Читать книгу Legacy: Phoenix and the Dark Star - Gerald Pruett - Страница 8

Chapter Four

The conversation from Dr. Pendell’s office to a twenty-four-hour drugstore had remained casual. Their time within the drugstore was short before reaching the moderate size checkout line with their items to be purchased.

Lance glanced at the box of tampons before saying, “So not to give the cashier double work, we’ll combine our purchases. So let me have your money.”

“Alright,” Ellen said before pulling out her money from her front pocket and handing it to Lance.

When Everett saw beef jerky on one of the shelves at the checkout line, he grabbed a few bags to be purchased. He then saw that Ellen was looking at the bags in his hands.

“There’s a lot of protein in beef jerky,” Everett supplied.

Ellen amusingly grinned before saying, “I just assumed you just like beef jerky.”

“I do actually, but I mainly get them for the protein.”

“Okay,” Ellen said in an appeasing tone as a muscular twenty-something-year-old man with a full beard stepped in line behind her group. Ellen glanced at the man and saw that he was carrying shaving supplies. After seeing what the man was carrying, Ellen faced forward.

Once Ellen, Everett and Lance had finally reached the cashier, the cashier stared puzzlingly into Ellen’s face.

As Ellen was returning the puzzled look that she was receiving, Lance asked the cashier, “Is there anything wrong?”

The cashier broke his stare, and as he went to scan the first item, he said, “There’s nothing wrong.”

Ellen shook off the incident, and as she glanced down at the item that was being scanned, she noticed a thorn vine tattoo that encircled the cashier’s right wrist. Ellen then noticed that the tattoo was tattooed over a thick scar that also encircled the wrist.

Ellen quickly grabbed the cashier’s right hand and flipped it over in order to see the opposite side of his wrist.

As the cashier pulled his hand from Ellen’s grasp, he uttered, “Excuse me!”

Ellen locked eyes with the cashier before saying, “I know you.”

“I have been working here for six years, so…” the cashier was only able to get out.

Everett and Lance had confused expressions on their faces as Ellen interrupted with, “You’re Tucker Wiley.”

Lance saw the fear in the cashier’s face before he told Ellen, “You-you’re mistaken. My name is David Robinson.”

“You weren’t killed thirty-two years ago,” Ellen continued as if the cashier didn’t speak.

“Kid, you have me confused with someone else,” the cashier told Ellen.

“My name is Ellen, and I’m your sister’s daughter,” Ellen informed.

An acknowledging expression, that Lance saw, came across the cashier’s face before the cashier said, “I’m not your uncle, Ellen…”

“She died back in June from a brain tumor,” Ellen informed.

“Ellen, stop,” the cashier demanded. “I’m not Tucker Wiley. I’m not your mom’s brother.”

Ellen glanced at the cashier’s right wrist before saying, “You were twelve when your right hand was severed off after my mom had accidentally shoved you into a large glass window. She shoved you to keep you from accidentally stepping on your pet hamster. She prayed from the time when your hand was severed off to the time that it was reattached that you wouldn’t lose your hand. And even after learning that you would recover full use of your hand, she felt so guilty for what had happened to you that she had done your chores for two years.”

The cashier grinned before correcting, “It was nineteen months actually. It would’ve been longer if your grandpa didn’t intervene and insisted that I do my own chores.”

“So you are Tucker Wiley?” Lanced questioned.

“I am,” he replied. “And my handler isn’t going to believe that I was identified by my sister’s daughter.”

“Handler?” Ellen echoed in a confused tone.

Tucker leaned closer before whispering, “For the past thirty-two years, I’ve been in the witness protection program.”

The customer behind Ellen’s group asked impatiently, “Can we move along here? I have somewhere to be.”

“Of course,” Tucker told the customer. As he continued to scan the remaining items he asked Ellen’s group, “Can you three stick around for a few minutes?”

“We can spare a few minutes,” Lance told him.

Tucker nodded before announcing the total amount that Lance owed. Lance pulled out the money and handed it to Tucker. Tucker put the money into the cash drawer before handing Lance his change. Before Tucker went to the next customer, he picked up the phone and dialed it. After a short wait he requested for someone to come to his register to take over for him.

After Tucker hung up, he told Ellen’s group, “Once Dennis gets over here, we’ll talk.”

“In the meantime, can you wait on me?!” the customer behind Ellen’s group strongly requested.

“Of course, sir,” Tucker told him.

As Tucker went to scan the customer’s first item, Lance gestured away from the register while saying, “Let’s move over there, out of the way.”

As Ellen, Everett and Lance were stepping away from the checkout line, Everett asked Ellen, “When do you need to be home?”

The customer behind Ellen’s group had partially heard what Everett had said and demanded, “Excuse me!”

“Sir?” Tucker questioned in a confused tone.

“Not you, him,” the customer clarified while gesturing towards Everett. Ellen, Everett and Lance looked back towards the customer. “The boy who’s running his mouth.”

Lance stepped up to the customer and asked, “Is there a problem, sir?”

“Yes, there’s a problem,” the man began. “My girlfriend had failed to buy me shaving cream, razors and aftershave, and because of that, I’m running late for my new job that I have to be completely shaved for. So I’m in no mood in listening to inappropriate mumbles from that boy about me needing to be somewhere.”

“Sir, what you heard was my son asking his girlfriend when she needed to be home,” Lance informed.

The man snarled slightly before saying, “You wouldn’t tell me the truth anyway.”

“Sir, I suggest that you pay for your shaving items and leave,” Lance told him.

“And you will do what if I don’t?” the man challenged.

“Sir, if you don’t want to spend the night in a holding cell for public nuisance, you will pay for your items and leave without saying another word.”

“Call the police,” the man again challenged. “I can break you in half and leave before they show up.”

Lance pulled out his wallet while saying, “I am the police. I’m Detective Lance Delaney.”

“Detective Lance Delaney?” the man echoed curiously as he stared at Lance’s detective badge. “Kristen Delaney’s husband?”

“You know my wife?” Lance asked curiously as he put his wallet away.

“I was an orderly at the hospital where your wife works,” the man began. “Last month your wife had busted me over something and then done me a great favor by giving me the option of quitting instead of getting fired or going to jail. Of course at the time I didn’t see it as being a favor, but I do now. So tell her thanks for me.”

“And you are?” Lance questioned.

“I’m Ike Leman,” he said.

“Mr. Leman, I’m going to do you a favor myself and ignore your comment of breaking me in half,” Lance said.

Ike nodded while saying, “I appreciate that.”

“Now pay for your shaving items and leave,” Lance ordered.

“Yes, Detective Delaney,” Ike said before turning towards Tucker.

Lance turned towards Ellen and Everett before gesturing and repeating, “Let’s move over there, out of the way.”

As Ellen, Everett and Lance were walking away, Ike was paying for his purchases. Dennis was stepping up to the register as Tucker was handing Ike his change.

Ike turned, and as he was walking away from the register, he glanced at Ellen’s group for a moment. Ellen watched Ike for a short time and then turned towards Tucker.

Tucker was walking towards Ellen’s group when Ellen turned to look, and as Tucker stepped up, he said, “Okay, I can talk.”

“You’ve been in the witness protection program for the past thirty-two years?” Ellen asked.

“Yes,” Tucker replied. “And out of those thirty-two years not once have my true identity been discovered. How you—someone who wasn’t born way back then—had managed to identify me, is beyond me.”

“Mom had showed me a picture of her dad… of your dad, and you currently look much like him… from when the picture was taken,” Ellen began. Tucker just grinned. “That fact and the fact that you have a thick scar that encircles your right wrist were all I needed to identify you.”

“And again my handler is going to find it hard to believe that I was identified by a niece who I never met,” Tucker supplied.

“Did Grandma and Grandpa go into witness protection program too?” Ellen asked.

“Yes, they’re in the program as well,” Tucker said.

“They’re alive?” Ellen quickly and surprisingly asked.

“They are…” Tucker was only able to get out.

“Are they here in Savannah, Georgia?” Ellen interrupted.

Tucker slightly grinned before saying, “They live ten minutes from here.”

“I want to meet them,” Ellen insisted.

“They’ll want to meet you too, but I’m not sure how possible it will be,” Tucker said.

“Why not?” Ellen demanded to know.

“Our handler might object to it,” Tucker supplied.

When a confused expression came across Ellen’s face, Lance explained, “There are protocols to follow, Ellen, and the fact that your uncle is currently talking to you activates a relocation protocol.”

“What do you mean?” Ellen demanded.

“There’s a good chance that your grandparents and your Uncle Tucker will be relocated to a different part of the country over you identifying your uncle,” Lance said.

An annoyed expression came across Ellen’s face before she asked, “Why are you in the witness protection program anyway?”

“Your grandparents and I witnessed a man named Liam Seawall murdering someone…” Tucker was only able to get out.

“Any relationship to Clayton Seawall?” Ellen interrupted.

“Liam was Clayton’s father, and if it wasn’t for a man named Alex Anderson, your grandparents and I would be dead too.”

“What do you mean… about Alex Anderson?” Ellen quickly asked as she, Everett and Lance stared curiously at him.

“He worked for Liam, and after we had witnessed the murder, he had allowed us to escape undetected by Liam,” Tucker said. “Of course, by his son Mitchell dating my sister at the time…” Tucker quit talking and stared intensely into Ellen’s face for a brief moment. “Mitchell Anderson is your dad, isn’t he?”

Ellen took a breath before nodding and requesting, “Please don’t hold that against me though.”

Tucker shot Ellen a confused look while saying, “I like your dad. He’s a good guy.”

“Obviously those thirty-two years in witness protection program had left you out of touch with reality,” Ellen replied.

“You think that your dad is a bad man?” Tucker asked confusingly.

“My dad and grandpa… my Grandpa Alex had worked for Clayton Seawall before Clayton Seawall had gone to prison sixteen years ago.” Ellen informed. “And my dad had gone to prison sixteen years ago himself for thirteen years over accidentally killing four of my siblings and my Grandpa Alex while fleeing from the police.”

Tucker hesitated for a moment before saying, “Okay, well, I have no response for him getting your Grandpa Alex and siblings killed; however, if he worked for Clayton, he only did it to protect your mom.”

“What do you mean?” Ellen quickly asked.

“Liam had his hands in everything illegally imaginable, and your Grandpa Wendell had owed Liam ten thousand dollars over a gambling debt,” Tucker began. “Your Grandpa Wendell, Grandma Deloris and I were at Liam’s mansion so your Grandpa Wendell could pay back that debt; however, before he could, we witnessed Liam shooting someone…”

“What does that have to do with my dad working for Clayton Seawall?” Ellen interrupted.

“Although your Grandpa Wendell had the money, he never got the chance to pay back his debt, and the Seawalls had the habit of going after the next of kin for people’s debts,” Tucker continued. “Your dad loved my sister… your mother. And I’ll bet anything that your dad took on my dad’s debt in order to keep the Seawalls from going after your mother.”

With a confused expression across her face, Ellen questioned, “Why didn’t he tell me this four years ago… when he was attempting to bond with me?”

“Most likely your dad didn’t want your mom learning about any debt that your Grandpa Wendell had racked up,” Tucker guessed. “And because of your Grandpa Wendell’s and Grandma Deloris’s testimonies against Liam over murder, your dad might’ve racked up a large debt of his own in order to keep your mom off of the Seawall’s hit list.”

“Okay, my dad had definitely left out a huge chunk of his life story when he was telling me his life story,” Ellen replied.

“How old are you, Ellen?” Tucker asked.

“Sixteen,” Ellen answered. “Why?”

“You’re my niece and I’m just curious of your age,” Tucker replied. “And you had four siblings?”

“Five total, but they’re all dead,” Ellen said. Tucker frowned slightly. “Three of my brothers and my sister had died seven and a half months before I was even born, and Michael—the oldest sibling to us all—and his wife Tanya had died last month in an auto accident. He was twenty-nine.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your mom and siblings,” Tucker said sympathetically.

“Thanks,” Ellen said. She then gestured towards her group. “Anyway, this is my boyfriend Everett and his dad Detective Lance Delaney.”

“Good meeting you folks,” Tucker told Everett and Lance.

“Good meeting you,” Lance and Everett echoed.

“So, Ellen, how long have you and your dad been living here in Savannah, Georgia?” Tucker asked.

“I don’t live with my dad,” Ellen replied. “He lives in Independence, Missouri, and I’ve been living here for only a couple of weeks.”

Tucker gave Ellen an incredulous look before pointing out, “You’re too young to be living on your own. So who are you living with?”

“With Harris and Allyson Bradley. Harris is Tanya’s brother.” When Tucker gave an acknowledging nod, Ellen continued with, “Could you hold out on informing your handler about you being identified by me until after I meet Grandpa and Grandma?”

Tucker took a breath before saying, “Give me your contact information, Ellen, and I will see what I can do for you to meet your grandparents and cousins.”

“Okay,” Ellen agreed, “but I’ll need a pen and paper.”

Tucker nodded before saying, “I’ll get them for you.”

Ellen nodded before Tucker turned and walked away. Tucker was gone for a short time before returning with a notepad and a pen.

As Tucker held out the items for Ellen to take, he said, “Here you go.”

Ellen took the items without saying a word and flipped to the first blank page before proceeding to write down her address, the numbers to her house phone and cell phone and her Email address.

Once the information was written down, she held out the notepad and pen for Tucker to retake.

Tucker took the items before telling Ellen, Everett and Lance, “It was good meeting you three, but I need to get back to work.”

“We need to get going anyway,” Lance said.

“I hope I see you again,” Ellen told Tucker.

Tucker grinned before saying, “Me too. Anyway, take care, Ellen.”

Ellen nodded while echoing, “Take care.”

“Bye,” Lance said followed by Everett.

Tucker nodded before turning and walking away.

As Tucker was walking towards his cash register, Ellen, Everett and Lance walked towards the exit.

A few minutes later, Lance was letting Ellen and Everett out at Ellen’s house.

Before Everett could shut his door, Lance told him, “Be ready to go at nine.”

“Okay, Dad,” Everett replied before shutting his door.

As Ellen—with her book bag and the bag of her purchased item in her hands—and Everett walked towards the front door, Lance drove away.

Ellen led the way into the house, and once in the living room, Ellen and Everett saw that Jessica and Karla were there, in the living room, while sitting in dining room chairs.

Blaire, Devon and Trevor were sitting on the couch. Blaire was gently and playfully bouncing Sonya in her lap. Harris and Allyson were sitting on the love seat while Sadie was sitting in the armchair. A music CD was playing at a comfortable level in the background.

Ellen shot Jessica and Karla a confused look before asking them, “Where’s your two’s car?”

“Our dad drove us here,” Karla said as Ellen put her book bag and the drugstore bag down next to one of the end tables.

“Ah,” Ellen said in an understanding tone before gesturing towards Everett. “Anyway, for the ones who don’t know Everett, this is he. Everett, meet Blaire, Devon, Trevor and Sadie.”

“Hi,” Everett, Blaire, Devon, Trevor and Sadie said in an uneven chorus.

“So you’re the witch-finder,” Blaire continued.

Everett shrugged while saying, “I guess I am.”

“I know for a fact that a witch-finder is what you are,” Blaire told him.

“Okay,” Everett said, skeptically.

“From a spell, William the Conqueror had turned a talented group of archers into witch-finders prior to his invasion of England in order for those archers to spot a witch or a wizard among the apposing army,” Sadie shared with Everett. “When William the Conqueror and his men did invade, those archers were instructed to go after the witches and wizards as they spotted them. What William the Conqueror didn’t take into account is that the ability to spot witches and wizards would be passed down to those archers’ descendants.”

Everett slightly grinned while saying, “That’s an interesting fun fact.”

“So have Jessica and Karla been filled in on things?” Ellen asked.

“They’ve been told,” Blaire said, “but before I continue with more than that, I need to know what all have you told Everett.”

“I told him about the Tri-Star Confederation, your offer for me to join the confederation and the definition of Immortal Magic,” Ellen began. “I didn’t think to tell him the part about him being a witch-finder.”

“Everett, I was hoping that Ellen would decide not to tell you, but since she had, you must understand the importance of keeping the existence of the Tri-Star Confederation a secret,” Blaire said.

“I’ll keep the secret,” Everett replied. “I promise.”

“I hope so,” Blaire said.

“So, Jessica? Karla? Have you two accepted the offer of joining?” Ellen asked.

“We accepted,” Jessica and Karla said.

“Blaire said that you haven’t given your answer yet,” Karla continued.

“I thought about it, and I’ve decided to join,” Ellen said while looking towards Blaire.

“Excellent,” Blaire said. “So does anyone have any questions?”

“Has Harry joined?” Ellen quickly asked while glancing at him.

“I have,” Harris said.

“So are there any other questions,” Blaire asked.

“Have you talked to Jessica and Karla about those books?” Ellen asked.

“We were about to get to that when you and Everett were joining us,” Blaire said.

“What books?” Jessica asked.

“Those ancient books… or documents that your grandfather owned,” Ellen said.

“Jessica. Karla. With your permission, Devon, Trevor and I would like to look at those books or documents,” Blaire said.

‘Sure’ and ‘Okay’ were the responses that Blaire received from Jessica and Karla.

“It’s actually only one book though,” Jessica informed. “And how soon do you want to look at it?”

“Until this wizard in New Orleans is dealt with, Devon, Trevor, Sadie and I won’t be going anywhere,” Blaire began. “So at your convenience.”

“Okay,” Jessica said.

“I have a question that I want to ask, but I keep forgetting to,” Everett announced.

“Ask it,” Devon urged.

“From Ellen, I learn that crystal balls are real,” Everett began. “But what about magical wands?”

“Everett, I’m going to assume that you know how to operate a computer,” Trevor said.

“I do,” Everett said in a confused tone.

“So you would know about keyboard shortcuts?” Trevor questioned.

“Again, yes,” Everett replied in the same confused tone.

“Okay, well, a magical wand is nothing more than a magical token, and any object can be turned into a magical token, and magical tokens are nothing more than shortcuts to predetermine spells,” Trevor informed.

“Give a better example,” Ellen requested with a confused expression on her face.

Trevor grinned before saying, “The ‘levitating an object’ spell is eight lines long, but you can cast an incantation on a wand that will make the wand levitate an object with a single command word.”

“And any object can be turned into a magical token that will make things levitate?” Ellen questioned.

“Yes, but obviously carrying or waving a statue around to levitate things would be impractical… plus making you look ridiculous,” Trevor began. Ellen just amusingly grinned. “So most objects of choice that are turned into magical tokens are jewelry, rocks, wands and staffs. And when a wizard or a sorceress chooses to use a wand or a staff as a token, it’s mainly to dazzle or confound the attended audience. Also you can have as many magical tokens as you want; however, you will have to give each token its own individual command word or phrase, otherwise you will activate multiple tokens at the same time.”

“Make sense,” Karla said.

“Oh, and don’t fret if any of you would ever lose a magical token,” Devon added. “Magical tokens only work for the witch or the wizard who the tokens were cast for.”

“That’s not a completely true statement,” Blaire quickly informed while glancing between Jessica and Karla. Everyone gave Blaire a curious look. “Blood is what binds a token to a person, and since twins… especially identical twins share the exact blood type and DNA, a token will work for either twin regardless of which twin that the token was cast for.”

“Yes,” Devon agreed in a tone as if the knowledge of that fact had suddenly come back to him. “Twins are the only exceptions to my last statement. Anyway, Ellen, Jessica and Karla, here’s another tidbit that you three might be interested in. By becoming stage magicians—and as long as you three keep the spells small and trivial—you three can mask the fact that you three are practicing witchcraft in public. So if, or when people would see you performing witchcraft, those people will think that it’s a part of your bag of stage tricks.”

“There’s a thought,” Karla said.

“That would also ease Sonya into the world of witchcraft too, by introducing her to stage magic first,” Ellen added.

“It would,” Blaire agreed.

“Except I don’t want a career as a stage magician,” Ellen continued.

“You don’t have to make a career out of it,” Trevor told Ellen. “Just take it up as a hobby; however, people will need to see you practicing that hobby before that façade will work.”

When Ellen nodded in agreement with a polite grin, Devon said, “Here’s another tidbit that you might or might not be familiar with. The spell that changes man into beasts predates documented history, so lycanthropy—L-Y-C-A-N-T-H-R-O-P-Y—and liken—L-I-K-E-N—are one and the same, and as far as I know, both of those words had appeared in history at around the same time. However, some people choose to think of lycanthropy as the science behind the liken spell.”

“And if you talk to anyone who studies or teaches myths or folklore, those people will most likely use the term lycanthropy… or—thanks to the ‘Underworld’ series—the word lycan—L-Y-C-A-N. So keep that fact in mind if a discussion comes up at school about it,” Blaire added. “Anyway, are there any other questions?”

As Ellen tried to think of any questions that she might want answered, Jessica said, “I don’t have any.”

“I don’t have any either,” Karla said.

“What about voodoo dolls?” Everett asked, as if it was an afterthought. “Are they real?”

“Yes… and no,” Trevor informed.

“Yes and no?” Ellen echoed curiously.

“To put a hex on someone, the witch or wizard would wrap the victim’s nail clippings, the victim’s hair and a small amount of the victim’s blood inside an enclosed sack, and then chant the appropriate hex incantation,” Trevor explained. “I’ve heard those sacks called several things, including hex bags. In any case, a voodoo doll is nothing more than a hex bag. And the only reason why a witch or a wizard would make the hex bag look like a doll is to openly scare the victim, and by openly scaring the victim, the victim could do more harm to him or herself while trying to avoid the hex dangers than the hex spell could ever do.”

“Also, movies and storybooks do exaggerate the hex bag’s power,” Blaire added before looking towards Ellen. “And for examples, you can’t drown a person by immersing a voodoo doll underwater, or suffocate the person by putting the doll inside an airtight enclosure, or even burning the person by lighting it on fire. In fact, the only way to harm a person with a hex bag, is by casting a malicious incantation on it—and even that, the number of incantations that will work on a hex bag are very limited.”

“What kind of malicious incantation will work with a hex bag?” Ellen asked.

“Incantations that can interfere with someone’s physical or mental health,” Blaire began. “However, those health hexes are mild, but accumulative, so it may take up to a year or longer to see any change in the victim’s health. Anyway, there are hexes that can give someone either specific or random nightmares, or even prevent them from sleeping all together. There’s also a hex that can turn someone into a total klutz… there’s more, but I can’t currently think of them. Anyway, any more questions?”

“No,” Jessica and Karla said.

“The magical wand and the voodoo dolls were all I was wondering about,” Everett said.

When everyone turned towards Ellen, Ellen said, “I don’t have any questions.”

“Ellen, Jessica and Karla, I have a question for you three,” Devon began. When they gave him their focus, he asked, “Are you three virgins?”

“That’s a personal question,” Jessica shot at him before Ellen or Karla could respond.

“You’re right, and you three don’t have to answer, but if any of you are a virgin, I highly recommend that you three lose your virginity,” Devon told them.

“You’re telling us to have sex?” Ellen demanded to know.

“No-no, I’m not telling you to become sexually active,” Devon began. “I’m just recommending for you to lose your virginity if you’re a virgin, and you only have to have sex once for that.”

“Why?” Ellen quickly asked.

“Sacrificing virgins might make good horror movie plots, but they’re also a fact,” Devon began. “And if that sacrificing virgin happens to be a wizard or a sorceress then the benefits of the spell doubles for the one who’s performing the ritual.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ellen told Devon.

“Okay,” Devon said.

“Alright, well, if no one has anything to add or to ask, we’re through here,” Blaire said.

After a short moment of silence, Ellen said, “I do have something to tell Harris and Allyson, and it doesn’t really matter who hears.”

“What is it?” Allyson asked.

“My mom’s brother and parents didn’t die in a car accident as reported thirty-two years ago,” Ellen began. Except for Everett, everyone gave Ellen a curious look. “In fact, they’re very much alive and living here in Savannah, Georgia, and I had met my uncle just before returning home.” Ellen gestured towards the bag that she had brought in while continuing with, “He works at the drugstore.”

“And you had no clue of your grandparents or uncle being alive?” Karla was the one to ask.

Ellen shook her head before explaining, “They went into the witness protection program thirty-two years ago after witnessing Liam Seawall murdering someone, and Liam Seawall is Clayton Seawall’s father.”

“And who’s Clayton Seawall?” Jessica asked.

“The crime lord that my dad had worked for before my dad went to prison,” Ellen replied.

“And you’re certain that the guy you’d met was your uncle?” Harris asked.

“I’m very certain,” Ellen assured Harris.

“I can vouch of how certain she is,” Everett added. “In fact, the man was trying to deny it at first, but when Ellen wouldn’t let up on him of him being her uncle, he finally came clean of who he was and why he was in hiding.”

“Could this guy have been telling you what you had wanted to hear, Ellen?” Allyson asked. “Just to shut you up?”

“No, he’s definitely my uncle,” Ellen replied. “And I knew who he was as soon as I saw a thick scar that encircled his right wrist.”

“And you knew what your uncle’s scar had looked like?” Jessica asked.

Ellen took a breath before saying, “When my mom was fifteen and my uncle was twelve, my mom had shoved my uncle back to keep him from stepping on a hamster; however, when my uncle was shoved back, he fell into a large glass window and his right hand was severed off at the wrist. It had been successfully reattached, but from the day of the accident to the day when my mom had died, she had always felt guilty that her brother had almost lost his hand from her shoving him back. And that scar at his right wrist and him favoring the picture that I have of my mom’s dad were how I recognized him.”

“Okay, I’m convinced that you had met your uncle,” Harris began. “So what does that mean exactly?”

Ellen shot Harris a confused look before asking, “What do you mean?”

“You chose to live with Allyson and me because of your feelings towards your dad…” Harris was only able to get out.

“This is my home,” Ellen interrupted. Harris and Allyson pleasantly grinned. “You, Allyson and Sonya are my family. My grandparents and uncle might be blood relatives, but they are also complete strangers to me and I won’t trade family for strangers no matter who those strangers might be. So the only thing I want from this is for me to get to know them.”

“Okay,” Harris pleasantly agreed.

“Of course there’s a good chance that I will never see them again,” Ellen added.

“Why do you say that?” Allyson asked.

“While my uncle and grandparents are in the witness protection program, they are not allowed to live in a city where someone knows their true names. And since I had correctly identified my uncle, my uncle and grandparents will most likely be relocated to a city where they can continue their aliases without fear of being discovered.”

“Are you okay with that?” Allyson asked sympathetically.

“I have to be,” Ellen replied. “I did give my uncle our address and the phone numbers to the house and to my cell phone.”

Allyson grinned before saying, “That’s fine.”

“Anyway, if we’re through here, there’s something I want to do before it gets too late,” Ellen said.

“And what are you planning on doing?” Allyson asked.

“Andie’s uncle lives a couple of blocks from us, and I’m going to talk with him… in Andie’s behalf,” Ellen explained.

“Ellen, you shouldn’t be involving yourself in other people’s family matters,” Allyson told her.

“Andie shouldn’t be on those drugs that her parents have her on,” Ellen retorted. “And I’m going to do what I can to convince Andie’s family of that—without getting myself into legal trouble.”

Allyson sighed before saying, “If your mind is set on talking to Andie’s uncle, I have no doubt that you’ll find a way; however, if I have to bail you out of jail because of it…”

“You won’t,” Ellen interrupted. “Getting myself into trouble won’t help Andie or me, and if I don’t at least talk to Andie’s uncle or do what I can within reason to help Andie, then I would feel like… like a lifeguard who had allowed a drowning swimmer to drown.”

“Fine, go,” Allyson told Ellen in a defeated tone. “We’re going out to eat in an hour, so be back before then.”

“Okay,” Ellen said as Jessica and Karla stood up.

Ellen glanced at Jessica and Karla before turning towards the exit and walking away. Everett, Jessica and Karla followed Ellen out.