Chapter 26
Muraille Island
September 20, 2017
Faith caught up with Ro after the long drive back and a good night’s sleep at the Inn. Ro had managed to get Kirby to shuttle her and her house back to the island. “Is it just me or is he loving this?” She questioned as the two of them hung around down at the beach.
“I like the guy.” Ro cautioned. “Met, your friend, Delia. That woman is stressed.”
“It’s a stressful place,” Faith noted. “It shouldn’t be. Had a little chat with my mom on the way back down. I’m learning a lot and none of it makes any sense. You have an idyllic location mixed with good people. How does that end with fires and mass murder?”
“The biggest things that freaked me out were the goats and how that woman entered my house?”
“Couldn’t she cross the threshold if her intentions are good?”
“I guess. Still not getting naked in there anytime soon.”
“Remind me not to stand downwind of you.”
“Did you learn anything at the looney bin?”
“The voices told him to do it.”
“Of course they did.”
“One lone voice, telling him to slaughter his family as a sacrifice to a misogynistic god. Tell me my multilingual friend, Jägermeister.”
“You’re thirsty?’
“No, what does it mean? The actual translation.”
“Hunt master.”
“I do not like where this is going.”
Central Park West, NYC.
March 12, 1939
“It is so good to see you,” Ella gushed hugging Christopher. “How is Rudy?”
“Wonderful,” he blushed. “He’s downstairs unpacking.”
“Yes, that took me a while to figure out,” Ella offered in a hushed tone. “Every time you’d go stay with a friend, it was Rudy who rents an apartment on the sixteenth floor. Conveniently, located two floors above the staff apartments.”
“Temperance barely charges him anything,” he snickered as Temperance entered the room and captured him in a fierce embrace. “Most convenient. How are you getting on?”
“Wonderful,” Ella boasted with a slight blush.
“What happened to Mrs. Culvert? I heard she’s gone?”
“Philosophical differences,” Temperance nonchalantly offered as the buzzer rang. “I’ll get that.”
“I know that tone,” Christopher snarled. “It is the one she uses when she wants the world to think everything is fine. When in reality, she’s been deeply hurt.”
“We-,” she struggled for the words. “We weren’t careful.” He nodded his head informing her that he understood. “I always like Mrs. Culvert, but the things she said to Tempe were way out of line. In fact they were downright hurtful. Then she was shocked that she couldn’t stay in her apartment. Tempe gave her to the end of the month. She had the nerve to go on and on about how it was her home.”
“A home she was allowed to live in, on top of the generous salary Temperance provided,” he sniffed indignantly. “And she put her son through law school.”
“I know,” Ella fumed the old anger suddenly rising to the surface. “She even tried to get Jenny and Maria to walk out with her. Jenny, informed her that she was an ungrateful witch and if she wanted to quit that was her choice.”
“When did Maria start working here? What happened to Wallace?”
“Off to Hollywood, with the Bentley.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, look its Christopher and Junior.” Helena spat out as she and Temperance entered the room.
“Don’t do that.” Temperance cautioned.
“Helena, darling Rudy and I were just talking about you the other night. We went to the pictures and there was this actress who reminded us of you.”
“Carole Lombard? I get that all the time.”
“No, it was Margaret Hamilton in The Wizard of Oz,” he snickered giving Ella a nudge. “Quick, throw some water on her, see if she melts.”
“I don’t understand,” Helena huffed.
“They made a movie based on the Oz books?” Temperance beamed choosing to ignore the tension. “I loved those books. Ella, have you read them?”
“Yes.”
“Of course she has,” Helena sneered. “Are you going to allow him to speak to me in that manner?”
“I didn’t feel a need to stop him when he was in my employ. Less so now that he isn’t.”
“I’m thirsty. Junior, get me a drink.” Helena barked.
“Helena, I’ve told you not to do that,” Temperance hissed. “Maria?” She called out and requested cocktails.
“They work for you.”
“Ella, is in my employ, yes.” Temperance was clearly quickly losing her patience. “But, I do seem to recall that my great grandfather and yours fought to end slavery.”
“Is that what they were fighting for,” Helena sighed dramatically. “I thought they were afraid of losing the cotton trade. I need to talk to you in private.” She demanded once Maria handed her a martini.
“We can talk here.” Temperance insisted.
“In front of the staff?”
“Christopher doesn’t work for me. Ella is off duty and this is her home, so yes this is a perfect place to have a little chat.”
“Fine, Father won’t allow me to travel to Greece. It is simply spectacular this time of year.”
“Do you not listen to the radio or read a newspaper?” Temperance barked. “Italy invaded Albania.”
“I’m not going to Albania,” she argued much to the astonishment of the others. “Weren’t you listening?”
“Let me spell it out for you in language even you can understand. There is a war going on and it is not safe to travel. People are dying. So, don’t plan on any cocktail parties for the duration.” Announced Tempe, exasperation dripping from every word.
“Well, that just spoils everything. Where shall I go? Oh, you could come with me?”
“To be blunt, I have no desire to travel with you. Also, I don’t think it is the best time to be traveling.”
“I simply cannot endure springtime in this city.”
“Visit your parents.”
“Visit yours.”
“That, was uncalled for.”
“Ooo, Iris throws her parties in the city now.” Helena gushed. “You can escort me.”
“No.”
“You could try California,” Christopher suggested. “Perhaps, you could locate Temperance’s car?”
“Oh, they found it or rather what was left of it. Wallace sold it to some movie person.”
“I hope you pressed charges, you can be far too forgiving at times,” Christopher scolded her.
“I did.”
“Well of course, he absconded with your automobile,” Helena huffed.
“It wasn’t about the car,” Temperance corrected. “It was about abandoning his family. Maria is still broken hearted over what the way he left them without a penny to their names.” She looked around to assure herself that Maria was out of earshot.
“Ah, and you gave her a job as a housekeeper before you needed an extra hand,” Christopher surmised.
“She is a hard worker.”
“Do you know anyone in California?” Helena questioned. It was clear that she had stopped listening to the others.
“No,” Temperance grumbled.
“There is that actress,” Ella quickly jumped in. “You know the one who goes to the best parties.”
“Interesting,” Helena cooed before scowling. “Nice try, Junior. You seem to forget that Temperance and I are very, very close. I know all about that crazy woman.”
“Helena?” Temperance groaned. “We’ve established that I’m not talking to your father so you can kick up your heels in the middle of a war. I’m also not going to travel anywhere with you. Was there something else? Is someone trying to sell you swamp land again?”
“No, it’s Reggie.” She huffed. Tempera
nce gave her look that screamed for her to get on with it. “He’s offered to sell me his polo pony.”
“He doesn’t own that horse.”
“I know you do.”
“No, Daniel does. I sent him packing the last time he showed up with his hand out.” Temperance stressed. “Did you give him any money?”
“No,” her face screwed up as if she had been insulted. “I never give anyone money unless you or Father tell me that it is okay. Not since that misunderstanding, anyway.”
“You mean when you accidently bought a whore house?”
“How does one accidently purchase a whore house?” Ella questioned later after everyone had gone.
“It was presented to her as a profitable business opportunity,” Temperance groaned as she shed her clothing. “Which it was. It was also illegal and downright deplorable. Thankfully, there was this gangster who took exception to Helena moving in on his turf. I managed to convince her to sign the business over to him and take the loss. They give us all this money and never tell us how to manage it. If my grandfather hadn’t taken the three of us aside after watching my father throw good money after bad, I’d be in the same boat.”
“A lesson, Reggie didn’t heed.”
“No, he thought father had the right idea. He plans to follow in his footsteps and marry well. I’m sorry that Helena takes pleasure in upsetting you.”
“She doesn’t.”
“No?”
“A little,” Ella confessed not wanting to admit that Helena’s constant reminders of how she had held Temperance’s attention long before they met did bother her. It not only bothered her, it tore at her confidence. It also made her worry that someday, Temperance would tire of her.
CHAPTER 27
Muraille Island
September, 21, 2017
“I hope this means that you’re not still upset with me.” Delia nervously squeaked.
“Now, why would I be upset with you?” Katherine snarled. “Could it possibly have anything to do with, your request that I ensure that when Dr. Williams rang that my sister set up a meeting with my Aunt? Of course I assumed that Dr. Williams was a geologist or some other professional who could offer some scientific reason why the project has been running behind. Discovering that Dr. Williams is a ghost hunter was a bit of a surprise.” She harshly added.
“I can explain.”
“Later,” Katherine held up her hand. “First, I would like to see what’s hidden under that tarp.”
“There it is,” Delia announced once she had pulled the last inch of canvass away from the plane. Katherine released a loud gasp almost identical to the one her first born made the first time he walked through the gates of Disney World. “I don’t know anything about airplanes, but it doesn’t look like it is in bad shape.”
“I can’t believe she forgot it was here,” Katherine carefully approaching the plane. “Who forgets about something like this?”
“It’s not going to run away, Kate.” Delia shook her head. “Is this old bird like the Holy Grail of old twin engines?”
“No,” Katherine laughed finally feeling brave enough to run her hand along the fuselage. “The holy grail from this era would be a certain Lockheed Model 10 Electra. More important than finding that plane, but proving what happened to its female pilot. This is a de Havilland Dragon Rapide, 1936 maybe ’37. To find one in such this condition is a rarity. The Black Swan.” She cooed still caressing the plane.
“Wasn’t that a movie?”
“Yes, but this baby took its name from a ballet. I can’t believe they never mentioned this,” she gushed. “It’s not like my passion for flying is a secret. How do you forget you have an airplane lying around?”
“Your Auntie Ella is a little up there in years,” Delia offered.
“Still sharp as a tack,” Katherine spun around. “I recommended you for this job. How is it that you ended up behind schedule in record time?”
“Because there is something wrong with this place,” Delia was frustrated. “Can’t you feel it?”
“Feel what?” Katherine said quickly dismissing her question.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the history of this place?”
“I don’t understand.” She blinked with surprise. “The only thing I know about this place is it has been in the family for generations. No one comes out here because, according to my grandfather, his cousin was murdered here. However, according to Aunt Ella, it could have been murder or an accident. She said that when she left Temperance that night she was well into her second bottle of gin. She also said that Temperance hadn’t been herself for quite some time and her death could very well have been a suicide. None of this raises a red flag. It certainly doesn’t explain the trouble you’re having.”
“What can you tell me about Temperance Muraille?”
“Why?”
“It might help.”
“Fine. Recently, I discovered her love of flying,” she patted the plane. “She was a brilliant business woman. She was the driving force behind keeping the Arts Foundation going. She helped some people escape from the Nazis. She also helped smuggle artwork out before Hitler’s cronies could get their hands on it. She made certain that all the pieces were returned to their rightful owners. Other than that, she and grandfather were close and she was Aunt Ella’s girlfriend.”
“So, Aunt Ella isn’t really your Aunt.”
“Not by biology, no. But I think of her that way. If things had been different back in her day, we would be related.”
“What about the other deaths?” Delia carefully prompted.
“Excuse me?”
“That is the whole story as I know it,” Delia offered once she had finished revealing everything she knew to her old friend. “That is the exact same look I had on my face when I heard about all of this.”
“What did you do after that?” Katherine choked out.
“Had a couple of drinks.”
“That sounds like an awesome idea,” Katherine eagerly responded. “Care to join me?”
“Sounds good,” Delia answered feeling slightly more at ease. “And while we’re having a couple of beers, you can explain to me how you’re going to get the plane off the island. You are planning on it aren’t you? Hopefully, in a couple of days? I don’t know how long I can hang onto the new crew and that barn is coming down.”
“I’m working on something,“ she explained as they turned to leave. “It is a bit much for Davis Charters. I haven’t decided if I’m donating it to a museum or going to give restoration a whirl.”
Delia was about to comment on just how or why her old friend would be interested in taking on such a project, when suddenly, she felt her blood run cold. A mist suddenly appeared, swirling all around them. Standing in the mist was a scraggly looking figure holding an axe.
“Delia?” She heard Katherine calling to her. She blinked her eyes and the figure had vanished.
“I can’t do this.”
“Good beer,” Delia offered slightly amused by the dumbfounded look Katherine was sporting.
To her credit once they took over a booth in the little bar, Katherine sat and listened to what Delia had to say.
“Delightful,” Katherine sighed wearily. “When did you start hanging around with ghost hunters?”
“A long while back,” Delia quietly answered. “I didn’t really have a choice. I inherited a house that was beautiful and no one could live in. Recently someone said to me, aside from the ax murders, it is a lovely home. What happened at Whispering Pines, clung to it. Thanks to these paranormal investigators, people live there now. I am hoping that they can help with this place. The island is perfect for what your Aunt wants to do with it. Unfortunately, once you pass through the gate, everything changes. Personally, I can’t wait to tear down the gate and wrought iron fence. It doesn’t serve a purpose, fencing off an eighth of the property.”
“The rest of the island sits on top of thirty foot cliffs,” Katherine rationalized. “It’
s not like an intruder is going to swim up and scale their way up. Besides, the gate marks the start of Aunt Ella’s property. The dock and everything below it belongs to the Davis Charter Company.”
“Right, Kirby and his family.”
“I don’t want to disappoint my Aunt.” Katherine sounded as though she was pleading. “All of my life she has been there for me. She would take us on trips all over the world. I was seven the first time I went the Louvre. I spent my thirteenth birthday, standing in front of the Acropolis. It wasn’t just the exotic vacations, she listened to us. You know the crap you can’t tell your parents or friends, Aunt Ella was the go to gal for all of that. She was and still is the quintessential childless aunt. Which makes her one of the coolest people in the world.”
“Yes, we are.” Delia boasted.
“How is your brother and his family?”
“Awesome,” Delia was filled with a sense of pride. “I keep suggesting that perhaps he and Sara have another baby. Apparently, they feel three is enough.”
Seeing that Katherine was still shell shocked she sat and sipped her beer. When her old friend began to fidget she decided to continue with her unusual explanation.
“I get how important it is to you to help your aunt. But even if she fires me this project may never get finished. If it does, and you bring people there it is just going to feed whatever is lurking in the shadows.”
“Aunt Ella is not happy that you’ve brought a psychic in.”
“Understandable,” she conceded. “Most people would find it ridiculous. But Aunty Ella, left out a couple of details regarding her little island. Like the Conklin family massacre. Do you think maybe your grandfather would talk to one of the people I’m working with?”
“Probably, he loves chatting especially about the past.”
Muraille Island
September 22, 2017
“It wasn’t the crew?” Faith questioned shaking her head as surveyed the condition of the bulldozer.
“No,” Delia confirmed as she watched Ro setting up her tiny house up past the barn. “If things keep going this way that is my future.” She pointed to the house. “Functional, portable, good for our carbon footprint and very little chance of being attacked by something demonic.”
Muraille Island Page 19