The Gardener

by Michelle DePaepe

  “I know. But, the more I think about it...maybe it was just the glare of the sunlight—my eyes playing tricks on me. Maybe, he dove under the water and swam away.

  “Come on...you said very plainly that you saw him vanish into a plume of smoke and disappear into the trees.”

  He looked down at his dusty calfskin boots.

  “I know you really don’t doubt what you saw that day. And, I know that you can’t explain any of this to anyone else, because they’ll think you’re nuts. Of course, you’d rather be the hero and find some mortal serial killer holed up in a storm cellar. But, that’s never going to happen. Our murderer isn’t human. Forget your glory and help me to get rid of him before someone else dies.”

  “But, why do you need me to help you?”

  Now, Opal’s looked down at her shoes. “Because...”

  “Mom,” he said as he reached out and crooked his arm around her neck in a semi-hug. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

  Her head bobbed up and down, and her eyes began to leak. He couldn’t possibly know just how frightened she was. When she thought of facing the spirit again, her blood curdled into nasty black clots that paralyzed her. Though, the bruises on her ribs had healed, her memory of how close to death she had come was still fresh.

  He squeezed her, and they stood there silently for a few moments, commiserating in their frustration.

  When she felt she could talk without her voice warbling, she said, “You’ve got to come with me. We’ll try Aunt Grace’s way first. You’re strong. You can help me dig and find his bones. If that doesn’t work, we’ll wait for dark. Then, we’ll do a séance. If I can contact my mother...maybe she can help us.”

  Karl closed his eyes as he pulled away, rolling his neck around and massaging it with his hand. “Saying it’s a long shot is an understatement.”

  “What have you got to lose? From what I hear, your guys don’t have any leads on these murders. Even if the FBI is coming, it’s not like they can hold AlphonsoGiovanni in a jail cell any more than you can.”

  “But, how are we supposed to do all of this excavation and psychic conjuring without being seen? Georgia nearly blew a gasket when she saw you at the carnival. She’s not going to let you anywhere near that place.”

  “We’ll wait for the right opportunity…when we know she’s out of the house.”

  A knock startled them as another deputy stuck his head in. “Karl, we need you.”

  He waved him off. “Be right there.” Then, he turned back to her. “If we’re going to do this, it needs to be soon. I’m already working six days a week on this case. If the Feds come in and things get even crazier, it may be seven. So, when?”

  “I don’t know. Georgia is one encounter short of taking out a restraining order on me. Maybe, we’ll get lucky and she’ll leave town again soon. Or, we can think of a ruse to get her out of there for awhile.”

  “Alright, we’ll figure something out. “I’ve got to go.”

  She grabbed his sleeve as he turned. “Don’t let your rational side think too much and chicken out on me.”

  “You’d just better be right. My reputation...my entire career is at stake.”

  “I know. Just think of all the lives you may save.”

  He nodded and bowed out the door.

  She sat down and rested in his chair. Her legs felt too heavy and tired to haul herself through the main room and pretend not to see the stares from the staff as she exited the building.

  She wondered what the spirit was up to. Was he somewhere in town stalking his next victim? At the house filling Georgia full of lies? Or squeezing the life out of her?

  Hold on, Georgia. I haven’t given up yet...

  Chapter 73

  As the days passed, Georgia’s anxiety about the upcoming New Year’s Eve party increased. She painted to keep her mind occupied. But, her creative frenzy was also an act of desperation. She hoped that the sheer quantity of paintings would produce enough gems in the rough to display to so many critical people.

  Daniel refused to tell her anything more about his planning progress, saying that everything was under control as he left the house for long periods of time to work on his preparations.

  When he was home, his unfailing attention to her every need was both a bane and a blessing. There were times that she simply preferred to be alone with her thoughts and imagination. Sometimes, she caught him paused in the doorway, staring at her as she worked. Each time, she scolded him...and he sulked away, begging apologies in his charming accent.

  She had to admit...recently there was an indescribable unease with the situation. Something was not right about this man. He was too perfect...too insistent on indulging her. But, for now...she brushed off her doubts. The attention was a gift that she had never had from her ex-husband, who professed to love her, but controlled her and then tossed her away like a dirty rag.

  One afternoon, Daniel brought her lunch as usual, but this time he lingered. He set down the tray and looked over her shoulder as she worked on some delicate brush strokes—black silhouettes of geese upon a fluorescent sunset.

  “Daniel! You know I’m not done…” She felt his hands on her shoulders. He began to massage them, kneading away the stiffness with his fingertips.

  “Mmmm...” she said. “Alright...don’t stop. That feels really good.”

  She laid down her paintbrush and closed her eyes as he continued, giving in to the ripples of sensation.

  “You are working much too hard. Perhaps, you should take a break.”

  As his hands worked further down her back, she leaned forward. She couldn’t think of a rebuttal as his fingers dug in to her flesh, working it in circular motions.

  Then, he massaged his way back up her spine, giving attention again to her shoulder blades, rolling them loose with the palms of his hands. She relaxed as his fingers found her neck, swirling up into the back of her scalp. He loosened her ponytail and let her hair fall down to her shoulders. Then, he worked on the whole of her head and temples.

  A warmth like a sultry summer breeze brushed against the nape of her neck as he brushed her hair to the side. She smelled the sweet musky scent of his breath as his lips touched her skin.

  She froze. She should tell him to stop, shouldn’t she?

  Was he wearing cologne that smelled so sweet? Something about his scent conjured the remembrance of her grandmother’s roses again—the damp earth in the garden after a spring rain.

  Suddenly, she was no longer sitting in the dusty turret room on a chilly winter’s day; she was in the garden, feeling the warm sunshine as she inhaled the perfume of the flowers around her and felt a butterfly’s kiss as it landed on her neck.

  When she snapped out of the daydream and realized what was happening...she still didn’t resist. She was too lost in the moment, reminded of someone...somewhere...long ago. It had been so long since anyone had touched her in this way. She felt dizzy as he continued to kiss along the nape of her neck.

  The jarring sound of the doorbell halted the romantic encounter.

  Georgia jumped to her feet. “I...” Her mouth hung open as she turned to look at him.

  His skin was flushed pink. Was he blushing? As embarrassed as she was? But, there was a look in his eyes as if he did not regret his transgressions. It was a feral stare, despite the warmth of his smile. He looked as if he might devour her if she lingered a moment longer.

  She excused herself in mumbled syllables.

  As she descended the staircase, she wondered what might have happened if they hadn’t been interrupted.

  The doorbell rang again and again, interrupting her thoughts. “Alright...alright!” she yelled as she reached the door.

  She was prepared to scold a boy scout selling chocolates or an impatient paperboy, but when she yanked the door open—

  “Afternoon, Georgia,” KarlBauer said as he tipped the brim of his hat.

  “Deputy...” she nodded as she smoothed back her rumpled hair.

  “
Your sister asked me to come by. She said that she hasn’t seen you for a while, and you haven’t been answering your door or the phone.”

  “I’m sorry. I have been quite the recluse lately. I’ve been holing up in my studio and painting like a madwoman. I’ve let Daniel deal with any visitors and—”

  “Daniel?” He asked as he glanced up towards the staircase behind her. “He’s still living here?”

  She twisted a strand of hair between her fingers. “Yes. Everything’s just fine, Deputy. There’s nothing to worry—”

  “Really? You look a little shaken.”

  “I’m fine. You just startled me while I was painting.”

  He tipped his hat again and turned to go, then wheeled back around. “You know...they found another body just outside of town last night. A farmer’s wife. Someone messed her up pretty good. I’d be sure your doors are locked day and night.”

  “I’ll do that. Thanks for stopping by.”

  She watched him go, admiring his tall strong stride as his boots clicked across the wood porch, and he made his way to his patrol car.

  As she clicked the door shut behind her, she leaned against it and closed her eyes.

  Daniel called down from upstairs. “Who was at the door?”

  “Deputy Bauer.”

  “What did he want?” he asked as he came to the railing.

  “Nothing. Just checking up on me. Marsha put him up to it. I guess I’ve been a little too much of a hermit lately. It’s all your fault, you know.”

  He smiled, and she thought he looked like a cat, declaring innocence with a canary feather hanging out of his mouth.

  “Blame me, if you must...but your lunch is getting cold, mia cara amica.”

  The rest of the afternoon, Daniel left her to her painting. There were awkward moments when they passed each other in the hall, and later when they said good night and went to their separate rooms.

  It seemed to her that he was biding his time again...waiting for the next perfect opportunity to make another move. She found herself avoiding him at times, unless they needed to discuss details about the party.

  Her unease increased as the days passed. She told herself that it had nothing to do with Opal Peabody’s accusations, writing most of it off to her anxiety about the upcoming party and her confused feelings for Daniel. If she encouraged any more flirtations, she knew that she would be opening a door that she might not be ready to step through. But, if she rejected him...he was certain to move out...and perhaps be gone from her life forever. She wasn’t ready to take a stand either way.

  He was so handsome, so kind, and indulgent...but there was still something about him that seemed strange. She couldn’t put it into words. All she could come up with was the old cliché...wondering if he was too good to be true.

  Chapter 74

  The spirit stood naked in front of the mirror, staring at the perfection of his skin and the sinews of his muscles. There were no more creases near his eyes from the sun’s harsh glare and no freckles, moles, or protruding veins. He ran his hand down his chest and felt nothing but hard smooth skin, finding no evidence that a bullet had ever pierced him. Was it possible that he was better now than he had ever been in his former life?

  He smiled and winked at himself. “Come un dio. I am like a god.”

  Then, he caught a flash of light in the mirror and realized that it had come from his own eyes. Stepping closer, he examined his green irises. Something about them was still not quite right. The gold flecks were luminescent. One moment, they seemed backlit from some spark of fire within him, then the next, they looked like metal shavings or shiny fish scales.

  No matter. Perhaps their appearance would simply make him more alluring...more mesmerizing.

  As he admired his body, Georgia painted in the room down the hall.

  He couldn’t wait to make love to her. Despite his lust, he tried to restrain himself until they were married. On that special night, he would let Margaret’s photo on the nightstand watch as he took another woman into his bed...when it could have been her.

  Though, he had such wonderful plans for Georgia and becoming the master of WilliamCrawford’s house, his eyes had already begun to wander. During his forays into town and the countryside, he had run into several women that he found quite attractive. There was a pretty blonde waitress at the Hard Winter Bar & Grill and a sultry dark-haired woman who liked to hang her laundry outside while wearing an obscenely short frock. Once he and Georgia were married, he knew that she would be so busy with her painting that he would be free to roam and do what he pleased...with whomever he pleased. He could retain his superficial role as a gardener, searching out women in need of his landscaping expertise...and other services that he’d be happy to provide. Of course, he might have to kill a few of his customers to maintain his gusto.

  Then again...maybe not.

  As he put his trousers back on, he thought about the upcoming party. There would be so many people at the house. It would be practically pulsing with life like some great beast filled with lightning. If things did not go his way that evening, there would be a feast of souls to feed his needs…maybe once and for all.

  He was so perfect now...so complete...that maybe...just maybe...one last bacchanalia of death would be all he would ever need again.

  Chapter 75

  Opal overheard gossip about Georgia’s New Year’s Eve party from two women in the checkout line at County General.

  “Yes...GeorgiaMcKenna,” the younger woman with a baby boy in her arms said. “Since her grandmother died...I guess she’s turned that house into an art studio.”

  The older woman with her hair in pin curls nodded. “I hear there’s two hundred people invited, but very few from Calathia.”

  “I suppose she’s too good for us country folk now,” the mother said as she penned in her check.”

  “That’s ridiculous,” the Cashier piped in. “Why would she have moved back here then? I think she’s just trying to make some money on her art. It’s not like any of us have a few hundred or thousand dollars to blow on a painting. Heck, we’re doing good when we break even after getting the crops in and paying our bills. I don’t work here on weekends because I want to.”

  Opal tuned out the rest of the conversation as she thought what a perfect night it would be to slip onto the Blake property unnoticed amongst all of those people. Of course, she had no idea how she would excavate the frozen ground beneath the fountain, even with Karl’s help. But, an opportunity like this wasn’t likely to happen again.

  She rushed home with her groceries, threw them on the floor then ran to the phone.

  “Have you heard about the party?”

  “Yes...” Karl said with the slowness of cold molasses. “I ran into Georgia at the post office the other day, and she invited me.”

  “I’m going to need your help there.”

  “She invited you too? I thought she didn’t want you anywhere near that place.”

  Opal was silent.

  “Momma...that’s not the right time. I don’t want you showing up there, crashing the party and causing problems.”

  “You can’t stop me from going.”

  “I won’t have to. I’m sure she’ll round up a posse of guests to show you out the door, the moment you’re spotted.”

  “Please...if you’re going...let me be your date. I could wear a disguise.”

  He covered the phone with his hand, muffling his laughter. When, he came back on his voice was as stern as his starched uniform.

  “Not a chance...and you’d better not make an appearance. I’ll be there to keep my eye on things and make sure nothing gets out of control.”

  “Karl...I’m going. I’ve driven by that house every day for the last two weeks, and she’s always there. When else am I going to get an opportunity to get over there and do what I need to do? If you don’t help me, you’re either going to end up arresting me and throwing your own mother in jail...or I’m going to wind up dead...because he�
�s going to kill me.”

  “But, poor Georgia. It’s her special day and—”

  “What about all those poor dead people? How many this month? Five? Six? I hear he’s been going farther out from town. Wasn’t a body found out near Hondelsburg just yesterday?”

  “There’s an FBI agent running a profile. ”

  “That’s a waste of time. If you won’t help me, I may give up on the digging. But, I’ll need your energy for the séance. Can’t you at least promise that you’ll slip out of the party for that?”

  “Ma...I don’t know. This is so weird. What if somebody sees us?”

  Opal cut him off, bidding him a hasty goodbye. Karl was useless, even after she thought she had him convinced of the danger. He must have decided that his precious bid for Sheriff was too important to risk being seen with her, doing something strange or illegal on the property.

  There was so much to do before the party. She sat down at her kitchen table and began a list of things she would need from the hardware store—a better shovel, flashlights, some heavy rope, and maybe a blowtorch to soften the ground.

  It sounded like an awful lot of stuff to haul onto the property without being seen. But, with the party going on inside the house and the frigid weather outside, she was sure that she would be far away enough from the festivities that no one would even know she was there.

  She laid her head down on the table, fuming as she thought about Karl again. He had to be convinced to roll up his sleeves and help her. She’d threaten him if she had to!

  After a few more minutes of pouting, she peered out the curtains of her front window. There was a faint white disc against the slate blue sky. She got up and looked at the calendar on the wall. The full moon this month was on December 26th. So, it would be waning on the 31st. At least, if the spirit gained any sort of energy from it, it wouldn’t be completely full on that night, like it had on Halloween when he had been cocksure enough to escort Georgia to the carnival.

  But, a new fear flashed into her mind.