Ice and Steel

by Alexie Aaron

  “It just reminds people we didn’t make the playoffs this year,” Audrey said. “They get all cranky. Or talk football instead of square feet.”

  “Well then, our first trip out will be to get you a nice, sensible wool coat,” Mia promised.

  “Then we have a deal. What kind of clothes are you bringing?”

  “If that is your subtle way of having me leave my cargos and hoodies at home, then you don’t need to bother. I have packed appropriately for downtown. Speaking of, plan on a trip to some theaters and the aquarium.”

  “I will.”

  “Anyplace downtown you want to linger?” Mia asked.

  “I would like to spend some time at the main branch of the library if I could. I know it’s not your favorite spot to be.”

  “Nonsense, I thought you were going to mention a history museum or two. Those I can do without.”

  Audrey understood Mia’s aversion to being surrounded by dead people’s things. Sometimes these priceless antiques came with spirits attached. Mia had a hard time not trying to help these lost souls. But she had no other choice. There were too many and sometimes they were rude about it. “City ghosts are too insistent on quick results,” Mia told her once. “Quite a few of them refused to go into the light until all their earthly business had been settled. One even had to take a trip to her hairdresser before ascending. I don’t have the time and patience for that.”

  “How about if I meet you at Ralph’s condo around ten,” Audrey suggested. “I’ll bring some sandwiches and supplies from Mom’s. That’s who I normally sponge off of in between paychecks,” she admitted. “My dad will drop me off so we don’t have to park another vehicle at Ralph’s.”

  “I forgot about that. Ralph and Bernard have two spots. They will be leaving the sedan at the airport, so I’ll have a spot for the truck. I’m not used to city living, Audrey. I appreciate you coming along to help me navigate the pitfalls of Chicago in winter.”

  “My pleasure,” Audrey said. “See you tomorrow.”

  Mia disconnected the call, headed outside and up the hill to help Murphy out. She stopped and pulled out several large Styrofoam cones she had purchased from the back of her truck. They were normally used for protecting roses during the long winter, but with a few adjustments, Mia felt they could help keep the wind-hardened packed snow away from Murphy’s tender young plants.

  She put on a pair of snow shoes over her boots and started up the hillside with the cones balanced on her head.

  Murphy was startled by the large-footed white-crowned demon that appeared on the ridge. He raised his axe and lowered it, embarrassed at not recognizing Mia.

  She dropped the cones and picked up the shovel and started to clear the snow from the tiny trees.

  Murphy picked up a cone after Mia explained their use. He shook his head and set the cone back down.

  “We need some dry straw,” Mia said. “Do you think you could manage bringing some up?”

  Murphy nodded before he took all the effort into the equation. Getting there was no problem, but lifting the heavy bale of straw drained him. He was able to fetch the bale from his side of the barn to the driveway before he became exhausted. Not wanting to give up, he had an idea. He moved quickly to the house to gather what he needed.

  Ted walked into the office and refilled his mug. He looked out the window and called Cid to come in from the barn and look too.

  “There’s something you don’t see every day.”

  Cid looked out and laughed. He saw Maggie pulling a sled with a bale of straw on it. “I suppose Murphy’s leading her.”

  “Oh no. Murphy is riding on top of the straw.”

  “That could either be a genius of an idea or a disaster.”

  Cid no sooner had spoken when Maggie caught the scent of a rabbit and went racing off with the sled, the straw, and one mortified ghost.

  Chapter Two

  Albert walked into the lobby and nodded a greeting to David, the nighttime doorman. Having already explained why he would be returning to the building to the young man at shift change, he just moved past him and into the open elevator.

  David, a bright college student at the local community college, was studying law enforcement and working the nightshift at the building. He had permission from the management to bring his books and study as long as he didn’t let his schoolwork interfere with his duties. The night shift doorman position was established as a security measure for the residents. During the winter season, few stayed out past dark, and if they did, they would call on their way back and alert the doorman. Otherwise, the doors remained locked to outside entry after six in the evening.

  David rang the Seeley apartment.

  “Hello?” Sissy asked timidly.

  “Miss Seeley, this is David downstairs. I’m calling to tell you that Albert is on his way up to your apartment.”

  “That is so kind of you, thank you,” she said and hung up.

  David smiled and entered the conversation and Albert’s arrival into the night log.

  Albert set his bag down and knocked on the door.

  Sissy opened it immediately, explaining, “That young David told us you were on the way.”

  “He’s a good kid,” Albert said, impressed by the young man’s attention to detail. “He’s going to make a great policeman one day.”

  “Albert, you and I know he’ll be scooped up by the FBI before he steps foot on the Chicago streets in a uniform.”

  “Nothing wrong with a uniform,” Albert said as he passed by Sissy and waited until she locked the door behind them.

  “Not everyone can look as handsome as you in one,” Sissy agreed. “Now, come on down to the sitting room. Naomi has the DVD all set up and a plate of Nachos for us to share.”

  Albert sighed with relief at the mention of the snack food. The sisters sometimes went out of their way to have what they assumed all young black men liked to eat. He had to explain to Sissy that he didn’t know what chitlins were, and no, he didn’t need to have collards for New Years. He knew the old dears just wanted to make him comfortable, and he took no offense. He did, however, school them on his heritage, something the two eighty-year-olds appreciated. They were ladies first and foremost and wanted to show their appreciation for all he did for them with their hospitality. The senior condo could have used a hundred more Seeleys as far as he was concerned.

  “How was the rest of your day?” Sissy asked.

  “Pretty quiet. Mrs. Abrams was out and about, came back with some Bose noise-canceling headphones.”

  “Bose, those are expensive,” Sissy remarked. “Why would she need a set of headphones?”

  “That’s what I can’t wait to tell you.”

  “Tell her what?” Naomi asked as they entered. She walked forward and insisted on taking Albert’s overnight bag from him and carrying it into her room.

  Albert waited until she reappeared, trying not to look winded by the task. “Mrs. Abrams is experiencing the same moaning and screaming you have.”

  “Nonsense, she didn’t even know Ernest, let alone kill him,” Naomi scoffed.

  “First of all, you didn’t kill him,” Albert scolded. “Secondly, the noise may not be directed at you personally. It may just be the location of your bedroom.”

  “Poppycock,” Naomi said. “We’ll revisit this conversation after you’ve experienced the same screams.”

  “She has a point,” Sissy said. “But let’s not think about it. We have Downton Abbey to sort out.”

  Albert settled himself between the women on the sofa. He sat back and enjoyed them fussing over him.

  ~

  David secured the door and dimmed the lights of the lobby after Mr. Davis’s son-in-law left the building. The son-in-law had seen the elderly man home after spending the evening in the company of his family in Evanston. David thought it was kind of the man to see his father-in-law all the way up and into his apartment. So many things could befall the elderly, even in the safe, monitored environment
of this building. A ready hand is preferable to a broken hip when exiting the elevator.

  David had followed the progression of Mr. Davis and his guest up the elevator and into the hall via the security cameras. Mr. Stewart said he didn’t need to be so attentive, but David felt it was his job to protect the residents under his care.

  He looked at the clock and readied himself for his midnight sweep of the lower halls of the structure. It was his responsibility to check on the pool, the community rooms and the exercise gym. He forwarded the desk number to his cell and started on his round.

  The condo board had insisted on reduced lighting protocols after midnight which seemed reasonable, as the only one prowling around at that time was David. He used a high-powered flashlight to assist him in determining what was shadow and what was not. He opened and closed the doors of the rooms as he checked out their interiors. He walked by the glass wall separating the pool from the hall. The warm water fogged as it encountered the air. David let himself in the enclosure and moved carefully along the tile to the far end and around the pool.

  He passed the windows to the outside courtyard and stopped a moment before identifying the tall man standing there as his reflected self. David shook his head at the pale face that looked back at him. His blonde hair was trimmed close to his head. His free time was limited, and he didn’t want to waste it fussing with gels and hairstyling products. He adjusted his uniform and moved on, scanning the hot tub area for any pools of water he could make note of for the morning maintenance man. All was well, and he strode confidently out of the pool area and locked the door behind him.

  He didn’t see the fog rise out of the middle of the pool. Nor did David see it form into the figure of a man. It moved over the water as if it were skating on ice before dissipating.

  Albert walked the ladies to Sissy’s room and promised to keep his door open all night. He told the women he would be wearing his casual clothes to bed so they could feel free to come in and disturb him at any time. He checked on the kitchen, making sure all the burners were off and the floor was free of any obstacle a sleepy-eyed Seeley could hurt herself on. He checked the outside door and made sure it was locked. He also made sure that each interior door was open as the women of the house requested.

  He walked into the bedroom and smiled as he saw Naomi’s touches in the room. She was a collector of impressionist art. Her walls were covered with oil and acrylic paintings of the famous and not so famous. If someone asked him what color the walls were painted, he couldn’t answer that because there was barely space enough in between the paintings to put a finger in. He wondered how they were hung so close. He sat in bed and followed the progression of color and style around the room. He was so caught up in his perusal of the art that he didn’t notice his door shut until it clicked as the lock was sent home.

  Albert launched himself out of the bed and trotted to the door. He unlatched it and threw it open. He didn’t know what he expected to find on the other side of the door, but he was relieved when he discovered the sitting room was empty. He picked up a pad of paper Naomi had setting by the phone and wrote down the occurrence and the time. He took a turn around the apartment and found two other doors that had closed. Fortunately they weren’t locked. He opened the doors wide and checked the swing to see if gravity had played a part in their closing, which it hadn’t. He also checked the outside door and the windows to see if a draft was circulating through the condo. There wasn’t a draft, but there was a noticeable chill near the linen closet. He didn’t see a heating duct so he dismissed it as a natural cold spot and walked back to the sitting room.

  David scanned the monitor as he cycled through the building’s cameras. All seemed quiet. He opened his economics book and began his assigned reading. The bell that announced the elevator’s arrival sounded. David looked over and waited for the doors to open. They didn’t. He got up and viewed the lights over the lift and didn’t see any movement of the small or the larger elevator.

  A building of this size needed a large elevator for the movement of furnishings. The decision to make this elevator available to the residents was an easy one. Two elevators, in an eight story building of twenty-eight condos that housed some bladder-challenged adults, was necessary. The large elevator had doors that opened both to the lobby and to the maintenance area through which was located a loading dock. Sometimes the residents got confused and pressed the wrong button and ended up outside Mr. Stewart’s office instead of the lobby. He kindly escorted them to the lobby and apologized for the confusion.

  David worried that perhaps this was what just occurred. He got up from the desk and went in search of the lost soul.

  “Hello,” he said as he rounded the corner and found that, indeed, the back door of the large elevator was standing open. He flipped on the overhead lights and began a careful search of the premises. Mr. Stewart’s door was locked, and a quick scan of the interior with the aid of David’s light showed that no one was inside. He moved on down the hall. He thought he heard something moving in the large open space in between the large storage area and the loading dock. He found the light switch and waited for the lights to illuminate the area.

  There was no one there, but David found a set of wet footprints that started at the far wall and moved across the room, ending at the hall. David turned around and examined the hall floor, but it was dry, free of prints. He turned around again, and the previous footprints had either dried or disappeared. Either way, they had been there, and he was determined to find out who made them.

  What worried him was that they were wet. Could one of the seniors have taken a sleepwalking excursion through the pool area without him seeing them on the monitors? The thought of one of his residents in peril started David running to the pool area. He pulled on the door, forgetting that he had locked it for the evening. He unlocked the door and turned on every light he could get his hands on. There was no one there on the pool deck or any water that would have wetted the feet, causing the footprints he had found.

  David heard a small burble and looked down into the deep end of the pool. There was something there! He tore off his jacket and plunged into the water. Opening his eyes and swimming with all his might, David reached what looked to be a man lying fully clothed on the bottom of the pool. He reached out to grab the man’s arm to pull him upwards, and his hand moved right through the body.

  His lungs were bursting, but he had to try again. David hovered over the man and pushed downward with his legs. This time the man responded to David’s frantic hands. He opened his eyes and sat up.

  David reached out to the man, and again, his hands moved through him. He couldn’t stay down any longer; he needed air. He kicked his legs, bringing him to the surface where he gulped down air and dove again. This time there wasn’t anyone on the pool bottom. David turned around, and as far as his chlorine-stung eyes could see, the pool was empty. He pushed upwards and took in more air. He looked along the pool deck, turning his head frantically. It was empty. Aside from his gray jacket and flashlight, there was nothing unusual about the pool area at all.

  David pulled his weary body out of the pool. Had he imagined it? Was it his fear of a drowned man that produced a hallucination just to satisfy the need? Had he lost his mind?

  He got up and walked over to his jacket. He searched the pockets and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed the Seeley apartment, praying that Albert would pick up the phone.

  “Hello?” Sissy Seeley said sleepily.

  “I am so sorry to disturb you, Miss Seeley, this is David. Can I please speak to Albert?”

  “I guess,” she said.

  He could hear her get out of bed and walk for a while. Her slippers squeaked as her feet dragged on the wood floor. “Albert, it’s David. He’d like a word,” Sissy said.

  “David! Are you aware what time it is?” Albert scolded.

  “I’m in trouble. Come to the pool,” David said and added, “Hurry.”

  Albert pulled on his shoes and ha
nded the phone to Sissy. “The boy’s in trouble. I’ll be right back. Lock the door, and don’t let anyone in but me. Do you understand?”

  “I’m not senile,” Sissy grumbled. “Go. Help the boy and bring back a story.”

  Albert left the condo and was happy to hear the locks click after him. He called the large elevator and was surprised when the doors opened immediately on the sixth floor. He jumped in and pressed the ground floor, rear door button. The elevator moved swiftly downward. Albert sniffed the air. The odor of a rich cigar filled the lift. He wondered if one of the workmen that had made a delivery today had had the bad manners to smoke a stogie in the elevator. He would have to look for the tape that would expose the man and send his company a complaint. No smoking in the public areas of the building signs were everywhere. Even the chain-smokers on three knew better.

  The doors opened, and Albert rushed to the pool enclosure. He found David curled in a ball shivering. Albert backtracked, grabbed a pile of towels out of the men’s shower room and headed back out to the distraught young man.

  David felt the warmth of the towels before he heard Albert’s barrage of questions. He looked up at the doorman and babbled, “I tried to save him, but my hands went right through him. He sat up, and then he was gone. Gone!”

  “Whoa, settle down. Who did you try to save?”

  “The man in the pool. He was drowning… No, that’s not right. He was lying on the bottom of the pool.”

  Albert walked over and looked down. The water had settled and was so clear he could read the manufacturer’s stamp on the pool drain guard. “There’s no one there.”

  “But there was, I swear.”

  “What made you come here in the first place?”

  “The wet footprints in the storeroom.”

  “The storeroom is fifty feet from here on the other side of two solid walls,” Albert reminded his fellow doorman.