Subj: Shadows of the Past part 8
Date: 8/6/00 1:13:19 AM Central Daylight Time
From: KimD
The next afternoon Vicki went to the Professor Stokes with the coin that Barnabas and she had found. “I’m afraid that this is worthless,” Professor Stokes said as he handed the coin back to Vicki.
“Why? What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s not original. This one was only made twenty to twenty-five years ago, probably for some type of festival. I hope you’re not disappointed.”
“No, I’m not. Thank you for telling me.”
Vicki left Professor Stokes office more in the dark than when she arrived. The coin was a reproduction. Laura had every reason to murder Moreen. Could Laura still be involved?
Vicki remembered seeing papers, cards and letters in the same box as the jewelry box. They hadn’t looked closely at them. She went to Moreen’s room in hopes she could find something in the papers. The letters were addressed to Collinsport and postmarked Maryland. The first letter to Collinsport was dated May 3rd 1946. The letters came from various family members; none of them signed a last name. They were signed either first name or mother or father. As she read through them certain sentences stood out. “How could you disappear like that? We’ve all been so worried.” “You’re needed at home. I’m sending Ryan to bring you back.” From reading the other letters, Ryan seemed to be her brother. Vicki remembered her dream of two nights ago. Moreen had told Roger that she couldn’t stay. Could the arrival of Ryan be the reason?
She took the notebook out and opened it. It contained unsent letters for several family members, her parents, sister, brother, and aunts and uncles. They described how much she enjoyed her life was in Collinsport, but loneliness came through. Moreen missed her family and her home.
The letter to her parents was the most revealing. “I want you to understand that I had no choice. I couldn’t stay. That would have brought trouble for you as well as me. You can’t always protect me.” The ink at the bottom of the page was smudged, as if by a teardrop.
Vicki gathered the notebook and letters. She wondered what Barnabas would make of them. Willie opened the door of the old house. “Is Barnabas in?” Vicki asked.
“No, but he should be back later. You’re welcome to wait if you’d like to.”
“Oh.” Vicki realized that this meant that he was feeding. Starting to feel somewhat uncomfortable she said, “No, I’ll come back later.”
She started to leave when Barnabas came in. “Vicki,” he said, “I’m happy to see you.”
“If this is a bad time I can come back later.”
“No, it’s alright. You don’t have to leave.” He ushered her into the parlor.
“You’re not frightened of me are you?”
“No, I’ve never been afraid of you. But I’m not sure how I should feel anymore. I love you, but everything’s different now.”
“I’m not that different.”
“Yes, you are. I don’t mean just physically. Everything about you is different. There’s a part of you that I can’t get to anymore.”
“Vicki, I just want to…”
“Protect me? That’s what you’ve been telling me, but maybe that’s not what I want. We used to be so close, but I know that you would still be avoiding me if you could.”
“You’re right, but there’s nothing we can do about that now.”
He would be as immobile as a mountain. “Fine. If that’s what you want then I won’t bother you again.” She turned to leave, and rushed out the door before he could stop her.