Breaking the Chain (29 page)

             
Mary shuddered in Jack's arms. "Dykes?"
             
"He's dead, Mary." His grip tightened. "It's a good thing the cops killed him, because if they hadn't, I would've."
             
"Justine? Mrs. Milliron?"
             
"They're fine. They're in the kitchen making coffee. They needed something to take her mind off what happened to Sadie."
             
Mary glanced toward the old black woman, now covered with a blanket. "Sadie's gone. Dykes shot her. She was trying to protect us." Tears welled up in her eyes and moved slowly down her cheeks.
             
Jack rocked her back and forth. "I know, baby. I'm sorry."
             
Mary's shoulders shook as she wept for her friend. "It's all my fault, Jack. If I hadn't brought her here, this never would have happened."
             
Jack held her away from him. "It's not your fault, Mary. Listen to me. No matter what you might have said or done, Sadie knew she had to come back here to save you. She knew it, Mary, as sure as she knew her own name. She saw what would happen, and she loved you enough to give her life for you. It's not your fault, baby. There was nothing you could do to stop it."
             
"Here, I've brought you something to drink," Justine said, handing Jack a small glass filled with whiskey. "You drink this, Mary. It'll help you from going into shock." The old woman glanced at the blanket-shrouded body. "Sadie knew what was going to happen, Mary. She saw it a few days ago." Justine reached into her pocket and withdrew a letter. "I know this probably isn't the right time, but Sadie made me promise to give you this once everything was over."
             
Mary glanced down at the envelope. "You read it, Jack. I...I can't," she said, tears flowing down her cheeks.
             
"All right, baby." Jack shifted his body so he could open the letter.
             
             
Dear Mary:

             
I wanted to tell you that it ain't your fault I'm dead. I seen what was going to happen months ago, and I made up my mind to do what needed being done. Don't you fret none for me, 'cause I'm going to be with my beloved husband in heaven. I done made my peace with God and it's time for me to go. I'm ready.
             
If I can, I'm gonna try and pass what power I have on to you. You're like them other women in your family, strong and powerful. You gots the power, just make sure you use it for good, not evil. Power used for evil brings nothing but shame and sorrow to them that misuse it. Listen to what Jack thinks you ought to do with your power, 'cause it's one way you can use it for good. Take care and God bless,
             
Sadie
             
             
Jack folded the pages and tucked them back into the envelope while Mary sobbed. "It's okay, baby. See, I told you it wasn't your fault. Even Sadie said it wasn't." He caressed the side of her face and held her close.
             
Justine patted Mary's shoulder. "He's right, Mary. Don't you worry about Sadie; she's in heaven with her husband. She lived a good life, and it was her time to die. Take the gift of life she's given you and do something for good with it. You'll be fine." She squeezed Mary's arm one last time, then walked away.
             
"I wonder how Sadie knew about my ancestors having the power," Mary muttered to Jack. "You and I were the only ones besides Elizavon who knew about them. And, the little bit of information Aunt Elizavon wrote in her journal didn't say much. All she did was list their names, when and where they lived, and where they were buried. That was it."
             
"Well, I certainly didn't say anything to Sadie about them; she must have seen it in her dreams," Jack answered. "Otherwise, how could she have known?"
             
"We'll never know; it's too late to ask," Mary observed in a sad voice. She struggled to get up. "Is it okay to go upstairs and take a shower?" she asked. "I've got to get out of these clothes." She noted all the men standing in the room. "Who are these people? The police?"
             
Jack helped her to her feet. "DEA agents, I think. I saw them when I started toward the workshop. That's why I didn't come back. They made me stay away from the house while they were moving in on Sal's people. It would seem that Dykes' friend Sal is, or rather was, a pretty big narcotics dealer. Evidently he and Dykes were using the old slave tunnel to hide a big stash of illegal drugs that they planned to move upriver tonight. Somebody in Boston tipped off the DEA, and they were waiting when Sal and his men started to move the stuff out of the tunnel."
             
She stopped and placed a hand on his arm. "They don't think we had anything to do with it, do they?"
             
"I asked the same question. No, they knew Dykes was in on it, not us. Evidently they've had their eye on Dykes every since he started being a courier for Sal."
             
She nodded. "Dykes told me some of what was going. Evidently all those mechanical and weather problems were a ruse to cover his deliveries." She ran her fingers through her hair. "God, what a mess this has turned out to be. I sure hope it's over."
             
Jack patted her arm. "It's over, all right. What's left of Sal's men are in custody, the DEA guys have all the drugs, and as soon as they get everything they need for evidence, they're out of here. In a couple of days, our lives can get back to normal."
             
She snorted derisively. "Yeah. Right, Jack. When has our life ever been normal? If it's not ghosts bothering us, it's drug runners trying to use the old slave tunnel to hide narcotics. Do you ever think our life will be quote, unquote, normal?"
             
He wrapped one arm around her shoulder as they started up the stairs. "I don't know, baby. After all that's happened, I'm not even sure I want to stay in the bed and breakfast business."
             
She nestled closer to him. "I know what you mean. I thought having this plantation would be the dream of a lifetime come true. Instead, all it's brought us is sorrow, fear, and pain. I can't help wondering if we're not meant to own this house. Maybe everything that's happened is God's way of telling us we're not supposed to be here."
             
He released her as they entered the bedroom. "Well, it's not a decision we have to make right now. We have all the time in the world to think about it; we can decide what to do later."
             
She nodded. "Yeah." A mental image of her and Jack, walking hand-in-hand with a red-headed little girl flashed through her mind, followed by Sadie's final words. Had she, by some miracle, managed to conceive a child? Could that be the reason she'd felt nauseated in the plane? A feeling of joy, unlike anything she'd ever felt, soared through her entire being as the answer to her question came to her. She and Jack would have a child, a beautiful, red-headed little girl. Should she tell him? No, better not get his hopes up. Besides, he probably wouldn't believe her if she told him Sadie'd given her the power to see a glimpse of the future. A small, knowing smile spread across her lips. "Somehow, I get the distinct feeling that tomorrow will take care of itself. And, thanks to Sadie, we'll be here to greet it."
             
He paused, watching the span of emotions cross her face. "You sure about that?"
             
Her smile turned into a lopsided grin. "Oh yeah. I'm sure. Real sure."