House of Shadows

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  “So what is Christmas like at the castle?” I wondered, as I took a sip of my nice, hot, foamy latte, with whipped cream.

  “There hasn’t been one celebrated in four years, and the two before that were pretty subdued, as Second-Miles’ parents died the year before. It was very hard on him and Grandma Polly, as you can imagine,” Miles said.

  “What happened to his parents? I know there was an accident, but nothing else.”

  “They were forced off one of the narrow mountain roads, and killed, in a hit and run accident. Everyone believes there was alcohol involved. Not on their part, but because of it being New Year’s Eve. The conclusion was that the other driver had been drinking.”

  “How awful… I had a friend in high school who died, when she crashed her jeep into a light pole. She’d been drinking, and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Fortunately, no one else was involved. It’s so tragic, though.”

  “Yes… it is. I can’t tell you how relieved I was last year, knowing you were staying home, and not going out on New Year’s Eve. When you lose family like that… these mountain roads, plus intoxicated drivers, are a deadly mix.”

  “Poor Second-Miles… and then to die so young himself,” I lamented.

  Miles nodded.

  “I have to remind myself sometimes, that he was gone long before I even knew you… that he didn’t die so I would have a place in the family to fit back into.”

  I reached for Miles’ hand.

  “You do know the truth, right? You didn’t take Second-Miles’ place. It was left vacant. If you didn’t come back, then Alfred Sullivan wouldn’t be awaiting trial. Sure, he should be on trial for murder, not attempted, but if you didn’t come back, he wouldn’t be charged with anything. You were given those memories, and your testimony is important. He’d be running around free, giving Polly a very hard time because there was no longer any heir, if it wasn’t for you being here.”

  “I know,” Miles smiled softly. “I do.”

  “The Bannerman Foundation would have been dismantled too, if you weren’t here to arrange for it to be legally protected.”

  “I know,” Miles said again. “I do. I’m not feeling guilty. I’m very thankful to be here, and to be able to do all of those things, and more.”

  “Okay, good,” I said in relief. “So tell me about Christmas at the castle, when you were young.”

  “Well… here’s a history fact for you. Did you know that Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday, until forty-nine days after—uh, the incident in the clearing?” Miles asked, as another couple sat at the table next to ours.

  “No way! I did not know that,” I said in surprise.

  The waitress delivered our pastries, then hurried on to the next table. The café was already crowded, and growing more so.

  “I don’t know what Grandma Polly has planned for this year,” Miles continued. “She may have the whole place decked out like she did at Thanksgiving. Or, she may leave it up to us, to start our own traditions.”

  “The parlor would be beautiful with a tree, all in sparkling white lights. And the ballroom… we could fit so many trees into your castle!”

  Miles smiled.

  “Our castle. And I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to making our own traditions.”

  “Me too. Do we really have to wait until May?” I said impulsively.

  Miles smiled softly.

  “I think you’ll be disappointed someday, if we scrap the wedding plans. The way you pore over Bride magazines, I get the impression you’re looking forward to it.”

  I rolled my eyes dramatically. “All right, if you say so.”

  Miles just smiled, and changed the subject. He also glanced at his watch.

  “Since you appear to be finished, and I know I am, why don’t we go and empty this table for someone else. We have one more stop to make, and it’s about time we were on our way there.”

  “Where are we going?” I wondered, as he helped me with my coat.

  “You shall see,” Miles smiled.

  “How long will we be there?”

  “I’m not sure how long this will take,” he grinned at me. “That’s all up to you.”

  Mystified, I watched the streets pass by as Miles drove through an unfamiliar part of town. He pulled into the driveway of a large two-story white house with blue trim, and large picture windows. It looked like a private residence.

  What in the world was this?

  Miles knocked on the door, and a plump grandmotherly lady answered. She had a cat draped across her shoulder.

  “You must be Miles, and Anika!” she said cheerfully. “Come in, come in!”

  In we came.

  “Right this way,” she said, ushering us up the stairs, to a room at the end of the hall. She opened the door, and we followed her inside.

  “Oh my goodness…” I was overwhelmed by all the soft fluffiness around me.

  There were kittens playing, sleeping, eating, and rubbing all over our ankles. Every imaginable color, and all too cute for words!

  “Mrs. Henry runs Kitty Kare, a shelter for homeless cats,” Miles explained. “So… take your time, and pick out the newest member of the family.”

  I sat on the floor and just watched the adorable little fur balls. I was in love with every one of them.

  “I’ll leave you to play with the kittens,” beamed Mrs. Henry, as she exited the room. “You can let me know, when you make up your mind.”

  “How will I ever decide?” I asked Miles. I was completely overwhelmed by the adorable little felines.

  “Take your time, there’s no hurry,” Miles smiled.

  A little gray bundle with huge blue eyes, hopped onto my lap and meowed at me.

  “He really likes you,” Miles said, as the little guy curled up and purred, his eyes half-closed.

  “He does, doesn’t he,” I said, gently touching his soft little ears with my finger. “I’m in love. This is the one I want.”

  “Then this one is yours,” Miles smiled.

  I sat there, softly smoothing my kitten’s shadowy gray fur. I glanced at Miles’ knee, and at the gray kitten who’d taken up residence there. Miles looked down at the kitten as he pet it.

  “They’re kind of a matched set, aren’t they? It only seems fair, Trixie and Chip have each other…”

  “Do you mean it?” I asked, and Miles smiled.

  “Sure, why not.”

  “Do you think my landlord will mind?” I teased.

  “As far as your landlord is concerned, you can do no wrong and anything you want, you can have,” Miles said, with a melting look.

  I leaned over and kissed his cheek.

  “Thank you,” I said. “Next to you being here with me… this is the best Christmas gift you could ever give me.”

  “I’m glad,” Miles smiled.

  I was almost as thrilled with the kittens, as I was the engagement ring he gave me. I held them as we drove back to the apartment building.

  “What are you going to name them?” asked Miles.

  “I don’t know… I think I’ll have to get to know them a little bit, first.”

  We walked into the apartment, and Chip and Trixie immediately wanted to examine the furry little bundles.

  “Be easy,” I said, as Miles and I each knelt with a kitten in our hands, so the dogs could get a look at their new little brother and sister.

  Chip was fascinated. Since Dad is so allergic, we never had a cat, and he didn’t know what to think. Trixie sniffed of the kittens, but then lay back down, her curiosity satisfied.

  We set down my furry Christmas presents. Chip watched, while my kitten rubbed all around my ankles, then Miles’, then took off exploring. The kitten that chose Miles, stretched and climbed onto the couch.

  “I love them,” I said.

  “Good,” Miles smiled. I gave him a hug, and kissed him.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome,” he replied.

  “Want to orde
r Chinese, and watch a movie?” I asked.

  “That sounds great,” agreed Miles. “You choose the movie, and I’ll go next door and get the rest of your present. It’s kind of a package deal.”

  “And what would that be?” I wanted to know.

  “You’ve got kittens, they need a litter box and scratching post. And food.”

  The boy kitten came running, and hopped up against my leg, Chip following right behind. I picked the kitten up, and he purred as I held him against my cheek.

  “Don’t you just love him?” I asked in ecstasy.

  Miles kissed my forehead on the way out the door. “I do. He has excellent taste.”

  I scooped up the little girl kitten, as she raced on her fat little legs to try and follow Miles out the door.

  “She does, too,” I said.

  Miles was soon back, and we found a good spot for the litter box in the laundry room. We placed food and water dishes in the kitchen, and both kittens examined everything curiously. They were so friendly, and seemed to like their new home.

  I looked for a movie and Miles ordered Chinese food, which soon arrived.

  We sat down with our dinner and our movie. From behind us, a little gray fur-ball came flying, nearly knocking over my container of sweet and sour chicken.

  “You came out of nowhere,” Miles said. He reached across me to scratch under my kitten’s chin, and looked around to see if he could find his launch point. “He must have jumped from the back of that recliner.”

  I followed his gaze. That was the only explanation.

  I looked at my stealthy cat, and knew what to call him.

  “Night Furry,” I said.

  “Like the Night Fury dragon, in ‘How to Train your Dragon’?”

  “Yes! It’s one of our favorite movies, and I think it’s perfect. I love it. And I love Night Furry,” I said, setting my dinner on the coffee table so I could cuddle Night.

  “Good, Night it is.”

  I shoulder bumped Miles affectionately.

  “I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun with that name.”

  “Night is falling,” Miles pointed out, as Night hopped off my lap and onto the floor.

  I groaned.

  “If Night had a horse, what would it be called?”

  “Unusual,” I retorted, and he laughed.

  “Yes, it would be. But the answer is, a Night mare.”

  “Stop, you’re killing me!” I laughed.

  Miles smiled, but took pity on me. We ate in companionable silence, as Night continued to explore. We watched him as he figured out how to get as high as he possibly could.

  “So what about her?” Miles asked, as the little girl kitten raced by.

  Before I could answer, the door opened. Jenny was home.

  “Hi guys,” she said, as she locked the door and set down her purse.

  “Hi. Want Chinese?” I asked. “Miles ordered extra.”

  “That does sound good,” Jenny decided, as she washed her hands at the kitchen sink.

  “So what have you two been up to?” she asked, as Night came tearing around the corner and into the kitchen, his sister hot on his heels. Jenny screamed and shot backward. Fortunately, she didn’t have a plate in her hand yet, and there was a chair behind her.

  “I’m so sorry!” I hurried to say. “This is my Christmas present, Night Furry.”

  “Good to know,” she said, holding her hand over her pounding heart. Night halted his mad dash through the apartment, and looking up at Jenny, he meowed in greeting. “Oh, he is so polite! Other than nearly scaring me to death, of course. And who’s this?”

  “Night’s sister, for now. We haven’t thought of a name yet,” I said, as the little gray kitten dug her tiny little claws into Miles’ jeans, and settled on his knee. Then, she hopped off and chased her brother some more.

  We didn’t watch the movie after all, we were having too much fun watching Night and his sister as they explored, and double-teamed a toy mouse.

  “I know what your name should be,” Miles said, lifting the little girl kitten out of an almost empty box of rice. “Pandora.”

  “That’s cute,” I said. “Night Furry and Pandora.”

  Since Miles and I were heading back to Cedar Oaks in the morning, we decided to call it an early night. Jenny went to bed and I walked Miles to the door, then kissed him goodnight and locked it behind him.

  I scooped up Night, and hugged him. He purred, and looked at me with those amazing eyes of his. I already loved having a cat. Pandora scurried over, and I picked her up too, and she purred and rubbed against my cheek.

  In the middle of the night, I woke up. Night Furry and Pandora were both curled up next to me, purring.

  “Best Christmas present ever,” I said softly, as I pet them.

  I smiled, and went back to sleep.

  The next day we were packed up, in our vehicle, and ready to leave for the castle, when we remembered the note that was left for Miles at the security counter.

  “I’d rather take care of this before we take off, than after we get there,” Miles said.

  “I would too,” I agreed.

  We unloaded ourselves, the dogs, and the kittens, and Miles carefully lifted the heavily perfumed pink envelope out of the glove compartment. He carried it in one hand, and the pet carrier where Night and Pandora complained, in the other. We walked back to my apartment, Chip and Trixie right behind us.

  I opened the door and Miles set the kittens down, then he carried the envelope to the desk. His forehead furrowed slightly, as he looked at it.

  “I wish we had gloves.”

  “Oh! We do!” I suddenly remembered. I ran through Jenny’s room, to her bathroom.

  I came back, holding a pair of clear silicone gloves in my hand.

  “Jenny sometimes highlights her hair. The solution comes with gloves, which Jenny never uses, she says they’re cheap and a pain, so—she said I could use them if I found a purpose.”

  Miles put on the gloves, and slit the envelope with a kitchen knife. He slid a small card out of the envelope, and opened it.

  We both looked at it, and I rolled my eyes.

  “That’s about as bad as the texts I was getting.”

  “Who in the world is doing this?” he asked in frustration. He put the card back in the envelope, then put the envelope into the larger envelope I held open for him.

  “And why are they doing it?” I added.

  “It’s beyond me,” he said, dropping into the desk chair and running a hand through his hair.

  I kneaded his shoulders, trying to relieve some of the tension I knew would be there.

  “I know you don’t have a girlfriend,” I said.

  “But we do appear to have an enemy…” Miles frowned as he became lost in thought.

  “Any enemies you had, died a long time ago,” I reasoned. “I don’t have any enemies, so it would have to be Second-Miles’ enemy.”

  Miles thought about it, and shook his head. “From what Paul says… I don’t think this has anything to do with Second-Miles, or me, or you, personally. But what that leaves us with, I don’t know.”

  “Maybe there will be fingerprints to point out the perpetrator. Are you going to take this to the police?” I wondered.

  “No,” Miles said firmly. “Let’s think about all the evidence we have. Multiple claims that I’m an unfaithful fiancé, and so are you. For all the police would know, we’re guilty and trying to cover in front of each other. It’s easier to prove something is true, than to prove that it isn’t. So no. But, we are definitely checking this for fingerprints. We’ll go through the security service that supplies the guards I use for my various businesses, such as Steve, in the lobby.”

  “Let’s talk to Steve on our way out,” I suggested. “Maybe he’ll remember who left this at the desk for you.”

  “Good idea,” Miles said, as he pulled me into a hug. “And thank you for not letting all of these crazy things cause you to doubt me.”

 
“I could never doubt you, best friend, fiancé, honorable guy that you are. Thank you though, for not doubting me either,” I said. I hugged him hard, and then let go. “I’ll grab Night and Pandora, you grab the evidence, and let’s go question Steve!”

  We took the elevator to the lobby. I was glad to see Steve sitting at the counter, rather than taking that moment to take a break.

  “Hey, Steve,” Miles said. “Were you here when the note from yesterday was dropped off for me?”

  “Yes sir, I was,” said Steve.

  “What did the person who delivered it look like?”

  Steve thought. “Well, she was very blond. In her thirties, maybe.”

  “Was she dressed in a toddler-sized outfit?” I asked.

  Steve looked startled, but Miles laughed.

  “You have such a way with words.”

  Steve hesitated uncertainly as he looked from me, to Miles, and back again.

  “Well, yes ma’am, that would be one way to put it. She was rather… sparsely dressed,” Steve answered.

  “It’s the same woman,” I said with certainty.

  “Let’s hope so. Otherwise, there’s more than one,” Miles pointed out.

  I didn’t know whether to laugh, or look horrified at the thought. Steve watched us for a couple of seconds, as I tried to decide, then he turned to Miles.

  “I want to say right off that I don’t believe this, but she strongly hinted that…” Steve turned beet red. “That you and she, uh, have a relationship.”

  Miles gave a low whistle.

  “Thanks for telling us that, Steve,” I said.

  “Yes ma’am, I don’t know what she’s trying to pull, but I thought it best you should know.”

  “Thank you, Steve. You’re right, and you’ve been a big help,” Miles assured him. “If this woman comes back, do not trust her, and call me immediately. And when Don gets here, have him digitize the security tape from yesterday, and email it to me.”

  “Yes sir, will do.”

  We loaded back into the vehicle. Miles dropped the bagged note by the security office and gave instructions that it be handled ASAP, and finally—we were on our way!

  The first thing I noticed as we pulled up to the front of the castle, was the worried expression on Polly’s face. What was responsible for the anxiety in her eyes?