“Thanks, Dad,” Reggie said. “I don’t think I could turn my back on it even if I wanted to. I love Bennett House, and that fact alone would make me want to investigate the spirits I feel there.”
Her mother looked confused, and Reggie explained. “Yeah, you heard me right. There are two spirits there. One is Chase’s ancestor Constance McCann Bennett.”
Her father said, “I didn’t know that Chase is related to the Bennetts.”
“He isn’t, Dad. Constance McCann and Vincent Bennett had no children on record. She either miscarried or died before giving birth to their first child.”
“What’s she like? I’ve always wanted to see a ghost. You’d think I would have, living here in New Crescent, especially since I’m so willing to see one, but nope,” her mother said.
Reggie laughed. “Constance McCann is stubborn, secretive, impatient, manipulative, precocious, and sometimes humorous. She drives me crazy. Since I have no physic ability, I have to practically beg her for information, and believe me, she’s stingy with that.”
“Does Chase see her too?” her dad asked.
Reggie shook her head. “No, he’s never seen her, but he can hear her. So far, it seems I’m the only one who can see her. Chase can see the change in the atmosphere when Constance manifests, but he hasn’t actually laid eyes on her. She has the most tragic story. She can still feel the pain poignantly, so it’s hard for her to talk about. It’s almost as painful to listen to. She relives it every time she tells the story.”
He mother patted her hand. “Patience has never been easy for you.”
“I know. I’m going to contact her today and ask for no new information. Chase and I thought we’d give her a rest from that. We’re hoping to search the library, and we need her help to keep Vincent busy while we do it. She’s been keeping him at bay for hundreds of years. Surely she can do it for a couple of hours more.”
“But Ernestine said he feeds off a person’s life force now since Bennett House has been reopened. Are you sure you should go in there?” Her mom shuddered. “It’s so horrible.”
“That’s why Chase and I have put a stop to work on the house for now. We are trying to make it harder and harder for him.” Reggie said. “We’ve warned everyone to stay away from the house because it’s dangerous. Most of the people working on it were from New Crescent, so there were no questions. They could feel something there and were glad when we put a halt on the work. Chase and I have to do this, Mom.”
“What about the owner? Does she know about this?” Her dad sounded so protective.
Reggie paused for a moment and said, “Chase has been in contact with the agent, Jackie Blake. He’s met Pat Somers. It seems she has complete faith in Chase’s judgment. For someone who is investing a fortune on a house, she sure is blasé about how her money is spent. If I were a dishonest person I could take advantage big time.”
Her mother smiled proudly. “But you’re not dishonest dear, so everything is fine. Did Chase tell you what Pat Somers is like?”
“He was useless.” Reggie pouted.
Her father was quick to defend Chase. “What’s to say? Unless she’s a suspect for a crime, personal descriptions are pretty useless these days. People can’t be trusted to pick up important details.” He picked up a piece of bacon and took a big bite.
“Yeah, well, Chase is particularly bad at it. I’m glad he didn’t have to provide a physical description of my kidnapper or they never would have found me.”
Her parents exchanged an uneasy look. Reggie could joke about an experience that was the most terrifying of their lives. Their brilliant daughter had been kidnapped by a man who had viciously raped and beaten three women. They went out of their minds with worry. When they’d received the news that she was okay, they collapsed with relief.
To Don and Anne Stanton, Chase McCann was a hero.
Her dad said, “Don’t be too hard on Chase, my girl. He knows you’ll soon meet Pat Somers, and you won’t need a description from him. Ernestine told us that Chase has to help you to fight this evil spirit.”
Reggie nodded. “Yes, apparently neither of us can do it on our own. In fact, I feel more powerful when he’s with me. I trust him.”
Her mom put her hand over Reggie’s.“We do too, and that’s the only way we would promise Ernestine that we’d stay out of it.”
Her husband agreed. “Chase is a good man. He didn’t have to, but he cleared up the complicated schemes and cons that his stepfather had started all over town. He saw to it that people got their money back with interest. He was just twenty-one-years old, had just lost his mother and his sister. He was completely alone in the world. In my book Chase McCann is a good man.”
“We had him over for dinner every week during that time,” Her mother said. “He was so tired, I thought he’d fall asleep in his soup bowl but, he always insisted on helping me with the dishes. His mother raised him right. He even stopped by here the day after you left for Europe this summer to make sure you were okay.”
Reggie was surprised. “Why have you never told me this?”
Her mom took a dainty bite of scrambled egg and then said, “You never asked, and we figured if Chase had wanted you to know he’d tell you. The two of you have never been strangers.”
Reggie shook her head bemusedly. “My parents. Anything else about your relationship with Chase that I don’t know about?”
Her parents exchanged looks and started to think. Finally, Her dad looked at Reggie. “No.”
Her mom hurried to say, “Unless you count me teaching him how to cook.” She smiled happily at her daughter.
Reggie shook her head with astonishment. “Who are you people? You got any more secrets you wanna get off your chest? I’m not adopted, am I? Dad, please don’t tell me you try on Mom’s clothes.”
They laughed. Reggie loved the sound of her parents’ combined laughter. They had a wonderful marriage. Reggie would never settle for less than what they had together and she understood that was a tall order.
He father smiled. “Well, actually…” He paused for effect and was delighted when Reggie looked at him with horror. “For Halloween, your mother’s going as me and I’m going as her. Does that qualify as trying on your mother’s clothes?”
Reggie picked up a crisp slice of bacon and pointed it at her smiling parents. “Let’s never speak of this again.”
Chapter 25
Reggie and Chase stood in the garden and waited for Constance to appear. It didn’t take long. The air changed, signaling her appearance and Reggie got right down to business.
“We want to search the library today. We need your help to keep Vincent busy while we look around.”
Constance didn’t seem to mind Reggie’s direct approach. She smiled at her and said, “What makes you think you’ll find anything?”
“We’re not sure, but he’s stayed in that room since this thing started. He’s protecting something. If we find it, we’ll have a better idea of how to destroy him.” Reggie said.
“Just how do you suggest I keep that monster occupied? Do you have any idea what that would entail?” Constance approached them. She didn’t float exactly but she didn’t walk either. She moved in the ghostly blink of an eye.
She stopped just an inch from Chase and said, “And what do you think of this, my kin?”
Chase couldn’t see Constance, but still he took a step back. “It’s time we started to clean house. I know there’s something in that library Vincent cares about and we have to find it.”
Constance laughed. “Oh my dear, you are passionate.” She paused a long time and Reggie was getting prepared to press the issue when Constance finally said, “I’ll do it.”
“You…you will?” Reggie said.
“Don’t sound so surprised. I’m aware of the passage of time. All Hallows’ Eve is just next week. He’ll use that day to his advantage if he can. You need to weaken him as much as you can before that time.”
“Constance,” Chase said
gently, “do you know how to distract Vincent and not damage yourself?”
“Sweet of you to ask, my boy. I haven’t communicated with my husband for years. We know of each other’s existence, but we keep the status quo. Without the help of others we are evenly matched, stalemated for all eternity.”
Reggie frowned. “Can you keep him occupied long enough for us to search the library?”
Constance nodded. “I can try. Don’t be surprised if you feel strange elements in the air. The room could run cold. You may see sparks. Don’t be alarmed. Just go about your business.”
“How will we know if you can’t hold him off for us?” Reggie asked.
“I will speak. You may not hear me clearly, but when you hear my voice say your name, Regina, get out of there.” She smiled and added, “Go with your gut. Is that the expression?”
Reggie sighed. “Yeah, it’s familiar to me.”
Chase looked at Reggie and frowned. “Constance, why are you cooperating with us now?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Her ghostly voice sounded defensive.
“You haven’t connected with Vincent in hundreds of years. Up until now, getting help from you has been like herding cats. You’re going to help us today, face off with your husband. Why?”
Reggie could see Constance start to fade, and she yelled, “Stay!” Her stomach lurched, and she felt nauseated but stood her ground. Constance reappeared. Reggie sent a self congratulatory look to Chase.
Figuring it best not to press her luck, Reggie spoke gently. “Confronting the man responsible for all your pain will not be easy, but we’ll do it together. If you get into trouble, say Chase’s name, and we’ll try to help. Chase brings up a very good point, Constance. We need to know why you’re willing to help us today. Let’s not have any surprises.”
Constance looked mutinous, but she finally answered. “It was not easy to tell you my story yesterday. It tore me apart. The pain is still so acute. It haunts me, and it always will, until I face him, the evil responsible for so much despair. Feeling that agony of grief and guilt again helped me to face the fact that the time has come. I can’t do it alone, but we may be able to do it together.” She gave them a ghostly smile. “I’m afraid. My failure has resounded through the decades. It is hard to have faith in myself again.”
Reggie said, “We have faith in you Constance. You’ve suffered enough. We can do this together.”
She nodded and said. “I will be there when you need me to be.” She was gone.
Chase and Reggie were silent until they reached the kitchen. Chase poured them each a glass of water.
Reggie said, “So she’s not as sure of herself as she pretends, who knew?”
“Does she remind you of anyone?” Chase laughed.
She frowned at him. “I suppose you mean me.”
“If the Manolo fits.”
“What do you know of Manolo Blahniks?” She narrowed her eyes and waited for his answer.
“I’ve seen Sex in the City.” He said defensively.
“Ok Mr.Big. Let’s talk strategy.”
Chase’s cell phone rang. For a second, he looked like he might ignore it, but finally he answered it. Reggie tuned him out. She had no interest in listening to his one-sided conversation. Instead, she mentally ran through strategies they could use to search for hiding places in the library.
“That was Sam,” Chase said.
He had her attention. “What did he say?”
“His parents are friends with a certain Aidan Spencer’s father.”
“Todd’s Aidan?”
“Yeah. Sam says the dad’s a jerk, but we knew that already. All Sam’s parents’ friends are jerks. It seems Aidan’s the product of the passion between Jason Spencer and his latest trophy wife. Neither are model parents. They think they love their son because they give him everything he wants.” Chase took a deep gulp of water and went on. “Aidan’s been expelled from several private schools. He’s made trouble everywhere. It sounds like he’s a bully just like his father.”
Reggie ran her hand through her hair and rested her chin on her elbow. “And the perfect pawn for Vincent. I wonder how many times Aidan’s been here after we made it clear it was trespassing.”
“My guess would be, every night,” Chase said. “I’m going to stake out the library windows again tonight. I guess that means you will too, huh?”
She laughed and didn’t bother to answer him. His question was rhetorical.
“Let’s just get through today. How do you think we should approach the search in the library?”
He lifted a finger and pointed at a roll of architectural drawings. “Those are plans of the existing house. I had a draftsman draw them up for us. The other roll is a copy of the original plans for Bennett House. I got them from the town’s archives. I think we should compare them and see if there could be any hidden rooms or tunnels…well, you know what I mean.”
Reggie favored him with a bright smile. “That’s a scathingly brilliant idea, Poindexter. I’m glad you’re on my side.”
They spread out the plans on the dining room table. It was the largest surface available. Poring over the drawings, it didn’t take them long to find possible hiding places. The east side of the room looked most promising. There was at least a six-foot discrepancy between the two plans.
Chase looked at her. “Well, it looks like we start working on the east side. Are you ready?”
Reggie nodded. She wore work boots, jeans, three layers of sweat shirts…and a very determined look on her face.
* * * *
The hallway outside the library still reeked. It made Reggie think of unnatural death and putrefied flesh. Her stomach wanted to rebel, but she forced it to behave. She exchanged a look with Chase. He could smell it too, and he didn’t like it any more than she did. The air got thick and clammy as they approached the double doors leading into the library, but they pretended not to notice.
Reggie didn’t have to call upon Constance. She could feel her presence. She wasn’t with them in the hallway but rather was outside the windows away from the rancid smell. Chase opened both doors with minimal effort. Reggie remembered how hard it had been for her to open those very same doors the first day she arrived at Bennett House just weeks ago. Was Vincent’s power depleted? Maybe he could no longer keep them out because he’d had no one from which to feed. Reggie mentally corrected herself. No, that would be too easy. Vincent Bennett was tricky. It made sense to her that he’d pretend to be weak and catch them off guard. They could not afford to underestimate him. He was still stinking the place up.
The air inside the room was thick and damp. Reggie felt an irritation at the back of her throat as she breathed it in. She coughed.
Forcing her voice to sound normal, she said, “It really is a beautiful room. And think how much more beautiful it will be when we’re through with it. I have all kinds of ideas for it.”
Understanding Reggie’s attempt at normalcy, Chase joined in, “I can just see it. Fire blazing, dog sleeping by a club chair, and the Masterpiece Theatre music.”
Reggie could feel resistance in the air, but stubbornly refused to acknowledge it, pretending it was so inconsequential that she didn’t even notice it.
In a lighthearted voice, she said, “I think the first thing to do is take some of the boards off the windows and let the sun in. The fresh air might help get rid of that funky smell.”
They moved toward the windows. Reggie helped as Chase removed the boards, she chattered on, filling the room with cheerful observations about nothing. She was uniquely qualified. She refused to let a single negative thought enter her mind.
The outside air swept in like Mother Nature’s broom. It didn’t quite succeed in ridding the library of the rancid odor, but it sure helped. Reggie could breathe again without gagging. Her stomach settled, and she sent a silent prayer of thanks to who ever was listening—Constance maybe? Everyone kept telling her to follow her gut but lately her gut hadn’t been much
help. She looked down at her abdomen and thought, ‘thanks for nothing.’ She took deep breaths of the fresh sea air outside, hoping to settle her stomach. She watched Chase do the same.
Reggie could feel Constance just outside the windows they’d opened. Her power was palpable. Still Vincent didn’t react to their presence. To someone who didn’t know better, the library felt almost normal, if a little musty. On closer inspection, however, every surface in the room was covered in the same greasy dust Reggie had slipped on the last time they’d been in the room. It wasn’t natural. It came from him, Vincent Bennett. Everything that came from him was twisted, sick, and just plain wrong. She figured that the strange greasy film was best described as a physical manifestation of an evil presence. Reggie wondered if they’d ever be able to wipe the room clean. ‘Yes of course they would’, she told herself. At the same time, she was reminded of how sly and cunning Vincent could be. His first attack would be subtle, maybe it would start as a question. Yes, he wanted them to question themselves. He played on a person’s insecurity and chipped away at it so he could feast on their despair. Locking eyes with Chase, Reggie shut down all her self-doubts. She could feel her strength grow.
“Okay,” Chase said, “let’s start with the east side. You start here”—he pointed—“and I’ll start at the other end. We’ll meet in the middle.” He kissed her before he left her side. She could feel the jolt of power their contact created.
They tapped their hands against the wall every two inches hoping to hear a hollow sound. Meeting Chase in the middle, Reggie pursed her lips. She refused to frown. She wouldn’t even give him that much.
“Anything?” she asked Chase, hopefully.
“Nothing hollow.”
Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “You didn’t answer my question. You didn’t find anything hollow, so what have you found?”
Chase grinned and took her by the hand. Reggie was assaulted by a strong whiff of Vincent Bennett’s signature fragrance. The Big Bad was rattled. They were headed in the right direction. Reggie spared a look outside and saw Constance focusing on something she couldn’t quite see. Handy to have your very own watch ghost, Reggie mused. She could tell that Constance had engaged Vincent and was struggling for control. The temperature of the room fluctuated between comfortably mild and icy cold, and she could swear if she touched metal she’d conduct electricity.
Spirit [New Crescent 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) Page 19
