“What is it, Beth?”
Beth explained what occurred the previous night. Kellie explained what she heard at approximately the same time. Both women agreed that the sooner the apartment was gone the better. The house was haunted by at least one ghost. Aunt Marge joined them, and they walked to the side of the house.
Randy had removed several boards revealing the side of the main house. The original white paint had turned into a drab, peeling gray. Randy noticing the sad look on Aunt Marge’s face said, “Don’t worry, Aunt Marge, I intend the paint this wall, so it looks like it did when it was new.”
He winked at Kellie and her heart beat a little faster. She knew Randy was a caring person, but he had just proved her right again. Maybe, she thought, maybe there could be something between us.
Aunt Marge and Beth made sandwiches and iced tea for the crew at lunchtime. Randy said they would be ready to remove the floor in about an hour. The crew ate and got back to work. They were ready to remove the floor sooner than expected.
The removal of the first few boards revealed a very shallow space under the floor. Randy commented, “He sure didn’t do any more work than needed. I’m surprised the floor didn’t rot from moisture.” After removing about ten square feet of flooring, a bug identical to the one Aunt Marge had seen scurried under the remaining floor.
“What was that?” One of the crew asked?
“The internet says it’s an Amazonian Giant Centipede, but they only live in South America or very warm climates,” Aunt Marge said as she took a step back.
“It’s too cold here in the winters. It must be something else.” He grabbed a spade and said, “If I see it again, I’ll get it with this.”
They resumed the demolition of the floor. Removing all but the kitchen floor, the crew removed the linoleum and pulled the first floor board off. The centipede scurried out from under the floor. Chris raised the spade and hit the centipede on its back with all his strength. “That should do it,” said Randy.
Everyone heard a hiss, and Chris pulled the spade back. The centipede wiggled in the dirt and began to grow. With each inch it grew in length; it grew the same in girth. Another crew member tried to hit it with a large weeding hoe. The centipede scurried toward Chris and began to climb his leg. The centipede stung him and scurried back toward the edge of the flooring. He tried to run, but fell screaming in pain.
“My leg’s on fire. Help me, help me.” Randy cut away Chris’ jeans. A four inch diameter of Chris’ leg was bright red and oozing yellowish liquid. Chris yelled again, “I’m going to die. That thing is poisonous.”
Beth screamed and tried to pull Aunt Marge back. She refused to budge.
Randy had his hunting rifle in his truck and fired at the centipede. It hissed and grew larger. Randy fired twice more hitting it each time. The centipede had grown three feet long and nearly as big around.
Beth screamed, and the centipede turned in her direction. She ran and tripped in the grass. The centipede began to scurry toward her. “No,” Aunt Marge screamed.
“It’s evil. You can’t kill it,” Aunt Marge continued to shout. She pulled the gold cross and chain from her neck and tossed it at the centipede. The cross landed on its back. An unearthly screech echoed through the yard, and the centipede burst into flames. In moments, all that was left was Aunt Marge’s cross and chain. She walked over and picked it up.
She said, “My mom gave me this when I graduated college. She said she had it blessed, and it would always keep me safe. It was all I could think of to do. It worked. It kept me safe from evil.” Everyone looked at Aunt Marge and the empty spot on the grass where the centipede had crawled. They looked at each other and shrugged.
Chris called out, “My leg is healed. The redness and pain are gone.” He stood and walked around.
Randy said, “I hope that was the last one.”
“I’m sure it was,” Kellie said, “this house was haunted by evil, and now it’s gone.”
“Okay, I’ll pull up the rest of the floor boards,” Randy raised his eyebrows and looked at Kellie. She could hear him exhale.
Small hands could be heard clapping.
“What’s that?” Beth asked.
Everyone shook their heads. Aunt Marge handed the cross and chain to Randy. “Just in case.” She smiled. He smiled back.
He turned, pulled off two floor boards, and stopped. He turned and looked at Kellie, “Call 911; there’s a skeleton under the floor.”
“Arabella,” Kellie whispered. Beth dialed 911.
########
Kellie walked close to Randy and leaned over to look under the remaining floor. She shuddered when she saw the small skeletal foot. It had to be a child. Arabella, she thought. Hearing a small giggle she glanced at Randy. He apparently had not heard it.
Don’t worry Arabella, we found you now, Kellie thought.
The siren drew Kellie’s attention from the small skeleton. She watched the sheriff’s vehicle pull up and the deputy walk to where Aunt Marge and Beth were waiting.
“Afternoon Miss Devenly, Beth, what’s this about a skeleton?” The deputy asked.
Randy called over to the deputy, “It’s over here under the floor boards. We were tearing down the addition when we found it.”
The deputy strode over, checked under the floor boards and told everyone to stay away. He walked back to his vehicle, called in for the medical examiner, and returned with yellow police tape. He cordoned off the square of dirt that was once Janelle’s apartment. “Everyone stays here.
The medical examiner and the sheriff are on the way.” The wind picked up blowing the police tape as if they were party streamers.
Beth shuddered watching the tape knowing something horrid had happened in Janelle’s apartment, but not knowing when. She joined the others on the front porch.
Kellie, Beth, Aunt Marge, Randy, and his crew sat on the front porch. Randy whispered, “We can’t tell them about the giant centipede. They’ll lock all of us up and throw away the key.”
Kellie said, “I agree. I believe the skeleton is Arabella. I think Albert killed her for whatever reason and buried her under the addition. That’s why she is in the picture at age six, but none later. She was dead. I also think she’s responsible for the black roses. It was her way of asking for help.”
“Black roses?” Randy asked.
“I’ll explain later.” She glanced at Randy and then back at Aunt Marge. “I think the crying child you heard was Arabella calling for help. She needed to be found. Albert tried to stop having the addition torn down by killing Janelle. If Janelle was able to force you to sell and share the money with her, the first thing another family would do is tear the addition down. Albert didn’t want her body found.”
Beth asked, “What difference would it make if we found out Albert killed her? He’s been dead for years.”
“Yes, but it would destroy any credibility that was left of Albert Devenly’s reputation. I believe that is why he haunted your attic. He needed to keep people from finding Arabella.”
Tears welled up in Beth’s eyes, “Poor Arabella. I wonder how she died. He must have killed her, or he wouldn’t have buried her under the floor. It makes me shudder to think we lived near her body all this time.”
“What about that horrible creature,” asked Aunt Marge?
“I believe,” Kellie said, “it was Albert trying one last time to keep us from finding Arabella. He was pure evil and the blessed chain and cross was stronger. He’s gone forever. Your house will know peace now.”
########
After the medical examiner removed the body, and the sheriff asked hundreds of questions, peace settled over the Devenly house. Randy would remove the rest of the floor when the investigation was finished. Kellie watched the coroner’s van drive down the street. A buzzing hit her ears, and her vision blurred for a moment. When it cleared, she looked at Aunt Marge and said, “Arabella was born physically and mentally disabled. By age six, she was a burden for Albert. He smothered her in h
er sleep.”
“How do you know that?” Beth asked.
“I’m not sure. At times, I can feel what happened to a person who has passed on. It’s what I felt about Arabella.”
Tears ran down Aunt Marge’s cheeks. “How awful. When the medical examiner releases the body, we will give her a proper burial and buy a headstone. No one will ever forget Arabella again.”
########
The coroner’s report stated the body had been in the dirt too long for him to find the cause of death.
A week later, Kellie and Randy joined Beth and Aunt Marge at a simple graveside service for Arabella. Aunt Marge laid a dozen white roses on her grave. “No more black roses for you, sweet cousin.”
“Rest in peace, Arabella,” Kellie said. She felt a gentle kiss on her cheek and heard a tiny giggle. The Devenly family knew the truth and Kellie knew Arabella was at peace.
Chapter Seven
Kellie was brushing through her long blonde hair getting ready to have dinner with Taylor and Hunter at their home. She had helped Beth and Aunt Marge solve the mystery of the Devenly house and the spirits were at peace or possibly in hell considering what the family assumed Albert had done to Arabella. Leaving in the morning for a long overdue vacation, she was looking forward to spending the evening with her friends.
Rufus walked up to the bedroom doorway and barked. “I know I’m coming. You have to be good for Taylor and Hunter while I’m gone.” Rufus barked again. “I’ve decided to keep you here with me tonight. I don’t want to come face to face with the shadow. You can go to Hunter’s in the morning.” Rufus barked once more and ran toward the sliding doors that led to the second floor deck.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kellie felt a chill run down her spine. She closed the blinds blocking the shadow’s view of her movements.
########
The five friends enjoyed a fun dinner and discussed Kellie’s vacation. Andrea said, “The famous Gotz Manor is very near the resort. Maybe you’ve had enough ghosts, but it’s rumored to be haunted. I heard one of the family members was insane or just plain evil and had a torture chamber in the dungeon.”
Kellie stopped eating, her fork halfway to her mouth and stared at Andrea. “It has a dungeon with a torture chamber? Are you sure? That’s horrifying.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. They have tours, but no one is allowed in the lower areas of the manor house. Maybe you could sneak in.” Andrea nodded.
“The four of you promised to come up to the resort for a weekend getaway next weekend. We’ll all sneak in the dungeon then, how about that?” Kellie smiled at Andrea.
“That sounds like fun,” Cole said.
Hunter began to agree with Cole when Taylor hit him in the arm. Kellie laughed at them. “Don’t worry, I doubt if I’ll go near the place. I need a rest from spirits.”
Hunter cleared his throat and said, “Let’s change the subject. Drew has been released from rehab after he passed an anger management course. If he stays clean for six months, the counseling center will reconsider hiring him. Right now he’s unemployed and living back with his parents.”
“He can’t be happy about that,” Kellie said. “I remember how happy he was to move in with me when we were dating. He didn’t like his mom fussing over him. I bet she’s doing that now.”
“She is,” Cole added. “He should have seen this coming. We can’t do anything for him except be his friend.”
“Except for me,” Andrea stared at Kellie. “We had a group therapy session and he blamed all his problems on you. I refuse to speak to him until he apologizes.”
“Thanks for being a good friend, but don’t do this on my account. I’m okay.”
“That’s the whole reason I’m upset. You went through the same things he did. I think it was worse for you and you don’t blame anyone except the old man. Drew needs to grow up and accept what happened isn’t your fault.” She set her wine glass down hard enough, some of the wine splashed out. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
Taylor jumped off her chair to clean it up and smiled, “Don’t worry, no harm done.”
Hunter looked at his dessert plate and said, “Maybe we should change the subject again.”
“Good idea,” Kellie said. “We can talk about you coming up to the resort. It’s supposed to be lovely. They have a kennel so you can bring Rufus. I just hate to leave him in the kennel all day while I’m busy. Thanks for keeping him.”
“No problem,” Hunter said. “He spends half his time on our patio anyway. With the yard open between our houses, I think he thinks he belongs to all of us.”
“Well, doesn’t he?” Taylor said.
Laughter continued for the rest of the evening.
########
The highway was smooth, and Kellie enjoyed the quiet drive. It was a perfect afternoon to begin her vacation. Headed for the new five star hotel and water park about seventy-five miles away, she was looking forward to at least a week of peace, quiet, and fun.
Kellie saw the drive marked “Gotz Manor Tour Entrance.” She turned in not understanding why. She planned to avoid haunted places. After several minutes on a twisting, turning drive, Kellie drove around a bend and up a small hill when the manor house loomed in front of her. The descriptions she had been given hadn’t done the building justice.
It was much larger than the Malone mansion where she used to live. From what Kellie had read and now observed, it was built in Victorian design. It had nineteen rooms with two towers and a basement. She could see the two towers, one on each end of the house towering above the third floor. Kellie counted eleven stairs leading to the main doors of the manor house. She could only see one side of the building from where she had stopped, but she observed a second set of stairs leading to the first floor. Maybe the kitchen area she thought. No, that was probably in the back. I bet it leads to that beautiful garden on the side of the house. I can’t wait for the tour.
She was overwhelmed with the beauty of the estate, but there was more. The lives of the people who had lived there flashed before her eyes. Overcome by how quickly the fears and horror of the previous residents hit her, she gripped the steering wheel to keep her balance. Strange noises surrounded her. The sound of rusty chains, metal keys clanking, squeaky hinges closing slowly, the scraping of metal on metal as a door slammed shut, and an evil voice commanding, “Go away.” More voices filled her head. Many were speaking at the same time, many screaming, and others crying. Was that the cry of a child? Her face twisted in pain as she tried to listen.
Kellie yelled out loud, “Stop. I can’t hear the child.” Silence encompassed her like a tight hug. She listened. A tiny voice floated across the air. Unable to tell where it came from Kellie spun her head from side to side. It seemed to come from everywhere.
“Please help me.”
Kellie sucked in her breath. Gripping the steering wheel tighter, she looked up at the manor house and said, “I will, I promise.” She heard a small cry, and the silence returned.
########
Needing to learn everything she could about Gotz Manor and all its inhabitants, Kellie headed for the nearest town large enough for a library and wifi for her laptop. She also needed to find out when they offered tours. Kellie was determined to know who may be haunting the manor house. After helping to solve the Devenly haunting and uncover the family tragedy, she wasn’t ready to face another ghostly mystery, but a child needed her help. She was only five miles from the resort and phoned to ask them to hold her reservation. She may be late.
“That will not be a problem, Miss Conley,” the front desk clerk assured her. “Your room will be ready for you when you arrive.”
########
The public library didn’t offer Kellie much information that would help her understand why she heard multiple spirits when she stopped at the manor house. The research she uncovered indicated life was peaceful for the families. There were some early deaths of spouses or children, but nothing out of the ordinary for the time period. T
he only item of interest was an employee who was arrested for horrific crimes, but nothing he did pointed back to the Gotz family or the manor house.
She headed for the hotel and pulled up in front of the door. A valet hurried out to park her vehicle while another employee moved her luggage inside. As she walked toward the doors she heard a familiar voice say, “Hey, lady, ya need some more help?” followed by a hearty laugh.
“Randy, what are you doing here?”
“Hi,” his broad smile and a sparkle in his blue eyes let her know he was happy to see her. “I have a friend who lives about thirty minutes from here and I was there discussing some work he needed done. I thought I’d drop by here and see if you were free for dinner.”
“Umm, why yes. I don’t have dinner plans.” Her smile let him know he had done the right thing waiting for her to arrive.
“Great, I’ll be back in an hour. They have a wonderful restaurant here. We have reservations,” he called as he turned and ran toward his truck.
“Well,” she mumbled, “he’s certainly sure of himself.” She hurried into the hotel, checked in, was escorted to her room, and hummed while getting ready for dinner.
Fifty-five minutes later the front desk called informing her that a Mr. Jensen was waiting for her in the lobby.
########
Hunter and Taylor met Drew at Cooper’s Restaurant for dinner. Hunter whispered to Taylor that Drew looked tired. He said, “I hope he’s not drinking or smoking pot again.” Drew strode toward them and hugged Taylor and shook Hunter’s hand.
The hostess seated them at a booth in the corner and brought menus and water. “I’ll be back in a few,” she said as she hurried to the next booth full of customers.
They decided on their order and began chatting while waiting for the waitress to return. Drew cleared his throat and said, “Living at home is driving me crazy. My mom keeps hovering. She circles part-time jobs in the paper for me as if I can’t find them myself. I was wondering if I could hide away at your place this weekend. I’ll lay low. I just need to get away.”
Taylor said, “That wouldn’t be a problem, but we’re going to the new Country Retreat Hotel and Water Park for a weekend get-a-way.”
BLACK VELVET ROSES Page 6
