Chapter 14

Oriana wondered about Vicky. She certainly didn't like her. No more than Phillip did. Yet she now insisted to come shopping with her. She was even acting friendly towards her...

Of course, it had to do with getting a ride to town. And then you had to remember that Vicky had been released from Wyncliffe not too long ago. Evidently too soon...

Vicky slipped the lace in her pocket, nodding to the man that the sheriff had put in the store. Now only she had to get to Oriana's handbag, put there the lace, and walk away.

It took time, as Oriana kept the handbag close to her. Finally the chance came. Oriana took a blouse and examined it.

"I think it would look good on you" Vicky said.

"I am not sure."

"Why not try it on?"

"I don't know if I like it so much" Oriana studied it in the mirror, holding it against her body. As she did this, she stopped paying attention to her handbag.

Quickly Vicky slipped the lace into the handbag and stepped back, nodding to the man.

Oriana turned to look at another blouse, but before she could move two steps there was a tap on her shoulder.

"Would you mind coming with us, miss?"

Vicky could not hide her smile. She was going to get what was coming to her, for what she was doing to Barnabas.

Then they tapped her shoulder too.

"Will you come with us, too?"

"Didn't the sheriff tell you that I leave?"

"The sheriff said to bring in both of you."

"Why?" she asked.

"Please, don't make trouble."

Then she understood. George Brant had betrayed them. He had gotten her and Oriana out of the house and now he would go for Phillip, pretending to be a friend...

She screamed and tried to run. It took three of them to subdue her, and she was carried to the car kicking and screaming.

Oriana looked at her with grim amusement. "They double-crossed you, didn't they? Serves you right for trusting them."

"It is your fault!" Vicky shouted "You pushed Barnabas to this! Now they are going to kill him because of you!"

The deputies looked at each other. "Better put them in separate cells. We don't want a murder."


Something was wrong. Phillip could not understand where the feeling came from. Maybe it hadn't worked. Maybe Oriana had seen through Vicky.

Then he saw the squad car approach, and George get out of it.

"How did it go?"

"We just booked Oriana. She insists she's being framed, but it won't do any good."

"Where's Vicky?"

"She's a witness, so they are taking her statement. We are considering telling Barnabas that we'll drop all charges against Oriana if he stops going to the shopping center."

"That might work."

"Do you want to come to the station?"

Phillip shook his head. "I can't and you know why."

"You are keeping guard, I see. Vicky told me that you have a gun on you."

"I feel I need it."

"Do you know how to handle it? I've seen too many people get hurt because they didn't"

"I know."

"I'd feel safer if you took it off."

"I can't"

"Oh, well. In that case, I will stay here until he gets up. It is better if you are not alone here. Two is more protection that one, specially if one of us has a badge. Those who'd think nothing of shooting at you will balk at shooting me."

"You are right."

"I would like some coffee, by the way."

Phillip smiled. "As long as it isn't Barnabas who makes it?"

"Right!"

Phillip turned around to go to the kitchen, and as he did, George jumped him from behind.

"What?" he said with surprise. In a few seconds he was on the floor, one arm twisted behind him, the other pinned under his body, with the sheriff's knee holding the gun against the floor s as it hung from his shoulder holster.

Then his hands were cuffed behind his back, he was made to stand and saw the sheriff take the gun away.

"I am sorry Phillip. It has to be this way."

"You! You are one of them!"

"It seems so. But I promise that I won't let them hurt Barnabas."

Phillip had begun kicking and trying to bite, so George secured him to a chair and called for a deputy to come pick him up.

The next few minutes until the deputy came were very painful as Phillip kept insulting him and he could not be completely sure that he could protect Barnabas. He endured the insults. He did not even try to gag Phillip. He had earned the right to say those things to him.

Finally the deputy came and took Phillip away. "We put Miss Falchi in a separate cell" he said, before leaving.

"That's smart thinking." George said "but I think that you can put him with Miss Winters."

He went back to the house. He should now call Sabrina and tell her that the coast was clear. But not yet. He had to see Barnabas first.

He bent over the unconscious face "I can't do anything else" he said softly "please try to understand."


There was something chilling about Sabrina Jennings, so remorselessly efficient, so unflappable. Roxanne Drew had said it "Sabrina Jennings isn't afraid of anything and that makes her so scary."

Certainly she wasn't afraid of what she was doing to Barnabas.

"I thought first of taking his coffin and all, but that would make it difficult to smuggle him in Collinwood."

"So you'll do your way. What about Roger?"

"Redwolf's people are holding him."

"He's not hurt, I hope."

"Only in his pride." she took out her supplies. Strong adhesive tape, a length of strong rope, and a couple of crosses. She took the rope and used it to tie Barnabas' wrists together."

"He's going to break it." George said.

"Not if I hang a cross from it. I thought of hanging one from his neck but that would paralyze him. I want him able to walk."

"Use this" he gave her his cuffs "It will be more comfortable for him than your rope."

George looked with distaste how she cuffed Barnabas's wrists, and then hung the cross from the handcuffs. He hated it, but he had to agree. Barnabas was not likely to go willingly, but this way he would have no choice.

"Must they come with us?" he indicated the three men that Redwolf had lent Sabrina.

"I am taking no chances. He will be less likely to try to bold if he knows that there are four guns with silver bullets aimed at his heart..

She tore a length of tape and stuck it over Barnabas's mouth.

"There is no need for that. Are you afraid that he'll cry for help?"

"You know what kind of trouble he can make with his mouth. I want to make sure that he does not try to control one of us."

Having decided that Barnabas could only come along meekly, she pulled back and lit a cigarette.

"Put that out!" George growled.

"What? It bothers you?:

"It bothers him. It is bad enough that he's wake up like this. He shouldn't be subject to cigarette smoke too."

"Why do you think it will make much of a difference?"

"I want to make him as comfortable as possible. But I don't think that you could understand that."

Sabrina shrugged "All right."

George hated her. and if you were to judge by George's reaction, Chris would not like her much, either, after this was known.

...And come to think of it, why was Chris so important anyway?


Things were not as they were supposed to be. That was his first thought as he returned to consciousness.

He was weak, ghastly weak. And there was this something forcing his mouth closed..

He tried to lift his hands but he could not make them obey him. He tried to speak, but he could not even part his lips.

Then he opened his eyes and saw Sabrina.

"We have silver bullets in our guns, so don't try anything. I'd rather not blindfold you, but if you try hypnotism, I will.

He did not think he could, anyway. He felt too weak for it. He barely could move his fingers.

"I am sorry" George helped him to get out of the coffin "This was the best deal I could get for you. You will not be hurt."

Barnabas shook his head, trying to clear it. What did they want? What were they doing to him?"

"We are sending you into Parallel Time." George explained "You have friends there. There is the Roxanne Drew of that place. She is still waiting for you."

Barnabas grunted again, and there was some anger in his eyes.

"Try to understand."

"Are you coming along willingly or do we have to carry you? We can just tie your ankles and take as a package."

Barnabas turned his face to her, and had to endure the humiliation of having his scathing answer turned to meaningless sounds by the gag.

He looked at George again, accusingly.

"It is not as if we were killing you." George insisted.

He took a few steps, surprised to find that his legs still obeyed him. Not too well, but they did.

"Come, lean on me." George offered.

He turned away.

"Don't be proud, please." George said "you need support."

"And cut the martyr act." Sabrina said. "You know that this is more than you gave Woodard and the others."