The Cast Net

by Mille West

  “Have you ever seen them?”

  “Yes, I have—I’ve heard stories about the lights all my life, but you have to remember, I grew up on that property and I don’t recall anyone being terrified of them. Some folks think the lights warn of a tragic event. I’ve also heard tell that place is haunted by the ghosts of lantern-bearing slaves. You have to remember that slaves buried their dead at night because they had to work all day. I can tell you this for certain—the appearance of the lights has been associated with extreme weather phenomena. In 1959, I was on the river fishing with two other men. We were in the bend of the river near the old house ruins when we saw what appeared to be lanterns moving about near the old slave row. We must have watched them for ten or fifteen minutes—about scared one of those boys to death—he almost turned white. Then they just disappeared. A few weeks later, Hurricane Gracie came ashore between here and Beaufort and just about demolished the Low Country. I know of several other instances where the lights have been seen. Cooper has seen them. Ask him what he thinks.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Camp. I will.”

  On their drive home from the schoolhouse, Mills said, “Cooper, on my way home last night, I saw some lights that resembled lanterns in the woods near the old house ruins.”

  He turned and looked at her, but quickly returned his eyes to the road.

  “I asked Mr. Camp about them, and he shared a supernatural explanation for them. He said that you had seen the lights before. What do you think causes them?”

  “Mills, there has to be scientific justification for the lights, perhaps a reflection.”

  “They were moving about and I was frightened.”

  “Don’t allow the lights to scare you.”

  Monday morning there was a phone call from Joseph Cook, Piet van der Wolf’s assistant. He explained that Mr. van der Wolf would like to invite her to tea at his home on Thursday afternoon.

  “Mr. Cook, instead of my coming to Mr. van der Wolf’s home for tea, I would like to invite him to lunch on Thursday. Would you please ask him if he will meet me at 82 Queen at noon?”

  “I’ll have to ask him and call you back.”

  Mr. Cook called back within a few moments and said that Mr. van der Wolf would be honored to join her for lunch.

  As Mills prepared to leave for the day, Cooper came by to request her assistance on several matters. He asked her to keep her schedule open on certain days and explained that they would be very busy for the next few weeks. The grand opening of the Freedom School had been arranged and there was an annual event that hosted children from the Charleston Children’s Hospital for horseback rides. Cooper and two of his neighbors were the hosts and, this year, the event would be held at the Heath farm.

  Mills was also invited to a dinner party by Ian, Cooper’s uncle, to celebrate the arrival of his daughter Margaret and her husband Andrew from England. They planned to visit for a week before traveling with his Aunt Celeste to Bermuda and then London.

  Before he left, Cooper asked her to ride horses with him on Wednesday, admitting that he would like to have her company.

  Mills agreed to meet him at the stables at three and then explained that Piet van der Wolf would be meeting her for lunch at 82 Queen on Thursday. “Good, Mills,” he replied with a smile.

  On Wednesday, Cooper waited for Mills at the stables. When she arrived, the horses were saddled and tied to a post outside the stalls. Mills attempted to engage him in conversation, but Cooper seemed to be distracted by his thoughts. They mounted the horses and headed toward the pasture. As they crossed the drive to Cooper’s house, a car came down the lane and pulled to the side.

  Cooper recognized the driver. “Lieutenant Barnes—Mills, I’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like to dismount while I speak with him?”

  “No, I’ll wait for you here.”

  Cooper joined Lieutenant Barnes beside his vehicle. They spoke for several minutes and then the police officer walked to where Mills was sitting on Ginger.

  “Miss Taylor, how are you this afternoon?”

  “I’m well, Lieutenant Barnes.”

  “You look like an experienced horsewoman.”

  “Honestly, Cooper just recently taught me how to ride.”

  Lieutenant Barnes walked to Mephisto and patted him on the neck. “Beautiful animal, Cooper—is he an Arabian?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Mephisto.”

  Lieutenant Barnes paused for a moment and smiled slightly at Cooper. “That’s an appropriate name for a horse you would own, Cooper—Mephisto. Or Mephistopheles.”

  He continued to grin at Cooper, seeming to want to provoke a reaction. “I recall that in Faustian legend, Mephistopheles was a prince of the underworld who gathered the souls of those who had already been damned.”

  Cooper did not flinch. “Lieutenant, the horse was named that when I brought him here. Is there anything else you’d like to ask me?”

  “No, that will be all, for now. Have a nice ride, Gretchen, I mean, Miss Taylor. Good afternoon, Cooper.” Gretchen?

  As Lieutenant Barnes departed, Mills noticed Cooper’s frown. “Mills, I’ll lead the way.”

  When they reached the old house ruins, Cooper dismounted Mephisto and then assisted her on the dismount from Ginger’s back. Cooper was quiet as they walked toward the ruins.

  “Why did the lieutenant call me Gretchen?”

  “In the old German legend of Faust, a brilliant scholar makes a deal with the devil—his soul in exchange for worldly pleasures and knowledge. Gretchen is an innocent young woman who is seduced by Faust, and she and her family are ruined because of him. Mephistopheles is the agent of Satan who assists Faust with his wishes. Lieutenant Barnes tries his best to get my ire up.”

  As they walked the perimeter of the old house ruin, Cooper said, “I want to show you something.”

  He led her to the cabin with the magnificent rosebush, which had been severely pruned. “I had Charles come down and cut the bush back. It will now bloom more abundantly. Will you walk with me to the old chapel?”

  She agreed and together they walked to the churchyard. Cooper went to a mausoleum tomb that was in the midst of other graves. “I think you are my friend and I need to confide in you. I have been suffering from a nightmare about my wife—I’m afraid she’s not coming back.”

  Anxiety coursed through her limbs as he made this confession. “Cooper, shouldn’t you speak with a professional who can help you interpret the dreams?”

  “I want to talk to you. Please listen. In the dream, I can see Elise surrounded by darkness. I can hear the sound of flowing water, and I can hear her calling my name from the depths of a black abyss. When I reach for her in the chasm, her face turns to a fleshless skull. In the dream, I hear phrases from a poem, “. . . in her sepulcher there by the sea.”

  “I heard you say that phrase in the boathouse. Do you know where it comes from?”

  “A poem called ‘Annabel Lee.’”

  “In a kingdom by the sea . . .” Mills recalled the poem and said the line automatically. She knew that the poem was wri
tten about the loss of a beautiful woman. “I’ve never attempted to interpret dreams, but we’ll work on this together.”

  After they finished riding and grooming the horses, Mills asked Cooper to accompany her to her cottage. Edgar Allen Poe’s poem was included in a collection of short stories and poems that was on the bookshelf in her cottage. Mills retrieved the book, and they read it together. Mills read aloud the last stanza of the poem that held the verse that haunted him:

  For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams

  Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

  And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes

  Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;

  And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side

  Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride

  In her sepulcher there by the sea,

  In her tomb by the side of the sea.

  She closed the book and looked at Cooper. “In your dream, you envision Elise in a darkened chasm where the sound of flowing water is nearby. Perhaps the darkened chasm is some type of tomb—a sepulcher. That would account for the phrase that troubles you.” I shouldn’t have said that.

  She realized she had just delivered a chilling interpretation of his dream and regretted doing so. “It’s just a dream. You must remember that, and stop torturing yourself.”

  “There’s something you don’t know about me. This isn’t the first time that I’ve suffered from tragic premonitions. I envisioned the deaths of my brother and father in a series of dreams before it came true.”

  Mills already knew about the boating accident that killed his father and brother, but she chose not to inquire further into his version of the incident. She concluded that he would open up to her if he desired.

  Cooper’s face was completely pale and he sat quietly on her porch. “I’m very worried about this. Please keep this confidential.”

  “Cooper, you have my word.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Porch Party

  O n Thursday, Piet van der Wolf met Mills for lunch at 82 Queen. Before their lunch arrived at the table, Piet said, “Mills, I trust you are having success with the foundation work.”

  “We had a number of donations that resulted from the oyster roast.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  The waitress brought out iced teas for both of them, and Piet thanked her for her service. “I presume Mr. Heath was happy about the donations. How is he?”

  “He’s well.”

  Piet was silent for a moment as he studied her face. “Mills, please ask him not to judge me in my loneliness; I do not judge him in his. Let your young man know that I am completely harmless, and that you are safe when you come to my home.”

  “Mr. van der Wolf, Cooper is my employer, not my young man.”

  “Yes, he is, Mills. He just hasn’t realized it yet.”

  Saturday afternoon arrived and Mills drove into town for the Heath family’s dinner party to celebrate the arrival of family from England. She wore her favorite black dress and styled her hair to fall in waves down her back. Cooper’s aunt met her at the door, wearing an apricot linen dress.

  “I believe that’s your color,” Mills told her, admiring her outfit.

  The compliment pleased Mrs. Heath, and she smiled warmly. “Cooper and Jeff are in the rear garden.” She showed her to the French doors that led to the rear patio and said, “I’m so happy that you could join us.”

  As soon as Mills entered the rear garden, Cooper came over to greet her. “I’m glad to see you,” he said with a smile. “What would you like to drink?”

  “White wine would be nice.”

  He left her to get her drink and his uncle came over and gave her a hug. “We’re glad you could come. Is Cooper getting you something to drink?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Have you ever had a Dark and Stormy? It’s quite famous and very popular in Bermuda.”

  “No, sir, I’ve never tried it.”

  “Cooper, hang on. I’m going to get Mills a Dark and Stormy.”

  A bartender in a white coat prepared the drink and Mr. Heath retrieved it. “Here you are. I hope you like it.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Heath.”

  “Please make yourself at home. Daniel, could I speak to you for a moment?”

  He called Cooper by his first name—Daniel. There must be a problem to solve.

  The two of them entered the house through the open French doors.

  She turned to admire the garden and ran right into Jeff, almost spilling her drink. “Seems like we’re always running into each other.” He smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I apologize for not having phoned you recently, but I’ve been very busy on a development project. Next Saturday night I’m going to have a party at my townhouse on Chalmers Street, and I’d like for you to come.”

  “I’m not sure I should. Is Cooper coming?”

  “Cooper declines my invitations. He’s too uptight to relax with my crowd.” He paused and smiled at her. “Have you ever looked inside his pantry?”

  “Cooper’s just well organized.”

  “Anal retentive is a better description. I’m only teasing—I love him. He’s my favorite Eagle Scout—will you be able to come?”

  “Yes, I think so.” I’ll stay for a while and see how it goes.

  He winked at her and then said, “I haven’t had a chance to greet the Brits yet, but why don’t we get out of here together after we say hello?”

  “Jeff, I feel honored to have been invited. That would be rude.”

  “These are Cooper’s cousins, and I told him that I could only stay for a cocktail. Margaret is all right until she gets to her third drink and then she becomes the life of the party.”

  Cooper rejoined them just as Jeff kissed Mills on the cheek. He cleared his throat and said, “I think Margaret and Andrew are finished talking to my uncle’s neighbor.”

  Cooper introduced Mills to his first cousin and her husband and they both spoke with sophisticated British accents. “My dear, Father has told me so much about you. He says that you’re doing an excellent job for Cooper’s foundation.”

  Margaret’s husband, Andrew, shook her hand. “Brava, Miss Taylor, I’m so pleased to meet you.”

  They then turned to Jeff, who stood beside Cooper. “Jeffrey, how marvelous to see you again,” Margaret cooed.

  Jeff kissed Margaret’s hand, and she looked like she was about to swoon. “Maggie, Andy, how are you? It’s been a while since we’ve seen one another.”

  “Jeffrey, too long, absolutely too long.”

  Margaret has a crush on Jeff; he really is attractive.

  Andrew spoke up, “Cooper, are you still shooting those sporting clays at your place on the Edisto?”

  “Yes, I am, Andrew.”

  Then motioning toward Mills, Cooper continued, “Mills has been shooting the clays and has become quite a good markswoman. She even shot ducks on her first hunt.”

  “That’s outstanding, Miss Taylor. Cooper, I was wondering if Margaret and I migh
t have a go of it out at your place tomorrow. I think Ian would like to join us as well.”

  “That’s fine; tomorrow afternoon, around two?”

  “Perfect, I don’t want to get up too early while I’m on holiday. Miss Taylor, you must shoot with us.”

  “I’d love to, and please call me Mills.”

  “Very well,” Andrew responded with a smile.

  “Jeffrey, you will join us, won’t you?” Margaret asked.

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” he responded.

  Margaret’s face blushed to the color of deep rose as she stood beside him. When dinner was about to be served, Margaret searched the garden for Jeff, but he had already departed. Mills heard her ask Cooper about Jeff’s whereabouts and Cooper explained that he had a prior commitment. She looks like she just lost her best friend. During dinner, Mills sat between Margaret and Andrew. As Margaret continued to partake of spirits, her personality became quite lively, just as Jeff had predicted.

  “Miss Taylor, I mean, Mills. How do you like living in the wilderness on Cooper’s property? Father says that you live in Aunt Julia’s cottage.”

  “Yes, I do, and I enjoy living there very much.”

  “Well, it must be very different after living in New York.”

  “It has been a big change.”

  “Mother says that you are a talented artist. She showed me a copy of the artwork you did on the oyster roast invitation. Did you know that she framed it?”

  “Thank you for sharing that with me.”

  Margaret was quiet for a moment before saying, “I’ve been so concerned about Cooper. I know he has almost worried himself to death about Elise. We all have.”

  She sipped more of her wine and added, “When I was in my early twenties, I had a terrible crush on Jeffrey. I thought I would die if he didn’t notice me. I practically threw myself at him.”