Town Haunts

by Cathy Spencer

  Anna craned to see past the people huddled in front of her. Steve was climbing to his feet, the back of his shirt pulled out of his pants and his hair hanging in his face. He had another man by the collar and was hauling him up from the floor. The man twisted in Steve’s grasp, and Anna saw his face. It was Sherman Mason, the cemetery caretaker. He looked dazed, and blood trickled from his nose. Steve released Sherman’s collar to take hold of his elbow, steadying the wobbly man.

  “Sherman, what the devil are you doing here?” he demanded.

  Chapter Five

  Steve asked the visitors to clear the store, and ten minutes later, almost everyone was gone. Sherman sat hunched in a chair behind the front counter pressing tissues to his nose, while Steve crouched beside him, asking questions. Tiernay hovered beside Steve, while Greg leaned against the counter with his arms folded over his chest. Anna and her friends sat on the sofa by the book shelves where they were hidden from view.

  “How’s your knee doing?” May asked.

  “Looks like I’m going to get one heck of a bruise, but it’ll be okay,” Anna said, rolling her pant leg back down.

  “Good, because I can’t hear anything from back here. Let’s get closer so that we can hear what Sherman’s saying,” May said, springing to her feet and heading for the front of the store with Anna and Erna scurrying after her. Steve glanced up as they arrived, and Tiernay did a double-take.

  “You’re still here?” she asked.

  “We are, dear,” Erna replied. “Anna was injured while the lights went out, so we were just resting on the couch until she felt well enough to walk.” She turned to Sherman. “You were saying?”

  The caretaker glanced at Steve, who straightened up from the floor. “It’s not a criminal investigation. If you want to talk in front of them, go ahead.” Looking at the three women, Steve added with a wry smile, “Sherman has kindly declined to press assault charges against me.”

  “It was a mistake. I guess people were a little spooked when they saw me,” the caretaker said.

  “To put it mildly,” Anna murmured.

  Sherman nodded and rose to his feet. Heavy drinking hadn’t ruined the caretaker’s looks; he was still tall and broad-shouldered with a chiselled jaw and a broad forehead, but his shoulders were stooped, and his eyes were bleary. He checked the tissues to see if the bleeding had stopped. Crumpling them in his fist, he tossed the bundle into the trash can under the counter. “As I was explaining to Steve and the Raes here, I thought I’d come by the store tonight after the cleansing ceremony was over, but before everything was locked up. The lights were out and I thought I was too late, but then I heard people talking inside. I figured there’d been a power outage, and I had a flashlight, so I came in to help.”

  “I’ll have the electrician check the wiring on Monday,” Greg said. “Something must have got screwed up during the renovations.”

  “But why wait until the ceremony was over?” Erna asked Sherman. “Why did you come at all?”

  He dropped his gaze. “Now that I’m here, Miss Dombrosky, I kind of hate to say. It sounds kind of crazy.”

  “Nonsense, Sherman, you’ve always been sharp as a tack. You gave me excellent advice when you were our bank manager.” Anna looked up in surprise and stared at Sherman. When had this broken-down old man been a bank manager?

  “I understand that you’ve been going through some difficult times,” Erna added, “but why not tell us what’s troubling you? Maybe we can help.” She laid a hand on Sherman’s shoulder, but he stepped out from under it.

  “All right. I guess I don’t mind you ladies hearing about my business, too. The thing is, I need someone to run a séance for me, and I figured that whoever owned this store might know how.”

  They all stared at Sherman. Tiernay exchanged a glance with Greg before saying, “I’m not sure that I can help you, Mr. Mason. It’s true that I’m sensitive to the spirit world, but I’ve never conducted a séance before.”

  Everyone was silent until May spoke up. “I’ve been to a séance,” she said, matter-of-factly.

  “You have?” Tiernay asked.

  “Yup. Down in New Orleans. Earl and I went when we were on vacation. There was a medium, a spooky old lady who claimed that her house was haunted by the ghost of a confederate soldier. I must say, the séance was pretty exciting.”

  “What happened?” Sherman asked, taking a step closer to May.

  “Well, it was night-time, plus the curtains were drawn, so the room was really dark. The only light came from two candles lit right in front of the medium’s face. She stared at the flames until she went into some kind of trance, and then she started talking in this deep voice, claiming to be the confederate soldier.”

  “I don’t think that I could do that,” Tiernay said.

  “You never know until you try,” Erna replied. “Besides, there’s more than one way to communicate with the dead. Table rapping, Ouija board, automatic writing . . . Just who are you trying to communicate with, by the way?” she asked, turning back to Sherman.

  “My wife,” he said, meeting her eyes. “I think that she spoke to me in the cemetery last Monday night.”

  “Really? How fascinating. What did she say?”

  “Nothing. She just called my name. Three times. But it felt as though she were trying to tell me something.”

  “I wonder what it could be? How did she sound?”

  “She sounded unhappy, Miss Dombrosky. Angry, even.”

  “Oh my, that’s not good. Can you help him?” Erna asked, addressing Tiernay.

  The young woman frowned. “I suppose I could try, but I’m new here, Mr. Mason, and I haven’t got a coven together yet. The support of other sensitives helps me to focus my powers. I’m not sure how effective I could be without them.”

  “Not a problem,” Greg said. “What about these three lovely ladies? I’m sure that they’d be happy to help.” He gestured at Anna, May, and Erna, his face breaking into a grin. “The maiden, the mother, and the crone.”

  There was an awkward silence that seemed to hang on much too long. “I beg your pardon, Greg?” Anna finally said in a cold voice, angry that he had insulted Erna by implying that she was a crone.

  “The triple threat of the Wiccan religion,” Greg hastened to explain. “The three faces of the Earth Mother. I didn’t mean any insult,” he added, looking at Erna.

  “Oh, no,” Tiernay hurried to say. “People don’t think of the crone as an ugly old hag anymore. Today we revere the mature woman for her wisdom and experience. You’re beautiful to us, Miss Dombrosky.”

  “Why, thank you, dear,” Erna said with a smile.

  “But, Greg, don’t be ridiculous,” Tiernay countered. “Anna can’t represent the maiden. She’s much too old. How old are you, anyway – forty-five?”

  “Forty,” Anna replied, gimlet-eyed.

  “You see, I’ll have to be the maiden.”

  “Figuratively speaking,” Anna quipped.

  May snorted, and Tiernay glared at Anna before turning to her brother. “I don’t know. A séance could be dangerous, don’t you think?”

  “You know what precautions to take.”

  “Excuse me,” Sherman said, breaking into their conversation, “I don’t exactly understand what all this Earth Mother talk means, but I’d be grateful if you could help Evie and me. The whole experience was pretty unsettling. I don’t mind telling you, I haven’t liked going into that part of the cemetery since.”

  “Evie?” Tiernay asked.

  “My wife, Evelyn. We could hold the séance at my house, if you like.”

  The young woman paused to consider. “Yes, if she’s lingered, her spirit might still be strong in the house. We might even have a manifestation. Okay, Mr. Mason, I’d be willing to try if these ladies will help me.” She gestured at the three friends. “May has experience with séances, Anna’s spirit is strong, and Miss Dombrosky has a lot of orange in her aura.”

  “Is that good?” Erna asked.<
br />
  “Definitely. Orange is a sign of power and the ability to control people. You’d be a very useful person to have in our group, Miss Dombrosky.”

  May smiled and put an arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I’ve always known that about you.”

  “Thank you,” Erna replied. “What do you think, Anna?”

  Anna shrugged. “It sounds to me like someone was pulling a prank on Sherman. It’s three weeks to Halloween, after all.” She addressed the caretaker directly. “Was there any sign of someone being there ‒ someone other than your wife’s ghost, I mean?”

  Sherman paused, looking uneasy. “There was a light before I got there. I saw it from the back of the house.”

  “What kind of a light?” Tiernay asked.

  Sherman shook his head. “Just a light. It was bouncing between the trees.”

  Greg exchanged a look with his sister. “Lights are often part of a spirit manifestation, aren’t they?”

  “That’s right,” Tiernay said, her breath coming a little more quickly. “Sometimes a spirit isn’t strong enough for an ectoplasmic manifestation, but it can manage light. You should have told us about this before, Mr. Mason. I find the light very promising.”

  “Sorry,” he said, falling silent. Tiernay turned to stare pointedly at the other women.

  “Look, don’t get me wrong, I’d like to help,” Anna said. “Just tell me when, and I’ll come to the séance.”

  “I’ll need a couple of days to make preparations,” Tiernay said. “Fortunately, I don’t have many massages booked yet, so my evenings are mostly free. How about Monday night? That gives me two days.” She looked at Anna and her friends, who nodded. “What do you think, Mr. Mason?”

  “Fine with me. The sooner the better. I have an old table in the dining room big enough for all of us, I should think.”

  Tiernay looked at her brother. “Greg, can you help me to set up beforehand?”

  “Sure. Whatever you need.”

  “All right, Mr. Mason, I’ll do it. Shall we say 8 p.m., everyone?” They all nodded.

  “Good. I’ll see you then,” Sherman said. “You’ve all been very helpful. I appreciate it.” Without another word, the caretaker exited the store with Erna and May following him a moment later. Tiernay took Greg aside for some private conversation, leaving Anna alone with Steve. She started.

  “Hey, I forgot all about Henry Fellows with everything else that’s been happening. Did you see him?” she asked.

  “No, not a sign of him.” He pointed at May and Erna through the store window where they chatted on the sidewalk. “I think they’re waiting for you. Hadn’t you better get going?”

  Anna straightened from where she had been leaning against the counter. “Trying to get rid of me?” When he didn’t reply, she shrugged and said, “See you later, Steve.”

  But before she could leave, Steve took hold of her arm. “Listen, Anna,” he said, gazing down into her eyes, “make sure that May gives you and Erna a lift home tonight, okay?”

  Anna paused, her expression curious. “Why? May always drives Erna home, but I usually walk.”

  “Well, don’t. Not tonight, anyway. There’s some weird stuff going on around town, and I don’t want you taking any chances.” He released her arm. “Just do what you’re told, for once.”

  Anna frowned, not liking his dictatorial tone. Steve’s stern expression softened into a smile. “Come on Anna. As a favour to me. If anything ever happened to you, Tremaine would have my hide.”

  Anna shook her head in exasperation. “All right, I’ll ask May to give me a lift, too, if it’s so important to you.”

  Steve smiled and patted her head, but she knocked his hand away in exasperation. His smile widened into a grin. “That’s a good girl. Night, Anna.”

  “You just be careful yourself, Steve Walker,” Anna sputtered after him as he headed toward Tiernay at the back of the store.

  Chapter Six

  Instead of driving her friends home straight away, however, May invited them to her apartment for a confab. Once inside, she bustled about her tiny kitchen preparing mugs of cinnamon spice decaffeinated tea. While she was working, May asked Anna to add two logs to the wood-burning stove, the apartment’s principal heat source.

  “Sorry it’s a bit chilly in here,” May said. “I didn’t expect to be at the cleansing ceremony so long, and the fire’s burned down. Thanks Anna. Just leave the door open – I like to watch the wood burn.” Anna nodded and joined Erna at the kitchen dinette.

  May flicked off the harsh ceiling light and slid a pumpkin-shaped ceramic plate heaped with chocolate finger cookies onto the table with the mugs of tea. The flames from the fire cast dancing shadows over the women’s faces as they leaned in to talk.

  “Now, tell me about the Masons,” Anna said. “In the four years I’ve lived here in Crane, I’ve only known Sherman as the cemetery custodian, and I never actually spoke to Evelyn. I had no idea that he had been a bank manager once upon a time.”

  “You’re the historian, doll,” May said to Erna. “Tell Anna about Sherman and Evelyn.”

  “Well, let me see,” Erna said, settling more comfortably onto her vinyl-covered chair. “Sherman came to manage the bank thirteen years ago. I remember that he’d had a good position at a bank in Calgary before that, but this meant a promotion for him. My, he was such a good-looking man back then. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a big head of blond hair. The way he wore it combed back from his face always reminded me of a lion’s mane. He had an air of authority about him, too. Not loud or showy, but just there below the surface. He was well-respected in the community, wasn’t he, May?”

  “Oh, yeah. Everybody listened to him,” May said with a nod.

  “He brought Evelyn and their three young sons with him. He could have commuted from Calgary, but he wanted to be part of the community here. Sherman had a beautiful two-storey home built for his family on Robin Street. I’m sure you’ve seen the house, Anna – the one with the stonework at the end of the cul-de-sac?”

  “Uh huh, I know the one you mean. It’s beautiful.”

  “Yes, and Evelyn loved that house. Her people have a farm somewhere south of here, but they’ve never been prosperous. Evelyn was the first of her family to attend university, as a matter of fact. She and Sherman met while she was going to school in Calgary. She was a few years younger than he, so Sherman already had his business degree and a good job at a bank by the time they met. Evelyn was very proud of him in the early days.”

  “She was just plain proud about everything,” May said, breaking into Erna’s reminiscences. “She used to lord it over the rest of us in the Catholic Women’s League. Remember? Chairwoman of the social committee. Never thought anyone else’s taste was as good as hers. Used to look down her nose at my store, too. Not a big enough selection for her, and our produce wasn’t fresh enough, either. She bought her groceries in Calgary.”

  “I remember,” Erna said, patting her friend’s hand. “She was a proud woman. Social status meant everything to her. Poor Evelyn. It just about killed her when Sherman was fired.”

  “What happened?” Anna asked, looking from one friend to the other.

  The two women exchanged a glance before Erna continued. “Well, about seven years ago, there was a big investigation at the bank. It was very hush-hush. No charges were laid, but Sherman was fired. The gossip was that he had been skimming money. He started having a problem with alcohol after that, and they had to sell their lovely house. The scandal was hard on the boys, too. Their schoolmates teased them, and the eldest son got into fights.” Erna sighed. “I felt very sorry for that family.”

  “Then what happened?” Anna asked.

  “Well, Sherman tried to run his own investment business for a time. He gave me some very sound advice, but the business failed after just two years. People had a hard time trusting him, I suppose. He had some health problems after that, and Father Winfield gave Sherman the caretaker’s job at the cemetery and rente
d them the house next door. Evelyn had to take a job with the town office to help out. That’s when she started being so reclusive.”

  “Yeah, she dropped out of the Catholic Women’s League and everything. Used to walk around town avoiding people. Snubbed me cold at the Post Office one day. Not that I ever did anything to her,” May said.

  “She was probably afraid that people were glad she’d fallen on hard times,” Erna said.

  May shrugged. “If they were, it was her own darn fault. If she hadn’t been so patronizing when she’d had money, people might have been more sympathetic when she lost it. I don’t think she had a friend in the world at the end.”

  “I think you’re right. It was all very sad. Anyway, Evelyn insisted that her sons go to university no matter how hard things got, and between the boys’ educational expenses and Sherman’s drinking, they spent everything they’d had. The youngest boy finished his bachelor’s degree just before Evelyn died last winter.”

  “I remember thinking that her death sounded kind of fishy,” Anna remarked.

  “Yes, and tragic,” Erna said. “What she was doing in the town office alone after hours? No one ever knew. And why was she in the basement? The only thing down there was the archives. Anyway, they didn’t find her body until the next morning. She had been gone quite a while by then, her neck broken from the fall down the stairs. The mayor had to tell Sherman. If Sherman hadn’t been under the weather the night before, he might have noticed that Evelyn was missing, and they could have found her sooner. Not that it would have made any difference, but she wouldn’t have been alone all night.” Erna paused for a moment to reflect.

  “I remember that the town took up a collection to help pay for her funeral expenses,” Anna said. “Poor Sherman, he must have been devastated. Didn’t he go missing about that time, too?”