Mysteerie Manor

by Sharon Hays

  “Meanwhile, we have an appointment with the psychic tonight at six o’clock to finish cleansing the house of angry spiritual activity. She said there are some spirits still present there. I know of one for sure, because Vivian Gilbreth, the psychic, spoke to him. Apparently, it was John Farthington’s brother, Charles. She said he is an angry spirit who wants to get even with his brother for having an affair with his girlfriend, Jacqueline. Jacqueline is the one in the letters; the one John sent to California to have the child. The psychic really has a gift. Everything she told us has turned out to be true, so far. She was talking to spirits as if you and I were talking; only we couldn’t hear the other side of her conversation. It was amazing! I can hardly wait for tonight and the final ritual. I’ll be here tomorrow, and tell you all about it. Mario told me to tell you he will be here around four o’clock to visit you.” She hugged her and left the room. Maryanne fell asleep with no dreams; only a peaceful, restful sleep.

  Joan returned to her office, finished up last minute business, and hurried toward home, anxious to revisit the Valencia at six o’clock.

  At five thirty-five, Joan was in her car on the way to the Valencia Manor. Just a few weeks ago, she would never have given this supernatural idea a second thought, and now she was actually involved in trying to rid a house of demonic spirits. What a surprising change of attitude, she thought. When she arrived at the Manor, two police cars were parked near the property, and she was a little apprehensive about what was taking place. Being a little early, Marshall and Vivian had not arrived yet. She walked through the gate and up to the front entrance, where a young officer stood guard.

  “Ma’am, no one is allowed inside. We are in the middle of an investigation,” he spoke seriously.

  “Is Chief Olson here?”

  “He is inside, Ma’am.”

  “Would you mind telling him that Joan Bishop is outside and would like very much to speak to him for a moment? It’s very important.” The officer stepped inside, still no expression on his face, returning quickly.

  “He’ll be right out, Ma’am.” The door opened and Chief Olson came outside.

  “Joan, what are you doing here?”

  “I was going to ask if you had found the perpetrator of the kidnapping, but the real reason I am here is one you probably won’t like.”

  The chief stood there with a puzzled look, took off his cap and wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, and then waited for an explanation.

  “Well, go on, what’s on your mind?”

  “Okay, I’ll tell you, or should I say ask you?”

  “I’m waiting, Joan. I have a lot going on here, so just get to the point.” He became agitated.

  Joan hesitated, afraid to bring it up, but when he shook his head in an impatient gesture and turned to go back inside, she grabbed his arm.

  “All right, the real reason I am here is to go back into the Valencia when you are finished with this current job. However, I want to take Vivian Gilbreth with me. You are familiar with her work, right?” Maryanne had not mentioned the last visits because she knew he would have probably disapproved.

  “You’re talking about a psychic? Are you kidding me? I would be the laughing stock of the whole town if I took part in such an activity. You know how this town is. They would hang me out to dry, and I would lose the election for sure! What are you thinking?”

  “Look, I know how you feel, but I will do this under my own name and real estate business, since it is listed by my firm. If I get any bad publicity, so be it. It is publicity. There is a saying about that: Good or bad, it’s still publicity.” She smiled meekly at him, almost begging.

  “It’s going to take me the rest of today and tomorrow to wind this up. When I finish, I’ll call you. You keep this to yourself and do what you have to do, then. I will not be a part of it, as you know. Call me when you are done and tell me what spooky ghosts you encountered so I can have a good laugh, will you?” He chuckled and shook her hand. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but that’s just my opinion of such things. I’ll call you, Joan, sometime tomorrow.” He turned and walked back inside. You had better be careful, and there will be officers outside the place all night.

  Marshall approached in his Mercedes with Vivian in the passenger seat. Joan rushed down the stairs to his car to let him know what had just taken place.

  “We have to hold off until tomorrow night. That is, if you are available, Vivian?”

  “Yes, I can do that. Just let me know what time, so I can be prepared. Hopefully, it’s after six for me, as I have some business during the day. I hope they don’t cancel, as I have no time the rest of the week,” Vivian said. Marshall pulled away, planning on the return visit for tomorrow evening.

  Chief Olson hurried down the stairs of the Manor and rushed to Joan’s car as she was about to leave. “Joan, we haven’t found diddly-squat here today. I have had a change of heart. You can go on inside when my guys clear out, but just remember, keep it to yourself. I’ll have no part in it. Have we got an understanding?”

  “Absolutely, Chief, I swear. It’s all on me. I promise you. You won’t be sorry, especially after I fill you in later on.” She would also tell him about the last two visits when they were done.

  “Okay then. I’ll be finished here in ten or fifteen minutes, and you do what you have to do. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow. Be careful, though, we don’t want any more accidents and problems at this place. Got it?” He walked back into the Valencia to finish up.

  Joan called Marshall’s cell and explained to him the chief had a change of heart and plans, and would let them go inside tonight. Marshall was almost at Vivian’s townhouse, so he turned around and headed back to the Valencia.

  The officers had taken off, after checking the grounds and the neighbor’s residence. They were due back in two hours to guard the place overnight. Perfect timing for them to finish the job. Joan waited in her car. The moon was high, and illuminated the Valencia, she thought, like never before. Her eyes fixed on the attic window, and she noticed a light flicker behind the curtain. It startled her at first, but then she focused clearly on someone standing in the window on the third floor, which was where the small attic rooms were. A candle possibly, she thought. Focusing on the figure, it looked like a child in white against dim candle light. Joan could not take her eyes off the apparition, thinking there must be a spirit that remained in the Manor. As suddenly as it appeared, it disappeared, the candle no longer visible. Joan got a chill when she experienced this manifestation, and she hoped Marshall and the psychic would get there soon.

  Joan called to check in on Maryanne while she waited for the pair to return and found her to be doing well. Mario was with her. She informed her of the plan to go inside and reminded her to keep it under her hat. She would call her back when the psychic had finished so she could give her an update.

  41

  Joan waited, looking up at the evil edifice, thinking that it seemed to dare anyone to re-enter its realm. Marshall and Vivian pulled up behind her. The moon was full and high, while dark clouds floated effortlessly across the golden sphere, creating a mystical ambiance. The Valencia seemed to reflect the light even more than usual, Joan thought, as she looked up into the sky and absorbed the eerie setting. She looked up at the attic rooms, scanning the exterior of the Manor and then noticed a light in the top right window on the third floor attic room. Joan thought she saw someone looking out.

  “Did you see that? It was in the attic window, up on the third floor. A light; and it looked as if someone were looking out.”

  “No I didn’t notice, Joan.” Marshall looked up at the windows and shook his head. We’ll find out soon enough, though won’t we? Here we are, the local Ghost Busters, back on the scene.” Marshall joked, laughing aloud.

  “I don’t think I can take too many more of these ghostly encounters, even though it has been fascinating. It’s a little too scary for my taste to say the least. I sure wouldn’t pick it as a career.” J
oan looked over at Vivian and smiled.

  “What are we waiting for? Let’s go in!” Marshall urged.

  “I’m ready,” Joan replied, “but you’re leading the way. I’m not that brave yet.”

  “Follow me then, ladies. Or should I say after me?” He opened the door and went inside a little faster than usual. “Make sure your lanterns are turned on. I have the flashlight. Come on ladies; don’t chicken out on me now. Just kidding, I know you’re as anxious as I am to get this done.” He entered and they followed.

  The moon was still hovering over the mountains in the clouded sky, and light was streaming across the room from the tall windows that surrounded the space. Not too much light entered, but enough to give it a disturbing atmosphere. Marshall’s flashlight was already making slow motions back and forth, as the usual shadows jumped around, frolicking through the house.

  Loud groans began echoing throughout the house, like haunting phantoms with tortured souls, Vivian was thinking. Vivian prepared herself, knowing this was the demon she had encountered before. He was still overflowing with rage and anger. She had to stop him now. This was her chance to clear the house of unnatural, evil activity, and return it to its habitable state.

  The guttural moans became louder and more intense, to the point of being unbearable. The team had to stay, remain calm and determined in order to complete this undertaking.

  Joan had the urge to run out again, but forced herself to remain with Marshall and the Clairvoyant to rid the ghostly house of its evil.

  Rain began pouring in torrents and lightning bolts streaked through the black sky, adding to the terror of the Manor’s evil atmosphere.

  “He’s here! Quiet. I’m getting some messages.”

  The Spirit of Charles had returned, welling with anger and revenge. Her clairvoyance was tuning in to his rage

  “I warned you to get out of the house, or you would see what evil could really do. I did not intentionally want to harm you, only anyone connected with my brother, John Farthington. But if you do not leave, I have no other alternative. If you do not leave at once, I will spew my wrath against everyone in the house, now and forever”!

  Vivian answered him boldly. “The child of John Farthington is already a spirit in his world, and she was an innocent child who died young and does not deserve your revenge. She was a victim of the love affair. You should be compassionate and try to help her cross over. This child is the daughter of your lover, Jacqueline, who you once loved with a deep passion. How can you blame an innocent child for someone else’s wrong doing? You had a strong love for Jaqueline and that alone should be enough to make you understand what I am trying to say. She was partially at fault, but when you went away for so long, she fell into the hands of a man who seduced her into believing you would not return. She was lonely and scared. The affair started simply from her loneliness and sorrow. It momentarily stopped the pain and emptiness she suffered. When she became pregnant, John’s true self emerged and he sent her away to protect his holdings from a threatening wife who discovered his secret life. He chose the life style over his lover, even though he did not love his wife. Never-the-less, it ended up in tragedy for both Jaqueline and Rosaria Marie. How can you not see that? She retorted.

  Charles’s spirit did not want to hear the truth, but Vivian could feel that he had broken slightly away from his anger during the communication. Vivian knew he had been a good man during his life, until his brother started an affair with the only woman he had ever loved. Vivian reminded him of the love he had shared with Jacqueline when he was alive.

  Then a white mist appeared into the room. Another spirit was communicating with Vivian. Vivian could feel a presence, and she asked the entity to identify itself. She appeared to her and Charles in a pure white-satin, chiffon gown, looking beautiful and peaceful. Charles was stunned when he saw her. It was his beautiful Jacqueline. She came to tell Charles that she had died only one month ago in California in a tragic car accident. She wanted to communicate with him and explain what had happened during the unfortunate affair that she shared with his brother, John. His anger and the consuming demonic trance that held him began to diminish when he saw her. Sorrow and compassion consumed him in its stead. He began to cry in a heartfelt and sorrowful agony.

  “Why did you leave me? I loved you more than life itself! I would have done anything for you. Please tell me why.”

  She also began to cry, “I loved you too, Charles. I loved you more than you could ever know. When you left, I was not able to cope with the emptiness and sorrow. I guess John was there to help me through it and I had an affair with him. When I became pregnant, he made me leave the state. I never had contact with anyone there after that. I was ashamed and felt you would not want me, so I made as good a life as possible for Rosaria. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I still love you and hope you will forgive me.” She explained how she spent the next seven years raising her daughter Rosaria Marie, until Rosaria became ill and passed away. She told him she had gone into a deep depression after that and never married. She was alone until she died two months ago in California. She returned to the Valencia two weeks ago, knowing the turmoil that Charles was going through. She said she was afraid innocent people would be hurt.

  At that moment their child, Rosaria Marie, appeared next to Jacqueline. Charles was overwhelmed. He walked toward Jacqueline with forgiveness and love, holding her and the child. They soon disappeared into the light, into the other side.

  The house became free of evil instantly. The lightning and rain stopped. It was as though a completely new feeling swept through the entire house. A calm, quiet serenity took over, releasing the house from the anger and demonic presence that had held it captive for so many years. Marshall and Joan stood there, overwhelmed at the apparition they had just witnessed. They could not speak, but felt calmed at the transference of energy from evil to good. Outside, the moon showed bright against the clouds as they slid across the mountains. The trio felt a new presence as they quietly reflected on the unbelievable events.

  “There is one more thing I would like to know,” Joan asked Vivian. “There was another spirit in this house who was a very small and frail child. She was the young daughter of John and Sarah, who passed away when she was only five or six years old. She had heart problems. I think she is still in this house, and I would like to know if you are able communicate with her. Her name is Francine Angelica Farthington.”

  Vivian was quite worn out from the recent paranormal communication but agreed to try the communication again. “Keep very still and quiet. Is there a chair anywhere I can use?”

  Marshall went to the dining room and took one of the hand-carved, mahogany captain’s chairs, bringing it into the grand room. Vivian sat back on the red velvet seat. Joan explained to Vivian about the vision Maryanne had seen when she was leaving the house after Mario rescued her.

  “Be very quiet, and I will try to get her to come through.” Vivian held both her hands palms up on the arms of the chair. She repeated an incantation and spoke to the spirit. “Francine Algelica, please come forward. We want to speak to you. We are here to help you. We want you to help your mother cross over to the other side; to the light.” Suddenly Vivian’s candle flickered and then went out. In the center of the room appeared a beautiful child with blonde hair, wearing a lovely white dress that Maryanne had described before as a First Communion dress. A soft, glowing light emitted from the apparition. She was truly a beautiful child, and one could feel her goodness. The room was filled with love. She stood smiling like an angel, Vivian thought. Marshall and Joan could not see her, but could feel the unbelievable energy she emanated. They saw the misty light as it hung in the air where Vivian was sitting while she communicated with the child.

  Then she materialized, and they all saw the vibrant manifestation. She said, “I am looking for my Father.” Vivian knew he had recently passed away and had not had a chance to find her. Vivian assured her she would help her cross over to join her parents
. Vivian knew they were together and wanted to be reunited with their daughter. John was still carrying guilt when he died; guilt over the affair and the child he had fathered with Jacqueline Doubré’. If Vivian could get Francine to cross over, the three of them could be together again. Vivian spoke to the child for about twenty minutes, and Francine Angelica finally knew and understood that she needed to cross over. She disappeared into the misty fog that encompassed her. In a split second the beautiful light was gone, and Vivian felt the good energy grow even stronger in the house. The house was clean of the evil, but also the good spirits were now able to cross over.

  Marshall, Vivian and Joan, took up their lanterns and left the Manor. The Valencia would be peaceful now. Vivian was totally exhausted by the end of this undertaking but was thankful Marshall brought her. He helped her into his Mercedes after they exchanged hugs with Joan, and he took Vivian back to her town house.

  Joan left the Valencia, feeling positive this would be the end of their supernatural woes and hopefully the end of tragedy and misfortune for a new owner of the property. Maryanne was still the prospective buyer, who had admired the Valencia since she had first seen it after visiting Boulder and was still planning to purchase and renovate it to its original condition. According to the will and the latest documents filed by Irene Dirkshire before her unfortunate death, Maryanne O’Donnell might inherit the Valencia and not have to buy it after all.

  42

  Joan slept like a baby for the first time in days, without nightmares and strange activities in her house. All that was behind her now, and she could devote more time to the business and her appointments that had begun to pile up. It was a relief to fall asleep without a sleeping pill or having to read until her eyes were unable to remain open. At last, tranquil rest in a comfortable bed in her little house at the end of the block…