Chapter 14

Violet stood immobile behind the draperies. No one had bound her, there was no need to She watched them and tried to understand what was going on. She realized what the children were. And she knew from what they said that they were laying a trap for someone. And maybe, when they sprung it, she might yet be able to get Iris.

She felt the paralysis slowly ease off. She was not frozen into position. She was only incapable of willing herself to move. But perhaps she could will herself if she strained at it.

When she saw Iris, she might will herself to act. Fast...

From where she was she could see Joe Haskell. He looked at the empty room with a quizzical expression. It was as if he was not sure of what he had seen, and whether he should investigate it... He had looked afraid then, as if she reminded him of someone she did not like to see.

She could not shout. But she could whisper. And a whisper did carry... and if she blew the curtains, ever so slightly, it would unnerve him. Maybe make him come to her..

"Joe Haskell" she whispered. "Joe Haskell."

Joe did not seem to react. Maybe he had not heard her. No matter. She would continue, and it would register. And then he would come to investigate, and then she would strike.

Stab in the throat so that he could not scream. Drop him behind the curtain, and start looking for Tammy and Iris.

The children had not taken her knife away. She had tucked it into her garter when she had gone for the gun, and they had not searched her. They figured out that immobilizing her was enough. They did not understand hatred...

Joe wondered. Had he really heard anything? It seemed as it to come from that empty room, where the curtains billowed by a small breeze.

But the windows were closed... where did the breeze come from?

Probably a crack in the walls that had not been patched... It was probably not the only one is this wreck of a house...

'Joe Haskell." he heard again. "I am waiting for you."

He shrugged. He should not drink so much. What was in the punch anyway? Was it like Long Island tea, that had everything but tea in it? He should have stuck to the other punch, the non-alcoholic one, provided for the two pregnant ladies and those who worried about driving back...

"Joe Haskell." the whisper continued "come to me."

"What is this?" Patterson asked looking at the punch.

"A lot of fruit juices" Derek explained. "Club soda, Artichoke juice for bitterness and Tabasco sauce for bite."

"Artichoke and Tabasco? I suspected that Collinsport was crazy when I left, and this confirms it. It seems that I got out of town at the right time."

"We miss you." Barnabas said. He was not sure how to deal with Patterson. He could not forget George's accusations... But it made sense to invite him and observe him, and get whatever information out of him that they could.

"I imagine you do. And you know what's real crazy? I miss you too, the whole crazy bunch of you. Not that I am not glad that it was Davenport and not me who got it. Who was it? Jeb Hawkes? After all, he was the one who killed Paul Stoddard, as I heard."

"Yes, it was Jeb Hawkes."

"And he married Carolyn Stoddard. It figures. The whole family is crazy. I heard that Liz Stoddard had married again. Did she try to kill her second husband too?"

"No, she did not." Barnabas said stiffly.

Patterson's saw Barnabas' reaction and did not insist. "I am sorry, but it was quite a story. We talked about it for weeks, that is when not worrying about Maggie Evans and the rest. And you have to agree that the whole family is peculiar."

"Including myself?"

"Well, yes."

Barnabas nodded. That reference to Maggie... Was Patterson on a fishing expedition, seeing what it could get him? Well, he had the way to stop those musings."

'You know, Maggie Evans is now in congress. She is a U.S. Representative for Maine."

"You mean that she's that Margaret Evans?"

"Yes And she does not want anyone remembering that story. Nothing that would uncover the fact that she was once in a mental health institution. I know that she managed to remove all evidence from Wyncliffe of her having been admitted. I do not know what unsavory steps she may take if anyone started talking about it, but I am afraid that she might be quite ruthless about it."

There. Warn Patterson about Maggie's wrath. Maybe that would stop him. And maybe not, and then Sabrina would solve the problem for them.

"Joe Haskell, come to me." Violet repeated. "You have to come to me. And bring Tammy with you. And Iris. You have to. You know who I am and that I am to be obeyed..."

Joe shook his head. He kept hearing his name being spoken and he could find no one speaking it. Was he drunk, then? He had not taken that much...

Violet ground her teeth. It was taking forever to lure Joe there.

And then, Joe did not matter that much. It was Iris who she wanted. And Iris could not be made to come just by whispering her name.

Or could it?

"Iris... Iris White." she kept the voice barely above a whisper, trusting that the words would get there. "your time has come. The blood, the blood. You will bleed tonight, Iris White, and it won't be Barnabas Collins this time."

"Do you hear anything?" Iris asked Barnabas.

"Like what?"

"It was like someone talking to me."

"Funny." Barnabas said. "I almost hear something myself."

"Maybe we disturbed some spirit tonight."

Barnabas frowned.

"You will bleed at the point of my knife."

Iris felt a shiver go down her spine. Death, blood... bloody death. She looked at Barnabas again and involuntarily touched her neck.

"It is scary." Barnabas admitted. "We've dealt with vengeful spirits before and I know how dangerous they can be. But who could it be? Who can we disturb by having this party? Josette used to haunt here, but she was never a threatening spirit, more like a guardian angel. And Sarah... she never threatened anyone...

"Maybe because Tammy is black. Some of your more prejudiced ancestors might resent a party in her honor."

"Whatever it is, it deserves investigating. I might have to call an exorcist, but maybe I can talk sense to him. Or her."

Richard gave in to Megan's urgings. Yes, it was a nice party, and he was having fun. But if she could help him with his new life, he should not pass up the opportunity.

He followed her into the back room.

No sooner had he walked inside that small childish arms tightened around his neck, arms, and ankles.

Just as Joe Haskell, curious enough about the whispers, finally entered the room. He walked in just as the children were tightening a gag around Richard's mouth.

"Hey! What is this! Stop!

The children jumped him, and subdued him. But he had attracted Barnabas.

"Don't interfere." Megan said, holding his sleeve. "It has to be this way."

"Release him!"

Veronica put a knife against Joe Haskell's throat. "You better let us do." she warned Barnabas. "Don't risk this one's life to save a traitor to our kind."

By then the other guests had come, and Julia could see what was done to Richard.

"What do you want with him?" she cried. "Why? Release him!"

"Julia" Megan tried to restrain her. "He will have his chance in court."

The children rushed Richard out. "You come with us. Do not make us hurt Julia."

Richard looked pleadingly at hem, shaking his head.

"You better go." she told him. "I will do what I can to defend you... You will have a trial."

The others were coming closer, wanting to know what the commotion was about.

Among them was Iris.

Violet willed herself to move.