Chapter 21 - Falls Village Inn

Tom led Lee the rest of the way to the opening in back of the Post Office. Lee was amazed that the opening to the tunnel actually just looked like a City drain. There was a short ladder to climb in order to reach the street but the cover came off very easily and after a quick look to make sure no one was watching, Lee found himself out on the street. Tom had agreed that he should stay hidden and let people continue to believe that he had disappeared. Lee quickly put the cover back on and made his way the short couple of blocks to the Police Station. He walked up to the front desk and asked to see Officer Leeland. The desk clerk told him that Officer Leeland had gone out to dinner. Lee asked the clerk if he knew where he would have gone and the clerk shrugged and said that he mentioned something about Falls Village Inn. Lee was a little surprised that he would go there on his own but he thanked the clerk and decided to go check.

Lee entered the Inn and was truly blown away by the beauty of it. He couldn't be sure if all the furniture was original or if they had purchased it to look the part but it truly felt like walking into a time in history. His first thought was that Amanda would probably really love seeing this place. Lee quickly walked to the dining room but didn't see any sign of Sam. He walked back to the front desk so he could speak to the desk clerk.

"Excuse me, I am wondering if you have seen a friend of mine. His co-worker thought he might have come here for dinner but he isn't here now so I was wondering if he has already been here."

It took a few minutes for the clerk to raise his head and look at Lee and when he did, it gave Lee shivers. Something wasn't right because the way this man was looking at him gave him the creeps.

"Who are you looking for?" The clerk asked.

"Ummm, Officer Leeland."

"I haven't seen him but I just came on duty. Let me ask the man I'm replacing. I'll be right back."

Something told Lee to get out of there. It just didn't feel right but before he could make a move, Rusty came to the desk with a gun aimed at Lee's heart. "Well hello Mr. Stinson or should I call you by your real name? Mr. Stetson? That's right. I figured out who you are and why you are here. Now you are going to come quietly with me. Your buddy Sam is coming along too. I thought you both might like to check out the falls with me. I hear that falling down them makes for a quick death. I wouldn't want you to suffer too long after all. Lee had little choice but to do as he was told since Rusty's gun was still aimed at him.

SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK SMK

Amanda made it out of the tunnel and back into the Haunted House. She knew not to draw attention to herself so she walked normally to the barn to look for Bubba. Thankfully in the first barn she poked her head into, she found him. She quickly filled him in on everything she knew and the two of them went to let Margaret know what was going on.

Margaret listened closely at what Amanda told her and then said "What are we waiting for? Let's get moving."

"No" Bubba said.

"What?" Margaret asked.

"No, I'm sure Lee doesn't want Amanda involved and I don't want you involved either. I want you to stay in this meeting room and lock yourselves in until we capture these creeps. This is way too dangerous for you ladies."

"Who says it is all that safe for you?" Margaret asked.

"Oh Margaret, please don't argue with me. I'm going now so you please just do as I asked.

He left the room and waited to hear the lock slide into place. Margaret went over and locked the door while winking at Amanda. They waited a few minutes and then Amanda said "I can't believe he does that to you too. Lee does it to me ALL the time. Then he gets mad when I don't listen to him even though he knows he needs someone to watch his back for him."

"Well we aren't listening this time either. Come on, we'll take one of the vans. It will be faster."

Margaret and Amanda hurried out to the parking lot and got into one of the vans. It was nearly 7pm so Lee would be expecting them soon. When they arrived at the falls, they found the other van that Bubba took but they also found a farm bus there. There were several other vehicles in the parking lot too and immediately they wondered if innocent people might get in the way of whatever was happening.

Margaret said "I don't like this. Something isn't right. Amanda, we better get up to the falls and see what is going on, don't you agree?"

"I definitely do."

Just as they got out of the van, they heard a gunshot and they both looked at each other with terror in their eyes.

TBC