by Eva Pohler
The girl turned and looked up at them before dashing toward the back of the property.
Chapter Fifteen: Mitchell Clark
“Should we follow her?” Ellen whispered.
“No,” Tanya said.
“Unless you want to,” Sue added.
“It was unusual for the ghost to come to our defense.” Poor Millie wiped at the raw egg on her blouse and lap. “I wonder why she did it.”
“Yeah, that was interesting,” Tanya said.
“Maybe she heard us talking,” Sue suggested. “Maybe she’s grateful that we want to help her.”
Millie held up her sticky hands dripping with raw egg. “Well, I’m sorry this happened, ladies. I should head back and get cleaned up, and this and that.”
“Do you want me to call Bud?” Ellen offered.
“I guess so,” Millie replied.
Tanya collected their empty plates and forks and handed them over to Millie. “Thank you. The pie was delicious.”
Before Ellen could get the phone number from Millie, she was distracted by a man coming up the sidewalk toward them. He walked like a man with purpose. He took long, quick strides, and anger seemed to emanate from him.
“What was all that screaming about?” he asked as he neared them. “Everything okay?”
Ellen squinted in the dark night. When he reached the illumination of their orange jack-o-lantern lights, she recognized him. He’d been the man walking away from the Gold House the night she and her friends had taken the box of photos—the night she’d pulled Sue down in the grass and Tanya had turned her ankle. Had he been the one in the house with the flashlight telling them to stay away?
“Hello, Mitchell,” Millie said.
Mitchell Clark, Ellen thought. He had dark curly hair and a raggedy, graying beard in need of a trim. His flannel shirt hung over an old pair of jeans. If it weren’t for the furtive, angry look on his face, he might be handsome. He looked to be in his fifties, about their age.
Instead of returning Millie’s greeting, he repeated his question. “I could hear it down at my house and thought I’d come see what the problem was.”
“Just kids messing around on Halloween night,” Millie said. “They egged the place, as usual.”
“Everyone’s okay then?” he asked, glancing from Ellen’s face to Sue’s and then Tanya’s.
“Fine,” Sue said. “Thanks for checking on us. I’m Sue, by the way.”
Sue stood up from her chair beside Ellen, who, along with Tanya, was already standing. Sue extended a hand.
Mitchell didn’t take it. He just waved and said, “Nice to meet you,” before turning and walking away.
“Well, isn’t he friendly,” Sue said with sarcasm as they watched him walk toward the street.
Ellen stood between her friends and wondered about his story. Why was he so obsessed with finding Theodore’s gold? What made him think it was still here? And was he related to Marcia’s Joseph? And if he was a descendant of Marcia’s Joseph, did he have any knowledge about why they never married?
Just then, the ghost girl appeared from the side of the house and rushed toward the receding figure of Mitchell Clark.
“Stay away!” she screamed frantically, waving her arms maniacally, as she had done to the black Camaro. She stood about five yards in front of him—she on the sidewalk and he on the curb near the street. “Stay away! I mean it! You’ve no right!”
Ellen could tell by the light of the moon that Mitchell had pulled out a revolver and was pointing it at the white figure dancing hysterically before him. Even in the darkness, Ellen could tell his hand was far from steady.
“Keep away from me,” he warned the girl.
“You keep away from me!” the girl screamed. Her voice was so loud that it echoed down the empty streets.
“You don’t belong in this world!” He said through gritted teeth. “There’s nothing here for you!”
“Quit killing my cats!” she cried.
“Those strays don’t belong to you! Nothing belongs to you!”
“This is my house!” the ghost girl screamed. “This is my house!”
Ellen glanced nervously at Tanya, whom she imagined was having major doubts now about their plans to resell the house.
“Why shoot a ghost with a gun?” Sue shouted. “You’re more likely to hurt one of us!”
“Mitchell!” Mille shouted. “Put that gun away before you get one of us killed!”
“Maybe the sound will scare her off,” he growled.
The ghost girl ran around the lawn, waving her arms, like an angry spectral in a horror film. She moved closer toward the front porch and looked directly at Ellen. Ellen stared back, dumbfounded. It was if the ghost could see directly into Ellen’s mind. A chill ran down Ellen’s back.
“Help!” the girl said before she dashed behind the house again, disappearing from their view.
Mitchell waved his gun in the air and said angrily, “This is your fault. You three witches. You have no right coming in here where you don’t belong and stirring up trouble.”
“What is he talking about?” Sue whispered.
“You’ve stirred her up and made things worse!” he shouted. “You need to go back to wherever you came from and leave well enough alone!”
Ellen couldn’t think of a thing to say as Mitchell turned on his heel and hastened down the road toward his house. Had he just threatened them? Another chill crept down her spine.
“Oh, thank God,” Millie said. “Here comes Bud.”
“What happened?” he cried as he ran across the lawn toward them. “Was anyone hurt?”
The four women all talked at once.
“The ghost appeared.”
“Mitchell Clark threatened to shoot her.”
“The ghost ran off.”
“Mitchell threatened us, said it was our fault.”
“What do you mean he threatened to shoot her?” Bud asked with wide eyes.
“He pulled out a gun and waved it around like a mad man,” Sue clarified.
Bud scanned the yard. “And the ghost?”
“She disappeared,” Tanya said.
“Back toward the greenbelt, I think,” Ellen added.
Bud took off running.
“What does he expect to find?” Sue wondered out loud.
“Should we go see?” Ellen asked.
“You go,” Sue said. “I’ll stay here with Mille and Tanya.”
Ellen looked from one face to another. They all seemed to think she should follow him.
“All right then,” she said. “If I’m not back in a few minutes, though, promise you’ll come look for me.”
“I’ll go with you,” Tanya said.
“No, that’s okay.” Ellen knew Tanya didn’t really want to go. “I’ll just peek around the back of the house.”
Ellen used the flashlight app on her phone to guide her across the back lawn toward the woods. “Bud?”
She was sure he went this way, but right now it appeared she was utterly alone. “Bud, are you out here?”
She wondered if she should turn back. She hadn’t meant to come out this far—just to peek around the back and call for Bud. What the hell was she thinking coming all the way out to the woods alone at night? Hadn’t she rolled her eyes at every character in every movie and novel that did this very thing? Stupid, stupid, stupid. But something compelled her onward.
As she neared the woods, she heard a twig snap. She froze. “Bud, is that you?”
“Ellen?” a figure stepped from the trees. It was Bud.
Relief swept over her, but her back stiffened again when she saw the crazed look on his face.
“Bud, are you okay?”
“She’s run off again.” He panted as he walked toward her.
“Who? The ghost girl?”
“Yeah. Last time that son-of-a-bitch Clark threatened her, she was gone for weeks.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” She studied his face now that he was standing in fron
t of her.
He rested his hands on his knees and slumped over, like a broken man.
“Bud?” Ellen was confused. Why did he seem so torn up?
Bud stood up and moved closer. In a lower voice, he said, “I’m gonna tell you something, because I don’t think I have a choice anymore, and because I think you might be able to help.”
“Sure thing. Shoot.” She regretted that last word in light of recent events.
“Millie doesn’t know.”
“Doesn’t know what?”
“Could we meet somewhere to talk?”
“Why can’t you tell me now?”
“It’s such a long story. Why don’t we meet for coffee over at Earl Abel’s tomorrow afternoon, around three-o’clock?”
Earl Abel’s was a nearby diner well-known for its coffee and pie. “Should I bring Sue and Tanya?”
“I’ve kept this to myself for many years, and it’s gonna be hard to say. The fewer sets of eyes staring me down, the less difficult it’ll be.”
“Okay.” Ellen looked at her phone. “I have somewhere to go in the morning, but I’ll meet you at three-thirty. Is that all right?”
He nodded.
“Are you going to come get Millie now? She’s covered in raw egg, poor thing.”
“Can you see her home for me? I need to take care of something.”
Was he serious? What did he have to take care of out here? Was he going after the ghost? “Of course.”
Bud disappeared into the woods.
Chapter Sixteen: The State Hospital
At noon on Sunday, Sue pulled up to the curb in front of Ellen’s house, where Ellen was anxiously waiting.
“Do you have the photo?” Sue asked when Ellen climbed into the backseat beside Tanya and behind Jan. She meant the photo of Cynthia Piers from the box they found in the attic.
“Yep. Let’s go.”
“Hello, Ellen. How are you today?” Jan asked from the passenger’s seat.
“I’m doing pretty well. How are you?”
“Not looking forward to this trip, that’s for sure.”
“Mother said she doesn’t mind helping us,” Sue said. “But she hasn’t stopped complaining since she stepped foot in this car.”
“Now, let’s not exaggerate,” Jan said. “That’s a form of dishonesty. Didn’t I teach you anything?”
“Please don’t feel like you have to do this,” Ellen said to Jan. “We could try it on our own.”
“I know you could, dear, but this will be so much faster. My friend Betty can get us in and out of there in a pinch, so you don’t have to wait who knows how many days to speak with an administrator. They’re pretty busy over there, as you can imagine.”
“And you really think the long-lost cousin approach is better than the truth?” Ellen asked.
“Absolutely,” Jan said. “They’re wary of outsiders and investigators of any kind. It’s better to pretend you’re looking for a family member.”
“We are looking for a family member,” Sue said. “Just not one of our own.”
“Follow my lead,” Jan said. “If there’s a patient named Cynthia who resembles the woman in that photo, I’ll get you in.”
“We’ll have to treat you to dinner sometime,” Tanya said.
“That would be nice,” Jan said. “I’d certainly take you up on that.”
A few minutes later, as they drove across town, Tanya turned to Ellen. “I’m worried about you going alone to meet Bud Forrester later. He and his wife seem nice enough, but you never know. There’s something creepy about him. About both of them.”
“Someone sounds paranoid,” Sue said from behind the wheel.
“It doesn’t hurt to be cautious,” Tanya said. “I’m just sayin’.”
“I would certainly agree with that statement,” Jan offered. “But I’ve spoken to Millie on the phone several times since meeting her, and I think she’s nice enough.”
“That doesn’t mean her husband is,” Tanya said.
“We’re just meeting for coffee,” Ellen reminded them. “I’m not going anywhere alone with him. I want to hear his story.”
“We do, too,” Sue said. “Every word.”
“Don’t you think it’s strange that he doesn’t want us there?” Tanya asked.
“Not necessarily.” Ellen tugged at the shoulder harness of her seatbelt. “Maybe it’s hard enough to tell one person, let alone three.”
“Maybe,” Sue said. “Or maybe one person is easier to deceive.”
“You don’t trust him either?” Ellen was surprised. She’d thought Sue had come to like the Forresters, since her mother seemed to like them. Maybe she was just jealous that she hadn’t been invited.
“Not completely. I don’t think he and his wife are creepy, but I do think you should proceed with caution.”
“So maybe I did teach you a thing or two,” Jan said to her daughter.
“Well, I will proceed with caution,” Ellen said. “I promise.”
The front entrance to the state hospital resembled a military base. Sue had to show the guard her driver’s license and tell the purpose of their visit before they were allowed in. Sue did what her mother had told her to do and said they were guests of Betty Johnson. The guard—a tall, thin boy who looked too young to be employed—made a call and then let them though.
“What is this? A prison?” Tanya asked once they were past the gate.
“For some patients, I suppose it is,” Jan replied.
Ellen thought the grounds resembled a middle school more than a prison: covered walkways, multiple buildings, a parking lot, and several benches all added to the feel of an institution with a lot of people under strict control but with an attempt to make visitors feel comfortable. They saw a chapel at the far left and a family resource center between the chapel and the main facility. Sue parked the car, and they all climbed out.
“This brings back so many hard memories,” Jan said as she led them toward the front office. “This is not an easy place to work at, or even to visit. And poor Betty has been here all this time.”
“I’m not sure if I can stomach this,” Tanya said. “Is it really that bad?”
“It depends on which ward our Cynthia is in,” Jan said.
When they reached the main office, Betty was already waiting there to greet Jan.
“It’s so good to see you,” the short, round, black woman said as she embraced Sue’s mother.
“You haven’t changed,” Jan said. “How is that possible?”
“Oh, go on, girl. You know that ain’t true. It’s been, what, fifteen years?” Betty laughed.
“Sixteen,” Jan said.
“You lookin’ good, though,” Betty added.
“How are you holding up?” Jan asked.
“Oh, they tryin’ to kill me,” Betty said.
Jan cocked her head to the side. “The patients or the management?”
“The patients can’t help themselves. It’s Linda. She has me over in Acute now.”
“Oh, boy.”
“Don’t you know it? We’ve got Wall-Pisser, Poop-Thrower, Finger-Biter, Laugh-Till-She-Cries, and Ol’ Yeller. They my best friends.”
“Why did they move you from Chemical? You were always so good with the addicts.”
“Who knows? Maybe it’s ‘cause I’ve been here the longest and Acute takes a seasoned pro.”
“I’m sure that’s it.” Jan turned to Sue and pulled her closer. “Betty, have you ever met my daughter?”
“Oh, that’s your daughter? She looks just like you. How do you do?”
“I’m fine. It’s nice to meet you.” Sue extended her hand.
Betty took it and said, “Likewise. I’m Betty.”
“Sue. And these are my friends, Tanya and Ellen.”
“It’s so nice to meet you all,” Betty said, shaking their hands. “So, what can I do for you today?”
Jan moved between Sue and Ellen and linked her arm in Ellen’s. “This is one of my daughter�
�s dearest friends. I’d do anything for this woman. So when she told me she was trying to find a cousin of hers who the family had lost track of, well, I decided to help. After doing a little investigating, we think she may be a patient here, probably in Extended, because she would have been admitted around 1994 or ‘95.”
“What’s the patient’s name?” Betty asked.
Ellen handed her the photo. “Cynthia Piers, but her last name may be different.”
“Oh, look how good she looks in this photo,” Betty murmured.
Ellen’s heart skipped a beat. “Does that mean you know her?”
“I sure do. I mean, I know her face. Cynthia doesn’t talk, so I don’t know her know her. I only recognize her because I got moved from Chemical Dependency to the Extended Care Unit about a year or two after you left, Jan, and I was there till they moved me to Acute last year.”
“Would it be possible for us to see her?” Sue asked.
“I would need to get approval from her doctor,” Betty said. “But honestly, I don’t see why not. She hasn’t had a single visitor in the twenty years she’s been here that I’m aware of.”
How sad, Ellen thought.
“Wait,” Tanya said. “If Cynthia doesn’t talk, how do you know her name?”
“That’s a good question,” Betty said. “I’ll see if I can find the answer. Meanwhile, why don’t you all have a seat over there in the lobby, and I’ll let you know what the doctor says as soon as I can?” Betty pointed to a cluster of chairs just outside of the main office.
“Thank you, Betty,” Jan said, shaking her friend’s hand with both of hers. “I knew I could count on you.”
When the four women were seated, Ellen asked them, “So if the patient here is the ghost’s mother, how do we tell the ghost? Do we have to have another séance or something?”
Sue didn’t hesitate. “Not a séance. A crossover ceremony.”