by Olivia Swift
“And would you be prepared to read some in the café?” Magda asked and he immediately accepted.
“Wow, this is just great! I can see the railway running overhead, the fire flickering in the woodstove and Bart sitting reading in a comfy seat.”
“He cannot read every day. We’ll need more volunteers,” Katie pointed out and Magda said she would give it a try.
“We should all take a turn. It could just be a short funny poem, a child’s poem, and maybe a ghost story or two,” Rula suggested. Sam asked if making the shelf let him off with the reading. Magda laughed and handed him the sandwiches. He waved a hand and left.
“Branna and Jonno will be here from Ireland. An Irish accent would charm the customers,” Katie suggested.
“Mmm. I can feel Christmas coming on,” Magda said. Satisfied with the progress, she spent the rest of the day making truffle centers and then closed up the café. It always gave her a little thrill to walk around this dream which had turned into reality. Her aunt had left her the old stable and a little money to do the conversion. Sam had discovered the original stone floors and Declan had restored the magnificent double doors. The gleaming kitchen contrasted with the outside look of an old miner’s cabin.
She automatically straightened the outside chairs as she set off down the alleyway between the bank on one side and Mikey’s camping shop on the other. Lanterns were strung overhead and there were two wrought iron security gates. As she locked the gate to the main street, she found herself beside two squad cars with flashing lights. A police officer stopped her and asked her to wait for a moment.
“What has happened?” she asked, thinking to herself that maybe the bank had been robbed. He shook his head and said that she should just answer a couple of questions before she left. Magda stood still and looked around. There was a big police presence. Mikey, Rula and Mikey’s assistant, Janey, came after closing the camping shop and stood beside her.
“Do we know what happened?” Janey asked.
“We might find out. Here’s Detective Southern,” Mikey pointed out.
“Sorry to keep you folks. I’d like to ask a few questions before you go.”
“Has there been a bank robbery?” Mikey queried. The detective shook his head.
“One of the off-duty security van drivers was shot. I don’t suppose that any of you saw unusual activity lately? Any strangers? Anybody acting suspiciously?” They all shook their heads.
“There are a lot of Santas and elves and snowmen around as we gear up to Christmas,” Mikey added. “I guess someone could be dressed up.”
“We see their faces when they order a drink though,” Rula added. “How is the man?” she asked and saw from the detective’s face that it was not good news.
“Unfortunately, he is dead. Although he wasn’t on duty, obviously his work must be part of any investigation.”
“Oh no,” Magda exclaimed. “Do we know who it is?”
Southern sighed. “It will be on the news later. He was called George but known as Ginger Collins.”
Magda and Rula both gasped.
“What a nice man he was. Always came for a coffee when he finished his rounds,” Rula said.
“Nobody with him recently?” Southern asked. They shook heads. “Did he seem just as usual when you last saw him, and when was that?”
“It was yesterday,” Magda said. “He had done a night run and was finished for the day at about ten in the morning. He was cheerful and by himself.”
“He has a wife and children, I think. How awful for them,” Magda added. “It’s terrible news.”
“If you think of anything or see anything suspicious, give me a call,” the detective said and handed over his card even though he did know all of them from a previous encounter.
“How dreadful,” Magda said. “Always seems so much worse at the holiday season as well.” They parted company and threaded their way through the onlookers and cars to find their vehicles and try to get out of the melee. Magda was stopped by a hand on her arm and found Bart wanting to talk before she left.
“What did you find out from Southern?” he wanted to know. She repeated what had been said. Bart was in full reporter mode and took down the name. “Thanks Magda. Talk to you later.”
He ran off with his cell phone to his ear to his boss and Magda drove away.
On the way home, she picked up a pizza and kept it warm until Sam arrived. They took the food into the two-story addition which he had added to the bungalow and watched the cats come down the spiral staircase to look for tidbits.
Crystal and Abigail were two pretty Birmans. Irina and Pushkin were two of the black and white kittens that had been dumped on her doorstep. Declan had the third one.
Crystal pushed some Christmas decorations from a chair onto the floor.
“I know it’s almost Christmas, Crystal. Keep your psychic powers to yourself.” Crystal turned those remarkable blue eyes on her owner and came to the table. She looked pointedly at the cell phone and it rang.
2
Branna’s excited Irish-accented voice cheered Magda up.
“Oh, it’s lovely to hear your voice. Are you ready for the trip?” Magda said.
“I cannot believe that we are coming over next week. I am so excited! I can barely sit still.”
“Alison has the house so Christmassy already that you won’t believe it. She loves having her own place again and wants everyone to go there for a party at some time when you are over here.”
“I am still so disappointed that we missed all the ghost town excitement. Just hoping to see Pushkin, the café and the ranch. Ooooh.”
Magda laughed and told her that she was doing a good job of cheering her up.
“Had to answer some police questions on the way home. A security driver had been killed.”
“Oh, that’s awful and so close to Christmas.”
“Christmas is here already. There are more Santas, elves and snowmen on the main street than you can shake a stick at,” Magda told her. “And I think Merle has brought the dude ranch big dance forward so that you two are here when it happens.”
“We will text when we know the time we arrive,” Branna told her. “Roll on next week.” They ended the call and Magda called Sam’s aunt Alison. Now that Sam and Magda were married and living in Sam’s house, she was renting Magda’s house. While the call was in progress, Alison shouted to put the TV on because Bart was being interviewed.
Sam had the remote in his hand and flicked on the local news station. The interviewer was trying to find out what Bart had learned about the death of George Collins, the security driver, and he was not giving anything away.
“My sources do tell me that it was a security driver for the bank. He was not working when he was shot, and they do not think it was work related.”
“Thank you, Mister Marcato.” She turned to the camera and told the viewers that Bart Marcato was a lead writer for the local newspaper. Magda went back to her call on the phone and told Alison what she knew about the murder. They both felt so much sympathy for his widow and children and it was a sad end to the day.
To cheer herself up, she told Alison about Sam building her a shelf for the model railway - the ‘Christmas Express’.
“What a great idea. I can read the odd story if you like.” Magda smiled and said it would be wonderful.
“I am starting tomorrow,” Sam called out.
“And I am going online to order the railroad pieces,” Magda told her and ended the call.
She pored over the screen for a while, taking her time to order. Meanwhile, Sam took a call from Magda’s cousin Branston who had seen Bart on the news as well.
“They are coming down tomorrow and will come into the café to catch up,” Sam said. “I will get the wood from the yard and work on sections of the shelves. That is, if you can keep customers all seated on one side of the café.”
“And I will go out to buy the chairs and the stove. I have seen them, and it won’t take me l
ong.”
Crystal, the lilac tortie Birman, casually walked across to Magda and jumped onto her knee.
“Hello, Madam,” Magda said. “Are you being a normal cat coming for a cuddle?” Crystal looked at her owner with that disdainful look cats do so well and touched the screen of the tablet with her paw. Magda sighed. She looked at the screen and saw Christmas elves busy in Santa’s workshop.
“Crystal, we know it is Christmas. Thank you. Come and find the treats.” She dropped the cat on the floor and went to the kitchen. All four cats were suddenly around her feet and gazing intently at the box she held in her hand. She left them munching happily in the kitchen and went to sit beside Sam.
“Thanks for doing the railway.”
“You do realize that Declan, Branston and I will all want to play with it, don’t you?”
“Bart as well, I think. He volunteered to do the microphone and sound system part.”
“I have to admit, that my wife has good ideas.” He smiled and put an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him and the cats came and snuggled in as well.
The next morning, Sam roared off in the truck to the yard. Magda opened up the cafe and left Rula to start the coffee machine. She went down the main street on foot to the two stores where she had seen what she wanted. The first place had the electric stove with a flame that flickered like a real fire. The man said he would deliver it later in the day. The people in the furniture store said the same when she paid for four small but comfortable dark red chairs. The café had colorful tables and chairs anyway and the red would blend in nicely.
“And look Christmassy,” the girl who took her credit card told her.
Magda walked back to the café and found that Sam had arrived with the wood. They moved some tables out of the way and he made a start.
“Declan is finishing hanging a front door before he comes along - probably for his lunch.” Sam laughed. Every now and again the drill whizzed but there wasn’t a lot of disturbance. The customers were curious and loved the idea of the model railway.
“I hadn’t realized how many people loved model railways,” Magda said as she made yet more truffles. The orange liqueur ones always went quickly and needed to be replenished.
After a shopping trip, Merle and Branston arrived and collapsed onto chairs.
“It’s the odd little extra things for the Christmas events that take so much time.” Rula put a full works chocolate drink in front of Merle with a big straw. Branston always had black coffee.
All of the customers and staff were talking about the poor man who had died.
“Feel so sorry for his family. He was a decent man,” Magda observed. Then Bart arrived, grabbed his place at the counter and propped his tablet in front of him.
“So are the police any further forward?” Sam asked. Bart shook his head.
“They are doing all the usual things to find out if he had any worries, arguments, enemies and so on. Thing is that he was a well-liked family man, no crooked connections or dodgy relatives. In fact, no news at all.” To change the subject, he asked about the ghost stories and poems and fished a small packet out of his pocket along with a small speaker and a microphone headset. He turned it on and tapped it. There was a crackle.
“Tell us a story!” One of the regulars called out and Bart grinned. He sat in the corner where the fire would go and started to tell a spooky story that he made up as he went along. Magda watched the customers. The ones who wanted to have a conversation talked quietly but most of them stopped to listen. She could see that the Christmas idea would work. It was very satisfying. Branston stood to hold the shelf for Sam as he fixed it into position, and they looked at Bart. Bart took a breath and continued.
“The woman closed the doors and windows and made sure that nobody could get in or out. She walked nervously through the house, but it was empty and quiet. For company she turned on the TV and settled on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate by the fire. Then she stiffened and her fingers clenched the mug until her knuckles showed white. The noises had started.”
He stopped and looked at the faces.
“Sorry folks, will have to finish it another time.”
“That’s not fair,” one girl called out. “What was the noise?”
“Come on, Bart,” Rula added. The newspaperman smiled.
“The noises were under her feet and she stood up, still clutching her cup of chocolate. She stood at the hearth and tried to work out where they were originating. The wind howled outside and the hairs on her arms stood on end. Magdalene shivered and put down the cup. The noises sounded from a different area and she pulled out her cell phone.
Her fingers fumbled as she tried to record what was happening. She muttered that she had to have proof, or nobody would believe her. Then there was a knock at the front door.”
You could hear a pin drop in the café. Bart looked around and smiled.
“Who is it?” Magdalene said as she shivered.
“The police. Open the door,” a male voice replied. She opened the door a crack. The man waved a badge in the air. “We need to warn you that we are pursuing a wild animal. Stay inside until we finish.” The relief flooded through her body.
“I think it is under the floorboards. I can hear it,” she whispered. She opened the door and he stepped inside to listen. He put the cell phone to his mouth.
“Under the living room floor, Col,” he said.
“I know. I’ve got it,” the voice replied. The officer turned to her and asked if she was okay. She nodded. The police left with their capture and she made another cup of chocolate and started to cry. She called her friend who said he was on his way. She sank with exhaustion onto the sofa. Her friend’s footsteps were the best sound she had ever heard. He came in and accepted a drink. As he raised it to his lips, the noises started again.”
There was a silence and then everyone started chattering in the café.
“It will work. At least we know that now,” Magda said. “Their faces were a picture.”
A lady called Jemima came to the counter and waved Magda over.
“It’s all very well in a story but not very good when it actually happens to you.”
3
She had Bart’s immediate attention.
“What happened to you?” Magda asked. “I’m sorry if we upset you.” Jemima shook her head.
“It was a good story. I will look forward to the Christmas ones, but you would think that this young man had actually been in my house.”
Bart asked her to explain.
“I have a small, pretty house with a good-sized yard, and I would like to sell it, but there are strange noises under the floor, and nobody would buy knowing that. I am stuck there, and it’s frightening when you are by yourself.” Sam moved over and asked if she had checked to see if the wind caused the noises or a loose board.
“Nothing that I can see. There are two rooms under the house for firewood and stuff but nothing loose.”
“Do you think it is some sort of paranormal thing?” Merle asked. “I could come and see if there is anything I can sense.”
“I have not let myself think that but, yes, it is at the back of my mind,” Jemima answered.
“Got to say, that we all like that sort of stuff,” Branston joined the conversation. “We could come and visit and see if there is anything to worry you.”
The woman looked around.
“Would you all really do that for me? I can’t pay anything.”
“Are you joking?” Bart said with a grin “We would love it and I am collecting material for a book.”
“Would you mind if my friend Zak is there? He wants me to sell,” she laughed. “And is sick of me calling him to drive over in the dark to make me feel better. I am almost tempted to just leave it empty and move out, but I need to sell.”
She gave Magda the address and they all agreed to meet there the next night.
“Branna will be furious that they aren’t arriving until next week.”
Magda laughed. “She is already mad that she missed the ghost town.”
Bart’s cell phone rang, and Magda knew from the smile on his face that it was Gina on the other end. Gina and her dad, Webster, had been holidaying at the dude ranch when the friends were discovering the ghost town. The young woman and Bart had hit it off immediately. Magda had high hopes that her dad and Sam’s Aunt Alison would also cement their friendship. Webster had driven over a couple of times to help Alison with jobs around her new home.
Bart was explaining to Gina about the visit the next evening and she said that she would drive over and join them. She lived about thirty miles away and it was an easy drive.
The rest of the day was busy but cheerful and they were all wondering about the noises in Jemima’s house. Sam finished the shelving and when everyone had departed, gave it a quick coat of paint to match the rest of the café. Magda sat on the new seats which were comfy and cheerful. She watched Sam as he tidied up. Sam had the gift of making her dreams come true. When he was satisfied, they stood and looked at the effect.
“I like it,” he said. “Would never have thought of it myself but it is a great idea.”
“I am hoping the model railway comes tomorrow. I paid for express delivery.”
She slipped an arm around his waist and told him that she was one lucky girl. They turned and saw Pushkin fade away into his imaginary doorway. Then they locked up and drove home. There was no police presence outside. They assumed that the investigations had moved elsewhere.
When they arrived home, the cats were waiting for their dinner and were acting like normal. They ended the day sprawled in front of the TV with the cats piled on top of them.
The next day passed in a whirl of coffee, chocolate and truffles, and the model train set duly arrived by courier later in the afternoon. Magda unpacked it and placed all of the pieces on the counter at the back of the kitchen. Katie and Rula came to inspect them and agreed they were perfect.
“It is really large. People will be able to see it clearly,” Rula observed.