by Alexie Aaron
Jesse and Cid maintained the blaze until the ash was fine and all that was left was embers. Kiki rolled over an old steel-tubbed wheelbarrow. “I stole this from Walrus,” she said. “It should withstand the heat.”
“We could wait…” Cid started.
“No way in hell am I going to have this ash pit be the first thing Virgil sees tomorrow morning. He’ll follow his nose, and we’ll be busted.”
Jesse grinned. “Lawless is your new name, Kiki.”
Cid pulled his tee over his nose and began shoveling ash into the barrow. Jesse wheeled it carefully down the hill and deposited it in the hole he dug. He returned, and after four trips, they had erased all evidence of the fire along with Jerald and Barney Archer.
Kiki smoothed the ground and raked over the displaced mulch. The dirt left over was tossed back on the landscaper’s pile. The sun broke through the clouds at that point. Cid, Jesse and Kiki looked around, but it wasn’t the light; it was just a ray of sunshine bathing the hillside in soft afternoon glow.
“Sometimes a light is just a light,” Jesse said.
“Did you get a chance to look at the stuff you scanned?” Cid asked Kiki.
“You mean Jerald’s stuff? No, not really. Faye was keeping watch, and Jerald was a bit restless. I sent it on to Jake,” Kiki said. “He asked if you would mind if Mia or Audrey looked it over. He said he kind of needed direction.”
“It would give them something to do. Mia hates being sidelined, and Audrey is in a likewise state,” Cid said. “Give him the go ahead.”
“You did really well here, Clark,” Kiki said.
“We did well here. I could not have done this without you, Jesse, Jake, and Faye. I’m not a solo act.”
“You know, you could do this for a living,” Jesse said.
“I already do this for a living,” Cid said. “Not much of a living, but… it’s worth it.”
Kiki finished texting Jake and walked over. “Do you still want to go home?”
“Why?”
“If you can hang in there another two weeks, I think your part of the job will be finished. Jesse’s too. Walrus will have to work with the decorator, but this job is coming in under budget and on time.”
“With three less bodies in the house,” Jesse added.
Kiki opened and closed her mouth a few times before she turned to Cid. “I owe you an apology. When I hired you, I was filling a spot vacated by a so-so carpenter. What I got was a talented carpenter with excellent work ethics. If you weren’t also a paranormal investigator, I would have died in that well, or of fright. You live with some peculiar people, but they are so very lucky. I hope that you’ll consider working with me again.”
“For you,” Cid corrected.
“No, with me. I think the three of us should work together. Take on smaller historical buildings. I’m tired of saying goodbye to my houses. I’d like to put less of me into the house and take more enjoyment out. Places where your paranormal experience would come in handy.”
“Our paranormal experience. I think after this house, we can all sew a ghost badge on our shirts,” Jesse said.
Cid looked at their earnest faces and explained, “I’m already committed to returning to PEEPs, but I will make myself available to you and Jesse when I can get away.”
“I’m happy with that. How about you, Scrub?” Kiki asked.
“About calling me Scrub...”
“That’s nonnegotiable,” Kiki said and walked away.
Chapter Twenty-two
Cid walked across the completed patio, stopped, squatted down, and brushed some excess sand out of the carved letters. “Gwen, I hope you’re happy where you ended up.”
“Clark, we’re waiting,” Kiki called over.
Cid got up and walked quickly over to where she, Jesse, and a few others were waiting for the unveiling of the well cap.
“I know most people would cap this thing and bury it. But then they would miss the singing. Shhh, listen, you can hear them.”
Cid could hear the trio singing. Today, it was about hope. The others just heard the music, happy music.
“Since I had a personal reason to see this capped, I thought I would go a step further and share the experience of the singing well to others.” Kiki pulled off the tarp and exposed a circular granite seat. In the middle was the well. The interior was guarded with a brass security grate, secure to keep even the smallest of animals out, but large enough to be able to hear the well sing. The names of the Lambert sisters were carved into the base along with Faye’s.
“It’s beautiful. I’m sure Hal will love it,” Cid said.
“He says that the natural phenomenon of the voices is something that he and his guests would enjoy.”
A flash of something caught Cid’s eye. He looked up towards the east wing and couldn’t be sure, but was there, for a moment, the flash of a very approving smile?
“I think Teeth approves,” Cid told Kiki.
“I hope so. I won’t sleep well until the decorator’s finished.”
Jesse walked over. “Have either of you seen Faye?”
“Not since she stomped off,” Kiki said.
“Me too.”
“Damn, I wanted to say goodbye,” he said. “Oh, well, I hope she knows we meant well. That we weren’t leaving her hanging.”
Cid was rather surprised by his friend’s affection for the ghost. “I’m sure she’ll figure it out. Ghosts have a problem not knowing that time is passing. I’m sure she would have said goodbye had she realized you were going.”
“If I see her, I will give her your best,” Kiki said.
The three walked to where Jesse had his truck and trailer loaded. He had taken the cabinets that Kiki offered. He was going to store them near his building site until he could incorporate them into his house design.
Jesse shook Cid’s hand and picked up Kiki and gave her a hug. This brought catcalls from the crew which Kiki silenced with a glare. Jesse got in the truck and pulled away.
Kiki walked Cid to his truck. “I’m serious about working with you again. When I’m free of this project, I’ll give you a call,” Kiki promised.
“Please do that. Before I forget, there is a question of jewelry.”
“Oh that. I put those two rings up on Facebook. Jake is wading through all the replies to find the real owners, if we find them. If not, I’m going to sell them and donate the funds to Mimi’s school’s free lunch program.”
“Faye’s broach?” he asked.
“I’m supposed to give it back to her when I leave, but damn, I misplaced it,” Kiki said, her eyes twinkling.
“Where were you when you last saw it?” Cid questioned her.
“I was in Jesse’s truck. You don’t think I may have lost it in the cab of his truck?”
Cid laughed. “It could happen. I may have put one of the clown dolls in his duffle for old time’s sake.”
Kiki was so surprised, she couldn’t get any words out. She finally howled with laughter. “Oh to be a bug on the wall when he unpacks. He’s going to think Walrus did it.”
“I’m hoping that’s the case,” Cid said. He looked down at Kiki. “I am going to miss you.”
“We’ll keep in touch. After all, I’m dating your computer.”
“That will no doubt keep me up a few nights. I live above said computer.”
Kiki punched him in the arm. Cid kissed the top of her head.
He got in the truck and drove down the new winding driveway. He caught up to Jesse at the end of the drive. He waited patiently while Jesse navigated the turn with the long trailer. Just as the trailer cleared the drive, Cid saw something clinging to the back of it. Cid turned and followed Jesse to see if it was his imagination or not.
He tooted his horn lightly. Jesse waved out the window. Faye turned around and saw him. She waved and blew him a kiss.
Cid thought about giving Jesse a call to warn him about his hitchhiker, but then again, that would spoil the surprise.
***
Alexie Aaron
After traveling the world, Alexie Aaron, a Midwestern native, returned to her roots where she’s been haunting for years. She now lives in a village outside of Chicago with her husband and family.
Her popular Haunted Series was born from her memories of fleeting shapes rushing around doorways, an heirloom chair that rocked itself, cold feelings of mysterious dread, and warm feelings from the traces of loved ones long gone.
Alexie also writes the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries. These mysteries, set in England and south Florida, combine action and intrigue with a liberal dose of humor.
Want more information? Visit www.alexieaaron.com for updates, blog posts, podcasts, and much, much more.
