Laurel Heights (Haunted Hearts Series Book 1)

by Denise Moncrief

  He scratched a patch of beard that was growing on his jaw. “You said and did some weird things, Laurel. You don’t remember any of it?”

  “Like what?”

  He didn’t know what psychological effect it would have on her to tell her everything she’d said that didn’t make sense, so he hesitated.

  A flash of fire burst in her eyes. “Don’t you think I deserve to know the truth? How many people have keep secrets from me, Chase? If you don’t tell me, I’ll always wonder and worry about it. You know I will. Please have some mercy on me and tell me what happened.”

  He dropped his duffel bag and pulled her into his arms. She didn’t resist his embrace, but she didn’t relax either. Had her experience changed her forever?

  “Baby, I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, but later. Right now, we need to get out of here.”

  What had the bartender said so many days ago? That house will beat you up if you stay long enough.

  “Baby?”

  He leaned back and smiled. “What? You don’t want me to call you baby?”

  An odd expression came across her tired features. Her eyes glazed over. He’d made a mistake calling her baby. Hadn’t she called Cooley baby when she struggled to go back to save him? At the time, Chase was certain she was somehow channeling Celeste. It creeped him out to think Celeste may have had a romantic relationship with the old meth cooker.

  “I feel as if there’s something I should remember, but I don’t.”

  He had to get her away from Laurel Heights before she cracked, before Celeste’s ghost or spirit or whatever essence of Celeste had invaded Laurel’s mind robbed her consciousness again. He released her, took her hand, and grabbed his duffel bag. Silently, they made their way upstairs.

  She glanced around her bedroom before lifting the suitcase from the bed.

  “I guess I’ll never see this room again.”

  Was Laurel talking or Celeste?

  “That’s probably for the best.”

  Hadn’t she seen the strange light in her garage from this room? Surely it held no sentimental magic for her. No doubt the activity in the garage was Cooley or one of the Richards boys messing around where they shouldn’t have been. One of the branches of the cave tunnel system must have exited into the garage or behind it or somewhere near it. Maybe they hid some of their supplies in the derelict building. Maybe the equipment that appeared to be an old still was really part of their set up.

  “Ready?” she asked with a heavy sigh.

  “Yeah. Before I go, I’m going to use the bathroom.”

  She nodded. “I’ll wait for you.” She reached out and touched the bandage on his head. “Maybe I should take a look at that before we leave. Put a fresh bandage on it or something.”

  He relaxed. That sounded more like Laurel, less like Celeste. If the old woman really haunted Laurel Heights, he didn’t think the ghost would have much sympathy for his head wound.

  “Sure. I won’t be long. I’ll call you when I’m finished.”

  He headed for the bathroom, reluctant to leave her for even a second, but needing to take care of necessities urgently. It seemed that it had been hours since they first discovered the hidden opening to the tunnel.

  He did what he needed to do and then glanced at himself in the mirror as he zipped his jeans. A smear of blood colored his lower jaw. The back of the bandage appeared bright crimson in the bright light of the bathroom. He turned the tap and let the water heat. Maybe he should encourage Laurel to wipe the dirt from her face as well. A clean face might help her feel a bit more refreshed.

  He grabbed the nearest washrag and cleansed the residue of their struggle from his face. Blood and grime. He wouldn’t touch the wound on the back of his head. It might make Laurel feel better to redress the bandage, so he left it for her to do when he was through cleaning himself up. No doubt the EMTs would want to have a go at it as well. At least, it wasn’t dripping blood any longer. He still felt a bit lightheaded from the loss of blood.

  The steam from the hot water clouded the mirror and once again the hidden message appeared on the glass. He tossed the rag on the sink in disgust. How could her own kin do such a rotten thing to her? Trying to break her mind? Maybe all the strange behavior she exhibited in the cave was just a product of her overwrought psyche and nothing more. He still had a difficult time believing in the paranormal. How much of what Laurel did in the midst of the crisis resulted from the power of suggestion?

  He shouldn’t be surprised at what her relatives had done to her and to each other. His brother had used him in the most awful way imaginable. He was more convinced than ever that Rand had something to do with Angie’s death, yet he couldn’t just hang back and let someone kill his brother. That would make Chase just like Rand. A murderer. A liar. A thief. A manipulative, twisted bastard.

  No, he had to do something to save his brother’s life, but for the life of him, he didn’t know what to do. He could let Rand have the travel drive, but giving it up almost ensured Laurel’s death. Maybe his death as well. He could go to Det. Foster in San Diego and tell him the story. Maybe the cop could do something to save his brother’s life without putting Laurel’s in further jeopardy. Then again, he could give the information to the men who wanted Rand dead, but how dangerous would that be for Chase...and Laurel?

  He wasn’t going to find the answer dawdling in the bathroom. He would have to tackle the question of getting rid of the travel drive later. A new sense of urgency swept over him as if an unseen hand pushed him toward the door. For all he knew, someone could be in the house and ready to attack them any moment. Just as he reached for the doorknob to call Laurel, a male voice drifted from the other side of the door.

  “Hello, Laurel.”

  He cracked the door, just a tiny wedge of an opening, just enough to peer into the bedroom to get a quick glimpse of the other person in the room with her. He didn’t recognize the man, but he was very familiar with the make of the handgun the man aimed at Laurel.

  “I came for the codes.”

  Even with her back to him, he could tell that Laurel had crossed her arms over her chest, a defensive maneuver.

  “I destroyed the travel drive, just like I said I would.”

  The man advanced a step, then two. “Don’t lie to me, Laurel. I could always tell when you were lying.”

  She didn’t have the travel drive any longer. She’d dropped it into the cupholder in the console of Chase’s truck. When they’d arrived back at Laurel Heights, he’d tucked it into the pocket of his jeans. He patted his pants. The drive was still with him. They hadn’t had a chance to open the files yet and still didn’t know what information the device contained.

  Her backbone straightened. “You know what I don’t understand, Tino? How you could betray Rand like that.”

  Tino. Rand’s second in command. What was she doing? Faking Tino out? She didn’t give a rip how Tino had betrayed Rand. Instinctively, he knew he should allow her to handle the situation, only showing himself at the right moment. Tino held a gun, but Chase had one as well. The advantage of surprise would go to Chase.

  “Why did you give the travel drive to me?” She took a step closer to Tino.

  Chase admired her guts. She’d just been through hell and back, yet her presence of mind was astounding.

  “Did you really think I would save it for you just because you asked me to?” She laughed as if she thought Tino was incredibly stupid. “You didn’t think I’d know what you’d given me, did you? I’m smarter than you think I am. If I couldn’t use the codes, I wasn’t going to let you get them.” She snapped her fingers in his face. “They’re gone, baby, and I told Rand you took them.”

  Tino jerked as if she’d punched him. “You just killed me, bitch.”

  “You mean like you were willing to let Rand kill me?”

  A sneer spread across Tino’s ugly countenance. “You are nothing.”

  Tino moved suddenly and pressed the barrel of the gun into Laurel’s
forehead. She flinched but didn’t move. Chase needed her to turn them so that Tino’s back was to him, just as she had maneuvered Cooley in the cave.

  He couldn’t wait to act much longer. He had to do something to rescue her from Tino, even if it meant being shot in the attempt. His heart sank at the possibility that Laurel might have survived what happened in the cave only to face a greater threat from Tino. How much longer before she collapsed into mental or physical shock?

  The overhead light flickered. The curtains flapped in a strong breeze. Impossible. The window had been closed only a few moments ago. The room darkened as if day had turned to the darkest of nights. Electricity prickled his arms. His eyes blurred. Objects lifted from every surface in the room and smashed against the wall, shattering glass. The bedroom door banged open just as Chase slammed his hand on the bathroom door to push through it.

  Tino’s head swiveled toward him. In slow motion, he shifted his aim toward Chase. He expected to see Grayson standing in the open bedroom doorway, but there was no one there. Where was the cop when they needed him?

  “No.” Laurel slapped at Tino’s raised arm just as the gun discharged.

  The bullet smashed into the ceiling above Chase’s head. Laurel moved back a step, but Tino moved with lightning speed, ramming his fingers into her hair and pressing the gun into her cheek.

  “Come any closer and I’ll kill her.”

  Chase froze. “No need for that. You don’t need to kill her. Let us go and we’ll forget we ever saw you here.”

  His argument was lame before it even left his lips. He was stalling, buying time. No compromise could possibly be reached with the man who gave Laurel’s life no value.

  Tino sneered. “Come on, cop. You know it doesn’t work like that.”

  Chase winced. Of course, Tino knew who he was. “I’m not a cop any longer.”

  “No, you’re not, are you? That’s another thing I took care of for Rand. He owes me for all the things I’ve done for him. He owes me the money.”

  Had Tino just confessed to killing Angie for Rand? Like a punch in the gut, the truth assaulted Chase. Tino had just confirmed his suspicions about Rand’s involvement in Angie’s death. Anger surged within him.

  He flinched and started to move forward, but Tino pressed the gun so hard against Laurel that her head bent sideways from the pressure. Laurel hiccupped, but he couldn’t glance at her face. He had to keep his eyes trained on Tino’s trigger finger. Split second timing was needed, but how could he operate effectively when the whole room was swirling around him, distorting his vision?

  The lights came on and went off again.

  “Who’s playing with the lights?” Tino roared. “Is someone in the house with you?”

  He didn’t act as if he knew Grayson was in the front yard waiting for them.

  Maybe Tino hadn’t seen Grayson pull up, but where was the cop? And why weren’t emergency vehicles screaming up the drive yet? Hadn’t Grayson called for backup and an EMT?

  Laurel gasped. The color drained from her face. Chase followed her gaze toward the wall over Tino’s head. She pointed and Tino’s gaze followed her outstretched arm. Words had appeared in bright red, a harsh contrast against the cream colored wall. You know.

  Laurel’s features twisted until her face was almost unrecognizable.

  The voice that came out of her mouth wasn’t hers. “You killed Skip. He wants his revenge.”

  Tino twisted her hair harder, but she didn’t react. It was as if she was outside herself...again.

  The man seemed to shove the gun further into her cheek. “How do you know that?”

  “Laurel was there.”

  Why was she speaking in third person? Was she channeling Celeste again? Why was she telling him that? Did she want to die? Tino was surely a cold-blooded killer. He’d never allow her to live.

  The wind howling through the window intensified.

  Tino’s courage was sliding from his face. “What’s going on in this house?”

  How long had Tino been wandering around Laurel Heights? Had he also encountered paranormal activity?

  “Leave my baby alone.” Laurel’s voice resonated with an unnatural edge.

  Tino’s face turned the palest shade of white. “What baby?”

  Laurel’s head slowly turned as Tino lowered the weapon.

  “Get out of my house.”

  The raspy tone of her voice sent a chill down Chase’s spine.

  Tino began stumbling backward as if a hand had twisted in the fabric of his shirt and dragged him backward. Horror spread across his face.

  “Who’s got me? Let go of me.”

  He struggled but couldn’t seem to loosen the hold something or someone had on him. A force seemed to suck him toward the open doorway as a strong wind from the window pushed past Laurel, streaming her hair around her face, buffeting around Tino. She raised her arms toward him and all the loose objects in the room flew around him, past him, and through the door. Tino staggered out the door backward, scrambling to get his footing and unable to get any traction.

  “Help me.”

  Chase had no inclination to rescue the man from whatever supernatural force was exacting justice on him. He didn’t think he could pry him loose even if he tried.

  Tino vanished through the door. Scuffling and swearing sounds came through the doorway from the hall outside. Two seconds later, the on-again, off-again lighting, the howling wind, the flying objects, all settled, followed by a scream and then a thud. An eerie quiet fell over the house.

  Chase rushed to Laurel. “Are you all right?”

  “Huh?”

  The dazed expression remained on her face. She seemed limp, drained of her energy.

  “Laurel? Snap out of it.”

  She shuddered. “What happened? Where’s Tino?”

  “He...left. Stay here. I’m going to see if he’s...gone.”

  When he made it to the balcony that overlooked the living room, he stepped to the edge of the broken railing. Peered over the edge. Tino had fallen onto the hardwood floor below, his head bent at the neck at a peculiar angle.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  When Laurel awoke, it seemed as if she had just come out of a trance. Her whole body tingled with nervous energy. An enormous headache pounded right between her brows. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. Chase was talking to her, shaking her.

  “Huh?”

  His lips moved, but no sound came out of his mouth.

  “What happened? Where’s Tino?”

  Chase said something else and then rushed out the door, leaving her alone and disoriented. She shivered and scanned the room. What had she been doing before Tino interrupted her? Oh, yeah.

  She shoved the letter from Mary and the pictures Foster had sent her into the side pocket of the suitcase and slammed the lid shut, snapping the locks. Too tired to carry it herself, she followed Chase out the door, planning to ask him to take it downstairs for her.

  “Chase, I’m so tired. Will you—”

  He hovered on the edge of the balcony staring down at the living room below. Pieces of broken balcony railing clung onto the portion that remained intact. She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him and pulling away from the edge.

  “What are you doing?”

  He jerked from the impact and turned brown-green eyes on her.

  “I thought I told you to stay in your room.”

  He’d never taken such a hard tone with her. What was the matter with him?

  She refused to let his demeanor scare her. “You’re not my boss, and I’m not a little girl.”

  The fuzziness in her mind was slowly dissipating. Nothing was making perfect sense, not yet. Her eyes strayed to the living room.

  She focused on the floor below and gasped. “Oh my, God. What happened to him? Did he fall?”

  Chase pushed her head onto his shoulder and wrapped his arms around her.

  “You could say that.” His clipped words seemed a bit stilted.

&
nbsp; The revelation hit her like a blow to the head. The memory screamed through her mind.

  “Celeste.”

  “Laurel, don’t—”

  She pulled back from him. “What have I done?” She pressed her hands to her head. “She made me, didn’t she?”

  He pulled her to him again. “Don’t look, baby.”

  Grayson appeared in the front doorway.

  “What happened here?”

  Chase’s arms stiffened around her, and he twisted to face the deputy. “Where have you been?”

  “I got tired of waiting.” He pointed at Tino, who still hadn’t moved. “What happened to him?”

  She peeked at Tino from the safety of Chase’s arms; her cheek still lay on his chest, his soft t-shirt caressing her cheek. Chase’s heart thumped loudly next to her ear. From Tino’s odd appearance, Laurel figured he probably would never move again. Strangely, that didn’t make her feel any better or worse.

  “He had a gun pointed at Laurel’s head, but then, all hell broke loose. Stuff was flying around, and the wind was whipping through the room like crazy. The lights did strange things. I couldn’t do anything because he had a gun on her, but then it was like...some sort of...force sucked him through the door of the bedroom. It was like I was frozen. I couldn’t move. Then, I heard a scream and everything sort of stopped.”

  Understanding leaped in Grayson’s eyes.

  His mouth had worked for a moment before he spoke. “A squad car and an EMT are going to be here in less than ten minutes. Get your things and get down the road.”

  Chase’s heart rate accelerated against her cheek. Getting down the road sounded like a good idea to Laurel. She wiggled out of his arms, took a step toward her bedroom door, stepping over broken pieces of railing. She stopped. That was so odd. If Tino fell through the railing, shouldn’t the broken pieces be on the floor below instead of upstairs on the balcony. Something weird had happened...again.