Soul Finder

By Jolene Loraine

A single reckless act shatters a man's life. A single decision to value fame cripples the mind and spirit of an innocent woman. Now two very different but equally broken people must learn to trust one another in order to find the healing their souls so desperately need.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jolene Loraine
• Release date: Oct 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463323373

Jolene Loraine

Born with a passion for storytelling and influenced by film, author Jolene Loraine has begun her publication career with stories of fantasy and adventure, rich with deep character struggles and growth. In February of 2012, her first book, a short story series entitled, White Horse, was published through West Bow Press, chronicling the life of a white horse and the challenges she faces in a mountain realm. In June of 2014, Jolene launched her first full length novel series, Night Hawk, realizing a twenty year dream. Along with writing, Jolene Loraine is active in filmmaking, participating in the independent film community of the Pacific Northwest as everything from a grip to screenplay writer and performer. In October of 2016, she became the owner of White Horse Entertainment, LLC, an independent film company she works diligently at with great hopes for the future. With professional puppeteers for parents, she has developed skills as a puppeteer on the live stage and in film. She has also studied swordplay, performing for five years with the Seattle Knights. She plans to continue her work on the Night Hawk series for both publication and film.

Book preview

Soul Finder

By Jolene Loraine

Lives can be shattered. Hope can be lost.

But for those who seek amidst the adversities of life...

this book is for you.

Copyright © 2017 by Jolene L. Bartelt

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 9780463323373

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Phone Call

K-709

From Beauty to Beast

Introductions

New Name, New Life

Fresh Start

Chloe

The Great Outdoors

Chase McNeil

The Life of K-709

Watchers in the Night

Cards and Tears

Unexpected Visitor

Starless Night

On the Edge

The Dance

Dangerous News

The Lake House

Rising Storm

Captive

Bureaucratic Battles

The Hearing

A New Day

The Phone Call

It was not yet dusk, but already the world outside the long, cheerless windows had grown dark. Boiling clouds summoned a fast approaching storm. The distant calls of thunder rolled ominously out of the east toward the lake well hidden behind the forested belt around the manor. Edward Telman cared little for the dark change in the weather. Peaceful nights or vicious storms, they were all the same to him. It was the concern for the outside world. Here, inside his large estate, the world mattered little. Here, there was always a storm raging.

Presently he passed his time in an upholstered high backed chair near a fire that, though burning with a strong, healthy blaze, only dimly lit the large study where he sat alone. And alone was how he would remain for he was the only occupant of the stately five-bedroom estate nestled comfortably in Washington’s rich forest landscape. Only his housekeeper brought a reprieve from the monotony and she had already returned home for the night. Edward didn’t care. He preferred to be alone. It allowed him to live with his brooding thoughts far from the sympathetic gestures of former colleagues. And, despite his desire to forget everything, there was much to occupy his thoughts.

Not long before, the manor knew a very different life. Less than a year ago its rooms were filled with laughter and sounds of games. Two beautiful children and a loving wife livened the halls. At times he could still hear their young feet dancing upon the wood floors. More than once he would have sworn the soft touch of his wife’s hand had caressed his arm. But these were all in his head. The rooms were dark now. The halls were empty, and he knew nothing more of a loving touch.

His dark eyes aimlessly followed the dancing firelight though he took little note of the physical sight before him. He saw nothing, felt nothing, heard nothing. Over the long months he had changed. His form was leaner now. His face was growing gaunt and somber. Deep lines were forming across his otherwise youthful features. A touch of grey had set in among the raven strands of unkempt hair creating the appearance of an older man than that of one barely into his forties. He ate less and drank more. No longer did he take walks by the lake. No longer did he enjoy the sports to which he once excelled. No longer did he laugh or converse with friends. As far as he was concerned, he, too, had died.

A crash of thunder sent an unperceived shiver down his spine. He was deep in the thoughts of that night, a night not unlike this one. He had waited calmly for his family’s return. Their trip to town had been uneventful. The ride home should have been the same. Nothing ever happened on the rural roads. Nothing had caused him any alarm as he talked pleasantly to his daughters on the phone, enjoying their voices as they explained every detail of their day. And then it was over – nothing more than a panicked cry from his wife, a scream from his girls and the life-ending explosion of metal slamming metal.

Another clap of thunder woke him from his nightmare. Rain pelted the window as the wind whirled around the outside walls. The storm had reached him. He glanced drearily toward the window, staring hard at the streams of water cutting across the pane as he lifted the glass of scotch to his lips.

The shrillness of the telephone froze him before he could take a sip. For a moment he sat with his glass poised, listening to the ringing and contemplating what to do. He couldn’t imagine who would want to talk to him. Most of those he knew had already come to the conclusion that he no longer cared for their company. A telemarketer perhaps? A newbie at the phones in some distant country who had forgotten about time zones? Somebody wanting money, no doubt. In the end, he let it ring.

He sighed as silence returned. The human world again left him in peace. Now, only the storm and crackling fire could be heard. Edward closed his eyes, letting the scotch run down his throat as he listened to the drone of water and flame – sounds that had to him become a symphony expressing his own tumultuous soul. The phone began again.

Edward opened his eyes to shoot an annoyed glance in its direction. It was a jolting reminder that he was not alone in the world and he did not wish to be reminded. After staring awhile in thought, he turned his attention away from the aggravating device to continue sipping his drink in silence. The phone continued to ring. Thoughts of turning it off started to play in Edward’s mind. He should have done so months ago. However, for some strange reason he had not been able to bring himself to do it. It had remained his one connection to the outside world. Though he had done everything to sever his connections, subconsciously he still needed to hang onto a piece of humanity. So instead of rejecting the call, he let the phone ring itself out and again relished the silence that followed.

Between the rhythmic drumming of the rain, warm fire and heavy drink, Edward began to drift into sleep. He lingered on its edge, still aware of his physical surroundings though they were now starting to take on a dreamy, surreal effect. He wavered at the edge of nightmares; feeling the sensation of traveling by car, hearing the thunder and rain, seeing the smiling face of his wife, tasting the bite of the scotch on his lips. Again the phone rang.

Edward jumped, his senses jarred, his body giving a shudder from the sudden rush of adrenaline. Angrily he glared at the vibrating little device. Why did he even have it here with him? It was becoming a menace. He had half a mind to throw the near empty glass in his hand at it. Reason began to take over and he instead reconsidered shutting off the annoyance once and for all.

In the end he just stared at it, trying to figure why it kept insisting on interrupting his solitude. Curiosity grew with each shrill ring. He tried to resist. It couldn’t be anything important. No one cared about him anymore. It was fine by him, too, as he cared for no one. Still, he couldn’t resist the temptation to satisfy his curiosity. Just a peek at the caller ID, that’s all he needed.

With a sudden lunge, Edward grabbed at the phone, nearly knocking it from the small table as he snatched it up. To his disappointment the caller was unknown. However, there was no turning back from finding out the reason for the call. For a brief second he fumbled with how to answer the call, but at last did so. Cautiously he placed it to his ear.

Hello?

Edward. Edward, is that you?

Yes.

Chase. Chase McNeil. Remember me?

Edward remained silent. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. He didn’t want to place it. This guy had to be some distant college connection that had not received the news of Edward’s voluntary removal from society. The last thing he wanted was to try explaining this to him. Quietly he considered hanging up, but Chase, having heard the silence, figured it best to state his intentions quickly.

Look, I don’t have much time. I need your help. Don’t worry, I’m not asking for money. I just need you to watch something for me? Can you do that?

Edward opened his mouth to speak but Chase wouldn’t give him the chance to answer.

It’s just for a short while. You’ve got a big place – probably won’t be any trouble for you at all. Just keep it there ‘til I get back.

He paused to get a reaction and got none. His voice became more frantic as he suspected the reasons for the silence.

Hey, I’m cashing in on the favor, okay? Not good enough? I’ll pay if I have to. Just do this for a few days, okay? It won’t be any trouble to you, I promise. It’s important, Eddie, real important. I can count on you, can’t I?

I guess…

Great. Thanks. I knew I could count on you. I’m on my way. Be there in a couple hours. Don’t worry about a thing. I promise it’ll be okay. You’re a prince, Eddie, a real prince.

The phone went dead. Edward sat in silence, the phone still against his ear. He should have turned it off when he had had the chance.

K-709

For a while Edward remained where he sat as he tried to guess what important item this Chase McNeil was on his way to deliver. He supposed it could be closed into one of the spare rooms, which were places he rarely went, so he would not have to concern himself with it. Hopefully it wasn’t too big. He had no intention of helping McNeil carry any cumbersome load anywhere.

Perhaps it could be left in the stable out back. The building was empty now. The horses had long since been sent to auction. The pudgy little Shetland his daughters used to ride was no longer there to remind him of what he had lost. Only a few gangly barn cats lingered. Yes, whatever the item was would go nicely in the stable.

Unless it was very valuable. From the sound of McNeil’s call it probably was. There was a safe in the house. Perhaps he could put it there. After all, if McNeil was desperate enough to pay, it probably would be for the best to lock the item up. Not that pay was a motivation for Edward to comply with this whole arrangement. His father, and grandfather before him, had made an outstanding fortune in the stock market. He had followed in their footsteps for years before wisely removing himself from the broker’s world in time to avoid any downfalls. He could live the rest of his life without worries – that is, if money was the only thing in the world to worry about.

With an agitated grunt, Edward stood and stretched. Looking around the room he wondered if there was anything worth doing in preparation for his visitor’s arrival, but chose not to concern himself with such trivial matters. He had not formally invited this man to his house and had no intention of having him stay any longer than was necessary. Glancing at the clock ticking softly on his father’s old oak desk he struggled in the dim light to make out the time. Seven-thirty. It would be some time before McNeil arrived. There was no reason to be up and doing anything. He could go back to his brooding, but since the call, Edward felt compelled to do something – anything.

He walked aimlessly around the room a while before deciding to venture out into the rest of the house. Had drapes been drawn back and light allowed to shine in the halls, the house would have been a beautiful place. Rich marble and cedar floors spanned the home, as carved doorways, staircases and balconies gave the feel of a time long past. The expansive front hall echoed his footsteps as he made his way to the kitchen.

As he passed the dining hall, he suddenly stopped. It was there, ten years ago, that he had proposed to Sandra. The night had been grand. A big feast had been prepared. Everyone spent the evening wining and dining while laughter and song floated around the table. Sandra was the only one oblivious to the plans. Edward’s family all loved her and insisted on being present when she said yes. Luckily she did say yes, though Edward had never had any doubt in his mind. They had loved each other for years. Her answer had been the start of the best life Edward could have hoped for. But now it was over.

Sandra was gone. His daughters were gone. Even his parents had passed away. His mother’s battle with cancer lasted for years, only for her to finally succumb to a disease the best doctors money could buy had failed to conquer. The pain was too great for his father. Edward tried to make his life comfortable, but a year and a half later, he died of a heart attack. Now the son envied the father. At the moment, to die seemed such a pleasant thought.

Turning away from the memories, Edward crossed the hall into the kitchen. He wasn’t sure why he chose to come here, for he wasn’t hungry. Still he rummaged half-heartedly through the refrigerator just to give himself something to do. His housekeeper, Juanita, had kept it well stocked. She was getting on in years, but had remained insistent on tending to the last member of the Telman family – a family she had loved throughout many joyous years.

Edward never had the heart to dismiss her. He had always known her as Aunt Nita, more a family member than a hired hand. Nowadays he endured her company in silence, appreciating her intuitions over his desire to be left alone. She spoke of the family only when a wayward comment from Edward prompted her, and then only briefly. She never insisted on staying at the house and when Edward withdrew behind closed doors, she never followed. For this, Edward was grateful, and even secretly welcomed her company.

Finding nothing of interest to eat, Edward left the kitchen and headed for the formal sitting room. He ventured there every now and then, but never into the larger family room beyond. It was there that many nights had been spent in rowdy games with the girls. It was there that stories were told and jokes bantered about. He had watched his daughters dance in their party dresses or roll on the floor with the family’s old dog. In that room, he and Sandra would sit back in each other’s arms to watch the fire’s warm glow. Into that room he swore he would never go again.

There were many rooms he refused to step foot into anymore. The girls’ bedrooms, the playroom, the room he had shared with Sandra – all were closed off to sit in darkness. Many had wondered why Edward still remained in the estate at all. Surely he could move anywhere he wished. Edward himself had wondered the same many times. But something held him there. Some deep need kept him from running away from the memories. Perhaps it was the pain associated with living there. He wanted it, he needed it.

Collapsing onto one of the couches, Edward lay back and closed his eyes. He had no intention of sleeping. At the moment he just had nothing better to do with his time. The storm continued to linger outside, having died down to a quieter but very steady rain. He focused on the rain’s rhythm, trying to push all other thoughts from his mind in the process. It was a soothing sound. Before long Edward’s breathing softened with the drone of the night’s dreary weather.

A violent pounding woke him with a start. Surprised he had fallen asleep, he lay still to orient himself. The pounding continued. It was all very confusing. Though not afraid, he was having trouble deciphering what was making such a racket. Only when the doorbell’s nerve-grinding trill echoed through the halls did he remember the phone call. With it came the realization that the pounding was coming from the front hall. Someone was at the door. Edward moaned. He didn’t want to answer it. However, he felt sickeningly convinced that the pounding and ringing would not cease until he did.

He rose stiffly, grumbling as he did, to walk toward the hall. The pounding never let up. Whatever McNeil had, he was apparently desperate to be rid of it. Edward paused. What if the item was stolen? What if the police or FBI were mixed up in this whole mysterious affair? The last thing he needed was for agents to storm his house and start grilling him.

Keeping that thought in mind, Edward prepared to turn this man away at the slightest hint of suspicion. But what if it wasn’t illegal? He’d be back to having to provide a man he couldn’t remember a favor he wasn’t convinced he was obligated to give in the first place. Only for a few days, Edward reminded himself. He made a point to remind McNeil as well. If this character didn’t hold to that, Edward was fixed on throwing whatever the item was out with the trash.

I’m coming, Edward half shouted, half growled.

Climbing the couple steps to the door he paused once more. Last chance to turn away. He gritted his teeth and grabbed the door handle.

On the other side stood a very bedraggled young man, soaked to the bone and looking, as far as Edward could tell, very frightened. At the sight of his face, Edward finally placed who this Chase McNeil was. He had become acquainted with the Telmans during the time Edward’s mother was battling cancer. He was a medical intern, though Edward had no recollection of the particulars, who had had connections with some new procedures being researched at the time.

Edward’s father had always liked the youth and struck up a sort of friendship with him. As a result, McNeil had worked favors for the family, keeping them connected with the latest research and best doctors. A lot of good that did them. Edward began to wonder if he owed this young man anything. However, he was there now, and there was no getting around that.

Would you like to come in?

Edward really didn’t want him to, but the makings of a cordial host had been bred into him. He was thankful for the quick reply.

Sorry, no time. She’s in the car.

Peering past McNeil, Edward could see the small dark green sedan idling in the rain. At least the item couldn’t be too big. And whoever this ‘she’ was that McNeil was referring to, she had Edward’s gratitude for keeping the young man in a hurry.

Edward motioned McNeil toward the car. Let’s get this over with.

Right.

McNeil took a moment to glance nervously about. Edward followed his gaze though couldn’t decide what either expected to find. Convinced all was well, McNeil headed back to the car, talking as he went. Disgruntled, Edward followed so he could hear what was being said.

There should be no reason to be afraid, McNeil was saying. Edward began to slow. Honest. I know some would like you to think so, but I think they want you to believe that. Just think of her as confused.

That makes two of us.

McNeil stopped by the car and turned back to Edward who was trying to see into the vehicle. The dark windows provided no view of what lay inside.

I’ve taught her some commands, so follow that and you should be fine. You’ve owned dogs if I remember. Right?

Edward couldn’t help but curse under his breath. "You brought me