by Alexie Aaron
“Watch.” John opened a mic and called, “Warning, center trap opening in three.” He counted to three and flipped the switch. Ted watched as the center of the stage opened and watched as the platform rose. “Once it’s up, it locks into place. You have to override it here to lower it again.” He spoke into the mic again, “Trap lowering in three. We always call out a warning, no exceptions. During a performance I suppose there wouldn’t be a warning, but during rehearsal you never know who’s on stage or below it for that matter.”
“Is it possible with all this new gadgetry that a 3 D image could have been produced on the stage and in the audience?” Ted asked, watching John’s face for a reaction.
“Yeah, I suppose so, but at the time, the boss was in here observing the rehearsal. I don’t get the silly bugger feel from that one.” John rubbed his arms as if he was fighting off a chill. “Let me put it this way, you step out of line and you’re out. It don’t matter if you’re union or not. He wants this theater to succeed and not just for the blonde, if you catch my meaning.”
Ted nodded. “Thanks for being honest. It helps in my line of work.”
“No problem. I expect you run into some crazy ass things in your line of work.”
“You wouldn’t believe half of it. Now, how about showing me the balcony. I understand a lot happens up there.”
“Actually, it’s down there from here,” John said and opened the door opposite the one they came through. They climbed down a small flight of stairs. On the landing, John stopped and explained, “This leads to the upper lobby. Bar’s through there, and on our right is the entrance to the seats.”
Ted walked through the doors and was struck by the size of the upper story.
“It’s not as big as the Rialto - that’s an impressive building - but it’ll do for what they have planned.”
“You’ve been to the Rialto?”
“Worked there. I was enticed away with a bonus that put my kiddies in an above ground pool this summer,” John said raising his eyebrows. “The Rialto’s a great place, haunted, but not in a way that would stop a production.”
“My fiancée says most theaters have paranormal activity, the ones in downtown Chicago are teaming with it,” Ted informed him.
“Yeah, I’m not surprised.”
They walked down to the balustrade, and Ted turned around and took in the space. He noticed another set of doors to the right and left.
“Those lead outside in case of fire,” John explained. “The fire regs in this town are stiff but fair. The balcony is divided into three parts by the two aisles. If you’re ever up here and need the john, go through the other set door. It leads right to the men’s room.”
“Good to know. Now, I hear claims that the workers doing the renovation saw black shadows up here. Do you know where?”
“In the center two seats,” he pointed, “sixth row. What’s unusual about these shadows is that they’re of the female persuasion. Don’t think of ladies coming to see a strip show now, do yah?”
Ted hunched his shoulders. “They had other acts too, and this place was a movie theater at one time.”
“I see where you’re going. Could be or they’re lesbos.”
Ted declined to comment. He walked up and moved down the sixth row until he was about center. He examined the seats and sat in one. There was a faint smell of perfume radiating from the area. “John,” he called out, “Do you know if these are new or reconditioned seats?”
“Don’t know. I’ll find out for you.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Why?”
“There’s an aroma of perfume here. It may be embedded in the old stuffing or… something else.”
John nodded and drew out a pad of paper and made a note. Ted sat down and took in the stage below. He could see very well from these seats. He took time to acclimate to the theater’s offerings. It was basically a two floor theater, the bottom floor divided into two areas. There were no boxes on either story. It didn’t have much in the way of glitzy carvings. This building wasn’t catering to the tender sensibilities of the females of the day. It was basic, bare bones, booze and boobies.
Ted saw Mia and Amber walk out on the stage. He picked up his camera and zoomed in on Mia. She was listening intently to something Amber was saying.
“I was working with Marc when it all went to hell. First this bloody zombie appears right here.” Amber walked across to the left. “It starts screaming and pointed at Marc. He faints. I guess that’s when the security guys showed up, but they no sooner take Marc off my hands when two more ghosts show up. They were sitting there.” She pointed out their location.
“It says here that they were men wearing plaid suits?”
“No taste or they were one of the comedy acts. Anyways, about that time the girls run out screaming. The head appears, and things pretty much stopped after that.”
Mia hopped off the stage, climbed over the orchestra pit’s railing and over to the seats.
“Over two more, there,” Amber directed.
Mia took a moment before she took a glove off and placed her hand on one of the seats. She snapped it back off and did the same to the other seat. “Your hunch was right, Amber. They were performers. I was seeing pie-in-the-face type gags. Also they were wearing tap shoes?”
“You know,” Amber said, walking to the edge of the stage. “I’ve heard a clickety-clack in the halls. I thought it was odd but dismissed it as coming from the stage. Sound travels oddly in this place.”
Mia stood up and looked up in the balcony. She saw Ted sitting there holding a camcorder. Standing at the edge of the first row was a tall man dressed in a blue work shirt and dungarees. Behind him to his right was a dark shadow. Mia pointed in that direction and was pleased that Ted followed her lead with the camera.
He saw a black mass. It seemed to move along the first row as if looking for a seat. It sat down five seats from where John was standing.
John whirled around as he heard the creak and watched in amazement as one of the seats lowered. “What do I do?” he hissed.
“Move this way, you’re in my shot,” Ted said calmly.
“What’s going on?” Amber asked.
“You’ve got a fan up there. Can you sing something?”
Amber cleared her voice and began. “People…”
“No, something burlesque.”
“My mother once told me,” Amber sang and put her hands to her face, emoting innocence. “When I was just a girl…”
Mia turned around and watched as the shadow became a man who was enchanted with what was going on.
“Don’t cast your pearls…” Amber continued. “Before swine!” her voice rasped as she dropped the neck of her sweater over her bare shoulder. She put her hand to her mouth before resuming innocence and pulling the sweater’s neckline back into place.
Ted focused in on the entity. It was amazing the detail he was picking up. The man had a clean-shaven appearance. He had on his Sunday clothes and held a bouquet of flowers in his lap. As Amber sang, he followed her with his brown eyes. His mouth was locked in a smile that spoke of Christmas morning. Somewhere in the theater a door banged shut, and the ghost disappeared.
“He’s gone now. Thanks, Amber. You’re really good,” Mia said. “This gives me an idea. I think when we come back with the full team, we’ll need a few performers here to use as bait.”
“I can’t guarantee the others, but I’ll be here. I need the rehearsal time,” she said.
“I don’t know about that, you sound…”
“It’s not my voice that needs rehearsal, it’s my moves,” she said honestly. “Marc says I’m getting better but…”
Mia looked at Amber sympathetically. Her hands shook a bit, but it wasn’t from the ghost’s appearance. It was fear. Amber was afraid of failing.
“You seem upset. If it’s the ghosts, we’ll sort them out,” Mia told her.
“I’m just not getting the sexy stuff. I can bump and twirl
correctly, but Marc says I’m too mechanical.”
“I think you just have to let yourself go. I think you’re very talented.”
“Do you really think so?” Amber reached over and grabbed Mia’s hand. “I do want this to work out. Vegas wasn’t the right fit. You had to be an unfeeling object there. Here I can express myself.”
“And you get to sing. You impressed the ghost out there. It will be interesting to see what else you can raise with that act of yours.”
“So, I’m getting the feeling you and Theodore are leaning towards taking this gig.”
“I can’t speak for Ted, but I would recommend us investigating further. I have to leave it up to Burt and Mike for the final decision, but I’m at your disposal no matter what.”
Amber’s face softened. “Now, I’m really sorry I tried to kill you.”
Mia started laughing. “Amber, I’m speechless.”
Chapter Nine
Burt scheduled a meeting for the next day after getting Ted’s and Mia’s report. Mia didn’t linger long after they talked to Burt. It was late, and Bev hadn’t answered her phone when Mia obediently called to ask about a grocery list.
She pulled into her drive to find the gate and the garage open. “What the fuck?” Mia pulled her truck in and locked it. Mia walked over and dug out a measure of salt and encircled the truck. Normally this would be to keep any ghostly hitchhikers that may have attached themselves to her truck off her property. This time it was to protect the truck and give her a safe place if the world of the paranormal had invaded Mia’s sanctuary.
She didn’t see Bev anywhere outside, and after a cursory look around, she didn’t see a stray spirit roaming around the property. Still, she wouldn’t close the gate until she cleared the house of any uninvited guests. Mia opened the back door, noticing that the salt line had been swept away. There was music blaring, and the kitchen was a mess. By the amount of dirty glassware she found, it looked like her aunt had been entertaining while she was gone. Mia estimated she was only away from home for four hours. The audacity that Bev would entertain in her home was staggering. The effort it would have taken to put a party together so quickly was astounding. She found a very drunk Bev passed out on the sofa. Mia was so mad, her eyes stung with tears.
She gritted her teeth and marched into the guestroom to get a blanket to cover the sot that was masquerading as her aunt. She was appalled by the condition of the bedroom. It looked like the party had extended into there. Mia didn’t want to touch anything. She walked into the closet and found, to her relief, no one had been in there. The last few of Sherry’s paintings that she stored for Whit were unmolested. Mia dragged Grandma Fred’s quilt out of the storage box, carried it to the living room and dumped it on top of Bev who was now snoring loud enough to wake the dead.
That reminded Mia that she hadn’t finished checking out the house yet for uninvited guests. She moved through it systematically, carrying her tools of the trade with her. She started on the guest side of the house, and as she cleared a room, she salted the area off. The guest bath was a mess but clear of spirits. The laundry, pantry and kitchen were also clear. The only occupant in the main room, where Ralph had spent days designing, was the drooling woman on the couch.
The door to her suite was closed. Mia opened it and was horrified to find her bed occupied. There was a man sleeping with his back to her under Mia’s large fluffy comforter. She approached the sleeping man quietly. The sandy hair seemed all too familiar. She lifted her comforter to get a better look at his face, and another head popped up obstructing her view of the naked man. A young female pushed the comforter off her, further blocking Mia’s view of the man’s face.
“Hello,” the sleepy naked stranger said. “Mind if I use your shower?”
Mia was so shocked she just nodded. The young woman smiled drunkenly, got out of bed and headed into the master bath.
“Baby, where are…” the man stopped speaking and pushed the covers away.
Mia was so pleased to find it wasn’t her ex-boyfriend Whit that she smiled.
“What do we have here? Have you come to play?” he asked, pulling the covers away from his body, showing Mia he was equipped for whatever she had in mind.
“Get the hell out of my bed, my house and my property,” Mia replied coldly.
“I don’t understand. I was hired for the whole night…”
“Get dressed and get out!” Mia ordered and charged out of the room ready to wake her aunt and do battle. She walked so fast, she wasn’t looking where she was going and barreled into the chest of another, strong-armed, male, who gripped her arms firmly. She instantly began to fight and was quickly subdued.
“Mia, what the hell? Calm down!” Tom’s voice broke through her panic, and she looked up into the concerned face of her friend.
“Are you part of this sex party?” she asked, so angry she was having trouble talking.
“Sex party? No! I just drove by and saw the gate open, the lights on and heard music blaring. I thought you were in trouble, but I see you were just having a… What?”
“Not me. I just got home. My aunt,” Mia said acidly, “seems to have been entertaining. Tom, there’s a naked man in my bed, a naked woman in my shower and…”
Tom held onto Mia until she stopped shaking. “Tell you what. You sit over there while I sort out the people in the other room. Do you want me to call Ted?”
“No, I’ll do it,” Mia said glumly.
“Fine,” he said, striding towards the room. Tom opened the master suite’s door and pandemonium broke out.
Mia watched as the sandy-haired man ran out the door after bashing Tom over the head with Mia’s bedside table lamp. He charged Mia and said, “What the fuck did you call the cops for?”
He swung a fist at her and missed. Mia kicked out from the barstool she was sitting on and landed a booted toe in his money maker. He doubled up screaming. Meanwhile Tom had gained his feet and ran out of the bedroom. He forced the man to the ground and cuffed his hands behind him.
“Terry!” the freshly showered tramp screamed from the door. “Who called the fucking cops?”
She ran over and began pounding her fist on Tom’s back. Mia pulled the girl off of him. She stood between her and Tom who rose, keeping a foot in the middle of the man’s back, holding him down.
“Miss, I suggest you get dressed. I’m arresting you for…”
Mia watched the surreal scene of Tom arresting the naked couple as if she was watching it on television. He radioed for help, and soon there were two other sheriff department vehicles in Mia’s drive.
She didn’t remember calling Ted, but he arrived with a very angry Murphy in tow.
She didn’t protest when Bev was rousted awake and taken in on suspicion of procuring prostitutes. Mia just turned her head into Ted’s chest and cried. They had found illegal drugs in her home and a third male hiding out in Mia’s walk-in closet. The three hired prostitutes’ clothing was searched, and Mia numbly identified her grandmother’s jewelry, credit cards and a stack of blank checks as being hers. Theft was added to the charges of prostitution and assault.
“I was only gone four hours,” Mia said after Tom left.
Ted walked into the master suite and rummaged around until he came up with enough clothing to see Mia through a few days away from home. Mia let herself be led to Ted’s car, where she sat while he and Murphy secured the house.
“I don’t get it?” Mia kept saying, “I was only gone four hours.”
It was a warm night out, but Mia was cold. She shivered, and her eyes snapped open, fearing a manifestation was occurring. But there was no one in the car with her. It must have been shock setting in. She shook off the outrage, the humiliation and the sadness, and got out of the car. She walked towards the house and was met in the yard by Murphy.
“Thank you for coming. I’m embarrassed by all of it. I’m mad, but maybe I shouldn’t have let Tom take my aunt in.”
Murphy pushed his hat back on h
is head, thought a moment and said, “She needs to sober up. Been getting her way for too long.”
“Yes, but sitting in a cell?”
Ted shut the door and salted the porch. He walked over and put a protective arm around Mia. “Let’s get you to the farm.”
“Maybe I ought to go and spring Bev first.”
“I called Gerald. He’ll take care of that,” Ted said. “I don’t think the two of you should be together tonight. Let him handle the police.”
“But…”
“She hired prostitutes and had an orgy in your home without your permission, not that you’d give permission… You wouldn’t would you?”
“No, I didn’t give permission for her to have an orgy, but I did say ‘make yourself at home.’”
“Well, there’s a gray area. Anyway, they wrecked your home, assaulted a police officer and were caught with drugs and your property. I’d say your aunt has some ‘splaining to do.”
“Left you vulnerable to attack,” Murphy said gruffly and produced a large black feather.
“Oh my god, where did you find that?” she asked.
He motioned for them to follow him around the house. He pointed to the set of Adirondack chairs on the deck. There, in the chair Mia had sat in that morning, was another black feather similar to the one Murphy was holding.
She picked up the feather and stared mutely towards the lake. It was dark out there. The clouds let no moon or starlight escape their blanket. Only the consistent lapping of the waves identified the lake in the darkness.
“It could be Judy’s…” Mia started to say, but shook her head and admitted, “No, it has to be Angelo’s, but why?”
“Bev and he are friends. They work together. She doesn’t have the same aversion to his practices as you do,” Ted reminded her.
Mia nodded and said, “I wonder what happened here this evening? I was only gone four hours.”
Ted led Mia around the house and towards the car. He handed her over to Murphy’s care while he closed the garage door and closed and secured the gate. He got in the car next to Mia and said, “Cid and I’ll retrieve your truck and anything else you need in the morning. Tonight you’re spending with the boys.”
