Subj: Dark Light -- 11
Date: 3/26/99
From: Flashman
Chapter 11-Alan Spaulding
Alan Spaulding sat alone in his study. His house was empty except for himself and Nettie, the maid who resided in the servant' quarters. Alan's son, Phillip, had moved into a new house when he had married Harley Cooper, almost a year ago. Funny, Alan thought, the little dork is married to the CEO of Spaulding Enterprises and she still works part-time at her father's diner.
Alan could care less. He despised his new daughter-in-law. Fifth Street trash, that's what she was. He loved Phillip but was barely tolerated in return. He had no one. Amanda, his illegitimate half-sister whom he had once believed to be his daughter, had moved to California to run a division of Spaulding Enterprises there. She had taken her new husband, Roger Thorpe, with her, thank God. Alan's other sister, Alexandra, was still traveling around the world with her son, Nick. She had left Springfield when the truth about Amanda's parentage had been revealed. That had been well over two years ago.
What Alan Spaulding did have was a powerful hatred of the Lewis family. Oklahoma hillbillies, he called them. He despised them all. Josh, that smug, self-righteous phony. Reva, to whom he had once been married, to whom he would have given the world if only she would have let him. Billy, that drunken buffoon of an ex-convict. And finally, Cassie Layne, Reva's illegitimate half-sister. Cassie, who'd ruined his plans to topple Lewis Oil over a year and a half ago.
They were not only competitors of his in business, they had also embarassed him personally many times. The most recent and most embarassing event had been at his wedding, or near wedding, to Annie Dutton. Josh and Reva had brought to town Annie's first husband, whom she had never divorced. Needless to say, the whole event was a fiasco and had made him a laughing stock.
Speaking of Annie, Alan knew she was out there somewhere. Hopefully, she was cold, hungry, and alone. He'd never spoken or written to her since the day he went to see her in the Springfield Jail. She was just as responsible as the Lewises for his humiliation. God, he had loved her so much once. But she had lied to him and betrayed him. Worse than that, she had made him look foolish in front of everyone. That was what he could never forgive Annie for doing. When he heard she had escaped from prison, he had hired extra security for his home. As volatile and unstable as Annie was Alan felt he had no choice but to do so.
But to return to the Lewises. Alan had finally gotten another spy into their camp. Not into the offices of Lewis Oil but into their home itself. Laura Murdoch, that's what her name was. The woman had approached him over a month ago and said she'd be willing to do anything for money. Since Josh and Reva needed a new nanny for their children, Alan suggested she apply for the position. Laura Murdoch had gotten the job with the aid of some phony references he had supplied. So far, Laura's information had all been good. Nothing really big he could use, but something would turn up soon. Laura was a good spy, unlike Cassie Layne, whom he'd used before. Cassie had a conscience, Laura just wanted money.
Soon, he would crush Lewis Oil. Those hillbillies would come begging to him on their knees for mercy. Oh, how he looked forward to that day. It wasn't just business with him, it was personal. Alan Spaulding would win if he had to keep after them until the day he died.
The buzzer rang suddenly. It was the security guard at his front gate. What the hell did he want?
"Mr. Spaulding," said the voice over the intercom. "There's a man out here who says his name's Barnabas Collins. Says he has some information about the whereabouts of Annie Dutton. Wants to talk to you about it personally."
Hmm...maybe someone just running a scam for money. If the guy knows where Annie is right now, why doesn't he go to the police? Still, it could be important. Alan wanted Annie found and returned to prison quickly. He knew that eventually he would be a target of her wrath.
"Send him in. I'll meet him at the front door," instructed Alan.
The front doorbell rang. Alan opened it and there stood a tall man wearing a cape. The man was also carrying a curious looking cane. It had the shape of what looked to be a wolf's head on its handle. The man spoke first:
"Good evening, Mr. Spaulding. My name is Barnabas Collins. I have some information that might be of interest to you. If you will allow me to enter this magnificent establishment I shall be glad to inform you what it is."
"All right, Mr. Collins. Come on in." At least the guy didn't sound like a crank or a scam artist.
"Can we go somewhere private, Mr. Spaulding? I really don't want to be overheard by a snooping servant," said Barnabas.
"Certainly, Mr. Collins. Let's go into my study. We won't be overheard there."
Barnabas Collins and Alan Spaulding entered the study. Alan sat down behind his desk. Barnabas pulled up a chair directly in front of him.
"Okay Collins, suppose you cut to the chase. The guard outside said you had some information about the whereabouts of Annie Dutton. Let's hear it, right now."
"Yes, Mr. Spaulding. I know exactly where Miss Dutton is right now. In fact, she's right here in Springfield. In hiding," revealed Barnabas.
If this was true it was big news. Despite the fact that Alan felt Annie would stay away from Springfield for a while, she was back, according to the gentleman sitting opposite him. It didn't figure to be long before Annie tried something against him. That is, if she was indeed in Springfield.
"Okay, why come to me with the news? Why not go to the police?" asked Alan.
"Well Mr. Spaulding, it's just that I thought it would be more advantageous to me financially if I came to you. After all, you were once involved with this woman and should be more than happy to see her returned to prison," explained Barnabas.
"Okay, I guess whatever you have is worth a few hundred dollars."
"Oh no, Mr. Spaulding. I was thinking about much more than that."
"Like what?"
"How about signing this document that I recently had prepared?" said Barnabas. He then handed Alan Spaulding the power of attorney form that Ross Marler had prepared. Alan carefully examined the document.
"You must be mad. You just walk in here and hand me a document giving you complete power of attorney over all of my assets and expect me to sign it. Get the hell out of here!" roared Alan in his most authoritarian voice.
"Not so fast, Mr. Spaulding. I brought along a friend who wants to say hello to you," said Barnabas.
"That's it, Collins! I don't know what your game is but I'm calling the guards unless you leave right now."
Alan reached down to the button on the top of his desk to buzz the guards. Barnabas grabbed his hand and pulled it away from the buzzer. Alan felt worried now. Barnabas's grip was like iron.
"Take your hands off of me!" demanded Alan.
"Come now, Mr. Spaulding. Don't you want to see the surprise guest I brought here to see you?" asked Barnabas.
With that statement Alan stopped struggling with Barnabas because he saw a figure begin to take shape in his study. Just who the hell was this Barnabas Collins and what the hell was going on? The figure finally took shape. Alan Spaulding couldn't believe his eyes. It was Annie Dutton.
"No, it can't be! What is this? No one could materialize through a wall like that. This has to be a trick," said a frightened Alan.
"But it's real, Alan," said Annie. "I'm real and I've decided to pay you a little visit. Take my hand. See, I'm real."
Alan had done what he had been told. It was Annie Dutton in the flesh, not an optical illusion.
"How did you get in here, Annie?" asked Alan.
"I'll tell you that later, when I've finished with you."
"What do you mean when you're finished with me? Look Annie, I'll give you some money. I'll help you get out of the country." Alan thought it would be best to try and reason with her.
"Why would I want those things when I can have so much more?" asked a sinister sounding Annie.
"Like what?"
"All right, Alan. I'll cut to the chase as you so aptly stated earlier. I want you to sign that document giving Barnabas here power of attorney over your assets or I take away your soul," answered Annie.
"You're mad, both of you. That stretch in prison must have warped your brain," replied Alan.
"See, Barnabas. I told you we'd have to do this the hard way," said Annie.
Annie glared at Alan. Then she opened her mouth and revealed her fangs. Alan was truly scared now. Only once before had he ever been this scared. That had been the time his father had locked him in a closet for nearly eight hours as punishment. His sister Alex had let him out. Alex, dear sweet Alex. How he wished she were here now. Alan tried to run but was grabbed by Barnabas. Barnabas held him in place for Annie, who sank her fangs deep into Alan's neck.
After Annie had finished, Alan slumped to the floor. He was weak and groggy. He couldn't think clearly. What had happened? He was still unsure about the whole ordeal.
"Are you ready to sign the power of attorney, Alan?" asked Annie.
To his utter surprise, Alan responded yes and signed the document. He had given a complete stranger complete power of attorney over his assets. Alan didn't know what had made him sign, he only knew that he had to obey or else.
"You're in my power now, Alan. Under my total domination," explained Annie. "You must do whatever I say. You must obey my every command or you will be severely punished. You no longer have a soul. Then again, you never had much of one to begin with. Like you said to me that day in jail, you can't lose what you never had."
"How long am I going to be like this?" asked Alan.
"Forever darling. For the rest of your natural life. You're going to be my personal stooge, my Renfield. Anything other than complete obedience and I will kill you. Do you understand me?" asked Annie.
Alan Spaulding fell to his knees and began to cry. He hadn't cried in a very long time. In fact, he couldn't even remember the last time he had done so. This can't be happening, he thought. Oh God, what evil has taken possession of me?
Upon seeing Alan cry, Annie suddenly became enraged. She spotted a riding crop hanging from a peg on the wall in the study. She took the riding crop down and began to beat Alan savagely about the body with the object.
"You miserable excuse for a man! How dare you sit there crying like a baby after the hell you put me through?" she shouted.
Barnabas saw this and became alarmed. It was just as he had feared when he had first made Annie one of the Undead. She was very volatile and could be difficult to control. He had to keep her from going too far. He quickly pulled Annie off of Alan.
"Stop it! Stop it, Annie! We've gotten what we came here to get. Let the poor man alone," commanded Barnabas.
Annie calmed down but she looked at Alan Spaulding with a seething hatred in her face. This man must have really hurt her bad, Barnabas concluded.
Barnabas helped Alan up. He decided to take Alan to his bedroom. Let the man get some rest. He felt strangely sorry for Alan Spaulding. Alan bore a strong resemblance to a man he had once known named Phillip Todd. Phillip Todd had owned an antique store in Collinsport. He had been killed during Barnabas's struggle with the Leviathans, an ancient evil race, in 1970. Poor Phillip Todd and now poor Alan Spaulding.
As Barnabas aided him up the stairs to his bedroom Alan spoke, "You won't let her hurt me like that again, will you, Mr. Collins?"
"No Alan, I won't. I've never seen Annie this volatile."
"What do you want of me? What's next?" asked Alan.
"Just get some rest for now. Here's what I want you to do in the morning...."
