Stolen Innocents (The Shadow Series Book 2) (12 page)

“A little, but I’m okay.”

“We need to be sure. It could be a concussion. So we are going to send you for a CT scan to ensure that there is no internal bleeding.”

“I’m fine. This place just makes me nuts… I’ve been waiting forever!” said Angie angrily. Her arms waved around as she spoke, expressing her level of agitation.  “That kid just barged out in front of me! Is he insane?!” Angie complained in an irate tone. 

Bridgette raised an eyebrow at Angie as she watched her animated expressions and listened to her complaints. Bridgette wrote something else on her clipboard. She watched Angie’s reaction; the flying arms, the shaking hands and legs, the intensely irate look in her eye.

In a messy scrawl, Bridgette notated the chart:

Recommend Psych Evaluation

As quick as Bridgette entered, she left, assuring Angie that she wouldn’t have to wait long for her tests.

***

Angie left Grier Mountain Medical Center with an even bigger headache than she walked in with. She couldn’t believe that nurse recommended a psychiatric evaluation. Angie adamantly refused it and walked out, vowing never to return to that hospital again. As Angie pulled her car onto Caribou Road, a dull familiar ache returned to her chest.

Chapter              7

June 17, 2000

Morrow Manor

Fox Hollow, PA

6:30 P.M.

Tommy Morrow walked across the threshold of Morrow Manor with intense purpose in his stride. He was dressed nicely in a light blue button down shirt and black slacks. Tommy’s heavy footsteps echoed through the foyer as he glanced around with a perplexed look painted upon his face.

Where the hell is everyone?

Tommy walked into the kitchen, but no one was there. The living room was vacant too. For once, the dining room table was completely unoccupied, and even the back porch was empty.

Maybe they left for the party already. The party is in a half hour, after all.

Suddenly, Tommy heard a banging noise emit through the ceiling. It came from the second floor and it was followed by a loud series of grunts and profanities. Irritated, Tommy stomped up the steps to see what was going on. He walked into his old bedroom which had since been converted into a rec room. Shane and Blake were lounging on the floor playing a video game. Tristan was lounged out on the sofa reading a novel with her legs propped up on Jack’s lap. Jack, meanwhile, was sound asleep and snoring at an offensively loud octave.

“Why aren’t any of you dressed yet?!” Tommy demanded with an agitated tone in his voice.

Tristan looked up from her novel and gave her brother an annoyed glance.

“Tristan,” said Shane as he continued playing his video game, “What on earth is he complaining about
now
. I’m busy trying to defend
Middle Earth
.”

Shane continued to assault his video game controller with his thumbs.

“What are we supposed to be ready for?” asked Tristan.

“And why are you so dressed up?” asked Blake.

“You guys are the worst with keeping dates straight. Trixie’s graduation party is tonight and Courtney’s mom asked us all to attend,” reminded Tommy impatiently.

Tommy thought he could hear the gears grinding in Tristan’s head from across the room.

“It would mean a lot if you all came,” persisted Tommy.

Tristan saw the nervousness in her brother’s eyes and she simply didn’t have the heart to tell him no.

“Give us an hour,” Tristan said reluctantly.

***

“Explain to me again why we are going to Trixie O’Mara’s graduation party,” begged Blake with an annoyed look on his face.

Tristan laughed as she rolled the statement around in her brain for the millionth time.

“Because it will hurt Tommy’s feelings if we don’t.”

“Feelings… This is the same guy who dropped a bucket of mud on your head from on top of the barn and put two chickens in the back of my car because he thought it would be funny. And we’re concerned about his feelings?” asked Blake incredulously.

Tristan smiled at Blake as he casted a most disgruntled glare at her.

“You betcha, sunshine. Now go get dressed before he has a total meltdown.”

Tristan inspected herself in the mirror as Tommy stormed back into the room.

“
That
is what you’re wearing?!” asked Tommy in a stunned voice. He clearly did not approve of Tristan’s cute but casual attire.

Tristan looked down at her outfit. She was wearing a red top with a cute polka dot pattern, a pair of boot cut jeans, and black sandals. She had just put a pair of silver hoop earrings in, and she tousled her curly hair in wild ringlets down her back.

“Sure is. Love it or leave it,” said Tristan matter-of-factly.

Tommy left the room in a huff and chose to put out bigger fires than arguing with his fashion-inept sister.

***

“Shane…Blake… You guys better hurry up! Tommy’s on the war path. I’m going downstairs to see if Cole is here yet,” Tristan urged, trying to spare them from Tommy’s wrath.

Tristan walked down the long hallway past her old bedroom which was now being used as a closet for all of Jack and Frank’s tools. She poked her head into her aunt’s bedroom. Bridgette was sprawled out on her bed reading a book. Tristan had to stifle her laughter when she noticed the book title. The spine of the book read, “101 Easy Meals for the Unskilled Culinary Enthusiast.” The second that Bridgette noticed Tristan standing in the doorway, she flung the book behind her in fear that Tristan would see it. Tristan pretended not to notice.

“Cute outfit, Tris. Are you going out?” asked Bridgette with a smile.

“Yeah, we don’t have much choice in the matter, apparently,” Tristan said grouchily.

She really did not want to go to this party. Tristan and Trixie were polar opposites and could barely hold a conversation with each other.  But since she was Tommy’s girlfriend’s sister, she was required to attend.

“Someone needs to tell that boy to simmer down,” said Bridgette with a healthy dose of attitude.

“You should. He might actually listen.”

“It’ll be in one ear and out the other. But I’ll try. I get that he’s excited, but he has the whole house in an uproar.”

Suddenly Tommy rushed by Bridgette’s bedroom and she had the perfect opportunity to put her fiery attitude to good use.

“Oh, Thomas!” Bridgette called in a sing song voice.

Tommy poked his head in his aunt’s doorway and looked at her as if she was insane.

“Uh… Yeah?” he asked with a question on his face.

“Care to tell me why you’re stomping and yelling like a lunatic all throughout the house?”

It was a perfectly legitimate question.

“They aren’t cooperating,” Tommy whined like a child.

“Well,” began Bridgette. “I’d like your full cooperation for a moment,” she said sweetly.

Tommy looked at her like she had a million heads, and sheepishly replied, “Ok…”

All sense of Bridgette’s former sweetness was removed as she berated Tommy from across the bedroom.

“Simmer down! You’re bossing everybody around, you’ve given your father a major migraine, and your uncle is threatening to hang you by your boots until you start acting right!”

Tommy stared at his aunt with wide eyes.

“Now,” continued Bridgette in a much nicer tone. “If you can promise to act like a decent and civilized human being, I’ll let you go to the party. If not, I’m locking that death machine in the barn. Do I make myself clear?”

Tommy shook his head in agreement.

Damn, she’s scary when she’s pissed.

***

Tristan walked down the stairs as she laughed at her brother’s reaction to her aunt’s outburst. Her amusement wouldn’t last long though, because with each step she took she was moving from one family drama to another. Frank was standing at the bottom of the stairs, red faced and hunched over. At first Tristan thought that her uncle might be choking on something, but then he let out a bellowing laugh. Tristan looked at Frank with a surprised look.

“What’s so funny?” Tristan asked.

Frank held up a finger as he tried to get a hold of himself. He just couldn’t stop laughing. His attempts did him no good, so after a moment he pointed to the dining room as he continued laughing. Wondering if her uncle had gone clinically insane, Tristan looked towards the dining room.  The smile faded from Tristan’s face as she reached the dining room door. She could hear her father loudly lecturing someone in the kitchen.

Oh, dear God. What now?!

Tristan walked quietly over the ancient wooden floor boards as she tried to figure out what the situation was. She hoped that the groaning floorboards would not give away her surprise entrance. She stood just outside of the door of the dining room where she could hear multiple male voices chattering. Suddenly, she heard someone say her name. Tristan gritted her teeth in response.  She opened the dining room door just slightly so that she could get a better look. Jack and Joe had Cole cornered at the dining room table. While the two men looked concerned, Cole looked utterly mortified.

“You see, Cole… It is important that we discuss your intentions with my daughter on prom night,” Jack explained.

Tristan groaned loudly in the doorway, “Ugh! Dad!”

Jack whipped around and glared at his daughter.

“Tristan, it’s my job to ask. You’re my daughter.”

“Your eighteen year-old daughter who is going to prom with her boyfriend of three years,” reminded Tristan.

Cole gave Tristan a look of supreme gratitude. Tristan could still hear Frank laughing in the foyer.

“And if you must know, we planned on going bowling after prom. So, his intentions are to take me dancing and take me bowling. We may get something to eat, too. That’s that. Interrogation’s over.”

“Thanks, Tristan!” yelled Cole with a smile on his face.

“This ain’t over yet, “said Joe with a suspicious look on his face.

Tristan took a seat at the table to offer her boyfriend support while the men shot questions at him.

Poor Cole. Dad seriously needs to learn to trust him.

***

“Are we ready to go yet?!” yelled Tristan from the foyer.

A rumbling noise echoed from upstairs.

“Alright, Dad! Were leaving!”

Tommy, Blake and Shane ran down the stairs, nearly knocking Tristan out of the way.

“We’re taking Cole’s Jeep,” reminded Tristan.

“Okay,” Jack shouted from the dining room. “Keep your brothers out of trouble… Don’t forget curfew!”

“Midnight, right?!”

“11  P.M. young lady. Sharp!”

***

Caribou Road was mobbed with cars when Cole turned his Jeep on the gravel road.

“Jesus Christ, did they invite the entire neighborhood?” asked Shane in surprise.