by Pat Amsden
A Ghostly Affair
By Pat Amsden
Text copyright C 2014 Pat Amsden
All Rights Reserved
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
To ghosts and goblins everywhere.
May you stay safe while enjoying the spirit of the season
Table of Contents
A Ghostly Affair
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Recipes
Chocolate Worth Dying For
Chapter One
“There are no ghosts here,” Maxine said, as Heath helped her carry in supplies. They were catering the Castle Society’s annual fundraiser and here was Craigdarroch Castle.
The Castle was large and grand, the house Robert Dunsmuir had promised his young bride, Joan, before they made the trip to the new world, from Scotland as a young immigrant. It also announced to the world that he, Robert Dunsmuir, was a man of substance. In fact, he was the richest, most important man in Canada when he started building it in 1887. He’d died in 1889, before the castle was finished leaving his wife, Joan to live out her days there, along with her daughters.
But Maxine wasn’t going to let herself be swayed by stories of ghosts in the castle. She certainly wasn’t going to allow her staff to scare themselves silly over tales of Joan showing up out of thin air. Maxine didn’t believe in ghosts.
The kitchen she was using, though, was hardly state of the art. While undoubtedly updated since the original inhabitants lived in the castle, it left much to be desired. Maxine had not made a success of her business as owner of Au Chocolate and caterer by letting such things stop her. She brought in warming pans to keep the hot appetizers heated and made sure another cooling unit was available for anything in need of cooling.
With over a hundred of Victoria’s most prominent citizens expected to attend, it was up to her to make sure the event went off without a hitch.
“You mean richest,” Heath said grinning at her. Six feet two with spiked brown hair and a tattoo on his arm he’d been with her from the start. Only a few years younger than her he had an irreverent attitude towards life but he’d earned her trust many times over and she’d have been lost without him.
“They are trying to raise money,” she admitted. “But I’m sure there will be at least one person here who’s invited not just because he, or she, can afford to make a hefty donation.”
“Maybe a ghost.”
“Bite your tongue.”
“A ghost would only add to the affair. And Craigdarroch is known to be haunted. They even talk about it during school tours.”
“Well, tonight,” Maxine said determinedly, “they can stay away. I have enough to deal with as it is. Why is it so many catered events are staged in venues where people have to run up and down stairs to serve anything?”
“At least everyone’s on-board and ready to go tonight.” Everybody included Jane, Marcus and Ally, along with Sara and Danielle.
“Still, 85 stairs. I don’t care how authentic they’re trying to keep the place they could put in an elevator.”
Already a few of the guests were arriving although the event didn’t start until eight and it was only seven thirty now. Whatever happened to fashionably late Maxine wondered.
Trays filled with chicken satay skewers and salad shooters, cucumber and lox twists, bacon wrapped meatballs and several other hors d’oeuvre ensured guests would be well fed.
And then there were the chocolates. Trays and trays of the truffles she was so justly famous for. Raspberry, Kahlua, Pumpkin Spice, Buttered Rum and a myriad of others, along with chocolate covered caramels and numerous other delights Victorians had come to know her for.
She looked up to see Wendy Carr approaching her. Dressed in a ball gown which could easily have been worn at one of the dances held by the Dunsmuir’s, oh so long ago, she carried a fan which she fanned herself with. Maxine half-expected to find her little dog, Toto, hidden in her skirts.
“Darling, you’ve outdone yourself,” Wendy declared looking over everything. “This evening can’t fail to be a success.” She took a chocolate raspberry truffle from the tray Maxine held out. “Honestly, these are to die for.” She shivered slightly. “I don’t mean that literally,” she said hastily.
Maxine shivered too, remembering another fundraising event a couple of years ago. A man had died, clutching one of her truffles in his hand as he did so. It had not been an auspicious start to her new catering business. By the time she discovered who was behind it another of Wendy’s dearest friends had become a victim. Another turned out to be the killer.
Two years later Wendy Carr had put her life back together. Newly single, having divorced her husband, rather than live in a shell of a marriage, she seemed to show up at events with a string of younger men, while avoiding any serious relationships. And as the fundraising chair of the Historical Society she’d been instrumental in making sure Maxine catered the event.
Though she could’ve been forgiven for becoming bitter she seemed to have softened. Given her sharp tongue of a few years ago that was just as well.
From the floors above music drifted down. 19th century waltzes and other dances of the era had been replaced with a more modern selection. At present the Monster Mash had taken over.
“I somehow can’t see the people invited to this party getting down and doing a graveyard smash.”
Wendy rolled her eyes. “I know but it was unanimous when I asked for volunteers to run the music. George. It’s what he does in his spare time. Along with his teenage son.”
George Dent. The managing partner of the biggest law firm in town. No doubt more than one of the clients he’d acted for in his twenty some odd years as a lawyer would identify with ‘I Put A Spell On You’, as the song echoed throughout the castle.
“Is his son helping?” She pictured him in her mind. Tall and lanky, with legs and arms which seemed too long for his body, at fourteen he had the awkwardness of someone not quite comfortable in his own skin. He made up for it with a shy smile that lit up the room and blue eyes which sparkled with intelligence.
“I suspect it’s George’s way of keeping him out of trouble.” Wendy gave a small smile, “I’d better get out there and start mingling,” she said taking a truffle as she went.
Maxine sent the first round of appetizers out and gave instructions to Marcus and Ally. “A new tray every fifteen minutes, if not more. Start from opposite ends of the room.”
Taking a tray herself she headed up the stairs. The party was destined to be a huge success with over half the crowd there already and it was barely eight o’clock. Ghosts and goblins, princesses and popular cartoon characters such as Batman, Spiderman and Arrow, from the hit TV show, filled the room.
People oohed and ahhed over spectacular, over-the-top and just plain scary costumes.
Tanya came over now, clutching what looked like a martini in her hand. Maxine greeted her with a smile, noting her latest boyfriend, developer Zak Forrestor, had stopped to talk to someone. Dressed as a sexy vampire,
Maxine hoped she didn’t over-indulge tonight.
Tanya held up her drink which was red and sparkled like blood in the light. “Pomegranate juice with tonic water! Let me know if you need any help. You are the BEST caterer! Look at the turnout already.”
“I think it’s more Wendy’s doing,” she said modestly. “Try one of these,” she said giving her a cucumber lox appetizer.
“I wonder if Joan will be here tonight?” Tanya asked. A part-time model and full-time friend Tanya was blonde, bubbly and fun. But the blonde hid a razor-sharp intelligence and more than once she’d saved the day for Maxine. Unfortunately she also had a habit of over-indulging so the Pomegranate and tonic water was good news.
“Joan?”
“Joan Dunsmuir, the original mistress of this castle. This is just the type of event she’d like. She loved entertaining.”
“So sad though,” Maureen Ruckles said, local historian and author of over five books, one on Craigdarroch Castle. “Her husband built the castle for her and died before it was even completed.” She helped herself to a chicken satay skewer.
“Mm, so good,” Tanya said. “So, they never lived in the castle?”
“Oh, she lived here to her death along with her daughters. Numerous balls were held here. In fact,” Maureen said dramatically, “some claim they can feel her presence in the room and there’s a feeling of happiness when she’s there.”
“Not what I heard,” Jan Meyer said, a local investment advisor. “A friend of mine swears when she went through in high school there was a cold and angry presence whenever they were in Joan’s rooms.”
“So, I wouldn’t want fifty million school kids tromping through my bedroom or private areas either,” Tanya said airily and waved at Zak, busy talking. She headed off in his direction and Maxine headed back downstairs. Originally dumbwaiters had been used to bring food up from the lower levels to the dining room. But the Castle society volunteer she’d spoken to had made it clear they were no longer in use.
She passed Sara and Danielle coming up with more trays of appetizers. They were definitely getting bonuses tonight if everything went well. And she was sure things would. She was less sure a few minutes later.
She watched in horror as a ghostly shape appeared out of nowhere flying straight at Zak Forrestor as he started down the stairs. He turned to see what made everyone give a collective gasp only to have it virtually accost him throwing him off balance and causing him to fall over the staircase. Maxine watched in horror as he fell to the bottom, landing with a sickening thud. She rushed to him along with another lady dressed in a nurse costume. But she was afraid it was going to take more than an ambulance and paramedics to save Zak Forrestor. The way his neck was twisted wasn’t normal.
As someone called 911, Dr. Matthews came forward. “Don’t move him,” he warned everyone as he bent down taking his pulse. But Zak Forrestor was beyond saving. Tanya came rushing down the stairs, spilling red drops of pomegranate juice in her haste as she knelt down beside Dr. Matthews.
“Zak,” she cried. “Zak, you’re going to be all right.” But there was no movement from Zak, no hint of life and she looked up at Dr. Matthews in horror. “ He’s not dead,” she said. “He’s not. He can’t be-“
Her big blue eyes got bigger, filling with tears as she looked in Dr.Matthews’ face. She started to shake her head as Maxine put her arm around her and helped her to her feet. “No, no, he can’t be dead.”
Maxine led her away and into the kitchens. In a small corner off to the side she seated her in a chair. She wished there were somewhere more private they could go, well aware of the looks and whispers from her catering staff, but it was the best she could do on such short notice.
“Can I get you anything,” she asked Tanya gently.
Tanya shook her head wildly. “Just find out what happened. He was alive and happy before…before…” she started to shake violently.
But there were no answers forthcoming. Others had seen the ghost attack to and heard cackling laughter. But all traces of it seemed to have disappeared
Detective Patrick Shannon, a friend and sometimes more, of Maxine appeared on the scene. He nodded to Tanya with genuine concern as he gestured for Maxine to join him.
“We’re questioning the guests and I’ve got a couple of plain clothes going through the castle as we speak, but so far nothing.”
“Oh come on. You’re not trying to tell me this is a ghost!” Maxine looked at him in shock. At six feet three with blue-black hair and blue eyes he didn’t exactly fade into the woodwork. But he was good at his job. Even if he did have a disturbing habit of trying to stop Maxine from getting involved.
She looked at him suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re telling me everything?”
“Nothing to tell,” he said glumly. “Believe me I’m not a big believer in ghost stories either. But there’s nothing so far to indicate anything more than a tragic accident.”
“And you’re leaving it at that?”
“No choice really. If Tanya knows anything she wants to tell us she can always give me a call but-“
“You don’t need to question her then?” At least there was one small sliver of light in the whole mess she thought as he confirmed this.
Guests departed rapidly as police let them know the questioning was over. She had no doubt Nikki Benshaw had pictures and would splash them over the front page of her glorified gossip rag come morning.
But for now she needed to take Tanya home and make sure all their food and supplies were taken away, with the Castle left in pristine condition. As if no one had ever been there. She sighed, feeling much older than her twenty-seven years.
“One thing,” Patrick Shannon said, coming back over. “Is Tanya his next of kin or does she know who we should notify?”
From the corner came a fresh round of crying. Tanya looked up at Detective Patrick Shannon as he approached. “His parents. You’ll need to notify his parents.” She shook her head. “I never met them and I doubt they’ll want to hear this from me.”
Patrick Shannon nodded as he pulled a chair up next to her. “Do you know how we’d reach them?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know their number but he had it on his phone. He called them a few times when we were together.”
Chapter Two
Maxine’s shop was filled with people drinking coffee, eating chocolates and gossiping.
“I guess all those ghost stories are true,” Francine Walker from the bank said.
“I still say it was a prank pulled by some kids,” another man said.
“The police searched the Castle. They’d have found something.”
“Not if they were like me. Bet you they were scared shitless when they realized what they’d done. They probably got all the evidence out of there as soon as possible and destroyed it.”
Maxine couldn’t help thinking there might be something to the theory. But the only young person she’d seen there had been George Dent's son. She was pretty sure he had the intelligence to do something of this type, but not the malice. And she couldn’t see him hiding it if he was the guilty party. From what she’d seen of him he was a nice kid. It couldn’t hurt to ask a few questions though, could it?
“And how, exactly, are you planning on doing that?” Heath said, when she mentioned something about it later,while they were putting together a cake for Sheila Hamers’ anniversary party.
“I need a reason to talk to him,” she said. Or George’s wife. Once she was in their house she’d come up with a reason to talk to their son.
Karin Dent was a busy lady with a decorating business of her own and she participated in multiple social events. An elegant woman, Maxine thought. In her mid-thirties she’d been at the party dressed in a long flowing gown of green and gold. Mother Earth she’d called herself if Maxine’s memory served her correctly. Karin Dent was clearly the type of person who could use a caterer on a regular basis.
Could she appeal to her vanity? She thought about i
t as she helped put the cake together with layers of buttercream icing. Leaving Heath to put a layer of rich chocolate ganache over the cake she made a phone call.
“Karin,” I was hoping I could get some help from you,” she said.
“Sure,” Karin said warmly. “Are you thinking of doing some decorating?”
“Not just yet,” she said brightly. “But who knows, if you help me with this I may have so much business I’ll have to get a bigger place in need of decorating.”
Karin laughed politely.
“I was hoping I could get your advice. I thought if I put together a selection of chocolate treats I could offer them at a set price.”
“Sure, sounds like a great idea. But you do that all the time don’t you?”
“For special occasions and events. I’m thinking of orders for open houses and other types of commercial showings. And you have such good taste…”
“Oh, well, flattery will get you everywhere. Did you want me to drop by the shop sometime?
“Of course not. You’re helping me out! I thought I’d drop by your place with some of my ideas. Of course I’ll bring you a box of truffles too, for helping.”
“I’ve got some time this afternoon if that works for you,” Karin said graciously.
“Is two o’clock good for you?”
“Make it one thirty and we’ve got a date,” Karin said warmly. “I’ve got a client meeting later in the afternoon.”
Heath looked up as she put her phone away. “Let me guess, I’m doing this cake on my own.”
“Pretty much,” Maxine admitted feeling a touch of guilt. But not too much. She knew Heath could handle the cake in his sleep – with one hand tied behind his back. “I’ll do some of the finishing touches,” when I get back.
She raided the cooler, pulling out an array of chocolate brownies, truffles, a chocolate silk pie and chocolate caramel filled cookies along with black and whites. In addition she made sure she took a box of Karin’s favorite truffles.
As she drove up the driveway to Karin’s house she admired the beauty of their house with its’ Craftsman style overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On the beach across the road she could see a couple walking their dog, while further along several people were flying kites. There was enough wind to send them soaring into the air. She watched as a dragon kite spiraled happily into the sky while another kite master sent his into the air doing a choreographed dance. But the kite flyer having the most fun was a boy of about eight who threw his dollar store special into the air with abandon catching the wind and then running in circles to the disgust of more serious kite masters.
