The Witch Box

  Chapter Seven

  Joshua kept his distance when the ambulance and police arrived, still hearing Cole’s hysterical shouts as the rest of the crew surrounded Nick, who had lost consciousness.

  Cole had stopped the hi-lo by pulling the emergency break with his free hand. By then, he had hit the wall, the blades making deep dents.

  Max and the Great Lakes Packaging supervisor were closest to Nick. Joshua could see Anna standing in the doorway. Cole was sobbing by this time.

  Ruth and the other women were stunned into silence. The machines were shut down, the workers sent to the break room except for Max, Cole, and his supervisor. Some went outside to check for the ambulance’s arrival.

  Max covered Nick, who was in shock from a crushed hand, with a blanket. Cole had calmed down and tried to explain about the rope. His supervisor checked the hi-lo, but the sword and rope were gone.

  Everyone was sent home early. The ambulance took Nick and Cole went with the police.

  Ruth volunteered to stay longer to straighten upstairs. Max sent Joshua to help her.

  “Well, that accident is going to delay the merger,” Ruth said. “Can’t say I feel bad.”

  Joshua was sweeping the floor alongside Ruth, who dragged the cardboard bits by broom to the hole in the floor that led to a second baler.

  “Maybe the doctors can fix his hand,” Joshua said. “He seemed like a nice guy. Wanted to be a missionary. And I saw that toy sword, too. I’d like to know who was careless enough to put that rope around the steering wheel? I saw a cigarette butt in it...”

  Ruth stopped sweeping. She arched her stiff back. “Joshua, we need to talk about something.”

  “I wanted to ask you about what you said, when you gave me the photo of my mom and me. What did you mean—“

  “What do you remember about Elizabeth?”

  “Almost nothing.”

  “What about your box?”

  “What box?”

  “Before you got sick, you were putting your box together, and not all of Liz’s books were destroyed in the fire—“

  “What books?”

  “You mean to tell me that you don’t remember your mother’s power?”

  “What power?”

  “Do you know where your witch box is?”

  “Witch box?”

  “I don’t believe it!” Ruth leaned her broom against the wall. “Viral meningitis, my ass. Someone wanted to slow you down. You had to be powerless, so you forgot everything you learned.”

  “Josh!”

  Max was walking towards them. “Anna is going to give you a ride home. Ruth, I need to talk to you.”

  Joshua put his broom away and walked toward to elevator. When he was out of sight, he hid behind a pile of wooden pallets, still within earshot of Max and Ruth.

  “Ruth, what the Hell is this?”

  Joshua peered over the side of the pallets, and saw the toy sword and rope in his father’s hands.

  “I don’t know,” Ruth said. “I haven’t practiced in years. It wasn’t the same after the fire.”

  “This hurts, Ruthie. After everything I did for you and Leo—“

  “My husband is dead is because someone, who is very ungrateful, doesn’t want us around anymore. Who could that be, Max? Who’s next?”

  “Keep Joshua out of it.”

  “Where’s his box?” Ruth asked.

  “He doesn’t need it.”

  “Yes, he does. How long do you think he can go on not remembering?”

  “Joshua almost died because someone was practicing. If not you, then who? Who would want Joshua dead?”

  “No one. He’s too special. Well, until that baby is born. Then what? What do you and Brenda have planned?”

  “You need to get over the fact that you can’t hold the guilt over me anymore.”

  “I never wanted to make you feel guilty about Liz. Even the boy. You were good to us until you started to get worried about the plant, the economy, now the merger. But if you think the power can shift your way because of Brenda and Colbie, you are mistaken. Colbie has no connection and Brenda is just...a wannabe. She sees herself as Colbie’s mentor. I’ll bet Brenda has been through Liz’s books a million times. Pathetic. Brenda has no favor with Harvester.”

  “Ruthie, maybe it’s time to consider retirement.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to worry. Your secret’s safe with me.” Ruth looked down at the toy sword and rope. “I have too much arthritis in my fingers for knots that tight.”

  Anna was waiting for Joshua in the office, her jacket on, purse over her shoulder.

  Joshua, when he came around the corner, looked pale and was rubbing his temples, his head down. “Josh? Are you all right?”

  “Is Ruth crazy?” he asked.

  “Um...no.”

  “What do you know about her?”

  “She’s always been here.”

  “She thinks Leo’s dead. And my dad’s mad at her about the accident. She said my mom had powers and spell books. I have a witch box somewhere.”

  “She told you all of that?” Anna covered her lips with her fingers, then dropped her hand. “Then Leo must be dead...”

  “What do you know? Tell me.”

  “I don’t know everything, Josh. But if we’re careful, we can protect ourselves.”