Ghost of Halloween Past

by McIntyre, Anna J

  “How do you know that?”

  “During my Internet search I did a little sleuthing over on Ancestry.com.”

  Walt removed his cigar from his mouth for a moment. “What’s that?”

  “It’s a genealogy research site. Members can create accounts and upload their family trees and information they’ve collected. I found Ephraim Presley’s family tree.”

  “Ephraim Presley? He’s the one who worked for the Thorndikes.” Walt’s cigar suddenly lit. He returned it to his mouth.

  “Yes. And he’s the twins’ father.”

  “Was there any mention of how he earned his living?”

  “No, there was nothing about that or an inheritance. But according to the information, he was orphaned at a young age. His mother died during childbirth and his father worked for the coalmines, died in some accident. He didn’t have any siblings or any family to speak of. Ephraim ended up on the west coast at a young age—on his own.”

  “I wonder where he got his money, assuming he had some if he owned a home and didn’t have a job after he left the Thorndikes.”

  Danielle shook her head. “I don’t know, but his life seemed rather tragic. One of his sons committed suicide. It was a few years after they left town.”

  “The twin who killed himself, did he have children?”

  “I doubt it. He was never married. I don’t know what happened, but after he killed himself, his brother never talked to his parents again. The remaining twin moved to Colorado, where he met his wife, married and had a daughter.”

  “Is that twin still alive?”

  “No. In fact, his daughter and wife are also both deceased. But he has a grandchild, and I assume that’s who owns Presley House.”

  “I thought you said the remaining twin never talked to his parents again?”

  “Yes, but that doesn't mean Ephraim Presley disinherited his remaining child or grandchild.”

  “Grandchild—does that mean you don’t know if he had a son or daughter?” Walt asked.

  “The family tree doesn’t say, I suspect because the child is still alive. The website doesn’t normally display living people unless you have permission to view the tree.”

  Walt waved his lit cigar. “So what does all of this have to do with Harvey?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe nothing.” Danielle continued to stroke the sleeping cat.

  “There is some reason he’s haunting their house.”

  “Perhaps.” Danielle looked at Max who was beginning to stir.

  Walt smiled down at the yawning cat. “He seems fairly attached to you.”

  Danielle grinned. “Yeah he does, doesn’t he? I wonder why.”

  “Why what?” Walt frowned.

  “Why me? Why did Max choose me?”

  Walt shrugged. “He is a cat, Danielle. It’s what cats do.”

  Max stood up abruptly and jumped down to the floor. Without looking back, he sauntered out of the parlor.

  Danielle chuckled. “I think I was just dismissed.”

  “Like I said. He is a cat.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Danielle sat at the desk in the parlor watching Walt, who lounged on the small sofa, his feet propped up on one of the armrests while his head leaned back on the opposing end of the couch, his attention riveted to the television set as he watched a Jimmy Stewart movie. It was just the other day she had mentioned the old movie, Harvey, about an invisible talking rabbit. She had promised to find it for Walt, which proved easier than she had expected. Danielle planned to look for it on a subscription site, yet discovered one of the television stations was running the old movie on Wednesday afternoon.

  While Walt seemed engrossed in the old movie, Danielle’s attention was elsewhere. She couldn’t get Harvey and Presley House out of her head. She had questions for Presley House’s ghost. There was always the possibility Harvey would dream hop again, and she could ask him the questions then, without her ever having to go back to Presley House, yet there was no guarantee he would come—and it was always possible he would bring the snakes.

  She had no desire to get hauled into jail again, but if she walked over, instead of taking her car, she had a better chance of getting into Presley House without being detected. The only thing she had to worry about were nosey neighbors watching the abandoned house, and according to the chief, there was only one who seemed to be keeping an eye on the place—Millie Samson.

  Silently, Danielle stood up and started walking toward the door.

  Walt looked up. “Where are you going?”

  “I have to make a quick phone call.”

  “Don’t you want to watch the movie?”

  “I’ve seen it a dozen times.”

  Walt shrugged and turned his attention back to the television.

  Once in the hallway, Danielle placed her phone call.

  A woman’s voice answered. “Frederickport Museum, Millie Samson speaking.”

  “Oh, hello Millie. This is Danielle Boatman.”

  “Danielle! Oh my, we were just talking about you! I was just on the phone with Joanne. I can’t believe you were the one to find both Bart and Chuck!”

  “Umm…you heard?”

  “It’s all anyone has been talking about.”

  Millie proceeded to ask Danielle a dozen questions or more. After getting her answers, she finally asked why Danielle had called.

  “I was just going through the information I give our guests—you know on local places of interest to visit while here—and wondered if the museum hours are the same all year round or if they change during the off season.”

  “It’s always the same.”

  “Thanks. I guess I won’t have to make any changes to that part of my handout. So, you’re doing docent duty today?”

  “Yes, Wednesdays is my long day.”

  “Long day?” Danielle asked.

  “I’m the only one here on Wednesdays. So I’ll be closing up. We’re a little short on docents this time of year.”

  “I should tell Lily about that, might be something she’d enjoy doing.”

  “Oh, that would be wonderful! Isn’t Lily a teacher?” Millie asked.

  “Yes, but because of her recent medical issues, she had to take the year off.”

  “How is she doing now?”

  “Great, feeling much better. I think she would like to go back to work but I don’t think she’s quite ready for a full-time class yet.”

  “The reason I asked if she was a teacher, we could really use a docent who is good with children. The board is trying to get together a program with the local schools, to bring students over once a week. Having a docent with experience working with young children would be ideal for that project.”

  “I’ll be sure and mention that to Lily.”

  When Danielle got off the phone a few minutes later, she considered her newly hatched idea: go over to Presley House now. It would take her maybe fifteen minutes to walk over, and with Millie at the museum, there was less chance she would be noticed. Smiling to herself, she walked over to the parlor and peeked her head through the doorway.

  “I’m going out for a while.”

  Walt looked up. “I thought Lily took the car?”

  “I’m going to visit our new neighbor and then take a little walk on the beach. I should be home before Lily gets back.”

  “Have a nice visit,” Walt called out as he looked back to the movie.

  Before leaving, Danielle made a quick trip to the bathroom and then grabbed a jacket and wool cap from the hall closet. The days were getting progressively cooler, and walks along the beach this time of year required warmer clothing. Of course, she didn’t intend to actually walk on the beach, yet Walt didn’t know that.

  When Danielle stepped onto the sidewalk and glanced back to Marlow House, she noticed Max sitting in the attic window, watching her. Instead of turning right and taking the direct route to Presley House, she turned left, heading in the direction of Heather Donovan’s house. She wasn’t re
ally sure to what extent Max and Walt communicated—although considering things Walt told her about Max it seemed the two were rather chatty. She didn’t want Walt wondering why she was walking away from Heather’s house and in the direction of Presley House. She saw no need to worry Walt.

  When Danielle reached Heather’s house, she noticed the blinds were all shut and there was no car in the driveway. Danielle had no intention of actually stopping at Heather’s, yet if she had, it looked as if she would have discovered her new neighbor was not home.

  Picking up her speed, Danielle hurried down the street and then turned left, away from the ocean. She planned to double back on the street behind Marlow House. Glancing upward, Danielle noticed the gray clouds gathering overhead. It looked like it might rain.

  It wasn’t until Danielle arrived at Millie’s street and reached for her phone to check her time, did she realize she had left her cellphone sitting on the bathroom sink back at Marlow House. Cursing herself for the oversight, she didn’t even consider going back for it.

  If any of the neighbors were home, none of them were outside. The street looked desolate. Danielle didn’t expect to encounter any teenagers out for Halloween mischief, considering it was a school day and the sun was still up. Halloween wasn’t until Friday, of course that didn’t mean some tricksters wouldn’t be pranking Presley House Wednesday or Thursday night. Yet, that didn’t concern Danielle as she intended to return home before nightfall.

  The moment she reached Presley House’s property line, she looked around anxiously checking for prying eyes. Convinced no one was watching her, she slipped into the yard and into the shelter of the overgrown trees. While there were a number of dead trees on the property that needed to be removed, there were still a sufficient number of thriving evergreens for Danielle to use as cover. Making her way to the front door, she hastily stepped onto the porch, once again looking over her shoulder.

  She knew the door was locked but assumed if she gave it a try, as she had before, Harvey would hear her and let her in. Just as she reached for the doorknob, it turned on its own volition and slowly the door creaked open, revealing the darkened entry hall.

  Stepping through the doorway, she looked around. “Harvey?” Just as she got all the way into the house, the door slammed shut behind her. Startled by the sudden movement and loud slamming sound, she jumped. Silently, Danielle told herself she should have expected that, considering he had slammed the door the last time she had visited.

  “I wanted to tell you I went to Pilgrim’s Point, like you asked me to do.” Danielle looked around the dimly lit room. Shafts of sunlight slipping through the edges of the boarded up windows provided minimal lighting.

  In the next moment, Harvey showed himself. He stood about six feet from Danielle, still wearing his ill fitting denim pants, tied at the waist with a rope, and blood stained shirt. “Yes, I know. Thank you.”

  “We found a car there; it had driven off the cliff. The man inside—the dead man—he’s the one who shot the man I found here, isn’t he?”

  Harvey nodded. “Yes. I didn’t see him do it, but I heard them shouting at each other. They had broken into the house. At first, I assumed it was just some more kids. Then I heard the gunshot. I found the man standing over his dead body. I guess the man who shot him had already run out of the house with the gun.”

  “How did you know he was at Pilgrim’s Point?”

  Harvey laughed. “When he left here he had a little accident. Funny, he had gone to all that trouble to get rid of the man called Bart, only to have Bart show up after he died.”

  “You mean they were together?”

  Harvey laughed again. “I told Bart he couldn’t stay here. I guess he must have bumped into his old friend after he left here—refused to leave him. Rather ironic, don’t you think?”

  “I still don’t understand how you knew he was at Pilgrim’s Point, and why you wanted him found.”

  “Once you found Bart’s body, Bart moved on. Not sure where he went exactly, but he left his old friend—the friend who killed him.”

  “I don’t mean to sound dense. How did you know he was at Pilgrim’s Point? Why did you care if he was found?”

  “Isn’t that obvious?” Harvey said impatiently. “After Bart moved on, his friend came here, looking for him.”

  “I would assume Christiansen would be glad Bart was gone, considering he murdered him.”

  “Christiansen, is that his name? He didn’t say.”

  “Chuck Christiansen.”

  “I suppose when one steps over to this side of the curtain, you start rethinking past relationships. I didn’t get the impression Chuck missed Bart as much as he was curious what happened to him. When he realized Bart moved on about the same time his body was found, he figured it might work for him too. He couldn't figure out how to do anything—so he threatened to move in here if I didn’t help him. I didn’t need him sticking around and the only thing I could think of was getting you to find his body.”

  Danielle frowned. “I’m rather surprised Chuck would be so anxious to move on.”

  “You mean because he shot his old buddy Bart?” Harvey laughed.

  “That and the fact he murdered another woman besides Bart and was accomplice to another murder.”

  “Nice guy,” Harvey said with a snort. “I knew I didn’t need him moving in here.”

  “If finding his body actually helped him move on, I suspect he may be regretting it about now.”

  Harvey shrugged. “As long as he doesn’t come back here. By the way, why did you come back? I’m rather surprised. Figured I’d need to—what did you call it, dream hop?—to get your attention again.”

  Narrowing her eyes, Danielle glared at Harvey. “If you want me to help you, leave the snakes out of it.”

  Harvey laughed. “Why? They weren’t real. You knew that.”

  “In spite of the snakes, I would like to help you.”

  “Do you still have Max?”

  “I don’t have Max, per se. He is free to come and go, as he wants. But Presley House is not the best place for him. He needs regular food, water. He wasn’t getting that here.”

  Harvey stared at Danielle for a moment. “Then I suppose you will have to do instead of Max.”

  “Why do you haunt Presley House? What is it you’re looking for?”

  “Do you really want to help me?”

  “Yes, I’m here aren’t I?” Danielle told him.

  “I need you to help me find something.”

  “What is it you’re looking for?”

  Harvey shook his head. “I don’t like all these questions. He asked all these questions.”

  “Who?”

  “There you go again! You are just like Mr. Presley! Questions, questions, questions! Max never asked me questions, he just helped me.”

  “If I can’t ask questions, then I’m not sure how I can help you.”

  Harvey stared at Danielle a moment, his expression serious. Finally, a smile turned the edges of his mouth. “Let me show you something. Follow me.” Harvey turned and started walking toward the kitchen.

  Danielle followed Harvey. They walked past the kitchen door, to the far end of the hallway. To Danielle’s surprise, a hidden door—tucked into the wall’s paneling—opened, revealing a hidden room.

  “What’s this?” Danielle asked, peeking into the dark space. Inside the secret room, an overhead light flickered on, dimly illuminating the space.

  “Go inside, you’ll see what this is all about.”

  Hesitantly, Danielle stepped inside the room. The moment she was completely inside, the door slammed shut and the light flickered off. She was trapped.

  Chapter Thirty

  Lily wasn’t having a good day. Her troubles began with the missing flash drive. When Ian had discovered he had left it in Astoria, he immediately called Emma to see if she could find it. The flash drive was exactly where he thought it would be, sitting on a bookshelf in Emma’s study. Unfortunately, the elderly
woman decided to move it to a safer location. When Lily arrived to pick it up, Emma forgot where that safe location might be. After searching with Emma for over two hours, Lily finally found it.

  She wanted to get back on the road, but Emma insisted she stay for dinner. Lily called Danielle to tell her she was running late, but there was no answer so she left a message. By the time she finally got back on the road with Sadie, the sun was beginning to set.

  The next obstacle Lily encountered was an accident on the highway. All traffic stopped. Anxious to get home, Lily kept looking at the time. Fortunately, Sadie snoozed quietly in the backseat. Once again, Lily tried calling Danielle to let her know what was going on. There was still no answer, so she left another message.

  By the time Lily got back to Frederickport, she went straight to Ian’s house, to use his computer to upload the information to his Dropbox.

  “It’s not showing up here, but it sometimes takes a few minutes to upload,” Ian told her when she called him from his house to let him know she had uploaded the information to Dropbox.

  “I’ll stick around here for ten minutes. If it doesn't show up, give me a call and I’ll check it.”

  “You want me to call you either way?” Ian asked.

  “No. It’s late. I’m exhausted.” Lily yawned. “If I don’t hear from you in ten minutes I’ll know you got it okay.”

  “I’m sorry you had to do this, Lily.”

  “No problem. I’m just tired. Emma is a sweetheart, but she can be exhausting.”

  Ian laughed. “Isn’t that the truth? Okay, if you don't hear from me in ten minutes you’ll know I got it. Thanks a lot. I love you.”

  “Love you too. Stay safe in that big city.”

  “Not sure I’ll be able to call you tomorrow; I’ll be in meetings all day.”

  “No problem.”

  After Lily got off the phone, she wandered through Ian’s house, looking for Sadie. She found the golden retriever on Ian’s bed, sprawled out for sleep.

  “What are you tired about? You didn’t have to drive,” Lily grumbled, climbing onto the bed with Sadie. Yawning, she closed her eyes.