Mr. Pierce saw the news report on the fire and wondered if Megan had anything to do with it. She was out last night. He called Detective Sean.
“Detective Sean, can I help you?”
“It’s Mr. Pierce. I think Megan started that fire last night.”
Detective Sean sat up straight in his chair. “What makes you think that, Mr. Pierce?”
“I checked on her around two, and she wasn’t in her bed. Every night I check on her, and then I wait outside her door to make sure she doesn’t come out of her room. Well, last night I checked like I said. I shut the door to my room and then I stand by her door and listen.” He paused.
“Mr. Pierce, was she in her room?” Detective Sean asked.
“No, she wasn’t. I heard her open her window, but by the time I went in her room, she was gone. I waited in her room until she returned. She fell in the window and she saw me. I asked her what she was doing, and she said she needed fresh air. I nailed the windows to her room shut this morning.”
“Do you happen to know what time she did come back home?” Detective Sean asked.
“I didn’t look at the clock. I was so angry she disobeyed me. Then this morning I saw on the news another fire. I wanted to let you know about Megan not being in the house.”
“You did the right thing, Mr. Pierce. Thank you for calling.”
Detective Sean left the station and headed back over to Mrs. Parker’s home. He walked behind the house and over to the fence. He noticed blood leading down the alley. Mr. Martin’s dog barked when it noticed him. Mr. Martin came out of the house.
“Hello, Detective. Can I help you?”
“Did you notice anyone around here last night?”
“Cookie was barking at something. I came out to see what it was and noticed the fire. I called it in.” saying it proudly. “I recall seeing a shape of what might have been someone by the fence. Couldn’t tell you for sure though, I was busy watching the fire.”
“Thank you, Mr. Martin,” Detective Sean said.
Detective Sean followed the bloody trail to the end of the alley. He went back to his patrol car to follow the trail to see where it possibly could lead to. He followed the trail until it stopped, get out of the car and walk around until he found it again. This carried on until the trail, what you know, ended at the driveway of the Pierce’s home.
Mr. Pierce noticed the patrol car and came out on the porch.
“How can I help you?” Mr. Pierce asked.
“Could you show me which window Megan climbed in last night?”
“Sure,” he said, walking around to the side of the house.
They both went to the window Megan used. Detective Sean examined the ground for any sign of blood. Under the window, he found what appeared to be several droplets of blood.
“Could I speak to Megan?” Detective Sean asked.
“Megan,” Mr. Pierce called.
Megan came to the window. “What do you want, Dad?” she said sarcastically.
“Come out here.”
Megan appeared around the corner of the house stopping in her tracks when she saw Detective Sean standing with her father. To keep up the act, she immediately walked over to them.
“What’s going on?” she asked innocently.
“Were you at home last night?” Detective Sean asked.
“I was, why? What’s going on?”
“Megan, you were outside. You said so yourself,” Mr. Pierce questioned.
“I wanted some fresh air. I climbed out the window to get some.”
“Couldn’t you have just opened the window for some?” Detective Sean asked.
Megan looked away from them worried.
“How long were you outside?”
“I was outside for a little bit. My dad caught me coming back in, though.”
“Do you have a cut anywhere on you?” Detective Sean asked.
“Yeah, I cut my leg climbing back in the window.”
“May I see the cut?” he asked Megan.
“Sure,” Megan said, pulling up the leg of her sweatpants.
Detective Sean walked over to her and looked at her calf. “Looks like a dog bite. Did you come in contact with a dog?” he asked.
“Megan, if there’s anything you know about the fire from last night, you need to tell us,” Mr. Pierce said.
“Dad, I don’t know anything about a fire.”
“Are you sure about that, Megan? The fire happened around the time you said you were out of the house. I know you left around two, and you were gone quite awhile,” Mr. Pierce said.
“Dad, I had gone out for a minute or two. I just wanted some fresh air. You caught me coming back in.”
“Megan, Megan, Megan. How stupid do you think I am? I promised the Detective here I’d keep you at home. I get up every hour on the hour and check to make sure you’re in your room. Last night I looked in, and you were in bed. Then I heard your window open, when I checked you were gone. I didn’t see you outside getting fresh air. I even looked in the barn. Megan, I think it’s time to tell us where you were.”
Megan looked down at the ground and started kicking dirt. “Okay, I’ll tell you.”
“Could we go and sit down?” Detective Sean asked.
They went to the front porch and Megan confessed to starting the fire. She cried when Detective Sean put her in the backseat of the patrol car.
“Would you come to the station, Mr. Pierce? I need to ask Megan about the other fires.”
“Sure thing, I’ll follow you there.”
Megan Pierce confessed to all three fires. She didn’t know Mrs. Parker was in the house and didn’t make it out. She was charged with arson and murder in the first degree.
Megan was transferred to the Girl’s Correctional Home in Portland.
The phone started ringing. Getting up, I went to the kitchen to answer it.
“Hello,” I said.
“Hello Jessica, How are you?” Jennifer asked.
“I’m fine and how are you?”
Putting my hand over the receiver, I called, “Tony, it’s your mother.
“I’m doing just fine. May I talk to Tony?” she asked.
“Hold on a minute and I’ll get him.”
Peeking around the corner down the hall, Tony was buttoning his jeans, making his way to the phone. Tony kissed me then took the phone. Tony talked with his mother while I made something to eat.
“Hello mother,” Tony said, into the receiver.
“Hello dear. I called to let you know William is in an uproar,” she said, calmly.
“Why would he be?” Tony asked, turning around to see where I was.
“He told Victor, Charlotte went hunting the night before last and hasn’t returned.”
Putting my sandwich on a plate, I went into the living room.
“Is this the first time it’s happened,” Tony asked.
“No—it isn’t,” Jennifer said.
“Then there shouldn’t be any reason for alarm, I would think,” Tony said, looking around the corner at me.
Sitting my plate down on the table, I went to the restroom. Before turning on the light, a shadow passed by the window. Going over to the window I looked, but didn’t see anything. No wind was blowing, so I knew it wasn’t a branch. I looked up at the sky, it was clear. Turning around to go to the commode, I heard my name, “Jessica.” Quickly turning back to the window, I didn’t see anything. Finishing up in the bathroom, I went to the kitchen, grabbed a soda from the refrigerator, and then returned to the living room.
“Mother, I don’t think there’s anything to worry about,” Tony said. “They’ve always returned.”
I turned on the television, flipping through the channels when I heard a tap on the window behind me. Turning to see what made the tap, I thought I saw a figure moving near the window. I went to the front door. Again, there was nothing there. Heading back to the sofa, I glanced into the kitchen. Tony was still on the phone with his mother. I usually didn’t find that st
range, but this evening I did and suddenly an eerie feeling hit my stomach. Tony was never one to be on the phone longer than five minutes.
I finished eating. As I got up to take my plate into the kitchen I glimpsed a movement at the window. I went to the window and looked out. The sun was just beginning to set and shadows were being cast over the yard. I couldn’t see anything unusual. Just as I was about to turn away, I thought I saw what looked like a head appear from around a tree near the fence. Moving closer to the window and squinting I couldn’t see anything. I shrugged my shoulders and headed to the kitchen.
“Mother, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding and in a few days all will be okay,” Tony said. “When are you and father planning on coming to visit?”
“We’ll be there in a couple of months,” Jennifer said.
“You’ll stay at my house and I won’t hear anything about a motel,” Tony said, sounding persistent.
“Son, we have no problem staying at a motel.”
“I won’t hear of it. You’ll stay at my house,” Tony repeated.
It was getting late so I went to get ready for bed. Walking down the hall heading to my bedroom, I thought I saw a woman standing at the spare bedroom window. Stopping, I looked at the window, but nothing was there. What is going on, I thought. I went to the window and looked. I couldn’t see anything but darkness. Shaking my head, I went to my bedroom to get my nightshirt. “Jessica” I heard outside my window. I rushed to the window, flung back the curtain. Staring back at me from the trees were two glowing eyes. I quickly closed the curtain, dressed in my nightshirt and hurried back to the living room.
Tony was getting off the phone when I entered the living room. “What is going on?” he asked. “You keep looking in the backyard.”
“I think there’s something out there,” I said, trying to stay calm. Would you mind going out there and checking? I’ll feel better if you look,” I asked.
Tony got up and went to the backyard. I followed and stood at the door, watching him look everywhere.
I looked up at the trees. I couldn’t see anything, but the eerie feeling had chills running up my back and goose bumps on my arms. Tony finished looking without finding anything and came back to the house.
“Wonder what’s in the trees?” I asked when he entered.
“Maybe a squirrel or an owl,” Tony shrugged.
“Hum,” I said, looking back at the trees before closing the door.
“Will you check the windows and doors please?” I asked. “I’ll feel much safer if you do.”
Before we went to bed, Tony had checked all the windows and doors.
“Thank you,” I said, feeling a little silly at my request.
We got into bed and I nestled into Tony.
“Do you feel better now?” he asked.
“Yes, I do,” I whispered, softly kissing and circling my fingers around his chest.
A deep low growl started in Tony’s chest and I knew that sleep was not on the menu. Tony’s passion intensified. I was so absorbed in his hands and lips’ caressing me that I hadn’t realized my nightshirt was gone. Tony’s growl became deeper, stronger, and louder and sent me into a blissful night of enjoying him.
Charlotte was watching the house as one by one the lights went out. After the last light flicked off, she moved out of the trees and approached the house. Stopping at the kitchen window, she cautiously peered in. There was no one in there. Charlotte started to circle the entire house checking all the windows and doors to see if any could be unlocked. There was no movement in the living room when she checked that window. Where is the girl? She moved around to the front of the house heading towards the south end. Stopping abruptly at a window she could hear noises. The curtains were drawn so she couldn’t see in. She checked the window, but it was locked.
Charlotte sniffed the air and grinned. I’ve found her without a doubt. The perfume of roses was strong which sent her thirst into overdrive, but she would have to wait until the timing was perfect to have Jessica to herself. As she leaned against the house waiting, the noises grew louder and stronger. Charlotte knew what was happening in the room. Tonight was not the perfect time. She made her way back into the trees in hopes that the time would come soon.
Charlotte was nestled in the trees calling my name. I was looking around to see where the voice came from when a hand stretched out for me to take. As I took the hand, she looked around the tree she was standing behind. “Come,” she said, and I followed her to a rundown building on the outskirts of town. Staring into her eyes, I did exactly what she said. Lying on the bed, I moved my hair away from my neck. She smiled as she ran her finger up and down the vein. Licking her lips, she extracted her fangs. Closing my eyes, I smiled. Charlotte leaned down sinking her fangs into my neck.
I woke up screaming, sitting up in. Looking around the room and realizing I was in my bed. Tony sat straight up in bed. “Jess, what’s wrong?” he asked grabbing me.
“Nothing, it’s just a dream.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked concerned.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, shaking my head.
Closing my eyes all I could think about was the dream. Shivering, Tony thought I was cold and placed the blankets over my shoulder pulling me close to him.
“Jess?”
“Hum.”
“I love you sweetie.”
“I love you too.”
In the comfort of Tony’s arms, I fell asleep dreaming a dreamless night.
In the morning Tony had decided, spur of the moment that he needed to go to Portland. I went to the kitchen. There was enough coffee in the pot for a cup. Pouring it, I sat down at the kitchen table. Looking toward the backyard, I thought about the dream, and shivered. I finishing my coffee and decided to take a shower.
The warm water was soothing on my back but the dream wasn’t leaving my mind. The last time I had dreamed a horrible dream was in England while on my vacation.
“Jess,” Tony called from the hall.
I didn’t hear him. Trying to forget the dream, I concentrated on the water flowing down my back pretending I was under a waterfall.
“Jess,” Tony shouted, from the bedroom.
“In here,” I shouted back from behind the shower curtain.
“Before I forget, mother is coming to visit us in a couple of months.”
“I hope she’s staying at your house,” I said.
“I’ve already discussed that with her. My father will be joining her a week after she gets here.”
“Where is your father going to stay?” I asked.
“He’ll stay with mother at my house. That was part of the long discussion I had on the phone the other night. Mother insisted on staying at a motel, but I wouldn’t hear of it.
“I have to go to Portland for a few hours this afternoon. Would you like to come with me?” Tony asked.”
“I would come, but I have some things to do here before I head back to work tomorrow.”
After my shower, Tony jumped in and had his. I went to the bedroom to dress. Today I wanted to clean my house, although it didn’t need it. As I was getting my clothes from the drawer I started to sneeze. Then my head started pounding and my stomach felt queasy. The last time I felt this way was in England when I had the flu. I hoped I wasn’t coming down with it again.
Tony came out of the bathroom and dressed. He went over to the nightstand and rummaged through some papers I had in it. I was always doodling in bed when I was having a hard time falling asleep. My doodles were different ideas I had about jewelry. I’d put the papers in the drawer and forget about them. Finding a certain piece of paper he folded it and put it in his pocket.
“What’s that?” I asked, sitting on the bed.
“The reason I need to go to Portland today.”
Tony kissed my forehead and headed out the door. My stomach was getting queasier and I started getting chills. I got under the covers and closed my eyes. It wasn’t
long before I fell asleep.
Chapter Sixteen
Charlotte heard a car start up. Peeking around the tree, she watched the car reverse out of the driveway. “Aah,” she said to herself. She grinned as the car drove down the street and turned the corner. Slowly she made her way to the back door, it was locked. Swiftly moving around to the front door, she found it open and entered.
The sweet smell of roses perfumed the air. Her throat burned with the thirst for the sweetness, in hopes today would be the day. Now to find her before he returns. Charlotte searched the living room and kitchen, she wasn’t in there. Making her way down the hall, she checked the bathroom, nothing. Spare bedroom, nothing. Only one room left, this had to be it. Inching her way to the doorway, she slowly peeked around the corner. Aah! There she was, lying in bed. Licking her lips, Charlotte entered the room, quietly making her way to the side of the bed. She stopped at the edge and inhaled deep. Mmm! The powerful scent of roses overwhelmed her.
Her throat ached. The blood pulsated hard in her veins, her mouth watered in anticipation for a taste before she woke. Slowly leaning toward Jessica, she moved and Charlotte stiffen. She could hear the blood pulsating through Jessica’s veins. Fixated on Jessica’s throat, she licked her cold stone lips… Her fangs extracted as she leaned closer to Jessica. Jessica groaned, slowly opening her eyes. Charlotte froze. I can’t let her see me. As Jessica rolled over, she saw a woman standing next to the bed. Jessica blinked and she was gone. Maybe I just thought I saw a woman!
“Tony, is that you? Tony?” There was no answer. Strange, I thought I heard the door shut. Laying my head back down on the pillow and closing my eyes, I drifted back to sleep.
Charlotte was back in the safety of the trees, she had to plan a different approach to get Jessica.
Watching the house for any movement, she slowly returned. Standing at the window, she looked into the spare room and listened. Not hearing anything, she made her way back to the front door.
Opening the front door, she went inside. The rose smell still lingered in the house making her mouth water. Walking to the end of the hall, she looked in the bedroom. The girl was still in bed. Turning to the spare room, she went to the window and unlatched the lock.
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