The Haunted Reckoning

by Michelle Dorey

  His eyes flickered open at the sound of a pinecone from overhead thudded against the hood of the car. He groggily sat up and looked at his watch.

  Shit it was almost noon? He had slept for more than fourteen hours? He shook his head to clear the cobwebs. Damn. There was no way his father would still be at the house. The old prick prided himself on being the first one in at the office every day, setting an example for his staff.

  He leaned over to have a look at his ankle to see if the ointment had done its work. For sure the aspirin had helped, to a fault. Thanks to it he’d overslept and missed his chance at getting the jump on the old man. His ankle looked a little less swollen and the puncture wounds only showed a glaze of the ointment, no pus or anything oozing out. That had to be a good sign, right?

  After sliding the cuff of his pant leg down, he reached for the bottle of water on the floor and finished it off. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn’t had a decent meal in well over a day.

  Maybe the guy who owned the car had some money, or even a candy bar in the glove box? Cory’s old man had always kept a couple of packs of beef jerky in their car. “Just in case we ever got stranded,” was what the bastard had said. Yeah, he’d make sure there was food in his car, but could give a damn about looking after his own son stranded out in the woods.

  He reached over the seats in front and fiddled with the latch. It flopped open and his eyes widened. Not a damn thing to eat, but…

  “Holy shit, a gun!” he said out loud. He pulled it from the compartment. Snuggled inside a leather holster was a revolver. He undid the snap and pulled it out. It was in good shape, no rust at all. It was small, just a little bigger than the palm of his hand. He pushed the sliding button on the side and the cylinder flopped out, showing five bullets. It was loaded.

  He smiled. Great! Dad wasn’t going to give him any static when he came calling for his money now! He closed the cylinder back into the frame with a solid click before scrambling over the seats into the front.

  He started the car and turned the radio on to a local channel.

  He blinked hard, stretching his eyebrows high as he listened. There was the usual inane banter between two wannabe comedians before they announced the news broadcast. He was about to change stations when he heard the broadcaster mention Pond Road in Levin.

  Pond Road? He’d see a sign with that name. Driven on that very road. His hand shot out to turn the volume up while he stared hard at the radio.

  “A roadside robbery took the life of a retired state trooper today. The body of Herbert Reid was discovered along the side of Pond Road last night. Mr. Reid, a thirty-five-year veteran of the state police had been last seen driving his car, and the public is being asked to keep a lookout for a 2014 gray Chrysler 300, license plate GAP-453. The vehicle is believed to have been stolen by the person or persons responsible for Mr. Reid’s death. If you see this vehicle, do not approach, but call 911.”

  Cory stopped breathing, his eyes darting to the wooded area and the narrow dirt road behind him. Shit! He’d been lucky to escape notice driving this car. There was no way he could chance it anymore, even driving the short distance to his father’s house. Suddenly the car’s refuge from the chilly weather outside felt like it had a bull’s-eye painted on the side of it.

  He scooped up the bottle of aspirin and ointment and shoved them deep into the pocket of the sports jacket. Grabbing the tan overcoat from where it had slipped onto the floor he opened the car door and stepped outside. He jammed the firearm into his pants, pulling his shirt over the butt.

  He’d roamed these same woods lots of times when he was younger, so finding his way to his father’s house would be easy. Even though taking the road would be faster and more direct, there was no way he’d chance walking on it. Not even an exercise junkie would undertake the steep road leading to the mountaintop community. He’d stick out like a sore thumb, especially with the incriminating car nearby.

  It would take him almost an hour trekking through the forest, but he could follow the road for most of it while still being well hidden from sight. If he could make it to that glade of trees near his father’s property he could hole up there waiting for the old man to get home from work.

  The constant climb on uneven ground was playing havoc with this ankle. Even trying to favor it by keeping as much of his weight off it as possible, walking was hard when he had to navigate around fallen logs and outcroppings of rocks. Being weak with hunger and a slight fever wasn’t helping either. But that would all be taken care of when he got home.

  The road rounded a curve, and he was forced to venture out from the wooded area. The stand of trees was interrupted by a sheer wall of granite that would be impossible to climb. If he went around it going deeper into the forest it would add fifteen minutes to his walk. He decided to chance it, walking on the road for fifty feet or so. As he was about to leave the cover of trees he heard a car’s engine.

  He ducked back and watched the blacktop from behind a huge maple. The thrum of the engine became louder, and soon the nose of a black SUV showed at the crest of the road. As it got closer to where he was hiding he could make out a man and woman sitting in the front seats.

  His eyes widened seeing the familiar face. His father? On his way home already and with a young woman? And then he noticed the second woman in the back seat. What the hell was the old man up to? The car rounded the bend and disappeared from sight.

  Shit! He was going to miss his chance again of getting the jump on his old man. And what was even worse was the fact he wasn’t alone.

  His eyes narrowed as he hurried along the roadway exposing himself to whoever might also be driving by. He couldn’t go back to the stolen car, and it looked like his chances of getting the jump on the old bastard weren’t all that good either. But still. What choice did he have? Of all the times for his father to pick up some hookers and party hard! The stupid old pervert.

  He was out of breath, and his ankle hurt like a bastard when he once more entered the cover of trees. It wasn’t far now. He could see part of the Leary’s house which marked the beginning of the neighborhood. Just another ten minutes or so and he’d be there. His heart hammered hard, and he had to swipe a bead of sweat from his brow despite the chill in the air.

  When he came to the outskirts, peering at the row of ranch bungalows and split-level homes lining each side of the wide street, he jerked back seeing the dark SUV parked at the Clarke’s house. And then it hit him. The Smith Realty For Sale sign. His father was showing the Clarke’s house to those two women. They had to be some kind of big-shot prospects for his father to be personally working with them.

  He leaned against the thick pine trunk watching the house through the dense hanging branches. For a few moments the pulsing pain in his ankle was forgotten as he contemplated his next move. He could cross the street and take a chance that his father hadn’t reset the lock when they’d entered the house. Maybe he could go inside and…

  No. There were the two women plus his father. Plus he’d never been in that house before. Who knew what could happen? Best to wait it out.

  He settled in, trying to make himself as comfortable as possible. His father would finish showing the house and then later that evening he’d go home by himself. The odds of overcoming the old man at that time would be better. He scooped the aspirin from his pocket and dry swallowed a few for good measure. He’d be waiting for a few more hours anyway.

  For some reason Aubree’s face flooded his mind’s eye. He could have sworn that he’d seen her at the sign the day before. If she was up there in heaven she was probably having a good laugh watching him shivering, skulking around his old neighborhood like a thief.

  His jaw muscles twitched. Well, by this time tomorrow he’d be far, far away. Maybe he’d even get as far as Florida and be basking in the sun on some beach. He’d have the last laugh then all right.

  He straightened up when the door to the Clarke’s house opened and a willowy blonde stepped out. H
e peered at the entrance and a second woman followed. He took a few steps from the tree, staring hard. The way she moved and her height was familiar.

  No. It couldn’t be. He squinted his eyes, still trudging closer, examining her face, the honey-blonde hair falling over the collar of her jacket, the lean athleticism of her body. Oh my God. It WAS her. His damn lawyer, Paige Wright! What the hell was she doing there?

  He watched as they all got into the old man’s SUV. He couldn’t figure out what the hell the house showing had to do with anything. His ears starting ringing as he put two and two together.

  His old man had abandoned him at that cottage. Now he’s talking to his damn lawyer.

  That old bastard. Dad was getting ready to turn him in! That had to be it!

  Chapter 35

  PAIGE CLEARED HER THROAT and held her head high, sitting straighter in the seat. Her heart thundered against her rib cage as she tried to compose herself. Something was definitely off with the way Michael was looking at her. She’d sensed him sizing her up in the office and then as they toured the house, but he’d really gotten peculiar in the last five minutes. His gaze seemed to go straight through her, watching her like a cat watches a mouse. Had he caught on that he was being played?

  The phone in her satchel buzzed sending a slight vibration through her thigh. “Excuse me. I’ve got to take this.” It was a brief reprieve from having to answer Michael’s questions, thank goodness. But at the same time her gut clenched tight wondering if it was Karen, once more bringing bad news about her mother.

  When she pulled it from her bag, she jerked back seeing what filled the small screen. Aubree’s face!

  The young girl’s eyes were wide with fear staring back. It was exactly as she’d appeared in Paige’s dream.

  But what shot a jolt of fear up her spine was the timing! It had been days since she’d encountered any sort of communiqué from the little girl. Why now?

  Melanie broke the silence that had descended like a shroud. “Is everything okay?”

  “Ye...Yes. It’s just a text message. Nothing important.” Paige clicked the button turning the phone off before placing it back in her purse. She glanced in the mirror to see if Michael had noticed her shaking fingers or look of horror when she’d seen the child. But he was already easing out of the car.

  When his door shut and they were alone Paige hissed a whisper at Melanie, “It was Aubree. Her face just showed up on my phone!”

  Melanie’s mouth fell open for a second before she exclaimed, “We’re meant to be here! We’re getting close now.” And just like that her face transformed into a gushing smile when Michael opened her car door. She took his hand as she stepped out. “I can’t wait to see your house. I’ve got a good vibe already.”

  Paige kept her gaze down as she arose from the car’s back seat. She only hoped that Michael couldn’t see how nervous she was. But a quick glance at him showed his gaze flitting over the homes and sidewalks nearby. If he’d noticed how alarmed she’d been a few seconds ago, he didn’t show it.

  “I’m not sure my house is big enough for your needs, Melanie. It’s got a great view but there are only four bedrooms. I know you’re a busy woman, and I don’t want to waste your time.” He stood there for a few moments as if deliberating on whether to sell.

  Paige stole a glance at him. It could be a tactic intended to drive the price of his house higher, yanking it from Melanie’s reach. But considering how he’d been questioning her and the looks, it was more like he wanted to get this over with. He didn’t seem comfortable standing in his driveway, and his warm repartee had grown chilly in the last five minutes.

  “It won’t take long. Plus with the oversized lots Melanie could add on if she needed to.” Paige barely managed a smile when she turned to Michael. “Money isn’t a problem for Miss Walker. She’ll know right away if this house is what she’s looking for.”

  “Fine.” Michael led the way to the front door, pausing to disarm the security system and locks.”

  All the while she followed him, Paige had her hand thrust deep in the pocket of her jacket, holding the small bracelet in her palm. If it were up to her, she’d bail on being anywhere near Michael Smith as soon as was humanly possible. The man was a sleazeball. But being there wasn’t all about her. It was about finding Aubree’s killer. There’d be something inside that house which would tie him to Cory. Seeing Aubree’s face on her phone confirmed it. She had to do this for Aubree.

  Just where they’d take this was unclear, but they had to keep going. Melanie reached over and squeezed her hand as they waited for Michael to unlock the door.

  When the door opened, Michael stepped inside holding the door wide for them to enter. There was a hard set to his jaw when Paige went past him. The sight of him closing the door behind her increased the tension. He stared at her with an odd expression as he ushered them through the entranceway.

  Melanie’s voice trilled through the air. “Now this is a view! Why, you can see across the lake and almost to the end of it. This is fabulous.”

  Paige walked into the kitchen where Melanie stood. “Breathtaking view. And the kitchen looks like it was remodeled recently. All new appliances, I see.” All the while that she pretended to admire the cabinets and granite countertops, she was searching for photos, any sign of Cory or Michael’s granddaughter.

  Michael walked over to the table and the full-length glass patio doors leading to an expansive deck. “In the summer, I often have my morning coffee out there. It’s too cold right now to go out there but trust me, it’s lovely. The back drops off for about thirty feet and the view is magnificent. “

  “You’re so high up here,” Melanie cooed. “The house on the hill!”

  He turned to Paige again, the smile dripping from his lips. “You look very familiar to me, young lady. Perhaps I knew your mother or aunt? What is your mother’s name?”

  Michael held Paige’s eyes like a cobra about to strike. “Her name is Cheryl, isn’t it?” he said. His voice was low and smooth, but glittered on the edge.

  Paige’s mouth dropped open.

  “Isn’t it!” he shouted.

  She jumped at the ferocity in his voice as he strode across the room to stand in front of her.

  “Hey!” Melanie said from the kitchen. “What the hell’s the matter with you?”

  “Shut up, you!” Michael’s face was beet red as he waved his arm at Melanie. He turned back to Paige, his voice now soft. “And you...”

  Dangerously soft words.

  He lifted a hand and brushed it across Paige’s face. “You have the shape of Cheryl’s face, my dear…but you have my eyes.”

  Paige was still as a statue from Michael’s explosion.

  “What the hell are you doing here!” he shouted, spraying her face with spittle.

  She stared up into the eyes of her father, terrified.

  As scared as I was of MY father, Paige! Aubree’s voice echoed in her mind. At that moment the MedicAlert bracelet in her pocket grew hot. She backed up a step from Michael and fished it out of her pocket.

  “Like father, like son,” she said, looking down at it in her hand. Her eyes blazed with derision when she stared at him. “I just learned that you’re my father. I also learned there’s not much difference between you and Cory. You’re both violent and out of control.”

  “What the hell do you know about my son!”

  Her heart dropped. “I am a lawyer. And Cory was my client. I’m the one who…” Her voice faltered. “It’s my fault he was able to kill Aubree.”

  Michael’s face twisted in confusion. “You’re Cory’s lawyer.”

  “Yes! Where is he?”

  “What makes you think I have any idea?”

  Melanie had come out of the kitchen into the dining room. She stood beside Paige. “Let’s get out of here, Paige,” she said. “This isn’t working.”

  The three of them jumped at the sound of the front door slamming and footsteps running up the hallway toward them.


  Chapter 36

  “HI, DAD!” CORY SAID, rounding the doorframe. “Hi Paige!” he added. “I wonder just what the hell you two are up to?” The ice-blue eyes staring out of his scruffy face were dead and cold. He’d changed his hair color, a cheap dye job that showed smudges on the skin next to his hairline. He looked like hell.

  “Cory!” Michael said, turning. “This woman’s your sister!”

  “Oh really?” Cory’s voice had dropped to the same dangerous purr Michael had a moment ago. “Is that so? From which whore?” He was a little unsteady on his feet and leaned on the doorjamb. He fumbled at his waist.

  And pulled out the gun.

  “What the hell!” Melanie said, backing up. She grabbed at Paige’s arm.

  Cory stepped from the doorway. “I know what you two are up to…” He gestured at Michael. “You, you bastard, left me in that cabin to freeze to death or die of starvation. Then you changed your mind, and decided to turn me in!” He gestured at Paige. “You brought in my lawyer so you could get your story straight, and you were gonna send the cops to pick me up!”

  “Cory, you’re crazy!” Michael said. He stepped over to his son. “You miserable punk! Give me that damn gun before someone gets—”

  BOOM!

  The sound of the gun firing inside the house was an explosion. Michael staggered back, his hand to his throat, blood gurgling over his fingers in a river.

  “Someone just did get hurt, DAD!” Cory stepped forward and put the pistol to his father’s chest and pulled the trigger again. The sound of the second shot was muffled by the contact with the man’s chest, and Michael fell to the floor dead.

  Cory’s eyes glazed over as he stood over the body, his face sallow with wonder. “Wasn’t all that hard… Killed my wife… Killed my kid… Killed my father… Gonna go out west, find the bitch, and kill my mother… But first…” He lifted his head and looked over at Paige and Melanie who were frozen against the wall in shock. “My sister!” He raised the pistol.