The Legend of Fuller’s Island

by Jan Fields

  The beam of the flashlight swept over Annie. “Uncle Bob is lying, and I don’t know why,” she said. “Everyone is acting so weird. Your friends rented the boat four times, and they always brought it back before the shop closed, except for the last time.”

  “The last time when it showed up late at night?” Annie said.

  Ellie shook her head. “It never showed up. Uncle Bob took another boat out to the island and towed it back.”

  “So they could still be on the island?” Annie said.

  “Not according to Chief Harper,” Ian reminded her. “He said they searched.”

  “But how hard do you think they looked?” Annie asked. “They thought Alice and Jim had brought the boat back.”

  “Well, maybe they thought it,” Ellie said. “I don’t know what’s going on, but a lot of people are acting weird. Everyone’s giving out orders, and no one’s telling me anything.”

  “Like your friend at the pizza parlor?” Annie asked.

  “Yeah, his boss told him that if anyone asked, he was supposed to say he didn’t remember your friends,” Ellie said. “Billy doesn’t want to lose his job. There aren’t that many jobs to be had around here.”

  “Do you have any idea who might be behind the misinformation?” Ian asked. “Does it all seem to be your Uncle Bob’s idea, or is it coming from somewhere else?”

  “I don’t think it’s Uncle Bob,” Ellie said. “I think he’s scared.”

  “You think someone is threatening him?” Annie asked.

  Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’ve never seen my Uncle Bob scared, and he deals with some scary stuff, sometimes, out in the swamp.”

  “We have to get out to that island,” Annie said. “Do you know of anyone who’ll rent us a boat?”

  Ellie shook her head. “Uncle Bob called a bunch of people after you left. He sent me on errands, but I eavesdropped some first. He was telling folks not to rent to you.”

  “But you didn’t hear him say why?” Ian asked.

  “Nothing that made sense. He said that if they rented a boat to you people, it would come back to bite them.”

  “We have to find a way,” Annie said. “If Jim and Alice are on the island, we need to go out there.”

  “I think we should talk to Chief Harper,” Ian said. “When he hears that Jim and Alice didn’t return the boat, he’ll have to send someone out to do a proper search of the island.”

  Ellie reached out to clutch at Annie’s sleeve. “You can’t tell Chief Harper that I told you about the boat. I don’t want Uncle Bob to get into trouble.”

  “Ian, we don’t even know if Chief Harper is interested in helping us,” Annie said. “It sounds like a lot of people in this town would rather we just gave up and went away.”

  “Look, I can get you out to the island,” Ellie said. “I have a boat. It’s not as nice as Uncle Bob’s boats, but it’ll get you there. It’s just that we can’t go during the day. I can’t let anyone find out that I took you.”

  “How big is this boat?” Ian asked. “Big enough to take us to the island and bring Jim and Alice back?”

  “Big enough,” Ellie said. “Though … it might be better if everyone didn’t weigh too much.”

  “Ellie, is this boat safe?” Ian asked.

  “I use it all the time,” Ellie said.

  Annie noticed that wasn’t exactly an answer to Ian’s question, but it also sounded like hers was the only boat they were likely to find to take them out to the island. “Maybe you could just tell us where to find the boat,” Annie said. “Then you wouldn’t get into trouble for helping us.”

  Ellie shook her head. “The motor is kind of temperamental. And you kinda have to bail sometimes when the pump goes out. I don’t want to feel like it’s my fault if you two turn up missing too.”

  “Bailing,” Ian muttered. “That’s great.”

  Annie ignored him. “I really appreciate your help. When can you take us to the island? Now?”

  “No,” Ian said. “If we’re going to the island, I want to be sure people know exactly where we are. And I want to bring some emergency equipment. Can you take us tomorrow?”

  “Yes,” Ellie said. “But if Uncle Bob gets a hint of this, I won’t be able to help you anymore.”

  “Then we better learn what we need to know in the first trip,” Ian said.

  “Let me have your cell number,” Ellie said. “I’ll call you as soon as I can get away.”

  They exchanged numbers, and Ellie quickly headed into the woods. They saw the bobbing light of her flashlight for a while, and then nothing. Ian and Annie got back in the SUV, and Ian turned around in the bend of the road in silence.

  Once they were on sure roads back to the inn, Ian called Mary Beth and Stella to let them know they were on their way back. He then took a deep breath and said, “I don’t like this. It feels too dangerous.”

  “Ellie has helped us more than anyone else in town,” Annie said. “If Jim and Alice are on the island, I’m willing to take the risk.”

  “But what happens if Ellie’s boat sinks halfway to the island?” Ian asked.

  “The island is barely a half mile from the mainland,” Annie said. “I can swim that far—can’t you?”

  “In the dark?” Ian said. “With who knows what in the water? Maybe. But do you think Stella can?”

  Annie shook her head. “No, but we shouldn’t all go anyway. Someone should stay on this side and call for help if we need it.”

  “I need to think about this,” Ian said.

  “I don’t,” Annie answered. “Jim and Alice might be on that island. And I’m going out there. If you want to stay on shore and be part of the safety line, I’m fine with that.”

  “That’s the kind of wild idea that drives me crazy,” Ian said, glaring out at the darkness in front of them as he drove. “You take a lot of risks with your own safety. I don’t like this. I don’t want you hurt.”

  “And I don’t want to be hurt,” Annie said. “But I can’t just wait for Alice to turn up. I have to look for her.”

  Ian nodded but didn’t say anything else, and they finished the drive to the inn in silence.

  “I’m comfortable being your mainland safety net,” Stella said. “I have no interest in swimming when the boat sinks.”

  “I’ll risk a swim,” Mary Beth said. “I really want to see the island. And if Jim and Alice are stuck somewhere, you might need all the hands you can get.”

  “Especially if you’re searching in the middle of the night,” Stella said.

  Ian crossed his arms over his chest and looked around the room. “I still reserve the right to veto this plan when I see the boat,” he said.

  Mary Beth stood up and gave him a pat on the arm as she headed for the door. “You can certainly try vetoing, Mr. Mayor. Now, I’m heading up to bed. If we’re having an adventure tomorrow, I need my sleep.”

  “I need mine also,” Stella said. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

  Ian frowned, but he allowed Stella to herd them out of the room. “This discussion isn’t over,” he told Annie quietly as they walked up the stairs toward their rooms.

  “Sleep well,” Annie said sweetly.

  Annie was surprised to discover that she did slept well and woke excited to finally have a lead about Alice and Jim. The group gathered in the charming breakfast room of the inn. Sunday brunch proved to be very popular, as Mrs. Ayers had warned. As they ate the delicious food, Annie felt curious eyes turned their way from all over the room.

  “We’re certainly popular,” Mary Beth said as she cut her slice of country ham and took a bite. “Oh, yum. I thought the eggs were lovely, but this ham is amazing.”

  “So are the crepes,” Stella said; then she glanced around the room. “One would think food this good would have the attention of everyone in the room. Instead, it seems we do.”

  “From what we’ve heard,” Ian said as he cut into a fluffy pancake, “we’re the talk of the town.”

 
“But we are definitely not the people the town wants to talk to,” Annie said. She scanned the room but wasn’t able to catch anyone’s eye. As soon as anyone saw her looking, they suddenly became very focused on the plates in front of them.

  “So what’s on for the daylight hours?” Mary Beth asked quietly.

  “I think we should keep asking questions,” Annie said. “We don’t want anyone to think we’re starting to get any answers.”

  “Where do you want to start asking?” Stella asked.

  “I believe we should visit the historical society,” Annie said. “We know Jim spoke to someone there—at least on the phone.”

  “That sounds reasonable,” Ian told her. “Shall we all descend on them?”

  “Maybe not all of us,” Annie said. “I wonder if we should also ask at other restaurants and inns, just to look properly clueless.”

  “How about we split up?” Mary Beth said. “I could drop you and Ian at the historical society, and then Stella and I could check out some of the local restaurants and inns. I have a photo of Alice from a Hook and Needle Club meeting that I can show around. You could call me when you’re done with the historical society, and I’ll pick you up.”

  “We should probably ask at the newspaper office too,” Annie said. “I saw that it was right next to the historical society.”

  “That sounds reasonable,” Stella said.

  With the plan in place, they focused on the meal for the rest of the time, chatting about more normal things. Annie let the conversation wash over her, but found she simply couldn’t lose herself in normal chatter. Within a matter of hours, she might finally have some answers about Jim and Alice.

  She jumped when she felt a warm hand cover hers. “Did you sleep last night?” Ian asked quietly.

  “Better than I expected,” Annie admitted. “Though I was a little wired at first. I am so happy that we’re making some headway. I’m just having trouble waiting.”

  “Don’t think of it as waiting,” Ian said. “We may learn some important things today, even before nightfall.”

  “Of course,” Annie said, smiling. Then she looked around at her friends and noticed everyone had finished eating. Her own plate had more food moved around than eaten, but she had no interest in eating more. “Shall we get started?” she asked.

  The drive to the historical society reminded them again of just how beaten down the small town looked. They passed several buildings that had once housed stores of one sort or another, but now the shops had broken windows, and weeds grew from the deep cracks in the parking lots.

  Mary Beth pulled onto the cracked pavement that surrounded the Preacher’s Reach News office. “Since it’s Sunday, I’ll wait while you see if the historical society or newspapaer office are even open.”

  “Good idea,” Ian said. He and Annie climbed out of the SUV and hurried across the pavement toward the historical society building. Annie could feel the baking heat right through the soles of her shoes.

  The metal and glass door of the historical society had no hours posted, but the door opened easily when Annie pulled on it. She stepped into the cool interior. Ian waved toward Mary Beth’s SUV before following Annie inside.

  The interior was dimly lit and mostly one large room with only a few windows high on the walls. Cheap bookcases, stuffed with books and boxes, lined the wall space. A few battered tables were piled with more books and stacks of papers. “Anyone here?” Annie called.

  A door opened near the far corner and a woman in a neat suit walked out. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know anyone was here. I really should get a bell for the door.”

  “You probably don’t get a lot of Sunday visitors,” Ian said.

  “Not so many,” the woman agreed. “How can I help you? Are you looking for the local cemeteries? I do have some maps.”

  “Actually, we’re not interested in cemeteries,” Annie said.

  “Really?” the woman seemed surprised. “Most tourists who come in are asking about the old cemeteries—especially slave cemeteries. It was quite ‘the thing’ for a while.”

  “Oh,” Annie said. “Do you have a lot of slave cemeteries?”

  “Not really,” the woman said. “A few small ones.” Then she smiled. “Forgive me my manners. I’m Beatrice Harlow.”

  “My name is Annie Dawson, and this is my friend Ian Butler,” Annie said. “We’re actually interested in Fuller’s Island.”

  “Really?” the woman smiled indulgently. “Just the island or are you interested in other haunted areas as well. I have maps … .”

  “Do you have many haunted areas?” Ian asked.

  “Well, one of the slave cemeteries is said to be quite active,” the woman said. “And the Bonneau’s Plantation House. It’s an inn now with a ridiculous name. Preacher’s Rest they call it. The owners don’t really like ghost hunting—well, Mrs. Ayers doesn’t. Her brother is much more open to it, but he’s so rarely around. At any rate, with Mrs. Ayers not being appreciative of seekers of the spirit realm, any investigation must be done discreetly.”

  “What about you?” Ian asked. “Are you open to it?”

  “I like to think of myself as open-minded,” Mrs. Harlow said.

  “Perhaps you met some friends of ours,” Annie said. “They’re both very open-minded, and they were especially interested in Fuller’s Island.”

  The old woman wrinkled her nose. “It wasn’t that young couple from the Adventurer’s Club? They were not open-minded … not really. At least the young man wasn’t. I can sense these things. I think they just liked getting attention. He kept talking about going ‘viral,’ whatever that means.”

  “Those aren’t the people we’re looking for, but I think I saw a video that the young couple made,” Annie said. “Did they visit Fuller’s Island recently?”

  The old woman nodded. “In the late summer.”

  “Are they the last people who showed an interest in the island?” Ian asked.

  “No,” the woman said. “There was that nice couple in love. The man said he was a photographer. They were very polite, and I believe they are both very open to extraordinary experiences. I could sense it.”

  Annie quickly pulled the photo of Alice from her pocket. “Was this the woman?”

  “Oh yes,” the woman said, smiling and nodding. “Such a pretty girl, and I could tell her beau doted on her.”

  Annie smiled. Alice should hear herself called a girl. “Yes, he does. What did you tell them about the island?”

  “Well, there’s the legend, of course,” the woman said. “But I went out to the island many times when I was young. It was the thing for teenagers to do after the sanitarium closed. I mostly saw kudzu, Spanish moss, and mud. I’m very sensitive, so if there were ghosts, I think I would know.”

  “I’m sure you would,” Ian said. “But would you be willing to tell us the legend anyway?”

  Mrs. Harlow beamed at him. “Certainly, I don’t mind. Shall we sit? My hips and back do get tired of standing after a while.”

  “Of course,” Ian quickly pulled up a chair for the woman, and then he unloaded books from a couple of other chairs for himself and Annie.

  “It really all started when Matthew Steven Fuller offended one of the mainland women, Maggie Cantrell. “She was a witch for sure, that one,” Mrs. Harlow said. “She cursed the Fullers and their island—called the hounds of hell down on the family. Said as long as Fullers lived on the island, the hounds would hunt.”

  “And they did?” Ian said when the woman paused.

  “So the story goes,” Mrs. Harlow said. “Three servants were injured by the hounds as well as some mainland people who may have been poaching on the land. Then Mr. Fuller himself was attacked, and he died from the injuries. His family all gathered for the funeral, but they left altogether soon after. Everyone here ’bouts thought they’d never be back, but then the old man’s great-grandson moved to the island after the war and set up his sanitarium for the wealthy.”

&n
bsp; “How did the local people feel about that?” Ian asked.

  “Well, they weren’t happy,” Mrs. Harlow said. “Him tempting the curse like that. I have to say he tried. He kept his family there even after his patients started leaving him—all scared away by the hounds.”

  “Were there more attacks?” Ian said.

  “No—except for the one on the doctor himself,” Mrs. Harlow said. “That’s when the family moved to the mainland. They lived just outside Preacher’s Reach for a while, and his daughter even married a local boy. I can tell you that her Mama didn’t like that much. Anyway, when the daughter moved away with her new husband, the Fullers became hermits. No one ever saw them in town.”

  “Maybe they did their shopping somewhere else?” Annie said.

  Mrs. Harlow shrugged. “Maybe. At any rate, no one has reported any ghostly happenings on the island since then.”

  “Except for the young couple that you mentioned,” Annie said. “They put a video on their website that certainly made it seem like they were chased by dogs.”

  The woman shook her head. “I wouldn’t believe a speck of it. I tell you, I was on the island about thirty years ago. There’s not a ghost there. I’d stake my reputation on it.”

  Then she smiled and lowered her voice. “Though I have begun to suspect the island has had visitations.”

  “Visitations?” Annie echoed. “From who?”

  The old woman pointed upwards.

  “From God?” Ian asked, confused.

  She shook her head. “From aliens. People have been reporting lights. And alien visitations are quite common along the coast.”

  “Oh,” Annie said, not sure what to say.

  Mrs. Harlow straightened in her chair and smiled. “But if it’s ghosts you’re interested in, you really should check out that inn. Take a little walk out beyond the out buildings. All that overgrown field? There are graves there, and they’re restless.”

  “Thank you,” Ian said. “We’ll check that out.”

  Mrs. Harlow smiled. “Good. I used to walk out there to commune with the spirits, but Mrs. Ayers didn’t like that. She said it was bad for business. What do the spirits care about business?”

  “Probably not much,” Ian said agreeably.