After staring at it for a minute, Sera asked, “How are we going to open it?”
“Well, hopefully, the diary will help us with that,” Mallory answered absently while unfolding her find. She shined her flashlight on it. The Popescu family tree.
Back in the library, they studied it closely.
“I remember Nicholas Remy was Pops’ grandfather and he was your ancestor, Sera?” Mal asked.
“Yes, that’s right. He built this house. Why isn’t he on here?” Sera asked.
“Nicholas Remy was my maternal grandfather. He built the house as a wedding present for my mother, which means it became Popescu property. The two names at the top, Anton Popescu and Theodosia Remy, were my parents,” Balthasar said.
Mal translated for Sera, then asked while pointing at the family tree, “Who’s this Nicholas at the bottom?”
“Nicholas Popescu at the bottom. That’s my father. I read in Pops’ diary that he started a requirement for every generation to add money to the family strongbox, for the next generation. He had hoped that would help keep the house in the family. At least it looks like each generation kept the family tree updated. My dad died when I was five, so he may not have had time to make provisions for me. Other than leaving the house to me on my twenty-fifth birthday,” Sera explained.
“What about your mom?” Mal asked gently.
“She ran away when I was three. At least that’s what I was told. I don’t really remember her.”
“Sera, did you notice you are the first female born since Rebekah, Balthasar’s wife?”
She nodded.
“Okay, I need to get home and change for our excursion. Dark colors only. We’ll pick you up in Eve’s truck, Black Beauty.” Mal looked at Sera. “You’ll understand. I’m just going to grab a few things; we’ll pick you up right after dark.”
“Mallory, will you take the diary?”
Mal shook her head, “No, I can’t take it.”
“Please? You seem to be good at figuring out the puzzles. I trust you.”
“All right, for now.”
Mal took a picture of the family tree and gathered up her notes and the book. She glanced out the window.
“Have you seen Cotton out there?”
“What’s a cotton?”
“A man. He’s the guy with white hair standing over there staring.” Mal pointed. “He’s been like that since I arrived.”
“That’s weird!”
“Why don’t you stay with us at least one more night?”
Sera looked at Mallory. “Thank you, but I’m not sure I should. After all, the power is back on, so there’s no reason.”
“Sera, you can’t possibly be comfortable here plus I don’t think it’s safe.”
“Like I said, Mallory, thank you for the offer…”
Mal held her hand up. “Tell you what, pack what you need and bring it tonight just in case. That will give you time to decide.”
THIRTY ONE
M allory ran into the Vianu suite. She had been at Sera’s much longer than planned. Throwing clothes left and right, she bumped into Danior.
“Whoa!”
“I’m sorry. I’m late.”
She had already dumped her research on the bed but was starving.
Danior tapped on her shoulder.
“What?”
A sandwich. What would she do without her sister? Go crazy was the first thing that popped into her head.
“OMG, thank you!”
“Hurry up! You know Eve will get here early. I think she lives for scaring people. You need to eat at least half the sandwich before climbing in Black Beauty or it could get ugly.”
Mallory grimaced at the thought. She was dressed, so she started shoveling her food in. When she began to choke, Danior just shoved a bottle of water at her. She was on the ball tonight.
Mallory’s phone rang. Kaden.
“Come on, you don’t have time to talk to him right now. Call him later,” Danior suggested.
Mallory let it go to voicemail. They grabbed coats and ran out the front doors to the meeting spot. Sure enough, Eve and Black Beauty, were both sitting there growling.
Danior tossed the small duffel she carried into the truck, then they hopped in and reached for the appropriate handles just as Eve peeled out on the dirt road, which is saying something.
“Why did you decide to include the new girl?” Eve asked.
“I have a feeling she can help us or at the very least she won’t turn us in for being in her house last night, after breaking the law tonight.” Mal said.
Eve laughed. “How’d she know?”
“Apparently, we left tracks in the dust and she had a motion-activated camera.”
“Sounds like she’ll fit right in.”
“Pull around back, quietly. The weirdest thing, when I arrived there earlier today, Cotton Hubbard was standing on the curb across from the Witch House and, when I left, he was still there.”
“Cotton’s been belly-aching about that house for as long as I can remember. The Hubbard’s contend that’s their house, but the Popescu clan has always owned it as far as I know,” Eve told them.
“So, now that Sera’s moved in, he’s just going to stare at it?”
Eve shrugged her shoulders. “Not sure, but Cody and Kaden should be told to keep an eye on him.”
They had just pulled up when Sera ran out and jumped in. Eve didn’t peel out this time. Thank goodness. She headed down the road to the Bohemian Lake Historical Society. The area surrounding Bohemian Lake was a ghost town unless a festival of some sort was on. Eve pulled into the building’s parking lot, staying far enough back to avoid any cameras.
“Before we go in, I have something for you guys,” Eve said.
She reached under her seat and pulled out a brown paper bag and set it between her and Mallory. Danior and Sera peeked over the bench seat. Eve slid out an old-fashioned tape recorder and pressed play. A male voice issued from the tiny speaker:
“Your mission, Danior, Sera, Mallory and Eve, should you choose to accept it, is to recover as much information as possible about Balthasar Popescu to help solve murders, then and now. As always, should you or any of your Caper Crew be caught or killed, Bohemian Lake will disavow any knowledge of your actions or lives. This tape will self-destruct in ten seconds. Good luck, Caper Crew.”
They all stared at the recorder as the voice began counting down from 10.
“3, 2, 1.”
The tape caught fire and burned away. They were stunned.
“Gotcha!” Eve crowed.
“Eve, the whole tape recorder is on fire.”
“What? Nooo! Beauty!!!” Eve dumped it out the window, patting her seat to make sure the truck was unharmed…
They all tiptoed to the back door of the historical society. Eve yanked her giant key ring out but found the correct key immediately. It was purple. As Eve stepped across the threshold, a tell-tale beeping started. Mal closed her eyes, they were so busted.
The next thing Mal knew, she was being been yanked inside. She opened her eyes just in time to deflect Danior then Sera as they launched at her as Eve yanked them in with one hand and punched buttons on the alarm keypad with the other.
“Eve, you can’t just punch numbers until you find the right combination,” Mal whispered.
“Never fear, grasshopper! Who do you think oversees the Historicals lock-in for the retirement home?”
“You?”
“Of course not! Rebel has a party here once a quarter. They provide air recliners and snacks for the old fogies. They lock them in, so none go wandering in the night and they snack and reminisce while admiring the paintings and photographs. The best part, it’s brand new to them every time.”
“You help with the program?” Sera asked.
“No, I stole the alarm code from Rebel’s phone. You, young people put everything in those contraptions,” Eve admonished.
“What’s an air recliner?” asked Danior.
Eve rolled her eyes. “It’s an air mattress shaped like a recliner. Old bones, not that I know anything about it.”
Eve started to hand out the night-vision goggles. Must have been a great discount since she had four pair tonight. Mal couldn’t figure out how to put her pair on, why were there tubes?
“Mal, trade me, those are mine,” Eve said.
“There something wrong with them” Mallory commented.
“No. You tried them upside down and backwards.” Eve rearranged the straps and pulled them on top of her head. “This is the deluxe model.”
“What did you just snap on top?”
“It’s the container, this is the hands-free Drink and Snoop model. You fill it with your beverage of choice and drink from the straws.”
“Do I dare ask what’s in it?”
“Don’t worry, Mal! I know this is an important mission, so tonight it’s just beer. Well, a Belgian ale. It might have higher alcohol content, but who’s counting.”
Mal shook her head and then spoke up, “I think we should split up. I’m going downstairs to the archive, so you all spread out. Look for anything about Balthasar Popescu or witch hunting when he was active. Let’s meet by the door in thirty minutes.”
Sera and Danior headed to different display rooms.
“I’m going upstairs to check out Hatti and Mick’s offices,” Eve said.
“Okay, thanks, Eve.”
Mal had spent many hours in the historical society over the years but had never been in the archives. She enjoyed these night-time excursions more and more. Maybe they should open a detective agency, heck they could join Penny’s. She walked down the hallway toward the front of the building, about halfway was the door to the basement. Mal hoped it wouldn’t be as creepy as the manor’s cellar.
She looked left and right. The basement was lined with shelves and racks of all sizes. Mal was shocked by the volume of historical items. She hoped to find a legend or content list somewhere. Walking the perimeter back in the corner, she found one lonely metal chair and a card table covered in paperwork. The BFC might need to hold a charity function for Bohemian Lake Historical Society. Mal snorted. That’s right officer, we broke in and decided to plan a party to raise money instead because it was a sad operation. Mal took a seat to comb through the piles before her.
“What’re ye wasting time for?”
Mallory swore she jumped a foot in the air.
“You seriously need to wear a bell!”
Balthasar looked unconcerned.
“Do you have a better idea? Why don’t you huddle with the spirits to find something to help us? Where do you get off ordering me around and popping in and out at your leisure?”
“Egads, woman! Everything seems to be organized by type. Ye might have better luck lookin’ around.”
Mallory nodded but he was gone. Why did she feel bad because she yelled at a murderer, even if he had changed? She decided to take his advice since they didn’t have a lot of time. Mallory started near the table. She would apologize to Balthasar; he’d had a point. The first section was filled with maps, the second and third were photographs and letters. The next section was larger than the first three and was an open rack that held several paintings facing out, so you could see the painting as you flipped through them.
Squeak. Mal stopped and held her breath. Did that come from the stairs? After a minute, she continued to flip through the paintings.
“Why don’t you reach out with your finder gift?”
“Why is everyone trying to give me a heart attack?”
“Maybe it’s your guilty conscience?”
“Pot. Kettle. What are you doing here Kaden?”
“To what do you refer? I, the law man, witnessed a motley crew breaking in to Bohemian Lake’s best loved institution. I’m obligated to fight crime.” Kaden smirked.
He surprised a laugh out of her. “What did you say before?”
“Think about your ghost and use your finder gift.”
Why didn’t she think of that? She closed her eyes and reached out with her senses, picturing Balthasar. Violins faintly played. She stepped back to the other sections. Nothing. Mal went to the sections beyond the paintings. Nothing. She returned. Violins again. She flipped through them with her eyes closed. The music was increasing in volume. Louder. She felt like she was playing hot and cold, and she was getting hotter. Kaden tapped her shoulder and reached in to pull the group she’d viewed out of her way. She closed her eyes again and continued. Louder yet. Finally, she’d touched the last one, violins blared. Pain. Kaden grabbed her hand, and the pain was gone.
“Thanks. I may need to keep you.”
“Is that the only reason, Mal?” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and bent to kiss her and poked his eye on her goggles.
“I have a flashlight that I’ve been pointing at the floor, so will you take your goggles off? No windows down here.”
“I thought you looked a little fluorescent green around the gills.” Mallory laughed.
“Okay, let’s pull this out and see what we’ve got,” Kaden said.
“Hold up there, law man. I believe you were going to kiss me.”
“I was waiting for an answer, Mal,” Kaden sighed.
“Of course, that’s not the only reason. I need to get away with crime, too.” Mal cursed herself when she saw the hurt look in his eyes. “I’m kidding. You know I care for you, silly. I just have a tough time expressing myself. I thought I was good at showing, but perhaps I’m not great at that either.” Kaden nodded and wrapped his arms about her and she went on, “When my parents disappeared, well, it made trust difficult. Nana was the best, but the damage was already done.”
“Thanks for explaining, Mal. I’m sorry for calling you naive, so maybe we can kiss and make up later?” His eyebrows wiggled up and down.
She laughed. “Let’s take this painting upstairs. They have to be waiting for us.”
THIRTY TWO
Eve was, in fact, waiting by the basement door. “You’re late! What’s taking so long? It’s been forty-five minutes.” Eve watched as Mallory stepped into the hallway. Then she saw Kaden.
“Just great. Who called the fuzz?”
“Easy, there, Eve. He’s with me,” Mal said.
“Not you, too! Do I have to keep an eye on you guys now like I do Danior and Emilion?” Eve threw her hands in the air.
Kaden shrugged.
“Eve, I think we found something. At least my finder sense picked it out,” Mal added.
Kaden shined his light on the painting showing Balthasar was the subject.
“Let’s take it in the other room where his portrait’s hanging, it might serve as reference. I don’t think anyone will see the light from the street, do you Kaden?” Mal asked.
“I’m on duty, so if there’s a call, I’ll intercept it.” Kaden assured them.
“Sounds like we should have included you in the Caper Crew.”
Kaden snorted. “The what?”
Mal pushed Kaden down the hall toward the display room. “Never mind!”
Kaden set the painting on the floor below the portrait of Balthasar while Danior switched on the light.
“Look at that! It’s another portrait of Balthasar, Mal.”
Mallory was instantly sickened by the macabre image. Balthasar was angry and fearsome looking though he was smiling in it. He was holding something, oh dear goddess, Mallory wanted to look away. It was a woman’s heart. Blood dripped ghoulishly from his hand. She took out her cell, and snapped a few photos. In the background, a woman with long black hair dangled from a tree, and plunged into her chest was the final item seen in Mallory’s visions—the athame though most of it was hidden by the blood. She recognized the pommel with the purple jewel. Mallory’s eyes slid to the space below. At her feet lay two children, large river stones mounted in pyramids on both of their chests.
This was clearly Balthasar’s family. She turned the painting over unable to look any longer. She ne
eded to talk to him immediately. Why, if he was reformed would he ever have commissioned such a painting?
“How’d you ladies do?” Mal asked.
“Nothing,” Sera said, coming into the room. “It was interesting to see what they have, but I’ll come back when they’re open,” she said smiling. “Is that invitation to stay at the manor still open?”
“Of course,” Mallory said.
“Let’s blow this pop stand!” Eve declared.
“Eve, why don’t you take Dan and Sera back to the manor?” Kaden said, “Mallory and I will put the painting back and lock up.”
Eve looked to Mallory for the nod and then gave a thumbs up. “Peace out, copper.”
“So, were you following me tonight?” Mal asked, trying to get the image of the painting out of her mind’s eye.
“No! I tried to call you earlier and planned to try again. I really am on duty tonight and I happened to see Black Beauty driving the speed limit and knew something was up. So, I followed Eve, although to be honest, I figured you were with her.”
“Okay. Any news?”
“That’s why I called. Cody questioned Star again. The funeral director told us that Star left for two hours. She said to pick out clothes and a couple of necklaces for Sylvia from her store. Not far, but apparently, she broke down again which is why she was gone so long. The funeral director did confirm she was wrecked when she returned. No one can verify that since the store was closed.” Kaden put a hand up. “I know. I’m simply updating you.” He turned into the local drive-thru joint. “We have the lab results.”
The smell of roasting meat wafted into the truck. Mallory’s stomach growled, that sandwich didn’t last long. “Oh get me a chocolate milkshake. I swear they pump the scent of cooking out on purpose to draw you in.”
Kaden continued after placing his order. “So, the choker had been wiped clean, no prints.”
“What about the note you found?”
“Ah, they told me they were able to decipher it, but I didn’t have time to look yet. Let me park and we’ll see what it says,” Kaden said.
Ouija, Death & Wicked Witchery Page 16
