Dark Light -- 19

Subj: Dark Light -- 19
Date: 5/8/99
From: Flashman

Chapter 19-The Clock Strikes Midnight

Harley Cooper Spaulding sat in her tiny office. It was after 11:00 p.m. She had eaten dinner with Phillip earlier at the Towers and then returned to her office. She had made a few more phone calls to confirm som imformation she had heard earlier that night. Information concerning the mysterious Barnabas Collins.

One of her friends who worked at the First National Bank of Springfield had left a message on her answering machine while Harley was dining with Phillip. Harley had returned the call and found out that Barnabas Collins had entered the office of the bank president and, armed with Alan Spaulding's power of attorney, had the bank president draw up a cashier's check on Alan's personal account in the amount of $25,000.00 payable to one Maggie Haskell of Collinsport, Maine.

Who was Maggie Haskell? What relationship did she have with Barnabas Collins? Was she a needy relative? An ex-lover? Or maybe someone who was blackmailing Barnabas Collins because she knew some deadly secret from his past? Whoever she was, Harley was going to find out.

Harley had phoned Phillip and told him about this information. Phillip, understanding Phillip, had told her to take as long as she needed. He would wait up for her. He had wanted to find out what this was all about also. Despite their differences in the past, Phillip Spaulding still retained a small amount of concern for his father. He didn't want Barnabas Collins to bleed Alan dry. He still cared a little bit for his father, dammit.

Harley dialed up information. She received a number for a Maggie Haskell who lived in Collinsport, Maine. Harley wrote the information down on a piece of paper. Maggie Haskell-555-7471. She dialed the number she had been given. No answer. Maybe this Maggie Haskell was out on the town tonight, maybe she was away. No matter. Harley could try again in the morning.

Collinsport, Maine. That place again. The only clues Harley had been able to find out regarding Barnabas Collins had come from that place and they were tiny indeed. She had called all over Bangor, Maine, where Reva had said Barnabas Collins was from. No one there had ever heard of a Barnabas Collins. The same went for the prep school he had supposedly attended with Alan Spaulding. No record of a student named Barnabas Collins having ever been enrolled there.

It was only when she called Blake Marler that Harley finally found something. Blake, who had been the only person so far who had spoken with Mr. Collins in an informal setting, informed Harley that Barnabas Collins had stated he was from Collinsport originally. Blake also informed Harley about Willie Loomis, the man who had been with Barnabas Collins when he had arrived in town. That name rang a bell for Harley. Of course, he was that withered guy in the diner that day she had worked the lunch shift who had been ogling Eleni. Harley had figured then that he was simply another dirty, old man passing through town. But apparently, that dirty, old man knew Barnabas Collins.

There were no listings in either Bangor or Collinsport for a Willie Loomis. Harley had checked both places. It wasn't until she called the Collinsport Tribune, a weekly newspaper in Collinsport, that Harley found something. Something at long last about the mysterious Barnabas Collins.

The woman she had spoken with at the newspaper had said her name was Daphne Harridge. She informed Harley that she was both the editor and publisher of the newspaper. Yes, she was familiar with the name Barnabas Collins. Bingo!! thought Harley at the time. Harely explained the circumstances of his arrival in Springfield and stated that she had been hired to check out his background.

"I'm afraid you're out of luck, Ms. Spaulding," the woman named Daphne Harridge had said. "The Barnabas Collins I knew died in 1974. I knew the man because I was dating his cousin, Quentin Collins, at the time."

"Well maybe the man here in Springfield in his son," said Harley.

"Impossible. The Barnabas Collins I knew had no children," was her response.

This is spooky, Harley had thought. Maybe the guy is a complete impostor using a dead man's identity.

"What about this guy Quentin Collins, the one you said you dated? Is there any way I can get in touch with him?" Harley had asked.

"I haven't seen or heard from Quentin Collins in years. He left town shortly after his cousin died. I have no idea where he is today," had been her response.

"Ms. Harridge, do you happen to know a man named Willie Loomis?" Harley had then asked. Try another track, she thought.

"Yes, I do," was the response. "He's kind of the local character here in Collinsport. He works as a handyman on the estate of Collinwood here in town. David Collins is the owner of the estate and the man he works for."

"Is this man David Collins related to the Barnabas Collins you knew?"

"Yes, they're distant cousins."

"Is there any way I can get in touch with him?" Harley had asked once again.

"Yes, Ms. Spaulding, but it won't do you any good to try until early next week. David Collins and his family are on vacation in Florida. They won't be returning to Collinsport until then," was her reply.

"Are you sure of this?" Harley had known at the time that she was beginning to sound obnoxious.

"Yes I am, Ms. Spaulding. I'm very good friends with David Collins and his wife, Amy."

"Do you have a number in Florida where I can reach him? It's very important."

"I'm sorry but I don't have one. You'll just have to try sometime next week. He'll be back in Collinsport then. If you want I can give you his home number," Daphne Harridge had offered.

"That's okay, Ms. Harridge. I'll just get it from information sometime next week. Thank you for your time," Harley had said.

"You're welcome, Ms. Spaulding."

With those words the phone call had ended. That was where Harley had stood when she left to dine with Phillip. She didn't tell Phillip much because she didn't know much herself. Harley just said that she had the names of two men living in the town of Collinsport, Maine who might have some information on Barnabas Collins. She didn't even tell Phillip their names. Harley was not being secretive, she merely wanted to wait until she had more concrete information. No need for Phillip, Reva, or anyone else to go off half-cocked. Harley knew how volatile they could sometimes be.

Two names. Two men who might be able to provide her with information about Barnabas Collins. Now, as Harley had learned there were three. David Collins, Willie Loomis, and Maggie Haskell. One of those people had to pan out. This investigation was getting stranger and stranger. Willie Loomis for certain knew everything about Barnabas Collins but he probably wouldn't talk. She wouldn't be able to reach David Collins until next week if what Daphne Harridge had told her was true and she had no reason to believe that it wasn't. Maggie Haskell. That was the name she would concentrate on now.

Harley knew she absolutely had to get in touch with this Maggie Haskell. Why would Barnabas Collins be sending this woman a check for $25,000.00? She glanced at the phone number she had written down for Maggie Haskell on the piece of paper. Maybe she should try again. No, if she got in touch with the woman this late and happened to say something that offended her, she might never get any answers. The best thing to do would be to wait until morning and contact her then.

Harley thought about calling Daphne Harridge again but balked. She's probably not in either. Collinsport was one hour ahead of Springfield timewise. Surely her little newspaper wasn't open at this hour. Maybe she'd call Daphne Harridge tomorrow morning and see if she had any information about Maggie Haskell. Maybe a business or work number she could be reached at in case there was no answer at her home phone again.

Harley was pondering these developments when she heard a grunt coming from someone. She looked up. There stood Beth Raines.

"What are you doing here, Beth? Run out of booze?" Harley said sarcastically. What in the world did her husband's ex-wife want at this time of night?

"I've had just about enough of your sarcasm, Harley. In fact, I've had just about enough of you, period," was Beth's response.

Jeez, thought Harley. The woman's probably been on an all-day bender. She noticed that Beth was wearing a scarf and gloves.

"Get out, Beth," Harley commanded. "It's late and I want to get home to Phillip and Lizzie." Another dig. Just reminding her that I now have what she used to, Harley thought to herself.

"That's right. You're going home to the husband and child you stole from me. Going home to live happily ever after with your Prince Charming. Well guess what, Harley? It's time for you to quit playing Cinderella. The clock just struck midnight," said Beth.

Beth bared her fangs at Harley. Then with her gloved hands she grabbed her by the throat. Harley Cooper Spaulding tried to scream. It was the last thing she ever did.