The Belles of Desire, Mississippi

by M. L. Bullock

  “Yes, there are too many others present,” she said, but I had no idea what she meant. “I’m coming up now,” she called up the stairs. “I’m not here to take anything or to harm you.” She paused at the bottom of the staircase and waved at us to stay back. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “No, I want to go, too. As the homeowner, I can’t let you get hurt. I won’t say a peep, but you have to let us come with you. I know I’m not supposed to say anything but what I know—I mean, I guess that’s the rule—but there is a lady. She caused Ann Belle to fall. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “Alright,” Hannah said, “but ask Marisol to stay down here. You don’t want her getting involved in this.”

  I shivered at her words like a rabbit ran over my grave. “Marisol? Honey? Stay down here, okay. Don’t come up the stairs. Listen to Mommy.” I waited, unsure if she’d heard me or if she was even here. How would I know? What if Hannah was playing some cruel joke on me? Renee was friendly and all, but I didn’t really know her. She might be the sort of person to arrange such a prank. A horrible, cruel prank.

  “Okay, I feel her leaving. Let’s go upstairs and see who’s waiting for us.” The three of us slowly climbed the squeaky staircase. “This used to be such a beautiful place,” Hannah said absently as she ran her hand over the wooden railing. “There was another house here before this one. It was smaller but just as grand.” As we reached the landing, Hannah glanced down. I thought I heard something, like the shuffling of papers downstairs. Maybe it was Jesse? I hadn’t heard him come in, but he could have come in the back door.

  Renee whispered to us, “Did you hear that? Sounded like scratching or something.”

  “Like papers shuffling,” I said.

  “Yes, like someone was flipping the pages of a magazine or a newspaper in a quiet room. Oh, I can see her. She’s not a very nice lady. She doesn’t like our being here. And she doesn’t like you at all, Jerica. She knows why you’re here. Oh yes, she’s angry. I think she’s following us. Let’s go upstairs quickly. She doesn’t like it up here, so she won’t come up. The others are up here.”

  “How many ghosts are in this place, Hannah?” Renee asked excitedly.

  “So far, the one downstairs, the lady who looks like Grace Kelly. She’s so angry, so full of hate. She tries to keep others away, the ones who want to come here. She has a secret, many secrets, but there are more energies here. A man, a child—a boy, I think—and another lady.” We were walking the hallway of the second floor now. “The boy has been here longer than any of them. He’s strong, and he’s…evil. He stays mostly in this room.”

  I recognized the room as Loxley’s playroom. “How can a child be evil?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, but that’s what I feel. He’s disappointed because there are no kids to play with. Oh, God. Don’t let kids in here, not until he’s gone. He won’t tell me his name. He wants to know where the girl is, the one he used to play with in here. They played these kinds of games…” Hannah closed her eyes and clapped her hands, and I couldn’t help but think of Loxley.

  “Hand-clapping games? He played with one of the Belle children, Loxley.”

  “He wanted Loxley to do something bad, and she wouldn’t play with him anymore,” Hannah said. “What is your name?” she asked the boy aloud. “Tell me your name.”

  I heard nothing, and Hannah frowned. Obviously, she didn’t hear anything either. Apparently, this boy wasn’t willing to share any information with her. Although sunlight filled the room, it felt clammy and unwelcoming in here. I hadn’t noticed that before. A board squeaked near the window. Must be the house warming up. Boards creak from time to time, Jerica. I didn’t want to be here anymore and wished I hadn’t insisted on coming along.

  “Stop that,” Hannah warned him. “You can’t hurt us.” She frowned again and turned away from the window where she’d been lingering. “I don’t think we can help him. He’s not in his right mind. Let’s keep moving.” Renee looked frightened as she took my hand.

  As we stepped outside, Hannah caught her breath. “It feels better out here. Ah, I see a man, a soldier. He has a handsome face and expressive eyes. He’s looking for someone. I can’t hear him, but I can see him quite well.”

  “That has to be John Belle. He must be looking for his children, maybe Jeopardy. He tried to protect her, I think, but he was killed in an accident.” I couldn’t help but blurt it out. If Hannah was a fake, she was a good one. There was no way she could know about Loxley and her hand-clapping games. No way at all.

  “John? Are you John Belle? My name is Hannah. This is Jerica and Renee. Why are you still here, John?” Hannah clutched her cheap white purse and stared at the empty hallway. “Where are you going? John? We’re here to help.”

  Then the attic door slammed shut, and Renee and I nearly jumped a foot off the ground.

  “I think he wants us to follow him.” Hannah’s light blue eyes widened as she took off down the hallway to the attic door that led up the short stairs to Jeopardy’s castle. “Yes, he definitely wants to show us something.”

  “What do you think, Jerica?” Renee whispered. “Should we go up there?”

  “John wouldn’t hurt us. I think it’s safe if it’s him.” I didn’t bother telling them about how frightened Harper had been up here, how the Lady in White had nearly scared her and Loxley to death. Maybe it wasn’t her. What if it was the angry boy?

  We followed Hannah up the stairs and into the attic. The place seemed so desolate now even though it was stuffed to the brim with boxes and junk. Where did all this come from? I brushed my fingers across the top of a dusty box. Did these things belong to Harper? “Jeopardy’s bed was over by the window. She liked to watch the moon before she went to sleep,” I said to no one in particular. “Jeopardy loved this room. She called it her castle.”

  “You have a gift, Jerica. Why have you been holding out? How do the visions come to you? When you’re awake or asleep? When did they start?”

  I swallowed guiltily. “Asleep, mostly, but I have seen a few things awake too. It used to happen a lot when I was little. I used to dream all the time, but then it stopped. When Marisol…left.”

  “I hardly ever dream, but I think I would prefer dreams sometimes. Hey, why don’t you talk to John? He likes you; I can feel it.”

  My pulse raced at the thought. “You think I should? I really don’t know what to say.”

  “Try it. What’s the worst that can happen?”

  I could think of a dozen terrible things that could happen, but I didn’t voice them. “JB? Are you here? It was nice meeting you the other day. Do you remember me? I’m Jerica Poole.”

  I heard a soft whisper, but no words were clear to me. Was I hearing things? Hannah said softly, “He remembers you. Can you hear him?”

  I shook my head and said, “Not really.” I walked to the window and looked down just as Harper had in my dream the other night. She’d seen Jeopardy with someone. Who had it been? The boy looked a bit like Ray Loper, but she hadn’t been sure. “JB, I want to find Jeopardy. I know you tried to protect her. I know you tried to protect them all. Let me help you both. What is it you want me to know?”

  Then we heard a strange noise, like scratching. The sound was made by something larger than a rodent. Scratching, clawing. “What is that?” Renee asked breathlessly. Nobody moved for a few minutes. We waited, listening to the scratching, and then it quit. It sounded as if it came from the far wall, near a patch of exposed brickwork. I squatted down and watched in amazement as a small brick tumbled out of the wall. I could see something behind it. I picked up the brick and without thinking poked my fingers in the hole. I couldn’t believe it! There was a folded piece of paper in here. No, several papers folded together, like a letter.

  I put the brick back in the hole and gazed at Renee and Hannah, who were as amazed as I was. This note belonged to Jeopardy Belle.

  Chapter Twenty-One—Jerica

  Another shuffli
ng noise surprised me. I ran my hand over another brick and quickly discovered it was loose too. Wiggling it out easily, I found another folded note. Five minutes later, Renee, Hannah and I had recovered five small bundles of paper. As I began to unwrap the first one, I said, “Thank you, JB.”

  Hannah said quietly, “Wait, I think we should leave now. I am sensing another energy, a young woman, someone different from the woman downstairs. John’s presence is waning, and I’m not sure this other one wants us here. In fact, I have a creeping suspicion that she doesn’t. Let’s leave now. I could use a glass of water anyway.”

  “Alright.” I clutched the bundles protectively as we left Summerleigh. I felt nothing now, nothing except a kind of sad emptiness. Renee breathed a sigh of relief when we stepped outside.

  “That whole experience was intense. Thank you, Hannah, and thank you, Jerica, for allowing us inside. I have never experienced anything like that in my life, and I’ve been to more than a few spooky places.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said anxiously. I was ready to get home and read the notes again. It wasn’t to be just yet. Jesse was making his way to me. “Hey, what’s the word on the roof?” I asked him.

  “You called it. It needs to be replaced, and from what I hear from Roger, the other wing needs some serious repair too. What do you have there?”

  “Notes, I think. We found them in the attic. They belonged to Jeopardy Belle, I’m sure of it. We’re just about to go read them.”

  Jesse’s brown eyes narrowed at hearing my news. “That’s incredible. Kind of sorry I missed the investigation now.” His phone rang, and he answered it immediately. “Hey, Norm. Yeah, she’s right here. You need her?”

  He handed the phone to Renee, who frowned at him as if to say, Couldn’t you say I wasn’t here?

  “I’m here,” she said, walking away from us to take her call. Hannah stared up at the house, her eyes fixed on the nursery window.

  “I think at some point you may have to do a cleansing. That boy isn’t going to go easily, and he’s no less dangerous now than he was in life.”

  “What boy?” Jesse asked her, giving me a puzzled look.

  “I’ve got to go,” Renee said with a sigh. “Norman caught the kitchen on fire, and I’ve got a mess to tend to. Hannah, if you’re riding with me, I’m afraid we’ll have to leave now. I’ve got the fire chief at the diner.”

  “I’m ready,” she said as she tore her gaze from the window. “If you ever need me, Jerica, call me. Don’t be afraid to talk to your daughter. She’s always near you—just keep her out of Summerleigh.”

  I couldn’t hide my disappointment. I really wanted to ask her more about Marisol, to talk with her at length. “Maybe I could take you home. I don’t have anything else to do.”

  “Yes, you do,” she answered cryptically. “But we’ll continue this conversation. I promise. We’ll talk soon.”

  Jesse called after Renee, “You need me to tag along?”

  “No,” she yelled back. “You should probably keep this job at least. I’ll call you when I know more.”

  “Alright,” he called back. It was just the two of us now. Even the roofer was leaving.

  “Where’s he going?”

  “I told him to come back after lunch. I have to show you these numbers, and there are a couple of decisions you have to make. We’ve got to choose a roof color and shingle styles, but I can see you’ve got other things on your mind.”

  “Kind of, yes. I’m dying to read these notes. Indulge me a minute or two? I’ve got some sweet tea in the fridge.”

  “I’m curious too, and tea sounds great.”

  Five minutes later, Jesse and I were sitting at my kitchen table carefully unfolding Jeopardy’s notes. The ink was a faded blue but not so faded that I couldn’t easily read them. Jeopardy’s handwriting was slightly slanted except in a few places where the words jumbled with emotion. I began to read the first one, an undated note addressed to her father.

  Dear Daddy,

  A bluebird sang outside my window today and I threw a rock at him. I couldn’t believe it, but I hit that bird. I felt bad when he fell out of the tree dead but not as bad as that bird made me feel singing when you’re dead and gone, knowing that I probably killed you by telling you about the Horrible Thing. I am sorry, Daddy. Down to my soul, I am sorry. I wish someone would throw a rock at me!

  I buried the bird in a shoe box near your potting shed where you can find him. Maybe you can watch over him, maybe you can bring him back to life and he’ll sing for you instead of me. I don’t deserve a happy song.

  I mean it, Daddy. I wish someone would hit me in the head like that bird. Knock me out cold so I could wake up and be with you every day. I’m not brave enough to do it myself. Carter Hayes’ uncle shot himself, but I don’t have a gun and I think Momma sold yours. I swim too good to drown. I don’t know how I could do it.

  But then I worry about what the preacher said and what if dying by your own hand would really send my soul to hell. I would surely never see you again, for you have to be in heaven. Aunt Dot says you are in heaven, all heroes go to heaven, but Loxley says she sees you all the time. I wish I saw you too. I guess you like her more now because she hasn’t done any Horrible Things.

  I wish I had never told you, I wish I had died instead, Daddy. Maybe Momma’s right, I am a Lost Soul.

  I need you, Daddy,

  Jeopardy Belle

  “This is so heartbreaking, Jesse.” My hands were shaking as I handed him the note and unfolded another one. “How can she believe that she caused her father’s death?”

  “Kids think differently. What I want to know is, what’s the horrible thing she’s talking about? Let’s keep reading.”

  “Okay.” I sipped some tea and began to read the second note.

  Dear Daddy,

  Please come get me, take me where you are! I can’t live another day here in Summerleigh. Momma is going to send me to him again, I know she will! And I don’t want to go, but she says she will send Harper instead if I don’t obey her. What do I do, Daddy?

  I thought about something else. What if I killed him so he could never do Horrible Things to anyone again? Wouldn’t that be the right thing to do? God would forgive me, I know he would. I have a friend. His name is Troy. You probably remember him…he had the blue spotted hound that used to tear up the garden digging for moles? Well, he’s my friend, Daddy, but not my boyfriend even though I know he would like to be. Anyway, he’s my friend, and I think he would help me if I told him about the Horrible Thing. He would help me do the deed, but I am afraid. Will I kill him too if I tell him?

  Daddy, please answer one of these letters. I have written you so many times, and I don’t know what to do. I can’t tell Harper or Addison, they’ll hate me for sure. Loxley is too little to know about such things. Aunt Dot would never believe me—she always sides with Momma even though Momma hates her too. I don’t know what to do. If you don’t write me soon or let me see you like Loxley sees you, I will talk to Troy Harvester.

  Forgive me, Daddy.

  I love you,

  Jeopardy Belle

  “Troy Harvester? I wonder if she’s talking about the old man who owned the tractor supply store in town. He’s got to be in his nineties now. I know his granddaughter, Paige. She was part of the Kayla Dickerson benefit I was working with.”

  “I’m sorry I missed it, but I think I had a heck of a bug.” I chewed my fingernail nervously. “I would love to talk to Troy and ask him what he remembers. Hey, come to think of it, how well did you know Ben Hartley?”

  “You mean the fellow who used to live here? Not too well, but he was a nice old man. I thought he died a few years ago.”

  “Well, that’s not possible. He’s the one who gave me the keys to this place. He came to see Harper the day she died.”

  “I could be wrong. You know, I might have heard that he moved to the northern part of the state. I’m not sure. You want me to call Paige?”

  “Ye
s. I’ll keep reading.”

  With a nod, Jesse scrolled through his phone and found the number he was looking for. “Hey, Paige? It’s me, Jesse. Yeah, I know. Long time no hear from. Renee has kept me busy at the diner.” He looked embarrassed but stayed with me. I tried not to be a Nosy Parker. The rest of Jeopardy’s letters were much the same as the other two. Whoever this man was, the one who did the “Horrible Things,” her mother knew all about it and made every effort to put Jeopardy in his path. I felt sick to my stomach. Who could do such a thing to a child?

  “I am working on a story about Jeopardy Belle. I understand your grandfather knew her. I was wondering if my research partner and I could have a few minutes of his time.” He waited while she asked.

  “Yes, I know it was a long time ago, but it would mean so much. Sure, I’ll wait.” A minute later, Jesse hung up the phone and said, “Tomorrow at eleven. His place is just outside of town. Anything else in those?”

  “Wow, you’re good at that. No, and thanks for making that call. I’ve never been a research partner before,” I said with a smile.

  “Well, you are now. Or vice versa.”

  Just then, the roofer pulled into the driveway, and we left the kitchen and Jeopardy’s notes to answer his questions. And of course, I had to sign a check. Roger and his crew would come back in the morning to begin working on the roof. I didn’t want to go back in the house right now. I needed to work on something, to think about something besides lost Jeopardy and the Horrible Thing she had endured.

  “Hey, you want to help me with a small project?”

  “Sure, what’s that?” Jesse asked curiously.

  “I want to clean out the potting shed.”

  “Okay, Renee will call me when she needs me. Until then, I’m all yours.”

  I couldn’t help but smile at the expression. I wondered what it would be like to be all his…

  “It’s this way,” was my answer. No need to add fuel to a fire that was already burning, at least on my part. It felt good to remember that I was still in the land of the living.