“Let go of me.” Sally was surprised at how strong this woman was.
“Hang on to her Elizabeth. Anna, Ramon we could really use your help anytime now.” Alex was looking for them to intervene any time now.
“We’re here Alex. We just wanted to hear what plans Sally had for you. Actually we came for both women; but only if Elizabeth is ready to go.” Anna was smiling at Elizabeth as Ramon was now holding onto Sally’s arm.
“I can’t go to Heaven. I don’t deserve to go to Heaven.” Elizabeth still felt the guilt of going out while her husband was overseas.
“Fuck this I’m not going to Heaven now.” Sally sneered at Ramon and tried to shake off his tight grip of her arm.
“Who said you were going to Heaven?” Ramon had a big smile on his face as he winked at Alex then he and Sally faded away and the knife fell harmlessly from her hand to the ground.
“Sweet!” Alex came out of the corner as her heart rate was slowly returning to normal.
“Elizabeth just because you talked to another man doesn’t mean you were unfaithful. You were just lonely and wanted to converse with another human being. So it was a guy, it could have been a woman. Would you feel guilty talking to a woman?” Alex hoped Elizabeth would forgive herself and go with Anna.
“No, I guess not if you put it that way. I was just so lonely. He was career Army in Yugoslavia at the time fighting with the NATO forces during the Kosovo War.” Elizabeth missed him so much, but never complained to him how she felt.
“Elizabeth is he still alive?” Alex wondered.
“I don’t really know. I remember my parents coming one day and covering up all the furniture. They were so sad, I felt like I had let them down too. My husband, Robert, never came back to this house. It was in our name and maybe he did think I’d left him. I’m not sure why this place was left this way. Maybe Robert is still alive and just never sold it.” Elizabeth wished someday someone would love this place like she did.
“Well if Robert has passed he will understand when you tell him you were murdered. But I know for a fact that your parents have passed and your mother never believed you ran off with another man.” Alex wanted Anna to jump in with some information about Elizabeth’s family.
“Elizabeth your parents are waiting for you and your husband Robert, is in fact, still alive. Now that he is aware of your disappearance and murder I’m sure he’s forgiven you – if he ever did hold any ill feelings for you in the first place.” Anna moved closer to Elizabeth and hoped she’d take her outstretched hand.
Anna smiled and gave an encouraging nod to Elizabeth to take her hand. Elizabeth did want to see her parents again as she’d been so alone all these years. She took a step towards Anna and took her hand, and then both women faded away.
“Were those your friends Anna and Ramon?” Oliver had been speechless.
“Yes! And one day they will come for me; and you if you’re ready to go with me.” Alex looked at Oliver and then thought for a moment.
“John Thomas did you follow us? Are you here by chance?” Alex had felt something was off.
“Maybe. What just happened?” JT was standing in a darkened corner.
“In a nutshell, Elizabeth went to Heaven and I hope Sally went to Hell.” Alex really hoped he didn’t have a knife.
“Elizabeth said she was lonely and only wanted someone to talk to. I thought she wanted to cheat on her husband. I was wrong and I killed her for that reason.” JT had thought all along that he was doing the right thing.
“There’s a good chance you may have killed several of those women for the wrong reason. But I guess we’ll never know because they’re dead.” Alex didn’t know what else to say.
“Will I go to Hell too?” JT looked at Alex with tears in his eyes.
“I don’t know John. You’ll have to wait and see.” Alex walked over to where JT was standing. “Oliver and I will wait here with you.”
“Thank you. You’re very kind and I know now that you were the one who found their bodies. If they did cheat on their husbands they will have to see where they get to go.” JT wasn’t mad anymore he understood it wasn’t up to him to judge those women.
After several minutes Ramon appeared again and smiled at Alex as he took JT by the arm.
“Ramon where are you taking John?” Alex could see the terror in JT’s eyes.
“Not every troubled mind goes to Hell, Alex. He will be well taken care of, trust me. Oliver if you want, Anna can come for you if you’re ready?” Ramon knew the answer, but he needed to ask.
“I wish to stay, thank you.” Oliver backed up and moved behind Alex.
“Then stay you shall. Take care Alex. We’ll be seeing you.” Ramon smiled at Alex and Oliver and then he and JT faded away.
“Does that mean I get to stay?” Oliver wondered who was coming next.
“Yup. You’re stuck with me and Sam. Can you handle having two women around all the time?” Alex was so glad that was over with that she wanted to jump for joy.
“You bet. But when is Sam coming home?” Oliver was starting to miss her too.
“Good question. But right now we need to get home because it’s getting late and I don’t see well in the dark.” Alex knew no one would believe this part of the story, but she had Oliver as a witness just in case she ever told it.
The climb back up the hill seemed a lot longer than her run down it of course. Oliver was full of questions about Anna and Ramon and Alex told him the whole story about how they met and how many times they had come to her rescue. Which by the way today’s appearance needed to be added to the list.
When they were in sight of home Alex remembered the kittens had been hidden by Sally somewhere nearby. Alex and Oliver stood very still and Alex called out for Eva. They could hear faint crying coming from a clump of bushes near the back of the house. There they found Eva and all four kittens safely covered under a tarp stuck under a large bush.
Alex carried the box and Oliver opened the door and straightened up the mess Sally had made taking them in the first place. The little family looked no worse for wear from their little outing. Alex let Oliver get them settled while she went to open a can of food for Eva. As she smashed up the food a set of headlights shined up the driveway. It was TJ’s truck and she had pizza and a six pack of root beer.
“Hey stranger. What’s new and exciting?” TJ had been working on her truck in town and was just getting home.
“What’s new, let me think. How much time do you have?” Alex smiled and grabbed her Plum Wine and a glass.
Alex began to tell TJ her adventure; after she had consumed several pieces of pizza and finished her glass of wine. She started with her dream about the old cabin and her and Oliver’s visit the next day. Before she mentioned the dream about the bodies she was beginning to feel the effects of her day and promised to finish the story tomorrow. TJ was well aware of Sam’s absence but didn’t bring it up. That was for Alex to do when she was ready to talk about it. For the moment TJ was enjoying the one on one time with Alex. Oliver had stopped in several times as he had been part of the adventure.
Oliver said his good night to both women and had gone to the guest room to check on Eva and her babies. Alex waved goodbye to TJ and noticed that once again the house felt like home. Having Sally Jennings in her house had brought a heaviness that was gone now. But that empty feeling from Sam’s absence was still present. Alex was beginning to feel numb from the whole situation, except for her shoulder. She was alone again, just like she’d been after Dez disappointed her and now Sam was questioning their relationship. Was this how her life was to be played out, one disappointment after another? Until one day she would be all alone after everyone had left. This was just fatigue and stress talking. Sam had only been gone for three days and two of those days she had training so maybe today being her first day off she could actually think about her relationship with Alex.
It wasn’t like Alex would be alone; she knew TJ would be by her side in a heartbeat if
Alex wished her to be. Maybe having a girlfriend who was fifteen years younger was what Alex needed; someone who appreciated a mature woman. She didn’t want someone who was into partying with the other officers all the time.
Alex needed to stop thinking so much and take a shower and three Ibuprofen before she went to bed. Tomorrow was another day and who knew what adventure was waiting for her.
What was it that Dr. Seuss always said? “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Chapter 49
When Alex awoke she felt stiff and her shoulder was very sore but not that bad considering her sprint to the old cabin and crashing through the front door. She could only hope that tomorrow she wouldn’t be any worse. The sound of kittens crying lead Alex to the guest room where she found Oliver holding Eva and rubbing her head. The kittens weren’t happy that there breakfast wasn’t waiting for them as usual. Alex figured their age at three weeks old and their eyes were open, but they weren’t that steady on their feet. Oliver put Eva back and the crying stopped and was replaced by little motors purring away.
Alex visited the bathroom and then headed to the kitchen for her cup of coffee. Breakfast for one was getting to be dull as it was the same thing the past few mornings she had cooked for herself, which was oatmeal.
Alex looked at her cellphone and sent a text message to TJ. Maybe she’d be up for a trip to town for some bacon and eggs cooked by someone else. Staring at her phone Alex just realized TJ – JT wow two letters that identified two completely different people.
Her phone came buzzing to life and TJ was on her way to pick Alex up; which sent Alex flying into her room to get dressed. Today could turn out to be a good day after all and after breakfast Alex and TJ could stop by the hardware store and see if Carol was around to bring up to speed on all the events that had happened since their last talk.
Alex brushed her hair back into a ponytail and put her Hastings Lumberjacks baseball cap on. Alex was brushing her teeth when she heard TJ knocking on the back door and Oliver decided to have some fun and answer it while being invisible. Of course TJ laughed at the disembodied voice asking her to come in.
“Are you two having fun?” Alex found them sitting at the table.
“Always. What’s this about the other ghost trying to kill you with a knife?” TJ was smiling but serious.
“Oh that. Well I really wasn’t going to tell you about that part, because I wasn’t in any real danger to speak of. Besides I had Oliver watching my back.” Alex hoped she’d be satisfied.
TJ looked at Oliver who shook his head that he didn’t do a thing. Alex took a seat across from TJ and told her what had happened after she got home Saturday. TJ’s eyes widened as Alex introduced the addition of Sally, then Elizabeth and JT into the story.
“But you need to promise me that you will keep this to yourself. You know about Oliver, several people don’t know about him. So this little ghost story needs to stay between the three of us. Sam doesn’t even know about any of this and I may or may not tell her.” Alex looked at TJ and knew she needed to explain.
“Shall we head for town?” TJ felt that if Alex wanted to talk about Sam they could do it on the way.
“Oliver, would you like to come? No one can see you of course but us, but you could see the town.” Alex wanted him to come with them. Having him with her brought a calming effect that she was getting use too.
“I would.” Oliver flew out without opening the door.
“That boy is so sweet. I really love having him here, especially since Sam has been staying near the academy.” Alex thought it was one way to ease into the topic of Sam’s absence.
“He is a character.” TJ opened the door for Alex and followed her out.
The conversation on the ride to town was started by Alex and she told TJ everything about Sam’s questioning their relationship. She left out the part about Sam’s new girl friend Zane. TJ was quiet and never made a comment the whole time. TJ felt any remarks she made needed to be neutral because Sam would be back and she didn’t want Alex feeling uncomfortable if she expressed negative responses to what she’d just heard.
The conversation at the Diner was light and Oliver sat between both women and did a lot of people watching. This caused Alex to smile at Oliver’s reactions to the local characters who were regulars at the Diner. At one point he got up and walked through the table so he could get closer to two old men having a conversation about World War 2.
When the women finished they headed for the hardware with Oliver running to catch up. Alex assured him they wouldn’t leave him if he wanted to stay longer with the old men. Oliver assured Alex they had finished their talk and were talking about their health problems. He was happy they were leaving as it was making him a little sick.
Oliver was like a little kid when they walked into the hardware store as he wanted to look at everything they had displayed. Carol was working and anxious to get answers to the details left out by Mike Kelly’s news report.
Alex filled in the gaps for Carol and TJ who was unaware that the bodies reported on the news had been discovered by Alex. Alex was trying to concentrate on what she was saying but kept watching a small boy who apparently could see Oliver and was following his every move.
Her expressions had Carol looking over her shoulder and all she could see was the small boy. TJ was aware of Oliver but hadn’t notice his little friend. She waved him to come into the office.
When Oliver appeared at the door to Carol’s office TJ looked at Alex thinking she could now finish her story without interruption. Alex looked at Oliver and smiled, which had Carol wondering what she was looking at.
“Is one of your friends here?” Carol looked at TJ and knew she saw them too.
“A very good one. He’s very special and I love him very much. His name is Oliver Wade Simmons and he came with Sam from Pennsylvania.” Alex looked from Oliver to Carol and knew she would believe.
“Nice to meet you Oliver. Any friend of Alex and TJ is a friend of mine. Now can I ask how I get to join this exclusive club that can see you?” Carol was a believer if you needed to be.
“Oliver, is it okay?” Alex knew he would agree.
“I’d like to have more friends. I really like her store.” Oliver walked closer to Carol and held out his hand.
“Carol I need your hand, please.” Alex took Oliver’s and placed Carol’s on top. “Now just close your eyes and think about seeing him.”
Alex gripped Carol’s hand and wished with all her heart that when she opened her eyes she would be able to see Oliver.
“Open your eyes.” Alex watched Carol to see if she would react when she saw him – she did.
“My you are quite a handsome young man Oliver.” Carol was smiling and thrilled that she could see him.
“Yes he is. My only request is that you keep this to yourself. I know you trust Bob and Jason, but we don’t want them putting you away for seeing ghosts.” Alex didn’t need anymore attention either.
“This will be our little secret and now I need to get back out there. But Oliver you come by anytime you are in town.” Carol smiled and walked them out.
Alex thought about stopping by to see the Sheriff and Jim, but if they needed her they would call. They had all had more than enough excitement over the last several days and now it was time to get back to her same old boring life.
Epilogue
Alex spent the rest of her Sunday with TJ and Oliver. They had stopped by the store to pick up steaks to Bar-B-Que. It didn’t matter that it was the middle of January and winter time; it was just an activity that all three enjoyed. Even if Oliver couldn’t eat he liked watching Alex get everything ready and TJ doing the cooking.
Alex finished the story as promised and told TJ everything that she had left out while talking to Carol at the store. TJ had several questions and Oliver listened closely and commented on the parts he was involved with.
It was that same evening that Sam had finished her soul searching
and realized that she must keep Alex’s needs as much a priority as her own desire to be a police officer. Her lack of judgment in not telling Zane that she was married was innocent enough at the time, until during a celebratory hug Zane tried to kiss her after winning the shooting competition. This incident helped to make Sam realize that she could be in the same predicament as Dez was when not being completely forthcoming with Sally Jennings in her relationship status. It was not a position Sam desired to be in, considering what happened in that case.
Sam would call Alex just before bedtime and let her know she would be coming home and that she would explain everything to her when she got home from work. Needless to say Alex had a lot to tell Sam as well about the goings on in their boring little town.
What’s Family Got To Do With It? The Sixth Alexandria Whitney Mystery By G. L. McCarthy
Now that Sam is home and she and Alex have reconciled, things can hopefully start settling into a more boring routine. At least that is what you would think, but the recent media coverage of Hastings’ serial killer has made someone aware of one particular resident of the little town. Events that follow could put more than Alex and Sam in danger and a good friend could be falsely accused of a grizzly crime they didn’t commit.
Other Titles in the Series
Taylorwood
Thunder Mountain Ranch
But, Mercury’s Not In Retrograde
Death By Fright
Not A Good Reason Page 29
