Stop worrying about everything, rushing everything.
Let’s enjoy life, I told him just this last weekend while we sat on the sand on Dauphin Island and watched the sun go down. I knew Midas loved me but I was in no hurry to become a mother.
And this didn’t feel like what I imagined pregnancy felt like. Sierra shared every detail with me about her pregnancy journey, even details I really did not want to hear. I wasn’t feeling butterflies in my stomach. This was more like a lead balloon. And my head, I felt angry, confused. Straight up mean. And for whatever reason, I couldn’t shake that encounter with Lucia.
That’s the moment when everything changed. When everything went sour. Like my stomach. I sipped the ginger ale he brought me and thanked Midas.
“How about a bite to eat? Maybe scrambled eggs?”
“Oh, God. No thank you. I better call my doctor’s office and make an appointment. I’m sure I’ve got a cold or something. Also, talking about feelings earlier, there was this weird lady in the art supply store. I don’t really know her but she was in my art class a while back. She was determined to read my palm and right there in the store. I started feeling sick after that. Could she have made me sick?”
“A palm reader? In the art supply store?”
“Yeah, and she insisted on calling me Cassie which you know I love," I said sarcastically. "Not once but three times, as a matter of fact. Oh, Midas, please close those blinds. My head is killing me See? I can’t be pregnant? Migraines aren't a sign of pregnancy.”
“If you were pregnant you would tell me, right?”
Before I could answer his ridiculous question I launched myself across the room and made it to the bathroom just in time to throw up. I didn’t even have time to close the door. Midas ran after me, grabbing a washcloth from the linen closet and wetting it with cool water. He handed it to me when the vomiting subsided and sat on the side of the tub rubbing my back. I couldn’t help but cry. I flushed the toilet, heaved again and flushed it again. When I couldn’t throw up anymore I sat on the cold tile and cried even harder.
“I love you, Midas but I’m not sure I can be a mom. I don’t know how.”
He sat beside me. “Hey, I’m sorry, Cassidy. I shouldn’t have said that. I have no idea about anything when it comes to being pregnant. I’m an idiot. Please, let me help you get back to bed.”
“Okay, but give me a minute alone. I want to brush my teeth and wash my face first.”
“Sure. I’ll check back in a few minutes.”
I heard him walk away and I clung to the sink refusing to go down again. Who in the world goes from perfectly healthy to violently ill in one day? This doesn’t happen in this century.
Unless Midas had it right all along. Was it possible that I was pregnant? I didn’t want to believe that. I always thought I would know if that were the case. Maybe not. I brushed my teeth, washed my face and patted my skin dry with a clean towel.
When I glanced in the mirror it wasn’t my face looking back at me. A woman, her face wet with tears glared at me and then she shimmered into nothingness.
I staggered back and jumped when the door bumped me in the back. I was still staring at the mirror when Midas returned.
Chapter Twelve--Midas
“So Helen is hanging out with Cassidy. We don’t know what’s going on with her and won’t know until we get the blood work back. Cassidy is really sick. That leaves the four of us.”
I didn’t want to come off as sounding like a jerk but this investigation wasn’t going the way I planned. Lips kissing my cheeks, teardrops and the occasional whiff of perfume. Not to mention my girlfriend was extremely ill and the client was in dire straits.
I lost too many friends this year. Aaron, who blamed me for Jocelyn’s death. Pete who couldn’t stay out of the bottle and abandoned us on the Crenshaw investigation. Sara who couldn’t stay out of the limelight, no matter what the cost. And now Cassidy. But it’s not like this was her fault. Not like she had chosen to get sick. And she’d powered through with the sketch and painting. I had pictures of both on my phone. I withheld that information from the team. We were already chasing too many rabbit trails at Oakleigh.
The Lady in Black, a phantom baby and something else. Not to mention shadows.
Trust your feelings, Midas.
Cassidy’s words rang true. I would trust my feelings but only in the course of seeking evidence.
“Sierra, let’s you and I head to the Cook’s House. It’s close to nine, around the time you experienced the activity last night. Maybe we’ll get lucky and this will be a punctual ghost,” I tried joking but there was no joy in it. My laughter sounded dry and completely fake. Sierra eyed Joshua but nobody thought I was being the least bit funny. “Bruce, you keep an eye on things here at the monitoring station. I’ll put you in the Cook’s House next. Joshua, you take a walk on the top floor. Especially focus on the nursery area. Keep a close eye on him, Bruce. Any problems at all, well, you know what to do.”
Without much chit-chat, Sierra and I exited the house and headed to the Cook’s House. We deployed the cameras again in the same locations including the Cook’s House but in the smaller room this time. Also, Sierra thought it would be a good idea to bring the stuffed Trigger Bear toy along to see if it would draw any interest. It was basically a REM Pod sensitivity tracker but it wasn’t the most reliable tool in our arsenal. At least, that was my opinion. We didn’t use the bear much but I agreed with Sierra on this. This would be the perfect tool for connecting with a child's spirit--if there was actually one here at Oakleigh.
What had we found so far? Not much, except for some personal experiences and moving equipment. Despite her protests, it was entirely possible that Little Sister had dropped the digital recorder.
Unfortunately, the recorder from last night’s disappearing act had nothing on it. Just the sessions they’d already listened to. Sierra mentioned repeatedly that she felt blocked but by what she couldn’t say. And tonight she was quiet and focused.
As soon as we stepped inside the Cook’s House I caught a whiff of a smell that caused me to gag and I didn’t have a weak stomach. As I proved earlier when I didn’t flinch during Cassidy’s vomiting sessions. It smelled like death. Like there was an actual dead animal in the wall or under the floor.
“You don’t have to ask. I’m not hard of smelling, Midas. This wasn’t like this last night. The place was fine. No way something died and rotted overnight. But we should still do our investigation. I'm going to search over here and see if I can find any evidence of rodents. Maybe you should look outside. We can kill two birds with one stone. God, it smells terrible in here.”
“I agree. That sounds like a reasonable plan of attack. Let’s get started then. I think we might have to make a call to Lucy. Just to be sure there wasn’t a rodent removed today.”
“Yeah, better find out if we can nail the source of this odor down.”
I headed out the door and began my reconnaissance of the Cook's House. Thankfully, the smell was not out here; of the two of us, I’d gotten the better deal on this part of the investigation. The disgusting aroma appeared to be contained to the inside of the building. I did not go so far as to crawl beneath the building but I did give it a good flashlight check and could find no evidence of anything that would lead to that kind of odor. Not even cat paw prints. Nothing at all. In fact, I didn’t even hear birds chirping. No crickets or cicadas. It was as dead as a graveyard out here. Despite all that, I got the feeling that I wasn’t alone. That I was being watched.
Trust your feelings, Midas. Trust them.
I walked back inside to find Sierra tugging on loose floorboards. “These aren’t coming up. It’s almost like the odor is seeping down from above. Is there an attic?”
“Not that I’m aware of. Outside is completely clear. How is it possible that it smells worse now than it did before? That's not propane or any sort of gas that I have ever smelled. It's nothing I recognize except the smell of…”
“Death,” she said for me as she stepped outside and moved her hand in front of her face like she could wave the odor away. “I don’t think I can stand that for much longer. That's definitely sickening. I think we need to get Joshua in here, Big Brother. My husband has no sense of smell whatsoever. Unless the smell comes from Emily.”
Laughing at her suggestion, I reached for the walkie-talkie when suddenly the tops of the trees began moving back and forth, although not so much as a blade of grass shivered. Was the wind blowing at a high altitude? Was that it? A storm blowing in maybe? If it were, maybe it would blow the smell away too.
“I’m not going back in there until I can get that smell out of my nose. I think I’m going to walk the grounds if you don’t mind. I’ll stay close, right here where you can see me but I want to try to connect to the Lady in Black. I think she’s the key. If we can figure out who she is, she might be able to help us reach the others. We cannot allow people to get pushed off of ladders. This activity must come to a stop and the sooner the better. It’s just not right.”
“Totally agree. I’ll walkie Joshua, call Lucy and see if Bruce wants to come to help us. Stay where I can see you, please. I cannot explain it but earlier I had the sensation that someone was watching me. Didn’t see anyone but it was definitely an eerie experience.”
“Interesting,” was her favorite response nowadays. Which usually meant she knew more than I did, saw more than I saw and was not telling me anything at all. Not until she got ready to. I hate to say it but in my experience with these types of investigations, that kind of smell could only mean a few things. Demonic activity or a ghost stuck in his or her death state or a spirit that intentionally wants to make everyone sick.
All of those were bad.
Sierra walked down the ramp and along the tree line. She had her flashlight and her digital recorder in her hand. I could see that she was talking to someone. Hopefully, someone would listen to her and respond. What in the world was going on with the Cook’s House? Why would it want to keep us out? Too bad. We were going in there, even if we had to wear gas masks to do it. I didn’t think that would really be necessary but anything was possible in this line of work.
“Joshua? What is happening up there? Anything?”
“Nothing to speak off. Trying knock and response. No luck. It’s bedeviling.”
“Speaking of bedeviling, we’ve got a situation here in the Cook’s House. A smell, a really bad smell. Sierra suggested that we bring you in and maybe bring the IR camera too. If we can see evidence of invisible gas, maybe that would debunk this odor. Otherwise, I’ve got nothing else for an explanation. I am about to call Lucy Bailey to make sure that they didn't have a rodent removed today.”
“Smart thinking, Midas. I’ll be right down. I’ll tell Bruce too. Let him know what’s up.”
“Perfect. See you in ten minutes, Joshua.” I put the walkie talkie back on my hip and reached for my cell phone. I dialed Lucy’s number without having to look it up.
Was it possible that I was still crushing on Lucy Bailey? No way. Not when I loved Cassidy so much. I mean, I held her hair while she puked earlier. Funny how memories will play tricks on you. Make you think it is 1999 when in fact, it’s actually 2019. I was no wimpy middle school kid anymore. I was a grown man and I was in love.
“Hello? Midas? Is everything alright at the house?” I could hear the fear in her voice. She was thinking the worst had happened. Perhaps I’d lost another team member in some horrific manner, like being thrown from a roof, or shoved out of a window.
“Nothing to worry about but I think you can help me, Lucy. Sierra and I are in the Cook’s House. When we came out here we smelled...it smelled like an animal had died out here. Like rotted and died--in twenty-four hours. Did you have an animal removed today?”
Lucy gasped at the news, “No, Midas. Nothing like that at all. We did have the landscapers out here cutting limbs and whatnot. It’s possible they found a dead animal but I don’t think they would bring it in the Cook’s House for a joke. We’re their customers. They aren’t the kinds of guys that play jokes or pranks.”
“It’s probably nothing but is there a gas or propane tank out here? Maybe gas heating? A gas stove?”
“There are no stoves out there and no heating. It’s basically a small museum in honor of the Union soldiers. In their time, they would have cooked outside. Not in the actual building. Should I come down? I could call the pest control people if you like.”
I smiled into the phone remembering that smiles can be heard and I wanted to put her at ease. “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to do that. We’ll look around and chances are it will evaporate before too long anyway. Sorry I woke you up, Lucy. Goodnight.”
She paused a moment and I thought she would say something else but she did not. “Goodnight, Midas. Let’s talk in the morning,” she said softly into the phone. “I get up early. Want to come by for coffee?”
I didn’t need red lights flashing to know this was a potentially dangerous situation. I smiled into the phone again. “I am going to have to pass, I am afraid. My girlfriend, I mean fiancée, Cassidy, is really sick. We’ve had some blood tests run but we still don’t know anything. Maybe we will learn something tomorrow and we can come by. I’m hoping anyway. It’s hard seeing someone you love sick.”
Well, that should drive a stake through that.
I was making it quite clear that I was in a committed relationship with Cassidy Wright, soon to be, Cassidy Demopolis. I am off the market, old friend.
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that. I had no idea, really. I mean, I got the feeling that she was your girlfriend but...oh, I am sorry. I hope she feels better soon and please keep me posted on the current situation.”
Just as she had graciously rejected me all those years ago, I did the same for her. And with no regret or malice. “I will,” I replied but she was already gone. Probably embarrassed by the way the conversation turned. She had every right to ask. Hadn’t I spilled my guts and told her everything when I was in middle school? She had not laughed at me then and I would not mistreat her now. We would keep mutual respect for one another. Sure, we were never meant to be but that didn’t mean we couldn’t be friends.
Joshua and Bruce were making their way to the Cook’s House and Sierra was sitting on a bench beneath a live oak tree not fifty feet away. She was talking to the air, clearly working her EVP session hard. I prayed that she had success. We needed a break.
Ah, there goes that feeling again. Someone watching, staring, ogling. Hating, observing, plotting, planning.
Yes, all those things. I do all those things.
“What the hell? Get out of my head!” I shouted as I saw the tall dark image become clearer.
He wasn’t far away. Not far away at all. The caped man stood behind Sierra Kay.
I could not see his face clearly but I would put him in his late teens, early twenties. His cape was ragged black, an old fashioned kind. Then I saw Sierra, her eyes closed, her hand on the device, she was talking and then she went completely still.
Suddenly she opened her eyes and her gaze met mine.
As loudly as I could, I screamed, “Behind you!”
Chapter Thirteen--Cassidy
“It’s late, Cassidy and you heard the doctor. You need your rest. I’m not your mother or anything but this is a bad decision and believe me I know bad decisions. Did I ever tell you about my first husband, Frank? I knew he was gay but I married him anyway and what a load of trouble that was, girl.” Helen smiled sweetly and of course, I was completely curious about her story but I wasn’t so curious that I was going to abandon my plan.
I would paint in my studio, even if I had to crawl to do it. The air felt heavy and I knew the situation was dire. Helen had been pacing all night too but she was far too polite to suggest that she return to Oakleigh to help out with the investigation. If I could stop the world from spinning, at least in my head, we would totally be there.
“I will be fine, H
elen. You can go to help them. I have Domino to watch over me. One way or another, I am going to my studio and I am going to paint. They need me to do this, Helen. You know that. I can paint for them. I might be able to paint a picture that will give them the upper hand. I have done it before.”
“You have to go to the hospital. That’s what the doctor said. We should be packing your bag and going now.”
“It’s not that serious, Helen or they would have led me away in an ambulance right then and there. Tonight, I’m going to paint!”
Ooh, that hurt. But at least I’m not throwing up anymore. I think that a wave of nausea is gone now.
I sat on the couch clutching my stomach and waited for the intense pain to pass. Helen was right. I needed to get to the hospital but the painting was vexing me. I loved Helen and it had not been easy to do but I did lie to her. I knew what was wrong. Midas had no idea. As far as he knew, we were waiting on test results and most disappointingly to him, I was not pregnant. I hadn’t thought about it until now but my stubbornness might even cost me my life but if I could save my friends, it would be worth it.
Jocelyn sacrificed herself for all of us. Maybe I needed to do the same?
“I am calling that hospital. They need to know how serious this is and how much pain you are in,” Helen padded to the phone and picked up the receiver.
“Wait, Helen. Please do not do that. I have a confession to make. I am sick. Pretty darn sick but I have to do this. I need to see his face. There’s a picture in my mind, a man, he’s after Sierra and he also targeted Artemis. Probably because they are both sensitives. And a woman, she’s trying to attach herself to Midas, for some reason, but the man is the bigger threat. If I don’t paint I won’t know why he’s targeting them. They won’t know why. They need me. Please help me make this happen for them. Then when I’m done I’ll leave without a fuss. Scout’s honor.”
The Ghosts of Oakleigh House (Gulf Coast Paranormal Book 13) Page 7