Whispering Pines

by Mavis Applewater

  “Becoming a believer?”

  “Who me? Nonsense.”

  “Yeah, that’s just how I used to say it for the cameras.” She snickered. “I remember I almost confessed once in Toronto. We were at this old farmhouse, walking from room to room. Shawn was going on about ‘I feel this or that,’ and I just ignored her. We get to the kid’s bedroom, and I swear this rocking horse starts rocking. I just about jumped out of my skin.”

  “I would have peed my pants.” Stan laughed.

  “I almost did,” Faith said. “I still went on camera denying that there was anything strange. I like not having to do that anymore.”

  “So, you like the aspect you’re involved with now? You didn’t seem to enjoy Kansas.”

  “I like it.” She inhaled the brisk night air. “I get to interview people and research stuff. I just like it more when I get to do it with Shawn.”

  “I really hope the two of you are working things out.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. For the first time in years, she allowed him to comfort her.

  “So do I, Dad, so do I.” She sighed happily.

  Chapter 42

  New York City

  2005

  Shawn stretched out her aching body. She had been working on the computer for days, trying to get things ready for her next book. She also busied herself researching her next project. She had hoped that by keeping busy, she wouldn’t have to worry about what would happen when Faith arrived. Deep in her heart, she knew that she wanted things to work out between the two of them. She was just leery about jumping back into a relationship with the enigmatic reporter.

  “Maybe that’s where we went wrong the last time?” she pondered aloud. She stood and wandered off to her tiny kitchen so she could pour yet another cup of coffee. The constant wondering that maybe they had jumped from being adversaries to lovers much too quickly concerned her the most. What if Faith panicked again and left Shawn behind for a second time? Could she survive it?

  “How am I going to keep things at a safe distance when she’ll be staying with me?” she groused as she sipped her coffee.

  Suddenly her skin prickled and her heart skipped a beat.

  “And she’s early.” She placed her cup on the counter before making her way to the front door. Faith jumped with surprise when Shawn opened the door before she had the opportunity to knock.

  “I hate it when you do that.” Faith scowled as she tried to balance her traveling bags and the bouquet of flowers she was carrying.

  “That’s why I do it,” Shawn said, noting Faith’s uneasy manner. She stepped aside, allowing her to enter the apartment. “You’re early.”

  “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” Faith asked cautiously as she stepped into Shawn’s home. Shawn was mildly amused by the way Faith was shifting nervously and averting her gaze.

  “No, your timing is perfect,” Shawn said. “I just sent the dancing girls home for the night.”

  “Sorry I missed that.”

  Shawn was perplexed as to why Faith was just standing there, strangling the flowers she had brought. She was frustrated that she couldn’t get an idea of what was going through Faith’s head. She gave Faith a curious glance before turning and closing the front door.

  “Did those flowers do something heinous?”

  “What?”

  “The flowers. You’re crushing them,” Shawn said, pointing to the unfortunate roses that were crumbling in Faith’s hand.

  “Sorry,” Faith exclaimed with a wide-eyed look. She thrust what was left of the roses at Shawn. “Here.”

  “Thank you,” Shawn said, accepting what was left of the once-beautiful arrangement. She carefully examined the roses, all of which had been snapped at the stems. Faith glanced over at her with a forlorn expression. Shawn cradled the mess and carried it into the kitchen. She blew out a breath in exasperation as she cleared away the mangled stems and placed the buds in a bowl.

  “They’ll make a nice bowl of potpourri,” she said before rejoining her moody guest. “The flowers are very nice, thank you.”

  “Sorry I smushed them.” Faith shoved her hands in her pockets.

  “Faith, what’s going on? You’re acting as though you’ve never given a woman flowers before.”

  “I haven’t.” Faith’s face turned scarlet. “Well, except my mom.”

  “Really?” Shawn beamed as Faith took a sudden interest in her shoes. God, she’s so adorable when she gets all shy.

  “It was very sweet,” she said in an effort to ease Faith’s tension. “Why don’t you take off your coat and sit? You were planning on staying, weren’t you?”

  “Thanks.” Faith exhaled with obvious relief and finally shed her coat. “I’m sorry I got all goofy,” she added as she plopped down onto the sofa. “I saw them at the airport and thought, ‘I really want to give Shawn flowers.’ I’m just nervous about staying with you. Weird, huh?”

  “No,” Shawn said softly. “I’ve been feeling somewhat anxious myself.”

  “Anxious? Anxious how?” Faith asked in a defensive manner. “I thought you wanted to work on things?”

  “I do,” Shawn said. “Relax. I’ve just been worried about rushing things. With you staying here, we’ll be closer, not that we haven’t dealt with that before. It’s just that this is my home, and there isn’t our work to buffer things.”

  “I should stay at a hotel,” Faith said in a determined tone.

  “Or my guest room?” Shawn suggested. She could feel her anger growing. “What the hell has gotten your knickers in a twist? Can’t you just admit that you’re afraid that if we sleep together now it might not be a good idea? Why is it so hard for you to just say what you mean? I swear you are the most infuriating, irrational, mmmf—” Shawn’s words were cut off when Faith captured her in a fiery kiss. Shawn melted. She laced her fingers in Faith’s long hair and drew her closer. Shawn was still tingling as the sultry kiss came to an end.

  “Or you could just kiss me senseless.” She rested her head on Faith’s shoulder.

  “I’m not good with expressing my feelings,” Faith said softly. Shawn was content playing with the buttons on Faith’s cotton blouse.

  “Not with words.” Shawn snickered as she continued to play with the buttons. “But you do have a unique way of breaking the ice with a girl. Feel better?”

  “Hell, yeah.” Faith laughed, her fingers gently massaging Shawn’s scalp. “Am I still staying in the guest room?”

  “Why don’t we just enjoy our time off and not think about the sleeping arrangements?” Shawn suggested. “I’m going to put on a fresh pot of coffee, and then you can tell me how your visit home went.”

  “No work? No pressure? Just you and me hanging out, getting to know one another, I don’t think we’ve ever done that before,” Faith mused.

  “We haven’t.” Shawn slipped from the warmth of Faith’s body and padded off into the kitchen. “It could be fun,” she said. She ground a fresh bunch of coffee beans and cleaned out her coffee maker.

  “Fun?” Faith said from the other room. “Hey? Why is it that you aren’t reading me?”

  “I knew you were at the door.” Shawn returned to the living room. “But you were so keyed up that you had the walls up. Now you’re relaxed and comfortable, and when you’re like that, I can’t see what you’re thinking. Then again, maybe there’s nothing going on inside that pretty head of yours.”

  “If you only knew,” Faith said in a husky tone. “You’re right, though. Now that I’m here and I didn’t find another woman with you, I feel much better.”

  “Wait. You thought I’d have a date here? Is that why you showed up early?” Shawn folded her arms across her chest.

  “I thought it was possible,” Faith admitted. “You only broke up with Deb a short time ago. I was worried that once you got back to New York, she’d be trying to get you back.”

  “She did.” Shawn peered into the kitchen to check on how the coffee was progressing. “I’m not interested. E
ven when you and I didn’t get along, I was attracted to you. And now that you’ve kissed me…”

  “Yes?” Faith’s eyes shone with hope.

  “It was a nice way to break the tension.” Shawn shook her head, knowing that Faith was up to her old tricks. “And I think leaving the sleeping arrangements ambiguous took the pressure off of us. So, did you have a good visit with your parents?”

  “I did. It was nice for a change.”

  “That’s good,” Shawn called out as she ducked into the kitchen and poured the coffee. “I know many people can get edgy visiting their parents, but you’ve always seemed almost hostile.” She rejoined Faith in the living room and handed her a cup of coffee.

  “Hostile? I wouldn’t say hostile. I love both of my parents,” Faith said as Shawn sat down beside her. “Something happened when I was a teenager, and I’ve been bitter ever since. Which makes me nuts, because I know I should be an adult and get past it.”

  “Want to talk about it?” Shawn curled her legs under her body and eyed Faith carefully, looking for any sign that she had overstepped her bounds. Her heart dropped when Faith’s smile morphed into a deep scowl.

  “Yeah.” Faith finally nodded. Shawn’s eyes widened with surprise. “Shawn, I’m learning,” Faith said with sincerity. “It’s not easy for me to trust or open up, but I understand that it’s all part of getting to know one another.

  “When I was a teenager, I found out that my Dad had an affair years earlier. I never looked at him the same way again. I stopped trusting him, and even though I understood that what happened was none of my business, I’ve been mad at him ever since. I used to idolize my father, and discovering that he had cheated on my mother broke my heart.”

  “You were young. It’s only natural you’d be angry,” Shawn said.

  “I know.” Faith shrugged. “But carrying that anger into adulthood hasn’t been healthy. I mean, my mother forgave him, and they saved their marriage. Not to mention that, because of the way I’ve handled my own relationships, I really shouldn’t be casting any stones. Not with you, anyway.”

  “I know that.” Shawn smirked and wiggled her eyebrows.

  Faith laughed. “Yes, another added bonus of dating a psychic. Dad and I really got along this week, probably because he finally called me on the carpet for my snotty attitude. He and Mom say hi. They were a little disappointed to hear that we split, but thrilled that I’m staying with you for a few days.”

  “Faith, that’s amazing,” Shawn said in appreciation. “Half the time, you hide your feelings from the people who care about you, and most of them don’t even know where in the hell you are. I’m impressed that not only are you talking about your feelings, but that you also discussed our relationship with your parents. That’s a huge step for you.”

  “Nothing like the cold, aloof reporter you used to fight with,” Faith said.

  “Oh, I’m still very fond of her.” Shawn sighed happily.

  “Speaking of my father,” Faith continued, “he told me that when he was pledging his fraternity back in college, they made him go to Whispering Pines. How funky is that?”

  “What happened?” Shawn asked as the ghost hunter in her emerged.

  “Nothing like what happened to us. Just windows and doors slamming open and shut. A couple of his frat brothers didn’t like the kitchen. He didn’t need to tell me who, they’re still a couple and are friends with Dad. He saw Catherine in the upstairs window. That’s about it. I asked him if he wanted to join me on the shoot. He’s worried about me going without you. But, much like everyone else who’s been there, he doesn’t want to go back.”

  “Well, the next time you talk to him, tell him not to worry,” Shawn said.

  “And why is that?”

  “I signed the contract yesterday,” Shawn said, grinning when Faith’s eyes bugged out.

  “You’re going?”

  “I’m going.” Shawn caressed Faith’s shoulder. “I don’t want to, but I feel as though I’m supposed to be there.”

  “Hey, I’m not going to question why,” Faith said excitedly. “I’m just happy that we’ll be there together.”

  Chapter 43

  New York City

  2005

  “One more time, what is this supposed to do?” Faith asked.

  Shawn rubbed her brow. “For the last time, it’s an onyx. It helps keep negative energy at bay. The other one is an amethyst. It helps with inner strength and insight.”

  “Why isn’t the amethyst as purple as it was at the shop?”

  “Because you’re sucking the energy from it,” Shawn said bluntly. She began to wonder just why she had asked Faith to go with her to buy crystals. Faith was like a small child in the shop, touching everything, pestering her with questions, and being a nuisance.

  Shawn wanted new crystals before the trip to Scotland, and Faith hated being alone in Shawn’s apartment. Faith’s discomfort stemmed from Willie, the impish ghost who resided with Shawn and took immeasurable pleasure in driving Faith up the wall. When she and Faith had first become a couple, Faith had refused to believe that Willie existed. After her first couple of sleepovers, she not only believed that Willie was real, but was bound and determined to send him to the other side. At times, Faith insisted that Shawn guide Willie into the light. Shawn explained that she tried, and Willie didn’t want to go, but Faith still persisted.

  “So, what are you saying, that even spiritually, I’m high maintenance?” Faith groused.

  “Basically, yes.” Shawn snickered as Faith glared down at her.

  Shawn yelped when Faith snatched her up and tossed her over her shoulder. “Put me down!” she squawked as Faith carried her down the busy sidewalk like a sack of potatoes.

  “Not until you apologize.” Faith swatted Shawn on her backside while continuing down the street. Oddly enough, no one seemed to notice; then again, this was New York. Spending time with her old flame had been a blessing and a curse for Shawn. During the day they played, went for long walks, talked for hours on end, and really got to know each other. It was great until it was time to retire for the evening. Sleeping in separate bedrooms was becoming a trial for both women. Then there was Willie. Shawn said he was just a mischievous little boy, but Faith refused to enjoy his antics.

  “I’m not going to apologize, so you can stop acting like a menace.” Shawn squealed as Faith spun around making her dizzy. Her stomach started to churn. “Now!” she screeched.

  “Spoilsport,” Faith finally set Shawn on the stoop of an aging brownstone.

  Shawn was laughing as Faith carefully set her down. She turned pale when her body touched the cold stone steps. Darkness loomed over her, and the smell of blood assaulted her. She saw a woman being forced down against the stone.

  “No!” she screamed and jumped off the steps, trying to erase the image of the young woman’s skull splitting open. She saw a dark figure flee in the darkness, climb the fire escape, and duck in the third-story window as every light in the building blinked on. She trembled, shaking her head in an effort to erase the image. Bile rose in her throat, even as the daylight and the present returned.

  “Shawn?” Faith wrapped her arms around Shawn’s trembling form. “What just happened?”

  Shawn was unable to speak. She grabbed Faith by the hand, dragged her away from the building, and was almost halfway back to her apartment before she finally felt safe.

  “A woman was murdered,” Shawn finally managed to say. “‘Just one kiss,’ that’s what he said as she tried to fight him off. He smelled like cheap bourbon. He was young. I couldn’t see his face, because it was dark. I hate this.” Faith hugged her.

  “When did it happen?” Faith asked carefully as Shawn tried to calm down.

  “Um, she was wearing a poodle skirt, so I’m thinking the fifties.” She blew out a terse breath. “They never caught him.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I think so.” Shawn sighed. She tried to feel what had happened. “Gone, it’s gone.
We could find out.”

  “Okay. Not my original thought of how to spend the day, but I’m game,” Faith said. “You want to start with the Internet?”

  “Or we could just call a cop.” Shawn extracted her cell phone from her pocket.

  “The mysterious Carey?” Faith grumbled as Shawn dialed Carey Jessup’s number.

  “Let me guess, she isn’t on the Massachusetts police force.”

  “Years ago. Now she’s a member of NYPD.” Shawn motioned to Faith as she heard her new friend answer her call.

  “Carey, it’s Shawn Williams. I need a favor.”

  “Get a speeding ticket?” Carey asked.

  “No.” Shawn smiled. “Would it be possible to check out if a woman was murdered in the fifties on the front stoop of 26 Bleecker Street?”

  “Let me jot this down. In the fifties, 26 Bleecker Street. Do I even want to ask why?”

  “Can you check it out?” Shawn asked.

  “Fine.”

  “And find out who was living in the third-floor apartment facing the alley.”

  “Anything else?” Carey asked. “You want me to deliver a pizza while I’m at it?”

  “Only if you’re going to deliver the information in person,” Shawn said. “Just remember, I’m a vegetarian.”

  “Naturally.” Carey disconnected the call.

  * * *

  “So, what is it with this Carey chick anyway?” Faith asked three hours later, after she had checked on the pot of coffee she had brewed.

  “Turn it off,” she shouted into the kitchen when the water faucets turned on full blast. Shawn snickered, knowing that Willie was at it again. Normally, he gave Shawn her space, but whenever Faith was around, the youngster did everything he could to get her to play with him.

  “Thank you,” Faith bellowed. “Tell me again why this Carey hates me?”

  “You can ask her yourself, she’s almost here,” Shawn said. Faith ducked into the kitchen. Half a second later, there was a knock on the apartment door.