by CeeCee James
“Yeah?” I asked. Together, we headed down the hall.
“You were right. William and Natalie have been dating. I heard it from Aunt Marcie. She just found out a few weeks ago. She hates him.”
My mouth dropped open so wide I’d have caught flies if I was in a horse pasture. “What the heck? Was it a suicide pact or something?”
She shook her head. “I’m telling you, it’s the curse of that church.”
“Everyone keeps mentioning a curse,” I hissed back. “This isn’t centuries ago. This is happening here and now.”
We’d reached William’s room now. The door was partially closed, and I craned my neck to see inside. I could just see his stocking covered foot.
“Want to go in?” I asked Ruby.
She shook her head negative, but whispered, “Yes.”
I smiled. There was my ride-or-die friend I’d always known.
We pushed the door a bit wider and tiptoed behind the curtain. William was definitely still hooked up to a bunch of machines and not looking as if he was about to move anytime soon.
“I don’t understand it.” I shook my head. “I know I just saw him.”
“His ghost …”
“Don’t be silly. He’s still alive. And anyway, I don’t believe in ghosts.” I said it with more enthusiasm than I felt at that moment.
We walked closer. I scanned his face and then glanced about the room for any changes.
“Has his family been here?” I whispered.
Ruby shook her head. “Not that I know of. They’re not having any luck with reaching the next of kin.” She tipped her head in sympathy at the young man. “Poor guy.”
I felt the same way, but my attention was caught by the tray under his bed. His bag of items was missing. Puzzled, I walked to the patient’s closet and open the door. Except for two plastic hangers, it too was empty.
“That’s weird,” I muttered. Did Detective Boyle take it?
Suddenly, the steady beeping of the heart monitor became quicker, louder. I watched it with unease, remembering the last time I was there.
William’s head moved and Ruby gasped. We both leaned in.
“I think we need to call the nurse,” I whispered.
“Shh! He’s trying to say something,” Ruby bit back.
I stared at his lips, dry and chapped. They did look like they were moving.
“Hhhh….” William breathed out.
“It’s okay, William,” I said soothingly. “We’re here. You’re going to be okay.” I rubbed his shoulder softly.
“He’s here. He’s coming.” His barely breathed words caused my blood to turn to ice.
“Who, William?” I asked.
“B—bones.” The word hissed out.
Ruby squeaked and grabbed my arm. “See! I told you!”
Chapter 9
“I told you! I told you!” Ruby continued to squeal in my ear as I pushed the call button to summon the nurse into William’s room. His fingers were making small movements, now too.
The nurse ran in, eyes wide. “What’s going on?” she said walking over to the bed.
“He seems to be waking up,” I said, pointing to his fingers.
The nurse looked at him and grabbed his wrist to feel for his pulse. “And who are you?”
“Family friends,” I gulped and dragged Ruby from the room.
Back in Natalie’s room, we both hurried to the bed to see if she showed signs of becoming conscious. Nope. Not even her eyelids fluttered.
Disappointed, I sat in a chair while Ruby settled on the edge of the bed.
“I’m so scared right now,” Ruby said.
“We’re getting to the bottom of this.” I pulled my phone from my purse and typed in the name of the church.
Wikipedia came up as the first link. I clicked it and started reading. Ruby walked over and pressed in close to look over my shoulder. Rolling my eyes, I turned the screen so that she could see, and slowly scrolled.
The Legend of Holy King Church
In June of 1811, Starke Springs fell under an attack carried out by a pirate named Tom Bones. Fifty-six people were killed and more injured as Bones led his men into the town after midnight.
Bones had been linked to a woman named Luciana Livingstone, the eldest daughter of the local magistrate, Branson Livingstone, and his wife, Daniella Livingstone. The wealthy Livingstone family held a prominent standing among the population of the settlements on the coast of the territory of Florida. As the War of 1812 loomed, Branson Livingstone sought to protect the family’s prosperity by betrothing his daughter to Captain Benjamin Hutchinson.
Upon hearing of the arrangement, Luciana rebelled against the marriage and forged an acquaintance with a scoundrel and pirate by the name of Tom Bones. Bones and Luciana had planned an elopement at the Holy King Church.
On the morning of the secret wedding, Bones' ship was delayed. Luciana had unknowingly been followed to the church by Captain Benjamin Hutchinson. Infuriated by her rejection, Hutchinson drowned her in a pool of the stream that ran behind the church.
Tom Bones arrived to find his beloved dead and Hutchinson, along with a handful of soldiers, waiting for him. In the ensuing skirmish, Bones and his men fought the soldiers and escaped.
That evening, Bones and all of his men snuck into Starke Springs under cover of darkness. They came to where the majority of the town had gathered, at the meeting hall, and heard Benjamin Hutchinson announce that he’d witnessed Bones murdering Luciana. The townspeople became irate and, goaded by Hutchinson, planned to take out their revenge on Bones.
Infuriated, Bones and his men set fire to the building and cut down the fleeing townspeople.
One of Luciana's younger sisters, Clementine, survived. She claimed she had hidden behind a tree when Hutchinson showed up at the church. She had also removed a necklace from her sister's body before hurrying back to town, where she discovered Benjamin was already spreading rumors about the pirates killing Luciana.
The necklace is considered a prized jewel, one of the better-known pieces Bones had found in his explorations. Crafted from eight small rubies, the pendant forms a cross. The necklace hasn't been seen in decades. Current market value has been estimated at over two million dollars.
The Holy King Church is now considered one of Florida's most notorious haunted hot spots. The rumor has long maintained that Tom Bones died uttering a curse on any couple in love that visited the place where his love was slaughtered would suffer the same fate as she.
Since then, the church has been a source of many rumors of strange deaths, missing tourists, and other stories that local inhabitants tell as proof of Tom Bones’ curse. Some even claim that ethereal apparitions of both Luciana and Tom Bones have also been spotted near Holy King Church, but never at the same time. The locals speculate that this is because even in death, they are forced to be apart.
See Ruby Crucifix
See Tom Bones
See Luciana Livingstone
“Well,” I said. “I guess that answers a lot of our questions.”
“Questions?” Ruby leaned back and pinched her temples.
“About why the rumors are so awful about that church. I’d make up rumors, too, if half my town died in a fire.”
Ruby looked at me like I was completely missing the point. “I think you’re failing to grasp the critical part here.”
I guess I didn’t give her the response she wanted, because she continued, exasperated. “The ghost! It hates lovers! And William and Natalie were lovers.” Her voice lowered, “And she went there. To that church.”
She ran her fingers through her brown hair and shot the sick girl a confused glance. “Why did you do it, Natalie? You should have known better.”
“Natalie knew the folklore?”
“Of course, she grew up around here. Everyone knows them. And be careful what you’re calling folklore.”
Suddenly, she lunged for the brush on the table. She brandished it toward me, her eyes wide.
“Do you see that?”
What the heck? I was momentarily startled, wondering if staying overnight at the hospital was making my friend unhinged. I dumbly nodded, hoping that would appease her.
“I mean this!” Quickly, she removed from the brush several golden strands of hair. She held the hair in her hand before shuddering and dropping them in the trash can.
Uh, oh. “Ruby … are you feeling okay?”
“Maisie, I cleaned that brush after I fixed her hair. There was nothing in it. Someone else brushed her hair.”
“The nurse?”
She scowled at me. “You’re blaming everything on the nurse. I’m not going crazy!”
“Maybe her mom?”
Just then, a petite brunette came around the corner holding a Styrofoam cup of something steaming. Her eyes were red and puffy. “Ruby. You’re still here.”
My friend smiled. “Hi, Aunt Marcie.”
Marcie nodded. “The phone call took longer than I expected.” She glanced in my direction.
My head swiveled between Ruby glaring at me accusingly that I didn’t believe her, and the sad smile of her aunt. “Hi. I’m Maisie.” I stuck out my hand.
Marcie shook it gently and then walked to the head of the hospital bed. “Her hair looks better. Did you brush it, Ruby?”
“Somebody did,” Ruby’s face was stiff with self-righteousness.
“Lovely,” Marcie gave a tight smile. “Even sick, we should make an effort to look nice.”
The struck me as an odd thing to say, but fear can do strange things to people. I’d seen it before.
“We were just visiting with William down the hall,” I said.
Ruby flashed me a scared, warning look. I’d forgotten she’d mentioned that her aunt hated him.
Too late. Marcie’s face turned to me white with anger. “That scumbag! What he was even doing with Natalie, I’ll never know. We told her to drop him weeks ago. He’s done nothing but bring her down.”
I flinched at her anger. But seeing the still form on the bed, there could be no denying that he had indeed brought her down.
Chapter 10
I left the hospital feeling like I’d just made things worse by my presence there. As I said my good-byes, Marcie was still ranting, with Ruby patting her shoulder. Honestly, sometimes I stuck my foot so far in my mouth, I could gag on my knee.
You’d assume by now, I’d think before I spoke. I groaned as I slouched into the driver’s seat of my car. My stomach clenched and I realized I still hadn’t had dinner. Cautiously, I backed out of the stall and headed down the parking ramp. The last thing I needed right now was to get into a fender bender.
The drive home was slow with the highway choked with rush hour traffic. Finally, I pulled into my parking spot and hurried into the hotel. I knew Momma probably had some sort of leftovers available, and I couldn’t wait.
But first, I still needed to check that room out, having been interrupted the last time.
What do you think you’ll find that the police didn’t? That room was clean.
I sighed. Rational or not, I had to do it.
Clarissa was at the front desk, making me relieved. I could handle Sierra, but right about now, hungry, tired, and discouraged, I definitely didn’t want to.
With a sweet smile, Clarissa handed over the master key. The room hadn’t been cleared by the police yet, but I expected their call any minute. As I headed up to room 360, a feeling of ridiculousness curled in my stomach.
I walked down the hallway remembering the way William had sprung out of the room. I couldn’t help but feel a little spooked. A door opened, and I jumped. But it was just a family heading out to dinner. I smiled at them, feeling silly.
At room 360, I flipped the key under the scanner and waited for the light to turn green. Clicking the handle, I walked in.
The bed was still rumpled from where William had been on it, but otherwise, there wasn’t much around. The trash can was empty; presumably, the police had taken the contents. Two cups on the counter looked like they’d been used, with the paper, sanitary lids cast to one side. A torn sugar packet and an opened coffee packet indicated the coffee maker had been used.
I wandered into the bathroom and glanced around. Used towels hung over the shower rod. The toilet paper was strung out until it touched the floor. There was nothing under the sink.
Picked-over by professionals, like I’d expected. I took in a deep breath of air in defeat.
My nose wrinkled. I smelled something. There was the scent of the hotel cleaner—ever present from its nearly daily use—but there was something else. Something hidden underneath.
I breathed in again. Cigarette smoke.
I walked back into the bedroom and inspected it closely. Then I walked to the sliding door.
The space on the patio was sparse, with only one lawn chair. I walked over to the railing and looked out.
Immediately, I felt excited.
Because on the edge of the railing, out of sight from the room, were four stubbed out cigarette butts. Normally, I’d have been furious because it was a nonsmoking facility. Instead, I was thrilled. Only one of them had a gold stripe.
I plucked my phone from my purse and took a picture.
Smiling at it, I hit save. Maybe I’m a little smarter that I thought.
I sent Kristi a text and the photo of what I’d found. After the condescending attitude he’d given me last time, I really didn’t want to work with Detective Boyle again.
She sent me one back right away —Make sure that room stays vacant until we can collect the evidence.
I replied —You got it!
I really was made for this detective stuff. I locked the sliding glass door as satisfaction kicked the worm of ridiculousness out of my stomach. “My job here is finished.”
With a smile on my face, I walked to the front door and opened it.
William Clarke was standing on the other side looking straight at me.
It’s hard to say who was more shocked, he or I. In his hands was an electronic key card which he dropped. Both of us stooped to get it and knocked our heads together. “Ow!” we yelled simultaneously. Definitely not a ghost. He had the card first, and we both stood, staring at each other.
“You’d better come in,” I said with a gesture.
He nodded, his face pale. As he brushed past me, a scent of sweat and cologne filled the air.
I shut the door and turned in his direction. He sank down on the edge of the bed and sat with his head in his hands. With a defeated expression, he raised his head. His facial appearance took me off guard. I’d forgotten how young William was. But this face was leaner, the hair a touch lighter from the sun.
“What’s going on?” I said, my arms crossed in front of me. “Who are you?”
“Maybe I should start at the beginning.”
I nodded, with my best school marm facial expression. I decided not to say anything else, waiting to see what he spilled.
“This is all,” he gestured around the room. “About a necklace.”
I raised my eyebrows. That’s right, the necklace that had been entwined in his fingers … no, William’s fingers.
“How about introducing yourself,” I said.
“My name is Scott. I’m William’s twin brother.”
Twins. Sherlock Holmes always said it was never twins, but it seems the old sleuth wasn't right about everything. I felt a hysterical giggle bubbling at the back of my throat. “Twins?”
“Yeah, I'm … you thought I was him, didn't you?”
I nodded, suddenly feeling ridiculous. If there was one thing I learned, there was always a rational explanation for even the strangest things.
“Yeah. Well, I’m the better looking one.” He grinned sheepishly and then caught my stare. He straightened. “Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood of an already horrible situation.”
“Why are you hiding? And I’ve seen the necklace. It’s in your brother’s clothing at the hospital.”
/> His slim fingers reached into his front shirt pocket. “You mean this?” he said, pulling it free.
The blood-red ruby cross pendant swung from the delicate chain. My eyes flickered. The gem’s beauty seemed to suck the light from the room and make itself glow.
“That’s amazing,” I breathed.
“I don't know how William got it,” Scott said. “But it’s way more than my brother could ever afford.” His expression was less than enchanted as he studied it. With a sigh, he stuffed it back in his pocket. “I have a feeling that’s the source of all this heartache.”
“Start at the beginning, Scott.”
“William works down in Miami. I got a phone call from him the other day. He was frantic. I barely could understand him, the phone kept cutting out. But, he’d gotten into some kind of trouble. I told him to get up here as fast as he could. He said he was driving through the night. He sounded scared.” Worry etched lines in Scott’s face. “He was supposed to come to my place, but he never showed up.”
I sat next to him. “That must have been terrifying.”
He shook his head. “No, what was terrifying was trying to get hold of my girlfriend and not finding her. Then I went home and flipped on the TV and found out she was in the hospital.”
“You’re Natalie’s boyfriend? Not William?”
He nodded glumly. “And, I’ve been afraid that whoever was after him went after her. Maybe after me, too. I’ve been hiding ever since.”
I sat back, stunned. “But I met Mrs. Fairchild. She insisted William was Natalie’s boyfriend, and not in the nicest terms.”
Scott shrugged. “She doesn’t know me. She knows my family name. And that name is far beneath her and her class of people. Natalie only told her we were dating last month.”
He rubbed his neck and then looked at me. “We’ve been together for two years. But out here, in the upscale sections of Starke Springs, name and prestige mean everything.” He flopped onto his back on the bed. “And, as if who we were related to wasn’t enough, William made sure our name was mud.”