by H. P. Bayne
“The ghosts, you mean? Yeah, they can be a little intimidating sometimes. But I’ve gotten pretty good at handling what they have to show me. When I can’t handle it, that’s when Dez’s hovering is the most beneficial.”
“So can you help us? If something bad’s coming, can you stop it?”
Sully knew better than to make promises, but he knew what he could offer her. “I’ll do the same thing for you I’ve done for everyone else I’ve helped. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you guys are safe. I don’t care what it takes.”
Casey proved she was on to him with a lifted eyebrow. “And do you actually do it? Keep them safe, I mean?”
He opted for honesty. “Most of the time, yeah. I can promise you one thing: I won’t bail on you, no matter how bad it gets.”
Casey uttered a dry laugh. “You went to the Forks to get Cal. I think you’ve proven that already.” Her face broke into a soft smile. “You’re really cool. And you’re kind of beautiful too.”
Sully blushed and turned away. “Uh, thanks. Ready to go inside?”
Rising from her spot, she laughed and picked up the cigarette butt she’d discarded. She checked to ensure it was no longer hot, then carried it to a garbage bin at the corner of the house and deposited it inside very carefully—likely after ensuring it was situated where her dad or Drea wouldn’t see it. That done, she straightened and started back toward Sully.
She was halfway back to him when she stalled, dead in place, eyes fixed on something ahead. The terror was clear on her face, so Sully automatically turned to find out what she’d seen.
He saw nothing.
“Casey, what? What did you see?”
Only her frozen expression told him it wasn’t about what she’d seen—it was what she was still seeing.
He gained her immediate side in two strides. “Casey, talk to me. What is it?”
“Don’t you see her?” The words came out strangled, as if it took everything she had to voice them.
“I don’t. I can’t see all the ghosts. I need you to tell me.”
“It’s her! It’s the witch!”
It was all she got out before clamping hands over her ears and letting out a godawful wail. She fell to her knees on the gravel, and Sully did the only thing he could, dropping down in front of her, placing himself between her and whatever it was she’d seen. He held her against his chest, curling himself over her as best he could. Her fingers clenched at the front of his hoodie, her hands shaking badly as she clung on.
Hearing movement, he glanced up to see Dez, Neil and Drea rushing from the back door. Sully released Casey with the intention of allowing her dad and Drea to move in, but Casey wasn’t letting go. Drea’s steady fingers wrapped around her stepdaughter’s and simply waited there until Casey finally released him. While Drea held Casey to her, Sully rose to face Neil.
“What happened?” Neil asked. “We heard her scream.”
“I think she saw her.”
“Mildred?”
Sully shook his head. “I couldn’t see whatever it was Casey saw. I think it must have been the witch.”
Neil’s face parted in a grimace, and he went to his daughter.
Dez stepped up to Sully. “We should get them inside and get the house locked down for the night. If Marc’s right about this—and when is he ever wrong?—they could be in immediate danger.”
Sully nodded, then returned to the family still huddled on the ground. “You guys? I think we should get inside and lock up, just to be safe.”
Neil met his eye and nodded tightly. Casey had calmed down quite a bit, allowing Neil and Drea to help her up and usher her up the back steps. Once they were inside, door closed behind them, Sully turned to Dez.
“We should do a quick walk around the house from the outside to make sure no one’s nearby.”
Dez nodded agreement, and the two split up, each taking one direction until they met back up out front.
“All clear,” Dez said. “You see anything?”
Sully shook his head. “Nothing. Come on, we should get inside too.”
They headed through the front door, and Sully locked it behind them. He could hear the family talking in the TV room, and Sully heard Casey describing what she’d seen.
“Death! She looked like death!”
Dez grimaced and tugged Sully into the formal sitting room. “We should check all the windows and doors, make sure the place is secure. I think we should tackle it together. The front door had been left unlocked. I’m worried someone could have slipped in while we were all out back.”
Sully went with Dez’s suggestion, and the two of them cleared the house, main floor first, then upper floors and, finally, basement.
As a rule, Dez hated basements, and he commented on it again as they searched the dark, unfinished cellar. “Nothing good ever happens in basements.”
Sully gave a dry laugh. “Not to us, anyway.”
Thankfully, they re-emerged, nothing untoward happening and no evidence of intruders to be found.
House searched and secured, they returned to the family.
“Place is empty and everything’s locked up,” Dez said. “I’d suggest everyone stay in tonight. Best to keep your curtains closed, just in case.”
“Mildred wouldn’t have it any other way,” Drea quipped.
Sully’s insides jumped as he considered the past couple of comments. The curtains …
“Maybe that’s it,” he said. “Why she keeps the curtains shut. Maybe she knew she was in danger, and she was trying to prevent anyone outside seeing her. Could be she’s not doing it just because she’s a recluse who wants the privacy. Maybe she’s trying to protect her family.”
The words seemed to spark something—literally. Seconds after saying it, one of the bulbs in the overhead chandelier exploded with a bang.
Casey shrieked. “Oh my God! She’s coming!”
Sully peered between her and Neil. “The witch again?”
Both shook their heads. It wasn’t the witch this time.
It was Mildred. Sully spotted her in the shadows of the hall, standing at the base of the stairs. He didn’t want to drive her away again, but he needed to talk to her.
“Mildred, please. I need you to communicate with me. I believe you’re trying to help your family. Please, can you—”
Her head whipped to the side so fast, Sully jumped.
Then he heard the front door handle rattle.
15
Casey screamed and clung to Neil as Drea moved in to sandwich the teenager between them in the family room.
Dez appeared at Sully’s side in the front hall, outside the family room. “What is that?”
“Door.”
Dez knocked him with an elbow. “I know that, dummy. I meant—” He leaned closer to keep his voice low. “Is it a ghost?”
“I don’t know. We need to check.”
Dez tapped Sully’s shoulder, then moved for the stairs. “Wait here.”
He thundered up the stairs but was back within thirty seconds, Lachlan’s revolver gripped steadily in his hands.
“I forgot you had that,” Sully said.
“I nearly did too. Come on.”
The front door handle had stopped rattling at some point after Dez left to get the gun. Now, as they approached it, the banging started.
Loud, purposeful banging, the sound so heavy it made Sully’s nerves jump.
From the family room, Casey screamed again. “Make it stop!”
Neil popped his head out. “What’s going on?”
Sully turned. “Neil, you need to take your family someplace inside the house where you can lock the door.”
He stared for a few seconds as if trying to process or think, then nodded. A moment later, Neil and Drea ushered Casey from the family room. For a moment, her wide, panicked eyes locked onto Sully’s. He offered her what he could manage of a smile.
The banging at the door became more insistent.
Sully wa
ited until the family was out of sight before turning to Dez and nodding once.
Dez returned the gesture, then faced the door and raised the gun to take aim. “Open the door, fast as you can, and step to the side. Be ready to dive if they’re armed.”
Sully signalled agreement by taking up position, pressing as far as he could to the side to make himself a smaller target. Whether they were about to face a nasty spirit or members of the Oldwater Crew, Sully didn’t know. Frankly, he didn’t want to know.
They had no option.
He gripped the handle, met Dez’s eye for final confirmation he was ready and tore open the door.
Sully heard the startled yelp before he had time to register who it was. As Dez lowered the gun with a curse word, Sully turned to see who was on the other side of the threshold.
Hank Fleming, Mildred’s lawyer.
“Holy hell!” Hank said. “What on God’s green earth is going on here? Where are the Wynnes?”
“What are you doing here?” Sully asked. “We thought you were someone else.”
“I heard screams. Where are the Wynnes?”
“They’re fine,” Sully said. “Like I said, we thought you were somebody else.” He turned to Dez. “This is—”
“I know who it is,” Dez said. “Why do you think I lowered the gun? I looked him up after you mentioned him to me. I’m nosy like that.”
Sully rolled his eyes at him. “Go find the Wynnes, and let them know it’s safe.” As Dez left, Sully turned back to Hank. “What brings you here?”
“I was concerned. You’ve suggested my client was the victim of foul play, and now her family is living here. I helped Mildred complete her will, and I called her family to let them know about their inheritance. If there’s any trouble, I want to help if I can. Just wanted to let you know.”
Dez’s solid footsteps revealed he was returning to the front door, and Sully turned to see Neil standing in the shadows of the hall.
“Hello, Hank,” Neil said. “Everything all right?”
“I’d come to ask you the same. I’ve had a bad feeling ever since I spoke with Sullivan earlier, and I wanted to check in on you. Sleep wouldn’t have come easy for me otherwise.”
“I appreciate that very much. But we’re all right. Been something of a stressful evening, though. Why don’t you come in for a tea?”
Neil raised a hand and shook it, palm out. “No, but thank you all the same. It’s getting late. I hadn’t intended a visit, just wanted to reassure myself you’re all right here. Now that I see you are, I’ll be on my way.” He eyed Dez and Sully. “You boys are staying the night here?”
Sully nodded. “Yeah. Just to be safe.”
A thread of amusement wove itself into Hank’s smile. “Please tell me you’re staying for a very long time.”
Sully chuckled. “Just tonight. We’ll come back any time they need us though.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here now, in any case. I’ll certainly sleep better tonight.” He turned to take his leave, then gazed back at Sully. “Sorry to cause a start. I hadn’t intended to.”
“It’s all right. Like Neil said, it’s been a bit of a stressful evening. Everyone’s nerves are a little frayed.”
“Thanks for looking after them. In a small community, we take care of our neighbours.”
At first, Sully didn’t see Hank’s truck, but he spotted it as the lawyer reached it, parked in a particularly shadowed area where the house’s lights didn’t reach. Many similar hidden pockets existed out here, enough to cause the imagination to run wild.
In Sully’s case, imagination wasn’t necessary. Even now, he could make out the vague shape of Mildred, hovering beneath a tree in the front yard, not far from Hank’s car.
Sully waited until Hank had driven away before shutting and locking the front door.
“I don’t like him,” Dez said.
Sully grinned. “You don’t like any lawyers.”
“Not true. There was that one lady.”
“Who?”
Dez paused, frowning. “Shut up.”
Sully was coming out of the bathroom on the way to bed when he saw a pyjama-clad Casey knocking on her parents’ bedroom door.
She peered back at Sully, blushed and smiled sheepishly. Sully nodded and smiled back. Honestly, he’d be relieved to know she was sleeping in her parents’ room tonight, safely in numbers and all that. No judgment from him. There had been a few nights when he was around her age when he’d cram himself in next to Dez, nights when he was plagued by a particularly nasty ghost who wouldn’t leave him alone. If you were blessed with a family who’d give you a port in a storm, why wouldn’t you use it when needed?
As he reached his own door, he could just make out a few soothing words from Neil and Drea before the door closed behind Casey.
Sully was about to head into his own room when the door across the hall from him opened to reveal Dez standing there, appearing tormented.
Sully smirked. “You want to cuddle?”
Dez fired him a glare. “Piss off.” The annoyance left his face as he stepped up to Sully. “I, uh, was wondering if you wouldn’t mind trading rooms. Mine overlooks the backyard and I just keep thinking about the maze out there. I hate mazes. Ever since I saw The Shining.”
Sully shook his head, then patted Dez on the arm. “Okay, sure. We’ll trade. Bear in mind, though, the last place I saw Mildred was in the front yard.”
Dez’s eyes flashed open, and Sully chuckled. He paused as they traded rooms, casting one more glance at the locked room as he went. He supposed Dez was right. The door opened inward, so kicking it in was an option if they really needed in there. As a rule, he was curious when it came to locked rooms in haunted houses. In his experience, some ghosts could manipulate doors, opening and closing and even locking and unlocking them at will. Maybe Mildred was keeping it shut for a reason. Of course, maybe they’d all be better off not knowing what the reason was.
“I still think we should kick it in,” Dez said from behind him.
Sully turned. “Maybe eventually. ’Night, Dez.”
“’Night.”
After closing his bedroom door, he dropped the few belongings he had with him—hoodie, coat, and phone—on a chair inside the room. Most of his things were still inside the pockets of his coat, where they’d stay. As for his phone, he powered it down for the night, no charger cord with him on this unexpected overnighter.
He peeled off his T-shirt, then took off his jeans and socks, leaving him in his underwear. Dez had already turned down the duvet, and Sully was headed for the bed when he was suddenly drawn to the window.
He headed over, feeling a portion of the anxiety Dez had expressed a couple of minutes ago. The reason for it became obvious seconds later when, as he peered out the window into the garden below, he spotted the dimly glowing figure of Mildred standing at what Sully believed to be the entrance to the maze.
Sully heaved a breath. She hadn’t said anything of course, not that he was aware of, anyway. But he could sense what she wanted.
She wanted him to join her in the maze.
16
Venturing down there seemed like a bad idea.
Venturing down there seemed like the only idea he had.
So far, Mildred had proved as elusive as her reputation and burial outfit would suggest, having avoided Sully at every turn, save when forced.
Sully debated heading outside without telling Dez, but decided against the idea. If Dez found out he’d pulled a move like that—especially if he ended up facedown in the pool like Mildred—Dez would be beyond angry.
Sully tugged his clothes back on and headed across the hall. He knocked once, quietly, then entered without awaiting a reply.
“Dez?”
“What, you scared now?”
Sully snorted as he more fully entered the room. “I need to head outside for a minute.”
Dez, already in bed, rolled over and turned on the bedside lamp. “Bloody hell, now? Why?�
��
“Mildred. She’s down by the maze. I think she wants me to come down there.”
Dez dragged himself to sitting. “Okay. Give me a minute to get dressed.”
“No. I need you to stay here. Someone should stay with the Wynnes.”
Dez stared at him for a few seconds. “Not my idea of a good plan.”
“We’ve never had a good plan. Why start tonight?”
Dez jabbed a finger in Sully’s direction. “Don’t you let her touch you. You lose it out there, you might end up drowned in the pool.”
Sully resisted the urge to smile. “Yeah, I kind of thought of that already. Problem is, I need her to touch me if she’s going to communicate.”
Dez shook his head. “Nope. Find another way. No visions, you understand? In fact, you know what? Call my phone from the maze and put me on speaker so I can listen in. I hear anything I don’t like, I’m coming down. How complicated is this maze, anyway?”
Sully quirked up a side of his mouth. “Kind of complicated. But Casey knows the way. If there’s a problem, go and get her. You should probably keep the Wynnes with you anyway.”
Sully turned to leave, but found his arm caught in Dez’s grip. “I mean it, Sull.”
Dez hadn’t said precisely what it was he meant, but he didn’t have to. Sully nodded, offered a last smile and left the room.
He no longer saw her by the time he put on his boots, flipped open the deadbolt and left through the back door.
“Damn,” he whispered.
“She’s gone?”
Sully jumped at the sound of Dez’s voice behind him in the quiet house. “I thought you were staying upstairs.”
“Figured I should watch the door. I’m not sure where the Wynnes put the housekeys and we can’t have an unmanned, unlocked door at the moment, can we?”
“Good point.”
“You going to try anyway?”
Sully nodded. “Could be she’s still there somewhere. I need to see if I can find her.”
“Okay, but it’s cold out. Don’t go wandering into the maze unless she’s leading you through.” Dez visibly shuddered. “God, that’s creepy. A ghost leading you through a maze to the spot she was murdered.”