by Rose Pressey
“Now before you think I’ve lost my mind, let me explain.”
I nodded. “Okay, sure.”
I guess I was starting to think he’d lost it, but I’d hear him out. “What does it do?” I asked.
Brannon moved closer to the box and tapped the top with his hand. “With any luck you will see soon enough. Essentially it captures ghosts.”
My mouth probably dropped open. “Okay… so how does this thing work? I mean, it just looks like a box.”
“Yes, it looks like a box, but it is so much more than that.” He took the lid off. “See, the electromagnetic energy draws the ghost in through this opening. When the sensor goes off, it knows that the ghost has entered the box.”
“So you’re trapping a ghost?” I stared down at the box.
“Yes, I guess you could call it that.”
“Okay, but what are you going to do with it once you get it?” I asked.
“Well, you don’t want the ghost here with you, so we’ll take it back to where it came from.”
I pushed the hair out of my eyes. “That sounds good, but won’t the ghost just follow me again?”
He shrugged. “Maybe, but it’s worth a shot, right?”
If I didn’t know better, I’d think that Brannon just wanted to play with his new paranormal toy. “And that’s assuming we’re dealing with the ghost from the Helmwood House.”
“It’s likely that we are,” he said.
“Why didn’t you try this out at your place? You said you’ve seen the shadow.”
“I think it’s more attached to you.”
Lucky me. “Where did you get this thing?” I asked.
“I made it myself,” he said with pride in his voice.
How could I say no to that? Plus, with his handsome face staring at me right now, that would be impossible. Any woman would have a hard time turning him down.
I placed my hands on my hips. “Okay, let’s use this thing.” I looked around the room. “What if the ghost isn’t here right now?”
“What if she is?” Brannon smiled.
“Good point.”
He turned on the equipment that he’d mounted inside the wooden box. It hummed and buzzed. He placed the top back on and we stepped back from the box.
“With any luck, it will draw the spirit to the box.”
“Now what do we do?” I asked as we watched the box.
“We wait,” he said.
How long would this take? Hours, minutes, days? Not that I was complaining about having Brannon around. Heat rushed to my cheeks just thinking about it.
“Would you like something to drink while we wait?” I asked.
“Sure, sounds good,” he said.
I wasn’t sure what else to say. Were we supposed to just sit there and watch the box? I had no idea. I didn’t want to admit it to Brannon, but I really didn’t think the box would work. It was a good idea though. Of course I would feel stupid if he proved me wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Brannon followed me into the kitchen.
“How about hot chocolate?” I asked. It was my favorite this time of year. And I liked to add whipped topping.
“That sounds perfect,” Brannon said.
I popped the little ready-filled hot chocolate cups into the machine. Within a few seconds, I had a steaming cup of hot chocolate ready for him. I added the whipped topping and sprinkles to the top and then handed it to Brannon.
He stared down at the cup and then up at me. “Wow. When you said a cup of hot chocolate, you really meant a cup of hot chocolate.”
“What? You don’t like it?” I asked while I prepared a mug of my own.
“No, the opposite.” He took a sip and whipped cream remained on his upper lip. I stared as he ran his tongue across it and licked it off. “I expected a package of hot chocolate and some warm water. That’s usually how I make it. But then again, I don’t know what I’m doing in the kitchen.” He laughed.
“Well, I did have a little help,” I said, pointing to the machine.
“You added the whipped topping and sprinkles though,” he said, as he took another drink.
Footsteps sounded from the other room. Brannon and I exchanged a look. He placed his hot chocolate down on the counter and headed into the other room. After setting my mug down, I followed him. He inched into the room. Of course no one was there.
“Is that the sound you’ve been hearing?” he whispered.
I nodded. The box was still making the same sounds as when he’d turned it on. Nothing had changed so far. He moved across the floor and into the hallway.
“Do you mind if I take a look around the rest of your place?” he asked.
“No, I don’t mind,” I said.
He proceeded to the bathroom. After finding nothing there he moved on to my bedroom. He stopped in the middle of the room. Of course there was nothing there. Just the sounds, as I’d been hearing them for days. I hadn’t planned on having Brannon in my bedroom tonight. Wouldn’t Tammy love to hear about this? I moved over beside Brannon.
“I guess it was the ghost.” He turned to face me.
“Yes, I guess so,” I said, looking at him in the eyes.
He reached up and brushed my mouth with his finger. “You had a sprinkle on your mouth.”
I felt the heat rush to my cheeks. “Thank you.”
Brannon moved closer to me. I stared into his eyes. Did I have another sprinkle on my mouth? Perhaps whipped topping this time.
He didn’t say a word as he leaned down and placed his lips against mine. I hadn’t expected it, but I was glad that he did it. I moved my body closer to his and kissed him back.
His warm lips felt wonderful pressed against mine. I was lost in the moment and all I could think about was how great a kisser he was. My heart rate increased and my stomach flipped. I wondered if Brannon felt the same way? Now I was starting to think about whether he enjoyed the kiss as much as I did. I didn’t think I was a bad kisser, so why not? I needed to stop worrying about it and just enjoy the moment. I relaxed again and relished his touch.
That was when the beeping sounded from the living room. Brannon jumped back from me as if my lips were on fire. “We caught something,” he yelled.
The ghost had impeccable timing. If I didn’t know better, I’d think that she had planned it that way. Oh, well, it was too late now. Brannon had zipped across the floor so fast he had been nothing but a blur.
I ran after him. After all, I was curious to see if he’d really captured anything. But how would he know for sure? The equipment had gone off, but it wasn’t like we’d see the little face of a ghost in that little box, yelling, Help me, let me out.
When I reached the living room, Brannon was already kneeling down beside the box. He’d turned off the sensor, so it was no longer making that high-pitched sound. I was glad for that because much more of that noise and my neighbors would complain. How would I explain capturing ghosts in a box to my landlord?
“What happened?” I asked as I knelt down beside him.
“The sensor went off, so by my calculations, we’ve captured a spirit.”
“But you have no way of knowing for sure?”
A little frown slipped over his face. “No, we have no way of knowing.”
I hoped that I hadn’t burst his bubble.
“What should we do now?” I asked.
Brannon pushed to his feet. “We should take the box over to the old house and let the ghost out there.”
I hoped no one ever got wind of this. They’d really think I’d lost it.
He lifted the box from the ground. “Like I said, maybe there isn’t a spirit in here, but it’s worth a shot. For science, right?” he asked with a sexy smile.
“Sure, let me get my purse.”
Exactly what I needed my purse for while getting rid of a spirit that we’d captured in a wooden box I had no idea, but you never knew when I might have to touch up my lipstick. Brannon was already halfway down the stairs with that box w
hen I locked my door and headed down. I rushed and held the door open for him as he carried it out.
“Thank you,” he said with a smile.
Brannon lifted the thing into the trunk and I climbed into the passenger seat. This was a scenario I’d never thought I’d be in. A ghost in the trunk of a police car. Tammy wouldn’t believe it when I told her.
Brannon and I pulled up to the house. I was of course nervous after what had happened to Hank. I didn’t want the same thing to happen to Brannon.
He turned off the car. “Are you ready to go in?”
I blew out a deep breath. “Sure, let’s take the ghost in.”
Brannon went around to the trunk and hoisted the box out of the trunk. I followed him up the porch steps. Brannon placed the box on the floor in front of the door. Every time we came here I expected the door to be locked, but when he turned the knob, once again the door opened. Normally Brannon would have held the door open for me and told me ladies first. But this time he stepped into the foyer first. He glanced around and then came back outside.
He grabbed the box from the ground. “It looks like it’s safe.”
He went inside with the box and I followed him. I scanned the space to look for something that maybe he had missed. “Where should we take the box?” I asked.
“Let’s do it in the parlor.” Brannon gestured toward the right. He sat the box on the floor.
I stared down at the box. If something came out of there I might turn around and run away. Sure, I had ghosts following me, but I wasn’t sure I was prepared to have them pop up like a jack-in-the-box. Brannon knelt down beside the box. He glanced up at me and nodded.
“I’m ready,” I whispered.
As ready as I’d ever be. He grabbed the lid. I stepped back a couple steps just in case. For a moment he paused, but then slowly lifted the lid off. Nothing happened. It was just as quiet as when we’d arrived. I felt bad for Brannon. I had wanted this to work for him.
He looked over at me. “I guess it didn’t work.”
I frowned. “Maybe you just need to work out the kinks.”
He set the lid back on the box. “I suppose, or maybe it’s just a box with some equipment in it.”
I didn’t answer because I wasn’t sure exactly what to say. Brannon stood up and released a deep breath. “Well, I guess now we know.”
I stepped over beside him and rubbed his arm. “You would have always wondered if you hadn’t tried it.”
“I guess we should get out of here,” Brannon said.
Before I had a chance to answer, a rumble echoed throughout the room. I wasn’t sure where it was coming from, but it sounded like someone was trying to get inside the house. The door was open though. They wouldn’t have to rattle the door.
Brannon ran across the room to the foyer. I dashed after him, but stopped when I got there and realized that the door was now closed. He went over and opened the door. I peeked over his shoulder as he peered out onto the porch. As far as I could tell, no one was around.
“What do you think that was?” I asked.
Brannon looked back at me. “I’m not sure. More haunting noises, I suppose.”
I wondered if his box had captured the ghost after all. I was ready to get out of there. As if he’d read my mind, Brannon said, “I’ll get the box.”
I folded my arms in front of my waist. “I’ll wait right here.”
Brannon disappeared around the corner while I stayed on alert for any other paranormal encounters.
Finally Brannon appeared around the corner with the box in his arms. I was beginning to worry that the spirit had attacked him. I stepped out onto the porch and Brannon placed the box on the porch. He pulled the door shut and then grabbed the box. We hurried down the stairs. While he placed the box in the trunk, I slipped into his car. When I looked up at the house, I thought I saw that shadow at the window. But in the blink of an eye it was gone. Brannon jumped behind the wheel, but I didn’t tell him about what I’d seen. It was time for us to put this house behind us.
Brannon dropped me off at my place so that he could go to work. He kissed me goodbye and said he would call later. At least we had tried to get rid of the ghost. Only time would tell if we had been successful.
I waved goodbye to Brannon from the window. For the time being it felt as if I was alone in my apartment. That was something that I hadn’t felt for quite some time. I just hoped that it stayed that way.
Chapter 18
The next morning, I decided to go to the bed-and-breakfast where Cady and Sandra were staying. How long could the police convince them to stay in town? I was surprised that they hadn’t taken off by now. That had to mean they were innocent, right? What would have been their motive for murder? Cady seemed cranky, but that was hardly a reason for murder. If cranky people always committed murder there would be a lot more homicides to report.
The place was on the other side of town, tucked away by the park. I parked down the street and headed toward the house.
When I reached the front of the house, I stopped. What would I do now? I supposed I could go to the door and ask to speak with Cady. What would I ask? Did you murder Hank? That wasn’t a great idea.
The house was a three-story white Victorian with a porch that wrapped around the front of the house. I made my way down the sidewalk a little more. If Cady or Sandra saw me out there they wouldn’t think I was just taking a casual stroll on a beautiful Sunday morning. I couldn’t walk around outside for much longer.
As I turned to walk back in the other direction, a woman called out, “Ripley, is that you?”
When I looked to my left I spotted Gail. She was waving at me as she walked down the front path toward the sidewalk. Now I had been spotted. I couldn’t act as if I hadn’t seen her because I was looking right at her. Maybe this would be a good thing though.
Talking with her might be a good thing. Maybe she could give me some inside scoop.
“Good morning, Gail,” I said as she approached.
She had a blue floral apron tied around her waist. Underneath that she wore jeans and a white T-shirt. She brushed her brown bangs out of her eyes. A dusting of what I assumed was flour dotted her cheeks and her hands.
“I looked out the kitchen window and who do I see? Little Ripley. After last night I just had to come get you. It was a surprise to see you show up with the police at my door.”
“I’m really sorry about that.”
She waved her hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve been meaning to come by the library since you got back, but this place is keeping me busy.” She motioned over her shoulder.
“The place looks great,” I said.
“Are you just out taking a walk?” She looked up and down the street to see if I was with anyone.
I’d go with her idea. “Yes, I was just enjoying the weather.” Of course she had to know that I didn’t live anywhere near here.
She reached out and grabbed my arm. “You must come in for breakfast. I’ve made a mess of biscuits and someone has to eat them. I don’t know why I make so much. My guests certainly don’t eat them. I hope it’s not because they taste bad.”
I glanced over my shoulder.
“You don’t have anywhere else to go this morning, do you?” she asked as she pulled on my arm.
“No, I don’t suppose I do.”
What would Cady and Sandra say when they saw me at the breakfast table?
We entered the house. As soon as I walked into the foyer I looked to the parlor on the left. Nobody was in there.
“Before last night I hadn’t been in this house since we poked around back in high school,” I said.
“I put in a lot of work here,” Gail said.
I touched the polished stair banister. “I see that.” She had period furniture in the parlor.
“We can go into the dining room if you’d like.”
“That would be great, thank you.”
So far there was no sign of Cady or Sandra. Maybe they really had
taken off. If I didn’t see them soon I would ask.
When I reached the dining room, Cady was already standing by the buffet table, making a cup of tea. She must have felt our presence, because she quickly turned around. Her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed together.
“Good morning,” I said, trying to sound cheerful.
She forced a smile on her face. “It’s nice to see you.”
I knew she really didn’t mean that.
“You can have a seat anywhere you like.” Gail pointed toward the long wood table in the center of the room. “I’ll go get breakfast.”
“Do you need any help?” I asked. I wasn’t sure I wanted to stay in the room alone with Cady by the way Cady was looking at me.
“Oh, no, I’m fine, thank you. Just make yourself comfortable. I invited you as a guest and I don’t want you to do any work.”
I smiled. “Thank you again.”
I really didn’t want Gail to treat me as a guest, but I knew she wouldn’t have it any other way. As soon as Gail left the room, I looked over at Cady. An awkward silence settled over the room. I knew that she wouldn’t say anything and I wasn’t sure what I should say. After all, I had come there to talk with her.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell you how sorry I am about what happened to Hank,” I said.
She glared at me but didn’t answer. She took her cup and sat down at the table. I moved closer to the table. Before I had a chance to think of anything else to say, Gail returned with a tray full of food.
Gail smiled. “I hope you like strawberries and French toast.”
“I love it. Thanks.” I sat at the end of the table with Gail at the other end.
Cady was on the other side of the table. She tried to act like she wasn’t watching me, but I saw her look at me out of the corner of my eye. Gail placed French toast on our plates.
I grabbed the pitcher of orange juice. “Would you like juice?”
Cady mumbled, “No, thanks.”
Footsteps sounded from the hallway and then Sandra appeared at the dining room entrance. Sandra was still dressed in her pink pajamas. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. Obviously she hadn’t expected to see me for breakfast.
“Ripley, I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said.