by Ava Mallory
I shook my head. “No, I just did something stupid.”
“And?” Ruby joked. “Sorry, tell me what's wrong.”
“Chip came upstairs to get me and we were talking and I...” I still couldn't believe I'd asked Chip that question.
“Mercy?” Ruby whispered. “What did you do?”
A door down at the end of the hallway opened and Diana emerged from behind it. “Mom, what is taking you so long?”
I shook my head to clear it. “Nothing. I'm starving. What's for breakfast?”
Diana glanced at Ruby, silently questioning what was going on with me. “Is she okay?” She asked her.
“She's fine.” Ruby waved it off. “Let's get her some food before she turns into a bear. I think what we saw yesterday was just the tip of the iceberg.”
Diana looked over her shoulder. “Hurry it up, Mom. We are going to be late.”
I turned to Ruby. “Late to what? What fun and games do you two have planned for me today? A guillotine?”
Ruby said through clenched teeth, “If you get us thrown out of here, I will seriously consider scheduling one for you. What did you do, Mercedes?”
I started to follow Diana into the makeshift dining area and answered, “Nothing. I just asked if yesterday's events were part of the skits that they run here.”
“You asked if they faked Flynn's death? Please, tell me that you're joking.” Ruby begged.
“I can tell you that, but I'd be lying. Now, tell me what you two have planned for me today.” I said.
As we stepped into the dining area, she smiled at me and said, “It was supposed to be a surprise, but since you appreciate high blood pressure and coronaries, I'll tell you now. We're taking you on a ghost hunting trip. You can thank us later.”
What? Did I have some kind of sign on my forehead that said I wanted my best friend and my daughter to torture me for my birthday?
Chapter Six
“In what world is this a birthday gift? Have either of you ever met me before? Call me crazy, but if I remember correctly, I used to get flowers or a nice piece of jewelry for my birthday. I don't recall ever asking to be taken to a haunted house before in my life. What exactly were you two thinking?” I locked the car door, determined not to step one foot outside of my car.
Diana and Ruby laughed like I was kidding. I most certainly was not kidding. This home looked like something straight out of a Hollywood movie. You know, the kind of place where young college co-eds ran around scantily clad, drinking libations and one of them gets the brilliant idea to follow the horrendous noise they heard in the distance, then soon their running for their lives and the blonde - always the blonde – trips over her own feet, most likely because her six inch heels were one size too small for her feet – and the evildoer, who also happened to be her friend, finds her and discards her mangled body on the side of the road? Yeah, I wasn't stepping one foot in this death trap, not for a million years.
Ruby unlocked the door and grabbed my arm. “You're acting like a spoiled child. I promise you that there is no slasher in here. This is just a giant home that the locals believe to be haunted. You're the one that claims to have seen a ghost, so let's go see what we can find out about that phenomenon. The people that operate this place are supposed to be some kind of experts in the field of parapsychology.”
“No, no can do. By the way, I didn't voluntarily agree to see a ghost. Anyway, I already told you – I thought I saw someone who looked like Flynn. That's all. Remember, I was tired and a little on edge yesterday, so I may have been mistaken.” I tried to urge Ruby to quit this silly game of ghost hunting now.
“Mom, stop. We all saw that photo. Do you honestly believe that it was some kind of coincidence?” Why did I encourage my child to speak her mind? Somehow I knew that it would one day backfire.
“So what? We saw a photo of an ancestor. Plenty of people we know look like an ancestor or two, don't they?” I didn't see how finding a photo of a man who resembled Flynn or vice versa applied to anything here.
“Yes, plenty of people look like their ancestors, but I'm sure very few of them can claim that their ancestor haunts the establishment they now operate as a Bed and Breakfast and plenty of people don't go around inviting people over and charging them to hunt for their murderous dead relative.”
I nearly swallowed my tongue. “Murderous? What are you talking about?”
Ruby gave Diana a sideways glance. “Oh, honey, you shouldn't have mentioned that yet.”
Diana swallowed hard. “Sorry, Mom. We were going to talk to you about that later.”
“Sorry?” I stepped out of the car, totally forgetting that I'd refused to step out only a few moments earlier. “How do you know the man in the picture was a murderer? Who did he kill?”
Ruby took my arm. I knew what she was doing. This was her attempt at calming me before issuing bad news. “Mercy, there's a few other things we haven't told you and, please don't hate us, but we thought we'd never convince you to come out here with us, if we'd mentioned it.”
“What?” My voice shook. “What else don't I know?”
“This whole town is supposedly haunted. It's legendary.” Ruby answered.
“You brought me to a ghost town to relax. You know ghosts and relaxation don't go hand in hand, right?” I looked at Diana because she, of all people, should have known better than to invite me along for something like this. I was the woman who still ran for the hills when a spider appeared, so why in the world would they even consider bringing me to a haunted town and expect me to go on some ghost hunting adventure with them?
“Don't be mad, Mom. We thought it would be fun. We wanted something that would take you out of your comfort zone. You know, something to add some real excitement to your life.” Diana explained.
I started walking, just to wrap my mind around what two of the people I loved the most in life had decided was best for me. I didn't pay any attention to the fact that I was heading straight for the foreboding structure and its occupants.
Behind me, I could hear the rustling through the grass and branches that had blown off trees. I didn't look behind me because I knew it was Diana and Ruby and I needed some distance to think clearly.
When I reached the front of the large house, I was finally ready to face Ruby and Diana, but when I turned around, they were still standing next to the car.
“How in the world?” I whispered. I could have sworn that they were walking right behind me. I know I heard them walking behind me. All this talk of ghost and goblins, had me hearing things and imagining way too many things. I'd endure this haunted house excursion, I told myself, but as soon as it was over, I was going to go straight to bed. That's what I really wanted to do and clearly it was what I needed to do before I lost my mind.
I waved Ruby and Diana over, signaling to them that I was ready, not looking forward to it, but just ready.
“Hurry up. Let's get this over with.” I said as they approached.
“Are you sure?” Diana asked, approaching me tentatively.
I put my hand on her shoulder to reassure her that this wasn't the end of the world. “I'm only doing this because I know how much this means to you.”
Diana had a fascination with supernatural suspense. That, she didn't get from me. I could blame her father for that. He loved a good psychological suspense movie, while I preferred something lighter with a bit of humor. Go figure!
“We don't have to do this, if you don't want to,” Diana said.
I really didn't want to, but the look on her face convinced me to suck it up and see what this excursion was all about.
“I'll stay.” I said.
“Um, Mercy, your car is...” Ruby pointed to my car that decided to leak every fluid it contained right out onto the ground underneath it.
Why did this have to happen now?
“Happy birthday to me,” I grumbled as I rolled up my sleeves and rushed back over to the car to see what the damage was.
Ruby jogged u
p next to me. “I'll see if I can get a hold of a garage for you. No offense, but whatever it is you think you're going to be able to fix, isn't going to happen. I keep telling you to let this old girl go.”
I was no mechanic, but I'm pretty sure that a car wasn't supposed to smoke, and I might be wrong, but fluids weren't supposed to spill out of a car like a sieve.
“Now, what are we going to do?” I asked no one in particular and anyone who would listen.
“What happened here?” A tall, muscular gentleman walked up behind us, startling us.
“Oh, where did you come from?” I asked, swallowing my heart.
“I should ask you that. Your car is leaking fluid all over my yard.” The man stated the obvious, but at least he said it with a smile on his face. “I'm Aldo Green. You're on my property. Looks like your car has seen better days.”
Diana stepped forward, offering her hand, “Hi. I'm Diana and this is my mother and my aunt. We were scheduled to do the tour, then this happened.” She had a look of disgust on her face. She'd wanted me to get rid of this car ever since she was a grade schooler.
“Oh, which one of you is the birthday girl?” He asked, offering each of us his hand.
A woman walked up from the house. “The brunette with the friendly smile is our birthday girl.” She positioned herself between me and Diana. “You're the birthday girl, aren't you? Don't you worry; this tour will be painless. You'll learn all sorts of interesting information.”
Aldo made the introductions. “This is my wife, Thalia. She's what you call a 'psychic'.”
Now, I'd heard it all. Not only had Diana and Ruby cooked up a scheme that made my blood boil, but now they have me in a supposed haunted house with a psychic. What was next, an exorcism?
Ruby must have sensed that I was on the cusp of saying something that wouldn't go over well. “Well, we've never met a real psychic before. I'm so sorry, but Mercy's car is on her last leg and it looks like we'll need to have her towed. I checked for local mechanics in the area and wasn't sure which one we should call. It sounds like they are a pretty good distance from us.”
Aldo said, “I can tow it for you. There's a shop not too far from here. The owner is retired, but he still takes jobs from time to time. I'm sure he'd have no problem giving you ladies a hand. I'll get his number for you. My phone's inside, so why don't you come on inside and make yourselves comfortable?”
I gulped. No way was I going inside with him. Now, after seeing who owned and operated this place, I didn't want any part of it and I was beginning to think that my car did me a favor by dying here. She wanted me to see the charlatans that were operating this place.
Diana took my arm. “Mom, they're trying to help us.”
Who was this child? Didn't she know better than to change locations? That's what I'd always heard, “Never let them move you to another location.”
“That's very nice of you, but I think, we'll just call the tow truck and head back to the B & B for the night. I'm plum out of excitement and on the verge of hysteria as it is right now. Thank you for the kind gesture, though.” I tried to sound as sincere as possible. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate their offer; I just wasn't in the mood to be held for ransom or worse. Besides, I'm pretty sure there weren't too many people in the world that would miss me.
All the people I had in the world, I could count on one hand give or take a finger and two of them were with me, so the chances of anyone interested in saving me were pretty slim. The odds were not in my favor at all.
“You're staying at The Felon House? That has to be fascinating. How are they treating you over there? What's happening now that poor Flynn is departed?” Thalia asked.
“It depends on who you ask,” Ruby started. “Mercy had some excitement last night, but other than that, things seem to be running pretty smoothly, all things considered.”
Thalia studied me with her large gray eyes. It was as if she could see what I was thinking and that scared me. Even I didn't want to know what I was thinking most of the time.
“You saw him? Did he say anything to you?” Thalia asked me.
Chills ran up my spine and, other than the fact that we standing yards away from the creepiest home I'd ever seen and my car all but died, I didn't know what it was about this woman that made me feel so uneasy.
“Who? Chip?” I asked, my voice shaking.
Thalia snickered, taking Aldo's arm. “See, I told you she saw him. I felt it the moment she stepped out of the car.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked. “What do you mean you felt it and who are you talking about?”
“Mom, don't be so paranoid. She's psychic, remember? I think its kind of cool, don't you? I'd love to have that ability.” Diana said. I couldn't believe she was encouraging this nonsense, but I didn't want to waste any more time or energy discussing it. Thalia was allowed to believe anything she wanted, just as long as it didn't involve me in any way.
Aldo put his arm around her shoulders. “Thalia, you're scaring them. That's enough of that. Anyway, I wonder how long the inspectors will let him operate without a cook. I heard she quit this afternoon. They said that she didn't agree with the way he wants to proceed. I guess having the funeral service there isn't such a bad idea, but he shouldn't make a party out of it. Selling tickets and inviting guests to do ghost tours isn't what he should be concentrating on right now.”
“The cook quit?” I didn't know that. “When? She cooked for us this morning.”
“Like I said, I heard she quit after brunch today. I don't know the particulars, but that's what they're saying.” Aldo explained.
“Well, it's a good thing Mercy likes to cook. Who knows, you might enjoy taking the kitchen over.” Ruby was teasing, but I think she was on to something. I could finally get out of these strange excursions if I volunteered to work while I waited for my car to be repaired. Then, I'd pack up my car and go home.
“Mom?” Diana stared at me in disbelief. “You're not honestly thinking about volunteering, are you? Besides, don't you have to have some kind of license or permit for something like that?”
Aldo laughed. “Well, you've come to the right place. We are the people you'd see to get those permits. I'd have no problem whatsoever signing off on that temporarily – at least until your car is back in commission. Are you really a good cook?”
I fumbled over my words. Small town politics were full of more surprises than I ever thought they were. Back in Lake Villa, where I lived, almost everyone knew everyone, but not in the same way that people here did. Not by any means.
“I think its a great idea,” I said.
Chapter Seven
“Chip, you can't just do whatever you want. I think it'd be wise to take some time. Get your head together. Think about what is that you want to do in the future.” Sheriff Calvin Moore smoothed his stubby fingers over his thick mustache as he spoke. All I could think was gross!
“This is my business. Flynn and I built this together. I'm not going to shut down now or ever. That would be disrespectful to him and what we built. You can't honestly believe that I'd walk away from this. Come on, how long have we known each other, Calvin?” Chip stood his ground, refusing to walk away and I couldn't blame him.
Sheriff Moore spun around to address those of us seated around the table in the makeshift dining room. I'd noticed the actual dining room doors were still closed. I could be glad for that. None of us would have been able to sit in there and not think about what we'd seen.
“Ladies and gents,” the sheriff addressed us, “I'm Sheriff Moore, but everyone around here calls me Calvin. You've been through a lot, I know. I was just suggesting to my friend Chip that no one would be upset if he decided to take some time to clear his head. Am I right?”
Everyone mumbled in agreement. I'm sure we all would have understood completely. I, for one, had no problem whatsoever with packing up my belongings and going home, where I could recover from this horrendous trip and celebrate my birthday in complete sile
nce.
Chip stepped in front of Calvin. “Now, let's not be rash. I won't close. Don't worry about that. I appreciate that none of you have abandoned your vacations. I have plenty in store for you. I want everyone to just relax and enjoy your stay. I promise, you will get what you paid for.”
I listened to him, still unsure whether or not I was buying this 'Flynn is really dead' routine. Having the sheriff acknowledge that Flynn was dead, did give me pause to think that it might not be fake after all, but I'd seen stranger things. I didn't want to ignore the possibility that I might have been right, no matter how remote that possibility was.
“Well, Cal, looks like we're staying open,” Chip smiled triumphantly when none of us protested. “All I have to do is get my hands dirty in the kitchen and we should be back on par.”
