Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

"Maybe in time you will," her aunt encouraged. "The doctor said it wasn't impossible. He's seen folks recover their memories after enduring trauma. He's hopeful for you."

IF God is all-powerful, Zerelda, why doesn't He give me back my memories?"

The question took the older woman by surprise. Lydia could see that she wanted to speak on the matter but hesitated. Finally Zerelda leaned on her hoe and answered.

"I suppose there are always things we want to ask of God. Why does He seem to tarry when people are sick? Why does He seem to favor one people and not another? Why does He allow had weather, evil, and death? I don't pretend to have the answers, Liddic. I do believe, however, that He has the power to make all things yield to His authority, and one day He will do just that."

"And until then I will just have to content myself with starting over," Lydia said with a sigh. She had known this was the direction her aunt would take. "I want to have faith to trust Him-hut it's so hard. Kjell told me the other day that it's best to put things behind us. He reminded me of that verse in Philippians 3 where it says, 'But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which arc behind, and reaching forth unto those things which arc before.' I've read that passage in the Bible over and over."

"So much so that you've memorized it," Zerelda declared. "See there, you're filling your mind with things that will help you over and over." She smiled. "Dwelling on God's Word is wonderful. It's an important part of our inheritance."

The last word permeated Lydia 's thoughts. Inheritance. Something about that was important to her but what?

"Inheritance," she murmured.

Zerelda was already hack to work and looked up. "What was that?"

"Inheritance," she said again. "For some reason that word seems important to me." Lydia closed her eyes as if that might help her to recall the meaning. "Why would I think this?"

"Ah… well… perhaps because your father left you an inheritance. That's how you came to live here. You took some of that money and moved to Alaska."

Lydia opened her eyes and considered Zerelda's explanation. She tried to put a memory with it, but nothing came to mind. "Was my father a wealthy man?"

"Yes. I suppose he was. He was a prudent businessman and knew how to practice restraint when it came to spending. I believe he thought it important to leave you with something."

"Did I live with my father?" Lydia asked, leaning on her hoe again. You said that I'm twenty-nine. Was I a spinster living under my father's care? Had I decided to stay with him and take care of him after my mother died?" But the moment the words left her mouth, she noticed an ache settle in behind her eyes. She rubbed her forehead. "Never mind. I need to take a walk. I can't bear this right now."

"Pitkae and Nicoli have brought us a new order of logs like you asked, and Captain Briar is here to see you," Joshua declared.

Kjell looked up from the log he'd been peeling. He hadn't seen or heard much from the army officials since they'd decided to close Lydia 's case. Putting aside the spud bar he used for stripping the bark from the logs, Kjell went to the office to see what the man wanted.

"Captain, I didn't expect to see you here," Kjell said as he extended his hand.

"I know." Briar shook his hand. "But something has developed in your case."

A rush of fear washed over Kjell. "What is it?"

"We found loann Sidorov. He's alive."

"And the baby?" he asked hesitantly.

"We haven't found him," the captain replied. But we may know where he is."

"Tell me everything."

The captain gave a hint of a grin. "We thought you might like to come over and he in on the interrogation."

"loann is here?" Kjell asked in disbelief.

"Yes. They arrested him in Wrangle; then one of the men realized who he was when he recognized his name. They contacted us, and we had him brought here."

Kjell was already heading for the door. "Let's not waste time."

It wasn't a far walk to where they were holding loann, but Kjell thought it seemed like miles. Questions flashed through his mind as he joined several other men at a large table. Within moments, loann Sidorov was brought in. They had shackled his arms and legs, making his ability to walk more strained.

Ioann had lost a great deal of weight. His once-muscular body seemed almost skeletal, and his expression was void of emotion. Meeting Kjell's gaze, Ioann didn't so much as blink.

The desire to beat the man to a pulp nearly sent Kjell flying across the room. He wanted to punish this man for what he'd done. Kjell gripped the seat of the wooden chair, however, and stayed in place. It was all he could do to concentrate on what was being said.

"Mr. Sidorov, as we have already explained, you are here to answer questions regarding an attack last February on Mrs. Lydia Lindquist and her aunt, Zerelda Rockford, as well as the subsequent kidnapping of Dalton Lindquist."

Kjell watched the man carefully.

"I'll talk," loann said, "but only to help myself. I want to go home to Russia. Otherwise, I will not talk."

"You'll talk all right," Kjell said in a threatening manner. He narrowed his eyes. "I'11 see to that."

It was the first time Ioann showed any emotion. Fear clearly marked his expression as he turned to Captain Briar again. "If you let him harm me, I will never tell you anything."

Briar looked at Kjell. "I would suggest you let us handle the investigation. We extended this courtesy to you because you are known to he a man capable of great control. Can you adhere to our rules?"

Nodding, Kjell forced himself to ease hack in the chair. "I can and will."

"Very well." Captain Briar motioned to the man at his left and received a stack of papers. "The only arrangement we can offer, Mr. Sidorov, is this: If you will tell us everything you know, we will spare your life. If you refuse, we will hold a trial and then carry out the sentence immediately."

"That's hardly fair," Ioann said. "I want to return to Russia. I cannot do that in prison."

"You should have thought of that before breaking the law." Captain Briar fixed his stern, unyielding eyes on the man. "I have already discussed this with you. We have enough evidence to tie you to the crime. We know you were involved, and now all that is left to do is find you guilty and hang you."

Kjell watched Ioann wrestle with his options. It was obvious that he knew he was defeated. There was no other chance to save his life. Clenching his jaw tightly, Kjell pierced the man with his angry glare.

"All right. I do this thing," loann agreed. He looked in defeat at the captain. "What do you want to know?"

The captain led the man hack in time to the days just before the attack. "We want to know why you and your brother participated in such a heinous act."

Ioann began to detail how Marston Gray had come to them after learning they'd been fired by Kjell.

"First he came to us because he heard we knew Nell and held him a grudge. He was angry with him, too. He said Kjcll had threatened him and that he wanted revenge. So he paid Anatolli and me to burn down the sawmill. Of course we tried, but the fire was put out before it got too bad."

"What about Aakashook and Keegaa'n?" Kjell asked.

"I didn't kill them. Anatolli did."

Kjell shook his head. "That's easy to say now. Your brother is dead and can't dispute you."

"It is true. They saw us lighting the fire. Anatolli told me to finish up and he would deal with them. He took them away, and I did not sec what he did to them. He told me later he had killed them."

"Did he say where he had taken them?" the captain asked.

Ioann shook his head. "He said very little. He was not happy to have done such a thing."