I had been watching Orwin closely for any signs that he’d been able to pick up on Faye’s thoughts. Having Pearl there to communicate his findings helped in this situation, as well as clearing the prime suspect.
Will you look at that? I guess that app isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Perhaps Mr. Cornelia was right in this instance, but I still maintain that technology will be our downfall.
“Ms. Ashton, we don’t investigate or dispel hauntings,” Piper explained, leaning forward on one of the chairs as she tried to explain our cover story professions. “We just record what happens and then share those tales with our readers.”
“But surely you know for certain if there are such things as ghosts,” Faye pressed, having relaxed a bit when we didn’t come right out and deny her request. “How many manors and estates have you visited? Are there some that you truly believe are haunted?”
Faye laid her worried gaze on each and every one of us, waiting for someone to give her the answer she desired. Surprisingly, it was Knox who stepped forward and steered the conversation to the exact spot I would have if I’d been given the chance.
“Ms. Ashton, were your niece and nephew present here at the manor when your sister passed away?”
Mr. Emeric doesn’t mince words, does he?
No, he sure didn’t.
“You’re not suggesting…” Faye let her voice trail off in horror, taking a healthy gulp of the calming chamomile blend I’d discovered in a wooden box of loose tea leaves in the pantry. I might have added a sprinkle of cantrip magic to aid in that calming measure. Desperation called for desperate measures. “I mean, yes, they were. As a matter of fact, I called them myself to let them know that Florence had been acting very strange lately. Stranger than usual, especially about this haunting business. I never in a million years would have believed…”
“Lou and Piper filled us in on the family argument all of you had this evening.” While Knox continued down the same line of questioning, it allowed me to sit back and study Faye’s reaction. “Your sister changed her will to where you inherited the estate. That had to make your niece and nephew a tad bit upset.”
“Being upset in our family, Mr. Emeric, does not amount to one committing murder,” Faye stated matter-of-factly. She was a bit more composed now that she’d sipped half the tea in her cup, but I’m pretty sure it had to do with the sprinkling of magic infused with the essence of passion flower I’d used to help her take the edge off. “Now this ghostly image…well, that’s another matter altogether. You’ve been documenting such cases, and I’d like to hire you to figure out what is really taking place on the Ashton grounds.”
No one replied to Faye’s request, though she did wait patiently as she sipped the rest of her tea.
I suppose after witnessing Ms. Faye’s effect from her beverage, it might behoove me to ask if you did the same to my spot of warm cream.
Like I would ever attempt to use magic on Pearl. It was downright laughable, but I wasn’t in the position to give a chuckle at the ludicrous thought. I’d witnessed time and time again what that white feline did in retaliation to Orwin’s antics. No, thank you.
I always knew you were wise beyond your years, Miss Lilura.
It was a wonder that Orwin and Piper weren’t getting a kick out of this conversation, but it might have had to do with Gertrude’s sudden appearance in the doorway.
“What do you mean that you’re hiring them to investigate?” Gertrude asked, wringing her hands together in concern. “Isn’t it enough that Ms. Ashton has passed on and this estate will never again be used in the manner in which she’d envisioned?”
Oh, dear. Ms. Gertrude appears to be very upset by Ms. Faye’s request. You realize, of course, this is the reason one in service should never eavesdrop. It’s one of the basic etiquette lessons.
“Gertrude!” Faye exclaimed in dismay, probably at the fact that she wasn’t being given the respect she thought she deserved anymore. “These are our guests, and you will—”
“They are your guests, Faye Ashton. Not mine.” Gertrude tilted her chin in rejection of Faye’s statement. “If you recall, my husband and I handed in our resignations earlier this evening. My darling Florence would have died twice over if she could see the way her family is treating one another now. Despicable. Downright deplorable behavior for cultured, educated people. One would think her children would have learned some measure of decorum just being around our beloved Florence. Her accident not only stole her life, but it took mine and Wilbur’s way of life with hers. You’re dragging this horrible turn of events out more than needed, and it’s a downright shame. Let the woman rest in peace.”
I wonder if that speech was self-serving, Miss Lilura. Ms. Gertrude might have taken acting lessons when she was younger, thus fooling us with her reaction to Ophelia’s presence on the landing. It’s certainly possible, and I don’t appreciate being made anyone’s fool. I mean, I sent her to the bottom of the list. The least she could have done was reciprocate our good faith.
Gertrude was too far away from where Orwin sat on the couch for him to pick up on her thoughts, and she’d quickly departed in a huff of disappointment before he had a chance to get close to her. She never did say what it was she’d wanted upon her entrance, but I made a mental note to have Orwin run into the couple before they left the premises first thing tomorrow morning.
After all, Gertrude was the one who’d warned us to stay away from room thirteen.
My sweet Piper, I’m afraid Gertrude has been moved up on the list. I’m almost terrified to look at that app. I mean, Ms. Faye has been deleted. Where does that leave us in the suspect pool?
“Ms. Faye, what can you tell us about Ophelia?” I asked, pondering if we’d been right all along.
It would be beneficial to know everything possible about the woman before conducting a séance that could potentially open a portal for her to walk through. I’d never wanted to experience the ramifications of being unprepared, but it was said a spirit could enter one’s body if one allowed the door to remain open.
Those pesky devils can be hard to get rid of once they settle into one’s corporeal vessel. You did bring cloves with you, right, Mr. Cornelia?
Orwin must have answered Pearl with the correct response, because I heard a sigh of relief mixed in with a bit of satisfaction. It was clear that Knox hadn’t followed along with that conversation. After all, he couldn’t hear Pearl and he didn’t have Orwin’s special ability. His concentration was solely on Faye, waiting for her to supply us with details regarding her ancestor.
“From what I’ve read, Ophelia was a very docile woman. She was quiet, kind, and what some would say a bit meek. I guess given the time period that wasn’t such an uncommon attribute,” Faye responded, finishing what was left of her tea. She gently set the empty porcelain cup onto the saucer, allowing both to rest in her lap. “It’s my understanding that she loved her husband and their children very much.”
Could that be the reason Ms. Ophelia hasn’t crossed through the veil? A mother’s love is the strongest bond in existence…living or dead.
“From our experience,” Piper began to explain as she patted the journals that she’d set on the arm of the chair, “spirits remain behind due to either unfinished business or they just can’t accept their passing. I’ve read in Mr. Eugene’s journal that Ophelia died peacefully. There’s nothing to suggest that she had unfinished business here or that she wasn’t prepared to cross over.”
“Eugene and Ophelia had a son and a daughter, whose names were Theodore and Patricia.” Faye cast a wary gaze toward the doorway of the foyer. “I’m almost certain that Patricia kept a journal, which would be kept in the family library.”
The angst of a young girl knows no bounds, dear hexed one. Ms. Patricia would have used the written word to express her most dire concerns about everyone in her life, especially her parents.
“Let’s hope there’s more information to find inside her diary.” Piper gathered the d
iaries in her possession and stood, taking a moment to look at her watch. “Lou, should we meet back here a little before midnight?”
I’m still hoping that won’t be necessary, dear hexed one. It would be prudent to give my sweet Piper time to discover something in our efforts to help Ophelia cross over into the afterlife.
“Yes, a little before midnight, unless we discover another course of action.” That timeframe gave us a little under two hours to figure out if Ophelia was the guilty party to Florence’s death. Given the evidence so far, all signs pointed toward the agitated poltergeist roaming the halls of this manor in the dead of night. Orwin should be able to weed out those of the living by twelve o’clock tonight. “Orwin, would you escort Ms. Faye to her bedroom?”
I leaned down to collect the teacup from Faye, grateful to see that her composure remained intact. She’d been through a lot these last few days, and now she’d been attacked by the same spirit that most likely caused her sister’s death. I didn’t agree with how she handled her niece and nephew, but a bit of leeway was warranted.
“Of course,” Orwin responded, standing and holding his hand out for Ms. Faye to take as leverage. “It would be my pleasure.”
Who knew the alien hunter had it in him to display proper etiquette? From the way Mr. Cornelia eats with his fingers, one would never have guessed.
“Oh, my nephew could certainly take a few pointers from you,” Faye gushed, though her pallor was still a bit off from her previous near-death experience. “I honestly don’t know where my sister went wrong. She loved both Izzy and Joshua, and she only wanted what was best for them. They feel slighted over the change in her will, but she didn’t exclude them completely. This estate offers many…”
Faye’s voice faded away as Orwin escorted her out of the great room and into the foyer. I’d wait for him to return to map out how we were going to get him access to the other suspects this late at night, but it was the only way to clear their names. Afterward, we’d settle in and do what we did best.
Once again, you have a knack of darkening the ambience, Miss Lilura. I think it’s best I go check on my sweet Piper now and prepare her for what’s to come—a bona fide séance that could mean the end of our little group as we know it.
Chapter Ten
“I’ve got to say, this is truly a first.” Knox was still standing next to the blazing fire with his arms crossed in tension. His five o’clock shadow did little to hide his taut jawline. I could only imagine what his reaction would have been had he heard Pearl’s ominous declaration. “I know this is a bit macabre, but I think I would have preferred one of the living to have been responsible for Ms. Ashton’s death.”
I decided to take the teacup and saucer into the kitchen after all was said and done about the séance. It was important to have Knox on board with how things might go down tonight, although not quite in the description that Pearl saw fit to give. I closed the distance, relishing the warmth of the flickering flames after experiencing the chill in the evening air.
“It’s better to flat out see evil, isn’t it? It makes it simpler to know what’s coming in our direction…easier to deal with.”
I crossed my arms, much like Knox’s position, though not because I was apprehensive. With the tools Orwin had brought with him in order to conduct the séance, I was quite confident we could pull it off without incident.
Of course, Pearl’s stance on the subject had me thinking that maybe nothing could scare me after suffering at the hands of a curse that might very well follow me into the afterlife. She was always spouting that I wasn’t optimistic enough, which had me thinking maybe she knew more than she was willing to tell. Regardless of all that, today was the day she got to witness my positivity.
“When Piper and I arrived this morning, we saw Ophelia on the landing,” I shared, hoping that my recollection would ease Knox’s concern. “She wasn’t quite standing there, but more like hovering. I know that all signs point toward Ophelia being responsible for Florence’s death, but something isn’t right. It could be the fact that someone was using a voodoo doll to control an unearthly spirit, clearly having no conception of what could happen when casting magic without acquiring the proper knowledge.”
“You’ve dealt with spirits before?” Knox asked, the intensity of his gaze heating me in a way the fire never could. I pushed that thought out of my mind…for many reasons. “I thought you said you gave up witchcraft in favor of the academic lifestyle.”
“A witch doesn’t simply give up her craft,” I replied wryly, having wished many times over that were so in my life away from the coven. “There were many spirits I’ve crossed paths with over the years at the college, the town, and even my apartment building. As for why I walked away to live a normal life, it was because I saw how happy those outside of the coven could be in their daily lives. Those who had no idea of the supernatural world around them were completely happy to just live their lives without all the drama of a ruling coven.”
“Does that mean a witch can’t find happiness?” Knox asked, curiosity lacing his rich tone.
He continued to study me, but I found his scrutiny to be uncomfortable. I’d always needed to be guarded with what I said about my childhood, so I was instinctively cautious in situations like this.
With Knox?
He seemed to take in so much and store everything he’d seen and heard.
He was also aware I’d grown up inside a coven.
I honestly had no idea why I still felt the need to watch my every word when I was in his presence.
“Of course, that’s not the case in reality,” I said as flippantly as I could. I guess it couldn’t hurt too much to expand my reasoning. “The responsibility of harnessing energy from the earth comes at a price. As with humans, there is good and evil in everyone. Those with good intentions automatically do their best to protect every living creature, even against their own kind when warranted. It’s a weight of the responsibility that we carry, and I’d desperately wanted to know what it was like to live life without that heavy burden…especially at the age of eighteen.”
Knox had a serious nature much like mine, but I wasn’t sure he’d always been like that. He spoke of his family and friends with genuine affection, as well as his past life where he’d all but had the world at his feet. I could easily picture him laughing in the backyard over a smoking grill while hosting a barbeque with a beer in his hand and flipping steaks. It was a shame that he’d had it all taken away in the blink of an eye…by a Lich Queen who had completely succumbed to evil.
“We were the complete opposite at the age of eighteen,” Knox shared with a curve of his lips. He rubbed his whiskers as was his tendency when in deep thought. “At eighteen, I didn’t have an ounce of responsibility. Not the way you’re describing. I wanted to make a difference and save the world. I had no idea what I was getting myself into with the service, but I still don’t regret a day I served this country. My training provided me with many intangible benefits that will carry me through even this task.”
Knox didn’t have to say aloud that he did regret taking a day off to go hiking in the woods all those months ago. A harmless adventure had turned his life upside down. It seemed that every time we got closer to finding a cure to these hexes, we were taken down another wayward path to save yet another innocent life.
Maybe this was karma’s way of punishing me for walking away from my primary responsibilities at such a young age. Had Pearl been in attendance for this conversation, she would definitely have something to say about my opinion on the subject.
Unfortunately, being in a dire situation like this made it very hard for me to see things optimistically.
“The unsettled vibes you’re probably feeling from everyone are in regard to the séance,” I shared, not wanting to keep him in the dark longer than necessary. It had nothing to do with the fact that this discussion had turned a bit more personal than I’d wanted it to. “Séances can be tricky if one isn’t prepared, but Orwin brought
everything we’d need to take the precautions necessary for what we’re attempting to achieve tonight.”
“You’re not tempting fate with that rare sign of optimism, are you?”
Had I not known any better, I would have sworn Knox had been carrying on secret conversations with Pearl. The last thing I needed was for everyone to harp on me even more about my dour attitude over being hexed.
I was allowed to be a bit bitter, right?
I was saved from answering Knox’s question when Orwin reappeared from escorting Faye to her room. He seemed to be on a mission, already pushing up his black-rimmed glasses. He went directly to his backpack that he’d lugged inside the manor and set it down next to the coffee table.
“While Piper is looking for the journals of Patricia and Theodore Ashton, I got to thinking about how the estate was previously divided between heirs,” Orwin said, sitting down on the couch as he unzipped his backpack. “Faye isn’t as bad as her niece and nephew portray her to be. At least, that’s not the mentality I’m picking up. The falling out between Faye and Florence had more to do with the fact that Florence received the physical estate, although Faye still maintained a share in the profits…all Ashtons retain their share of the estate’s income. Faye just felt slighted by the family tradition back then.”
“So, you’re saying that the motive isn’t about money?” Knox inquired, attempting to decipher Orwin’s meaning.
Money isn’t a motive? How interesting. You should know that I just left Piper in the comfort of the family library, though the fire has died out with no one to maintain it. Seeing as Gertrude and Wilbur are no longer employed here, I highly doubt that the flames will be rekindled in any of the manor’s rooms. You realize that taking money off the motive list in my sweet Piper’s app leaves us little to go on…with the exception of Ms. Ophelia. Are we sure that conducting a séance in the presence of a malicious poltergeist who has possibly committed at least one murder is still a good idea, dear hexed one?
The Squeaky Ghost Gets the Curse Page 9