CHAPTER 5

             Jana was nervous but felt a tremendous excitement.  She would soon be home.  What she would find there, she didn't know.  What she did know, was that she would finally be in familiar territory.  She wanted Michael to be there so badly that she wouldn't even let the speculation enter her mind that he might not be there.  While on the plane, she apprehensively contemplated the reunion with her family.  Her parents probably would become hysterical when they saw her.

            She had stopped at the side of the road, on her way into Spencer, to dawn a wig to conceal her identity until she could get some information about her parents and Michael.  The wig was platinum blond, providing a stark contrast to her true appearance.  As she peered approvingly into the car's mirror, she added a set of large dark glasses to make the disguise complete.

            Pulling into Spencer, Jana noticed how few changes there had been since she was last there.  She felt good when she was once again circling that quaint little square that she had cruised with Michael so many times before.  It was Spencer's pride and joy, with its white bandstand and red, white and blue banners.  How glad she was to be here in the spring, with the flowers and dogwoods in full bloom.  Turning off to the right of the square, she traveled down the familiar street of which held a lifetime of fond memories.  She finally came to the large two story frame house where her parents lived.  The house and yard didn't look the same as the last time she had seen them.  The house needed painting and the lawn was far from neatly trimmed.  The place just wasn't typical of the way her parents usually kept it.  She said a little prayer in hopes that they were all right.

            Jana traveled on by and drove over to where Michael and she had lived.  She knew immediately that Michael no longer lived there.  He was an immaculate person and would never have let the house deteriorate like it had.  She had been dreading the confronting of the question regarding Michael's fate, that was why she had driven by her parents home first.  A tear trickled down her cheek because she knew, in her heart, that her worst nightmare had materialized.  Michael was gone.  Perhaps he had gotten tired of waiting for her and had gone off to start a new life for himself.  She had known that there was a strong possibly that this could have happened but that didn't make it any easier for her.  She just sat in the car staring at the house, wanting, with all her heart, Michael to walk out of the front door as he had so many times before.  But it didn't happen.

Turning the car around, Jana drove back to her parents house and noticed that there was a new name on the mailbox, so they were gone too.  She couldn't believe it.  She had to find out what had happened to them.  Maybe they had just moved.  Driving back to town, she considered the best way to handle the situation.  She really didn't want anyone to know about her until she had more information about what had happened here.  Finally deciding, she headed for the library to look at the back issues of the local paper.  She knew that every little tidbit of information about everyone in the town was recorded there.  It was even news when someone went on vacation.

Luckily, when she entered the library she was not recognized.  The librarian was someone new and some of the familiar people she saw around the library didn't recognize her due to her disguise.  She decided to check the newspapers from 1994, around the time she would have disappeared, and see if she could shed some light on what had happened.

As she leafed through the papers, suddenly facing her in bold headlines "LOCAL COUPLE DISAPPEARS".  The story told about their truck having been found out at Lake Taneycomo.  Their clothes and all their camping equipment were there around where a campfire had been.  The article said that it was as if they had just vanished.  Foul play was suspected, but they couldn't find any indication of a struggle or injury.

So, Michael had disappeared too.  Maybe they had been kidnapped, hit on the head and let go later, not knowing where or who they were.  Could that be possible?  According to the book in the LA library she didn't have a normal case of amnesia so that really wasn't a likely scenario.  Besides, it would have been to much of a coincidence for both of them to have lost their memories.  Jana quickly returned to the papers to try and find out what had happened to her parents.  Just at that moment she didn't want to think about the possibilities of what might had happened to Michael.  There were other articles about the continuing investigation of the whereabouts of Jana and Michael but nothing was ever discovered.  Then finally it said that the grief stricken parents of Jana Hardin had sold all their belongings and her father had taken an early retirement.  They had bought a Motor-home and were traveling about the country hoping to find some trace of Jana and Michael.

Jana sunk down in her chair.  It was almost like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.  At least, her parents were all right.  Now she knew she would have to reveal herself to someone so she could contact her parents and let them know she was alive and well.

The smell of the damp earth was what Jana noticed first. It was the earth, animals, and plants all wrapped up into the smell of a small farm.  Jana's Aunt Rose Davis lived on a small farm of about twenty acres in Southwest Missouri.  Her farm was typical of the area, with just a few cattle grazing out in the grassy fields and chickens scattered about pecking at the ground.  Aunt Rose loved cats and she always had about a dozen of them, they seemed to just wander onto the farm and she would adopt them.

Jana had grown up on a small farm like this.  She had done the usual things like raising her own calf and having a horse which she had faithfully taken care of and had ridden loyally.  She had fed the cows, chickens and gathered eggs.  Jana was an only child.  Her parents had wanted other children but it wasn't to be, so Jana had had the responsibility of many of the chores on the farm, since her Dad had to work in town at the lumber mill to make ends meet.  Jana had grown up to accept responsibility and had learned the perseverance to follow through on any project she undertook.  One has to learn to complete the projects one starts, especially on a farm was instilled in her from the beginning.  She had grown up to be a strong person and that was what was holding her in good stead now.

As Jana pulled into the driveway, she hoped with all her heart that Aunt Rose would still be alive.  She knew that death was the only thing that would have gotten Aunt Rose off her little farm because she loved her home above everything.  Pulling up to the house, she was relieved to find the place hadn't changed hardly at all, it was just as it had been when (in her mind) she had been there just last week.  She took off her disguise because she knew that Aunt Rose would recognize her anyway and it wasn't very comfortable.  As she walked up to the back door, where everyone entered, she started to get a strange feeling deep in the pit of her stomach.  Seeing Aunt Rose was going to be the first consistency in her life she had had since she woke up four days ago.  Jana knew that her Aunt Rose would probably look a little older but she had always been the strongest and healthiest of the women in her family.

Jana knocked and felt relieved as she heard the familiar shuffling of her Aunt Rose's foot steps approaching the door.  As Aunt Rose opened the door, at first she didn't seem to know who Jana was but then Jana felt a lift in her heart as she watched the slow change of recognition dawn Aunt Rose's face.  

"Oh my God, our prayers have been answered."  Rose said as tears fell down her cheeks.  "Land o' gocian, child.  We thought we had lost you forever, come in darlin' and come over here so's I can get a good look at you."

Jana started crying too and buried herself in the reassuring arms of her Aunt.  They were tears of relief. What a comfort it was to be in the familiar arms of her Aunt and smell the familiar down home smell of a farm woman.  They stood there for a moment just relishing the feel of each other.  Then Rose held Jana back and took a good look at her.

"Well, I'll swan, You look a little thin but other than that you look wonderful.  We had imagined all kinds of thing that could have happened to you two.  Your mother and father were devastated losing the both of you, as you know they had come to love Michael as one of their own.  You don't need to worry about them.  They are both fine and healthy.  I wanted you to know that right away because I'm sure you went by the house and found they had moved out."

"Yes I did, then I went by the library and found out that they were traveling around the country looking for us.  That was one of the reasons I came by here to let you know I was all right, so you could let Mom and Dad know."

"Well, where's Michael and what happened to you two anyway?"

Aunt Rose's mention of Michael brought tears to Jana's eyes again.  They moved to the kitchen of the house which was where everyone always sat when they visited.  Aunt Rose asked if she would like some fresh baked rolls and coffee.  Jana said yes and thought to herself how wonderful those familiar words sounded and how wonderful the smell of the house was, just like it had been the last time she was there.  After she had a few bites of the delicious rolls she finally said.

"I don't really know what happened to us.  I know you will find this hard to believe but I just woke up four days ago.

"What do you mean you just woke up, were you in a coma or something?"

"No, I was another person."

Rose just sat there, stunned.  "Do you mean that you had amnesia or something?"

"It's more like ‘or something’.  I have read about amnesia but it doesn't sound anything like what happened to me.  I just don't know what to think.  Is there anything about our disappearance that wasn't in the paper?"

"Well, The only thing I know of, was your mother woke up that night with a premonition that something had happened to you.  At first she was terrified but then she said a calmness came over her and she went back to sleep.  She has always had a belief in her heart that some day you would come back.  I guess she was right all along.  Is Michael all right?  I'm surprised he didn't come with you."

Tears gathered in Jana's eyes once more and then fell down her face as she sobbed that she didn't know what had happened to Michael.  Aunt Rose got up and held Jana, who let all the loneliness and fear inside her, flow out through the tears.  Aunt Rose tasted saltiness and realized that she was crying too.  How heart broken Jana must be, Rose knew that the two loved each other so very much.  Rose had never seen two people who were so perfectly made for each other.  They complemented each other so that one persons strengths helped the other person overcome their weaknesses.  But it was their mutual goodness and giving that made them special.  Usually in a marriage, one person loves more than the other or is more generous, but with Jana and Michael they seemed to be equal.

When Jana could finally talk, she told her the whole story about waking up in the penthouse and all the money and “Charles”.  It was such a relief to be able to finally tell someone what had happened to her.  Jana then told Aunt Rose that until she knew what was going on, Aunt Rose couldn't tell anyone.  She needed the money and power she had now to help her find Michael and she couldn't jeopardize that in any way.

"I promise I won't tell a soul, but what about your Mom and Dad?  They need to be told that you are all right."

"Do you know where they are right now?" Jana inquired.

"The last letter I got from them was about a week ago and it was from Florida.  They probably have left there by now.  They told me that they were heading to Charleston, South Carolina and that if I needed to reach them to send a letter 'General Delivery' to the main Post Office there."

"Could you write to them please and let them know that you have word about me.  I don't want to shock them so don't say that you have seen me.  I think it would be best that they see me when they find out, so I will go to South Carolina and meet them there.  Tell them to go to the Hyatt Regency, we'll make sure first if they have one in Charleston, there will be a room waiting for them.  Tell them to call you when they get there and you will let them know where and when they will meet the person who has the information.  Then I'll fly out and meet them.  Unfortunately, I can't go out and wait for them because I have to get back to Los Angeles to try and learn as much as possible to help locate Michael."

Jana stayed for another few hours.  They talked about the past and what had been going on in Spencer for the last five years.  But she was getting a little nervous because she knew she had to be back to Los Angeles before Charles and she had one last stop to make.

Jana really didn't expect to find any clues at the campsite where Michael and she had last seen each other but she thought that by going to Lake Taneycomo maybe, just maybe, she would remember something of what happened that night.

As she turned off of Highway 60 onto 65, she started to reminisce.  The area had built up an awful lot in the last five years, she thought.  But, as she got closer to Branson she realized how the overwhelming beauty and greenness of the Ozarks could never change.  Driving into the secluded area that Michael and she had picked because it was so private and they could be alone just to enjoy nature and each other, Jana was surprised to find that it looked very much like it did when they were last there.

It was spring when they had taken their vacation.  They had hoped that the campground wouldn't be very crowded and were grateful to find out that it was almost empty.  Just like today, the trees had just come into full bloom with their new leaves so green and smelling so fresh.

As Jana walked over toward the lake, she remembered how clear it was and how the soft breezes sent little ripples along the surface of the lake.  That night the moon had been bright and shafts of light cascaded over the lake and bounced along the ripples with a magnificent sparkle.  Reaching the lake, she sat down in the spot where Michael and she had placed their double-sized sleeping bag so they could sleep out under the stars.  As they lay close to each other, holding each other, they listened to the sound of the lapping of the lake on the shore.  The crickets were in fine voice that night and the rustle of the leaves, as they blew in the breeze, gave the lovers an overwhelming feeling of oneness with the earth and each other.

Jana now closed her eyes and tried to bring back that night.  She listened to the sounds of the lake, the birds and the trees but the loneliness of being there without Michael just brought sorrow to her.  Being alone out by the lake, Jana let that loneliness engulf her and once again she sobbed.  Oh, what is to become of her, she thought, how could she go on without Michael.  Jana now allowed all the thoughts to enter her mind that she had denied since this whole nightmare had begun and she became very angry.  She stood up and stomped on the ground.  Then she kicked a tree, pulled some flowers out by the roots and then fell onto the grass and cried with the tears of total and complete self pity.

"Why did this have to happen to me," she said out loud between her sobs, "I never did anything to deserve this.  I have always tried to be a good person and a loving wife.  Michael, oh Michael, where are you?  Why have you deserted me?  I love you so much and miss you so much.  Please, oh please come back to me."

Even the birds had stopped chirping in the wake of her cries of anguish.  It was as if the whole world had stopped to let Jana feel this selfishness.  This feeling was something Jana had to get out of her.  She realized that if she let it grow inside her then she would be unable to accomplish anything because self pity was a very limiting emotion.  It would put everything inside her, instead of letting her reach out.

As Jana lay on the grass, the sobbing slackened and a sudden calmness came over her.  Somehow deep down inside her, she knew that Michael was not far from her life and that someday soon she would be with him again.  This calmness was what she needed to give her the strength to go back and face Charles.  She had quite a lot of information about their relationship now and she knew that she could keep him at arms length, if for no other reason, than that all the money was hers.

Standing up, she decided that while she was still at her and Michael's place that she wouldn't think of Charles anymore.

She walked over to the flowers she had pulled up and dug a hole and replanted them.  Jana couldn't stand to see something so wantonly destroyed.  As she did she thought about how Michael had picked one of the yellow Daisy's like she was holding and placed it behind her ear.  He then had held her face in his hands and said, "Your so beautiful.  How your eyes sparkle from the campfire and the color dances in your hair.  I love you so very much and I am so happy you are my wife.  You give me such a complete feeling, I want you with me always."  Jana had been so touched by his declaration of love.  He had wanted this to be like a second honeymoon and had given her all the love he had and wanted her to hear how he felt in his heart.

Jana had then melted in his embrace, and in the romantic feeling of the moment, had pulled him down and they had made love under the stars.  It was a gentle and tender love making that brought tears to her eyes because she was so happy.  It was the feeling of being lifted up into love and being surrounded by it.  Michael and she both knew that this was what true love making was.   They had then fallen asleep holding each other snuggled in their sleeping bag.

Then Jana had woken up in “the penthouse”.

"Ca-chugg shhh purr ca-chugg,"  the car sputtered and died.  Jana allowed the car to coast to the side of the road.  "Shoot!  What am I going to do now?" Jana said under her breath.  She knew good and well, what she'd have to do even though she didn't like the idea too well.   She had had more than her share of experience with broken down automobiles. Getting out of the car, she lifted the hood.  There wasn't anything that looked out of the ordinary.  She got back in the car and turned the key.  The starter wined but the engine refused to start.  Now I've flooded it! she thought.

She looked in the rear view mirror and noticed that there was a car stopped back about five hundred feet or so. Jana, being the cautious type, decided not to signal them that she needed help.  She sat there for a couple of minutes. Looking in the mirror again she saw that the car was gone. She turned the key in the ignition again and the car started right up.  The engine was purring like a kitten now.  There must have been something in the fuel line, she thought.  Oh well, it was only a couple of miles on to Springfield and she would be turning this create back into the rental agency.

*      *      *

"What the hell is she stopping for?"  Ralph said as he pulled to a stop at the side of the road several hundred feet behind Victoria's car.  This was a quiet deserted country road and there was no apparent reason to stop.

This whole trip had been perplexing for Ralph as he had followed Victoria around the big city of Spencer, Missouri, but her stopping here was really weird.  He was beginning to get worried when he saw Victoria stop the car, get out, and open the hood.  She closed the hood, then tried to start the car.  When it wouldn't start she got back out of the car and walked down a small embankment and disappeared into the woods.  He didn't know what to do.  If he followed her, he might be seen or she could come back any minute, get in her car and drive away leaving him there.  Still he was getting a little worried since she had been gone about half an hour.

Just about the time he had decided to go and look for her, he saw her coming back up the embankment so he started his car and drove on by to keep her from knowing he was still there.

He drove slower than usual; making sure Victoria caught up with him.  He thought about all that he had seen in Spencer.  There was no mistaking the fact that the photo in the newspaper of Jana Hardin was also that of Victoria Davenport.  That was why Victoria's life had started about five years ago.

And now Ralph had decided to do something he had never done before and that was to keep information from a client.  After seeing Victoria's little episode down by the lake, there was no way that Ralph was going to add to her troubles by giving this weapon to Charles.

He was going to have to check out everything he had seen Victoria do in Spencer later, in greater detail, to put the whole story together.  He then vowed that it was going to be for his own information and not for Charles' to exploit.

One thing Ralph was discovering, was that with his own feelings for Victoria, it was rather disconcerting to find out that she had not only her husband Charles but also another husband.  From what he had learned glancing over the shoulder of Victoria, Jana Hardin had a husband named Michael.  The question was:  Where was he?

*      *      *

The sun was sinking below the horizon as Jana, with Ralph in tow, drove into the Springfield Airport.  Jana turned her car over to the rental agent and booked a flight to LA. She couldn't get a non-stop flight and had to settle for one with an hour layover in Denver.  Jana was nervous about returning to her topsy-turvy world but she sure was looking forward to the comfort of that waterbed.

*      *      *

Ralph was exhausted from the whole ordeal, as he sat in the Denver Airport, waiting for his connecting flight to L.A.  He yawned almost in unison with the slender female across the waiting area.  He watched intensely, as she appeared to be studying the contents of her purse.  Finally, the call came over the intercom announcing the loading of their flight.  Ralph was certainly looking forward to getting some shut-eye during the remaining part of the trip.  At least, he wouldn't have to deal with Charles until the next day.

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Beginning     Chapter 6

Copyright 1990 by Anita and David Mathews