Rose shook her head. "Nor him. So much for British reticence."
Andrea choked back a laugh, and Brenna murmured, "Love Finds Andy Hardy."
"For the last time, I didn't lie," Max stated in glacial tones. "I just didn't tell you everything."
Kerry turned abruptly, fixing Brenna with a dirty look. "What did you say?"
"Who, me?" Brenna grinned at her. "Just talking about movies like I always do."
Rose cleared her throat. "The two of you obviously have a lot to talk about, but would you mind tabling it for now? I'd like to share our information while Max is here."
Kerry's face was flaming with color. "Sure, whatever." She flopped into the wingback chair. Silently Max pulled a chair over the rug so he could sit beside her.
"We can go into the details of your introduction some other time," Rose said. "For now, I'd like to hear more about this feeling you had tonight. What happened, exactly?"
Max rubbed his hand across his forehead. "As I said, I'd been reading and fell asleep. I was jerked awake suddenly. I felt there was danger nearby. My heart was pounding and I was at full alert." He looked at the sideboard. "I don't mean to be rude, but might I have a drink?" He slanted a look at Kerry.
Rose got to her feet. "We'd been waiting while we compared notes, but we can say it's medicinal." She glanced at the group. "Anyone else?"
"God, yes," Andrea said quickly. The others nodded.
Rose brought brandy and scotch to the low table and went back for glasses from the cabinet. "Thank goodness we have what we need here. I don't know if I'd be willing to brave the kitchen."
"Even for brownies?" Aura Lee said. "I baked them for dessert."
"Oh, man." Brenna had a pained expression. "Brownies."
Andrea pushed herself up from the sofa. "Ghost or no ghost, nobody's going to keep me from Aura Lee's brownies. I'll be back in a second." She strode toward the kitchen and pushed the swinging door open.
"Wait, I'll come, too," Kerry said to her back, but Andrea kept going.
"I'll go with her." Max got to his feet, but before he could get far, Andrea was back with a platter of the chocolate squares, and she set them on the coffee table.
"My hero." Brenna snatched a brownie and took a bite. "Oh, God, things look a lot better now." She chewed while she waited for Noreen to pour herself a drink, and then followed suit. "Anybody else want brandy?"
When everyone was supplied with refreshments, Rose nodded to Max. "Finish telling us."
He nodded. "As I told you, I woke convinced something was amiss, but everything appeared normal in the hotel room. Then, as I was attempting to make sense of it, I realized I was thinking quite strongly of Wisdom Court. Sometimes I have a mental image with these feelings," he added. "In my mind's eye I'll see a person or a place and the image will have a surrounding glow. This time I could see Wisdom Court. I could see you," he said to Kerry, his voice lower. "I knew you were in danger."
Kerry met his gaze. She extended her hand over the arm of the chair and he took it in his.
"When I telephoned, there was only an engaged line signal. I tried several times but I couldn't get through. It seemed best that I come here to make sure all of you were unharmed. Did something happen here?"
"You could say that." Rose filled him in, from veggie-circled plates to the organ recital in Aura Lee's room.
"And don't forget what happened earlier," Aura Lee said.
Rose stared at her blankly.
"You know, the broken mirror in Cottie's room."
Rose sagged. "You know, I'd flat out forgotten it. Goes to show how things have been around here."
"Cottie's mirror broke?" Kerry was crestfallen. "The oval one on the wall?"
"It fell off while we were in her room." Rose sighed. "It was odd, what with Strudel barking madly at it before it fell."
"Don't forget the blood," Aura Lee reminded her.
Noreen glanced at the tiny Band-Aid on Rose's hand. "You cut yourself?"
Rose nodded. "Picking up pieces. It's not serious."
"Tell them about the rug. Oh, and the box," Aura Lee directed.
"Okay, okay." Rose looked down at her hand. "A small box was attached to the mirror and there was a key in it, as well as a circle scratched inside it. Yes, I'll tell them," she said in answer to Aura Lee's sputters. "My blood fell onto the rug in another circle. That turned black. Okay?" she said flatly with an impatient glance at Aura Lee.
"A perfectly round black circle," Aura Lee emphasized.
"Well." Max pulled at his lower lip as he thought. "That's quite a list," he said finally. "We have several possibilities here. Unless I'm mistaken, you've had a spirit or spirits trying to direct you to several pieces of information." He shook his head. "I must say that what you've described is the most... exciting combination of actions I've ever heard of. If your spirit visitor or visitors have that kind of strength—to knock down a mirror, and to make an organ sound—then we are talking about a significant chain of events."
Aura Lee straightened in her seat, pride filling her face. "It has been quite exciting."
"You mean it's been quite terrifying." Rose turned to Max. "I don't really care about advancing the cause of paranormal research," she said. "I am concerned about living here in fear. We don't know what to expect or when to expect it. Focus, Max, on helping us get to the causes in order to end these events."
Max let out a long breath. "I apologize. It's difficult to hear your experiences without going mental over the amazing aspects of what you've described. I've never encountered anything like it."
"You're lucky." Andrea poured more brandy into her glass. "I've had to confront not only the idea of a haunting but of being possessed and directed by one of those spirits doing the haunting. I was lucky not to go completely mental myself."
"Message received." Max rubbed his hands together. "I'd like to suggest that I move in here while the activity is at its height. If I'm here to observe in situ, as it were, we might expedite events."
Kerry grinned at him. "You know, you're still talking three-piece suit language."
He raised one brow. "I am British and very well-educated. You'll have to accept me as I am."
"Believe it or not," Kerry said softly, "I don't find that prospect daunting."
"You're both cute as bugs," Brenna said, "but I'm so tired I can't stand it. Tomorrow," she told Max, "I'll tell you about my experiences since I arrived, but for now I'm going to bed."
"Sounds like a plan." Rose gathered glasses and headed for the kitchen. "I'm at the point where I defy the spirits to keep me awake. It's been quite a day."
Aura Lee stood up and folded the throw, laying it over the sofa arm. Noreen gathered more glasses and followed Rose into the kitchen.
"Welcome aboard," Andrea said. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Where will you stay, at Kerry's or here in the house?"
Max slanted a look Kerry's way. "I rather thought I might beg a night's sleep on your sofa. If that's all right with you."
Kerry was flustered. "Well, of course you're welcome. I think I have clean sheets for it; we can see when we get there."
Max smiled at her. "I'm sure we'll make do." He cupped her elbow and steered her out of the room. "Shall we?"
Brenna watched them leave and turned back toward the kitchen. Her eyes met Andrea's gaze. "And off they go. I imagine extra sheets won't be an issue by the time they get there."
Andrea widened her eyes. "Why, Brenna, whatever do you mean?"
"My heart's going pitter-pat just being near them." Brenna set the decanters back where they belonged and gathered more plates. "I'm glad for Kerry."
"Me, too." Andrea followed her into the kitchen. When she saw Aura Lee bustling between the counter and the dishwasher, she hurried over to her. "Let me do this," she said. "You're out on your feet. It'll only take a little while to clean up. You'll help, won't you?" she asked Brenna.
"Glad to."
"Same goes for you," Andrea told Rose. "Go to bed
."
Rose smiled wanly. "You talked me into it. Don't feel you have to make it spotless. If you just load what you can fit in, we'll deal with everything else tomorrow."
"It's a deal. Now go get some sleep."
* * *
As she went up the back stairs, Rose felt every day of her fifty-eight years. Too tired to think anymore, she plodded down the hall toward her room. Only the thought of slipping into her bed kept her going. As she reached her door, Rose heard a high-pitched buzzing. She looked around for a bee or wasp that might have become trapped in the house. The sound grew louder as she neared the attic staircase. She recalled the dreadful shrieking from Aura Lee's room, and what she'd said tonight about its beginning with a hum.
Rose moved slowly and quietly, her heart pounding. As she approached the end of the hallway, the overhead light fixture began to glow more brightly.
Now apprehensive on several fronts, Rose edged to the side of the hall in case the glass cover on the fixture exploded. A beam of light shot toward the attic stairs.
Light reflected off a piece of metal on the side of a stair step. Rose caught her breath. She'd seen them a million times, but had never really noticed them. Her gaze climbed from the bottom step to the last near the ceiling. The end of each stair step had been decorated with a small metal disk. The light from the overhead fixture shone on the fifth step from the top. As she drew closer, she could see the tiny opening at the middle of the brass circle. A keyhole.
Rose's mind flashed to the tiny key in her pocket. "I don't believe it." Her eyes widened in surprise. She could see her breath—white vapor—as if she'd exhaled into winter air.
It was frigid in the hall now. Possibilities stuttered through her mind: a window might be open. The wind raging through the trees could have lowered the temperature. The furnace might have gone on the fritz. She crossed her arms over her chest for warmth, her gaze darting about the hallway in search of something to explain why her teeth were chattering.
The glow from the overhead fixture flashed again, then blinked off and on like a strobe light. The drop in temperature was incredible, the chill sinking into her bones. She had to get out of the freezing air. She forced her left leg back, then her right. The sole of one shoe brushed against the runner, nearly tripping her. She stumbled, catching herself against the wall, and regained her footing.
Rose slowly retreated, the unearthly cold lessening as she moved further down the hallway. Her gasps were rapidly building into sobs as she neared the staircase to the kitchen. She groped behind her for the rail. Clutching it with all of her waning strength, she turned around and staggered down the steps.
Andrea looked up from the sink at the sound of footfalls. Astonishment spread across her face as she took in Rose's distress. "What's the matter?" She rushed over to her, the dishtowel forgotten in one hand. Brenna was right behind her.
Rose was dimly aware that she wouldn't be able to go much farther. She dropped unexpectedly onto the bottom step, and swayed forward, letting her head fall to her knees.
Andrea knelt in front of her. She patted Rose's arms and shoulders, trying to figure out what was wrong. "What is it? What's the matter?"
The door next to the stairs opened, and Aura Lee peered around its edge. Her brass-colored hair bristled with several fat rollers. One hand anchored her unbuttoned yellow robe at her neck. "What's going on?" she asked in a wavering voice.
Brenna turned a frightened face to her. "Something's wrong. Rose just came downstairs, and she's in terrible shape."
Aura Lee surged out of her room. "Here, let's get her to a chair." She grabbed Rose's arm, and with Andrea's help hoisted her to her feet. "Come on, now. Just over here."
They walked her to the table, Brenna tailing behind them, and settled her onto the nearest chair. "Is it your heart?" Aura Lee demanded. "Are you having a stroke?"
"No," Rose rasped. "Not physical."
Aura Lee searched her face, then turned away, meeting Andrea's questioning gaze with a shake of her head. "I'll make some tea," she muttered. Bustling to the sink, she snatched the kettle from the stove along the way. She turned on the water, and as her gaze was still fixed on Rose, it spilled over her hand. Exclaiming, she adjusted the flow, then slammed the kettle onto the burner.
"Maybe brandy's a better idea." Brenna took a step toward the dining room, but Rose seized her by the wrist.
"Go upstairs." Her teeth were chattering, and her hand tightened convulsively, causing Brenna to wince. "Check the light."
Brenna blinked at the fear in Rose's eyes. "Okay." She cast a questioning glance at Aura Lee, who shrugged helplessly. She started to move away, but Rose squeezed her arm even more tightly.
"Andrea, too." Rose's voice shook pitifully. "Don't go alone. Check the stairs to the attic."
Andrea studied her with wide eyes. "You're scaring me, Rose. What's going on?"
"Please." Rose knew she sounded crazy, but she was frantic to know if they would encounter the same circumstances. If the hallway was still so cold, if the light was erratic, she could be sure that what she'd felt was real. Something soft settled on her shoulders and she jerked round to see what it was. Aura Lee had brought a throw from the living room and was tucking it around her. Rose clutched it to her, trying to nod her thanks.
"Come with me," Andrea said to Brenna. "We've got to check out the second floor." Together they headed up the stairs.
"You poor thing." Aura Lee set a cup of tea in front of her. "You drink that now, it'll warm you right up."
Rose wrapped her hands around the cup gratefully. The warmth set off another shudder, and she tried to control it so she could drink the hot liquid. Before she could begin to take a sip, Andrea and Brenna clambered down the steps and came back into the kitchen.
"Well?" Rose examined their faces for reaction.
"It's cold as a mausoleum," Brenna said, "but the light seems okay." She sat in the chair next to her. "What were we supposed to see?"
Rose looked to Andrea, who was pulling out a chair on the other side of the table. "I didn't see anything unusual. Like she said, it was just really cold."
"What's got you so spooked?" asked Brenna.
"The overhead light kept flashing off and on. I thought it might burst. But it wasn't what I saw; it was how I felt. I've never been so cold before." Rose sipped at the tea, and almost spat it out. "Too sweet."
"For shock. Drink it." Aura Lee sounded adamant, but her face was soft with uncertainty. "Did you see her, Rose?"
Rose shook her head. "It was just that god-awful chill. And the light shining on those circles—"
"What?" Aura Lee squeaked.
Rose shivered under the throw, and took another drink of the hot tea. "The light was pointed at the attic stairs. Almost like a spotlight. The decoration on the steps—the ends of them, I mean—are little brass disks. They've probably been there forever." She pulled the throw more firmly around her shoulders. "I don't remember if I ever noticed them. Anyway, one of them has a keyhole in it. And I think it's small enough for the key I found in Caldicott's room."
The sensation caused by that statement took a while to ebb. When it did, Brenna was ready to rush back upstairs immediately.
Rose quailed at the idea. "I can't tell you how terrifying it was. That cold... the feeling that something was waiting." She was already wondering she'd be able to force herself back to her room that night.
"You can't mean for us to wait until morning," Andrea stated in determination. "It's inhuman to ask it of anybody. And you know damn well that Kerry and Noreen will want to see whatever's up there."
Aura Lee glanced uneasily toward the stairs. "I think we ought to wait."
"No way. We can call Noreen, and Kerry and Max can see whatever we find tomorrow." Andrea's voice was pleading, but impatience flared in her eyes. "Rose, come on! It might not be there in the morning. We don't know what we're dealing with."
"All right. All right." Rose sagged in the chair. "Call Noreen and we'll go ch
eck it out together."
Noreen showed up ten minutes after Andrea's call. Sleepy but game, hair spiky, she was warm in a fuzzy green jogging suit. "So, tell me again what's going on?" She yawned mightily.
"I guess we'll find out," Rose answered grimly. She threw off the blanket around her shoulders and got out of the chair.
They went up the back stairs in a cluster thanks to Rose's obvious fear. The air on the second floor was still cold, but that appeared to be the only departure from the ordinary. The overhead lights in the hallway shone without flickering; nothing jumped out at them from the shadowed corners.
By the time they reached the attic stairway, Rose had begun to feel foolish.
"Look. There it is." Brenna pointed at the fifth step. "The key hole is tiny. No wonder no one's ever found it."
They stepped back to allow Rose access to the lock. She was obscurely pleased to see that her hand was steady as she slipped the tiny key into the keyhole. When she turned it, they heard the muffled click of a latch shifting. The end piece of the step moved and a crack appeared. Rose used her fingers to pull the wood piece open all the way.
"What if there are spiders in there?"
Rose hesitated, hand outstretched. "Gee, thanks, Brenna." She forced herself to reach inside the compartment.
"Sorry," Brenna murmured.
"What is it?" Andrea's eyes were fixed on the aperture.
Inside the cubbyhole was a book. Rose pulled it out into the light, and Aura Lee exclaimed, "It's just like the ones Caldicott wrote her journals in."
Rose's lips twisted in the best smile she could muster as she held opened the volume. "Kerry's been hunting for months. I hope this has at least some of what she's been looking for."
She flipped open the book to the middle pages and gazed down at it. "It's written in Caldicott's hand."
Aura Lee gulped back a sob. "I want to know what's in there."
"Me, too." Noreen was pale with fatigue. "But I think we ought to wait until Kerry's here. It wouldn't be right to cheat her out of the discovery."
"All right." Rose closed the book. "But all of you have to see me to my room. If I encounter any other specters tonight, I'll lose my mind."
A Signal Shown Page 11
