Stranger In The Shadows...........Continued Part X

Bartholomew Damiens caught the expression on the Trooper's face, as he was getting up., Bartholomew walked toward the parked cruiser. Trooper Westmoreland, picked up his mic called in for dispatch asking for a back up unit. 10-4 came the reply of dispatch. '' Troopers Cahill & Wilson are on their way.'' '' Copy.'' Where is Trooper Cannon with the K-9 Unit?'' Trooper Westmoreland asked the new dispatcher. '' Wait a second, Sir.'' The Commander's voice came on the other end. '' What have you got up there, David?'' '' I've been questioning an area resident & have noticed for the past 20 minutes that there have been 2 people here in the area of Lake Shiloh.., I believe 1 of them is Jimmy Paxton; the brother of the missing woman.'' '' Cahill & Wilson are on their way.'' '' Did you need the Unit back up there?'' '' I'll call back in.'' '' Alright,... Out '' Trooper Westmoreland finished his call. '' How about I give you a ride back to your home, Bart & it will give you a chance to speak with Sam Murphy.'' Trooper Westmoreland called back to dispatch.., asking Troopers Cahill & Wilson to meet him at The entrance to Lake Shiloh in 20 minutes. '' I'll talk to Sam, you want me & him to meet you here at Shiloh?'' '' Yes, do that Bart.., we'll need You as well as Sam to meet us here within the hour.'' '' Sure thing .'' '' What ya think that was back there?'' Bartholomew asked. '' I know the missing woman's family are going through much & I believe that it was Jimmy Paxton back there with a friend of his.'' Bartholomew seemed deep in thought. '' If that was my sister, I'd wanna know what's goin on, too.'' Bart said. It was a few minutes before Trooper Westmoreland responded. '' Yes, I don't know what I would do, if my sister were missing..., I feel for this family.'' Turning around in the old man's driveway, Trooper Westmoreland, drove in the direction of Lake Shiloh. Troopers Cahill & Wilson were there waiting for him. Getting out of his cruiser, speaking to his fellow Troopers. '' We'll wait on Sam Murphy & Bart Damiens, I think Mike Havens & a few others want to continue to assist in the search.'' Looking at his watch... 2:00pm '' We searched the area, David, whoever it was they are long gone now, but I believe you are right,.... more then likely it was Jimmy Paxton & Shaun Clifford .., I met him about 10 minutes ago when we turned off Hwy 59. The whole family are suffering.., the other night it seemed that Paxton boy is really on the edge.'' Trooper Wilson stated, referring to the confrontation between the missing woman's brother & her husband. '' Yes, I was beginning to think Jim was going to belt his brother-in-law, neither of these families need this.., tension is extremely high right now. Bartholomew Damiens walked upon his porch. Fumbling for the key he kept hid underneath an old plant stand. He didn't hear footsteps approaching from behind him.. '' What are ya doin old man!?'' Bart, startled, turned around to find Sam Murphy grinning., Laughing. '' I believe I may have give ya quite a scare, sure don't wanna give ya heart failure Bart,..... why ya so jumpy any how?'' '' Where have ya been!? I been lookin for ya for the past couple days.'' Bart said. Sam still grinning. '' I been lookin for genseng.'' Bartholomew gave his longtime friend a look of exasperation. '' Now, Sam you might tell that to someone else, but you ain't been sengin., them state troopers want you & me to meet them at Lake Shiloh, help try to locate that missin girl.'' A look of sadness replaced the smile that had been on Sam Murphy's face. Sam seemed to become agitated,.. impatient. '' They ain't gonna find that girl, she's done outta the country by now!'' Sam yelled. '' Stop your yellin at me, old man, that girl ain't outta the country,... ya gonna help or not? '' What can I do, there's nothin we can do, Bart, just look at us.'' Bart's stance was rigid. '' Well, if'n ya ain't goin, then I am, I'll be seein ya Sam.'' '' I didn't say, I wasn't goin, I just said she ain't gonna be found.'' '' Your wrong, Sam Murphy.'' '' Let me get Bess.'' Bart waited as Sam went to get his mare from her barn stall. '' We're gonna need supplies.., flashlight, food, rifles......'' '' It's all ready, I got it ready while ya been ''sengin.'' more like..., never mind.'' A truck drove up in the old dirt driveway. A young man got out of the pickup. It was Jimmy Paxton. '' Hey, Jim, how are ya?'' Jimmy walked over to where Bartholomew stood with his horse ready for travel. '' Where you headed Bart?'' Jimmy asked. '' Oh, thought since it's such a purty day, I'd go ridin, Bartholomew glanced up at the clear blue sky what bout You, Jim, how are ya?'' Jimmy looked at Bartholomew, then glancing around he saw what looked like supplies, there on his porch. Jimmy's heart sank to his feet. '' Was that you up at Shiloh earlier this mornin?'' '' Yea.'' Jimmy replied. '' No one, not even the law wants to give me any answers about Amy.., I don't understand, I feel like they are keeping something from me & my family.'' '' Naw, they ain't keepin nothin from ya, Jim.. they really don't know any more then any of us knows.'' Jimmy stood, looking toward the woods that surrounded Bartholomew's cabin. '' Something hasn't been right from the beginning with all this, Bart., it's been a nightmare, it somehow doesn't seem real as though I've been dreaming all this & Amy will come home, come walking through the door, apologising for scaring all of us.'' Bart felt a lump form in his throat. He wished he had the right words to comfort this kid, what do you say when someone is hurting,.. their grief beyond words? '' I don't know what to say, Jimmy, I can't stand here & say, I know what your goin through, because I don't, but I do know you love your sister & she loves you.'' Jimmy often wondered why Bartholomew lived way out here in the country, by himself, with no one around,some of the kids he had attended school with had seemed afraid of Old Bartholomew, said he looked scary, he was about 6'2, looked a little mean maybe but Amy wasn't afraid of him, she had liked him, often talked to him & had once came to his defense when some smart alec kids had said some mean things to him, when he was in town one day. Jimmy glanced back to Bart. Noticing for the first time , the long scar that travelled from his chin down to his neck, his hair as white as snow.., he wore long just below his shoulders, & his eyes were the color of polished steel.., grey. Something in them, told Jimmy that he knew more about what was going on, then he was telling.., but, he was going to talk about it, either. '' Well, I guess I'll be going, Bart.'' He walked Jimmy to his truck, patted him on his back before he slid in behind the wheel. Jimmy glanced back at Bartholomew. '' I know what your doing, Bart, I wish you'd tell me, but.......'' Jimmy didn't finish.. Bartholomew was thoughtful , glancing down, he then looked at Jimmy. '' How about when your sister comes back, we'll all go fishin, this Spring?'' Jimmy's smile was sad. '' Sure, I'd like that, Bart, thanks.'' Bartholomew stood & watched as Jimmy drove off. Turning around, he said. '' You can come out now, Sam.'' '' That the Paxton boy?'' '' Yep, that would be him.'' Bartholomew replied. '' Well, I'm ready,but don't know if Bess is.., she's meaner then second skimmings this afternoon.., where we headed?'' Barthlomew, put the supplies they would need on the back of his horse , then mounted. Bartholomew glanced over at Sam Murphy. '' Choya Bluff.'' Sam let out a grumbling noise. '' That's what I figured.'' To Be Continued................

Changed Everyone..

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