Addison Lockhart 02-Rosecliff Manor Haunting

by Cheryl Bradshaw

  “I made some calls to their families, found out both of them are still living in New York. Rick lives in Providence, and Dean lives in Stillwater. I have addresses. A home address for Rick, and a work address for Dean.”

  Addison jotted the addresses down.

  “When you’re free, I’d like to speak to you again,” Rose said. “It doesn’t have to be today.”

  “I’ll get with you tomorrow after I’ve tracked down Rick and Dean.”

  “Any idea what you plan to say?”

  “Whatever it takes to get some answers.”

  CHAPTER 33

  Addison heard a knock at outside her bedroom door.

  “Come in,” Addison said.

  Marjorie entered, closing the door behind her. “Who were you talking to just now?”

  Addison reached inside a laundry basket, pulled out a shirt, folded it, then repeated the movement. “Just someone I’m helping out.”

  Marjorie crossed her arms in front of her, sat down on a chair at Luke’s desk. “Tell me about it.”

  “We haven’t seen each other for months, and then you turn up today and take a sudden interest in my life. I guess I don’t understand why it’s so important to you.”

  “I’m just trying to make conversation, catch up, see how you’ve been doing.”

  While it may have been true, it wasn’t the only reason she’d asked.

  “You know already, don’t you?” Addison asked.

  “That you’ve taken an interest in the Clark girls? I do. Milton told me.”

  “I’m guessing you know about my visit with Helen the other day?”

  Marjorie crossed one leg over the other, resting a hand on her knee. “Among other things. When did the girls come to you?”

  “How do you know they—”

  “It’s as I told you months ago, when your powers heighten, mine diminish. I can feel it. And I’m glad. I’ve seen all I need to see, helped those I needed to help. I’m ready to let it all go. I’ve been waiting a long time now.”

  “It doesn’t bother you?”

  “Why would it? You were born for this, and you’ve finally embraced it. I’m so proud.”

  “My life is … complicated. Last week it was normal. Perfect. Now it’s a mess. I don’t know how to keep everything balanced.”

  “You’re not alone, Addison. You have Luke. He seems plenty balanced to me.”

  “He is. He’s perfect. I’m the one who’s a mess.”

  “You know he loves you, right? I’ve never seen a man look at a woman the way he looks at you.”

  “Sometimes I think he deserves better, someone less complicated.”

  Marjorie shook her head. “Don’t talk that way. What you are, who you are, the gifts you think make your life more difficult—those same gifts make you unique. Luke could spend the rest of his life searching for another girl like you. He’d never find her.”

  “Why have you decided to stay?”

  “When Milton called me, told me about Helen, I started thinking about my own life. You’re the only thing I have left, and I haven’t even taken the time to get to know you. Who knows how long I have left—days, months, years? It’s all ticking away. You’re my legacy, our family’s legacy. I want to be part of your life.”

  “Do you plan on staying for a while then?”

  Marjorie nodded.

  “And you’re not worried about the cops picking apart your past now that you’ve returned?”

  “Not anymore. Recently, I had a dream. I saw my own death, if you can believe it. It doesn’t end with me behind bars. Now … we’ve gotten way off topic. You’ve had another vision. Let’s hear it.”

  Addison scooted the laundry aside and sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re right, I have.”

  She filled her in on the recent events leading up to the current day.

  When she finished, Marjorie said, “I fear you’re putting yourself in danger with this one.”

  “Didn’t you?”

  “I did. Feels different now though—now that it’s you.”

  “I’m determined to see it through. I have to for Vivian and Grace.”

  “In all my years, in all the visions I had, those shrouded in secrecy always got me in the most trouble.”

  “Are you telling me I should stop, that I shouldn’t seek justice for those two girls?”

  “I’m not telling you anything. I’m asking you to be cautious. And no matter what you do, you’re better off with Luke at your side.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Marjorie peeked through sheer curtains draped across Addison’s bedroom window. “What’s that Lia woman doing back here?”

  Addison joined her grandmother. “Maybe she wants to talk to me about the Clark girls.”

  “Or maybe she’s finished her autopsy.”

  “If she found anything incriminating, she wouldn’t be alone, would she?”

  It was a valid point, but not one Addison believed. Not entirely. She descended the stairs and opened the front door.

  “Hey, Addison,” Lia said. “Can we talk?”

  Addison nodded and stepped outside. Marjorie followed.

  “I … ahh … need to talk to Addison alone,” Lia said.

  Hands on hips, Marjorie replied, “What for?”

  “Marjorie, please,” Addison said. “Let me handle this.”

  “I think it’s best if I stay,” Marjorie said.

  Lia clammed up, crossing her arms in front of her. She wasn’t talking, not with Marjorie around. Marjorie sighed loud enough to indicate her frustration then pivoted and charged back inside the house.

  Once they were alone, Lia said, “Is she always like this?”

  “Seems like it. Truth is, I haven’t known her for very long. I wasn’t around her when I was a child.”

  “Why not?”

  “She and my mother didn’t get along. When my mother passed away last year. Marjorie reentered my life. Anyway, are you here about what we discussed earlier?”

  “I’m here about Helen. Why do you ask? Has anything changed?”

  “Rose called me. She gave me the names of a couple boys who were there the night of the party. It’s possible they may have been playing in the attic with the girls. I realize no one admitted it before … but who knows? Maybe now someone will.”

  “Addison, I … that’s great. I came by because I wanted to tell you I spoke to Helen’s doctor this evening.”

  “Oh?”

  “Marjorie was right. She had cancer. He said she refused any kind of treatment. Were you aware of this?”

  “She kept her illness from me,” Addison said. “After she died, Marjorie told me.”

  “Are you familiar with cyanosis?”

  “Cya … what?”

  “Cyanosis. It means ‘the blue disease.’”

  “Oh … kay.”

  “It appears when the tissues near the skin’s surface are low in oxygen. In Helen’s case, in the discoloration I detected in the skin around her nose.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Why wouldn’t I? Aren’t you interested?”

  “Helen was my neighbor, and I’m sorry she’s gone, but we weren’t close.”

  “When I examined Helen, I noticed petechial hemorrhages in her skin. There was also some bruising inside Helen’s mouth.”

  More terms Addison wasn’t familiar with. “I assume you’re telling me this because you’re leading up to something.”

  “I don’t believe Helen died in her sleep, or in some accidental way. I believe she was suffocated.”

  Addison did her best to keep a straight face. “Okay.”

  “Okay? I plan to put this information in my report.”

  Again, Addison said, “Okay.”

  “No, it’s not okay. If you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, whatever your involvement is, I can’t protect you.”

  Addison’s legs wobbled, feeling like they were about to collapse beneath her. She clutched the porch rail
ing to keep herself steady. “Even if I did know what was going on, and I’m not saying I do, why would you want to protect me? We don’t even know each other. Not really.”

  “You seem like a good person. I believe you are a good person. I also believe you want to do what’s right. But the more I’m around you, the more I notice how many situations you get yourself into. I may be naïve sometimes, but I’m not stupid. They can’t all be a coincidence.”

  “I like you, Lia. And I appreciate you taking the time to stop by. I don’t have a lot of friends here. I haven’t made any since I moved, actually. You’re a good person too. I knew it the first time we met. If I considered anyone a friend, it would be you.”

  Lia shielded her eyes with a hand. “So that’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

  Addison nodded.

  “This is your last chance. Whomever you’re protecting, it isn’t worth it. If the cops can prove Helen was suffocated, and it turns out you omitted information, you could be charged as an accessory, Luke could be charged as an accessory.”

  Without the pillow, which in this case was the proof they needed, what evidence did they have to form a case? None. Or was she wrong, fooling herself into believing everything would be all right? The more it festered, the more unsure she became.

  Lia took her hand. “Your eyes are watering, Addison. Please, tell me.”

  “I … I just really don’t know if …”

  The front door opened and closed.

  Busted.

  Addison turned, expecting to find Marjorie and instead came face to face with Milton.

  His voice calm, he said, “It was me. I did it. I killed her.”

  Eyes wide, Addison looked at Milton then Lia. “He’s still in shock. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

  “No, Addison, it’s okay.” He looked at Lia. “Addison, Luke, Marjorie … they had no part in what happened to my Helen. If you want, I’ll make a confession. Just, leave them out of it.”

  “Milton, don’t,” Addison said. “Stop.”

  “It’s okay,” Lia said. “I’m not the police.”

  “Then make a call,” Milton said. “Get them down here. I’ll tell them everything.”

  Lia took out her phone, dialed.

  “Addison, I’m sorry,” Milton said. “I have to. I can’t live a lie. I just can’t.”

  A frantic Marjorie bounded onto the porch, her steely gaze directed at Addison. “What have you done?”

  CHAPTER 35

  She hadn’t done a thing, a moot point now. Officer Waters and Jackson returned to collect Milton, escorting him into the police vehicle while everyone else looked on. A bitter Marjorie shut herself away in one of Addison’s guest rooms, refusing any company or the chance to let Addison explain what had actually happened.

  Police gone, Lia made one final plea. “Now will you tell me what happened?”

  Luke walked up behind Addison, smoothing his hands up and down her goose-fleshed arms. He leaned in, whispered, “Let’s go inside. It’s cold out here. We’ll tell her together.”

  The three of them entered the house, gathering around the fire.

  “What happened to Helen,” Luke began, “wasn’t our idea. We didn’t even know she was ill until after she died.”

  Luke went on, telling Lia they’d stopped by Helen’s house to question her about the Clark girls one more time. It was the only part of his story that wasn’t entirely true, but admitting they’d stopped by after Addison had a hunch her neighbor was dead wasn’t a viable option. He explained Helen was already dead when they arrived. How long, he didn’t know. They’d been told Helen was already dying, in a lot of pain, enough pain to beg Milton to end her life. When he finished, Addison retrieved Helen’s letter and handed it over to Lia.

  “And this, what you’ve told me, it’s the truth?” Lia asked. “All of it?”

  “It is,” Luke said.

  Addison nodded in agreement.

  Lia was silent for several seconds. “Did you know Milton took a bullet for Helen?”

  “I didn’t,” Addison replied. “When?”

  “Back when Helen Bouvier was known as Vivian Bouvier, the aspiring actress, she was in a western called Ride the West Wind. One of the extras, a man named Don Torres, became interested in her. He followed her around before and after rehearsal. At first, she was polite, thinking it would wear off. It didn’t. One night he caught her alone, and he kissed her. She rebuffed him and decided the best way to get rid of the unwanted attention was to flirt with one of the movie’s producers. Don was angry, of course. He was convinced everyone knew about the rejection. The way he saw it, he was the butt of her joke. A few nights before the movie wrapped, she was one of the last people to leave the set. He stood behind a garbage container waiting for her to walk by. When she was close enough, he jumped out, pointed a revolver at her. She laughed, thinking the gun was a fake, one of the props used in the movie. When he pulled back on the hammer, she realized he was serious. Lucky for her, Milton was with her at the time. He shielded her body with his own, taking the bullet. It clipped him just under his rib cage.”

  “How do you know all this?” Addison asked.

  “I’m obsessed with the show Hollywood Near Misses. Ever seen it?”

  Addison shook her head.

  “I’ve seen every episode. Helen’s story was part of a special they ran one night during western-theme week. After we were in her house today and I saw all the signed actor photographs she had on her walls, I took a look at her paperwork, noticed the name Vivian as one of her former aliases, and made the connection.”

  “She never told me that story before,” Addison said.

  “The reason I’m bringing it up is, I want you to know it’s not my intention to get anyone in trouble here. There’s premeditated murder, and then there’s this.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I believe Milton and Marjorie’s story. Is it wrong in the eyes of the law? I suppose it is. I also know what it’s like to see a person you care about endure the kind of pain Helen did.”

  “So, what happens next?”

  “The pillow—where is it now?”

  “We don’t know. Neither one of us.”

  The declaration only left two people who might, Milton and Marjorie. Addison hoped Lia wouldn’t press any further.

  “If it turns up, it’s likely saliva will be found, possibly blood and tissue cells too,” Lia said. “I plan to speak to Milton in the morning just to satisfy myself before I turn in my report. But here’s a word of advice. Wherever the pillow ended up, make sure it’s never found.”

  CHAPTER 36

  Morning’s pale radiance shone through the bedroom window. Addison rolled over and checked the time. Almost eight. An early riser, Luke was already gone.

  Gone.

  For a split-second, the thought of him leaving crossed her mind. And though she wanted to believe what they shared together was strong enough to withstand the events of the last week, she couldn’t blame him if it had become too much.

  Addison wound a robe around her body and walked downstairs. Looking around, it seemed she was alone.

  “Luke, are you here?”

  Silence.

  She walked to Marjorie’s room and knocked. “Marjorie, it’s Addison. Can we talk?”

  No answer.

  Luke’s truck pulled to a stop outside. He walked into the house clutching a paper sack in one hand. “Morning. Your grandmother’s not in there.”

  “Where is she?”

  He shrugged. “No idea. I knocked about an hour ago to see if she needed anything from the store. When she didn’t answer, I cracked the door just a bit, called her name again. The bed was made, but she was gone.”

  Addison twisted the knob on the door, entered the room. “Her suitcase is still on the side of the bed. Wonder where she went.”

  “I think it’s safe to assume wherever she is, she’ll be back.”

  Addison raised a brow. “You
say that like it’s a good thing.”

  He smiled. “Depends on the day, I guess.”

  “I’ve been meaning to talk to you again about what happened the other night. I know how upset you were, and I just wanted to say again, I’m sorry. I should have trusted you.”

  He set the sack down on the kitchen counter. An apple slipped out, rolling across the counter until Luke snatched it up in his hand. “I know you’re sorry about it all. I can see it in your face every time you look at me.”

  “Things haven’t been the same since the other night. You’ve been great, a lot nicer than I deserve, but there’s still a distance between us. I can feel it. When I woke up this morning, it crossed my mind that this life, who I am … it might all be too much for you. Truth is, I’d understand if it was.”

  Luke cupped Addison’s face in his hands. “Don’t you know by now how much I love you? I’ll always love you, always be here for you, no matter what happens.”

  Addison wrapped her arms around him. The front door burst open, and Marjorie strolled in. She looked at Luke and Addison and grinned. “Well, aren’t you two a sight? If the lovefest is over, I’d like some breakfast, please.”

  CHAPTER 37

  Addison sat next to Marjorie at the kitchen table. “Where were you earlier?”

  “I went to see Milton,” Marjorie said.

  “How is he doing? Has he been charged?”

  “I don’t know. They wouldn’t tell me anything, and they wouldn’t let me see him. Said visiting hours aren’t until eleven. Guess there’s nothing left to do except wait and try again.”

  Addison wondered why Marjorie hadn’t stayed there a few more hours and waited it out. “Can we talk about last night?”

  “There’s no need. I should have never treated you the way I did. You did what you thought was right. I can’t blame you.”

  Addison rested a hand on Marjorie’s wrist. “I didn’t give Milton up. He gave himself up. He overheard the conversation I was having with Lia. She suspected foul play and planned on saying so in her report. I thought she might be bluffing, trying to see what I’d say. Milton obviously believed her and decided the jig was up.”