Touched by Death (21 page)

Emile groaned softly. Jade watched as Dane ran his
hands over Emile, looking for injuries. "He's lying at an odd angle
but I can't find anything broken." He lifted his hand, rubbing
his fingers together, peering more closely under the dim moonlight.
"There's blood on the back of his head."

"Poor man. It's so damn dark here we can't see
anything clearly, anyway." She turned to the path. "I'm going
to go and grab a flashlight from the trailers." She stopped. "I
don't have the trailer keys with me."

"I'm not sure that's an issue. He's waking up
now."

She crouched in front of the two of them. "Did
you check the back of his head? Perhaps he fell on the rocks and hit
his head?"

"Yeah, there's blood here and on the ground beneath
him. Head injuries can really bleed." Dane glanced at her and nodded.
"He was probably searching for his father and fell."

"Let's hope he's not too badly hurt." As
she watched, Emile opened his eyes, his gaze widening as he took in
his location. Took in them.

"I'm fine." Emile tried to lurch to his
feet and fell sideways. Dane lunged to catch him before he fell again.

"Hey, take it easy. You've hit your head on a
rock."

"Is that why it feels like a watermelon about
to explode?"

Dane grinned at Emile's truculent tone.

Jade didn't know how to compare him to what was normal.
The few times she'd seen Emile, he'd been reserved and not terribly
communicative – about the same as now.

"Sit and relax for a moment or two." Jade
watched as Dane forcibly pressed Emile onto the closest rock.

"Do you know what happened?"

"Huh?" Emile peered up at Dane. "What
happened?"

"That's what I'm asking you. Do you know what
happened to you? What were you doing here?"

"I hit my head, you said."

Oh dear. Emile wasn't connecting the dots. Jade peered
into his eyes. Concussions were nothing to minimize and neither were
head wounds. "We should take him to the hospital."

"Hospital?" Emile reared upwards, swaying
slightly. "No hospital. Home. Emile go home."

"Okay. Home it is. Come on. Let's see if we can
get you to my truck."

Jade watched as Dane half-lifted the much smaller
man over the rough rocks to the path. She accepted the keys from Dane
and ran ahead to unlock the doors.

Emile settled into the passenger side. Jade ran around
and slid into the middle seat and buckled him in. Dane started the truck.
Just hearing the engine turn over and seeing the headlights come on
made her sigh with relief. Enough had gone wrong this night and her
skin prickled with foreboding.

Taking the road slowly, Dane bounced the truck to
John's gravel driveway and pulled in as close to the kitchen door as
he could. Lights were on inside. "Wait, Emile. I'm coming around."

Emile didn't say much and his breath was raspy and
unsteady.

Jade whispered, "Dane, he doesn't look so good.
We should take him straight to the hospital."

"I know." Grimly, Dane headed around the
truck and instead of coming to the passenger door, he knocked hard and
went into his brother's house. A cry, several shouts, followed by heavy
footsteps could be heard as John, Tasha and Dane raced back to the truck.
Jade stayed quiet while Tasha howled over her brother's condition.

John tried to comfort her. Dane tried to talk them
into taking Emile to the hospital to get checked out except when the
hospital was mentioned, Tasha started screaming at the top of her lungs.
Jade had never seen anything like it.

Actually that wasn't true. She'd seen too much like
it in the aftermath of the earthquake.

"Dane?"

He couldn't hear her. It occurred to her that Bruce
was a doctor too. In fact several of the team were doctors. Surely one
could come and take a look? Their professional opinion might sway this
emotional, nonsensical reaction. She hopped out of the truck and walked
over to see Dane standing still, staring at the sky in frustration.
She tugged on his sleeve and pulled him aside slightly. "Call Bruce.
He's a doctor. He won't mind helping out. You've helped us."

His face brightened. He pulled out his cell phone
and made the call. Walking away a distance, Jade studied the very pregnant
Tasha in front of her. She looked worse than her brother.

Her hair was mussed and hung lank – her eyes
wild. Jade couldn't quite see the whole picture, but she figured Meg
would know what to do or suggest.
If Meg were here.
Jade ran to Dane. "Have him bring Meg,
if she's there."

Dane frowned at her and repeated her request. After
closing his phone, he said, "Why Meg?"

"She's a doctor and a psychologist of some sort
too. I can't remember exactly what her degrees are."

He stared at her, not comprehending.

With a quick glance in Tasha's direction, she lowered
her voice. "Something's not right with Tasha?"

His eyes widened and he turned to study his sister-in-law.
Grim lines settled in. "She really doesn't look very good, does
she?"

"No."

"Let's hope someone can help. Things are deteriorating
on all sides here." Even as he finished speaking Emile slumped.
"Hey, watch him!" He raced over to Emile's side and helped
John who was struggled to hold Emile upright beside the truck.

"I'm fine. Leave me alone." Emile staggered,
tried to swat away their hands and stumbled to the door.

The two men stayed close, managing to get Emile inside.
Tasha stood outside and stared at the moon. As Jade approached warily,
she could hear Tasha muttering under her breath.

"Tasha come inside. Let's go in and sit down.
Get you off your feet." Jade suggested gently.

But Tasha just turned her head and her black eyes
wide and dark as obsidian, latched onto Jade. "It's too late."

"What's too late? Are you feeling okay?"
Jade couldn't hide her concern now. Fear radiated around her. From the
size of Tasha's belly, Jade guessed she wasn't far off her due date,
a month…two at the most. Jade gently put an arm around Tasha's shoulder
and urged Tasha into the house.

Tasha went meekly. Jade led her to the first chair
they came across. The men had Emile reclining on the couch. A plaid
blanket had been thrown over him.

Another brightly colored blanket lay over a second
chair. Jade picked it up and draped it around Tasha's shoulders then
gave her a quick hug. She gently patted Tasha's distended belly.

There was no response. Lucky baby; it was getting
to sleep through this nightmare.

Jade felt beyond useless as she wandered the kitchen
area, waiting. She noticed there was no tea kettle in the kitchen.

As she turned back to the men who argued in the middle
of the living room, she stopped and felt her insides pinch. She looked
and noticed the small, three- or four-inch-high papier-mâché
dolls hanging to dry on lengths of cord throughout the living room and
eating area. Like the ones in the market. Tasha reached up and offered
one to Jade. Not wanting to offend the woman, Jade accepted one and
put it in her pocket. For the first time, Tasha smiled at her. Briefly.
Then her face went blank again.

Creepy...
She remembered the old woman's warning and felt a
shiver across her back as she felt the bulge in her pocket. She'd throw
the doll away first chance she got, good or bad magic be damned.

Jade gulped loudly, her hand leaving her pocket to
massage her tight neck.
What the hell was going on here?
She stood and stared and ducked.
She didn't want to walk under those damn things.

And in the middle of the living room, under a doll
hanging low enough to tease his hair, Dane argued violently with his
brother.

His brother, shorter, chunkier, younger, was arguing
back just as strongly. She didn't want to know what it was about but
couldn't help overhearing because it was either stay in the room and
watch, or deal with Tasha. A sidelong glance toward the silent woman
had turned her back toward the men as they argued but she could still
hear.

"He needs to go to the hospital."

"He won't go."

"He's unconscious now; he doesn't have any say
in the matter."

"He'll be pissed when he wakes up."

"That won't matter because he may not wake up
if he doesn't go." Dane ran his fingers through his hair and his
elbow accidentally hit the doll. He glanced and half ducked. "What
the...?" He gazed around the living room as if seeing it for the
first time. "Jesus, there are even more of them now."

"Yeah, I commented on them earlier and she started
screaming that it was all my fault," John said. "That everything
bad that happens is because the grave was being opened." He stared
at his now-almost-catatonic wife, a bitter look crossing his face. "I'm
wondering if maybe
she's
to blame for everything instead."

Jade gasped softly.

Holding out his hands, John closed his eyes. "I'm
sorry. I don't mean that. But God, Dane, I don't know what to do anymore."

"Jesus. This is like a bad zombie movie."

John ran a weary hand down his face, and dropped down
on the arm of the couch at Emile's feet. "Yeah, only this isn't
fiction. When Tasha found out about Peppe disappearing, she really went
off the rails. I didn't understand half of what she was saying. Just
something about me not understanding how bad it could get if something
came out of the grave. I figured she was talking about bad spirits,
but I don't know if that's what concerns her about Peppe's disappearance
or not. And no, we still haven't found Peppe." He stared at Dane
with bloodshot eyes. "I don't know what the hell is going on anymore.
Thing are so out of control."

"Ya think? Look at your wife, for Christ's sake."

"I know." John closed his eyes. Worry pleated
his forehead. "She's fallen to pieces over Peppe and Emile."

"Then stay strong. Get someone over here to help
her. What about her aunt, cousins...? Isn't there...someone, anyone?"

"I have tried to contact several people. So far
I haven't been able to reach anyone." John turned and walked over
to Tasha. He crouched down in front of her. "Tasha? Honey? Look
at me."

Tasha raised her head and stared at John. Tears leaked
down her cheeks. He pulled her into his arms. "Oh, honey. It's
going to be okay. Take it easy."

She tucked her head into his shoulder as he rocked
her gently back and forth.

Jade walked over to Dane.

"Bruce should be here soon." Dane slipped
an arm around her shoulder and tucked her close. He dropped a kiss on
the top of her head. "Sorry. Not a great end to the evening."

"Not your fault." Appreciating the warmth
and comfort he offered, she relaxed against him.

Lights of an approaching vehicle flashed in the window.
"Oh thank God. That should be them." She almost ran outside,
Dane at her heels.

Bruce hopped out of the SUV and Jade groaned with
relief to see Meg in the passenger side. "Hi, Jade. Did you find
Dr. Mike? And how's Emile?"

"Unfortunately, no. We went to the grave in case
he'd fallen on the rocks. Instead that's what must have happened to
Emile while he was looking for his father. Emile was talking and walking
with assistance but refused to go to a hospital. We brought him here
and called you. So you've heard nothing on Dr. Mike either?"

Bruce shook his head. "No, not yet. Where is
Emile?"

"Inside." Dane led the way.

Jade stayed behind. "Thanks for coming, Meg.
I'm sorry about Dr. Mike. This has been a terrible evening."

Reaching out and giving Jade a quick hug, Meg said,
"I'm glad to help. I just don't understand why I'm needed."

"It's Tasha, John's pregnant wife. And I don't
know what you can do for her." Jade shook her head. "Something
is definitely not right there."

"Mentally or physically?"

"Both. Add in emotionally, too." She led
Meg toward the kitchen door. "There's a weird smell to her –
I don't know. It's way beyond me." Taking a deep hurting breath,
she added, "I'm afraid there's something wrong with the baby."

Meg's gaze sharpened. "Where is she?"

"In the living room with Emile. Also, as you
walk in, take a close look at the inside of the house. Especially the
ceiling." Jade shrugged. "I need you to see it for yourself."

Meg walked through the open door. "Whatever you
say."

Jade followed behind. She watched Meg take several
steps toward the living room…and falter. She came to a stop and studied
the shadowed interior, and the closed curtains but especially the dolls.
The house was small, cozy even, but gave off an eerie darkness suggesting
something was not right.

Jade whispered, "See?"

"Very interesting," Meg murmured.

Jade stepped around her and motioned toward Tasha.
"Now look at the mom."

Meg directed her gaze at Tasha who rocked in the big
easy chair, a shuttered look closing her face down. Meg approached slowly.

"Tasha? My name is Meg." Crouching down
in front of the pregnant woman, she tried to study her face but Tasha
dropped her chin lower.

Jade stepped off to one side where she could keep
an eye on both patients. Bruce was bent over, checking Emile's eyes.

Dane stood guard while John chewed his fingers. Dane's
comments repeated in her mind and now she understood his concern. John
obviously wasn't stepping up to the plate with his wife's emotional
breakdown. In fact, he appeared close to sliding into one himself.

She couldn't help but think back to Duncan and how
he must have felt, watching her decline. Still, with his help she'd
pulled herself up, so there was hope John would too. Now if only they
could find Dr. Mike. She glanced out at the dark night. The thought
of him lost was bad enough, but after finding Emile tonight, she couldn't
help worrying that Dr. Mike might be in a similar situation.