Cobb Mt Mystery: Konocti Caves Part 4

The road was steeper than Jimmy had estimated and he was gasping for breath half way to the top. Just as he got to the top he heard a loud roar of an engine and tires screeching down below. His gut told him it was The Henchman.

Jimmy stopped abruptly, desperately searching for a hiding place. He knew he had only moments before the suburban would be bearing down on him. Without giving it a second thought he tossed his backpack into a large green debris can, and climbed in after it- pulling the lid closed tight. He held his breath straining to listen above the sound of his pounding heart. Before long he heard a vehicle drive slowly by. Did it stop? Jimmy was to scared to open the lid even a tiny bit to peek.

He was still holding his breath, afraid to move, even afraid to breathe. He couldn't hear the vehicle's engine anymore. Did it keep going? Or had The Henchman shut off the engine to search for him on foot? Jimmy couldn't stand the apprehension. His skin started to get that old itchy feeling. He needed out of there. He needed to run.

Suddenly the lid was opened and Jimmy heard two screams. One was his; the other belonged to an elderly woman. Her scream was soon followed by cursing.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Jimmy said standing up.

"What do you think you're doing scaring an old lady like that!?!" the woman yelled holding her chest. "You almost gave me a heart attack. Kids! No respect! You all are going to the dogs!"

That gave Jimmy an idea. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I was being chased by a... a dog. A big mean ugly dog. I didn't know what to do so I jumped in here to hide."

"Whaa..." the old lady said looking around, "I don't see any dogs." She eyed the scared little boy suspiciously. She could see that the boy was really scared. "Well... no harm I guess. I don't blame you for being afraid of dogs. You can come inside and call your mom if you want." Jimmy scampered out of the bin and followed her quickly into her house, nervously looking over his shoulder. As he stepped inside he heard a vehicle approaching and he closed the door and leaned against it.

The woman looked surprised and said, "What- do you think the dog is going to break into my house?" Laughing she ruffled up his red curly hair. "The phone is in there," she said pointing. "Would you like some milk and cookies while you wait?" the woman didn't wait for an answer. As much as he hated milk and cookies Jimmy was hungry and wouldn't turn them down. He picked up the phone and dialed Mrs. Capra's number but got the answering machine. He put the phone back in its cradle as the woman returned with a plate of home made peanut b.u.t.ter cookies and a tall gla.s.s of milk.

"Not home?" she asked, "See that's the problem right there. Mothers are so busy with their own thing these days that kids don't have any supervision. They are expected to raise themselves. When my kids were in school I was right there with them. That's why they never got into trouble. Leave a kid on his own and he'll find plenty of mischief to get into, I always say."

"Yes ma'am," Jimmy said because she seemed to expect a response.

"Well may as well eat up, I just baked those today. Glad they're not going to waste." The woman said as Jimmy saw the suburban drive by through the lace curtains. He dropped a cookie and dove to the floor pretending to look for it. Jimmy's heart was pounding; he had not had time to think any of this through.

What if The Henchman found him here with this nice old woman. What would he do to her? What would he do to him? He had to get out. He listened and could not hear the vehicle. He raised his head up slowly to see the old woman at the window peering through the lace curtains.

"What is that guy doing driving back and forth? I've never seen that car before. He doesn't live up here; I know every car on this road.... Maybe it was his dog that chased you and he's looking for it. I should go out and give him a piece of my mind! Irresponsible pet owners are my pet peeve!" Turning and walking back towards Jimmy, she added, "Well he's gone now. Hmm... I don't like strangers driving around so slow. Makes me think they are up to no good. If he comes back I'll call the sheriff department."

"The sheriff department! Ron! I can call Ron," thought Jimmy briefly before remembering that Ron had turned his back on him. "I can't call him. He is too busy for me." Jimmy thought glumly. "If he cared about me he would have come to see me by now. And if I called the cops they would treat me like a run away and send me back to Melbourne." Jimmy thanked the woman and said he better get going, and got up and started walking gloomily to the door.

"Well, wait a minute- what about that dog? He may be out there. I better drive you home," the old lady said. Jimmy started to protest but was cut off with, "I won't take no for an answer!" as she picked up her purse and took a set of keys off the side table. "Now where should I take you?"

Jimmy would have loved to ask for a ride down the mountain to Mrs. Capra's house, but was afraid it would draw too many questions.

Later he would regret that. He would also regret not calling Ron when he had the chance.

Instead he said, "Well... maybe my mom forgot that she wasn't supposed to pick me up today. She might be at the school looking for me." Jimmy was careful not to lie. He hated liars and especially didn't want to lie to this nice lady. So he peppered his language with 'may' and 'might' easing his conscience a bit for not telling her the whole truth. But how could he? "I don't want Melbourne to come after her, too!" he groaned silently.

"Thank you for the cookies and the ride," Little Jimmy said as he got out of the car and watched the only safe haven he'd had in weeks drive away.

He watched until the car was out of site, while simultaneously looking around to make sure no one at the school was noticing him. One thing he wasn't worried about was The Henchman looking for him here.

Jimmy actually felt happy. This was a feeling he hadn't felt since leaving Mrs. Capra's.

Without realizing it Jimmy began whistling as he walked back in the direction he just came from. He was confident that by now The Henchman would be down off Cobb Mountain.

"He's probably thinking that I caught a ride and wondering where to search ...."

Jimmy suddenly halted. Terror filled him. "He will think I went to Mrs. Capra's." He was frozen, not able to take another step as he remembered the episode in the principles office earlier, how Mr. Olsen treated him. How nice everyone was when he returned to cla.s.s. Jimmy forced his feet to start moving, while saying loudly, "I have to get to a phone. I have to call her or the hospital!"

Jimmy started running. He ran like he hadn't run in a long time. It felt good to run. His lungs were being filled with crisp mountain air, that was forcing out the cold damp Konocti Cave air. Replacing it with the fresh clean Cobb Mountain air.

It was exhilarating, and if it weren't for his concern for Mrs. Capra he would have thoroughly enjoyed this run.

He ran until he could not take another step. Leaning over, hands on knees with his chest heaving the boy's mind continued to race. Trying to come up with a plan. Finally he was able to catch his breath and he stood up and realized he was standing in front of some kind of hospital.

The boy wondered if he should venture inside to ask to use the phone. He remembered that each time he rode with Ron up here he had notice a peculiar 'look' on Ron's face as he drove past this place, and it made the boy a little cautious.

He read the sign in the parking lot and thought 'Retreat' was a funny name for a hospital.

He walked slowly to the entrance looking around, trying to think of something to say. He didn't want to seem like he was lost, or in trouble because places like these would call social services for sure.

Suddenly a man's voice broke through his thoughts, "You look lost!"

Jimmy jumped and spun around, and found himself looking into a familiar face.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare ya," the man said. "I'm Jack. I work here, can I help you with something?"

"Jack- it's Ron's friend, Jack!" Jimmy thought wildly. He tried to steady his gaze and calm down. He didn't like the way his heart was racing out of control. But then he relaxed a bit and realized, "He doesn't look like he recognized me. I better take off before he does."

"No, I'm okay. I... was just... I was just wondering what this place was." He said as he turned heel and took off running before Jack recognized him and called Ron.

He would later regret that.

"Whether he cares for me or not, Ron is still a cop," Jimmy said quietly as he huddled in the brush listening to the night noises, and the occasional vehicle pa.s.s by. "He would still have to take me somewhere safe. Somewhere away from Melbourne. He could find out if... If something has happened to...." Jimmy had a hard time even saying it to himself. Then he had a new thought, "If something has... has already happened to Mrs. Capra, then Melbourne can't hurt her and I won't have to worry about telling the cops about him." The thought of Melbourne hurting his beloved Mrs. Capra brought tears to his eyes. Jimmy wished she had answered the phone. He wished desperately that he could somehow find out how she was. He had to get to her. He had to prevent Melbourne or The Henchman from hurting her. I'm so tired, I just need to sleep a few minutes," he thought as he drifted off to sleep.

Jimmy jerked awake blinking his eyes wondering where he was. Standing up he looked around and was both filled with exhilaration of being free and terror of being found by Melbourne and his henchman. But mostly he was filled with an overwhelming fear that he wouldn't get to Mrs. Capra before they did. Once again the boy wished he had called Ron when he had the chance.

Although it was almost pitch black he carefully made his way towards the road and once he reached the pavement he pushed the thoughts of bears, wolves and mountain lions out of his mind and picked up his pace and headed down the mountain.

He had just pa.s.sed the Amados compound when he heard a vehicle and saw lights. Should he chance it? Should he try to catch a ride or hide? Little Jimmy stepped out to the side of the road and waved, thinking "If they were still looking for him up here they would have been there by now."

He was wrong.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

Old Friends Jimmy was thrown into the back seat of the suburban and a terrifying ride back to Melbourne's house filled him with dread! After being hauled up to the attic amidst threats of being thrown down the Konocti cave along with Mrs. Capra; Little Jimmy's life unceremoniously returned to much the same. Daily fights at school, trips to the principle's office, detention, the cave at night and then sleeping a couple hours on the attic floor, before starting it all again. The only break in the routine was weekends when he was actually allowed to sleep more during the day. But it was never enough.

After a couple of weeks Jimmy was called to the school nurse who probed him with questions which Jimmy was afraid to answer. He just stared silently and defiantly at her. Jimmy heard her talking to Mr. Olsen who said he would set up a counseling session for him. "Oh no- not again!" Jimmy groaned to himself. He had been seeing counselors most of his life. Except for the time he was with Mrs. Capra.

Jimmy grabbed his stomach. The very thought of Mrs. Capra made the pit of his stomach hurt. He squeezed back tears, "How can I find out how she is?" he wondered. Then he got an idea. As the nurse and Mr. Olsen talked he slipped into the principle's office and picked up the phone- there was no dial phone. There were rows of b.u.t.tons and he had no idea which one to push to make it work. As he was hanging it up Mr. Olsen walked in.

"What do you think you're doing young man?" the principle demanded.

Not knowing what to say, Jimmy stammered "I... I just wanted to find out if Mrs. Capra is okay." He said truthfully.

"What do you mean? No one told you?" Mr. Olsen asked. He cleared his throat and said, "Jimmy, Mrs. Capra is home. She was released from the hospital a couple days ago."

Jimmy stared back in disbelief. "Why am I still here then? Why hasn't she come for me?" he thought in shock. Jimmy was stunned. Had Mrs. Capra turned her back on him too? Although he had tried to prepare himself for the day she would turn him away- he had started believing that she really did love him. That he could finally count on someone. Ron popped into his mind. Why had Ron not checked on him at Melbourne's house? Why had he not tried to keep in touch with him. Jimmy remembered the phone calls that he didn't return after Ron got over his illness. "I thought he would call again. If he really cared about me he would have kept calling!" But now he knew Ron was just one more person in his life that he could not count on.

Jimmy returned to the cla.s.sroom only to be sent back to the principle's office within the hour for fighting.

When The Henchman drove Jimmy home he was more quiet than usual. The Henchman steered the large vehicle pa.s.s a familiar car that was parked in the driveway, but stayed in the suburban and just watched Jimmy until he entered the back door of the house. As Jimmy closed the door he saw the suburban backing up to turn around.

Not really thinking much about it, Jimmy turned around and was surprised to see Mr. Melbourne and the same social worker that delivered him to this horrible house, sitting at the kitchen table. Mrs. Melbourne was also there which was surprising as well. Jimmy had not seen her more than twice since he was dropped off here weeks ago. In front of the chair next to her was a gla.s.s of milk and a plate of cookies. Jimmy's heart skipped a beat. "Maybe the social worker is here to pick me up!" he thought joyously.

But his hopes were soon dashed when Melbourne said, "Sit down Jimmy. Ms Jones is here to discuss the problems you've been having in school. I was just a.s.suring her that things were getting better for you. After we had that talk and you realize that you are going to stay here permanently you feel better. And that you have fought your last fight- isn't that right Jimmy."

Jimmy slumped down on the chair and looked listlessly at the cookies.

"Isn't that right, Jimmy?" Melbourne repeated.

"Yes, sir," Jimmy replied still staring at the cookies.

"And you are going to start paying attention in cla.s.s." It wasn't a question.

"Yes sir." Jimmy responded in a monotone.

"I was just telling Ms Jones, that you were just worried about Mrs. Capra, but after I told you that she was released from the hospital, you feel better. Right?"

Jimmy looked up and searched Melbourne's face. A hint of the evilness that Jimmy knew was behind the smile started to surface and Jimmy answered "Yes sir," again. But the young boy's head was spinning. "Is it true? Is she really okay?" he wanted to ask but knew better than to open his mouth, except to answer direct questions.

Ms Jones leaned over and tried to make eye contact, but Jimmy avoided her by turning his head towards the stairs. "Is that so, Jimmy? You feel better now?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am, but..."

"But what?" she asked. He looked up startled. He hadn't meant to add the 'but'.

"But what, Jimmy?" Mr. Melbourne asked turning to face Jimmy so that the social worker could not see the threatening look on his face. "Jimmy, but what?"

"But... but, I miss her... I miss her that's all," Jimmy said swallowing hard.

"Of course you do. And I'm sure she misses you as well, but she is just not able to be a foster mom anymore. She is not well enough and she's getting old..." The social worker said more but Jimmy didn't hear her. His head was swimming. There was no escape. No one to help him. The Melbournes had everyone fooled. What was he going to do?

"... won't that be nice?" Mrs. Melbourne had just asked him something but he hadn't heard what it was. "Excuse me ma'am?" he mumbled.

"Won't it be nice to see your old friend again?" she repeated.

Jimmy's eyes widened. He had no idea what she was talking about. But Ms Jones didn't wait for him to answer, she was standing up and heading for the front door with Mrs. Melbourne right behind her.

"Thank you for taking this time to talk to me. I feel confident that you are well prepared for a second foster child. He will be delivered to you next week," Jimmy could hear Ms Jones saying at the front door, and then she was gone. Mrs. Melbourne returned to the kitchen grinning from ear to ear as Mr. Melbourne was removing the cookies and milk from the table.

"Get upstairs!" he growled at Jimmy, who wasted no time getting out of their presence.

Jimmy wanted to sleep, he was so tired from being taken night after night to the cave, and he knew that in just a few hours he'd be taken to the pickup to return to the mountain. He needed to sleep. But he couldn't. He couldn't stop wondering who was going to be dropped off here next week. Who was going to be the second 'Cobb's Kid'? And what did Mrs. Melbourne mean when she said it was an old friend? Who could it be?

The week pa.s.sed slowly. Although Jimmy didn't dare get into any more fights, he still couldn't keep his mind on his school work. When he looked at a book it was just a lot of words. He couldn't make any sense out of anything. Not even the geology maps that he used to love. He had not gotten anything but 'Fs' on any of the papers he'd handed in since he arrived at Cobb Elementary School. The few papers that he did hand in.

So when he was called into the principle's office this time it wasn't about fighting. It was about his grades.

Jimmy sat slumped down in the chair with his arms crossed over his chest glaring at Mr. Olsen while he tried talking to him about applying himself.

"So Jimmy, I expect to see your grades improving. We know what you are capable of. We have your records. You had been getting excellent scores in geography and history. And you had read an average of one book a month. But since you've been here not only haven't you read even one book, but you haven't even taken out a library card." Mr. Olsen paused and looked up from the file he had been reading from to say, "Now, you've landed in a unique position, Jimmy. The Melbournes are a fine family and they have your best interests at heart. They have big plans for you. They have talked about paying for your college- but you can't get into college with bad grades and a bad att.i.tude... Listen, Jimmy.... Few foster children have it so good. You are a very lucky little boy to have been placed in their home. I just hope..." Mr. Olson let out a sigh before continuing, "I just don't know how much more they will put up with."

"He's so stupid. He can't even see past Melbourne's wallet," Jimmy thought angrily. But all he said was, "Yes sir," through a clinched jaw as he stood up to leave, "Is that all?" the boy asked.

The principle sighed again and waved Jimmy on.

Finally the day arrived. Jimmy's stomach was full of b.u.t.terflies. He didn't know what to expect. He searched Melbournes' face but could see nothing to indicate it would be a special day for him. The Henchman's face was also blank, although he was quieter than usual when he drove Jimmy to school.

The day pa.s.sed and finally he was driven home. The social worker's little county vehicle was pulling out of the long driveway as the suburban drove up. Jimmy stretched and leaned towards the window and Ms Jones just waved happily and as she drove off. Jimmy heard an evil chuckle come from the front seat.

"Guess ya got company, Jimmy." Jimmy jumped because it was the first time The Henchman had called him by name. He didn't like it. He didn't like the sound of it coming from him. And he especially didn't like the laugh which sounded even more evil than usual.

Jimmy entered the kitchen cautiously but was met with an empty room. Not knowing what to do, but knowing better than to hang out down stairs, he climbed the stairs to the second floor; seeing 'his' bedroom door closed he continued up to the attic as he had grown accustom to. As he lay on the mat on floor which had been his bed the past months, he stared at the ceiling wondering if it all had been a cruel game. He hadn't even realized just how high his expectations had become at the prospect of having another child in the house.

Suddenly he heard it. A m.u.f.fled cry. Jimmy sprung to his feet and carefully opened the attic door which was still unlocked. He crept down to the second floor and heard the crying from the room next to his. Well the room that was supposedly his. He actually had not been in it since the first night he was taken to the cave.

Jimmy started creeping towards the room where the m.u.f.fled crying was coming from, when he heard heavy footsteps coming up the stairs below. He flew back up the attic stairs and closed the door behind him. Soon the door opened and the dinner tray was brought in by The Henchman who had a particularly evil grin on his face. "Did I hear a mouse scampering around? Guess I better put out some poison," he said looking at the food. Laughing, the evil man turned and left, locking the door behind him.

Jimmy stared at the peanut b.u.t.ter sandwich and cup of cold soup. He almost wished it were poison. "I'd rather die than go on living like this. This is a slow death," he thought. At school he had looked in the boy's bath room mirror and didn't even recognize himself. He had lost so much weight and had dark circles around his eyes.

Jimmy knew he should eat quickly and sleep while he could but he just couldn't. He felt as if he would choke if he tried to swallow one bite, and try as he may sleep would not come. As he lay there he was filled with dread. And the dread grew with each pa.s.sing hour. Finally he heard what he had been expecting. Heavy steps and yelling on the stairs from the first floor, followed by a door banging open; and then a boy crying.

Soon the heavy steps were coming for him.

When Jimmy was taken to the dually there was already a small figure sitting on the back seat with a knit hat pulled over his face. As the dually b.u.mped and swayed its way to their destiny Jimmy longed to reach over and pat the boy's hand to give him some kind of comfort. Who ever he was, Jimmy knew the terror he was be feeling. Wondering if he truly was someone that he knew, was making Jimmy dizzy.

It wasn't until they were in the cave that Jimmy was able to s.h.i.+ne the light on the boy and see the face.

"Timmy!" he whispered in disbelief. "Timmy, is that really you?" he asked hopefully at first. And then realized that his old friend from that gymnasium dormitory was in the same bad situation that he was in and felt such a sadness wash over him that he almost slumped to the ground.

"Hey you two!" Melbourne yelled at them from the mouth of the cave, "You'll have plenty of time for a reunion party later! Jimmy you know what to do, now get to it, and show your friend what to do!"

Jimmy took Timmy by the hand and pulled him further into the cave, out of Melbourne and The Henchman's sight and earshot, before embracing his friend to give him some comfort. At least he could do that for him.

Jimmy was amazed that Timmy didn't remember him. Not at first. "Didn't you get my letters?" Jimmy asked. "I promised to keep in touch and I did." Then looking down, "When I never heard back from you I was afraid..."

"I never got any letters. Not from you. Not from anyone." Timmy said. Jimmy was surprised to hear an edge to Timmy's voice that wasn't there before. "Well that was a long time ago. We were both just little boys," Jimmy thought.

"You boys better not be piddling around! Don't even make me crawl in there! You better have something to show for the night's work!" Melbourne yelled and his angry voice echoed through the cave.

Suddenly fear shot through the boys.