by Rose Pressey
We were all back on this sidewalk now.
“We’re headed over to the bookstore next,” I said.
“How is the bookstore open right now?” she said.
Without answering her, I announced to the group, “The bookstore is typically closed right now but they stay open long enough for me to do the tour on certain nights.”
“Oh, that’s lovely,” one of the women said.
“That was pretty slick how you answered my question like that. They have no clue I’m here.” Haley reached around and touched the guy’s hair again.
He swatted at her hand as if he thought a bug had landed on his head. I just smiled and tried to pretend like I had no clue what was going on around him. When we reached the bookstore, I guided everyone inside. The group ushered inside as I held the door open. Haley strolled in behind the group.
“Maybe there’s a book on how to get me to go away?” Haley said with a wink.
I’d given up on finding a book that helped me get rid of ghosts long ago. Surprisingly, as I recalled stories of the mysterious happenings, Haley was behaving at this store too. To be honest I was surprised that she hadn’t been acting up more.
After finishing the stories, the group and I exited the bookstore and headed over to the coffee shop. I wondered how Dana was doing with the ghost in her life. I needed to check in on her. It had been a couple of days and I hadn’t heard her mention anything about it. I was pretty sure she wouldn’t be here tonight though. One of her employees was working until right after I left with the group. The group shuffled inside, peering around at the space full of tables and chairs.
“Doesn’t look haunted to me,” Haley said.
“Oh, it smells lovely in here,” one of the tour-goers said.
“Yes, this place is one of my weaknesses,” I said.
I guided the group over to the counter where I told them about the history and mentioned some of the recent things that had taken place.
“Oh, I thought I felt something,” one of the women said.
“I felt like someone was tugging on my shirt,” the dark-haired guy said.
Haley held her hands up. “It wasn’t me.”
I had my suspicions about her, but I couldn’t prove that she’d done anything. After all, she wasn’t exactly standing close to the man or woman, but maybe she had dashed away before I saw her. Regardless, it was time to leave the coffee shop. Surprisingly, tonight’s tour was still going well. I was waiting for that to all change. Please don’t let anything go wrong.
Next we stopped off at a restaurant. This was the nicest place in town to eat and I enjoyed coming here but I couldn’t stop in often because it was the nicest place in town. Brannon had brought me here quite a bit though and I considered it to be our special place. It was definitely haunted. The place had played a significant part in the Civil War because it had been used as a hospital. Brick walls added to the rustic charm and a fireplace sat in the middle of the room, adding a cozy atmosphere to the entire place.
After explaining some of the hauntings to everyone I checked the time on my phone. I was running late, and I needed to hurry everyone along.
Just as I feared, things turned south. Everything had been going well until this point. I supposed Haley was getting restless though, because now she was messing with everyone by trying to touch them and whisper in their ears. I wanted to yell at her to stop that, but again, I would risk having people think I was crazy. And she was counting on that too. She knew she could be mischievous and get away with it.
Stepping away from the restaurant, I guided the tour-goers toward the antique shop. We stopped in front of the building. I pulled out the key and shoved it into the lock.
“Do you own the antique shop?” Haley asked.
“A very nice man owns this shop and has been a friend for quite some time. He lets me give the tours in here.”
“Isn’t he afraid you’ll steal something or maybe one of the tour-goers will steal something?” Haley raised an eyebrow.
I couldn’t exactly say anything. The tour-goers would think I was accusing them of stealing things. I had to let that question go.
“Follow me inside,” I said.
We stepped into the antique shop. This place was known for the dark shadows that lingered around. When we got inside, I told them the stories about the place. Within seconds one of the shadows darted out from the wall behind a nearby bookcase. Haley screamed and jumped out of the way as the shadow headed straight for her. The rest of the tour-goers saw this shadow and gasped. They all huddled together. Well, this certainly was turning out to be an interesting tour now. The shadow zoomed across the room and then disappeared into the other side of the wall.
“Wow, I can’t believe what we just saw,” one of the men said.
“I’m ready to get out of here,” one of the women said.
“Is that thing evil?” another added.
“He looked like a demon to me,” Haley said. “Did you see that he was coming right at me?”
“All right, everyone, we can step outside for some fresh air,” I said.
Everyone was pretty shaken up as I gathered them all outside.
“I think I’m ready to end the tour,” one of the women said.
Well, I was finished anyway, so I supposed I could leave them all here. I typically liked to walk them back to where I started. Nevertheless, I took the flashlights and thanked everyone for coming. They headed out in the opposite direction as if they were in a hurry to get away from me.
“Please tell all your friends,” I called out.
Maybe I didn’t want them to tell all their friends if it meant telling them what a terrible time they had had on the tour.
“Well, you did quite a number on that group. They may be traumatized for the rest of the evening.” Haley shook her head.
“I don’t think I had anything to do with the fact that they might be traumatized. That was the ghost and maybe a little bit you too.”
“Me?” She pointed at her chest. “How was I responsible? I was being well-behaved.”
“Not all the time,” I said.
At that moment I realized that I was standing on the sidewalk talking to her. No one else would see her. They’d think I was talking to myself.
I stepped around Haley and hurried down the sidewalk to get back to the tavern. I didn’t want anyone to see me talking to her. Maybe she’d take the hint that I couldn’t chat in public. That was what the séance tonight was for.
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” she asked as she followed along behind me.
I wasn’t going to answer. I was just going to ignore her. At least until I got to a place where people wouldn’t see me.
“Oh, now all of a sudden I get this silent treatment? Just because I said I was being well behaved? But it was the truth,” she said.
“That’s not the reason,” I said out of the corner of my mouth.
“Well, what is it then?” she asked as she hurried along beside me.
“I don’t want people to see me talking to you,” I whispered.
“Well, it’s a little late for that,” she said, pointing at a man coming out of a shop.
He watched me like he thought he should call the police for assistance. Okay, maybe some people had seen me but that was no reason to continue talking to her.
“You’ll just have to wait until we’re in private,” I said.
“How long will that take?” She was clearly agitated.
“Not long.”
Why was she still talking?
Chapter 19
“There’s somewhere I want to take you,” Haley said.
“Oh, no, I’m not going anywhere. You want to take me somewhere bad after you just showed up at my house acting weird? What was that all about? I thought you were going to attack me,” I said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.
“You were at my house in my bedroom. Then you went down and sat on my sof
a and stared at the wall before coming at me like a charging bull.”
“Never happened,” she said with a wave of her hand.
Now she was just playing games with me.
“It most certainly did happen. Nevertheless, I’m not going anywhere with you.” I quickened my step.
“That is just rude,” she said.
“Sorry, but that’s just the way it is,” I said as I continued walking.
“I want to take you to the site where I was hit.”
I stopped on the sidewalk and faced her. “You remember what happened?”
Once again, I’d forgotten that people might be watching me.
“I remember that someone hit me on purpose and now I’m in this condition,” she said, gesturing toward her body.
“You mean dead,” I said.
“Well, thanks for reminding me.” She rolled her eyes.
A couple people walked by and I pretended that I was talking on my phone. I wished I’d thought of this sooner. The people smiled as they walked by.
“Tell me more,” I said. “I think I know the spot.”
“It’s right over here.” She motioned for me to follow her to the corner by the streetlight. “I was walking across the street. Wait. That’s not what happened.” She frowned.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I thought I knew what happened. Give me a second.” She held up her index finger.
“Are you having problems remembering now?” I asked.
“No, no, I remember. Just give me a second.” She walked up and down the sidewalk. After a few seconds, she marched back over to me. “I was in a car. A black car.”
“The car that hit you?” I asked.
She frowned in thought. “Yes, the car that hit me. I was with someone in that car.”
“Can you remember who you were with?”
Thunder rumbled through the night air. I looked up at the dark clouds. We’d have to hurry this conversation along.
“I can’t remember exactly who it was. I wish I could. Maybe it will come to me.”
“But the car hit you? How did that happen?” I asked.
“We had a fight. Yes, that’s it. We fought and I got out of the car.”
“Was this a boyfriend?” I asked.
She stared at me without speaking.
Once again it looked as if she wasn’t there. Like it was just a shell of the person. I waved my hands in front of her face. She didn’t even blink.
“Are you there?”
Again, people walked by and looked at me as if I was bonkers. Maybe I was bonkers. After all, I was talking to a ghost. At least I thought this was a ghost. I was so confused right now that I had no idea what was going on with my haunted life.
The next thing I knew Haley disappeared. One second she’d been there and now she was gone. I spun around and looked behind me. She wasn’t there either. I looked all around but she was nowhere in sight.
“Are you there?” I whispered.
I received no answer. I stood in stunned silence. Had she got upset with me because I had been pushing for answers? Now what would her friend say when she figured out that I had messed up this opportunity to talk with Haley? Although I had gotten some info that might turn out to be useful. Maybe Roxanne could piece this together.
I wouldn’t give up just yet. Maybe Haley was hiding somewhere nearby. I needed to look around a bit. Where would a ghost hide? If I knew the answer to that I’d have a hit haunted tour. I’d be able to find ghosts anytime I wanted. Unfortunately, I didn’t know the answer to where they hid. I peeked in a couple of the store windows. They were all dark. The only place open now was the tavern.
Maybe she’d gone to talk with the ghost there. Now I definitely needed to hurry to the tavern. Luckily, I’d been headed that way anyway. I had my doubts that I’d find her there though. Maybe she’d come back when we had the séance tonight. I had no choice but to go through with the séance now. I had to know what had happened.
Based on the little info Haley had provided, it appeared to me that she had been murdered. Now I had to find the killer. I had to get Brannon to look at this as a homicide. Though I would need more proof than just a ghost’s word for it. The other officers already thought Brannon’s girlfriend was kooky. I certainly didn’t need to give them more reason to think that.
When I glanced around the scene something on the ground caught my eye. Tucked underneath a stand that held free publications for house for sale listings was what looked like a phone. I knelt down and fished it from underneath. I wasn’t sure how someone had lost their phone under there. Maybe it had gotten kicked under there by accident. I touched the screen, but nothing happened. It looked as if it was dead. Maybe it was a goner, but maybe all it needed was a charge. I’d plug it in once I got home and see if I could find the phone’s owner. For now, I tucked it away in my purse.
I stood at the intersection for a few more seconds, still a bit bewildered.
“Is everything okay, Ripley?” a female voice asked from behind me.
I screamed much louder than I should have. Why was I so on edge? When I spun around, Dana stood there staring at me with wide eyes.
“Did you see a young girl with dark hair around here? Did she walk down the sidewalk that way?” I asked.
Dana shook her head. “Didn’t see anyone, but I wasn’t really paying attention. What are you doing out here?”
I supposed it did look kind of strange for me to be standing out here like this.
“I was looking for someone,” I said.
“Anyone I know?” Dana looked at me as if she thought maybe I should go home and get some much-needed rest.
“No, don’t think you know her,” I said around a sigh.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” Dana asked. “You know I’ll help you any way I can.”
I should tell Dana about this. She believed in ghosts. I felt as if I needed to tell someone about what had just happened. “To be honest with you, I saw a ghost.”
Her eyes widened. “Right here on the sidewalk?”
“Yes, right here. Well, she was with me all night for the tour,” I said.
“Did you pick her up from my shop?” Dana asked with fear in her voice.
“Actually, I picked her up from the graveyard. She is the woman who was hit and killed right here.” I pointed at the street.
Dana covered her mouth. “Oh, dear, that is so tragic.”
I nodded. “She talked to me.”
“What did she say?” Dana didn’t act too surprised by my admission.
“She doesn’t remember everything, but…” I paused.
“But what?” Dana asked as she leaned closer.
“She said the person hit her on purpose.”
“Murder?” Dana asked in shock.
I nodded. “It looks that way. Now I have to convince the police of that.”
“Well, good luck,” she said with a wave of her hand. “No offense. I’m sure Brannon will believe you, but the others, not so much.”
“Well, I want to find something that will prove it.”
“I’ll help you any way I can,” she said.
“Thank you, Dana. Listen, I have to get going to the tavern. I’ll keep you updated though.”
“Please do,” she said.
“Oh, by the way, any sign of the ghost at your shop?” I asked.
“Nothing recently. Maybe you got rid of him. Fingers crossed.”
“Glad I could help. Talk to you soon.” I hugged her goodbye and headed down the sidewalk.
I glanced over my shoulder several times on my way to the tavern. There was no sign of Haley, but it was awfully spooky out here—even more so than usual, and that was saying a lot. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I felt that way, just as if someone was watching me. Maybe it was Haley somewhere hiding, but I hadn’t gotten that spooky feeling from her since, well, since she was in my bedroom. It was like there were two sides to her: the nice, friendly one, and
the spooky one. What was that all about? I wasn’t sure I had ever encountered that before.
I reached the tavern and stepped inside. The music was still going strong. Tammy was swamped behind the bar. I wished I could get back there and help but ever since I’d broken a couple of glasses, they’d ordered me to stay away. I wasn’t that clumsy. I waved at Tammy when she looked up. I stepped over to the bar and lucked out because someone left their stool. I sat down, thankful for the rest.
Chapter 20
“Diet Coke with extra ice and a tall glass,” Tammy said as she placed the drink down on the bar in front of me.
I picked up the glass and took a gulp. When I finished, I sat the glass down and said, “Thank you. I needed that.”
“You looked like you needed it. Though I have a feeling I’ll need more than that after this séance at your place.”
“If things get scary, I promise we’ll stop,” I said.
“If it gets scary, I’ll hold you to that. Anyway, I’ll be finished here in just a second and we can go.” She motioned over her shoulder.
I emptied my glass while I waited for Tammy to finish. Glancing around, I kept an eye out for the ghosts. There was no sign of them.
“Are you ready?”
I almost dropped my glass.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Tammy said from over my shoulder.
I turned around on the stool. “I didn’t see you sneak up on me. I’m all ready.” I grabbed my bag from the bar and pushed to my feet. “Let’s do this.”
I wouldn’t lie and say I wasn’t scared, but the faster we got this over with the better off we’d be. Tammy and I headed out the door. I glanced back and thought for a second I spotted that male ghost, though I couldn’t be sure that it wasn’t just a dark shadow.
“Did you see something?” Tammy asked.
I didn’t want to worry her. “Nothing,” I said.
She probably didn’t believe me.
“Are you going to tell me what happened tonight?” Tammy asked as we stepped outside.
I supposed we had time for the whole story as we walked back to my place. I started from the beginning. Tammy listened intently with wide eyes. Every time I glanced over my shoulder she seemed to fidget even more. The thunder rumbled again in the distance. I hoped we made it home before the sky let loose.
