A Lie Of The Heart

Collinsport. Several days have passed since Nicole Collins and members of Collins Investigations have returned from a brief travel through time to witness tragic events that occurred in the past. The consequences of that momentary rift in time are still being felt. But the seeds of the past have very deep roots and even now they begin to bare fruit – secrets and lies leading to mistrust.

The door to her office is closed. Nikki sits behind the huge, heavy desk. Her father’s – shipped from the London townhouse. The desk she used to curl up inside the well of and read.

She sits now reading one of her father’s journals, an old brown leather volume which seems to bare a series of stains, on the cover as well as some of the pages. She rereads the passage:

“ . . . we have returned, Julia and I, and being welcomed to Collinwood, my Collinwood, restored, whole was an enthrallment to me, as much as any I may have ever placed upon another. We had succeeded. We had changed the past. But at what cost? I found my love again for Angelique – and then lost her. When I rushed eagerly to tell her of my love – to confess my folly of the years, she dies in my arms— her curse yet come back around upon her, for those whom I love are doomed to death – and as a mortal I shall never see her again. Once again, too late I discovered what my anger and impetuousness had wrought. Only now, tonight, in discussion with Elizabeth do I see the ripples of the effects our actions have had in time. Chris and Tom Jennings, both are dead! Amy Jennings, Elizabeth does not even remember her! Sabrina Duncan murdered! There has never been a Sheriff Davenport. I fear Blair is behind the Arcadia Club – which did not exist when I left. Several horrible mutilation deaths have occurred. The Leviathan Box I had secured is missing. Roger’s business dealings are have all gone terribly wrong, owing to the strange effect this Mr. Jericho seems to have had upon him. I am concerned about the enigmatic Dr. Warwick, whom I am going to meet tonight, who is now staying at Collinwood as she is treating Carolyn – who had not had a mental breakdown before my departure via the I Ching to 1840. Changing history, I was so concerned about saving Collinwood and the family from Gerard Stiles – I did not question the effects upon time. Have I brought about these deaths, have I unwittingly unleashed even greater horrors?”

Samantha Collins walks down the sidewalk. The twilight of dusk giving way to the coolness of night as she feels the breeze stirring across the street from the main rotary.

She is dressed in a light summer dress, shoulderless, black with white polka-dots.

Her heels strike the cement of the sidewalk as she strides along. She can’t help a quick glance at herself in the storefront window as she passes – she knows it is wrong—but she’s dressed to see Nikki. She had chosen the dress, revealing her shoulders, because Nikki had told her so many times how she had collarbones to die for – God . . . how she still loves her!

And suddenly there is a moment, not déjà vu, but something very much like it. The night, the summer breeze, the twilight, the reflection of herself in the pane of glass, her hair up, her shoulders bare that brings about a recollection of another summer night and the horrors of Scarlet Creek. She was in her first year at Cooper Union, staying at the Harker Mansion, when she discovered the nightmare world that lurks behind the innocent façade of everyday existence.

She feels the prickle of her flesh, and looks over her shoulder to notice two bats flittering away.

It was a Proustian moment, an involuntary memory – a taste of the madeleines – she thought, which then brought about the sudden recollection of her sitting there in the bedroom of the Old House, the drapes pulled tightly closed against the day, as she sat in the chair beside the bed, reading to her, In Search Of Lost Time, specifically The Captive as Nikki lay now not in the coffin – she having coaxed her out of it – but on the king-sized bed . . . dead, or looking so much like she was – unmoving, not breathing or if she was it was all but indiscernible. Only she knew, from what Nikki told her she was not dead – but undead. No longer alive as humans recon it – but having not died – transformed, undead. Nikki had an odd way of saying it: with strange aeons even death may die.

She grabs the knob of the front door of the old law offices and opens it to see Esther across the large main room standing in the open door of the battered, old, olive refrigerator. Her back is turned as she was removing Heinekens from the cardboard case and placing them on the shelf.

“Who is it?” Esther says as she turns from the open Frigidaire. “Oh, Sam—it’s you.”

“Hello Esther – how are you,” she says closing the front door and walking over to Esther’s desk.

Esther pauses a moment and takes note of the dress, the shoes. “I have seen better days Sam.”

Samantha Collins nods sadly as she watches Esther now walking over from the refrigerator to her desk. “Are you – alright, truly Esther.”

“Yes, Sam really.”

Above the lobby of the old law officers, the door to the second floor storage room opens and Samantha Brook steps out, frowns as she sees Samantha Evans, frowns even more as she sees the dress, and scurries down and takes up her ritual of staring at the muffin she had put in the refrigerator shortly before her jaw was broken.

“SAM! No muffins. You’ve still got a few days more.” Esther says over her shoulder toward Samantha Brook, who whining softly, ignores her as her fingers randomly trace the wire, giving it experimental light tugs.

“I meant to stop by earlier to check on you, but things at the Blue Whale have taken all my attention the last few days.” Samantha Collins tells her.

Esther looks across the desk, “What can I do for you Sam?”

“I wanted to see Nikki, is she in?”

Esther nods and points behind her with her thumb, “Go right on in before we get mobbed with people asking to see her.”

Samantha Brook kneeling down to look at the muffin in the Frigidaire turns her head quickly to look around the refrigerator’s door, with the softest of growls, as she watches Evans.

“Thanks.” Samantha Collins says and walks over to the office door, but stops short of knocking as she turns back to look at Esther, “Oh – Esther, let’s have a drink soon, like old times, okay? And, you should come by the Whale we have this new singer, she fronts a band called Room 2, and she is really good.”

“You got it Sam.”

Samantha Collins knocks on the office door.

“Come in Samantha.” Nikki says.

She opens the door and enters.

There is a knock now on the front doors of Collins Investigations. Esther pulls a cigarette out of the pack on the desk before her and snaps her Zippo open, “Whose there?” She asks,

“‘Tis I, Esther.” She recognizes the voice of Rhyaad as she lights the cigarette.

Snaps the Zippo closed and shakes her head – what’s with the knocking on the door? “Then come on in.”

Rhyaad opens the door and enters, giving her that tiny little bow of the head of his. “I just thought I would be polite, knocking. So as not to startle anybody.”

He walks in from the cool Maine night in a loose robe and sandals, and immediately fixes his gaze upon Samantha.

He is carrying a shopping bag in one hand and a rose in the other. Esther watches as she makes his way over silently to Samantha Brook, and silently offers her the rose.

Samantha Brook turns from trying to press the muffin against her closed mouth, very disappointed, to see him offering her the rose.

Esther watches and exhales a plume of smoke, “It’s not Valentines Day Rhy.” She says with a smile to herself.

“Samantha, I am so sorry. I brought you some things you might like better than muffins.” He opens the larger bag and draws out a smaller one, with the yellow symbol of a popular fast food restaurant on it. He pulls out a milkshake and straw, and offers them to her. “I hope you like vanilla.”

Samantha Brook, if she could, would have smiled as she grabs for it ferociously and starts sucking on the straw – it tastes marvelous.

Nikki closes her father’s journal and opening a drawer, slips it inside. “It is good to see you, Samantha.”

Samantha Collins, wants to move around the desk, wants to turn Nicole’s chair around, and helping her to stand, wants to press her lips passionately upon hers. Wants to hold her close and never let go. Instead she smiles, and takes a seat. “Oh, you too! I love that dress, new?”

“Yes, in fact.” Nikki says with a smile. She can’t help looking at Samantha’s shoulders, her lovely neck, and those tender lips. “I see you are wearing my favorite dress.”

She looks at her, “Oh, yes – this . . . it was your favorite? Well, do I still look good in it?”

“Samantha – you will always take my breath away.” Nikki tells her.

“You can take – mine any time dear.” Samantha’s voice soft and low.

Nikki sighs and leans forward, “Sam. . . . I . . . “ She wants to step around the desk – but rather, sits back in he chair, “So, did Cairo get back in contact with you?”

Rhyaad fishes around in the bag. “I also brought you some liquid foods. Both the sweet milky kind and the salty brothy kind. I hope you will accept these with my deepest apologies for what happened to you.”

Samantha Brook looks at him, sucking on the straw and then moves over to watch him putting things into the Frigidaire.

“Yes—we have Supplements, protein shakes.” He places them on the shelf next to the beer. “There are all sorts of things that are available. And I shall bring you more milkshakes if you desire.”

Samantha Brook nods.

Esther smiles for a brief moment and then turns her attention to the bills on her desk.

Samantha Collins crosses her legs and leans forward to lightly run her fingers absently up her calf, “Well, I left a message for him, but no, he has yet to get back to me . . . but I think you need to know that I had a visit today from Tony Peterson.”

“Tony Peterson? The private detective that works for Evan Hanley?” Nikki asks.

“Yes.”

Samantha Brook, drinking her milk shake nods happily.

With a smile Rhyaad nods. “Then I shall bring you a bag of them later. One of each flavor.”

Samantha Brook, as best she can with her milk shake in hand, claps.

“Why did he come to see you?” Nikki asks, feeling the need now for a drink, unable to resist looking at Samantha’s bare shoulders – her lovely throat.

“I know why he said he came to see me. But I don’t think that had anything at all to do with the real reason he came by.” Samantha says, “He said he was looking into something for a client that involved Cairo and he was looking for him – wanted to know if I had seen him lately.”

“Which would be Hanley?”

Samantha smiles, “Does he have any other clients?”

“Now—just don’t make any sudden head movements, and your jaw will heal in no time. In the meantime, I will see to it you have all sorts of food that can be sucked through a straw.” Rhyaad tells as he puts the last protein drink into the refrigerator and closes the door.

“But he asked if I knew how to find him.” Samantha says and lightly runs her fingers over her throat.
“Oh, maybe calling at the Collinsport Inn?” Nikki says sardonically.

“That’s want I told him.”

“So what do you think he was there for?”

“That godd**ned bookcase.”

Samantha Brook smiles at him, and then, sliding the straw up and down the small hole in the center of the plastic lid, causing an irritating scratching sound, she then begins to turn it around and around in order to stir the milk shake within. Anxiously, she slips over quickly to Nikki’s closed office door – and kneeling presses her ear to the keyhole.

“Did you know I once spent a time with a Drow colony?” he says folding the bag and putting it on the table beneath Esther’s rifle hanging on the wall as she follows Samantha Brook to stand by the door, watching her spy on Nikki.

Esther, sorting through the bills, and without looking up, says: “You know, if you asked, I bet you would not have to eavesdrop.”

Nikki looks at Samantha and her hand moves toward the lower desk drawer, but she stops.

“It’s okay Nikki it’s not like I don’t know what’s in there.” Samantha says with a wry smile.

Nikki opens the drawer and takes out a dark bottle that appears to be a Romanian wine and pours the thick, red liquid into a glass.

Outside the door, Samantha Brook looks back over her shoulder at Esther with an all too innocent look.

Esther places the bills down and casts a sidelong glance at the closed door – now she even has Rhyaad is trying to eavesdrop.

She shakes her head.

Inside Nikki’s office, Nicole closes the bottle and puts it away, “Why do you think it was the bookcase that held his interest?”

“He was looking at it and trying to just make small talk, and then, rather nonchalantly he asked me where the globe was.”

Rhyaad leans over to touch cool lips to Sam Brook’s ear and whispers in the barest of a cool breath “They are talking about the bookcase that spirited us away.

Samantha Collins is surprised to see that for some reason Nikki seems distracted as she opened her desk drawer, and then closed it. At some point she has to tell Samantha about her father – about the curse. And soon—but maybe not right now. “The globe—now how does he know about the snow globe?”

“Well, he said that I had told him. He said that I had said that the last time I saw Cairo was several days ago, when he brought me the snow globe – only I know I told him that Cairo stopped by to leave me something – I did not tell him what it was.”

Esther turns in her chair and looks at the two of them outside Nikki’s door. She gives them both a hard look – indicating they should move away.

‘”You are sure.”

“Of course I am sure, that is why I thought you needed to know – since you took it with you that night . . . maybe Peterson and Hanley are looking for it – for some reason. I do hope it’s in a very save place.”

Samantha Brook shudders at the closeness of Rhys lips and pushes him back out of her personal space.

“Yes – it is. Until we figure out how that bloody thing works – or even if it has anything whatsoever to do with the ruddy bookcase . . . that is why we need to see Cairo.”

“Now they’re talking about a man.” Rhyaad whispered, “That godsd**ned Cairo and his horrid snow globe, I assume. We should smash the Godsforsaken thing”, he continues in his chilly whispers directly into her ear.

“Well he’s not at the Inn, although he still has a room, but they say he has gone to Salem’s Lot.”

Samantha Collins takes note now of the frown on Nikki’s face, assuming it has to do with Cairo and his trip up north, to legend haunted Salem’s Lot, unaware that Nikki’s is reacting to having heard the whispering just outside her door.

Esther sighs and turns around to look at Rhyaad and Sam once more huddled outside Nikki’s closed office door. She gives them a look saying for them to get away from there. What is this? Sam she understands, she’s crazy anyway, but what is it with Rhy?

Samantha Brooks looks back over at Esther and shakes her head, as if to reply that no, she is not moving – not able to speak well with the wire, and wouldn’t even if she could, explain that her concern isn’t what they are saying as much as it is about what is happening between Samantha Collins and Nikki . . . as she is very much aware of Samantha Collin’s feeling for Nicole. Cousins or not – she doesn’t trust her, to be alone, in a room with a closed door, with Nikki.

“We have to assume that what he said to you when he brought the globe was important, that it was the last piece in place.” Nikki sits back, holding the crystal flute of blood gracefully.

“Well nothing has happened since you took it away.” Samantha Collins replies.

“We have that at least to be thankful for.” Nikki takes a sip of the thick red liquid, running the tip of her tongue across her teeth to assure it does not leave a stain. Nicole doesn’t tell, and hopes she is able to conceal the fact that she is concerned she is taking a calculated risk – in allowing the horrid bookcase to remain there in Samantha’s bedroom.

As if reading her thoughts, Samantha sighs, “But Nikki, that d**mned thing’s still sitting in my bedroom.”

Samantha Brook presses her ear harder upon hearing the word “bedroom”

“I know, and I to be honest I would like to have it removed, but—I think it is deactivated as long as the globe is not near-by. And so far, that has proven to be the case. It was in your room for quite sometime until the arrival of the globe – without incident. So – we can feel assured that it is benign at the moment. I just don’t want to dismantle it—not at the moment – not until I have time to study it” She lies – still contemplating using it – using it to change time.

Esther sits still for a moment, and then rises.

Rhyaad and Samantha Brook look at her, then at each other.

Striding over purposefully, she quickly approaches Nikki’s door.

She pushes past Rhyaad and suddenly knocks on the office door.

Samantha Brook rises quickly in order to scamper off toward her room; only, Esther grabs her before she can get away.

Esther, holding Samantha’s forearm tightly, keeps her from leaving.

“Please come in Esther.” Nikki says.

Esther opens the door, as Rhyaad takes a step back so as not to be seen.

Esther notices how he is trying to pretend he was not eavesdropping also.

Samantha Brook struggles to be free, “mm MM!”

Nikki looks at Esther, a brow cocked upward. Samantha Collins turns in her chair to see the struggling Miss brook.

“Something the matter?” Nikki asks.

“Nik—Sam and I where wondering if we could join your conversation.”

“Well certainly.”

“Don’t try to speak Sam. Only makes it worse.” Rhyaad says stepping up now rather nonchalantly as Samantha Brook continues to try and pull free. “And Esther, let her go.”

“Sam is under the impression that something is going on that she is not privy too,” Esther explains and then turns to look at Rhyaad, “And oh, and here’s Mr. Innocence – also.”

Esther pulls Sam in the office, “You’re more than welcome to join us Rhy. It is better than standing at the door listening with those ears of yours.”

“Well that is because something is, obviously.” he states simply. “She has sharp instincts.”

Nikki looks up at him standing outside her office door, as if hanging back – and she as notices for a brief second his eyes shifting from hers. Almost defensively. What? What is wrong—she feels his mental defenses going up.

Esther sets Samantha down in a chair.

And she promptly tires to stand.

Nikki takes another sip and feels the warm rush of blood running through her – all of her instincts now telling her she should be wary . . . but why?

“Thank you,” he tells Esther and so he enters also.

Esther pushes her back, “Have a seat Sam.”

Rhyaad slips past her to the chair opposite Nikki’s desk.

“We’re all just having a nice chat about some business. No funny stuff at all going on. See?” Esther tells her.

Rhyaad thinks to himself – I’m not so sure.

“Funny stuff?” Nikki asks.

Esther stands in the way of the door, while Samantha Brook flushes now a very impressive shade of scarlet. She shakes her head at Nikki.

“Oh it is good to see you Rhyaad, I heard you made it back – ” Samantha Collins says and lets the sentence trail off.

Esther crosses her arms and leans on the doorframe, blocking the door.

“I am quite desirous of talking about the funny stuff.” He nods, with that slight bow of his head, to Samantha Collins. “As I have not seen you since the incident with that so called bookcase. We have much to catch up on.”

Samantha Brook unable to retreat, stamps her foot once in frustration then sits down, crossing her arms and looking at the floor – very upset that she’s been caught and made to look bad in front of Samantha Evans.

Without looking at Sam Brook he speaks to Nikki. “If you would, Nikki, let’s please call McDonalds and order 4 milkshakes for Sam. I shall get them. And if you should have a bit of extra blood, I wouldn’t mind a glass.”

“I can not say how glad I’m that you are back Rhy!” Nikki says and pours him a glass and hands it over noticing that there is something about the way he is sitting, the way he looks at her – “And that you seem so much better – I heard you suffered a rather traumatic experience.” And perhaps that is what she is detecting, some lingering afteraffect of his passage through time. “I hope you are well. I do have to admit I can not say I am particularly happy about your . . . friend Mr. Blackwater.”

He sighs and looks down. “That’s another of the many things we must discuss. I apologize for what Darien did, but please do not hate him. He is not my friend: he is my childe.”

Or perhaps that is it – Nikki thinks – slight embarrassment about that rotter Blackwater – but, whatever the case, she is well aware that he is concentrating on shielding any thoughts from being detected by her – and he is concentrating so hard on that – she can detect his defensiveness.

“I can understand.” Nikki nods.

“Which brings up a whole other set of issues.” Samantha Collins says, “David called a meeting of the Ghost Society, to be on the look out for a vampire, since that second body was found.” She looks over at Nikki, “I hear a lot of whispering going on at the Whale about it. There’s talk of The History.”

“Another body, already?” he looks aghast. “Darien was not responsible for either. He was having some sort of sex with that disturbing Winterflower woman the first night, and was not in town the other.”

“Winterflower?” Nikki asks.

He glances at her, “Yes, I have very little information to go on, some woman that was at the Nightingale with Dr. Artemis and Professor Swift I gather. Darien and she, they apparently hit it off—so to speak.”

“So—we all know that these are not animal attacks – there is a Vampire, well other than us, here in Collinsport.” He says.

Nikki looks over to him, “Yes, I know – mother – Erzsébet and I . . . we detected the presence of two of them several nights ago.”

“Really?” Rhyaad says, “And you weren’t going to tell anyone?”

Mother? That woman, no matter how much the Diogenes Club may have rehabilitated her – she was still a mass murder, and Nikki is far too readily willing to overlooking her past – has for sometime now. And much too quick to accept her as mother. His influence?

Nikki looks at him strangely, “Rhyaad, you’ve only just returned. Was I going to tell Mills?”

Samantha Brook casts a sidelong glance at Evans. She wore that dress intentionally she thinks rolling her eyes.

“Yes, and that worries me even more –“ he says, “St. Clair being shot and now this Lieutenant Mills being in charge—“ He looks now steadily at Nicole, “But—you say there are two vampires? Here in Collinsport?”

Samantha Collins shivers for a moment—some past experiences telling her to be wary as vampires at times seem to run in packs.

“They blocked us from sensing too much, but yes, there are at least two vampires in Collinsport – and apparently they have absolutely no discretion.”

Nikki turns now to look at Samantha, “The Whale—Samantha, why are you working there again?”

“Discretion—so killing those woman—was just a lapse in discretion . . . in what, disposing of the bodies?”

“Rhyaad, what’s the matter – you know what I meant.” Nikki says, “And no, I was not talking about the disposal of the bodies.”

He looks at her and then at the rose in his hand. Such lovely petals and sharp little thorns.

“Well—we are going to have problems with Mills. She nearly arrested me.” He changes the subject, “I regret that everything has happened so quickly I could not even visit her yet.” He says still looking intently at Nikki, “A lot is going wrong, I fear.”

Nikki furls her brow at his look.

“Randall Wiley, my co-owner, well, he had an car accident; and so, I am having to run things for a bit.” Samantha Collins says leaning forward and running her long fingers along her the calf of her crossed leg. “But—you should know that some of the older customers, they are whispering. I have heard one or two of them whispering vampire—but whatever, the rumor, they all believe that the police are covering it up. They think David has paid them to look the other way – some other Collins scandal being concealed again. But I have not heard either of your names.” She looks over to Rhyaad.

“That’s because they are not stupid. Animal attacks? As if.” Rhyaad frowns.

Nikki laughs, “Well I can tell you with Lieutenant Mills running things—the last thing there would be is a cover-up. ”

“Mills is a danger. I would not be laughing Nikki, she does not believe in the supernatural. We may have to do her job for her.”

Samantha Brook nods, thinking to herself, stupid bacon lady . . . she’s not at all nice like the other one.

The corner of Nikki’s mouth pulls up, “When have we not had to do their job. When it comes to the supernatural. But you are right, Rhy, I am worried, without St. Clair around. She at least knew what was going on – whereas I know Mills does not believe in anything of the paranormal.”

“She’s dangerous.” Rhyaad says sitting back in his chair.

Nikki looks at Rhyaad, “We are going to have to be very careful, you and I.”

“What do you think Nikki? Should we arrange to enlighten her? Even through a simple explanation of the obvious illogic of assuming animals punch two holes in their victim’s necks and suck out their blood?”

“Well I know that Arliss Mills, at the Society last night said, if someone was really planning something big – something that was you know, of The History, than the first thing they would want is to have St. Clair out of the way.”

Nikki takes a sip of her drink, “No, we have to be very careful at the moment, Rhy, Mills may not understand—but she is a rather good police officer. Otherwise, St. Clair would not have put in her in charge . . . if she didn’t think so. We are best to have as little to do with her as possible, I would think.”

Samantha Brook slowly starts scooting her chair closer to the door slowly.

“One of the reasons I am glad that Mr. Blackwater is gone – and I hope for a very, very long time.” Nikki says and looks at Rhy with a bit of irritation.

Esther leans now in the doorframe, continuing to block any exit from the room.

“He shall be.” Rhyaad tells her and looks down at the blood in his glass, “I have taken considerable expense and danger to send him to a retreat where even Mills can’t get him.”

With a side glance Samantha Brook looks at Esther, sizing her up and weighing her odds for tackling – but she is well aware of the fact that Esther – or so she has heard – about two years ago took on a bear with nothing more than a knife. Word has it that it was three hours of her versus the bear, in which she was badly clawed, with scars still to prove it, and four broken ribs. But in the end, she had won. Maybe – if she were in better shape, she thought – but may be not tonight.

Rhyaad observes the predatory stance Samantha has taken. “Esther, you should move.”

Esther looks at them both, as if to say, really you should.

“My concern at the moment is Peterson. What does he know about the bookcase and more importantly what does Hanley know about it, since Hanley is certainly Peterson’s most prominent client – if not his sole one.”

Rhyaad looks at her, when has she begun checking into Hanley?

He now tries to broach the subject: “So, I still haven’t heard your story. Or much of it. A desert. I thought I felt sand for a moment. And from Esther’s expression, I assume she visited the death of her parents?”

Esther removes her shoulder from the sash of the doorway and stands up straight to look at Rhyaad at the mention of her parents.

Nikki noticing Samantha Brook’s continued agitation looks at her, “Samantha, please, we need to work together as a team, now more than ever—I fear something is . . . well, I haven’t told you what St. Clair informed me of me before she went to Arkham.”

Secrets? How many secrets has Nikki been concealing . . . Rhyaad thinks.

Esther now looks at Sam and then back to Rhyaad– Sam having no doubt told him.

Innocently, pointing at Esther, as if trying to say “she dragged me in here,” Samantha Brook looks at Nikki, trying to let her know that she just wants to leave.

And I haven’t told anyone what Coats thinks of you, he thinks, glancing at Nikki, not letting the slightest hint show in his eyes and shielding his mind, well aware of her abilities.

“Well since we are finally all together I need to let you know what she told me.”

Rhyaad interrupts for a moment, “If Sam wishes to leave, I think you should allow her to,” he tells Esther.

Esther gives him a look – when has he decided to take Sam under his wing? He used to complain and think she was crazy as h**l – now what, he’s her big brother. What is going on here? She looks over at Nik and points to her trying to tell her that Sam needs to be listening.

Nikki aware of Esther’s concerns looks over at the uncomfortable Samantha Brook, “Sam, please, this affects us all, so do stay.” Nikki says, well aware that something is just not right. There is some odd feeling in the room – a tension – that should not be there . . . something is just amiss. With both of them – Samantha and Rhyaad – but she cannot figure out what it is. With Samantha, she knows it is partly due to jealousy, she can read that, but there is something other and it is masked. “I am sure you all remember when things looked rather grim, what with Petofi and his plans for Collinsport, and so, St. Clair decided to bring in a team of hers.” Nikki continues.

Samantha Brook flops back resignedly into her chair, arms crossed tightly.

“How could I forget?” Rhyaad nods.

“It seems they brought with them a specialist. A consultant. A man by the name of Frank Black.”

Rhyaad sighs, as it appears that Esther is determined to keep Sam in the room and he so wishes she would leave so that he could speak more freely about Darien.

“Black used to work for a special FBI group, a group of retired agents that looked into things that the Bureau officially said did not exist, cases of the paranormal. The consulting group was known as The Millennium Group.” Nikki continues and leans forward, “Apparently Black is good, very good at what he does, analysis.”

“And this concerns us – why? Is he hunting vampires?” Rhyaad asks brusquely.

“He told St Clair that everything we have gone through in the last few months is just the prelude to something much larger.

“Great. Just wonderful,” he says sarcastically.

Samantha Brook sits now picking at the wire on her mouth absently only half-listening. Evans!

“He told her, he felt the necromancers were playing a very long game and that we were now entering what he called the Middle Game.” Nikki places her hands on top of her desk, “So, St. Clair went out to Eagle Hill Cemetery—and there she found or rather did not find his ashes—everything that remained of Petofi was gone. Someone took them.”

My Skull, Samantha Brook remembers and collapses in her chair to pouts over the loss – she didn’t get the skull and Rhy promised her one . . . and then he never brought it.

“More necromancers. I should have guessed. And I heard about the ashes.” He looked directly at Nikki, his expression a perfect pokerface. “But our friend Nyarlathotep despises his traitorous necromancers, and will help us, perhaps?”

Nikki looks at him, “Nyarlathotep is a liar. It is entirely possible that they may very well be doing precisely what he wants them to do. I can’t help but remember what Dr. Praetorius told us, and at the time I was so furious with him I didn’t pay him any attention, when he said they may be telling us precisely what they want us to know.”

For a brief moment Samantha Brook gets a rather devilish look on her face.

“The one thing I am sure of – about him – is that he does not wish any more of his kine to come into this world and challenge his dominance. He is a selfish and greedy so-called-god. He would not have wished for Petrofi to succeed then, and he will not again.” Rhyaad says.

Nikki sighs, “God, I feel like Holmes versus Moriarty—and I am two moves behind!”

“The clue is to realize we are not on a chessboard.” Rhyaad tells, hoping to get through to her if – if Coats is right, “We can move as we choose.”

“Nikki—” Samantha Collins, feeling some tension in the room, and seeing Nicole distressed, which no one else seems to notice, “You . . . you can not take all of this on yourself. You know, you told me yourself, it nearly destroyed your father—always trying to protect the family, this town.”

“If it didn’t destroy him,” Nikki says sadly and looks over at Samantha Collins, “But, the Collins’ founded this town, Sam, if we don’t protect it who will?”

“Let David do it.” Samantha Collins says, “Let him use his Ghost Society—that is what we were created for.”

Samantha Brook now glances at Evans- she really doesn’t get it, does she?

Rhyaad nods at Nikki. “With our abilities comes a certain responsibility.” Then to the other Collins, “And what has David done lately?”

Nikki runs her fingers along her palms, remembering the silver nails driven through them, “You think David is capable of standing up to these – to threats like this?”

“Well, maybe. I am not all that innocent, as you know Nikki.” Samantha Collins says, having told Nikki about her past, her time at Scarlet Creek. “But, then again, maybe you are right. I mean at the moment he is rather pre-occupied with hiring this Phyllis Wick as governess for Bramwell, and he is all excited about this manuscript that some book dealer from New York brought to the Historical Society, an unpublished novel written by Flora Collins back in 1840.”

“Other than hiring lawyers who make my skin crawl and drinking a lot, I really don’t see what David has accomplished recently.’ Rhyaad says and looks over at Samantha Collins, “Then again, I have been – away – for some time.”

“Flora Collins? 1840?” Nikki asks her voice filled with concern, “Why was I not told about this?”

Samantha Collins looks at her, “What? Nikki, Flora Collins wrote romance novels. Why would you be concerned about that?”

“Flora Collins lived through a time, 1840- 1841 that was pivotal to this town and to the Collins Family.” Nikki says resting her chin on her thumb and forefinger, elbow atop the desk, “Judah Zachery came back from the dead, and he and Gerard Stiles, nearly made good his curse to destroy every member of the Collins family.”

“What?” Samantha Collins looks at Nikki.

“Do tell.” Rhyaad says as he puts his feet up on Nikki’s desk and leans back, listening.

“I have been looking for his journal every since I got to Collinsport. This book dealer, what was his name.”

“Corso.”

“Dean Corso?”

“I think so, he’s a rare book dealer out of New York.”

“I know Corso and he’s far more than a book dealer.” Nikki says and runs her fingers back through her hair, “Now I am three moves behind!”

“Such as?” Rhyaad asks, “What is Corso?”

” You want a book, you hired him. He finds it and gets it for you, no questions asked.”

“So he’s a thief, you say?”

“A mercenary—he specializes in books – books like those in my library and in Dr. Artemis’ vault.” Nikki tells him, “It is said – he went to hell to steal a book from the devil.”

“Ah, well, I’m sure Artemis would be very pleased to know that,” Rhyaad added sarcastically.

“And he is here to sell a Flora Collins Romance novel?”

“Must be more to the book.” Esther remarks.

“Well actually it is a unpublished gothic mystery about witches and demons and beheadings and from what David says it is ghastly.” Samantha Collins says looking over her shoulder to Esther.

“I need to see this book.”

Esther looks pale – god, more beheadings?

Samantha Brook stops picking at her wire.

“Well he only let them have them photocopies of pages—until they settle on a price.” Samantha tells her, “But he has the book, he let them examine it for over and hour.”

“Is this book illustrated?” Rhayad asks.

“Corso, didn’t you ask about him Nik?” Esther suddenly recalls.

Rhyaad turns to look at Nikki.

“Corso called me the night I brought Doc Sabine into town from Portland, he was supposed to come and see me but he never did.”

“About this book?” Esther ponders.

“I don’t know.”

“David and the members of the Historical Society are the only ones who have seen it, so I don’t know if it is illustrated or not,” Samantha Collins answers Rhy’s question, more concerned about the look on Nikki’s face.

“I should like to peruse it then. Perhaps it has a certain familiar picture of a beheaded girl.”

“Please do not bring up that painting again Rhyaad!” Esther’s eyes growing cold and hard as she looks at him.

“I need to see David.” Nikki says very concerned.

“I suggest you urge David to buy this book, then examine it for that painting, or any other strangely coincidental references to things we have experienced.” He turns to Esther. “And, I am sorry, Esther.”

Esther closes her eyes, that painting seems to be forever haunting her.

“Well, Nik, You should stop by the great house, if he is there. He has been very busy of late, what this new corporation moving into town, and hiring the new governess Miss Wick, and this book business, on top of St. Clair getting shot, and these vampire attacks, plus an old friend of his, Hallie Stokes, coming into town.”

“You are allowed to sit, Esther.” Rhyaad tells Esther aware of the effect his mentioning the painting has had on her.

“I’m fine, thanks,” She lies.

“I will be busy also.” Rhyaad says suddenly, “ I shall be visiting St. Clair, which is top on my list. After that there are others I must visit, while I think you, Nikki, should call on David.”

“Hallie Stokes? Old Professor Stokes’ niece?” Nikki asks a strange expression crossing her face for a moment.

“Yes, she was a childhood friend of his—“ Samantha Collins nods, “Who, from the way David tells it, I think he had a crush on, but apparently she had eyes for your Dr. Artemis instead.”

Nikki’s eyes widen, “She had eyes for Artemis?”

Samantha Collins smiles knowingly, “She is coming in from the University of Olso.”

“Oslo, that’s . . . Finland?” Esther says, still distracted.

“Oh my . . .” Rhyaad cannot contain the big grin, “And I was beginning to think Artemis as such a prude he seems almost asexual.” He arises from his seat and steps over to the telephone.

“Didn’t you know Artemis and David and Hallie played together here as children when Artemis’ family came to vacation.” Samantha Collins asks him as she moves her legs to let him by.

“Me? No.”

“I know he said he used to come here as a child.” Nikki says, smiling.

Rhyaad nods.

“David says she had a big crush on him.”

“Well, that is interesting.” Nikki watches as Rhyaad picks up the receiver of the antique phone and dials in a blur. After a moment, “Do you deliver?” He then looks at Nikki with a smile, “I doubt he would have noticed.”

Samantha Brook curls up in her chair, listening.

“Well Nikki I have to get over to the Whale. But please do keep that globe safe.” Samantha Collins stands now and flattens out the front of her dress.

“Yes”, Rhyaad says into the phone. Four milkshakes: two vanillas and two chocolate. Collins Investigations.” he gives the address. “And I shall tip $10 if they are here promptly.” After a moment he puts down the phone.

“Oh, Miss Collins,” he turns to ask Samantha. “Where exactly is that globe?”

“Nikki has it.”

“Oh— the other Miss Collins,” he smiles at Nikki.

“She took it away that night, we think it activates the d**ned thing.”

“At the very least.” He nods.

“I do hope you are not having to close up—that is late at night. And that last young woman attacked was found only a few feet from the Whale’s parking lot.”

Esther steps aside for Samantha Collins to leave the room.

“You could accompany her, Nichole, to protect her, if you are worried”, Rhyaad suddenly suggests, “Oh, if you want, tell me where the globe is and I will make sure it’s safe.”

“Yes – well, I will be careful. And as I was telling Esther you need to stop by I have a new band playing there and the lead singer is really very, very good.”

“It’s in the hidden room of the Old House.” Nikki says watching Samantha Collins as she walks over to the door, “Inside my coffin.”

“Ah.” He nods thoughtfully, “Good choice.”

“What’s up with you?” Esther asks looking at him, “You really seem to want to get your hands on that globe Rhyaad.”

Samantha Brook glances now between Evans and Nikki, worried.

Samantha looks down at the mention of coffin, remembering when she used to open it and see her lying inside—looking quite dead. “Well do come see the band, they are called Room 2.”

Nikki puts her glass down on the desk, “Room 2?”

“Yes.”

“What’s this lead singers name?”

“Alison. Alison Drew.”

“Sounds interesting. Perhaps you two could have an evening of listening and you can keep Sam safe as she closes up?” Rhyaad continues to suggest.

Nikki sits silent looking at Samantha.

“What?” Samantha Collins asks as she stops in the doorway, she has seen that look too many times on Nikki’s face, something is not right.

Esther gives Rhyaad another look. A very suspicious look—and Nik would too if she were not so pre-occupied by Sam Collin’s collarbones.

“Oh, nothing, it sounds like I should see this band.” Nikki lies.

“She is really good.” Samantha says with a smile, “So, you are coming tonight?”

There is a knock on the outside door.

“Maybe, Yes, I will be there to make certain you are safe—going home.”

“I bet those are your shakes Rhyaad.” Esther says.

“Well everyone come to the Whale, drinks on me.” Samantha says and walks out of Nikki’s office and into the main room rises.

“Good night, Samantha.” Nikki says.

Esther calls out, “Join ya later, Sam.”

“Ah, yes.” Rhyaad hurries to the door to greet an acned faced young boy, whom he pays for the milkshakes and slips an extra $10 bill. The boy is quite pleased with this, and after a thanks departs in a small delivery van.

Samantha crosses the main lobby and leaves.

Samantha Brook sighs, heavily, visibly relieved—she is gone, but she saw the look in Nikki’s eyes.

Rhyaad, having given Samantha Collins a brief nod as she passed him heading out into the night, crosses the main office lobby to give the drinks to Sam, who is heading to the stairs and her room. “Are you alright?” He asks.

She nods her head, lying.

Nikki sits silently looking at the blood remaining in her glass.

Esther looks at Nikki, “Hey, if you go to the Whale, I’ll join you in a bit, okay.” She lies.

“Well—if you two are going to the Whale, have lots of fun.’ Rhyaad says stepping over to the door and looking in, “I am off to see St. Clair,” He lies.

Samantha Brook sulking her way to her bedroom – d**med Evans –closes the door.

Esther steps out to her desk and picks up her Smartphone. She begins texting.

Nikki’s phone vibrates and she picks it up and sees the text from Esther. She reads it and then looks up at Rhyaad, standing in the door watching Samantha Brook sulking her way up the stairs to her bedroom, closing the door, her eyes growing darker.

“Something you want to talk about Rhy?” She asks.

He shakes his head, “No.”

And for a brief second he drops his shielded thoughts and she detects, “I have to get that globe away from her.”

Cue Music End of Episode