Angelique's Revenge Part 2
Date: 1/2/98
From: AngeliqueBouchard

"It will be absolutely beautiful!" an excited Angelique said to Barnabas as they left the Old House to return to Collinwood.

The Old House had been given to Barnabas and Josette Collins as a wedding present and was handed down throughout subsequent generations until it came into Barnabas' possession when his parents died. Unfortunately, Barnabas' parents were killed when he was only a child. He was raised at Collinwood while the Old House stood empty and neglected. Barnabas decided to reclaim his inheritance after he and Angelique were married. The Old House suffered from the years it was uninhabited and was in need of repair.

"It will be magnificent once again," Barnabas said wistfully. "I was so happy here until..."

Angelique understood the sadness in Barnabas' eyes. Her parents died when she was young and her grandmother raised her. "We'll make many new happy memories in this house, for the both of us," Angelique said softly.

"Yes, we will," Barnabas said as he caught some of Angelique's optimism. "We have many years to look forward to here."

*****************

"I have something very special to give you Quentin." Quentin sat on the bed while his father stared at him intently. "It may become the most important thing in your life or..." His face lightened, "It may be a wild goose chase. I'll leave it to you to decide."

"Father," Quentin began, "what is this all about?"

Quentin's father had a far away look in his eyes as his memories flooded back to him. "I remember saying the same thing to my father when he gave to me what I am about to give to you. As you know, your great-grandfather left Collinwood in 1897. He left behind his children, Lenore and your grandfather, Quentin. What you don't know is that one day your grandfather was approached by a woman who claimed that your great grandfather did not abandon his children in 1897, but was murdered. She said all that he needed to know was in this book." Quentin's father handed Quentin the book. "Read this and come to your own conclusion."

Quentin was perplexed and confused by his father's story. He wanted to question his father further, but knowing he was weak from his illness Quentin only replied, "All right father, I'll do as you ask."

********************

Vicki stood by the open window in the drawing room as the sun set. The breeze was soft and cool on her skin. She felt lightheaded and the world appeared surreal. The breeze almost seemed to whisper, "Victoria, I'm coming for you."

"Vicki?"

Vicki came to herself and turned around to see her sister, Carolyn, standing behind her. "Vicki, I've come to a decision." Carolyn had an anxious look in her eyes as her words quickly spilled out. "I'm going to find our father."

Vicki shared Carolyn's nervousness. "What about mother?"

"She won't know," Carolyn said in a determined tone of voice."

"I want to help Carolyn. I've been thinking and I want to find our father too. I don't understand why mother refuses to talk about him, even to us."

"We have a right to know our own father," Carolyn said, as if to reassure herself that she was not wrong in going against her mother's wishes and possibly uncovering old wounds in the process.

"What should we do first?" Vicki asked.

"I was thinking of employing Jeb Hawkes," Carolyn replied.

Vicki's brow furrowed. "Are you sure?" The uncertainty was evident in her voice.

"I know his methods are a little unusual, but the Stokes highly recommend him."

"A psychic investigator," Vicki said to herself. She paused for a moment and thought. "Well, I suppose if the Stokes hold him in high regard he must be competent at his job."

*********************

Quentin and Daphne sat at a table in the Blue Whale pondering the day's events. "It seems like I have a real mystery on my hands," Quentin commented.

Daphne opened the cover of the fragile old book and turned it's yellow pages. She stopped at the first page that had writing and read aloud, "The Journal of Beth Chavez."

TO BE CONTINUED