The Garden (Haunted Series)

by Alexie Aaron

  Ted nodded and followed Angelo out of the room towards the elevators. The doors opened, and Angelo and Ted entered one. Mia watched in amazement that no one seemed to notice two men carrying a metal sarcophagus out of the elevator. Behind them a wrinkled old couple wearing expensive clothes walked, holding hands.

  “Scuse me, this is Pom and Cheta. They will help in the capture of this thing.” He looked at Alan and realized he didn’t know him. “Mia, is this another of your young men?”

  Mia coughed and glared at Angelo. “No, this is Alan Jefferies, Hagan Fowler’s lawyer and our present employer.”

  “Alan, this is Angelo Michaels, he’s… well… a colleague of mine and the father’s.”

  Angelo nodded. He turned to the corner and said, “Allo, Sister Agnes, Mother Superior Mary Florence sends her regards.”

  Alan turned and looked at Mia. Mia wiggled her finger to have Alan follow her. She stepped out into the hall with him. “I know this looks like a circus, but they didn’t have time to organize. Look around you. No one seems to care what is going on in here. I don’t even think they see us. If you believe your client is possessed and that there are such things as demons, then you need to believe that those… er… people in there are his best bet of survival.”

  “What if Hagan doesn’t want them in there?”

  “He has no choice. He’s going to die if it stays with him. Then they won’t have a chance to imprison it. Seems to me, they are confident they can do the job, or they wouldn’t do it here.”

  “Doesn’t this seem, well, impossible?”

  “You’re talking to the girl who screams in graveyards. It’s possible. You just have to suspend your belief system long enough to take it all in.”

  “An Italian giant, two mysterious old people, a Spanish priest and a ghost of a nun will extract a demon from Hagan. That’s a lot to take in, but alright. Let’s do it.”

  Mia took his hand and walked back into the room. “Talk to Hagan, get him to let the demon go.”

  Angelo moved to Mia. “You, Ted and Alan have to leave. The risk is too great.”

  Mia nodded obediently. “First let Alan speak to Hagan. Can you bring him around?”

  “Child’s play,” Angelo said and walked over to Hagan. He touched his forehead, and the man opened his eyes. He nodded to Alan. “Begin.”

  “Hagan, this is Alan. I brought help. You have to let the demon go. They will imprison it. You’re dying. Please let it go.”

  Hagan’s eyes moved to take in the assortment of strangers before him. He saw Mia and asked, “Do you approve of this?”

  “Yes. Trust them.”

  Hagan nodded. “Go on.”

  Father Santos got up and motioned for Alan, Mia and Ted to leave. They did so but took up positions in front of the door.

  Ted winced as he heard Hagan scream. He looked at the nurses at the station across from them and they continued to do their work. “What’s wrong with them?” he whispered.

  “I have no idea.” Mia turned her head sharply as she heard the distinct flapping of wings. More screams this time from someone or something else. This went on for some time. She heard Father Santos chanting and thought she heard a woman fall into pace with him. Next, there was a bang so loud that the building shook.

  “What the fuck is happening in there?” Alan’s words echoed Ted’s and Mia’s. All went quiet. The door opened and Chet and Pom walked out. “Chet is looking for the ladies’ washroom?” Pom asked, his words barely above a soft whisper.

  “Let me take you,” Mia said and held out her hand to the older woman. Chet grasped it. Mia walked slowly with her a few yards down the hall. She walked inside and turned on the light for the woman. “I’ll wait for you outside,” she said and closed the door. In a little while there was a tap on the door, and Mia opened it up and escorted Chet back to the room. She nodded and entered.

  The noise continued. More chanting was heard. Louder bangs shook the building, and then a sigh seemed to wrap itself around those waiting in the hall. The door opened again, and Father Santos stood there.

  “Ted, could you help Angelo carry the sarcophagus out to the hearse?”

  “Yes, Father,” Ted said and went into the room and positioned himself at the foot of the metal case. Angelo picked up his end and led the way. She could tell by Ted’s grimace that the case weighed significantly more than when it arrived. Following him were Pom and Chet. Father Santos then stepped aside and encouraged Alan and Mia to come in.

  Hagan lay on the bed. Mia scanned his body and found him alone in it. He was, however, very weak. She looked over at Father Santos and he said, “I think it’s up to the antibiotics to cleanse away the poisons. Dr. Walters will know what to do.”

  “Is he?”

  “He is no longer possessed.”

  “And the demon?” Alan asked.

  “He is on his way to a place where he will not be able to hurt anyone. It is a long journey but worth the trip, I think.” He changed the subject. “How are things at the mansion?”

  “Strange, not this strange, but in good competition,” Mia confided.

  “Call me if you need some help,” he said and kissed Mia on the cheek before leaving.

  “I will Father.” She turned to watch him go. He passed Ted in the hall. He stopped him and the two talked for a few minutes. Ted smiled and looked over at Mia. She returned the smile and raised her hands. He winked and continued with his conversation.

  “Mia,” a hoarse voice called to her. She was puzzled because she never told Hagan her name. She knew better than to identify herself in the presence of a demon. She walked to his bedside and brushed her hand lightly against his cheek. “Did you call me?”

  “The father told me your name. I want to thank you.”

  “I’ve done nothing.”

  “You have done more than you think. You gave me hope.”

  Mia reached down and squeezed his hand gently. “Heal, and then we will have another talk.”

  He smiled and closed his eyes.

  A nurse came in and took Hagan’s vitals. “There’s some improvement, but he’s not out of the woods yet,” she cautioned.

  Mia smiled at Alan, and he looked pleased.

  Ted came in and suggested this would be a good time to leave. Mia took his arm and then stopped dead.

  “I can’t. I have to see old Doc Walters first.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Ted insisted.

  “Suit yourself, he’s a lecturer,” she warned.

  They took the elevator to the fourth floor and walked hand in hand to Walters’s office.

  Ted looked at it as they entered and said, “It’s kind of small for a head resident.”

  “That’s why I asked you here,” he said as he motioned for them to follow him. “I’m supposed to be occupying this office.” He unlocked a door and stood back.

  Mia looked inside and saw an elderly man in a lab coat. He looked annoyed and started to toss the heavy volumes off the shelves at them.

  “You have a ghost in your office.”

  “No fucking kidding,” Walters said.

  “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

  “Embarrassed,” he said honestly. “Can you do anything about it?”

  “Hang on, let me see if he will talk to me.” Mia dodged a few books as she walked in and shut the door behind her.

  Ted looked at Walters and tried to make small talk. They ended up talking about the last Batman movie.

  Mia opened the door and handed Walters a stack of wall art. “Give these to his widow, Emma Cohen. She still lives in the family home in Green Ridge. They were forgotten when the administrator cleaned out the office.”

  “That’s it?” he asked incredulously.

  “That’s it. Can I go home now? I need some shut eye. We are on the late shift tonight,” she explained.

  He nodded. He shook Ted’s hand and hugged Mia. “Try to actually get some sleep this time,” he growled in her ear.

 
“Yes, Doctor.”

  He watched them leave and shifted the wall art. He saw a couple of the framed artworks were done by children. No wonder they were so important. He walked down the hall and asked for a box of some kind. He packed them up carefully. He thought about asking a staff member to take them over, but he knew he should be the one to bring them. Maybe Emma would need an ear to listen to her talk about the artwork and how much she missed her husband. He grabbed his coat and headed for the staff parking garage.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Mia opened her eyes and focused on the alarm clock, the numbers sat nestled in R2D2’s front panel. She made out a four, and that was about it. Yawning she turned and curled into Ted’s chest. The auburn hair tickled her nose and she sneezed.

  “Thanks for the snot bath,” Ted said as he pulled her closer to him.

  “You’re welcome. I do try to please,” Mia cooed.

  This had been the first time Mia and Ted made love in his house. There was no Murphy to worry about offending. He was with Burt and the boys at the mansion. Ted’s bed was comfortable, and it was wicked fun exploring each other under the Batman sheets. But the clock would not go away, and they promised to spell the guys so they could get some shut eye before tonight’s investigation.

  “Time to get up,” Ted said, reaching for the alarm before it went off.

  “No,” Mia said, pulling the comforter over her head.

  Ted grabbed the edges of the blanket, folded her up in it and dragged her from the bed. Mia thumped to the floor.

  “Ouch, do you treat all your women like this?”

  “Only the lazy ones.”

  “K. I see your point, and more. Nice set of jewels you got there,” Mia leered.

  “No. I know you. You’re trying to get me back into bed with compliments. I’m going to start the shower. Better get moving before the hot water runs out,” he said over his shoulder.

  Mia grumbled and got up. She ran by Ted and sat on the toilet. “That will teach him,” she thought.

  He just shook his head and used the other bathroom. She finished and looked at herself in the mirror as the hot water made its long journey upstairs. She stepped in and grabbed the furry soap. “Don’t think, just wash,” she said to herself.

  Ted slid into the shower and offered to wash her hair. Mia giggled and let him. He squeezed some delicious smelling expensive shampoo out into his hand and lathered her wet hair.

  “I’m in love, Teddy Bear, just thought you should know.”

  “Do I know the guy?”

  “He’s my hairdresser, Raul.”

  “I heard he was great with the blow dry,” Ted said, pushing her head under the water to rinse it.

  Mia fought for air and ended up pinching him. He started to tickle her, and they ended up giggling so hard Mia got the hiccups.

  ~

  Burt’s stomach growled. He looked at his watch and was about to complain when Mia and Ted walked in the door. They brought with them a Chinese feast.

  “In the kitchen,” Burt directed them. “The dining table is full of journals and papers,” he explained.

  “Aye Aye, Cap’n,” Mia said. “We brought beer. You want one?”

  “Yes!” Burt said a bit too loud.

  They heard chairs moving, and three faces peered around the corner.

  “Are you alright, old man?” Mike asked. “Who are you talking to?”

  “Mia.”

  “Um, she’s not here, probably teaching Ted his ABCs.”

  Ted walked out of the kitchen. “We brought food. There’s beer for everyone but Mike.”

  Mike made a face. Ted ignored him. Audrey and Cid slid around Ted and Mike, grabbed Burt and wheeled him into the kitchen.

  Mia looked up from the banquet she was arranging. “Where’s Ted? Mike?”

  “Mike said something naughty, and I think Ted’s going to teach him a lesson,” Cid said, grabbing an eggroll.

  Mia moved to go out and stop them, but Burt stopped her. “Listen, you have to let Ted fight his own battles. We all know you can whoop the lot of us, but trust me, Mia, let Ted have his day.”

  “If Mike breaks Ted, can I punch him in the nards?”

  “Yes. But right now it is a war of words.”

  “K. You can let me go now.”

  Burt loosened his grip, and Mia walked back around and unloaded more goodies.

  “I was just teasing,” Mike said.

  “I realize it, dude, and if Mia wasn’t so special to me, I would enjoy it. She’s my world, and I would appreciate if you would show us a little respect.”

  “Kinda touchy,” Mike observed.

  “Been up all night and had an hour nap. Yep, I’m touchy, grouchy and short tempered.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think you were here. We all tease each other, and I will watch my teasing. And, as a bonus, I will stop hitting on Mia.”

  “It wasn’t working, was it?”

  “No. You have her spellbound. Are you feeding her drugs or something?”

  Ted laughed. “No. I just think we’re meant to be.”

  “Can I have a beer now?”

  “You can have two,” Ted said and reached out his hand and shook Mike’s.

  They walked into the kitchen together. Mia looked shyly over at Ted, and he winked at her. She blushed.

  “Before I forget, Alan’s going to join us at seven. He has some paperwork to finish up,” Burt announced.

  “How’s Hagan?” Audrey asked, spooning out some General Tao’s.

  “Last we saw, he was recovering. It’s going to be a long road. His appendix was crushed, and by the time he got into surgery, there was contamination all throughout his abdominal area,” Ted told them.

  “I heard a certain Father Santos was there,” Mike said.

  “You heard right,” Mia confirmed. “Pass me an eggroll, please.”

  “Anything else you would like to enlighten us with?” Mike asked the two of them.

  “I sorted out Doc Walter’s office. It was haunted,” Mia said as she bit into the eggroll. “Man, this is good.”

  Ted and she agreed that they wouldn’t bring up Angelo and company unless Alan did. Burt knew she was holding something back, but she managed to sidestep Mike with the office story.

  “You’re kidding?”

  Mia told the story between bites of dinner. Audrey was on the edge of her seat.

  “So, the guy was upset over these pictures.” Mike shook his head in disbelief.

  “His grandchildren drew them. One of them is serving in Afghanistan right now,” Mia added. “I’d want them too.”

  “Alright, this brings up a great question. What would you come back from the dead for?” Audrey asked the group.

  Burt thought a moment and couldn’t come up with anything.

  Cid reached into his back pocket and drew out a tiny level, explaining, “My dad gave this to me when he and I built my first tree house.”

  Mike thought a moment. “It would have to be my little league trophy.”

  “Watch out, he’s going to tell the grand slam story,” Ted warned.

  Audrey looked at Mia. “What would you come back from the dead for?”

  “Ted,” she said simply.

  Ted’s eyes filled up, Audrey observed. Burt was torn between being touched and being jealous. Mike opened his mouth to make a wisecrack and stopped himself. Cid’s eyes twinkled and he smiled.

  “What a way to stop a conversation, TM,” Ted said softly.

  Mia rolled her eyes and looked at Audrey. “Tell me, what’s your answer?”

  “You know I thought I had an answer, but then as you guys talked, I started wondering if you could come back for a moment, a day… A day that was the best day in your life?”

  “I think that is possible. It would explain some residual haunts,” Burt commented. “So what day is it?”

  “Today.”

  “Really, why?” Mia asked, grabbing Ted’s hand.

  “Today started off wi
th Mia and Ted being so kind and sharing their knowledge and time with me. Then we discovered the journals, and I was up to my armpits in information to slog through. Mike and Cid helped me and made me feel welcome. Burt, you’ve been a peach considering you must be in considerable pain. You’re this family, dysfunctional maybe, but you have each other’s backs. You resolve your problems.”

  “Didn’t used to be that way,” Burt admitted. “But we’re finding our way.”

  Audrey looked at Ted, and he put a finger to his lips. She changed the subject. “Is there another beer?”

  Mia walked over to the refrigerator and looked in. “Two.” She brought both out and handed one to Audrey and the other to Burt.

  CRACK! Murphy’s axe fell somewhere outside.

  “That’s Murph. Ted, come with me, it’s getting dark,” Mia asked. He grabbed his coat and followed her out the door.

  “There’s something else you should know, Audrey. Mia would come back for Ted, but Murphy is here for Mia. Mia would give her life for both of them. Ted has taken on a very complex relationship.”

  “A very unusual triangle,” Audrey mused, “but after all, they are very unusual people.”

  Mia ran in the direction of the woods with Ted close on her heels.

  CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! Three times the axe fell.

  “He’s in trouble. It’s his SOS.”

  Ted stopped a moment and looked around. “There to your right,” he called as he took off running again.

  Murphy was circling a black mass that repeatedly tried to form but failed.

  “Get away from him, he’s dangerous,” Mia called.

  “Trapped,” Murphy’s rarely heard voice bellowed. “Both trapped.”

  Ted reached Murphy first and directed his flashlight at the ground. There, circling the two entities was a two inch thick line of salt. “It’s a ghost trap,” he said to Mia as she caught up.

  She took her foot and broke the line. Murphy moved out of the ring. “Come on, you too,” she called to the entity. She stood back and watched it as it exited the ring. It moved off a few yards and then formed the shape of a very tall man.

  Ted put a protective arm around her.