5: Going Home Again

<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="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1: Stolen Memories"><U><B>1:  Stolen Memories</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2: A Complex Puzzle"><U><B>2:  A Complex Puzzle</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id111.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3: Peeling the Onion"><U><B>3:  Peeling the Onion</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4: Secrets Revealed"><U><B>4:  Secrets Revealed</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>5:  Going Home Again</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6: ThingintheBox"><U><B>6:  Thing-in-the-Box</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="7: Challenging the Leviathan"><U><B>7:  Challenging the Leviathan</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="8: Circling the Wagons"><U><B>8:  Circling the Wagons</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id118.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9: Jebs Curse"><U><B>9:  Jeb's Curse</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id119.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10: Spell of Jealousy"><U><B>10:  Spell of Jealousy</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11: Carrying the Weight"><U><B>11:  Carrying the Weight</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id121.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12: A Fiendish New Year"><U><B>12:  A Fiendish New Year</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="13: Barnabas Crisis"><U><B>13:  Barnabas' Crisis</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id123.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="14: Barnabas in Parallel Time"><U><B>14:  Barnabas in Parallel Time</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id124.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="15: Clues to Disaster"><U><B>15:  Clues to Disaster</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="16: Demons Possession"><U><B>16:  Demon's Possession</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id126.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="17: Breach of Trust"><U><B>17:  Breach of Trust</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="18: Labyrinth of Emotions"><U><B>18:  Labyrinth of Emotions</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="19: The Amanda Dilemma"><U><B>19:  The Amanda Dilemma</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id129.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="20: Ziganas Cure"><U><B>20:  Zigana's Cure</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="21: The Approaching Storm"><U><B>21:  The Approaching Storm</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id131.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="22: Enigma at Collinwood"><U><B>22:  Enigma at Collinwood</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id132.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="23: Reunion in Hell"><U><B>23:  Reunion in Hell</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id133.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="24: Scattered Through Time"><U><B>24:  Scattered Through Time</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>5:  Going Home Again</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alternate Destiny"><U><B>Alternate Destiny</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Just before lunch, Quentin called Collinwood from a pay phone across the street from the antique store where he'd met Carolyn.  It certainly looked harmless.  He could make out figures in the store-there was a blonde head.  That must be Carolyn.  We have to keep her out of there, he thought.  The door opened and closed; a boy about twelve stormed out, looking furious.  He headed toward the drug store.  That must be The One, Quentin thought.</div> <div> Meanwhile, the grumpy woman answered the phone, and he asked for Dr. Hoffman.  Julia's voice came on, inviting him to meet her at the library.  "There's a book I want you to see but it's not safe for you to keep it.  I'd like to copy it over and then take it back to David."</div> <div> "David!  What is he doing with it?"  Quentin asked, puzzled.</div> <div> "Well, Barnabas says he has some kind of silly title, `The Keeper of the Book'," Julia replied.</div> <div> "Good-you talked to Barnabas," Quentin said, relieved.  Then he added, "Don't take this `Keeper of the Book' thing lightly, Julia.  It must mean they're having that kid act as an interpreter or something."</div> <div> "I'm not taking it lightly," Julia replied softly.</div> <div> "Okay, I'll meet you at the library.  What time?" he asked.  He was glad Julia wasn't underestimating the importance of even a child's role in all this.  He would just have to get to know her better so that he'd know when she was joking or not.  </div> <div> "In an hour.  Elizabeth will have taken David and Amy to the shop."  Julia paused, and then whispered, "Barnabas is going to look for Paul Stoddard there."</div> <div> "Okay," Quentin agreed.  He hung up, looking toward the shop speculatively.  Perhaps he should have a look-see, too.  He saw the boy coming back and changed his mind-not from cowardice, but from caution.  This kid was dangerous and would be able to sense his presence.  He was a deceptively good-looking boy; Quentin could see that from here.  He had blonde hair and bright blue eyes-he looks like an angel, Quentin thought. One of the fallen angels, though, that's what this kid was.</div> <div> He met Julia at the library.  She showed up exactly on time with a thick book and seemed to be very nervous about handling it.  He took it from her as they walked to the Xerox machine and had to admit it gave him the creeps, too.  Julia went to the librarian to ask for a special key to the machine so that they could operate it without feeding it coins.  As she was getting the key, he opened the book and looked at it. He started a little when Julia rejoined him.  "Can you read it?"</div> <div> "Some of it," he said.  They walked toward the xerox machine.  "Just get the text," he told her.  "I don't think I'll need the pictures.  See if you can fit the runes in, too."</div> <div> "All right," Julia agreed.  As she copied the book, he asked about her conversation with Barnabas.  Relieved, she told him that he'd told her everything.  "I have no idea what you did, Quentin, but I certainly was getting no where with him up until then."</div> <div> "They were holding him hostage," Quentin explained.  He told her about his experience communicating with Barnabas.  He went on to tell her what had really happened when he'd visited Tate with Chris-everything except for Tate's last words to him.  She nodded thoughtfully.  "Julia, I'm really worried about Chris and Amy," he went on.  "I really wanted to talk to him."</div> <div> "I know," Julia said.  "I haven't forgotten either of you-it's just that I have a feeling we have to deal with this first."</div> <div> "I know," Quentin agreed.  "If a miracle occurs and we're able to pull it off and beat these Leviathans, I need to talk to you and Barnabas about everything."</div> <div> "You are holding on to a lot, aren't you?" Julia asked with sympathy.  "Yes, Quentin, once this is over, we'll all sit down together.  I want you to tell me everything-and don't worry, we'll find a way to help you and Chris.  I was able to help Barnabas-somehow there must be a way to help you both, too."</div> <div> "Thanks, Julia."  When she was finished copying the book, she gave him the sheaves of xeroxed papers.  "This'll give me something to do while I'm on the plane."</div> <div> "What plane?" Julia asked, looking alarmed.</div> <div> He laughed.  "It's nothing, really.  Amanda's gone down to New York.  She's got a job there now on some soap opera, so she's going to look for an apartment.  I told her I'd come down tonight."  At the look on Julia's face, he added, "Look, I'm not abandoning you.  I can be back within a couple of hours.  I'll let you know where I am, and I'll come back up tomorrow anyway if you need me to.  I told Amanda I still needed to see you and my family."</div> <div> Julia looked mollified.  "You can come back tomorrow?"</div> <div> He crossed his heart with his free hand.  "Cross my heart and hope to die."  He laughed at the look on her face.  "Julia, don't be such a drag!  Loosen up, don't be so uptight!  It's just an expression!"</div> <div> Julia smiled wanly.</div> <div> Although Quentin could have piloted his own plane, he elected to fly commercially so that he could begin to look at the book Julia xeroxed for him.  He found that he could understand chunks of it because of the research he'd done overseas.  Thank God for dusty old libraries, he thought.  I may not have appreciated them then, but I do now.  He continued reading in the cab that took him to the Waldorf.  He'd taken the information the desk clerk had given him in Collinsport; he knew which room to ask for.</div> <div> Amanda wasn't in when he arrived.  He scrawled out a note for her and left it with the desk clerk.  When she came back, she would know that he'd be waiting for him in the room.  She'd had an extra key ordered for him and so he went up to the room, a very luxurious suite.    There was just one bedroom off the main room, and he climbed onto the large bed to make himself comfortable while he continued to read.  His eyes were becoming blurred and tired trying to decipher the tiny, ancient print.  It didn't help that this was a xerox copy.  Several times, he felt his eyes beginning to close.</div> <div> They snapped open suddenly.  He re-read the passage, his mouth dropping open in shocked surprise.  He reached for the phone to call Julia, but the phone rang and rang, unanswered even by the grouchy housekeeper.</div> <bR> <div>      Quentin managed to call Julia the next morning while Amanda was taking a long bath.  She'd kept him up late, pleasantly distracted-not with anything from FAO Schwartz, either.  It was an elf outfit from one of the adult stores he'd hoped she would shop in.  The outfit had cutouts in the most interestingly strategic places so that he was unable to get back to his reading.  Before he was able to give Julia his startling information from the book, she told him something that was even more shocking: The One was dead.  He sat bolt upright in the bed.  "What happened?" he asked, stunned.</div> <div>      If it was true-if that kid was dead, this was the best thing that could possibly have happened.   Something must have gone wrong with the Leviathans' plans-it couldn't possibly be anything Barnabas had done.  The Leviathans would never stand for a human harming one of their own-especially The One.   "Let me tell you what happened to Michael first, and then I'll tell you the other strange things that happened the day before yesterday and last night."</div> <div>      "While we were at the library?"</div> <div>      "Yes-and even before then.  It started the same night you contacted Barnabas.  All right, well, I went to the antique shop with Maggie Evans this morning.  While we were there, Megan Todd came running down the stairs, screaming that Michael was unconscious.  I told Maggie to call an ambulance and went upstairs into the boy's bedroom.  Quentin-that was no little boy's bedroom.  It had a bed in it-and that was all. All the windows had been boarded up."</div> <div>      Quentin wasn't surprised.  "That's to protect that thing when it's in its natural state."</div> <div>      "What?" Julia exclaimed.</div> <div>      "Never mind-I'll explain in a minute.  What happened then?"</div> <div>      "Well, the Michael was very sick.  He was delirious and had a very high fever.  His heartbeat was very irregular.   Megan said he'd become sick suddenly.  I had some digitalis in my bag, but that was really all.  It didn't help.  The boy died suddenly-and I don't know why.  He had no pneumonia and no other symptoms other than that high fever."</div> <div>      "Well, well," Quentin muttered.  It sounded crazy, but maybe something had gone wrong with the Leviathans' plans.  Maybe they'd retreated, taking The One with them.  "What then?" he asked.</div> <div>      "An ambulance arrived-but, Quentin, this is another odd thing.  I didn't recognize the driver or the medic.  They were strangers."</div> <div>      "Were they from Collinsport?" Quentin asked.  He didn't understand what Julia's concern was.</div> <div>      "No-and I'm not sure they were from Rockport, either."</div> <div>      He frowned.  "Where do you think they're from, Julia?"</div> <div>      She sighed.  "I don't know."  After a moment's hesitation, she said again, "This may sound insane, Quentin, because I pronounced Michael dead just a few hours ago.  There's going to be a service for him-but I wonder if he's really gone."</div> <div>      That sounded sinister.  Quentin frowned, thinking.  "What about an autopsy?"</div> <div>      "Megan refused-it's her right.  She's Michael's next of kin."</div> <div>      "Hmm!  Julia, go to the viewing," he suggested.</div> <div>      "I was going to."</div> <div>      "Look, let's hope that The One is really dead.  It means the threat is over-maybe," Quentin said.  "Do you want me to come up?"</div> <div>      "Well-let me see what happens after the viewing this afternoon, sweetie.  You're having a good time in New York, aren't you?"</div> <div> He grinned lewdly.  He was having a grand time.  He'd just been in that oversized tub with Amanda.  "Yes, but you know I would come up if you needed me.  What else is going on there?  You said it was a long story?"</div> <div>      Julia sighed again.  "Michael came to spend the night with David the night you contacted Barnabas.  Some time during the night, the governess-that's Maggie Evans-disappeared.  No one could find her.  They searched the house and the grounds for her.   Barnabas came to talk to me-I told you that he told me the whole story.  I told him that Maggie was missing.  He was very alarmed about that and joined in the search.  Philip Todd came from the antique shop-he was the one who found Maggie.  Apparently she'd gone into the hallways within the house and gotten lost there."</div> <div>      He knew what a labyrinth that could be.  "What did she go in there for?"</div> <div>      "Well, she swears that Michael lured her in," Julia explained.</div> <div>      "Uh-huh, that sounds likely," Quentin said.  "Had she interfered with the little bastard?"</div> <div>      "They seem to have had several unpleasant encounters."</div> <div>      Quentin thought that Barnabas had probably gotten involved in some way after all.  That was not so good.  He began to wonder if his cousin might be responsible for the death of The One after all?  If that was so, the Leviathans would strike.  The thing is, he thought, they would have done it by now.  He was truly puzzled.  "Did Paul Stoddard turn up?" he asked.</div> <div>      "At the sheriff's office-with a story that someone at the antique shop was trying to kill him," Julia said.</div> <div>      "Oh, Jeez!" Quentin exclaimed.  "If that kid isn't dead, Paul Stoddard is going to be-very soon.   Are you sure you don't want me to come home?"</div> <div>      "I'll call you tonight.  Will you be there?"</div> <div>      Quentin grimaced.  "With Amanda I can never tell where I'll be.  Look-if I'm not here, leave a message marked urgent.  I'll get back to you as soon as I can."  He held onto the phone, reluctant to let go.  "Julia?  This might be good news you're giving me about The One-or it could be very bad, very dangerous.  You have to be very careful.  Call me if anything goes wrong-and tell Barnabas to be careful!"</div> <div>      "I will," Julia agreed.  "Try not to think about it."  That was a dumb thing to say, he thought but elected not to tell her he thought so.  "I'll talk to you soon."</div> <div>      "Julia, take care-and call me," he insisted as he heard her ring off.  He put the phone down, feeling very troubled.  He knew that Amanda wanted to go skating in Central Park, and he felt torn between the desire to go have a good time and the pull of family ties.  He went into the bathroom where Amanda was stretched out in the tub, enjoying the bubbles.  He sat on the toilet seat, watching her.</div> <div>      She opened her eyes languidly.  "Come in again," she invited him.</div> <div>      "If I do that, we'll never go ice skating," he told her, smiling.  He took some of the bubbles and gave her a pointed beard.  Suddenly, he realized she had a very sinister appearance, and goosebumps broke out on his body.  He quickly removed the bubbles.</div> <div>      She laughed.  "What's the matter?  You look like you've seen a ghost!"</div> <div>      He laughed, too, a bit nervously.  "Not a ghost-just a very sexy lady."  He stood up.  "Just a little bit too sexy for me right now."</div> <div>      "You didn't think so just a little awhile ago," she purred.</div> <div>      "I won't have any trouble thinking so again," he answered, looking at himself in the mirror.  He added warningly, "If I do, though, we won't be doing any ice skating."</div> <bR> <div>      Amanda wanted to squeeze in a shopping trip after skating and stopping for a hot chocolate.  They walked leisurely to Third Avenue, and Amanda dived into one of the stores.  Quentin was glad he'd brought along his knapsack.  He'd stuck part of the xeroxed Leviathan book in there, and while Amanda tried on dresses, he read and made notes in the margins.   Hmm, he thought, I see why Barnabas tried to convert Julia rather than kill her.  Leviathans weren't supposed to kill their enemies.  He would have had to persuade a non-convert to do the dirty deed for him-a virtually impossible task.  Spirits of dead enemies were more dangerous than living enemies.</div> <div>      Okay, so ghosts who have been killed by Leviathans-that's one possibility, he thought.  He went back to check the other reference which had surprised him so much.  If The One was dead, all of this was irrelevant, but he wanted to be sure.  He found the passage he wanted--the part about the wolf that walks like a man.  At that point, Amanda came out of the dressing room.  She twirled in circles before him.  "Well?" she asked.  It was a lovely evening dress, and she looked beautiful in it.</div> <div>      He put the sheaves of paper down.  The kid was dead-Julia said so.  "Buy it.  I'll take you out to dinner, and then we'll go dancing," he said, looking at her with appreciative eyes.</div> <div>      Amanda smiled with delight.  "I think I will!"  She leaned down and kissed his nose.  "I'll be right back!"  He shoved the papers back into his knapsack as she went off to dress.</div> <div>      They returned to the hotel so that she could put the dress on.  He'd arranged to have a horse and carriage take them through the park first before going on to the restaurant, and Amanda livelier and happier than he'd seen her since meeting him in New York in 1898. She'd been so happy to see him-she'd looked exactly as she did now, he thought with some regret.  What would have happened if he'd stayed with her?  Surely he would have tired of her as she aged but perhaps he wouldn't have gotten into the trouble he'd gotten mixed up in-although it also meant he wouldn't have found Beth again.</div> <div>      There was a message from Julia.  "I'll call her while you change," he told her.  He called Collinwood, speaking to the grouchy housekeeper.  He'd learned her name was Mrs. Johnson.   When Julia got on the line, he asked, "Did you find out if he's really gone?"</div> <div>      "I went to the viewing, and his body was lying there in the casket.  I couldn't do an exam, of course, but I was able to touch him.  He was cold-the way bodies are, and there was no pulse.  Of course, I couldn't open his eyes to check his pupils."</div> <div>      Quentin laughed and after a moment, Julia did too.  "That would have been something to see, doctor!  `Oh, I thought there was something in his eye!'"  Julia laughed harder, releasing the tension she must have been feeling.  "So, doctor, what is your opinion?  He is really and truly dead?"</div> <div>      Still laughing, Julia tried to remember the line from "The Wizard of Oz."  "Not only is he really and truly dead, he is most sincerely dead."</div> <div>      "Hallelujah!" Quentin exclaimed.  "Well, that wasn't so bad, was it?"</div> <div>      "No," Julia agreed.  She hesitated and then went on, "It just seems too easy.  Nothing's ever been too easy around here."</div> <div>      Don't say that, he thought, but he knew it was true.  "What does Barnabas say?"</div> <div>      "Nothing much-he's very subdued.  He agrees that the danger seems to have passed for now."</div> <div>      "'For now', eh?"  Quentin really didn't like the sound of that.  "Paul Stoddard?"</div> <div>      "He's here-angry and upset with Elliot and me for bringing him back.  He says we betrayed him.  He is upset about the antique shop."</div> <div>      "If he saw something, it would be hard for him to forget that," Quentin pointed out.  "Julia?  I thought I could come back to Collinsport for a few days right before the holidays and talk to you and Barnabas."</div> <div>      "Of course, we'd love to see you," Julia said brightly.  "We could introduce you to the family-"</div> <div>      "Well, let's wait and see," he interrupted.  "One crisis at a time, eh?  Chris is at the top of the list."</div> <div>      "Of course," Julia replied automatically.</div> <div>      After a moment, Quentin realized he couldn't contain his curiosity.  "Julia, how is the family?  Do they remember-the ghost?"</div> <div>      Julia sighed.  "Yes, sweetie, they do."</div> <div>      "They won't want to see me," Quentin said flatly, disappointed.  Well, what did you expect, you jerk? He berated himself.  You terrorized that family-it doesn't matter that it changed, the fact is, you did it.  </div> <div>      "We can introduce you as a descendant.  They can hardly hold that against you."</div> <div>      Quentin laughed.  "It would be hard not to when I would remind them so much of my vicious `ancestor'."</div> <div>      "Oh, I think you'll see that they are better than that," Julia told him.  "They accepted Barnabas without question."</div> <div>      "Barnabas didn't drive them out of their house.  He didn't possess their children."</div> <div>      "All right, Quentin, that's true, but you have to stop that.  You're not doing yourself any good thinking this way.  We're going to remake you into the new Quentin Collins," Julia said encouragingly.</div> <div>      He smiled a little.  "Does Barnabas realize how lucky he is to have such a good friend?"  There was a startled silence, which spoke volumes to him.  He could've hit himself in the head.  Instead, he added softly, "Julia, I feel lucky to have such a good friend."</div> <div>      "Thank you," Julia replied with quiet dignity.  They left it that he would come up the next day or perhaps the day after-depending on how long he stayed out dancing with Amanda.  He could still meet the family and beat it back down to New York before Christmas, with possibly a side-trip to Portland to pick up some photo albums from his room.  He thought he would call Katie and Mary Jane while he was in Collinsport, too-it would be close enough to the holiday for him to do that.  He wouldn't have to explain them to Amanda or vice versa.  He liked the plan and now very much looked forward to the carriage ride through Central Park with Amanda.</div> <div>      They arrived back at the hotel after two in the morning, pleasantly high from drink and dancing.  As they paused to pick up their key and messages, Quentin was shocked to see he'd gotten twice as many calls as Amanda.  She looked surprised, too, arching her brows.  Quentin sifted through the messages in the elevator going up.  They were all from Julia.  He had a feeling of dread about this.  The numbers she'd left wasn't the house at Collinwood.  "What do you suppose she wanted?" Amanda asked grumpily.  She'd gotten three messages to his six, and she crumpled them; they weren't important to her.</div> <div>      "I don't know," he lied.  "I wonder if something happened to Chris?"</div> <div>      "Now?" Amanda exclaimed.  "Something did just happen.  Would it happen again so soon?"</div> <div>      "I don't know."  The pleasant alcoholic fog was lifting rapidly.  He fumbled for the key to their room.  "I should call."</div> <div>      "At <I>this</I> hour?  Quentin, be reasonable!" Amanda exclaimed.</div> <div>      Quentin checked the time of the last message.  It was ten.  Maybe Amanda was right.  That was over four hours ago.  He went to the phone and put his hand on the receiver, thinking.  Even if he called now and found out that something had happened, what could he do?  He wouldn't be able to get to Collinsport until morning.  </div> <div> Amanda cleared her throat.  He turned and saw that she had taken the dress off-and everything else.  She lay back on the bed, her legs slightly spread and crooked her finger at him.  "Quentin, you really don't want to wake everyone now, do you?"  She cupped one hand under her breast.  That was enough to convince him.  He set the messages down by the phone and started pulling his clothes off.  By the time he got to the bed, every stitch of clothing he'd worn was strewn all over the floor from the desk to the bed.  He climbed right onto her, and she threw her legs around his hips to draw him in deeper.  "That's right, darling," she whispered into his ear, scratching his back.  "This is much better isn't it?"  He was too filled with lust to answer her; his only thought was to drive into her as deeply as he could until he was spent.</div> <div> They must have fallen asleep twined together because when the phone began ringing, he had the sensation of being tangled in wires.  Amanda must have had the same thought, and they struggled with each other, trying to dis-entangle themselves.  "Oh, lord, answer it!" Amanda groaned.  "My head!"</div> <div> Quentin managed to free himself first, crawling off the bed and stumbling to the phone.  "Hello?" he barked irritably.</div> <div> "Quentin!" Julia's voice exclaimed in his ear.  "You've got to come home-hurry, please!"</div> <div> "What happened?" His voice sounded blurry to him although his mind was instantly awake.  He looked around for the clock.  It was almost noon.  Amanda was sitting up, looking mussed but as lovely as always.  She was frowning, obviously wondering what was happening.</div> <div> "Paul Stoddard is dead," Julia said into the phone.</div> <div> "Oh!"  He felt as if he'd been struck, leaving him breathless.  After a moment, when Julia didn't say anything, he asked:  "The One?"</div> <div> "Yes-I think so!  Barnabas hasn't come back yet for me to confront him-I am sure it was Michael!"  Julia's voice dropped.  "The funeral service for that boy was after I talked to you.  There was only one viewing.  I still wasn't sure about him, so I located his neighbor and spoke to her last night.  She sounded convincing, but still-so I went and spoke to Eliot Stokes.  He was going to go by the shop-it was still open, can you imagine?"</div> <div> "Odd," Quentin interjected.  Amanda had gotten off the bed, put her robe on, and had come to his side.  He scrawled on a piece of paper, "bad stuff going down", and she nodded with understanding.</div> <div>  "Late last night, we found out that Paul Stoddard was gone again.  Carolyn confided in me-she'd arrived back from the funeral before the rest of us and found her father dressed and ready to leave.  Then Barnabas arrived.  He asked Carolyn if he could speak to Paul."</div> <div> Not good, Quentin thought, wondering what Barnabas had done.  "What then?"</div> <div> "Well, then we tried to figure out where they might have gone.  Carolyn was understandably upset and confused.  Her father was to have waited for her.  I had a feeling Barnabas might have taken Paul to the antique shop so I went to town-and I found Barnabas.  He was distraught."  Julia paused, and Quentin grimaced.  He didn't say anything yet because he wanted to hear the whole story.  "I asked him where Paul was.  He told me that he tried to convince him that he wanted to help get him safely out of town.  He thought Paul believed him and left him for just a moment.  When he got back, though, Paul was gone.  Barnabas had a feeling he'd go to the shop-and he was right.  Paul had gotten into the shop and gone upstairs-and he was attacked by something."</div> <div> "Oh, God," Quentin groaned.  It had all been a ruse.  The ambulance driver and the medic that Julia didn't recognize-they were Leviathans.  It had been a set-up.  For what reason?  He was deeply worried about his family's safety now.</div> <div> "Barnabas was able to save him-the first time," Julia went on.  "He'd gotten Paul safely out of the room and into the basement.  Then Megan and Philip arrived with Carolyn.  She may have guessed that her father had come to the shop, too, because he'd raved about it so much.  Well, Barnabas came up the stairs and signaled to Philip to distract Carolyn.  When he went back downstairs, he saw that Philip had gotten out the back door.  He was searching for Philip when we met up.  We split up to go and look for him, and I found him.  I brought him to the home of a good friend of mine-I mentioned him earlier.  Eliot Stokes."</div> <div> "What did Stoddard tell you?"</div> <div> "That's just it, Quentin.  He wasn't able to speak to us at all.  He appeared to be in shock.  And his injuries were like none I've ever seen before-the hair on his arms had been singed away.  His clothing was burned and there was some kind of viscous, sweet smelling substance all over them."  Julia drew her breath in sharply.  "Quentin-the state of shock Paul was in was exactly like Amy's. Her clothes weren't burned, but she had the same sweet odor about her-I don't think it was you at all that terrified her so badly."</div> <div> "Julia, she ran from me," Quentin objected.</div> <div> "Yes-upstairs, to that room!  I think what sent her into shock was seeing whatever that-that creature is!"</div> <div> Privately, Quentin agreed.  He watched Amanda gesture to him that she was going to go and take a shower, and he automatically gave her the sign for `yes' before correcting himself and nodding his head.  Beth would understand the sign; Amanda wouldn't.  As soon as the door closed, he asked, "Did you ever get him to say anything?"</div> <div> "No.  Eliot wanted to call the police, and Paul reacted very strongly.  I didn't want him to, either.  Eliot asked if Barnabas was involved, and Paul reacted again.  I had to tell Eliot that Barnabas was involved, but not willingly."</div> <div> "If Paul wasn't talking, what was he doing?" Quentin asked.</div> <div> "He was mumbling incoherently. But he did cry out when Eliot mentioned the police and Barnabas.  While I was talking to Eliot about Barnabas, Paul tried to bolt from the room.  I gave him a sedative to calm him down.  We were hoping to get him to talk to us.  I tried to call you several times-"</div> <div> He shut his eyes.  "I know.  I'm sorry.  I was going to call back when I got in, but it was after two and I didn't recognize the number-"</div> <div> "I was at Eliot's," Julia answered.  "It's all right, Quentin.  It probably only would have raised more questions in Eliot's head.  By that time, Paul was sleeping peacefully.  Eliot and I talked about it a long time.  He has a special interest in the occult and he appeared to know a few things about these Leviathans, too."</div> <div> "Really?" Quentin was surprised and impressed.  He wondered what Stokes was like.  "So you trust this guy, then?"</div> <div> "Implicitly.  He doesn't know what Barnabas was, of course-I couldn't break Barnabas' trust on that.  I felt it wasn't my place to say, but we spoke of how he was being involved in this against his will.  I thought about calling Carolyn, but he fears she may be involved, too."</div> <div> "It's possible-especially if she's being groomed for The One," Quentin agreed.  </div> <div> "This morning, I woke up because Paul was on his feet and screaming.  He'd recognized Eliot and me too, and he was convinced we were going to call the sheriff and have Elizabeth come and take him away again.  He was positive he would be killed.  We tried to tell him otherwise, but he ran into the next room.  He kept calling for Carolyn.  He'd bolted the door, and we couldn't get in.  Eliot suggested we go to the window and break it in-and then we heard the sound of glass smashing."  Julia's voice began to rise; it was obvious what she was remembering was horrible.  "It sounded like some kind of animal growling, and Paul was screaming for help.  Eliot grabbed the poker from his fireplace and he managed to break the lock on his door."  Julia's voice now dropped abruptly to a whisper.  "I've never seen anything like it before.  The room was a shambles-furniture was thrown everywhere.  Paul's body was under the dresser.  There was that overpowering sweet stench and some substance everywhere-especially on Paul and on the dresser.  He was dying.  His last words were about a monster in the room upstairs with boards across it. Eliot called Sheriff Davenport, but by the time he got there Paul had died."</div> <div> "Room upstairs with boards on it, eh?" Quentin repeated.  "That's the room where the kid died."</div> <div> "Yes-I told the sheriff Paul was talking about the antique shop."</div> <div> "Where's Barnabas?" Quentin asked.</div> <div> "He was just here-I told him what happened, and he was dreadfully upset.  He said it wasn't supposed to happen that way.  I didn't understand what he was talking about, but I did understand from him that he participated in this conspiracy to pretend that Michael-The One-was dead.  It was to try and control him, because he'd become so destructive.   Barnabas didn't want me to know because he was afraid I would be in danger."</div> <div> "So-he does care about you, Julia."  Quentin said softly.</div> <div> Julia didn't respond to that.  "Sheriff Davenport said it was the weirdest thing he'd ever seen.  He's having samples of that substance analyzed.  After he left, I asked Eliot why he hadn't mentioned his suspicions about Barnabas.  Eliot said that if this was what he suspected, it would be dangerous to interfere with what was happening until we'd all had a chance to talk.  He recognizes the danger.  Quentin, can you come back?"</div> <div> "I'll be there in a few hours," he told her.  He had a pilot's license.  He could charter a plane.  He just needed to talk to Amanda.</div> <div> "Good," Julia sounded relieved.  "We need all the help we can get, and Carolyn will need all the support she can get.  She's heartbroken-inconsolable.  She won't let Elizabeth comfort her."</div> <div> Quentin was shocked.  "But, Julia, you don't mean to bring me to the family now?"</div> <div> "I know the timing seems wrong, Quentin, but I think it would help Carolyn.  She liked you, and she wanted to see you get well."</div> <div> He thought it was a lousy idea, but he wasn't going to refuse.  "I'll be there in a few hours," he promised.  He could hear the water from the shower go off.  </div> <div> Within a few minutes, Amanda came out, wrapped in a towel.  Her hair was up in a towel, too, turban style.  She came to Quentin and put her hand on his arm.  "I'm sorry you got bad news.  What is it?"</div> <div> "My Cousin Carolyn's father died."</div> <div> "Oh!  How awful!  And so close to Christmas-it's less than two weeks away!  Oh, your poor cousin! How is she taking it?"</div> <div> "She's pretty shaken up," he answered truthfully.  He remembered how happy Carolyn looked when she told him her father had returned to Collinsport.</div> <div> "How did he die?" Amanda asked.</div> <div> "You know, I'm not sure," he answered.  Tell the truth as much as possible and keep the lies as close to the truth as possible-he'd learned that the hard way.  "I forgot to ask Julia."</div> <div> "So we'll go for the funeral?" she asked.  He looked at her, surprised.  Somehow, it hadn't occurred to him that she would want to go.  She looked genuinely puzzled.  "You don't want me to go?  You want to go alone?"</div> <div> He thought about saying yes.  It would be safer for Amanda if she stayed here.  However, he knew if he did say yes, it would wound her terribly.  Would it put her in danger to just come for the funeral?  He could bring her back to New York and then make an excuse to go be with the family a few days.  That was dishonest, too.  Should he tell her about the Leviathans?  He wasn't sure. He'd tell Beth in a minute; he wasn't sure how Amanda would react.  "Come with me," he said.  "I didn't think you'd want to."</div> <div> "Why not?"  The frown increased between her brows.</div> <div> "Well-the things you said before, you know-"</div> <div> "Oh?  You mean that you don't know them and you don't owe them anything?  But this is different, Quentin.  Families are supposed to get together when someone dies, right?  I understand that."</div> <div> "Amanda," he began, testing the waters, "it's possible Carolyn's father had a heart attack.  The circumstances were a little suspicious."</div> <div> Her eyebrows shot up.  "A mystery!  Well, well, well-I always did like a good mystery.   Did you call the airport to make reservations?"</div> <div> "Actually, I'm going to charter a plane.  I have a license to fly.  Where's Mr. Nakamura?"</div> <div> Amanda laughed.  "Why, this is wonderful!  You're a pilot?  I love to fly, Quentin!"  At his question, she frowned.  "I gave him the holidays off.  We'll have to hire a driver to take us to the airport."</div> <div> "That's fine.  I'll handle that when I charter the plane."  He was surprised; she looked like she'd opened a present.  "Why don't you go pack?"  He picked up the phone again.</div> <bR> <div> Amanda exclaimed with delight the first half-hour out of the airport, remarking on how beautiful the ocean looked from up here, the puffy clouds, and the blue sky; finally, Quentin interrupted her to ask if she'd prefer to be introduced as Amanda or as Olivia.  She thought about it awhile.  "Well, I suppose we'd better go by Olivia, hadn't we?  Would it be too confusing for them to give my real name when I use Olivia Corey in public?"</div> <div> "I don't think it's that difficult a concept, Amanda.  You're not the first actress to take a different name.  The family would understand that."</div> <div> "Are you being Quentin?"</div> <div> "I don't know yet."</div> <div> "Well, I don't have to decide yet until you do," she decided.  "What did you mean earlier when you said you knew some of the family?  Where have you been all these years?  I looked and looked for you."</div> <div> "I traveled around a lot," he began, a little cautiously.  He glanced over at her and smiled.  "You never tried to hire a detective?"</div> <div> She grimaced.  "Well, when I had a little money I had one who took every cent and didn't help me a bit.  He told me that the family claimed you'd left the country.  He said that you were travelling under an assumed name and that you were married with children.  The idea!"  She looked at him as he gripped the wheel tighter.  "What is the matter with you?  You're pale!"</div> <div> He swallowed.  "Did he tell you the name I was allegedly using?" he asked.</div> <div> "Oh, it was so long ago, Quentin!  Then he said you went to Europe, too.  I thought he was just taking advantage of me.  Later, when I tried other detectives, they told me there was no trace of you."</div> <div> "There wouldn't have been, under my real name," he said.  "I used aliases.  Where did that first detective say I lived?"</div> <div> "In Baltimore-and that you were travelling a lot to Washington, D.C.  That you were disguising yourself as a newspaper reporter."  Amanda looked at him, and her eyes widened.  "My God, it's true, isn't it?"</div> <div> "Yes, it sounds like it," he answered, deciding to be honest about it.  He preferred to have this conversation on the ground, though.  "Amanda, I'll tell you the whole story if you want to hear it-but can it wait until we get to Collinsport?"  He was finding it a little hard to concentrate-it was a good thing it was a clear day with no strong winds. </div> <div> "I suppose-but this is something you should have told me before, especially if we're talking about another wife here!" Amanda snapped.  Then she added thoughtfully, "But if you were married then, she must be dead now-or old?  Did you leave her, Quentin?"</div> <div> "No-we were forcibly separated," Quentin answered. He glanced at her.  "I promise I'll tell you everything-why don't you tell me what you've been up to first?"</div> <div> "Well," Amanda began petulantly and then changed her mind.  "As long as you promise to tell me every last detail!"  She began to tell him everything she'd done, from the time Mr. Best rescued her to the point where she re-appeared in Collinsport.  Quentin felt a momentary jolt when Amanda spoke of singing in one of Tex Guinan's speakeasies in New York; was it really possible that they'd been that close to each other and just missed one another?  Around the time that Quentin and his friend Dave left for Chicago, Amanda found herself on a train to the West Coast.  She was having the same problem Quentin encountered: eternal youthfulness.  It was time for her to move on before people began to wonder why she didn't age.</div> <div> Quentin knew all about that problem-that and the fact the portrait protected him from injuries.  That had caused him more misery than anything else he'd ever done-except for the transformation. The portrait was the reason he'd lost Beth.  He also couldn't visit Katie or Mary Jane more frequently-they had children of their own who would become suspicious of his youthfulness.  He dropped in and out of their lives periodically.  </div> <div> He'd only visited them again in the last two years--after a period of ten years, to make sure the children didn't remember him.  It was painful but he and Beth had agreed that no one but Mrs. Cleary and the three children would know the truth; without Beth, he, Mary Jane and Katie were reluctant to change the agreement although it hurt them all to be separated. </div> <div>  He stayed in touch by phone. He was posing as a cousin now; he looked younger than the two women he'd raised with Beth.  Mr. Best was right, he thought, it's not a blessing to be immortal.  He tried to pay attention to what Amanda was telling him.  He knew she would be furious if he didn't listen; besides, he really did need to know what she'd been up to-especially if she'd had some connection with mobsters.  </div> <div> She was talking about that now-her marriage to a man who'd owned a casino and helped her get into silent pictures as an extra.  Amanda's husband paid a portion of his profits to Bugsy Siegel, a close associate of Lucky Luciano.  Quentin listened closely.  He'd gotten into a lot of trouble in the 1920s; Luciano had inadvertently helped extricate him from the mess he'd gotten into in Chicago. Petofi had hoped to take control of the underworld; instead it was Lucky Luciano who'd risen to power in the east.</div> <div> In the 1930s, Amanda moved to Las Vegas with her husband and performed as a nightclub singer and dancer.  "Something like Tex, but by then it was all legal," Amanda explained.  Quentin nodded.  He was sure he would have been mixed up in all that if he hadn't gone on to Vienna with Beth, Nora, and the children.  There was a falling out between Amanda's husband and Bugsy Siegal, who was something of a "hotshot".  He saw himself as the boss of the west.  "The official story is that Jack was shot and killed by robbers at the casino," Amanda said.  "The truth is, he was bound hand and foot and shot three times in the back of the head."</div> <div> "They play rough all right," Quentin muttered, thinking of Nora's murdered husband.  That's my fault, too, he thought.  I got him killed by bringing Petofi to Chicago.  Amanda looked at him briefly before continuing her story.  Quentin had the feeling she was just mildly annoyed that he knew some gangsters, too-as if it was some childish competition to see who knew more mobsters.  He smiled briefly, half listening to the rest of her story.  She'd traveled the country during the rest of the Depression, performing in different towns and cities.  </div> <div> Eventually, she drifted back to New York and began her upward climb to fame within the last five years.  "This time, I'm going to age myself gracefully," she informed him, and he tried not to laugh.  That hadn't occurred to him.  He glanced at her, curiously.  </div> <div> Seeing his interested look, she said, "Olivia Corey's career is beginning to do rather well.  If I'm still in demand in ten years, I don't want to just disappear because I don't look like I'm in my thirties or forties."  She paused.  "Well, that's only if I'm doing really well, like Katherine Hepburn.  Otherwise, I'll just start over again as someone else.  Many times actresses can't get jobs once they are over forty.  They're supposed to be young and beautiful.  If I get lucky and I keep getting good roles and lots of money, I can put make up on to look older."</div> <div> "Why not try something different?" he asked.</div> <div> "Like what?" she asked, puzzled.  "I don't know how to be anything different."</div> <div> "You could try something else if you were interested.  Like photography.  Or mountain climbing," he suggested, mostly just to make conversation.</div> <div> "Quentin, part of the reason why I am so good at what I do is because I don't know who or what I am.  I had to create myself," Amanda answered snippily.  "I might as well stick with what I know-I did a damn good job creating the best role I've played, and that is myself!"</div> <div> "I didn't mean anything by it," he said to appease her.  "I was just talking."</div> <div> "You know who you are," she replied sulkily.</div> <div> He laughed, and she glared at him.  "I'm not laughing at you-I'm laughing at me.  Amanda, I'm not sure who I am half the time."  He was glad they were almost there.  What the hell was she so mad about, anyway?  He was sorry he'd brought up the idea of trying something other than acting.</div> <div> There was a limo waiting for them at the airport.  He wished now he'd had Julia come to pick them up instead.  He was getting a little weary of all the luxury.  He told the driver they were going to the Collinsport Inn and then settled back in the seat with Amanda.  Apparently, she'd gotten over being angry with him, laying her head on his shoulder.  He wondered how she would react when he told her his side of the story.  She might leave-and in that event, it might be a good thing after all.  He closed his eyes.</div> <div> Julia was waiting in the lobby of the Inn.  She seemed surprised to see the limo and even more surprised to see Amanda. Julia looked at Quentin as Amanda greeted her regally and swept by to register with the clerk.  Quentin shrugged.  "Would you care to come up to the room with us," Amanda said over her shoulder.  "I imagine you want to go over the details?"</div> <div> "Yes," Julia answered, giving Quentin another what-is-she-doing-here look.  </div> <div> Quentin said to Julia in a soft voice, "She wanted to come."</div> <div> "Yes, but I wanted to talk to you," Julia answered.</div> <div> "You can talk to both of us," Amanda said brightly.  Julia didn't look happy, obviously wondering how she was going to tell Quentin what she wanted to tell him.  Quentin was wondering the same thing himself; he was also wondering if they should just go ahead and tell Amanda everything.</div> <div> "Where is Barnabas?" Quentin asked nervously.</div> <div> "He'll join us here later.  The first viewing isn't until seven," Julia answered.</div> <div> "Oh, dear," Amanda exclaimed.  "Well, we have enough time to go out.  I need a black dress."</div> <div> "I need a suit, too," Quentin said.  He looked at Julia.  "Look, why don't we leave our bags and go out?  This way we can get what we need and then come back and talk-is Barnabas coming here?"</div> <div> "Yes, he's meeting us here.  We thought it would be easier for you if he introduced you to the family."</div> <div> "Oh, right," Quentin agreed.  He wasn't looking forward to that at all.  They left their bags in their room and went out again to pick up the clothes they'd need.  At the clothing store, Quentin grabbed Julia's arm when Amanda selected several dresses to try on.  Inspiration had struck.  "I'll tell you what-why don't you try those on and I'll get the suit after?" he suggested.  "This way we can pick the nicest one for you."  </div> <div> "What a wonderful idea," Amanda agreed.  She went into the dressing room.</div> <div> Quentin turned to Julia.  "Talk-fast."</div> <div> "How did you know she'd fall for that?"  Julia asked, raising her brows and looking impressed.</div> <div> "You're wasting time," he answered impatiently.  "Tell me."</div> <div> "The police are becoming more involved with this," she began.</div> <div> "That's not good, you know-they have no idea what they're dealing with."</div> <div> "I know--I went with Sheriff Davenport to the antique shop," Julia whispered.  "Philip Todd was, of course, very upset because we wanted to look in the room where Michael died.  He argued and argued but he finally agreed to let us in when the sheriff spoke of getting a search warrant.  We went to the room at the top of the stairs-that was where Michael died, and Philip tried to stop us one more time and then he opened the door."   Julia's voice dropped.  "There was a tall blonde haired, blue-eyed man in there, Quentin!  I've never seen him before!"</div> <div> "The One grew up," Quentin muttered.  Now there was going to be hell to pay, especially with the sheriff's office involved and poking around. </div> <div> "His name is Jebez Hawkes," Julia went on.  Amanda came out and showed off the dress she'd tried on.  Julia stopped talking while Amanda walked to and fro.</div> <div> Quentin looked at her critically.  "Nice, but it's too short."</div> <div> "I thought so, too," Amanda agreed.  "I'll try the suit next."  She disappeared back into the dressing room.</div> <div> "Well, you've hit it off well with her," Julia commented.</div> <div> "Never mind her," Quentin answered shortly; he was more concerned with the problem at hand.  "Where does Mr. Hawkes say he's from?"</div> <div> "He wasn't specific.  He says he's a photographer and he travels around.  He sent he was renting the room from the Todds.  Quentin, you should have seen the look on Philip's face-after he'd been objecting over having us look in a dead boy's room! Mr. Hawkes said he was going to use the room to develop his pictures."</div> <div> "How convenient," Quentin said dryly.</div> <div> "I shook his hand-he has the same birthmark as the other boys."</div> <div> "That's because he's the same guy, Julia, you know that.  He's adult now, and he's really dangerous now."</div> <div> "I know," Julia bit her lip as she spoke.  "I know I've angered him.  He told me I asked too many questions."</div> <div> "He said that in front of the sheriff?"</div> <div> "No, Sheriff Davenport and Philip had gone on to the other rooms of the antique shop.  When we left, the sheriff said he detected a faint odor in the boarded-up room and in one of the rooms in the basement as well.  There's something else-he found a cufflink in the basement room has Paul's initials on it.  There was a cufflink missing from Philip's shirt, Quentin.  The sheriff's going to find out if there's been any word from the lab about that substance we found on Paul."</div> <div> Quentin was about to lament the fact that the police had to be involved without understanding the whole story when Amanda came out again in a black suit-a skirt and jacket with a beige silk blouse.  Quentin nodded approvingly at her.  "All right, good.  I hate black, though," Amanda sighed.</div> <div> "Don't worry-you still look beautiful," Quentin told her.  Amanda smiled and blew a kiss at him as she went back into the dressing room.  "Where is Barnabas now?"</div> <div> "I think he's talking to this new-person," Julia replied.</div> <div> "I think he should be talking to the sheriff," Quentin said.</div> <div> "Do you really think so?" </div> <div> "Julia, the police are involved now-they have to know what they're dealing with."</div> <div> "But they won't believe the story!"</div> <div> "That doesn't matter-" Quentin stopped when Amanda came back out, carrying the new clothes over her arm.  "Okay, my turn," he said with a smile. He found a suit for himself very quickly and they went back to the Inn to wait for Barnabas.  </div> <div> They didn't have to wait long.  There was a knock at the door, and Quentin started to get up and then froze.  He hadn't seen Barnabas since the day he'd stolen his memories in the hospital. He felt himself combating a complex mix of emotions-resentment, understanding, anger, gratitude-all roiling around together.  He looked at Julia, panicking.</div> <div> "What's wrong?" Amanda asked, noting Quentin's pale face as Julia got up and went to the door.</div> <div> "Nothing, I'll tell you later," Quentin muttered, his hands balling into fists.  Julia opened the door.  Barnabas had an imposing presence.  He seemed to fill the entire doorway. Quentin found himself moving forward as Barnabas stepped into the room, removing his cape.  "Let me take that for you," Quentin offered, taking it from Barnabas.  His eyes met his cousin's very briefly, before Barnabas looked away. <I>He knows that I know, and he's ashamed,</I> Quentin thought finding a place for the cape.  He turned back toward Barnabas, aware that Amanda was beside him.  "Barnabas, it's good to see you," he said, holding his hand out, finding his voice a little thick and awkward.</div> <div> "I'm very pleased at how things turned out," Barnabas answered in his somber, deep voice, clasping Quentin's hand tightly between both of his.  He looked at Quentin and this time did not look away.  His look seemed to say <I>I tried to warn you.  I didn't want you involved in this, and now it is too late.</I></div> <div> Quentin hoped he was communicating back that he would want to be involved, no matter what the risks.  He half turned to bring Amanda forward.  "Barnabas, this is my good friend, Amanda Harris." He stopped, flushing, as Amanda gave him a reproachful look.  Barnabas' eyes widened a little but he said nothing.  "I'm sorry.  She uses her professional name, Olivia Corey," Quentin amended hastily.</div> <div> Barnabas took Amanda's hand, European style, and raised it to his lips, kissing it.  <I>Same old Barnabas</I>, Quentin thought.<I> He's still into that old-world crap.</I>  Amanda, though, was thoroughly charmed.  "Miss Corey," Barnabas said softly.</div> <div> "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Collins," Amanda said softly, flushing herself now.</div> <div> "You must call me Barnabas, please, I insist."</div> <div> Amanda fluttered.   "And you must call me by my correct name, Amanda.  I use Olivia Corey around everyone else."</div> <div> "Thank you, I'm honored," Barnabas said, somewhat ironically, lifting his brows and looking at Quentin.</div> <div> "You'll join us for dinner, I hope," Quentin said.  "It's still too early to go to the-ah-the wake.  I mean, the viewing."</div> <div> "Yes, it is.  Julia and I would be delighted to join you.  Quentin, I imagine you are feeling quite nervous about meeting the family.  I assure you that they will welcome you with open arms."</div> <div> I'll just bet, Quentin thought.  "How is Carolyn?" he asked.</div> <div> "Sleeping, I hope," Barnabas answered, looking toward Julia.  "How long do you think the sedative will let her sleep?"</div> <div> "She's probably waking now," Julia answered.  "It's just as well, considering she wanted to come for the viewing."</div> <div> "So tragic," Amanda put in, making a tsk-tsk sound.  "What happened to Mr. Stoddard?"</div> <div> Barnabas glanced at Julia, who answered smoothly, "A massive coronary.  A heart attack."</div> <div> "So sad, what a shame for poor Carolyn-and her mother?"</div> <div> "Carolyn's parents were separated," Julia explained.  "Paul left Collinwood twenty years ago."</div> <div> Amanda's eyebrows shot up.  "He abandoned his family?"</div> <div> Barnabas and Julia exchanged looks.  Quentin realized that they shared a secret; he thought it had to do with the real reason Paul returned.  He felt left out nonetheless.  "Maybe you can fill us in on everything over dinner," he suggested. The idea made sense.  It was almost five; it was best to eat now so that they would have time before the viewing began.  They decided to eat in the Inn's restaurant and went downstairs to order something to eat.</div> <bR> <div> Amanda's presence was both a blessing and a hindrance as they drove over in Julia's car.  Julia and Quentin wanted to talk to Barnabas about what happened at the shop with Jeb Hawkes; they also wanted to plan how to tell Sheriff Davenport about the danger threatening Collinsport.  They were unable to-not unless they told Amanda everything and now just wasn't the time to do it.  At the same time, Quentin was grateful she was beside him.  He was very nervous about facing the family again because of the haunting.  Barnabas assured him over and over that he'd prepared the family about his strong "resemblance" to his ancestor; still, he was very anxious and chewed his thumb nail down to the quick.</div> <div> Amanda took his arm as they went into the funeral home, looking for the room where the family was gathered.  Quentin lagged way behind Barnabas and Julia.  He hated funerals; they were barbaric, he thought.  It was repulsive the way people wanted to display the body in an open casket so that everyone could remark on how wonderful the deceased looked.  They don't look good, Quentin thought, they look dead.  He'd been to Ireland several times in his travels and while they also displayed the deceased, they seemed to have a better attitude about it all.  After the keening was over, everyone got drunk and told stories.  He also remembered hearing his father-in-law talk about the old Viking funerals-that was a good way to go, he thought.</div> <div> They were in the room now.  It wasn't too crowded; Paul Stoddard probably didn't have too many friends here.  The Collins family was clustered all together in one group.  Quentin recognized Carolyn right away.  She stood apart from everyone, looking stunned and very pale.  He went to her immediately, forgetting the original plan to let Barnabas introduce him to the entire family.  Amanda had gone right along with him, releasing his arm when he reached out to touch Carolyn.  "Hello," he said to her softly.  "I just wanted to pay my respects and tell you how sorry I am about your father."</div> <div> "Thank you, Grant," Carolyn answered softly.  "I'm glad you're well.  I haven't seen you since you were in the hospital."  She noticed Amanda standing there and immediately closed her mouth tightly.</div> <div> "I found out who I am," he answered.  "It turns out I'm really related to you-distantly."</div> <div> Carolyn looked confused.  "You are?"  She looked at Amanda again.</div> <div> "Yes, I think we're fourth cousins or something."  He followed her glance to Amanda.  "Carolyn, I want you to meet my good friend, Olivia Corey.  Olivia, this is Carolyn Stoddard."</div> <div> "How do you do?" Amanda said loftily.  "I'm so sorry about your father, dear."</div> <div> "Thank you-I think I know you," Carolyn replied, looking at Amanda closely.  "You were in a movie, weren't you? <I>The All-American Beauty Queen</I>?"</div> <div> "Why, yes," Amanda exclaimed, looking flattered.</div> <div> Barnabas had appeared beside them.  "Carolyn, I'm glad to see you're feeling better," he told her softly, kissing her gently on the cheek.  "I see you've been chatting with your cousin Quentin."</div> <div> "Quentin!" Carolyn exclaimed, a little loudly.  She looked at Quentin, shocked.  He winced.  "Oh!"</div> <div> "We're fourth cousins, Carolyn," Quentin gently reminded her.  "My great-grandfather and yours were brothers."</div> <div> Carolyn didn't say anything; she goggled with wide-eyed amazement.  Barnabas gently steered Quentin and Amanda toward Elizabeth and Roger.  He felt suddenly dizzy and wanted to run from the room.  Although they had carefully neutral expressions on their faces, he could see in their eyes that they were upset and maybe even angry.  <I>I can't do this!</I> He thought.  If Barnabas didn't have such a firm grip on his arm, he would have bolted.</div> <div> "Elizabeth, Roger," Barnabas began pleasantly, hanging onto Quentin and pulling him forward a little.  "I wanted to introduce you to our cousin-he is a descendant of one of our ancestors as well."</div> <div> "Yes, I can see that," Roger replied coldly.  He offered to shake hands with Quentin, appraising him suspiciously.  </div> <div> "How do you do?" Elizabeth added, sounding equally cold and distant.  It hurt him to hear her talk to him with that tone of voice.  She only remembered the ghost; she didn't see the resemblance to "Cousin Frank" at all.</div> <div> "Hello." Quentin's voice sounded timid to his ears.  Rarely had the consequences of his past actions hurt him so much-and these were actions undone.  He was sure nothing else he'd done rivaled how much he'd hurt this family.  </div> <div> "And this is Quentin's friend, Olivia Corey," Barnabas added, as if nothing was wrong.</div> <div> Roger's eyebrows shot up.  "I've seen you on Broadway several times!" he exclaimed.  Elizabeth greeted her warmly, too, and then excused herself to speak to Paul Stoddard's sister; she'd just arrived from out of town with her husband.  </div> <div> "How kind of you to remember me," Amanda simpered, and Roger fairly beamed.  He was still smiling a little as he turned back toward Quentin.  "And so you two are friends?"</div> <div> Quentin felt very grateful for Amanda's presence at that point, even though he felt she was acting like an idiot.  She was helping to smooth the way for him.  "Yes, Olivia and I are old friends."</div> <div> "And very close," Amanda added, taking Quentin's arm again.</div> <div> At that, Quentin's advantage seemed to melt away.   Roger's smile became a little frozen.  "And so where have you been living all these years, cousin? It's obvious our family history was inaccurate about that branch of our family. </div> <div> Quentin squirmed.  "I'm a journalist so I travel a lot."  That sounded like the lame story The One had given, he thought desperately.  "My family is from Chicago," he added.  That was true.  Mary Jane and her two brothers were still there, as were the many adult children of Beth's brother Eric.  He saw Barnabas looking at him with curious surprise.  He hadn't had a chance to tell his cousin anything about what he'd been doing.  "I have more family in the Catskills-near Hunter Mountain."</div> <div> "Ah, the Catskills," Roger said politely, grasping on that bit of information.  "The family has a vacation home in New York, about an hour or so south of the Catskills."</div> <div> "I know," Quentin answered thoughtlessly, and then flushed a deep red.</div> <div> "Really?" Roger asked.  He sounded suspicious again.  "Well, how did you know that?  No one has been there in years and years."</div> <div> "Uh, well, I know."  Quentin felt his heart pounding, and it seemed difficult to breathe.  These were new sensations for him; he'd experienced these attacks off and on since coming back to this country.  They seemed to occur whenever he felt backed into a corner, and it worried him.  He wondered if he was losing his mind sometimes.  He thought furiously.  "I-I-heard my gr-grandfather speak of it," he managed to say finally, stuttering with nervousness.  "He-he said his father used to go to a place on the Del-Delaware River.  It sounded like fun-it was a place out in the woods, with cabins."</div> <div> "Yes," Roger agreed thoughtfully, looking at him too closely for comfort.  "We went there as children, my sister and I.  Are there more Collinses, then?" </div> <div> Quentin began to feel panicky again.  "Uh, well, there are relatives of Nora Collins Billings in Chicago.  I'm the only named Collins-everyone else is from my mother's side of the family."  He felt jittery, anticipating that Roger would next ask why his branch of the family had never contacted the Collinsport Collinses and how they all ended up in Chicago.   </div> <div> Fortunately, though, Roger seemed to be aware that he was unnerving Quentin.  Perhaps he was unsettled himself because he said abruptly, "I want to thank you both for coming.  You must come by the house and visit before you go back to-to-where was it?"</div> <div> "Oh, we're in New York now," Amanda answered brightly.</div> <div> "Yes, do stop by the house," Roger said again.  "Excuse me, will you?"  He moved off to talk to people who'd just entered the room.</div> <div> "Are you all right?" Amanda asked, sounding concerned.  "Quentin?"</div> <div> He felt Barnabas' hand on his elbow again.  "You look as if you are going to faint.  Do you want to sit down?  Shall I get Julia?"</div> <div> "No, no, I'll be all right in a minute!" he exclaimed, embarrassed.  Where did Julia go, anyway?  He spotted her near the coffin, saw the body, and then he really did feel weak in the knees.</div> <div> Amanda had followed his glance and asked, "Do you want to pay your respects?"</div> <div> "No!" he hissed at her under his breath.  "I came for Carolyn, Elizabeth, and Roger-not him!  I don't know him, and I don't want to see him!"</div> <div> "Goodness!" Amanda exclaimed, looking put upon.  "What is the matter with you?"  She turned to Barnabas as if to appeal to him.</div> <div> Barnabas, though, was not paying attention.  He was staring out the door, his features working in fury.  "He dares to come here!"</div> <div> "Who?" Amanda asked, puzzled, looking around.</div> <div> Barnabas started.  It was apparent he hadn't meant to speak aloud.  Quentin looked out the door and could see the stranger-a tall, blonde haired man clad in blue jeans and a leather jacket.  The nerve, he thought, beginning to feel furious himself.  "I'm sorry, please excuse me," Barnabas said hurriedly, heading for the door.</div> <div> "What's going on?" Amanda asked.  Quentin ignored her, watching Barnabas approach the young man.  They seemed to be having a heated discussion and then both turned and walked out of sight.  "Quentin!"</div> <div> "I'm sorry, babe," Quentin apologized.  He knew he'd been rude to Amanda.  He took her hand.  "Let's just pay our respects to Carolyn again and go, all right? Do you mind walking?  It's not far."</div> <div> "All right.  When is the service, anyway?" Amanda asked irritably.</div> <div> "I forgot to ask," Quentin answered.</div> <div> Carolyn was standing with her mother.  Quentin hesitated and might have changed his mind, but Amanda went on ahead.  There was nothing else to do but go, too.  Elizabeth looked at him as if he was some old moldy leftover she'd found in the refrigerator.  "Thank you for coming," she said.</div> <div> "Will you come for the service?" Carolyn asked.  Her mother seemed about to object but thought better of it.</div> <div> "Of course we will," Quentin answered, his throat dry.  Elizabeth was speaking to Amanda and shaking her hand.  Quentin took Carolyn's hand in his.  "I'm sorry, Carolyn."  Her eyes filled with tears.  "Before we go back to New York, you can call if you'd like to talk-sometimes that helps."</div> <div> "Thank you.  It means a lot that you came tonight," Carolyn answered.  She took Amanda's hand.  "Thank you, Miss Corey."</div> <div> "You'll be all right dear," Amanda said, with what could pass for sympathy.  She briefly brushed her cheek against Carolyn's.  "Get some rest," she advised.</div> <div> Julia met them at the door, looking worried.  "Barnabas hasn't come back."</div> <div> "I'll see if he's standing outside," Quentin offered.  "We're just going."</div> <div> "I'll go with you," Julia said.</div> <div> They went out into the cold air, and Quentin drew in a deep breath, relieved to be out of there.  Julia lit a cigarette, looking around.  "Do you suppose he went back to the antique shop?"</div> <div> "I think it's a distinct possibility," Quentin agreed.</div> <div> "I can drive you back to the hotel," Julia offered.  "Do you mind if we stop at the antique shop first?"</div> <div> "Not at all."</div> <div> "Why would he go there?  Isn't it closed?" Amanda asked.</div> <div> "Unfinished business, probably," Quentin answered evasively, shrugging.  Amanda didn't say anything further.  Julia drove them back toward the hotel, turning down a side street to the antique shop.  They saw Barnabas walking toward them; he stopped when he saw the car.  Quentin rolled the window down.  "Barnabas!" he called.</div> <div> Barnabas walked to the car swiftly and got into the front passenger seat beside Julia.  "You shouldn't have come here!" he said severely.  "Julia, what were you thinking of?"</div> <div> "It's all right, no one will see us," Julia said soothingly, executing a three-point turn.  The shop was still further down the street; it wasn't likely anyone could see Julia's car from there.  Quentin glanced quickly over at Amanda.   She looked back at him impassively and said nothing.  "Barnabas, I wanted to let you know that Sheriff Davenport found a cufflink-in the basement room."</div> <div> "Julia!"  Barnabas exclaimed in a warning tone, glancing over his shoulder.</div> <div> "It's all right," Julia said easily.  "We can talk about it in more detail.  I just wanted to let you know.  I think it would be helpful if Sheriff Davenport knew everything."</div> <div> "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," Quentin added in an off hand manner, hoping that Barnabas would understand what he meant.</div> <div> He did.  "Agreed," his cousin answered stiffly.  They'd pulled up in front of the Inn.  Quentin got out and then went around to open the door for Amanda.  She got out, smiled brightly at him, and went inside the Inn.  Quentin knocked on his cousin's window, and Barnabas rolled it down.</div> <div> "Look," Quentin said quickly, leaning into the window, "if that sheriff is suspicious, you're going to have to tell him everything or he's going to end up getting killed by that creature."</div> <div> "The damned idiot!" Barnabas spat bitterly, speaking of the Leviathan.  "He has no self-control whatsoever.  He does as he pleases without thinking of the consequences.  He doesn't care that it puts everyone in danger!"</div> <div> "Barnabas," Quentin answered, surprised, "what did you expect?" Shocked, Barnabas looked up at him, momentarily speechless.  Quentin suddenly understood.  "You thought you could control him and get him to listen to you?  You thought you could make him follow the `rules'?  Barnabas, he <I>makes</I> the rules!"</div> <div> "But the book!" Barnabas protested.</div> <div> "He obviously isn't going by that book at all anymore.  I'd forget about whatever rules are in there," Quentin advised him.  He remembered something.  "We have to talk tomorrow-there were some things I read in that book I need to tell you.  He does have some weaknesses."</div> <div> "All right.  You'd better go.  Miss Corey is staring at you."</div> <div> Quentin straightened up.  "Good night," he said to both of them.</div> <div> "Good night, Quentin.  Thank you," Julia said grateful.</div> <div> Barnabas put his hand over Quentin's, which was still on the car door.  "I am grateful to you, too.  I am only sorry you had to be dragged into this mess."</div> <div> "Don't worry," Quentin answered in a light tone.  "That's what friends are for, right?"  He stepped back so that Barnabas could roll up the window.  Julia drove off, and Quentin walked into the Inn where Amanda was waiting.  He expected her to pepper him with questions, but she didn't say a word about it all the way up to the room.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4: Secrets Revealed"><U>4:  Secrets Revealed</U></A>  <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="6: ThingintheBox"><U>6:  Thing-in-the-Box</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alternate Destiny"><U>Alternate Destiny</U></A>  <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cassies Writing"><U>Cassie's Writing</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>