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  A Shaft of Light

  A Novel

  by

  A M Gaudette

  Lantern and the Pen

  Publishing

  2019

  Copyright © 2019 by Amy M Gaudette

  amymgaudette.com

  Published by Lantern and the Pen.

  Lantern and the Pen and its logos are trademarks of Amy M Gaudette.

  All rights reserved. Except in the case of brief quotes taken directly from A Shaft of Light for review, no part of this publication/book may be reproduced or stored or transmitted in any way, form, or manner. Please contact author for written permission.

  Edited by Cheyenne Munawar.

  This book is entirely a work of fiction. All events, settings, and characters are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any person, events or settings are coincidental.

  ISBN: (paperback)

  ASIN: (Kindle)

  To the King of Kings,

  My Maker and Friend ~

  May Heaven’s Light

  Shine Through These

  Words and Give You

  Glory

  Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

  NIV Matthew 11:28-30

  Acknowledgements

  A very hearty thank you to Cheyenne Munawar who helped so much with my very first novel. I am more grateful than I can say.

  Thank you to all my readers who put aside time to help me launch this book. I literally could not have done it without you.

  Hannah. You were the one who inspired me to start writing again, and to not stop until the last i was dotted and t was crossed. Thank you.

  Thanks, Jay, for your support in making a dream become reality. May somehow my writing do the same for you.

  A M Gaudette

  Prologue

  Richard slammed his hand furiously on his desk. Tina’s eyes widened in fear. Richard saw the reaction and it fed him. Tina knew too much, and it was time he hooked this fish and reeled it in. He had wined and dined her, thrown her juicy bits of information for her newspaper and now it was time to exact appropriate payment. Her paper had been invaluable, until now.

  Richard stood slowly from behind his desk. Rage smoldered inside. Rage was his drug, his weapon. Who was this woman who thought she could actually stand up to him? Didn’t she know the power he held? There were no boundaries to what or who he wanted. Right now, he wanted Tina to feel fear. Fear controlled when other methods failed. Fear conquered.

  “Tina.” He sharpened his voice like a dagger. “You knew our relationship was two-way. You knew what you could get from me, and you did. You know that those who partner with me are taken care of. But I do require a certain . . . shall we say . . . loyalty.”

  He paused and walked purposefully around his mahogany desk until he was close enough to invade her space. Richard made sure to use his large frame to his advantage. “Printing that pathetic editorial was out of line. Way out of line. I’m sure you see that now?”

  A battle played across Tina’s face. Richard could see the beads of perspiration moistening her forehead, her pupils dilating. Her platinum blonde hair, normally impeccably styled, lay a bit disheveled. He knew she could feel his breath on her. Her eyes flickered to the scar on his cheek, and she looked away. He smiled. Now was the time to reel in the fish.

  “Let’s talk this over. What do you say we head over to my yacht. A little conversation, a little wine . . . I’m sure we can come to a better understanding of each other.”

  Tina moved a little too quickly to where her jacket lay. Richard knew she was trying to regain control with a forced smile, trying to figure out how to play the next hand so she would come out on top. Richard gloated to himself. After tonight, she will be either in the boat with me, or treading water without a lifejacket.

  Chapter 1

  She woke fighting. An unseen foe wrestled against her mind and body. She cried out, flailing her arms into empty air. Something grabbed her and held her bound. Hands grasped hers. She tried to breathe, but breaths came too quick and shallow to be of use. Eyes darted frantically, unconsciousness mercifully intervened.

  Woken again, she sensed activity around her. This time, a voice.

  “Hello. Can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you understand what I am saying. We’re trying to help.”

  A white coat gradually came into focus. She tried to make sense of the words being spoken. Where am I? She winced as pain stabbed in her head.

  “My name is Dr. Samual Timmons. You’ve been in an accident. How are you feeling?” The deep, soothing timbre did little to calm her.

  “What happened? H-how did I get here?” Her voice trembled.

  The doctor glanced at the nurse next to him. “You’re in the county hospital in Rogan’s Pass. We were hoping you could tell us what happened. A hiker found you on a trailhead. He heard a dog barking and went to check it out. He found you and called for help. It looked as though you had a fall down a steep slope. You have three cracked ribs and a minor concussion. What’s the last thing you remember?”

  Silence. Her eyes traveled to the large window next to her bed. The warm sunshine stretched out as though trying to reach her, to comfort her, but she felt nothing. Reality hit her with such force, she thought she would be sick.

  Her voice managed only a whisper. “Nothing. I remember nothing.”

  The doctor’s gaze fell in obvious concern. He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Try not to worry about what you can’t remember. Many times with a concussion, amnesia is only temporary. What you need right now is rest. I have no doubt someone is out looking for you already. When someone goes missing, one of the first places checked are the hospitals.”

  She took a deep breath and swallowed hard. Her parched throat and aching head made conversation exhausting. A nurse next to her had prepared a small paper cup with assorted pills. Handing them to her with a cup of water, she offered a sympathetic smile and briskly stepped out of the room, her colorful garb disappearing in a blur. Now alone, her shoulders trembled in a silent sob. She lifted her hand, noticing for the first time dirt and sand shoved under her fingernails. Pushing back her long, disheveled red hair from her face, she momentarily wondered what she must look like.

  Unwanted tears threatened to weaken the fragile control she fought for.

  There was no time for that. She must remember what had been forgotten. A shadow of a memory crept up on her. She could almost touch it . . . feel it. Something dark hovered, lurked nearby . . . but fatigue had other plans. Still without a name, the young woman gave in.

  Restful sleep eluded her. One moment awake, the next moment struggling with monsters chasing her through thick dark woods. The trees came to life, reached for her, grabbed her with gnarly, piercing fingers, forcing her awake. Over and over the struggle replayed, until finally, dawn chased the haunting shadows away. Exhausted, she waited for the doctor to return. She wanted out. But where would she go? She had lost track of time. How long had she been in here? No one had inquired about her yet. What if she wasn’t from around here? Panic lurked in every thought. She forced herself to think about something else. Anything.

  Sudden movement in the doorway startled her and caused her heart to surge. A dark furry object leaped across the room toward the bed. Clumsily but intently, the four-legged creature plopped its front legs and rather immense head on her upper body. Not moving, the animal gave a low whine.

  She threw her arms around his warm body. Tears poured down her face.

  “Bear.” She wept. Bear stayed firmly planted. Nuzzling her wet face. “I know you.”

  Close behind, t
he doctor walked to the bedside. “Bear — now that’s a fitting name.” He reached out and tousled Bear’s fur.

  “Have you been taking care of him?”

  “I kept him at my house. I have a small place out of town. I was really hoping he would spur some memory gain. Triggers like this are important.” Dr. Timmons gave an encouraging smile. “I can see it worked. Do you remember anything else?”

  She was silent for a moment. Her hands stroked Bear’s luxurious black fur. She spoke softly. “I remember walking up a steep trail, Bear kept running ahead of me and I couldn’t keep up too well. The path was filled with rocks and holes. I kept rolling my ankles and losing my balance. I was afraid I would fall so I called Bear back to me.”

  “Why didn’t you go back down? Why did you keep going?”

  “I had to keep going. I remember falling down a few times. I banged my knees pretty hard. I used Bear for balance more than once. I kept thinking I had to go higher . . .” Her voice trailed off.

  “That trail isn’t for novices. I was on it once. It’s pretty dangerous. Why didn’t you go back down?” The doctor pushed for more.

  “I don’t know. I think that whatever was down below was scarier than the trail I was on.” Her eyes were wide with fear, her voice trembled. “I don’t remember any more.

  It’s like a dark curtain that I can’t draw back. I don’t want to draw it back. Please don’t ask any more questions.” She buried her face in Bear’s neck. A growing fear crawled up her spine. She had to get out of the hospital.

  Chapter 2

  Beep. Beep. Beep. His pager went off. Now what? Sam sighed and ran a hand through his unruly hair. I need a haircut. He thought abstractly. It had been a long day. It was time to go home, take a shower, grab something to eat. He needed to pick up Bear and bring him back to his house. He had left him with the young amnesia woman temporarily, but couldn’t let him stay overnight.

  It was Beka, head nurse on the second floor. He punched in her number.

  “Hey Beka, Dr. T here.”

  Beka sounded tense. “Dr. T, it’s your new patient, the one with amnesia. Well, she’s gone.”

  “What do you mean, ‘gone’?” Sam stopped short of snapping.

  “I went into her room to check on her and give her the next round of meds and she wasn’t there. Her clothes were gone, her shoes, and her dog.”

  Sam thought quickly. “Thank you, Beka. She couldn’t have gotten far. Have security check the camera footage. I want to make sure she left of her own free will.”

  “Yes, Doctor. I’ll get right on it.”

  He raced out of his office and down the hall to the elevator. Why would she do this? She doesn’t even know who she is, let alone where she is going or . . . Wait. She must have remembered something. Otherwise, this made no sense.

  Sam hurried out the front doors and began looking up and down the street. A tourist town in the off season, there wasn’t much traffic, and even fewer pedestrians. He noted nothing that stood out. Arriving at his car, he revved the engine and started systematically searching the nearest streets. There weren’t too many hiding places around town, especially when someone was walking with a dog like Bear.

  After thirty minutes of fruitless searching, Sam’s pager went off. “Beka, did you find anything?”

  “Sure did. Not only did the cameras record her leaving with her dog, she left by herself and was seen by at least three people. No one questioned her or stopped her.”

  “Well, there’s not much we can do. It’s her choice. I can’t help but think something was seriously wrong.”

  “Can’t save them all, Doc,” Beka remarked, grating on him. “Gotta go. If I hear anything else I’ll get in touch with you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Sam had one last idea — Birch Road. It headed straight out of town. It was used mostly by loggers and campers. It could be she asked someone which way to the nearest campground, and planned to spend the night there.

  He drove out of town and into the setting sun. In short order, Sam caught sight of a metal sign perched cockeyed on the side of the road. Rᴜsᴛɪᴄ Tᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ, and in smaller print, Pʀɪᴍɪᴛɪᴠᴇ.

  If she had headed out of town on Birch Road, this would be an ideal place to land for the night. A great place to hide. He drove into the gravel parking lot and turned off his car. Opening the door, he was greeted by the evening anthem of the woods. The ruckus of crickets, the insistent call of the tree frog, a distant whippoorwill, and . . . an agitated dog. Yes. He pocketed his keys and headed in that direction. He couldn’t tell if it was Bear, but it was possible. He followed a narrow trail, mostly covered in grasses and canopied in trees, until he knew he had to be close to where he had heard the barking.

  Everything had gone eerily quiet. The anthem was gone. Not even a bird sang overhead. The earlier breeze had ended, and the silence was pervasive. He saw no campsites anywhere, just this unkempt path leading to nowhere. Sam took a deep breath. Why was he doing this anyway?

  A large black object propelled its way out of the woods and greeted him emphatically, knocking him to the ground. “Bear!” Sam breathed out in a rush, partly out of relief, partly fright.

  Sam was mauled in a friendly manner. He gave Bear a big hug. “Where is she, Bear? Where is she?” It felt odd knowing Bear’s name and not knowing the young woman’s. He hoped she remembered her identity. It would certainly make this less awkward. Bear leapt off the path, and Sam followed. She sure has a friend in this dog.

  Apprehension shadowed him, but he wouldn’t try to talk her into going back to the hospital. The mumblings of a nearby brook caught his attention but the woman lying on the ground caught his gaze. He ran towards her and knelt down at her side. She didn’t appear injured. The young woman slept soundly, her small backpack under her head, faded blue cap tilted to one side, her thick red hair cascading on the ground.

  “Hey, wake up.” He gently shook her. “Wake up. Can you hear me?” Slowly, as if in a daze her face registered recognition, then fear.

  She sat up abruptly. Pain shot through her eyes and fear painted itself on her face. “What are you doing here?”

  Sam tried to make his voice as gentle as possible. “The nurse said you left. You weren’t ready. I was . . . we were really worried about you. This is the only place I could think of that you would go. I heard Bear barking when I got here.” At his name, Bear pushed up against Sam.

  Sam knew he was being watched and evaluated.

  “Bear trusts very few people. But I’m fine. I’ve been on my own before. I can do it again.” She cast her eyes away from Sam’s and clenched her hands. He knew she did not want him too close — certainly not close enough to see what dwelt under the surface. “I was more tired than I thought I would be after walking out here.”

  “Did you remember something else? Is that why you ran?”

  “No,” she hastened.

  “Look. I know it may be none of my business, but in a way it is. You were brought in, placed under my care. To be honest with you, I think you’re in trouble. I want to help. Please . . . You can’t stay out here on your own yet. You have no food, I doubt you have much money, not to mention no memory, and you are recuperating from some serious injuries. It would be unthinkable of me not to see that you’re okay.”

  Her distrust was palpable. “As you can see my world has been thrown into chaos, I don’t know who I can trust.” Her voice fell away, and Sam saw tears threaten to unleash. Bear sensed the moment and licked her face.

  Sam spoke gently. “Did you remember your name?” He caught her gaze.

  “Megan. My name is Megan.”

  “You remembered.” Sam’s voice rose, hopeful.

  “No. I found this letter in my pocket.”

  She handed it to Sam. He opened it up gingerly, aware that it had been read many times over and had some age to it.

  Dear Megan,

  I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear from you. I’ve worried that I wouldn’t be
able to see you again. Over and over, I wanted to drive down there but knowing what that might cost you I couldn’t do it. So, I have a gift for you instead. His name is Bear, and if a dog can be called a girl’s best friend, this one is it. He goes in my place. Some day, Megan, we will see each other again. In God’s timing. Remember, you are always in my prayers, and always in His arms.

  Love you,

  Nancy

  “Wow.” Sam was silent, unsure of what else to say.

  “I guess it’s something. There was no return address, but it is postmarked in Piedmont.” Megan looked up, then away from his gaze. “Piedmont seems very familiar to me.”

  “Megan.” It felt odd to speak her name. “I think we should go to the police.”

  “No!” He had expected a reaction from her, but not one that strong. “I can’t. Please. I don’t know why but I just can’t. Please give me some time.”

  Sam knew that if he pushed it, she would disappear again, and this time he wouldn’t be able to find her. The day’s warmth and light had exhausted itself. Darkness was creeping in. He needed to do something to get her to stay. She was like a frightened deer at night, frozen in the headlights of an oncoming car. He would not leave her.

  “Megan. I want you to come with me. I have a place for you to stay. The only one living there is my housekeeper . . . well, her and a few stray cats. It was my parent’s house and they left it to me. I live in town, closer to work, but I could never sell it.”