Closing Books (Ghost Of The Past)

by Trisha Grace

Peering into the diner again, Lydia sighed and wondered if Suzanne Harrison was ever going to show up. Just as she was about to begin pacing, she noticed the petite, middle-aged lady who was hastening toward the diner. She was clad in the same cyan uniform that the other waitresses in the diner were wearing.

  Slipping her hand into her bag, Lydia took out her phone and opened the PDF file she had stored in it, double checking that she had the right person. She broke into a smile as a younger version of Suzanne’s face popped onto her cell phone’s screen. “Suzanne Harrison?” She called out, stretching her hand toward the woman. “I’m Lydia Mitchell.”

  Suzanne hesitantly took her hand and gave her a look over.

  She could see the blend of confusion and suspicion on Suzanne’s face. “I’m a law student. I’m working on a report for a cold case, and I’d like to interview you to find out more about it.”

  It was clear that Lydia didn’t have to elaborate or point out the particular cold case she was working on. Once the words ‘cold case’ left her lips, she could see Suzanne blanch and take a small step away from her.

  “Please, just some questions to clear up my queries.”

  “It happened a long time ago. I don’t remember anything. I don’t know anything.” Suzanne’s words came out in a rush as she took a side step, trying to move away from her.

  “You can just tell me what you remember.” Lydia moved and walked by Suzanne’s side.

  “I’ve got to work.”

  “I understand. I can come back later, after your shift.”

  Suzanne stopped and stared straight into Lydia’s eyes while her fingers reached out and formed a vice-like grip on her arm. “Please, I don’t want to get involved in anything about the case,” Suzanne said in a harsh whisper.

  The fear in her eyes revealed so much more than Lydia had anticipated and indirectly answered the questions she had in mind. “I understand. I’m sorry to disturb you.”

  Evelyn and Kate strolled along the corridor to Lydia’s apartment.

  “You all right?” Kate asked, her eyes looking right ahead.

  Evelyn continued walking, twirling her cell phone in her hand. “Yeah, why?”

  “I don’t know. You’ve been rather weird lately.”

  “Weird?”

  “You’ve been disappearing a lot.”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  Kate rolled her eyes and stared at Evelyn. “Seriously, what have you been up to? Are you seeing someone?”

  “I’ve been up to nothing, and I’m not seeing anyone,” she answered as she stole a peek at her phone’s screen.

  They stopped in front of the door and Kate rang the bell. “If there’s anything, you’ll tell me, right?”

  “Of course.” Liar. Evelyn turned away from Kate, looking at her phone again. “You told Dan to pick you up later, right? I haven’t been feeling too well, think I’ll get some gastric pills then head home after this.”

  She felt Kate scrutinizing her face.

  After a long pause, Kate finally said, “Yeah, I did.”

  Evelyn tapped her feet against the floor and stared at the door. Come on, Lydia. Open the door.

  When no one came to the door, Kate pulled out her cell phone from the bag and called Lydia. From outside the door, they could hear the phone ringing. Since they were already standing outside, Kate opened the door using the spare keys that Lydia had given her and stepped in gingerly.

  Evelyn entered after Kate and immediately heard the water running. “Showering,” she said and followed Kate into the living room.

  Kate shook her head as she took in the sight of the incredibly messy room. “Look at this place.”

  Though they were sisters, Kate and Lydia couldn’t be more different. Kate was an excellent housekeeper. She kept her house spick and span, never having to worry if anyone dropped by her house unannounced.

  Lydia was the complete opposite; Lydia was like her.

  Clothes and shoes were strewn all over the place, half-eaten food was on the table, and a pile of unfolded clothes sat on the couch, taking up two seats on the three seater.

  Lydia would make the perfect roommate for her, and together, they would be the ultimate nightmare for the landlord.

  She grinned as she glanced around at the reflection of her own house, her eyes stopping on the gigantic whiteboard standing in the middle of the room. Even with all the clutter in the living room, it was way too prominent to be missed.

  With a frown, she approached the unusual piece of furniture. At first glance, the whiteboard was another mess that matched the state of Lydia’s living room. Thick nylon strings were sprawled across the board, leading to different pictures and Post-it notes.

  Right in the middle of the whiteboard, the origin of all the nylon strings, was a picture that Evelyn had seen before. The picture inside the locket that Kate used to wear.

  Kate’s finger skimmed down the side of her mother’s smiling face.

  “You all right?”

  “Yeah.” Kate nodded and moved on to study the rest of the board. Her finger followed the thick nylon string linking the complex web of information on the board. On one side of the board, pictures of the threats that Kate received not too long ago.

  Kate’s finger trembled lightly when she saw the picture on the aftermath of the fire, the charred remains she almost became part of. She forced her eyes shut and her fingers moved to fiddle with the angel pendant on her neck.

  Evelyn gave Kate a gentle squeeze on her arm before she took over and traced another thick nylon string, leading to the name David Morgan. From his name, several branches shot out, stating several different years along with various sexual crimes. One particular year was circled with a red marker. 1997. Beside the year stood the words, Rape & Murder. 6.

  1997, the year their parents were murdered.

  Evelyn continued down the links to another Morgan, Richard Morgan.

  “Richard Morgan…it sounds familiar,” Kate said, her brows furrowed.

  A sudden gasp sent both their heads turning.

  Lydia stood, wide-eyed, looking at them. “What…Why…” she fumbled for words.

  “You promised to keep me updated on whatever you were doing on this case.” Kate stood with her arms akimbo.

  “Yes, I know that,” Lydia said, finally regaining her ability to form sentences, albeit a short one.

  “Then what’s this?” Kate asked, tapping on the board, pointing to the name David Morgan.

  Evelyn rolled her eyes. She couldn’t help feeling annoyed at Lydia. Even after the fire, Lydia was still adamant about solving their parents’ murder. She had apologized, but apparently their almost-death weren’t good enough reason for her to stop the investigation.

  Raising her palms, Lydia took a step back. “I only found out about this when you left for your honeymoon. I was waiting for you to come home and settle in before I dump this on you.”

  “Who is this David Morgan?”

  “Rich young heir. Son of Richard Morgan.” Lydia moved over to the coffee table and switched on her laptop. “David Morgan had been accused of several different sexual crimes. Sexual harassment, attempted rape, rape, and aggravated sexual assaults. In 1997, he was formally charged with six cases of rape and murder.” She paused, looking over at Evelyn then back at Kate. “Dad was the prosecutor in charge of the case.”

  “That doesn’t mean he had anything to do with their deaths.”

  “Yes, but listen. Out of the string of cases that involved David Morgan, only two made it to court. For the rest of the cases, the witnesses, and sometimes the victims, backed out or disappeared before the trial began. Of the two that made it to court, the witnesses recanted their statements, claiming that the police forced them to appear on the stand and threatened them to feed a story to the court or they’d be arrested.”

  “If they could make witnesses disappear or change their words, I suppose they’re rich, or they have some serious connections,” Evelyn said.

  “Ri
ch, very rich.” Lydia turned her laptop over to face them.

  “My point is.” Evelyn turned the laptop back toward Lydia. “Please don’t do anything stupid.”

  “Your present.” Kate waved the bag she held in her hand and placed it down by the table. “And please, be careful.”

  “That’s a polite rendition of what I just said, but your sister meant the same thing.” Evelyn turned toward the door. “You waiting here?”

  Kate checked her phone. “Dan’s already here,” she said. “Make sure you tell me everything that’s going on. No more lies.”

  Evelyn opened the door and stepped out, waiting for Kate.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You sure you can’t join us?” Kate asked Evelyn when Lydia closed the door.

  “Yeah, I want to get some rest.”

  “Eve…”

  “Don’t start with me,” Evelyn snapped before Kate could continue. Evelyn knew Kate had been dancing around the subject since she came back. “Nothing is wrong with me. Nothing is wrong between Dan and me. We were friends and we are still friends.”

  She saw Kate reaching for her necklace.

  “I’m sorry. I’m just…Nothing is wrong, all right?”

  Kate nodded, then turned toward Dan’s car.

  “See you tomorrow.” Evelyn turned from Kate and walked toward her own car while Kate got into Dan’s black Dodge Dakota truck.

  Dan watched Evelyn walk away as Kate entered the car. Not once did she turn to look at him.

  He turned away from Evelyn’s disappearing figure and looked at the frown etched between Kate’s brows. “You all right?”

  “Yeah,” she said softly, her hand reaching over to her necklace. “Before you guys stopped talking, was she receiving some calls?”

  “I only saw one of those phone calls.”

  Kate’s head bobbed up and down as she stared ahead. “She never walks away from me to answer a call. Not until now. Something is up with those calls.”

  He pulled out of the lot and drove toward the mansion. “Did you ask?”

  “Not about the phone calls specifically, just asked what she had been up to.”

  “And?”

  “She said she was up to nothing.” Kate sighed softly. “If she doesn’t want to discuss something, she won’t.”

  He knew that well from personal experience.

  “Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe it’s like what she said, she just hasn’t been feeling well,” Kate continued.

  “Gastric?”

  “Yeah.”

  “She’s been looking tired, maybe it’s the nightmares.”

  Kate took her eyes off the road and looked at him with raised brows.

  “She never told me anything. She just used to call me at night when she couldn’t sleep. I surmised as much.”

  She didn’t say anything for the next minute, but he could feel her eyes studying him.

  “How are you?”

  “Good.”

  She grunted and looked away.

  “That’s very unladylike of you.”

  She kept quiet again, this time, looking out of the window. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”

  “If it’s something serious, she’ll tell you right?”

  “I’d like say yes.”

  “But?”

  “But she’d gone through so many things on her own…Her first instinct is to solve her own problems, that no one would be there to help her.”

  “But you’ve always been there for her.”

  “Not always…not before…” She drew in a deep breath. “I guess some memories can cripple you.”

  Though he was frustrated with whatever secret Kate was referring to, he had to ask. “Will she be all right?”

  “She will, she’s survived everything this far. And like I said, it’s probably nothing.”

  He couldn’t help thinking that her last sentence seemed directed at comforting him than being the truth.

  Chapter Five

  Evelyn jolted upright on the couch and shook her head, trying to get rid of the drowsiness that was making her head swirl. Squinting at the clock, she realized she’d dozed off on her couch. She reached over to the phone lying next to her, pressed the home button, and cringed as the bright light from the cell phone came on. Forcing her eyes open, she sighed when the screen showed no new notifications.

  Groggily, Evelyn pushed herself off the couch and plodded over to the door, almost tripping over a lone black heel lying in the middle of her living room. She shouldn’t be stumbling around in her living room while her mind was still fogged with sleepiness.

  Though she didn’t mind stepping on her clothes, entrapment might be lying beneath the deceptive jackets and she could easily hurt herself.

  Annoyed, she kicked the black heel aside to join the rest of the shoes and went over to look at the electronic security display that Tyler had installed for her.

  Dan? He never turned up unannounced whenever they were in one of their cold stages.

  She was instantly worried that something was wrong. Why else would he be here?

  Her hand moved toward the knob just as she caught sight of herself in the reflection.

  She froze, then quickly pulled her hand back to smooth down her auburn hair. Using her fingers as a comb, she brushed through her wayward hair. She always tossed around when sleeping, so whenever she woke, her hair always looked like it had survived a hurricane.

  Once she was presentable, she opened the door.

  Dan leaned casually by the door, wearing a clean white shirt with jeans. He flashed a brilliant smile and waved the can of chicken soup in his hand. “Hungry?”

  Unconsciously, her lips curled up to reflect his, and her hands moved to her stomach. “Yeah, I think so,” she answered and stepped aside for Dan to enter.

  “Feeling better?”

  “Huh?” Evelyn closed the door and turned back to him.

  “Kate said your gastric was acting up.”

  “Oh, right. I’m fine. Drank some milk.”

  Dan easily crossed over the clutter without stepping or tripping over anything.

  She crossed over the messy living room, picking up some of her clothes. She had three tops draped over her arm when she gave up. There wasn’t much she could do to rectify her messy habits at that moment. Besides, Dan had been at her house before and he never complained.

  She transferred the clothes onto the nearest dining chair and went over to join Dan on the couch.

  Placing the can down, Dan tilted his head and watched her. “Have you eaten anything? If you have the appetite, we can order take out.”

  “Hmm…” Evelyn thought about that for a moment. She hadn’t had anything since the few bites of the sandwich from lunch; she hadn’t had much appetite lately. Though she was feeling kind of hungry now, she wasn’t sure if she could stomach heavy food. “I think soup is enough.”

  “Okay.” His finger traced her fringe, sliding across her forehead and down her temple.

  “I missed you.” The words escaped her lips before she could stop them.

  “What should I do with you?”

  She bit a corner of her lower lip and looked away from him. As she turned, she felt his finger on her chin.

  Gently, he turned her face back toward him. “Don’t turn away. I like it when your eyes are on me.”

  His eyes bore into hers, holding her captive.

  The sincerity in his eyes always caught her off guard. No matter how many times he looked at her that way, she never knew how to react. All she could do was to gaze right back at him.

  At times like this, she wanted so much to lean in and kiss him.

  She wanted to believe she could be one of those lucky enough to live happily ever after, to believe someone would still love her after knowing everything about her.

  But even in times like this, the nagging voice of fear never left.

  She sighed softly.

  “I’ll do anything to have you look at me like t
his for the rest of my life,” he whispered. Then, without waiting for a response from her, Dan took the can from the table and stood. “It should be ready in fifteen minutes.”

  Dan headed toward the kitchen while she remained seated on the couch.

  She wanted so much to go after him and tell him what he wanted to hear, but she couldn’t get herself off the couch.

  He wouldn’t want that from you, not after he knows what you’ve done, the voice of fear, loud and clear, reminded her.

  She buried her face in her hands and swallowed hard.

  And you know you can never give him what he wants.

  Her eyes burnt behind her lids.

  How could all her resolution to stay away from him disappear the moment she saw his face on the security screen?

  She had thought about the situation between them over and over again in her head, and each time the conclusion was always the same—he was better off without her.

  She should have told him to leave when she opened the door. No, she shouldn’t even have opened it.

  Taking in a deep breath, she pinched the bridge of her nose and forced all emotions from her face. She got to her feet and trotted over to the kitchen.

  “You should go.” Evelyn folded her arms, her fingers digging into them.

  “What’s wrong?” Dan asked, moving over to her.

  He ran his hand down her arm, and as though his mere touch burnt her, she yanked her arm from him and retreated a few steps back.

  His eyes widened and he stood where he was with his arms raised by his chest.

  “You should go,” she repeated.

  Dan crooked his jaws and drew in a deep breath through his nose.

  Without another word, he made his way out of the kitchen and stalked toward the door. Pausing right in front of it, he hesitated for a moment.

  She closed her eyes and turned away from him. She couldn’t stand watching him leave, and she was afraid her will to send him away would dissipate.

  “I can’t do this anymore,” Dan said, almost in a whisper.

  She didn’t allow herself to turn around, but she could feel his eyes staring at her. This is better for everyone.

  “Goodnight,” he muttered under his breath, opened the door, and stepped out.