Sand Trap (Haunted Series)

by Alexie Aaron

  ~

  Burt rolled into the lot of the motel. He kept the engine running, locking the vehicle with his extra set of keys. A clear trash bag was duct taped to the window, but it would hardly keep someone determined to mess with the vehicle out. He quickly entered his motel room and packed the rest of his gear and stored it in the truck next to Ted’s and Mia’s stuff. Checking out was easy, and soon he was on the road, making sure he kept the river between him and Lucky’s. Beth gave him Homely’s number, and the man graciously offered to put Burt up in his spare room. Since Burt still hadn’t obtained the sought after, blessed pulverized dolomite Mia and Ted needed in Chicago, he thought he would give the area another day.

  Homley lived just inside of Willow, a small but thriving community. Not only did the population sign boast of 5,000 inhabitants, but it had an active spar of the Chicago and St. Louis railway going through. Agriculture wasn’t the only money to be made here. Mining and several small factories contributed to the low unemployment of the area. Burt followed the directions Homely gave him, and he soon found himself in front of a small ranch home. He pulled into the drive and followed it around back where he found a three-car detached garage. The doors were up and the lights were on. Homely waved from his crouched position in front of the large motor bike he was working on.

  Burt parked the truck and walked over to the man. He listened to the whine of the engine as Homely finished his tinkering.

  The old biker got to his feet and turned off the engine. He wiped his hand before extending it to Burt.

  “Heard you had a time of it,” he said looking at the PEEPs vehicle.

  “Ran into some bad characters on the route. I don’t recommend stopping at Lucky’s anytime soon.”

  “It’s got a reputation that one does. Too bad, it’s an ideal spot.” Homley walked over to a small refrigerator and opened it. He took out two beers, uncapped them and handed one to Burt.

  “Thanks,” he said to the biker and took a long draw of the icy beverage. “I appreciate all the help you’ve been giving us.”

  “Hell, I’ve had the attention of not one, but two young women. I should be thanking you.” Homely took a drink of his beer and nodded over to the truck. “Mind if I take a look?”

  “No. I’d like some advice on where I can go to get it fixed. Needs a window and windshield.”

  “Someone beat the crap out of it.”

  “Change it to something, and I’ll agree with you.” Burt sighed.

  Homely opened the passenger door and fiddled with the window. He then ran his hand alongside the windshield and smiled. “I can take care of most of the glass work myself. Have to order the parts though. Might take half a day. I’m sure that St. Louis glass will have this in stock. Now the dents we can smooth, but I would recommend a buddy of mine to redo the logo. Can’t have you driving around with pee and headless chickens. The Nazi symbol I can spray some white on for right now. Folks in these parts aren’t found of the Brotherhood.”

  “Did Beth mention the yellow dolomite by chance?” Burt asked as they headed into the garage.

  Homely flipped open a webbed lawn chair and offered it to Burt. “Yes she did. I’ve done a little research, and I think what I’ve found will interest you.” He pulled another chair out and sat down facing Burt.

  “Seems a series of tornados went through here. One after another. When they were done, the original settlement including the monastery was flattened. When they went to rebuild they used materials at hand. The monastery inhabitants were dead, and no one seemed interested in rebuilding so many of the stones were relocated. You’ll see them making up foundations and support walls in some of the older buildings in town. As most of the larger pieces were already taken, some folks, such as the builder of the restaurant bar up on the ridge, used the sand from the grounds and mixed it in with other materials. It made a long lasting mortar. It adhered nicely to the river and field rocks they used on the place.”

  “Is there any more of the stuff around?” Burt asked.

  “Most of the surplus was used, but I think if we excavated around the back of the monastery’s’ property we may happen upon some. How much sand do you need?”

  “As much as we can find. A bucket would do the crew in Chicago.”

  Homley nodded. “I think a nice donation would ensure us a few hours to rummage around unescorted.”

  “I appreciate your help. I owe you one.”

  “What you owe me is a story. Tell me what the hell happened to you this evening.”

  Burt drained his beer, and Homely handed him another. He smiled and began his tale with Mia and Ted’s adventure, omitting Murphy’s part in the tale. He didn’t want to get laughed out of having a soft bed for the night.

  Homely was a good listener and a great host. They moved into the kitchen where some ham and potato salad was to be had. Burt filled his plate and finished recapping his adventure by the time it was ready for pie.

  “What I would really like to figure out is what is underneath the bar?”

  “Sounds like a storm cellar to me,” Homely suggested.

  “With a stream running through it?”

  “You see the stream?”

  “No, we heard it. We were interrupted by Beth being taken.”

  Homely set a slice of apple pie with a large dollop of ice cream down in front of Burt and said, “Keep talking.”

  Burt savored the first bite and continued.

  Homely’s eyebrows raised and lowered. He was amazed at the goings on in the interior of the bar. “Are you going back there?”

  “Once the team is rested and has more information. I’m hoping to find another way into the bar. Maybe the waterfall. Maybe just scaling the cliff and coming through the back. I don’t know what’s going on, but it seems like the violence is escalating, and my team will not be safe taking the normal route in.”

  “Since you have time. Let me do some more research. Seems to me that in the next week is not only the anniversary of the tornados, but of some incident between rival biker gangs. I agree with your researcher Beth. More inquiries are needed. I would be happy to help out. And I think I know of some fools who may have already done some spelunking behind the falls.”

  “I have to caution you to be careful. I’m not sure, but Lucky’s is brewing for an explosion, and I don’t want any innocents caught in the crossfire.”

  Homely looked at the man who liked to play with ghosts and saw the seriousness in his eyes. “I hear yah. I will make sure to pass on your warnings.”

  Burt finished his pie and accepted another beer. He felt quite buzzed and full but not uncomfortable. “You have a nice home here,” he said looking around.

  “I like it. I actually bought the place for the garage,” Homely laughed. “Burt, tell me more about the little woman with the white hair.”

  “Mia?”

  “Yes. What’s she doing right now?”

  “Lord, I hope she’s sleeping, but knowing her, she is chasing ghosts down the halls of the Field museum. She’s got my tech Ted with her, but that won’t stop her. Mia is a power unto herself.”

  “She your girlfriend?”

  “Nah, I fudged up, and let her go.”

  “No going back?”

  “Not sure I want to. She and I have differing opinions, with the exception of Lucky’s.”

  “Really and what is that?”

  “We both want to blow the sucker up,” Burt said and smiled.

  “From what you’ve told me, I’ll third that.”

  ~

  Mia volunteered to stay the night in the museum and urged Bernard to go home. She and Ted would, in turn, get some shut eye when he returned in the morning.

  “Ted and I are used to being up at night. Just leave us with coffee, sugary snacks, and we will run all night.”

  Ted nodded and added, “You won’t mind me taking over your computer for the evening?”

  Bernard raised his hands. “No, not at all.”

  There was a
knock on the door and Mary entered. She had been tracking down some information and had eaten her pizza at her desk. “I’ve got some news. Old news actually. I know who the lady in the glass is!”

  “Go on,” Bernard encouraged.

  “Courtney Fairchild of the New York Fairchilds. Second daughter of an up and coming family at the time. She was killed by a lightning bolt on the beach on Palm Beach Island. Seems that she was walking the beach when a storm came up, and they found her charred remains the next morning. She was shipped home to be buried in the family plot.”

  “Do they know why she was down in Palm Beach?” Mia asked.

  “Gossip columns speculated that she was after a rich husband. A Masson. Brent Masson was top on her list. She is reported to have been quite a beauty and a viper. She didn’t have any fans in the female set. Slept her way around the Bluebook. She wasn’t a nympho. Courtney was just posturing to get invited to the best parties.”

  “So she has unfinished business,” Mia mused.

  “Seems so,” Mary agreed.

  “You wouldn’t know about Brent Masson’s whereabouts would you by any chance?”

  “I’m one ahead of you. I put in a call to another friend of mine who will be getting back to me tomorrow. With your permission, Dr. Wesley, I’m heading home.”

  “Job well done, Mary.” He walked over to her and said, “Let’s walk out together. I’m leaving for some shut eye.”

  “You’re leaving them in charge?” Mary said aghast.

  Mia and Ted looked at each other amused.

  “Not in charge, just on site,” he assured her. “They will call if anything is amiss.”

  The door shut behind them, and Mia waited until she heard the outer door shut before bursting out in laughter. “Heaven sakes alive, did you see her face?”

  “Kind of made me feel like a wild Indian hopped up on joy juice,” Ted said, feigning hurt feelings.

  “Careful, they are native Americans, or the People, or their tribe name,” Mia warned in hushed tones.

  Ted looked at her and snorted.

  “No really, are you aware at how many spirits are attached to Native American artifacts that are roaming the halls on the main level?”

  “You mean there are Indian spirits down there?”

  “In this museum there are spirits everywhere. It’s why I don’t visit too often. It kind of gives me the creeps.”

  “Cool.”

  Mia watched his face, and when he picked up his camera, she knew what he was going to say next.

  “Please, Mia. Pretty please. Take me to see the Indians.”

  She wanted to say no, but he looked so cute. “I will on one condition.”

  “K.”

  “Don’t say Indian, Redman, or any derogatory name to reference any tribe, civilization or entity.”

  Ted rolled his eyes. “As if I would insult anyone on purpose. Come on, Tits Magee, time’s a wastin’.”

  Mia groaned and followed Ted out the door.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The museum during normal business hours was scary enough for Mia. She didn’t need low lights to produce menacing shadows. The museum had been fitted with power saving lighting. In the Ancient Americas on through the North American Indians, the lighting of the glass cases holding the artifacts was controlled by motion sensors. There were lights high in the ceiling which gave you enough to safely navigate by, but the cases were dark until you approached them. Ted was impressed but irritated as he had a few shots ruined by the light either turning off or on.

  Mia felt their presence before they walked out. She indicated to Ted where the beings were so he could try and capture them with the camera. He would have loved to have the rest of the PEEPs stable of cameras and gadgets, but he was a sport and made due with Chesty Morgan. His penchant for giving the cameras and video recorders girl’s names made Mia wonder about the man’s home life. All the names meant something. Chesty Morgan was a large digital camera that dangled safely from a substantial strap worn around the neck. It fell to most of the males’ chest level. If Mia had been wearing it, he would have called it Pelvic Patty.

  They had walked a while and were almost into the Northwest Coast and Ancient Peoples when nausea overcame Mia. She grabbed Ted’s arm before she fell to the floor.

  “Bad things, evil things, go back,” she said before she passed out.

  Mia was pulled from her body. She screamed, as it felt as if she was being ripped from her skin. A man with the head of his culture’s deity stood holding her by the neck with one hand. His eyes were glowing red orbs and his strength was of ten men. He yelled and shook her.

  Fear filled Mia. She couldn’t understand the man, but he was angry. He tossed her bilocated form to the ground. She smelled herbs and the sickening coppery smell of blood. She pulled herself together and remembered what Kamal had taught her. Somewhere close there was an item to draw power off of. She reached out with her mind and pulled energy from a tiny statue of a woman with big breasts. She picked her favorite persona, a dragon, and morphed into this form in front of the monster hell bent on destroying her.

  He looked up at the dragon with alarm and turned and ran. Mia didn’t chase him. She knew he was only going to draw power or find a spear or something to fight with. She instead flew to her body, dropping the persona just before she moved back into her body.

  Ted picked her up and carried her back the way they came. He laid her on a long wooden bench, placing her pack under her head. “Come on, Mia, wake up,” he said, not without a little concern.

  She opened her eyes and said, “Father, can we go home now?” in a little girl’s voice.

  Ted reared back. He recovered quickly and said, “Yes, Mia, time to go home.”

  Mia smiled and closed her eyes and slept.

  Ted picked her up and carried her up the stairs and into the office. He laid her down on Bernard’s sofa and covered her with the throw. He put his hand to her forehead, and although it was warm, she wasn’t in danger.

  “Come back to me, Mia. Murph’s going to kill me.”

  Mia’s eyes opened. She seemed to be shaking herself awake. “Whoa, how did I get here?”

  “I carried you. Once again, I have to discourage you from any more sweets.”

  “Don’t be glib. I can see worry in your eyes.”

  “What happened? Where did you go?”

  “I was pulled from my body by a monster thinking he was God or something. He was getting set to sacrifice me, but I pulled enough power from a fertility statue to form a dragon.”

  “A dragon, like you did on the island?”

  “I hope so. Hell, even if it was anime, it didn’t matter as long as I caused him to run for reinforcements. I OOBed back to my body. I opened my eyes, and here I am.”

  “Well, you didn’t come back as you, not you now, but you… Oh hell, you thought I was your dad.”

  “My father?”

  This appeared to shake Mia up. She wrinkled her face and looked at Ted.

  “So I guess this means sex is off the table?” he said wryly.

  “Definitely.”

  ~

  Whit pushed the glass half filled with whisky around with his finger. Tom looked at him and shook his head.

  “Call her.”

  “Can’t. What will I say?” Whit asked his friend.

  “I’m sure you have a talking point. There’s Ralph’s conversion of her house.”

  “She’s not supposed to know about that. I promised Ralph…”

  “April’s house. You found a light on…”

  “I was the last one in there,” Whit said dismissively. “I can’t believe she left not knowing that Murphy was alright.”

  “Murphy?”

  “Axe man.”

  “Oh, I keep trying to forget him, and you keep bringing him up.”

  “He’s the real deal, bud. Get used to it, the paranormal is around us.”

  “Sounds like a cheap Saturday afternoon movie.”

&n
bsp; “Were you not the man at my side in the hollow?”

  “Well…”

  “Didn’t you see all the weird shit going on at my house?”

  “Yes, but let’s try to put that behind us.”

  “If I’m going to stand a chance with Miss Cooper, I am going to have to not only accept the bizarre and weird, but also the visits to and from the spirit world. I have to think of them as normal.”

  “Nope, as paranormal,” Tom corrected.

  “Fucking hell, I’m screwed.”

  “Back to Murphy. Call her and tell her you heard from Murphy. Did you actually hear him?”

  “Not him. His axe.”

  “Close enough, call her.”

  Whit picked up the glass and drank the contents down in one. After he finished coughing and his eyes stopped watering, he picked up his phone.

  ~

  Mia’s phone rang, and she pulled it from her wrinkled pants pocket. She glanced at the caller and raised her eyebrows. She looked over at Ted who was sitting at Bernard’s desk using his computer. She sat up and answered the phone.

  “Hello, a bit late for you.”

  There was a hesitation before Whit said, “I was over at April’s this evening. You know, checking things out.”

  “The job of a law enforcement professional, I believe,” Mia said. She looked over at Ted. He mouthed “Whit,” and Mia nodded her head. She sat up and got off the couch.

  “Yes, that would be I, perfect cop.”

  His voice sounded strange, and Mia heard people in the background. She heard a muffled, “Go on tell her,” that she swore was Tom’s voice.

  “Are you drunk dialing me?” she asked and walked out to the outer office and shut the door between her and Ted.

  “Maybe.”

  Mia rubbed the back of her neck. It had been a long day, and she wasn’t in the mood for games. “I’m rather busy right now. I’ve got an investigation to run,” she stopped and corrected, “co-run.”