by Sharon Hays
“Thanks Joan, will do! I’ll talk to you soon.” He started the engine and sped up the street toward Maple Drive and then his house. A block before he reached Maple, and unable to resist, he turned off on Valencia Lane so he could take a quick look at the Manor. He gazed up at its deteriorated exterior. As he looked up near the attic, something moved in the window upstairs. He fixed his eyes on the movement, and the tattered curtain quickly fell back into place. He had the urge to go inside, but decided to wait until morning. He knew if he did, the chief would be livid. The paperwork was not finished, and he would be in deep trouble. He could possibly lose his job. He restrained himself and left for home. He was positive someone was accessing the house from another entry, not yet discovered by the detectives.
Anxiety kept him up most of the night. He was half in and out of sleep with perplexing dreams of the Valencia racing through his subconscious, until sleep finally took firm hold.
27
Mario was extremely groggy and tired, but forced himself out of bed and straight to the shower. He picked up a Double Whammy coffee and a box of donuts before arriving at the station. His shift would not begin for another forty minutes, giving him some time to chat with the officers and detectives as they greeted him with smiles and handshakes. Chief Olson had not arrived yet, but the guys eagerly dug into the donuts and conversation with Mario.
“Well, I see you’re ready to go Mario,” the chief called from across the room as he made his grand entry.
“Hi, Chief, I’m ready as rain. Can’t wait to sink my teeth into this one. Thanks again for putting me back to work a week early. I appreciate that more than you know.”
“No problem, I know you’ll do the job, and I feel it should be you heading this investigation, since you were the first casualty on the list. You owe it one, right?” Chief Olson gave him that look of satisfaction he had come to appreciate.
“I’m ready to start now. I’ll take Officer Jackson with me. He’s not tied up today.”
“Yes by all means, take him. He’s a good man, and I don’t want you in that house alone. Any of you. I am beginning to wonder if that place has some devilish, evil spirits in it! Just kidding.” He started laughing as Mario and Monte were walking out toward the back door. He had a unique sense of humor, and the guys appreciated that about him.
“Chief, I’ll keep you informed. See you later on.” Mario added.
“You guys be careful and stay out of trouble.” The chief grinned.
Mario exited the building with Monte following behind. His squad car was parked in the back, out of its usual space since he had been temporarily out of commission. They left quickly, anxious to begin. When they arrived at the Valencia Manor, Mario unconsciously looked up at the window. That would definitely be his first priority when they entered the house. Flashlights and lanterns would suffice, since the electrical company had no success turning the power back on. The wiring had serious problems, and they had informed the chief it would take some time. They had worked on it for three days prior and had nothing positive to report. The two officers crossed the threshold of the front entry, flashlights and lanterns in tow.
“Monte, we’re going upstairs. Yesterday I drove by here and saw movement in the window of the last room on the right. I think someone is staying in this house. Even with the new locks, they are accessing this house somehow. We need to be on the lookout for another way in.” As they walked up the staircase, it played its usual symphony of creaks and groans. The stairs had been repaired while Mario was in the hospital, so they were a little less concerned about accidents from loose boards.
“Check out the first two rooms—I’m starting at the room on the end—and work back this way.” Mario kept walking until he reached his destination while Officer Jackson disappeared into the first room near the landing when he reached the top.
Mario entered the dim-lit space. Pointing his flashlight up and around, all he saw was the bed, a dresser and some old blankets, as before. This time, though, he noticed the window was slightly open, and he inspected the casing and frame surrounding the tall window where he had seen the movement behind the curtain. The dust on the windowsill had been disturbed as if someone had been leaning on it. Mario would order some fingerprinting and testing of the area. Carefully and thoroughly photographing what he presumed to be worthy, he searched throughout the room. In the closet, he noticed debris and particles of old food scattered around. Placing the lantern on the floor in the closet, he stepped inside the small area and took a closer look. He pushed against the walls, feeling around for a possible entry or exit to another room. A tattered shirt hung in the back of the closet. He examined it. The smell was disgusting. “Phew! That’s enough to make a grown man throw up.” He uttered quietly.
He noticed two hangers that had been pushed to the right side of the small closet, and more dirty clothing hanging loosely. Pulling them closer, he saw a ragged dress and a dirty pair of pants or slacks. The smell again, was horrifying, and he was careful not touch them. He added more on his list for the forensic team to re-check since the apparent recent activity here in this room
He walked out into the hall and onto the balcony, shining the light toward the rooms Monte was inspecting. “How’s it going down there Jackson?”
Officer Jackson stuck his head out and signaled with his flashlight. “All is fine here. I Haven’t found much, except empty food containers and old furniture here and there. A lot of dirt and grime, from years of being empty. I am sure the rodents have enjoyed its vacancy.”
“Let’s go around to the other side and check it out.”
“Yes, Detective, I’ll be right there. I photographed a few items and have one more area to complete, and then I’ll be right with you.”
He joined Mario, and they made their way around the balcony, shining light down onto the enormous room below. Two rooms still had to be searched again since the investigation began three weeks ago, and Mario was determined to make a clean sweep today. The first room was just around the corner on the west side of the house. Mario turned the handle pushing in. It was locked. He tried to pick the lock, but it would not budge. He gave it a hard kick, and the door burst open. “That ought to wake up the sleeping spirits,” he chuckled.
The two entered the room, lanterns offering light into the dark space. “There’s a drawing on the floor over here.” Monte walked closer, shining the light across a symbolic design. It looked like a pentagram or some type of ritualistic, occult symbol. This is the third time Mario or others on the team had taken note of unusual symbols in the Manor. Mario would lead the investigation to further advance the cult question during the next few days.
“Something very unusual has been going on in here. The symbol resembles one used in the occult… There was a case in Denver once, where these symbols were on the walls and floors of an old warehouse. Turned out to be some kind of cult gathering place. May be something like that. These kids today do some very weird things.” Mario checked out the symbols, carefully photographing the bizarre designs.
“Monte you check out the closet, take some pictures and we’ll get to the next room.”
Officer Jackson finished his work and continued. Since Mario’s suspicion of activity, investigating each and every room again would be mandatory, and then if needed they would have to do it a third time, he had instructed the team.
They entered the room with the anticipation of new evidence to help push the case along. Mario got a cold chill when he entered. He shivered as a cold draft surrounded them and had the feeling that they were not alone. “I get cold chills when something doesn’t feel just right, but this is ridiculous.” he commented while he looked around the room.
Officer Jackson stayed close to Mario. “I feel a little strange myself, but I personally am not one to be superstitious, believe in ghosts or the occult. I can say I have cold chills, but then again this house is clammy and damp. I figure there is always an explanation for everything. No room here for the supernatural
in my evaluation,” he laughed.
“Don’t be too sure. A lot of phenomenon are unexplainable, but still seem very real.” Mario tried to remain impartial, for the moment.
“To each his own, I always say,” Monte interjected.
When they were about to finish searching the room, both officers could clearly hear a far away cry, like a child whimpering.
“Well, now what do you think?” Mario commented curiously.
“I heard that, for sure. Sounds like a baby’s cry. Maybe the neighbor next door?”
“Well I would say yes, except the neighbor is a hundred feet away, and a tall stone wall separates the two properties. I doubt we would be able to hear anything from the neighbor’s house. Sounds more like it’s coming from downstairs. Let’s go check it out.” Mario led the way, and Officer Jackson followed, wide-eyed and uneasy.
“I’m right behind you, Mario.”
“Here are the stairs. Be careful. I wouldn’t want you to be the victim of another accident, here. There’ve been way too many already.”
“Gotcha, Ramos. I intend to be very careful. Marty took quite a fall on the staircase last week.
When they neared the bottom of the stairs, a huge crash reverberated from the kitchen. Both officers were startled.
“What the hell was that?” Monte said.
“I don’t know, but have your weapon ready. Be careful. Come on, let’s move!” Mario led the way.
Another shuffling noise broke through the silent house as they edged their way toward the large kitchen. It was from the same area, but much louder and closer. Officer Jackson backed away, stumbled against a table near the wall, and fell to the floor. He caught himself and jumped back up quickly.
“Mario, did you see anything?
“No, but I bet you felt something, Monte.” He couldn’t keep himself from ribbing Monte again. The incumbent officers used to rib him when he first started at the precinct, years ago. Meanwhile, Mario called into the station “Chief, we need backup at Valencia right away, there’s someone in here.”
“You got it, Mario. Sending Officer Sparks with his team ASAP.”
Mario took the lead. “Let’s get into the kitchen. There’s someone here, and I’m gonna flush him out! You stay outside the door here and I’ll go in. If you see him coming, you know what to do. Don’t get too hasty though, we want whoever it is alive. Too many questions unanswered here. He moved into the room, fanning the flashlight against the walls and floor, looking for someone, something, anything that would give them some answers to this ethereal drama. Four tall windows offered some light through the kitchen, making it a little easier to manipulate through the debris that had been scattered throughout the room. Old boxes and half-opened cans of rotted food lay in various places on the floor, counter and the large prep table.
“There has to be someone in this house. I know it wasn’t like this when I was here last week. We photographed the rooms, and a lot of this debris has been recent or at least in the last week or so after I was here,” Mario remarked seriously. “Come on inside Monte, let’s keep going. The pantry is over here.” He entered the room, placing the lantern on a small table by the door. Flashlight in one hand and gun in the other, Mario moved ahead. Again, the place was in shambles with junk, boxes, and old food wrappers strewn about. Mario felt the walls, knocking against them listening for hollowed out sections where a possible opening may lead to a place of seclusion for the intruder. “Where are you, Monte?”
“I’m here! Right behind you. My flashlight went out when I fell. I left the lantern in the upstairs room when I photographed the closet,” he replied, slightly embarrassed.
“Don’t worry, just stay behind me in case someone is in here and I have to use my weapon. Leave yours holstered, Monte. I don’t want you shooting me by mistake in the dark!” Mario was getting to Monte, and he knew it. Actually, Mario was on edge, but still trying to ease the tension with his new rookie trainee. He was well aware that Monte was scared.
“I don’t think anyone is here now. Somehow there has to be a way in and out of here. A secret door or passage of access we have yet to find. They are eluding us every time we get close. Let’s get the hell out of here. I want to check the Florida Room and back porch area. That’s where Maryanne was when this whole thing started. Officer Sparks’ team will be here shortly to continue the search.” Mario led Monte into the grand room and aimed his light up against the walls, where the imported Italian sculptures hung.
“That’s the one I was hanging from when they found me. Believe me, I can’t remember a lot of what happened that night; it’s still a blur. I see bits and pieces and to tell you the truth, it scares the hell out of me. Whatever it was that hung me out there had to be pretty strong or damn lucky!” Mario shined the light against the sculpture, still wondering how it was even possible that he ended up hanging like a puppet on a string. He shook his head and went on.
“Follow me. This is where the Florida Room leads to the porch. The night Maryanne got the hell scared out of her; she left her purse and ran out the back door. We just recently found the purse outside near the back of the house. The locks have been changed twice, and still someone keeps accessing the Manor. Tell me it isn’t haunted or something crazy isn’t going on.” Mario rambled on and Monte soaked it in like a sponge. He was actually beginning to think there could be something here that was not of this world as he continued listening to Mario and stories of recent encounters.
“I think we should go next door and talk to Mrs. Brindle. She could have seen something; you never know.” Mario opened the back door of the porch and Monte followed him around the house as he studied the artistic sculptures on the back yard fountain.
“The architecture is really something, Mario.” Monte was a dabbling artist. He had studied art in college for a couple of years and had an appreciation for sculpture.
“Yes, from what I read, most of the statues were imported from Italy. The people who built this house were very wealthy when they arrived here from Italy and had it built specifically with Italian design, and they didn’t spare any cost to have them imported.” Mario headed for the door. “Come on, let’s go next door and check it out.” Again Monte followed, gazing at the outside of the house and taking in as much as he could of its captivating design.
Mario hit the knocker against the old wooden door. “Who’s there?” A woman’s voice answered from inside.
“It’s Detective Ramos from the Boulder Police Department, Ma’am. We would like to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind.”
“What about?”
“Have you seen anyone in the neighborhood you don’t recognize recently? Ma’am, please open the door. I have some ID here. I am holding it up to the peephole. Can you see it? We are worried that some bad people or person might be roaming the neighborhood and we need your help to find them. Could you please open the door? I promise we won’t take up much of your time. You can call the Boulder Police Station to check us out if you want to. Just call…”
Before he finished, the door opened, and a small, gray-haired woman of about eighty poked her head through the crack. “Someone has been stealing my food and my groceries from the porch. My delivery boy dropped some food off, and they stole my food.” She went on to explain about the missing food, then opened the door all the way and stood in the portal. She looked somewhat frazzled, but asked them to come inside, after all. “My kids think I’m crazy. They think I’m making it up and want to send me away. The doctor says I am imagining it, but I know what I know. I don’t give a damn what they say. Someone is coming in, stealing my food! Can you help me? I don’t want them to put me away in the old folk’s home. I can get along good enough by myself. I’m not helpless or crazy. How can I make them believe me? You have to help me,” she pleaded. “Things haven’t been the same around this place since after John passed away. My neighbor, John Farthington,” she elaborated.
“Ma’am, what is your name?”
“I’m
Irma Brindle. Pleased to meetcha, Sir.” She extended her arm out to Mario.
“I’m Detective Ramos, and this is Officer Jackson, Mrs. Brindle. I think we can help you. I just need to ask you some questions.” Mario scribbled the pertinent information into his notepad as she described some of the items and food that had been missing from her house. He was glad he spoke to the woman and anxious to let the chief know his results.
“Will you help me now?” she pleaded. “Now that I have answered your questions, can you tell my family I’m not crazy?” She appeared worried and afraid.
“Certainly Mrs. Brindle,” Mario kindly answered. “We’ll make sure to let them know how you have helped us, but we may have to come back to ask more questions. Would that be all right?”
“Yes Detective, and I’ll be looking forward to you gentlemen returning. I feel a lot safer knowing you are around here.” Mario hoped he relieved her some, before she closed the door.
Mario called the station and ordered a squad car to watch Mrs. Brindle’s home more closely and informed the Chief of his visit. A car was going to be put on the scene immediately. Mario and Monte returned to the Manor, where their police van was parked, and Spark’s team had just arrived with two officers he had called for earlier. Mario spoke to them briefly, and then headed back to the station. After filling in Chief Olson, Mario worked on information and evidence leading to connections with Harold Arnold. He knew there was a lot more going on with him than they had considered up to now. He arranged a meeting with Detective Corolla to obtain information about Harold’s whereabouts. The Dirkshire murder was still under investigation, and the only lead was Harold’s association with the Manor. Mario was positive Harold killed Mrs. Dirkshire due to the title discrepancy on the Valencia. He deducted that there may have been an altercation, where he possibly pushed her in a struggle, and she hit her head on the table, causing her death. Mario summed it up that way, for the time being. That was until the rest of the story unfolded. The Sheriff in Lyons would still have to corroborate the information in order to put out a warrant on Harold, though. Time was a big factor. The longer they waited the less chance they had of making an arrest.