Weeping Walls

by Gerri Hill

  “We should get back,” she said.

  “Yes. Because I’m very close to dragging you to the back side of the porch,” Paige said.

  “Oh, yeah?” She headed back toward the guys. “And what would you do if you got me back there?”

  “My hand would already be inside your jeans.”

  “Why, Special Agent Riley, aren’t you the fast worker?” she teased.

  Paige grinned, but before she could answer, the lights went out. The sudden darkness and quiet as the generator came to an abrupt halt startled them. Paige grabbed her hand tightly and Ice and Billy bolted off the porch.

  “What the hell?” Ice said. “What happened?”

  “Maybe the generator’s out of gas,” CJ said.

  “We filled it when we moved it,” Billy reminded her. “They said it would run for at least six hours. Something else happened. Or someone.”

  CJ clicked on her light and headed toward the generator. She loved the guys, she really did, but their constant fear of this house was wearing on her. She leaned over the generator, surprised to find the switch in the “off” position.

  “Out of gas?”

  She shook her head. The front door to the house was still open. She turned to the others.

  “Go ahead and get it started again,” she said as she headed to the door. She stopped before going inside. “And stay out here.”

  She expected Paige to protest, but she did not, simply giving her a quick nod. She felt only a little fear as she walked inside the dark house. She wasn’t surprised to hear a voice call to her.

  “Up here.”

  She looked up the dark staircase to the second-floor landing, imagining shadows moving about. She pushed her nervousness down as she slowly climbed the stairs. Halfway up she paused, expecting to hear the running of feet along the steps. She waited but instead of running, she heard crying. She looked around, trying to determine where it was coming from. It seemed to be all around her, as if the walls themselves were crying.

  The sound was nearly deafening, and she couldn’t make herself move any higher. She wet her very dry lips.

  “Please make it stop,” she said. The crying stopped as abruptly as it had started. “Thank you.”

  “Now come up.”

  She nodded, taking the final four steps slowly, her light slicing through the darkness. At the landing, she paused, waiting for instruction. Her light flashed up the stairs that went up to the third floor.

  “Not up there. You’re not safe there.”

  CJ turned, instead following the voice down the hallway. The windows weren’t boarded up on the second floor and she glanced out, seeing the lights on again. She hadn’t even registered the return of the generator’s hum. She leaned against the wall, sliding down to the floor until she was sitting. On impulse, she turned her light off.

  “I…I guess you know we found the bodies,” she said, her voice sounding nervous to her own ears.

  “Yes. That took you long enough.”

  CJ smiled before she realized what she was doing. So her ghost had a sense of humor. “Thanks for that ride down the chute. What is that thing?”

  “We used it for soiled clothes.”

  “So…you know who killed them, I guess.”

  “Yes. So do you.”

  “Edith?”

  “She committed the physical act.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “He controls her.”

  “He? Her husband?”

  “No. Her husband is up on the third floor.”

  “Dead?”

  “Yes.”

  “She killed him?”

  “With an ax.”

  CJ paused. “Is that why you say I’m not safe up there?”

  “I can’t help you up there. He is too powerful.”

  “Who is he?”

  “He’s always been here.”

  CJ closed her eyes for a minute, trying to grasp the fact that she was sitting on the floor in a haunted house having a conversation with someone—a ghost—as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  “How…how did he control Edith? Did she go up to the third floor?”

  “When she was young, yes. He drew her back here many times.”

  “She knew of the secret doors then,” she said. “How did she get in the house?”

  “Through the root cellar tunnel.”

  CJ grabbed the bridge of her nose and squeezed. “And the tunnel is where?”

  “You were there. You were so close.”

  “The ruins behind the house?” she guessed.

  “There is a plank floor. She covers it with dead tree branches.”

  “And are there other secret rooms?”

  “Yes.”

  CJ leaned her head against the wall, trying to remind herself she wasn’t interviewing a witness. She did have one question that she wanted answered, though.

  “Why me?”

  “You have a gentleness about you.”

  CJ shook her head. “Paige is the gentle one.”

  “Yes. But you were injured as a child. Your scars still show. You still grieve for your sister.”

  CJ’s heart tightened. “How do you know about that?”

  “My father was evil like your father. I can hear your soul as you cry.”

  CJ clenched her jaw, feeling tears in her eyes. She almost thought that maybe she was talking to her subconscious this whole time and not some damn ghost.

  “Damn ghost?”

  “Sorry. It’s easier to think I’m talking to myself rather than thinking I’m losing my mind,” she said.

  “I’m sorry you think you are not sane, but you are. Now, you should go. He senses your presence. He will make himself known. That, I’m sure, will frighten you.”

  CJ slowly stood. “We’ll need to go up to the third floor,” she said.

  “It cannot be you. I have reached out to you. He will know. He will kill you.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  She pushed up off the floor, getting to her feet again. She clicked on the flashlight, halfway expecting to see someone—her—but there was nothing in the shadows. She was about to head back down the stairs when she heard a thunderous howl above her. She swung her light up the third-floor stairs, then nearly stumbled as an unseen force pushed her hard against the wall.

  “GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!”

  “Holy shit,” she muttered as she steadied herself. The deep voice roared in her ears, but she stood frozen, her gaze glued to the stairs that spiraled up to the third floor, expecting something to charge her, to grab her, to toss her over the railing. And yet she stood there, staring up at nothing.

  “You must go. Hurry!”

  She whipped her head around, the sound of the girl’s voice nearly a whisper compared to the monstrous roar from above.

  “GET OUT!”

  This time she heeded his warning, darting down the stairs two at a time, nearly tripping as she reached the bottom. She ran out onto the porch and toward the lights. Three sets of frightened eyes stared back at her.

  She was breathing hard and she grabbed her chest, trying to calm herself. She looked at Paige. “Water?” she said between breaths. Paige handed her a bottle, and she noticed her hand was trembling as she opened it.

  “What the hell happened?” Billy asked.

  CJ shook her head. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

  She leaned against the wall and sunk down to the ground, much like she’d done upstairs. She stretched her legs out in front of her, blinking several times, the growled words “GET OUT” still reverberating in her mind. She was aware of Paige sitting down beside her, aware of Ice as he positioned himself at the edge of the porch, ready to make a run for the truck, if needed. Billy stood on the porch steps, still staring at her.

  “There’s a root cellar,” she said. “With a tunnel that goes into the house. That’s how Edith was able to get inside.”

  “Great. You know how much I
love tunnels,” Paige said.

  CJ turned her head and tried to smile, but it was too much of an effort. “The ruins out back. That’s where the entrance is. We can take a look in the morning.” She decided not to tell them everything. She would tell Paige later, about Herbert, about the voice, but she would do that in private.

  Paige leaned against her, resting her head on her shoulder. CJ captured her hand and held it tightly, slowly letting out her breath. No one said another word. Billy sat on the top step of the porch. Ice came back and sat down next to Paige. When Paige reached over and squeezed his hand, CJ managed a small smile, but it quickly faded as she heard the heartbreaking sounds of crying—weeping—coming from inside the house.

  Chapter Thirty

  Paige woke with a start, blinking several times as she got her bearings. While the front seat of the truck reclined somewhat, it still was not the most comfortable place to grab a few hours of sleep. She rolled her head, finding CJ still asleep.

  As the clock had ticked toward midnight, they knew they needed some rest. She and CJ had taken the first shift, letting Ice and Billy have a few hours of sleep. At three, they’d switched places and she fell asleep almost immediately.

  Now, dawn was drawing near; she assumed it was at least six. The generator still ran and she sat up, seeing Billy and Ice slouched against the wall of the porch. She rolled her shoulders, trying to get the kinks out.

  “Hey.”

  She turned, finding CJ’s sleepy eyes on her. “Did I wake you?” she asked quietly.

  CJ rubbed her eyes and sat up too, pushing the seat back to its normal position. “It’s time” was all she said.

  “Are you ready to talk yet?” Last night, even though they’d been alone, CJ hadn’t wanted to share what had happened in the house. Paige didn’t push her. But now, if they were to search for a root cellar and tunnel, she at least wanted to know how CJ knew this.

  CJ cleared her throat, then gave her a half-smile. “I had a goddamn conversation with a ghost.”

  Paige nodded. “You want to tell me about it?”

  CJ ran her hands through her already tousled hair. “Well, you know, there’s the root cellar thing…and the tunnel,” she said.

  Paige reached across the console and took her hand. “Tell me, CJ. I’m not going to judge you.”

  CJ leaned her head back. “No. You never do, do you?”

  Paige squeezed her hand. “Tell me.”

  CJ sighed. “I’m ready to go home.”

  She smiled at her and squeezed her hand. “Me too.”

  CJ squeezed back. “Herbert is somewhere on the third floor.”

  That statement wasn’t exactly how she thought CJ would start. “You didn’t go up there, did you?”

  CJ shook her head. “No. She told me. Said Edith killed him with an ax.”

  “I see.”

  “She knew about my father. She knew about my sister.” CJ pulled her hand away and ran it through her hair again. “She said…she said not to go up to the third floor. She said he controls the third floor.”

  “Who is he?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Paige had to remind herself that they were talking about a…a ghost, a spirit, something, and not a person. She didn’t want to put too much weight into that for fear she’d start questioning—doubting—CJ. So she pretended it didn’t bother her that CJ was apparently having conversations with a ghost.

  “If you think there’s a body on the third floor, then we need to go up there,” she said.

  “No. You’re not going up there,” CJ said.

  “But—”

  “No.” CJ met her eyes, holding them. “Look, I know how fucking crazy this all sounds. I know it. I didn’t want to tell the guys any of this, but…I heard him. It was this roar, this…I can’t even describe it. Something pushed me against the wall. And he was yelling ‘get out, get out of my house.’” CJ had a wild look in her eyes. “And I was just frozen in fear. I just stood there. I just stood there, until she talked to me again, told me to get out, to hurry. And I did. I ran down the stairs.”

  Paige tried to keep her face expressionless even though her mind was telling her, yes, this was crazy. She had no doubt that what CJ was telling her really happened. She could see the fear in her eyes.

  However, it was CJ’s expression that changed. “You doubt me.”

  Paige shook her head. “No, I don’t doubt you, CJ. I don’t understand it, but I don’t doubt you.” She chose her words carefully. “There are more people around here now, not just us. The forensics team, the sheriff’s deputies. We have to decide how much to tell them.”

  “Tell them? We can’t tell them anything about this,” CJ said. “I’d just as soon not have to do a psych exam.”

  “So how do you want to play it?”

  “Explaining the root cellar is easy. We’ve already been out there. We’ll stumble upon the door, open it, see where the tunnel goes.”

  “And the third floor?”

  “She told me I couldn’t go up there. She said since she had reached out to me, he would kill me,” CJ said matter-of-factly. “And I don’t want you going up there. And we know Ice won’t go. Billy? Maybe. But I don’t really want to take a chance with him either.”

  “So who?”

  “Let’s get Brady to send up a couple of his guys. We’re safe on the second floor. Let’s check those bedrooms. We’ll have his guys take the third floor.”

  “And you really think Herbert Krause is up there?”

  “She said he was.” CJ leaned back in her seat and let out a heavy breath. “And if he’s not, then I really am losing my fucking mind.” CJ smiled. “Sorry. Fuck is my favorite word when I’m upset.”

  “I’ve noticed,” she said with a quiet laugh.

  “Come on. Let’s go start the day. I hope the forensics team shows up early.”

  Paige got out and stretched her arms over her head. “You think we could talk the guys into a coffee run?”

  “Miss your morning coffee?”

  “Yes. I miss my morning shower and clean clothes too.”

  CJ grinned. “I miss joining you for your morning shower.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  CJ’s gaze traveled up the stairs, and she paused only for a few seconds before heading up. Paige and Billy were behind her. And behind them were three deputies. Everything appeared to be normal as she heard none of the familiar sounds she usually did—no running on the stairs, no crying, no screaming, no bursts of cold air.

  When they got to the second floor, she glanced at the deputies as she headed down the hallway. “You guys take the third floor,” she said as nonchalantly as possible.

  “What are we looking for?”

  “Just see if anything is disturbed,” she said. “Anything we need the forensics team to look at.”

  Paige opened one of the bedrooms, and CJ peeked around her shoulder. It was completely empty.

  “This one’s got furniture,” Billy said from the next room.

  A thick layer of dust covered every surface from the old chest of drawers to the bed’s massive headboard. The window had a crack from top to bottom running diagonally through the pane. As the mid-morning sunlight filtered in, she could see particles of dust dancing in the room.

  “No one’s been in here in years,” she said.

  Paige opened one of the drawers. It was empty.

  Back in the hallway, Billy pointed to the half-doors. “I don’t suppose you want to take another ride down the laundry chute, do you?”

  “I’ll pass,” she said. “Check the last—”

  “Got a body!” one of the deputies yelled loudly from the third floor. “Been here a while.”

  CJ and Paige exchanged glances.

  “You want me to go up?” Billy asked.

  CJ felt like a coward, but she nodded. “If you don’t mind.”

  “Hey, we found another room,” a tech called up from the first floor. “You guys want to take a look?”
>
  “Where’s Ice?” CJ asked.

  “He’s on the phone.”

  “Go on,” Billy said. “I got this.”

  CJ and Paige hurried down the stairs.

  “They found another body—this one on the third floor,” CJ said. “Can one of your guys go up?”

  “Yeah. The ME is about through down here. I’ll get him to go up there next.”

  They waited while he went through the dining room and into the secret rooms they’d found yesterday. He came back out quickly and motioned for them to follow. He led them into the kitchen and the pantry, then into what they called the voodoo room.

  “The door in the back opens into a small closet. But it had a false wall,” he explained.

  They turned their flashlights on and followed him inside. It opened into a larger room, this one big enough for a table and shelves.

  “Remind me to get new batteries,” CJ said as her light started to dim.

  “The thing about this room is, it’s all false walls,” he said. “It’s like we’re in the center of the house. Each wall opens into a small hallway, which ends at another false wall. Here, you can get into the kitchen.” He pushed on one corner and the wall spun. They followed him into the hallway and he pushed the corner of that wall. It opened next to the sink. He retraced his steps and they followed. “Over here, this goes into the dining room.” He demonstrated again and the wall turned. “Back here, this just opens into a staircase.”

  “Where does it go?”

  “Haven’t been up there yet. But found the entrance into the room where the bodies are. Through this hall,” he said as he again moved the false wall. “And one more thing,” he said, lifting up a section of the floor. “Steps going down.”

  CJ stared into blackness down below. “What is it?”

  “I haven’t been down, just flashed my light around. It’s a small room, it looks like. Maybe an old cellar or something,” he said. “Be my guests if you want to check it out.”