"I know that folks say she disappeared after her husband's funeral. Surely, someone in the family knew her whereabouts."
"I see you're researching the legend," the woman said. "You're not the first."
"We've been staying at the Blackhawk Manor, in Room 5," Hannah said quietly.
"Oh, my," the woman replied. "You obviously know the story. It's all true. I don't know about the haunting, but the murder and the fact that Pamela disappeared is all true."
"May we come in? I'm fascinated by the whole thing," Hannah asked. "We don't mean any harm."
"Please, come in. I'll see if my mother is awake. She never tires of talking about her sister."
The woman returned a few minutes later with an elderly woman.
"So you want to know about my sister?" she asked when her daughter introduced her to the girls.
"I'm Hannah, and this is my friend, Cassie. We're so happy to meet you. I'm so sorry about your sister and Robert. We've been staying at the Blackhawk Manor, and I've read quite a bit about the legend surrounding the murder," Hannah explained.
"Every now and again, we get someone coming through who claims to know where my sister is."
"We have no idea where she is. We were hoping you could tell us."
"Why would you want to know that?" the woman asked suspiciously.
"Well…I know this may sound ludicrous…but I'm going to tell you the truth, exactly as it happened. I'm sure you've heard the stories about Robert's spirit roaming the halls of the Manor."
"Yes, I've heard them. Hogwash," the woman said.
"Maybe not," Hannah began. She proceeded to tell the women the things that had happened since she got to the inn.
The younger woman took her mother's hand. "Mama, Aunt Pamela told you that when her time was near, she would return. She said she made a promise to Robert just before he died."
Shivers ran up and down Hannah's spine. Cassie gasped.
The woman began to speak. "My sister left town the day after poor Robert was buried. She was heartbroken and couldn't live with the memories. She moved far away, out west. I was the only person who knew her whereabouts, and she swore me to secrecy. She never married again, never had a family of her own. She went to school, became a teacher, and she said her pupils were her babies, the babies she would never have with Robert. She led a good life."
"Is she…gone?" Hannah asked in a fearful tone.
"No…no…I spoke with her yesterday, in fact. She always told me she had promised Robert on the night of the murder that she would return to the inn when her time was nearly up. As far as I know, she is still determined to keep that promise. She has told me many times over the years that when she returns, her time will be near. She will return to the place she and Robert were the happiest to reunite with the love of her life."
"Wow…that's what he meant when he said she made a pledge to him that she would return," Hannah said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"That's so romantic," Cassie said wistfully.
"My sister was a great romantic," the woman told them. "She loved Robert with her whole heart. He was her world, and she was devastated when a murderer took him from her so suddenly. We thought she wouldn't survive, but she did. I truly believe she will make every effort to return. She hasn't been well in recent months, though."
"So…my Uncle Robert's spirit actually spoke to you?" the younger woman asked in awe. "I've heard so much about Aunt Pamela and Uncle Robert through the years. Not only were they a local legend, but a family legend as well."
"He is a very sad spirit. I believe he has not crossed over because he is waiting for his true love to return to that room they shared so many years ago," Hannah said sadly.
"A true love story, as I've always been told," the young woman said.
"Pammy, would you get our guests some lemonade?" the older woman asked.
"You named your daughter for your sister?" Cassie asked when the woman left the room to get the refreshments.
"I loved my sister very much. My heart ached for her loss. I had hoped she would meet someone and move on with her life, but she would never do that to Robert. She truly loved him as he loved her."
Pamela Sue's namesake returned with a tray of lemonade and cookies.
"Thank you so much," Hannah said as she accepted a glass of the cool drink.
"So you've never seen your sister since she left?" Cassie asked.
"No, but we kept in touch over the years. I doubt I'll ever see her face again until she is in the casket, but that's the way she wanted it, and I respected her wishes. She lost so much that night on the riverfront."
Hannah and Cassie spent the afternoon visiting with the two women, forgetting about the men in the car outside. They answered questions about themselves, and when it was time to go, they thanked their gracious hostesses.
"I'm sorry for intruding, but after my experience of the past few nights, I felt I had to, at the very least, try to find out what happened to Robert's wife."
"Do you think he'll return to you tonight?" Pammy asked.
"Oh, I don't know," Hannah replied. "I'm sure he will never rest in peace until he is reunited with his love."
"Will you tell him what you've learned if he does come back?" the woman asked.
"I will try and reassure him that Pamela will keep her promise if she is able to," Hannah answered solemnly.
Pamela's sister reached out her hand to Hannah. "Bless you, my child. It's been good to talk to you."
"Thank you for your gracious hospitality. I've enjoyed our afternoon," Hannah replied as she squeezed the elderly woman's hand.
"Yes, thank you both so much," Cassie said. "We should be heading back. We plan to spend the week, but I fear our holiday will end before we learn the truth about the legend. What do you suppose happened to the man responsible?"
"This will be a week to remember, for both of you," Pammy said as she walked them to the door. "The man was never caught, and I doubt he ever will be, now. It will forever be a mystery."
"That's for sure, a week to remember," Cassie said as they stepped onto the porch.
"Goodbye, and thanks again," Hannah said as she waved goodbye.
The two girls were silent when they returned to the car, until they were out of town and on their way back to the inn.
"Did you learn anything new?" Alan asked.
"Yes, actually, we did," Hannah answered quietly. Chad looked over at her, but stayed silent as he drove.
"That is such a sad story," Cassie said.
"I know. Robert sobbed last night."
"I thought the stories were so far-fetched, and it's really a story of a spirit that can't rest until he is reunited with the love of his life. Do you think she'll make it back? Her sister said she isn't well," Cassie asked. She filled the men in quickly on what the family of Pamela told them, and they both seemed a bit more interested after that.
"I certainly hope so, for both their sakes," Hannah answered thoughtfully. "It would be so wrong if she isn't able to make it."
"Do you think she plans to come back to die in that room?" Chad suddenly asked.
"That's exactly what I think, with Robert by her side," Hannah replied.
They returned to the inn at dinnertime and slowly walked into the dining room. They talked quietly during the meal, and the four of them joined hands to say a silent prayer that the two star-crossed lovers be reunited soon in the infamous room number 5.
Chapter Five
Late that night, while Chad was in the shower, Robert visited Hannah once again. This time, he was not alone.
"Robert, is that you?" she asked when she felt the familiar weight on the edge of the mattress again.
"I have brought a friend. Say hello to Roman," the invisible spirit behind the voice said.
"Roman…the actor who died here?" she asked in astonishment.
"I am Roman Carrington, and it is believed that I died of natural causes during my slumber. That is the farthest thing from the truth, young lady. Robert
believes you are the one who, for whatever reason, is here to solve the mystery. I cannot rest in peace until my murderer, Robert's murderer, is brought to justice."
"Are you saying the same man who tried to kidnap Pamela, and who stabbed Robert, also murdered you?"
"That is exactly what I am saying. I, like you, was interested in the legend. I got a little too close to the truth. A substance that induces heart attack symptoms poisoned me. Due to my advanced age, the authorities assumed I died of a heart attack. The autopsy would not have shown otherwise. Only someone trained to suspect foul play would have investigated further. There was no reason to do that as far as the local authorities were concerned."
Robert spoke next. "I believe you have been drawn to us, sent to free us from this horror. I believe my Pamela will return to me, just as she promised she would as I lay dying in her arms. I also know her time is drawing near. The killer still walks the grounds, and it is time to reveal the truth, after all these years. There must be closure in order for us to cross over when Pamela does return."
A shiver ran down Hannah's spine. "The killer walks the grounds? That can only be one person."
"We have given you the information you need. You must locate the murder weapon and take it to the authorities," Roman's spirit told her.
"I have no idea where to find it," Hannah replied.
"Ah, but you do. We must go now."
When it was apparent that her ghostly visitors had gone, she sat on the bed in disbelief. What had Roman meant when he said she knew where to find the murder weapon?
She got up and made a pot of coffee. It was going to be a long night if she was to come up with the answers needed to solve the mystery. Her interest in legends had led to much research and a lot of reading over the years, but to actually be the person to solve a crime? She hadn't thought of that as even a remote possibility.
When Chad came out from the bathroom, following his shower, he immediately saw that she was troubled. "What's wrong, baby?"
In a low tone, she told him about the ghostly visit from, not one, but two spirits.
"Hannah!" he exclaimed. "I have half a mind to throw you over my knee and paddle the tar out of you. When are you going to let this go?"
"I can't let it go!" she replied angrily. How dare he? She was half amused by his threat and pretty sure he was joking, but still, it rankled her to know that he did not take this as seriously as she did.
When she finally calmed down, and he agreed to listen to her account of the visit, she went on to explain to him what she learned that night.
"From what the spirits told me, the only person who walks the grounds of the inn and would have been around at the times of both murders has to be the gardener, old Mr. Patterson. That could explain the fact that he rarely talks to anyone and didn't wish to continue my conversation with him yesterday. Roman had also been interested and had figured out who the murderer was. Mr. Patterson killed him, too."
"Exactly why you need to stop this insanity," Chad said. "I don't want you or any of us to be his next victims."
Now, Hannah was beginning to be frightened. If the gardener became aware that she was asking questions, would she or one of her friends be next? And where had he hidden the evidence?
Lying across the bed from utter exhaustion, just before dawn, she fell into a deep sleep. In the abyss between real life and dreams, her mind began to tell her what she needed to know.
She awoke around eight and picked up her cell phone. There was a text from Cassie asking when she wanted breakfast. She dialed her friend's number immediately as Chad slept next to her, lying crossways on the bed.
"Cassie, something happened last night, and we were up most of the night. Give me a little time to pull myself together, and we'll head out for something to eat."
"Not in the dining room?" the other girl responded.
"No, definitely not here at the inn," was her answer.
"Knock on my door when you're ready," Cassie said.
An hour later, she and Chad were knocking on the door of Cassie's room.
"Get in here! I've been dying of suspense ever since I got your call."
Hannah said, "Could we just leave? I'll fill you in on the way to breakfast."
"Okay, let's go," Cassie said as she grabbed her purse, glancing at Alan as he followed her and closed the door behind them.
They walked silently to the car. Hannah looked around, and when she didn't see the gardener anywhere around, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Tell me," Cassie insisted as she buckled her seat belt a few minutes later.
Chad backed the car out of the parking spot as Hannah began to explain, "I was visited by two spirits last night. Robert and Roman Carrington both came to my room."
"Why?" Cassie asked in awe. She squeezed Alan's hand, seeking reassurance.
"It would appear that Mr. Carrington came here because he was interested in the legend. He apparently did some digging and stumbled across the identity of Robert's murderer. Before he could do anything with the evidence, he was also murdered. Apparently, he did not die of natural causes. He says the murderer poisoned him to keep him quiet. The drug he was given causes the body to mimic a heart attack, and there was no reason for the authorities to suspect foul play, so it was recorded as a heart attack and dropped."
"Oh my God!" the other girl exclaimed. "Did they tell you who it was?"
"They hinted, and from the clues they gave me, there is only one answer. Mr. Patterson is the murderer. That would explain why he doesn't talk to anyone and why he became agitated when I brought up the subject."
"Do you think we are in danger?" Cassie asked, glancing over at Alan.
"We may be. Chad and I discussed the possibility. Of course, he was showering when the visit occurred. The ghosts don't seem to want to talk to me when he is around. That's why I wanted to go out for breakfast, so we could talk in private, away from the inn."
"I think we should leave." Alan said.
"Robert and Roman are counting on me to bring the killer to justice. They said they haven't been able to cross over. Robert also believes that Pamela will arrive soon. They need closure. They feel I've been sent here to help them."
"What do they think you can do?" Cassie asked. "I'm scared."
"They say I know where to find the evidence. That's all they would say. I was up all night trying to piece it all together, and I think I know what they meant. The only problem is how to get to it without our friend, the gardener, finding out."
"He leaves at five o'clock every afternoon and doesn't return until eight the next morning," Cassie reminded her.
"I know, but if he suspects we are on to him, he might be lurking around the grounds."
"What about Steven? Can we enlist his help?" Cassie asked.
"Who is Steven?" Alan asked.
"He works at the front desk. He and I chatted over coffee one morning about the legend. He said that Mr. Patterson is the only person still around that was here at the time of Robert's murder," Hannah informed him.
"I don't know. At least we would have some added protection if he was with us," Cassie said.
Chad cleared his throat.
"Not that you and Alan wouldn't protect us. I just think there is safety in numbers," Cassie was quick to add.
"Where do you think the evidence is? I assume they are referring to the murder weapon, the knife. That must tie into the message written in steam on your mirror," Alan asked.
"I believe it's buried on the grounds, possibly near the rose bushes where we spoke to Mr. Patterson. That's the only thing I could come up with when they kept insisting I knew where to look," Hannah said thoughtfully.
"This is getting crazier by the second," Cassie said with a shiver. "The whole thing just sends a chill up my spine."
"How do you think I feel? You're only hearing it second-hand. I'm getting the information from the spirits themselves."
"How are we going to find it? We can't just go digging up the ground a
round the inn," Cassie pointed out.
"That's where Steven comes in. I've got to get him alone and try to make him believe me," Hannah replied.
"That may not be easy. I'm sure he sees his share of crazies walk through the doors of the inn."
"I have to try."
Chad spoke finally, "I think it's good to have an employee of the inn involved."
They returned a few hours later, after much discussion over breakfast, and discovered that Steven was on duty. Hannah walked over to the counter and said, "Would you like to join us for dinner when your shift is over? There's something we'd like to discuss with you."
The young man smiled. "Does this have anything to do with what we talked about over coffee the other day?" he asked teasingly.
"Actually, it does," she replied. "I promise you, if it wasn't important, I wouldn't trouble you."
"Hey, I'm up for a good mystery. I get off at six. I can take the four of you to a local bar and grill."
"We'll meet you here in the lobby at six. Thank you so much," Hannah said.
"It will be my pleasure," the man said.
That evening, the desk clerk drove them all to a nearby eatery, as promised. They enjoyed the appetizers Steven had ordered for them to share and began to relax and enjoy the ambiance of the tiny bar.
"So, tell me what's so important? Did you dig up some more information on the murder?" Steven asked as he took a sip of his beer.
"I didn't tell you this before, but ever since my first night in room 5, I have been visited by a spirit. I'm not crazy, Steven. I have spoken with him," Hannah told him.
"I didn't say you were crazy. I've heard the stories about Robert's ghost showing up in room 5 before. I haven't heard of any conversations with him, though."
Hannah gave the man a condensed version of all that occurred in her room since her arrival at the inn, ending with the events of the night before. Chad backed her up on it, explaining that he was either in the other room or asleep when the visits happened, but added that he had no reason to doubt that Hannah believed all of it to be true.
"Wow, if that's the case, who would have thought? Old Patterson, the murderer, no one suspected that. And why was he after Pamela Sue? Do you think he just took a liking to her and wanted her for himself?"
Hannah's Horror: A Romantic Mystery Page 4
