other passengers who were making their own way along the road, who looked at the vehicle. One or two actually waved a hand in greeting.
Lukas Dimitrie pulled his tall frame from out of the jeep, casting his eyes around the docking area. Then, they settled on two women who stood side by side with a minimum of baggage, but no Catherine Warriorson!
Striding purposefully towards the ferry Captain who was signing a few papers before he left for his next destination, Lukas shouted out a few phrases in Greek, totally unintelligible to the two women as they watched the man in some fascination. He was a rather handsome compelling sight.
“Now if I wasn’t already taken, I wouldn’t mind checking him out!” Grace whispered to Jace, laughing softly as she did so.
“Oh Grace, now what would Colin say?” Jace smiled, continuing to watch the man who was now looking in their direction as the ferry captain had pointed their way.
“He’d say it was my hormones and…Jace, he’s coming our way!” Grace once again whispered, but this time with an element of disbelief in her voice.
“Yeah, I think this might be our welcoming committee Grace.” Jace replied as the man came closer to their position.
“Ladies, are you by any chance waiting for an escort to the Villa Xianspiros?” the accented voice asked. It held a low timbre, certainly a voice you could listen to for hours.
“Yes, we have an invitation from Constantia Xianthos. Would you be our escort, by any chance?” Jace asked quietly. The man bowed slightly in acknowledgement of the situation.
“I apologise for being late. Wasn’t Ms. Warriorson able to make it? Or is she coming on another transport?” Lukas asked the small blonde who was very attractive, her accent clearly American.
“Ms. Warriorson, was unable to make it. We came in her place.”
“Obviously I’m at a disadvantage. My name is Lukas Dimitrie, personal assistant to Miss Xianthos. And you would be?” Lukas asked politely, watching both women with interest.
“My name is Jace Warriorson and this is Grace Montgomery. We have been travelling some time Mr Dimitrie. If you would be so kind as to take us to the villa, we would be grateful.” Jace supplied the minimum of information, especially as she didn’t know this man.
“My apologies ladies. Please, if you will step this way, my vehicle is parked to your right. I will take you there immediately. Constantia will be happy to welcome you to her home.” Lukas spoke quickly, pointing to the small jeep parked haphazardly to their right.
“Lead the way Mr Dimitrie. It will be a pleasure to meet Catherine’s aunt. We have heard so much about her.” Jace said softly, seeing a glint appear in the eye of the man, before he turned towards his jeep. He was unsure exactly what she meant by that last remark. All he knew, was that Jace Warriorson was the ‘wife’ of Catherine Warriorson. It would be interesting to see how the meeting with her and Constantia faired.
* * * * * * * * * *
Catherine lethargically opened the door to the apartment and entered the hallway, totally ignoring the woman who was behind her as she went further into the apartment.
Serena Dusterly glanced around the deserted corridor and followed the tall dark imposing figure into the apartment, not, without some trepidation. Catherine Devonshire had been serious with her sparse words earlier. Truth be told, she didn’t understand why things had gone wrong. It shouldn’t have had, it really shouldn’t.
“Catherine, is there anything I can get you?” Stephanie Merchant asked, hesitating at the doorway to the kitchen.
The dark head moved fractionally and ice blue eyes focused with some difficulty on the face of her housekeeper.
“No. No, that’s okay Stephanie. At the moment, I would just like to be alone.” The words carried the true depth of the feelings she was experiencing with the events that had transpired.
Walking past the women, she swiftly made her way to the study and went inside, softly closing the door after her.
Serena watched the scene and couldn’t help the wave of disappointment she felt at the totally abject stance of the woman, who had now left the area.
“Where are the others please, Stephanie?” Serena asked quietly of the housekeeper.
Stephanie Merchant wasn’t sure if this woman was to blame. Right now, she looked the likely candidate, if the sight of her employer was anything to go by. “In the lounge.” She answered shortly, turning her back to the woman unable to be polite.
Serena bit back a retort, deciding to keep silent for now. She went towards the lounge and opened the closed door. Four sets of eyes greeted her, all obviously waiting for an explanation.
“Ms. Dusterly, glad you arrived back in one piece.” Constance Waverly said sarcastically.
Serena inclined her head at the jibe. It was at least, to be expected. Then, her eyes settled on the man in the room. She’d never seen him before.
Jason Bardley watched the woman from his vantagepoint in the middle of the room, then walked towards her, his hand stretched out in a welcoming gesture.
“Hello Ms. Dusterly. My name is Jason Bardley. Happy to meet you.”
Serena looked at the man closely and judged his welcome to be genuine, clasping his hand and smiled briefly.
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you too.” Her politeness was not lost on the man as he eyed her carefully.
“Well, I’m sure you ladies have plenty to talk about. I have to go see Catherine.” Jason said as he made his way towards the door of the room.
“Catherine wants to be alone.” Serena said with quiet conviction, watching as the man shrugged his shoulders, smiling at her warmly.
“Oh, I know that’s what she thinks she wants, but right now I think family might be the order of the day.” He walked out of the room. Serena looked after his retreating back in wonder.
“Family?” She turned and asked the others in the room.
“Yes, family. Jason is Catherine’s father-in-law. He’s Jace’s father.” Clare offered in explanation.
“Oh, I never thought of that.” Serena replied, moving further into the room.
“Seems to me like you didn’t think of many things, if this debacle of a rescue was anything to go by.” Constance Waverly said, her tone laced with venom.
“Hey! I didn’t know it was going to end like that. All the facts I had traced it to that farmhouse.” Serena replied, moving over to the large picture window to look at the dark recess below. Only the dim outline of the pond was showing up in the street lighting.
“Dusterly, you are nothing but a fraud! Now we all know why you left the FBI. Was it before they kicked you out?” Constance continued her jibe. In all her thirty odd years, she had never experienced such a look of sheer desolation that she had witnessed in the eyes of her boss. It wasn’t right to bring up people’s hopes like that, then smash them without a care!
Serena looked at the angry features of the dusky skinned woman. Admitting with all the current information the others had, it would be the only solution they could come to under the circumstances.
“Nothing to say? What! You became a coward when you gave in the badge?” Constance was goading the woman. She knew the last remark hit home.
Dusterly moved swiftly to Constance’s side and roughly shook her shoulders as she reacted to the jibe at last. “You know nothing, Waverly! You can’t perceive the situation I was in or currently in now. I know I’m right!”
“How the fuck can you be right Dusterly? We are back here. Lisa is still in the clutches of some maniac! Tell me how you think you are right?” Constance responded angrily, locking gazes and trading vicious sneers as they were close together.
Rita Tuscany looked over to Clare, who had watched the altercation with distress. Having decided that Dusterly really had made them all suffer, particularly Catherine Devonshire, it wasn’t right.
“Constance, Ms. Dusterly! Please, it won’t bring Lisa back, trading insults or even punches.” Clare had watched the anger gradually erupting to what could perhaps bring about blows.
“I’ll go ask Ms. Merchant for something for us to drink, any preferences?” Rita asked quietly, as Dusterly removed her hands from Waverly’s shoulders and they stood staring at each other in annoyance. Both were seething in their own anger.
“I’ll have a scotch.” Constance replied quickly, as she was given a swift surprised glance from Rita.
“Constance I don’t think…” she was unable to finish as Constance gave her a menacing stare.
Clare watched the changing expression on both women’s faces. What was going on here? Constance had indicated she had some problems and that they would talk about it. This new crisis had forced them to forget about it for things that were more important. Perhaps now was the time to find out.
“Is there a problem about a scotch for Constance, Rita?” Clare asked quietly, her intelligent eyes missing nothing as Rita looked at Constance. Shrugging her shoulders, she shook her head and left the room.
“Constance, do we have a problem here?” Clare turned to her lover and watched as a deep red flooded her cheeks.
‘What should she say to Clare? She certainly didn’t want to lie about her problem. To admit it with this stranger here, that was too much of an embarrassment.’ Walking over to Clare, she gently reached out a hand and touched her cheek, smiling slowly. The touch of the younger woman was her salvation. “No! No, Clare, I’ll go and change that order to coffee. We all need to have a clear head.”
Clare smiled at her and watched as she left the room to follow Rita to the kitchen.
“Ms. Dusterly you say you are right, yet Constance was right too. We are all here and without Lisa.” Clare pointed out to the pensively featured woman left in the room with her.
“I know, I know. I spent years checking and rechecking the facts. It has to be there, or I have always been wrong. I don’t believe that for one minute.” Serena explained, her voice positive in tone.
“May I ask, did you check every fact yourself?” Clare remarked and watched the concentration pass over the woman before her. When they had first met, she hadn’t particularly taken to the woman. As she spoke about her plans and her suspect, it was clear she believed and had convinced Ms. Devonshire that there was the possibility, however remote. Now it appeared to be the latter, a remote chance with no possibility!
Serena considered what this woman had asked. She hadn’t immediately gone for the jugular as that bitch had done earlier. No, this was someone who considered all the possibilities however remote. ‘Had she checked everything herself? She thought she had, but had she? Was there any stone she hadn’t overturned, any at all?’
“I checked everything I believe.” Serena confessed reluctantly, knowing that this would make its black mark in her copybook. Then she would sink without a trace in everyone’s eye, credibility wise.
“I believe, doesn’t strike me as you know if you did or didn’t. Would you mind if I made a suggestion?” Clare asked softly, her eyes bright and totally focused on the task before her.
Serena smiled self evasively, nodded her head to Clare to ask her question. What did it matter anyway? She was already finished and the very thought brought a chill to her heart. Not just for Lisa Simeon, but for all the ones before, as well as the ones yet to come, if this scum wasn’t taken care of.
“How about we use what time we have to go over your facts again? Perhaps an outsider or fresh eyes so to speak, might help?” Clare offered and waited for the reply.
Serena glanced at this woman and realised she meant every word. All she was trying to do was help. God, what could it harm? She had obviously made a miscalculation, but where? Perhaps together, they could find it. Maybe she had been too close to it for too long.
“Thank you Clare. I will get all my files. I’ll be right back.” Serena smiled warmly for the first time in several hours.
“You’re welcome. I’ll organise the others to help too.” Clare said with confidence as Serena left the room to collect her files from the car.
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter Thirteen
The beautiful villa that was standing on the top of a small hillock overlooking the bay below fascinated Jace. It was majestic in stature. Obviously in the old Greek style and certainly very well preserved, no peeling paint or cracked walls to greet them this early morning.
“Is that Villa Xianthos?” Jace whispered primarily to herself, but the man driving the vehicle sitting next to her heard the words and smiled in pride.
“Yes, this is villa Xianthos. The ancestral home of the family Xianthos.” Lukas replied in a low tone, pressing a button on the console of his jeep as the wrought iron gates opened to welcome them.
Jace turned to speak to Grace but saw that her friend was sleeping. The journey had been rather tiring for her. In her current condition, it would be even more so.
“Is your friend sleeping?” Lukas spoke quietly as he negotiated the sweeping turn to the main driveway of the villa.
“Yes, she is. We have travelled for several hours without any sleep.” Jace informed him and saw him nod his head in acknowledgement.
As she said that, the Villa came into direct view. Jace sucked in a breath as the magnificence of the building came into her line of vision. The weak sunlight of the early morning dawn shedding light upon the intricate patterns that wove within the building.
“It’s superb.” Jace sighed, wondering how anyone could keep a home in such a remarkable condition. It must cost a fortune!
“The villa was always special even when it was left for many years. As with everything, if you nurture it you will reap the benefits.” Lukas explained, the vehicle coming to a halt at the foot of the steps leading to the building.
“I imagine it is a beautiful place to live. The view must be wonderful.” The building entranced Jace. Now, she was eager to meet the woman who had restored it to its original glory.
“Yes.” Lukas Dimitrie softly said the single word, the meaning very clear.
Jace opened her door, immediately going round the vehicle to open the rear door, gently shaking Grace awake. Her friend groggily responded. The first priority to Jace was to see that Grace went to bed as soon as possible.
As they ventured up the marble steps and through the glorious courtyard, both women were stunned at the attention to detail. As they neared the main door to the villa itself, they were startled as the door was opened quickly. A small middle-aged woman stood at the entrance staring at them in speculation.
“Sarah, I have our guests. Perhaps you can show them to their rooms while I bring in the baggage?” Lukas spoke in Greek to the woman who smiled at him and waved her hand in agreement.
Both Jace and Grace looked perplexed at the conversation going on before them. Surely it was rude to talk in a foreign tongue when they didn’t understand a word?
“My dears welcome. Welcome to the Villa Xianthos. I see Catherine is not with you?” Sarah spoke warmly to the obviously travel weary women. Consty had not indicated that anyone else was going to arrive, only Catherine and she was not here yet!
Jace smiled wearily at the cheery woman who had welcomed them in English, her accent clearly English by descent. Sighing with relief, she went forward offering her hand in welcome.
“Catherine unfortunately is involved with a problem in New York. I’m Jace Warriorson. This is Grace Montgomery. We have come to help.”
Sarah looked momentarily startled at the woman who held her hand in a firm grasp. “Catherine’s Jace?” she whispered.
Laughing softly, “Yes, Catherine’s Jace.”
“My dear, what a surprise. Consty…Constantia will be so very happy you came. She wanted to meet you when Catherine talked about you and the children.” Sarah was anxious to have the two women settled, enabling her to give the news to Consty. What a surprise indeed!
“I look forward to meeting Constantia as well. For the moment, would you mind showing us where we can freshen up?” Jace had seen that Grace was flagging again, knowing it wouldn’t be long before her friend was asleep again.
“Forgive me my dear. I’m Sarah Rogers, Constantia’s companion and housekeeper. I will show you to your rooms. You must both be tired. Perhaps after you have a nap, I will take you to see Constantia.” Sarah pointed to the staircase, motioning them to follow.
“You okay Grace?” Jace asked her gently. She was certainly a little pale.
“A bed, shower, and sleep will work wonders Jace. You sound like a mother hen.” Grace chuckled as she chucked Jace under the chin without force as she enthusiastically followed the older woman to their rooms.
“Then a bed, shower, and sleep is what you get Grace.” Jace smiled, following them both, gazing with tired but interested eyes at the portraits and statues that adorned the staircase and hall. Something to look at later when she was more awake. Maybe one of the ancestors looked like Catherine?
As she mounted the stairs, Lukas Dimitrie watched her retreating back with a speculative gaze, then followed behind with the guest’s bags.
* * * * * * * * * *
Jason took a deep breath, knocking on the door. He didn’t wait for a reply, opening it as he walked inside.
“What?” a low voice in the darkened room barked as the door opened and shed a little light, before its closure removed the glare.
“Catherine, it’s me Jason.” Bardley said with quiet confidence striding further into the room, banging his shin on the side of the desk in the darkness, causing him to curse quietly at his stupidity.
“Are you blind?” Catherine said shortly, hearing the noise and then the muffled expletive.
“No. No, I’m not. I don’t have your powers of seeing in the dark, miscalculated the distance I guess.” Jason rubbed the injured shin, waiting for her to answer as he looked towards the window where she stood, erect and silent.
Several minutes ticked by. Jason was about to try another subject matter when Catherine replied.
“I haven’t any special powers, but I had a couple of years of knowing where every stick of furniture is without sight.” Her voice held a bleakness he had never heard before!
“Catherine, I know I’m not Jace.” He saw her back stiffen at the mention of his daughter’s name. “I have that shoulder I once offered you, if you care to take it?” Jason spoke with compassion for her predicament. How did you ask a proud woman like this to admit a weakness? Even if it wouldn’t be perceived as a weakness, in the circumstances.
“I miss them so much Jason…” Catherine sobbed, unable to help herself. Jason moved quickly to her side, tenderly pulling her into his solid shoulder as her sobs increased.
“I know you do Catherine. That’s only natural.” He soothed as he stroked the dark head of silky hair.
“You don’t understand Jason. You don’t understand!” she choked out as she tried and failed to compose herself.
“Then tell me?” he pleaded gently, continuing the stroking of the head on his shoulder. This had always worked with his eldest child, so why not her partner? She had, after all, been someone’s child.
“I promised to take care of them, Jace and the children. Look what happens if they live with me, only pain and sorrow.” Catherine mumbled into his jacket.
Jason didn’t understand. That was true. How had she failed in taking care of them? Surely she had done everything possible. “You can’t blame yourself for all the crazies in this world Catherine. There will always be an element of danger in the way all our lives are lived.”
“No! No Jason, I’m responsible. I’ve always been responsible. If they had never known me, this wouldn’t be happening!” Catherine pulled out of the loose embrace, scrubbing a hand over her wet cheeks and eyes.
Jason waited a moment or two before he answered. Then, as he saw her straighten and compose herself fractionally, he replied. “Catherine if they hadn’t known you what would their lives be like now? Where would they be?”
Catherine felt like she was having a conversation with Grace, with her attempts at wisdom. Jace’s dad, it would seem, was a talker also.
“I don’t quite know what you mean?” Catherine asked, her voice a mere croak. Tears still cascaded her cheeks. For some reason, she just couldn’t stop them.
“Let me pose a scenario to you Catherine.” He looked at her in the dim light from the moon, spreading it’s natural light through the window.
“I’ve had my fill of scenarios Jason.” Catherine replied with a harsh timbre.
Not to be shaken from his ultimate goal he persisted. “If Jace hadn’t known you Catherine, she would still be working at UCP. Oblivious of the person, who could make her the happiest woman in the world, regardless of the adversities they’ve encountered. There would have been no Elena to give you so much joy. No family bonding that has taken place with Jake and Lisa. No reason to feel the pain you do now because you allowed yourself to love them Catherine. Would you want to deprive them and you of all the wonderful moments you have shared? WILL still share together, because you feel responsible for crazy people in this world?”
Catherine listened intently to his words as they delved into
the deepest recesses of her mind. Gazing out of the window, fleeting memories passed
before her and words from a song echoed in her head.
Forgive Me
(Chorus)
How do you forgive me baby, I let you down so drastically.
You came to me innocently and all I did was make you regret you ever met me!
I’m no saint I made mistakes. But I thought you coming to me, I could make the break. Then be that place you seek, to keep you safe.
I would look into your face and see the love we share shining clear.
How can your eyes look into mine, and not see the shame that lies behind.
(Chorus)
I promised you the earth, from within this heart that beat only for you.
Yet here I am so insecure, because I’ve let you down once more.
You let me have the helm my love, to steer our ship at sea.
All I did was crash it upon the rocks ignoring your pleas.
(Chorus)
I’m to blame, at fault it seems, as our love flounders needlessly.
No defense will allow me to see the love you still have for me glowing brightly for all to see. I lay my vulnerable soul for you to decide if it’s worth the pain.
(Chorus)
Gazing into those beautiful eyes that will always be, the beacon beckoning me home. I see it all, for you have shown there is no regret.
You will love me through eternity.
Catherine shook her head of the words, turning towards the man at her side.
“I need to call Jace and advise her of the unhappy news. Would you stay with me as I make the call?” Catherine asked tentatively. For some reason, it brought her a little comfort to have her partner’s father with her at this time. Odd really, for she had never felt like she wanted to be close to anyone but Jace, very odd indeed.
“Of course I will Catherine. You never needed to ask.” He smiled warmly at her as she turned towards the desk, flicked on the lamp that brought a shaft of light into the room, illuminating that particular corner.
Catherine pressed the short code to connect to Jace’s cell phone, waiting anxiously for the pick up.
* * * * * * * * * *
Clarissa Hudson gazed around the small room of the derelict villa with an evil glint in her eyes. They had a demonic look, the darkening irises that the coloured contact lenses gave the eyes an even more menacing penetration.
The villa was situated five miles from the main town, surrounded by overgrown shrubs also trees that obscured the building from the general view from the road that passed alongside. It was an ideal spot to carry out her plans to the fullest! Even Mother Spiros probably didn’t know about this little hellhole. All things were progressing as planned; the additional information she had gleaned from her ‘date’ this evening had been the icing on the cake.
The redoubtable Ms. Bardley was about to enter the fray. How deliciously wonderful that prospect was, to see the whole clan together again. All that was needed was that irritating Peter Adamson to enter the scene then they had one happy family.
A cackling laugh echoed around the barren virtually empty room, which had a broken chair strewn in a corner. Several branches had flown in through the broken windows from the nearby trees giving it a wild desolate look.
Walking around the room, she side-stepped the debris on the floor, as she looked out at the sunrise. The multiple shades that to her were merely a mixture of colour’s, nothing to write home about in her eyes. Damn poets and artists, who made big bucks from stupid sentiment.
Hudson placed her hand on the revolver at her side, smiling evilly as she watched the sunrise a little more, watching the blue skies heralding another day.
“Perhaps today was the day? Yeah, today could well be the day, nothing like an early start to make it even more spectacular!” Hudson spoke in a controlled yet totally devoid of emotion tone. If there had been anyone else in the room they would have felt the chill settle uncomfortably in their bones.
As she moved away from the scene, idly fingering the steel barrel of the gun in her pocket through the thin jacket she was wearing to ward of the slight dampness of the early morning. Disregarding the heat, she found there. Her eyes then strayed to the open doorway of the room that was virtual darkness and would remain so. Finally closing in on a shape that appeared to be a large tree truck in the dim recess. Hudson moved closer, peered for a final time at her prize of the evening, and sniggered as she saw the blood that seeped from two wounds.
Her laughter could only be described as insane, as she winked at the body on the floor, pain and surprise etched forever on the victim’s face would now never be revealed to anyone but the person who had inflicted death.
“You know sometimes we women are crazy too! Next time you will think twice, before you try to get into someone’s bed Detective Kelsey. Ah, but I forget you can’t anymore! Kind of blew your equipment away along with that cold heart of yours. Makes it a little difficult wouldn’t you say?” Hudson spoke as if the dead man would answer her. He lay silent, only the slight breeze sending faint traces of rustling through leaves on branches in the trees around them.
Turning abruptly Hudson dismissed the dead man as a job well done and walked out of the villa. Collecting along the way the buggy, she had used to entice the detective to the area. Pushing it along into the dense trees making sure that she wasn’t observed. She switched on the ignition, driving off in the opposite direction of the town. The hills in the distance displaying her next target the outline of the villa Xianthos.
Continued in Part 7
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