“Absolutely, you can work with Laney on this. She’s the one who runs my office. When will you need to see her?”
“We have to wait on County, but the reports should be in tomorrow.” In an effort to gain some information, Tommy turned the conversation around to the topic of Laney. “I went to high school with Laney Bodwell. Haven’t seen her in a while. It’ll be nice to catch up again.”
Dr. Dempster gave the young man a slow smile and his expression hardened. No humor was behind his eyes as his eyebrows came together catching Tommy in their pincher-like union. “She’s still a nice-looking young lady, Kirchner, but I’ll say to you what I say to all the young bucks who come nosing around. If you’re planning anything unworthy of such a sweet young woman, you’d better look elsewhere. She’s been hurt by her worthless ex-husband enough for any woman’s lifetime, so unless you plan on being a decent man before, during and after the wooing, go on down the road and stay clear.”
Tommy appreciated the Doc’s papa bear threat. He was also relieved to hear that Laney obviously hadn’t changed much since high school.
“I didn’t mean anything disrespectful, sir. I remember her from when we went to school together. She was, well, to be honest, the most beautiful girl I ever saw. Sorry to hear she had a rough time during her marriage.”
“He was a no-good, philandering piece of human trash, but she loved him. It never ceases to amaze me how some women’s nature for nurturing can work against them when it comes to the men they pick and the children they rear. That’s why I’ve made it my job to make sure the worthless types don’t get a toehold.”
Tommy stood up and held out his hand for the Doc to shake in a gesture of understanding between two men. The older man looked up at the younger, raised his hand and shook the offered one.
“Don’t worry, Dr. Dempster. If I misbehaved to a woman, my dad would kill me long before you ever laid a hand on me and what was left of my hide, my mother would go to work on.”
“Good! You’ve been raised right. In that case, Laney won’t be around today. Had to go look for her dog. Call her tomorrow and set up a time to visit. Here’s a new toothbrush and some floss. Get to work on that mouth, son. Women like to see a man with pearly whites.”
Deputy Kirchner said his goodbyes and breathed a sigh of relief once he’d exited the dentist’s office. Old Doc Dempster wasn’t messing around about Laney or about better brushing. That was the blessing or the curse, depending on your outlook, of living in a small town. Everyone knew your business, knew your parents, and was willing to give you a good firm boot in the backend whenever you needed it and usually with your family’s blessing.
Chapter 16
Eight o’clock finally arrived. The weather decided to play along. Gentle rumblings of thunder were heard moving closer from the west. The sun had long since settled, and the earlier warmth it provided had been blown away with the oncoming storm. A short, round bus with a brightly emblazoned ‘The Whispering Pines RV Park’ along its sides, pulled up to Sonya’s warmly lit two-story Victorian cottage. The first two visitors to de-board were Lewis and Clark, and they did so with a great rush. Extremely excited by their ride on the bus, they planted their noses to the ground, drinking in the hundreds of new smells the town offered to their gifted noses.
“Boys!” Marnie called with a hint of frantic in her tone. The two eager beagles had jumped train before she’d had a chance to corral them and put on their leashes. “Sit! Stay! Oh for God’s sake, Noah, let me through. The dogs are going to follow their noses to Timbuktu before I get off this carnival ride.”
It had been a carnival ride in every sense of the metaphor. Noah had complained the entire ride about dog hair floating willy-nilly on currents from the air conditioning and used his personal lint brush continuously. Lewis and Clark slipped their chair restraints and ran blissfully up and down the aisle making a ruckus at one point over an old soda can they found under a seat in the back, while Marnie shouted for someone to grab them. Julia made an effort to talk over the dog-versus-can commotion about her last trip to Branson, Missouri, where she’d seen a live tribute show with singer-actors like Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, The Blues Brothers, and Buddy Holly. Her greatest moment in life had been getting all their autographs. No one was willing to point out that the signatures were utterly bogus.
Dale, Marnie’s handyman at The Whispering Pines, threatened to give his resignation at the disorderliness of the beagles’ behavior. As for Marnie, she was right on the edge of accepting if it. The bus ride proved the dogs were in need of better training, but Dale was driving her nuts with his constant grumping about them.
“I told you those dogs of yours would run off on you one day,” Dale called as she ran down the sidewalk after Lewis and Clark.
“Is this the time, Dale, to start with the ‘I told you so stuff’? Help me!” Marnie yelled back.
Dale put two fingers up to his mouth and whistled sharply, halting Lewis and Clark’s great discovery-filled adventure. “Come here!” he commanded. The two wayward beagles trotted back toward The Whispering Pines’ bus and waited patiently until Marnie got their leashes on them. Once the boys were secured, Dale looked around Pickwick Street and gave it a good once over with his critical eyes.
“My Aunt Martha lived not far from here when I was a boy. Loved her raspberry tarts. Needs some paint on the eaves though and that hydrangea bush looks like it could use some proper fertilizer.”
Marnie gave her handyman a sour look. “Dale, I’m going to offer your good services to Mrs. Caruthers. I’m sure she’d love your never-ending excellent advice and a willing hand to help her around here.”
Dale did the hands in the front-pants-pockets gesture and the scrunching up of his mouth like he’d tasted something bitter and said, “Just saying, Marnie. No need to get yourself in a dither.”
Sonya opened her front door. “Hello! Please come in. Marnie, bring Lewis and Clark through so the dogs can do their greetings first.” She let Willard run past her to where his guests were waiting, their excitement evident by the wiggling of bodies. “Please, everyone come this way.”
Sonya’s house practically glowed with anticipation of its guests. Lamps created warm pools of soft light giving the room a cozy feel. The wood-beamed ceilings, flowers, and the lace-covered dining table with its yummy offerings of pie, shortbread cookies, and plenty of coffee and tea, imbued the new arrivals with a sense of timeless gentility and pleasant expectation.
“Please, help yourselves,” Sonya said with a twinkle in her eye and good cheer in her voice. Everyone, including the furry guests, talked much as people will do when they find themselves among good company and delicious food. The three dogs were given their treats and they soon found their way back outside for a good deal of nosing about and maybe some running games. The humans, once settled with warm drinks and their own plates filled with edible delights, discussed the events leading up to this evening’s ‘spirit therapy session.’
“Do you think we will make contact with the ghost?” Julia said, her eyes full of hope followed by a touch of anxiety.
“Absolutely, we will,” Sonya said. “I hope she can tell us something about herself and she’s strong enough to show us what she needs.”
Dale put his hefty slice of lemon pie down on the table beside his chair and said, “Mrs. Caruthers, would you be a good sport and let me inspect this room for strings, speakers, and any other instruments? I’m not a believer in this type of chicanery and want some insurance we’re not being played for a bunch of dimwitted fools.”
“Dale! How absolutely rude,” Marnie blurted, the expression on her face one of horror at his lack of delicacy.
“Oh, not to worry, Marnie. I think Mr. Smith is correct in asking. If I were going to someone’s house for something as unusual as a séance, I mean a spirit therapy session, I’d want some proof as well.” Sonya stood up and invited Dale to go anywhere he wished, opening doors, drawers, and looking under furniture.
; “Treat it like your own home, Mr. Smith, and when you’re done come back to let us know what you’ve learned,” Sonya said.
“He’ll probably come back and give you a critique on you housekeeping, Sonya. He’s a mess, but as honest as the day is long,” Marnie said with a laugh. “This pie is incredible. I’d love the recipe.”
Julia and Noah were talking quietly among themselves, and Sonya had taken Marnie to the kitchen for the recipe when Dale wondered up from the basement.
“I’ve done a clean sweep, Mrs. Caruthers, and there’s nothing cattywampus about your place. I did see a dryer vent issue in your utility room. The plastic tie isn’t as secure as it should be around the outflow tube. I could fix that if you’d like.”
Sonya and Marnie gave Dale a slightly perplexed but good-humored look. “Don’t worry with that tonight, Mr. Smith, I’ll see to it tomorrow. Thank you, though, for your inspection and suggestion.”
The three of them went back into the living room and Sonya asked everyone to pull their chairs together around the coffee table. Julia and Noah stayed comfortably ensconced on the sofa with Julia scooting closer to him saying with a schoolgirl’s excitement, “You don’t mind do you, Noah? I’m a little scared.”
“Of course not, Julia, I’ll protect you,” Noah said with obvious delight in his voice at Julia’s flattering endorsement of his manliness.
Sonya turned most of the lamps off in the room. The dogs came in and settled themselves. They were ready to rest after their play in the garden. With everything quiet, Sonya sat down, took a deep breath, and relaxed. All eyes were on her, but no one said a word. There was a tingling of expectation in the air. Sonya put out a mental push searching the spiritual atmosphere for hints of energy once a part of our physical world but now separate.
The wind picked up outside. A soft pattering of rain against the windows diverted attention for a moment, but soon all were aware of a low murmuring sound coming from the air molecules in the room. As it grew in loudness, it took on a theatrical quality. The moaning crescendoed to an ear-splitting decibel, more as if for effect than for the actual misery of the moaner. Sonya’s brow furrowed. The entity who was beginning to energize the room wasn’t the one she expected, but she wasn’t surprised. His love for theatrics and a willing audience had brought Fritz at top speed back from his ancestral duties in the Highlands. The dogs barked and growled at the ceiling.
Noah, Julia, Marnie, and Dale sat looking slightly pale and horror-stricken. No one moved, but Sonya was sure one of them would bolt soon. She needed to bring Fritz to heel and fast.
“Show yourself, spirit,” she commanded, knowing Fritz wouldn’t materialize. There was a pause in the moaning while Fritz considered Sonya’s bluff. Lights rattled, doors opened and slammed shut, making everyone jump to their feet. The dogs went crazy and a great uproar of masculine laughter boomed through the house. Fritz was having a wonderful time.
Dale yelled, “Get thee behind me, Satan!” which had the effect of encouraging the rascally Fritz further. He flipped the hat Dale was wearing up into Sonya’s chandelier and pinched Julia on the rump, causing her to practically fling herself into Noah’s more than willing arms.
“Fritz! Stop this right now!” Sonya yelled, her face turning a smidgen red. “This is a serious attempt at contacting a ghost who’s in distress and you’re not being funny.”
“On the contrary, Sonya,” Fritz laughed from the rafters, “I’m tickled to death!”
“What’s going on Sonya?” Marnie asked nervously. She and the others had stood up and were near the vestibule.
Sonya tried to compose herself. She took a deep breath and said, “This is going to be hard to believe for some of you but I have a ghost for a friend,” Sonya said. “He likes to play jokes sometimes.”
If he hadn’t been already dead, Sonya wanted to take a shot at Fritz herself. “He’ll be good,” she said as she looked at the ceiling, “Won’t you? If you don’t, I’ll put this entire house off-limits to you, and you know I can do it.”
The sound of someone making a loud razzberry was piped through the house. Everyone waited nervously near the front door vestibule.
Sonya said, “Fritz, if you want to be of some help, please try and bring the lost ghost to us. Your help would be much appreciated.”
A sullen response in a low murmur was heard. “I’ll try, but what a bunch of nervous nellies. Give me a few minutes.”
“Please, everyone, I know this may feel extremely strange, but if you’ll give me a few minutes to explain, I’m sure it will make sense.”
The entire group came back to the sitting area and composed themselves. Marnie called the dogs over to the front door and let them out. She put the yard lights on and told the boys to be good.
“You see,” Sonya said, “a few years ago on a trip to Canada, I met Fritz, a ghost, who became my friend. The thing to understand about any ghost is that they’re still people and some refuse to travel on to their next level of existence. There may be many reasons for this, and in Fritz’s case, it’s because he’s extremely attached to his home in Scotland. Ghosts, like living people, want to have personal friendships, travel, feel like they have a safe place to dwell and enjoy amusements. Fritz loves being a troublemaker, but he’s harmless, and most days, he’s a good friend.”
Sonya took in the perplexed expressions of her guests. She pushed forward. “It can be an asset to have a ghost who is attached to a living person. They try to help where they can if they are a decent sort to begin with. I believe Fritz has a better chance of bringing the ghost who’s haunting The Whispering Pines to us than even I do. He’ll try and to get her to come to us, and if she doesn’t know she’s dead yet, then having another entity who’s capable of keeping up with her is a more efficient means of communication and delivery.”
“So, why didn’t you use this Fritz person yesterday and save me from being nearly scared to death this morning by a crazy she-ghost?” Noah complained sourly.
“Ghosts can be extremely undependable, and Fritz is no exception. I did ask him, but he was being mischievous and difficult at the time, so he didn’t help. Presently, he’s more open to being useful because he needs to make it up to me. Also, if he doesn’t play nice, I’m going to block him from the house for a month.”
“You’re a witch,” Dale said with a firm nod of his head. “I’m going to go sit in the car, Marnie. She’s got dealings with the Devil, you can be sure of it.”
“Dale,” Marnie said like a mother who was on her last nerve, “she’s a medium and a spirit therapist. Try to keep your mind from slamming shut every time something new presents itself to your extremely limited worldview. If you want to sit in the bus like a scaredy-cat, fine, but it’s not a flattering image of how a true military man would handle himself.”
Goaded by the military man comment, Dale made one last stab at his moral outrage. “It’s the principle of the matter. I don’t want to dabble in the occult. That woman will bring trouble on herself and us if we don’t leave.”
“You’re a bore, old man,” said a voice from the air. Fritz was back. “Sit down and shut up!” he boomed. “I’m as good a Presbyterian as you ever hope to be, and the chapel I personally paid for in my village is one of the finest in all of Scotland. Devil, schmevil! If you want to see something truly evil, look at your own dull wit.”
Dale sat dumbstruck. He clamped his mouth shut and appeared to seethe at being insulted by an invisible ghost.
Sonya took the opportunity to bring everyone back to the real matter at hand. “Did you find the ghost, Fritz?”
“She’s here. A bit daffy and clingy, but she’s here, nonetheless,” Fritz said in a bored tone.
Motioning for everyone to please take their seats as quickly as possible, Sonya grabbed the reins of the situation.
“Will you give us your name?” she asked in a firm yet kind tone.
“My name is Poppy Turner.” As soon as she uttered her name, the ghost sobbed. No one saw t
he spirit, but on the grand piano, the flowers Sonya and Mr. Pepper had arranged were fidgeting about in the vase like someone was blowing directly on them.
“Will you tell us what happened to you?”
The ghost let out a wail making Julia practically jump onto Noah’s lap again. So far, Sonya’s spiritual therapy session was working beautifully in Noah’s favor, but it was Fritz who shored up the situation with a commanding, “Get on with it woman! Tell my lady what or who done you in!”
Everyone in the room sat stock still not daring to move. Even though Fritz was almost two hundred years dead, he was a force to be reckoned with when it came to ordering people about. To be fair, it came naturally to him.
The weepy ghost added a few sniffles and finally answered. “I don’t know how I died. I woke up at the bottom of the stairs.” She was quiet for a moment and added. “Someone pushed me.”
Sonya jumped in at the last comment not wishing for Poppy to lose her momentum in her story.
“Do you remember what was happening before you were pushed?” she asked.
“Ricky and I were having an argument and he stormed out of the house.” The ghost of Poppy cried again, “I miss Monkey Face! Where is Ryan?”
Everyone in the room exchanged furtive expressions. Dale, unfortunately, was the one who didn’t stay mute.
“I knew it! I bet he killed her for the Turner Treasure. Where’s the treasure, Poppy, and what ever happened to your Ma?”
Sonya quickly put her finger up to her lips at Dale’s outburst, but it was too late. Poppy was on the move. She must have made a beeline for Dale believing he would know where to find her beloved Ryan. Doilies took flight and as the chilly presence of the spirit wafted past people, they gasped or jerked back in response to her touch. As Poppy plopped herself on top of Dale’s lap, the terrified handyman looked as if he was in the grip of the Grim Reaper himself.
“Geeet it off of me!” he screamed sending the entire room into utter chaos as he got up and made a break for the front door.
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