Chapter 3: Apologies and Suspicions

Summary . . .
It is one week after Jason's car crash by the cemetery.
After a week long hospital stay, Jason is back at Collinwood with only cuts, bruises, a sprained neck and a broken ankle. The man who hit him had fled the scene and hasn't been seen since.
And Barnabas was now comfortably moved into the Old House with Willie and Annie as his "servants".

Present . . .
"You ready ta go, Ann?" Willie called up to the staircase to his sister
"Yea, I'm comin'." Annie replied, as she came out of her bedroom and down the stairs.
They were going to Collinwood. Because the night before, Barnabas had ordered them both to go and apologize to Elizabeth Stoddard for all of the trouble they had caused the Collins family.

"Alright, let's get this over with." she said in a non-to-enthusiastic tone.

Willie sighed, "You don't wanna go either, huh?"

"Well, it's not that I don't wanna apologize, it's jus' I'm scared to. I-I don't know why."

"I do." Willie said, "It's cause we neva' felt sorry fer anything we've done b'fore."

Annie gave a dry chuckle, "Boy ain't that the truth." she paused, "Ya know it's funny . . . I never really stopped and thought about all the things that I've done until . . . recently."

Willie nodded, "I know whatcha mean." he put an arm around his sisters shoulders, "C'mon Ann, let's go."

Since Jason's release from the hospital, had become even more bothersome than he was before. Constantly complaining about pain, and making others in the household get him what he wanted or needed . . . even though he had crutches.
Jason's victim at this particular moment was Mrs. Johnson, "Mrs. Johnson, would you be so kind as to do me one teeny little favor?" Jason asked from his spot on the couch in the Drawing Room.

"I'm sorry Mr. McGuire, but I have to go into town for Mrs. Stoddard. She wants it done right away." But as she turned around and walked to the door, there was a knock. She gave a short gasp at the unexpected noise, but quickly regained her composure and answered the door. She was surprised to see the Loomis twins standing there, "Why, Mr. Loomis . . . Ms. Loomis whatever are you doing here?" she asked

"We came to talk to Mrs. Stoddard, it's kinda important." Willie replied

"She's in the study, she'll be out in just a minute. You can wait for her in the Drawing Room. Now if you'll excuse me I really must be going. Good-bye."

"Bye." Willie mumbled "G'bye Mrs. Johnson." Annie called, "C'mon Will, let's go in." They both walked over and opened the one of the big double doors and were shocked to see Jason there.

"Well, well. You've finally decided to pay your old pal a visit, have ya?" Jason said

"Jason, what're you doin' outta the hospital already?" Willie asked

"The doctor thought me well enough to leave, so he released me."

"You sure the hospital didn' jus' get tired a'you bein' there?" Annie retorted

Jason gave her a cold look, "You better watch it girl."

Annie laughed, "Sorry Jason, but it's kinda hard to be intimidated by ya when yer wearin' that neck brace!"
When her brother heard this he didn't even bother to suppress a chuckle.
Jason quickly changed the subject, "So . . . the 'double-trouble' twins save my life from a car crash by the cemetery, then fail to even visit me once in the hospital. Now, why is that I wonder?"

Annie glared at the injured man, "We've been busy."

"Oh no, you both have been avoiding me, and I know why. That night you two were up to something!" He said forcefully

The twins tensed up and glanced at each other. "W-we don' know whatcha mean." said Willie nervously.

"Oh you don't to ya? Well, how about the fact that just a little while prior to my accident you two could barely move? They suddenly by some strange miracle you both were able to pull me out of my car, and drive me to the hospital. But I'm not concerned about your health . . . It's about what you were doing at the cemetery. You were robbing graves . . . weren't you?"

Before the two could utter a word, the big doors came open and in walked Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. "Might I ask what the two of you are doing in my home?" she asked in an emotionless tone.

"Mrs. Stoddard, me'n Willie need ta talk to you in private for a minute."Annie said

"I don't think there is one thing you could say that I'd want to listen to. Besides I'm very busy." she replied shortly

"Please ma'am, we won't take up to much-a yer time." Willie said, "It'll just be a minute."

Elizabeth sighed, "Well . . ." she began, "alright, follow me into the study." she turned and the pair followed her leaving Jason alone in the drawing room.

"What is it you want?" she asked once they were in the room

"W-we jus' . . . jus' wanted to apologize." Willie said

"Fer everything we did ta-ta you an' yer family . . . we're sorry." Annie finished

Elizabeth was silent for a moment before speaking again, "I must say, I'm quite shocked. I never expected to hear something like that from either of you."

Willie tried to calm his nerves, and rid the thought of Barnabas from his mind, "Well, w-we've changed quite a bit, Mrs. Stoddard."

"I'll say you have, although I'm still skeptical on whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. When it comes to the two of you it's difficult to tell."

"Please believe us . . . we mean it. We're truly sorry for what we did." Annie said intently

Elizabeth sighed and turned away and faced towards the fireplace. After a moment she looked at them again, "Alright, I accept your apology. And I-I must admit, I'm very glad you were honest and upright in admitting your faults. It was very good of both of you."

"Thanks." Willie mumbled

"W-we betta git goin'." Annie stuttered, "We still got a lotta work to do."

Willie nodded, "Alright . . . g'bye Mrs. Stoddard."

"Good bye Willie . . . Annie."
Annie gave her a half hearted smile in return, and then left the room with her brother.

Back At The Old House . . .
Willie and Annie walked thru the door and took off their coats which Willie grabbed and hung up. Annie walked over by the window and, as discretely as possible, pulled a ring out of her pocket. It was silver with a blue sapphire stone in the middle encircled with diamonds.

"Whatcha got there, Ann?" Willie asked hesitantly

"Oh, nothin'." Annie replied a sly grin playing on her lips

Willie looked at her suspiciously, "I know that smile Annabelle Loomis, what didja do?"

Annie gritted her teeth, "Don't call me that! Do you want me ta call you by your first name . . . Humbert William Loomis." she said with a slight smirk

"I'm gonna slug you good if you ever call me that name again!" Willie threatened, pointing a finger at her

"What? You don't like your name . . . Hummy-boy."

At this remark, Willie saw red, "That's it!" he shouted as he grabbed Annie and tackled her to the floor, tickling her ceaselessly.

"W-Willie st-st-stop!" Annie pleaded thru her laughter, "P-please!"

"Oh no. not until you've completely surrendered!" he replied continuing his merciless torture on his sister.

"A-alright! Alright! Y-you w-win!" Annie gasped out
Willie stopped tickling her, "That's betta'." he said standing up and helping Annie to her feet. But as he did, he noticed the ring on the floor. And before, Annie could stop him, he bent down and picked it up, "Annie . . . darlin' . . . where did you get this?" he asked, holding up the ring for her to see.

Annie sighed and bit her lip, "I-it was jus' sittin' there on the desk a-an' it looked so beautiful . . ." her eyes lit up as she continued to stare at the ring, "I figured we could sell it an' make a little dough, huh? How 'bout it?"

"But I already took this while we were there!" Willie said forcefully, pulling out a diamond bracelet from his pocket. "Whadja do that for? I'd think that you'd know be betta than that. Mrs. Stoddard might not've missed the ring but now with two pieces of her jewelry missin' she's gonna know we took 'em!"

Then, Barnabas' voice emerged from behind them, "What are you two arguing so heatedly about?" he asked
The twins whirled around in shock, then glanced out the window. They had both failed to realize that the sun had set and night had come . . .

Back at Collinwood . . .
(Lets rewind the scene a just a bit to when Willie and Annie had just left the house. Mrs. Stoddard is now in the drawing room on the phone with her lawyer.)

"Yes, the jewelry is here and ready to be picked up . . . that would be greatly appreciated . . . I'll see you in a few minutes then . . . thank you, goodbye." She hung up the phone

"Who was that, Liz?" Jason asked

"If it's any of your concern, my lawyer. He's coming over to pick up some old family jewelry to put in my safety deposit box." She said, walking towards the desk.

"Oh Liz, while you're up would you mind pouring me a drink?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I would. You have crutches why don't you get up and get you own drink."

"But my dear, you're so much closer than I . . ." Jason pleaded, "Besides it only takes a moment to pour a glass of Brandy."

Elizabeth took a deep breath before reluctantly walking over to where the bottle of Brandy was, and pouring Jason a glass. "I hope you realize that as soon as you have recovered, you will leave Collinsport." She said
"Oh I will, will I? And, what do you suppose I'd tell the sheriff just before I left?"
Elizabeth turned around sharply and glared at him.
"Don' look at me like that Liz. You know as well as I do . . . if you want your secret kept quiet, you're just going to have to keep me around a little longer."

"In my opinion you've been around long enough."
Jason raised his eyebrows, "Was that comment made with malicious intent?" he asked warily, "Well, I guess it wouldn't really surprise me if it was. With your . . . history anything's possible."
"Stop! Do you hear me?! Stop it!" she shouted

"Mother? What's the matter?" Elizabeth's daughter Carolyn asked as she came down the foyer steps and into the drawing room

"Nothing for you to be concerned about, darling."

"But . . ." before Carolyn could finish, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it." Elizabeth said, walking over to the door and answering it. "Well, that certainly was fast." She said when she saw her lawyer standing there.

"Sam Evans called me over to his house to discuss a few legal matters and before I left I figured I'd call and make sure there was nothing you needed."

"Well, I do appreciate you coming by. The jewelry is in the study, please follow me."

When they made their way into the study, Elizabeth walked over to the desk where she set the jewels, only to find they were missing. "That's strange, I know I left them right here."

"Are you sure you didn't take them somewhere else?" the lawyer asked

"No, I had them right . . ." her face hardened when realization hit her, "Willie and Annie." She said
The lawyer looked up sharply, "Who?"
"They stayed here for a while and caused a lot of uproar. We had all wanted them to get out of town but they got a job before they could leave. And, for a while it seemed as if they had changed. I guess we were wrong."
"Where are they now?"
"They are working for and staying with my cousin, Barnabas Collins. He lives down at the Old House."

The young man nodded slowly as he muttered to himself, "The Old House . . ."

Once again, back at the Old House . . .
(I know it's jumping all over the place but this is the last time I swear!!)

"Well?" Barnabas asked, "What were you arguing about?"

"I-It was nothin'." Willie stuttered

"No, it was clearly something and I want to know what it was." He said in a menacing tone

Annie, always being the better liar, spoke up quickly, "I was jus' kinda tired and I realized that I got the wrong type o'screw that I needed, so I got mad and snapped a little bit at Willie." She said, not missing a beat, "I'm gonna go back ta the hardware store tomorrow an' pick up the right ones."

"Good. Now, you both stay here at the house, I need to go out. I'll be back later."
The twins both glaced at each other and nodded shakily.
Barnabas grabbed his cloak and his cane, then left the house.
Annie walked over to a chair and sat down, burying her head in her hands, "He's gonna do it again. I don' know how much more of this I can take, knowing what he does every time he goes out at night."

Willie walked over and knelt in front of her, putting a gentle hand on her knee, "It'll be ok sis, somehow we'll git thru this." he was cut short by a knock at the door.
(geez there is a lot of knocking of doors in the chapter!)
Annie got up and answered it. When she did, she was shocked at the man who was standing there, "Tony? What're you doin' here?"