Den of Vipers

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="047005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cassie's Writing</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All Hallows Eve"><U><B>All Hallows' Eve</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fall Camoflage"><U><B>Fall Camoflage</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Cyrus"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Cyrus</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id90.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Roxanne"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Roxanne</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Claude"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Claude</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Christmas Magick"><U><B>Christmas Magick</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Maggie"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Maggie</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id94.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Winters Deep Freeze"><U><B>Winter's Deep Freeze</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id95.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Sabrina"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Sabrina</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id96.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frostbite"><U><B>Frostbite</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: The Collins Family"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  The Collins Family</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biding Time in Purgatory"><U><B>Biding Time in Purgatory</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Quentin"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Quentin</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Family Secrets"><U><B>Family Secrets</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vortex"><U><B>Vortex</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id101.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spring Whirlwind"><U><B>Spring Whirlwind</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Den of Vipers</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Angelique"><U><B>Puzzle Pieces:  Angelique</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Converging Forces"><U><B>Converging Forces</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flames of Purification"><U><B>Flames of Purification</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adam in Parallel Time"><U><B>Adam in Parallel Time</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Den of Vipers</B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>      Collinwood was a sullen, unhappy town.  "Man, the whole Main Street is deserted," Randy remarked as Adam splashed cold water onto his face.  Randy looked out the window from Adam's room at the Inn.  "You want me to come with you to visit the Boy Scout?"</div> <div>      Adam took a towel and buried his face into it, breathing in the clean, soapy smell.  It didn't help.  The odor of decaying flesh still filled his nostrils.  He'd gotten sick several times after helping Sheriff Patterson and Deputy Todd locate the root cellar.  He'd gone down into the cellar with them, took one look at the body, and bolted back up.  It was too late.  Randy had followed him into the woods and waited quietly until Adam was finished being sick, patting him on the back of the shoulder helplessly and with sympathy.  Now, Adam looked at Roxanne's brother and sighed.  "I would like the company, but I think I should talk to Quentin alone."</div> <div>      "Sure, I understand," Randy said amiably.  "I know I'm not on his Top Ten Hit Parade."</div> <div>      Adam was too miserable to ask what that meant. "Thank you, Randy," he said gratefully.  He couldn't believe Cyrus was capable of murder-but it wasn't Cyrus, it was John Yeager.  Yet, John Yeager was Cyrus-it made no sense.  He was puzzled and frightened about the use of that compound.  </div> <div> Just before they left to look for the root cellar, Sheriff Patterson had gotten a call from the doctor at Rushmore Sanitarium.  They had analyzed Cyrus' compound and had found it to be primarily made of a drug called rohypnol; alcohol and seltzer were two of the other ingredients.  The sheriff talked for a while with the doctor, shaking his head in disbelief and then gave the phone to Adam.</div> <div>      "You say that Dr. Longworth prescribed this for you?" the doctor asked.</div> <div>      "Yes, just a little bit," Adam replied, feeling very uneasy.</div> <div>      "May I ask why?"</div> <div>      Adam didn't like lying, but he also knew he couldn't tell the truth.  He cleared his throat and then replied, "I felt weak sometimes.  He gave it to me for when I felt weak and dizzy."</div> <div>      "Did he suggest that if you took it, it would make you stronger?"</div> <div>      "Yes."  It wasn't a big lie-not really.  "Why?  Is there something wrong?"</div> <div>      "Well, I recommend you not take it any more at all, Mr. Knight.  Rohypnol is not legal in this country.  It is used in other countries as a sleeping medication.  It's a very strong drug, Mr. Knight.  Here is the thing-when it is combined with alcohol, you became suggestible to whatever Dr. Longworth told you."</div> <div>      "Excuse me?  I don't understand."</div> <div>      "The reason why you felt stronger after taking the medication was because Dr. Longworth told you it would work.  The medication made you believe what he told you, do you see?"</div> <div>      "Ah!"  Adam exclaimed.  He thought he understood-a little.  "It is like being hypnotized?"</div> <div>      "Yes, sort of," the doctor replied, relieved that Adam understood.  "Dr. Longworth is a very sick man, as you know.  I have no idea what was going through his head when he prescribed this for you."</div> <div>      "He took it himself, too," Adam wondered out loud.  "Why would he take such a drug?"</div> <div>      "I'm afraid I couldn't answer that," the doctor replied.  "Mr. Knight, I do suggest that if you are having problems with fatigue you seek out the care of a family doctor and have him evaluate you."</div> <div>      "I will-thank you," Adam said softly.</div> <div>      "Good.  That's why I wanted to speak with you, Mr. Knight.  That-and another reason.  First, I wanted to make sure that you stopped taking that medication immediately."</div> <div>      "I will.  What is the other reason you wanted to talk to me?"</div> <div>      "I have talked to Alex once or twice since you last visited.  He hopes you will come back for another visit-and he made a request."  The doctor cleared his throat again.  "I had to refuse part of it.  He asked that you bring Quentin and Maggie Collins-he wanted to apologize to them.  I didn't feel it would be a good idea-legally or medically.  He did kidnap Maggie Collins?  But he was quite distraught, and I know that Cyrus Longworth and Quentin Collins were childhood friends-"</div> <div>      Adam closed his eyes.  "I will talk to Quentin."  He couldn't bring himself to tell the doctor what was happening-that Quentin was locked up in a cell just through the door.  He still couldn't believe it himself-his friend was just a few feet away, but he was not allowed to see him yet.  They had to find Tony Peterson first.  There was just so much evil going on.  He hung up the phone and said to the sheriff:  "I am not to take the compound anymore."</div> <div>      "Good!" the sheriff exclaimed.  "I wonder who Dr. Longworth's dealer was?  I wonder how he got that drug into the States?"</div> <div>      "It's very dangerous?" Adam asked.  "Yet, there is heroin around and that is illegal and dangerous, too."  Randy glared at him angrily.</div> <div>      "Yes," the sheriff said bitterly.  "Well, apparently this stuff helped our Dr. Longworth loosen his inhibitions.  It also helped him forget."</div> <div>      "Yes?" Adam was puzzled, but he did remember that Cyrus had asked if he'd ever forgotten things after he'd taken the compound.</div> <div>      The sheriff seemed to be talking to himself absent-mindedly.  "The whole thing is so damn screwy!  This stuff loosens up the up-tight doctor so that he can `become' this rapist John Yeager and then conveniently forget everything he did!  It's nuts, I tell you!"</div> <div>      Adam frowned.  Had any of this medicine been given to Roxanne? He was frightened for her, and Alex's assurance that she was alive did little to calm his sense of panic right now as he remembered the conversation about the drug.  The sheriff sighed.  "All right, we'd better get this other business over with.  You can come back here and see Quentin later, all right?"  Adam nodded, still worried and frightened.</div> <div>      Even now, as he threw the towel down on the floor, Adam realized he was still stunned at the news that Quentin had been arrested for the murder of Bruno Hess.  Earlier in the day, he and Randy had sat on a log, watching as the Rockport medical examiner's ambulance arrived.  Since Cyrus was confined to Rushmore Sanitarium, insane, Collinsport was temporarily without a medical examiner and so Sheriff Patterson had to call Rockport.  The two attendants were loading the stretcher carrying Peterson's covered body into the back of the ambulance when Sheriff Patterson received another radio transmission.  Adam knew that Quentin was in jail.  He was shocked to hear Inspector Hamilton informing Sheriff Patterson that he felt he had enough evidence to charge Quentin with the murder of his first wife, Angelique, too.</div> <div>      "Damn it!" Patterson roared into the receiver.  "Just what do you base that on?"</div> <div>      "The private diary of the medical examiner at the time of Mrs. Collins' death," came the crackling response.  "Look, George, I know this guy is a pal of yours and he's a Collins, but-"</div> <div>      "That has nothing to do with anything, Chuck!  Are you aware that the ME at the time Mrs. Collins died was Dr. Longworth?" the sheriff retorted angrily.</div> <div>      "What difference does that make?"</div> <div>      "It makes a hell of a lot of difference, Chuck!  The man is insane-he's in Rushmore Sanitarium.  I'm cleaning up after him right now, matter of fact! Jeeeezus, Chuck, can't you wait until I get back?"</div> <div>      There was a silence.  Then:  "I'll be waiting here for you, George, but let me warn you-I am not going to change my mind about this.   I want Mrs. Collins exhumed."</div> <div>      "Come to the ME's office in Rockport-meet me there," Patterson urged.  "We really need to talk about this."  Inspector Hamilton agreed, and Patterson slammed the receiver down, rubbing his face.  "Damn!" he exclaimed angrily.  "Damn, damn, and damn again!"</div> <div>      "Not used to all this killing shit, huh?" Randy asked sympathetically.</div> <div>      Patterson gave him a look of disbelief.  He shook his head and then said, "I'll drive you back to town."</div> <div>      Adam managed to get up.  "No, thank you, Sheriff.  It isn't far.  If you don't mind, I would rather walk."</div> <div>      "Me, too," Randy agreed.  The sheriff nodded, obviously relieved.  On the walk back to town, Randy tried to talk to Adam.  He told Adam that the first time he'd come upon dead bodies in the jungle he'd gotten sick too-it was a normal reaction.  Adam gagged.  He knew that Randy was trying to help but wished he would retain his usual reticence to talk about Vietnam.  After awhile, Randy stopped talking and they'd walked the rest of the way to the Inn in silence.</div> <div>      Adam shook his head, bringing himself back to the present, and said to Randy:  "Let's go-I need to talk to Quentin."  They walked to the jail.  There was an eerie silence in town-no one was on the street or driving by in a car.  All the stores seemed deserted.  </div> <div> "Man, this is spooky!" Randy exclaimed.  "It's like a ghost town here!"</div> <div>      "This is a little town," Adam observed.  "People know what is happening.  I think they are afraid."  They'd reached the small jailhouse and walked into the outer office.  The other deputy-Adam had seen him but didn't know his name-was sitting at the desk, reading the paper.  He looked up when they came in.  He looked relieved to see it was Adam and Randy.  "I came to see Quentin," Adam said.</div> <div>      The deputy looked a little troubled.  "Are you family?"</div> <div>      "No, I am his good friend," Adam answered.  "Sheriff Patterson said it was all right."</div> <div>      "He's only supposed to see family-and his attorney."</div> <div>      "Hey, come on, man," Randy cajoled.  "You know Adam's okay.  He helped you guys find Tony Peterson, didn't he?"</div> <div>      The deputy hesitated only a moment longer and then made his decision.  "Okay-you can see him."  He stood up.  "Come with me."</div> <div>      "I'll wait for you here," Randy offered, and Adam nodded.</div> <div>      He followed the deputy into the backroom, which held two cells.  Adam could feel himself becoming very tense, remember the short period of time he'd spent in the jail cell here.  It's not like that here, he reassured himself in a calming way, taking a long slow breath.  He could see Quentin curled up on a cot in one of the cells, looking as miserable as Adam remembered feeling when he'd been imprisoned.  "Mr. Collins, friend here to see you!" the deputy called out in a respectful tone.</div> <div>      "I don't want to see anyone!" Quentin snapped.  The only movement he made was to cover his face with his arm as if to shield himself.</div> <div>      "Quentin," Adam called softly.  The deputy discreetly backed away.  Quentin stiffened, then slowly uncurled his long body until he was sitting up on the rumpled cot.  He didn't look much better than that cot.  His hair was rumpled and unruly; he was unshaven and looked disheveled.  Adam could see that his eyes were bleary with fatigue.</div> <div>      "I didn't do it," Quentin said from the cot.  He looked at Adam earnestly, as if willing him to believe.</div> <div>      "I know you didn't," Adam answered automatically.  He didn't know how he could be sure of that when so many confusing things had happened.  He was positive that Quentin was innocent. Quentin sighed, relieved.  "I have some bad news," Adam went on, a little reluctantly.</div> <div>      "Tony's dead?"</div> <div>      "Yes."</div> <div>      Quentin covered his face with his hands.  "Oh, my God!  I should have listened to you about Cyrus!  This is my fault!"</div> <div>      "No, you mustn't blame yourself, Quentin!" Adam exclaimed.  If he had been able to touch him, he would have put his arm around his friend's shoulder to comfort him.  "Cyrus is very sick."</div> <div>      "Sick!"  Quentin's head came back up.  His features were twisted with fury.  "That son of a bitch!  If I get my hands on him, I'll kill him!"</div> <div>      "Stop that!" Adam admonished, looking around.  "This is how you got yourself into trouble, Quentin!  Don't talk like that!"</div> <div>      Quentin slammed his fist onto the cot.  He leapt to his feet, pacing the cell.  "He was my best friend, Adam!"  He stopped a moment, looking at Adam as if he wanted to impress this point upon him.  "He was my best friend!" He shouted now.  "He was my friend, and he tried to rape my wife!  Did you know that?"</div> <div>      "No, I didn't know," Adam said softly, horrified.  He put his hands on the bars to the cell.  He thought about Alex's request and wondered how on earth he could talk to Quentin about it.  It was too early anyway-Quentin himself was in trouble now.  The door to the outer office opened, and the deputy peeked in.  "We are all right," Adam told him reassuringly.  The deputy nodded and shut the door again.  Adam turned back to his distraught friend.  "I'm sorry, Quentin.  Is Maggie-is she all right?"</div> <div>      "Yes, yes, she's all right," Quentin replied, running his hands through his hair.  He only succeeded in making it look more unruly than before.  Now it stuck up in the places where his fingers had been.</div> <div>      "I'm glad Cyrus didn't hurt her the way he hurt Sabrina."  Adam was relieved.</div> <div>      "Yes-it's a good thing for his sake!" Quentin snapped.  "That son of a bitch!  How could he have fooled us all these years?"</div> <div>      "He's a very sick man, Quentin."</div> <div>      Quentin glared at him.  "Sick?  What do you mean, sick?  Did you see him?"</div> <div>      "Yes, he is in Rushmore Sanitarium.  He thinks-he thinks he is John Yeager."  Adam stopped.  He still wasn't sure that he understood all of it.</div> <div>      "Oh, I heard that," Quentin scoffed.  "Very convenient of him to think so!"</div> <div>      "But he doesn't think so.  He believes it is so.  It seems so."</div> <div>      "What do you mean, `it seems so'?"</div> <div>      Adam hesitated and then began to tell Quentin about his visit to Cyrus at the sanitarium.  Cyrus had been in a straitjacket, in what was called a "rubber room".  He'd seemed to change back and forth from one person to another.  When he was John Yeager, he was angry and condescending.  That was because of the strange compound.  Adam fumbled, trying to explain about the medicine.  He saw the doubt and anger in Quentin's eyes.  "You need to see for yourself," Adam advised impulsively.  "It would help Cyrus."</div> <div>      "See him?"  Quentin was outraged.  "Are you out of his mind?  After what he's done?"  He paced back and forth wildly, stopping only to kick the leg of the cot.</div> <div>      "Quentin!" Adam said sharply.  </div> <div>      Quentin stopped still, taking in a deep breath.  Slowly, he turned toward Adam.  Now, grief etched his features.  Slowly he walked to the cell and put his hands on the bars between Adam's hands.  "Don't you understand?" he whispered.  "He was my best friend!"  Quentin's voice had become thick, and Adam saw that his eyes filled with tears.  "I don't have anyone anymore!"  Slowly, the tears began to fall.</div> <div>      Adam was shocked at the depth of Quentin's sorrow.  He thought he understood-he knew about the cruelty of Quentin's adopted family, and he knew how much Quentin missed his mother and brother.  He put his large hand on Quentin's.  "You have Maggie."</div> <div>      To his astonishment, Quentin bowed his head, shaking it from side to side.  "No, I don't even have her," he wept.</div> <div>      "Maggie loves you," Adam insisted.</div> <div>      "She's-she's a-a-a- wi-wi-witch!"  Quentin said with difficulty, his voice choked with tears he was trying to repress.</div> <div>      "No, Quentin!  Maggie is not a witch!" Adam objected.  He was alarmed.  Where would Quentin have gotten such an insane idea?  "Quentin!  Listen to me!  Why do you think such a thing?"</div> <div>      Quentin shook his head, indicating he couldn't speak.  Adam looked around and found a pitcher of water.  He left the cell and picked it up, showing it to Quentin.  "Do you have a cup?"  When Quentin nodded, Adam urged him to get it so that he might have a drink of water and calm down.  When Quentin's weeping subsided, Adam asked again, "Why do you think Maggie is a witch?"  He listened, confused, as his friend spoke of finding a doll in Maggie's suitcase with Bruno's ascot tied around the throat.</div> <div>      <I>Not Maggie</I>, Adam heard in his mind.  <I>Angelique!</I>  He felt himself grow cold all over his body.  He gasped with the shock of the icy sensation.  "Adam?  What's the matter?"  Quentin asked, alarmed.</div> <div>      "It's Angelique who is doing this," he managed to say through numbed lips.</div> <div>      "Angelique is dead!" Quentin objected.  "You don't know this, Adam, but I-"</div> <div>      "No!  You think she is dead, but you are wrong, Quentin!"  Adam insisted urgently.  That was Barnabas' voice he'd heard in his head.  Barnabas!  "You must listen!  You must believe!"</div> <div>      Quentin shook his head, no.  "You don't know, Adam-you really don't.  We burned her body-Cy and me.  For a while, I do admit I thought that she was Angelique, but then…well, it's a long story."  He stopped abruptly when the deputy opened the door.</div> <div>      "I'm sorry to interrupt," the deputy said.  "Mr. Collins, you have a phone call from Boston-Nancy Talbot.  Would you like me to take a message?"</div> <div>      "No!" Adam and Quentin cried out together.  Adam looked at his friend.  He knew that Quentin needed his aunt's reassurance.  "I will come back and see you a little later, Quentin.  Remember what I have told you.  Please-you must trust me."</div> <div>      Quentin nodded but his eyes were blank, and Adam realized he hadn't heard a single word he'd just said.</div> <bR> <div>      </div> <div>      Joe Haskell emptied his mug of draft beer and shook his head dolefully.  There had been so much tragedy in his hometown these last few weeks he wondered if they would ever recover.  He didn't think things would ever be the same.  He looked up as the new waitress approached him and asked if he wanted another.  "Yeah, sure," he answered, setting his mug down with a thump.</div> <div>      "Are things usually this quiet around here?" the waitress asked.  "Or is everyone at home hiding because of the murders?"</div> <div>      Joe looked up at her, really seeing her for the first time.  Buffy wasn't there anymore-she was gone, another of Cyrus Longworth's victims.  That whole thing was absolutely amazing.  Joe couldn't get over it.  He wondered how Chris Collins was really taking the whole thing-Chris really liked both Buffy and Sabrina, and now he'd lost both of them.  His cousin was so close-mouthed about everything, though.  He always seemed so placid-like nothing ever bothered him.  Joe thought he knew Chris better, and he was sure that Chris was upset.  How could he not be affected?  How could he suffer so much of his own tragedy and not be affected?  </div> <div> On top of all that, now Quentin had been arrested for the murder of Bruno Hess.   Chris wasn't a criminal law attorney; he'd already told Joe he was trying to get Quentin the best trial lawyer out of Boston-someone recommended by Nancy Talbot.  Joe squinted at the young waitress and asked, "What's your name?"</div> <div>      "Debbie," the waitress answered, dimpling.</div> <div>      Joe brought his left hand up to his mouth casually, using his fingers to rub his jaw.  He knew Debbie could see his wedding ring, which was what he intended.  "I'd say the murders have something to do with it," he answered.  Debbie's eyes had become wary; she nodded and moved off.  No, I'm not cruising, Joe thought, not now-not being as happy as he was married to Susan and maybe going to have a son this time.  It was just that Debbie reminded him so much of his own daughter, Dianne.  She was about to graduate from high school in Bangor; he almost never saw her anymore.  That was another tragedy, he thought, one that he bore less stoically than Chris bore his.  </div> <div>      Debbie brought him his beer and he stared at her again for a moment, thinking again that she looked almost exactly like Dianne.  "What?" Debbie asked, obviously uncomfortable.</div> <div>      "You seem like a nice kid," Joe said.  "Don't stay here."</div> <div>      "What?"</div> <div>      "I mean, what are you doing here?  Town like this?  Are you from around here?"</div> <div>      "Look, this is just a summer job for me, mister."  Debbie had begun to back away, looking rattled.  "I'm from around here-sure.  My parents work at the cannery."</div> <div>      "They do?" Joe was surprised.  He thought he knew everyone.  Looking at her again, he realized another reason she looked so familiar.  "Your father is Bob Sturgis?"</div> <div>      "What of it?" Debbie asked, defensively.</div> <div>      "I know him," Joe answered softly.  "I work at the cannery, too."  Debbie was looking at him oddly.  He chuckled.  "Debbie, I'm just a little drunk.  Don't pay attention to me except for one thing-this is not a happy town.  It's not a good place for a young girl like you."</div> <div>      "Not a good place?  What are you doing here, then?" Debbie challenged him.</div> <div>      "Well, I'm not young and I'm not pretty," Joe answered with a laugh.  "I'm not even so sure I want to stay around anymore."</div> <div>      Debbie had had enough.  "You don't need anything else now, do you?"</div> <div>      "No," Joe shook his head.  He stared into his beer, thinking that he might not be so sure that he didn't want to stay around anymore but he probably had no say in the matter.  He wasn't an educated man; he knew he was people-smart but book-stupid.  Maybe that was why he just couldn't understand all the craziness going on at Collinwood right now.</div> <div> As operations manager of the plant, he knew he'd gone about as far as he was going to go anywhere.  Most of it was due to his ability to run the cannery.  He might not know much about reading or math, but he could motivate those who did.  He knew that Quentin recognized and appreciated that talent, but he also wondered how much his position had to do with being Gabe Kiernan's best buddy.</div> <div>      We had some good times in high school, Joe reflected.  Up until the time Gabe fell in with Angelique Stokes, anyway.  What a beauty!  She had everyone bewitched, including Joe himself.  There was no way he'd try to take away his best friend's girl, though.  Shirley Fleming was almost as pretty and almost as fun.  He'd never even considered Alexis Stokes.  How two twin sisters could be so different was a mystery to him even now.  Alexis was back now-she was staying at Collinwood.  Joe had seen her there and was amazed at the change in her.  </div> <div>      It wasn't the same Alexis he remembered.  That Alexis wouldn't look you in the eye if you talked to her-and very few of the kids did.  She came and went to school like a wraithlike shadow of her vibrant sister.  She seemed to be afraid of everybody and jumped about a foot in the air if you came on her suddenly.  Once or twice, when she came out into the back yard to hang up laundry, Joe noticed her arms were covered with bruises.  </div> <div> Strange things went on in that Stokes house.   Everyone knew it; no one talked about it.  Joe had grown up with the Stokes family as close-by neighbors.  He remembered when Tim Stokes had married the twins' mother and adopted the girls; he didn't remember what happened to their real father.   He tried not to pay attention to them at first-they were little girls and they were almost four years younger than he was.  </div> <div> Mrs. Stokes got the cancer when the twins were about ten.  As she got sicker, Mr. Stokes seemed to spend more time at the Tavern.  Although Stokes' sister Hannah came to "help", the girls seemed to do more and more around the house.  One of the girls would invariably go down to the tavern to get Stokes and bring him home.  On warm nights, Joe remembered hearing screams coming from the house.  He'd wonder what was happening over there but was afraid to ask his parents.</div> <div> Joe's father would look sternly at his mother.  "It's not our business," he'd say.  His mother's mouth would set in a grim line.  She didn't approve of that behavior.  She'd married beneath herself.   She never said so, but Joe sensed it.  His mother's sister, his aunt Rose, was married to David Collins.  The Jennings sisters were from a well-to-do family in Rockport.  What had made his mother fall for his father?  Joe would never know, just as he never understood why he was the only child.  He wasn't an out-of-wedlock child; he knew that for sure because he was born four years after his parents married.  His parents never talked about themselves at all.  </div> <div> Joe had cousins on both sides of his parent's family.  He saw the Haskell cousins more often because they lived in town and his uncle Jim worked at the cannery, too.  His Collins cousins, Chris, Tom, and eventually Amy were much younger than he was.  He didn't really socialize with them until much later, when they were all grown up.  Chris and Tom lived at Collinwood and were educated there.  He began to see them a little after Gabe Kiernan moved to Collinwood because Gabe went to the same school Joe did-he wasn't home schooled like the others.</div> <div> He liked Gabe very much.  They were the same age and both enjoyed football and carousing.  Once Gabe got his driver's license, Joe noticed that he would bring his little brother sometimes.  He wondered about it the first time but didn't say anything since they were just hanging out at the soda shop anyway.  Quentin was a quiet but friendly kid and seemed to be impressed his big brother's best friend.  The second time, Joe said, "What's with the kid, Gabe?"</div> <div> "Ah, he won't hurt nobody," Gabe said in an off-hand way.  It was true.  This time they were just going to shoot pool in Steve Haskell's basement.</div> <div> "I know," Joe agreed congenially.  "But-ah-sometime we might want to cruise chicks, you know?"  He felt a little embarrassed when Quentin gave him a curious look.</div> <div> "He'll be sleepin then!" Gabe laughed.  "Don't worry, Buddy doesn't come then, okay?"</div> <div> "Okay, it's not that I object to the kid, you know?"  Joe looked over his shoulder at the younger boy.  He felt sorry for the kid.  He knew the story-he'd heard plenty listening to his parents talk.  He thought the kid had to be lonely.</div> <div> "It's all right, my feelings aren't hurt," Quentin said.</div> <div> "Okay, that's good, kid!" Joe was relieved.  He and Gabriel liked to cut up and act wild, listening to music they knew their parents would disapprove of, but they were basically good kids.  Joe had seen "A Streetcar Named Desire" and while he liked Marlon Brando's look and style, he didn't like the way Brando's character Stanley he treated Stella or Blanche.  Stanley was a working class guy; Joe knew he would be too and he didn't really want to be like that.</div> <div> When they were seniors, something terrible happened at Collinwood, and Gabe moved in with Joe and his family.  Joe was shocked but pleased to have Gabe living in his house.  He'd always wanted a brother, and Gabe was his best friend.  Besides, Quentin always seemed to be around for a few hours every day and that was sort of like having a little brother as well.  It took a couple of days for Gabe to be able to tell Joe what had happened.  Joe's parents already knew most of it; Joe noticed how kindly his mother treated Gabe who spent most of the first and second day in an angry, brooding silence.  </div> <div> When Gabe began to talk, Joe was shocked.  He had heard the stories about Roger Collins but had never had any of the rumors confirmed before.  Roger Collins was a grown-up.  Joe had seen him in town but had never had any reason to have anything to do with him.  He couldn't believe that a grown man would beat up a harmless little kid like Quentin, and he really couldn't find fault with Gabe.  He felt sorrier for the two brothers being separated like that, and he tried to be nice to Quentin without letting on that he felt sorry for the kid.</div> <div> At about the time Gabe moved in with the Haskells, Mrs. Stokes died.  Joe remembered standing in the yard with Gabe and Quentin, watching the doctor come and go.  An ambulance finally came and took Mrs. Stokes away.  The twins came outside and stood in the yard, looking lost.  For the first time, Joe thought that they were actually pretty girls.  They both had thick blonde hair and large, luminous blue eyes.  "They'll be beautiful some day," he commented to Gabriel.</div> <div> Gabe looked over.  One of them stood with her head bowed, hugging herself.  The other kicked at the ground like an angry child, looking up at the sky.  Her lips were moving as if she was talking.  "Them?  They're babies, Joe."</div> <div> "Well, sure, I know that, but-" Joe broke off, embarrassed.  He was already going out with Shirley, trying to convince her to go a little further with him.  Why not?  They were going to get married anyway, he told her.</div> <div> Gabe shook his head and looked away.  He didn't seem to have a steady girl yet, although he was very popular in school and lots of girls liked him very much.  The twin who'd been talking to the sky suddenly looked over at them, directly at Gabriel.  He seemed to sense he was being watched and looked back at her.  He stood, as if mesmerized, staring into the eyes of Angelique Stokes.</div> <div> Two men entered the Tavern, and Joe came back from his reverie.  The very tall man looked familiar, he realized, as they sat at the table next to him.  The man immediately put his elbows on the table and covered his face.  His companion looked sad and resigned.  Debbie started to approach them, and he called out, "Two on tap, please.  Quick!"  Debbie stopped in her tracks and went back to the bar.</div> <div> Joe remembered where he'd seen the tall guy-it was at the wedding.  He got up with his beer and stepped over to the table.  Maybe they knew something about Quentin.  "Excuse me," he began.  "I just wanted to say hello."  He waited for the man to look up and saw a light of recognition in his eyes.  "I saw you at Quentin and Maggie's wedding.  Joe Haskell." He held out his hand.</div> <div> "Adam Knight," the man replied, taking it.  "This is Randy Drew."</div> <div> "Hello."  Joe shook hands with the other man.  He cleared his throat.  "Are you friends or relatives of Quentin's or Maggie's?"</div> <div> "We are friends," Adam replied hoarsely.</div> <div> "I'm sorry, man, we're not into socializing right now," Randy added.  "We just helped uncover a body not too long ago."</div> <div> Joe sat down, shocked.  "Not another one!" he exclaimed, horrified.</div> <div> Adam had given Randy a reproving look, as if he didn't think Randy should be talking.  Now his brows drew together.  "Another?"</div> <div> "Well, what I mean is this Cyrus Longworth case-he hurt a lot of people.  Some of them are my friends."  Joe hedged a little.  He was people-smart and he had a feeling that Adam would be cautious about answering questions about Quentin.  He was, after all, a stranger and Quentin was this man's friend.</div> <div> "Did you know Tony Peterson?" Adam asked curiously.</div> <div> Joe shook his head, no.  "I know Buffy Harrington and Sabrina Stuart," he replied.  "Did Peterson have something to do with him?"</div> <div> "He was an investigator," Randy replied.  "He was trying to help us find my sister, Roxanne Drew.  She disappeared, and Longworth was one of the last people to see her."</div> <div> Joe shook his head.  "I'm sorry."  He thought for a moment; he hadn't expected this turn of events.  "What does your sister look like?"</div> <div> Randy looked at Adam and said, "Why don't you tell him?"  He looked back at Joe and explained, "Man, I haven't seen my sister since I've been back."</div> <div> "Where were you?"</div> <div> Randy's eyes took on that flat expression Adam recognized.  "Nam."</div> <div> Joe recognized the fact that this was not something Randy wanted to talk about.  Joe didn't like talking about it either.  Gabriel died there, in some freak accident that never should have happened.  Joe knew lots of young men were being killed there.  He'd been too old for the draft by the time President Johnson got around to deploying more and more troops-too old, too married, and a father.  He listened to Adam describe Roxanne and shook his head.  "I don't know her-I'm sorry.  You know, I've probably had too much beer to drink, but I've been sitting here thinking that things are never going to be the same around here again.  It's like this dark cloud descended on us ever since Quentin married Angelique and brought her back to Collinwood.  Nothing but bad stuff since."</div> <div> "But she is dead now," Adam said, watching Joe as if to get his reaction.</div> <div> "Yeah, but there was something about her-maybe there's a residue evil people leave behind when they die.  Nothing's been right since she came back here."</div> <div> "Weird shit," Randy muttered.  "Like Maggie thinking she saw Angelique's ghost."</div> <div> "That's because Alexis and Angelique were identical twins," Joe explained.  "Looked exactly alike but they were two totally different people."</div> <div> "And now she's living up at that big house with the Boy Scout in jail and his wife is in the big house, too, surrounded by all the loving relatives," Randy said, with a sarcastic tone to his voice.  "One big loving family."</div> <div> "Sad, isn't it?" Joe agreed.  "You'd think with all that money they'd like each other a little more."   After a pause, he asked, "Do you think that Quentin killed Bruno Hess?"</div> <div> Adam and Randy looked at each other.  Finally Adam answered, "Quentin has a terrible temper, but I don't think he would kill anyone.  I think someone else killed this Bruno Hess and blamed Quentin.  You are his friend, aren't you?  You came to the wedding, didn't you?"</div> <div> "Yes, I did, and yes, I guess I'm his friend.  I'm sorry they've got him in jail because I think you're right, Knight.  I think Quentin has been framed."</div> <div> "Did you know Angelique and Alexis well?" Adam asked.</div> <div> "They were my neighbors years ago.  Alexis left town just after I got married.  She didn't come back until just recently-she didn't even come back for her sister's funeral."</div> <div> "Funeral," Adam repeated and sighed.  "You say they behaved differently.  Did they look different at all?"</div> <div> "No, other than they way they acted, I never could tell them apart," Joe replied, wondering why Adam asked. They talked a little more and then Joe excused himself.  He didn't want to be too drunk when he went home to Susan.  Dusk was still another hour or so away when Joe came out and began walking toward his house.  As he was walking along Main Street, he looked up and saw Chris drive by, Alexis on the passenger side of the car.  They were probably going to visit Quentin in the jail, he thought, wondering why Maggie wasn't in Alexis' place.  He shrugged, shook his head, and walked on.</div> <bR> <div> All of this was just becoming too weird for Chris.  He didn't speak to Alexis, who gave him a case of the jitters.  He'd never formally met Angelique's twin before and he supposed it should be natural that she would make him feel as uncomfortable as her sister had.  He had the oddest feeling that she knew all about him and it unnerved him.  He also didn't care for the seductive glances she gave him when they were alone.  Whether he was able to bail Quentin out or not, he was moving from Collinwood-tonight.  He didn't feel safe there anymore, and he was going to take Amy with him.  He'd do his best for his cousin from somewhere else-anywhere else.  Besides, once the criminal attorney arrived there wouldn't be much he could do anyway except provide support to his cousin.</div> <div> Alexis gave him another knowing look.  It was as if she could read his mind, he thought.  He shut off the engine, turned to her and said, "I don't understand why you felt this great need to see Quentin today.   I may be able to get him out today."</div> <div> "I just wanted to assure him of my support," Alexis replied, a smile lifting her lips.  Her blue eyes, though, were frosty cold.  "I want him to know that I don't think he killed my sister."</div> <div> "Yeah, I remember you telling him that already," Chris replied.</div> <div> Alexis stopped smiling.  "I want him to know that I believe in him-something Maggie really ought to be doing.  Since she isn't, I felt I ought to make the gesture."</div> <div> "Very Christian of you," Chris said ironically, and he was positive that she was glaring at him now.  He couldn't be sure because he was already walking into the sheriff's office.  He thought he could feel her eyes boring into his back and thought again that as soon as he got back to Collinwood, he would pack his bags and leave with Amy.</div> <div> "Alexis" followed Chris into the office, wondering how much he really knew.  She tried probing into his mind in her amateurish way and found it blocked.  He'd always been that way, always, she thought venomously.  If he did suspect the truth, at least he was clever enough not to let on.  Otherwise, she'd have to take care of him the way she'd taken care of his father, David.  David was too curious for his own good, she thought.  He'd caught her performing an incantation.  He wasn't discreet; she was sure that he would talk to Quentin and so she'd arranged his little car accident.  That the accident had also killed Chris' mother and brother didn't bother her at all-the threat to her had to be removed and if innocent people died, well, that was just too bad.</div> <div> The sheriff was taking them back to Quentin's cell, explaining that the autopsy report was back on Bruno Hess: he'd been strangled.  Patterson explained, "Chris, I'm sorry there's no chance of getting him bailed out tonight.  Inspector Hamilton's out talking to the judge-he'll be back here soon to talk to Mr. Collins."</div> <div> "Judge?  What for?" Chris asked.</div> <div> "He wants to exhume the body of Angelique Collins."</div> <div> Oh no! The woman calling herself Alexis thought, horrified.  This was not what she wanted at all.  What were they going to do when they discovered there was no body?  Her sister's body was less than ashes now.  She never had been able to control her power fully; no one had ever seemed to be able to teach her how to do it.  Something always went wrong.  She really hadn't meant to kill Bruno; she'd only meant to scare him and to scare Quentin as well.  She hadn't anticipated Inspector Hamilton showing up, either.  He seemed to hate Quentin, whereas the sheriff was more sympathetic toward him and more tolerant of his tantrums.    </div> <div> "Quentin," Chris called.  She realized they'd gotten to the cell.  She could see Quentin, his head bowed, his shoulders drooping.  He looked up, his eyes glazed and reddened.  To their surprise, however, he smiled cheerfully.</div> <div> "I'll leave you alone," the sheriff said, full of consideration.</div> <div> "Oh, Quentin," she cried out before she could stop herself.  She hadn't expected to love him as much as she did.  He was such a child in so many ways.  He'd been easier to manipulate than his brother Gabriel, and she'd felt contempt for him because of it.   She knew everything about him now and thought that was why she felt tied to him emotionally.  They had much in common.</div> <div> He gave her an odd look as he got up.  She wasn't sure how to read it-was it suspicion?  "Alexis," he greeted her.  He walked across the cell slowly, cautiously approaching her-she was suddenly sure of it.  She covered one of his hands with her own.  Quentin didn't pull away but he didn't cover her hand with his other.  He looked at his cousin next.  "Chris-I didn't do it.  I swear, I didn't."  </div> <div> "What happened?" Chris asked.</div> <div> "I just went there to tell him to get off the property.  He made a move on Maggie, you see.  And after what Cyrus had done to her, I couldn't stand it.  He said something, I said something back, and we started scuffling.  I knocked him down and he started choking.  I swear, I thought he was just fooling so that I wouldn't hit him again."  Quentin's face began to turn red with anger as he recalled what happened.</div> <div> "You hit him?" Chris asked.</div> <div> "Yes! I hit him-that's how I knocked him down!" Quentin snapped.</div> <div> "Look, Quentin, I'm trying to help you.  You keep yourself in check, understand?" Chris warned him.  Making a visible effort to control his temper, Quentin nodded.  His face was still a dark red.  "Did you hit him in the throat by any chance?"</div> <div> "No!"</div> <div> "Where'd you hit him?"</div> <div> "Here."  Quentin indicated his abdomen.  "Why?"</div> <div> "Well, I wanted to make sure there wasn't a chance you broke that little bone in the throat-I can't remember what it's called offhand," Chris explained.  He continued to talk but Alexis-who was really Angelique-was no longer listening.  She was watching her husband closely, trying to formulate her plan.  Yes, she loved him as much as was possible in her cold way but she knew all of the truth now, and he had to be punished for killing her.   She hardened her heart against him, resolving to suppress any more feelings of pity she might have for him.</div> <div> All she'd ever wanted was to become part of the Collins family and get away from her father.  How ironic it all was-she'd worked and planned to escape her father, and he was the one who ended up saving her.  If it wasn't for her father and his experiment to provide her with a life force she would still be lying in her tomb.  Chris' words began to penetrate her hearing.  "…so Thomas Joseph Sheridan was a close friend of your step-uncle?  I've heard of him, Quentin, he's very good-knows his stuff.  Have you met him?"</div> <div> "Never, but I trust my Aunt Nancy," Quentin was saying.  He was looking animated-Angelique didn't like that at all.   If he was feeling optimistic, he wouldn't be tractable.  She'd always had such a hard time controlling him-it was infuriating.</div> <div> "All right, look, I'll be back when Sheridan calls me.  We'll all meet back here and come to talk to you."</div> <div> "Aunt Nancy is coming with him," Quentin put in.  He actually smiled.  Damn the meddling old bitch! Angelique thought spitefully.</div> <div> "Good, Quentin, I'm glad to hear that."  Chris put his hand through the bars and Quentin shook it.  "We're going to help you, all right?  Don't worry, Quentin."</div> <div> "I'm not-not now.  Thanks for coming."  He looked at Angelique-whom he believed to be Alexis still in spite of Adam's strange words-with the same gratitude.  Chris began to leave but paused when his companion made no move to leave.  </div> <div> "I'd like to stay for a few minutes," Angelique said sweetly, thinking rapidly.  She had to make her move-she had to convince Quentin to get out of here with her before that interfering old biddy showed up with the trial attorney.  She wasn't through with Quentin yet-and she wanted him under her thumb where he belonged.  </div> <div> Chris had moved away, leaving, and Angelique saw a look of caution return to Quentin's eyes.  It had been a long, long time since she'd seen him look at her that way.  Why now?  Had that awful Barnabas been in to see him?  In the background, she could hear Chris' voice rising a little in argument with that Inspector Hamilton, who must've come back.  "Quentin, what's the matter?" she asked nervously.</div> <div> He started a little and looked away.  "Nothing," he muttered.  "Why did you ask me that?"</div> <div> "You were looking at me so strangely-I wondered what you were thinking?"</div> <div> He shrugged.  "I wonder what time my aunt will get here."</div> <div> I should have taken care of her when I had the chance, Angelique thought, furious.  She would have, too, when Aunt Nancy interfered to delay her marriage to Gabriel except for one thing-it turned out to be more to her advantage to marry Quentin, the heir.  As Gabriel's wife, she would have been assured of a place at Collinwood once the older people passed away-Quentin was very loyal to his brother.  As Gabriel's widow, though-would Quentin have remembered her?  She didn't think so.  She was carrying Gabriel's child, though, and Quentin would not see her abandoned or the child aborted.  So Nancy's interference had actually worked to Angelique's advantage. </div> <div> Now, however, that old woman was going to spoil everything.  She allowed her eyes to fill up with tears.  "Quentin," she whispered.  "Inspector Hamilton is going to have my sister's body exhumed."</div> <div> "I know," Quentin answered.  He looked worried for the first time.  It was obvious what he was thinking.  Truthfully, she was worried about the same thing.  "It's not going to look good when they find out what happened," he added, frowning.</div> <div> "What are you going to tell your aunt and that lawyer?" Angelique asked urgently.</div> <div> Quentin looked at her, troubled.  He'd been so relieved to hear from his aunt.  He'd barely listened to her when she told him all about T.J. Sheridan.  All he'd heard and cared about was that she was coming to be with him-he wouldn't be alone anymore.  Now he wondered what she and Mr. Sheridan would think when they found out what he and Cyrus had done.  "I don't know-I guess I'd have to tell them the truth."</div> <div> "What!" Angelique exclaimed, appalled.  "Quentin, you're not thinking clearly!"  She looked into his eyes, willing him to pay attention to her and to obey.  "You can't do that-you'll only look guiltier in everyone's eyes.  Don't you see how obvious it is that you've been set up by someone?"</div> <div> "Maggie," Quentin whispered.</div> <div> Angelique heard him say the name and smiled to herself.  She was busily working at both Quentin and Maggie, causing them to be suspicious of each other.  "Perhaps," she began.  "Perhaps not.  How can you be sure?  What if it was Cyrus?  You know that he's gone insane."  Quentin shook his head, looking confused.  "Quentin, we've got to find proof that it wasn't you-that you are innocent.  We can't do that while you are in here."</div> <div> "What do you mean?"</div> <div> Idiot! She wanted to castigate him for being so obtuse.  He could be so irritating sometimes!  "I mean that we can't prove you are innocent with you here in this cell.  We've got to find the evidence to prove who really killed Bruno-and set you up."</div> <div> "The doll."</div> <div> "That-and other things."</div> <div> He was only half-listening, looking down.  "I could tell them where it is."</div> <div> "Oh, Quentin!" Angelique exclaimed.  She wanted to reach through the cell and slap his face.  She managed to restrain herself-that would not be like Alexis at all, she reminded herself.  That was something Angelique had done frequently; he would be suspicious if she hit him, much as she wanted to. He looked back up at her, and she managed to compose herself.  Suddenly, she thought of an idea:  "Do you really think Roger will welcome your aunt and Mr. Sheridan into Collinwood?"</div> <div> Gratified, she saw she'd made an impression.  He looked upset and angry now.  Good!  She thought, spitefully.  Of course, Roger Collins would be very unpleasant to Nancy Talbot and T.J. Sheridan but he'd be too afraid not to let them in.  Quentin, though, come to that conclusion right now.  He was in trouble and wasn't thinking clearly.  He was a little boy again, bullied and frightened by his older, angry cousin.  "Quentin, with you here in this cell, Roger has no reason to want to help you-in fact, I am sure he'd like to see you rot here."  She could see that Quentin believed her.  Now she pressed home her final point.  "There is no one in that house who would help them, Quentin-you know that."</div> <div> "My God," Quentin muttered.  "What am I going to do?"</div> <div> "I have an idea," she said quickly.  He looked at her, frowning, suspicion and puzzlement mixing in his eyes.  "You'll think it's insane," she added to lessen the suspicion.  "I'm sure it would work though-I would help you, Quentin, I swear.  I believe you are not guilty!"</div> <div> "What is it?" he asked.</div> <div> Got him, she thought triumphantly.   Hook, line, and sinker.  Rapidly, she explained her plan.</div> <bR> <div> Later that evening, Adam and Randy met in the hallway of the Inn.  They were going to get something to eat and then stop by to see Quentin again.  As they walked down the hall, Adam felt a strange sensation beginning to fill his body.  He felt dizzy, leaning against the wall.  He had a very fleeting image in his mind-Roxanne, reaching out for him.  His knees buckled.  "Adam!" Randy cried out, alarmed.</div> <div> Adam leaned against the wall, his face flushed, sweating heavily.  "She's not far from here," he muttered.</div> <div> "What?  Who?"  Randy grabbed Adam's shirt.  "Hey!  You need your medicine, man?"</div> <div> "No-no, I mustn't take it.  This is different, anyway.  I felt her!" Adam couldn't feel Roxanne anymore and wanted to cry.  "Where?" he cried.  "Where are you?"</div> <div> "What are you talking about, man?" Randy demanded.</div> <div> "I saw Roxanne-just for a second.  But it was her, and she was alive!" Adam was breathing heavily.  He took a long, labored breath, trying to get his breathing back under control.</div> <div> Randy had stopped questioning all the "weird stuff" after their visit to Rushmore Sanitarium.  "Where?  Do you know?"</div> <div> Adam closed his eyes tightly, trying to see.  "It's dark-it's like she's asleep.  I don't understand," he said, finally.</div> <div> "Damn!" Randy exclaimed in frustration.</div> <div> "Randy, listen-I am sure that Roxanne will try to reach me again," Adam said forcefully.  He was sure of it--as sure as he was of his name.</div> <div> Randy looked at him steadily and then nodded.  "Okay, I hope it's soon, man.  This weird shit gets worse all the time!"</div> <div> They continued down the stairs.  Adam was on his way out and nearly bumped into Nancy Talbot, coming in.  He was happy to see her and crowed with delight.  "You're here!"</div> <div> The older woman's face was lined with grief and worry; her features lightened as she smiled at Adam.  "Oh, I'm so glad you're here, too, Adam!  We were just going to check in and go straight over to see Quentin."</div> <div> Adam noted the man just behind Nancy, tall and thin, with distinguished looking spectacles and stone-gray hair.  "Randy and I were just going to see Quentin, too.  We can show you the way."</div> <div> "Thank you, Adam!"  Nancy turned to the man.  "T.J., this is the friend I spoke to you about, Adam Knight." She indicated Randy.  "This is Randall Drew."  Turning back to Adam and Randy, she introduced them to Thomas Joseph Sheridan, who shook hands with them firmly.  Adam's eyes followed the Nancy and the lawyer as they went to the registration desk.  He was greatly relieved-at last, someone would help Quentin.</div> <div> They walked down toward the jail.  Adam saw the sheriff walking just ahead of them.  "Sheriff!" he called.</div> <div> Sheriff Patterson turned.  "Mr. Knight," he said pleasantly.  It was a complete turnaround in attitude from just a few weeks before.  "Mr. Drew."  He looked at Nancy and Sheridan with mild curiosity.  "Ma'am, you might be Mr. Collins' aunt?" he asked, somewhat hopefully.</div> <div> "That's correct, and I've brought Mr. Sheridan, an attorney."</div> <div> "Great.  I'll take you right on in.  Chris Collins was here not too long ago," Patterson spoke in an amiable way, leading them toward the jail.   "He was trying to do his best to help your nephew, ma'am, but I guess he got into a bit of a dispute with Inspector Hamilton."</div> <div> "Oh?" Sheridan asked, in a gentle, prompting tone.</div> <div> "Yes, sir, so I walked with Chris back to his car.  Didn't want any more trouble for the family.  God knows this family and this town has had enough of that!" he exclaimed.  He opened the door and walked into the office.  He stopped so suddenly everyone piled up against him.  "Good Lord!" He exclaimed, in a horrified tone.</div> <div>   Looking over his shoulder, Adam saw Alexis bending over the unmoving body of Inspector Hamilton.  One fist was pressed to her mouth, and she was blanched of all color.  She looked up at them all with huge, frightened eyes.  "It-it happened so fast!" she blurted.  "He's hurt-Inspector Hamilton-he's bleeding."</div> <div> Moving swiftly, the sheriff knelt down beside Alexis and checked Hamilton's pulse.  "He's alive."  He put his hand to the back of Hamilton's head; he pulled it back and looked at his fingers, covered with blood.  Patterson looked at Alexis.  "What happened?"</div> <div> "Well, I-I was visiting Quentin," Alexis began, sounding very frightened.  "He was so angry, he was pacing back and forth like a-a wild animal.  Then Inspector Hamilton came in and he-and he-he hit him over the head and ran away!"</div> <div> "Shit!" Patterson exclaimed.  He jumped up and went into the back, and then ran back to the phone.  He called for an ambulance first; then he called his deputies to tell them Quentin Collins had escaped.</div> <div> "Oh dear Lord!" Nancy exclaimed, distraught, and Adam put his arm around her.  He was shocked.</div> <div> "How did he manage to get at Inspector Hamilton?"  Sheridan asked curiously.</div> <div> Alexis had slowly gotten up, watching them cautiously.  "Why-why, Inspector Hamilton opened the door."</div> <div> Sheridan didn't say anything, but Nancy straightened up and looked directly at Alexis.  "Did he now?  Why on earth would he go into a locked cell with my nephew behaving like that?"</div> <div> Alexis bit her lower lip and didn't answer at first.  Her eyes flashed with fire, and Adam realized she was very angry.  <I>Not Alexis, </I>he heard Barnabas say.  <I>Angelique.</I>  It's true, he thought with an absolute certainty.  Where is Alexis, the real Alexis? He wondered. The answer came back: <I>Dead, she is dead.</I>  Horrified, Adam remembered what Quentin had told him.  He and Cyrus had burned a body-they'd burned Alexis!  He realized the blue-eyed woman was glaring at him now, and he looked away.  Help me, he thought, I'm frightened.  <I>I cannot but there is one who can.</I></div> <div> Once again, Adam felt another presence.  This one was alien.  The feeling he had from Barnabas was more natural; they'd once been linked together and the bonds between them, although severed, were still close enough that the communication flowed easily.  Adam had felt this alien presence before too; he had shared his body with him for a few moments.  Gabriel, he thought.</div> <div> Don't let on you know who she is, Gabriel was whispering to him.  We've got to help Quentin.  You can't help Quentin if you make her mad.  She's dangerous.  Adam heard himself say in speculative voice:  "Perhaps to help calm him."</div> <div> Stunned, everyone looked at him.  Nancy was about to remonstrate with him but she suddenly stopped, her eyes widening with astonishment.  Adam didn't know what it was she saw that had stopped her from speaking, but he was glad.  In the confusion of the ambulance arriving, Adam whispered quietly, "Let us go."  They slipped away. </div> <div> "There's not much we can do at this point," Sheridan said.</div> <div> "T.J., I'd like to talk to Adam-if you don't mind," Nancy said disarmingly.  "Would you join us at the Tavern?"</div> <div> "No, thanks, it's been a long trip.  I'd like to turn in."</div> <div> Randy's face had broken out in a sweat.  "I'll meet you there.  There's something I have to take care of."  Adam knew what it was.  If he went to long without injecting himself with that heroin stuff, he became sick.</div> <div> If Nancy noticed that Randy seemed ill, she didn't show it.  "That's fine dear."  She put her arm through Adam's, and the two of them continued to the Tavern.</div> <div> They took a table in the far corner, and Nancy ordered a beer for Adam and a whiskey sour for herself.  After the drinks were delivered, she looked at Adam closely.  He took a sip of his beer; her drink remained untouched.  "Adam," she began hesitantly, looking upset, "I have to ask you something."</div> <div> "Is it about Quentin's brother?"</div> <div> Nancy gave him a very odd, frightened look.  "For just a moment, I thought I saw his face superimposed over yours."</div> <div> Adam took another sip of beer.  He said gently, "He is with me.  He would like to talk to you." When Nancy gasped sharply, Adam took her hand in his.  "Please don't be afraid.  He wants to help."</div> <div> "How can this happen?"</div> <div> "I don't know.  This has happened before, here in Collinsport."</div> <div> "This cursed place!"</div> <div> "Yes," Adam agreed.  "Quentin's brother wants to help.  Then you can leave and never come back."</div> <div> Nancy was pale but determined.  She didn't let go of Adam's hand.  "What should I do?"</div> <div> "I don't know," Adam answered honestly.  He thought that somehow, Barnabas, Gabriel, he and Roxanne were all linked.  One would help the other.  He didn't resist when he felt the other presence come forward.  "Aunt Nancy."</div> <div> In spite of her determination, Nancy's eyes filled and then overflowed.  "Gabriel," she whispered.  Their hands tightened on each other.</div> <div> "Listen, I've got to talk quickly.  I'm going to tell you some things that are going to be hard for you to believe, but you gotta trust me.  We've got to help Quentin."</div> <div> "Go on."</div> <div> "That woman isn't Alexis-she's Angelique.  Angelique killed her sister, Aunt Nancy.  She's a witch-and she's very dangerous.  She didn't want Quentin waiting for you and Mr. Sheridan so she talked him into breaking out of jail.  She's going to hide him someplace.  The thing is, you gotta stay out of her way or she'll kill you, just like she killed Ma."</div> <div> "Helen!"</div> <div> "Yes, and David Collins and his family, too.  Jamison Collins-she brought on his heart attack, too. Larry Chase.  Bruno Hess.  She's a dumb kind of witch, Aunt Nancy, but she's still dangerous." </div> <div> "A witch," Nancy whispered.  "I knew it!  And you, Gabriel?"</div> <div>  A bitter smile twisted Adam's features.  "That was an accident, pure and simple.  She counted on me being a ticket into Collinwood.  She thought with Quentin in charge, we'd always have a home there."  Nancy grimaced with disgust.  "Oh, you don't know how really awful she is, thanks to her father-damn him to everlasting hell!"</div> <div> "What are we going to do?"</div> <div> "I don't want you to do anything.  I want you and that lawyer to stay at the Inn.  I'll find Quentin.  I could always find him."</div> <div> "You have to be careful yourself, Gabriel!"</div> <div> "Nah, I just have to look out for Adam.  I'll be all right.  Besides, I'm going to wait until she's back at Collinwood with her lover."</div> <div> "Her lover?"  Nancy seemed startled.  Then, suddenly, she realized.  "Hoffman!"</div> <div> "They've been plotting together since Daniel was born."  Nancy looked as if she was about to ask another question, but Adam held his hand up to stop her.  "Angelique is doing her best to drive Quentin and Maggie apart.  Right now, they don't trust each other anymore.  You need to help them, Aunt Nancy."</div> <div> "Oh, dear, Gabriel, what can I do?"</div> <div> Adam/Gabriel laughed mirthlessly.  "They have more in common than they know.  Maggie needs to talk about her father more.  And Buddy needs to talk about Uncle Frank-and even Ma."</div> <div> "Oh-the drinking," Nancy flushed, looking uncomfortable.</div> <div> "They can help each other if they'd just tell each other how they feel.  Try to get them to do that.  And if they stay together, take them to a meeting."  Nancy's mouth popped open.  "Of course I know about them, Aunt Nancy.  I just wish I'd gone to Al-Anon myself.  It's not too late for them-I think they still love each other in spite of what Angelique has done.  And there's something else."</div> <div> "What?"</div> <div> "Maggie is pregnant."</div> <div> Nancy nodded.  "I suspected as much.  All right, I'll try, Gabriel.  What now?"</div> <div> "You go back and talk to Mr. Sheridan.  He's thinking that he's gotten himself into a fine pickle.  Convince him to stay.  I'll see if I can find Buddy."  Adam felt the presence step back.  Slowly, he let go of Nancy's hand.  She was fighting back more tears, searching in her pocketbook for a handkerchief.  He handed her a cocktail napkin.  "I'm sorry," he whispered.  "I wish I could do more."</div> <div> Nancy looked up at him, wiping her eyes with the napkin.  "You stop that, Adam!  I don't know how you did it, but you've already been an invaluable help.  I'll be just fine."</div> <div> "I know.  You are a very strong woman.  I will take you back to the Inn."  They got up and left, Adam gently holding onto Nancy's elbow.  She allowed him to do so; he was supporting her more than it appeared to anyone watching her.  Adam realized she'd had a series of shocks, though, and was weak in the knees.  He admired her courage.</div> <bR> <div> Adam was walking along the path through the woods to Collinwood.  He'd seen Nancy safely back to the Inn and then checked on Randy.  Randy apparently had injected enough of the heroin stuff to make himself useless for the rest of the evening.  He'd decided to look for Quentin on his own, aware that the brother was hovering nearby to help when it became necessary.  Adam doubted that Quentin would listen to him about Angelique.</div> <div> Suddenly, he felt overwhelmingly dizzy again and realized that someone-Roxanne! -was reaching out for him.  She was very close by; he could sense it.  He also sensed the essence of someone else: Barnabas.  Roxanne seemed confused.  She was drugged and felt as if she was down a deep, dark well.  Barnabas was close to her, though; Adam could feel vague impressions through their old link.  He didn't believe these were phantom impressions; he thought enough of the link remained so that they could "sense" each other.  There was something different about this Barnabas.  There was an icy cold aura about him. Adam sensed determination to help Maggie and Quentin.  That was good.</div> <div> Roxanne was stretched out, unable to move.  She cried out to him with her thoughts.  Barnabas was very nearby-there was a house, a room.  He was opening the door.  Help her, Barnabas! Adam cried out, trying to reach Barnabas through that old bond that had once tied them together.  She is helpless, help her!  He had the reassuring feeling that Barnabas intended to help her; someone else was with him-Will-and they were going to free Roxanne and get her out!  Relieved, Adam was able to move on.  He would come back for Roxanne-she was alive, unharmed, and safe!</div> <div> Now-where would Quentin be?  The basement of Collinwood-he used to hide there when he was a child.  Adam made his way to the huge mansion-it was dark and quiet.  He slipped in through the back door.  The kitchen was in total darkness.  Adam felt his way to the door.  On the way, he picked up a flashlight.  He "knew" just where it was-that was thanks to Gabriel, he was sure.  He slipped quietly down the stairs to look around.  He searched around and decided that Quentin wasn't here.  Where else would he be?  He found a door with a stairway that led him to the center of the house.  There was a network of halls running in different directions.  Gabriel was familiar with this place, and Adam let him take the lead.  He had no idea where they were going-down a hall, around a corner, and then just up.</div> <div> Adam had no idea where they were.  The wooden staircase wound round and round.  Adam had seen a movie called "Vertigo" in which the lead character had a fear of heights.  The actor had been lured up a similar set of spiral stairs, leading to a belfry.  This flight of steps, however, took him up into a tower.  At the top of the steps was a dark hallway.  Adam could see there was a door at the end of the hall.  I never would have thought to look here, he thought to himself.  He had no idea what Quentin's brother looked like, but he had an image of humor-as if Gabriel might be smiling.</div> <div> Quietly, Adam opened the door.  The flashlight flicked around the room and stopped at a single bed.  He was there, a shapeless mass under a blanket.  Relieved, Adam knelt beside the bed and shook Quentin's shoulder lightly.  Immediately, Quentin leaped up, ready to fight.  "No, no, it's only me!" Adam exclaimed, throwing his arms around his friend to restrain him.  He felt Quentin struggle wildly and hung on for dear life.  "Quentin, stop!" he hissed.</div> <div> "Adam?" Quentin asked in a stunned voice.  He stopped struggling.  Adam let his breath out slowly, relieved.  "What in the hell are you doing here?  It's the middle of the fucking night!"</div> <div> "I have been looking for you.  Why did you run away?" Adam asked sternly.  He hoped Quentin wouldn't become angry at his tone.  That was Gabriel's voice, not his.</div> <div> "Adam, for chrissake, that's really nice of you, but, well, it's very complicated.  It's got to do with what I told you about Angelique's body."  Quentin sounded frustrated and tired, rubbing his eyes with his fists.  "How did you know to look for me here?"</div> <div> "I don't know," Adam answered honestly.  He felt a sensation as if Gabriel was tapping him on the shoulder and step back.  "Did she bring you here?"</div> <div> "She?  Alexis?"  Quentin sounded surprised.  "Yes, but-what difference does it make?"</div> <div> "Why do you listen to her?"  Adam's voice sounded harsh.</div> <div> Now Quentin sounded resentful.  "You wouldn't understand, Adam."</div> <div> "Don't treat him like he's stupid, Buddy, he's not!"  Adam felt Quentin stiffen beside him.  "Okay, listen to me, we don't have much time.  We have to get out of here, now!"</div> <div> "Gabriel-" Quentin began, his voice becoming emotional.  Adam put his arm around Quentin, who turned and buried his face in Adam's broad chest. Quentin began to cry.  Adam could feel the sorrow of the older brother and felt pity for them both.  "How did you get here?" Quentin finally managed to ask.</div> <div> "It doesn't matter how, Buddy, I'm going to help you.  We've got to get out of here.  You're not safe with her, do you hear me?"</div> <div> "Who?  Alexis?"</div> <div> "Come on, let's get out of here.  I'll explain it to you outside.  We need to get out of here."  Adam got to his feet, pulling Quentin up with him.  Adam was still holding the flashlight, and so he led the way out.  Quentin followed obediently.  Once they were outside, Adam led the way into the woods.  Dawn was approaching, and he wanted them to be well hidden.  When he was satisfied that they were far enough away from the house and far enough off the path, he found a downed tree for them to sit on.  "We can't stay here long.  Everyone is looking for you.  Quentin, I'm gonna tell you some shit you're just not going to believe, but you've got to trust me, all right?"</div> <div> Quentin nodded.  He wiped his face with the sleeve of his shirt, leaving streaks.  "For chrissake!" Adam, who was really Gabriel now, chided kiddingly.  "You look like a little kid."  They both smiled.  "Listen, now-that woman is not Alexis.  She's Angelique.   It's really important that you not let her know that you know, you understand me?  You have to act like she's Alexis.  Listen…" Gabriel proceeded to tell the startled Quentin about how Angelique had come back from the dead, switching places with her unfortunate sister-it was Alexis who had been cremated, and not Angelique.  Angelique was responsible for all the of the witchcraft at Collinwood and she had been the one to kill Bruno.</div> <div> Quentin listened with growing horror.  "Did she have anything to do with Cyrus?"</div> <div> "No," Gabriel answered sympathetically.  "Don't hate him, though, Buddy, he really couldn't help himself.  I can understand why you'd be really mad at him for what he did to Maggie, but try to find it in yourself to go and see him.  He needs a friend."</div> <div> "Maggie," Quentin said softly.  "I thought it was her."</div> <div> "Angelique wanted you to think it was her-but it's not.  You've got to make it right between you and Maggie, Buddy.  She loves you-and you love her.  You never loved Angelique, did you?"</div> <div> Quentin was silent for a long time.  "I thought I did.   In the beginning.  Then I realized she didn't love me-she didn't love you, either, did she, Gabe?"</div> <div> "No, I don't think she's able to love anyone."</div> <div> "The bitch!  She used us! I hate her!" Quentin curled his hands into fists and slammed them on his knees.</div> <div> "She hurt you pretty bad, I know that," Gabriel said softly, putting his hand on Quentin's shoulder.  "She hurt me, too.  As bad as she is, though, I don't think she would have been so evil if things had been different for her."</div> <div> "How can you talk like that?" Quentin asked incredulously.  "You know what she said to me, don't you?  To get me to marry her?"</div> <div> "Yes, I know.  And I know that you told Jamison Collins that Daniel was your baby because you know that old man would never let her in the house otherwise.  I know everything, Quentin.  I know every humiliating thing she did to you and how you just took it and took it.  I know she hit you, and I know she had every man she could and threw it in your face."</div> <div> "Then how can you be so forgiving toward her?  I can't!"</div> <div> "It's different here, Quentin.  I know things that you don't know.  Maybe you'll find out the whole story-It might help you if you knew.  That's for later, though.  Right now what's more important is to get you out of this mess and back with Maggie.  You've gotta try and stay away from Angelique if you can.  If you can, find Maggie and get the hell out of here.  Find Aunt Nancy-she's at the Inn.  Send Maggie to her.  She'll help you."</div> <div> "What about you?"</div> <div> Gabriel smiled sadly.  He put his hand on Quentin's face affectionately.  "I won't ever be very far from you, Buddy.  I'll find a way to talk to you again.  I'll tell you how it was with Angelique and with Ma and-well, with anything you want to know, okay?"</div> <div> "Don't leave me," Quentin begged.</div> <div> "I can't stay long.  I can come back, but you have to understand one thing, Buddy-you're not alone.  You got Maggie.  You got your friend Adam.  Aunt Nancy.  Chris.  Even Cyrus.  That is one thing he never lied to you about-he was always your friend, Quentin.  He still is.  Okay?"</div> <div> Quentin's eyes were filling up again.  "Okay," he answered quietly. Gabriel pulled him close, hugging him hard.  Slowly, Adam felt himself moving forward, felt his own arms around Quentin, holding him.  Soon, he thought, I will have to tell Quentin that I am back.</div> <div> There was a piercing scream.  Both men leapt up.  Adam grabbed Quentin to prevent him from running back to the house.  "No!  You stay-I'll go see what happened.  Wait here!"  Without looking back to see if Quentin obeyed, Adam began to run toward the house.  It was such a terrible scream of despair that Adam was positive someone was dead.  As he came closer to the house, he dropped to his knees and crept forward until he was close enough to see without being seen.  He felt his stomach turn.  On the ground below the tower, Will's body sprawled at impossible angles.  Blood poured from his ears.  Adam could also see a pool growing beneath his head.</div> <div> He would have forced himself to get up and go to Will's side except that horrid woman, Hoffman, appeared, kneeling beside Will.  She looked extremely distraught, checking for a pulse.  Adam froze, watching, and a few moments later Angelique appeared.  He could hear them talking but couldn't make out the words.  Angelique sounded angry.  When they left, he quickly made his way back to Quentin and told him that Will was dead.</div> <div> "Dead!  How can that be?" Quentin asked, looking genuinely upset. </div> <div> "I don't know-he must have jumped from the window in the room you were hiding in," Adam replied.  </div> <div> Quentin looked horrified.  "What was he doing there?"</div> <div> "I don't know," Adam repeated, feeling helpless.  "I think Angelique and Hoffman must have been with him.  They came out of the same door we did."</div> <div> "But why?  I don't understand!"</div> <div> "I don't either, Quentin.  Your brother is right, though.  You must try and stay away from that Angelique.  She is very dangerous.  You must hide-hide until it's safe to try and find Maggie."</div> <div> Quentin thought.  "I guess I could try the basement or maybe Loomis House.  Oh, God, poor Carolyn!"</div> <div> "Not the basement, Quentin," Adam objected, determined to turn his friend's mind from his cousin.  "The Old House-I mean, Loomis House--is a bad idea, too.  The police will go there."  He thought.  "There is that cave on the beach."</div> <div> "Right!"  Quentin exclaimed.  "The room in the cellar of Loomis House had a tunnel that went from there to the cave on the beach."</div> <div> "Yes-I will go with you there.  When you are safe inside, I will go back to the Inn.  I will tell your aunt that you are safe."</div> <div> "Thank you," Quentin said gratefully.  They went quickly to Widow's Hill, taking a path down to the beach.  Adam was glad that it was still early and that none of the police were out searching for Quentin yet.  He felt exhausted, not only from being up most of the night and being possessed by Gabriel but also because he had a feeling something had happened to Roxanne.  He thought she was out of danger now, but he had no idea where she was and he didn't like that at all.</div> <div> "Will you be all right?" Adam worried.  It was windy and cold here.  The inside of the cave would be damp and uncomfortable.  "I'll come back as soon as I can with something for you to eat.  A sleeping bag too."</div> <div> "I'll be all right," Quentin assured him.</div> <div> Adam left, glancing back doubtfully.  Quentin waved once and went into the cave.   He shook his head.  He would come back quickly, so that Quentin wouldn't be tempted to leave.  He had to skirt the edges of town to get back to the Inn-the last people he wanted to see now was Sheriff Patterson or one of his deputies.  He went up to Randy's room and roused him.</div> <div> "Whah?" Randy asked, appearing to be in a stupor.</div> <div> "Have you been shooting up again?" Adam scolded, realizing it would do no good.  "Randy, I need your help!"</div> <div> "Man, I'll be all right in just a little while," Randy mumbled, his head nodding.</div> <div> Adam was angry.  Why was Randy acting like this when they were so close to finding Roxanne?  He knocked at Nancy Talbot's door, but there was no answer.  Perhaps she'd gone to get breakfast.  Adam suddenly realized how tired he was, but he wanted to make sure that Quentin was warm and safe.  He went back to Randy's room and retrieved his unrolled sleeping bag.  He brought it down to the car and threw it onto the backseat.  There was a market across the street, and he went over to buy something for Quentin to eat.</div> <div> As Adam drove back toward Collinwood, he realized how very tired he was.  He would sleep when he returned to the Inn.  He carried the sleeping bag and bag of food to the cave.  "Quentin!" he called.  </div> <div> Slowly, Quentin partially emerged, looking uncomfortable and cold.  "Why did you come back?  Did anyone see you?"</div> <div> "No, I was careful.  Here, I brought these for you."  He handed the sleeping bag to Quentin, who took it gratefully.  "There are things to eat in this bag.  You'll stay here and wait for me to come back later, yes?"</div> <div> "I won't leave," Quentin promised.</div> <div> "If the police come, go back into the cave-you know the place where it becomes narrow and you have to crawl?  Go there if you have to.  The policemen won't follow you-they probably won't even see that little hole."</div> <div> "All right."</div> <div> Adam smiled tiredly.   "I will come back later.  You and I will look for Maggie.  We'll get you both out of here."</div> <div> "Thanks, Adam.  You've been a really good friend."</div> <div> "As you have been, Quentin.  You saved me from Angelique once.  Now I will save you."</div> <div> Quentin didn't answer; he seemed overcome.  He withdrew back into the cave and Adam walked back up the path to the car and drove back to town.  He tried Nancy's door again.  She was still not there, and so he decided it was time to get some sleep.  He walked past Randy's room to his own, let himself in, locked the door, and threw himself across the bed, falling into a deep sleep almost immediately.</div> <bR> <div> Adam dreamed all day-strange images.  He dreamed of a dark room with strange equipment-it reminded him of the lab in Dr. Lang's house.  He wasn't the one strapped on the bed, though.  It was Roxanne.  Bending over her was Claude North, laughing maniacally.  There was another shadowy figure in the room, but he couldn't make out who it was.  Standing on the other side of the door was John Yeager.  In another dream, he saw that Barnabas had Roxanne.  They seemed to be in the cemetery near Collinwood.  Barnabas opened his arms, allowing his cape to flow over Roxanne.  He drew her to him-he seemed to be kissing her throat.  No!  Adam cried out in his head.  He sat up, abruptly, listening to the insistent knocking at his door.</div> <div> He stumbled to the door and opened it.  Randy, Nancy, and lawyer Sheridan were in the hall.  "Man, you okay?" Randy asked.  "You been sleeping all day!  It's dinner time, man!"</div> <div> Adam was shocked.  "Dinner time!" he exclaimed.  "Quentin had no lunch!"</div> <div> "You know where he is?" Nancy asked, shocked.</div> <div> Before Adam could answer, Sheridan held up his hand.  "Wait."  He turned to Nancy.  "Do you want me to hear this?"</div> <div> Nancy considered a minute and then answered:  "Why don't you go on ahead of us?  We'll meet you for dinner downstairs."  Sheridan nodded and walked down the hallway to the stairs.</div> <div> "I don't understand," Adam muttered.</div> <div> "Do you know where Quentin is, Adam?" Nancy asked.</div> <div> "Yes, I know where he is."</div> <div> Nancy lowered her voice.  "Quentin ran away from jail.  He is a fugitive.  If you know where he is and you do not tell, you could be in trouble, too.  Do you understand?"</div> <div> "Yes, I tried hard not to let the police see me," Adam answered.  "Is that why the lawyer left?"</div> <div> "Yes, it would be very serious for him-he would insist that Quentin turn himself in.  He's not sure that that's what I want, which is why he asked me if I wanted him to hear what you had to say.  Do you see?"</div> <div> "I think so."</div> <div> "Adam, we have to make Quentin come back to the sheriff's office," Nancy was saying earnestly.</div> <div> "After the way he clocked that inspector?" Randy sounded surprised.</div> <div> Nancy barely glanced at Randy.  "He's already in enough trouble, Adam, you know that, don't you?"</div> <div> "I promised I would help him find Maggie," Adam said reluctantly.</div> <div> "We will bring Maggie to him."  Nancy put her hand on Adam's arm.  "Please.  Take me to him."</div> <div> "All right," Adam gave in.</div> <div> "Can we eat first?" Randy put in.  </div> <div> "I suppose it won't hurt," Nancy said after a moment.  "This will give me a chance to explain to T.J."</div> <div> Adam thought irritably that Randy should stop thinking about what he needed or wanted all the time.  Maybe he couldn't be expected to be concerned about Quentin, but surely he should be more concerned about Roxanne.  He could remember bits and pieces of the strange dreams he'd had-he had a feeling that Roxanne had been sleeping, too.  Maybe she was awake now-maybe not.  He wished he could still feel her, but that sensation was gone.</div> <div> Over dinner, Nancy explained that she and Adam were going to talk to Quentin and convince him to turn himself in.  "I'll make the arrangements with Sheriff Patterson," Sheridan offered.</div> <div> Nancy looked troubled.  "Would you mind waiting here until I call you?  My nephew can be very unpredictable.  I don't want to make matters worse for him."</div> <div> Sheridan nodded.  "All right, Nancy.  I'll wait for your call."</div> <div> "I have something to do," Randy piped up.  Surprised, everyone looked at him.  Looking a little embarrassed, he said, "I met a guy-he ran into someone who looks like Claude North.  I thought I'd check it out."</div> <div> "Why didn't you say something before?" Adam demanded.  He felt torn.  He should take Nancy to find Quentin, but at the same time he very badly wanted to go with Randy.</div> <div> Randy gave him an understanding look.  "I think I can stall the guy until you get back," he said.  "Come to the Blue Whale when you get back with the Boy Scout."</div> <div> Nancy looked at Randy sharply.  Suddenly, she laughed with nervous amusement.  "How did you know Quentin was a Scout?  That was years ago!"</div> <div> Randy laughed too.  "You know, Mrs. Talbot, it just doesn't surprise me!"</div> <div> Nancy smiled at him gently.  "You were a Boy Scout too, weren't you?"</div> <div> Randy blushed suddenly.  "Why, yes, ma'am."  He seemed uncomfortable and stood up, looking at Adam.  "I'll wait for ya as long as I can, man."</div> <div> "Thanks!"  Adam looked at Nancy.  "Perhaps we should go, too.  I am sure Quentin is hungry."</div> <div> "Yes, of course-and we must bring him something to eat," Nancy agreed.  She had the waitress bring back part of her meal.  Adam knew this was sometimes called a "doggie bag".  It made him think of Roxanne again with yearning.  She'd explained what "doggie bags" were, and he'd said that they needed to get a puppy if they were going to ask for doggie bags.  She laughed at his attempt at joking, and they really had meant to get a puppy, after his surgery-before she disappeared…</div> <div> Adam drove Nancy out toward Collinwood, pulling off down a sideroad leading away from the house and closer to the caretakers' cottage.  He hoped no one had seen the headlights of the car.  It was past dusk, and getting dark very quickly.  Adam worried about Nancy getting down the path to the cave; she took off her heels and walked barefoot, holding on to his arm.  He walked carefully, mindful of the fact that an older person's bones were brittle and broke easily.  Mabel had broken her hip in a fall once.  He didn't want that to happen to Quentin's aunt.</div> <div> Finally, they were at the mouth of the cave.  "Quentin!" Adam called.  There was no answer.  "Quentin!  I am sorry I am late-I brought you something to eat!"  When there was still no response, he frowned.  He bent down and picked up the flashlight, which was lying just inside the mouth of the cave.  </div> <div> Adam turned it on as Nancy called:  "Quentin, honey!  Come out!  You're safe! Please, honey!"</div> <div> He's not here anymore, Adam thought, his heart sinking.  He flashed the light around the walls of the entrance "room" of the cave.  He saw the sleeping bag, unrolled, and the remnants of the morning meal.  Where had he gone?  Even as Adam walked deeper into the cave, toward the narrow opening that lead to the thin tunnel that eventually became a crawl space he knew he wouldn't find anyone.  He turned back to Nancy and walked to her slowly.</div> <div> "He's gone," she said with a sense of finality and of despair.  She looked up at Adam with pain in her eyes, seeing it reflected back in his own.  "Oh, Adam, how are we going to help my boy now?"</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id101.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spring Whirlwind"><U>Spring Whirlwind</U></A>    <A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Puzzle Pieces: Angelique"><U>Puzzle Pieces:  Angelique</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adam in Parallel Time"><U>Adam in Parallel Time</U></A>     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>