Walnut Grove House

by Alexie Aaron

  “Calvin Franks may be more than a reference,” Cid said. “Did he ask if I was still working with you?”

  “He asked about you and thought that this renovation was right up your alley,” Kiki said.

  “Calvin Franks inferred the last time I spoke with him that he represented a group who would have liked me to join their cold case investigation team. He knows that I’m not going to allow any person I work with to be harmed by the paranormal. I’m going to put on my tinfoil hat and say this Calvin Franks group suspects what went on here and what may happen if we’re not involved.”

  “So you think Calvin Franks wants us to release the ghosts?” Kiki asked.

  “Why hire us? Kiki, we’re more than interested in renovating these buildings than the income it brings us. We’ve proven again and again that we care about the people and lost souls who are tied into the heritage of each place.”

  “But I’m not going to break a contract,” Kiki said. “I have a reputation that I bring in the jobs on time if not early.”

  Alan looked at Kiki. “That’s your business model, but it’s not you.”

  “You’re right. But when I started to waver on the side of the trapped ghosts, August Atwater took control.”

  “Just like he would do to anyone who could be used to get what he wants,” Cid said. “I think we’re looking at a showdown between Arnold and August take two.”

  “But you have him trapped in a lead-lined iron safe, stuck in a salt prison,” Kiki said.

  “Kiki, you mentioned that you have residual memories of August.”

  “Yes, I think I do.”

  “What if August left instructions inside you or Bridgeton to seek him out and free him if he didn’t show himself?” Father Santos asked. “It would just seem like a thought or an urge you can’t suppress.”

  “That’s why Cid wanted you to check me over,” Kiki realized. “I could be plan B.”

  “Yes. You’ll need to come to the church,” Father Santos stressed. “We can’t be sure you don’t have Gadus monitoring Alan’s staff, or she could actually be in the building. Until we are sure who’s wearing the white hat, we have to assume that all individuals are capable of perverse acts in order to maintain or regain control.”

  “I’ll call Calvin Franks for you,” Audrey volunteered. “I don’t think it would be wise to use your phone, Cid.”

  “That’s the tinfoil hat thing to do,” Cid agreed.

  “I’ll have a burner phone expressed to you,” Audrey said.

  “Cid, continue to renovate. Once we determine if I’m critter free, then I’ll call Bridgeton to inform him about his foundation leaking. If he agrees, I’ll send my foundation experts, Santos and Simon, to his home to check things out.”

  “Finally, a job my mother understands,” Father Simon said.

  “Kiki, this may backfire on you. You may not get paid,” Alan warned.

  “It doesn’t matter. I’ll pay the contractors myself. If not for their concern, Cid would be dead, and I would be in jail. There comes a time when gold no longer is shiny and all you feel is the weight of it.”

  “Here, here,” Father Santos said. “Very well put. I think I’m going to use it in my sermon Sunday.”

  ~

  “Sir, there is an Audrey Stavros on the phone wishing to speak with you,” Calvin Franks’s secretary Roberta Hall informed him. “She’s the lead partner of the McCarthy Assessment Group. She said she and you have High Court in common.”

  “How interesting. Put her through,” Calvin said and waited for the connection. “Ms. Stavros, forgive me, but did we meet at High Court? I admit my memory isn’t what it was.”

  “No, Mr. Franks, I’m calling for Cid Garrett who can’t make this call directly.”

  “Ah…”

  “Do we have a secure line?” Audrey asked.

  “Wait, let me transfer you.”

  Audrey took that moment to turn Luke around as he backed into the kitchen not expecting his mother to be standing in the hall. “What’s in your mouth?”

  “My teeth,” Calvin answered.

  “Oh sorry, I was talking to my son. He’s a notorious pre-supper cookie stealer.”

  “Oh we’ve heard about him. Better check his pockets too,” Calvin teased.

  Audrey did and found more cookies.

  “Give me a moment to regain my professional dignity,” Audrey said.

  “I take it you’re working from home.”

  “Yes, my husband is around here somewhere, no doubt encouraging Luke’s life of crime.”

  “You mentioned Cid.”

  “Feel free to stop me at any time if you don’t know what I’m talking about,” Audrey prefaced. “Did you put Cid into Congressman Atwater’s Walnut Grove House on purpose?”

  “Guilty.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m hoping he’ll sort out who’s on first.”

  Audrey grinned. She knew baseball. “He’s got to third base, but Arnold and August may be playing pickle with him.”

  “How handy, considering we have a Miss Pickles in play.”

  “She was playing for the other team, but we’ve reunited her, and Father Santos is making sure that no residue of August is left to interfere with the game.”

  “Splendid.”

  “Who’s the bad guy here?” Audrey asked.

  “It depends on your perspective. If you’re August, Arnold is. If you’re Arnold, August is.”

  “Cid trusts your judgement. Who do you think should win this game?”

  “Arnold. You see, he’s tired and wants to release Gadus. His body may still be that of a young man, but his mind isn’t as sharp, and he worries that if he doesn’t get his house in order, the shift of power will return to August.”

  “How much do you know of the original conflict?”

  “Arnold came to me when he heard I dealt with difficult things involving the paranormal world. We sat sipping brandies until he opened up and told me that his grandfather was a negative elemental who he has had imprisoned in the family mansion after the man tried to kill him. He also confessed to being in love with a female demon he calls Miss Gee. I didn’t want to grill him, and I could tell he was hesitant to give me too much information. We talked about him retiring. He mentioned Bridgeton as his successor but worried that he wasn’t strong enough to deal with the family heritage.”

  “We suspect August has already possessed Bridgeton.”

  “That would be my move if I were August. It must be tough navigating without a body.”

  “What did you advise him?”

  “I told him to get the family home in order.”

  “Which meant more than renovating the bathrooms,” Audrey confirmed.

  “Yes. He put the project in Bridgeton’s hands, who palmed it off on the family lawyer. I don’t know how many sets of contractors worked on the place.”

  “Twelve,” Audrey supplied.

  “When it became evident that August was powerful enough to get the ghosts to kill for him, I decided to step in and recommend Kiki Pickles because I knew Cid would work it out.”

  “There’s a contract in place that says they can’t mess with the ghosts.”

  “When has a contract ever gotten in the way of Cid doing the right thing?” Calvin asked.

  “You’re a brilliant chess player, aren’t you?”

  “Not as good as some, but I dabble.”

  “In your opinion, is Arnold expecting to take Bridgeton’s place?”

  “No.”

  “What happens next?” Audrey asked.

  “I think that’s up to Cid. He’s got to take all the facts, get Arnold to tell him his story, and then we’ll see what happens.”

  “This is a dangerous game.”

  “I have picked my players well, Ms. Stavros. I expected there would be a fight.”

  “Do you know what will happen to Gadus once she is released?”

&nb
sp; “I expect return to her gold and wait to be summoned.”

  “I believe she is in love with Arnold.”

  “Then she returns with a broken heart. Arnold intends to let nature have its way, and he will die soon. Either way, Gadus will have a broken heart. This way, she can return without shame.”

  “But what happens if August wins?”

  “He will continue to enslave her or turn her in to be punished. I don’t think he has the balls to face a demon court considering how he obtained Gadus originally.”

  “How was that?”

  “By deception. You see, the floor that is in the Walnut Grove House, which is used as a summoning circle, was stolen from a property once owned by Lucrecia Borgia. Gadus did not approach August; she was stolen. August Atwater is really Augusto Borgia but too distant a relative to be recognized by Gadus as part of the original family.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Kiki and Alan strolled down the walk that skirted the large cathedral. They stopped before they entered the small chapel where they would meet with Father Santos.

  “I wish we were walking in to see all our friends and relatives here,” Alan romanticized.

  “Next time,” Kiki promised. She leaned into Alan. “I don’t know how you can still contemplate a life with me when I’ve disappointed you so.”

  “I don’t remember you disappointing me,” Alan said softly.

  “We both know that, given a choice, I’d wait until the check is deposited before releasing those ghosts.”

  “I remember you offering to do the opposite. Don’t second-guess yourself. You have big dreams, everyone does. You saw only one way of securing that dream.”

  “I was greedy. What do I need a block in Chicago for? Who the…” Kiki stopped, realizing where she was standing. “Who do I think I am, thinking I need a block of buildings?”

  “I know who you are. You’re a woman who was also thinking of the steady employment you could give your contractors and other craftsmen. You also want to rescue the buildings and neighborhoods before they become pale imitations of what Chicagoans built and treasured.”

  Kiki melted. This handsome man, who gave of himself again and again, was in love with a spoiled woman with sister issues. Kiki knew she was a woman who was first to blame others when things didn’t go her way. She vowed to get some professional help. Alan deserved better.

  “Ready?” Alan asked.

  “Yes.

  He opened the door to a small narthex. Father Simon was waiting for them there.

  “May God be with us,” Father Simon said. “I’m going to walk Kiki through the nave to the crossing. This is where the north transept and the south transept are directly across from each other. If you were to look at this spot from Heaven, you would see that this chapel is built in the shape of a cross. Here, Father Santos will read you. Nothing can hide itself in the cross. If he finds traces of the negative elemental, he will motion for me to bring you into the vestry where he will encourage these traces to leave.”

  Before Alan could ask, Father Simon said, “We ask that you sit and pray. Do not enter the vestry. It is for your safety that you stay here.”

  “I don’t…”

  “I’ll be fine, Alan,” Kiki said. “I’m in the best hands.”

  Alan followed them into the chapel and sat down in the first pew he came to.

  Kiki took Father Simon’s offered hand. “Be not afraid for Christ is with you.”

  Kiki, who was not raised in this faith, didn’t know what to do. She walked with the priest until they had reached the crossing. Father Santos, who was kneeling in the chancel, rose and turned. He walked to Kiki and crossed himself and then placed his hand on her forehead. To Kiki’s discomfort, he frowned. Father Santos looked at Father Simon and walked back to the chancel.

  “Come, we must prepare you.”

  Kiki looked back at Alan who was kneeling in prayer. She wanted to run to him, but she had to be strong. Father Simon opened the door, and two nuns were standing there. “Sisters, assist Kiki Pickles while I give Father Santos Holy Communion. Prepare her.” Father Simon left.

  “My child, what is your name?” the elder of the nuns asked.

  “Kiki Pickles.”

  “What a delightful name,” the young one said. “I’m Sister Olive and this is Sister Sarah. We were asked here to aid you in your troubled time.”

  “I’m at a loss to what is actually going on,” Kiki admitted.

  “Father Santos notified our order that you may have been contaminated during the possession by a negative elemental. It’s not as serious as a full demon possession.”

  “I never felt it happening,” Kiki admitted, following the nuns into a side room. “If it weren’t for the people I work with, I would still be under the influence.”

  “Evil moves in shadows,” Sister Sarah said. “Change into this gown. Sister Olive will collect your clothes and put them in this crystal box.”

  “Why?”

  “Father Santos learned from a friend of his that white crystal pulls evil away from things, and people. Some clothing may be damaged by washing in holy water. This is another way of sending you home free from any residue.”

  Kiki shed her clothing quickly and donned the soft cotton gown. It fell to the floor, covering her bare feet. Sister Sarah gathered Kiki’s hair and braided it.

  “I know it has to be disturbing for a strong-willed person to put themselves in the hands of strangers,” Sister Olive said.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Why have you come here?” Sister Sarah asked.

  “Because something got into my mind and forced me to react against my principles. It took over my body, and if I had not been stopped, I would have committed murder. This is abhorrent to me,” Kiki answered.

  The nuns nodded.

  A light tap sounded on the door.

  “They are ready. Kiki, go with an open mind. Go knowing that God loves everyone, believers and atheists alike. He knows by giving his children free will that they may go off the path from time to time. He is an indulgent parent and welcomes them back with open arms.”

  “Thank you, Sister,” Kiki said.

  Father Simon guided Kiki to a simple wooden chair. “Please sit down.”

  Kiki did.

  Father Santos entered. The aroma of incense came with him. He looked at her and crossed himself. “It was a very powerful elemental that possessed you. You mentioned that you still hold some of its memories. This tells us that the elemental has not totally left you.”

  “How is this possible?” Kiki asked.

  “Think about this like a virus. You may no longer have the symptoms but carry it in your cells.”

  “Like herpes?” Kiki said.

  Father Simon smiled.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make light of this,” Kiki said quickly.

  “I’m not a medical man, but I’d say that’s a pretty good description,” Father Santos said gently. “Kiki, I would like you to close your eyes and tell me what you remember of the memories. This will give me an idea where they are being housed.”

  “Yes, Father,” Kiki said. “They come in snatches. Right now, I see the floor that now resides in a west room of the Walnut Grove House. But it’s not there in this vision. It has a setting sun, but it’s coming from deep high windows on the other side. There are six black-robed people - I cannot tell if they are male or female – standing, holding black candles. I am moving. I think I’m lighting each candle saying… no, chanting words I’m not familiar with. There is a response by each robed being, and then they say something in unison. The ground is shaking. We all enter the ring and the…”

  Father Santos stood in Kiki’s place. He saw the tangible world fall away around the circle. The circle seemed suspended in a thick yellow-orange cloud. The smell of sulfur was overwhelming. He turned and saw the robed beings shed their robes. The men and women were naked and underfed. They hudd
led together as clawed hands appeared on the edges of the summoning ring. Six demons pulled themselves up and crawled over to the six and entered their bodies. Sores broke out on the skin of the acolytes because the human form is unused to the heat of the possessing demons. The dual beings now stood tall and moved to places around the circle.

  “Father, where are you?” Father Simon’s soft voice permeated his mind.

  “Witnessing a summoning. I’ve never seen one before.”

  “Remember why you are there,” Father Simon said. “Do not be tempted to tarry.”

  “Yes, Father,” Santos replied. He took out his cross and walked into the middle of the summoning circle and set it down.

  The circle started to crack, and as each crack reached a dual being, the being’s skin cracked like a dropped china doll. Pieces fell away until nothing but a single glowing ember sat in the middle of the pile of broken china.

  Father Santos took out a vial of holy water and poured a drop, chanting his holy words on each ember. When he was finished, he watched as the water boiled as if the flame was too hot to extinguish. The circle vibrated. It sent energy, and the embers grew stronger.

  Father Simon, who had his hand on Father Santos, saw this. “Kiki, help him. He doesn’t understand fires that water can’t put out.”

  “It could be electrical,” Kiki said. “Cid told me there is electricity in the human brain.”

  “What do we have that can help you?”

  “Baking soda. Bring me baking soda,” Kiki said.

  Sister Sarah returned from the kitchen. Sister Olive took Kiki’s hands and formed a cup with them. The elder nun filled her hands with common ordinary baking soda. They watched as it was absorbed into the calloused hands of the woman.

  Kiki appeared before Father Santos. “The fire is electrical. Water will make it worse.”

  “You must do it,” Father Santos instructed. “Your salvation is literally in your hands.”

  Kiki cupped her hands. White powder rose from her skin until her hands were full. She presented this to the priest. “This is baking soda. Bless it as you would water.”