Wills waved in the direction of the oak as he walked back to the car. A few minutes later he was back on his trek north and away from suspicious eyes.
#####
Kellie was sound asleep when she heard her name. “What? Is someone there?”
Rufus didn’t move or bark. Kellie knew no one was in the house, but she heard a soft voice call her name again.
“Who are you and what do you want?”
“My name is Holly. Do you know a man named Wills? I heard him thinking about you. He killed me.”
Kellie was wide awake and turned on a small lamp on her nightstand. A ghost stood near the foot of her bed. She was wearing the same formal gown Kellie recognized from the photo on the internet. Her peach rose corsage hung askew on her dress.
“Hello, Holly. Yes, I knew Wills when we were children. I’m sorry he killed you. Why are you here?” Kellie took a deep breath hoping Holly would answer. She knew spirits could be temperamental. Kellie felt at peace when she looked at Holly. She knew Holly wasn’t an evil spirit.
Holly floated closer to the end of the bed and said, “Wills came to where he buried me and spoke to me, but was thinking of you. Other spirits told me you could see me and help me. He buried me beside the big oak tree near the lake. Please find me. Then I won’t remain trapped here. I’m cold and lonely.”
“I can do my best, but I need to know exactly where you’re buried. Can you tell me what happened to you?” Kellie asked.
“I was at prom and I saw my boyfriend kiss another girl. I ran out of the school and decided to walk home. It was only six blocks. I should have called my dad, but I was so upset I just started walking. I thought a car was following me, so I began to run. My heel made me trip, and I fell. Someone grabbed me and held something over my face. The next thing I knew I woke in the back seat of a car. Wills was sitting next to me. He said he wanted to talk to me, and I could be his girlfriend. I was so scared I couldn’t stop crying. Wills told me his name and how we could go on dates. When I tried to get out of the car, he became angry saying no one wanted to be his girlfriend. He grabbed me and strangled me. Then he buried me next to the big oak tree. Please find me.”
“I will do what I can, but I may need help. I also have a friend who speaks to spirits. Maybe between us we can find you. Can you tell me anything else about where you’re buried?”
Holly slowly shook her head. “Wills killed another girl. She was a little older than me and had long red hair. He buried her closer to the cabin. I think he used to live at the cabin in the summer. I think the lake is named after leaves.”
Kellie nodded. “That helps a lot. I’ll call my friend and my uncle who is a detective. We’ll see if we can’t find you.”
“Thank you.” Holly’s image began to fade, and she disappeared.
Kellie dropped back on her pillow. “It’s four in the morning,” she mumbled. “Why can’t they visit me in the afternoon?” She was surprised Claudia didn’t call. “Hmm, maybe Holly isn’t communing with other spirits.” She closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
#####
Wills stayed off the major highways on his trip north. The map he picked up helped him weave his way through small towns and country roads rather than the freeway or main highways. His trip took him past a large road sign advertising a garden center a mile to his west. The need to buy garden gnomes drew him toward the garden center.
He parked the car in the lot next to a few other cars. When he glanced back over his shoulder on his way toward the entrance, he noticed the car fit in well. No one would wonder about a nondescript dark green car.
Wills found the small garden center to his liking. It was similar to one near his parents’ cabin. He remembered people loved to decorate their summer cottages and most country stores or garden centers carried a lot of lawn decorations. “Whoever owns this store,” Wills thought, “must love garden gnomes as much as I do.” He smiled as he found the selection of at least twenty gnomes. He wanted to buy all of them, but controlled himself. “I’ll choose three. One for each of us. Taylor and Kellie will like theirs, too,” he thought.
He picked out three gnomes similar in size but with different faces. Each had a traditional red hat and was smiling. He made his purchase knowing Kellie and Taylor would love their gnomes as much as he loved his. The young clerk didn’t pay much attention to him. She rang up the gnomes, wrapped them in paper before bagging them, and wished Wills a great day. Their eyes never met, and Wills left the store humming softly.
Back on the road again, Wills knew it was time to start looking for a cabin rental. He needed somewhere with enough cabins to blend in, but not too many. The more cabins, the greater chance of fights or some other occurrence which would bring unwanted police investigations. If the area was too small, there was always a nosy neighbor who was bored and wanted to be friends. He had grabbed a few brochures when leaving the garden center. He pulled over in a small parking area to decide where he should stay.
He found one that interested him. Twenty-five cabins. Ten had direct beach access. The others a short walk from the beach. He hoped to rent one away from the beach and as private as possible. He dialed the number.
A pleasant voice answered, “Good morning, Sunshine Cabins, how may I help you?”
“Sunshine?” Wills asked. “I think I have the wrong number.”
“No, we recently changed our name after remodeling. If you found us in a brochure or on-line, we haven’t had time to change the name. Can I help you now?” The friendly voice asked.
#####
Rufus woke Kellie at eight. She let him out and made coffee. She knew she should wait until nine o’clock and call her Uncle Mike at his office. Kellie remembered the night a spirit buried in a well at Petal Gate Asylum visited her, and her excitement caused her to call her Uncle Mike at three in the morning. Smiling at the memory, she picked up her cup and went out on the deck and watched Rufus chase squirrels.
When it was nine o’clock, Kellie dialed Detective Stellion’s office.
“Mike Stellion.”
“Hi, Uncle Mike. I think I have some information that will help you.” Kellie bit her lip knowing her Uncle Mike knew she could see spirits but always worried when she saw one.
“Are you investigating something again, Kellie and is Taylor helping? I don’t want either of you getting mixed up in something dangerous again.”
“No, Uncle Mike, this information came to me.”
She could hear him grunt and then ask, “How?”
“Umm, I had a spirit visit me last night.” Her knee bounced as she spoke.
“Okay, tell me what you think you know.”
“I saw a young girl. She was one I saw on the internet that Wills might have killed. She said he did kill her on prom night. He buried her next to an oak tree near a lake that she thought might have a leaf name.” Kellie sat still waiting for her Uncle Mike to answer. She could hear him clicking his computer keys.
“Wills’ parents own a cabin on Maple Lake. If she is buried near there maybe, she can be found. I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but if you see her again ask her about Maple Lake.”
“Sure Uncle Mike, but she also said that Wills buried another woman with red hair in the same area except closer to the cabin.”
“She said red hair and cabin?”
“Yes, I think that might be the other woman mentioned in the internet article.”
“I’ll share this with the proper authorities. I hate the idea of you dealing with spirits, but if you hear anything else please let me know.”
“I will Uncle Mike.” She slid her phone to cancel the call and slipped it back in her pocket. She called to Rufus, and they went back into the house. She hoped Holly would visit again with more information.
#####
Wills pulled the car over at a rest stop and grabbed a small black case from his trunk. It was a “crisis kit” as Liz had called it. She had obtained a credit card with her father’s name and opened
a savings account in his name at a bank in another town. She set up automatic payments and paperless statements to an anonymous e-mail account. She also contacted the man who made the forged documents for Wills to make a second set in her father’s name. Her father’s name was Sydney, and either Wills or Liz could use the credit card. There was also a car registration for Sydney, a social security card, and two driver’s licenses. One had Liz’s picture and the other Wills.’ The man who forged the documents suggested that Liz use a phony marriage certificate to change the last name on the account and credit card. Those were two things he couldn’t make for her.
The police were looking for Wills Berner and Liz Downer. They might be looking for Wayne Burke, but Sydney Ronak could live under their radar. It’s the name he gave the woman at Sunshine Cabins when he asked her to hold a cabin for him.
#####
Kellie was scrambling eggs and Rufus walked around her and whined.
“I know you love eggs and I’ll put one in your bowl in a minute.” She laughed when Rufus ran to his bowl and barked. When he began to growl, the hair stood up on the back of Kellie’s neck. She spun around expecting to come face to face with Wills, but Holly stood there smiling.
“I came back. I think I scared your dog.”
“Me, too but it’s okay. I know you would come if you knew something else.” Kellie returned the smile hoping to keep Holly from disappearing.
“The name of the lake is Maple Lake, and you can see the giant oak from the front porch,” Holly said and disappeared.
Kellie called her Uncle Mike to tell him what Holly had said.
“I thought the ghosts only visited you at night.”
“Not always. I can see them during the day, too. Do you think you can help the State Police find the girls?”
“I’ll relay the information and see what happens. It’s relatively specific info so if it’s right; they should be able to find remains. Take care, Kellie.”
#####
Wills followed the arrow pointing to “Sunshine Cabins” as he turned off the highway. He pulled up and parked near the office. Walking inside, he felt free. “No one will ever find me;” he thought.
“Hi,” said the elderly woman standing behind the check-in desk. Her name tag identified her as ‘Polly.’
“Hi Polly, I’m Sydney Ronak. I phoned for a reservation.” Wills flashed his smile, and Polly smiled back.
“Welcome to Sunshine Cabins, Mr. Ronak. I have you in cabin twenty.” She handed him a registration form.
“Please call me Syd. All my friends do.” His smile covered his thoughts. “Just get me my key granny.”
Wills filled out the form.
She glanced over the form. “Sydney, I like its unique spelling.”
“Mom wanted a girl,” he grinned at her.
Polly returned the smile and handed him a key, a list of campground rules, WiFi information, and a gray plastic tarp.
“What’s the tarp for?” Wills’ eyebrows scrunched.
“Lake birds love the glint of the parked cars and aim for them. Also, some will get your car even if you park under a tree. Using the tarp is easier than redoing the paint on your car,” Polly laughed.
“Thanks, I sure don’t need that.”
“Do you know how long you’ll be with us, Syd.” Polly stared straight into Wills’ eyes.
“I’m not sure. I edit books for a living. The city is too hot and hectic in the summer. I think I can get caught up here in the country. Depending on how many new jobs I get, I may adjust the time I’m here. I’m planning at least two months.” Wills held the key and tarp. He glanced over the page of rules.
“Sounds good to me,” Polly slapped the counter. “You’re close to the lake. Just take the path behind your cabin, and it’s less than a block to our private beach.”
Wills smiled again and headed for his car. On his way to his cabin, he passed another with a red bicycle for sale sitting out front. It had a large basket. Wills made a mental note to walk down as soon as he unloaded the car.
“Yup,” he mumbled. “It’s less than a mile to the town and store and I could use that bike and keep the car under the tarp.”
He parked outside cabin twenty. It was small but big enough for what he needed. The walls were roughhewn wood, and this cabin had bright yellow shutters and front door. He noticed each cabin had different colored shutters and doors. Each had a porch and two rocking chairs.
“I wonder if the rocking chairs were Polly’s idea,” he murmured. “She needs them.”
Walking around the cabin, he couldn’t see any other of the cabins and only a tiny bit of the lake. He leaned against a tree, grinned, and lit a cigar.
“No one will find me here and it’s a nice place. I can stay here a while. I’ll wait long enough for Kellie and Taylor to think I’ve disappeared and then I’m going to get them and play time will start.” He blew smoke rings up in the air watching them disappear in the leaves. He wasn’t a smoker normally, but on occasion he would have one to celebrate. Finding a place to hide was a reason to celebrate.
Wills laughed all the way into his cabin. The inside was as rustic as the outside. Knotty pine paneling covered all the walls. The kitchen had outdated gold appliances, but a fairly new microwave. The pots, pans, dishes, and silverware seemed good enough. A small metal table and two chairs sat in the kitchen near the back door.
The living room consisted of a couch, two chairs, coffee table, two end tables and lamps, a small fireplace, and cable TV. “Could be worse he mumbled.”
Heading back toward the bedroom, he stuck his head into the bathroom. Sink no cabinet, toilet, and a shower stall. “No tub, but who needs one?” he thought.
His bedroom matched the rest of the house. There was a wooden four poster bed, night table and lamp, one dresser, and a small closet. Linens and towels were on the bed.
He dropped onto the bed and kicked his shoes off. “Hmm, it’s not bad. A lot better than the beds at Graywoods,” he said. “I think I’ll like it here.”
Four
Detective Stellion called Kellie the following morning. He had heard from the sheriff investigating Kellie’s lead at the Berner cabin.
“Their cadaver dogs located two burial sites and remains have been found. The coroner said the remains are human, and the sheriff told me one had traces of peach colored clothing. I think they found the missing women. There’s still no sign of Berner. Stay vigilant, please. That man is capable of anything.”
“I promise Uncle Mike. I’ll tell Taylor when I see her this evening.”
Kellie related her conversation with their Uncle Mike while driving to gun practice. Taylor was improving daily, and she wasn’t afraid to handle a gun.
She smiled at Kellie, “I’m getting better at this and I think I could use a gun to protect myself. This weekend Hunter is taking me to his grandpa’s farm to practice with the rifle. You should come along. I’m taking Penny so she can run with the farm animals.”
“Sounds like a plan, Rufus and I would love to go. It’s been a while since I saw Grandma and Grandpa O’Neil.” Kellie smiled back at Taylor.
“Hunter will call them. I’ll bet grandma will start baking pies tomorrow.”
“Yum, I hope so.”
It was still light out when they walked out of the gun range, but they looked around just in case.
#####
A month passed, and summer arrived. Kellie planted deep pink impatiens in the large wooden pot sitting at the edge of the steps of her now finished gazebo. She knew Randy would be happy that she was enjoying the gazebo. His untimely death left a hole in her life, and Kellie did her best to keep busy. Mrs. Jensen, Randy’s mom, didn’t call often after she learned Kellie and Randy weren’t engaged, but just dating. Kellie was busy with her children’s charity planning their float for the July 4th parade. Thoughts of Wills were pushed to the back of her mind, but she was still cautious when she left home.
Sitting at her desk filling out the form fo
r the parade committee, she was humming along to the CD playing when her phone rang.
“Hello. Hi, Clarice. I was just thinking about you while I was filling out the form for the city parade. Oh no, that’s sad. She was sweet. How old was she? Hmm ninety-eight is a good long life. Yes, I’ll call Taylor and Andrea. I’ll look for a notice in the paper. We need to do something special for her besides just flowers. Great idea, we’ll add a memorial to her on our float. She loved pine trees and purchased the biggest one for the charity ball each December. Let’s add a pine to the float and have one planted in the park in her name. I’ll call the mayor. He listens to me.” Kellie smiled. “He knows better than to argue with me. Have a lovely day, and I’ll see you at the funeral.”
Kellie slumped back in her chair. She shook her head, “Hmm, another funeral. I’ll never get used to them.”
She reached for the phone and dialed Taylor’s number. “Hi, Clarice called me. Lydia Thernstrom passed away this morning. She was ninety-eight. Her niece called Clarice and said she passed peacefully. She fell back to sleep after breakfast and died unexpectedly. I hope I go that way, but with my luck I’ll be consumed by a ghost.”
Taylor giggled and said, “Sorry, this isn’t the time for humor, but that was funny. I think you can fight off any ghost. I’m sorry to hear about Lydia. She was generous and loving to all of us. The Christmas Ball won’t be the same without her. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll talk to you later; I have a report to finish before my boss comes back from his meeting.”
“Okay, talk later.”
Kellie’s conversation with Andrea was brief and nearly identical to the one with Taylor.
#####
Two days later Kellie found Lydia’s obituary in the paper. Lydia would be cremated without ceremony. She wanted her ashes scattered in the dense forest she loved so much. No memorial service was planned. Kellie called Clarice.
SUMMER OF EVIL Page 3
