Faith In The Dark, Chapter 6



"Very nice." Ben muttered as he poured over the tree house plans. "This is going to be well made and detailed. Ann, your husband picked a good one."

" He always wanted the best for Davey." Ann smiled sadly. "Is this safe for an 8 year old?"

Declan leaned in closer to the enlarged photo of the finished house. He and Ben sat together at the dining room table and had spent an hour going over the details of the little house. Declan patiently listened to Ben's critique of the plans and tried to start a friendly conversation with the big man. So far, their only communication centered on the tree house.

"It's pretty safe." Declan said pointing to the blueprint; "We'll just build it in a low tree. There are support struts all over this baby. It's fantastic."

Miranda shook her head and smirked at her partner. ::And so people, the obsession begins. :: She knew Declan really had his teeth into building the tree house. His silent belief that Davey really was sent a message from his father had not escaped her or Peggy. They both knew that Declan would wait and see what other evidence popped up before mentioning it again.

Ann shifted restlessly on the sofa next to Miranda. "The wood is old. The storage center wouldn't send it because the crates looked worn and water damaged. I can order some from the lumber mill if you guys tell me what and how much."

Declan and Ben exchanged wary glances. Ben had already decided he would build the house for Davey as soon as Ann told him about it at Sunday's softball game. She told him about this Dunn guy and how he and his friends were investigating the shadow in the boy's room. He knew that Dunn wanted to build the house also.

"I can get the wood for you, Ann. Don't worry about it. I have an account at that mill because of all of the side work I do for the owner." Ben looked at Declan again. "You got any experience with little houses?"

"Yeah. I live in one." Declan couldn't control the sarcastic retort. He caught the scolding look from Miranda and plastered a smile on his face. "I've helped build homes in a couple of third world countries and with a disaster relief agency one bad summer in Mali."

Ben looked impressed. "Well I guess you know your little houses then. So we get supplies and map out a schedule?"

"Sounds good."

They shook hands grudgingly and immediately consulted the calendar in the kitchen to plan their time. In the meantime, Ann answered a telephone call from Davey's friend's parents and allowed Davey to spend the night at the friend's house. She came back to sit on the sofa. Miranda took the opportunity to question Ann about Ben Tall Dear.

"His shadow really was extremely similar to the one in Davey's room, Ann. That's why I jumped liked that. I know he's your friend but I think that we should plug up my floodlights tonight and position him around the house and see what shadow he makes in the bedroom."

"Oh God, Miranda. I can't ask him to do that!" Ann whispered frantically. "Ben is a very decent guy and has the respect of the whole school. I've known him for about two years and I tell you, he's not the practical joke kind of guy. Besides, why would he, or anyone else for that matter, do something so…weird?"

Miranda sat back on the sofa. "I don't know but I do know what I saw." She gave Ann a sympathetic look. "Look, maybe he's not the person you think he is. It happens all the time. It's always the nice guy no one suspects. Maybe he's stalking you or something. We have to examine every possibility here. Let's start with convincing him to stand in the spotlights tonight."

"This is crazy. I refuse to believe Ben would do something like this to me. You don't understand him. He's a Native American and his beliefs about shadows are tied into his culture and customs. He's serious about his heritage and this… image in Davey's room is a serious matter to him. He doesn't think I should disturb anything by investigating."

Ann stopped speaking and her eyes grew wide. Her last statement made any further comment freeze on her lips. Miranda nodded slowly acknowledging Ann's sudden realization. "Looks like your friend, Ben, tried not to get caught. Aren't you glad you investigated anyway?"

Before Ann could answer, Ben spoke up from the dining room archway. " She's right, Ann. It sounds like I didn't want to be discovered. Despite my beliefs and my innocence, I'll cooperate with whatever you want. I'm anxious to be absolved of this 'crime' and try to help you and Davey through this."

He didn't appear angry and, for that, Ann was grateful. She walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm. He looked down at her with concern. "I'll do it for you. I'll let them test my shadow." Ben's eyes lit with amusement after his declaration.

Ann let out a sigh. "I want to prove them wrong, Ben. Then we can move on."

The telephone rang loudly again in the tight silence. Ann hurried to answer the phone in the front hallway. While she was gone, Declan quietly entered the living room. He had heard the entire exchange and was now anxious to talk to Miranda alone. Ann returned to the little group breaking the tension in the room.

"Declan, that was Peggy. She was in a hurry so she wanted me to tell you guys that she can't meet you tonight and she'll call you and Miranda tomorrow"

Miranda shrugged and winked at Ann. "Probably a hot date."

Declan let out a long breath. He wondered if Elliott had really gone out of town. ::Or, did Peggy go with this guy?:: he wondered. Declan felt uneasy and suddenly irritable. Emma's words sounded in his head again as they had for several weeks now. :: We don't work because you have something unresolved with Dr. Peggy Fowler, Declan. I see it when you're around her. It's Valentine's Day and you just left a message on Miranda's answering machine asking her if she knew where Peggy is tonight. Please don't give me that 'I'm her friend and I can be worried about her look.' I don't want to be a consolation prize, Declan. You need to find out what's going on with the two of you. Call me when you figure it out. Or… on second thought, don't call if you find your answers :: Declan abruptly shut out Emma's voice.

"Well okay then, it's just you and me Miranda. Hungry?"

"Yep. But before we go I think we have a test to run." She bent her head toward Ben who folded his big arms across his chest.

"I consent. It's just about dark now. Let's get it over with." Ben muttered.

Later

Miranda threw a tarp over the equipment in the back of Declan's truck. She briefly wondered if Ann, Ben Tall Dear, and Declan were thinking that insanity should not happen to such a young woman in the prime of her life. Miranda silently cursed her embarrassment but still insisted that Ben's shadow was what spooked her earlier. She and Declan positioned Ben Tall Dear all around the yard. He even volunteered to climb up in several trees near the house. Despite the perfect spotlighting and soft moonlight, Ben's shadow did not resemble the image found in Davey's room. Now, tired and hungry, Miranda agreed that it was time to pack up and go. Declan helped her load the truck and then met Ann and Ben on the front walk. He tried to console his partner but she was not accepting of platitudes. Instead she had countered with giving him the details of her conversation with Ann. Declan said his good-byes and watched Miranda sullenly wave her departure before they pulled out of the driveway and headed toward the interstate.

"So. What's next? Are we going to look for Ben's part in this shadow thing?" Miranda pressed her silent friend.

"I don't know." Declan kept his eyes on the road. "I don't see him having anything to do with the shadow. I agree, he is built like Jim Douglas but obviously he's not causing the image in the house,"

Miranda sat back with a grunt. She was surprised and a little annoyed that Declan was not brainstorming possibilities with her. He seemed only interested in driving the truck down the highway lost in thought.

"Hey, you okay?" She asked casually hoping to not sound too concerned.

Declan flicked a glance her way and turned back to the road." I don't really know…" He started and then sighed. "Miranda, didn't it seem strange that Peggy just cancelled out on us like that? It's not like we've seen much of her lately." Pausing again, Declan ran a hand through his hair and slapped the steering wheel in exasperation. "Damn…I'm not making any sense. Don't look at me like that. I'm really okay. I'm just not feeling too comfortable with Peggy's boyfriend. I have absolutely no right to object or anything… I just feel like he's pulling her away from me… us I mean"

Miranda's eyes widened at his last statement. "What is it, Declan? Are you jealous?"

He swallowed an indignant denial because he felt her eyes on him already guessing the truth. "I guess I am." Declan chuckled bitterly. "I'm a sorry excuse for a friend, huh?" I should be happy for her but instead all I keep thinking about is why Elliott and not me."

Miranda spoke softly hoping to ease his discomfort. "You never let her know."

He was shaking his head at her words. "Tell her what? Ah, excuse me, Peg don't have a fun, normal relationship with a successful author. Date me instead." Declan smiled without humor. "She's doing well right now. I don't want to throw a wrench into her thing with Cauldfield. As if I could anyway. Jeez, I'm having delusions of worthiness."

"Hey Declan, stop that. You are so wrong about yourself and about Peggy." Miranda knew that he would not appreciate any expression of pity so she went on the offense. "When you were tight with Emma, we didn't see you at all. Remember? Then she came back in February for a few days and we thought she was holding you hostage. You didn't wonder who Peggy was dating then, right?"

"Wrong." Declan murmured softly. "My relationship with Emma ended because of Peggy. I didn't know why I couldn't move forward with Emma. After she went on the big assignment overseas, I missed her. We stayed in touch. When she came back for a visit around Valentine's Day, I didn't feel the same… I tried but even she saw I was not committed to the relationship." He pulled into the parking lot of a diner just off the interstate and turned off the truck. They sat in silence for a few moments and then Declan looked sadly at Miranda. "The truth is, Miranda, when Peggy and I were arguing about Emma I wanted her to be jealous. I wanted her to feel something about me even if we were fighting. Later, when Emma left, I knew that my friendship with Peggy had been damaged. She seemed to close up around me. We adjusted to the change." He looked away from Miranda now and stared into the brightly lit diner as he continued to speak quietly. "I realize now that, over the years, I wanted more than friendship with her. I don't like having her at odds with me. On Valentine's Day, I wanted to talk to her and see how she was feeling. That was end of my thing with Emma. Before she left, she confronted me about the phone call to your machine and I couldn't deny it. I only wanted to see Peggy that night."

"Declan, I'm sorry we didn't call back. We were rushing out to the party."

"It's not your fault. I did it to myself."

"Tell her, Declan. Let her know how you feel as soon as possible." Miranda agonized over telling him about her suspicions regarding Peggy's feelings for him. There was definitely a connection between her best friends.

"It's too late to say anything. She seems happy with Cauldfield. Suppose he's the next soulmate in her life? I can't stop fate."

Miranda shook her head and grabbed his arm. "You're a nut. A lovable, stubborn nut. Peggy is having fun with Elliott. He's charming and extravagant when he entertains her. A girl likes that kind of attention. You're not a diversion for her. You are permanently in her life as a friend and a confidant and it's so clear to me and everyone else around you guys that … there is more between the two of than friendship already. Ask Peggy and you'll see."

Declan stared at her thoughtfully and then he smiled. " If you're wrong, and I go down in flames after I tell her and she rejects me, you're buying me lunch until Christmas."

"It's a deal. I won't even hold you to buying me lunch if she doesn't turn you down. I'll just torment you daily with 'I told you so.' Just tell her how you feel. Ask her out on a date or something."

He laughed at her insistence. "Okay already." They shook hands on their deal.

Miranda opened the truck door and jumped out. "Let's eat. You need your strength for courting."

Declan followed her. "Then buy me dinner."