FanStory.com - Miracles - Chap 12by Begin Again

Background
The powerful Judge Doyle vows revenge against those who brought him down. As his reach extends beyond the prison walls, a grieving Eleanor, armed with ghostly powers, is ready for battle.

Matthew stirred, tossing the covers aside and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. His body was recovering, but his mind remained a fog, leaving him with so many questions.

Where was he, and how did he get here? Who had beaten him and left him to die? But the biggest question was who he was and what the badge meant to him.

Miriam entered quietly, carrying a simple tray of carrot sticks, fruit, and a sandwich. She smiled when she saw him in an upright position. "You must feel better."

Matthew nodded and reached for the sandwich, taking several big bites.

"Your appetite seems to be back. I'll have to make you something more substantial for dinner." She sat down in the rocker and moved it closer to him. "I need to share something with you. A woman was here today."

Matthew raised his gaze toward her, his eyebrow furrowing. "A woman?"

"She said she was searching for a friend. She wanted to know if I'd seen anyone." Miriam hesitated, watching him closely.

"What did you tell her?"

"I told her no." Miriam's eyes looked fearful. "But — she's like me."

"Like you?" Matthew looked confused.

"Yes. I am not of this world," Miriam said softly. "And neither is she."

A wave of alarm crossed his face. "Wait! Am I dead — and I just don't know it yet?"

Miriam laughed, a gentle sound that held a touch of sympathy. "No, you were almost dead, but you're still of this world."

"Phew! You got me scared for a minute."

She paused, weighing her words. "The woman was kind. I almost told her about you — but I changed my mind. She's coming back, though. And she mentioned that someone had inherited the old mansion."

Donatelli's curiosity was piqued. "A mansion? "

"Yes, it sits up on the hill, near the road. It was a grand house."

"Who lived there? And where are they now?"

Miriam stood and walked toward the window, brushing the curtain aside to stare at the field. "It was my home, or at least it was meant to be our family home. My husband was murdered on our wedding day."

Matthew's eyes filled with compassion as he watched Miriam tremble. He sensed she was fighting demons that had lived with her for a long time. He didn't know why, but somewhere deep in his thoughts, a voice was telling him that he should solve the crime. His eyes shifted to the badge on the table.

Did it belong to him? Is that why he felt compelled to reach out to her, or did he feel he owed her his life?

"Miriam, do you think this woman means to harm you?"

"No, she seemed genuinely kind. She said her name was Eleanor."

The name struck him, sending an inexplicable shiver down his spine. He murmured it aloud. "Eleanor —"

Miriam tilted her head, studying him. "Does she mean something to you?"

Donatelli closed his eyes, searching the empty spaces of his memory. He couldn't recall why, but something deep within told him that she did, but he shook his head. "No, nothing comes to mind."

*****

After leaving the mansion, Eleanor walked down the dirt path leading to the top of the cliff. As she neared the grassy area, she recognized ruts left by tires, most likely a car, leading to the cliff's edge. Her chest tightened as she moved closer.

Had someone been driving too fast on the curve and driven off the road, failing to stop? Was it Matthew?

She walked closer to the edge, gazing at the churning waves below. "Matthew," she whispered, her voice carried away by the wind. "Can you feel me? Whatever's wrong — I can help."

She closed her eyes, reaching out with every ounce of her spirit, hoping he would sense her and respond somehow. But only the waves crashed below, indifferent to her plea.

As she turned to leave, a glint in the grass caught her eye. She froze, feeling her heart lurch. Half-hidden by the wild grasses lay a pair of Aviator glasses, weathered but unmistakably his. She picked them up with trembling hands, her fingers touching the cool metal. She held them close to her heart, feeling a surge of warmth and sorrow.

"Matthew..." she breathed, her heart breaking from the surge of sorrow she felt.

A sudden, raw, and unrelenting chill sliced through her as she clutched the Aviator glasses to her chest. It wasn't the wind or the sea air, but something more profound — an electric surge that seemed to cut straight to her soul. Her eyes widened, her breath catching.

Almost like a whisper, she heard it far away — "Eleanor."

The sound of her name sent a shiver through her entire body. It was his voice — she was certain of it. She staggered, pressing a hand to her heart, feeling his presence so strongly it was as if he were standing beside her, calling out from the edges of memory and pain.

"Matthew," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper but with all her strength. "I hear you. Where are you? Give me a sign."

The moment lingered, a fragile connection bridging the living and the unknown. In that heartbeat, Eleanor believed he was reaching out, too.

*****

Hours later, Eleanor sat in Matthew's office, struggling with the fact that he was missing and there was a strong possibility he could be dead. Time after time, she tried to envision what would have brought him to the cliffs and what might have happened, but nothing was clear. That one moment today, she'd thought she'd connected to him, but now she feared that was only wishful thinking.

Her fingers grazed the sleeve of his leather jacket draped over the back of his chair. She closed her eyes, her hand lingering there, almost as if his presence might somehow seep through the worn leather. Her gaze drifted to the coffee cup on his desk, and without thinking, she traced the rim with her fingertips, feeling the faint warmth of memories.

The opening of the door made her jump. Her gaze shifted from Matthew's desk to the doorway and connected with Garth. His expression softened when he caught the look on her face. She had always been so composed, so strong. Seeing her like this, so vulnerable, stirred something protective in him.

"Eleanor," he said gently, stepping inside. "I didn't mean to startle you."

She gave a faint, almost apologetic smile. "It's alright. I — I thought I'd try to feel close to him, somehow. This is — this is all that's left."

Garth nodded, his eyes flickering to the coffee cup and the jacket. He hadn't seen her like this before, and the quiet intensity in her eyes unsettled him. "Eleanor, we're going to find him. I promise you that."

"Garth, I went to the mansion today simply to check it out for Rebecca. I discovered a rock in the parking lot at a nearby bar."

"A rock? Should this stone have some significance?"

"I think so." She reached into her pocket and pulled it out, laying it on the desk blotter.

"It's a limestone rock, Eleanor. I don't get it."

"You wouldn't until you put it under a microscope, but I see things differently through my eyes. The rock has Matthew's blood on it."

"How can you know it's his?"

"I just know. I can't explain my connections with the living, but it's something much stronger than anything you've ever felt. Trust me. It's Matthew's blood."

"So, you think he was at this bar?"

"I do, and it's not a good place for anyone to be, especially someone with a chip on their shoulder and a badge in their pocket."

"Okay. It's not much, but it's more than we had. I'll send Tango and Poppa undercover and see if we can learn anything."

"There's more." She reached into her purse and pulled out the Aviator glasses. "I found these near the cliffs. They're Matthew's, I'm sure of it."

He took the glasses, turning them over slowly in his hands, but there was no skepticism in his expression this time — just a deep, troubled silence.

"Matthew always wore these," he murmured, the realization settling on him. He looked back at her, his face as serious as she'd ever seen. "Then you're right. He was there. Something must have happened, Eleanor, but what?"

Her face paled. "I found tire tracks leading right up to the cliff's edge. It looks like a vehicle went over."

Garth's face shifted from skepticism to concern. He examined the glasses more closely, his brow furrowing. "If it's his car—"

Eleanor swallowed, steadying herself. "If it's his car, he might be dead, but something tells me he's not. I believe he's seriously injured and unable to communicate with me."

Garth nodded, the realization settling in. "Alright," he said, resolve hardening in his tone. "Then we'll start at the cliffs. I'll get divers out there tomorrow."

*****

"Jenna, it's Danni. Have you heard from Rebecca? I've been trying to reach her."

"She was at the lawyer's office and has officially become a property owner. We were thinking of going out there in a little while and checking it out."

"Would you mind if I tagged along, too? I've found some fascinating history on Rebecca's ancestry and wanted to share it.

"Sure, I bet even my mother would like to come along. Let's pick up some takeout from Romano's. Their Italian cuisine is always a hit, and we can eat and chat. A little celebration."

"I'll bring a bottle of Prosecco and Barolo. Can't celebrate without the wine. And I can drive if you want."

"Sounds awesome to me. Rebecca should be here in a few minutes, and I'll fly it by her and get back to you. How's that sound?"

"Great! I'll finish up a few things here in the office while I wait to hear from you."

"Ciao!" Jenna laughed, already looking forward to the gathering, and hung up the phone. She rubbed her stomach and murmured, "Now, hopefully, you will cooperate."

*****

The four women piled into Danni's car and had a crazy ride, singing with the radio and chatting during the trip. When Danni pulled up to the gate, Rebecca, Jenna, and Danni fell silent as they stared at the boarded-up house and the overgrown shrubs surrounding it.

Jenna was the first to recover. "It's — it's huge. Wonder how many rooms are in there?"

Danni followed with, "Too many for me to want to clean."

Rebecca remained speechless as she opened the door and climbed out of the car.

Eleanor moved to her side, sliding her arm around Rebecca's waist. "Let's wait and see what the inside looks like. It might surprise you."

"If it's anything like this, I'm putting it on the market tomorrow." Rebecca sighed. "So much for thinking it was going to be something beautiful."

Eleanor unlocked the gate, pushing it open so Danni's car could enter the driveway. "Come on, girls. Where's your adventurous spirit?"

Jenna quivered. "Mom, that place will be filled with spiders, mice, and who knows what else. I'm not going in there."

"Oh Jenna, I promise you it won't be as bad as you think. Just step inside the door, and we'll leave if you still think it's horrible. But nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Rebecca sighed. "Eleanor's right. I should at least see the inside before I sell it. And Mr. Henderson said the electricity is on so we won't be in the dark."

The three women linked arms, and Danni pointed at Eleanor. "Okay, fearless leader, you can lead the way."