SUMMER OF EVIL

by Marianne Spitzer

  “I knew Luther killed her,” Kellie said, “but I thought it was because we annoyed his spirit. How do we fight this? I can’t fight strong evil. Look what happened at the Gotz Manor House. The evil that became the house was stronger than me. It’s only quiet because the house burned down, and no one bothers it.” Kellie gripped the paper in her hands.

  Claudia reached out to calm Kellie’s shaking hands. “You are strong enough. You have learned more about your white light and how to use it. You can destroy the evil, but we must first find out what it wants.”

  “Blood, it wants blood,” murmured Taylor. “Probably wants our blood.” She began to rock back and forth.

  “You and Kellie are safe as long as you wear the amulets. See the square on the paper. I believe it means a letter or note. You must look for one. It may be the key.”

  Kellie looked up, “I’ll tell everyone to look for old papers, notes, books, anything while they work on the monastery or clean up Lydia’s house. Do you have any idea what it is?”

  Claudia shook her head.

  “Okay, then do you have an idea what the evil is?” Taylor asked while holding her head in her hands.

  “Not completely, but if it is strong, it is most likely old evil. The longer evil is around, the stronger it becomes. Anger may fuel it or a sense it was wronged and seeks revenge. Since Luther has been killing for it, I believe it is seeking revenge, but is never satisfied. If you can find out what it wants, you can get rid of it.” Claudia stood and picked up her purse.

  “Where are you going,” cried Taylor. “You can’t tell us something like this and then walk away. We need your help.”

  “No hon, we all need Kellie’s help. If I do hear anything else, I’ll call.”

  Claudia walked away leaving Taylor and Kellie staring after her and then at each other. Taylor’s mouth hung open with unspoken words.

  Kellie said, “Let’s go home. Maybe we can figure something out.”

  Taylor wrapped her arms around her purse and said, “I think I should stay right here. The spirits won’t come onto the church property. I’m scared.”

  “I am, too, but we can’t live at church,” Kellie said smiling. “If we explain why we don’t want to leave, they’ll have us committed. Then we’ll be in locked rooms with no chance of escape.”

  “You’re right; I’m coming.” Taylor stood slowly and meandered to the car glancing over her shoulder at the trees behind the church. “If that evil, whatever it is, can travel, you don’t suppose it watched us from those trees.”

  “I doubt it; either Claudia or I would have sensed something.”

  “Okay, but why didn’t you sense anything at the monastery. It’s next to the woods,” Taylor whispered.

  “I don’t know. I should have sensed Luther before he killed Clarice. That evil may be powerful enough to hide from us,” Kellie admitted.

  “Wonderful,” Taylor mumbled as she climbed into Kellie’s car.

  “Here comes Andrea.”

  #####

  Cole smiled at the idea of Andrea spending time with her friends and not crying or obsessing over Clarice’s death. He waved at Andrea and drove back to work.

  Andrea climbed into the backseat of Kellie’s SUV and took a deep breath. “I’m glad Cole went back to work. He’s driving me crazy. He asks me every five minutes if I’m okay or if I’m upset. Last night it was so bad I began to cry. He tried to tell me the funeral would upset me, and I couldn’t go. I glared at him, and he relented. I don’t have the heart to let him know it’s him who’s driving me crazy.” She leaned back in the seat and admitted. “I love him, but I might kill him before we have this baby.”

  Taylor nodded, “I understand. Hunter is overly protective, too. I can’t imagine how he would act if I was pregnant.”

  Kellie started her vehicle and shook her head. “Knowing Hunter he would hire a fulltime nurse. I’m surprised Cole hasn’t mentioned it.”

  “What Cole suggested is worse. He said we should stay with his parents so his mom could watch over me. This, of course, is after I quit my job. I told him if I needed anyone I would call my mom, but he thinks because his mom took care of his grandma before she died that she would be better suited to care for me. I won’t make it through this.”

  “Relax, Andrea,” Taylor said. “Cole tends to overreact. Try to ignore him.”

  “It would be easier to ignore a hurricane,” Andrea said tossing her purse on the empty seat next to her.

  “We’re here,” Kellie said as she pulled into her garage. “I have double chocolate brownies. We’ll relax and watch a movie or listen to music.”

  Andrea’s phone rang. “Ugg,” she said, “It’s Cole.” She answered, “Yes dear, we made it home safely. I’ll see you after work. Love you, too. Yes, the baby is fine. Bye.”

  Kellie looked over her seat. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, but I could use one of those brownies.” Andrea smiled.

  #####

  Everyone did their best to put the funeral behind them and move forward with turning Lydia’s property into a welcoming place for in-need children. The charity members decided they would find a way to honor Clarice when the buildings were ready. The charity was able to sell the furnishings they didn’t need. Most were antiques, and they were able to refurnish the house in a child-friendly style. Through the generosity of the city and its residents, the furnace and central air-conditioning were refurbished and by mid-August they were ready to accommodate their first family.

  #####

  Mike had released the monastery as a crime scene and Kellie was happy they could begin to turn it into a family center. Taylor and Kellie met Bill in front of the monastery on a sunny Saturday morning.

  “Good morning,” said Bill. “I have a list of workers who will donate time.” He handed the clipboard to Kellie.

  “Jensen Construction has volunteered to oversee the project. I didn’t expect them to get involved.” Kellie handed the clipboard back to Bill. “It surprises me.”

  “I spoke to Chris. He said Tony and Mrs. Jensen agree that helping to open the monastery to families in need is something Randy would have done without question,” Bill said. “The guys are good. Things will be done right the first time.”

  “I know,” Kellie said her thoughts turning back to her argument with Randy and the phone call she received informing her of his death. “I didn’t think Mrs. Jensen would want the company anywhere near a project involving me.” She looked out the window to blink away the tears she felt forming in the corner of her eyes. “It’s generous of them.”

  Bill, oblivious of Kellie’s emotional reaction said, “It sure is, and I can’t wait to get started. I’m going to give it another walk through. Several volunteers will be here in approximately thirty minutes to clean out the junk and broken items. Then next week the refurbishing can begin.”

  Taylor shuffled her feet and spoke, “Bill, are you okay being here?”

  He turned toward her and the corners of his mouth lifted in a near smile, “I’m not sure, but I’m doing this for Clarice. I promised to help before she died. What kind of a man would I be if I bailed out now?” He nodded and strode off toward the stairs.

  Taylor whispered, “He’s a nice guy. His heart is breaking, and he’s here. Clarice touched so many people. I miss her.”

  “I do, too,” Kellie said. “Since we’re here we should see what we’re going to need. Let’s start in the kitchen.”

  Both young women stopped when they saw the bushes in back which blocked the view of the small graveyard.

  “Look, they’ve bloomed. Clarice would love the tiny pink flowers. Those bushes are staying for two reasons. One, they hide the graveyard from the view of the little ones and second; they are a memorial to Clarice.” Kellie stared at the bushes knowing Luther and unknown evil still roamed the area. She would deal with them before any child set foot in the building.

  Taylor added, “The room we plan to use for the day care also looks out
this way. We need to fence the area for the day care, and the kids will not get anywhere near the graveyard. We could fence in the area along the entire back of the building and divide it up. A small area for toddlers, another for the kids with bigger play equipment, and an area with picnic tables would keep the cemetery out of view.”

  “Hey,” Kellie spun toward Taylor. “Bill said he saw Clarice from the roof. I hope the graveyard isn’t visible from the second-floor windows, let’s check.”

  They hurried up the stairs to look out the windows and saw Bill tacking notes outside each room. He looked at them, “Leaving notes about what needs to be done.”

  “Great idea, Taylor and I want to know if the graveyard is visible from the windows. It might scare the kids.” Kellie said.

  Taylor called out, “The bushes seem to be just the right height. I don’t see any of the headstones from here.”

  Kellie sighed, “That’s one good thing we have going for us. Let’s hope the rest of the refurbishing goes on without a hitch.”

  They heard several vehicles pull up out front.

  “Must be the volunteers,” Bill said. “I’ll go meet them.”

  Chapter Ten

  Wills drove away from Sunshine Cabins with a smile on his face. Summer was coming to a close, and it was time for him to leave. He made a fishing buddy, Randall, and he would miss the fun times. Wills had begun to like Polly and the fruit pies she baked and sold from the office. Part of him wanted to live there forever, and part of him needed to play games with Kellie and Taylor. The games won.

  Mumbling his mantra, “Pain, misery, torture, agony, death,” Wills headed into the big box store for one last shopping trip. He hummed a tune in his head to the words of his mantra as he over-loaded the cart with items they would need.

  “One last stop at the cabin to drop these things off and I head for Malone Springs. By this time tomorrow, I will know where Kellie and Taylor live and how to grab them,” he mumbled as he pulled up in front of the abandoned cabin.

  The sun was setting casting long shadows across the gravel road as Wills headed away from the cabin on his way to fulfill his plan.

  “I’m coming for you,” he grinned as his foot pressed down on the gas pedal and he accelerated onto the highway.

  #####

  It had been a long day and Kellie enjoyed a glass of wine while she soaked in the tub. She washed the dust of the monastery out of her hair and massaged conditioner into its dry ends. Leaning back to allow the conditioner time to work, she heard Rufus growl.

  Her head spun in the direction of the sound, and she saw the redheaded ghost that had visited her before.

  “How nice it is to sit in warm water and feel beautiful. Look at me. I’ll always look this way. He killed me because he hates you and Taylor. I can’t get to Taylor. I will settle for you.”

  Kellie’s first instinct was to throw up her hands and force the young woman to disappear. “Wait, I want to help you. Tell me where you are, and I’ll help get you into the light.”

  The ghost dropped her head and cried, “I can see the light, but can’t get there. The water will not let me go.”

  “You’re in the water?” Kellie asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Last time you were here you said it was dark, and there was sunshine. Can you explain?”

  She nodded, her wet hair splashing against the doorframe. “It was dark when Wills picked me up. He told me he hated Taylor. He liked my red hair. I saw the sunshine and rainbow before he killed me.” She faded before Kellie’s eyes and disappeared.

  Kellie’s cell rang. She hit the speaker button. “Hi Claudia, can I call you back? I need to get this conditioner out of my hair.”

  “Sure,” Claudia’s voice filled the room before she ended the call.

  A quick shower removed the conditioner and soap residue from Kellie’s soak and she wrapped up in a towel. Grabbing her cell, she returned Claudia’s call.

  “Hi Claudia, thanks for checking on me, but she was sad this time. At first she was angry until I promised to help her. She remembers more, and she’s positive she’s under water. I’ll call Uncle Mike and let him know. I will thanks.” Kellie ended the call.

  It wasn’t late, and she called Mike to give him a bit more information. “Yes, I’m confident she’s under water, and she mentioned rainbows. I don’t know more except you need to find her so she will have peace.”

  #####

  Mike mumbling, “Sunshine, rainbows, dark, and water. I’m supposed to believe a ghost gave Kellie updated info. Well, I’ll search.”

  He typed the words sunshine, rainbow, and water into the search bar and clicked enter. A site he hadn’t seen before was listed.

  “Hmm,” mumbled Mike, “I’ll be damned.”

  The new link was an updated site. Newly painted cabins on a beautiful lake. Formerly Rainbow Cabins now named Sunshine Cabins.

  He dialed the number and an elderly woman answered. He explained why he called.

  Polly replied, “Most of our summer guests have checked out. The guests here now have come for the last days of summer. Yes, we did have a guest here for most of the summer. Sure do.” She gave Mike the fax number and told him she would look at the picture carefully.

  Mike turned in his desk chair and faxed Wills picture to Sunshine Cabins. Within minutes, Polly called him.

  “That’s him. His name is Sydney Ronak. He checked in with a legal driver’s license. I have a copy. His hair is a bit longer and darker, but it’s Syd. He was here for over two months. The other guests loved him. He was friendly and helpful. I can’t believe the police want to talk to him. He checked out, and we’d love to have him back. He bought a bike while he was here and left it for anyone to use. He’s a nice guy, detective. I don’t understand.”

  Mike could hear her take a deep breath when she stopped talking. Then she asked, “Did he do something awful?”

  Mike scrunched his eyebrows and said, “The man you know as Sydney Ronak is an escaped criminal. He’s dangerous. If he returns, you need to call your local police immediately for your safety and the safety of your guests. I’ll phone your local sheriff and let him know. He may drop by with additional questions. One last thing, would you please fax me a copy of that driver’s license he used. Thanks.”

  Mike hung up the phone, leaned his elbow on the arm of his chair, and rubbed his forehead. A few minutes later his fax machine beeped. The face on the license was Wills Berner. He called the station to up the patrols around Kellie and Taylor’s homes. He swallowed and dialed Kellie’s number. He knew he was about to turn her life upside down.

  #####

  Kellie tossed the phone on her bed and sat down hard. She dropped her head into her hands waiting for Taylor to call. Eyes closed and hands shaking; she couldn’t believe what her Uncle Mike told her. Rufus’ growl brought her back to her surroundings.

  The young redheaded ghost stood in her room.

  “Do you believe me now? I know your friend called to tell you that Wills was there.”

  “Yes, he did and he’s calling the local sheriff. I’m sure they’ll look for you in the lake.” Kellie stood and took a step closer to the spirit.

  “Will I be able to leave the lake? It’s cold here. I’m stuck on the bottom. I can’t get out.” Tears ran down her face mixing with the lake water dripping from her clothes.

  “Yes, when you’re free you’ll see white light. Run to it. You’ll be safe and warm.”

  “Will they find Wills and make him pay for what he did? I could stay and help. Maybe I’ll know where Wills is.” She shook her arms splashing water in all directions. “It is so wet down there.”

  “I know,” Kellie said softly,” but I want you to run into the light as soon as you see it. It’s dry, and your loved ones will be waiting. My uncle will find Wills, and he’ll pay, I promise you.”

  “Really promise?” Her pale eyes pleaded with Kellie. “He’ll hurt more women. There’s another girl somewhere near the lake, but
I don’t know where. I can hear her cry.” The ghostly image wrapped her arms around her thin chest and said, “Here that, she’s crying now.”

  Kellie could hear Rufus whine and a faint cry. “Yes, I hear her.”

  “Please tell your uncle to find her, too. She’s sad.” In a flash of light, the young spirit was gone.

  #####

  Kellie’s cell rang. It was Taylor. She was babbling and speaking too quickly for Kellie to catch all her words. She knew her friend was terrified.

  Kellie heard Hunter’s voice. “We received Mike’s call about Berner. Taylor’s a wreck. Turn on your walkie-talkie, so we’re all connected. Mike said there are additional patrols around the houses.”

  “I will. All my doors and windows are locked, and I’m sitting here watching the security cameras on my TV. He won’t get in. Plus I have Rufus.”

  “You two are so alike,” Hunter added. “Taylor is scanning our cameras, too. Stay safe.”

  “I will.” Kellie reached into her nightstand drawer and retrieved the walkie-talkie. She turned it on and spoke, “We’re connected Hunter and Taylor.”

  “Taylor’s voice came back, “Okay, good. Try and sleep. You can come over here if you want.”

  “I’m fine. I have Rufus. Night.” Kellie set the walkie-talkie down and dropped on her pillow. She thought, “If I go to Taylor’s; the spirit may follow me. The last thing Taylor needs is to see a soaking wet spirit in her house.”

  She opened the nightstand drawer again smiling at the gun she knew she would use if Wills broke into her home.

  Kellie drifted off to sleep with the light and TV screen showing all her security camera images on while Rufus paced the hallway. When she was sound asleep, Rufus climbed onto her bed and slept.

  #####

  Kellie relayed the information that there may be a second victim near the lake to her Uncle Mike the first thing in the morning. From his groan, she knew he wasn’t ready for more spirit information.

  “I’ll call the sheriff again,” the detective said. “There might be a missing girl in the area, but I have a feeling Wills picked his victims from those who might not be missed for a while. He wouldn’t want attention drawn anywhere near him.”