by Alexie Aaron
“Mia, heads-up, Murphy’s joined the fight,” Ted reported.
Mia watched as the farmer rose up behind Cezar who once again had hold of Anatolie and was drawing him in.
A sporting man would have announced his presence before swinging the axe. Murphy wasn’t in a sporting mood. He swung his axe hard, his blade bisecting Cezar at the shoulders. The spectral beheading didn’t hurt Cezar, but it did surprise him enough to let go of his hold on Anatolie. He spun around and faced his attacker.
“Farmer, you are way outclassed. This isn’t your fight. Go back to your trees, your unfaithful wife, and your overbearing mother,” Cezar said, conjuring up a horrendous hallucination involving all three.
“Enough!” Anatolie ordered. He rushed at his cousin and sank both of his hands into the entity’s back. He started to withdraw energy.
“Stop, don’t feed,” Orion cautioned, “You’ll cease to exist. The poison has penetrated his very soul.”
“If this is the only way to stop this monster, then so be it,” Anatolie said before closing his eyes and extracting all the power he was capable of holding. He felt the twisting begin in his limbs, but he held on. “Cezar Gabor, I, Anatolie, known as Gabor the Great, cast you out of the family. We will never speak your name. We will spit upon your shrine. You are more than dead to us. You are no more.”
Cezar withered but remained floating. Anatolie fell from the sky, landing near Uta. The poison was working quickly. He may not have been a level eight wizard, but he had expended all his energy and embraced his end. Angelo and Mia stood by while Gabor the Great sent his last remaining thoughts into Mia’s receptive mind. Angelo thought he heard her say softly, “Oh, that’s how it’s done.” But he could have been mistaken.
Orion was frustrated. So much time and energy was put into terminating Cezar, and yet, he still hung on. “I’m going to have some words with a few scribes when I get back.”
Murphy looked over at the small birdman and cleared his voice to get his attention.
“Do you have any ideas?”
Murphy ran a finger over the blade of his axe.
“But you already bisected the lout… wait… I know! How could I be so stupid? Pull off his head. Move it away from his body. Four meters ought to do it.”
Murphy glared at the birdman.
“What? You really ought to embrace the metric system. Let’s see, how about five yards?”
Murphy turned his axe so the blunt side was out. He lined up like a tee-baller and took his best swing, connecting with Cezar’s head, sending it upwards and out of sight.
A distinctive pop was heard, followed by a rumble similar to thunder. Cezar didn’t manifest another head on his body. The empty shell simply crumbled to a fine powder to be taken away by the spectral wind.
Angelo’s driver rushed over to help his boss, bringing a large blanket to cover him as he morphed back into his human form.
Mia waited for Murphy. He appeared, and she gave him a high five. “That’s some hit, but you might want to work on your follow-through. I thought the head went a bit too close to the foul line for my comfort.”
“Jealous,” Murphy sniffed.
“Oh you bet. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve wanted to pick up your axe and do some damage,” Mia said dryly. She turned to see his reaction, but Murphy was gone. “Whoa, what’s going on?” she asked.
Mia was answered by what looked like a shooting star headed their way. She back pedaled away from the remaining eleven spirits. Orion caught her from stumbling on a pile of sand.
“Thank you. Some pretty cool work up there,” she said.
“It took me a while to figure it out. I’ve made a mess of the whole thing. I doubt I’ll be asked back,” he said as he continued to dress himself.
Mia leaned down, buttoned the hastily thrown on shirt, and said, “Anytime you want to hang with me, it would be an honor. Just bring along a fire extinguisher, just as a precaution.”
“I guess we don’t have to be perfect,” Orion said, looking around him. “Just as long as we get it right in the end.”
Mia nodded. “You looked pretty tough up there. I’ll never look at hummingbirds in the same light again,” she teased.
Father Santos gave the eleven his blessing. Lee Heinz waited until the others had joined the light before he floated over and whispered something in Mia’s ear. She nodded and wished him well. He walked over and picked up Anatolie’s remains and carried him into the light.
“What are the odds, Anatolie’s going to be accepted by the light?” Mia asked Orion.
“Not exactly my area, but I’d put a tenner on it. Is that what Lee whispered in your ear?”
“Oh no. What he told me came as a big surprise. Lee may have been enslaved by Cezar for more than a hundred years, but he had his eyes open the entire time. Come on, I’ll show you,” Mia invited.
They passed Burt. Mia stopped and asked, “Hey, Hicks, want to film a happy ending?”
“It sure would beat the light show I’ve got so far. From my viewer, all I filmed was a lot of orbs. It was too dark to get Angelo, except for the tiny flames. I take it that was your telekinesis gone haywire again?”
“See how he appreciates me?” Mia nudged Orion. “Why would I ever want to leave his employ?” she asked sarcastically.
They walked to the porch of the ranch house. Mia waited until Mike caught up with them. “I thought you’d be along.”
“Ted gave me the heads-up. He thought you could use a, how did he put it, a talking head.”
“Sounds like my husband. Okay, I don’t have to warn you, but this place is going to be pretty torn up. Whether or not we want to say why it’s this way on film is up to you,” Mia prefaced. She opened the door, pushing hard as the wood had buckled where the handle had exploded. The interior was damaged in odd places, mostly the doors. Any place Cezar had touched retained the scars of the small explosions predicted by Orion.
Mike started to go down the hall to the bedroom. “We don’t need to go down there. The kitchen is the place,” Mia directed. She walked in and instructed Burt where to set up the shot. Prior to him filming, she said, “Lee Heinz told me that Derrick Bonds, the first owner, kept his coin collection in an interesting place. Are you ready, Burt?”
“Rolling.”
“Hello, after the paranormal disturbances subsided, Mike and I decided to investigate the Madison house. We brought along with us famed international investigator, Orion Stavros.”
Burt panned outward to take in the whole team.
Mia walked over to the kitchen counter. “Our instruments picked up a metallic sound from this area during the seismic activities. Originally we assumed it was caused by the Madisons’ silverware drawer. But just to make sure, Mike and I are going to do a little extreme investigating. Children, don’t do this at home,” Mia added and winked at the camera. She hopped up on the kitchen counter. Mike joined her, and the two of them dismantled the paneling over the cabinets. Mia hopped down.
Mike slid over to where a canvas sack was resting under years of dust and dead insects. “It looks like an old bank deposit bag,” he said to the camera. He tried to lift it with one hand but shook his head, commenting, “Whatever is in this bag is certainly heavy.” Mike lifted the bag with both hands. He bent down and handed it to Mia who walked it over to the kitchen table.
She waited until Mike joined them. Orion sat on one of the kitchen stools and watched as Mike drew out a bunch of blue-covered penny collection folders. He set them aside and reached in and pulled out a roll of nickels and a roll of dimes.
“May I?” Orion asked.
Mike handed him the nickels, and the small man broke the seal, pouring out forty buffalo head nickels in prime condition. He began sorting them out. Orion lifted each one to the light and called out his estimated value of each coin. Next, the dimes were opened and no one was surprised to find liberty dimes.
“A few of these would bring a few thousand at auction,” Mike re
marked.
“Without factoring the complete penny collections,” Mia asked. “What’s a ballpark value of the Madison treasure?”
Mike smiled at Mia’s careful wording. He knew any and all money of the sale of this collection was going to go to the young couple. Their house was a mess. No insurance company was going to pay out on a paranormal claim.
“Somewhere between forty and forty-two thousand is my best guess,” Orion stated.
Burt dropped the camera off his shoulder. “We got it in one, thanks team.”
“So how’d you know about this again?” Mike asked Mia.
“Evidently, prior to the other ranch being demolished, Cezar used to hang his spirit line inside this house. Lee watched Derrick Bonds over the years working on his coin collection. He told me where the gentleman hid his collection before he left the house for the last time.”
“When?”
“Right before he went into the light. I suppose Lee thought that someone ought to benefit from the treasure, why not me?”
“You’re not keeping it are you?” Burt asked.
“Nah, it belongs to the Madisons,” Mia said. She looked over at Burt. “I know there’s a lot still to do here, but Ted and I are dead on our feet.”
“Go home. We’ll tidy up, right, Mike?”
Mia slipped out of the room quickly. Orion caught up with her at the front door. She stopped and pointed to the kitchen and said, “Listen.”
“Why do I always have to clean up?” Mike grouched. “Ted and Mia get out of all the hard work…”
Orion got the idea that this tirade was going to go on for quite some time. Mia opened the door, and the two walked out together.
It was a crisp, cold night. Orion was glad to have the leather coat on. He stopped and took in the scene at the end of the driveway. Gerald and Santos were waving them over to a festively lit catering truck.
“Hotdogs!” Mia cried and took off running.
Orion moved slowly towards the others, feeling quite happy with himself. If he hadn’t been in the vault when Angelo had come in, he would have missed all this. Mia met him halfway and handed him a mustard-and-onion topped hotdog, explaining, “This is the only way to eat them, unless you want chili and cheese.”
Orion’s stomach turned at the mention of cheese on top of a sausage but took a bite anyway. Gone was the disappointment of the non-zebra-filled cakes. Here was something he could sink his teeth into.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Max Madison assisted Irma Mullens out of the back of the car. She had lost weight and was a little wobbly on her feet. Kim rushed over to aid the older woman by offering her an arm.
“No thank you. I’m just getting used to being out of that damn hospital bed. I’m a little weak on my pins, but only exercise is going to improve that,” she said stubbornly.
The trio looked over at the Madisons’ house from Irma’s driveway. The sidewall had taken on some damage where the old Fletcher house foundations had abutted the newer home. There were a few PEEPs personnel milling around the large truck parked in the Madisons’ drive. The small investigator they had met at the hospital raised her hand and waved at them. She trotted across the lot and stopped before the Madisons.
“It’s been quiet for a week now. I don’t think you’ll be bothered anymore,” Mia told them.
“It looks so innocent sitting there,” Kim said. “Even after all that has happened, I still love that house.”
“It’s got good bones,” Mia pointed out. “Fill it with love and children, and I think the house will recover.”
“How bad is the mess?” Irma asked. “You can stay in my house until it’s sorted,” she offered the young couple.
“Cid and I have extracted all the damaged goods. They just took away the dumpster a few minutes ago. Come inside and take a look.” Mia held out the Madisons’ set of keys.
Max looked at his wife. It would be up to Kim whether they would stay or not. Could she put the events behind her?
“I guess it couldn’t hurt to look,” Kim said, accepting the keys.
“Oh, and these are yours,” Mia said, handing Irma’s keys to her. “Father Santos and PEEPs thank you for your generosity. I’ve had the place cleaned and your coffee supply restocked.”
Irma took the keys out of Mia’s hand and smiled shyly, “What are neighbors for?”
Kim patted Irma on the arm. “Let’s get you inside first. Mia, we’ll be over soon.”
Mia nodded and watched the young couple assist Irma inside her house. Mia took a moment and looked up and down the street. Aside from the rock and sand pit of the empty lot, this older neighborhood was a very pleasant place. Yards were kept up, and the flowerbeds were filled with autumn mums and daisies. Soon the trick-or-treaters would venture down the sidewalks. She wondered if any would dare to approach the Madison house. She was certain that the news had spread up and down the lane of the antics that had taken place there, but Mia couldn’t help that.
The air was still a bit warm for October, but an Indian summer wasn’t uncommon in these parts. Cid had received the promised windows and was supervising the installation. She also thought that she spied the county code truck turn into the hollow that morning as Ted pulled the command center truck out onto the highway. Was love in the air for Cid? Mia hoped so.
Audrey seemed to have landed on her feet. She was waiting inside with Burt to wrap up the investigation with the Madisons. After, she and Matt were going to visit his parents. Nothing was written in stone, but Mia had a good feeling about the couple. Mike had already left on vacation with Glenda. He handed over the finale to Burt. Mike wasn’t as concerned with losing airtime as he was with the viewing public seeing him with the dark rings of fatigue he was presently sporting.
Mia’s phone rang. She looked down and shook her head before putting it to her ear. “Ralph, this is the fourth time this morning,” she said.
“Oh, I’m so excited. Your good buddy Angelo has offered us his penthouse for the wedding,” he sang into the phone. “Mia, I really want to make use of that high-rise garden patio. Would you be disappointed if Bernard and I waited until spring?”
“No, I’d rather not play Nora pregnant, if you know what I mean. Nora drinks big martinis, and I’d like to play the part. Make me something dazzling to wear.”
“Oh, you’re such a dear. I already have Ted’s suit and…”
“Ralph, I’ve got an investigation to wrap up. We’ll talk more later, I promise.”
“Certainly. Bye.”
“Phew!”
“I beg your pardon?” Max asked, walking over.
“I just got off the phone with a very excited groom. Weddings shouldn’t be such a stressful event.”
“But they are. Even if you elope there’s the stress of breaking it to the relatives when you get home,” Max said.
“Is that what you and Kim did?”
“Yes. We were thinking of the cost, not of sharing our important event with others.”
“For what it’s worth, you did the right thing,” Mia assured him.
“What did my husband do that was right?” Kim asked, joining them.
“We were talking about weddings.”
“Oh that. Pooh to the grouches. It’s our lives,” Kim said. “Speaking of, I think it’s time to start ours.”
Mia led the way to the trailer. “Ted would like to put tiny microphones on you for the meeting with Burt and Audrey. You have final say if we use any of the footage. I must say that I’m surprised that you want to do this.”
“Max and I talked it over. I have to make strides to put my trauma behind me. If it means airing it on cable, then so be it!” Kim seemed excited by this step. Mia hoped that it was the right call for her.
~
“We did some extensive research on the origins of the problem here,” Audrey explained. “I found out some things that didn’t impact the investigation, but I feel you may want to know, Kim.”
Kim nodded listening.
“I have some information involving the man that the mentalist picked from your childhood memories, Peter Zimmer.”
“Go on.”
“It turns out that the incident at your home may have seemed like an isolated occurrence, but in reality, it wasn’t. Prior to you being victimized by this peeping Tom, Zimmer had fled Wisconsin where there was an arrest warrant for him. When your father and he were arrested, flags went up, and the Wisconsin authorities were notified. According to one of the officers I talked to, Peter Zimmer was detained before being transported to Wisconsin where he went through a trial and was found guilty.”
“For voyeurism?” Kim asked.
“Oh, no, he was guilty of the kidnapping of several young girls whose bodies turned up buried on rental property where he had resided at the time. You and your father’s actions were responsible for the arrest of a serial killer.”
“So where is he now?” she asked nervously.
“Still alive and serving out three life sentences,” Audrey said and handed Kim a copy of her research. “He’s not going to haunt you, Kim. He’s got bigger problems on his hands.”
Mia felt the relief that filled Kim before it dissipated, leaving her room to fill her brain with good memories.
“Thank you, this is most unexpected. If it took the shredding of my home for me to find this out, then I’m not going to complain. Why did this entity choose us to haunt?”
“Mia?” Audrey said, passing the question off to her.
Mia waited patiently for Burt to turn the camera before beginning her explanation, “You and Max were just handy. You see, the entity had managed to attach himself to the old house that straddled yours and the lot next door. The entity was looking for a host, probably Max, to possess. Luckily, you came to us, and we were able to bring in the right help to stop him. In doing so, you not only saved yourselves, but the souls of thirteen other spirits he had enslaved.”
“Wow, that’s extraordinary,” Max said. “Thank you for helping us out.”