by C. F. Fowler
“The pictures of your family are great! I don’t have any like these. I wish I did. It’s a beautiful addition to the room’s décor,” Marion looked around at the family photos as she spoke.
Adele smiled and responded, “Yes, those were happier days in our family.” Her smile was a façade. Her depression was evident in her voice.
Marion smiled sympathetically. “You have your beautiful grandchildren living with you. They must be a handful.”
Adele stopped smiling. “Grandparents weren’t meant to care full time for their grandchildren. I took them in because I was asked to do so, but I don’t have the energy to care for them. Not like they deserve.” She looked around as if looking for a misplaced beverage. Her hands shook slightly.
Marion was relieved when Walter came back into the room. He smiled and said, “Thank you for your patience, Miss Rogers.”
Adele broke in and said, “She said to call her Marion.”
“Marion, okay, I called and spoke to a…” he looked down at the card where he had scribbled notes and continued, “Mr. Josh Daniels. He says you’re the real deal. My contacts said the agency is reputable, no complaints, and a healthy bottom line on the tax returns. I’m a friend of the family. I knew Adele and William before they were married. Adele leans on me when something comes up that she can’t deal with.”
Marion smiled. This sort of review was done whenever she spoke with someone with connections who had not hired the agency. It was completely appropriate as the subject matter she needed to discuss very often threw people for a loop.
Walter continued, “Why are you here, other than to help out Hazel there?” He pointed to the dog laying outside, once again enjoying an ear scratching from her former mistress. His voice was deep and had a western accent.
“As I told Adele, I have come in contact with Catherine’s spirit during an investigation. She is haunting a pedophile, and I fear she intends to kill him if he doesn’t confess his crimes. Now I know, to most people that would not be a bad thing. But I am a Christian and fear she may damn herself.” Marion hesitated to assess the reactions of Adele and Walter. They seemed to be following so she continued. “Catherine has not moved on. I fear whatever she does will count against her when she is judged. I was hoping to steer her efforts in a more positive direction.”
Walter sat down on the sofa and asked, “What are you asking here?”
Marion took a deep breath and said, “I cannot talk to Catherine unless the person she is haunting sits still long enough for me to get the conversation in, which he won’t. But even if he did he would hear our plans and that would doom us to failure. I was hoping to lure her here where her children are and talk to her about catching this guy and arresting him instead of using any sort of violence.”
Walter stood, “You must be out of you mind!” he cried. “I will not expose those girls to anything as sordid as you’re suggesting. They’ve been through enough!”
He walked to the opposite end of the room as Marion responded, “I understand. It was all I could think of to get Catherine’s attention away from what she’s doing long enough to have a real conversation.”
Marion sat for a few minutes before standing to leave. But Adele spoke up. “It’s not the kids you need. It’s me. She has come to me a couple of times.”
Chapter 5
Walter looked incredulously at Adele and said, “What the hell are you talking about?”
Adele looked sheepishly at Walter and said, “She came to me right after she died. She implored me to take legal action against Peter. She told me what the school told her and that he more or less confessed.” Adele went to the bar and poured herself a drink. Walter came over to her and took it from her. He emptied the glass into the sink and slammed the glass down on the bar.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Walter asked.
Adele started to cry. She couldn’t hold back the tears and since Walter seemed unfit to respond, Marion went to Adele, put her arm around her shoulders and guided her back to the sofa.
“It’s okay,” Marion said gently, “Go ahead and tell us the rest.” Marion turned and gave Walter a stern look, as if to say shut up and let her get out what she needs to tell us. Walter sat in a chair across from the sofa and remained silent.
Adele’s sobbing slowed and she said she had promised to help, but felt afterward that the authorities would step in to do what was best for the children. While at her daughter’s funeral, Peter told her he was pulling the kids out of school and would have them home schooled. She feared for the girls but didn’t know what to do. Catherine came back to her and told her details that would prove to Peter that Adele knew the truth. Adele started sobbing again, harder this time. When she could speak again, she told them that Catherine had been at her home after her death and witnessed Peter’s abuse of the girls, Adele went to Peter’s office and told him what Catherine had witnessed. She told him to give her the kids or he would be sorry. She insisted Peter’s sister turn the kids over to her. He said he didn’t have the girls: His sister had taken them. She ran out of the office before he could respond further because that’s what Catherine told her to do. She only saw Peter a couple of times after that and he was drunk each time. It was no surprise when the police in Hartsdale called to inform her of his death.
“So I think it’s me you need,” Adele said.
Walter, who had been sitting quietly, now came alive. “Miss, er, Rogers, what was it you said about Hazel?”
Marion looked at them both, a little stunned at the change in subject, and replied, “Golda would like Morey Feinbaum to have her.”
Walter disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes, and then returned with a grocery bag and leash. “Let’s drive Hazel over and see what Mo says.” He turned to Adele, “We’ll be right back, Addy. Please don’t drink while we’re gone.” Adele nodded and Walter opened the patio door, went to Hazel, and fastened the leash to her collar. Marion smiled at Golda, and Golda understood.
“Thank you, darling. You’re a good girl.” And with that Golda faded away.
Marion went with Walter in his Suburban. Hazel seemed content to sit in the backseat. It took about 10 minutes to drive to Morey’s. Walter told her that Golda and Morey were good friends of his. He regretted he hadn’t thought to take Hazel to Morey sooner. “I just thought Cathy’s kids would enjoy having a dog.”
They pulled up in front of a two-story home with a front and back yard. It seemed a less affluent neighborhood than Adele’s, but the home looked good. A home with kids would do Hazel good, but only if the kids wanted a dog.
They parked the Suburban and were stepping out of the vehicle when the front door opened and an elderly man and a young boy came out to greet them.
“Hey, Walt! Never thought I’d see you today. What’s going on?” The elderly man looked genuinely happy to see Walter. No pretense.
Walter smiled, shook Morey’s hand and said, “I was hoping you could do me a favor.”
Morey looked surprised and responded, “Anything! What do you need?”
Walter opened to back door of the SUV and Hazel jumped out. She immediately ran to the young boy and started to play with him. The boy screamed with delight!
“Can you take Hazel for us, for Golda? Cathy’s kids aren’t really interested in dogs and Hazel needs more than Addy can give her.”
Morey smiled. With tears in his eyes he said, “We’d love to take Hazel! Thank you! This is such a mitzvah!” His grandson ran around the front yard chasing Hazel and being chased in turn. Both the boy and the dog looked positively joyful.
Walter shook hands again with Morey and said, “No, thank you! I’m just happy Hazel is where she belongs. Golda must be smilin’ down at us from heaven.” As he said that last part he looked at Marion. Looking back at Morey, he said, �
�You only have one today?”
Morey replied, “Oh, yeah, the others are in sports or karate. Jason here has asthma. So he comes here on Saturdays. I think he likes this time alone with his grandpa and I love this quiet time with just him.” Mo wiped a tear of joy from his eye and laughed. “No more quiet now, is there?” The boy’s laughter was infectious. The three of them stood smiling and laughing as the boy rolled around the yard with Hazel.
“Let me get her stuff out of the car. You won’t have to buy dog food for a while. Addy picked some up every time she went shopping,” Walter said as he turned to the Suburban.
“Hello, Mr. Feinbaum. My name is Marion Rogers.” Marion said as she held out her hand to Morey. “I hope Hazel doesn’t upset his asthma.” She feared Hazel would need another home if things didn’t go well.
Shaking Marion’s hand vigorously he said, “Call me Morey. Don’t worry. I’ll put an end to this shortly. They need to burn off some energy.” Mo wore a big grin as he watched the two playing. “Wait until the others hear Hazel is here! This girl will be exhausted!”
Once the dog’s things were unloaded, thanks were once again offered by all parties, then Marion and Walter got back in the car.
When they left, Walter drove not toward Adele’s house but in the opposite direction. Marion looked at Walter and he said, “I left my clubs on the golf course when Addy called. I figured I’d pick them up and we’d have drinks in the clubhouse and talk over what you have in mind.”
They pulled into the parking lot for the Scarsdale Golf Club. Marion marveled at its beauty. The architecture was old and stately, and the colors of the trees on the course were astounding: green, gold, and pink trees lined the course in all directions. Walter asked her to wait while he secured his clubs and she was happy to oblige. The beauty of the course made her wish she had time to play nine holes. East Coast courses are very colorful compared to West Coast courses. When Walter returned they entered the clubhouse bar and sat at a table away from any others seated in the bar. Walter ordered two Arnold Palmers, and when the waiter left he looked as though he had no idea how to start the conversation. Marion let a couple of minutes pass as she remembered how angry he became back at Adele’s house.
“Are we agreed, Miss Rogers,” he started, “that Addy will be the one you use for this plan of yours?”
“Absolutely! I didn’t relish the idea of using Catherine’s children, but at the time I figured they were my only choice.”
“What did you have in mind? A séance?”
“Nothing as dramatic as that. I just need to sit with Adele, help her get in the right frame of mind that to which Catherine will respond. But first, Adele and I have to be on the same page about this. I understand this family’s feelings about pedophiles, but Catherine is the one we’re trying to save here.”
Marion hesitated to let Walter digest the information. After a couple of minutes he looked at her and nodded. “Yes, Catherine must be saved.” He seemed resigned to the lesser of the two evils.
“Mr. Mansfield, there is no shame or disgrace in this. Sometimes these things happen. This is what I do: Help people come to terms with their mortality and move on.”
Looking at her Walter said, “Miss Rogers, I know this is a mundane task to you, but this is my first ghost. I wish Addy had told me what had happened after Cathy’s death. I feel like she couldn’t trust me, and that hurts somethin’ awful.”
“I understand. Really, I do. It may be my gift but I’m startled more often than not by ghosts. Catherine has tugged at my heartstrings. She didn’t ask for this. But I also can’t blame her for what she’s doing.” Marion hesitated as the waiter delivered their drinks. She took a long sip and closed her eyes as she enjoyed the coolness and tartness of the drink. “I would do almost anything to try and help Catherine.”
Walter sat in silence for a minute, drinking and looking off into space. His focus returned to Marion, and he said, “Okay, we’ll try it your way. I’m not sure you’ll be successful, but I will help in any way I can, for Cathy.”
They decided to try reaching Catherine that evening. Walter brought some sandwiches home to Adele, as he felt sure she started drinking the moment they left. He needed time to get food and coffee into Catherine’s mother and prepare her for what was needed that evening. Marion gave him some gently worded hints to get Adele in the right frame of mind. She was worried Walter would be angry with Adele and rattle her. She needed her calm to call Catherine.
They drove back to Adele’s house. Marion got in her rental car and drove back to the hotel. She stopped at a fast food restaurant and picked up some dinner to eat at the hotel. A 30-minute nap followed, then a stroll on the streets around the hotel to invigorate her for the evening. She called to check in with her agency and got the details of the job Josh had lined up for her.
She called Gordon and was happy to hear Jergins was still rattled and his behavior was erratic. That meant Catherine was still haunting him. She assured Gordon she would be home the day after next. She could tell he did not enjoy keeping an eye on Jergins.
She called the number Josh gave her and spoke with Phyllis Herman. The woman seemed beside herself and Marion had worried she would demand immediate attention. Marion was pleased when Mrs. Herman requested Marion come to her house at 6 a.m. the next day, Sunday. It seemed odd to book such an early appointment, but Phyllis didn’t want to go into specifics. Marion agreed to meet her bright and early the next day.
The pro-bono accounts came when inquiries made that showed merit, but the client lacked funds to pay for the service. Marion was never required to take these jobs, but she knew Josh didn’t put the information in the computer lightly. While planning her Sunday activities, her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number displayed but it was local, so she answered.
“Hello.”
“Miss Rogers, Marion, this is Walter. We need you over here now!”
“I’m on my way!” She grabbed her purse and keys and hurried to her car. She pulled up in front of Adele’s house and could hear the screaming from the street. She found the door ajar so walked right in. Adele was crying and Walter looked frustrated and angry.
“What’s going on?” Marion demanded. As she entered the living room she saw the cause of the commotion: Catherine was standing near the fireplace, clearly visible — which meant she was intensely emotional. Walter approached Marion but she put her hand up to stop him.
“Catherine, what’s going on?”
Catherine looked at her and said angrily, “You! You have caused this!”
Marion approached cautiously, “Caused what?”
“My mother has been through enough! Why did you stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong?”
Marion walked toward Adele but Catherine perceived her as a threat and moved to block her path. Marion stopped to assess the situation. Walter was standing at the opposite side of the room looking angry and perplexed. This had to be very difficult for him. Marion turned to Walter.
“Would you tell me what has happened?”
Walter moved to a nearby Queen Anne chair and sat. “I came back with the sandwiches and the girls had come home. They were upset about the dog being gone, Addy had been drinking so it didn’t take much to upset her.”
At the mention of her drinking, Adele started sobbing. Catherine began to glow more intensely, which Walter couldn’t see. Marion held up a hand to Walter to stop him.
She turned to Catherine, “We did what was best for Hazel. She was neglected, fed, but not loved.” She paused to gauge the effect on both mother and daughter, “Hazel’s deceased owner was lingering because her dog was lonely. I think you can understand that, Catherine.” She hesitated as Catherine started to fade a little.
Once again she turned to Walter, “Is that all that was discussed?”
“No, I uh, I felt it might be best to…” he was hes
itant to say how the argument turned combative.
Catherine moved toward Walter and said, “Say it! Say what you threatened her with!”
Walter was still trying to find the right words and could not hear Catherine. Marion gave him a minute and said, “Catherine wants you to tell me what you threatened her mother with.”
Walter looked up startled and said, “I thought it best the girls live somewhere else. Why can’t I see Cathy?”
“Her mom can see her because they have a special connection. Where are the girls now?” Marion looked around to see if they were trying to get out of the line of fire.
“They’re in their rooms,” Walter replied. “I would never speak of this in front of them.” He seemed to be trying to put his position in perspective. He was there to help, not hinder, and would not upset them for any reason.
Marion looked to Adele but she seemed too inebriated to be of any help. She was unsure whether Catherine could understand her mother’s condition. There was too much stress here, and Adele had mentioned earlier that she wasn’t equipped to care for young people.
“Catherine, please help us help your mom. She is unable to care for your girls right now. Maybe alcohol rehab would help her do what she wants to do for you.”
Marion looked to Walter and he nodded. Catherine seemed to be considering the suggestion. She drifted over to where her mother sat and looked at her closely. She turned back to Marion and asked, “Why are you here?”
“I need your help. We want to stop the man you are haunting but we don’t want him killed.”
Catherine glowed brighter, “Don’t get in my way!”
“I have to try, for your sake,” Marion replied. She needed to make Catherine understand she was on her side.
“My sake?”
“Yes, to save your soul.”
