Cold Chills (A Finn McCoy Paranormal Thriller Book 3)

by Scott Langrel

  He got up and walked over to where Amanda, Deidre, and Frank were staring lethargically at their own monitors.

  “Has anyone seen any mention of the father?”

  Frank looked up from the computer. “What?”

  “Chikao Kimura’s father. We know Harumi was his mother, but why isn’t his father mentioned anywhere?”

  “That’s right,” Amanda said. “There’s been nothing about him at all.”

  “Maybe he died before the snowstorm,” Frank offered. “That would explain why there’s no mention of him.”

  “I guess it’s possible,” McCoy admitted. “But I’m starting to think he’s the link between Harumi and Shallow Springs. Would it be possible to access the boy’s birth records?”

  Deidre shook her head. “I don’t see how. If he’d been born here in the States, then maybe. But you’d have to go through a lot of red tape to get them from another country, and it would probably take weeks.”

  “Which we don’t have,” Amanda added.

  “Yeah, you’re right. Okay, let’s assume he wasn’t dead before all of that happened. Why would there be nothing at all about him?”

  “Maybe they weren’t married,” Frank said.

  McCoy considered that. “I assume that was frowned upon in Japan in the 1950’s.”

  “It’s frowned upon even now. I can imagine it was virtually unheard of back then. Children without fathers are looked down upon.”

  “But that kind of makes sense,” Amanda said. “If Chikao’s mother and father weren’t married, there would be no mention of him at all. Her own family may have not even known his identity.”

  “That sounds like it could be right,” Deidre admitted. “But it doesn’t really help us. In fact, it’ll make it nearly impossible to determine his identity.”

  “Maybe not,” McCoy said. “Let’s look at what we have. Harumi is here, and that means her remains have to be here. So it stands to reason that we’re looking for a man who would have been in Japan in the early fifties. If we assume he was around the same age as Harumi, he’d be in his late seventies or early eighties now, if he’s still living.”

  “Okay,” Amanda said. “So what would a young man from Shallow Springs have been doing In Japan in the fifties?”

  “Maybe he was in the military,” Frank suggested. “It’s the only reason I can think of.”

  “Well, that would narrow it down quite a bit,” Deidre said. “I’d think there couldn’t be more than a handful of men who would fit that bill. I’ll start running a check.”

  “Don’t waste your time,” McCoy said, reaching for his hat. “I believe I’ve already met him.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Basil Denton lay in his bed and stared at the ceiling. The nightmares, which had been absent for so long, were back and getting worse with each passing night. Try as he might, he couldn’t understand why the bad dreams had returned after all those years, and with a vengeance. He supposed it had something to do with the snowstorm. He hoped so, because that meant that the nightmares would subside with the melting snow.

  A weak light streamed in through the mobile home’s windows, announcing the arrival of dawn. Basil knew that he had to get up, but it was warm under the covers and he was loath to put his feet on the cold floor. He might have lain there for a while longer, but his bladder was full and his throat was dry. He wouldn’t be able to hold out for much longer, anyway.

  Resigning himself, Basil threw off his covers and, after much protest from his back, managed to get into a sitting position. It took another full minute before his worn-out knees would allow him to stand, and even then the mutinous joints creaked painfully with each step he took. Basil steadied himself against the trailer’s flimsy walls as he made his way down the narrow hallway to the bathroom.

  When his business was finished, he went to check the kerosene level in his heater. Hopefully, the power company would have the lights back on before nightfall. If not, he might have to call on the McCoy boy to bring him some more fuel.

  It had surprised Basil to see Finn McCoy back in the Springs. That boy had had a hard time of it when he was younger, and Basil remembered when McCoy had left town, right after Carl Peterson died. McCoy and Carl’s kid, Todd, had been best friends in school. Then Todd had taken ill—not physically, but mentally. Some of the older folks had mentioned witchcraft and curses in hushed tones, but Basil himself had never put much stock in those rumors.

  Whatever the truth of the matter had been, McCoy had stuck with Todd, and eventually the boy came out of whatever funk he had been in. Carl Peterson had been so grateful that he’d left McCoy a wad of cash in his will. It was a good thing, too, because McCoy had lost both of his parents around the same time. After old Carl kicked the bucket, McCoy had up and left town. He snuck back in every once in a while, but never for more than a day or two at a time.

  At any rate, McCoy seemed nice enough, and Basil hadn’t been lying when he’d said he’d been fond of Clayton McCoy. A finer, more honest man had never resided in the Springs. His death had hit the community hard, especially given the circumstances.

  Basil sauntered over to his recliner and plopped down heavily into it. He wished for some coffee, but with the power off, he was out of luck on that front. The next time he went grocery shopping, he would have to remember to pick up a jar of that instant stuff. It tasted like shit warmed over, but it would be better than nothing in a situation such as this.

  With no television and no radio, it was shaping up to be a long day. Basil supposed it could be worse, though. He could have ended up like poor Jimmy Radcliffe, frozen as hard as an ice cube out in the snow.

  He regretted that thought as soon as he had it, because it opened the door for other, more ancient memories to come flooding in. Memories from a time long ago and a place far away, and of a love taken from him by the same cruel elements.

  And of the loss of a child he had barely even known.

  ***

  McCoy walked into John’s office to find the sheriff stapling a sheet of plastic over his broken office window. He turned and regarded McCoy, sensing the urgency in the man’s movements.

  “What’s going on?” he asked as McCoy retrieved his knapsack and walking stick.

  “I know where they are,” McCoy said. “Harumi’s remains, and maybe the remains of her son, as well.”

  John fumbled with the staple gun, nearly dropping it. He caught it and sat it on his desk.

  “Where? How did you figure it out?”

  “I’ll explain on the way. Right now, we need to get out to Basil Denton’s place. Get your coat.”

  “Basil Denton? What’s that old man got to do with anything?”

  “Everything. He’s the reason the Yuki-Onna is here. Let’s go. We need to stop and get some kerosene on the way over.” McCoy turned and left the room, leaving John scrambling for his coat.

  “I’m going to need a few things,” McCoy said as he walked back into the main area. “Amanda, will you and Deidre make a shopping run for me?”

  “As long as it doesn’t involve eye of newt or anything like that,” Amanda answered. “I’m pretty sure all the shops in Shallow Springs would be fresh out.”

  “No, nothing that exotic. I need a bottle of red wine, a pack of white paper, and a quill.”

  “A quill? Like a feather?” Deidre asked.

  “Yeah. Any feather will do, but the larger the better. I have everything else I’ll need in my bag.”

  “Will you need us to bring the items to Basil’s trailer?” Amanda asked.

  “Probably. Call me when you find everything, and I’ll let you know where we stand. A lot of this depends on Basil’s cooperation. I hope we don’t have to force the old guy.”

  McCoy turned and headed for the door. John caught up with him as he stepped out into the frigid morning air.

  “Will we be able to end this by nightfall?” John asked as they walked to the waiting SUV.

  McCoy nodded. “With any luck, Haru
mi will be at peace before long. But a lot of it depends on Basil, and whether or not he’s willing to help.”

  John climbed into the Tahoe and started the engine. Cold air rushed from the vehicle’s heater vents, and the sheriff shut the fan off while the engine warmed up. McCoy slid into the passenger’s seat and placed his knapsack in the floorboard.

  “I still don’t understand how you put it together so quickly,” John said and he put the SUV in reverse and backed out of the parking space. “When I left you earlier, you weren’t even close to figuring it out.”

  “I had an epiphany,” McCoy explained. “It occurred to me that there was no mention of the father in any of the articles we’d studied. And since Harumi had no possible ties to Shallow Springs, the father had to be the key.”

  “Okay. That makes sense. But how in the world did you peg Basil as the father?”

  “When I was in his trailer last night, all of the clues were right there. I just didn’t pay attention to them, mainly because I didn’t know what I should be looking for yet.”

  “Clues?” John asked. “What clues?”

  “Basil told me he served in the military from fifty-one to fifty-nine. He served in Korea, and then remained stationed overseas. He didn’t say where, exactly, but it had to be Japan.”

  “And he married Harumi while he was there?”

  “No, that’s just it. Apparently, they were never married. Harumi gave birth to her son out of wedlock. Since that was a societal no-no, she must have found a way to cover it up.”

  “So Basil had their remains shipped back here? That doesn’t make any sense. If they were never married, why would Harumi’s family agree to that?”

  “I’m sure they wouldn’t have, unless they had disowned Harumi and her son, which is entirely possible. Apparently, having children out of wedlock is more taboo in Japan than it is here. And in the fifties, it was pretty uncommon even in the States.”

  They stopped at the Quickee Mart and got several gallons of kerosene. As they pulled back out onto the road, John said, “You know, it’s bound to be a painful subject for Basil. Dredging up those memories won’t be easy for him.”

  “I know that. I’ll be extremely tactful, trust me.”

  “This plan is doomed already,” John groaned.

  Five minutes later, John pulled to a stop in front of Basil’s trailer. The old man met them at the door, his face lighting up as he ushered the two inside.

  “Talk about service,” Basil said as he shut the door behind them. “I think this is the first time I’ve ever received a delivery I hadn’t even ordered yet.”

  “We were in the neighborhood,” McCoy said. “Thought we’d go ahead and drop this off.”

  “I appreciate it,” Basil said. “Take your coats off and stay a little while. How have you been, John Talbot?”

  “Hanging in there,” John replied.

  “That’s good to hear. How’s your father?”

  “As ornery as ever.”

  “I can imagine that. I wish I had some hot coffee to offer you fellas, but with the power off…”

  “That’s okay,” McCoy said. “I’ve already had enough coffee to float a battleship. I meant to ask you last night—which branch of the military did you serve in?”

  “The Marine Corps. I’m a jarhead through and through.”

  “You said you were stationed overseas after the war,” said McCoy. “Where at?”

  “The Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.”

  “That’s in Japan, right?” John asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Basil replied. “In Ginowan.”

  “Was there still a lot of resentment there after the war?” McCoy asked.

  “Some, sure. You gotta remember, this was only ten years after the bombings and the Japanese surrender. But it wasn’t as bad as you might think. The Japanese have a totally different culture. There’s more…honor in their way of life.”

  “So you came to respect them?” John asked.

  “Yes, I did. They’re a very noble people.”

  “Did you meet anyone in particular while you were stationed there?” McCoy asked.

  “What do you mean?” Basil asked. For the first time since they’d arrived, his smile faltered just a little.

  “You know. A girl, maybe?”

  Basil shook his head. “There were plenty of girls over there. But I didn’t have time for any of them. Besides, the brass looked down on fraternizing with the local women.”

  “I’m sure that didn’t stop everyone,” McCoy goaded.

  “No, but it damned well stopped me. Like I said, I really didn’t have time to fool around with them.”

  John gave McCoy a warning look, urging the handler to be careful. McCoy nodded back at him. He didn’t want to be callous, but he also didn’t have the time to dance around the subject. Besides, tact had never been one of his strong suits.

  “Basil, did you ever know a young woman named Harumi?”

  Basil jerked as if he’d been shot. He looked from McCoy to John, confusion and suspicion growing in his eyes.

  “What is this, fellas? What kind of game are you two playing?”

  “I’m afraid it’s not a game, Basil,” McCoy said. “Several people are dead, including your neighbor Jimmy.”

  “I had nothing to do with that,” Basil protested.

  “Not directly, no. But you’re involved, whether you like it or not.”

  Basil looked at John. “Are you in on this too, Sheriff?”

  “It’s complicated, Basil. You need to hear us out.”

  “Am I under arrest or something?”

  “Of course not,” John said.

  “Then I’d like you boys to leave. Thank you for bringing the kerosene, but I’m not feeling well. I’d like to go lay down.”

  “I’m afraid we can’t do that,” McCoy said gently. “There’s a lot more at stake here than your secrets, Basil. We’re going to talk, and we’re going to be truthful with each other. Okay?”

  “I’ve got nothing more to say,” Basil huffed, folding his arms over his chest.

  “Then you won’t mind if I take a look in those urns on the shelf over the television,” McCoy said, rising.

  “You stay away from them!” Basil shouted. He jumped up and blocked McCoy’s path. “I may be old, but I might have one more ass whuppin’ left in me!”

  “Calm down,” John said, also standing. “Let’s all sit down and talk this out. Basil, we don’t have a lot of time here, and we really need your help. If you don’t cooperate, there’s a good chance someone else will die tonight.”

  “John, what the hell are you talking about? What are either of you talking about? And what does it matter who I knew when I was in Japan? That was a long time ago.”

  “It may have been a long time ago,” McCoy said, “but it still matters. I think I pretty much know the story, Basil. But I need to hear it from you. Tell me what happened in Japan, and then I’ll tell you why it’s vital that you help us.”

  Basil threw up his hands and sank back into his chair. “Fine. You want to know so badly, I’ll tell you. I guess it doesn’t matter now. Everyone involved is dead. Except me.”

  “That’s all we’re asking,” John said. “Tell us what happened.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Basil took a deep breath. “After Korea, they sent me to Japan to help with the reconstruction. As you may well guess, parts of the country were in ruin after the war. I’d just come out of a war myself, but I was still a pup in many ways. Young, dumb, and full of—well, you know the rest. After a few weeks, I started taking notice of the local girls. There was this one in particular. Every time she glanced at me, my stomach would flutter. You boys know that feeling I’m talking about, don’t you?”

  Both John and McCoy nodded.

  “Her name was Harumi. We started talking. She knew some broken English, I knew some broken Japanese. It was enough so that we could understand each other. But it was like we already knew what the other was thin
king, even without saying it. I’d never felt that kind of connection before, and to be honest, I haven’t since.

  “After a while, I started leaving the base every chance I got just so we could meet up. We began to make plans for when my enlistment was up. I was going to bring her back to the States with me. We were going to get married. We also did some other things besides talking and planning, and I’m sorry to say I was too young and impatient to be careful about it. Within a year, Harumi was pregnant.”

  “I assume that wasn’t the ideal condition for a young unwed mother to be in back then,” McCoy said.

  “You assume right. She couldn’t go back to her family. To do so would have been to dishonor them. Instead, she moved to another town after my son was born. She made up some story as how her husband had been killed in an accident, just so no one would look down upon her and Chikao. I sent her what money I could each month, which was all of it, but it still wasn’t enough to support them. She took a job in a clothing factory to help make ends meet. All this time, mind you, we were still planning to return back here and get married.”

  “I don’t understand,” John said. “Why not just get married there? Surely they would have been offered housing on or near the base, and they would have had access to healthcare.”

  “It was a different time, John,” Basil replied. “There were guys on the base who had very low opinions of the locals, and they harassed them constantly. Not to mention, I’d broken a rule by being with Harumi. I was afraid I might get a dishonorable discharge. Looking back, it was probably an irrational fear. But if that had happened, it would have wrecked our plans. What kind of life would we have come back to? We thought it was better to wait it out until my tour was up.

  “In any event, Chikao started school in fifty-nine. I was seven months away from a ticket home, and Harumi and I were both excited. I assured her that life in the Springs would be good. Of course, I knew that a few people might look down upon a Japanese wife, but there are good people here, for the most part. Then that damned storm hit.