“And why wasn’t I there?” He tried to keep his temper under control. But his words still came out curt and full of unresolved anger. “Wasn’t it you who insisted I go?”
Josie blinked as the heat of his words struck her and leaned forward to take his hand. “Rhys, please don’t blame me, you and I decided that together. Why must you bring up the past? I don’t want to talk about it.” She rubbed her baby bump. “It will just give the baby unwanted stress.”
Rhys pursed his lips and nodded. This conversation was far from over. He’d grill her later. They weren’t leaving until the morning. He’d get his answers by then one way or the other.
He gave Josie his best smile trying to cover up the anger he still felt. All this time Josie had known where Chloe was and hadn’t bothered to tell him. “So, when are you and Bill heading out tomorrow? I need to be sure there’ll be plenty of time for you and I to finish our little chat.”
Josie’s face paled and Rhys continued to smile but made sure his eyes conveyed his threat. He’d get his answers. He’d make damn sure of it.
****
Chloe sat on the empty log – Heather’s plan already in motion – and read Josie’s reply. She’d received it almost an hour after she’d first sent Josie hers.
Rhys decided to housesit for us while we are away. And Bill got him a teaching job to help out his friend Patrick Davis who is taking a yearlong sabbatical. Sorry I didn’t tell you. Let’s talk when I get to Cleveland.
So it was all true. Rhys was here and going to be teaching at the university where she’d have a great chance of seeing him. Why hadn’t Josie told her sooner? Instead she’d had to hear the news from Heather.
Imagine if she’d never known and ended up running into him? That would have been much worse. No, it was lucky that she’d learned about his presence. This way, should they meet, Chloe would be prepared. It was better to be on guard then totally taken by surprise and end up making a complete fool of herself.
Chloe gazed out over the cemetery and spotted the light from Heather and Jett’s lantern by one of the crypts. She hoped Heather would hurry up and pretend to see a ghost. The sooner she did, the sooner she could jump helplessly into Jett’s arms giving her the excuse she needed to confess her love for him. It was an immature idea, but that was Heather, always wanting to make a show out of everything.
Chloe clicked on her lantern and wrapped the picnic blanket around her shoulders. A bitter wind had begun to pick up, rustling the leaves and tugging at her hair.
When her long bangs blew into her face, she tucked them behind her ears and shivered. It was starting to get late, and she was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable.
When a twig snapped behind her she jumped and tumbled off the log, her butt smacking down onto the dirt. She sat in the dirt unmoving, her eyes and ears straining for further movement. A squirrel no doubt. The campus was full of them, which all freshman boys loved to chase. It was the new sport.
She jerked her head to the right when something rustled through the bushes. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. If it was only a squirrel then why was she becoming so frightened? It’s just my overactive imagination, she told herself and crawled back onto the log. There was nothing to be afraid of. Ghosts and monsters didn’t exist.
Now People on the other hand, they were the real monsters. Or more specifically men. College men.
She’d heard over the news yesterday that a Chinese student had been raped on her way back to her dorm after a long day at orientation. And last spring, two girls had been assaulted out at the lake after a group of boys had gotten drunk and spotted them sitting alone soaking their feet in the water.
Chloe gripped the blanket more tightly and cursed herself for letting her mind spiral into dark territory. There was seriously nothing to be scared of. It was just trees and shadows. But the tree branches were swaying and the shadows were coming alive.
She knew it was only the wind and a woodland creature or two, but the longer she was alone the more the shifting shadows frightened her.
Trying to take comfort in food, Chloe opened her chocolate mousse pudding and took a bite while staring at her feet. There was nothing scary about her Converse sneakers unless you counted the worn souls, the scuff marks, and that horrendous tear up near the laces.
That’s just one more thing she’d neglected to do. Her list just kept piling up. Text books, notes books, pencils, and now new shoes. Maybe she’d luck out and find all used textbooks.
If she kept spending all this money every semester, she’d eventually go broke. Already she’d gone through a third of her trust fund. Should she finish all four years at the university, she’d end up blowing all her money on tuition. Then what was she supposed to do? She had no life goals. Where was she going to work? Maybe she should add seeing her advisor to her lists of things to do.
Swallowing the last bite of her pudding, Chloe tossed the container in the cooler and froze. From the corner of her eye something moved. When she turned her head to look, she saw only dancing shadows and a few raining leaves. Chloe laughed nervously. It had only been the wind.
Beyond the church near the other side of the woods, came another rustle in the trees as if a very human someone had just stepped on a rotten branch. She squinted at the trees.
Her breath caught. A shadowy figure stood between two trees. Her heart began to race and she glanced away in search of Jett and Heather’s lantern light. When she couldn’t find it, she thought the shadowy figure must be one of her friends, but then she spotted their light on the other side of the cemetery, nowhere near the church.
Before she knew what she was doing, she’d flicked off her lantern and crouched down in the dirt. Whoever or whatever that figure was, she didn’t want it knowing she was sitting here by herself. God, what if he – maybe it – had already noticed her?
Over to the left, her friends’ light disappeared once more. The figure started to move. It crept out and away from the trees and made its way toward the church. Its body bent and its strides long. Its two legs seeming sure footed in the darkness.
Two legs meant it was definitely a human and not an animal. Any human slinking around in the darkness like a stereotypical vampire shouldn’t be trusted.
When she watched the figure slip inside the church, Chloe became concerned for her friends’ safety. Heather had told said earlier that she’d planned to take Jett inside the church, where she’d then fall into his arms after pretending to see a ghost.
An orchestra of thought came alive inside her mind, each instrument loud and sure that it had its very own solo. What if they went inside and were attacked? Maybe he was one of the homeless. Maybe he was a homeless man with a gun. What if that figure was a drug dealer waiting for his customer? Or the doped out customer waiting for his next fix? What if it was a murderer?
Whoever it was, Chloe needed to get to her friends before they got to the church. Throwing off her protective blanket, Chloe got to her feet. She was hesitant at first, her fear paralyzing her for a moment. But when she saw their light appear once more as it rounded the church, Chloe buried her fear and started to run.
Legs pumping, Chloe’s heart beat faster propelling her blood through her body and into her brain where it beat inside her ears like a drum before a battle.
With the battle raging inside her head, Chloe dodged a few grave markers before tripping over a large stone and falling chest first onto a grave.
Her head a mere inch away from the tombstone, Chloe thanked the gods for her luck, and looked back to see what she’d tripped on. Oh so that’s where Mary’s head went. She almost laughed at the idea of tripping over the holy mother, but there wasn’t time. Her friends were at the front of the church, the light of their lantern casting one elongated finger across the ground.
Chloe pushed herself to her feet and as soon as her left foot touched the ground, pain shot through her ankle. The pain made her stagger and nearly topple.
Heather and Jett were at
the front door. Chloe took a step forward biting back the pain. She’d never make it in time. Desperate she opened her mouth and screamed.
Chapter Three
In the dark confines of the church, Daniel scampered down the center aisle past wooden pews all the way up to the altar where he hurriedly threw two cream colored drop cloths over his mannequins. They were meant for his eyes only.
He cursed his forgetfulness and scurried back to the door. There was no excuse. He should never have left without covering them in the first place. He’d gotten careless thinking that no one was likely to come meandering about in this cemetery.
He’d checked. The church had been abandoned back in the twenties shortly after they’d opened St. Paul’s over on Washington Avenue. That hadn’t been the only reason why they’d bordered this place up. According to a few facts and mostly urban legend, back when the church still had quite a few parishioners, their priest, one young Father Jamieson had been found hanging from the rafters of the bell tower. Below him, lying in a pool of blood was the body of a young female parishioner. Her head cracked open after being repeatedly hit with an iron crucifix that lay nearby.
That hadn’t been the worst of it. Next to the woman had lain a child no more than five, having died of what could only be ruled as asphyxiation. The woman’s name had been Sarah Jane Miller. The child, Sarah’s daughter, was Mary Elizabeth. That was all fact.
Now came the conjecture. It was thought that the priest and young Sarah Jane were having an affair. And then whoops, out pops little Mary Elizabeth. Supposedly Sarah Jane begged Father Jamieson to take responsibility and marry her. But he was a priest, and couldn’t forsake his vows.
Though impregnating a girl was pretty sacrilegious. The fool had already done the deed, so why not pay the price? Father Jamieson had ended up paying a price, just not the best one.
Instead of doing the right thing, the priest forsook the woman and her child, casting them both out of the church. Sarah Jane being an unwed mother was shunned by friends and community. Her mother and father disowned her, leaving her and the child penniless. Who knew how they survived.
Years later, Sarah Jane confronted Jamieson once more begging him to save her and the child. Again, instead of doing the right thing, Jamieson denied Sarah.
The rejected must have caused something to snap inside her, because she smothered poor Mary right there in front of the priest. Seeing his child lying limp in her mother’s arms, Jamieson attacked Sarah striking her with the iron cross that sat on the pulpit.
With child and lover both dead, Jamieson wracked with guilt, climbed up the open steeple and hanged himself from the rafters.
He didn’t know if that’s the way it actually happened. For all he, or anyone, knew, Sarah and the priest may never have had a relationship. Maybe they’d all been murdered by Sarah’s jilted lover. Or Jamieson’s. Perhaps Jamieson had been the intended target and pour Sarah and Mary had been at the right place but the wrong time. No one would ever really know.
Daniel turned his thoughts back to the problem at hand. He had to figure out what to do about the kids who were intending to enter this home. He’d purchased the property some weeks back. He’d used a false name of course.
Daniel Erikson. A very American sounding name and one that he’d had to pay a fortune to get. The real Mr. Erikson had died as an infant, leaving his name and social security ripe for the taking. He hadn’t enjoyed stealing someone else’s identity, but when you’re in hiding, you don’t have much choice. So he’d paid for the documents. And he’d paid again for the property, which was another large sum, but one well within his means.
Amidst all the renovations were a few telltale items that he didn’t wish for anyone to see. The mannequins were only a part of that. Daniel leaned against the rough stone pillar, his eyes darting back and forth between windows. Those kids were getting closer.
He scowled and wished they’d leave. This place was his and they had no right to come snooping about. He wasn’t in the mood for any complications. And these two were going to ruin everything. What was he going to do if they peaked inside? They’d surely see everything.
The glow outside the window let him know they were near the door. They were going to come inside and when they did he’d have to be ready for them.
Daniel picked up the hammer that was lying on the sawhorse and gripped it tightly in his hands. One good strike and the boy would go down. But he’d have to be quick if he wanted to catch the girl with his second swing.
His eyes were used to the dark but he didn’t have to look to know that the doorknob was turning. It was an old lock and the sound of metal grinding against metal echoed through the cavernous sanctuary.
Daniel raised the hammer above his head. He didn’t want to do this. Nor had he wanted to kill the others. Nevertheless he’d done so, and now he’d do it again.
He’d go to hell and back if need be. He’d do whatever it took to get her back. And once he had her, he’d make sure she knew what she’d made him do. She should have never deceived him.
The door swung inward, its hinges creaking in protest. He’d have to get that fixed. First though, he needed to get rid of these foolish trespassers.
As Daniel waited for them to enter, a sudden thought had him smiling. Owning a cemetery would prove to be very handy. It was the perfect place to bury a body or two.
The boy stepped inside first. And Daniel waited. They both needed to be inside before he struck. He didn’t want to take any chances that one of them could get away. As the girl took one step inside, a scream pierced the night like a banshee shrieking in warning.
The sound tore right through his soul. The hammer wavered slightly in his grip. He stood there paralyzed while the boy and girl rushed out of the church without as much as a backward glance.
He could hear them yell a name. A name that was more precious to him than his own life. Taking a step toward the window, he lowered his arm and let the hammer drop to the floor.
Outside, he could see the frenzied dance of the lantern light as they ran toward a small figure. When the light got closer, he noticed the long black hair and delicate features of the girl. His girl. His Chloe.
****
Jett reached her first, his breath coming out in haggard rasps. “Chloe what’s wrong?” He held the lantern up, the glow illuminating her face.
“We need to get out of here.” Chloe said, her eyes staring at one of the front windows of the church. She couldn’t detect any movement. Even so, she knew that whoever was inside was probably at the window watching.
“Why?” Heather asked panting. She looked over at Jett. “Thanks for running on ahead and leaving me to find my way in the dark.”
Jett shrugged in apology. “Chloe, why did you scream? Did you see a ghost or something?”
Heather sent Chloe a glare from behind Jett’s back. “You better not have. Especially since you knew how much I wanted to see one.” Her words were full of unspoken threats. She was already blaming Chloe for ruining her night.
“It wasn’t a ghost.” She took a steadying breath. “Listen there is someone in the church. He was in the woods first, watching you. I saw him go inside. We need to leave.”
“You’re sure?” Jett asked looking over his shoulder.
“Yes. Let’s get out of here.”
Heather grabbed Jett’s arm in genuine fright. At least Chloe thought it was genuine. With Heather she never knew. “Chloe’s right, we should get out of here.”
Jett nodded. “Let’s get our stuff and go to the police.”
Chloe took one last look at the church. Nothing stirred except the wind as it rustled the trees, its voice a mournful wail as it blew through the past between the gravestones.
“Okay let’s hurry, and stay together.” Jett said and sprinted forward, Heather at his side. Chloe took a step forward, grimaced at the pain, and fought it. She quickly hopped after them trying to keep as much pressure off her ankle as she could.
It was
no surprise that Heather and Jett made it outside the gates before her. Heather grabbed the cooler and blanket while Jett hurried back to Chloe. “What’s wrong with your ankle?”
She tried to make light of it. “You know that headless statue? Well my foot found its head.”
“It looks swollen.” Jett bent down. “Here get on my back. I’ll carry you.”
Chloe couldn’t ignore the look that passed over Heather’s face, and she cringed. “It only hurts a little. It’s fine. I can walk.”
“I’m sorry Chloe but I want to get out of here quickly. Should whoever that is come running out of that church, I don’t want you lagging behind. Now get on my back.”
Chloe shot a silent apology at Heather before she climbed onto Jett’s back. She knew the minute they got back to the apartment, Heather would eat her alive.
The trip back to the car was shorter than the trip there. Perhaps it was because Heather had decided to do her best to flirt and entertain Jett, so that he’d forget about Chloe on his back.
It seemed to work too, because he didn’t say one word to Chloe. But he didn’t really say anything to Heather either, just a grunt here and there.
They had ridden over in Jett’s car. And when they reached his old Toyota where they’d left it parked on the street in front of the Delta Gamma house, Chloe quickly excused herself to the back seat. She was in need of a few extra brownie points.
She’d saved her friends, but had ruined Heather’s confession night. Which Heather was still angry about judging from the glare Heather gave her as she sat down in the front passenger seat.
Jett started the car and pulled out onto the street. Heather gently touched his arm. “Do we really have to go to the police? I mean we don’t even know if the guy was dangerous.”
“We should still notify them. You never know Heather. What if another student goes over there and something happens?” Jett glanced in his mirror at Chloe. “You’ll have to take the lead on this when we go to the cops. You’re the one who saw him.”
Sing for Me Page 3