Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller

by Michaela James

  Scarlet gave him a friendly scowl before turning to Joe. “Dad, remember that movie we loved with all the secret doors?”

  “Clue,” Joe returned. “I think they designed the movie set around the game.”

  With mutual understanding, father and daughter approached the bookcases for a closer inspection.

  All eyes watched as Scarlet, and Joe gently pushed and pulled at various leather bound novels.

  “The candles!” Tom exclaimed excitedly. Moving his mouth to one side, he added in a muffled voice, “Put the candle back.”

  Detectives Williams and Smyth looked on in bewilderment. Raising blond eyebrows, Niles explained, “Young Frankenstein. One of our favorite movies.” Turning to Tom, he lowered his eyelids to half-mast. “We got those candlesticks at Pottery Barn. How could they possibly reveal a secret room?”

  Grinning and agreeing Niles had a good point, Tom joined Joe and Scarlet in their pushing and pulling of books.

  The room now encasing too much silliness for him, Detective Smyth said, “In the event, the movies, Clue and Young Frankenstein don’t lead us to our killer, we have specialists en route to search your house and grounds.”

  Niles and Joe, looking suitably sheepish, walked the detectives out, leaving James to join Rose, Scarlet, Joe, and Tom with their sleuthing.

  Turning to face Tom, Rose asked, “Are you and Niles able to contact the woman who sold you this home?”

  Tom bit his lower lip. “She left really suddenly, and Niles said she gave no forwarding address. All he knows is she moved to Amsterdam.”

  Rose sighed, “You and Niles are moving in with me until this madman is captured.”

  “Where are we moving?” Niles, returning to the library, enquired.

  “Into my home, until it’s safe to return to yours,” Rose replied matter-of-factly.

  Before Niles had a chance to reply, Rose looked to James, “And that goes for you too.”

  Smiling, James admitted, “I don’t think I have any tunnels under my ultra-modern apartment.”

  Enjoying her moment of authority, Rose retorted, “That’s beside the point. More the merrier and safety in numbers.”

  Clapping James on the shoulder, Tom pronounced, “It’ll be like an extended grown-up sleepover. We’ll have a blast.”

  Looking to Scarlet and receiving a nod and a smile, James said, “Thank you so much, Rose, I’d love to.”

  James addressed Niles and Tom, “I’d like to spend a bit more time here. Would you mind if I did a little searching of my own?”

  Wide-eyed, Tom said, “If you’re searching, we’re searching.”

  Nodding, Niles said, “I recorded Smyth on my phone as he read that note. We need to dissect what Steele said and see if we can learn anything from it.”

  Smiling as the room’s occupants looked at him admiringly, Niles added, “I’m done with this dude. Time to catch our mole.”

  The following morning, Niles, clearly exasperated, joined James, Tom, and Scarlet in his library. “How many times do I need to tell these guys?” he asked the room in general, “no, I don’t have plans to the house. And no, I don’t know how to find said plans.” Running hands through his hair in frustration, he fell back into an oversized leather chair.

  Scarlet, clasping a gold embossed red leather bound book, soothed, “I’m so sorry Niles. This is all my fault.”

  Niles pulled a face.

  “It certainly is not.” Sitting up straight he added, “It’s my fault. You do know I spent less time pondering the purchase of this home than I spend on deciding what tie I’m wearing to work.”

  Mouth, barely open, Tom mumbled, “That’s shocking when you consider his clothes never even match, let alone flow.”

  Casting Tom a look of mock indignation, Niles said, “Guys I think we’ve exhausted our efforts in this room. Let’s try the great room.”

  “But Steele left the note in here,” Tom argued as they all filed out the library.

  Niles waved his arms in the air. “Clearly the guy has cojones enough to move from room to room.”

  Wasting no time upon entering the great room, James knelt to lift rugs and examine hardwood panels beneath them. Looking up, he asked Niles, “Can you play that recording one more time? I’m wondering if there’s a reason he said Mole in Latin.”

  Niles reached into the pocket of his jeans. Walking out the door, he voiced over his shoulder, “I left my phone in the library. Be right back.”

  Less than a minute later, “Shit!” reverberated through the large house.

  Running to find the owner of this exclamation, Tom, Scarlet and James found Niles standing by the library’s fireplace, a note held in his shaking hand.

  Not daring to say what they imagined it was, three friends stared and waited.

  His breathing hard and sharp, Niles informed them, “It’s from him. He was here. He was right here just now.”

  Scarlet and Tom, rooted to the spot, watched James as he called Detective Smyth. Hanging up, he reported, “He’ll be here in ten minutes. Williams is on the grounds and will be right in.”

  Tom, now composed enough for speech, asked, “What does it say?”

  Not needing to look at the note, Niles replied, “You were so close.”

  In a strangled whisper, Scarlet asked, “Does he want us to catch him?”

  Niles shrugged his shoulders, dispiritedly.

  “I would guess not,” James said. “I imagine he thinks he’s way smarter than us, which gives him the belief he’s uncatchable.”

  Shuddering, Scarlet looked around the luxurious room. “Could he be watching us right now?”

  James and Tom moved closer to her. Watching Niles as he studied the fireplace, Scarlet said, “I just remembered something else he said on the phone.” All eyes on her, she explained, “He was on this rant about me not being grateful enough for the flowers. He wanted to know why I didn’t take the ones he’d left in the shaft with me. I told him I didn’t have time. He called me out, said he knew I’d had time. I don’t know how, but I think he was able to see me.”

  Nerves on edge, Tom almost shouted, “Niles why are you staring into that fire? This isn’t the Gryffindor common room. Sirius Black isn’t going to appear in the flames.”

  At this, Niles turned and exited the room. Bewildered, the other three followed.

  Ending in the enclosed patio, Niles picked up a remote and when Adele’s beautiful voice filled the room, said, “The entrance has to be in the library. We were barely in the great room two minutes when Steele deposited that note. He may be able to hear every word we say or like Scar said, see us.”

  “You’re right,” James agreed. “How else would he know we’d left the room.”

  Looking at each other with a collective sense of panic, all jumped upon hearing,

  “Mr. Remmy, Miss Oaks.”

  “Williams,” Niles voiced, walking out towards the foyer.

  Now on the phone, Detective Williams accepted the note from Niles with a nod of thanks.

  When the detective walked away, still talking with, they guessed Smyth, James looked to Scarlet.

  “Can you tell us anything more about that phone call?”

  Exhaling, Scarlet began, “He knew I was lying. He said I had been told by my boyfriend the firefighters were on their way. Giving me enough time to grab those awful flowers.”

  Paling, James stared at Scarlet.

  Saying what they were all thinking, Tom, voiced, “He had to have been right there.”

  Taking both her hands in his, James asked, “You said he lowered you down into the shaft.”

  Scarlet nodded. “Yes, then it came back twice before he cut the pulley rope thing.”

  Looking over to Niles, James suggested, “The tunnel must lead to that shaft.”

  Suddenly cold, Scarlet whispered, “He was there with me the whole time?”

  Shaking his head, James replied, “Not necessarily, but I think the shaft and the tunnel may be connected.”


  Narrowing green eyes, Niles said, “It explains how he’s managed to elude the police. He was never seen leaving these grounds because he never left.”

  After they’d all but told Detective Smyth what they’d eaten for breakfast that morning, James, Niles, Tom, and Scarlet decided to call it a day.

  Relieved to be back in the comfort and safety of a beautiful Victorian home, they recounted the morning’s events for Joe and Rose.

  “So, they’re going to check out the shaft?” Joe asked, pouring tea for the group.

  “They were waiting for some specialists and the fire department when we left,” Niles replied.

  “And you checked every book on those shelves?” Rose asked, placing a large plate of finger sandwiches in the center of the table.

  Scarlet groaned, “Yes and looked behind every painting.”

  Eyes trained on a large tree limb swaying in a strong afternoon wind, Tom mused, “He’s let us know he knows we’re close to finding him. Surely he’ll move on at this point.”

  Gratefully accepting a cucumber sandwich, Niles said, “I think James’ theory is right. Steele thinks he’s invincible.”

  “The man’s insane,” Joe declared. “I feel sick imagining him being so close by. No way are you four going back into that house until he’s caught.”

  Scarlet gently voiced, “Dad, you can’t forbid Niles and Tom from going into their own home.”

  Smiling, Joe said, “You’re right.” Looking at Niles and Tom, he continued, “But please don’t and if you do, don’t take my daughter with you.”

  Laughing, Niles replied, “We figured we’d be fine. The four of us together and Williams joined by countless uniforms right on property.”

  “Sounds logical,” Rose said after insisting Tom have a third egg and cress sandwich.

  “What’s scary,” Tom said, waving triangular shaped bread in the air, “Is that this monster knows our home’s layout better than we do.”

  “How can that be?” James asked, leaning his head back into the padded wicker chair.

  Door chimes diverted attention from this impossible-seeming question. Joe followed an excited pig into the foyer.

  Returning with Detective Smyth in tow, Joe offered the man refreshments. Politely declining, Smyth sat on the edge of his chair. “We found no tunnel leading off the shaft. It’s eight feet by fourteen with a steel wall on all four sides.”

  The recipients of this information appeared to visibly deflate, and silence filled the room.

  The first to compose himself, Joe asked, “What do we know about this man?”

  Rubbing the underside of his fingers across a strong jaw line, Smyth said, “A split personality. He barely knew his Dad. The mother was abusive. Stewart ran away from home as a young teen before being bounced around a fair few foster homes. He was eventually adopted by a socialite couple who sent him to the right schools and colleges. All appeared well until they divorced and then it seems Stewart began having social interaction problems and the like. Three female college students filed restraining orders against him, and he was fired from two jobs for misconduct.”

  Marveling at how Smyth could list these facts off, akin to reading a shopping list, Scarlet asked, “Can I assume he’s not done with me?”

  Avoiding the question, Smyth replied, “Rest assured we’ll catch him Ms. Oaks. We’re getting very close now. Just don’t go anywhere alone. I recommend you continue staying here with your father and grandmother.”

  At this, he stood, straightened his jacket, and gave the familiar parting words, “I’ll be in touch.”

  Afternoon became evening while watching the movie, Young Frankenstein. Laughter turned into pure hysterics when both Gene Wilder and Teri Garr said, “Put the candle back.”

  Despite a long day and comic relief, sleep alluded Scarlet. Upon hearing a faint tap on her bedroom door, she was alert enough to say, “Come in.”

  To her surprise and amusement, three men gingerly walked across the very-likely-to-creak, wooden floor.

  Smiling, Scarlet asked, “Can’t sleep either?”

  James pulled the velvet covered vanity stool closer to Scarlet’s bed. “Remember how I wanted to hear the recording of the note one more time.”

  Scarlet nodded while simultaneously giggling at the sight of Tom, unashamedly getting under the covers next to her.

  Niles, perched on the end of the bed, raised his eyes to heaven.

  “These old houses are cold,” Tom said by way of explanation.

  Everyone comfortable, their attention returned to James as he posed the question, “Why the need to use Latin? Why not just say mole?”

  Scarlet scrunched up her nose. “Just to be clever?”

  “Perhaps,” James replied. “Or maybe it’s a cryptic clue.”

  “Have we examined every single masterpiece on that bookshelf?” Niles asked.

  Scarlet shook her head. “We pulled each one out slightly to see if it opened a hidden door. But no, we didn’t look closely at the books.”

  “In googling molus iracus,” James shared, “we came across links to the Vatican City and how there’s a tunnel leading from it to an ancient building in Rome.” Running a forefinger across his phone a couple of times, James added, “Castel Sant’ Angelo.”

  “It’s beautiful,” came the muffled voice of Tom, who’d slid down into the bed with only his nose and eyes visible above the silk bedspread. “It means castle of the holy angel.”

  Niles, seemingly about to say something to Tom, instead focused on Scarlet. “We think maybe this is Steele’s way of letting us know he’s found the tunnel.”

  Pushing himself up against the lilac satin headboard, Tom pronounced, “You never finished telling us what you’d remembered about the mole stuff.”

  Scarlet frowned in concentration. “He only mentioned mole at the very end. I think he called himself a mole person. He was kind of erratic, talking about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and disobedient kids.”

  James shifted uneasily on his vanity stool. “We have a hunch, but it’s a crazy one. We’re heading over to Niles and Tom’s place right now. You try and get some sleep, and we’ll give you a full report in the morning.”

  Scowling at James, Scarlet asked, “Are you out of your mind?”

  James looked apologetic. “I know it’s two in the morning, but we have to eliminate this hunch and move on.”

  “I mean,” Scarlet continued, her jaw clenched, “you really think you can bestow your speculation and then just trot off without me?”

  “I told you,” Tom delivered, before disappearing beneath the covers again.

  “Scar,” Niles reasoned, “your Dad will kill us if we take you back to that house, let alone in the middle of the night.”

  Looking at each man, in turn, Scarlet asked, “Who are you more worried about upsetting, Dad or me?”

  James stammered something incoherent while Niles hung his head.

  Swinging his legs out from under the bed covers, Tom proclaimed, “We make sure Joe and Rose never find out.”

  Ignoring the dubious looks from Niles, James, and even Scarlet, Tom continued, “No shoes until we reach the kitchen door. We put the car in neutral and coast down the driveway. Wear sweats, and if we’re seen on our return, we’ll say we went for an early run.”

  Nodding with eyes wide and a turned down mouth, James returned the vanity stool to its original position.

  Staring at Tom, Niles said, “Kind of scary how effortlessly you can fabricate.”

  Rearranging his dark curls in Scarlet’s full-length mirror, Tom retorted, “What some would label fabrication, others would call a creative mind.”

  “Whatever you want to call it, it’s genius,” Scarlet declared. “Now get out of here and let me get dressed.”

  “Let’s all go down separately to minimize the chance of noise,” James suggested.

  “Perfect,” Niles agreed. “We’ll meet by the kitchen door in five minutes.”

  Ten minu
tes later, James’ Lexus, with Scarlet behind the wheel and Tom by its side, eased silently down her grandmother’s steep drive. James and Niles were positioned at the drive’s end to ensure the car stopped before meeting the road.

  “We’re certifiable,” Niles stated as they pulled into his driveway. “The fact there are four of us will do no good at all if he’s got a gun.”

  “He did have a gun,” Tom pointed out.

  Receiving a look that could kill from Niles, Tom added, “We all know he had a gun. I’m just saying what we already know.”

  “Please tell me you left these lights on?” Scarlet asked, exiting the car.

  Nodding, Niles replied, “We have at least six that come on automatically.”

  “We’re going to be fine, guys,” James said soothingly. “We’re just going to look for a book about Ancient Rome or Roman ruins.”

  Opening his front door but feeling as if he were entering a house he’d never seen before, Niles said,

  “I’ll get some strong coffee going while you three get started.”

  Scarlet and James scanned the bookshelf on one side of the fireplace and Tom the other side.

  “A Modest Proposal,” Tom read aloud, holding a black leather book in front of him. “Jonathan Swift,” he continued wistfully. “Didn’t he write, Gulliver’s Travels?”

  James began to concur but was interrupted by Scarlet grabbing his arm with one hand and pointing with her other.

  Three pairs of eyes stared at the bronze colored book as if were a ticking bomb. James finally pulled it from the shelf and carefully lifted the thick leather cover. With a collective gasp, they took in the deep square, cut into gold edged yellowing pages.

  Tom, a hand held to his heart, exclaimed, “You have got to be kidding me!”

  “Shall I press it?” James asked, referring to the small black button located in the center of the cut-out pages.

  Shaking with nerves, Scarlet turned towards the library door. “Shouldn’t we wait for Niles?”

  Tom shook his head. “He’ll be here any second. I say press it.”

  Taking Scarlet’s hand, James eased her away from the fireplace and surrounding bookshelves. Waiting for Tom to do the same, he then firmly pressed the button.