Chapter 2
'For now we see through a glass, darkly'
'Thanks Bobby. We'll check in as soon as we get to Omaha' Sam flipped his cell phone shut. The Impala was speeding along the highway towards Omaha. Sam stared out of the window obviously mulling over the information he had just received from Bobby.
Dean threw him an expectant look and Sam took a deep breath.
'Bobby had a hell of a time finding anything but the basics on Robert. He's emailed the bulk but general vitals: born in Lawrence, only son of Edward Nathanial Campbell, Sheriff, also deceased. On high school graduation he left for Europe and trained as a cardiovascular surgeon. He met his wife in England. He then moved to Omaha and settled down running his medical practice. Tragically his wife died shortly after giving birth to their only child Jeremiah Nathanial Campbell. There's very little after that: a death notice when Jeremiah dies in a hunting accident out in California in 1984 age 17. Beloved doctor and pillar of the community till he dies of a heart attack on 19th July 2001.'
'Damn not much to go on, but in my books too much tragedy …This smells of the secretive life of a Hunter with the usual fall out.' Dean was deep in thought. 'Mh, we are not going to find any info on him in the Hunter's Weekly, so lets try his circle of friends…if they are still alive and willing to talk'
'You know Dean…I never did understand why Dad was so adamant we should never have contact with any of the Campbell family. Did Dad ever tell you anything? Did you ever meet them?'
'No, I can't remember him talking in detail about them. Anyway, are you really surprised…Dad managed to piss everybody off.'
'Well another piece of news is that the original house where Robert lived has been torn down. A large subdivision of the area took place few years ago. Robert's attorney took care of the disposal of all the personal items. Might be a dead end, Dean'
'Ah, ye of little faith…' Dean did a really good Castiel impersonation which made Sam smile.
'So, talking of the Angel...have you heard from him lately?'
'Believe it or not he sent me a text message few days ago… Next thing he'll be on Twitter. Can you image his tweets?'
Sam guffawed 'You know about Twitter?'
'Dude, I don't live under a rock…Have you got the address for the attorney?'
'Yep. You want me to ring ahead and make an appointment?'
'What's our cover story…?'
'How about two journalism students writing a piece on a local pillar of the community, namely Robert Campbell for the student paper?'
'Good, I won't have to change then'
*******
'Well, that was pretty ordinary…damn' exclaimed Dean on leaving the attorney's office. Sam followed him through the door out onto the street. Attorney at law Steven Howell had been very tight lipped about his client and only disclosed that all of Robert Campbell's belongings had been donated to the Salvation Army and all monies to a charitable local Foundation as stipulated in his will.
Dean opened the door of the Impala and slid into the driver's seat while Sam walked around to the other side.
'It's the hard way then' and turning to Sam he continued '…we wait till tonight and pay his office a visit. I want to have a look at that will. In the meantime some food…'
He put the car in gear and drove away from the curb.
'After lunch, drop me at the library and I'll do some research in the archives. Might help' added Sam.
Dean had a new idea. 'By the way, where was his private practice?'
'Somewhere downtown' Sam started to look in his notebook. 'He worked at the Nebraska Medical centre. Here's the address' Sam fed the address into his GPS of his cell phone. 'Take the next right…'
Fifteen minutes later they pulled up in front of the medical centre. They followed the signs to the Cardiac center and entered the reception area. It was a busy clinic with a large waiting room. Photos of the consulting doctors were on the wall, together with various diplomas of excellence and in one corner letters of gratitude to the Center or individual doctor were pinned to a board.
Dean walked up to the reception counter where a friendly brunette enquired if she could assist him.
'Hi, ah…'he leaned slightly forward till he could read her name tag ' Dolly…My name is Dean and this is Sam.' He flashed his fake University of Nebraska student I.D.
'We're journalism students writing a piece on Robert Campbell and wondered if someone who knew him was free to talk to us about him' He put on his most winning smile, usually a fail safe to get him to first base. Dolly was not immune to the Dean Winchester charm and smiled sweetly at him.
'Oh, I would like to help you but I started work here after he passed. He was greatly admired and his patient's adored him. His partner is still here, Dr O'Connell. He is out to lunch but you could wait in his office. He may be able to spare you a few minutes before he starts consulting.' Dean thanked Dolly and accepted the offer. She showed him and Sam to the doctor's consulting room.
They were greeted by a generous sized office with wide panorama windows, heavy set leather chairs and a mahogany desk. Dean and Sam sat down waiting, letting their eyes wander, taking in the rows of books and knick knacks on the shelves. Dolly had left the door ajar after she left the brothers.
Dean waited till he couldn't hear her footsteps before jumping up and heading straight to the desk. He found mostly medical files, radiological reports and a diary and then his eyes widened. His hand shot out to take hold of the silver framed photo. The old black and white photo showed two young men side by side in their high school football varsity gear. Dean sharply inhaled when he examined the photo closer. The blond man on the right was a dead ringer for Sam.
'Sam, you need to see this!' He held out the photo frame for Sam who had been inspecting the books on the shelves to the side of the desk. Sam's eyes widened in surprise when he followed his brother's request.
'Excuse me young man, will you please put that photo back down where you found it!' The stern voice originated from the door where an elderly man in a white doctor's coat stood glaring at the brothers. The boys looked over to the tall, white haired sixty-something man who was entering the room. The man's gaze had been fixed on Dean but then he noticed Sam who had turned to face the authoritarian voice and all colour drained out of the doctor's face.
'Oh, my God…you look just like Robert only taller!' The man approached, his eyes still locked onto Sam's face with a searching and questioning look.
'Who are you and forget that crap you told Dolly!?'
Dean turned to Sam, unsure how to handle the situation. Telling the truth to strangers was against his philosophy, but…he shrugged. Sam took the cue and being closest to the doctor stretched out his hand in greeting.
'Hi Dr O'Connell, my name is Sam Winchester and this is my brother Dean. Robert was our first cousin once removed.'
After a slight hesitation the doctor took Sam's hand and shook it, harder and longer as if he needed tactile proof of the existence of the young man in front of him. Some colour was slowly returning into the man's face.
'I should have known something was up when Steven rang me about two nosey students. He didn't believe a single word you spun' the doctor walked around his desk while Dean hastily vacated his position behind the desk so the doctor could sit down in his chair.
'Close the door and sit down.' He then used the intercom. 'Dolly, hold my appointments for now. And no interruptions, please'
Dean closed the door gently before sitting down to the left of the desk in one of the comfy leather chairs. Sam had sat down in the leather chair closest to him.
'So, you are Dean' Dean sat up a bit straighter under the close inspection 'Robert told me that you would show up although I did expect you shortly after his death, not eight years later.'
Then directing his gaze to Sam he continued 'He never mentioned you though…Interesting…'
'Why did you expect me to show up' enquired Dean
'I was the witness to Robert's will. I knew he had arranged for the rifles to be sent to you. Robert said that you would understand the meaning of the rifles and come to Omaha. He left several items for you which I have at home.'
'I only received the rifles yesterday. Our side of the family has been estranged from the Campbell's since our mother's death.'
'So, are you both in the family business?' The doctor winked at the brothers with a slow smile forming on his lips.
Now it was time for Sam to sit up straighter and leaning forward to carefully ask in a low voice: 'The family business?'
The old doctor laughed out loud. 'Give me a break…Are you both Hunters?'
Dean groaned while Sam quietly accepted the turn of events.
'Yes, we are. We would be grateful for any information you could give us about our cousin.'
'Your cousin and I became best friends in High school after he helped my family out with a poltergeist.' O'Connell shook his head remembering the events of so long ago 'I glimpsed the world he lived in. It turned my stomach so he never burdened me with details, but many a time I would come over to his place after a hunt just be with him. Soon after high school he left for England where he started his medical training. He met his wife over there, too. It didn't surprise me when Robert's world wasn't foreign to her and I think they hunted together. Although we opened up this practice together we rarely spent time together. I would cover for him when he was off on a hunt. Only after his wife's death did he turn to me again for support.'
Sam jumped in 'What do you know about his wife's death? We read it occurred in childbirth.'
'Very little, Sam. Robert never confided in me. One day she was heavily pregnant and glowing, the next she was cold in her grave. It was a very dark time for Robert. My heart broke for him and those sweet little babies'
Dean's ears pricked up: 'Babies? We read he had only one child'
'Robert went to great length to remove all traces of his twin daughter Elizabeth after Jeremiah died. I never saw her after that hunting trip to California where Jeremiah was killed. Robert explained that he had sent her away. England to her mother's side of the family would be my bet. A fire broke out at the registry office and as this was before widespread computerization traces of Elizabeth's existence vanished.'
Dean and Sam sat silently digesting the information of a second cousin.
'Sorry, boys, I have patients waiting. Here is my address, tonight at 8pm sharp'
With those words he wrote details on a piece of paper, got up and ushered the brothers out of the office.
Once they sat in the Impala, Dean spoke.
'I don't know if I should be pissed that we had all this family out there and Dad kept us away or glad that we are finally getting some answers to our questions.'
'My head is spinning, too. I don't think a lack of food is helping either' and as if to underline his words a fierce growl originated from Sam's midsection.
'Agreed, food and a beer, then library'
*****
The brothers had spent a few hours at the library trying to find out more about Robert, Jeremiah and Elizabeth. There were a few news articles on Jeremiah's and Robert's death but O'Connell had been correct. Robert had been thorough in removing all traces of Elizabeth. Jeremiah had been home schooled and the family lived a reclusive life at the property on the outskirts of Omaha. There had been a mention of a housekeeper in Jeremiah's death announcement called Amelia who might have some information for the brothers but they had no last name. Dean would ask O'Connell for the details tonight and follow it up tomorrow if the woman still resided in Omaha.
They arrived at O'Connell's home 5 minutes early. Dean and Sam walked up the pathway to the double storey weatherboard house. There was a silver metallic Jaguar XKR coupe standing in the drive. Dean ran an appreciative look over the car.
Warm light was streaming from the windows and the decorative stained glass door opened when they approached the first step.
'Welcome boys. Follow me into the study. I have everything ready for you.'
Dean and Sam followed the doctor down the hallway. They passed the living room where a fire was lit filling the house with its warmth. O'Connell pushed open the door to the study. On a low coffee table was a wooden chest with an intricate carving on the lid.
O'Connell picked up the box and handed it to Dean. It felt heavy in his hands. Dean took a closer look at the engraved depiction that dominated the middle of the lid: Flames engulfing a stylized figure with 6 wings. A small ornate 'C' with a sword was placed in the right corner of the lid. Sam looked over Dean's shoulder. He reached out and traced the engraving with his index finger.
'A seraphim…flames' he was lost in thought. 'The angel Nathanial …it's a depiction of the Angel of fire: Nathanial'
Dean sat down with the chest on his lap and tried to lift the lid but the chest was sealed. His fingers started to run along the edges to find a way of opening it.
In the meantime, O'Connell had moved away to the wall of his library. He touched a panel and a small safe was revealed. Sam watched as the doctor unlocked the safe, reached inside and pulled out a little velvet bag.
'This belongs to you, too' O'Connell held out the small velvet bag to Dean who had put the chest down at his feet.
Eagerly Dean opened up the small pouch and pulled out a silver charm bracelet. He felt his face flush as he recognized the piece of jewelry with the ornate cross, pentagram and devil's trap charms. The memory of confronting his petite ass kicking Mum in the alley behind the diner hit him as hard as her kick to his groin had done then. The realization that she was a Hunter had changed his world forever.
'This was Mum's, Sam' His voice was thick with emotion. He held it out for his brother to take as he himself was unable to hold onto it for fear the emotions tied to it would overwhelm him.
Carefully Sam took hold of the delicate bracelet, admiring the individual antique charms. The silver warmed in his hands and he closed his fist around the bracelet letting the feeling of closeness to his mother linger.
Dean forced himself to resurface from the memories back to the study in O'Connell's house. He bent down and picked up the small chest from the floor.
'How do we open the chest?' Dean directed the question to O'Connell while turning the chest over.
'Sorry Dean, I have no idea. Robert was confident you would figure it out'
There was a knock at the front door.
'Excuse me, that will be Steven.' O'Connell left the room and returned shortly with the attorney the brothers had met earlier that day. The lawyer looked anxious and eager to be going again. He cleared his voice.
'I have brought you a copy of Robert Campbell's will. If you read the details your inheritance consists of the rifles, this box and a key.'
Businesslike Steven Howell produced a small key from his pocket giving it to Dean.
'It unlocks a safe box in Lawrence held at the National Bank. Here is your letter of introduction. I have to be going now' the man turned on his heels and left the room, briefly nodding at O'Connell.
'Don't mind Steven. He gets nervous around Hunters' chuckled O'Connell
'Have we got a tattoo on our forehead saying Hunters R Us' ? Wondered Dean aloud and threw his brother a quizzical look. 'It doesn't seem that Cousin Bob kept the family business low key.'
O'Connell shook his head. 'To be fair, Steven and I were the only ones to know his secret. He didn't hunt anymore after Jeremiah's death, but his door was open to Hunters who needed his medical help. Like me Steven met Robert under dire circumstances. Steven and his wife had been taken by Vampires. Robert had been tracking the nest for some weeks, but he was too late to save them both. Since then Steven has helped Hunters put their affairs in order, help wives deal with life insurance claims and occasionally organize bail and legal representation. Steven can be very creative when need be. 'O'Connell concluded
'About Robert's death…'wondered Sam 'what do you think happened?
O'Connell walked over to the drinks cabinet. 'Anyone for a whisky?' Sam and Dean nodded.
O'Connell poured three generous glasses of 25 yr old golden brown whisky, giving one to each brother. He took a mouthful, savoring the smoothness of the liquid before continuing.
'A few weeks before his death, Robert had become distracted. I knew something was up. When I confronted him he remained tightlipped. He warned me that my life may be in danger if I knew too much and asked me never to go looking for answers no matter what happened. I saw then that he was scared. He went away the weekend before his death. He gave me the box and the pouch for safekeeping. A few days later, he phoned me the night before he died from a truck stop very agitated. He made no sense.'
O'Connell sighed deeply 'I never saw him alive again.' He grabbed the whiskey bottle to refill the glasses.
'Can you remember what he said?' Dean looked at O'Connell.
'It was such a long time ago, but I recall something along the lines of:..we bound him … we cast him in darkness, but he has returned. He then sobbed and the rest was unintelligible though I recall hearing Jeremiah's name mentioned a few times'
Dean was shaking his head in frustration 'This is just getting weirder and weirder. At every turn more questions, fewer answers…'
Sam sipped at the whisky mulling over what they had just heard. Dean was correct; more and more pieces of the puzzle but still no clue of the greater picture.
'We came across the name of the housekeeper Amelia in one of the news reports. Do you by chance know her last name and is she still alive?' enquired Sam.
'Now that's a person I haven't thought of in a long time…' O'Connell stood up from his chair and walked towards the window. 'She was one very strange woman, never talked to me just glared but I do think she took good care of the children. She showed up shortly after Robert's wife passed. I think she came from New Orleans, which is where she returned to after Jeremiah's death. She would be forever burning incense around the house and my clothes would reek of it after every visit and the kitchen was full of herbs hanging in bunches to dry from the ceiling…and I'm not talking about your run of the mill garden herbs either!'
Another dead end thought Sam although it sounded as if Robert had engaged a Hoodoo woman as a nanny to protect his children. Again more questions…
The brothers stayed for another drink and then excused themselves. They planned catch up with O'Connell tomorrow at the clinic before leaving for Lawrence. In the meantime both were keen to return to the motel and figure out how to open the box.
Thirty minutes later they were close to giving up. Dean had checked for secret catches and pushed at the side panels but all to no avail. He rang Bobby for ideas who promised to ring back in the morning after doing some research. Sheepishly Dean remembered how much Bobby hated being woken up in the middle of the night so he didn't push it.
'Thanks Bobby, that'll be fine. 'Nite!' He rang off and tossed the phone onto the bed.
Irritated Dean stared at the small chest. He was wondering if the axe from the trunk of the Impala may hold the solution.
'Dean have a look at this' Sam called his brother over to his computer.
'I did a search on the words Robert said to O'Connell' He pointed to the screen and read out loud:
"And again the Lord said to Raphael: 'Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may not see light. And on the day of the great judgement he shall be cast into the fire."
That's from the Book of Enoch!
Dean was letting the words sink in, his brain working at putting the pieces together.
'Sam, you're not thinking…Azazel like in Yellow Eyed Demon?'
Sam nodded quietly.
'How did Robert know of the Yellow Eyed Demon? Damn, damn, damn' Dean started to pace up and down. 'There must be a connection with Jeremiah…he died during a hunt in California…Robert doesn't return to hunting after. His daughter leaves the country, all records erased of her. We need to find out more what happened to Jeremiah and where is Elizabeth. Is she still alive?' He ran his hand through his hair 'We need to get this box open and we need to get to that safe box.'
Sam rubbed his eyes and started to massage his neck with his right hand.
'I'm beat Dean. We haven't had a good night sleep for three days. Let's call it a day. Fresh eyes tomorrow may make all the difference'
Dean grimaced but his brother was right. It had waited for eight years; it would wait few more hours.
Dean's phone rang and grabbing it off the bed, he snapped it open to listen.
'O'Connell, slow down…'alarmed Dean looked at Sam 'I agree, not good. Grab a few personal items, all the cash in the house and get into your car. I'm going to give you the address of a friend. Stay with him till we call'
He gave O'Connell directions to Bobby's place.
'Let us know when you are safe. Thanks for the heads up' Dean slammed his hand down on the table in frustration.
He turned to Sam 'Pack up, we're out of here. Howell was just found murdered in his office by the cleaning crew. The crime scene is a real mess according to O'Connell. The police think he was tortured. They came to O'Connell with stills of two males from the footage off the security cam asking if he could identify them. Us, of course.'
Dean rubbed his chin in thought 'Howell is dead…This cannot be a coincidence.'
'You're thinking demons? Why kill Howell?
'I'm not going to wait to find out. I don't know how they're tracking us, but we need to be at that bank in Lawrence tomorrow morning. I'll drive first.'
They grabbed their bags, the rifles and the chest.
Without a glance back they walked out into the darkness to the Impala, threw their belongings on the back seat, eased the car out of the parking lot and left the lights of Omaha behind them.
*****
The sun was rising on the horizon with three more hours to go until the brothers would arrive in Laurence. Sam was driving the last leg of the journey after snatching a few hours sleep. The throbbing pain in his lower back reminded him how much he hated sleeping in the Impala. He stifled a yawn and looked over to Dean. He envied Dean's ability to sleep anywhere. His thoughts were interrupted by the ring of Dean's cell phone and he reached over to wake Dean who was already fumbling for the phone in his pocket. Dean recognized the number on the screen and put the phone on speaker.
"Heh, Bobby What's up?' Dean leaned forward fishing for his boots to put them back on.
'The warehouse where your Dad had the lock up in Columbus was burnt down yesterday afternoon. I've been reading the fire department reports. It looks like the place was broken into and then the fire was started close to where your Dad's lock up was located. Two thirds of the building went up in smoke before the firemen got it under control. All your Dad's things are gone.' Bobby took a deep breath before continuing. 'I hacked into the Omaha police department computer. Howell's office was searched by the intruders. His safe was open but valuables like cash and gold bullion had not been touched. I'm waiting for the coroner's report. And just to make my night, a report came in about a car accident out side of Elk Point. Eighteen wheeler vs. silver metallic Jaguar coupe. Driver was killed instantly.'
There was a pause while Bobby's anger gathered momentum '...You're both suddenly off to Omaha with little explanation bar following up on a dead relative only to leave ruins and dead bodies in your wake. Is there something you need to fill me in on?'
Yep, Bobby sure was cranky; guess not getting much sleep will do that to the elderly, thought Dean.
'Sorry Bobby, we're pretty much just at a loss as you are. So O'Connell is dead, too.' Dean felt sick to the stomach remembering the kind face of the elderly doctor with the laugh lines etched around his eyes.
'Yes, though I won't get the official report till later but I doubt there are many silver Jag's heading South Dakota way. I tried contacting his cell but it goes to voice mail.'
Dean gave Sam a long look and decided to fill Bobby in.
'Okay, I found a large old looking wooden box with two rifles in the lock up and a letter from Robert indicating that the antique rifle was 'my birthright' - a Palmer carbine by the way. The other seems to have been a more recent heirloom as it belonged to Edward Campbell first - a 1925 Mauser. Bobby, you know how secretive Dad was about Mum's side of the family. Cousin Robert has left me two valuable rifles and a cryptic letter about "birthright" and "being chosen". A few years back I may have shrugged it off, but not now, too much has happened and I'm sick of being a pawn in this game! '
Dean irritation was audible in his rant 'and wait there is more…a second cousin we didn't know about, a small wooden chest from Robert with God knows what is in it that I can't open and a key that opens a safety box in the National Bank in Lawrence which we are trying to get to before whoever is tracking us gets there first….' Dean stopped to snatch a breath.
'So, which bit of don't open anything till we had time to review it didn't you understand? Could demons be tracking the rifles? Your Dad must have had a reason to keep this box locked up.' replied Bobby dryly.
'If it came from the Campbell Family not necessarily a sound one' countered Dean."I'm pissed with Dad, always off on his lone crusade, never letting anybody in…what if all of this mess we're now in with the Apocalypse could have been prevented if I had gotten the rifles eight years ago.' Dean took a ragged breath while running his hand through his hair.
'Dean, your Dad had his faults but I never doubted his prime concern to protect you boys. I can't see how the rifles would have made a difference…'
'Bobby, Robert knew about the Yellow eyed Demon!' interrupted Dean 'We think it killed him to cover up what Robert knew!'
There was stunned silence on the other end of the phone while seconds ticked by.
'Dean, I think you guys need to slow down and step back.' There was deep concern in Bobby's voice 'you are rushing headlong into God knows what…'
'We have come this far Bobby and I'm not backing down until I have whatever is in that safety box. We're just a few hours out of Laurence. I'll talk to you later' abruptly Dean hung up. He didn't want to discuss it any further.
Good old Winchester stubbornness at its best thought Sam who had quietly listened to the exchange.
'Dean, Bobby has a point…' interjected Sam while keeping his eyes on the road
'I know Sam, I know, but I have this nagging feeling that we're running out of time to shed some light on the past events involving our family.' He shifted in his seat uncomfortably while starring out the window. It was the start to be a beautiful sunny autumn day with blue sky and fluffy white clouds dotted on the horizon but Dean felt deep in his bones that the storm was just around the corner and it was going to be a big one.
