by Diana Orgain
“I don’t know, Becca. I don’t know what to say.”
She laughed. “Well, it is contingent on one thing.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“You have to do well on Cold Case in the Castle. You have to stay to the end. Or at least be in the final four. They want someone with a significant following, and since this show is based on viewer votes, they think if you have enough of an audience to keep you on, then you’d be a good bet for their show. They think you could bring your audience to that show.”
I dug the toe of my boot into the sand. “I don’t know.” I sighed. “Now with Scott feeling the way he does . . .”
“No. You can’t back out of the show,” she said. “You have to do well. Get to the final four. Then we can arrange something for the Globe Tracker show. If not, they’ll probably go for someone else on this show that does well.”
“Like Dr. Arch?” I asked.
“Maybe. Or maybe the paranormal docent.” She wrinkled her nose.
“Yeah, that girl is a little strange, isn’t she?” I asked.
Becca gave me a half shrug.
“What is it about her?” I probed.
Becca rolled her shoulders and said, “You know I can’t tell you everything. At least, not stuff about the show.”
So the docent had a secret that Cheryl was protecting. Becca would protect it, too, especially if it meant keeping her job.
Night was falling and it was beginning to get dark. Becca said, “Well, I guess you better get inside.”
“Are you heading out?” I asked.
“Yeah, in a little bit,” she said. “The crew is spending the night over at the Indian casino and resort. Cheryl might be able to convince Gordon to try his hand at the craps table.”
“There’s no way she’ll get Dad to go,” I said. There was a casino a few miles up the road. Dad was completely opposed to gambling as his grandfather had lost his entire estate playing poker in casinos in Montana back in the day. His own father moved from Montana to California and had to start from scratch with nothing. Unfortunately, he’d been a gambler, too, and dad had inherited the gambling debts.
Dad had made a solemn oath never to set foot in a casino, and to my knowledge he never had.
Becca nodded. She knew my father almost as well as I did. “I know. I told Cheryl she’s crazy. Anyway, be prepared for a rough ride tomorrow. Likely the crew will be partying all night. They’re going to be cranky in the morning when they have to leave the room service behind.”
“Where do we spend the night?” I asked.
She pointed back to the castle.
A chill overcame me. “In there?”
Becca giggled.
“Are there bedrooms?” I asked.
“Yes, but you won’t get one.”
Things had just gone from bad to worse. Then a large raindrop hit me in the face. When I looked up storm clouds rumbled by, opening into a light drizzle.
Becca felt the mist, too, and folded her arms across her chest. “The crew’s rolling out some sleeping bags for everyone in the main living room,” she said. “You know, the historical society normally does overnight paranormal tours. So motion-sensor cameras are already set up. Cheryl loves that. Anyway, the cameras will catch any shenanigans; either drama going on with the cast or paranormal activity.”
“You’re kidding?” I asked.
The light drizzle was quickly turning into a shower. Becca covered her head and flashed me a wicked smile. “Of course not.”
“It’s freezing in there! And dark!”
“The cameras have night vision, but maybe I can talk Cheryl into giving you all some candles?”
“Don’t. The paranormal kooks in there will want to hold a séance.”
Becca giggled and gave me a farewell hug. “Oh, you know you’re a kook at heart.”
Inside, the crew had completed the makeover of the main living area: The sleeping bags lined the floor. I spotted Scott’s long, lean body resting on top of one of the bags in the corner, his legs crossed, his boots still on. I had the mad desire to rush in and cuddle him, but instead I walked up to him awkwardly and stood in front of him in silence.
“Hey,” he said, smiling up at me. He patted the sleeping bag next to him. “Take a load off.”
“Is that okay?” I asked.
“Come on. Don’t be like that,” he said. “I was just trying to be honest with you.”
I stepped over him and onto the sleeping bag he’d left for me. “I know. I want to respect what you said.”
He put his arms around me. “Okay, well then just don’t be weird about it.”
How was I not supposed to be weird about the fact that he told me he didn’t feel like he was in love with me anymore?
“I won’t be,” I said, making a mental note to try to act normal around him.
The paranormal docent, Ashley, and her partner, Jessica, came over to us. Ashley hightailed it into the far sleeping bag, leaving the one next to me empty.
I indicated the sleeping bag and said to Jessica, “Make yourself comfy.”
She climbed in next to me. “Oh, good. This place creeps me out. I’ll feel better lying here between you and Ashley.”
Bert and Jack came into the room next and took a pair of sleeping bags across from us. Father Gabriel was pacing the room, but his partner, Martha, was already fast asleep in a sleeping bag near Bert and Jack. In the far corner were Dr. Arch and Karen Kenley. Their heads were together, and they appeared to be frantically plotting something.
“What do you think the doctor’s up to?” Jessica asked.
“I was wondering the same thing myself,” I said.
Ashley wiggled her eyes at us. “Maybe we need a spy.”
“Sure,” I said and tapped Jack’s foot. “Go make nice to Karen. See what she tells you about the doctor.”
Jack snorted, “Yeah. I already tried to make nice to her. She ignored me. Flapped her black hair right in my face.”
Jessica laughed. “I’m sure it wasn’t personal.”
He grunted at her. “I’m sure it was. Anyway, I’m going to put up my electromagnetic field instrument in the corner and see what information I can get.”
It was my turn to snort. “It’s rainy now and it’s an electrical storm. Won’t that mess up your readings?” I asked.
As if in answer, Mother Nature let loose with a large rumble followed by a flash of light.
Jack jumped excitedly, examining his device. “Look at that! I’ve never seen it light up like that before.”
“It’s the storm,” I said, but he ignored me as he rushed to another corner of the room, chasing the little beeps coming from his instrument.
Bert sat up, resting the palms of his hands on the floor, and leaning back into them. He stared at me. “Tell me more about your friend.”
“Well, you’re a psychic. You should know everything already,” I answered.
Scott poked me. “Don’t be mean.”
“Was I being mean?” I asked.
“Becca’s great,” Scott said, “A very nice girl. You two could be good together if you treat her well.”
Bert nodded, silently taking some hint from Scott that I hadn’t caught.
The light in the room was fading as the night grew longer. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep in here,” Jessica said. “It’s so dark.”
The darker the room grew, the louder the rain seemed to hammer.
“Does anybody have a flashlight?” I asked.
“You have one on your phone, don’t you?” Scott asked.
I pulled out my phone, disappointed to find the low-battery icon flashing, for a few moments, anyway. It was surprising how dark it was inside the room. A nervous energy ran through me.
Wings fluttered down the corridor, an
d Martha, who I thought had been sound asleep, shrieked, “The birds!”
Inside the room, someone rustled over to her, then Father Gabriel’s voice soothed. “Now, Martha, don’t worry. Even if some are still trapped in the castle, the doors to this room are closed. They won’t get in here.”
“Which is a good thing,” Dr. Arch said. “There’s probably a colony of bats in the rafters.”
Something scurried across the floor near our heads.
Next to me, Jessica sprang up. “What was that?”
“Probably a field mouse,” I said.
“Ewww!” Jessica said, shuddering. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
On the other side of me, Scott chuckled.
I patted Jessica’s arm. “We’re in the middle of the country. This castle has more leaks and drafts than my Dad’s old barn. What do you think it was?”
She gripped my hand. “OMG! I’m not going to be able to sleep with rats running around.”
“Not a rat,” I said. Even though in all likelihood it could have been rat. “A little field mouse. A harmless little guy, like Mickey Mouse.”
“Think of it as a hamster,” Ashley cooed.
“As long as you washed your face, you’ll be all right,” Scott offered.
Jessica stiffened. “What’s that got to with anything?”
Jack chimed in. “Well, hopefully you didn’t put on any night cream, right?”
Jessica let out a little squeal of alarm. “Why?”
“They like the smell. They think it’s food and they’re liable to come over and lick your face,” Bert said.
Jessica was up like rocket. She shot toward the hallway door, screaming and picking up her feet like she was trying to outrun Michael Flatley. She reached the door in record time and gripped the handle, then let out another shriek. “It’s locked! They locked us in here.”
From outside, a howling sound reverberated and filled the room. Then came the unmistakable growling and snarling of animals fighting.
“The predators found the blackbirds,” Scott whispered.
“Yup,” I said. “It’s going to be a long night.”
Five
I slept poorly that night. Not because of the storm, or any paranormal activity I feared was afoot in the castle, nor even the close sleeping quarters of the cast. It was the conversation between Scott and me that weighed heavily on my heart.
When morning came, the cast arose rowdily. I think everyone was basically overjoyed that we’d been let loose from our cramped, rodent-infested quarters.
We were given a continental breakfast in the dining room. Bagels, cream cheese, and some fruit were laid out for us. As we piled food on our plates, I realized that my father had left the evening before, and I hadn’t even had a chance to say good-bye.
I must have sighed out loud, because Scott nuzzled his chin into my shoulder and whispered, “What?”
The sudden closeness to him made my heart race. “What?” I repeated. I was so keenly aware of how his feelings were lagging behind mine that it made me feel on guard.
“You sighed,” he said.
“Ah,” I said. “I didn’t get a chance to see my dad before he left, and I was just missing him.”
Scott nodded his understanding, but before he could respond, Cheryl blustered into the room. “All right, everyone, make sure to have a hearty breakfast. We’ll be filming all day and I want everyone to look alive.” She giggled. “Well, I want you all to look alive.” She glanced at the walls of the castle. “Any of you undead specters that want to make an appearance today, don’t feel pressure about your looks, we’ll take you the way you are.”
Father Gabriel stiffened. “This is no laughing matter. If a spirit is stuck here on this plane, I’m more than happy to attempt to clear it.”
Cheryl held up a hand. “Oh, no you don’t, father. We’ve had this conversation. If you clear the spirits, I don’t have a show.”
“Plus, honestly, the historical society wouldn’t like it, either,” Ashley said.
Father Gabriel made a face. “Child, we can’t be selfish like that. We must—”
“Never mind about that right now,” Cheryl interrupted. “After breakfast, I want you all to get into hair and makeup, and then meet again in the prayer room after that.”
Martha stiffened. “The prayer room? With the broken window?”
Cheryl smiled. “Precisely! We’ll pick up where we left off yesterday.”
Ashley was standing next to me in the buffet line. I turned to her and asked, “Why would the historical society care if Father Gabriel cleared the spirits?”
She smoothed cream cheese onto half a garlic bagel. “Oh! That’s how they make most of their money for the renovation and stuff. The paranormal overnights, the masquerade balls, and Hollywood shows like ours that want to film here and all that. If the castle wasn’t haunted, they’d be out of business. Do you know what this place rakes in on Halloween alone?”
“Specters are spectacular for the pocketbook,” Jack said, chomping into a bagel. “Just look at Hearst Castle.”
Ashley agreed. “Yeah! That’s the goal. Some of the staff here want Golden Castle to grow as big as Hearst, but the renovation has to be funded before that can become a reality.”
After breakfast, the cast split up. The men were to go to one area for their touch-ups, while the women were to go to a separate area. I was lucky enough to get my own makeup chair in a small private room off to the side of the main hallway.
Kyle, as usual, was my makeup artist. We’d been together for three shows now and I knew how temperamental he could get. Still, I was happy to have him. Better the devil you know.
He was dressed in his usual flashy style with burgundy pants and a short black bolero jacket.
“You look nice,” I said.
He ran a hand through his sandy blond hair and spun around for me. “Oh, you like? I got the jacket and pants when we were in Spain. Shoes, too. Aren’t they something? They feel like slippers.”
The shoes were caramel-colored leather with dark brown strips crisscrossing the toes and arch area. They were undoubtedly the most gorgeous pair of shoes I’d seen in a long time.
“Handcrafted,” Kyle continued, when he caught me admiring his footwear.
“I wish I’d had a chance to go shopping while we were in Spain,” I said, with more than a little jealousy floating in my voice.
“Well, sister, it wasn’t cheap. Let me tell you. It’s a good thing I won five hundred bucks at the Indian casino last night or I wouldn’t be able to pay my credit card bill this month.” He sat me down in the makeup chair and asked, “What happened to you? Didn’t you sleep well? You’ve got bags so large under your eyes it’s a crime you don’t have a plane ticket to go with ’em.”
I rubbed at my eyes and groaned. “I do?”
He nodded and unzipped a large duffel bag of makeup.
I shrugged. Even though Kyle and I could be chatty, I wasn’t about to go into the details of my love life with him. Nevertheless, he said, “I hope you’re not having trouble with the hunk.”
“That’s none of your business,” I said.
He grunted and pulled out a pot of foundation. He got to work on my face, saying, “Well, if I have to use up all my concealer on you, it is my business.”
“Let’s just say, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep with bats and rats running around—”
Kyle let out a scream and bit his knuckle.
I laughed. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“And I thought we had it rough at the casino. There was absolutely nothing good on my pay-per-view and my pillow was hard as a rock.” He applied color to my cheeks and then got to work on my eyes. “I’m going for a more casual look here than glam, glam, because of our setting. But I hope you’ll still be pleased.”
“I’m sure I will,” I soothed.
In reality, I would have been happy to run around in sweatpants and work boots all day, but I knew Cheryl wanted everyone to look “Hollywood casual,” which meant you had to put in more work to try to look natural than you did to look glamorous. It made no sense.
When Kyle was done with my hair and makeup, I climbed up the first-floor stairs to the prayer room.
Most of the cast were already present, but Scott and Jessica were still missing. Harris, our fearless host, was standing at a podium in front of some of the cast.
A morning breeze blew through the broken window, and I peered outside. After last night’s feeding frenzy, all that remained of the blackbirds that had perished yesterday were clumps of feathers. Still, the air was fresh with a clean smell that only comes after a good rain.
I took my spot next to Dr. Arch, who turned on his heel to appraise me. “Georgia, don’t you look beautiful.” He smiled and the sight of his large teeth reminded me again that there were predators all around me.
I wanted to ignore him, but he wasn’t a man to take lightly.
He leaned closer to me. “Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” I said. “Just focusing on what I need to do to solve the mystery.” I eyed him. He and Karen Kenley likely had the best chance of winning. Had he already been offered a spot on Globe Tracker?
Before long, the rest of the cast showed up. Scott and Jessica walked in together. He took his place next to me, and squeezed my hand. He gave me his winning smile, and for a moment my heart soared. He winked at me, and then I realized he was sending me a message. We were supposed to look happy on camera, not let on that we were having any trouble. Even though my heart seemed to bottom out from under me, I nodded and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
Cheryl entered the room. She clapped her hands and got our attention. “All right, everybody,” she said. “Time to take your places. Harris is going to instruct you to hand in any equipment you brought with you, cell phones, laptops, any of that paranormal paraphernalia.” She waved her hand in a dismissive fashion.
“What?” the ghost hunter asked. “What do you mean?” He clutched his paranormal tool to his chest.