Shadows Fall

by Denise A. Agnew

  “Wow,” she said softly.

  He kissed her forehead and smiled down on her. “Yeah. Let’s go back.”

  She sobered. “Wait. Tell me what else is bothering you? I can feel it.”

  He sighed. “I was estranged from Mom when she disappeared. She didn’t write about that in her journal.” His breath caught in his throat, words hard to push out. “I regret not talking to her more after she moved here.”

  “What happened?”

  “I was tired of her moodiness, of her inability to stick to anything. She constantly jumped from thing to thing to thing. From the words she wrote in her journal, she’d calmed somewhat. Medication helped, but it wasn’t everything. When she mentioned ghosts in this place once ...”

  Understanding blossomed in Melissa’s eyes. “You didn’t take her seriously.”

  “No.”

  “You blame yourself now.”

  “Maybe. If I’d listened, maybe things would be different now.”

  “There’s no way for you to know that.”

  He went quiet, unsure how to react to her faith in him, in her belief that he couldn’t have made a difference.

  “You’re a wonderful man, Roarke. You did everything you thought you could do for her. There was no reason for you to believe what she said about ghosts. Give yourself a little slack at least.”

  “I’ll try.”

  As they headed back to the condo, Roarke glanced back at the tree line. Why had he been walking that way?

  * * *

  The noise in the rotunda proved obnoxious later that evening. The place was swimming with people who’d paid big bucks to participate in a paranormal investigation and to watch the expert team do their thing. Many of them had brought their own equipment. One couple looked to be in their early thirties or twenties and another couple in their sixties. None of them were from Simple.

  “I don’t think ghosts will show up tonight,” Roarke said as he stood close to Melissa.

  “Why?” She frowned at him.

  “Too damn loud.”

  She snorted a laugh, and one of the CMHPI team members gave her a glance from his position not too far away. Piers Arms narrowed his blue gaze from behind his silver-rimmed glasses. Wheat blond, tall and thin as a pipe cleaner, he had classic good looks honed down to a sharp edge. He wore geek like a cliché. His white button-down Oxford shirt was tucked into gray slacks pressed with razor point creases. She half expected him to come over and chastise them.

  Roarke slipped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently. “Watch out,” he kept his voice to a whisper, “Piers will make sure a ghost haunts your pretty little ass if you aren’t careful.”

  Roarke kissed her sweetly, and the hot rush of attraction swirled through her body and spread like wildfire. She smiled up at him, well aware Jana had taken a glance in their direction and was giving them the royal stink-eye. Too bad. Melissa felt possessive of Roarke, and she’d admitted that to herself. Yet something wonderful and genuine had passed between them this morning at the graveyard. She sensed a deeper connection with him now, and it went beyond sex.

  “Be nice.” Melissa pinched his arm a little. “Piers is just serious about his job. Everyone else is, too.”

  Everyone else on the team seemed as nice as Darcy. Pippa Collingwood was about thirty, but she looked about twenty with her tie-die smock pulled over a white turtleneck, and her faded bell bottom jeans and hiking boots. Her chin length, curly hair was so blond it looked as white as snow. Her quick wit and friendly smile added to her overall attractiveness.

  Magnus Danforth, an immigrant from England twenty years ago, was the technical manager for the group. A tall bear of a man, he sported a thick gray beard and bushy salt and pepper hair that tangled around his collar. He wore jeans and a navy blue sweater. His hearty laugh boomed around the rotunda.

  Yvette Tanner, probably somewhere around thirty, was the youngest member of the group. Her platinum blonde hair swayed around her shoulders in a straight line and gleamed under the bright lights. She stood talking with one of the paying guests for the event. Her eyebrows were dark, her eyes equally so. She was plump, sharp-witted, and acted no-nonsense most of the time. Melissa wondered if she’d learned that from Piers. She wore a heavy sweater and jeans, too.

  Melissa was glad she’d come down to the rotunda earlier in the day to watch Darcy and her team set up. She’d learned a little about their equipment and the strategy behind it. They used EMF meters to gauge possible electromagnetic fields present from natural or paranormal sources. One theory said the presence of a ghost might be proven by a high electromagnetic field. Darcy had mentioned that the paranormal could draw energy from existing fields to help the ghosts manifest and possibly communicate. Melissa had heard the theories before, but found it fascinating to watch a team apply them. They used ambient digital thermometers to detect air temperature changes around them. They used digital recorders to catch electronic voice phenomena. She heard them toss around names for other equipment like K-2, TriField meters that were placed at different locations and ones that were handheld. They also used motion detectors. Beyond those basics, they’d set up a base of operations in one of the administration offices with computers and other equipment where at least one member of the team would monitor operations on a multi-camera DVR system with a flat-panel monitor and wireless audio. They would keep tabs on all the recorders taking video in the various rooms. Darcy, Pippa, Magnus, Piers, and Yvette all had two-way walkie talkies to ensure communication if needed.

  Henrietta and Bradley walked in a few moments later, their eagerness evident in beaming smiles and good attitudes. Henrietta and Bradley hugged the stuffing out of Melissa and did the same thing with Roarke.

  “Well, would you look at this,” Bradley said as he stood next to Roarke. “This is quite a set up. I’ve always wanted to go on a paranormal investigation.”

  “Don’t get too excited.” Henrietta looked up at her husband. “I understand most of the time these things go very, very slow.” Henrietta grabbed Melissa’s arm and whispered, “Look. Jana is having a pout fest. She’s glaring at us.”

  Melissa gave her friend a lopsided smile. “That isn’t anything new is it?”

  “You’re right.” Henrietta sighed. “We should be in the same group together tonight.” She circled her husband’s waist and squeezed. “Methinks Bradley and Roarke should go together. Roarke has more experience with the ghosts around here than Bradley does.”

  “What do you think?” Roarke looked down on Melissa.

  “Henrietta and I will be great together. Darcy has equipment for us and everything.”

  Darcy was talking with Jana on the other side of the rotunda, and the investigator’s animated expression turned disgusted.

  “Looks like Darcy has discovered Jana’s true personality,” Bradley said.

  Henrietta elbowed him in the ribs. “Shhh. Don’t talk so loud.”

  Darcy whistled loudly and the group went silent. “Hello everyone. Now that we’ve had time to mingle and get to know each other a little bit, and you’ve been briefed on use of the equipment, we need to get started. Because we’re using IR cameras tonight we’ll have to go lights out, otherwise I’d say keep lights on.”

  “I thought ghosts only showed up in the dark,” one man off to the side said.

  Darcy’s expression stayed neutral. “No, it doesn’t always work that way. Now, I’d like to introduce Jana Peterson. Many of you have already met her. She works with Steele Company, which runs this wonderful building.”

  Jana walked to the center of the group. Today she wore jeans and a sweater—a look Melissa had never seen on the woman before. Interesting.

  Jana held both hands up as if she planned to make a huge pronouncement. “Everyone, I am so glad you’re here with Colorado Mile High Paranormal Investigations this evening. Welcome again. Steele Company thanks you for taking this adventure with us before Halloween. We hope you find a lot of ghosts. After Halloween, we pla
n to banish them. You’ve had a chance to meet the team, so I won’t introduce them again. We do have group assignments, though, just to make sure the mini teams we send out tonight are evenly distributed. Darcy and I have made those decisions. We hope you don’t mind.”

  Melissa glanced up at Roarke and traded equal glances with Henrietta. Melissa could hardly wait to see Jana’s influence on who went where. Jana picked up a clipboard from the check in desk and rattled off names. Henrietta, Darcy, Melissa and five other guests were in the same group. Roarke, Bradley, Jana, Magnus led another five people. Yvette had another small group. Pippa and Piers stayed with their command central set up in the administration area.

  Darcy chimed in. “Now that you have your assignments, check out the equipment at the table over here. Remember to bring the equipment back at the end of the evening. We don’t have enough for everyone, so if the groups can share, that’s great. We hope that you’ll have a great time tonight. Our group will analyze any of your evidence after tonight if you’d like. We want to make sure we get as much information on this place as possible.” Darcy’s cheerful expression sobered. “Number one thing to remember ... if anyone feels uncomfortable tonight for any reason, or scared at all, you can quit at any time. Come back to command central. Piers will be here. We plan to investigate until at least midnight, but of course leave whenever you’ve had enough. There are no rules for how long you stay. At midnight we’d like everyone finished, though. Okay, let’s go.”

  Roarke kissed Melissa again and released her. “See you later.”

  As he walked toward Magnus’s group, Melissa had a sudden, inexplicable panic enfold her. She had to take a deep breath to calm it.

  “What’s wrong?” Henrietta asked as she watched Bradley head for the same group.

  “Nothing.”

  Henrietta gave her a doubtful look. “You can’t fool me, girlfriend. I can see it on your face.”

  Melissa tried to shrug off the unsettled feeling “Just a strange feeling. Like spiders crawling over me.”

  “Damn,” Henrietta whispered. “That’s not good. I have the same feeling.”

  Chapter 23

  Three hours had gone by on the investigation and so far nothing had happened. As Melissa followed Darcy and the others toward yet another room to investigate, she clutched the EMF meter in her right hand a little too tightly. She had the jitters, and that bothered the hell out of her since nothing weird had happened. The building itself seemed to breathe and to come alive in ways it never did during the day, at least not with the same creep factor. Their progress made shuffling noises.

  Darkness had its own life, and it pressed upon her as a great weight. It had a texture ... a sensation. She drew in a deep breath to avoid the mild panic. Conquering the feeling was her only choice. She wouldn’t let anything get the better of her.

  Wind started to howl outside. Darcy glanced back at the group. “That wind will make things difficult. We have to make certain we don’t misinterpret it for paranormal activity.”

  They had investigated numerous areas already this evening and had rotated the three groups so they’d have a chance to investigate as well.

  “Interesting setup they’ve got here,” one of the men in the group said. “They’ve preserved this like it was back in the old days. Why didn’t they renovate this area and make condos out of it, too?”

  Henrietta jumped on that one. “Revenue. Every year they can have the haunted house here.”

  “Too easy to see things that weren’t there with decorations still up,” the man said.

  Darcy glanced back at the small group. “Very true. Let’s just keep our eyes and ears open. Got flashlights everyone? It’ll be dark other than the emergency lighting.”

  “Melissa wanted to check out this room on the first floor on the north wing.” Darcy led Melissa, Henrietta, and the two couples toward the room in question. “Let’s turn on our DVRs now. Remember, no whispering, singing, or humming. We don’t want to mistake your whispering for an EVP.”

  Everyone had a small digital voice recorder, which Darcy had explained earlier would be overkill for the CMHPI on what she termed a normal investigation. As they walked into the open doorway of the room where Melissa had seen a so-called apparition, Melissa’s body tingled. Whether it was power of suggestion or other factors, the shivering cold seeped into her bones.

  “Let’s do a baseline reading of the EMF and temperature in this room,” Darcy said.

  Darcy made notes on the baseline as she went from one side of the room to the other. Melissa fearlessly headed to one side of the room nearest the cage where she’d seen the body. Nothing. The EMF meter didn’t move. In the back of her mind, Melissa wondered if she’d fabricated the entire thing. After they’d taken readings and the room was flat with virtually no EMF detected, Darcy suggested they start asking questions.

  “Is there anyone here who would like to speak with us?” Darcy asked. She fiddled with the digital recorder she’d placed in the room earlier. She had it pointed in the general direction of the cage where Melissa had seen the strange figure weeks ago. “Why do you stay here? Please tell us your name. We’re not here to harm you or disrespect you. We want to help.”

  After another long pause, Melissa added to the questions. “Prove to me that you’re here.” She said the one thing she still couldn’t believe. “Why did you appear to me? Did you want me to know that you’re here?”

  After another long pause, Darcy said, “We can also talk normally with each other. It doesn’t have to be questions. Sometimes our team has picked up good EVPs when there’s a regular conversation ongoing.”

  Darcy quizzed a couple who hadn’t said much, asking why they wanted to do paranormal investigation. Lenora Case, the wife, had a breathy, excitement-filled voice. “I love all the paranormal shows on television. Sue me. I know some of them aren’t genuine ... I mean, not the way this experience will be.”

  Her tall husband answered with a semi-smirk. “Lenora wanted me to come. I think it’s all crap. I’m just here because she wanted to be here.”

  Everyone went silent. Melissa experienced a momentary flash of anger. Whether he believed in the paranormal or not, his tactless and unsupportive statement wasn’t necessary. Lenora threw a disgusted look his way.

  Amusement twinkled in Darcy’s eyes. “You’re welcome to feel that way. Sometimes the most skeptical are the ones who see and hear things they don’t expect.”

  The man chuckled. “Well, that’s what it’ll take to convince me. Besides, I think if I’m a skeptic, there isn’t any way I can hear or see anything.”

  Darcy nodded, face neutral. “Very true. Then again, if you do see or hear something, don’t be afraid to speak out.”

  The man grunted. Time crawled as they investigated the surrounding rooms. Nothing happened. They didn’t hear or see anything unusual.

  “Nothing much happens on most investigations.” Darcy smiled. “But when we do find something—”

  Darcy’s two way walkie talkie buzzed. A man’s voice came on the line. “Piers to Darcy.”

  “Darcy here.”

  Piers’s excited tone came over loud and clear. “There’s something on camera two. I think you guys should investigate right now.”

  “Something?” Darcy asked.

  “A black mass moved across the screen and it was ...” Melissa heard the man gulp. “Solid as hell.”

  Darcy’s face, as much of it as Melissa could see, mirrored anticipation. “We’re on it, Piers.”

  They hustled two doors down to another room. This room, unlike some of the others, wasn’t decorated for Halloween. Steele Company had left it in shambles. Melissa was drawn to wander the room, though doing so left her on the edge of the light. She’d turned off her flashlight. Two flashlights illuminated the room pretty well, and Henrietta swung her beam of light around. Melissa caught objects out of the corner of her eye. A rusted metal bed with a hole-riddled mattress against one corner caught her attention. Ha
ndcuffs were attached to the headboard. She winced thinking about whether those handcuffs had been used for real, or if someone had attached them for Halloween effect.

  Two thumps came from overhead and Melissa jumped and the skeptic’s wife released a small gasp.

  “There are condos up there,” Melissa said. “But I don’t think the ones right above are occupied.”

  “We’ll see where Magnus is.” Darcy spoke into her walkie talkie. “Darcy to Magnus. Check in please.”

  “Go for Magnus,” came the big man’s English accent.

  “Where are you right now?” Darcy asked.

  “We poked around in the far north wing but we’re heading down the stairs now to go to the recreation center.” Magnus sounded cheerful.

  Yvette checked in next to confirm they were in the basement. “Nothing going on down here. We’re spending a little extra time, though. It’s creepy as hell. Everyone ones needs to try and provoke the ghosts.”

  “They shouldn’t do that, should they?” Henrietta spoke up for the first time in a while.

  Darcy frowned and shook her head. “I advise against that Yvette. You know our policy.”

  “Right,” Yvette said and signed off.

  Darcy turned back to her group. “Provoking is where investigators try to get the spirits to speak up by using leading questions and saying mean things. We don’t like the technique. If spirits are here, we want to be respectful.”

  Mr. Skeptic laughed. “Yeah, spirits, I think you should get your asses out here where we can see you.”

  Darcy glared at the man. “Please respect our investigation techniques. If not, I’ll have to politely ask you to leave.”