“Sure. Sure, you are,” I said, giving him a narrow-eyed look. “That explains the smile, and the laughter in your eyes.”
He laughed in response.
“I didn’t startle you on purpose, how’s that? I can’t help that it was funny. Amusement is kind of involuntary.”
“Fine. As a person who also possesses a sense of humor, I understand, and choose to forgive you,” I replied, and he smiled. “So now, on to my news. I hired a landscaping company, so it’ll be very busy outside for the next week or so. I’ve got a house cleaning company lined up, too. They’ll start the day after tomorrow. They have a large team coming, but still. This house is huge. It’s going to take a while.”
“That’s great,” Miles said. “I hope everything works out for Polly, otherwise I might have to haunt Alfred, and dis-abuse him of his notion to capitalize on my murderous past. He could end up with more than he bargained for.”
That made me laugh.
“Where are we going, by the way?” I asked, as I followed Miles up the staircase.
“I have something to show you,” he said mysteriously.
Up two flights of stairs, down a hallway, through a doorway, and down another hallway, we came to a closed door. This house was a maze.
“This is where I’ve spent most of my time since Polly and her grandson moved out,” Miles said, as he opened the door with a wave.
I stepped through, and found an office, or library, I suppose it was called, on the other side. It still retained its antique aura in the way of furnishings. Floor to ceiling bookshelves filled the majority of each wall. An antique globe resided on a stand in one corner. Several comfortable chairs and cut-glass lamps were positioned around a gorgeous fireplace, surrounded by a carved mantle. An antique desk presided over it all. What I wasn’t expecting to see, was the up to date office equipment.
“Wow, this is nice,” I said, as I looked around.
“I think so,” he agreed. “It’s possibly my favorite room in the house.”
“Great view, too,” I noticed. “Were you looking out this window when Chip and I came here during the rainstorm?”
“Yes. I saw you right before you went in through the cellar.”
In all my uncoordinated glory.
“Well at least I managed to get myself back out, and enter by the staircase,” I replied. I could be proud of that, anyway.
Miles hesitated, either trying to find the right words, or deciding whether to speak at all.
Understanding began to dawn.
“You helped me. You caught me, when I lost my grip!”
“I couldn’t stand by and allow you to fall,” he replied. “Don’t feel badly at not being able to do it on your own, almost no one could. Movies make it look like all it takes is determination, but in fact, it takes stronger muscles than most people have.”
“Well… thanks for the help,” I said. “I really needed it.”
“Any time,” Miles smiled.
“I didn’t see you in the basement though,” I realized.
“I wasn’t in the basement,” Miles replied. “I didn’t have to be.”
Interesting. Like so many other things in the past few days.
He sat in front of the computer, and switched it on.
“I’ve kept myself from being bored out of my mind, by learning as much as possible. You would not believe how things have changed over the years.”
“Mom told me when she was in college, there was no such thing as the internet or cell phones,” I said. “I can’t imagine living without either one.”
“Those were big changes,” Miles agreed. “There have been more than I can count, in the past hundred and forty years. There have been lots of opportunities to learn new things. Books left lying around, especially school books when my younger brother James, his son, grandson, great-grandson, and great-great-grandson Miles, were growing up here.”
“All of that must be why you seem so normal. You don’t sound or act like you belong in the 1800’s.”
“I suppose,” said Miles. “I spent very little time in the 1800’s, when it comes down to it.”
“Did you ever search the internet for information about Sarah, and what happened to her?” I asked.
“No,” Miles frowned. “The thought never occurred to me. That was such a long time ago. Since her ship was lost, what information could there be?”
“Passenger manifestos, for one thing,” I said. “We could find out more about the ship she was on when she sailed to Europe. I know it sank, but still. You never know what you can unearth. One piece of information leads to another.”
“Let’s do that, then,” Miles said. “That’s why I wanted to show you this room, it will make a good Mission Control center.”
“It’s perfect,” I agreed. “Try to remember everything you can about Sarah and the handbill. The other names on it might give us something to go on. As for the ship manifesto, she wouldn’t sail alone, you said it yourself. Maybe you’ll recognize other names that were on the wanted poster. Finding the actual handbill is a long shot, but remember where you were when you found it, and we can call around to museums in that area. Are there any photo albums here in the estate, from that time period? Something might spark a memory. And what about diaries, or files. If you didn’t return, or whatever, for several years after the murders took place, then you don’t know what evidence or information your Father might have compiled. If there is any, we need to find it. We might have the technology now, to interpret evidence your Father collected. We may not know a piece of information is critical until we have it, so let’s search the house and search the net, for anything and everything.”
“You’ve really thought this out,” Miles said. He sounded impressed. “Your enthusiasm is starting to rub off, and make me think we might actually be able to do this.”
“Believe it, Mister!” I said. “We WILL do this.”
I looked around at the spotless office, comparing it for the first time to the dust laden state of the rest of the house. “How did it get so clean, in here?” I asked.
“Dust is harmful to electronics,” Miles said. “I also spend most of my time here, so I keep the dust to a minimum.”
“How do you even do that, and since you can, why is the rest of the house still such a mess?” I wanted to know.
“The rest of the house is still such a mess, because I don’t want to fuel rumors that the house is haunted by an OCD scullery maid,” Miles said. “And I clean the office, this way…”
Miles motioned for me to follow, and we crossed into the next room. He waved the windows open, lifted the dust with another wave, and sent it right out the open window. I stared in astonishment.
“Quite a superpower you’ve got there. So what I want to know is, since you can do this…” I flicked my hand, “why did I just hire a cleaning service!”
Miles laughed at that.
We returned to the office.
“Tell me something about yourself now,” he said. “I was so stunned yesterday when I found out you could see me, I didn’t even ask. You know an awful lot about me, and I know next to nothing about you.”
“Okay, that’s fair. You know my name. You know I have a dog, your dog’s new best friend,” I pointed toward the window. We could see Chip and Trixie dashing around the fountain, playing keep-away with Chip’s Frisbee.
“I’m nineteen years old, and graduated from high school last spring. I have a nine-year-old sister and three-year-old brother…” I told him all about our family, where we were from, and why we moved here. Miles had lots of questions, which I answered.
We talked about other subjects, too. We talked about Miles’ family, and the family he observed over the years as he lived in the castle, unseen. Try as he did to stay under the radar, now and then people would still see strange things that made them wonder.
“I was amazed at how freaked out people could be when they mislaid items and I made sure they found them again. Half the time, instead of being glad the
lost item was found, the person who lost it went on and on about how that’s not where they left it. If they knew where they left it, they would have found it themselves, so I thought that was rather contradictory.”
I laughed at that, as Miles continued.
“People began to suspect some sort of supernatural help was involved. I didn’t want that, so I stopped. There were times though, when I had to intervene. Like when my younger brother James’ little boy, who was less than two years old, fell from the top of the stairs. The little guy was supposed to be napping, but that was the day James and his wife discovered their son Jonathan learned to climb out of his crib. They were at the foot of the stairs and saw him fall, and then he was lifted back up and set down safely.”
“Oh, wow,” I said. “Then what happened?”
“After being hugely relieved their son was spared a fall that could have killed him, and after collecting him from the top of the stairs, my brother and the rest of the family talked about it over and over. They never came to any conclusions, how could they, but the general consensus was that either Delevan or I saved him, or it was a miracle. There was no way for them to know for certain, because I didn’t want them to. I couldn’t see any good coming of it.”
“I guess so… it would have made them sad to know you were trapped,” I said.
“Yes, my sister and Mother were still living, and it would have grieved them. They suffered more than they ever deserved, because of what happened to Delevan and I, and the lies that everyone around them believed as a result. I couldn’t bear to add to that.”
“What about your brother?”
“James was three when I died. He barely remembered me as his brother, so though it would have upset him to know, it wouldn’t have affected him like it would my Mother and sister,” Miles explained. “The servants who were aware of what happened were convinced I was responsible, but in every other way they were wrong. They began the stories that I was seeking forgiveness for Delevan’s death. Anything unusual or mysterious that happened was attributed to me, and fueled the stories.”
“That’s such a shame they did that, I can understand how hard you’d try to keep your presence a secret,” I said sympathetically.
“I did appreciate my family always standing by me,” Miles said. “I appreciate you too, you really are the only person outside of the Bannerman family who has ever believed in my innocence.”
“By the time I’m done here, everyone else will believe it too,” I said firmly.
Miles smiled.
“I like your attitude.”
I laughed.
“I’m pretty sure you’re the only person who’s ever said that!”
Miles laughed too.
“I can imagine. From what I can tell, you’re not afraid to form your own opinions and stand by them. Most people don’t appreciate a differing point of view that won’t conform to their own.”
“Yeah, most people would call that being stubborn,” I said.
“Considering you want to clear my name, then I find that to be a very positive trait, no matter what label you put on it,” said Miles, and I laughed.
We heard barking outside, and looked out the window. Chip and Trixie were running in circles. I had no idea what they were barking at, but they were having fun.
“I try to keep my presence a secret, but Trix isn’t so careful,” Miles said. “She leaves evidence behind. If you’ve never had one, you have no idea how much hair a golden retriever generates. She doesn’t have to be visible for long, to leave a mountain of hair behind. She’s clogged the vacuum more than once, which really puzzles whoever’s vacuuming at the time. She sometimes leaves paw prints, and has been known to take things that don’t belong to her. No one in the castle ever loses their keys, but if they don’t hang on to their own shoes and socks, then there are no guarantees. I don’t call her Trix, for nothing.”
I laughed at that.
If he was just a little more solid and talking about a different subject matter, it would be easy to forget, and think he was just a guy my age who was fun and easy to talk to.
The more we talked, the more Miles’ eyes began to take on the sparkle I saw in his portrait. He could be very funny, and his sense of humor clicked with mine. When I made a joke, I didn’t have to constantly explain what I meant. He got it the first time around. I loved that.
We talked too long, though. By the time I looked at my watch, it was past time for me to head back to the cabin.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, gathering my purse from the entryway table. “Maybe we can start searching. There is evidence, I’m sure. We’ll find it.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Miles smiled. “See you tomorrow.”
I turned as I reached the base of the vestibule stairs, and waved at Miles. He waved back, and with another quick “see you later,” and a call for Chip, I hurried home.
He was such a nice guy. He deserved to be free from the false accusations, and freed from his semi-transparent state. I was confident that I had enough stubbornness to stick with it, and get the job done.
~***~
Sarah flew through the woods. Every few steps she threw a glance over her shoulder, to assure herself she wasn’t being followed. Dan and Sam had their hands full disposing of their two dead companions, and in staging the clearing to look as though a duel took place between the two brothers. Dan knew he had her under his control, and it wasn’t likely he’d feel the need to follow her as she composed herself and rehearsed her story, as she was supposed to be doing. But still she was wary, as her feet sped over the rough ground.
Where was it, the entrance was well hidden and difficult to find, and she had been here only once before. But this—surely this was the place. She scrambled uphill, then looked down at the narrow, fern covered rock ledge that protruded from the steep drop-off on the other side.
She carefully made her way down, and ran her hands along the wall of stone now in front of her. Parting the ferns that grew thickly, she knelt and entered the dark cavern. She fumbled for the candle lantern and matches, finding them where Delevan said they were. In the almost pitch-black darkness she stifled a sob, and glanced over her shoulder at the entrance. The first match broke, she was shaking so. The second struck, and a flame blazed forth. She lit the lantern, and continued further into the cavern. She didn’t have much time. If she wasn’t back at the clearing and ready to go to the Bannermans before Dan and Sam were finished, they would surely carry out their threat and murder the rest of the family.
At the third narrow passage, she knelt and crawled down the sloping tunnel, pushing her satchel ahead of her. What a mess she was making of her dress, but how little things like that mattered anymore. Still, it was fortunate that the tunnel was not damp and covered in pools of water, as some of the cave was. She did not want to be questioned as to where she had been.
She swiftly made her way to the hiding spot Delevan spoke of. Moving aside the stones covering the deep hollow in the rock behind it, she hurriedly forced her jewel case inside. She hesitated, then snatched the crushed handbill from her satchel. Smoothing it quickly, she placed it inside the case and returned it to the hiding spot. Replacing the stones, she rapidly retraced her steps and sped back to the clearing.
When she reached it, breathless and shaking, she was thankful to see that Dan and Sam were still busy removing the signs left behind when their two partners were shot.
Brushing at the front of her dress to remove as much dust as she could, she knelt beside Delevan and Miles. She was almost overwhelmed with horror and grief. For just a moment she allowed herself to sob. She could afford no more than that.
Pulling herself together, she whispered, “I’ll not let you take the blame for this. I promise you, I will not. I shall find a way to tell the truth, and protect your family, too.”
Chapter 5
“Hello, Mother dear,” I said, as I walked in the kitchen, tempted by the smell of breakfast cooking.
“Hello, Daughter dear,” she said, as she handed me a plate. “So what are you up to, today?”
“Yard clean-up starts this morning, so I’ll be checking on the crew’s progress. Queen of Clean won’t be here until tomorrow, but I haven’t seen the whole house yet myself, so today I’ll explore.”
“Sounds like fun,” Mom said.
“Yeah, I think it will be.”
“I wish I could visit your castle, but with Doreen…”
“Yeah, I know Mom. Maybe someday I can give you the grand tour. It can wait, though.”
“I talked to Susan yesterday,” Mom changed the subject. “She has a daughter your age. You might like to meet her sometime, and see if you hit it off. I feel badly that you had to put off college, and move away from all your friends, too.”
“Mom. Please do not feel bad. I’m fine. Work’s going to keep me busy, so I won’t have a lot of free time, but sure. I’ll meet your friend’s daughter sometime, maybe we’ll become friends.”
I put my plate in the dishwasher, grabbed my sack lunch out of the fridge, and Chip and I were out the door and up the path toward the castle.
“Anika!” Mom called after me. “You didn’t eat breakfast! You just put a clean plate in the dishwasher!”
Oops, talk about mind being elsewhere.
Lawncare Extraordinaire trucks were parked up and down the long driveway when we arrived. Nate and several of his employees were hard at work clearing out the flower beds, and working on the weeds infesting the lawn. Large piles of rose cuttings, weeds, and dead plants were scattered about.
I waved to Nate.
“It’s looking good! You’ve accomplished so much already, I’m impressed.”
“Thanks,” Nate replied, waving back. “That’s our goal, to make our customers glad they trusted us with their business.”
“Well you’re succeeding,” I said.
I was thrilled to see what a difference Nate and his crew already made, and it wasn’t even eight o’ clock! They were living up to their positive online reviews.
Trixie appeared, I sure hoped no one saw that, and she and Chip felt the need to examine the work that was done. One of the workmen gave both dogs a friendly pat, and tossed a stick for them. Instant friends. Well Polly, Chip’s keeping an eye on them.
Miles Page 8
