Chapter Three
Thomas was bored and angry. His anger at Kellie grew each day. His presence in the Gotz Manor House made him happy. The other spirits trapped there kept him company and served his purposes when he needed a bit of excitement. He could possess the body of a tourist and use the possession to grope the woman accompanying the tourist. He enjoyed that, and he enjoyed watching the man try to explain how he didn’t understand why he groped his female companion. The men never knew they were possessed, but they remembered everything Thomas made them do. A few times over the decades, Thomas felt the need to feel the life of a woman fade away in his hands. Then he would possess a man and find a woman no one would miss. After his adventure with her, he would be sure he properly buried her, and the man was oblivious to what he had used him to do. Thomas was in control of their body and minds. The men remembered what Thomas wanted them to remember.
He flittered around the wooded area near the edge of town. He liked it since it was quiet and remote. After he caused the explosion and fire at the Gotz Manor House, he enjoyed the quiet. When the men and their machines came and removed portions of the home Thomas loved, his anger grew. He felt his power weaken as the remnants of the house were taken away day by day. His anger toward Kellie helped him gain his power again. Thomas was now as strong as ever.
He was bored. The medium helping Kellie made sure Thomas couldn’t see any of the people he hated. Those that helped ruin his existence were well hidden. He was sure they would come after him and then he would enact his revenge. Until then he needed to play with someone. He wanted to find Taylor. He loved her red hair, but she was also well hidden. Their time together had been too short. He swore he would find her again.
Thomas could see young people running near the woods. They ran past each morning. The lovely young woman with the red hair that bounced as she ran intrigued him. He saw a muscular man running close by the woods. He could possess him, take the red head, and have a bit of playtime in the woods. The woman wasn’t Taylor. Her hair was red, but not long and shiny in the sun the way Taylor’s was the day he kidnapped her. She would have to do. He needed the diversion. Today might be a good day after all.
~ * ~
Three days later, Max watched the morning news while Kellie set their breakfast plates on the table.
“Any word on the missing girl?” Kellie asked turning to grab two mugs of coffee.
“No, and the young man they found unconscious on the jogging path is still unresponsive,” Max answered before putting a forkful of scrambled eggs in his mouth.
“Didn’t you say you and your partner were the ones to answer the 911 call when he was discovered.”
Max nodded. “He wasn’t injured, and the doctors can’t find any reason for him to still be unresponsive. All the medical tests came back negative. I stopped at the hospital before coming home last night and checked on him. A nurse told me they would move him to a long-term care facility soon if he doesn’t wake up. They assume it’s a medical anomaly.”
Kellie’s eyes grew big and the mug in her shaking hand spilled coffee on the table.
Max reached out for her. “What’s wrong?”
Kellie said, “Turn up the volume on the news.”
Max shifted his gaze to the small TV screen on the counter to see the “Breaking News” banner fill the screen and a reporter standing in front of the hospital.
Max turned the volume up in time to hear the reporter say, “A hospital spokesman assured me no one on the hospital staff left a scalpel in Travis Glanden’s room. It was reported Mr. Glanden woke from his coma this morning insisting he killed a young woman near the jogging trail. Patients and visitors heard him yell that he killed her and buried her body in the woods. Before he could be restrained, he pulled the scalpel from under his bed, did his best to barricade himself in the bathroom, and slashed his throat severing both carotid arteries. Despite receiving emergency care as soon as he was removed from the bathroom, he didn’t survive.”
“Please turn it off,” Kellie said. “I think Thomas is responsible for this. The young woman that’s missing has red hair. He has a thing for red heads. He wanted to torture and kill Taylor and kept calling her ‘Red.’ Thomas could have kept the young man unconscious until he felt it was time to cause more trouble. He woke the man, allowed him to remember what he thinks he did, and then helped or forced the man to kill himself. It’s exactly what he’d do.”
Max reached for his wife, but she was striding across the room to retrieve her cell phone. “Damn. Uncle Mike must be responding to the scene at the hospital. My call is going to voice mail.”
Max stared at her as she spoke into her phone. “Please call me as soon as possible. I know who is responsible for killing the young woman with red hair and the young man at the hospital.” She ended the call.
Max walked to her side and slipped his arms around her waist. “Are you sure it was Thomas? Your uncle is going to have a fit if he thinks he has to solve a murder with a ghost as the main suspect.”
“Yes, I’m sure. I also have to help prove it. Think what that young man’s family is going to go through believing he brutally killed a young woman. They’ll become pariahs in town. It can’t happen. I won’t let him win.”
“How do you know she’s even dead much less brutally murdered?” Max looked at her confusion written across his face. “People do take off on their own at times. Maybe she ran off with her boyfriend.”
“No.” Kellie shook her head vigorously. “She’s dead. The young man claimed he killed her. He thought he did. He remembered what Thomas did. Thomas was and still is a sadistic monster. You have no idea how close Taylor came to being his victim. I saw the torture devices he planned to use. I can’t bear to think of what he did to that girl. She died a violent death. Travis Glanden will be labeled a sadistic killer.” She buried her head in Max’s shoulder, and a tear slid down her cheek.
Her phone rang bringing her out of her distressing thoughts. “Maybe it’s Uncle Mike. No, it’s Claudia.”
Max nodded, released his arms from around her, and walked to refill their coffee cups. He knew this would be a long morning.
“Hi, Claudia. Yes, I saw it on TV. I agree. Thomas is responsible, but how do we prove it beyond a doubt? My uncle won’t believe me. That poor young man’s family will carry the stigma to their graves. Do you think it will work? After the incident at your house, I can get the press to follow me anywhere. You know they’re calling me the ghost chasing charity president and worse. I’ll speak to the others. Has Lance explained our plan to you? Good. Talk soon.” Kellie broke the connection.
Kellie placed her phone on the table and sat down to look at Max.
Max gave her his undivided attention and asked, “Do I want to know what she thinks?”
“Probably not.” She inhaled deeply. “Claudia suggested I call Thomas out publically. He’s vain enough to take responsibility if he believes it will get to me or any of us.”
“What? How can you do that? Your amulet protects you. He can’t see you. You only battled him at Claudia’s when you removed the amulet. You’re not going to do that. I won’t allow it.”
“I beg your pardon.” She glared at him. “You won’t allow me to do what?”
Max took a long drink of his coffee. “Your uncle said I should forbid you to go after Thomas. I agree. You’re not doing it.”
Kellie stood so quickly her chair flew out behind her. The look on her face told Max all he needed to know. He ran his fingers through his hair.
“This isn’t 1800 you know. You can’t forbid me to do anything,” she stammered.
“I know. I know. Sit back down. I’m just worried. Let’s talk about this calmly.”
“You expect me to be calm? A young woman is dead. Thomas killed her. A young man believed he committed a heinous crime, and he’s dead, too. How many more people have to die before I stop Thomas. Lance can’t do this alone. Thomas won’t stop. He enjoys killing, and he’s trying to make a po
int. He’s trying to get to me. It’s working.” She dropped into the chair, slid her arms across the table, and dropped her head onto the table.
Max reached for her arm. He laid his hand on it and whispered, “Kellie?”
She lifted her head from the table and looked at him tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Okay,” Max continued. “I understand this is personal. You feel you should have eliminated him when you first battled him. You didn’t know he’d cause more trouble. Can’t Claudia do something to help stop him? Why you? Think of the girls. What would we do without you?” He gripped her hand tightly.
“I am thinking of the girls. They’re safe now. They’re innocents, but if Thomas is allowed to exist, he will come after them one day. He hates me. He blames me for saving the other spirits at Gotz Manor House. What better revenge than to take what is dearest to me. He’ll come after the girls if I don’t stop him. Please understand.” Her eyes pleaded her case for her.
Max nodded and gulped down the last of his coffee. “All right. I’m trying to understand. It’s just difficult to wrap my head around the fact that Thomas would wait years to come after the girls.”
“Look how long Gertrude kept Cora and Lila in line at the dormitory. Time doesn’t matter to spirits. They’re infinitely patient. Thomas will wait until he can enact revenge regardless of the time frame. He will come after the girls when we least expect it.” Kellie stared directly into Max’s eyes.
He rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. “Do what you have to do. I’ll do what you need me to do. Just please be careful.” He stood, pulled her from her chair, wrapped his arms around her, and pressed her close to him. Max kissed her with all the passion and fear filling his heart.
When he broke the kiss, he whispered, “I have to get to work. I’ll be late. I’ll call you later.” He grabbed two oatmeal bars and headed for the garage. In his heart of hearts, he knew he couldn’t let Kellie do this alone no matter what he promised.
“I love you,” Kellie called after him.
~ * ~
Kellie needed to discuss her plans with Taylor and was grateful Taylor’s boss allowed her to work from home two days each week. Today was one of her home days. A quick text assured her that Taylor was ready for a break. Kellie gathered the girls in her arms and crossed the back yards to Taylor’s patio door.
Taylor opened the door and reached for one of the girls. “Good morning beautiful princess.” The baby giggled.
“I think Faith understand you,” Kellie smiled at Taylor’s surprised look.
“How do you know this is Faith? They’re identical. Different colored socks?” Taylor peeked at the baby’s socks and saw they were the same pretty shade of pink that the baby Kellie held wore. She peeked at the small ankle bracelet the baby wore with her name. “This is Faith. You planned this. You knew which child I had because you checked before you walked over here.” Taylor laughed.
“No, really,” Kellie answered. “Max doesn’t believe it either when I say I just know in my heart which girl is which. Last night he spent thirty minutes walking from one room to another hiding which girl he picked up and then asked me her name. I was right at least ten or twelve times. No mistakes. It frustrated him. He hopes one of them will get a tiny birthmark or something to help him. He’s worried he still won’t know who is who when they are teens.”
Taylor smiled at the thought of Max calling one of his girls and neither one answers because they’re able to confuse him. “Doesn’t he realize they’ll have separate personalities by then? Maybe one will be a bit wilder than the other and dye her hair blue or purple.”
“Max would strangle her and then he’d know the difference.” Kellie laughed at the thought of one of her girls greeting their dad with brightly colored hair until her sides hurt.
Kellie and Taylor heard Ethan babbling with Faith and Hope. “Sounds as if they’re happy. Would you like some tea?” Taylor asked. “I have blueberry muffins.”
“Fantastic,” Kellie said and reached for plates. “Max and I were busy discussing what I should do about Thomas after this morning’s news report. I’m famished. Did you see the report?”
Taylor nodded. “Do you think Thomas possessed that poor guy the way he did Hunter? My heart broke when I heard about it. I called Hunter right away. I know this will affect him. There are times he still feels guilty. He didn’t see the report, but he was going to check on-line and watch the news. What can we do?” Taylor poured boiling water into two mugs.
Kellie pulled a mug closer and dunked her tea bag up and down several times. “I have a plan.”
Taylor placed the plate of muffins on the table, sat across from Kellie, and said, “Tell me.”
~ * ~
Hunter slammed his fist on his desk and pushed out of his desk chair. He strode across his office, turned, strode to the other side, and stared out the window. “Damn him.” He shook his head. “He’s already damned, but he needs to be stopped.”
Hunter’s cell phone rang. It was Cole.
“Did you see the news report? Andrea called and told me to watch. She’s terrified for Nathaniel, me, herself, and the rest of you. What can we do? I won’t allow that evil thing to terrorize my wife again.” Cole paused long enough to take a breath and let Hunter answer.
“I agree, but I’m not sure what we can do. Kellie will know. Taylor’s working from home today and I’ll ask her to talk to Kellie. Maybe they can figure this out and then let the rest of us know. I think it may take all of us again the way it did last time.” Hunter paced as he talked to Cole.
“Right, we were all there including Randy and Thomas still escaped. I thought this ended when the manor house blew up. Let me know if you hear anything from Taylor.”
“I will. Randy’s gone but Kellie has Max. I think he’ll give her the added strength she needs. It has to end now.”
“Agreed.”
Hunter heard the click when Cole ended the call. He knew Cole was right. It had to end, but how? His fists balled, and he wanted to strike out at the man—no the evil being—that nearly tortured and killed his wife. His wife. Taylor. God, he couldn’t live without her. Ethan needed her more than he did. Hunter knew he would do everything including giving his life to stop Thomas. He nearly threw his phone against the wall before he realized his secretary was watching him from just outside his office door. He motioned for her to enter.
“Yes, Mr. O’Neil,” her voice hesitant.
“Do you still have some of that tea my wife sent over to wean me off coffee? I think I’ve had enough coffee for the day.”
She smiled. “Yes, sir. She sent more last week. I’ll bring some.”
“Thanks, Janice.” He hoped his smile would convince her he wasn’t going insane.
~ * ~
Taylor leaned forward against her kitchen table waiting for Kellie to explain what she had in mind.
“I’m going to lure Thomas out,” Kellie began.
“How?”
“First, I’m going to need everyone’s help.”
“You’ll have it,” Taylor nodded. “Everyone knows how important it is to get rid of Thomas.”
“Second, this is a two-part plan, but Lance and I are keeping the second part to ourselves. Thomas can connect with anyone. We can’t have an accident happen where one of you might connect with him for just a second. I’ll let everyone know about the second part when it’s time.”
“I understand. Now how can I help you with the first part of this plan?”
Kellie smiled at her best friend and reached for her hand. “You don’t ask if it’s dangerous or what might happen. You just ask what to do. You are a blessing to me. Best friend doesn’t even begin to describe us. Sisters is closer, but we’re even more.”
Taylor gripped her hand and returned her smile.
“When Thomas tried to attack Claudia’s house, the press was there in force. I can get a reporter from the paper and Sabrina from the TV station to cover anything I do. Th
ey’ll come for a regular news conference about the charity, but if I tell them I’ll answer questions about what happened at Claudia’s, they’ll show up. I plan on calling one for two o’clock Saturday afternoon. I’ll hold it down at the fountain in the city square. People will be shopping or enjoying the day out. I’ll draw quite an audience. Thomas will not be able to resist. He’ll show up, and I’ll confront him. I know his ego, and he’ll brag that he killed the girl. I need to do this to clear Travis’ name. Can you imagine what his mom must feel thinking her son is a cold-blooded killer?” Kellie blew out a breath.
“I understand that, but you can’t do it alone,” Taylor insisted.
“I know,” Kellie agreed. “We’ll all be there, but Thomas won’t know it because I’m the only one who’ll remove their amulet. He’s going to think he can best me. I can clear all my thoughts. He’ll think my ego is as big as his and I came to fight him alone. I know I can get him to brag about what he did before he tries to kill me. He won’t see any of you, but the press and everyone from town will see and hear him including Uncle Mike. I need all of you there in case there is a problem, and I need to pull from your strength.”
Taylor leaned her chin on her hand. “I think it’ll work. Then what?”
“Once Travis’ name is cleared, I’ll slip the amulet back on, and he won’t find me. Then Lance and I can continue with our plan. I’ll let you know where to meet us. Thomas won’t know any of you are there until I pull your strength and contain him forever.”
Taylor nodded. “Okay. I’ll tell Hunter, and he’ll tell Cole. I’ll call Andrea. We’ll all be there. Good luck with Max.”
Sinister Awakenings Page 3
