Spirits 04-Spirits of Seacliff Manor

by Morgan Hannah MacDonald

  Jake set her on her feet and gently took hold of her wrists. “Shh, I’ve got you.” He wrestled with her arms, trying to draw them down, to stop their motion. “Come back to me, Sara.”

  He could have easily forced her arms down, but chose to let her fight him.

  “Wake up, Sara,” His voice was stern. He glanced up at Jane, she saw the panic in his eyes. He turned Sara toward him and gave a swift shake. “Wake up!”

  That did the trick.

  Sara blinked a couple of times and looked around. “What’s going on? Why is everyone staring at me?”

  “You’ve been in a fugue state. I couldn’t wake you. It scared me half to death.” Jake took her hands in his and brought them up for her to see.

  “Why are my nails caked with dirt?” She put her hands up in front of her face. “My fingers are bleeding.”

  “I’m sorry, my bad. I let you dig to see what you were trying to show us,” Jake quietly said.

  Sara shook her head. “Don’t be. You were right to do so. I must have been deep.”

  “I’d say,” Danny replied.

  “So, what did you find?” Sara checked the ground around her.

  “Nothing yet.” Jake addressed Danny. “Would you see if you can find a shovel?”

  “There’s probably one in the shed,” Courtney said. “Follow me.”

  Jake looked back at Sara. “You were digging over there.” He pointed behind her.

  “Jane, didn’t you say that Alyssa woke up in front of this very spot?”

  “According to Courtney,” Jane said.

  “We should continue to dig here, but let’s move the rose bushes carefully. I don’t think the homeowners would appreciate us tearing up their yard,” Sara said.

  “Especially if we don’t find anything,” Jake added.

  Danny and Courtney showed up carrying several shovels, all with different heads. Jake selected one with a point. “Do you mind helping, Danny?”

  “Not at all,” Danny replied.

  Jane grabbed a flathead shovel. “I’ll clear the plants.”

  “I’ll help,” Courtney said.

  “What am I going to do?” Sara asked.

  “You should see about your fingers,” Jake said.

  “There are some first aid items in Alyssa’s medicine cabinet in Vera’s old room,” Courtney said.

  “Not a chance. I don’t want to miss anything,” Sara said.

  Jake shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  Jane and Courtney went through the painstaking process of removing the rose bushes around the spot where Sara had dug. The guys waited on the sidelines, resting on their shovels.

  “Okay, that should be good enough,” Jake said.

  Jane and Courtney got out of the way so the guys could start digging. An hour later all they’d found was dirt.

  “I’m sorry, everyone,” Sara said. “I guess I steered you wrong.”

  Courtney put her hand on Sara’s arm. “No worries.”

  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Danny used his t-shirt to wipe the sweat from his face.

  “I’m not ready to give up just yet.” Jake looked at Courtney. “But I am mighty parched. I’d appreciate some water.”

  “Be right back.” Courtney ran toward the house.

  Jake’s shirt was plastered to his skin. He peeled it off then looked around for what to do with it. Jane took it off his hands.

  “Thanks,” Jake said.

  Her eyes slid down his torso, then back up. He gave her a sly grin that made her blush. Sara’s head snapped her way, her eyes wide. Jane looked at her and cringed. The guys got back to work.

  Sara leaned in next to Jane’s ear. “You break his heart and I will hurt you.”

  “What if he breaks my heart?” Jane shot back.

  “That’s highly unlikely,” Sara informed her.

  “Really, and what makes you think he’s not just looking for a booty call?”

  Sara shook her head. “That’s not his style.”

  “And you know this because?”

  “He would have told me,” Sara answered.

  The idea made Jane sick. “He tells you everything?”

  “Evidently not. He didn’t tell me you two hooked up. That’s why I know there’s more to it.”

  Still uncertain Jane said, “Maybe he didn’t have time.”

  “Nope. We were alone for a couple of hours this morning before you came in. He had ample opportunity.”

  “I still don’t understand,” Jane said.

  “Jake has had a few one night stands since his wife’s passing. But afterward he feels so guilty, like he betrayed Natalie somehow, that he calls me to confess.” The look on Sara’s face was sincere.

  Jane couldn’t believe it. “So you actually think I have a shot?”

  “If you don’t screw it up.” Sara elbowed her in the ribs and smiled. “Shit, girl, you’re glowing.”

  Jane felt her face, she was grinning from ear to ear so she covered her mouth.

  Sara laughed.

  “I found something!” Jake shouted.

  They turned in unison. Jake was holding a clump of dirt. He began brushing at it. Obviously impatient, he snatched his water bottle and poured it over the thing in his hand.

  Jane gasped.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Jane stared at the abomination in Jake’s hand. Naturally the thought had crossed her mind, after all what else could have been buried so deep in the ground. But seeing it up close and personal was still a shock.

  “Is that a skull?” Danny asked.

  Jake cleaned out the eye sockets with his finger. “I’m afraid so. Don’t touch another thing. We’ve got to call the police.”

  “Courtney, you’d better call Alyssa. She and Brandon should be here,” Jane said.

  Courtney didn’t move, instead her eyes remained on the head.

  Jake set the skull on the edge of the dirt while he climbed out of the deep hole. “After I call the authorities, I’d like to take a shower. Mind pointing me in the right direction?”

  Courtney appeared deaf as well as dumb. All of her attention was focused on the disembodied head. Jane came up alongside her and placed a hand on her back. It took a few seconds before Courtney glanced her way.

  “Are you okay?” Jane asked.

  Jake wiped his hands on his jeans before he pulled out his cell phone.

  “Do you mind showing me to a bathroom where Jake can shower?” Jane said.

  Courtney snapped out of it. “Oh, sure.”

  Jane followed her up the stairs to Vera’s old room. She opened a cupboard under the sink and pulled out a towel.

  “He can use this. There’s shampoo and stuff in the shower.”

  Jane took the offered towel. “How about a washcloth?”

  Courtney laughed nervously. “Sorry.” She reached back into the cupboard. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.” Jane set them both on top of the closed toilet seat where Jake couldn’t miss it.

  “Why don’t you call your sister now and tell her what’s going on,” Jane suggested.

  “She is so not going to believe this.” Courtney took out her phone.

  Jane came across Jake and Sara surrounded by discarded dirt next to the pit. Danny was nowhere to be found. “What’s happening?”

  “They’re sending someone out. Since it’s not an emergency, it could take a while. Did you find me a shower?” Jake said.

  “Vera’s bathroom. You have everything you need in there.”

  “Great.” Jake took off.

  Jane turned to Sara. “So what do you think?”

  “Jake filled me in on what happened in Vera’s room. Add that to what we learned in the tower and we know of at least two people whose defenses were down, which would have made it easy for the demon to possess.”

  “But that doesn’t explain what happened to you,” Jane said.

  “No, that was something else.” Sara crossed her arms. “Jake and I talked about it. He think
s I was channeling Vera. At the time, I was having a dream about her. She was telling me I needed to set things right.”

  “Has this ever happened to you before?”

  “No. That’s the strange thing, but this house has a completely different vibe than anything either of us has ever dealt with before. It’s strong and I must confess, I may be susceptible at the moment.” Sara looked at the ground.

  “What do you mean?”

  “My personal life is in a bit of a shambles right now,” Sara confessed.

  “Oh, no need to explain,” Jane rushed to say.

  “No. You deserve to know. Jake already read me the riot act. I shouldn’t have taken this job, but I thought I could handle it. To tell you the truth I was thrilled when you called. It gave me a reason to get out of town and focus on something other than my problems. You see, my marriage has hit a rough patch.” Sara’s eyes became moist.

  “I’m so sorry.” Jane touched her arm in comfort.

  Sara gave her a weak smile. “I’m sure things will work themselves out. We’re going to counseling.”

  “I’m sure they will.” Jane patted her back.

  Sara wiped her eyes. “Anyway,” she said brightly. “I just thought you should know.”

  “Well, thank you for telling me. No doubt that was a difficult thing to tell a stranger,” Jane answered.

  A police car parked in front of the house. They headed toward the officers. A heavy set man in his fifties got out of the driver’s side and hiked up his belt. A tall beanpole of a guy somewhere in his twenties joined him before they headed their way.

  Alyssa and Brandon pulled in and parked behind the black and white car. Alyssa came running over to Jane, her eyes wider than the moon. She got there just before the cops.

  “Is it true? You found a head?” Alyssa almost shouted.

  Her husband came up beside her and wrapped his arm around her. “Calm down, honey. No need to get hysterical.”

  Alyssa turned on him. “Seriously? They just found human bones in our yard and I’m being hysterical?”

  “Consider the source. It’s probably just a dead dog. You know your sister exaggerates,” Brandon said in his defense.

  “Really, and that’s why the cops are here?”

  “Excuse me for interrupting. I’m Deputy Baker and this is my partner Deputy Kowalski. We got a call that you found a bone you think might be human?”

  “Yes, this way.” Jane led them into the yard and around the corner of the house.

  Jake showed up, his hair wet. Danny and Courtney followed in his wake. Danny too appeared to have taken a shower.

  Officer Baker walked around the hole and picked up the skull twisting it this way and that as he examined it. “Yup, no doubt about it, that’s a human skull.”

  “Oh, my, God!” Alyssa yelled.

  “I am going to have to call this in. They will probably be sending a detective to confirm whether or not foul play was involved,” Officer Baker said.

  “Of course it was murder. Who else would bury a skull in a garden?” Courtney said.

  “Well considering this house was built in the late 1800s, it could be a grave. Back then it was more commonplace to bury your loved ones on your land.”

  “Dude, it was under a rose garden,” Danny said.

  “The marker might have gotten lost or buried over the years. There could be any number of explanations. It’s best not to speculate.” Baker turned to his partner. “Kowalski, mark this area off while I call dispatch.”

  “Yes, sir,” the young officer said.

  “And I would appreciate it if all of you went inside. The detective will want to speak to you, so please stay put,” Officer Baker said.

  *

  The following morning, the group showed up to Seacliff Manor and had to fight their way through a throng of TV cameras and news people. They climbed out of Danny’s van and found the estate grounds resembled an archaeological dig. Mounds of dirt, cordoned off holes, tents and klieg lights had taken the place of what plants had still remained. They appeared to have been working all through the night. People ran around like ants in the little city.

  Jane and Jake walked into the first tent they came to and found multiple tables set up, all loaded with skeletal remains. Jake headed toward a short, round, bespectacled man who looked to be in charge. His complexion was ruddy, his nose covered in broken capillaries.

  “Excuse me,” Jake said.

  “Who are you?” the man said with a slight Irish brogue.

  “My name is Jake Spaulding. I’m the one who found the first skull.”

  “Ah.” The man shoved his hand out toward Jake. “Dr. Jonathan Walsh, I’m the forensic anthropologist they called in. Nice to meet you.”

  Jake reciprocated. “So, the bones are old?”

  The doctor crooked his head to the right, then left. “Some are, some aren’t.”

  “What do you mean?” Jake asked.

  “The bones found in the first grave were anywhere from two to twenty years old. There was fourteen bodies buried there, one on top of the other.”

  “The first grave? You mean there are more?” Jane said surprised.

  “Oh, my, yes.” Dr. Walsh took a handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed his brow. “The only site to rival this in my experience was Uganda 1988. A mass grave was uncovered and the bodies dated back to the 1950s. Horrible.” He shook his head. “An entire village massacred. Just horrible it was.” He wiped his upper lip before he stashed the handkerchief into his pocket.

  “How many bodies are we talking about here?” Jake asked.

  “Oh, a couple hundred, it was. Nasty business that,” Dr. Walsh replied.

  “You’ve found two hundred bodies on this land?” Jane said.

  “Oh, my, no. I was talking about Uganda. No. We’ve only uncovered a little over fifty at last count. But many more graves have been marked.”

  Sara gasped. Jane turned to find her and the others standing behind her.

  “Over fifty?” Jake said incredulously.

  “So far.” The doctor took a drink from a bottle of water nearby. “Don’t worry, son. We’ll be working this land a few more days for sure.”

  “Why do you say that?” Jake asked.

  “This here is a lot of property it is.”

  “No, I mean what makes you think you’ll find more bodies?”

  “Cadaver dogs. They’ve called for more. Should be joining us this afternoon,” Dr. Walsh informed them.

  “Excuse me,” Sara approached the doctor. “Have you been able to date the oldest bones?”

  “I can’t say conclusively without running a few tests. Rough estimate about eighty or ninety years.”

  “They aren’t thinking that one person could have killed all these people,” Jake said.

  Dr. Walsh frowned. “Heavens no. A quandary it is.”

  “Have you seen Detective Shelly?” Jake asked looking around.

  “No, son. You might check another tent.” The doctor picked up a large bone. “I’m sorry, but I must get back to work.” He laid it on the table anatomically where he was busy building the shell of a person. “Like a jigsaw puzzle it is.” He chuckled.

  Jake turned toward the group. “I’m going to talk to the detective and see if he’ll give me an update.”

  “I’m going with you,” Jane said.

  “I’d better get inside and see how Lyssa and Brandon are doing with all this,” Courtney replied.

  “Good idea,” Jane said.

  “I’ll go with you,” Danny said.

  “I’m going to walk around and see if I can sense anything,” Sara said.

  “Don’t touch anything until you have one of us with you,” Jake said.

  “I won’t. I know my limitations.” Sara headed toward a tent on the far side of the property.

  “What made her pick that particular spot?” Jane asked.

  “Something calling to her would be my guess,” Jake answered. “Let’s find Detective Shel
ly.”

  Jane followed Jake through the maze of tents. Little orange flags marked the property. Jane watched as a black body bag was lifted from a deep hole. The doctor was right. This had to be the largest body dump in US history.

  A dog barked and scratched at the earth.

  “Need a digger over here!” The guy placed a flag in the ground and moved on.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Jane asked.

  “That the demon possessed more than one person in this house to do his killing?” Jake answered.

  “Exactly. How are you going to explain that to the detective?” she asked.

  “I don’t know that I am. I’ll have to feel him out.” Jake pointed in the distance where Detective Shelly stood conversing with a uniformed officer, his back to them. “There.”

  When they got closer, they caught his words.

  “I know it sounds too fantastic. Her being an old woman and all, but we found all those clippings of missing persons in that tower. There has to be a connection,” the policeman said.

  Detective Shelly raised his hand to quiet the man. The uniformed officer turned around. It was Deputy Baker. Jane recognized him from the day before.

  “Can I help you?” Detective Shelly asked.

  “Sorry to interrupt, we were just wondering if we could get an update,” Jake said.

  The detective eyed Jake and then Jane. He appeared to be thinking about it. “There really isn’t anything to tell you at this point. There have been many bodies unearthed.”

  “We were talking to Dr. Walsh over there. He said that some of the bodies date back eighty or ninety years. I was wondering if you had a theory?” Jake asked.

  “It’s a bit premature for that. We’re still getting our ducks in a row. There appears to be no MO; the ages range from children to adults, men and women, and the manner in which they were murdered is all over the map. We have strangulation, blunt force trauma, gun shots, knife wounds and a few were chopped up into pieces,” Detective Shelly answered.

  “How many killers do you think did this?” Jake said.

  “I can’t…” The detective shook his head. “I can’t even speculate. This case is beyond bizarre. I’ve called in the FBI. An agent will be arriving tomorrow.”