Yanked around the corner toward the basement door, she watched the door swing open. When her body reached the top of the stairs, she felt a hand grab her arm. Looking up, she saw Kellie holding a finger up to her lips. Taylor breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
Kellie whispered in her ear. “I heard what the evil said and you and I are the only ones free. Claudia has connected with me somehow and the house’s evil can’t tell I’m alive.”
Taylor whispered back. “He told us you drown in a trunk.” She got to her feet.
“I nearly did. Claudia said to be careful, but we are stronger together.”
They could hear Adam taunting Hunter in the parlor and took the chance to get Andrea who was just coming around. She was sitting up rubbing her head when she saw Kellie and Taylor. She crawled to them.
Kellie said, “Now there are three of us and with Claudia’s strength we may be able to fight.” She limped back into the kitchen out of sight.
“Five of us,” a small voice whispered. She turned to see Millie and Genevieve had returned. “Now that you are here, we can help. Adam is evil and won’t let me leave.”
“I promised we’d help. We will.” Genevieve hugged Kellie and she could feel the child’s arms around her waist. She had grown to care for the lost little girl.
########
Adam walked to the staircase and opened the small closet door. He bent over and asked Cole, “How are you doing in there? Enough room? Don’t worry. I’ll get you out soon. As soon as I’m finished with your friend, I’m coming for you and then the women.” He laughed and Genevieve began to cry.
“What’s wrong?” Kellie whispered.
“I’m scared. He’s mean when he becomes a person.”
“Don’t be, I’ll keep you safe.” She touched Genevieve’s cheek and the little girl smiled.
Taylor asked, “What do we do?”
Kellie shook her head, “I’m not sure, but we have to get Millie and Genevieve safe first. I have a feeling the house will lose some of its strength when Genevieve leaves.”
As if the light heard her, it appeared in the corner of the kitchen. Adam was unaware of Kellie’s presence and her ability to hide was covering the women with her. She knelt down and looked at Genevieve. “I think you and Millie can leave now. Adam is too busy to know what is happening. Go quickly.” Genevieve kissed Kellie’s cheek.
Kellie, Taylor, and Andrea held hands as Millie took Genevieve’s hand and ran toward the light. This time nothing stopped them. The light filled the room and disappeared. “They’re home,” Kellie said. “The house is going to be angry.
########
A pain hit Adam and he doubled over. Something had changed. He was weaker. Why? Genevieve was gone. When she went into the light, the blood in the wood followed her and lessened the strength of the house. Adam’s fury was apparent. His screech echoed through the house causing more windows to shatter. “I know you helped Genevieve leave and I will find you. I am stronger and you cannot hide forever. When the men are gone, you will be mine,” he screamed.
He reached into the shattered staircase and pulled out a long wooden splinter. Turning to look at Hunter, he said, “Ready?” Adam walked up to Hunter and pushed the splinter into his arm.
Hunter had been determined not to make a sound, but a yell of pain came from deep within him. Adam laughed and stabbed his other arm. This time Hunter held his pain in and didn’t make a sound.
########
“That was Hunter,” Taylor said. “He needs me.” Kellie grabbed her arm before she could run off alone.
“Stop, we have to go together or we won’t be strong enough.
As she was trying to calm Taylor, Randy’s truck pulled up outside. He was worried about Kellie and ran up the stairs and through the open doors. Seeing Adam with a sharp splinter of wood and Hunter’s arms bleeding, he let out a yell and flew at Adam tackling him. Kellie recognized his voice.
“It’s Randy. Let’s go, it’s now or never.” The three women ran to the library.
They found Randy rolling on the floor with Adam. Kellie screamed, “Be careful, he isn’t human. He’s a spirit.”
The three young women ran to help Hunter. When they touched him, the light in Kellie’s hands encircled him and the invisible ties disappeared. He jumped up. “Cole is trapped under the stairs. Help him, I’ll help Randy.”
The young women were able to open the closet and helped pull Cole out. He joined Hunter and Randy in the fray. After a few moments Kellie screamed, “Stop.” The light from her hands covered Adam’s body and it disintegrated in front of them.
“Hunter said, “I think we did it.” He stood and helped Randy to his feet.
Cole and Hunter high fived each other when Kellie’s cell rang. She heard Claudia’s frantic voice, “Get out of the house. Leave now. He isn’t dead. The body he was using is gone, but his spirit is too strong. You can’t fight him. It will take more than you can do alone. He is the house. Run before he kills you.”
Kellie screamed, “Run.”
Randy took off out the front door to his truck. The other four followed and ran to their vehicles. “Hurry and drive away,” Hunter yelled. “I smelled gas as I was leaving.
########
The two cars drove around the manor house and followed Randy’s truck down the drive. They hit the highway and sped away as quickly as they could. When they were about a half mile from the manor house, Randy pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store. He got out of his truck and ran to be sure Kellie was all right.
“Yes, I’m fine and so is Hunter. His cuts are healed.” She spun around looking for something. “Where’s Rufus,” her eyes showed her fear.
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t sure what was going on so I left him with my foreman, Lee. He is going to bring him to my house after they are finished working. Rufus was having a ball running around and getting treats from the guy’s lunches.” He smiled hoping to calm Kellie’s fears.
“Okay, I’m glad he wasn’t with you.” She hugged Randy and was holding him when they heard the explosion. “What was that?”
“I don’t know,” Randy said. “It was something big. Maybe it was a gas tanker or a large boiler.” They saw a large amount of smoke coming from the direction of the manor house.
The convenience store owner rushed out when he heard the explosion. Randy asked him if he knew what was in the direction of the smoke.
“There’s nothing except the Gotz Manor House. There aren’t any factories or even train tracks for miles. The boiler in the house must have blown.” He walked up a small hill next to his store for a better view. He walked back and said, “I can’t tell, but I think it’s the manor house.”
Sirens could be heard heading in the direction of the manor house.
Cole walked out of the store with soda for everyone and a big box of baby wipes. “We need a reason to be here so I bought soda.” He shrugged.
Andrea giggled, “Who needs baby wipes?”
“We all do, look at us. We’re covered in dust and dirt.” Looking around at each other helped break the tension.
Hunter said, “I told you I smelled gas. Maybe the crazy spirit didn’t want anyone else to be in the house. He can still live in the rubble.”
They grabbed baby wipes and cleaned up the best they could. “Thanks for buying unscented,” Hunter smiled.
Andrea shuddered, “Let’s leave. What if the ghost follows us?”
“It won’t.” Kellie assured her. “Claudia said it’s permanently connected to the house.”
“You’re shadow stalker isn’t,” Taylor said. “What are you going to do?”
“Nothing tonight,” Randy added. “She’s been through enough. Tonight you and Rufus stay at my house. You’ll be safe.” Kellie smiled and hugged him again.
They drove off and the owner walked back up the hill for a better look.
Hungry, they decided to meet at Cooper’s for dinner before going home.
Chapter Tw
enty-one
Settled into a large corner booth, the waitress handed each a menu. Kellie looked at her friends and said, “I know we have been through a lot today, but let’s have a quiet dinner. We can discuss the events during dessert. Is that okay?” Everyone smiled and nodded in agreement.
When the waitress had cleared away the dinner dishes and taken dessert orders, Andrea asked. “What confuses me is the way you’re able to call forth the light at will, Kellie. Do you know how you do that or does it come on its own?”
“Not completely, I seem to be able to summon it when it’s needed. Claudia told me I needed my friends with me, but soon I’ll be able to do it alone.” Kellie pressed her lips together and stared off into space wondering how she would know when or if she would acquire any power.
“Didn’t you say your mother could do the same thing, but she didn’t realize it until she was dead and had to fight the old man?” Taylor asked.
Taylor’s question brought Kellie back to reality. “Yes, it’s a mystery to me, but Claudia said it’s a blessing. She said I’ll be able to help many people. I was hoping this was the last. Maybe it will be and I won’t inherit my mother’s ability.”
Kellie felt her cell phone vibrate and ignored it. When it vibrated a second time she looked at the Caller ID. “It’s Claudia, I should take this. I’ll be back before dessert arrives, I hope.”
Hurrying outside to accept the call, she said, “Hello, Claudia.”
“I know you’re all safe. Have you been watching the news?”
“No, we decided to have dinner before going home.” Kellie sat on a bench outside the restaurant.
“The Gotz Manor House exploded. People believe it must have been the boiler. The fire is fierce and they are going to let it burn down since they don’t have enough help to get it under control.”
“That’s horrible. It was a beautiful house.” Kellie shuddered thinking they could’ve been caught in the explosion.
“I know you were there. All the spirits you sent into the light are safe. The spirit living in the house remains. It’ll stay with the property since its human body is buried beneath it.”
“The spirit killed Mr. Hobart, the property manager. His body is going to be burned along with the house.” Kellie said.
“Yes, but people know he was there today. They’ll search for him when he doesn’t return to his office or home.”
“We heard an explosion and thought it might be the manor house.” Kellie’s knee bounced while she spoke.
Claudia said, “I believe the spirit caused the explosion. Genevieve is gone. He was alone, and didn’t want anyone else to disrespect the house. The spirit will remain quiet unless someone else builds on the property.”
“I think that’s doubtful since it’s so far out in the country.”
“I agree. Oh, one last thing, I had a vision.”
“Oh, no. Not again. Is it bad?”
“It’s more of a warning and it concerns you. Every mystery you have encountered had roses associated with them. Watch for single roses. They may be warnings of an impending mystery or spirit encounter.”
“Thanks, Claudia.”
“Bye.”
Roses thought Kellie. Roses can be found everywhere, but she’s right. Each mystery involved a rose. She hurried back into the restaurant in time to have her dessert served.
She explained what Claudia said. “She’s right. The first mystery was about my mother’s death and the red roses she hid in a book of poetry, and then the bodies at the Petal Gate Rest were found because of the pink roses.”
“Don’t forget the black roses at Aunt Marge’s and the Gotz Manor,” Taylor added.
“Or the white rose you found on the ground at the manor house from Constance’s ghost. I think Claudia’s right. Roses play a part in spirit warnings for you. At least you have a warning.” Andrea said.
Kellie nodded. “If I never see another rose it will be too soon.” She lifted a forkful of chocolate cream pie to her lips and tried to forget spirits and roses.
########
Cole drove Hunter and Taylor home while Kellie followed Randy to his house. It was a beautiful two-story home built in the nineteen-twenties. Painted white with deep blue shutters and a large front porch, it reminded Kellie of homes she had seen in classic homes magazines. Two rockers painted to match the shutters adorned the porch. Beautifully trimmed bushes grew along the front of the house and the edge of the driveway.
“Your home is beautiful,” Kellie said when she climbed out of the SUV. Rufus jumped out and ran around the front yard.
“I inherited it from my great-aunt a year ago. My mom makes sure I take care of it the way Aunt Barbara would have wanted. The inside is a little old-fashioned. I’m trying to change it little by little. My mom would like me to leave it the way it was when my aunt passed away.” He walked up onto the porch. “C’mon in.”
Kellie followed and found the inside as attractive as the outside. “I was expecting a man cave.”
Randy laughed, “I’m working on one of those in the basement.”
Rufus was off investigating all the new places he could find.
Randy said, “I need a shower. I’ll be back.” She watched him walk up the stairs enjoying the view.
Back in a flash, he said, “You’re turn.”
“I don’t have any clean clothes.” She shrugged.
“Come upstairs and we’ll find something.” She followed him to his room. “Do you mind sleeping in my room? The first thing I did was buy a new bedroom set. There is a guest room, but I think the beds are from the fifties.” He laughed.
“This will do.”
He opened a drawer and pulled out a blue tee shirt. “You can wear this. It matches your eyes. While you shower, I’ll toss your clothes into the washer and then dry them. In the morning, you’ll have the same clothes, but they’ll be clean.”
“Deal.” She walked into the bathroom, stripped, tossed her clothes out, and climbed into the shower. She stood for a long time to let the warm water wash the stress of the day and the dust the baby wipes missed from her body and hair.
Randy walked back into the bedroom and said, “You’re clothes will be ready to be dried soon.” He saw her sound asleep in his bed. His desire wanted to wake her, but he decided to wait and kissed her forehead. After he tossed her clothes in the dryer, he climbed into bed next to her thinking how fortunate he was to have the most beautiful woman in the world sleeping next to him.
########
The alarm woke Randy first and he hurried down stairs to get Kellie’s clothes. He was partially dressed when she woke.
“Good morning,” she said rubbing her eyes.
“It certainly is.” He walked over and kissed her. “I have a job this morning or I would be right back in bed with you. He leaned over and let his hands roam over her body for a few minutes and said, “Just wait for tonight.”
She kissed him passionately and said, “I’ll do my best waiting, but I might have to come looking for you.” She winked at him.
“You can stay here today away from your stalker. I think you need some rest.”
“I sure do thanks.” He kissed her again and was out the bedroom door. She could hear him run down the stairs and out the back door.
Rolling on her side, she looked at Rufus. “I bet you want to go out or did Randy let you out already.” Rufus dropped to the floor and Kellie knew he had been out. She drifted back to sleep.
########
Kellie’s cell phone rang. She noticed she had slept until ten. “Wow, I must have been tired.” She grabbed for the phone. “Hi, Taylor, what’s up?”
“Hunter called me after he spoke to Mr. Adamson.”
“This early, that sounds like trouble.”
“It isn’t good. Drew stole five thousand dollars from his parents this morning while they were gone and he left town for good. They found a note when they got home. It was a rambling note about how life would never work out in Malone Spr
ings and the town was full of his enemies and crazy people.”
“I’m sure he meant me.” She sat up on the edge of the bed. “How could he steal so much money?”
“He helped his folks set up internet banking and how to transfer funds from savings to checking. He must have kept the passwords. He transferred the money this morning, forged a check, and left town. If he wasn’t their son, they would call the police. They decided just to let him go. Mrs. Adamson’s afraid if the police chase him they’ll shoot him or Drew will commit suicide.”
“I never thought of that. I feel so sorry for them. I’d call, but I’m sure they feel I’m to blame in all of this, too. Hopefully Hunter can help them.”
“Yeah, he’s going there after work. My boss is coming. Gotta run. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Kellie dropped her phone on the bed and looked at Rufus. “I need a run. You want to come with me?”
Rufus jumped up and barked twice.
########
They ran on the streets around Randy’s home. Kellie decided running to the park for their jog would be longer than their normal jog and a change of view would be nice. She enjoyed all the older homes in the neighborhood and how many were restored to their original beauty. Running halfway up Randy’s drive, she stopped to catch her breath. She walked the rest of the way and was nearing the corner of the house when Rufus ran ahead.
Rufus began barking and Kellie stopped. She heard a female voice, “Oh, my, go away big dog.”
Kellie hurried around the corner to see a woman on Randy’s back deck and Rufus with his front paws on the bottom step barking at her.
“Rufus, get down.” Rufus obeyed Kellie immediately.
“I’m sorry.” Kellie said. “Can I help you?”
The woman’s eyebrows scrunched and she frowned. “This is my son’s house. Can I help you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry Mrs. Jensen. I’m Kellie Conley. I’m Randy’s …”
BLACK VELVET ROSES Page 18
