Shadows of Eternity: The Children of the Owls (Frost and Flame Book 2)

by Rick Kueber

  From the shadows, Ashley Sue kept the spirits of the children at bay. They watched us closely, but mostly, they watched Rick, knowing if anyone were to see them, it would be him. Though our voices were muffled and distorted, Rick's voice came through to them clearly, and to their amazement, he was disturbingly accurate. Ashley pushed them back deeper into the shadows, as we began to wander the upstairs.

  In the opposite room, Rick immediately spoke. “This was the gentleman's room, where the father conducted business, and the children weren't allowed in here. Women probably weren't either... No offense, Barb.”

  We followed him through the room, pausing occasionally to try to pick up on the energy that surrounded us. “We're being watched.” Rick said with a smile, and then made a bee-line for the locked door.

  “This place is important. You haven't been in it, have you?” He asked. “No one has been in that room for decades...maybe not since the Owl's bought the place in the twenties.” Barb explained. “We don't have a key.”

  Rick grasped the red-glass doorknob. “It's here. I think the key is here somewhere, maybe in this very room.” From the other side of the door with the red-glass knob, the children gasped, and wondered what else this man might know.

  We moved our tour to the main level made only one stop. “This room used to be the parlor, and I feel that there were two tragic deaths in here. Mother and child, maybe... I don't want to seem over-dramatic, or make anyone uncomfortable, but it feels like one death was intentional, like a murder, and the other was accidental.”

  When he spoke, he looked at me with a seriousness in his eyes that filled me with intimidation. Rick saw much more than he admitted to, and I knew it, but he kept the details of his second sight to himself. After a rapid walk through, Rick suggested we move to the lower level. Barb and Del lead the way, and when Rick and I were a few steps behind, he touched my shoulder and leaned in to whisper in my ear.

  “There is a lot happening here. We'll talk later.” His words left an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. Finding our way around the maze that was the downstairs was much simpler with the lights on. Rick took a brief walk around the large 'bingo' room, while the three of us huddled together near the stairway doors. Upon his return, he had a slightly concerned look on his face.

  “I sense three males here, but they aren't showing themselves. For whatever reason, they are intentionally hiding from us.” He looked about the room, trying to find any clue of who they were, but nothing stood out as an obvious answer, so he remained quiet.

  Next we entered the pool room, just to our left, and once again our stay was brief, but I believe Rick was very dead-on in his conclusion that the children liked to play in this room, but weren't there now. So we made our way through the rest of the basement, with very little reaction or emotion expressed by Rick, and no paranormal activity was experienced by the three of us, Del, Barb, and me.

  Our last stop had been saved for last intentionally. Immediately upon entering the creepy, web and dust covered boiler room, Rick stopped.

  “This is the room.” he paused. “There were some unusual things that happened in this room.” Once again, he held back the knowledge he was receiving until a more appropriate time and place. “May I sit in the wheelchair?” He asked gesturing to the old wooden and somewhat frail looking, antique.

  “If you think it will hold you, go right ahead.” Del slightly cringed unaware of the degree of deterioration and rot that the old chair had undergone over its many decades of storage in the dank old boiler room. The truth was that the chair hadn't moved since it had been placed there by the Bettiger family.

  We all held our breath as Rick turned his back to the chair, and gripping one of the gritty, dirty arms took a seat. With a collection of pops and creaks, he settled into the chair. After a moment, he closed his eyes, and began to rub the back of his head. Then, leaning forward, covered his face with his hands, and rested his head there. He remained silent and motionless for minutes, before raising his head, and with eyes still closed, he spoke.

  “There is an old woman, stern, but not mean, that is here. I believe this was her chair. She is saying something about the children needing their parents… they all need to be saved. It feels like it's some sort of a warning, but I don't think she is the problem...I think she has been trying to protect the children.” He rubbed his face like someone waking from an uneasy sleep, and ran his hands through his thick wavy hair. He reached his left arm out towards the pit as if he were warming his hand by a campfire. “Something took place here, maybe not a death, but something that expelled an exuberant amount of emotion, and I feel it is attached to the three males who are not revealing themselves.”

  Rick leaned back in the chair and took a deep breath. Waiting a moment, as if he anticipated another revelation, he slowly stood. Shaking off the mental cob-webs of many years past, he looked directly at me and I knew that more information had been revealed, and I would know, soon enough, what that was. It had only been about forty-five minutes since we had embarked on our tour of the building, but we were already coming to the end. No 'wrapping up' this time, no gathering of equipment, just a quiet walk back to the main entrance. Rick paused briefly at the door and shook Del's hand, thanking him, and then he took Barb's hand and held it for a moment.

  “Your father is proud of you, and says you and Del make a wonderful couple... I hope that means something.” He smiled at her. “It does.” Barb squeaked out, unable to hold back the tears, and truthfully having no desire to hold them back. “I never felt like my dad approved of Del and I, and he passed away before we were married. I have always wondered if he looks down from heaven and what he thinks of how I have turned out.” The tears streamed down her cheeks and she wiped them as best she could on the sleeve of her shirt.

  “He not only looks down with pride, but he comes to visit you sometimes too. I am just the vessel, and I tell what I am asked to tell.” He said with sincerity.

  Her watery eyes were smiling, and she reached out and gave Rick a warm hug. “Thank you so much.” Rick smiled and we said so-long to the Heerdinks. Walking away, I could hear Barb elated, still talking to Del about how wonderful that message made her feel. I am certain that the validation of her father's pride in her, and his approval were life altering, and a burden that Barb would no longer carry in the back of her mind.

  Rick and I parted ways in the parking lot, but before he left me, he said, “I want me, you, Jenn, Katie, and Theo to all get together one evening next week. Bring all the info you have, and I'll bring what I've learned tonight, and we will figure out what happened here. Oh, hey… can you text me Theo's number. I'll reach out to him, if you'll call the ladies.”

  “Definitely! That sounds like a great idea.” I was genuinely pleased with the plan. “Maybe we will order some dinner for delivery or something and brainstorm all evening.” I imagined how we might put the data we had into a more compendious time line, but I never thought for one second how difficult that would prove to be, and how much we really didn't know yet. What I did know was that I was beginning to believe that I could get a handle on what was going on here, and that we still had to discern how we were to help these desperate children.

  Chapter 13 CIRCLE of FRIENDS

  Once the workday had passed, and my routine of a shower, a microwaved dinner (leftover pizza), and a few minutes to relax and read a few emails was finished, I sent out a group text message to Jenn, Katie and Theo.

  'Meet me at Barnes & Noble for coffee at 8pm if you can' The texts came in like clockwork every few minutes, with confirmation from Katie followed by Jenn. Then shortly after, a message popped in from Theo saying:

  'That’s perfect, I work at B&N until 8' I had been relaxing in a pair of gym shorts and nothing else, and it was nearly seven o'clock when I decided I had better actually put on some clothes if I was going out in public. Donning some khaki docker shorts, a white polo shirt and some well-worn canvas and cotton, frayed flip-flops, I headed out early
to the bookstore to get my dose of caffeine started.

  *** Business was slow at the bookstore this evening, which was unusual, but Theo didn't seem to mind having the extra time to straighten the shelves and wander around assisting the few customers that were there. After receiving my text, he began thinking about his spirit guides and the form of wisdom and advice they had given him. The thoughts wandered through his mind as he wandered the store offering help to those who might need it, much in the way his guides offered it to him; sometimes directly, but other times only pointing him to the path, where he needed to search.

  Turning the corner of a long row of shelves somewhat secluded in the back area of Barnes & Noble, in the history nonfiction section, he noticed a woman looking around. Theo's first impression was that this was one of the Amish customers who would occasionally come in to pick up a few books to read for

  entertainment or education. She was dressed in a long sleeved, light blue, cotton dress and had on leather boots that were a woman's, but definitely lacked the style one would find in today's shops. Her hair was up, her skin- pale, and she lacked any makeup, a sure sign of the Amish or Mennonites. She searched, but seemed to pay little attention to the books, or to Theo.

  “Can I help you find anything?” and as he spoke the realization came to him. This woman was not a customer, she was a soul, and what she searched for wouldn't be found in any bookstore...unless she had been searching for someone to help her...unless she were searching for Theo.

  “Ally-girl, where are you?” The hollow, voice seemed to echo as if it had called out through a long tunnel or across a large empty room from some cold and distant place.

  “I will help you if you let me try.” Theo thought out loud. “Charles!” She called out as her posture slumped, turning to face Theo. He could now see the emptiness of her expression and her harrowing, barren, white eyes. “Charles... I am ever so sorry, Charles.” Her hand and arm reached out toward Theo from only a few feet away, and then in a blur, she quickly turned, and in a vaporous mist, disappeared, falling backwards through the wooden book filled shelves. The experience stuck in Theo's mind, and he absorbed every detail, stunned for a moment until a real life, flesh and blood customer turned the corner and ran directly into him.

  “Oh! I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention.” exclaimed a young woman with eyes that had an unfathomable depth and beauty which hid a sadness behind them that only she understood. Then, in a moment of realization, the attractive, young woman spoke again. “Oh, hey Theo!”

  “It's okay Tabitha. It takes more than that to take me down.” Theo smiled at Tabitha, a woman who often came to his seminars and classes. “Well, is there anything I can help you with?”

  “Not tonight,” she said offering a beautiful smile, “but I'll see you soon, and then we can talk more.” The strawberry blonde curls of her hair bounced as she turned back around the corner and took her selection to the register to pay, and then headed home for some good reading.

  “Okay, see you soon.” He said, retrieving his phone and checked the time. It was nearly 7:30, and he was anticipating the arrival of his friends and teammates. He was also relieved to know that his long work-day would be ending soon. He carried about his business, and for the remainder of the evening, every corner he turned, he turned with caution. Theo found himself unusually startled whenever he rounded a corner and entered an aisle, to find someone searching the shelves. Before he knew it, eight o'clock had rolled around and it was time to clock out.

  *** Finding my way into the Starbuck's coffee shop around 7:45, I ordered my usual, a French vanilla cappuccino. I chose a seat and contemplated everything we knew, and how much we still had to learn, or discover. Soon Katie arrived and our conversation began with going over some of the history we already had been given or discovered, and what we still needed to find out in order to put this case to rest. A few minutes into our conversation, Theo joined us. It was just about the same time when Jenn rushed in, assuming she was late.

  “Hey guys, sorry I'm the last one here.” She said apologetically.

  “Somebody had to be.” Katie stated the obvious in a humorous way that made us all smile.

  “Yeah, I know.” Jenn agreed. “But it seems like I'm always the last one to show up.” “No worries, Jenn. You're right on-time, and we haven't really started talking about much yet.” I said, and then immediately jumped right into the purpose of having the meeting. “Rick Hayes wanted to meet with us all, but he isn't available. That meeting will have to wait for another day, but I wanted to try to piece together what we could. So... what we know is we have had a very intense first and second investigation. We have some history, and are hoping for a lot more details when Jenn and Rick Hayes meet up with the last living Bettiger in the family line this Sunday. Theo, Katie...” I glanced at the two of them, “You are welcome to join Jenn Sunday, but it is near Indianapolis, so I would expect a full-day trip.”

  “I'd love to, but I can't.” Theo said regretfully. “I have classes scheduled, and I really don't want to cancel with such short notice. If something changes, though... I will definitely call you.”

  “Well, Sean is working Sunday, but I'm off, so I don't see why I couldn't go. I'd love to go, it'd be like a mini road trip, and I haven't ever met Rick Hayes, so that would be extra cool.” Katie was exuberant, and the tone, rhythm, and some of her wording, at times, was directly from her twenty-something vocabulary. She was very intelligent, but her unique style and occasional 'silliness' were refreshing.

  “Alright, now that we have that out of the way...ladies, if you don't mind to fill Theo and myself in on what we have as far as the known history, 'to date'.” I then turned the invisible microphone over to Jenn, but only because Katie was never one to choose to speak, especially to a crowd of three or more.

  “Okay kids... here is what it looks like right now.” Jenn began.

  “Mr. Charles Bettiger bought a large piece of property on 1st avenue which included three large houses and two carriage houses in 1878, a very pricey purchase. He lived in one of the houses alone for several years and had placed his mother in the house next to him, shortly after her husband had passed away...probably of natural causes.

  Charles was a shrewd businessman, and along with his legitimate business dealings, he also had alleged ties to some shady real estate deals, and reportedly had ties to a Chicago based crime family. Charles was known by the Evansville locals as the gun and ammunition supplier for all of Chicago and probably St. Louis, though it was mostly hear-say, and no one really had the 'guts' to confront him about it. You know, afraid they'd be swimming with the fishes at the bottom of the Ohio River. The story goes that he ran illegal weapons for nearly eight years before buying the 1st avenue property, and continued to do so for a several more.

  Well, after living there for about ten years, his mother, there was an 'accident'. One of the 'business associates' apparently knocked Mrs. Bettiger down the stairs, breaking her back. It was very possibly an accident, because the men remained partners, but Charles' mother never recovered and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of her life.

  So, what did ole' Chuck do? He 'fell in love' with the young and lovely Amelia Croft. Now whether or not it was really love or not, I don't know, but it seems that the two were soon married, and they moved into the house with his mother, which is now the Owl's Nest. My guess is that Amelia was partly a marriage of convenience. She looked after mom, while Charles conducted his 'business' from one of the neighboring houses that was also part of the property purchase. It is even speculated that there were tunnels running underground connecting the houses, so he could easily move from place to place without suspicion, but... if they exist, no one has found them yet.” Jenn paused in her storytelling to take a drink of the Dr. Pepper she had brought in with her.

  The topic remained the same, but moved in a less concrete direction, away from the documents, newspaper articles and the photographs. Theo rubbed his forehead, deep in thought an
d memory, and spoke. “Just to catch you up a little bit, I connected with the spirit of a woman earlier. She was searching for someone or something, and she called out for someone named Charles, Bettiger I'm guessing, saying she was sorry, and she also called out for an 'Alley-girl'. Now, I'm not big on turn of the century terminology, but would an alley-girl be, maybe a little homeless girl, or something more sketchy, like a street walker?”

  “I've never heard of the term myself. Alley-cat, yes...Alleygirl, ummm... no.” I said in all honesty. “Maybe it's a nickname.” Katie interjected. “...for Allison.” It almost sounded like a question the way it was stated, but she had picked up on the correlation before any of the rest of us.

  “Theo, Allison Bettiger is apparently the Daughter of Charles and Amelia, and the last living Bettiger that Jenn and Katie are going to see Sunday with Rick Hayes., and I have known a few Allys who were either Allisons, or Allysas” I clued him in.

  “Interesting. I wonder if the woman I saw was Amelia.” Theo grinned feeling as if he were already deep into the dirt and gritty history of this investigation, yet on a different plane of investigating than the rest of us.

  “I don't know, Theo, was it?” Jenn asked with the slightest of sarcasm, as she pulled out the photocopy of the postmortem portrait.

  “Yes....” Theo said, almost under his breath, as his eyes grew open wide, studying the picture. “Well, this is certainly a fascinating situation we have, but Jenn, do you mind to carry on?” I asked. She and Katie shared the tales, filling in and taking over for each other, almost peaking as one person.

  “Most definitely!” she said. Jenn was usually very outspoken, energetic, and typically excited when given the opportunity to take the lead in any speaking situation.

  “So, a few years passed, as did the turn of the century. 1900.” Jenn gestured with her hands like she was setting an invisible box on the table. Jenn, like Theo, talked with her hands emphatically, I did somewhat, and Katie... well Katie was a bit more reserved. “Then they started popping out babies. In six years, they had four boys, and when the oldest was almost eight, the youngest was barely two, that's when things start to go south.”