The Empire

by C. L. Alden

“We wait, I guess. Don’t you two have to work?”

  “Uh, no. This trumps work.” Ali said. “And besides, technically it is my work. We’re dealing with our history, kind of.”

  “Yeah, I agree. This is more important.” Will said.

  “What about Millie?”

  “Doggie daycare and boarding.”

  “Okay then, what next?” Darcy looked to Ali and Will for suggestions.

  “This stone. Do we know anything about it?” Will asked.

  “No. Temperance was kind of vague about that, deliberately it seemed.”

  “Why?” Ali asked.

  “I don’t know. She just seemed reluctant to give me too much information about anything supernatural.”

  “I wonder if there’s anything at the SHS about the stone?” Ali thought aloud.

  “Sounds like the best place to start looking,” Will answered.

  “Agreed.” Darcy said. They turned to make there way up to Central St. as Barrett Sr’s Town Car pulled up. The back window rolled down.

  “Hello, Mr. Barrett,” Darcy said walking up to the window. She knew he must be wondering what she was doing in front of his theater again, but if he was, he was playing it very cool.

  “Ms. Adams, good to see you again.” He said nodding in acknowledgement to Will and Ali who remained a few steps back. “I’m looking for my grandson. Have you seen him today?”

  “No I haven’t. I’ve been looking for him as well.”

  “I see. When was the last time you spoke with him?”

  “Yesterday morning...I’m very sorry about the cannery.” Darcy offered.

  “Thank you.”

  “Is there any news about what caused it?” She knew she was pressing her luck. Asking questions could upset him.

  “Not yet. The investigation is still underway.” She could see Mr. Barrett was sizing the three of them up and wondering what they were doing loitering in front of his theater, but he didn’t say anything.

  “Well, if I see him, I’ll tell him you’re looking for him, if you’d like.” Darcy offered.

  “Please do, and I shall do the same.”

  “Great, thank you.”

  “Good day.” He said rolling up the window as his driver pulled away.

  Darcy walked back to Will and Ali, “That man still has a way of making me nervous.”

  “He doesn’t miss a trick!” Ali added.

  CHAPTER Twenty-two

  The museum was quiet when they arrived, so Ali sent the volunteer home and closed up early. Ruth was nowhere to be seen.

  “So where should we look?” Will asked as they sat in the archive room at the wooden table.

  “We start at the beginning. Shoreton or Shore Town as it was called was founded in the early 1700’s, so I think that’s where we should start. Abraham Bishop’s journals don’t start until the mid to late 1700’s but I think that’s too late. That first filing cabinet in the corner is correspondence from the 1700’s and that back book shelf has all the other items from that time period that have been donated.”

  Temperance appeared beside the table, startling Darcy who stifled a scream, causing both Ali and Will to jump back from the table.

  “Sorry, sorry,” Darcy apologized looking at Ali and Will. “I’m still not used to this yet. Temperance just arrived.”

  “I apologize,” Temperance said to Darcy. “I do not know of anyway to appear without startling you.”

  “We’ll have to work on that.” Darcy replied.

  “I have some unfortunate news.”

  “Uh oh. What’s that?”

  “Will help me move this table. I wanna hear what’s going on” They pushed the table aside and Temperance and Darcy took their places.

  “Okay, you ready for this, Will?”

  “What are we doing?” Will asked.

  “You’ll see.” Ali said as she took Will and Darcy’s hands.

  “Can you see anything?” Darcy asked.

  “Wow! I can see her!” Will said stunned.

  “Can you hear me?” Temperance asked.

  Ali responded. “Wait, there’s no sound”

  “Try closing the circle.” Temperance suggested.

  Darcy positioned Will and Ali, with Temperance in the middle. “Now let’s join hands.”

  “Can you hear me?”

  “There she is!” Ali said.

  “Hello, I’m Will Martin.”

  “Hello Mr. Martin, I’m Temperance Martin Bishop.”

  “My ancestor,” Will said with a smile, astonished. Temperance nodded her head in agreement.

  “So what’s the news?” Darcy asked.

  “The other group has taken a drastic measure. We must work quickly.”

  “That doesn’t sound good.” Ali commented.

  “It isn’t Miss Bishop. They have taken Eddie Barrett.”

  “What?! How?” Darcy said shocked.

  Temperance didn’t answer, but continued. “They demand a meeting before sunset today at the standing stones.”

  “Is Eddie okay?” Darcy asked.

  “I do not believe they would harm him,” Temperance replied.

  “A meeting with who?” Will asked.

  “The founding families.” Darcy answered. Temperance looked at her questionably. “I would assume,” she added.

  “Yes, and those who make decisions for the town.”

  “Well in this case, that’s the entire town. We can’t do that.” Ali said.

  “No, but if we have the founding families, the mayor, town council and some of the more influential representatives from the committee, I think we’ll be able commit to whatever happens.”

  “I certainly hope so.” Temperance replied. “They will be heard, or there will be consequences.”

  “What consequences? What standing stones?” Ali asked.

  “I saw them in a dream.” Darcy replied. “They’re in a wooded area.” she added.

  “You’ve dreamt of them?” Temperance asked.

  “Yes, among other things.” Darcy answered, deciding to be a little cryptic herself.

  “That doesn’t tell us much. How are we going to find them? Tempe—I mean Temperance, do you know where they are?”

  “No. I did in my time, but so much has changed. I do not know how to tell you where to go.”

  “Do you think your Aunt Ruth knows, Ali?” Will asked.

  “Couldn’t hurt to ask.” Ali replied. “Can you get in touch with her?” She asked Temperance.

  “Yes. Ruth Bishop” She called out loud. A few seconds later, Ruth materialized beside their circle.

  “Hello” Ruth said.

  “That didn’t work when I tried it,” Darcy said.

  “You can’t call us like dogs, you know.” Ruth said sarcastically.

  “Is she here?” Ali asked.

  “Yep.” Darcy answered.

  “How come that didn’t work when we tried it?”

  Ruth stepped through Will and Ali’s connected hands into the circle. “Different kind of connection.” She said with a teasing smile at Darcy as she materialized to Ali and Will.

  “Oh geez!” Ali said jumping. “Thanks for that Aunt Ruth! You tryin’ to give me a heart attack?”

  “Gotta keep you on your toes, Ali dear. So why am I here?”

  “As you know, things have taken a turn on our side. The others want a meeting at the stones, today. Before sunset.” Temperance said filling her in.

  “They’ve taken Eddie Barrett.” Darcy added.

  “Fast Eddie? Jeezum crow!”

  “Aunt Ruth, do you know where the stones are?”

  “ Of course I do.”

  “Any ideas on how we can get founding family members, the mayor, town council and some other muckety mucks there?” Ali asked.

  “You’re gonna want to bring Stella over here.” Ruth said.

  “Why Stella?” Ali asked.

  “Do you want my help or not?” Ruth said in her typical crotchety fashion. With that same Ruth fl
air, she looked right at Temperance and added, “And just so you know, Stella is a Levasque.”

  “Do not look to me. I did not make these rules.” Temperance replied a little taken aback by Ruth’s attitude.

  Ali walked over to the service desk and called Stella.

  “I will leave you to make the preparations. I have some things to take care of myself. I will see you at the stones.” Temperance disappeared from the circle.

  “Okay, she’s on her way,” Ali said re-joining the circle

  A few moments later Stella came through the side door into the archive room. She stopped in the doorway. “Hello Ruth.”

  “Good to see you, Stella.” Ruth said as Stella came closer to the circle.

  “Okay—” Ali started.

  “Stop right there missy!” Ruth said holding her hand up. “No time for questions. Just pay attention, will ya?”

  “What’s the situation?” Stella asked, as if what was happening was an every day occurence.

  “It’s a right friggin’ mess is what it is.” Ruth said with a tired sigh.

  “Details.” Stella was all business as Darcy, Ali and Will stood in awe of how normal the two were acting.

  “Stella!” Ali couldn’t stand it. She took it upon herself to be the spokesperson for the other two living people there.

  “Yes?”

  “You seem oddly unfazed by the fact that you’re talking to a dead person. Do you talk to the dead often?”

  “No, not every day.” Stella said matter-of-factly.

  Stella’s answer caused a mini meltdown of sorts for Ali, “Am I the only one who finds this situation incredible? This one,” Ali points to Will, “totally ho-hum about ghosts and aliens and talking to the other side and now Stella comes in here like it’s just another day at the office. Like Ruth here hasn’t been dead for two years!” Everyone was staring at her. “Why are you staring at me like I have two heads?! This whole thing is crazy, just admit it!”

  “It is crazy, Al.” Darcy said trying to soothe her friend. “But were all in it together and it’s happening. We just have to figure it out as we go.”

  “Are you done with the theatrics now? Can we move on?” Ruth asked in her usual sarcastic manner.

  “Oh, by all means. Carry on,” Ali said with a dramatic flourishing wave of her arm. “Sheesh.”

  Ruth turned back to Stella. “Eddie Barrett has been kidnapped by a group from over here. They want a meeting today. We’re gonna need the team to pull this one off.”

  “What team?” Ali asked, refusing the request to stop asking questions.

  Ruth ignored her and continued. “The families and all the usual suspects at the stones today before sunset. We’re gonna need a conference room at the the Grand, get Bud and the bus, and we’ll need your special catering services.”

  “Are you going to let us in on what the hell you two are planning?” Ali demanded.

  “You know, it would’ve helped if you’d have done what you were supposed to two years ago, and worked through the paperwork and stuff from the lawyers!”

  “What has that got to do with anything?”

  “Everything! But we don’t have time right now to get into all that. You three need to track down Mother O and the Lowes. We’re gonna need their representation and energy. We also need your dad, Darcy. Get them to the Grand conference room by four P.M. We’ll take care of the rest.”

  Ali, Darcy and Will remained standing in the circle, absorbing what they’d just heard and waiting for more details as to what to do.

  “That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna tell us?” Ali asked.

  “Yes, now shoo! Daylights a burnin’!” Ruth answered, trying to scatter them with her arms. No one budged.

  “But what do we tell them?” Darcy asked.

  “It don’t matter, just get them to the Grand by four.”

  CHAPTER Twenty-three

  “Okay, so what’s our plan of attack?” Will asked, as they walked towards Main St.

  “Let’s deal with my dad first.” Darcy replied. “Though, I don’t think we should tell him exactly what’s going on.”

  ***

  “What are you three musketeers up to this afternoon?” Hank asked when they walked into the cafe.

  “Hey Dad! You know, just hangin’ out on Main St. like a bunch of no-accounts,’’ she teased, bringing up a memory from childhood when parents chided their kids for hanging out on Main St. instead of doing something constructive.

  “How’d you make out last night in all the pandemonium?” Will asked taking the lead.

  “No problems here, but the lights. No matter what I did, they blinked on and off with the rest of the street. Did anyone ever figure out what happened?”

  “Not that I know of. There’s a meeting at the Grand at four o’clock today. The Mayor and Town Council will be there, and I heard Fast Eddie and his cronies—I mean associates,” he said quickly looking at Darcy as if he expected to be reprimanded, “will be there.” Darcy played her part, and scowled a bit.

  “Oh really?”

  “I don’t know what the agenda is, but I’m trying to rally a group of my own, just in case. Will added.

  “Sounds like a good idea.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you’d come.”

  “Me?” Hank asked.

  “You’re a business owner, and if things get, you know, dicey, I want the city council to see that preserving Shoreton and it’s history is supported in the business community.”

  “I’ll be there.” Hank promised. He wasn’t one for speaking out often, but Darcy knew he’d be damned if he’d be steamrolled by a family of slick used car salesmen, which is how he usually referred to the Barrett’s in general, but really to his former classmate, Ed Jr. and his two dealerships with their gaudy TV ads.

  “Great! I’ve convinced Ali and Darcy to come too.”

  “But first we’re gonna go cruise the rotary.” Darcy said with a wink as she ushered the other two out of the cafe. “See you later!”

  “You are a genius, Will Martin.” Ali said once they were outside.

  “One down, one to go.” Will replied.

  They headed towards Fairmont and the Eye. The current Madame Lowe was Pearl. Her mother Opal, had been Madame when Darcy was a kid, but even then everyone called her Mother O. The Lowes had the reputation of being on the fringe of society. They had for generations, no one knew why. There had been no scandals or run-ins with the law that Darcy knew of. It was because of their occupation. They dealt with the occult which in most circles was considered rather hinky.

  “What are we gonna say to them?” Ali asked.

  “We might just have to tell them the truth.” Darcy suggested.

  “What?”

  “I agree” Will said.

  “Well, they’ve been in the business of being intermediaries between the two sides for generations. I guess we’ll find out if they’re really legit or not.” Darcy wasn’t sure just exactly what they did. Everyone she knew growing up steered clear of them. Nothing was ever said, except for the stupid little rumors kids make up and spread, and maybe that was part of it, but she always got the impression they should be avoided.

  Madame Lowe’s Mystical House of Secrets sat on the corner lot of Fairmont and Lime St. It was a two story white clapboard structure with standard windows on the second floor and attic level, and large storefront windows on the first floor. There was an ornate metal and neon marquee type sign jutting out of front of the building. The only neon portion of the sign was an eye that looked like it was floating in clouds on a sky blue background. Looking in the windows, it looked like a new age shop full of books, essential oils, crystals, incense and other spiritual and alternative products.

  “So how are we going to handle this?” Ali asked.

  “I think we just wing it,” Darcy said opening the door to the shop. There was a woman sitting behind a glass counter display of new age tchotchkes and jewelry reading a magazine as they approached the cou
nter.

  “Welcome to Madame Lowe’s” the woman said setting the magazine down and standing up to greet them. She was a striking looking woman who, Darcy guessed, was probably in her fifties. She had shoulder length blonde hair brushed back from her face in a sweeping style, dramatic pencilled in eyebrows and dark red lipstick. She wore a long black tunic, cinched at the waist with a large silver, turquoise encrusted belt, white leggings, silver and turquoise bracelet, earrings and necklace.

  “Thank you,” Darcy said approaching the counter as Ali and Will pretended to browse around the shop.

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “Are you Madame Pearl?”

  “No, I’m her sister Josephine. Are you looking for a consultation?”

  “Not really, I actually would like to speak to Mother O, if she’s around.”

  “What’s this about?”

  “I uh, that is we…” Darcy was having trouble figuring out how much or little to say.

  “We have a message for her from Ruth Bishop.” Will said walking up behind her, coming to her rescue, with Ali beside him.

  “I’m Ali Bishop, Ruth’s niece. I took over the historical society.”

  “I see...One moment please,” she said picking up the phone, and dialing a code. “Could you come up front, please.” She said and then hung up the handset. Just then a kid came through a curtain and bead panel hung across a doorway to the left of the counter.

  Darcy recognized him instantly. “Hey! I know you! You’re the kid who zapped me!”

  The boy turned around to go back the way he came.

  “Not so fast, Sonny, come here.” Josephine said stopping him in his tracks. He turned around and walked over to the counter. “What’s this about?” She asked both Sonny and Darcy.

  “Why’d you run?” Darcy asked him. “I bumped into him earlier this week and got the shock of a lifetime.”

  “More like practically mowed me down,” Sonny muttered.

  “You zapped her?” Josephine asked.

  “I didn’t mean to. I don’t know what happened, but I know she can see them.” Josephine stared at him for a moment. “Go get your grandmother and GiGi.”

  Sonny disappeared behind the curtain.

  “So this is supernatural business?” Josephine asked.