Remembering the half-dozen times I’d caught Jeffrey Becker napping in the My Haunted Plantation van brought a smile to my face. The kid used to drive me crazy with that crap, but now I’d give anything to have those days back. To have Jessica back.
“I mean, thanks for inviting me along. I don’t think many investigators would do that nowadays. I’m kind of damaged goods.”
“Yeah, well, I’m kind of desperate,” I lied. I could have reached out to someone else, but the truth was I wanted Becker here. He was part of the team for better or for worse. No, that’s marriage. I don’t know. My brain hurts. After a few minutes, I had to ask the question. I hadn’t intended to ask him anything about those events, but I had to know.
“Tell me you only did it that once.”
“Yeah, I know I screwed up. I’ve been paying for it every day since that day. I should never have tinkered with evidence. I’m sorry I did. I let you down with that whole thing, but I won’t let you down again.”
“Just tell me. Was it all a hoax? I really trusted you, man.”
“It wasn’t just that once.”
Well, I’d asked the question. Now, what was I going to do with that information? Did I want to know more? Potentially, Jeffrey Becker had put my entire career and all my work with the Paranormal Channel in jeopardy because of his shenanigans. And for what?
“I didn’t think it up on my own, Mike. It wasn’t even my idea. Not in the beginning.”
I sat up as straight as a board. “Then whose idea was it?” When he didn’t answer that question, my mind filled in the blanks. Oh, I see. Megan. My ex. Damn it. That’s what he was talking about earlier. Megan had been cheating, but not the way I expected. She’d cheated on the evidence. She’d cheated our investigation by working with Becker to jump the damn shark. Great.
I reached over and turned off the lamp. “Let’s leave it that. I don’t want to know anything else. I don’t want to know. Forget about it. We’re okay, Becker. Let’s just find Jessica and bring her home.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “What if we can’t find her?”
I hesitated a minute. I didn’t even want to consider that possibility. “Do I need to tuck you in or something, or can I go to sleep now?”
“Nope. I’m good. Thanks.”
Becker turned the television down but didn’t turn it off. That didn’t bother me. I was used to sleeping with the television on.
It helped drown out the voices.
So many voices. So many ghosts. I couldn’t live with one more.
Chapter Twelve
Avery Dufresne
Reed wheeled me into the ballroom a few minutes before seven, and I was surprised to see we were the last ones to arrive. Lucas hovered behind Arnold Lee like a mama bird. His son waved at us while Dolly Jane sat in her comfy chair and looked bored, but then she always looked bored. I tried not to read too much into that. Robin had thoughtfully brought in five chairs and arranged them in a circle. Danforth had red cheeks, a sure sign that he’d decided to partake of a bit of bourbon before coming down here. A dab of courage for the battle ahead. That’s what he was thinking. I don’t know how I knew it, but I did, just as sure as I knew my own name.
Okay, add telepathy to my bag of tricks.
“Thank you for being here, everyone. I appreciate you all more than I can say. You must think I’m being dramatic, insisting that we meet here in the ballroom, but this would be about the time that Jessica disappeared, and this is certainly the place. Tomorrow, Jessica’s friends from her paranormal team are coming to Sugar Hill to search for her. But before they do that, Reed thought it would be a good idea if we looked for her ourselves. She did disappear with us, amongst all the Dufresnes. However, I don’t want any of you to get hurt. If you feel at all that you’re in danger at any time, I want you to leave the ballroom. Lucas, that goes double for you. If you think it’s unsafe for you or Arnold Lee, you take him and go. I will understand. We will understand completely. No hard feelings. I haven’t asked you here as the Matrone. You were asked to come because we consider you our friends. Friends with abilities that can help us locate Jessica. Even if nothing comes of all this we need to try.”
Danforth respectfully nodded while Lucas hugged his son. Arnold Lee perched in his lap and tugged on his father’s shirt. He desperately wanted me to see his picture, so I accepted it with a smile. The child’s drawing skills had improved so much, and he’d begun to add a lot of detail to each picture. Hmm…we’d have to make sure we supported this boy’s dreams. He would certainly make a great artist one day. This picture was unusual because Arnold Lee had sketched it out as if it were a comic book. The long sheet of paper was drawn into eight square boxes, like a comic strip. The first box was easy to recognize. That was Arnold Lee and his grandfather. They both wore chauffeur’s hats and were standing side by side. There were musical notes swirling all around them.
“I know who that is, Arnold Lee. That’s your grandpa, right? That’s Handsome Cheever.”
He smiled and pointed to the box next to that one. “And that is Daddy. He’s wearing his special boots because it is really muddy out.”
“Really? Let’s take a look. That looks like a pond in the background. Is he working down at the pond?” Arnold Lee gave me a thumbs-up and pointed to the next few frames. The last one caught my eye. Jessica was the only character in that one. She was lying in a bed with her eyes closed, looking like a pale princess in her green dress. Her hands were folded over her chest. Did this mean she was dead? I couldn’t ask him that. I felt tears burn my eyes.
And then I heard Arnold Lee humming a tune. What was that? Gloomy Sunday? “How long have you been singing that song, Arnold Lee? I like that song.”
“Since a few days ago. But I don’t like it much. It’s the only one she sings. She used to sing Pennies From Heaven. I like that one. I wish she would sing that one again.” He pointed to another frame of the drawing. “See that?”
What was that? A well? I knew there was a well on the property. Back when I first arrived here, when Susanna reached out to me and my ex-producer Amanda tried to kill me, I’d fought a desperate spirit right at that location. Handsome had been the one to save me. Where would I be without him? I miss you, Handsome!
“Let me look a little closer. Is that a well?” I asked Arnold Lee politely.
Dolly Jane leaned over and laughed. “That is a portal. You can see the air swirling around.”
“I do see it. Thank you, Arnold Lee.” His beautiful smile lit his face, and with it came a truckload of guilt. No way could I allow this child to interact with the paranormal. Not at this level. Reed’s sad expression confirmed what I was thinking. “Lucas, you go ahead and take Arnold Lee on home now.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Absolutely. Thank you for the picture, Arnold Lee. This is exactly what we needed. You keep on drawing. You helped us out big time.”
“I will. I will keep drawing!”
Lucas stood up and mouthed, “Thank you,” to me, and I gave him a grim smile. No, they didn’t belong here. Lucas was right. His father had already given the ultimate sacrifice. Did this house require more from the Cheever bloodline? No, it did not. As Matrone, I would not allow it.
You hear me, Fate? You will not touch that boy or his father!
And now there were just four of us: Danforth, Reed, Dolly Jane and me. “Everyone all right? Dolly Jane? Danforth, are you ready to get started?” I asked him anxiously.
“Yes, I’m ready.” With shaking hands, Danforth removed the pocket watch from his pocket. It was still wrapped in a napkin. He held it in the palm of his hand, and his other hand hovered over it, not touching it. He waved his hand while he closed his eyes.
This went on for a minute or so until Dolly Jane said, “Are you going to touch it or what?” She was as curious as I was about the whole process, only just a little ruder. Well, she was quite like Summer in that regard. I was a direct person, but Summer didn’t tolerat
e nonsense.
“Yes, but I am waiting for the right person to show up. Lots of people have touched this item, including you, young lady. Be patient. I have to go back quite a ways.”
“Oh, I see what you’re doing.” Dolly Jane sat up now, completely mesmerized by Danforth’s wicking. “It’s almost like you’re swiping away the wrong energy and searching for the right one.”
Danforth stopped what he was doing and opened his eyes. “You have the gift too, child, but you’re too afraid to use it.”
“I’m not afraid, and I am not a child. I’m fifteen, thank you very much.”
I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Is Danforth right, Dolly Jane? Do you know how to wick?”
“No, but I think I can do it since I’m seeing him work. I can do a lot of things.” She grinned that sneaky Summer grin but didn’t provide any further information.
Smart girl. Play your cards close to your vest, then.
Danforth said, “As I mentioned earlier, a person’s wicking ability diminishes if someone else present has a greater gift, but I shall try.” He closed his eyes again, and we all watched. “I see many faces, but not the one I am looking for.” He continued to swipe as if he were turning the pages of a book. Suddenly he shouted, “Ah! He knows me. He has seen me, Avery. He knows I’m there, and that I’m looking for Jessica.” Danforth’s face turned red, and he clutched the pocket watch as if he were in a great struggle with some invisible force. He grunted as he squeezed the watch.
I thought for sure he would break it, and then where would be? We needed that watch! Danforth’s face continued to redden, and he clenched his eyes shut.
“Reed! Do something!” And then finally, Danforth gave up the fight, and the watch dropped on the floor. He breathed heavily as I watched in horror. Before any of us could think, Dolly Jane picked it up the watch.
She held it in her hand oddly, with the chain drooped over her wrist. With a determined expression, she said, “The door is open! I can see it!”
I could barely keep up with everything that was happening. Danforth shouted, “Dolly Jane, don’t do it!” He was crying so hard that I immediately pushed my chair beside him.
“It’s okay, Danforth. That’s enough for tonight. We tried. Please, that’s enough.” I was crying too, and I was confused. “Reed, Dolly Jane, let’s go to the…”
But she wasn’t there. “Dolly Jane?” I repeated. My younger cousin had disappeared, and nobody had seen her leave, not even me. “Dolly Jane! Where are you?”
Danforth continued to cry and blubber. “He saw me, Avery. I should have fought harder. The Lovely Man used to come to me too. I knew him. He would bring me presents when I was young, trinkets, jewels, and money. He asked me to do things for him, and because I was a child, I listened to him. I did horrible things. He knows me!” Danforth was losing it, and I didn’t know what to do about it or what to make of his confession.
“Where is Dolly Jane, Danforth? Where is she right now?”
“She’s done what I can’t do, and you can’t either, Avery. We’re not as strong as she is. Dolly Jane is stronger than all of us, even stronger than Summer. She’s with him now, gone to find Jessica, but I do not know if he will let her go.”
Reed swore under his breath. He didn’t make eye contact with me, and I couldn’t do anything except stare at the empty space where Dolly Jane used to be. Used to be. She was no more. Not here. What was happening in this ballroom? “Come on, Danforth. Let’s get you out of here. I’d better take him up to his room and put him to bed. Avery, will you be all right here for a minute?”
“Yes,” I said as I wiped tears from my eyes. “I’ll be here.”
“All right,” he said in a worried tone. Danforth cried all the way down the hall. I could hear him crying as he climbed the steps.
And now, not one young woman was missing but two. Dolly Jane was gone through the open door. But who opened it? Her or the Lovely Man? Yes, indeed, Ambrose would want to fill his Lovely Garden, as Danforth put it. He would want to keep beauties like Dolly Jane and Jessica by his side, but what power would he have over Jessica? She was not a Dufresne.
Ah, but Dolly Jane…she was our blood. Dufresne blood through and through. With Summer gone and my refusal to summon Ambrose to me, well, Dolly Jane would be the natural heir of that spirit. With her natural paranormal abilities and quick mind, she would be irresistible to him. Too much of a temptation for a spirit still bound by the old curse.
Why was this happening? The curse had been broken. Handsome gave his life to see it ended! Why did it continue?
Ambrose had orchestrated this, and he’d done this for a reason. I knew what was happening. I knew what was going on. Ambrose wanted me back, and he didn’t care what he had to do to get to me. I was still the Matrone. Dolly Jane was a pawn in his game, and I had underestimated him. He was reaching for me again with his cold, dead fingers. I sobbed in my chair and attempted to wheel myself out of the empty ballroom.
I could hear a voice near my ear, but I didn’t open my eyes. It wasn’t Reed. It wasn’t anyone living. It was Ambrose, and he was whispering in my ear.
Yes, my lovely one. I would cross time itself…
Chapter Thirteen
Dominick Dufresne
I left to seek Doctor Montrose’s help, and Madlen was by Ophelia’s bedside when I returned. To my surprise, Ophelia had opened her eyes. Although she could not speak much, for she was still far too weak for that, my sweet wife smiled at me lovingly. I didn’t dare to believe that she was awake.
“Ophelia? Can this be true? You came back to me. Oh my darling, you’re alive!” I sobbed as I clutched her pale hand and sat beside her. I swallowed the insults that I had intended to hurl Madlen’s way. After all, she had brought my Ophelia back from the brink of death.
“What medicines did you use, madam?” Doctor Montrose asked her suspiciously. Undoubtedly, he was distrustful of the governess because she was a woman, or because she had an accent or simply because she had done what no one else had been able to do, snatch my wife from the jaws of death and pull her back into the light! For that, I would be eternally grateful.
“Yes, Madlen. What did you do?” I asked as I sat beside my wife. Ophelia squeezed my hand, and I kissed the back of it. The smell of death had left her skin. Not everyone could smell such things, but I had learned to accept from an early age that I could. Mother saw her ghosts, and Annalee believed in her spells, but I smelled death and knew when it was near. For the first time in many days, it was gone, gone from Ophelia completely. I wanted to pick her up and dance about the room with her.
Doctor Montrose spoke angrily to Madlen, accusing her of witchcraft or some such nonsense, but she did not back down. Her accent had all but disappeared, which I found strange, but I was too relieved to think much about it. The doctor huffed away from her and picked up my wife’s hand, presumably to check her pulse. I could not help but laugh for joy at the sight of the color returning to her skin.
“Please look at me, Mrs. Dufresne. Can you see me?” He snapped his fingers in front of her face. My wife obediently nodded her head but appeared weak and uncomfortable. I wasn’t eager to make her talk more or wear herself out to the extent that she closed her eyes again.
“Ophelia, dearest…”
“You should know, sir, that certain poisons can create the effect of healing, but they will in fact deliver quite the opposite result. I know this woman’s reputation, this Madlen. She isn’t a physician, I assure you. Far from it.”
“But look at my wife. She is awake!”
Red-faced, he set his leather bag on the table and directed his attention to me. “This woman is not qualified to care for your wife, sir. Please send her away, or I cannot be responsible for what happens here. This woman has been in your brother’s…” Montrose paused here, his face an even darker shade of red. “Employ, and their relationship has been the subject of much talk about town. It is even said that she is a witch!” Madlen neither admitted nor den
ied this accusation.
And what about me? Hadn’t I spoken to the darkness? Hadn’t I offered myself in exchange for my wife? Maybe that was who this Madlen truly was. Perhaps the doctor was correct.
Fear gripped me now. “What did you do, Madlen? Please explain to the doctor what you did to awaken my wife.”
She didn’t speak right away. “I held her hand and prayed with her. That is all.” Madlen’s voice was not quite the same. She seemed softer, more vulnerable, and the accent was gone completely.
“Why make such a fuss? This is what we wanted. However it happened, my wife has opened her eyes again, and I will not question the why or how. Ophelia is all that matters to me. I love her more than life.”
“You see? She is deceitful!” Doctor Montrose was having none of it. Did he even care that Ophelia had improved? “Mind your tongue, sir. I have heard it said that you Dufresnes lack respect for holy things, but such matters are not to be taken lightly and are not profitable for any Christian man to partake in! Or am I to believe you approve of this woman’s witchcraft?”
Madlen spoke again in perfect English. “I am no witch, but I know more about healing than you ever will!”
Ophelia’s eyes filled with tears and she squeezed my hand. Here we were, fighting with one another while my wife fought for her life.
“Come, Doctor. Let me have my man prepare you a room. You can rest for the evening and leave in the morning. My Ophelia needs her rest, sir.”
Doctor Montrose did not like that idea at all. “I will not stay in this house another minute with this woman. I, for one, care about my reputation.”
“Fine, then let me show you to the door. There is no need for you to remain in such an accursed place.”
“We don’t have much time. Jessica? I know it is you. My name is Dolly Jane, Dolly Jane Dufresne. Avery sent me to find you, Jessica. You have to come back to your time. You don’t belong here, and neither do I. We have to go.” I reached for the glass of water on the bedside table and helped her take a sip.
The Hauntings Of Sugar Hill: The Complete Series Page 67